fttfc. ZCuncftecL Jwmhf-fi/i&L
-
SEMI-ANNUAL
confffitocf
■
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Held in the Tabernacle Salt Lake City, Utah
S&pbmJb&A. 29, 30, and. Odtoboh. 1, 1950
With Report of Discourses
y j>. ^)'' ' Publj'shsd by -the ''/^f^'' Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Salt Lake City, Utah
Printed in the United States of America
disL Liu jcclUqjcL . . .
"THE ENIGMA OF PALMYRA"
For more than 100 years vigorous, but futile attempts have been made to explain him away, only to be rejected, discredited or abandoned.
One explanation survives the tests of time and truth. Read it, and its many-sided manifestations in these books:
JOSEPH SMITH, AN AMERICAN PROPHET $3.50
By John Henry Evans
JOSEPH SMITH, THE PROPHET $3.50
By Preston Nibley
TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET
JOSEPH SMITH $2.75
By Joseph Fielding Smith
PROPHECIES OF JOSEPH SMITH AND
THEIR FULFILLMENT $1.75
By Nephi L. Morris
One significant and impressive fact to consider about him is the caliber of men whose love and loyalty he won, and what they accomplished under the motivation and enthusiasm of their testimonies:
BRIGHAM YOUNG, THE MAN AND
HIS WORK $3.00
By Preston Nibley
BRIGHAM YOUNG, THE COLONIZER $3.00
By Milton R. Hunter
HEBER C. KIMBALL $3.00
By Orson F. Whitney
DANIEL HANMER WELLS $2.50
By Bryant S. Hinckley
EZRA T. BENSON $3.00
By John Henry Evans and Minnie Egan Anderson - ALL PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE -
DESERET BOOK COMPANY
"THE BOOK CENTER OF THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST"
44 East South Temple Street, Salt Lake City 10, Utah
The One Hundred Twenty-first Semi-Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The One Hundred Twenty-first Semi-Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, September 29, 30 and October 1, 1950.
General sessions of the Conference were held at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and the General Priesthood meeting convened in the Tabernacle Saturday evening, September 30, at 7:00.
The proceedings of the general sessions were broadcast over Station KSL, and by arrangement through KSL over the following stations:
In Utah: KSUB at Cedar City, KVNU at Logan, KSVC at Richfield, KJAM at Vernal.
In Idaho: KGEM at Boise, KID at Idaho Falls, KEYY at Pocatello, KVMV at Twin Falls, (Friday and Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon sessions) and KBlO at Burley (Friday and Sunday sessions ) .
In Oregon: The morning sessions over KSRV at Ontario, and the Sunday sessions over KLBM at LaGrande.
In Arizona: By transcription over KTYL at Mesa.
In Colorado: By direct line and transcription over KEXO at Grand Junction.
The services of the general sessions were also televised over KSL television station, channel 5.
All general sessions of the Conference and the General Priest- hood meeting were broadcast in the Assembly Hall, just south of the Tabernacle, on the Tabernacle grounds, and in Barratt Hall (60 North Main) over a loud speaking system and by television. In addition, many who could not find accommodation in any one of these buildings assembled on the Tabernacle grounds and listened to the services as they were broadcast from the Tabernacle, by means of amplifying equipment.
President George Albert Smith was present and presided at each of the general meetings. He conducted the services at the Friday morning, Sunday morning, and Sunday afternoon sessions, also the General Priesthood meeting. President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., First Counselor in the First Presidency, conducted the Friday after- noon and Saturday afternoon sessions. President David O. McKay conducted the Saturday morning meeting.
Included in this report of the Conference is also a report of
2 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday. September 29 First Day
Columbia Broadcasting Company's Church of the Air Broadcast, Sunday morning from 8:30 to 9:00, and the Tabernacle Choir and Organ Broadcast from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m.
General Authorities of the Church Present
The First Presidency: George Albert Smith, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., and David O. McKay.
Of The Council of the Twelve Apostles: * Joseph Fielding Smith, **, John A. Widtsoe, Joseph F. Merrill, Albert E. Bowen, Harold B. Lee, Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson, Mark E. Petersen, Matthew Cowley, Henry D. Moyle, Delbert Leon Stapley.***
Patriarch to the Church: Eldred G. Smith.
Assistants to the Council of the Twelve Apostles: Marion G. Romney, Thomas E. McKay, Clifford E. Young, and Alma Sonne.
The First Council of the Seventy: Levi Edgar Young, Antoine R. Ivins, Richard L. Evans, Oscar A. Kirkham, **** , Milton R. Hunter, and Bruce R. McConkie.
The Presiding Bishopric: LeGrand Richards, Joseph L. Wirth- lin, and Thorpe B. Isaacson.
General Officers and Other Authorities Present
Church Historian and Recorder: Joseph Fielding Smith, and A. William Lund, Assistant.
Members of General Welfare Committee, Church Welfare Program..
Members of the General Board of Education, Commissioner of Education, Seminary Supervisors, and Directors and associate Di- rectors of Institutes.
Presidents of Stakes and their Counselors, Bishops of Wards and their Counselors, Presidents of Temples, Patriarchs, High Priests, Seventies, Elders; General, Stake and Ward officers of Auxiliary Associations, etc., from all parts of the Church.
* President George F. Richards, of the Council of the Twelve, passed away August 8, 1950. ** Stephen L Richards was absent, visiting missions in Europe. * "Delbert Leon Stapley was sustained at this conference as a member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of President George F. Richards. ****S. Dilworth Young was absent, presiding over the New England Mission.
PRESIDENT GEORGE ALBERT SMITH 3 FIRST DAY MORNING MEETING
The Conference commenced Friday morning, September 29, at 10 o'clock, with President George Albert Smith presiding and con- ducting the services of the first session.
President George Albert Smith:
We welcome you to the One Hundred Twenty-first Semi-An- nual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are glad to see so many of you here. We hope that those who have not seats will be able to crowd in so that no one will be com- pelled to stand.
This is the opening session of the One Hundred Twenty-first Semi-Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. We are convened in the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.
All the General Authorities of the Church are in attendance except Elder Stephen L Richards, of the Council of the Twelve, who is visiting the European Missions, and President S. Dilworth Young who is presiding over the New England Mission.
Elder Joseph Anderson is the Clerk of the Conference.
These services, and all general sessions of the Conference, will be broadcast in the Assembly Hall and in Barratt Hall, 60 North Main Street, over a loud speaking system and by television.
This service, and all general sessions of the Conference, will be broadcast over Station KSL, Salt Lake City, and by arrangement through KSL, over the following Stations: in Utah: KSUB at Cedar City, KVNU at Logan, KSUB at Richfield, KJAM at Vernal; in Ida- ho: KGEM at Boise, KID at Idaho Falls, KEYY at Pocatello, KV- MV at Twin Falls Friday and Saturday morning and Sunday after- noon sessions, and the Friday and Sunday sessions over KBIO at Burley; in Oregon: the morning sessions over KSRV at Ontario, and the Sunday sessions over KLBM at LaGrande; by transcription over KTYL at Mesa, Arizona; and by direct line and transcription over KEXO at Grand Junction, Colorado.
We are very grateful to the stations named for their coopera- tion in broadcasting the proceedings of this Conference. We thank them for their service, which will continue throughout the Confer- ence. In the interest of time we shall not repeat this announcement at every session.
All general sessions will also be televised over the KSL tele- vision station, channel five.
The choir singing for this morning's session will be by the Combined Chorus of Singing Mothers from the Cache Region and
4 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday, September 29 First Day
Salt Lake City Stakes, with Sister Florence Jepperson Madsen con- ducting and with Elder Frank W. Asper at the Organ.
We will begin this service by the Relief Society Singing Moth- ers singing "The Lord Is My Shepherd."
The opening prayer will be offered by President Delbert F. Wright, Oakland Stake, California.
The Relief Society Singing Mothers sang the hymn "The Lord Is My Shepherd."
President Delbert F. Wright of the Oakland Stake offered the invocation.
The Relief Society Singing Mothers sang "Unto Thee I Lift Mine Eyes."
PRESIDENT GEORGE ALBERT SMITH
This is a beautiful picture this morning, to see the Lord's house filled with his children who have come here to worship. Since our last conference many things have occurred. While our Singing Mothers were singing, I thought of one of our brothers who went to the South Seas with me about thirteen years ago. When we ar- rived at British Samoa, the people were having a holiday. We had been persuaded to stay aboard the boat at night because it could not go around the reef, and we could not land in small boats in the dark. We were told that the people wanted to give us a welcome, so there was nothing else for us to do. We could not wade it, so we had to wait until they took us in.
Welcome in Apia
The boat anchored, and the next morning out came a war canoe all decorated and rowed by great husky men, one oar to a man, and there were fifteen oarsmen including the captain. They had per- suaded us to wait because they said they wanted to give us a royal welcome, and when we arrived, it was a real welcome. Everybody was out, apparently. People were all along the shore. Among them was a group of women, more than a hundred, all dressed in light- colored dresses of tapa cloth made from the bark of the mulberry tree. They had made them themselves for that occasion.
When I saw this group of Singing Mothers all dressed alike this morning, my mind went back to Apia and Brother Rufus K. Hardy who was with me on that trip. He has been gone a long time.
Those Singing Mothers sang beautifully at our meetings and at such celebrations as they had, as our sisters have sung this morning. And since that time I have heard the Singing Mothers in many places, but I think I have never been more impressed with them than I was there in the islands.
PRESIDENT GEORGE ALBERT SMITH 5
Brethren Who Have Gone
Our first meeting was in the open air, and there were between two and three thousand people whom the Singing Mothers enter- tained. But the thought that came into my mind is that Brother Hardy is gone. He has finished his work. Since our last conference Presi- dent George F. Richards of the Council of the Twelve has finished his mission and has gone to find his reward. I miss these brethren.
I am glad that Brother Thomas E. McKay is here this morning. He has had a long siege of illness. I am sure that Brother Stephen L Richards and those with him are having a real experience. In all probability they are in the vicinity of Jerusalem today.
Joy of Conference Meetings
It is a joy to come to one of these conference meetings and meet people not only from all sections of the United States, but also from other parts of the world. It is one of the greatest gatherings of religious people that meet anywhere in the world, and you will find no other such place in all the world dedicated to the Lord for worship.
I would like us all to remember that this is the Lord's house. You will find no other place in all the world dedicated to the Lord that gathers together a congregation such as is here this morning, many of whom have come thousands of miles, not to see and be seen, but to wait upon the Lord. And he has promised us that if even two or three shall meet together in his name, he will be there to bless them.
This morning, that we may claim our blessings, there are ap- proximately ten thousand here in the Tabernacle and in the As- sembly Hall — all at worship. There are thousands more enjoying the conference by means of radio and television. We are here in the name of the Redeemer of mankind, and I am sure when we go from this conference back to our homes, we will have an intense desire to live the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the only gospel that is the power of God unto salvation in the celestial kingdom.
Observance of Commandments
This morning, brethren and sisters, I congratulate you: Not that you are here, but that you are here to worship. What a priv- ilege it is to worship the Lord and to do it in the way he has indi- cated. There are some people who are members of the Church — their names are on the record, and they have an idea that that is all that is necessary — but the time will come when they will have to face their record, and their admission into the celestial kingdom will be conditioned upon the way they have observed the advice of our Heavenly Father right here upon earth. How grateful we ought to be, not to be uncertain as to where we are going.
6 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday, September 29 First Day
I had a man say to me one day after I had taught the gospel to him for an hour or so on a train, "I'd give a lot to have the as- surance that you have." And I replied: "You do not have to give anything to have the assurance that I have except to keep the com- mandments of the Lord. If you do that, you will know that the gos- pel of Jesus Christ is on earth. You will know that the authority of the priesthood is on earth."
How beautiful it is to realize that men who are worthy may receive that priesthood, and in the authority that is given them, do so many things that are a blessing to our Father's other children.
Faith Grows With Righteousness
Within the week, I listened to one of the brethren who has just returned from the mission field. He has been out nearly five years, and he told of some of the experiences in the field. He told of peo- ple that had illness and the doctors did everything they could for them, but they could not heal them. But the humble missionaries, the humble men who held the priesthood, placed their hands upon the heads of those who were afflicted and rebuked their ailments, and they were healed.
That would not occur without faith, and our faith is conditioned upon our righteous lives. We cannot live improperly and have faith as we should, but if we keep the commandments of the Lord, we can have faith, and it will grow and increase as our righteousness increases.
Political Campaign
I am happy to be here with you, my brothers and sisters, in the Lord's house to wait upon him. We are right now in the midst of a political campaign here in America. It ought to be a source of education to the people. It ought to inspire men and women to choose for their officers in the various sections of the country, par- ticularly in the nation, men and women who believe in God. That is their privilege, but unfortunately so many times people become allied with a group, and they insist on everybody supporting the in- dividual that they support, and the result is a campaign of bitterness.
Brethren and sisters, you have your agency; you do not have to be angry with your brother and your sister because they do not see as you do. We are not supposed to criticize and find fault with the members of the Catholic Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Methodist Church, because they cannot understand all of the gospel.
I think it is fine to encourage them to understand all that they have and then add to it. Now if that is true in regard to our re- ligious belief, surely we will not lose our way during a political cam- paign, and cultivate anger and displeasure and hatred for those who do not believe as we do.
PRESIDENT GEORGE ALBERT SMITH 7
Constitution of the United States
And that brings me to something that is frequently on my mind. No nation in the world has a constitution that was given to it by our Heavenly Father except the United States of America. I won- der if we appreciate that. The Lord gave us a rule of life for this great nation, and as far as we have lived up to it and taken ad- vantage of it, the nation has grown, and the people have been blessed. But there are many people who prefer, or at least they seem to prefer, something else.
As one man said to me, "Why not try what Russia has tried and Germany has tried?" And my answer to him was, "Why try something that has already failed? Why not hold on to what the Lord has given?" The Constitution of the United States was writ- ten, it is true, by men, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and others who were their associates, but we have in this book that I have in my hand, the book of Doctrine and Covenants, a revela- tion in which the Lord tells us that the Constitution of the United States was prepared by men raised up by him for this very purpose.
As Latter-day Saints we ought to know that there is nothing better anywhere else. And so we should cleave to the Constitution of the United States and in doing so, earn the blessings of our Heavenly Father.
Observance of Ten Commandments
It was a long time ago that the Lord gave to Moses the Ten Commandments. If the people of the world had observed the Ten Commandments from that time until now, we would have a different world. There would be millions of people who would live longer than they have lived and be happier. The Ten Commandments are in force today, and if we are good Latter-day Saints and are ob- serving what the Lord has advised, among other things, we will honor the Sabbath day and not make it a day of pleasure. The Con- stitution guarantees us liberty that no other nation enjoys. Most of the nations are losing the liberties they have had because they have not kept the commandments of the Lord.
Most of the difficulty is the bid that is made by the leadership of nations to people that if they will follow the plan that the leaders map out, they will be fed and clothed without having to work so hard for it, but it does not work. People are being misled with the idea that they can get something for nothing and are not encour- aged to work for what they need and desire.
Brothers and sisters, you are approaching a political campaign. Go to the Lord in prayer. Seek his guidance. We do not want to turn this nation over to the folly of the teachings of other na- tions that have failed. What we should do is to cling to what we have, and it is wonderful what the Lord has given to us in this nation.
Now it does not make any difference to me what a man's poli-
8
GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday. September 29 First Day
tics is; as long as he observes the advice of our Heavenly Father, he will be a safe companion and associate. We should not lose our tempers and abuse one another. I want to say that nobody ever abused anybody else when he had the spirit of the Lord. It is al- ways when we have some other spirit.
Seek the Lord
Seek the Lord, brothers and sisters. We do not have to live as they are living in many other parts of the world. We can con- tinue to live under the influence of the Spirit of the Lord and worship. One of the most populous nations in all the world restricts the peo- ple in their worship. They cannot worship as we do here, and yet there are many people in our land who would like to try what they are doing over there because they want something different.
I hold in my hand a copy of the Doctrine and Covenants, and in it the Lords tells us another thing, to pray for and sustain the Constitution of the land and those who represent us in its offices. So, pray for the President of the United States, pray for those who have been elected to Congress, pray for your governor and the mem- bers of your legislature. If they have the Spirit of the Lord, they cannot go wrong; but without it they can go a long way on the by- path.
Hawaiian Centennial
Here we are this morning, on a beautiful day. No people could be more comfortable in worship than we are this morning. I am so grateful that I am able to be present. Recently I, with a group of my brothers and sisters, went to Hawaii to celebrate the centennial of preaching the gospel in the Hawaiian Islands. Some of our party expected to find most of the people Hawaiian. But it was found there were Hawaiians, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Samoans, and several other nations I might name, all living there at peace. When our meeting was held in a large building, all of those races were there as members of the Church.
Gospel For All People
The gospel of Jesus Christ is not just for us. It is for the peo- ple of the world, all our Father's children, and at the present time we have over 5800 missionaries out in the world, from this little Church. What for? To go to all these people and say, "Keep all the good things that you have, keep all that God has given you that enriches your life, and then let us share something with you that will add to your happiness and increase your satisfaction." That is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our happiness is conditioned upon our loving our fellow men, all of whom are children of our Heavenly Father.
ELDER JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH 9
Right here on this block is one of the greatest missionary fields in the world. I see a man sitting down here in the audience who spends much of his time with the people on this block. He is a won- derful missionary and just as happy as he can be when he is talking about it. When we are doing missionary work to bless the people, we are doing it under the influence of the Lord, and we are sure to be happy.
Spirit of Prayer and Gratitude
We welcome you all here this morning. Let us all come into this house, into the houses that may be necessary to be used for the conference, with a spirit of prayer, the spirit of gratitude. Let us appeal to the Lord to bless us, and then those who address us will be inspired. I pray that we may all live in such a way that our Heavenly Father can have us in his keeping, that we may have joy and satisfaction, and we will have if we have this Spirit.
I pray that his peace may be with us during the continuance of this meeting and the other meetings of the conference, that we may meet with a feeling of gratitude for all our blessings. And when the conference is concluded, and we return to our homes, may we do so with the appreciation of the fact that we did wait upon the Lord and that he fulfilled his promise and was with us to bless us. I pray that we may be filled with that spirit that comes from him, and that is a spirit of love, of kindness and helpfulness and of patience and for- bearance. Then, if we keep that spirit with us in our homes, our boys and girls will grow up to be what we would like them to be.
That the Lord may add his blessing, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH
Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
President George Albert Smith says that this is a wonderful sight. To that I agree. It gives me great pleasure to look into the faces of men and women whose lives are clean; who have faith in God; who have made covenants to serve. President Smith further says that salvation comes through the keeping of the commandments of God. We do not believe that salvation comes from lip service, merely a confession with our lips that Jesus is the Christ. It comes through obedience to every principle and eternal truth pertaining to our exaltation. Let me read to you words of the Lord given to his disciples on this continent as he stood in their presence.
And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world.
And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also
10 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday, September 29 First Day
hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father.
And this is the word which he hath given unto the children of men. And for this cause he fulfllleth the words which he hath given, and he lieth not, but fulfllleth all his words.
And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.
These words that I have read to you are from the twenty-sev- enth chapter of III Nephi, verses 16-19 inclusive.
Lamb's Book of Life
One of my great sorrows is that so many members of the Church fail to recognize this truth which I have read. We are not going to be saved in the kingdom of God just because our names are on the records of the Church. It will require more than that. We will have to have our names written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and if they are written in the Lamb's book of Life then it is an evi- dence we have kept the commandments. Every soul who will not keep those commandments shall have his name blotted out of that book.
World Rejects Blessings
I am exceedingly grateful this morning for the knowledge which I have, limited as it is, of the gospel of Jesus Christ; of the things that have been revealed for our salvation; for the opportunities which come to us to give service to the Church and to our fellow men. We have so many blessings that the world does not have. The world could have them, but it will not. As the Savior said, speaking par- ticularly of the Jews, many a time would he have gathered them as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but they would not. I wish that every honest soul in this world would read the Book of Mormon; would read the Doctrine and Covenants; the Pearl of Great Price, besides reading the Bible. What a glorious privilege is ours. The so-called Christian world, divided and subdivided, maintains that the Bible contains all of the word of God. To them the Lord has never given a revelation. According to its teachings nothing has come from the heavens by way of counsel and advice or revelation, comparable to that which we find in what they are pleased to call the canon of scripture.
Not long ago, as I was on the train coming home, a minister said to me that the Book of Mormon was a fraud because in the last chapter of the book of Revelation the Lord so declared it. Let me read those words.
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Rev. 22:19.)
*
ELDER JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH 11
I said to him, "My good friend, don't you know that when that was written we had no Bible?" This Bible was not compiled as we have it when that was written. That has reference merely to this Book of Revelation. Then he was sorry that he had spoken. Well, all they have is what is contained in this book (the Bible), this record that closed nearly two thousand years ago.
Advantages Enjoyed
See the advantage, brethren and sisters, that we have. Not only do we have the revelations given to the prophets of ancient Israel, given by our Savior when he was on the earth and by his disciples in that first century, but the Lord has continued to speak; he has given many revelations to others. We have them. We are blessed with the Book of Mormon which contains the principles of the gos- pel so clearly stated, that we do not stumble over them. We have the Doctrine and Covenants, which is our book particularly, con- taining the revelations given to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints and to all the world if it will have them. This book isn't just for us, but we have it. The world won't have it. See what it could have if it would. It could have information, knowledge and wisdom pertaining to the salvation of men, that can't be found in the Bible. I have said, and I think I am right, that there isn't one principle pertaining to the salvation of men that is so clearly stated in the Bible, as it has come down to us, that men do not stumble over — not one thing. There is not one principle they can be united on that has been so clearly stated that they don't find their interpretations of it conflicting.
The Vision
Do you want to know about the resurrection of the dead? Who is going to be saved in the celestial kingdom of God? Then read your Book of Mormon. Read your Doctrine and Covenants. The seventy-sixth section of the Doctrine and Covenants, known as The Vision, is the clearest, most concise statement regarding salvation that I know anything about, and I doubt if the Lord ever gave to any people at any time upon the face of the earth anything clearer than this revelation. Do the people of the world know where they are going when they die? No. They sing about a beautiful isle of somewhere. They don't know. Can they find out in the Bible? Yes, we can find it. They could find it if they had the right inspira- tion, but with the added help that we obtain from the records the Lord has given us. we don't stumble over that. We don't stumble over baptism and how it should be performed and by whom. We have a clear and perfect understanding of the nature of God. Now, I can find that in the Bible; so can you. So can they, if they would search for it in the spirit of faith; but they stumble over it; and yet they are not willing to accept the revelations of the Lord given in
12 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday, September 29 First Day
the day and dispensation in which they live that would set forth clearly to them all these principles of eternal truth. How greatly are we blessed!
Book of Mormon
Then I have this regret, that so many members of the Church do not avail themselves of this information. The Lord was kind enough and so deeply concerned in the matter that he sent an angel from his presence to reveal the Book of Mormon. For ages he pre- pared the Book of Mormon that it might come forth to the con- vincing, it says, of both Jew and Gentile and the remnant upon this land, that Jesus is the Christ. It was to come forth in a day when men would be denying the Christ. Isn't that true? Is not the world today getting farther and farther away from a knowledge concern- ing the Son of God? Are not the peoples of the earth beginning, if they have not already reached the point, to deny the literal resur- rection of the body and are questioning the resurrection of the Lord himself and his godhood? The Book of Mormon said that would be the case and that it was to come forth as a testimony, as a wit- ness to men that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Redeemer of the World, and that men will be saved and exalted in the kingdom of God by keeping their hearts pure and obeying all of his com- mandments. These things the Lord has impressed upon us.
Covenant at Baptism
In conclusion let me read the covenant we make when we are baptized and come into this Church.
All those who humble themselves before God and desire to be bap- tized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determina- tion to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church. (D. & C. 20:37.)
What do you get out of that? I get this: that every soul bap- tized, truly baptized, has humbled himself; his heart is broken; his spirit is contrite; he has made a covenant before God that he will keep his commandments, and he has forsaken all his sins. Then after he gets into the Church, is it his privilege to sin after he is in? Can he let down? Can he indulge in some of the things which the Lord has said he should avoid? No. It is just as necessary that he have that contrite spirit, that broken heart, after he is baptized as it is before.
Power to Reach Members
Oh, I wish we had the power, we who hold the priesthood, to reach every soul who is not faithful, who is not humbled in his heart
ELDER BRUCE R. McCONKIE
13
— members of this Church — that we might bring them back to a full understanding of the gospel. Is it true that some among us have an idea that it matters not that we sin so long as it is not a grievous sin, a deadly sin, that we will yet be saved in the kingdom of God? Nephi saw our day. He said that people would be saying that. But I say unto you, we cannot turn away from the path of truth and righteousness and retain the guidance of the Spirit of the Lord.
May the Lord bless the Latter-day Saints. May he bless all people. Oh, I wish that we would all humble ourselves and seek the truth which the Lord has declared to us by his own word in this day in which we live. The Lord bless us all, help us to be true and faith- ful and keep his commandments, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Relief Society Singing Mothers and the congregation joined in singing the hymn, "O Ye Mountains High," J. Spencer Cornwall conducting.
ELDER BRUCE R. McCONKIE
Of the First Council of the Seventy
President George Albert Smith said this morning that it was not enough for people to have their names on the records of the Church in order to be saved in the kingdom of God, but that it was necessary to keep the commandments.
Then Elder Joseph Fielding Smith said the same thing and read to us the covenant of baptism, that is the covenant which we take in the waters of baptism.
A Covenant People
We are a covenant-making and a covenant-taking people. We have the gospel which is the new and the everlasting covenant: new in that the Lord has revealed it anew in our day; everlasting in that its principles are eternal, have existed with God from all eternity, and are the same unchangeable laws by which all men in all ages may be saved. The gospel is the covenant which God makes with his chil- dren here on earth that he will return them to his presence and give them eternal life, if they will walk in the paths of truth and righteous- ness while here.
We are children of the covenant which God made with Abra- ham, our father. To Abraham, God promised salvation and exalta- tion if he would walk as the Lord taught him to walk. Further, the Lord covenanted with Abraham that he would restore to Abraham's seed the same laws and ordinances, in all their beauty and perfec- tion, which that ancient patriarch had received. "For as many as re- ceive this gospel," the Lord said to him, "shall be called after thy
14 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Pridag. September 29 P'"t Dag
name, and shall be accounted thy seed, and shall rise up and bless thee, as their father." (Abraham 2:10.)
Now we have this same everlasting covenant. We have the restored gospel, and every person who belongs to the Church, who has passed through the waters of baptism, has had the inestimable privilege of making a personal covenant with the Lord that will save him provided he does the things he agrees to do when he enters into that covenant with God.
Alma's Explanation
Alma recited this personal covenant of salvation at the waters of Mormon in language like this — all of it is, of course, summed up in the promise to keep the commandments of God — but Alma gives these particulars: He says that when we go into the waters of bap- tism we covenant that we will come into the fold of Christ and be numbered with his people. We covenant that we will take upon our- selves the name of Christ and be Saints in very deed. We covenant that we will bear one another's burdens, that they may be light. We covenant that we will mourn with those that mourn. We covenant that we will comfort those that stand in need of comfort. We cove- nant that we will stand as witnesses of Christ and of God at all times and in all things and in all places that we may be in, even until death. Then, by way of summary, Alma says we covenant that we will serve God and keep his commandments.
The Lord's Part
In return, that is, if we do all these things, the Lord on his part promises us that we will come forth in the first resurrection and be redeemed of him; that he will pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon us while we are here in this life; and that we will have eternal life in the world to come.
I don't suppose that the Lord is making any useless covenants with any individual; and so, any person who will keep this covenant, and do all the things required by it, can have in his heart the as- surance that he will go to the presence of God and have eternal life in the mansions that are prepared.
Renewing of Covenant
So important is this covenant in the eyes of the Lord that he has provided for us a means and a way to renew it often. The ordinance whereby we renew this covenant is the ordinance of the sacrament. Every time we partake of the sacrament worthily, with humble hearts and contrite spirits, we agree again that we will take upon ourselves the name of Christ, always remember him, and keep his command- ments which he has given us. And the Lord agrees with us again that we will always have his Spirit to be with us; and further, that we
ELDER BRUCE R. McCONKlE
15
will have eternal life in his kingdom in accordance with the revelation which says,
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:54.)
To be saved is to go to the celestial kingdom of heaven. To be exalted is to gain the highest heaven or degree within that glory. Not only have we been permitted as Latter-day Saints to take the cove- nant of salvation, and to renew it from time to time, but we have also been privileged to enter into covenants which will give us exaltation in our Father's kingdom. After a man has taken the covenant of baptism and has pressed forward in righteousness and steadfastness before the Lord, and has desired to keep his commandments, and manifested by his works that he places the things of the kingdom of heaven first and will let the things of this world take care of them- selves, there comes a time when he is called and chosen and ordained to the higher priesthood. Ordination to the higher priesthood in- cludes a covenant of exaltation.
The Lord revealed this covenant to Joseph Smith in this lan- guage:
For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies.
They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abra- ham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God. And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord;
For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;
And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;
And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father's kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.
And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.
Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father which he cannot break, neither can it be moved.
But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and al- together turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come. (D. & C. 84:33-41.)
Fulness of Blessings
Now, according to the revelations which we have received, the fulness of the priesthood, meaning, I suppose, the fulness of the bless- ings of the priesthood, is had only in the temples of God. There is an order of the priesthood which is named the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. When people enter into that order of mar- riage, administered in the temples of the Lord, by the Lord's servants, having the Lord's authority, they make a covenant of exaltation, a covenant that will bring them up in the resurrection as husband and wife. The family unit will continue, and they will gain the highest reward and the greatest honor and glory that our Father can bestow
16 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday, September 29 First Dag
on any of his children. They will be gods, even the sons of God, and all things will be theirs, for they will receive of the fulness of the Father.
These covenants which we take in the waters of baptism and when we partake of the sacrament, if we keep them, will guarantee us a place in the celestial world. These covenants which we take when we are ordained to the higher priesthood, and when we enter into that order of priesthood which is the new and everlasting cove- nant of marriage, if we keep them, will guarantee us a place of ex- altation in eternity.
And as with the covenant of baptism, so with the covenant of marriage: I don't suppose the Lord is making a useless covenant with us or offering us something that we are not able to obtain. In each instance, if we keep our part of the bargain and do the things we know we should, the Lord has promised to do his share and keep his part of the bargain and give us the promised reward.
Baptism A Gate
Sometimes someone will say: "Well, I have been baptized into the Church; I am a member of the Church; I'll just go along and live an ordinary sort of life; I won't commit any great crimes; I'll live a reasonably good Christian life; and eventually I will gain the king- dom of God."
I don't understand it that way. I think that baptism is a gate. It is a gate which puts us on a path; and the name of the path is the straight and narrow path. The straight and narrow path leads up- ward from the gate of baptism to the celestial kingdom of heaven. After a person has entered the gate of baptism, he has to press for- ward with a steadfastness in Christ, as Nephi expresses it, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men; and if he endures to the end, then he gains the promised reward.
And so it is with marriage and exaltation. Sometimes people think they can enter into the ordinance of celestial marriage and then be indifferent or lukewarm or even commit iniquity and sin, and yet figure that eventually, in the eternities that are prepared, after they have paid the penalties for their sins, they will come up as husband and wife and enter into their exaltation. Such is not the case. The same principles apply to marriage and exaltation as apply to bap- tism and salvation. There is no such thing as gaining salvation or exaltation except by obedience to those laws upon which the receipt of these blessings is predicated. Salvation never has been and never will be the fruit of sin.
Covenants To Be Kept
After we have been baptized, after we have been married in the temple, after we have taken all these covenants, we have to keep
ELDER JOSEPH L. WIRTHLIN 17
them. Every promise that we receive is conditioned upon our subse- quent faithfulness. It is expressly so stated in the marriage cove- nant itself. We have to be obedient, faithful, and diligent, valiant in the testimony of Christ, walking by every word that proceedeth forth from his mouth. By such a course we will sanctify our souls. When we become sanctified and pure, we are capable and eligible and worthy to stand in the presence of our Father. No unclean thing can dwell in his presence. The whole process of salvation, this whole probation that we are undergoing in mortality, is to permit us to cleanse and perfect and purify our souls. It is to permit us to take evil and iniquity and carnality and everything that leads away from God out of our souls, and replace those characteristics with right- eousness and virtue and truth and obedience, which, if we do, degree by degree, will perfect us until eventually we are clean and spotless and pure and are able to stand the glory of the celestial world. If we can't stand the glory of the celestial kingdom, we won't be able to go where God and Christ are.
Blessings to Follow
We get the greatest blessings that it is possible for men to get here in this life by living the gospel. The world may be in turmoil, torn and disheveled; there may be blood and carnage on every hand, but if we keep the commandments of God, we will get the Holy Ghost for our companion and guide. Those who have the Holy Ghost get the peace which passeth understanding. Now, that is the greatest gift that a person can get while he dwells in mortality.
And then by having kept those same commandments and having walked in that same path, having kept those same covenants, we get the sure promise that we will be inheritors of a celestial exaltation in the mansions that are prepared. The gospel gives us the greatest blessings it is possible to receive in time, and assures us of the great- est inheritance it is possible to gain in eternity. How grateful we ought to be for it! How anxious we should be to keep the command- ments of God, and the covenants that we have made, so that we may have all the choice and rich things the Lord promises the Saints. It is my prayer that we may so do, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER JOSEPH L. WIRTHLIN
First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric
I sincerely trust, my brethren and sisters, that I might enjoy an interest in your faith and prayers during the few moments that I shall stand before you. I have the high honor and privilege of laboring with the youth of the Church; and it is a distinction and an honor to associate with Bishop Richards and Bishop Isaacson, who have the welfare of the young people at heart.
GENERAL CONFERENCE
First Day
Paul's Admonition
The admonition of the Apostle Paul to his younger associate Timothy is so applicable to youth:
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the be- lievers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (I Timothy 4:12.)
Through the great youth program of the Church, the admonition of Paul to Timothy is being adhered to. On every hand we see the evidence in the lives of these young people of their belief, faith, char- ity, and purity.
Sometime ago while I was visiting in the southern part of the state with Sister Wirthlin, we decided to remain overnight at Bryce Canyon. We arrived in the afternoon, meeting some of the young people who were employed there. They came to our cabin and held what I would call a fireside chat. These young men and women told us of ambitions and objectives to be achieved and of their great faith in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. I remember one young man who told us that he come to Bryce Canyon with the hope of earning enough money to pay his school expenses for the coming year. He was promised a certain salary, but later the manager indicated that the salary could not be paid in the amount first mentioned. The young man was deeply worried, knowing that the income for the summer would not be adequate. He said he worried about it for several days and wondered whether or not he should seek employ- ment elsewhere.
"Finally, one day," he declared," as I was driving out among the cedars to gather firewood for the lodge, I said to myself, 'Why not ask the Lord about it?' So I stopped the truck and walked out among the cedars, knelt down, and talked to my Heavenly Father. And there came to my heart a feeling of assurance that I should remain at Bryce Canyon and things would work out. A few days later the manager came to me and said, 'We have decided to give you the salary prom- ised you in the first place.' "
You couldn't convince that young man that the Lord hadn't an- swered his prayer. He believed implicitly in God, and because of that great faith he took his problem to the Lord and found the solu- tion.
The next morning when we went to the lodge for our breakfast, I noticed on the table the name of the waitress, an old familiar Latter- day Saint name. When the young lady came in, I asked her where she lived, and she answered, "I live in Bountiful."
I asked, "I suppose you are a member of this so-called Mormon
Faith of Young People
Church?"
She replied, "Yes, I am.
ELDER JOSEPH L. WIRTHLIN 19
Then I asked, "What kind of church is it?"
She declared rather emphatically, "It's a good church."
And then I put the next question quite strongly and asked her if she thought it was the only true church. In a very positive way she gave me to understand that it was the true church. At that point Sister Wirthlin told the young lady who I was, and that ended it. But the thrill of the whole thing was that this young woman, talking to a stranger, was willing to bear testimony to the fact that she be- longs to the restored Church of Jesus Christ.
Faith of Serviceman
Some four weeks ago I had a rather interesting and inspiring ex- perience. A young man whom I have known since he was a boy came into my office. He said, "I'm a reserve officer, and I have been called into the army."
He had been married only about four or five years and has two lovely children, and I sorrowfully replied, "Paul, I'm sorry, in a way."
He said, "Brother Wirthlin, don't worry about me, I have come here this morning to get some tracts that I might do some missionary work among my companions in the army; and furthermore, I have a promise, which I look upon as a divine promise, that I shall live to see the day when my father, who is not a member of the Church, will join it. I'm so impressed with that promise, I'm not worrying about the experiences that are immediately ahead of me." Such faith — so simple, and so profound! This young man will enjoy the blessings of our Heavenly Father because of his sweet, clean life and his faith in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the priesthood.
We often hear young people bear their testimonies to the divin- ity of this great work, and what a thrill it is; although, at times, there are evidences of a negative attitude on the part of older people. They say these young people cannot stand up and testify that they know this is the Church of God, that God lives, that Jesus is his Son, and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. Brothers and sisters, young people, even a child at the age of eight who has been baptized, can stand up under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and bear sincere testimony that he knows the Heavenly Father lives, that Jesus is his Son, and that Joseph Smith was his chosen instrument. There is no question about that in my mind.
Day of Pentecost
Go back to the days of Peter, the Apostle, after Christ had left the disciples, and they had received the Holy Ghost. They stood before a great multitude of people on the Day of Pentecost and preached to them the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The throng of people were so pricked in their hearts that they arose as one man and asked, "... Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter answered them and said,
20 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday. September 29 First Day
. . . Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Acts 2:37-39.)
Any child who attains the right age, who has faith and repents of his sins and is baptized for the remission of sin under the hands of authorized servants of God, can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost; and under the inspiration of that sweet spirit, he can bear his testimony. Did not the Christ declare:
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. (John 15:26.)
Spirit of Testimony
I recall a friend of mine who had a great sorrow to bear. He had sought solace in many places. Finally, one fast Sunday he said to his wife, "Let us go over to fast meeting." He hadn't been too active in the Church. In the fast meeting he saw many of the young people bearing their testimonies. The spirit of testimony took hold of him, and he stood up and bore his testimony. That same afternoon he asked another associate of mine if he could have some place in the activities of the Church, and he was called to serve. Today he is a loyal, devoted, and fruitful servant of our Heavenly Father.
Now, what about the young men who are being called into the armed forces of the nation? After all, we use this axiom: Old men for counsel and young men for battle. In the bloody struggle of war, it is youth who suffer. Their blood is spilt; their lives are sacrificed; and many are denied the blessings of having a companion and rearing a family. We owe much to these young men. First, we owe them encouragement. We owe to them letters in a constant stream to keep them encouraged, to keep their faith built up. Then, if death should come, because of their sweet, clean lives, they will regardless of what happens to them if death should come, because of their sweet, clean lives, they will be able to meet the great Judge who will extend his hand to them and give them that heavenly salu- tation: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
Aaronic Priesthood Program
The Aaronic Priesthood program of the Church is most vital. It is a training field for the young men of the Church. And what a grand and glorious thing it is to know that a boy at the tender age of twelve can receive divine authority from on high and become a servant of God. Whenever I think of these twelve-year-old boys, I always think of another one who lived nearly two thousand years ago — the boy Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. At the age of twelve we find him attending the Feast of the Passover with his
ELDER JOSEPH L. WIRTHLIN 21
parents in the city of Jerusalem, and in the course of events he found his way to the temple. There he was discussing the problems of the day with the great, the wise, and the learned. Later his mother missed him, and in looking for him, found him in the temple. In effect, she said to him, "Do you not know that you have caused your father and me a good deal of sorrow and grief?" Then he gave her that memorable answer, "... wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" (Luke 2:49.) That should be the slogan of the Aaronic Priesthood, in which every boy at the age of twelve commences his ministry in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Aaronic Priesthood affords opportunities that young boys cannot afford to miss, if they will take advantage of them; just as Paul said to Timothy,
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the be- lievers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in puritv. (I Timothy 4:12.)
Auxiliary Organizations
Then, too, we have the great auxiliary organizations of the Church. We have the Sunday School which provides lessons cov- ering the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; we have the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association and the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association. We have our seminaries and institutes. We have our great welfare program, too, which should play a pertinent part in training our youth to be thrifty, ambitious, and willing to sustain themselves by the sweat of their brows and the toil of their hands. The Primary Association of the Church makes a great contribution in the spiritual, vocational, and recrea- tional training of our children. It is the Primary that takes the child at a tender age and guides his footsteps in the paths of prayer and faith; and it teaches him how to use his hands effectively. The Primary Association is closely related to the young men who be- come holders of the Aaronic Priesthood, as it provides a preparatory course for all young men of the Church who anticipate receiving the Aaronic Priesthood. May I say, emphatically, the Primary Association has been one of the great factors in giving young men a vision of their responsibilities in the future. May God always bless and sustain the fine sisters who have been and who are carry- ing on this splendid work.
Boy Scout Program
Another great and very important project of which little is said is that of the Boy Scout program. I want to say to you, as the vocational and recreational program of the Church for the Aaronic Priesthood, there is nothing finer than scouting. I say this because I have three sons, two of them are Eagle Scouts, and the
22 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday, September 29 First Day
other one a Life Scout. As I have observed their work in scouting, to me it has been almost comparable to a college education. Many times there are those of us who feel scouting is strictly a recreational program, but that is only a part of it. We are faced today with a big problem in knowing what to do with the leisure time of our boys, especially during the vacation period. The scouting program will take up all of this leisure time, provided we encourage our boys to participate in it.
About a year ago a Scout was sent to me for an oral examina- tion covering the project of producing beef. I asked many ques- tions of the scout pertaining to the production of beef, and I was quite surprised when he answered every one of them correctly. With the knowledge he has accumulated through the merit badge project in scouting, he will be able to go forward in the beef in- dustry on his own, although he is tender in years.
There are many other projects which can be most helpful to young men in working out their future vocations.
As a father of three sons, and all of them Scouts, if I were to choose someone to supervise their recreation, I would choose the scouters of my own ward, because I know they would be in good hands and nothing would happen that would be detrimental to their character.
Where we have the right kind of Aaronic Priesthood work, we will have the great scouting program supplementing it; and where there is good scouting, there is good Aaronic Priesthood work. I plead with you to support the Boy Scou.ts.
Missionaries
I haven't forgotten the 5800 young men and young women out in the world, meeting people far beyond them in age and ex- perience. With the sword of truth in their hands for defense and offense, they are convincing men they have a great message, and as a result thousands of people are accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ in this nation and all over the world.
Support of Youth
So, we plead for your support, for your help in encouraging the youth of the Church to participate in the great Church youth program, with the aim that they may be prepared when the time comes to take over the responsibilities that we older people now have. Returning to Paul's admonition to Timothy, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." Impress every young man with his responsibilities and obligations in the priesthood, that when temptation crosses his path, he may remember the answer of the boy Savior in the temple when he said, "... wist
ELDER MATTHEW COWLEY
23
ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" This I humbly pray, will be the blessing of every young man and every young woman in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Amen.
ELDER MATTHEW COWLEY
Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
I am indeed grateful this morning, my brothers and sisters, for the counsel which we have received. I am grateful for the counsel we have received which has come from the President whom we sustain as a prophet, as the mouthpiece of God to his children here on earth. I endorse his timely counsel with respect to our conduct in the coming political campaigns and the keeping of our tempers. I am reminded of a story that was told of Senator Chauncey Depew when he was launching into a campaign for the Senate of the United States. His opponent came to him and said, "Senator, let's make this campaign clean."
The Senator replied, "I fully agree. If you will promise not to lie about me, I'll promise not to tell the truth about you." How clean the campaign was, I am unable to say.
Never Lose a Friend
When I was a youngster employed in the Senate of the United States, there came into the office one day a former governor of this state. While we were visiting, he said, "I'd like to give you a little advice."
I said, "That's fine, I appreciate advice from one of your ex- perience."
He said, "Never lose a friend over politics or religion."
I have tried to keep that counsel in my mind all my life. I was in politics a little bit at one time, for which I have since re- pented. I was successful in one election. I was defeated in an- other. But I am very thankful that I can say tdday that I still have the friendship of my opponents. I cherish their friendship. I respect the principles for which they stood, and I am sure they respect me in the same light.
Brothers and sisters, we are children of God, we are Saints of the Most High God. There is no place in this kingdom upon the earth for God's children to make enemies, one with the other, both professing to be members of the Church, over politics or religion.
Blessings of Gathering
I am reminded now of the opening prayer. In that prayer we thanked God that he had sought us out from far and near places to gather here. How thankful we should be that we have been sought out to gather where we are. And as I stand here this morn-
24 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday, September 29 First Dag
ing, I see two in this congregation who have come all the way from New Zealand, two good Maori Latter-day Saints who have come to receive the blessings in the temple of God. These are the only two who have had the opportunity to come from New Zealand dur- ing the past thirteen years. There are thousands of us living in the shadows of the temples of God upon whom there is no financial burden to go to these temples. How I thrill this morning when I see this grand couple who have saved and saved and prayed and prayed that they might one day come to the temple of God and receive their blessings. They have come eight thousand miles to spend a few days with us and to return back home. I trust that they have listened to the admonition which has been given all of us this morning, to keep the covenants which we have made with our God, to remember the blessings which are theirs if they remain faithful to the end.
I see also our good Hawaiian sister, Sister Kauhini, the presi- dent of the Relief Society of the Oahu Stake. I see also some of our Japanese and some of our Indian friends. Yes, I thank God that we have been sought out from places far and near to gather here. After this conference I am going among the Indian people of the Southwest Indian Mission. Brothers and sisters, they are our people. The salvation of these people rests upon us. The rewards to which they are entitled must come through us and the service we are willing to render to them and for them.
Love for Native Races
I love these native races. They have given me something that I could have received from no other source. Even though some classify them as heathen, yet I have never seen the veil between God and man so thin as I have seen among these native races. God has restored his gospel for all people. We have had eleven thou- sand missionaries in the field since 1946, going to all parts of the world where they are permitted to go. As has been mentioned, they are young, unexperienced men and women. But whether in New Zealand or in Hawaii or among the Indians of this nation or wherever they may go in the world, God magnifies his priesthood, and his priesthood speaks as having authority, and the people give listening ears.
Sometimes they are warned, the people of the world, to be- ware of these Mormon missionaries; and they are referred to the prophecy that one day false prophets would come among them. God never fulfils his purposes through false prophets. It is only through true prophets that he fulfils his purposes among men. It is a matter of historical record that God said he would scatter Israel. It is a matter of historical record that he said he would gather Israel from the four corners of the earth. And this congregation today is a witness to the world that it is a matter of historical fact that
ELDER MATTHEW COWLEY
25
through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, God is gathering Israel.
Prophecies Fulfilled
God said that in the last days the house of the Lord would be established in the tops of the mountains, and exalted above the hills, and all nations would flow unto it. It is a matter of historical record that he uttered that prophecy through one of his prophets. It is a matter of historical fact that the mountain of the Lord's house has been established in the tops of the mountains, and all nations have been flowing into it. It is a matter of historical fact that the stick of Judah has been written and is in the hand of God as one of his mediums of bringing salvation to his children. It is a matter of historical record that there was also to be a stick of Joseph, and that these two should be one in the hand of God. It is a matter of historical fact that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is now distributing this record, this stick of Joseph along with this stick of Judah to the thousands and thousands of those to whom the missionaries are going with their testimonies of the restoration of the gospel. It is a matter of historical record that God was to send Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers and the hearts of the fathers to the children, lest the earth be smitten with a curse. It is a matter of historical fact that in this dispensa- tion Elijah has returned to the earth, for the hearts of the children have been turned to their parents and those of the parents to the children. We know to whom that prophet came. It is a matter of historical record that God said through his Apostle that another angel would fly through the midst of heaven, having the everlast- ing gospel to preach to those who dwell upon the earth. To the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints it is a matter of histori- cal fact that that angel has flown through the midst of heaven, and the everlasting gospel has been restored to the earth. It was said by the Master that this gospel of the kingdom should be preached as a witness to all nations, and then should the end come. It is a matter of historical record and fact that there are right now 5,840 missionaries representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints out in the world, bearing witness to the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
God's Kingdom Established
Brothers and sisters, what more do we need other than the testimony of these historical facts to confirm the fulfilment of God's prophecies as prophesied by his servants? And we know as ex- plained by Daniel that God would set up a kingdom in the last days. We know the story of the image which was seen by Nebu- chadnezzar in a dream and the interpretation by Daniel under the
26 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday, September 29 First Dag
power of God of that dream. We know that those kingdoms and empires symbolized by the head, shoulders, and breast, the belly and thighs, and the legs, all passed away, and that during the ex- istence of none of those kingdoms did God set up his kingdom never to be destroyed. But in the days of the kings symbolized by the toes, God did establish his kingdom in the earth, and it will never be destroyed.
Loyalty to Priesthood
The priesthood of God is among men. Let us who hold it be faithful and loyal to this priesthood. We represent God, brethren. God must work through you to fulfil his prophecies; therefore, prize your priesthood, be loyal to it, be humble before God, and you will accomplish his purposes in the building up of his kingdom, and this work shall go forth into all the world and will reach out and will touch those who are to be brought out, two of a family and one of a city, and gathered to Zion.
I repeat, I thank God that we have been sought out from far and distant places to gather here. I thank God for the young missionaries who many years ago found my ancestors on the Isle of Man and brought them out, and they came in poverty and found their way to Nauvoo. They met the Prophet. One of these young lads was almost to be attacked and destroyed by a mob as he was lifting water from the Mississippi River, but his life was spared as it had been prophesied it would be. Yes, I thank God with all my heart that we have been gathered out from the world, and I thank God that these people, these islanders, and these Indians are re- sponding to this message, and that once in a great while, these peo- ple in their poverty find a way to get to Zion and go into the temple of God.
Thanksgiving for Natives
I offer up my thanksgiving to my Father in heaven for these natives who are here today. My, how much I owe to them! I remember during the war years that this fine couple were both in the military service of their country. And after the service was completed, as we had no missionaries in New Zealand, they both responded to mission calls. One day as I was going to visit them in the city of Rotorua, I discovered that they had built a beautiful new house. As I went into that home, I noticed that over the door there was a beautiful little printed sign with the name on it, Matthew Cowley. That was to be my house whenever I was visiting in that area of the mission. And when my family and I left New Zealand, it wasn't enough that we had lived in their home, they took the blankets from the beds on which we had slept and in- sisted that we bring those blankets back home with us.
Are these people, brothers and sisters, these islanders of the sea,
PRESIDENT GEORGE ALBERT SMITH 27
these Indians of the reservation, worthy of the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Yes, a thousand times, yes!
God bless us all. May we be faithful and devoted to this cause, obedient to the principles of the gospel, sustaining one an- other in our respective positions, honoring each other in our homes, preserving the integrity of our families, the integrity of our priest- hood quorums, and of all the auxiliaries, that God may continue to be and abide with us. This I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President George Albert Smith:
We have been speaking of a good many things this morning. I have been looking around, and another one who has passed away since our last conference is Elder Frank Evans, one of the most faithful and devoted workers the Church has had, and his wife is equally faithful and helpful in doing things for the Church. I can hardly refer to the passing of these men and women who have worked so close to us in the office. I hope and pray that we will all remember these good women who are left when their husbands go, and not forget them.
Another thing while I am on my feet, I want to call attention to the fact that several references have been made to our keeping the commandments of the Lord in order to obtain our blessings. 1 would like to refer to the 130th Section of the Doctrine and Cove- nants with reference to that principle:
"Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.
"There is a law, [this is what I particularly want to emphasize] irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated —
And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated."
Now brethren, we have had our attention called to the fact that we have many blessings that other people do not enjoy. We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ, but our blessings will be the result of our obedience to the laws governing those blessings, so let us continue to set an example among our fellows.
Th« Relief Society Singing Mothers will now sing "My Soul Is Athirst For God."
The closing prayer will be offered by President Arvell L. Child of the Nyssa Stake, Oregon, after which this Conference will stand adjourned until 2:00 o'clock this afternoon.
The proceedings of that session will be broadcast over Station KSL, Salt Lake City, and by arrangement through KSL, over the
GENERAL CONFERENCE
First Day
other stations named at the beginning of the session. The Confer- ence will also be broadcast over the television station of KSL, channel five.
Important messages and calls coming to us for persons supposed to be in attendance at the Conference will be announced at the dis- missal of the meeting over the loud speaking system on the grounds.
The choir music for this session has been furnished by the Combined Chorus of Singing Mothers from the Cache Region and Salt Lake City Stakes, with Sister Florence Jepperson Madsen con- ducting, and Elder Frank W. Asper at the organ.
Haven't we had a good time? Hasn't the Lord kept his part of the agreement, that when a few meet together in his name he will be there and that to bless them? He has been here.
The Singing Mothers will now sing to us, after which Brother Child will offer the benediction.
Singing by the choir "My Soul Is Athirst For God." Closing prayer was offered by President Arvell L. Child of the Nyssa Stake.
Conference adjourned until 2 o'clock p.m.
Friday, September 29.
The second session of the Conference convened at 2:00 p.m.
President George Albert Smith presided, and at President Smith's request, President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., First Counselor in the First Presidency, conducted the services.
President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.:
This is the second session of the One Hundred Twenty-first Semi-Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are convened in the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.
President George Albert Smith is present and presiding and has asked J. Reuben Clark, Jr., one of his counselors, to conduct the services. •
These services, and all general sessions of the Conference, will be broadcast in the Assembly Hall and in Barratt Hall (60 North Main) over a loud speaking system and by television.
The proceedings of this session will be broadcast over Station KSL of Salt Lake City, and by arrangement through KSL, over the stations named in the first session of the Conference.
FIRST DAY
AFTERNOON MEETING
ELDER CLIFFORD E. YOUNG 29
This session will also be televised over the KSL television sta- tion, channel five.
The choir singing for this session will be by the Combined Chorus of Singing Mothers from the Cache Region and Salt Lake City Stakes, Sister Florence Jepperson Madsen conducting and Elder Frank W. Asper at the organ.
We will begin the services by the Relief Society Singing Moth- ers rendering: "Hear My Prayer."
The opening prayer will be offered by President G. Carlos Smith, of the Big Cottonwood Stake, Utah.
The Relief Society Singing Mothers sang "Hear My Prayer."
The opening prayer was offered by President G. Carlos Smith, of the Big Cottonwood Stake.
The Relief Society Singing Mothers then sang "How Lovely Are Thy Dwellings."
ELDER CLIFFORD E. YOUNG
Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles
Our testimonies have indeed been strengthened so far in this conference, and I share with you in gratitude to our Heavenly Father for his goodness, for the manifestations of his Spirit, and above all I am grateful for the Church, for the testimony of its truth, and for the fellowship with you, my brethren and sisters.
Mormon Church a Challenge
Some weeks ago I was handed a clipping taken from a Los Angeles paper in which appeared a report of some remarks made over the radio by one of the distinguished clergymen of Los Angeles. His broadcasts are in the nature of a questionnaire, and one of the questions submitted to him was this: "There are said to be more Latter-day Saints in Los Angeles and its environs than there are in Salt Lake City. Do you not regard this as a threat?" Dr. Fifleld, in answering the question said,
No, I do not consider this a threat. I consider it a challenge. The Protestant churches, I think, have much to learn from the Mormon Church. There is no church in the world that does so much for its young people as the Mormon Church. I personally know most of the dignitaries of the Mormon Church. I visit in Salt Lake City frequently, and I know of no finer or more high-minded people anywhere. They live the cleanest and most temperate lives of any religious sect that I know of. Their people support their church generously with their tithing system, and the church in turn supports its people and provides a way for their social care so that none of them is on any public relief roll.
As I read that, I wished that were true. The possibilities of it
30 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday. September 29 . Fust Day
are like the possibilities in the Church for all things that are in harmony with the mind and will of God. But sometimes some of us do not always conform. If all the Latter-day Saints conformed to the counsels of the Church, this would be verily true. But we do have within the Church this possibility. It isn't a dream. It's a reality, if we will. And then he goes on.
Of course, I do not accept the story of the finding of the golden plates and the translation thereof of the Book of Mormon in the manner related, but I do think that as a religious organization, holding its people to a high level of culture and education and social progress, the Mormon Church has no parallel in our time. No, I do not think the Mormon Church is any threat to other churches. I think it is a challenge to them to do better work with their members and their converts.
President Clark's Book
As I read that, I recalled a very constructive criticism of Presi- dent Clark's book, On the Way to Immortality and Eternal Life. A brief review of that book appeared in the Unitarian Christian Register in the April number of this year. This is a magazine that is 124 years old, a magazine that carries each month criticisms and re- views of the leading theological, religious, and philosophical books as they are published from time to time. Outstanding works they are, and it was certainly in keeping with the dignity and the schol- arly atmosphere of Brother Clark's book to have this criticism appear in this magazine. In the final statement, and that is the point I wish to emphasize, the critic says this: "It is an excellent introduc- tion to the contemporary position of one of the most influential re- ligions on the American scene." Now, of course, we all like to hear nice things about our Church, but the thing that we are interested in, my brothers and sisters, is this: Are we worthy of this trust — this pedestal on which we are placed — as set forth in these statements? That is the challenge for us. Are we meeting this challenge? Do we in very deed in our living represent the Church and kingdom of God? On one occasion the Savior, as he was speaking to his dis- ciples and telling them of the events that should come to pass in the last day, after making certain predictions and promises, said, "And this gospel of the kingdom," and that was quoted here this morning, "shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all the nations; and then shall the end come." (Matt. 24:14.)
Witnesses of the Truth
On the Sabbath day, as we partake of the sacrament, we witness unto the Lord Jesus Christ that we will keep his commandments, that we will live in harmony with his will. And so I repeat, we have this challenge. Are we witnessing the truth to the world? We can only witness it as we live in harmony with those concepts that have been revealed by our Heavenly Father. Lip service is not the service that is required in this Church. It is a constant daily service to our
ELDER OSCAR A. KIRKHAM
31
fellow men. I alluded to it a minute ago with reference to people being on relief. We have a challenge there to see to it that those of our people who are in distress shall not be neglected but shall be provided for, and if we fail to measure up to that challenge, and that is the reason why we have people on public relief, we are failing in our responsibilities as leaders and members of the Church. The Lord has pointed the way. We should walk therein. We know the way, but it is in our neglect and in our failure to live up to that which we know to be true, that we fail to witness that we are keep- ing his commandments, that we are a witness of the truth. This ap- plies not only in this but in other walks of life also. We are told in James 1:27,
Pure religion and undeflled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Constant Service Required
In our community recently, we had a very serious tragedy. One of the young men of our city, a very promising young man, met with a tragic death. The community responded in love and sympathy to the family; and when the funeral service was held, it proved to be one of the largest attended in a long time. One couldn't help feeling the love and the sympathy there manifested. But the next day, then what? And the days to follow. These are the things that should give us concern. It isn't just a spasmodic move or a ges- ture, but it's a constant service that is required of us as Latter-day Saints in all we do, in our various walks of life. Therein our religion can be exemplified as we each day experience problems such as this.
Now, I do not regard this as difficult. I believe we can do it. I believe the Lord is cognizant of our weaknesses sufficiently to overlook them, and to make it possible, in spite of those weaknesses, for us to carry out to the world that we do have a living, vital reli- gion, that we have something that the people can live and exemplify in their lives. Otherwise the gospel would not mean to us what it does. I repeat again, it isn't a lip service. It is one that presents a constant challenge of daily labor, laboring for good, for the estab- lishment of truth, for the amelioration of suffering. We'll never have peace in the world in any other way. It will come only if we translate into our lives these divine concepts and these truths.
I pray, that the Lord will give us strength and power to do this, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER OSCAR A. KIRKHAM
Of the First Council of the Seventy
I pray that I may enjoy the blessings of the Spirit of the Lord. I thank him for my membership in this Church. I wish I had the power and the ability to make that expression of appreciation more
32 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday, September 29 First Dag
real, that it might be not only more helpful to me but also to those with whom I associate.
Much Given and Expected
Much has been given to us. Much is expected of us. I sincerely feel that there never was a time when greater opportunities faced our Church. I know that every year, every score of years, brings to that group and that generation like feelings, but truly great things are now being wrought in the world, and great opportunities now face us. Nations fear each other. There is much that is being done, but we have a task that challenges truly the best that is within us, me in my home, you in yours, all of us wherever we may be.
These lines from John:
He that hath received his testimony has set to his seal that God is true. (John 3:33.)
Baptism of Karl G. Maeser
I want to refer to the baptism of Karl G. Maeser, one of the great spirits of our Church, one of the great leaders of the Brigham Young University. Just after his baptism in Germany, he said these words:
On coming out of the water, I lifted both my hands to heaven and said, "Father, if what I have done just now is pleasing unto thee, give me a testimony, and whatever thou shouldst require of my hands, I shall do, even to the laying down of my life for this cause." (The Improve* ment Era 3:25.)
Soon after this covenant with the Lord, he and President Franklin D. Richards of the European Mission received the answer to this promise to the Lord, for while neither one of them could speak the language of the other, that is, Brother Richards could not speak German, Karl G. Maeser could not understand English, yet the Lord gave them the gift of tongues and of understanding. The promise was fulfilled at once. You know, hundreds of you in this audience today, that the Lord continued his blessings with Karl G. Maeser, for numbered among his pupils were George Suther- land of the Supreme Court of the United States, Reed Smoot of the United States Senate, William H. King of the United States Senate, and many, many others. I feel in like fashion we have also in our hearts with all good intent made a like promise to the Lord. And again I repeat, this is our opportunity to prove to the Lord that promise.
Glory of the Gospel
At one of our recent conferences in one of the stakes, we asked a young lady to tell of her experience at a national convention. She had received lovely honors. She told the story in some detail of
ELDER OSCAR A. KIRKHAM
33
what had happened at the convention, but then as the detail of it got wearisome to her, she took hold of the stand and seemed to rise several inches higher as she said, "I want to bear my testimony. That is what is on my heart." Then this youth in all her glory expressed what her testimony meant to her.
Years have been somewhat many in my life. I'm easily up to the top of the crest, but I challenge myself with you, the great majority of this audience, if we do not take the opportunity that is ours to serve him and courageously do his will, he will bring forward a generation that will keep his commandments and prove the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Spirit of American Youth
I listened to a talented pressman a few days ago who had just returned from Korea. He said the question was often asked of the soldiers up in the front lines what they were fighting for. He told only one simple incident. He said they know. Down the highway when thousands of Koreans were evacuating a city, there came a young fellow in a jeep. In the crowd that was hurrying on in con- fusion was an old lady bent with age, a large bundle on her back. The jeep stopped, the GI boy threw the bundle in, then lifted the old lady into the seat. Down the road they went to safety. Well, the pressman made quite a bit of that simple incident, and I believe that I caught the spirit of it. Surely the American youth know what they are fighting for. God bless them with courage when they re- turn home, that they will take their place and do their best. May the destiny that is theirs to have and enjoy be with them.
Service of Missionaries
A like spirit has gone out with 5800 young men and women in- to different parts of the world. One simple, yet to me a glorious, ex- perience was enjoyed last month in the East Central States Mission. As is our custom, we meet with all the missionaries as we go through a mission. Their testimonies are truly inspiring. We are thrilled as we listen to them. I seldom leave a meeting but what I have to hold back my tears of pride and joy for the youth of this Church. I re- ceived a lovely reflection of their service in one experience. A brother came to me after the dedication of one of the little chapels in the mission and said, "Brother Kirkham, I have been in the Church now for about nineteen years, and I am extremely grateful for what God has given us. The light and the truth of the gospel has truly en- riched my life. Let me tell you how it happened."
He said: "I had a young missionary come to my home. I used to drink a cocktail occasionally. I smoked freely; but the young chap, clean, sweet in his nature, and in his appearance so delightful, came to our place and told us that he had something for us. I called Mother in, and we sat and listened. This continued for several evenings,
34 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday, September 29 First Day
until one night when we were quite free in our conversation and felt we knew each other quite well, I took the liberty of rolling a cigaret. And the young man said: 'I suppose it's time that I told you about another great principle of the Latter-day Saints.' He said, 'I want to read you what we call the Word of Wisdom,' and he started to read to me. I had taken the cigaret out of my mouth and, as this young chap read this Word of Wisdom, something happened to me. I found myself trying to crush that thing in my fingers. I felt the fire once but held my nerve and kept crushing it, and I said, as now I say to you, Brother Kirkham, he spoke the truth. This boy brought me a message from God and cleared up my life."
Accept Opportunties
Well, these opportunities are also ours. Just over the fence from where we live is someone waiting to hear us speak the word. Con- sider the way we accept our opportunities in citizenship. Yes, I ap- peal to every Latter-day Saint: Vote — it's one of the high privileges of your American citizenship. Bear your testimony every opportunity that comes to you. "Stand up and be counted with the Lord."
God bless us and help us that these great hours may to us be great realities and opportunities. May it be said of us, "Much was given to you; much was expected; and you did your part." God bless us and be with us that we may make of our glorious religion a reality. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER JOHN A. WIDTSOE
Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
I confess, my brethren and sisters, that the call to occupy this position this afternoon is somewhat unexpected. I am to give the Church of the Air sermon next Sunday morning. It was intimated that because of that appointment I would not be asked to speak from this stand. So I have no special message in my heart. I suppose I'll have to depend upon the Lord. That is good practice for Latter-day Saints.
I am always happy to bear my testimony to my brethren and sisters that this is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. I rejoice in it; I know it to be true. The truth of it has lightened my life and has given happiness to me and to my family. That I can say always to my brethren and my sisters.
Year of Anniversaries
This has been a year of anniversaries. A short time ago, with- in the last few weeks, the President of the Church went to Ha- waii to celebrate the coming of the gospel to those islands one hun- dred years ago. You have read of what happened there. He men- tioned it briefly himself this morning in his address.
ELDER JOHN A. WIDTSOE
35
It is also a hundred years ago since the gospel was brought to the foreign-speaking lands of Europe. Up to that time we had only once attempted to preach the gospel in foreign tongues, namely in the South Sea Islands. But a hundred years ago the missionaries sent out by the First Presidency of that day entered the Scandinavian and other countries of Europe and bore witness of the restoration of the gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ. They made notable progress at that time, a progress which has resulted in a large influx of men and women, faithful men and women, to the valleys of the mountains here.
Scandinavian Celebration
It was my privilege to be sent to Scandinavia a few months ago to take part in the celebration which the Saints of those countries were holding and enjoying, because of the great anniversary. I visited the three Scandinavian countries. I was given the privilege primarily, I suppose, because I am able to speak a little of the tongues of those countries. I visited Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, in ad- dition to stopping briefly in England. I came back feeling thrilled with the manner in which the gospel had developed and spread from the humble beginnings of a hundred years ago in those countries. You know, of course, that here in these valleys, among the stakes and wards of Zion, the blood of those countries through intermar- riage has spread until a large proportion of our people here carry some of that blood.
The brethren and sisters of the Scandinavian countries had planned large celebrations. I was able to attend fully the ones in Stockholm, Sweden, and in Oslo, Norway. They were carefully laid out after the pattern that had been planned for our celebration here at home and were splendidly rendered, fully as well as the celebration here at home. I missed the beginning of the celebration in Denmark because of my hurried call and trip, but later on I met with the Danes and enjoyed their company and partook of their spirit and learned of the excellence of their celebration.
Gospel Changes Men
It was interesting to me to note how the gospel changes the very nature of men and women, and how faithful and devoted men and women may become to the cause of truth once it sinks into their hearts.
Norway is a long country, nearly a thousand miles long. Up in the icy north, we have two or three branches, one very recently es- tablished, and I was pleased to find in Oslo, which is nearly at the south end of the country, people who had come from the far north to celebrate and to thank the Lord for the coming of the gospel to their land. The same happened in Sweden; also in Denmark, which is a small country. All had a very large representation of their
36 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday. September 29 First Dag
Church members in attendance at the celebrations. There was a spirit of faith and devotion like that we have here today. Many peo- ple had traveled hundreds of miles to sit by one another in meetings like this and to listen to discourses on the simple principles of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It was interesting to note, also, how men grow and develop under the influence of the gospel spirit. Let a very humble man be touched by the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and he becomes transformed. He is no more the same man, no longer the same per- son. He has changed completely. I am reminded of the statement of the Prophet Joseph Smith at one time, when talking about the children of Abraham; he said that any person who accepts the gos- pel of Jesus Christ becomes of the seed of Abraham. A subtle change occurs in the very physical system of the man, which makes him in- deed one who belongs to the family of Abraham, the family of the faithful. This notable change I observed a good many times on this trip to Scandinavia this summer, that men are transformed for the better, their powers multiplied, their vision increased, their under- standing and comprehension brought out in new forms so much more vigorously because of the gospel which they have received, because of the truths of the gospel. I am happy to bear this record to my brethren and sisters at this conference.
Greetings From European Saints
I am very happy also to bring you the greetings of the people, our brethren and sisters of the covenant, of the faraway missions in Europe. They send their greetings to you and their blessings also, and their blessings are quite worth while for they come from com- mon sources. They love you, they watch you; they follow you; they try to emulate and to imitate that which you do here.
Meeting in Oslo
Some years ago, I have forgotten just how many, I had the priv- ilege to go to Oslo, the capital of Norway, with President David O. McKay and Elder Reed Smoot. The three of us came into the city rather late in the afternoon. I think two of us at least were unan- nounced. Perhaps Brother McKay was announced, the president then of the European Mission, I am not sure about that. But we made our way at once to the meeting place of the Latter-day Saints. I shall never forget that meeting. We were not expected by the mem- bers present. The meeting was composed of the people, the men and women, who had been called to labor as missionaries in the city of Oslo. It was a report meeting. One after another the people, young and old, got up and gave a report of what they had done. I recall one elderly lady who said that she hesitated to make her report, for it was such a poor report. She had only had time during the last month to bring the gospel to two hundred different homes. I thrilled
ELDER JOHN A. WIDTSOE
37
as I thought of the faith of that woman, the strength of her faith; and how many of us fail to appreciate what we have received as she did appreciate it. Many go by day after day, having received the great gift of the eternal goSpel, the greatest of all gifts, but forgetting to pay back to the Lord as he would like us to do a part of our time and strength and power to assist in the advancement of the great kingdom of God here upon this earth. I am sure that good sister re- ceived the gift of joy from her labors.
There is much I might tell you even after a brief trip to Scandi- navia this summer about the conditions of the people. They are faith- ful Latter-day Saints, second to none in the wards of Zion. I just touched old London for a few days and found it the same wonderful old London, in the same condition as of the past. The people there, our people, are reported to be faithful and true to their covenants with the Lord, through their baptism into the Church.
Worldwide Message
I would like to say, before I close this brief report, that I was greatly thrilled this morning as I heard Brother Cowley give his re- port, and added to that we have heard from Brother Kirkham a few moments ago. The message of the Church is not to the valleys of the mountains alone. It is not to be confined in these valleys sur- rounded by these everlasting hills. We have a worldwide message. Our army of missionaries, five thousand eight hundred strong as was reported this morning, implies our belief in the spread of the gospel over the whole earth. The Lord has said himself that every ear shall hear the gospel in these latter days. That means not only the ears of the people who are here in this beautiful, blessed land of America, but far beyond over the seas, on the islands, everywhere, the gospel has been preached and must continue to be taught. And we're doing this sacred work to the best of our ability. As we do that and con- tinue to do it, the Lord will bless us and magnify us and make us powerful and strong, acceptable to him. Let us never forget the worldwide nature of our obligations before the Lord. Our mission- ary system must be cherished and be kept alive constantly and for- ever, until that last great day comes and the Lord says that the work is done.
We Have The Truth
My brethren and sisters, I bear you again my testimony that I know this to be the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the truth. As Brig- ham Young used to say, "Men ask me what the gospel of Jesus Christ is, what name does it bear? And I say to you, its name might well be truth." We and the Church, if we are faithful, as we have been taught this morning by the President, the prophet of the Lord, shall conquer. We cannot fail. Truth is never defeated. It blesses all who possess it. We have the truth. If we will keep the truth and if
38 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday, September 29 First Dag
we cherish it and practise it in our lives, then victory over error will be ours from the smallest household in Zion to the farthest outpost of Zion, wherever that may be. Thus through the restoration of the gospel in our day, the whole world shall be blessed.
May the Lord bless us and fill us with an understanding of this mighty work laid out for us in these latter days and make us able to do the Lord's work, which we can do if we are faithful, I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Relief Society Singing Mothers and the congregation sang the hymn, "Praise to the Man."
ELDER MARK E. PETERSEN
Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
I earnestly pray, my brothers and sisters, that while I stand here the Spirit of the Lord will be with me because indeed it is a frighten- ing thing to stand before so many people, and I realize my great need of help.
President George F. Richards
I have missed in this conference the genial presence of President George F. Richards. I would like you to know that I, as one of the members of his Council, was very, very grateful for the privilege of serving under his leadership. I regard him as a truly great man — a great soul — a great leader. I am sure that no one had a more firm faith in the Almighty than did President Richards. I am sure that he was an inspired man of God, and I would like to say to you that I, along with the other members of the Council, loved that man deeply; and today, together with the rest of you, I miss his presence here.
Story of a Friend
I would like to tell you a story about a friend of mine whom I shall call Bill, for the sake of anonymity. During Bill's last year at school, he met a lovely young woman named Helen. They became very good friends, and it wasn't very long until they began to talk about the possibility of their getting married.
During that same last year of school Bill fell in with a group of fellows who were known as the most popular group on the campus. They taught Bill some bad habits.
When Helen first saw Bill with a cigaret in his mouth, it nearly broke her heart. She talked with him and pleaded with him, but he felt that smoking cigarets was one of the things that went with the popularity of this group on the campus. So her pleadings brought no results. Helen began to wonder if she should stay with Bill or
ELDER MARK E. PETERSEN
39
not, whether she should allow their courtship to end in marriage. She wanted to be married in the temple, and she knew that if Bill continued to smoke cigarets they would not get to the temple.
When graduation time came, Bill offered a formal proposal to Helen and asked her to set the date of their wedding. She thought it over long and seriously. She loved Bill a very great deal and did not like the idea of losing him. But neither did she like the idea of marrying a smoking man, one who could not take her into the temple where she had wanted to go.
After some days' consideration, Helen finally came to the con- clusion that when school was out, Bill would be separated from this group of boys and that possibly, if she married him, under her in- fluence he might leave off the bad habits which he had acquired and get back into activity in the Church. And then, probably within a year or so, they could go to the temple together; so she consented, and they were married by her bishop in her living room at home.
A year or so went by, and a lovely baby boy was born to them. They called him John. In due time another boy was born to them. They called him James, but he was soon known as Jim.
Bill loved his two boys, and every night after he came home from work, he would play with them and have just a grand time. He would hold them way above his head and laugh at them and talk to them, and they would laugh back. Then he would bring them down and hug them to him.
This show of affection made Helen very happy, but Bill played with them while he had a cigaret in his mouth, and when Helen saw those little baby hands reach out for that smoldering white thing be- tween Bill's lips, her heart sank, and she began to wonder what that example might mean in the future lives of those boys.
Years went by. John became twenty years of age and was called on a mission. He was thrilled with the call and so was his mother. Bill — well, on the night of the farewell testimonial, Bill sat on the stand with his wife and son and he was just about as proud as any father could be, because John was really a remarkably fine young man.
About three weeks after John's departure for his mission, Bill was sitting one evening in front of the big, open fireplace in the living room reading the evening paper and smoking a cigaret. While he was doing so, in came Jim, a young man by this time. Jim said, "Hi, Dad."
Without looking up from his paper, Bill said, "Hello, Son. How are you?"
"I'm fine, Dad. I want to ask you a question." "All right, Son, what is it?" "What's the best brand of cigarets?"
Bill stiffened in his chair. For a moment it seemed as if he were frozen there. Then his hands relaxed, and the paper slipped from
40 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday, September 29 First Day
his fingers and fell to the floor. He flipped his cigaret over into the open fire and then stood up and faced his son.
He said, "Jim, you cannot start to smoke."
"But I have started already, and I want to know what is the best brand of cigarets?" «■
"Son, I am telling you," Bill said, "you cannot start to smoke."
"Well, why not, Dad? You've smoked as long as I can remem- ber, and it hasn't hurt you any. I've watched you."
Those last words Jim spoke cut into Bill's heart. "I've watched you. I've watched you." Then Helen was right, Bill thought to him- self. All these years Helen had told him that his cigaret habit — the example he was holding before his sons — would result like this, and he had never believed her. Now Helen was right. Here was Jim saying, "I've watched you. I've watched you."
Then Bill felt a consciousness of guilt, a note of self-accusation, and there were words going through his mind saying, "I taught him. I taught him. I taught him."
Bill shook himself and walked over to his son and took hold of both shoulders and looked him square in the eye and said, "Son, you say these cigarets didn't ever hurt me. And you say you've watched me. I want you to know that these cigarets have done me more harm than anything else in my life. Nothing has hurt me, nothing has handicapped me so much as these cigarets. Why, I'd give any- thing that I own if I had never started to use them, and I don't want to see the same handicaps come to you. Why, Jim, these cigarets have raised a barrier between me and happiness right here in my own home, and they have caused your mother many hours of weeping. I know that, and I don't want you to undertake a habit of this kind."
He talked so earnestly and so unusually that Jim at first thought that his Dad was putting on an act and told him so. Again Bill be- gan to talk and plead with his son never to smoke again, to get rid of this habit that he had just begun.
Then Jim, realizing that his dad was really serious, said, "Well, Dad, if this cigaret habit is so bad, why haven't you quit?"
Bill said, "I've tried to quit. I've tried many times, but I have never been able to — the habit is too strong. I'm just like a slave to this ciga/et and I don't want you to become a slave. Now, Son, cut it out."
Jim said, "Well, Dad, you see all the fellows I go with — they all smoke. They'll think I'm a sissy. I couldn't face those fellows and tell them I wasn't going to smoke any more. They are the most popular crowd I know.
Bill said, "Popular or not, stop this habit and if necessary get a new crowd. Find new friends who don't smoke, but let cigarets alone."
Jim said, "Well, I don't know whether I can do that or not. I'll have to think this over."
ELDER MARK E. PETERSEN
41
Then his dad said, "Jim, I'll make a bargain with you. If you'll quit smoking, I'll quit."
Jim, quick as a flash said, "Well, Dad, you just told me you couldn't quit. Are you trying to lead me along?"
Bill's answer to that was that he walked over to the fireplace, put his hand in his pocket, pulled out the package of cigarets and the folder of matches, and threw them into the open fireplace. Then he turned around and faced his son and said, "Son, I've quit. I'm all through. Now, will you do the same thing?"
"Well I don't know, Dad, I've got to think this over," Jim said. "I'll tell you in the morning."
That night Bill couldn't sleep. He rolled and tossed in bed as long as he could stand it and then got up and went into the living room and closed the door. He didn't turn on the lights. He just walked the floor there in the dark. Jim's words kept going through his head, "I've watched you. I've watched you," followed by his own sense of self-accusation, "I taught him. I taught him."
It had been a long time since Bill had said a prayer. He had left that pretty much with Helen. But this night he wanted more than anything else to have Jim quit smoking; so there in the dark- ness and the stillness of his home he slipped down on his knees and began to pray. He poured out his soul to the Lord and told him all of his faults and shortcomings, confessed all of his sins to the Lord — the first time he'd ever done that. Then he told the Lord about Jim and their conversation of the evening.
He didn't pray with much faith. The cigarets had pretty well weakened what faith he had, but he did pray from a sense of fear — fear for the future of that boy; and from a sense of love — love for a son for whom he would give his own life, if necessary. But it seemed like asking a great deal of the Lord to erase in one night an example which he had held before his son ever since that son was a tiny baby.
At last morning came. Bill slowly climbed the stairs up to Jim's room and went in and sat down on the edge of the bed. He put one hand on Jim's shoulder. Jim turned over, and Bill said, "Son, what's your answer?"
Jim looked up into his dad's tired face and sleepless eyes and said, "Dad, I surely don't want to hurt your feelings, but the fellows — I couldn't face them. I guess I won't quit. I'll wait awhile."
Deeply disappointed but without saying another word, Bill got up and walked slowly out of the room. He felt like he had been whipped. But he was more than ever determined to keep his own resolution. He would never go back to his cigarets.
The next Sunday he went to Church, the first time in years. He went again the next Sunday and the next, and he continued to go and enjoyed it.
About a year afterwards the bishop came to him one day and said, "Bill, how would you like to be ordained an elder?"
42 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday. September 29 First Day
A lump came into Bill's throat, and his eyes filled with tears as he took hold of the bishop's hand and said, "Bishop, do you mean that at last I can take Helen to the temple?"
The bishop squeezed his hand and said, "Yes, Bill, at last you can take Helen to the temple."
Another year went by, and John came home from his mission. One day when John and his father were alone together, John went over and put his arm around his dad and said, "Dad, I want you to know how deeply grateful I am to you for the wonderful thing you have done. You know, as a boy I always used to think that my dad was just about perfect, and I guess every boy thinks that his dad is the greatest man in the world. But every time you took a cigaret, it hurt me deep inside. I knew you had a weakness you couldn't control. But now, Dad, all that is over, and I want you to know how grateful I am to you."
But what about Jim? Well, Jim is married now and has a little boy of his own, and he comes home at night and plays with this boy just as Bill used to play with Jim. And when Jim gets his own little son up in his arms, that little baby, just as his father did, reaches out for that smoldering white thing between his dad's lips.
The other day I rode home on the bus with Bill, and he was telling me how happy he is in his new life. And then he told me about Jim, and said that if nearly twenty years of a bad example would put Jim where he now is, possibly another twenty years of a good example might bring him back to where he ought to be. And I thought, "God bless you, Bill."
And God bless all other men like him in the wonderful struggle they are making for the right.
And God bless Jim and all other boys like him that they may recognize tobacco for what it is — a narcotic which enslaves human beings and helps to destroy their faith in God. This is my prayer, in Jesus' name. Amen.
ELDER FRANCIS A. CHILD
Formerly President of the Western States Mission
My dear brethren and sisters, Brother Clifford Young said that it is a challenge to any man to stand before this audience. I bear my humble testimony that to a Child it's more than that.
Sister Child and I are very appreciative and thankful for the call we received to preside over one of the great missions of the Church. We arrived in Denver in December of '45 to take charge of the Western States Mission. You remember that that was following the war and we had, to begin with, just nineteen missionaries. They were pretty well scattered over that vast area, but we felt that the Lord would bless us if we would apply ourselves to the work. We asked the Lord to bless our labors, but we can't expect him to bless
ELDER FRANCIS A. CHILD
43
our labors unless we labor. We appreciated this call very much, first because it brought us under closer supervision and in close con- tact with the Presidency of the Church whom we love very dearly and, with them the Quorum of the Twelve and the other General Authorities of the Church. They have been so considerate and so kind personally and have given so much attention to the mission where we labored, that we feel very grateful to them.
We have a very happy memory of our tours of the mission, first with Milton R. Hunter, and then with Elder Harold B. Lee, with President Antoine R. Ivins and Sister Ivins, and with Thomas E. McKay, as Assistant to the twelve, and Sister McKay. These were all very wonderful experiences. To travel day after day and to hold conference every night with these men and women who are inspired of the Lord to do the work is an unusual experience and one you can't forget.
We had some wonderful missionaries come to us. We received the first missionaries from the war service. They came out of the Army, off the battleships, and out of the airplanes, and yet they were marvelous missionaries. They had received an experience that matured them and gave them qualities of leadership, and it was won- derful to know that they had been in those situations without losing the testimony which they had carried from their homes and from their wards. We received in the four years we were there 367 mis- sionaries. Most of them were elders and considering the fact, as I said, that most of them had had service in the Army or the Navy, it was remarkable to know that not in one instance did we have occasion to criticize any missionary, any elder, for violation of the Word of Wisdom or for disregarding the standards of the Church. That speaks very highly for the training that they had received previous to their missionary experience.
I would like to thank the friends out in the mission field, I hope some of them are listening in, for the friendly assistance given to our missionaries. They were so kind and so considerate and so help- ful. I am sure the Lord will recognize their work as a contribution to the great missionary service of the Church, and were Christ speak- ing, I'm sure he would say that in being kind to these my brethren and sisters, you were kind to me because they are my servants.
As I said before, we had only nineteen missionaries in the field when we went out, and then they began coming ten at a time, twelve at a time, fifteen at a time. We would hold a little conference with them, have a testimony meeting, and then assign them out. I as- signed two elders together in a new city who had never had any ex- perience in missionary work with senior companions to show them the way. That was a test period in the mission, but it's remarkable how the Lord sustained them.
One of our problems was to find accommodations in the homes of people where they could stay while they did their labors, but the Lord opened the way. Let me give you one example: We desired
44 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday, September 29 Pint Day
to send two sisters to Lajunta, Colorado where we were opening up the work. Two elders were sent there first and they tried to find some place in which the sisters could stay before they moved there. They couldn't find any place, but we told the sisters to go there and we were sure the Lord would provide a place for them; not to be dis- couraged, but to go there and put an advertisement in the paper. They did that and on reaching Lajunta they put a small ad in the paper which read "Room desired in a home with cooking privileges, for two young women who do not smoke and do not drink and do not entertain." The paper came out at 5:00 o'clock and at 8:00 o'clock they had three or four offers. The ad ran three days and at the end of three days, they had seventeen places to choose from. One good old couple said, "Yes, we have a place in our home for young women like that. The last ones we had stay at our home burned us out. Yes, if there are any young people that do not smoke, if there are any young women that do not drink and do not entertain, we would like to have them in our home." And so by using that advertise- ment, holding up our standards, places were provided in every city to which missionaries were assigned without any difficulty.
I wish to thank the parents of those wonderful young men and young women who came to us. They were remarkable — some had their weaknesses that they had to overcome, but they were great missionaries.
It is a remarkable experience to be a mission president. I think no greater blessing can come to any man in the Church, and no greater blessing can come to a sister than to be along with her hus- band in that presiding position. We watched them come, new, in- experienced, bashful, and backward, timid, and just as tense as they could be. They were uncertain of their testimonies, but they were • willing. They accepted their assignment, sometimes in a difficult
part of the mission. And they applied themselves and as they applied themselves, they prayed to our Heavenly Father and he blessed them. We watched them grow and then we watched them when they were released. They had gained spiritual stature. They had become strong in their testimony. They were self-reliant. They could stand on their feet and declare their faith and uphold the standards of the Church. I know those young men and young women would all, if they had the opportunity, stand up and say, honestly, that the two years or so spent in the mission field were the most wonderful two years of their lives. And I think they will continue to say that as long as they live.
A gentleman attended one of our conferences who had been the president of a university, and after he had listened to the testimonies of the missionaries, especially the elders, he said it reminded him of when he was a young man and performed a mission, He said: "Since that time I have completed my schooling, I have held various posi- tions as an educator, and finally was appointed and selected as a president of a university, and I want to tell you now that the ex-
ELDER GLENN G. SMITH
45
perience that I received when I was a young man in the mission field did more for me in making me what I am than all the schooling I received that prepared me for my educational career."
You mothers and fathers, I would admonish you to prepare your children to accept a mission. I say prepare because I think it should start early in life. So often our missionaries in their first testi- mony express this thought: "I have prayed all my life that I would have this opportunity and now I sincerely pray to my Heavenly Father that I'll be a successful missionary." Start them out with the missionary spirit early. You couldn't do anything better for them. If you would give them the greatest heritage, the richest heritage, that could come to them, send them on a mission. If you would qualify them to meet the problems of life, send them on a mission. I am sure that what they receive there will be a blessing to them and will qualify them in their after years and throughout their lives.
May the Lord bless us all and keep us faithful through apply- ing ourselves to the work which has been given to us for it's our work, given to us for a definite responsibility, and we accept that responsibility when we accept membership in the Church. May he help us to magnify ourselves in that service, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
ELDER GLENN G. SMITH
Formerly President of the Texas-Louisiana Mission
I can say amen, brothers and sisters, to all President Child has said regarding the missionaries and also of the fear that is in my heart in standing before such a magnificent congregation.
We, too, spent four years in the mission field in the Texas- Louisiana Mission, and, as all good missionaries say, "Ours was the best mission in the world. We learned to love those mild, gentle people and that wonderful Southland. We began to believe it truly the Garden of Eden. The hearts of the people were so big and gen- erous we couldn't help but feel that part of this land must have been the Garden of Eden. And, as proof that it was, we read that Adam and Eve were driven out into the cold, and dreary world, and the prophet found his altar north of Texas. We were wonderfully blessed in being permitted to labor among the people of this great mission.
There were twelve missionaries when we arrived at Houston — no young Elders at all. The lady missionaries who were there labored in the office. There were some elderly brethren in the field. Also three couples. These missionaries did a wonderful work. One couple performed a most wonderful mission, baptizing thirty-seven converts into the Church. They also sold over six hundred copies of the Book of Mormon in two years.
46 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Fridag, September 29 F'"t Dag
When the young missionaries began to come, and there were no older ones for senior companions, how our hearts went out to them. I well remember one in particular saying to me, "President Smith, haven't we a senior companion?" I said, "No." "Well, what will we do?" "You will go out in the authority of the holy priest- hood of Almighty God. You'll bear your testimony of the divinity of this great work and as you apply yourself, God will grant unto you wisdom, understanding, vision, and discernment. You will be able to meet the opposition in a sweet and humble way and you will be the means in God's hands in performing his work." I bear solemn testimony to you, my brothers and sisters, these young men and women went into the world with faith in their hearts and a determi- nation to do the thing the Lord wanted done and they performed a most magnificent work.
The population of the mission so far as the Church was con- cerned was approximately 7700 at that time. Before we left it had climbed to almost 10,000. The missionaries have been successful in that area. With due respect to President J. Golden Kimball's state- ment, "that the Gospel must be true or the Elders would have ruined it long ago," I know each one of these fine missionaries knows the Gospel is true. These young men and young women, your sons and daughters, have strong and fervent testimonies of the divinity of the great work. I, too, like Brother Child, can say that the best thing you can do for your sons and your daughters is to plant deep in their hearts at a young age a desire to represent the General Authorities of this great Church and Jesus the Redeemer of mankind, in bringing souls to him. "For though they labor all the days of their lives and bring but one soul, how great will be their joy with that one soul in the kingdom of our Father."
In conclusion may I quote from Edgar A. Guest.
God grant me this: the right to come at night Back to my loved ones, head erect and true; Beaten and bruised and from a losing light, Let me be proud in what I've tried to do.
Let me come home defeated if I must, But clean of hands, and honor unimpaired. Still holding firmly to my children's trust, Still worthy of the faith which they have shared.
God grant me this: what e'er the fates decree, Or do I win or lose life's little game, I still would keep my children proud of me. Nor once regret that they must bear my name.
God bless us as Latter-day Saints. That we may all measure up in the eyes of our children, as we feel our parents have so nobly done before us, I pray, in Jesus' name, Amen.
ELDER E. WESLEY SMITH
47
ELDER E. WESLEY SMITH
Formerly President of the Hawaiian Mission
I sincerely trust and pray that I may enjoy the Spirit of the Lord which was so manifest during our sessions this morning and this afternoon. I will say "Hawaii Noka noi!" That is, there is no mission that goes beyond or exceeds Hawaii.
I have had the privilege of laboring among the true blood of Israel, through the loins of Joseph, through the two branches of the House of Israel — Ephraim and Manassa — a people whom the Lord loves — a people whom the Lord chastens and forgives because of their great faith.
Hawaii, during the past one hundred years, has been greatly blessed because of the faith of that wonderful people. The Lord has blessed them with a Temple, where they have the privilege of going into the House of the Lord. And they look upon that house with sacred feelings in their hearts. Would that you could have the priv- ilege of attending one of the sessions in the Hawaiian Temple at Laie and witness there the sincerity and the honor they feel for the privilege which is theirs in going into that holy house.
I feel it within my heart that I am an Hawaiian. I was born in Hawaii. I made that statement once that I was an Hawaiian and one boy spoke out in that little meeting and said, "You don't look like it to me."
I said, "Son, why?"
And he said, "Because you haven't got the same color skin."
I said, "No, son, that's true. I haven't been blessed with that delicate, brown, lovely skin of the Hawaiian, but if you could see my heart, you could note that I am an Hawaiian."
I love that people because of their faith and their love and their respect for the General Authorities of this Church. When the Presi- dent of the Church visited them, they honored and respected him, and they love him as their prophet. When they say their morning prayers and at night, they remember their prophet. They remember the General Authorities of the Church for they love them. And when the counsel goes out from the headquarters unto that wonderful peo- ple, they heed that counsel and they honor it.
The Lord said that they should become a white and delightsome people. They are a delightsome people and I feel, when they stand before God and their souls are presented before him you'll find that they are a white and delightsome people. We are not judged by the clothes we wear, nor the skin that covers these bodies but God will judge us by the purity and the love and the sincerity that's in our hearts.
The mission of Hawaii has also produced a Stake. It stands well among the leaders of the Stakes of this great Church. They have produced many missionaries. During the past year and a half it has
48 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday. September 29 First Day
been my joy to present before the First Presidency ten names of Hawaiians for missionary work, and they honored these fine young people and all ten were assigned to labor in the Japanese Mission, in Japan. And they are doing good work. I would like to relate one little incident of Brother William Akau from Kawaihae, a fisherman boy, a boy who was out to sea fishing for a living. He was called on a mission. He said, "I'm not learned. I haven't had a college education, but I know that God lives and I know that Joseph Smith was a divine prophet of God." And so he hung his net upon a branch of a Kiawi tree and he went forth to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and become a fisherman of men. In bearing his testimony, he declared that he prayed sincerely and honestly that he might perform an honorable mission and when his work was completed in the land of Japan, that he could return to his little village at Kawaihae and there pick up his net on the Kiawi tree and go fishing again. Another stalwart boy had only been in the Church two years, married, and had a lovely baby. His mother was not a member of the Church and so I spoke to the mother first, about his going on a mission. He was a boy who was well provided with the necessities and comforts of life, and the mother said: "Yes, President Smith, it would be an honor unto us to have our son go on a mission." Then I spoke to his wife. She cried with joy, "What a grand blessing it would be for my husband to go on a mission."
"How would you get along?"
"Very well, with my baby to comfort me."
"Then I spoke to the boy, who had just purchased him a brand new 1948 Packard automobile, "Kimo, how would you like to ac- cept a mission?"
"President Smith, I would appreciate the honor."
I said, "I have interviewed your mother and your wife; they feel as you do."
And so his name was presented to the First Presidency. He was called upon a mission. He went to Japan with his music. President Clissold reports to me that during the time of study when he could hear the other missionaries studying aloud, this good boy was off in the corner of the room playing his guitar. His first impression was to correct that and have him join the other missionaries in studying the language, but he said he felt perhaps that he was homesick. Then a day or two later again he was playing his music while the others were studying. President Clissold hesitated, then, to speak and the third time he said: "Well, perhaps I had better speak to him." But that morning he called on him to pray. In that little family group of missionaries, he got down upon his knees and he humbly prayed in the Japanese language. It was not a memorized prayer. President Clissold said it came from his heart, and he marveled. The next morning he was called upon to offer prayer for the food they were
ELDER E. WESLEY SMITH
49
eating, and again in the language of the Japanese he prayed. He said, "How are you learning this language, Kimo?"
"Well he said, "You know I go off in a room with my guitar and while the other missionaries are talking one with another and ex- plaining the principles of the language I listen. It goes in this ear, the music goes in that ear and it can't get out. And thus, I've learned the Japanese language."
I am proud of our missionaries in Japan. It seems to be easy for them to learn the language among that people.
And another thing they have taken into that land is kindness and sunshine, and love for the music of Hawaii. Through the war clouds over Japan and their defeat, and they were crushed, they could see no light, they could see no joy in life, the clouds were heavy over them; but when the Hawaiians arrived on the shores of Japan with their cheer, with their great love, and their music, the darkest of the clouds fled and light came through; their souls were touched with a new interest in life.
I attended a meeting on the island of Lanai, an island that stands out prominent in the history of Hawaii and the Church. Time will not permit to give you the story. At one time in Hawaii in 1858 when the missionaries were all called forth because of the Johnston Army trouble coming into Utah, a condition existed in Hawaii whereby the Church was practically destroyed. The Saints endeavored to buy the Island of Lanai. An unscrupulous man by the name of Walter M. Gibson, cheated the natives out of the land which was being purchased by the Church. The great grand- father of Elder Benson, Lorenzo Snow, Joseph F. Smith, W. W. Cluff, and Alma L. Smith were called to go back to Hawaii to reorganize the mission and establish again proper leadership. In later years the island was sold to the Hawaiian Pineapple Company. At the present time 3500 people live upon that island. We en- deavored to establish a meeting place over there. We sent our missionaries to that island. A little over three years ago they gave us a six months probation period and we have built a meetinghouse, helped by the plantation, and we established a nice little branch where we put our elders to labor. In that length of time we had gained the respect of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company. They are very generous to us. We have a nice meeting house, a recreation hall free, and our light and water free. They furnished us paint that we might paint the building and maintain it. So we have taken a pride in our lot and we have nice flowers and a beautiful lawn which is a credit to the Church. In my last meeting on Lanai we had 145 present, Hawaiians, 43; Japanese, 31; Philippinos, 39; Chi- nese, 10; Koreans, 9; Portugese, 2; and our whites who were mainly missionaries, 11. To mingle with the peoples of Hawaii who as- sociate together as one, and when you labor among them, they are no longer Japanese, Koreans' Philippinos, Hawaiians; they are chil-
50 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Friday, September 29 First Day
dren of God, brothers and sisters, who have that same feeling in their souls that we have who are assembled here in this holy house.
Much work is being done at the present time among the Philippino peoples and when you get to know them and understand them, you will find that they have the same sweet feelings in their hearts that the Hawaiians have. They are very generous in their natures. Over in Pahalla, the farthest place south on the big island of Hawaii, most of the people in that little branch are Philippines, and when we held our little meeting there and bade them farewell and could see their eyes fill with tears and their cheeks moistened we felt to thank God that we had had the privilege and joy of as- sociating with His children, though they have not had the privilege we have had.
At our farewell social and our meeting in the Temple, the land of my birth, ( I was born in Laie ) , after the talk, Brother Kanahele, the first counselor in the presidency of the Temple, said, "President Smith, you have hurt our feelings."
I said, "What did I say? What did I do to hurt your feelings?"
He said, "You have been released and you are returning home." He said, "This is your home and therefore you have hurt our feel- ings."
From then on I remembered that, and so, I, in our farewell meeting mentioned the fact that I was leaving the land of my birth and returning to my adopted land, and thus they seemed to be pleased.
We have listened to President Cowley's talk, his feelings to- ward Polynesia. Sister Smith and I know how he feels. Our hearts are out there in Hawaii. When I see our beloved sisters, Abbie and Kamaile, here, stalwart in the Church — I have known them for many years — how pleased I am that they are here with us.
Now, may the Lord bless us and may the Lord sustain us and give us courage to stand for the right and above all, that when we sustain the General Authorities of the Church by raising our hands, may we be sincere and honest in that privilege that is ours to sustain them, and when they give us counsel that might be con- trary to a feeling that we have within our hearts, let's uphold them and sustain them, because they are inspired of God and they are prophets of the Lord. May the Lord sustain us and bless us in this and give us courage to do that which is right, is my humble prayer and I pray for it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.:
We have just listened to Elder E. Wesley Smith, former Presi- dent of the Hawaiian Mission.
The Relief Society Singing Mothers will now sing "He That Keepeth Israel."
PRESIDENT J. REUBEN CLARK, JR.
51
The closing prayer will be offered by President Edward S. Burgess, Alpine Stake, Utah, after which this Conference will stand adjourned until 10:00 o'clock tomorrow. The proceedings of that session will be broadcast over KSL of Salt Lake City, and by arrangement through KSL, over the stations named in the first session of the Conference, and will be televised over the KSL television station, channel five.
Tonight at seven o'clock here in the Tabernacle there will be a meeting of ward bishoprics and others as listed in the published announcement, under the direction of the Presiding Bishopric.
Important calls and messages coming to us for persons supposed to be in attendance at the Conference will be announced at the dismissal of this meeting over the loud speaking system on the grounds.
The Choir music for today has been furnished by the Combined Chorus of Singing Mothers from the Cache Region and Salt Lake City Stakes, under the direction of Sister Florence Jepperson Mad- sen, with Elder Frank W. Asper at the organ.
We ought not to close this meeting without expressing the gratitude which we have for the Singing Mothers and Sister Mad- sen, for the excellent music which they have furnished to us. There has been a spirit and soul in it that does not always attach to great choruses. May the Lord bless them always.
Singing by the Relief Society Singing Mothers: "He That Keepeth Israel."
Closing prayer was offered by President Edward S. Burgess of the Alpine Stake.
Conference adjourned until Saturday morning, September 30th, at 10:00 o'clock.
SECOND DAY MORNING MEETING
The third session of the Conference convened at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 30.
President George Albert Smith was present and presided. President David O. McKay, Second Counselor in the First Presi- dency, at the request of President Smith, conducted these services.
The Deseret Stake Choir, under the leadership of Elder Ladd R. Cropper, furnished the choir music for this session. Elder Roy M. Darley, Assistant Tabernacle organist, was at the console.
President David O. McKay:
We are now ready to open the third session of the One Hundred
52 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Saturday, September 30 Second Day
Twenty-first Semi-Annual Conference of the Church. We are convened in the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Presiding at this session is President George Albert Smith, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and conducting, at President Smith's request, is David O. McKay, his second counselor.
These services and all general sessions of the Conference will be broadcast in the Assembly Hall and Barratt Hall over a loud speaking system and by television.
The proceedings of this session will be broadcast over station KSL, Salt Lake City, and by arrangement through KSL, over the stations named in the first session of the Conference. This session will also be televised over KSL television station, channel five.
The singing for this session will be furnished by the Deseret Stake Choir, Elder Ladd R. Cropper, director, and Elder Roy M. Darley at the organ.
We shall begin the services by the Deseret Stake Choir sing- ing: "Come, Come Ye Saints," after which the opening prayer will be offered by President Reed H. Beckstead of the East Jordan Stake.
The Choir sang the hymn "Come, Come Ye Saints." The opening prayer was offered by President Reed H. Beck- stead of the East Jordan Stake.
The Choir then sang "Spirit of God."
ELDER ANTOINE R IVINS
Of the First Council of Seventy
My beloved brethren and sisters, as I stand before you this morning to add my testimony to those that have already been given you in this conference, I seek an interest in your faith and prayers. I pray that what I say may be prompted by the Spirit of God, that out of it' may possibly come a word of encouragement for some of us; for my sole purpose, in ministering as I am called to do to the seventies and to the Church generally is to be helpful, to stimulate if I can the faith and the courage of the members of the Church.
It has been very wisely said that he who carries a lantern to light the pathway of his brother sees more clearly his own. I must confess that in trying to encourage others, I gain courage, strength, and faith. It is in a spirit of love that I minister and help those that need it, if I can, realizing at the same time that I get joy and satis- faction out of it.
Visit to Canadian Mission
Only a week ago Sister Ivins and I returned from a visit to the Canadian Mission, where we had the privilege of listening to
ELDER ANTOINE R. IVINS
53
the testimonies of almost 160 of your sons and daughters; where we heard their expressions of faith and their determination to carry on and further the work to which they have been called in the service of God. It was our purpose to encourage and to stimulate them in their faith, to help if we could, to surmount any obstacles that had presented themselves to them. Also, it was our purpose to encourage the members of the Church in that area, to help them.
I was very pleased to discover what I think is an awakening among the people of that area. In some of the meetings we had more investigators than members, after excluding the missionaries. Rather large groups of investigators were present. In some sections we had the privilege of meeting people of Jewish ancestry who have come into the Church. That and other experiences that I have had in other missions of the Church seem to indicate to me that there is an awakening of interest among the people with whom we labor. I hope it is real. I hope it is an indication of an in- creasing faith on the part of the people and their dependence upon the Lord for his blessings. I hope it doesn't come from fear of the present conditions that prevail in the world but rather from a sincere desire to serve God and enjoy the blessings that come from the companionship of his Holy Spirit.
They expect in the Canadian Mission to baptize more people than they did last year. By a missionary who returned the other day from one of the missions, I was told that in a single month the missionaries had baptized almost as many people as in some previ- ous years in the same territory. As I said, I hope it indicates a true increase in interest and desire on the part of the people to approach God and get nearer to him. And I hope that same spirit exists among us who are here at home. I wish to assure the fathers and mothers of those missionaries in the Canadian Mission that their leadership is good, that the president of that mission has only the welfare of the work and the welfare of the missionaries at heart, that it is my judgment that he enjoys the Spirit of God in his minis- try, that his wife is supporting him loyally and well. The mission- aries are without exception in the enjoyment of health.
Need for Faith
This is a time when we need faith, faith of a very definite and positive nature, the faith that will lead us to optimism. I believe that pessimism grows out of a lack of faith, and that if we have the right type of faith, we will be optimistic about the future. It may be true that the immediate future may have difficulties for us, but I feel that out of it all will grow a realization of the purposes of God. And it should be our purpose to develop and maintain in our hearts, if we can, faith in God and in the ultimate consummation of his purposes — a faith that will unite us in a solid, coherent group. We must, of course, in order to do that, develop faith in each other.
54 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Saturday. September 30 Second Day
Without that faith we are not likely to go far in promoting the work of the Lord. We must have a faith that will encourage our returning missionaries. I find as I interview them, that they are uncertain. They don't know just what is going to happen to them because of present chaotic conditions, but we must try to develop in their hearts faith and reliance on God that will enable them to plan as they would like to plan, and then carry on even though those plans may be temporarily interrupted; the faith that will lead us to the ultimate consummation of the purposes of God, faith that will help us to cooperate, that out of cooperation may come strength. If we could properly unite our efforts, all of our temporal difficulties could be overcome, I am sure. If and when we overcome, it will be only because we unite in our purpose through faith in each other.
Results of Cooperation
I want to tell you a very pretty little thing that I once saw that illustrates the result of cooperation. Most of you know that I spent a time in Mexico. One time as I was riding on a cold, frosty morn- ing through the Sierra Madre Mountains, I ran on to a little covey of Messina partridges. It was cold, and they got together for self- protection. I noticed that each one of those birds had spread his wings, and they had so intertwined them that their bodies were completely covered as a shield from the frost and the cold; only their heads stuck up above that covering. And they survived. With- out that united effort of self-protection, they might have succumbed to the weather. But with it, they came through in comfort, I am sure.
Now if we could so put out our arms and shield each other, if we could so support each other through the faith that we should have in each other, then all the righteous purposes of God as far as this group of people is concerned, I am sure, could be realized. Can we develop that faith? I think we should; I think it could come as a result of a positive effort on our part.
Improvements Noted
I have been checking the records of the various stakes that I have visited all this year, and in many respects I notice, as com- pared with previous years, that there is a better condition indicated in those reports, the condition of greater faith. There are some items that show slipping, but many of them show improvement in the stakes that I have visited. The use of liquor and tobacco seems to be decreasing, if I can trust those statistics. The number of peo- ple who hold family prayers seems to be on the increase. The num- ber of people, the percentage of those in the Melchizedek Priesthood who observe the Sabbath seems to be on the increase. I noticed in a stake that I visited recently that the attendance at sacrament meet- ing has been on a steady increase, showing a rising curve over the
ELDER ELDRED G. SMITH
55
last few years. I hope that these indications are real, that they show a real determination on our part to live closer to God and serve him better.
Strive for Perfection
I love this service; I love the people. I am always encouraged when I see these signs of faith on their part. We're never perfect — we will never be perfect — but we should strive for perfection, and the development of faith is the thing that will bring it. My faith prompts me to believe that God has a design for the world that he expects us to realize. And the best way for us to do that is to pay attention to today. Yesterday has gone. It will never come back. Today is always with us so long as we live. Tomorrow is a hope only, so today we must look to ourselves, to our behavior, look to our faith in ourselves and in God. If we are satisfied with it, all well and good! If we are not, let's increase it. Let's make such changes in our program and in our attitudes that will increase that faith. I have said we should have faith in each other. We should have faith in our leadership, in the ward, in the stake, in the gen- eral officers of the Church. I stand here to bear testimony to you that in all my associations with the leadership of the Church above me, I have seen nothing but honest purpose. Let's try and develop that type of faith. Let's develop a loyalty to the organization that will prompt us to live its standards. Overcoming the temptations of the world and living the standards of the Church should be a matter of loyalty to us, a matter of self-discipline. We should take pride in ourselves that we can live the will of the Church, whether we always know the reason for it or not. It is my feeling and my testimony that out of the inspiration of God which comes to these brethren, comes a policy for the Church that is wise and well- designed, that will be for the welfare and the progress of every man and every woman that will follow it.
May God g^ive us this faith in ourselves, faith in those who lead us, faith in our ultimate destiny that will enable us to carry on, without misgivings and without fear, into the future; that will enable us to carve out our destiny; that will ultimately bring us back to the presence of God in exaltation, I pray, and I do it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER ELDRED G. SMITH
Patriarch to the Church
I have paid particular attention in this conference to the prayers that have been offered. They have been indeed a good example for all of us to follow. I hope that I will receive in turn my full share of prayers asked in behalf of those who take part here in this conference as I am sure those who have preceded me have received.
56 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Saturday. September 30 Second Day
In the beginning, as Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden, they were shut out from the presence of the Lord, but the Lord did not expect them to be without some contact with him. That one avenue he left open for man to reach God while in this life of mortality was prayer; so Adam called upon God, and he received guidance in all things. Neither does God expect us to get along without his help. Throughout the Old and New Testaments and the Book of Mormon the Lord gave instructions to pray con- stantly. The Doctrine and Covenants is filled with like exhorta- tions. The disciples asked the Savior on one occasion, "Lord, teach us to pray."
Pray to Father
Among other things the Lord said, "Pray to our Father in heaven." And herein, I think that we need to be careful, because very often we open our prayer with the expression of praying to our Father in heaven, then during the prayer we use the term "Lord," and before we are through it is hard to tell whether we are addressing the Father or his Son, Jesus Christ. We should pray to our Father in heaven, for he is indeed the Father of all mankind on the earth, and because he is our Father, he wants us to come to him often with our joys and our sorrows and thank him for all that he has given us. Then the Savior gave us a good suggestive sample of the things to pray for and how to pray. (See Luke 11:1-2.)
As Jesus told his Disciples, our Father in heaven knows what we are in need of before we start; yet he has commanded us to pray. He wants us to be thoughtful of others as we are of our- selves. "Forgive us as we forgive our debtors." He did not intend that we should always use the exact words that he gave in the sample or to use pre-written prayers. In so doing we would become as those Christ referred to when he said, "They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me," Do you think Joseph Smith would have received that wonderful manifestation if he had simply read a prayer? How much of our heart goes into a prayer of that nature? How much faith can we exercise with words and thoughts that are not our own? Prayer without faith is dead, and if we add to the faith which President Ivins has just spoken to us about, that prayer, I'm sure will have results, and we'll have an increase of the statistics President Ivins has referred to in actual fact and continue as such.
Be in Tune
We do not read our prayers in this Church, but some of us get in almost as bad a rut. We are so bound by set words and phrases at times that we hardly remember what we are saying. We must have a spirit of deep humility, of repentance, an open mind, to
ELDER ELDRED G. SMITH
57
receive the will of God. We must not be hampered by any anger or meanness or hardness of heart, or any selfish desires. We must tune our minds and our hearts to the Spirit of God just as we tune our radio to receive the program from the broadcasting station. We want no interfering static from outside influences. In the attitude of true repentance we should seek forgiveness of our past mistakes and guidance for improvement. I like the little poem used so much in our home:
To say my prayer is not to pray, Unless I mean the words I say, Unless I think to whom I speak, And with my heart his favor seek.
Then let me, when I come to pray, Not only mean the words I say, But let me strive with earnest care, To have my heart go with my prayer.
Sincerity of Children
Unless our whole heart is in what we are doing, we are not really praying. A child is naturally sincere and can be taught to pray almost with its first words. His own private prayer should become a habit never to be broken. If he greets the day with a prayer for guidance and help, if he goes to sleep with a prayer of thanksgiving, more than half the battle is won in trying to do right. The Lord tells us in the Doctrine and Covenants, sixty-eighth sec- tion, twenty-eighth verse:
And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk up- rightly before the Lord.
Children will learn more from observation than they ever will from just being told. If parents have a prayerful attitude, the children are more than likely to have the same. Family prayer cannot be too highly praised. In no other way can we obtain such a spirit of unity, nor is there any better place for the child to learn to pray in public. The Lord also tells us in the Doctrine and Covenants, nineteenth section and twenty-eighth verse:
And again, I command thee that thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private."
Family Prayer
It is surprising how soon a child can take his turn in family prayer, and just think of the good that comes to the family. If we kneel down together and unitedly thank God for his many blessings; pray for guidance, for peace and love in our hearts; if we pray for others who are in need; for the advancement of God's work here; can it help but make our home a better place? Can we help but
58 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Saturday, September 30 Second Day
be more thoughtful of others, more kind and loving? A man and wife who will pray together and pray vocally will have more love and contentment in their home. If we would learn to call upon God more often, we should not have to call upon the divorce courts so much. Teach your children the one source of strength that will never fail them. Help them to realize that they have an ever- lasting friend, one that they can call upon when their hearts are filled with joy as well as when they are filled with doubt or sadness or despair. Then when they have grown up and are on their own, living at home, away at school, or in the far-flung battlefields of war, they have God as their partner; they are not afraid. This would bring peace, happiness, and joy. A sin-sick world could be lifted from its depths if we could only turn to the Lord in prayer. What more could we do for our children? I pronounce the blessings of God upon all who humbly seek him in prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER MILTON R. HUNTER
Of the First Council of the Seventy
This is indeed a humbling experience — to occupy this position. I do, therefore, ask an interest in your faith and prayers and that the Spirit of God might rest down upon me.
More than two thousand years ago an ancient Hebrew proph- et, speaking for the Lord, said,
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. (Malachi 3:8.)
Faith Exhibited
During the past five and one-half years since I was made a member of the First Council of the Seventy, I have had the wonder- ful experience and opportunity to travel throughout the stakes of Zion and in the mission fields, I have observed with much joy the great amount of faith expressed and exhibited by the Latter-day Saints. Thousands and thousands of them are paying their full tithes and offerings to the Lord, contributing in the welfare pro- grams, sending their sons and daughters into the mission fields, and in practically all respects living the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are doing all of those things and much more because they know that God lives; they know that Jesus is the Christ and the Savior of the world; they know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that the true gospel has been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith in our day.
I have ofttimes felt that I am sure God is pleased with the Church in general and with many of the Latter-day Saints in particular.
ELDER MILTON R. HUNTER
59
Law of Tithing
On the other hand, however, I have also observed that there are certain members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — and possibly thousands of them — who are fulfilling Mala- chi's prophecy or prediction at the present time. They are robbing God in tithes and offerings. I've ofttimes thought and have even expressed the idea that I believe that practically all members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, if they understood the law of tithing, thoroughly; that is, if they knew the will of God in this respect and especially if they could be taught to know of and appreciate the great spiritual blessings which would be received as a result of rendering obedience to this law, they would pay their tithes and offerings to the Lord in full. I have suggested in priest- hood leadership meetings as I have traveled throughout the Church that the leaders of the stakes, presidents of quorums, bishops, and stake presidencies endeavor to teach the people the law of tithing.
Yet I also recognize the fact that there are certain ones in the Church who would argue against the law. They might say, "But, Brother Hunter, you quoted Malachi, and he lived four hundred years before the Savior lived. He was a Hebrew prophet and was talking to the Jews. Would his teachings apply to us?"
I would answer, "Yes, I know that he was a Hebrew prophet. He was talking to the Jews, and yet his teachings would apply definitely to us. Why? Because he was giving us the will of God — the absolute mind and words of God the Eternal Father which he had been commanded to teach.
Law Given to Nephites
Now why can I be so definite on that point? Because of an event that took place after the resurrection of the Savior. The ressurected Lord appeared to the Nephites here on this continent. He taught them the same gospel plan that he had given to the Jews while in mortality. On one occasion he said to them,
After you people left Jerusalem a great prophet of God came among the Jews and my Father commanded him to teach the people certain things, and since you haven't a record of what that prophet taught, I have received instructions from the Father to tell you what Malachi taught. (See III Nephi 24:1.)
So he gave them the teachings of Malachi and he asked them to write those teachings down. After this had been done, he ex- plained to them all that Malachi had taught.
He quoted the exact words of Malachi,
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say: Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. (Ibid., 24:8.)
Now since Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world, the great Judge, the Redeemer, the very One under whom the gospel
60 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Saturday, September 30 Second Day
came to us, the gospel being named after him; then certainly when he says that these teachings on tithing are the doctrine and will of his Father, those teachings would apply to us.
Tithing Revealed Anew
Furthermore, a hundred years ago and a little more, the Lord revealed the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Prophet Joseph Smith. As part of that great restoration was the restoration of the principle of tithing. In a revelation to the Church the Lord said that this commandment would be an everlasting law unto the priesthood of the Church. (D. & C. 119:4.) It is, therefore, a law that you and I must obey if we expect to receive the blessings that God has in store for those who love him and keep his commandments.
Experience at Interview
I would like to relate a little experience that I had about a year ago. A young man came into my office to be interviewed to be ordained a seventy. I asked him if he would like to be a seventy. His face lighted up with joy; and he said, "Yes, Brother Hunter, for a long time I have wanted to become a seventy. I have never been recommended before, but I do hope that I am now worthy. I do hope that you ordain me a seventy today."
After I got this gush of enthusiasm from him, I asked him a question rather point-blank. I said, "Would you steal $150.00 from your neighbor?" A look of indignation came over his face. If I could have read his thoughts, he probably would have been thinking, "Well, you have your nerve, Brother Hunter, to think that I would steal."
Finally he looked at me and said, "No, sir."
I wasn't exactly satisfied, and so I said, "Would you steal a cow from your neighbor?"
He shot back this reply instantly, "I wouldn't steal thirty-five cents from my neighbor."
I remarked, "This is very, very interesting to me, that you wouldn't steal thirty-five cents from your neighbor; and yet, you would rob God."
A questioning look came over his face, and he asked, "What do you mean? I don't understand you."
Thereupon I turned his recommendation card over and read these words, "Part tithepayer."
He looked at me rather flushed, and I might say, turned a little red, twisted around in his chair a little, and finally he said to me, "Well, I guess it's this way, Brother Hunter: the Lord isn't here to check up on me. My neighbor is. If I robbed my neighbor, he would put me in jail."
I replied, "Brother, you are partly right and partly wrong. Cer- tainly your neighbor would put you in jail if you robbed him. He
ELDER MILTON R. HUNTER
61
should put you in jail, but when you got out of jail, your neighbor would have no more influence or claim on you. You would have paid your debt. But God also is checking up on us, and we are working with him for eternal life. He declares that eternal life is the greatest gift he has in store for man, and it is reserved for those that love him and keep his commandments. To receive eternal life in the presence of God would be worth more than all the money in the world." And I continued by saying: "Now it is my opin- ion and feeling that if you or I or any other Latter-day Saint feels that he must rob somebody, I think probably it would be far better to rob our neighbor than to rob God."
He replied, "Well, I've never thought of it that way before."
And then I asked, "What are you going to do in the future?"
"I am going to be a full tithepayer," came quickly the positive and unqualified answer.
I was delighted that he took that attitude because he now under- stood more about the law of tithing and had reached a determina- tion to obey it in the future.
Covenant to Obey
We are told by the prophets of God that the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof; that you and I are merely stewards, merely landlords, so to speak. Our rent is one-tenth of all that we earn. Yesterday, in a very beautiful way, Brother McConkie spoke of a covenant with God. Every one of us has entered into a covenant with God to the effect that we will pay one-tenth of all that we earn to the Lord. When we entered the waters of baptism and became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we accepted all of the principles of the gospel, including the principle of tithing.
The Lord has given us the law of tithing in order that he might test our honesty. When we use any portion of God's one- tenth, we are robbing him.
The Lord has given us the law of tithing in order that he might test our love for him. He has declared that if we love him we will keep his commandments; therefore, to the extent that we pay a full tithing, to that extent we have given tangible evidence that we do love the Lord our God.
The Lord has given us the law of tithing to test our obedience. The purpose is to see if we will be faithful in all things that God commandeth us.
Furthermore, the Lord has given us the law of tithing to test our preparedness to enter the kingdom of God, to enter exaltation.
Teachings of Joseph F. Smith
The prophets of God have taught the things I have been men- tioning here this morning. I would like to quote from the teachings
62 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Saturday, September 30 Second Day
of one of the great prophets in our day, the Prophet Joseph F. Smith. He said in regard to tithing, this:
By this principle (tithing) the loyalty of the people of the Church shall be put to the test. By this principle it shall be known who is for the kingdom of God and who is against it. By this principle it shall be seen whose hearts are set on doing the will of God and keeping his com- mandments; thereby sanctifying the land of Zion unto God, and who are opposed to this principle and have cut themselves off from the blessings of Zion. There is a great deal of importance connected with this principle, for by it ye shall know whether we are faithful or unfaithful. In this respect, it is just as essential as faith in God, as repentance of sin, as baptism for the remission of sin, as the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. [As you recall, the Savior said that "except a man have these, he cannot see the kingdom of God."] For if a man keep all the law save it be one point, and he offend in that, he is a transgressor of the law, and he is not entitled to the fulness of the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But when a man keeps all the law that is revealed, ac- cording to his strength, his substance, and his ability though what he does may be little, it is just as acceptable in the sight of God as if he were able to do a thousand times more. (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, pp. 282-283.)
President Smith also made this statement:
The law of tithing is a test by which the people as individuals shall be proved. Any man who fails to observe this principle shall be known as a man who is indifferent to the welfare of Zion, who neglects his duty as a member of the Church, and who does nothing towards the accomp- lishment of the temporal advancement of the kingdom of God. He con- tributes nothing, either, towards spreading the gospel to the nations, and he neglects to do that which would entitle him to receive the blessings and ordinances of the gospel. (Ibid., p. 283.)
Could the Lord have established or could he now establish another way to take care of the economic needs of the Church? I am positive that he could. He could say, "President George Albert Smith, in yonder hill or mountain there is a great deal of gold. Have the brethren of the Church mine that gold. Use the money to build church houses, to send missionaries out in the mission fields, to take care of all the other needs of the Church. The Latter-day Saints have been faithful in the past in paying many contributions, so from now on they can rest. They don't have to pay any more money to the Church."
Blessings to Follow
Certainly he could do that if he wanted to, but he won't. He is too wise a God to do that. He recognizes the great spiritual blessings which come from paying tithing. They far outweigh the economic blessings. He recognizes that "where a man's treasure is, there his heart will be also." He recognizes the fact that if we contribute much money to help build a church house, we might come to church to get our money's worth. He recognizes the fact that if we give donation after donation to the Church for various
ELDER SPENCER W. KIMBALL 63
purposes, our contributions tie us into the Church. As a matter of fact, we own part of it. We belong there. It develops us spiritual- ly to pay on welfare, to pay tithes, to pay fast offerings, to pay and pay into the Church.
Brethren and sisters, it is a blessing, an opportunity in your lives and in my life to have the privilege of paying into the Church. It helps us to get rid of the selfishness in our hearts. It makes us love each other more. It makes us love God more. In fact, it makes us more godly. In other words, tithing is a spiritual law which God has given us for the purpose of preparing us to come back into his presence and receive eternal life. Therefore, his course is a wise course. Every wise Latter-day Saint will accept it. Not one of us can afford to be part tithepayers nor non-tithepayers. We need the blessings of the Lord.
I humbly ask our Father in heaven to let his Spirit rest down upon you and me and upon every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whether he be a full tithepayer or not; may the full tithepayers remain full tithepayers; may the part- tithepayers accept this principle of the gospel and repent of their past negligence. By doing so we might all prepare ourselves to come back into the presence of God and receive exaltation. And for this I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Deseret Stake Choir and the congregation joined in sing- ing the hymn, "O Say, What Is Truth?" Elder Richard P. Condie conducted the singing.
ELDER SPENCER W. KIMBALL
Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
My brothers and sisters, I should like to express here my great love and admiration for President George F. Richards who was with us in our last conference but has since passed away. Of all the men I have known in my life, none has risen to greater heights, in my opinion, than Elder George F. Richards in saintliness, in vision, in understanding, and in love, humility, and power.
Prayers for Lamanites
I was glad that President Beckstead mentioned in his prayer the Lamanite program. I thought, as he was praying, "Wouldn't it be glorious if two hundred thousand Latter-day Saint families every morn before their breakfast, in their family prayers, were asking that the work of the Lord among the Lamanites might be furthered; and if those same two hundred thousand families might also be on their knees before they retired that night to ask again,
GENERAL CONFERENCE
Second Day
among other things, that the blessings of the Lord might be brought to this great people?"
The Lord has devised a very comprehensive plan, and I have a firm conviction that the blueprint that he worked out many millen- nia ago will be followed, and the structure will be built in accord- ance therewith.
The Prophet Joseph Smith dedicated the Kirtland Temple in 1836. His prayer, which he stated later was a revelation from the Lord, covered many matters, and in it he made this statement:
And cause that the remnants of Jacob, who have been cursed and smitten because of their transgression, be converted from their wild and savage condition to the fulness of the everlasting gospel. (D. & C.
Our Father began to speak through the mouths of prophets long centuries ago, outlining in prophetic words the history of those many centuries which were to follow. I'm sure that he inspired a little boy, Christopher Columbus, to stand on the quays in Genoa, Italy, and yearn for the sea. He was filled with the desire to sail the seas, and he fulfilled a great prophecy made long, long ago, that this land, chosen above all other lands, should be discovered. And so when he was mature, opportunity was granted to him to brave the unknown seas, to find this land which had been cut off from the rest of the world long centuries, and to open the door, as it were, to the teaching of these people and bringing them back to their Heavenly Father.
I have a firm conviction that the Lord led the Pilgrims and the Puritans across the ocean, perhaps permitted the persecutions that would bring them here, so that when they came to the American shores with their righteous blood and their high ideals and stand- ards, they would form the basis of a nation which would make possible the restoration of the gospel. I am sure that since there was not religious liberty, not political liberty here, the Lord per- mitted these few poorly-armed and ill-clad men at Valley Forge and elsewhere to defeat a great army with its trained soldiery and its many mercenaries, a few against the many, but the few had on their side the Lord God of heaven, that gave them victory. And there came political liberty and religious liberty with it, all in preparation for the day when a young boy would come forth and would seek and make contact with the Lord and open the doors of heaven again. Following that great manifestation to Joseph Smith came the opening of Cumorah Hill and the speaking of the dead from the dust.
Plan Devised by the Lord
109:65.)
Purposes To Be Fulfilled
I am sure that all this was for a well-planned purpose. The
ELDER SPENCER W. KIMBALL 65
Lord knew exactly what he was doing, and though evil forces were at play, they were all brought to. bow, sO that the purposes of the Almighty would be fulfilled.
I should like to quote to you a paragraph from Wilford Wood- ruff, stated by him in 1873:
I am looking for the fulfilment of all the things that the Lord has spoken.
For long centuries the Lord has said how this chosen people would fall into transgression and how some centuries after Christ they would be so deep in sin they would lose the faith, and that certain ones of them would be destroyed. Now, Brother Woodruff says he knows that these things will all be fulfilled,
. . . and they will come come to pass as the Lord lives. Zion is bound to rise and flourish. The Lamanites will blossom as the rose in the moun- tains. I am willing to say here that although I believe this, when I see the power of the nation destroying them from the face of the earth, the fulfilment of that prophecy is perhaps harder for me to believe than any other revelation of God that I have ever read.
Brother Woodruff lived in the day when the Lamanites were being destroyed. They were the "Vanishing Americans" at that time, and they were being persecuted and driven and killed and reservationed about that time of the nation's history. He continued:
It looks as though there would not be enough left to receive the gos- pel; but notwithstanding this dark picture, every word that God has ever said of them will have its fulfilment, and they, by and by, will receive the gospel. It will be . a day of God's power among them and a nation will be born in a day. The chiefs will be filled with the power of God and will receive the gospel, and they will go forth and build the New Jerusalem, and we shall help them. They are branches of the House of Israel and when the fulness of the Gentiles has come in and the work ceases among them, then it will go in power to the seed of Abraham.
Work Commenced
We are given to understand that the work commenced when the book came forth, for in Ether, fourth chapter, we read:
Therefore, when ye shall receive this record ye may know that the work of the Father has commenced upon all the face of the land. (Ether 4:17.)
The Prophet Joseph Smith gave us the thought that the Lord brought us out here from the East to bring the gospel to the Laman- ites. One of the most important things that can possibly happen in this Dispensation of the Fulness of Times is to bring to the La- manites a knowledge of God. He says:
. . . there will be tens of thousands of Latter-day Saints who will gather in the Rocky Mountains, and there they will open the door for establishing the gospel among the Lamanites, who will receive the Gospel and their endowments and the blessings of God.
66 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Saturday, September 30
Second Day
Brigham Young seemed to catch the vision of it. He said that the Lord could not have devised a better plan than to put us where we are in order to accomplish that very thing of educating and teaching the Lamanites. Our ancestors came a thousands miles across the desert, under terrific persecutions and hardships, to lo- cate where the Gentiles had scattered the Lamanites. They had pretty well "reservationed" them here in the western states. They were in our every county, and the Lord brought us out here that we might teach them the gospel.
Brothers and sisters, that work has continued with some inter- ruptions through the century. Now the Lord has made another step. It seems to me he is bringing the Lamanites back to us. They were sent onto reservations all over the west, and now the largest, the Navajo Reservation, will not support its people. The Navajos are being starved out. They are coming back among us into the beet and cotton fields, on the railroads, and in the mines to find employ- ment. They are coming back into the stakes of Zion where we have stake missions and where we have thousands of good Latter-day Saints who live the gospel, and thousands of devoted stake mission- aries who will teach them the truth. Here is our great opportunity. The Lord seems to have planned everything for our sake. If we fail our opportunity, I am sure the Lord will not easily forgive us.
Lamanite Membership
You will be interested to know that there are some forty thou- sand Lamanite members of the Church in the world, including the islands of the sea. There are probably ten thousand Lamanite mem- bers in North America in the Mexican missions and the Indian mis- sion. There are 902 Lamanite members in the English-speaking missions in the Eastern, Northern, Central States, and other North American missions. And this work has gone forward splendidly under some of our mission presidents. We have baptized 1823 La- manites in the last two-and-a-half years in the three missions that specialize in Lamanite proselyting in North America. We have baptized 480 Indians down in the little Indian mission, with a token number of missionaries. About an equal number have been blessed, children under eight years of age who belong to families of friends and investigators and members, so that we now have more than twelve hundred members there in our short period of missionary work. We have approximately seventeen hundred Indian members in the stakes of Zion. We have baptized 347 in the sixty-five stakes which have reported so far, in this period, since the work was in- augurated.
In the missions in the United States and Canada, we have baptized 248 Indians in this short period. You will be interested to know that we are baptizing more Indians for each missionary than the Church is baptizing in the rest of the world. There were three
ELDER SPENCER W. KIMBALL 67
and three-tenths baptisms for each missionary in the Indian mission in 1949, compared to about two-thirds that many for the other missions in North America. We have about fifty baptisms of Indian youth who have come from the reservation and who are living in the homes of Latter-day Saints on a daughter-mother and son- father basis. Here the Indian boy or girl becomes an unofficial member of the family, and is neither a servant nor a guest, where foster parents are taking care of them and are giving them education and training, and they soon come into the Church at their own request. We have about fifty-one Lamanite missionaries in the mis- sion field now, and they will be increasing very rapidly, I am sure. We have a full-blooded Navajo girl who goes into the mission field Monday morning, the first from that nation. We have a Pima Indian in the mission field now, and we have a Catawba Indian coming from the East who goes into the mission home soon, en route to one of the other missions in the Church. Brother (E. Wes- ley) Smith told us yesterday there were ten Lamanite missionaries from Hawaii who were over in the Orient, I believe.
Early Brethren Quoted
I should like to give you a few quotations from some of the early brethren. Joseph Smith said that this work was extremely es- sential, and he sent Oliver Cowdery, Peter Whitmer, Parley P. Pratt, and Ziba Peterson out as early as October, 1830. It wasn't very long after the plates had come out of the Hill Cumorah. In section thirty-two of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord Jesus Christ says of those Lamanite missionaries:
. . . and I, myself, will go with them, and be in their midst; . . . and nothing shall prevail against them. (D. & C. 32:3.)
And then the Prophet Joseph Smith said,
. . . and there (in the Rocky Mountains) they (the Latter-day Saints) will open the door for the establishing the gospel among the Lamanites who will receive the gospel and their endowments and the blessings of God.
And Brother John Taylor said:
. . . the work among the Lamanites must not be postponed if we desire to retain the approval of God.
Oliver Cowdery, even in that early day, had found the Navajos in the far Southwest, and he reported it to the brethren, feeling that it was a very important thing. Then Wilford Woodruff said this further, as he went down into the southwest, in New Mexico, and visited among the Indians there. He said:
In my short communication of the second inst, I promised to give a fuller account of my visit to the Isletas which I will now endeavor to do.
The Isletas are one of the Pueblo groups down in New Mexico.
GENERAL CONFERENCE
Second Dag
I view my visit among the Nephites one of the most interesting missions of my life, although short. I say Nephites, because if there are any Nephites on this continent, we have found them among the Zunis, the Lagunas, and the Isletas, for they are a different race of people, alto- gether, from the Lamanites. I class the Navajo, Moquis (Hopis) and Apaches with the Lamanites, although they are in advance of many Indian tribes of America. I class the Zunis, Lagunas, and Isletas among the Nephites.
And then he goes on to say, that as soon as they dismissed this particular meeting among the Isletas, and were going to leave, one of the Nephites arose.
. . . full of the spirit of the Lord and said, "Friends, why do you dismiss us and leave us this way? This is the first time we have heard of our forefathers and the gospel and the things we have looked for from the traditions of our fathers. If our wives and children are weary, let them go home. We want to hear more. We want you to talk all night. Do not leave us so."
Brother Brigham Young said: "It is our duty to feed and teach these Indians." Let me quote a few lines from him. He advised us to "educate them and teach them the gospel" so that many gen- erations would not pass ere they should become a white and de- lightsome people.
This is the land they and their fathers have walked over, called their own. And they have just as good right to call it theirs today as any children have to call any land their own. They have buried their fathers and mothers and children here. This is their home, and we have taken possession and occupy the land where they used to hunt. Now the game is gone, and they are left to starve. . . . The Lord has given us the ability to cultivate the ground and reap bountiful harvests. We have an abundance of food for ourselves and for the stranger. . . . We are living on their possessions and at their homes.
I should like to quote again from President John Taylor. He
The work among the Lamanites must not be postponed if we desire to retain the approval of God. Thus far we have been content simply to baptize them and let them run wild again, but this must continue no longer; the same devoted effort, the same care in instructing, the same organization and priesthood must be introduced and maintained in the House of Lehi as amongst those of Israel gathered from Gentile nations. As yet God has been doing all, and we comparatively nothing. He has led many of them to us, and they have been baptized, and now we must instruct them further and organize them into churches with proper presi- dencies, attach them to our stakes, organizations, etc., in one word, treat them exactly in these respects as we would and do treat our white brethren.
Brigham Young put this into practice, the proclaiming the gos- pel to the Lamanites, and he sent missionaries up on the Salmon, over in Carson Valley, over into Moab, down on the Santa Clara, up around Blackfoot, and elsewhere. He also sent a mission out
said:
History of Lamanite Work
ELDER ALBERT E. BO WEN
69
to the Indian territory. We made five attempts to establish the work in that area. There were twelve missionaries went in 1855. The missionaries were withdrawn from almost all of these places when Johnston's Army came to Utah. And so the work ceased in many places. Malaria, persecution, and death hampered the work, and by 1860 the Indian territory mission work had lapsed. There were few missionaries to send, the Civil War was on, and condi- tions at hortle were difficult, and and we had just begun to get estab- lished here in the West. A period of seventeen years elapsed, and those converts and investigators were lost, of course, with no one to teach them. In 1877 another group of missionaries went to the Indian territory. After six months they returned. The malaria was too much for them. A year later Elder George Teasdale was sent with some other missionaries, and the work began again, but they also returned in about six months. The malaria was most severe.
Two years later a fourth attempt was made to establish the work, and missionaries were sent again. Though the malaria was severe, they remained, and the mission went on to the present time; but other changes that were severe came upon the Indian work. Texas, Kansas, Missouri, and other states were added to the Indian Territory Mission, and it became the Central States Mission, and the emphasis was gradually transferred from the Indians to the non-Indians. When I was in that mission in 1914, no mention was ever made of Indians, all the work being done among the whites. About two years ago President Francis Brown of that mission sent missionaries again to work among the Indians in Oklahoma, and the work is again going forward.
Our Responsibility
It is time now that we began to give proper emphasis to this great work of bringing the Lamanites to a knowledge of their God. It is our responsibility and our opportunity. Now, brothers and sisters, in the stakes and missions you will have a chance to teach the Indians. Let your prayers ascend to the Lord in behalf of them and then do your utmost to bring them to higher standards, and above all, give to them the gospel of the kingdom and the knowl- edge of God, as they once had.
May the Lord bless the Lamanite people, and bless us that we many realize our responsibilities toward them. This I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER ALBERT E. BOWEN
Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
One often hears the question: Why a church? I should like briefly to consider it. I shall hope to suggest to your minds that the question is tantamount to asking: Why religion?
70 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Saturday. September 30
Second Day
Washington's Farewell Message
It was one hundred fifty-four years ago this very month, his second term of office as President of the United States drawing to a close, that George Washington announced to the country his de- termination to retire, and requested that he not be considered avail- able for re-election to the office he was about to lay down. He made it the occasion for a farewell message which partook almost of the nature of a last testament, bequeathing to his countrymen the fruit- age of his rich and varied experiences.
As a participant in the long and oftentimes acrimonious disputes which eventuated in the political severance of the American colonies from the mother country, as Commander-in-Chief of the untrained, poorly-disciplined, ill-equipped, scantily-clad, under-provisioned, and ofttimes unpaid Continental Army, as witness to the bickerings and jealousies and petty greeds which, following the war, so threatened the wreckage of the infant nation that he often wondered whether the winning of the conflict with Britain would prove to be a blessing or a curse, as president of the convention which fashioned the Constitution of the United States of America and as it first president, he had seen human nature at its best and almost its worst. Under stresses and strains, sacrifice and suffering, he had seen men rise to noble heights of patriotic devotion. Likewise, he had seen them usurp and abuse power, quarrel and bicker, resort to petty scheming for advantage, exhibit mean little greeds, and stoop, under the spur of selfish am- bition, to ignoble deeds.
Drawing upon this ripe knowledge of human behavior with all its foibles and inconstancy, he so packed into that testamentary legacy perennial wisdom that it never grows old, but is valid for all peoples and all times.
Among the nuggets of pure gold tucked away in that admoni- tory address are Washington's observations about religion and morality. Here is what he said:
Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness — these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to re- spect and cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. . . . And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. (Sept. 17, 1796.)
The Christian Church
Without doubt, when Washington spoke about religion, he had in mind the Christian religion. By and large that is the only religion Western man knows. When I speak, in what I shall say
ELDER ALBERT E. BO WEN
71
today, about religion or the church, I shall have in mind the Chris- tian religion and the Christian church, which encompasses the moral and religious teachings of the Old Testament as well as the new.
The church has had many ups and downs since Washington's day as well as before. It has had periods of strength as well as periods of questionings and doubts. Agnostics and atheists have ever been with it. It has taught that man, the individual as well as the race, is of very great consequence. As a child of God en- dowed with divine attributes, he is capable of infinite advance- ment in the scale of being, even to ultimate perfection. He must have faith in himself and his high destiny. Thus far, the Christian is a humanist, and the church is humanistic. But when man loses his humility and arrogates to himself a self-sufficiency which denies God or any other power higher than himself, then the church must part company with the humanistic creed or compromise its prin- ciples.
Influence Weakened
Under the impact of agnosticism, atheism, and the extreme hu- manism which denies God and makes man the source of all mean- ing, the Christian church as a body has compromised its basic doc- trines to make its teachings more harmonious with the current of popular opinion. And where has it got itself? It has lost its sav- ing faith, weakened its influence, and almost forfeited its moral leadership. In consequence, men are floundering about in confusion, not knowing what they ought to do, but well-assured that the fair promises of irreligion and unbelief and human sufficiency have failed them, and they are casting about for anchorage. That is the sorry plight of man in this age.
Revival of Faith Needed
Men of distinction in the world of letters, scientists, men of wide learning in almost every realm of scholarly research are as- serting with great earnestness that the only thing that can save our civilization is a revival of religious faith. In one of his notable ad- dresses, Robert Gordon Sproul, president of the University of Cali- fornia, said:
There is a great need for some directive force to rally the recuperative powers of mankind and win the race with catastrophe. Education cannot provide such a force, important as it is, because it is not the minds, but the souls of men that must be regenerated if catastrophe is not surely to come. . . . Our American heritage cannot long endure without a firmly- grounded religious faith.
Only day before yesterday, General Marshall said that military force alone cannot defeat the enemies of the United States. It must be buttressed by the weight of moral force.
GENERAL CONFERENCE
Second Dag
These utterances are but typical of the warnings that are re- peatedly being sounded by thoughtful people who are concerned about the state of men and women in this modern world. Thus is the wisdom of Washington's reminder that religion and morality are indispensable supports to political prosperity and that morality cannot be maintained without religion vindicated by the compelling logic of events in this disordered topsy-turvy world. One of the most frequently urged indictments against the Soviet system of government as directed by the polit-bureau is that it seeks to destroy all religion and forbids freedom of religious practices to its people.
If, then, it can be conceded, as is so vigorously asserted, that a sound religious faith is essential to the saving of our blighted and withering civilization, the question demanding concrete and immed- iate answer is: How is a religious faith equal to this supreme task to be regenerated? I do not assert or mean to say that the average run of our people is irreligious or anti-Christian. Christian stand- ards of morality have too long been bred in their bones for that. The teachings of Christ still furnish the best standards by which to measure values that the world knows, and the people of this land, out of long habit, instinctively turn to them. At least we pay lip service to them. But clearly that is not enough to furnish the cru- sading fervor essential to rousing the people of the Christian nations to that mighty endeavor. It is not a matter for individual, un- coordinated confession of faith. It requires action, unified action. That means an organized agency or instrumentality to give the movement direction and solid purpose. The only such organization at hand is the church. That is its office. But there are too many people who profess religion and would probably be insulted if charged with being irreligious or non-Christian, who at the same time refuse to unite with their fellows in the effective practice of
religion. They tell us that they do not believe in organizational re-
Who has not heard amiable, good men say: "I have my own religion and do not need to be bolstered up by church affiliation to live a good life?" Even if that were so, it may still be that others need the bolstering up their superior strength would afford, and after all, they owe some obligation to those who need their help. But apart from that, if this sinking, trouble-torn world-order is to be saved through a resurgence of religious fervor, then it is en- cumbent on every believer to throw in with his might. We hear much said these days about isolationism and isolationists. The least excusable form of isolationism and the most reprehensible of isolationists is that one who holds himself aloof and refuses to lend
Unified Action Required
ligion.
Religious Isolationism
ELDER ALBERT E. BO WEN
73
his strength with fellow-believers to the supreme job of saving civili- zation and the world.
The gospel taught by Jesus is a gospel of action. It does not consist in a passive profession of faith. Of himself, Jesus said that he came to do the Father's will, not to talk about or profess it. He made a parable about the man who heard his sayings and did them not, likening him to a foolish man who built his house upon the sand, and when the rains descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house, it fell because it was built upon the sand. That man who heard his sayings and did them he likened to a wise man who built his house upon the rock, and it withstood the fury of rain and flood and tempest.
A Great Brotherhood
The Christian church was not established by isolationists who separated themselves from each other or the body of believers. They were formed into worshipping bodies who collectively fought their way to victory against dire persecutions, torture, and death. They constituted themselves a great brotherhood cemented together for the fulfilment of a purpose in which they believed. Let him who in placid aloofness luxuriates in the freedom and comfort and security and ease which Christianity has brought to the nations, contemplate what his status might have been if there had been no Christian church.
Organization is but another name for order and stability. Its opposite is turmoil and confusion and weakness and ultimate disin- tegration. If no political body in the world has ever been able to exist without orderly coordinated authoritative organization, how can it be presumed that religion can carry on its high commission to resuscitate a sagging world without the church which is the organi- zational instrumentality through which it carries out its great work? Here is reason enough for a church.
Effect on Family Life
There is one other vital consideration, namely, the effect on family life and succeeding generations of the neglect of participa- tion in organized church practices. A few years ago I recited from this pulpit the story of a disturbed woman's perplexities. She had just visited a dear friend of her college days who by then had a well-grown daughter and a son. She was both embarrassed and shocked by the behavior of these children. The boy came and went as he pleased, and no questions asked or answered. The mother's admonitions and protests against the indelicate indiscretions of the daughter in her behavior with young men were met with jeers at the mother's prudery and lack of sophistication. The last night of her visit, she was awakened by a disturbance in the house. The girl
74 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Saturday, September 30 Second Dag
had come home from a late party thoroughly intoxicated and was leading her escort in like condition to her room when they were intercepted by the aroused parents. A noisy scene ensued before the boy was finally sent off home and the girl put to bed. So the embarrassed visitor went home to clear her head and do some think- ing. She remembered the home environment in which she was reared.
The religious note was strong in that home. The Bible was read and believed in. Daily the family on their knees talked to God who was revered and was a reality. They were church-going peo- ple and set apart one day a week as a holy day on which to do reverence to the Author of life. They sang majestic hymns which carried messages to their expanding souls. They heard the simple, direct words of the gospels whose grandeur somehow carried over into their hearts and furnished their ideals for living. These ideals, through practice, were silently woven into the pattern of their lives, and they came out with established characters and stable guides to conduct which made them secure against the waves of laxity which washed about them with the passage of time. Her home and family experience were typical of those of the youth of her time, including the friend she had just visited. That friend, along with herself, in the days of their girlhood association had spontaneously as a matter of habit and acceptance observed the conventions and proprieties.
She explained that she and her friend and their associates had in their college years given up the simple faith of their youth, had ceased to give credence to the beliefs which had sustained them, had given up their Bible reading and their church-going and their Sabbath observance and their prayers. They could live the good life without these "artificial props." They didn't need the church. They said they had their own religion, but really it had shriveled up to a mere code of ethics now cut loose from its roots and no longer nourished from the parent stem. Then with an incredible lack of recognition of the relation of cause and effect, she professed amazement at the moral bankruptcy of her friend's children. The truth was that these children by the neglect of their parents had been cut off from the very character-forming influences upon which her own character, and her friend's character and the character of their generation had depended for formation and growth.
Religion a Stabilizer
While the instance I have cited may in some aspects be ex- treme, it nevertheless illustrates a result naturally to be expected. The moral foundations established through active participation in the activities of the church may carry through for one generation, but scarcely go beyond that. When parents detach themselves
ELDER ALBERT E. BOWEN
75
from active church affiliations and leave their children free to neg- lect it too, they have no right to be surprised when their children fall below their own standards. Religion is a powerful stabilizer, and the church is the medium through which it is made effective.
I have but merely mentioned some of the reasons why there must be a church if religion is to be a force in the world or wield any influence or power. Many other cogent reasons will occur to you.
The church, however, is but a dry and barren mechanism un- less energized by the burning faith of a vital religion. That is the spark that gives it life.
It would seem to be the part of wisdom that all professing the same creed, the rich and the poor, the mighty and the humble, the laborer and the professional man, the unlearned and the scholar should rally together and with united strength exert a power in the land.
Solid Conviction Required
To merit the name, religion must rest on solid conviction. It must stand for something. It cannot temporize or compromise. The Christian church rests on the premise that Jesus is the Son of God, the resurrected Lord, the author of eternal life for man. So long as it stood unyielding on that base, it was a force in the world. When the guardians of the faith, in their several denominations, wavered and watered the doctrines down till the virtue was gone out of them, they ceased to be the prop and support to morality and political prosperity which Washington said was indispensable. So long as that is the case, the world will totter and reel. We seem to be trying now to rear a government whose proponents and sponsors cannot even invoke divine blessing upon their deliberations or its destiny. What chance do you think it has to heal the wounds of the world?
If religion is a necessary prop to the political government, so likewise does the religious body, the Church, need for the protec- tion of its guaranteed freedom a righteously administered civil government, which depends upon an intelligent and jealously guard- ed use of the franchise. That is the citizen's protection against abuse and usurpation.
So far as Latter-day Saints are concerned, I pray that as Presi- dent Smith admonished at the beginning of this conference, they may have the wisdom and honesty to put their religion above their partisan politics and unite together as a solid phalanx to weed out prostitution of power and debauchery and subversion of the God- ordained freedom guaranteed by the glorious Constitution of this land, by voting into office without regard to party affiliation those who will preserve it unpolluted and uncorrupted, the protector and guarantor of individual liberty.
76 GENERAL CONFERENCE
Saturday, September 30
Second Day
ELDER LEO J. MUIR
Formerly President of the Northern States Mission
Twenty-three hours ago I left Los Angeles to attend this con- ference. The journey was long and tedious. But, my dear friends, I testify to you that the little trip I just made from yonder front seat to this pulpit was by far the most exhausting lap in that journey.
Lest you might think there has been some negligence or in- difference on the part of the First Presidency in not calling for my report previous to this time, let me assure you the fault has been mine and not theirs. I was here at the last