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President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 5-9
My brethren and sisters and friends of the television and radio audience, as I approach this solemn duty, I sense fully the need of your united support and particularly the sustaining and guiding influence of the Spirit of the Lord.
"I charge thee..." wrote Paul to Timothy, "before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ...
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering".
In the same letter he prophetically declared "... that in the last days perilous times shall come.
"For men shall be lovers of their own selves...
"... lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof".
It is in the spirit of Paul's charge and prophecy that I approach the subject of safeguards against delinquency of youth. In naming these safeguards I have nothing new to offer. You have heard them mentioned frequently, but I think, as with the gospel principles it is fitting that we be active in season and out of season, that we reprove, rebuke, exhort, admonish with all longsuffering as we contemplate the rising crime wave and bring home to each of us, if possible, the realization that greater diligence is needed.
Few will question the fact that we are living in perilous times, that many people have lost their moorings and are being "... tossed to and fro... with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive"
Among the glaring evils of our day are two which seem to be most detrimental and which must be curbed if we would preserve true Christian ideals. These are: first, an increasing tendency to dishonor the marriage vow, and second, the mounting juvenile delinquency. Careful study discloses a close relationship between these two unwholesome social conditions.
As evidence of the first, we need only to glance at the number of divorces in the country at large. Recent statistics disclose that one out of every four marriages is separated by the ever grinding divorce mill.
But it is the ever increasing crime wave to which I desire to call attention this morning. Children are being corrupted by it; youth are caught in its whirlpool and are being contaminated overwhelmingly by it.
J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who is probably our nation's leading authority on crime, made the following alarming report at a dinner held in his honor in Chicago, Illinois, on November 24, 1964:
"To every man and every nation there comes a time when decisions must be made about grave problems. Further delay in seeking solutions can bring disaster. That time has come for the United States.
"The moment has arrived when we must face realistically the startling fact that since 1958 crime in this country has increased five times faster than our population growth! Serious crimes-murder, forcible rape, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, automobile theft-have mounted steadily since the end of World War II. In 1951, these crimes for the first time topped the one-million mark, and more than two and one-quarter million serious crimes were reported during 1963.
"Even more ominous is the fact that this terrifying spiral in crime has come about through a growing wave of youthful criminality across the Nation. Last year for the fifteenth consecutive year, crimes involving our young people increased over the previous year. For all serious crimes committed in the United States in 1963, youthful offenders were responsible for 72 percent of the total arrests for these crimes! The cost of our crime has now reached the staggering sum of twenty-seven billion dollars a year!
"What a grim and unhappy commentary on the moral climate of this great Nation! The moral strength of our Nation has decreased alarmingly. We must return to the teachings of God if we are to cure this sickness. These shocking statistics, together with the public's apparent indifference to them, are indicative of the false morality we are tolerating today. It is a false code which is based on the worship of things of man's own creation. It is as imperfect and feeble as man himself! However captivating to the senses, this type of moral climate cannot give the support nor the strength which is so vital to our national survival. This breakdown in our moral standards can only render us impotent as a people and as a Nation."
In calling attention to these conditions, I would not have you think that our young people generally do not merit our confidence. It is the few, not the many, of whom we now speak.
When, a few years ago, a little four-year-old lad wandered into the Badlands of North Dakota, the whole countryside was aroused and organized for the rescue. They gave no thought, however, to the hundreds of four-year-olds who were safe in their mothers' keeping. A train wreck or an airplane disaster shocks us to attention, awakens sympathy and a demand for more safeguards, while to the hundreds of trains and airplanes carrying millions to safety, we give scarcely a passing thought.
So while we solicitously call attention to the tragedies in the stream of human life, let us not be unmindful of the much greater group who move steadily and successfully along, avoiding the sandbars and rapids of sinful indulgence and spiritual decay, whose noble lives confirm and increase confidence in the growing generation. As we seek the lost sheep, let us be appreciative of the "ninety and nine" that are safe in the fold.
But no matter how firm our confidence in the majority of the young, we must not close our eyes to the fact that the number of delinquents and youthful criminals is ominously increasing. In the interest of the moral atmosphere of our communities, the welfare of the state, the perpetuity of our democratic form of government, we must search for the causes of this upswing in crime, and, if possible, remove them and apply the proper remedies.
One important cause of the increase in child delinquency is a letdown in home ideals. A growing desire for economic independence or a too eager willingness to improve financial circumstances has influenced too many of our mothers to neglect the greatest of all responsibilities-the rearing of a family. Director Hoover makes the definite statement that "in the background of these youth offenders lies the story of shocking neglect. Boys and girls are being deprived of the care and guidance necessary to the proper foundation of their characters. Their lawlessness had its roots in every instance in broken homes where mothers and fathers, because of their neglect, misunderstanding, or irresponsibility had failed in their primary obligations. More often than not, God was unknown, or, more important, was unwelcome in their homes.
"On the other hand, in nearly every instance the youthful offender would' have been a strong, upright citizen had he been given a chance. If his pent-up energies and desires had been directed along wholesome channels; if his problems-the problems that made him a problem child-had been solved by patient and attentive parents, he would have proved to be an influence for good in his community."
You may think me extreme, but I am going to say that a married woman who refuses to assume the responsibilities of motherhood, or who, having children, neglects them for pleasure or social prestige, is recreant to the highest calling and privilege of womankind. The father who, because of business or political or social responsibilities, fails to share with his wife the responsibilities of rearing his sons and daughters is untrue to his marital obligations, is a negative element in what might and should be a joyous home atmosphere, and is a possible contributor to discord and delinquency.
There are three fundamental things to which every child is entitled: a respected name, a sense of security, opportunities for development.
The family gives to the child his name and standing in the community. A child wants his family to be as good as those of his friends. He wants to be able to point with pride to his father and to feel an inspiration always as he thinks of his mother. It is a mother's duty so to live that her children will associate with her everything that is beautiful, sweet, and pure. In the words of former President of the United States, Herbert Hoover: "After we have determined every scientific fact, after we have erected every public safeguard, after we have constructed every edifice for education or training or hospitalization or play, yet all these things are but a tithe of the physical, moral, and spiritual gifts which motherhood gives and home confers. None of these things carry that affection, that devotion of soul, which is the great endowment from mothers."
And the father should so live that the child, emulating his example, will be a good citizen and, in the Church, a true Latter-day Saint.
A child has a right to feel that in his home he has a place of refuge, a place of protection from the dangers and evils of the outside world. Family unity and integrity are necessary to supply this need.
The home is the best place in the world to teach the highest ideal in the social and political life of man, namely, perfect liberty of action so long as he does not trespass upon the rights and privileges of another.
The great need of the American home today is more religion. Parents should make it obvious both by their actions and their conversation that they are seriously interested in the fruits of true religion. Example of parents should emphasize the need of honesty in our dealings with our family, our neighbors, and all with whom we come in contact: of kindness to our employees of fair play to our employers, of good measure to our customers.
The Lord places the responsibility directly where it belongs, wherein he says that it is the duty of parents to teach their children the principles of the gospel and to walk uprightly before the Lord, and if they do not so teach, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.
Next to the home as a safeguard to delinquency, the church should be dominant force. The other day I was pleased to note a recent Gallup Poll published in a late edition of the New York Herald Tribune which revealed that in 1964 at least 45 percent of the entire adult population of the nation attended church in one typical week and that, although the percentage dropped four points since the peak year of 1958, it is still so high that it completely eclipses the 5 percent and 7 percent in some of the other leading countries. It is interesting that although men are reputedly not very religious, 40 percent of the entire male adult population of the United States attends church each Sunday. Forty-nine percent of the women attend regularly. This means that 49,500,000 adult men and women attend church services in the United States. But what of the other 55 percent of men and women who do not attend church and what of the children who come from the homes of these men and women? Their indifference towards church should tend only to spur us to more earnest and diligent activity.
Where there is an indifference toward Christian churches, we shall have to place next to the home, not the church, but the public school as the most influential factor in lessening delinquency.
I believe with all my heart that the most paramount objective of the public school system from kindergarten to the university should be character building and the evolving of true, loyal citizens of the republic. The teaching of the three R's, of the arts and sciences, even the delving into research work should be but a means to the development of true manhood and noble womanhood.
True education is awakening a love for truth, a just sense of duty, opening the eyes of the soul to the great purpose and end of life. It is not to teach the individual to love the good for personal sake; it is to teach him to love the good for the sake of the good itself; to be virtuous in action because he is so in heart; to love God and serve him supremely, not from fear, but from delight in his perfect character.
Upon the teacher rests much of the responsibility of lifting society to this high level. Ralph Waldo Emerson, reputedly the wisest American, said, "Character is higher than intellect.... A great soul will be strong to live, as well as to think".
Safeguard Against Delinquency: Moral Atmosphere of Leaders, Community, State and Nation
Another safeguard against delinquency of youth is the moral atmosphere of the leaders of the nation, town, and community. This is determined by the ideals and actions of adults, and particularly of civic officers and those who are entrusted to enforce the law.
If we are sincere in our desire to reduce the delinquency among youth, let us look to ourselves as members of the community and as leaders and officials in civic circles. A nation that has conquered great material difficulties and harnessed the physical powers must have some more effective means of combating the cynicism of its youth-the cynicism born of widely flaunted dishonesty of those in high places, insincerity of leadership, and gaudy pageantry of crime.
Yes, we are living in perilous times, but let us hope that they may be to the present generation as the fiery furnace that consumes the dross but purifies the gold.
A clean man is a national asset. A pure woman is the incarnation of true national glory. A citizen who loves justice and hates evil is better than a battleship. The strength of any community consists of and exits in the men who are pure, clean, upright, and straightforward, ready for the right and sensitive to every approach of evil. Let such ideals be the standard of citizenship.
Let us here and now express gratitude for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with its priesthood quorums and auxiliary organizations especially organized to combat the evils of crime and juvenile delinquency. It was established by divine revelation of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. Its glorious mission is to proclaim the birth of the restored gospel; to uplift society that people may mingle more amicably one with another; to create in our communities a wholesome environment in which our children may find strength to resist temptation and encouragement to strive for cultural and spiritual attainment; to make ineffective the influence of designing men who would make profit out of their fellows who are fallen so low as to be slaves to their appetites and passions, who would fill their purses through the weaknesses of addicts of gambling, drunkenness, and nicotine. The gospel is a rational philosophy that teaches mankind how to attain happiness in this life and exaltation in the life to come.
God help us to discharge our responsibilities to our youth by making an environment in home, in school, in Church, and in our communities that will be uplifting, wholesome, faith-inspiring, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 9-12
My dear brethren and sisters: Frequently some person comes to me with a personal problem in relation to his marriage. The husband and the wife are not getting along well together, and a divorce seems to be staring them in the face. They have a number of children, and yet differences arise that seem to be vital to their continued union.
If the parents were both living in full accord with the divine principles of the gospel, such a condition would not arise. There would be peace and harmony in the home.
Throughout the so-called Christian world, divorce is a common thing, but people in other churches do not have the proper understanding in relation to the marriage union. To them marriage, is at best a temporary union, and the ceremony performed by a minister or a judge or other official who is legally authorized to marry emphatically and definitely states that the union shall be until death, and then the marriage comes to an end. Their doctrine concerning marriage is that it is an earthly ordinance or union and that it ends at death. This false doctrine is impressed upon their minds because of the statement of the Lord to the Sadducees who came to him with their problems concerning the woman who had seven husbands. I quote this conversation:
"... Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
"There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.
"And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.
"And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.
"Last of all the woman died also.
"Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.
"And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
"But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
"Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
"Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
"For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him".
Let us remember that the first marriage on this earth, that of Adam and Eve, was performed before there was any death in the world; therefore it was intended to be forever. Marriage, if performed by divine authority, is to last forever. In the temples of the Lord men and women are married with an everlasting covenant. Children are born to them in this covenant to be theirs forever and therefore the family union was intended to endure forever.
Paul makes this perfectly clear in his writings to the Corinthian members of the Church when he declared unto them that "Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord". Again he said to the Ephesians:
"Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
"Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named".
The prevalent idea in the world that marriage is a covenant for this life only is in contradiction to what is written in the scriptures. Let it be remembered that when Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden there was no death.
We also read that the Lord declared that it was not good for the man to be alone, therefore Eve was brought upon the scene to be a "help meet for him". Thus we see that marriage and the family organization were intended to be forever. It was by a divine commandment, and Adam and Eve were commanded to multiply and fill the earth with their posterity.
In this the final dispensation, the Prophet Joseph Smith was taught by revelation that the union between a man and his wife was to endure forever. Death, while it would intervene, was to be only a temporary separation, and the union of husband and wife would continue on through all eternity. And then the family union would also endure forever and each generation, in the kingdom of God, would be eternally joined to the one that went on before from the end of time back to the beginning. Thus the children of the covenant would eventually be joined together and the children of God become one grand family. Each generation would be linked to the one which went on before of all those who would receive the gospel and become members of the divine family of God.
Now I would like to express another thought which is vital to us one and all. President Brigham Young has been unjustly condemned for a statement that he made to the effect that Adam is our God and the only one with whom we have to do. President Young's statement has been unmercifully condemned, but what he said is a righteous principle and in full accord with the doctrines of the kingdom of God. It is the doctrine of primogeniture in the kingdom of God and a glorious principle when it is fully and clearly understood.
Permit me to quote from a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith:
"Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of his posterity who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing.
"And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him: I have set thee to be at the head, a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a prince over them forever.
"And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation; and, notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation".
Again in another revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, we find the following:
"That you may come up unto the crown prepared for you, and be made rulers over many kingdoms, saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Zion, who hath established the foundations of Adam-ondi-Ahman;
"Who hath appointed Michael your prince"
"Who hath appointed Michael your prince, and established his feet, and set him upon high, and given unto him the keys of salvation under the counsel and direction of the Holy One, who is without beginning of days or end of life".
Thus we learn by virtue of the law of primogeniture, that all who are saved in the kingdom of God will be subject to Adam, for by divine appointment he holds these keys under the direction of Jesus Christ. I might carry this law a little further. According to the gospel of Jesus Christ, Joseph Fielding Smith will be subject to his father, and his father to his father in the family of God; and so it will go back from the end to the beginning; and we will all be obedient to Adam, whom the Prophet Joseph Smith declared holds the keys of salvation for his posterity who are redeemed, but "under the counsel and direction of the Holy One", who is Jesus Christ, who stands at the head because he is the Redeemer of the world, who gave us, through his atonement, the resurrection and eternal life if we will only repent and keep his laws and commandments.
If a man and his wife were earnestly and faithfully observing all the ordinances and principles of the gospel, there could not arise any cause for divorce. The joy and happiness pertaining to the marriage relationship would grow sweeter, and husband and wife would become more and more attached to each other as the days go by. Not only would the husband love the wife and the wife the husband, but children born to them would live in an atmosphere of love and harmony. The love of each for the others would not be impaired, and moreover the love of all towards our Eternal Father and his Son Jesus Christ would be more firmly rooted in their souls.
Divorce was never contemplated in the gospel plan, and, where true love exists, disharmony between father and mother and from children to parents will not arise. We are, all of us here in this mortal world, on probation. We were sent here primarily to obtain tabernacles for our eternal spirits; secondly, to be proved by trial, to have tribulation as well as the abundant joy and happiness that can be obtained through a sacred covenant of obedience to the eternal principles of the gospel. Mortality, as Lehi informed his children, is a "probationary state". It is here where we are to be tried and tested to see if we will, when shut out of the presence of our Eternal Father but still instructed in the way of eternal life, love and revere him and be true to his Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. These principles should be laid in the foundation of every home. No prayer should be neglectful in regard to the sacred principles of the gospel of our Redeemer. The Lord has commanded us, one and all, to bring our children up in light and truth. Where this spirit exists, disharmony, disobedience, and neglect of sacred duties will not, cannot, succeed.
Prayer to our Eternal Father in the name of his Beloved Son should prevail in the home. Where this is observed in the spirit of faith and humility, the evil of divorce and disobedience of the commandments pertaining to our eternal salvation cannot exist.
I conclude with a statement by President David O. McKay:
"When we refer to the breaking of the marriage tie, we touch upon one of the saddest experiences of life. For a couple who have basked in the sunshine of each other's love to stand by daily and see the clouds of misunderstanding and discord obscure the lovelight of their lives is tragedy indeed. In the darkness that follows, the love sparkle in each other's eyes is obscured. To restore it, fruitless attempts are made to say the right word and to do the right thing; but the word and act are misinterpreted, and angry retort reopens the wound, and hearts once united become tom wider and wider asunder. When this heartbreaking state is reached, a separation is sought. But divorce is not the proper solution, especially if there are children concerned...
"Except in cases of infidelity or other extreme conditions, the Church frowns upon divorce, and authorities look with apprehension upon the increasing number of divorces in the Church.
"Marriage is ordained of God that children might be so trained that they may eventually be worthy of Christ's presence; and that home is happiest in which they are welcomed, as God and nature intended they should be...
"Some young couples enter into marriage and procrastinate the bringing of children into their homes. They are running a great risk. Marriage is for the purpose of rearing a family, and youth is the time to do it. I admire those young mothers with four or five children around them now, still young, happy...
"The principal reason for marriage is to rear a family. Failure to do so is one of the conditions that cause love to wilt and eventually to die."
Brethren and sisters, let us one and all be true to every covenant of the gospel. Remember to pray and give obedience unto our Heavenly Father and his Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, I humbly pray in the name of our Redeemer. Amen.
Elder Harold B. Lee
Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 12-16
My dear brothers and sisters and friends:
In the few minutes allotted to me this morning, I seek for the Spirit of the Lord to impress what I have to say.
Just before our Lord and Savior's earthly mission was to be terminated, his "disciples came unto him privately saying, Tell us... what is the sign of thy coming...?" Among other things, he said to them that as it was in the days which were before the flood, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be; see also Matt. 24:44 ).
As we read from the writings of the early prophets, we discover what seems to have been the underlying evil which brought about the wickedness which caused God, who had created mankind, to weep. In a revelation to his faithful prophet Enoch, God declared that the remnant of his children were without natural affection, even hating their own blood, which in all likelihood meant their children.
In his answer to Enoch's question as to why he wept, God replied that "... among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren."
Then he added: "... behold, their sins shall be upon the heads of their fathers". Evidently the parents of that generation had committed the great sin of failing to comply with the command given to all parents from Adam's day down to our own day. They had failed to teach the doctrines of salvation to their children.
The Lord has warned us that, as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of Man. God grant that this people will heed the call of our prophet-leaders and teach their children as the Lord has commanded and escape the chastening hand of Almighty God.
Recently I had occasion to read an inspiring article concerning an elderly mother who was awarded an unusual honorary degree from an Eastern university "for outstanding achievement as a wife and a mother." Three sons and a daughter had won the highest places in educational and scientific fields. A narrator was sent by his editor to find the reason to his question: "How did it happen?" He first sought the reason from the father of the family, but he didn't find the answer in the sitting room with the father, who declared that he was just one of the "boys," and referred the investigator to the kitchen where the mother of seventy-nine years still managed the home.
The mother first had answered: "We used the Bible and common sense." She declared that the only heredity she felt played a part was the "heredity of training" which she had inherited from her own mother. "A child isn't likely to learn good habits from his parents unless they learned them from theirs."
In the discussion which followed, this wonderful mother gave expression to some simple and homespun but wonderful thoughts on successful family living. "If parents have decided their children haven't a chance, they are not likely to give them one."
The real answer to his question as to "how did it happen" was to be found in one word: the home. Parents forget that neither school nor the world can reform the finished product of a bad home. In this mother's earlier years, no matter how many servants a mother could afford, she took care of her children herself. Children are not likely to be better than the parents are themselves. Parents must obtain the confidence of children in all things if they do not want to make strangers of them and have them seek advice from a boy on the street corner. Parents must take time to explain to every child every action that affects him. She had taken great pains to teach them the importance of simplicity in living by practicing simplicity and by subjecting them to hard physical work. Each of her children had his own bank account, not to glorify money, she explained, but to teach them that money, no matter how much or how little, must not be wasted. Children must be taught that hard work must be in the right direction-work that is good in itself. Her children were encouraged to develop their natural bents and were not forced to choose a career. To her, money success for the sake of money is the kind of success that has nothing to do either with usefulness or happiness.
These comments from those who know the importance of the home and family life by their own experience are but testifying to the fundamental soundness in the instructions of the Lord to parents in our day as he first gave them to the ancients relative to the teaching of their children in order to stem the tide of wickedness among the children of the earth.
From a former President of the Church, we hear this warning to parents who fail to teach their children: "... if... the children go astray and turn from the truth, then the Lord has said that the sin shall be upon the heads of the parents.... The loss of these children will be charged to the parents, and they will be held responsible for their apostasy and darkness... My children must not and will not turn away with my consent... I will endeavor with all the power I possess to have them as true and faithful to this gospel as it is possible for me to be".
The greatest demonstration of the power of the Almighty we see today is the redemption of human souls from spiritual darkness into spiritual light. I saw and heard such a miracle recently when a man who had been incorrigible much of his life, now reaching up to his middle-age years, spoke by his own request at the funeral services of his elderly mother. His father and mother, obedient to the Lord's instruction, had persisted in teaching their children, including this son, who vigorously and rudely resisted their efforts. Despite this opposition, the father continued in his role as a faithful father should; he not only taught, but every Sunday he fasted and prayed, especially for this wayward son. The father was shown in a dream, as though to reassure him, his unruly son walking in a dense fog. In the dream he saw this son walk out of the fog into bright sunlight, cleansed by genuine repentance. We have seen that boy now a changed man and enjoying some of the Lord's choicest blessings in the Church because of his faithful parents who didn't fail him.
We are hearing of and reading constantly of the alarming increase of juvenile delinquency and major crimes among the youth, particularly sex crimes. An eminent educator, the Superintendent of Public Instruction in California, made this statement recently under the subject heading: "Don't Saddle Schools with Sex Cleanup." He said, "At first glance it would seem that today's children need instruction in sexual matters as much as Custer needed more Indians. From morning until night, they are fed an almost unmixed diet of high-calorie, highly commercialized sex.... The so-called legitimate stage has achieved a condition of such sheer filth as to merit the adjective 'indescribable.' We are the first generation since time began which has allowed its playwrights and its actors to wallow in vileness...
"So a lot of people are urging schools to step in and clean this mess up by giving the youngsters a good stiff dose of sex education...
"People are not discouraged from becoming safecrackers by learning how to manipulate tumblers in the dark. They avoid a life of crime because they are taught from infancy that crime is evil. The only way society has ever found to discourage misconduct is to label it clearly as either a crime or sin, or both, and then punish it accordingly."
Then the superintendent of schools concludes: "Only when we adults, in our homes, our churches, our businesses, decide that we are going to set a decent example and demand decent behavior from the young, will the children start growing up to become the kind of people we want them to be, and should have been ourselves." How wise the words of this great educator!
Just how the Church is essential to each individual and to every home in combating these evils is rather dramatically set forth in a letter I received recently from a sister, a new convert, now living in the Middle West, where I had attended a stake quarterly conference. I quote from a part of her letter:
"As you spoke, an idea kept repeating itself in my mind: how life as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is like crossing a swinging bridge suspended between the points of birth by baptism into the Church and death into eternal life over the turbulent stream of worldliness and sin. As one starts out onto the bridge, the nearness of his baptism lends a feeling of security and faith, but as one becomes aware of the stream below and the vast expanse to be crossed, the sense of security gives way to spasmodic twinges of doubt and fear, causing one to lose the rhythm of prayer, faith, and love, and work which makes one's progress smooth. The mists of doubt and apathy arise and corrode one's heart and mind, impeding one's progress and restricting one's response to the magnetic force of love which streams across the bridge. It is then one breaks step and falls to his knees and hangs on until the force of love restores faith and direction to the crossing.
"This is where the Church and its Authorities come in. When they speak it is as if the force of love calling to us becomes vocal and adds impetus to our response to it, as a voice calling to us from farther along the bridge saying, 'Have faith, this is the way.'
"Thank you and God bless you and our prophet, whom I have never met, but have learned to love more dearly because of you."
In this analogy this gifted sister has borne witness to the power of one who tries sincerely to teach the truths of the gospel. Through inspired teachers and parent, one not only can come to know the prophet of God, as she has said, but can come to know God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ and thus gain an eternal anchor to his soul.
For over half a century, the leaders of this Church have counseled with parents in the home to gather their children around them in a weekly Home Evening and there teach the truths of salvation-honesty, sobriety, integrity, and chastity. One of our leaders has promised that if parents would do this, "ninety-nine out of every hundred children... will observe them through life".
This year our leaders have directed us in an intensive effort to observe this weekly Family Home Evening. Lesson materials with suggested activities have been prepared and are now in the hands of every parent in the Church. One night each week all meetings, socials, or other activities are discontinued. In the home the family, led by the father, engage in a Family Home Night, which consists of scripture reading, singing, and activities suited to the ages of the children. This is the time for a family council and free expressions of all family members. Reports from throughout the Church are most heartening.
From a psychiatrist comes this unusual comment:
"My professional activity," he said, "brings me in contact with many church members who have problems. It was a most refreshing experience to receive the Family Night manual and to see the lesson materials. Most of the problems I see could be corrected if members of the Church could just understand and live the first three lessons in the Family Night manual. Inferiority feelings, trying to be someone else other than one's self, and failure to believe in repentance create the background for most of the problems I see. The Church Family Night program is the most effective preventive program I have seen."
Testimonies coming from young families concerning these programs as they put them into practice in their little families continue on and on, as we could tell you of the reawakening which has come to parents as they are led by the family home manual to guide their children through these important years of their lives.
Just as a floodlighted temple is more beautiful in a severe storm or in a heavy fog, so the gospel of Jesus Christ is more glorious in times of inward storm and of personal sorrow and tormenting conflict. When the density of the fog of doubt and uncertainty and dangers in the way ahead put fear into our hearts, God's eternal light of gospel truth is more beautiful than ever before because of our greater need.
May we remember the history of past generations and their failure to teach their children, lest the "sins of today's children be upon the heads of today's fathers."
I bear testimony to all within the sound of my voice that God does live and that his Church, bearing the name of Jesus Christ our Savior, is among us today. That each and all of us may live so that we may be guided by the truths taught therein and teach our children to do likewise, I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Nathan Eldon Tanner
N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 18-22
It was a great blessing indeed to have our beloved leader and prophet, President David O. McKay, with us this morning and to be inspired by his message so beautifully read by his son Robert. His spirit and blessings are with us this afternoon. He is presiding. This conference is being conducted under his direction, as he watches our proceedings over television at home. Our hearts go out to him, and we pray that God's choicest blessings may attend him always.
Brethren and sisters, it is with a deep feeling of humility and heavy responsibility that I stand before you this afternoon, and I sincerely pray that the Spirit and blessings of the Lord will attend and direct our thinking at this time.
I wish to congratulate the choir on their lovely singing and to express my appreciation for the beautiful prayers and the inspiring talks given by the brethren during the first session of our conference this morning.
On behalf of the First Presidency I bring greetings and blessings to all assembled in this historic Tabernacle this afternoon and to our radio and television audiences everywhere.
My heart is full of gratitude for the many blessings I enjoy. I am grateful that I live in this land of peace and plenty, opportunity and freedom; for my membership in this Church, for the knowledge I have, a knowledge beyond doubt or question, that God is a personal God, that he lives, and that he so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son for you and me, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Yes. I know as I know I live, and as Peter also knew when he answered Jesus: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God".
I am so thankful for my wife and family, for my progenitors, for my grandchildren, my friends and associates, for the health and strength that my family and I and all of us enjoy; also, that my family and I can kneel down and pray to a personal God who we know is interested in us, who will hear and answer our prayers, who has given us the gospel which, if lived, will lead to immortality and eternal life. What a strength it is to know that we are God's spirit children, that we are made in his image, and that we can go with our problems to him as our Father in heaven.
Many times have I expressed my gratitude to my Heavenly Father that my forefathers had such a belief in God and such a determination to worship and serve him according to the dictates of their own conscience and without restrictions that they were prepared to give up everything they had and leave their native land and come with the Pilgrims in the Mayflower to this great land where they could enjoy that freedom of worship. Though they suffered many hardships, the rigors of cold and starvation and influenza from which more than half of them lost their lives, the survivors thanked God for the privilege of religious freedom, which to them was sufficient reward for all the untold suffering through which they had come.
Let us never forget that these freedoms which we enjoy, the blessings and comforts and ideals which are ours, as well as the progress which has been made in every field of endeavor, have been gained by the sacrifice, the pain, tears, and agony of some souls who had every reason to be discouraged but who had faith in God and fought on to victory.
Again here and now I wish to express my appreciation to my Heavenly Father for the fact that my great-great-grandfather, John Tanner, and his son, Nathan, and their families had the faith and courage to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shortly after it was organized, and when it was so unpopular.
The records which we have tell us that they were honest, honorable, upright, and God-fearing men; that they were good citizens; that they were interested in their community; and that they believed in and served God as they understood. Though they had read and studied the Bible and believed that it was the word of God, they were confused because of the teaching of the different churches that God was an incorporeal being with no material body, parts, or passions. In fact, as Paul told the Athenians, many were then, as they are today, ignorantly worshiping an unknown God, or denying him entirely.
However, when he heard the message of two Mormon missionaries that God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ were living personages and that they had appeared to the young boy Joseph Smith when he went into the grove to pray, as Christ had appeared to Paul, John Tanner believed them. And when he was told of the restoration of the priesthood and that God had spoken to man again and had chosen an individual, Joseph Smith, as a prophet, seer, revelator, and translator by whom the Book of Mormon had been translated, he knew that this was true. It brought joy and satisfaction to his soul and brought renewed faith and hope when he realized that the true and everlasting gospel in its fulness had been restored to the world.
How grateful I am that his faith in God and his understanding of the gospel and his desire to serve God and keep his commandments were so great that he and his family did not hesitate to join the Church and go through all the persecutions that the Saints endured at that time. They, with thousands of others, were driven out of their homes and, leaving everything they had, were driven west across the plains to the Rocky Mountains to this the Great Salt Lake Valley, where they could enjoy freedom of worship for which they had sacrificed so much.
As a result I have been taught since my youth to have complete faith in God the Eternal Father and in his Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost and to realize that Christ gave his life for us and was resurrected, literally resurrected, and through his atonement we will all be resurrected, and that all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
I wish to bear my testimony, too, that I know that God speaks to his people today through a prophet as he has done in the different dispensations of which the Bible and the Book of Mormon bear witness so clearly. I cannot express in words my deep appreciation for the privilege I have of associating so closely with his Prophet David O. McKay who leads the Church today under divine guidance.
It is a great opportunity, privilege, and blessing to be able to dedicate my time and efforts entirely to sustaining him as a prophet of God in the service of our Maker and of our fellow men and of working so closely with these devoted General Authorities to whom you have listened and to whom you will listen in this conference.
I pray that God will give us wisdom and direct our efforts as we endeavor to lead the people in the paths of truth and righteousness. We are greatly concerned about conditions in the world today, particularly the evils and temptations facing our youth. We realize that the great threat of the future today is the decay of spiritual, moral, and family life.
It is alarming to see how crime is increasing throughout the whole of the United States and, for that matter, throughout the world. In the USA there was an increase in 1964 over 1963 of 250,000 serious crimes that were reported by the agencies. And the statistics as issued by J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, show that in a city the size of Salt Lake City the increase in crime was up from 12 to 17 percent. There was 17 percent more murder, 14 percent more forcible rape, and 17 percent more robbery in 1964 than in 1963.
Conditions in the world are appalling. We have men who from the pulpit are questioning the divinity of Jesus Christ. They do not understand the kind of God they worship, and people everywhere have lost their faith and don't know where to turn. Also it is shocking indeed to read the articles appearing in the magazines and papers today on the question of morality. One can hardly believe what he reads.
In order to make clear and to leave no doubt as to what I mean I shall refer to statements that have appeared in books and magazines and have been attributed to university professors, chaplains, and psychiatrists, many of which seem to challenge Christianity's basic teachings against fornication and adultery.
A new morality is being advocated which proposes an ethic based on love rather than law in which the ultimate criterion for right and wrong is not divine command but the individual's subjective perception of what is good for himself and his neighbor in each given situation.
Some maintain no sexual relationship should be absolutely condemned by the church. Others claim that moral conduct is the sole concern and responsibility of the individual. Some argue that man is free to change occupations, homes, states, or countries and ask why he should not be free to change married partners.
We all realize and are most thankful that these views are not generally accepted and, in fact, are strongly opposed by most people. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale in commenting on the alarming new line on morals says: "For my part, I have had too much experience with raw human nature to believe you can scale down moral standards in any area and not reap a whirlwind of broken lives."
And as Paul admonished the Galatians: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting".
Dr. Peale goes on to say, "The sophisticated-intellectual hue and cry that we must get rid of the old sense of guilt is less than impressive. Guilt can be a pretty healthy deterrent that puts the fear of God into people, stiffening their moral sense and motivating them to live right."
He then asks the question: "Should the church still teach a high standard of personal morals?" and answers, "It may shock you even to have the question raised, but unfortunately a few ministers are verging toward a permissiveness that disturbs a lot of thoughtful people. The effort seemingly is to keep the church somewhat in line with paganistic viewpoints in an effort, I suppose, to maintain an influential rapport with these elements. The policy seems to equate Christian morality with worldly morality rather than the maintenance of a system of moral absolutes. In effect, the new permissive policy seems to reduce Christianity to the world rather than to employ the tougher and more skillful strategy of bringing the world up to Christianity."
Imagine young people in our schools and universities who have not been taught in their homes or in their churches an unwavering faith in God and the importance of good, clean, moral living having to face this kind of thinking and temptations and evil that is found throughout the world today. This must be shocking to the parents who realize that such things are going on. There is a very serious and great danger, however, and that is that many, many of our parents do not realize, nor will they believe, that these are the conditions in the world today and therefore seem to be prepared to let nature take its course.
Where are we going? What is the matter with the world? How different are we from, and how rapidly are we approaching, the pattern of life which caused the downfall of Rome? This was forcibly brought to the attention of me and all who listened to Dr. Charles Habib Malik of Lebanon, professor of philosophy at the American University of Beirut. He was president of the United Nations General Assembly in 1958-59. In his message he said to all Americans:
"The world is turning its back on you because you are turning your back on yourself. Do not turn from the basics that have made America great-an abiding faith in God and in the dignity of man, created in the image of God." He appealed to America and the world not to let the power of material wealth and learning corrode because of a diminishing faith in God. Imagine this having to come from a man from Lebanon or from any other country!
It is true that all through history the ignoring of the laws of God leads to the ignoring and defying of all law. The scriptures and history teach us that man cannot continue to deny God and ignore his laws and expect to prosper. And as William Penn so aptly said: "Those who are not governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." No one can deny that the Sermon on the Mount, the Ten Commandments, and all of the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ offer a better way of life and if lived, bring greater joy, success, love, prosperity, and peace to all and lead to immortality and eternal life.
We greatly appreciate and wish to express our wholehearted support to all who are engaged in the fight against evil, and we want you to know that the Church of Jesus Christ is determined to do all in its power through its auxiliary organizations, its priesthood quorums, its missionary program, and through the families of the Church to uphold righteousness and live and teach the fundamental principles of the gospel, which is the plan of life and salvation.
We greatly appreciate the thousands and thousands of individuals throughout the Church who are prepared to accept office and responsibility in the Church and faithfully live the gospel and teach it to all who will listen, and also to the hundreds of thousands of parents everywhere who are endeavoring to live and teach a faith in God and the principles of right living to their families.
My wife and I have been thrilled during the lasts month or so to receive letters from two of our daughters and a phone call from another saying how pleased they are and thankful for the program which helps in teaching the gospel and right living in their Family Home Evening once every week. Here they gather their children around them and teach them the plan of salvation, realizing that parents having children in Zion are commanded to teach them to understand the doctrines of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the Living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.
Also, it gives them an opportunity to get better acquainted with their children, to know what they are thinking, and to let the children know what the parents are thinking, what they believe, and what is right. And the children really enjoy it. They are taught that we are the children of God and that as his children we have that spark of divinity in us which makes it possible for us to reach immortal heights by living according to the teachings of the gospel of his Son Jesus Christ.
It is encouraging to know that my grandchildren, twenty-four of them, are being taught to pray to God and thank him for his many blessings and ask for his guidance and strength from day to day, to have faith in him, to realize that they have a purpose in life, and that the principles taught by Jesus Christ are the principles by which we must govern our lives. Where can you find a lovelier sight than a family kneeling together in prayer to their Father in heaven in the full knowledge that he can and will hear and answer their prayers?
Families throughout the Church are being taught these things, and they are taught to be honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and to do good to all men. They are also taught that if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, to seek after these things and that to meet the evils and temptations in the world today we must have faith in God and live according to the principles of the gospel as taught by Jesus Christ.
May we all have the vision, the faith, and the courage to so order our lives, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Delbert L. Stapley
Delbert L. Stapley, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 22-26
My brothers and sisters and friends, and this includes the unseen listening audience hearing this service this afternoon, I wish to express a few thoughts which to me appear timely and important. I am deeply concerned with the unmoral and unethical trends in our society and the American way of life established by the founding fathers of our beloved country. The very foundations of moral and ethical behavior are crumbling about us. This President David O. McKay pointed out so poignantly and eloquently to us this morning. Satan seems to have power over his dominions.
There are many-headed serpents at work in the world, and often unknowingly, or unwittingly, but certainly unwisely, some folk play into the hands of wicked, designing men and endorse and promote their crafty schemes and plans which are evil and harmful to the society of decent men and women. These evil influences which are insidiously creeping in among us paint an alarming view for the future if we do not awaken and take proper action to reverse these undesirable trends.
The issues may not appear to be too significant when each promotion is quietly initiated, but with an apathetic populace and the sympathetic support of misguided prominent men and women, both in and out of public office, they are coming with more regularity and frequency as power of position increases. Too many of us are naive, undiscerning, and unsuspecting in these matters. We do not acquaint ourselves sufficiently with vital issues which should concern us, nor do we always determine the motives behind them; therefore, by our complacency and the subtle claims of value by the promoters, we seem to be unaware of the seriousness these issues present.
Only with knowledge of the affairs and happenings of national, state, and community interest, with eternal and watchful vigilance, can the honest in heart be safeguarded against designing men and the underworld element of iniquity, who want to set up for financial gain many forms of vice and harmful substances detrimental and degrading to the physical, moral, and spiritual well-being of young and old alike.
When these Satanic influences get their foot in the door, they will attempt to ride roughshod over the barriers of decency to expand their diabolical plans and operations. All the proposed controls to these evils will be swept aside and the innocent and undiscerning exposed to every nefarious scheme promoted by such powerful organized interests.
We must be an alert people, ever defending our rights, liberties, and ideals by active and interested participation in all which concerns us. Throughout this nation many doors in devious ways are being opened to the underworld with their racketeering and evil designs. It seems so many of us who could act cooperatively and legitimately according to just purposes and procedures conform by coercion because it is the order of the lay, rather than take an active part for that which is right and be courageous enough to stand up and be counted for being on the side of right.
I do not mean people or groups should lawlessly take things into their own hands, but rather seek redress by personal or written petition according to the rights and privileges guaranteed by the basic constitution of this land. To assure security of righteous purpose, the Lord has warned and counseled:
"... when the wicked rule the people mourn.
"Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should serve to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil".
There are many do-gooders and preferential organized interests which confuse many issues and tend to dominate by coercion and intimidation the minds and the morale of men. Honest and honorable men and women are instant subjects of deception by the unscrupulous, ambitious agents of darkness.
The Lord has spoken and warned:
"Hearken, O ye people, and open your hearts and give ear from afar; and listen, you that call yourselves the people of the Lord, and hear the word of the Lord and his will concerning you.
"For this is a day of warning, and not a day of many words. For I, the Lord, am not to be mocked in the last days".
He has further said that he require! the heart and a willing mind and the obedience of the children of men in these last days, and that he expects us to walk in all the commandments of God blameless.
Why are we gathered here in the tops of the mountains? We are assembled here unitedly to perfect ourselves and be living examples of that which we proclaim unto the world-God's word and law. It is from here that the word of the Lord is to go forth to all nations. The law cannot go forth from Zion in power to the people of the world, and successfully so, without faithful example and courageous spiritual firmness by the Saints to support fully every principle, standard, and ideal which is part and parcel of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The enemies of righteousness should know our works, sincerity of purpose and convictions, and where we as a Church and people stand on vital moral issues.
All good, honorable men and women are invited, welcomed, and received gladly in our communities to enjoy the benefit of our society, spiritual environment, companionship, and friendship. All of us should be intensely interested in wholesome community life with a moral and spiritual influence where families are free from all forms of vices and enticements to do evil. We should not open our doors to questionable influences because we are not interested in them nor do we wish to expose ourselves or our loved ones to that which they offer. No individual or institution or organization of men can offer anything comparable to what the Lord has given his people. It is his gospel plan and way of righteousness we seek. Anything contrary cannot bring happiness and peace. As people of the Lord we are different, and we choose, and I hope dare, always to be different.
We are therefore set apart to uphold the ways of the Lord and sustain the virtues of Godliness in our personal lives and by our example of righteousness stand as an ensign of hope and goodwill to the nations of the earth.
The Lord has declared that "... the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow...
"For they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant;
"They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own God, whose image is in the likeness of the world".
Can we risk liberality in our personal viewpoints and interpret to our own selfish ends the revelations from the Lord as taught in scripture and by divinely called men and thus attempt to set at naught the commandments of God? We are advised not to trifle with sacred things. It isn't wise for man to set aside the counsels of God and walk in his own way, which way is a path of pitfalls and of the errors of darkness. Every soul should seek through righteousness the light of the Spirit as a guide through his entire mortal life.
In large measure truth these days is so screened and bantered about that it walks a tightrope. Truth not only requires of us a good knowledge of the revealed word which constitutes our path of safety for the kind of life God intends us to live, but also faith and testimony of those things which give us the motivating desire to act according to the will of God. Our beloved Savior said he came "... not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."
"... for I do always those things that please him".
The same reverent attitude and willing obedience should abide in the hearts of all mankind today.
Are we at any time ever justified in sacrificing the teachings of eternal principles for gain or favor to satisfy our personal desires and vain ambitions? Are we ever justified when we appease individuals or organized pressure interests whose demands are adverse to the beneficial moral and spiritual blessing of people?
Mormon, an ancient prophet of the Americas, wisely said:
"Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.
"But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God".
This statement rings with truth and understanding.
Nephi, another great American prophet, records that he was led by the Spirit of God in the things which he did. Explaining to the understanding of his brothers on one occasion about the teachings of their father which they did not comprehend, he asked them this enlightening question:
"Have ye inquired of the Lord?".
Here is an important key. It takes faith to inquire of the Lord, and faith requires righteousness of lives to secure an answer from God.
Another early American prophet counseled:
"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit".
Can a man or woman who inquires of the Lord and truly desires to be led by the Spirit and willingly yields to he enticings of the Holy Spirit support and approve any plan or promotion of evil intent or purpose contrary to his or her convictions and be able to square his conscience with moral uprightness?
We are not true to our God nor supporting as we should the gospel of his Son, our Beloved Savior, when we give encouragement to and champion iniquitous causes of sin and degradation, which can only destroy the virtues of Christlike character and he fundamentals of true religion in the lives of people.
The great Prophet Alma admonishing his people said:
"... can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect remembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God?...
"I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands?
"I say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil?".
Later, in this same discourse the following is recorded:
"For I say unto you that whatsoever is good cometh from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the devil".
We have no excuse to err in our knowledge and understanding of right and wrong because God has marked out the path, the straight and narrow way which leads to life eternal. An ancient American prophet said that "... men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil". The oppositions of man cannot change truth or principle, or moral or ethical standards as revealed of God; therefore, men have no excuse for not arriving at right answers and decisions in all matters which come before them. By inquiring of the Lord and listening to the voice of his Spirit and having a willingness to be guided thereby, we will always find ourselves on the Lord's side of every issue and be strengthened to defend and hold fast to that which is good and acceptable to our God.
Another prophet challenged his people by saying:
"Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction".
"For behold, the Lord hath said: I will not succor my people in the day of their transgression; but I will hedge up their ways that they prosper not; and their doings shall be as a stumbling block before them".
Alma, counseling his son against the insidious works of darkness, said to him:
"... trust not those secret plans unto this people, but teach them an everlasting hatred against sin and iniquity".
Continuing, he admonished:
"Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls".
In our day the Lord has declared:
"... mine anger is kindled against the rebellious...
"And he that will not take up his cross and follow me, and keep my commandments, the same shall not be saved.
"Behold, I, the Lord, command; and he that will not obey shall be cut off in mine own due time, after I have commanded and the commandment is broken".
The following are some additional latter-day scriptures which are most meaningful and a knowledge of which should encourage every person to righteous living and Godly pursuits:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, wo be unto him that lieth to deceive because he supposeth that another lieth to deceive, for such are not exempt from the justice of God".
"And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God".
"Therefore, be not afraid of your enemies, for I have decreed in my heart saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy.
"For if ye will not abide in my covenant ye are not worthy of me".
"And this shall be our covenant-that we will walk in all the ordinances of the Lord".
"Wherefore, let every man beware lest he do that which is not in truth and righteousness before me".
"For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.
"... and inasmuch as ye keep not my sayings, which I give unto you, ye become transgressors; and justice and judgment are the penalty which is affixed unto my law".
My brothers and sisters and friends, these scriptural quotations clearly define the true course God would have us live. To keep the commandments of God is the whole duty of man. God has decreed that his law is to be kept on this land.
It is our obligation to unitedly stand firm and steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God and unequivocally support firmly that which God has revealed and teaches so clearly to the understanding of all who desire to understand. We cannot be passive nor complacent about issues which destroy the rights, privileges, and freedoms which God has given us.
Should any individual or group deprecate or deal loosely with temporal, moral, and spiritual basics, the blessings of heaven will not abide with them. We cannot go along with the crowd and do as they do. We choose to be different because we are different. To be worldly minded separates us from heavenly blessings and opportunities for true happiness and peace.
We should never waver as a people in our determination to support moral issues. Any vacillation would permit our courage to be tested for enactments and promotions which are evil and harmful in nature. It reminds one of the dares youth often make to each other to do something that is not proper or right or wise. Accepting a dare often ends disastrously. There is no wisdom or justification in giving ear to such taunts and irresponsible challenges. We must uphold and maintain that which we believe and know to be right with a firmness of conviction and purpose. This will provide a wholesome moral and spiritual influence in our communities and appeal to those who desire a quality environment for a peaceful and rewarding home life where children can grow up with companionships of young men and women with like moral and spiritual standards and ideals.
I pray that God will bless all of us to be true and faithful to the trusts, obligations, and covenants we have entered into with him and to honorably keep every condition of our vows, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce R. McConkie, Conference Report, April 1965, p. 27-29
There are in the world great hosts of upright and good people, men and women of goodwill, who desire in their hearts to know the truth about religion. They see conflicting claims everywhere, claims supporting both the philosophies of the world and the various religious systems.
These truth seekers feel in their hearts that there ought to be unity where religion is concerned, unity based on complete, ultimate truth. They see movements afoot to bring organizational unity into the Christian world, and yet they find those who give lip service to unity crying, "Lo, here is Christ, or there...". They wonder why men do not come to a unity of the faith, why they do not find the ultimate truth about religion, just as men come to a perfect knowledge of truth in scientific fields.
Well, this condition has prevailed over the years. It existed in the days of Joseph Smith. He was in the midst of a religious revival on the frontier area of America. He heard the cry that here was salvation, or there. He reached the conclusion that "... the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible".
Then he read these glorious words in the book of James: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him," followed by the counsel, "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed". As the Spirit worked upon him, he, meditating upon these words, was led to offer that prayer which ushered in this great, final gospel dispensation.
Now, every person of goodwill, every honest truth seeker, every person with a devout desire to find the truth in the field of religion is faced with the same problem which confronted Joseph Smith, and every person can find the answer in the same way he found it; for God, who is no respecter of persons, in whose sight a soul is just as precious today as it ever was, will give wisdom, will give light and truth and revelation to those who ask in faith.
We are the children of God our Father; he loves us, has an intense interest in our well-being, and desires to see us progress and advance until we become like him. He is willing-provided we pay the investigator's price-to give us wisdom and knowledge, to reveal to us the truth about religion so that we can walk in that course and way in which he would have us go.
In view of this, may I mention a specific way and means which will enable men to get in tune with the Lord, to get themselves in the frame of mind to exercise the necessary faith, the faith which will bring a personal manifestation from him as to the truth and divinity of this great latter-day work.
Remember, we proclaim to the world a message, the message of the restoration. This message is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that salvation is in him, that because of his atoning sacrifice all men are raised in immortality, and those who believe and obey his laws are raised unto eternal life. This message is that in our day, primarily through the instrumentality of Joseph Smith, there has been a restoration of the knowledge of Christ and the knowledge of salvation. And this message is, further, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as now constituted, is the Church and kingdom of God on earth, the one place where salvation is found, the place where men can come to learn the eternal verities in the fields of religion and salvation.
Now, the Lord has placed in our hands the way and the means to present this message to the world, to present it in such a way that every honest truth seeker can be guided and enabled to know where the truth is. By using this means every truth seeker can learn how to get in communion with Deity and how to get personal revelation from that God who does not upbraid and who desires to see his children come to the light and truth of heaven.
This way and means, given of God to establish the truth of his work, is the Book of Mormon. May I call your attention to the inspired words of Joseph Smith, words written by the spirit of prophecy and revelation on the day the Church was organized in this dispensation. In them the Prophet first announces that the Church has been organized. Then he says that "... through faith, God ministered unto him by an holy angel, whose countenance was as lightning, and whose garments were pure and white above all other whiteness".
He then says he was given commandments, and also the power "... by the means which were before prepared, to translate the Book of Mormon". Then of that book he says: It "... contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also;
"Which was given by inspiration, and is confirmed to others by the ministering of angels, and is declared unto the world by them-".
And now these words that follow are the key: "Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old;
"Thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever".
Now, in every age of the earth's history, when the Lord has had a message for people, he has sent his servants to testify and bear witness of it. They have spoken by the power of the Holy Ghost and have certified of the truth of the revelation. We do this today, most solemnly and soberly, as it has been done in this conference; and I add my personal witness that I know by the revelations of the Holy Ghost to my soul that this work is true. But for our day and our generation, an era in which the Lord is cutting short his work in righteousness, in which he is hastening it in its time and in its season, he has given something additional. He has placed in our hands a volume of scripture which is both ancient and modern and has provided that it will be the sure proof, the conclusive evidence, the added witness of the divinity of the work.
As all who are acquainted with this matter know, if any person will read this book in accordance with Moroni's promise, having faith in God, and ask the Father in the name of Christ if it is true, that person will learn by the power of the Holy Ghost that it is. The still small voice will whisper to the spirit that is within him, telling him in a way that he cannot deny or misunderstand that no man could have written that book, that it is the mind and word and will of God.
Now; if this book is what we say it is, Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God; Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the one by whom salvation comes; and this Church and kingdom was set up, ordained, and established by the opening of the heavens, by the principle of revelation. The Book of Mormon has been given to the world to prove the divinity of the work, and our challenge is that men of goodwill, upright and good people everywhere, will take this book and learn what is in it and then ask God whether it is true.
Joseph Smith said: "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."
Well, as the keystone of our religion, it is the thing upon which we stand or fall. If it is true, this whole system of religion is true because God's hand is in it; if it is not true, then our system of religion is false. But thanks be to God, this book is true! And thanks be to him also, he is willing, desirous, by the power of his Spirit, to bear record of that fact to all honest truth seekers in the world, in which event they then know of the divinity of the work; and if they are willing to abide and walk in the light, having the courage of their convictions, they come and join with the Saints of God and get on the path leading to eternal life.
May I quote the words that God himself said in bearing record of the divinity of the Book of Mormon, and make them my testimony also? He said of Joseph Smith, "... he has translated the book, even that part which I have commanded him, and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true".
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder A. Theodore Tuttle
A. Theodore Tuttle, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 29-31
My dear brothers and sisters:
Within the month Sister Tuttle and I stood in the mountain fastness of the Andean highlands. We were visiting among the Indian people, where recently we have established the Church.
They live today much as they lived in centuries past-in the age of the hand scythe and the crooked stick for a plow. Acres of ground are still cultivated by a farmer using his foot plow with two handles, designed in the days of the Incas.
High in the Andes the Indians cultivate small farms which, like a patchwork quilt, cover the mountains from the crest to the river. Adobe mud huts, with their thatched roofs showing shaggy-like, dot the landscape. Judged by our luxurious standards, their huts are pitiful indeed. For hundreds of thousands existence is bare.
In many places in the Cordillera they thresh as in the days of the Savior. Oxen tread the grain, and it is winnowed in the wind. Burdens are carried on colorful llamas or burros or, more likely, the human back.
The women's blouses of bright hues are softened by the earth tones of their homespun skirts. Long black braids, often interwoven with bright strips of cloth, are topped by a white straw hat or a colored felt derby, denoting their clan or city. In addition to their manta, or shawl, they always carry a baby wrapped in a blanket deftly tied across their shoulders, with often another child or two trotting at their side.
Men and boys wear knee-length trousers and plain short jackets of homespun, with undershirts of once bright colors. Knit caps with ear flaps and the necessary poncho complete their attire. If sandals are worn, they are cut from old tire treads. More often than not the men go barefoot.
Their hillside plots produce crops of com, small potatoes, grains, and vegetables. Everybody works. Old women tend the babies, spin and knit, cook the meager meals. Small children scantily dressed in oft mended clothing carry water and help gather herbs for food. Always there is the tending of flocks of llamas which graze with the sheep on the rocky hillsides or eat tethered in the fields. An occasional team of oxen and the ever present burro completes the landscape scene in the high Sierras. There is evidence of poverty everywhere.
But it was not always so.
The Book of Mormon is the word of God and is a record of his ministry among the ancestors of these Indians. Columbus named them Indians. He thought he had discovered the Indies. In reality they are Lamanites. They are descendants of Joseph who was sold into Egypt. The account of their religious experiences was written in hieroglyphics upon plates and handed down from one generation to another, overspreading a 2,600 year period.
The Book of Mormon recounts the departure of these Israelites from their homeland. It says they built ships; crossed the ocean; erected cities; constructed highways; engaged in merchandising, industry, and shipping. It tells of their growth from a few families to hundreds of thousands of people.
It describes their destructive wars and warns of the decline of this once enlightened people. But their prophets foresaw a restoration of their former blessings after the restored gospel is taught to them.
Most important, however, this ancient scripture declares unequivocally that the Risen Christ walked and talked with the people on this the American continent. This religious record relates the calling of the Twelve Apostles and the establishment of his Church on this hemisphere. The Book of Mormon sets forth in clarity and plainness the teachings of the Resurrected Lord as he sojourned with these people for a brief season. It has rightly been called the Bible of the Western Hemisphere.
Today Indian legends still contain fragmentary accounts of a great Personage who long ago visited among them. Known among different tribes by a variety of names, he is nevertheless always described in similar terms.
Today these people, whose ancestors saw the Risen Christ, number in the millions. They range from Canada to la Tierra del Fuego. In North America many dwell on reservations. Thousands are scattered throughout Mexico and Central America. In South America they live in the jungle and on the tops of the Andes. The blood of this chosen people flows in the veins of many of those who live south of the Rio Grande.
There is a gradual awakening of responsibility to the Lamanites. Their governments have helped. Roads are being opened to their formerly inaccessible retreats. Land reforms are becoming effective. Rudimentary education is filtering down to them.
Private foundations such as the Ford and Rockefeller foundations, the Peace Corps, and some universities are working among them.
Unfortunately their religion, the influence that should have been the greatest, rather than redeeming, has subjugated them.
Our efforts among these Lamanite people in South America are just beginning, but hold great promise. They are ready to accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. They are disenchanted with their present subjugated conditions. They are eager and capable of providing their own leadership. They love to learn, to act, to speak, to teach, and to sing. They have an insatiable thirst for knowledge. But they have no books, no equipment, no notebooks, no classrooms, no teachers.
From our past short experience we that we can provide much that they need. We have the plan and organization to meet their needs.
Through the priesthood quorums the brethren have and can sponsor projects which demonstrate the practical application of theology to daily life-something these people have never seen. Simple projects like making windows in houses to let in not only physical but spiritual light, hanging doors, planting flowers, and erecting centers for education-this is religion in action.
The women's Relief Society organization provides opportunity for girls and mothers to learn home management, baby care, cleanliness. It opens up vistas of service heretofore unknown. The Relief Society motto, "Charity never faileth," gives ample opportunity for these women to participate in mutually beneficial activities.
The Primary Association imparts to the children the one lifesaving bit of knowledge which lifts their lives and goals from the animal level to a spiritual plane. In these Andean communities, youngsters eagerly attend the classes taught by missionaries where they learn, "I Am a Child of God."
The Mutual Improvement Associations afford opportunities unbounded to the scores of idle youth who roam the streets. These young people want to participate in drama, music, dancing, worthwhile classes, and various sports activities. They thrill to the leadership possibilities which activity in the MIA provides.
The Sunday School gives all a chance to learn and grow. All have opportunity to give talks, practice reverence, and expand the depth and extent of gospel learning.
Others could, if they would, supply the serums, and the seeds, and the tools. They could provide the educational opportunities and other things that our Lamanite brethren so urgently need. But they cannot supply the message of truth that we bear, for we declare with authority from God that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth; we declare that the heavens are again open, that a prophet lives today and directs the Church of Jesus Christ. We declare that the Book of Mormon identifies these millions of people who for so long have been anonymous-making known that they are a chosen people, eligible for the promised blessings of their Father.
Their governments have recently accorded them citizenship in their lands, but our message makes them "no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens" in the Church and kingdom of God.
The day of the Lamanite is at hand. I bear witness that this is the work of the Lord, that we are in his Church. I bear solemn witness that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that President David O. McKay is a prophet and the mouthpiece of the Lord to the Church and in the world, and that the Book of Mormon is true. May the Lord help all of us to aid our brethren, the Lamanites, in their striving to reach their destiny, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Paul H. Dunn
Paul H. Dunn, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 31-34
My brethren and sisters and friends, to answer a number of questions that have been put to me lately after one year and numerous experiences, this is still the challenge that it ever was. I stand before you most humble and dedicated in an attempt to convey to you the feelings of my heart on this special day. I, too, seek an interest in your faith and prayers.
I am wondering if you good sisters here in this building and listening in would pardon me if I visited with your husbands and the dads for just a few moments.
Every once in a while there comes into the life of each father and husband a tremendous challenge, and some weeks ago it was one of these challenges that brought me to a greater realization of my responsibility as both father and husband. I am sure my experience is not unlike some that many of you here today have had.
It all happened this way. My wife one day, in her interest to go shopping with one of her close friends in the neighborhood, asked if I would be kind enough to attend to the household chores for about four hours during her absence, besides tending our smallest daughter. I assured her I was most anxious to do what I could as a priesthood bearer and as a loving father and husband. And I will have to confess there was a selfish interest at heart, thinking as I did that perhaps here was an opportunity to catch up on some of my own projects.
Well, now, I want to tell you, that was a day I shall never forget. Let me just give you an accounting of my accomplishments on that afternoon:
I answered the telephone 15 times. Thirteen of those calls were for our teenage daughters. I shouted, "Don't Kellie," 43 times. I spread bread with jelly 19 times. Some of my youngest daughter's little friends were visiting with her at the time. I stopped 9 different quarrels. I wiped noses 12 times. I tied shoes 8. I shut and opened doors 53 times. I bandaged 6 different fingers. I answered 11 questions.
And as well as I can figure at this point, I ran approximately 2 1/2 miles without ever going out-of-doors.
Now, brethren, I ask you, how long has it been since you stood in the place of your good wife? For example, two or three days following this little episode, I took this same group of wild Indians to the grocery store and attempted, as all mothers and housewives do, to fill the grocery basket. There was another challenge, to keep one youngster from digging into the cookie box, while another picked up, dropped, and broke a jar of pickles, and the third in the meantime became lost and, in her anxiety to find her father, shouted so that all the neighborhood could hear, "Daddy, where are you?"
Brethren, fathers, priesthood bearers, I tell you that I sincerely believe that my day is as long and nerve-racking as any represented here. But I wouldn't trade my job and I don't believe most of you would, involved as it might be, for that of a good wife who manages the home, supervises a family of children twelve hours a day and more at times, not to speak of a few other little responsibilities that engage her time from morning until night.
I wish today, brethren, that my wife's husband could remember every evening when he comes home that, no matter how tired he is or how hard he has worked, she has labored just as hard. And no matter how disappointed he may be with the things that have gone on during the day, she has an equal reason to be tired and discouraged with the load of her multitudinous and hectic responsibilities.
If my wife's husband could always realize this, I believe he would try even harder than he does to forget his own troubles and would try to bring into his home a spirit of love, fun, optimism, and assurance that would make every member of his family glad to be alive.
There are a number of other things that I wish my wife's husband would do as he views this lovely creature that he has taken unto himself as a bride for time and all eternity-that he would continue to court her and respect her as he has promised to do because of his genuine love and appreciation for her.
I wish my wife's husband would also remember at all times the responsibility he has to direct the affairs of his family, to be the loving father and the companion for his daughters that he basically wants to be but sometimes forgets to be because of busy schedules.
I have been so impressed today with the thoughts and the feelings of our Prophet, Brother Lee, President Tanner, and others who have spoken to us concerning the home and its importance and the role of mother and father in this connection. As they talked to us about these basic issues which should concern all intelligent thinking Americans, I was reminded of one of the finer studies that was made some years ago by Dr. Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck, a husband and wife sociology team at Harvard University. After much research and investigation of many cultures, they developed a scale which could predict delinquency, and they concluded that there were five basic ingredients that assured successful living and happy homes. Their discovery shouldn't surprise the Latter-day Saints because prophets of old, as well as today, have related these to us.
Briefly stated, they suggested that if you want to have successful family relationships in your home, the mother must show affection for her children. How much has been said from this pulpit on many occasions concerning the role of the mother in the home, and I would be the first to wholeheartedly endorse all these words as to the influence of what that mother can be and the need for her to be constantly available to all young children. I think by nature the mother more normally tends to give this basic love because of her place in the home.
The second basic ingredient would be love shown by the father. And sometimes, dad, even though we have this basic interest and affection for our children, we fail to display it in a way that is meaningful in the lives of these young people. I am sorry to confess there have been times in my so-called busy life when I have neglected this very thing, thinking my dear wife would certainly fill in. I was brought up rather short some years ago by one of my daughters when one Sunday afternoon she took from my coat pocket my appointment book, opened it up, and wrote her name; and as she brought it to me she said, "Dad, I'm wondering if I can have an appointment with you at two o'clock next Sunday." I think you might appreciate in some small measure how I felt, and it was at that moment I began to take a serious inventory of my own life and my responsibilities.
The second daughter on that same occasion chimed in, and she said in almost an echo form, "Dad, why is it that you always have time for other people's children and not for us?" Well, I am happy to announce to this marvelous congregation and all who would hear that I have attempted to right my life as a father and as a teacher in the home, and I am finding as I found some years ago that what our prophets ask us to do is right. I bear fervent testimony of what this can do in any home in America today.
The third thing in this formula was supervision, which the Gluecks basically assigned to the mother but certainly included the father.
And the fourth: discipline from the father, which does not exclude the mother as a part-time disciplinarian.
Fifth: the point of cohesiveness, tying it all together, which depicts again the wisdom that has come from on high through living prophets concerning the Family Home Evening, the opportunity for mothers and fathers to sit down and work out programs that will assist the youth of our nation and of the world to better ways of life, to a higher and more divine understanding of our very purpose in the world.
I am so grateful as a father and as a husband for these things which have been revealed to us in these latter days.
May I just conclude by sharing with you from the pen of an unknown author "A Father's Ten Commandments" which I think have modern day application:
Thou shalt love thy children with all thy heart and hesitate not to manifest interest in and affection for them. This is the first and great commandment.
Second, thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images of thy business, thy career, or thy sports, or any likeness of pleasure, occupation, or pursuit in the heavens above, in the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them so that thou forgettest to be a pal and a chum to thy children.
Third, thou shalt not take the name of "Dad" upon thee lightly, for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless who has little regard for the responsibility of fatherhood.
Fourth, remember thy children's portion of thy time and keep it holy. Many days shalt thou labor and do all manner of work that thou mayest provide suitably for all their needs, but in that portion of thy day which belongeth to them, thou shalt not do any work, neither shalt thou bury thy nose in a book, betake thyself to the golf links, or busy thyself otherwise according to thine own pleasure.
Fifth, honor thy wife, for thy children loveth her dearly and cannot admire, respect, and love thee if thou display not loving kindness for her.
Sixth, thou shalt counsel and advise with thy children in all things and share with them the secrets of thy heart.
Seventh, thou shalt be firm in thy discipline lest thy children stray from the paths of righteousness for the lack of thy guiding hand. But thou shalt not even hold the reins of thine authority too tight nor fail to understand that thy children desireth and needeth more and more of that independence of action which becometh a man.
Eighth, thou shalt have trust and confidence in thy children and be patient and long-suffering with all their shortcomings.
Ninth, thou shalt walk uprightly before men and make thy ways clean in the sight of thy God, for thy children doth follow after thy example. Moreover, take heed that thy children hath more discernment than thou sometimes thinkest and art more influenced by what they see thou really art than by what thou pretendest to be.
And tenth, thou shalt not forget thou wert once a boy. Neither shalt thou be unmindful that times have changed very much since the days of thy youth.
I am grateful, my brothers and sisters and friends, for knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for its meaning in our home, and for this divine program which has been established to influence lives everywhere. May we be equal to the tasks as dads and husbands, as priesthood bearers, to raise up a generation that will bless this nation and this world, I humbly pray as I testify to the divinity of these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Mark E. Petersen
Mark E. Petersen, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 34-37
Jesus of Nazareth was rejected by his people. Sensing it keenly, he said one day:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
"Behold your house is left unto you desolate...".
From the beginning of time it has been the tendency of mankind to drift away from the Lord and to love darkness rather than light.
It began when Satan came among the children of Adam and Eve and tempted them and destroyed their faith. The result was that many "... loved Satan more than God." The scripture explains that "... men began from that time forth to be carnal, sensual, and devilish".
This departure from the ways of the Lord was an apostasy, and since that time apostasy has existed among us almost continuously. While groping for the truth, men have made their own religions, established their own moral codes, and have justified themselves in following them.
It was so likewise in the days of the Savior. He fought against the manmade doctrines of his contemporaries and said that to use them in worship was of no value, for they could save no one. He vigorously denounced the sensual living so characteristic of that day. As a result, murderous schemes entered the hearts of his enemies, and they sought his life and eventually did crucify him, so completely did they hate the things of God, although professing to serve him in their own self-invented manner.
It was not long before apostasy developed within the Christian group itself. It occurred in various ways: partly in doctrine and ritual and much in the daily habits of the people.
The Apostle Paul said that this apostasy was characterized by mankind becoming "... lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
"Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
"Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof".
Usually when people speak of an apostasy from the truth they refer to changes in doctrines or a repudiation of certain beliefs. There has been an abundance of this. Such changes have resulted in the organization of hundreds of churches with different creeds, rituals, and ordinances, many of them being highly contradictory.
But personal sin is as real an apostasy as any effort to change the law or break the everlasting covenant.
Consider Paul's words again: covetous, proud, blasphemers, false accusers, incontinent, without natural affection, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.
In other words, personal sin is as much an apostasy from Christ as an acceptance of false doctrines and man-made rituals.
But it is even worse when clergymen, pretending to represent the Christ, compound their apostasy by actually leading people into serious personal sin, at the same time asking them to practice creeds of their own invention which have no power to save.
The Atlantic edition of Time magazine, March 5, 1965, reported in its religious section that "the 20th Century's sexual revolution directly challenges Christianity's basic doctrines against immorality." The magazine then goes on to say: "Some progressive church thinkers now advocate a 'new morality' to take account of these facts of life. What they propose is an ethic based on love rather than law, in which the ultimate criterion for right and wrong is not divine command but the individual's subjective perception of what is good for himself".
The article referred to 900 clergymen and students of religion recently gathered at Harvard University's Divinity School to ponder this so-called new morality. Many among those clergymen expressed the thought that this new moral concept which fosters licentious free love is what they call a "healthy advance" which now will relieve them of the responsibility of living the strict moral teachings of Christ.
An Episcopal minister, the Reverend Frederick C. Wood, speaking at Goucher College, Baltimore, told a group of young students, and I quote, that "sex is fun-premarital sex is beautiful-we all ought to relax and stop feeling guilty about our sexual activities, thoughts and desires." He was thus quoted by the Associated Press and newspapers which I myself read. These newspapers published his picture with the article on his attempt to reverse the divine law.
There are moves in at least two states in America to ease up on laws regulating immoral behavior. Legislators are being asked to rule that adultery should no longer be considered a crime, that homosexuals and other deviates should be allowed to practice their depravities legally and without restriction, and that the age of consent for a child to enter public prostitution should be lowered to sixteen years.
This is not only true in America. Similar conditions are found elsewhere, with some clergymen and high government officials alike condoning and in some cases encouraging licentious practices.
This is one of the great evidences of the apostasy of mankind from the teachings of Christ.
To reject or try to change the moral law of God is to reject God. To leave the path of virtue as set forth by Christ is an apostasy from Christ. If any segment of Christianity attempts to change the moral law of God, it will attack one of the most basic precepts of heaven and will thereby place itself in the role of anti-Christ.
I ask you: Is God, who the scriptures say is the same yesterday, today, and forever, now changing his mind? Does Jesus no longer believe what he taught when he was on earth? He said that anyone who looks upon a woman with lust in mind commits adultery in his heart. Note that he says that if we merely look upon another with lust, it is immoral.
Then what does he say about the completion of that act?
Does he call it beautiful as does this so-called Reverend Mr. Wood? Is the Savior now to retreat before the clerics who advocate free love?
Is he to admit that he was mistaken nineteen centuries ago and say that he was not as well informed as these modern clergymen? Will he now withdraw from his position and say that he was too strict for human nature and that he was not realistic?
Has Christ changed his mind?
Is he less understanding than the Reverend Mr. Wood in Baltimore?
Does he know less than Mr. Wood about the urges, the drives, and the temptations of adolescent youth?
If Christ has not changed his mind, can the modern clerics change it for him?
Will he approve a reversal of his teachings?
Will he acknowledge the men who try to make the change? Will he recognize them as his ordained servants? Will he accept the churches which they represent? Will he call them his own?
Will he say that the primrose path is now the road to heaven or that it has become a modern version of the straight and narrow way?
Will he sanction the teaching of immorality to young boys and girls by men who claim to act in his holy name?
For any man to attempt to change the moral law is like trying to change the Deity himself.
It is to ask the Almighty to condone the petting, the necking, the wicked intimacies and perversions which go on in the back seats of automobiles, in motel and hotel rooms, and on park lawns and beaches.
It is asking him to sanction the illegal and murderous abortions which frequently follow.
It is inviting him to smile indulgently and sweetly on misguided young people as they sow the seeds of death and hell.
Easy morality is no morality at all. And certainly where there is no morality, there is no true Christianity either.
No one can make free love a doctrine and practice of the true Church of God, despite all that may be said by the 900 clergymen at Harvard Divinity School or by any other group of ministers or priests speaking before schools and youth groups.
I remind these reverend gentlemen of what their own Bibles say. Or do they no longer believe the scriptures?
And if not, can they truthfully claim to be Christians-or ministers of a Christian God?
Apostasy through Immorality-Paganism
Apostasy through immorality is at least as bad as returning to paganism.
God still says: "Thou shalt not commit adultery".
Christ still says: "... whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart".
And Paul still says of those who deviate from the path of virtue into some of the great perversions, "... they which commit such things are worthy of death".
Let our so-called progressive Christians beware, lest like the ancient scribes and Pharisees they find that their house, too, has become desolate.
In this modern day God has restored his pure gospel and his divine Church. Again he teaches the truth about himself and the way to come back into his presence.
Part of that restoration is a restatement of the moral law.
Again comes his precept commanding: "... be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord".
Again he appeals for virtue-complete, chaste, unblemished purity-on the part of his followers, for no unclean thing can come into his presence.
By modern revelation he tells us that sex sin is next to murder in the divine category of crime.
Virtue is as much a part of the restored gospel as baptism and the resurrection.
Chastity is as vital to us as the law and the prophets.
The work of God cannot abide in the midst of iniquity. His people must not partake of the sins of Babylon or they will cease to be his people. Although we are in the world we cannot indulge in its corruption.
We Latter-day Saints have a great modern message. We announce that God has appeared in our day. He has raised up modern prophets who speak for him, even as did Moses.
He has established his Church again in this generation.
He is rearing a new and modern people, a priestly nation, a people of virtue and purity.
We have hundreds of thousands of youth in this heaven-blessed Church, and they must be taught the restored truth. But they must know that this truth includes virtue as well as worship and that there can be no true worship without chastity.
With all my soul I appeal to the youth of Zion:
Believe with all your heart in the restored gospel as given us through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Believe that this restored gospel is the way of truth and joy. Know that wickedness never was happiness, but that obedience and chastity lead to the abundant life.
Know that virtue is a vital part of the restored gospel and can never be separated from it.
Know and understand that no man or set of men, whether clergymen, educators, or government officials, can change divine law. They are neither greater nor more intelligent than the Almighty.
The Lord asks you to be as clean as he is, so that you may be fit to enter unto his presence and become like him, for that is your destiny. May you live for it and thus obtain this great blessing, I earnestly pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Hugh B. Brown
Hugh B. Brown, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 39-44
This is at once an inspiring and humbling experience when one instinctively desires to have divine guidance. It is most encouraging to have the President of the Church sitting on the stand and to know of his sympathy and blessings and well wishes.
We welcome all, of course, as has been said, who are attending the conference. To emphasize what has been said in previous sessions and for the information of our friends and our members, may we for a few moments review some aspects of the religion and philosophy of this newly revealed but ancient Church.
Here is a religious philosophy of divine origin which was taught by the prophets and Apostles of old, and this time was designated by them as "... the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began".
This is the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times referred to by Paul in Ephesians 1:10:
"That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him".
It is a philosophy which if followed would provide a solution to the problems of our distraught and imperiled world.
The cornerstone of this restored gospel is faith in a Living and Personal God, the Supreme Being. The head of the corner is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the same as was so fearlessly defended and proclaimed by Peter throughout his ministry. One revealing passage is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles as follows:
"This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved".
We believe that man was created in the image of God and was placed upon the earth as an embodied spirit that he might have the experience of mortal life, which is an intermediate state between preexistence and immortality.
Pursuant to divine plan, there was a transgression on the part of our first parents, and as a result they were given mortal bodies, and they and all of their descendants became subject to the dissolution of spirit and body through death.
Also in the divine plan provision was made for a redeemer to break the bands of death and through the resurrection make possible the reunion of the spirits and bodies of all who tabernacle in the flesh. Thus provision was made for the redemption from death of all mankind through the atonement of Christ and for their salvation and exaltation on condition of obedience to the principles of the gospel.
He made provision for the establishment of his Church in the Meridian of Time, and he instructed his Apostles to complete the organization of the Church and to carry its message to all the world.
But after his crucifixion and the subsequent death of the Apostles, there was a general falling away from the primitive Church. In other words, a universal apostasy followed shortly after the crucifixion, and through this apostasy the priesthood ceased to be operative, and as we read in Eusebius, "... when the sacred choir of apostles became extinct, and the generation of those that had been privileged to hear their inspired wisdom had passed away, then also the combinations of impious error arose by the fraud and delusions of false teachers. These also, as there were none of the apostles left, henceforth attempted, without shame to preach their false doctrine against the gospel of truth." Confusion and contention dominated the scene as men attempted on their own authority to establish churches.
The announcement of the reestablishment of the Church of Jesus Christ by his own personal appearance was followed by visits from other heavenly beings who restored the priesthood and authorized and supervised the reorganization of the Church. Now this forms the burden of our message. The mission of the Church thus restored is to preach the gospel and administer in its ordinances among all nations preparatory to the second advent of our Savior.
Man's period of earth life is but one stage in the eternal progressive journey of the soul. Birth and death do not mark the beginning nor the end of existence. The spirits of all men lived as intelligent beings, enjoying the right of choice and free agency before they were born in the flesh. Earth life is for the development and training of the sons of men under the direction and supervision of the Divine Father through his Son Jesus the Christ. Here we have an opportunity to meet opposition, to test our strength, to combat and overcome evil and thereby prepare for future development throughout the eternities. This was the purpose of the creation of the earth, that men might take upon themselves bodies and become candidates for immortality and eternal life. Dr. James E. Talmage sums up the discussion of creation of the universe as follows:
"What is man in this boundless setting of sublime splendor? I answer you: Potentially now, actually to be, he is greater and grander, more precious in the arithmetic of God, than all the planets and suns of space. For him were they created; they are the handiwork of God; man is his son. In this world man is given dominion over a few things. It is his privilege to achieve supremacy over many things.
"'The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork'. Incomprehensibly grand as are the physical creations of the earth and space, they have been brought into existence as a means to an end, necessary to the realization of the supreme purpose, which in the words of the creator is thus declared: 'For behold, this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man'".
All who accept the Holy Scriptures as the word of God must believe the doctrine of the preexistence of Christ and also of all the sons of God. Christ lived with the Father as an unembodied spirit as is noted by the inspired words of John the Beloved, who said:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
"The same was in the beginning with God.
"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
"In him was life; and the life was the light of men...
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth".
He who was the Firstborn of the Father's spirit children and the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh repeatedly referred to his preexistent state and declared that he came forth from the Father and would return to him on the completion of his mission in mortality. In John 3:13, we read:
"And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven".
And again in John 6:38, the Savior said:
"For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me".
Christ was chosen before the foundation of the world to be the Redeemer and Savior of mankind. John had a vision to which he refers in Revelation. He saw one, Lucifer, known as the son of the morning, or Satan the dragon, who led the rebellion, and John declares:
"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels".
Those among these unembodied spirits who, as Jude says, "kept... their first estate". were given the opportunity to experience mortal life whereby their spirits were clothed in bodies of flesh consisting of earthly elements, or as stated in Genesis, made of the dust of the earth. The others who, with their leader, "kept not their first estate", became the devil and his angels and were permanently denied the privilege of mortal existence, which is prerequisite to exaltation and eternal life.
Man's remembrance of his earlier existence was suspended, and man and woman became earth tenants with power and dominion over all other creatures as we read in Genesis:
"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them".
Man enjoys freedom of action and agency of choice, but while free to exercise this volition, he must abide the consequences of his decision. Through trial and error we, like the Master, learn obedience by the things which we suffer. As Paul said:
"Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him".
To the entire human race mortal life is a connecting link or an intermediate state, joining the two eternities of the measureless past and the eternal future. All men, sons and daughters of divine parents, are on this earth to experience an enlarged sphere of interest and activity in a terrestrial world preliminary to entrance into celestial glory.
We accept the scriptural account of the creation of man in the image of God. The fall of Adam brought a heritage of mortality and death, and the atonement of Christ made possible man's return to his former estate "added upon". These two divine missions were therefore of universal consequence.
It must not be assumed, however, that the fact of God's foreknowledge of what would be under given conditions was a determining cause, or that such must be. He never has and never will trammel man's free agency, even though men may disobey his immutable laws and bring upon themselves resultant sorrow and condemnation. Though God is omnipotent, he permits many things contrary to his will. But he desires that every soul shall be saved in his kingdom. In fact, he has declared it to be his work and his glory "... to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man".
We hold, however, that only Adam will be held accountable for his disobedience, although through the transgression the penalty is operative upon all flesh. Even so, the atonement of Christ is available to all, or as Paul said:
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
"Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life".
We affirm as a fundamental principle the biblical account of the atonement wrought by Jesus Christ, and we accept it in its literal simplicity. We hold further that he was the one and the only one fitted to become the Savior and Redeemer of the world. No other man possessed power to hold death in abeyance and to die only as he willed so to do. As it is declared in John 5:26:
"For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself".
And in John 10:17-18:
"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
"No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father".
The effect of the atonement is twofold, viz., universal redemption of the human race from death and individual salvation whereby relief from the effects of personal sins becomes available.
All men, regardless of the degree of their guilt or innocence, will be resurrected from the dead, and this belief also becomes a foundation stone in the structure of the Mormon Church. But, in addition to this general salvation through the atonement, every soul that lives in mortality to the age of responsibility may place himself within the reach of divine mercy and may obtain a remission of sin.
We do not accept the doctrine of original sin but believe that children are born innocent, and if they die before they reach the age of accountability, they are redeemed from death through the atonement of the Savior, redeemed also from any possible effects of inherited tendency to sin. They, therefore, require no baptism or other ordinance of admittance into the kingdom of God, for they are innocent in his sight.
Salvation from sin is obtainable, then, only through the acceptance of the atonement of Christ and obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. Every man must bring his personal life into harmony with those laws. Thus, as Paul says, Christ "... became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him".
Considering conditions in the world generally, there never was a time more cut off from Christ than ours, or one that needed him more.
We reject the unscriptural doctrine that there are but two places or states of eternal existence-heaven and hell-and that all men will go to the one or the other. According to the record of John, the Savior said:
"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you".
We affirm on the basis of direct revelation from God that graded degrees of glory are prepared for the souls of men and that these comprise in decreasing order the celestial, the terrestrial, and the telestial kingdoms. These several glories are likened unto the sun, the moon, and the stars and were understood and advocated by Paul to the Saints of Corinth as follows:
"There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
"There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
"So also is the resurrection of the dead".
Twelve Apostles
The Savior selected and ordained twelve men whom he called Apostles, and he commissioned them to preach the gospel to all the world. In fact, his Church, both in ancient and in modern times, is built upon the foundation of Apostles and prophets. Quoting Paul again,
"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone".
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ".
The Apostle aptly compared the organization of the Church to the several organs of the human body. As we read in 1 Corinthians, chapter 12,
"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
"And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
"Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
"Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
"But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way".
All are essential to the whole, and none is justified in saying to the other, "... I have no need of thee".
Shortly after the crucifixion of the Christ, the leaven of apostasy and disintegration began to work. The evidence of spiritual decline was observed by the Apostles, and they predicted even a greater falling away, which, in fact, progressed through the early period of Christian persecutions from Nero to Diocletian.
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
"And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
"And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not".
A widespread apostasy from the Church was followed by an apostasy of the Church. This apostasy, which was repeatedly predicted, is attested by history, both sacred and profane. This fact is the justification for the claim of the Latter-day Saints that there has been a restoration of the gospel. This Church, then, is Christianity restored, together with the principles and ordinances, the priesthood and authority, as taught and exercised in the primitive Church. This is our declaration, my brothers and sisters. This is our warning voice to all men, that the God of heaven has set up his kingdom, which, as predicted by Daniel,
"... shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people... and it shall stand for ever".
Now, to this message we humbly testify this morning to our members and to all our friends who are listening. We ask you in humility to hearken to the voices of the prophets of old and to the modern prophets and to the revelations of God and bring your lives into harmony with his laws in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 44-48
When Jesus walked and taught among men, he spoke in language easily understood. Whether he was journeying along the dusty way from Perea to Jerusalem, addressing the multitude on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, or pausing beside Jacob's well in Samaria, he taught in parables. Jesus spoke frequently of having hearts that could know and feel, ears that were capable of hearing, and eyes that could truly see. Today as I gaze into this vast throng and partake of the spirit of this conference, I give thanks to our Heavenly Father for eyes that see, ears that hear, and a heart that knows and feels.
One not so blessed with the gift of sight was the blind man who, in an effort to sustain himself, sat day in and day out in his usual place at the edge of a busy sidewalk in one of our large cities. In one hand he held an old felt hat filled with pencils. A tin cup was extended by the other hand. His simple appeal to the passer-by was brief and to the point. It had a certain finality to it, almost a tone of despair. The message was contained on the small placard held about his neck by a string. It read, "I am blind."
Most did not stop to buy his pencils or to place a coin in the tin cup. They were too busy, too occupied by their own problems. That tin cup never had been filled nor even half-filled. Then one beautiful spring day a man paused and with a marking crayon added several new words to the shabby sign. No longer did it read, "I am blind." Now the message read, "It is springtime, and I am blind." The compassion of human feelings could not now be restrained. The cup was soon filled to overflowing. Perhaps the busy people were touched by Charles L. O'Donnell's exclamation:
"I have never been able to school my eyes against young April's blue surprise." To each, however, the coins were a poor substitute for the desired ability to actually restore sight.
Did you happen to notice the United Press International dispatch from Sicily which appeared some weeks ago in our local newspapers? "Five brothers blind since birth got their first dim glimpse of the world Tuesday and cried with delight." The Rotolo brothers were operated on for removal of congenital cataracts. As the surgeon, Luigi Picardo, carefully removed their bandages in a darkened room, how he hoped and prayed that his work had been successful.
The first to speak was four-year-old Calogero, the youngest of the brothers. "The necktie," he cried, tugging at the surgeon's tie. "I can see, I can see." The removal of the bandages from the others' eyes was accompanied by shouts of joy. The boys' father could hardly believe it when he held thirteen-year-old Carmelo's face in his hands and tenderly asked, "Can you see, my son? Can you really see?"
By now, Mother Rotolo, the doctors, everyone was weeping for joy. Dr. Picardo replaced the bandages and slowly walked out of the room. Then he sat down on a bench and wept. "Never," he said, "have I felt such extraordinary serenity; such happiness." Thus a skilled surgeon actually brought the gift of sight to five little boys who had been blind.
Each of us knows those who do not have sight. We also know many others who walk in darkness at noonday. Those in this latter group may never carry the usual white cane and carefully make their way to the sound of its familiar tap, tap, tap. They may not have a faithful seeing-eye dog by their side nor carry a sign about their neck which reads, "I am blind." But blind they surely are. Some have been blinded by anger, others by indifference, by revenge, by hate, by prejudice, by ignorance, by neglect of precious opportunities.
Of such the Lord said, "... their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them".
Well might such lament, "It is springtime, the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored, and yet I am blind." Some like the friend of Philip of old call out, "How can I find my way but some man guide me". Others are too shy, too fearful to ask for needed help that their precious vision might be restored.
The case of the Rotolo brothers made national headlines. In literally thousands of other instances, the transition from the dense darkness of despair to glorious spiritual light is accomplished without fanfare, without publicity, without the recognition of the world.
In Price, Utah, seventy-six men together with their wives and children walked from darkness into the light of understanding and truth and journeyed to the Manti Temple, there to participate for the first time in sacred, holy ordinances. More than three hundred such men, women, and children came to the Salt Lake Temple from Denver, Colorado, for the same purpose. In Rigby, Idaho; Cardston, Alberta; and numerous other areas the account has been the same. Hundreds are seeing springtime for the first time.
Let me share with you two typical comments from those who were once blind but who now walk in light and truth, thanks to faithful home teachers and a program sometimes called "Project Temple," which is planned and instituted to motivate brethren long inactive.
From a family in central Utah: "Before our newly found church activity, we thought we were living average, normal lives. We had our problems, our ups and downs. But there was one thing missing in our home and that was a togetherness that only the priesthood can bring. Now we have that blessing, and our love for one another is greater than we ever dreamed it could be. We are truly happy."
From another family: "We thank our Heavenly Father every night for our bishopric and our home teachers who have helped us to achieve blessings that seemed so far away, so impossible to obtain. We now have a peace of mind beyond description."
Those who have felt the touch of the Master's hand somehow cannot explain the change which comes into their lives. There is a desire to live better, to serve faithfully, to walk humbly, and to live more like the Savior. Having received their spiritual eyesight and glimpsed the promises of eternity, they echo the words of the blind man to whom Jesus restored sight, "... one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see".
How can we account for these miracles? Why the upsurge of activity in men long dormant? The poet speaking of death wrote, "God touched him, and he slept." I say, speaking of this new birth, "God touched them, and they awakened."
Two fundamental reasons largely account for these changes of attitudes, of habits, of actions.
First, men have been shown their eternal possibilities and have made the decision to achieve them. Men cannot really long rest content with mediocrity once they see excellence is within their reach.
Second, other men and women and, yes, young people have followed the admonition of the Savior and have loved their neighbors as themselves and helped to bring their neighbors' dreams to fulfillment and their ambitions to realization.
The catalyst in this process has been the principle of love, described by President David O. McKay as the noblest attribute of the human soul.
Frequently the love of a child can stir a man's heart to action and bring a change into his life. Last winter in a large department store, a little boy walked hand in hand with his mother and father to the toy department to see Santa Claus. The parents had not been getting along. As the little one climbed upon his knee, old Santa cheerfully asked, "What do you want for Christmas?" Santa had no ready answer when the lad replied, "Just for my daddy to love my mommy like he used to." Could a father hear such a plea and not be moved? Could a mother? "... a little child shall lead them".
Often it is the love of a patient, forgiving, and understanding wife that awakens within a man the desire to live a better life, to be the husband and the father he knows he should and can be.
Recently I had the privilege of performing a sealing ceremony in the temple for a family I have known for many years. The scene was one of tranquility. The cares of the outside world had been temporarily discarded. The quiet and peace of the house of the Lord filled the heart of each one assembled in the room. I knew that this particular couple had been married for eighteen years and had never before been to the temple. I turned to the husband and asked, "Jack, who is responsible for bringing this glorious event to fulfillment?" He smiled and silently pointed to his precious wife who sat by his side. I seemed to sense that this lovely woman was never more proud of her husband than at that particular moment. Jack then directed my attention to one of the brethren serving as witness to this ceremony and likewise acknowledged the great influence for good that he had had upon his life. As the three beautiful children were sealed to their parents, I could not help noticing the tears which welled up in the eyes of the teenage daughter and then coursed in little rivulets down her cheeks, finally tumbling upon clasped hands. These were sacred tears, tears of supreme joy, tears that expressed silent but eloquent gratitude of a tender heart too full to speak.
I found myself thinking, "Oh, that such men and women would not wait eighteen long years to receive this priceless blessing."
Yet there are those who feel that their own neglect, their bad habits, their shunning of the righteous life have caused God to abandon them, that he will no longer hear their pleadings, nor see their plight, nor feel compassion towards them. Such feelings are not compatible with the word of the Lord. He said:
"... A certain man had two sons:
"And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
"And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
"And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
"And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
"And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
"And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
"I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
"And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
"And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
"And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
"But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
"And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
"For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found".
Should there be anyone who feels he is too weak to change the onward and downward moving course of his life or should there be those who fail to resolve to do better because of that greatest of fears, the fear of failure, there is no more comforting assurance to be had than the words of the Lord: "... my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them".
There are men and women everywhere who would be made better by our helping hand. They may be our neighbors, our friends, our business associates. All are our brothers and sisters.
The prayer of my heart is that such persons everywhere will respond to the kind invitation and gentle touch of the Master's hand and faithfully serve our Lord and our Savior, who so willingly died that we might forever live, hopefully having eyes that really see, ears that truly hear, and responsive hearts that know and feel, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop John H. Vandenberg
John H. Vandenberg, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 48-51
A historian informs us that about 100 years B.C. a new milling apparatus had been invented by a master craftsman in the hills of the Fertile Crescent. With this new contrivance the grain was ground into flour by a swift moving stream turning a paddle wheel rather than by the laborious method of rotating the millstone by hand. Thus the power of a stream of water was put to work.
The poet Longfellow referred to a far greater power and a more significant milling process when he wrote: "Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceedingly small; though with patience He stands waiting, with exactness grinds He all". By this we are reminded that humankind is the grain being milled, and the individual is a kernel of grain working between the opposing forces of life. It is through the mill or experiences of life that man is to learn and develop. Here he attains a certain degree of knowledge or skill, but it is through discipline and self-control that he is refined.
Today I want to talk particularly about the harnessing of power in connection with this mill of life-the power of words and acts. It was the words of the Prophet Jonah that saved the great city Nineveh from destruction. The power of words has changed the course of history many times for good and many times for bad. In words and acts men influence one another. It is said that we are individually responsible for our own actions and will receive the just reward for our deeds. "Every man will be judged according to his works" is the scriptural warning. Yet no man stands alone; one man's words and acts may influence another man's deeds.
The Prophet Lehi explains that there is an opposition in all things-light and darkness, good and evil, joy and misery. Emerson said that a dualism bisects nature. It can be seen in night and day, or in a magnet with north and south poles. One attracts; the other repels. Our society, therefore, may be considered dualistic also. At the top is the light of our age. At the bottom is a creeping, crawling, cancerous disease of crime, filth, and darkness. With unlimited goods, seemingly our every want and need provided for, our continuing mastery over disease, our ever enlarging system of education and higher learning-with all this and more we seem to be so independent that we are confident that all is right. Yet lurking beside us, apparent to the one who will intelligently observe, is a monster as described by Alexander Pope:
"Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace."
The ratio to which people are subjected to evil influences versus good influences is high in favor of the evil. Satan will use his agents in every way that he can cunningly to lure individuals into his web. His agents are represented by people. And people influence the lives of other people.
It is estimated that by 1967 over fifty percent of the population of the United States will be those twenty-five years of age and younger. The worrisome thing is the exposure of this young group to the evil forces of illicit love, drunkenness, crime, violence, unwholesome movies, dishonesty, risqué literature, and all means of vulgarity. One is faced with the question in the Old Testament: "Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?". There are many who cast all common sense to the wind and try to tell us that we can. There are those who may think they can sit apathetically by and not be a part of the "era of advancement or the cellar of crime."
I would like to point to the Savior's warning: "... whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea". This doctrine states it is better to lose your life than wilfully to offend.
The word "offend" as used by the Master means "to cause to sin or fall." This definition is now almost lost in our modern-day language, but the word was used with this meaning in the days of Christ and even up until a century or two ago.
Jesus also said: "Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!".
Willful wrong teaching, wrong example, wrong utterance, wrong action by those of influence are offenses to any youth, and the retribution follows as night the day that "no man ever did a designed injury to another, but at the same time he did a greater to himself".
Many college students, as well as high school students, become confused when some of their professors, in their important positions of influence, try to indoctrinate them with philosophies of men with atheistic ideas. Such teachers may be described as wells without water. They are very forceful in their distorted view and in their criticisms of those who possess faith in God. I would remind young people to remember that God is the author of all truth and to disregard any teaching that conflicts with the word of God.
Universities and other centers of learning are set up by inspiration for the betterment of mankind. But the "dualism" spoken of by Emerson exists at all levels. When you have questions as to religious matters, go to your parents or the bishop who have a knowledge of and authority from God. Ask them to help you consider such philosophies as you may hear in the light of the true principles and help you to keep and develop your faith in God. Be alert and do not let men confuse you into thinking that they know more about man's existence than God's authorized representatives.
The Lord speaks through his prophets, and his commandments so revealed are taught by his authorized agents. History will hear out that when evil principles are taught and faith in God is destroyed, the people go down to oblivion; but when faith in God is established in the hearts of men, the people flourish.
Man himself must learn to reason and to discern good from evil. Recently, I heard a man in the process of reasoning as he contemplated the movie advertising "for adults only." He posed several questions to himself, some of which were: Why adults only? Should adults see things which are prohibited to children? If it is good for adults, why not for the children? If bad for the children, why not bad for the adults? If unlawful for children to see, why not for adults? He finally reasoned if it were not good for his children, it was not good for him as a parent. Such advertisements are cunning lures of Satan as he attempts to influence and destroy ethical and moral values.
I read in the news recently of the wisdom a judge used in Iowa as he sentenced two juveniles on auto theft charges. I was thrilled that this judge took the time to give the following advice. His example may serve as a challenge to all civil judges or judges in Israel who are called to give advice.
"Now you have been convicted of a felony," he said. "A felony is a crime for which you might be sent to the penitentiary. In this case I do not have to send you to the penitentiary... I am permitted to give you a parole.
"But if you never see the inside of a penitentiary or the jail you will not have escaped from the penalties of your crime.
"... The record of your conviction will be here as long as the courthouse stands... Next year, or ten years from now, or when you are old men, if you are ever called to be witnesses in any court of law, some lawyer will point his finger at you and ask this question: 'Have you ever been convicted of a felony?'
"And you will hang your head and admit that you have...
"It may be that some day... you will apply for a passport... No country will allow you to become a resident...
"Some day you may seek a position in the civil service of your state or of your nation. On the application blank you will find this question: 'Have you ever been convicted of a felony?' Your truthful answer will bar you from examination; an untruthful answer will be detected because appointments are made only after investigation...
"Some day you may want to take a position of trust, where a surety bond is required. On the application for the bond will appear this question: 'Have you ever been convicted of a felony?'
"And while you are going from one bonding company to another trying to find one willing to take a chance on you, the position will be filled by some applicant who has not been convicted of a felony.
"In a few years you will be 21 and others of your age will have the right to vote, but you will not...
"You will be a citizen of your state and country, but you will have no voice in public affairs...
"Your country is calling men to the colors... But the Army will never accept you, nor will the Navy. Military men are proud of the service; they will not permit it to be debased by the enlistments of convicted felons.
"I am granting you a parole. A parole is in no sense a pardon. You will report to the men who have accepted your parole as often as they may ask. Your convenience is not a matter of importance...
"Should the slightest complaint of your conduct reach this court your parole will be revoked immediately, and you will begin serving your sentence. You will not be brought back here for questioning or explanations. You will be picked up and taken to prison without notice to you and without delay."
A lesson well taught is a lesson well remembered. I wonder what the two boys might have done had they had the influence of the judge's counsel before the theft, rather than the influence that promoted the felony.
Parents, church leaders, and all who aspire to positions of influence, teach the youth the proper way to live; help them to develop faith in God and a good, strong character; help them to follow the right influence, that they may retain faith in God. Guide them as Susanna Wesley, the wise and devoted mother of John Wesley, counseled her son: "Would you judge of the lawfulness or unlawfulness of a pleasure, take this rule: Whatever impairs in tenderness your conscience, weakens your reason, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things; whatever increases the authority of your body over your mind-that thing to you is sin."
Remember that the mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly small. In every segment of society, there are those influences which elevate and those which deteriorate the human soul.
The Savior miraculously fed the four thousand. Then he crossed the Sea of Galilee and came into the coasts of Magdala. There the materialistic, self-centered, and egotistical Pharisees and Sadducees came, tempting him to show them a sign from heaven. He observed that they could determine the weather, but they could not discern the signs of the times. "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign..." warned Jesus. Today we have some Pharisees and Sadducees in our society, cloaked in the disguise and the influence of "professionalism," urging youth not to believe unless such can be measured in terms of materialistic values. In this mill of life we should heed the counsel that Jesus gave to his disciples: "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees".
This I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder S. Dilworth Young
S. Dilworth Young, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 51-53
One looks with awe as he contemplates the history of the Book of Mormon. Today the account of how it was written is entirely plausible to most men. Because of archeological research it is now known that writing on metal plates was common in the time of Lehi. Men have written on plates many times. Prophets have sung their prophecies and recorded them, kings have told of their conquests, and ministers of state have described their relations with other nations. Even the common accounts of common people have been inscribed. Written on metal plates, leather, or papyrus, in languages strange to us today, all of these have come to our attention.
Men have gone to great lengths to certify their discoveries. "At this certain place we dug," they would write. And there were present others to verify discovery and to help interpret its place in history.
This was not so in 1829. At that time books written on metal plates were known to but few men.
But nowhere in recorded history has a sacred book been buried in the earth and then been brought forth by a miracle such as this one in which an angel of God visited a young man and pointed the way to the hiding place and then withheld the record until the man was prepared to receive it. The prophecies said that the latter-day work would be marvelous and wonderful. Seldom before has a single act brought forth so much to marvel at. There was the revelation to the young man; there was the four-year period of instruction; there was the providential provision of scribes; there was the literal fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy in which a learned man said he could not read a sealed book; there was the miraculous vision in which three men saw the plates and heard the voice declare that this work was done by the power of God; there was the earthly view of the plates by eight earnest, solemn men who saw and "hefted" the plates and knew "of a surety that the said Smith" indeed had them.
With all of this the Lord asks but one thing of the reader. Read the Book of Mormon honestly, prayerfully, with a desire to know its truth; and if the intent is sincere, God will reveal the truth of it to that person by the power of the Holy Ghost. To their wonderment and marveling as they discover its truths for themselves many have read and believed. And further, with that testimony from the Holy Ghost has come the assurance also that Jesus Christ is the Creator and Lord of this earth, that he is mindful of all those who seek him, that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and by revelation established this, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The young missionaries bear their solemn witness; but as they do it, they do not stand alone, nor does a listening person need to pin his hopes on their word alone. In their hands as they speak is the Book of Mormon which bears its own witness. It is as if they said, "We have told you that the gospel has been restored; now here is a witness which will convince you that we speak truly. You will know it if you read it sincerely." Those fortunate enough to follow this advice discover that it is truly a witness for Christ. That is its chief purpose: to bear witness for Christ to the convincing of Jew and gentile that Jesus is the Christ and that his gospel is for all men.
The number of people who have picked up the book by chance, read it, and become converted to its message has been very great. It is a silent witness, on duty twenty-four hours every day in many unexpected places. But to do its most effective work it must be in many more. Every home should have it in its library; every place people stop for a moment it should be available. It is possible that the person who obtains a copy will not read it, but sooner or later there will be those who will see it, pick it up, turn to the page containing its declared purpose, and then become lost in the spiritual message of its drama and its history. With marveling in their souls and wonder in their hearts, they will peruse its pages, receive and believe the promise at its end, and find the kingdom of God in this living, vibrant Church.
For a long time there has been a vast project to make the Book of Mormon available to everyone who can read. Quorums of the priesthood have placed it where people stay overnight or await their turn in professional offices. The high priests have done this great service. Now, from here on, under the direction of the missionary committee of the Church, the seventies quorums are to continue this act of love. On the firm foundation laid by the high priests, the seventies will now carry the work further and to more and more people. No one, it is hoped, will be able to say that he has not had opportunity to read this witness for Christ.
Anyone who reads it with sincere purpose and genuine desire to know the truth will have it borne into his soul that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Creator and Redeemer of the world. He will also know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of the Living God, called by the Lord as the human agent for the restoration of the gospel in the last days. It will be a witness to a work so marvelous that wonder and joy will spring into the hearts of men as they respond to its message and its testimony.
In our day we see the fulfillment of a prophecy written more than two thousand years ago: "Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
"Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid".
Let us not falter in the effort to bring about its complete fulfillment to the awe and wonderment of all men in this day.
The Church is carrying forth its assigned work to teach repentance and salvation to the world, and its beckoning arms say, "Come." President David O. McKay is the prophet of God on whom rests the responsibility to guide the work today. It is our equal responsibility to assist him all we can, and the work will then roll forth as Daniel prophesied until it fills the whole earth. That it may soon be, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Henry D. Taylor
Henry D. Taylor, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 53-55
After the earth had been organized and beautified, the Lord created man in his own image and after his own likeness. And then the Lord God said: "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him". Eve was then created and given to Adam as a companion and wife.
The poet Longfellow beautifully expressed this relationship of husband and wife in the following verse:
As unto the bow the cord is, So unto the man is woman; Though she bends him, she obeys him, Though she draws him, yet she follows; Useless each without the other!
The Lord's declaration, "It is not good that the man should be alone", has lofty significance. A babe born into this world is a helpless creature, dependent on its parents for care, love, and sustenance. Then as his life's cycle expands toward maturity, many other people affect the course of his life. Association with other youth and participation in their activities, schools, movies, television, radio, and other media also influence the individual.
One of the most vital forces in this teaching or training process is that of the Church. Someone has estimated that a boy fourteen years of age, raised in the Church, would have had approximately seventy-five auxiliary and priesthood teachers and leaders who provided more than a thousand hours of gospel instruction for his benefit. Added to this there probably would be another twenty-five persons currently engaged in bringing the full program of the Church to him.
Although one is born alone and dies alone and is free to live, think, feel and act by himself, he needs help in reaching his highest possible potential. He cannot do it fully by himself.
As members of the Church, we are traveling along the same highway, each one working out his own salvation, with exaltation and eternal life in the celestial kingdom as the goal. Yet in this striving process we are not alone; we gain and give strength and encouragement to each other. It has been aptly stated: "No man is an island; no man stands alone."
But there are those who feel that they have no need for anyone else, that they are sufficient unto themselves. Such persons claim, for instance, that it is not necessary to attend church meetings and mingle with others. They suggest that they can worship alone in the mountains, in the canyons, in the out-of-doors.
It is true that momentous events have transpired out in nature. Moses heard the voice of the Lord from the burning bush on the hillside and also received the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai. Joseph Smith was blessed with the actual visitation from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ in the Sacred Grove. The spirit of worship was surely present on those hallowed occasions. The Savior taught that secret prayer is efficacious when he suggested: "... when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly".
Even though Moses, Joseph Smith, and the Master all worshiped as individuals and prayed secretly, yet each indicated the need for group worship. The Lord had Moses set up the magnificent Tabernacle in the wilderness the Prophet Joseph was directed to build churches and temples and establish a group educational system; and the Savior established his church organization for the purpose of "perfecting... the saints, for the work of the ministry...". We have received from God many commandments that require participation together as church members. The Lord has said:
"And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
"For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High".
Also remember the instruction: "It is expedient that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in the remembrance of the Lord Jesus".
Many blessings come from assembling with other members of the Church. On fast day we are inspired and uplifted as we hear fervent testimonies borne. In Sunday School and other meetings we profit by the experiences and expressions of others. Then also consider the value of the warm smile and hearty handclasp as we associate together, giving us a feeling of brotherhood and unity, a sense of belonging-belonging to one another and to the kingdom of God. The joys we feel are many, many times greater than if we attempted to work and worship alone.
It was not meant that we should stand alone. No one is an island. We need to be in fellowship with the Saints. By them our lives can be made better and richer. Recently I heard of an incident which illustrates this point. A boy was extended an invitation to visit his uncle who was a lumberjack up in the Northwest. For months the boy had looked forward with anticipation to this trip as an exciting adventure. Finally the time came for his journey to the vast timber empire of our country. His uncle met him at the depot, and as the two pursued their way to the lumber camp, the boy was impressed by the enormous size of the trees on every hand. There was a gigantic tree which he observed standing all alone on the top of a small hill. The boy, full of awe, called out excitedly, "Uncle George, look at that big tree! It will make a lot of good lumber, won't it?"
Uncle George slowly shook his head, then replied, "No, son, that tree will not make a lot of good lumber. It might make a lot of lumber but not a lot of good lumber. When a tree grows off by itself, too many branches grow on it. Those branches produce knots when the tree is cut into lumber. The best lumber comes from trees that grow together in groves. The trees also grow taller and straighter when they grow together."
It is so with people. We become better individuals, more useful timber when we grow together rather than alone.
This growing together places a responsibility upon each one of us. We should try fully to appreciate all our associates, help them, love them, teach them the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, his plan of salvation for them. We are all the children of God. We can help others; they can help us. Together we can become valuable timber in effectively building his Church in which we are blessed to hold membership.
Somewhere out there in the wards and branches and cities where you live are those who are lonely-lonely for want of the light of truth; lonely for the association of those who reflect the Spirit of the Master; lonely, though they may not realize it now to be a part of the body of Saints that make up the kingdom of God here on the earth. Don't let them stand alone in the dark. Go to them. Let your life be a lamp to their feet. Guide them till they stand with you and your associates in the gospel of our Redeemer. This is your responsibility, your obligation, your mission, your privilege. May you fulfil all of these opportunities humbly and nobly, I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Howard W. Hunter
Howard W. Hunter, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 55-58
The beginnings of most of the religions of the world are somewhat obscure, and this is true of the beginnings of Israel's religion. The central event upon which all of the early stories converge is the exodus of Israel from Egypt. A series of events occurred which demonstrates the concern of the Lord for his children. The Hebrews believe that their God had made himself known to them at the hour of their deepest need by providing a liberation from their taskmasters, the Pharaohs of Egypt. The Lord called Moses to lead them. It was not an easy assignment to lead people who wavered between faith and doubt, obedience and defiance.
Military strategy did not deliver the children of Israel from the pursuing Egyptian armies at the Sea of Reeds, but the protection of the Lord, who separated the waters so that they might pass over dry-shod and escape. He came to their rescue from the pillar of cloud and fire. He sustained them in their needs as they moved across the Sinai Peninsula. When they suffered from thirst, he caused the waters to be made sweet. To relieve them from hunger, he provided quail and manna. In spite of these great manifestations, Moses was besieged with the constant task of preserving unity and order. On occasions there were murmurings against the great leader and attacks on his authority when they were delayed in reaching their expected goal of the land of milk and honey.
After a long struggle the Israelites entered the desert of Sinai and established a camp at the base of the mountain. It was while here that a marvelous event took place. Moses had gone up on the mountain to seek divine guidance in the solution to the problems which faced him.
"And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
"And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
"And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
"And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice".
After the happening of these events on this awesome occasion, the Lord stood on the top of the mountain, and Moses was allowed to approach him. The seventy elders were permitted to move part way up the mountain, and all others remained at the base. The Lord then proceeded to announce what has come to be known as the Ten Commandments or the Decalogue. In Hebrew the Decalogue is known as the Ten Words because in its primitive Hebrew form it consists of ten brief phrases, each only two words long.
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me". In Egypt the Israelites had been surrounded by people who worshiped other gods, but they had become familiar with the presence of the Lord through the miracles he had performed in bringing them through the Red Sea and delivering them from the Egyptians, bringing water from the rock, providing quail and manna when they were hungry, and a pillar of cloud to direct them. This commandment to have no other gods was given as primary for man's happiness, that he might give his allegiance to his true Father. There must be one supreme loyalty in one's life to the true God.
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
"And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments". Under the bonds of Egypt, the Israelites had been subjected to the worship of the graven images prohibited by this commandment. It might be noted at this point that there are some of the major Christian denominations of the world which omit from the Decalogue this second commandment pertaining to graven images in its entirety and divide the tenth in order to have ten commandments. History has well portrayed the calamities that come to the generations of children when fathers turn from the true God. On the other hand we see the blessings which come to children of righteous parents.
"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain".
By this we are commanded not to engage in false oaths or any irreverent statement pertaining to God or any of his attributes or common swearing where his name is used. Swearing or cursing is usually the result of an effort of one who is inarticulate to impress others. Blasphemy is a disgusting habit which commands no respect.
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
"Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
"But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
"For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it".
This is a restatement of the law that existed from the beginning when God rested after the creation. I have always been interested in the words "six days shalt thou labour." This appears to be as much a commandment to work six days as it is to refrain from work on the seventh day. It is also interesting to note that this fourth commandment is addressed "thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger." Nothing is said about thy wife. Perhaps this is the reason that after the big task of getting the children washed, fed, dressed, getting her husband's clothes ready, starting the Sunday dinner, and arriving at church herself nearly on time, mother does not respond to the spirit of the opening hymn, "Welcome, welcome, Sabbath morning, Now we rest from every care."
"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee". Children are admonished to respect and render obedience to their parents, and are expected to provide for them when disabilities arise as their parents did for them as little children.
"Thou shalt not kill". This commandment is in reference to the unlawful taking of a human life. Life is one of man's most precious earthly possessions. Respect for human life has grown over the many centuries which have passed since this law was presented, and it probably outranks all of the other nine commandments as the one which has been given the greatest concern by mankind.
"Thou shalt not commit adultery". The Lord is concerned with the sacredness of marriage and the family unit. This is not mere advice, but a clear, concise, terse commandment given to apply to both men and women equally.
"Thou shalt not steal". This commandment adds the sacredness of property to those concerning the sacredness of life and the sacredness of the family. This is the basic commandment on which the idea of private property rests. This is a prohibition against theft, robbery, burglary, taking an unfair advantage as a buyer or a seller, or any wrongful act by which one acquires that which is not rightfully his. It has been said that man has a possessive instinct, but his ability to possess has its limits. For this reason the stars still are in their ancient places only because they are out of the reach of predatory human hands. In view of the present contest to control space, we are not sure of the future results.
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor". Primarily this commandment has reference to false testimony in judicial proceedings, but it is extended to cover all statements which are false in fact. Any untruth which tends to injure another in his goods, person, or character is against the spirit and letter of this law. Suppression of the truth which results in the same injury is also a violation of this commandment.
"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's". To covet means to desire, to long for, to crave that which belongs to another person. The desire to acquire good things is not a violation, but the desire to take them away from another unlawfully is a wrong. In this respect it is well for us to understand that good or evil commences not when the act occurs, but when one sets his heart upon a thing.
The Decalogue or the ten laws were inscribed on two tablets of stone. Just how they were arranged is not known but most students divide them into two sets. The first division consists of those laws which are concerned with man's relation to God. These are: no other gods, no graven images, no blasphemy, and keep the Sabbath. Some have included honor thy parents, while others have put this in the category of the last five, which are the laws encompassing a system of moral duties to others-thou shalt not kill, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness, or covet.
Apparently the Savior had these two groups of laws in mind, the first defining man's duty to God and the second providing for a duty to neighbors, when the lawyer asked him: "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
"This is the first and great commandment.
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets".
This clear, concise, unmistakable restatement of the Decalogue reduces the ten laws, the "thou shalt nots," as they are often called, to two simple admonitions containing the element of love-love the Lord and love thy neighbor.
He loves the Lord with all his heart who loves nothing in comparison of him, and nothing but in reference to him, who is ready to give up, do, or suffer anything in order to please and glorify him. He loves God with all his soul, or rather with all his life, who is ready to give up life for his sake and to be deprived of the comforts of the world to glorify him. He loves God with all his strength who exerts all the powers of his body and soul in the service of God. He loves God with all his mind who applies himself only to know God and his will, who sees God in all things and acknowledges him in all ways.
The love of our neighbor springs from the love of God as its source, and the love of God is found in the love of our neighbor.
This is the teaching of the Savior. How happy the children of the earth would be if these two simple precepts, which encompass the law given to Israel, could be observed. Hundreds of thousands of laws, statutes, and codifications of laws have been written by man in an effort to spell out man's rights and duties in society, most of which fall within the meaning of the simple statement of the Lord, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor...".
As one reads of the wanderings of the Israelites in their quest for the promised land, this query comes to mind: Why did they not understand and follow the prophet of the Lord? As we think of the progress of man over the centuries which have followed and the great scientific achievements he has wrought, we marvel at the advance. But has man really achieved in living the simple commandments to love his neighbor and to love the Lord? Are we still wandering in the barren Sinai wilderness?
I humbly witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the True and Living God. Through his Church established in these latter days, the gospel as restored in this dispensation and the power of the priesthood can come the help needed by those who wander, to rise above the worldly level and live the law of the Lord. This is our invitation to truth seekers everywhere. I pray that his Spirit may be with us and give us the desire and ability to live his laws, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 60-65
My beloved brothers and sisters and friends: From the impressive keynote talk of President McKay, nearly every speaker has dwelt on the home and human behavior in total or in part in spite of the fact that no one knew what others were speaking about. This would point out to me that there is a great universal problem and that the Lord is inspiring his servants to warn the world before the whirlwind strikes.
We were driving north on an Oklahoma highway and noted the afternoon sun going out of sight behind the clouds. The grayness got deeper and more ominous. We said, "It looks like a storm brewing." As darkness increased and the winds began to howl, we said, "This storm will be violent." As it broke with all its hellish fury, we said, "This rain and wind have become a raging whirlwind."
These are turbulent times. The newspapers give front page to ever-increasing acts of violence, and magazines devote pages to the growing menace. Such stories are revolting in their worldliness and debauchery-reminding us that there shall be a day of reckoning, as the prophet said:
"If my people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the chaff thereof in the whirlwind...".
Insubordination reigns. Students rebel against restraints and limitations, demanding so-called freedoms in sex and social life. Youth, seemingly unafraid of law-enforcement officers, public opinion, or punishment, run wild. There seems to be an ever-increasing upsurge of rebellion in adults and youth. Vandalism continues in open defiance of officers with ever-increasing acts of violence.
The Prophet Nephi looked forward to these last days and made some remarkable predictions:
"For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good.
"... and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell".
Then, he warns: "... wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of the truth of God!".
Can it be arrested? Can we turn the tide and bring back decency and order out of chaos? The answer is yes-a positive, stentorian yes. But the solution is not easy. If it could be solved with money, people would tax themselves to curb it. If penal or correctional institutions would suffice, a great building program would be initiated. If additional social workers could prevail, universities would add courses in social work. If courts and judges, attorneys and policemen, prisons and penitentiaries could stop the onrush of delinquency, such institutions would be dotted over all the land. But such are not cures for the malady. They but salve it over temporarily and effect no permanent cure.
The Lord has given us a plan so simple, so costless. It requires a change of attitudes and a transformation of lives. But the answer has always been here though ignored by the masses because it requires that sacrifice and dedication which men are reluctant to give.
The scriptures outline this effective program:
"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh".
"... thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor seek thy neighbor's life".
"... attend to all family duties".
Bring up your children "... in the nurture and admonition of the Lord".
In 1833 the Lord warned through his prophet:
"And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men and because of the tradition of their fathers".
And then he offered the solution:
"But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth".
The spirit of the times is worldliness. Hoodlumism is on the warpath. Supposedly good youth from recognized good families express their revolt in destructive acts. Many defy and resist the law-enforcing officers. Respect for authority-secular, religious, political-seems to be at a low ebb. Immorality, drug addiction, general moral and spiritual deterioration seem to be increasing, and the world is in turmoil. But the Lord has offered an old program in new dress, and it gives promise to return the world to sane living, to true family life, to family interdependence. It is to return the father to his rightful place at the head of the family, to bring mother home from social life and employment, the children from near-total fun and frolic. The Home Teaching Program with its crowning activity, the Family Home Evening, will neutralize the ill effects if people will only apply the remedy.
An early American prophet said:
"I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father... yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record...".
This young historian was large in stature, large in understanding, large in desire, and mighty in power and righteousness.
His great desire was to know the will of God, the purpose of life, and to persuade men to come to Christ.
He declared:
"... I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father".
In the divine scheme every soul has been given a father whose responsibility is not only to sire and provide the necessities of life, but also to train for mortality and life eternal.
Undoubtedly Sariah cooperated with Lehi, but it was the father who called his family together to teach them righteousness.
The teaching of the children by the fathers is basic from the beginning. The Lord ordained it so.
Though Enos had strayed for a time, the teachings of his father prevailed, and he returned to worthiness.
Enos begins his part of the record as follows:
"... I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just man-for he taught me... in the nurture and admonition of the Lord-and blessed be the name of my God for it-
"And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.
"Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart".
It is apparent that Enos received his greatest inspiration and training from his own faithful father. And the teachings were frequent and powerful concerning eternal life.
He was deeply impressed, for he said these teachings from his own father sank into his heart-so deep, so impressive, that now, as conviction of his errors pressed down upon him, he was ready to pay a heavy price for forgiveness.
The supplication of Enos is written with a pen of anguish and on the paper of faith and with a willingness to prostrate himself totally that he might receive forgiveness. His words are mighty and definitive. He could have said merely, "I wanted information." But he said, "... my soul hungered...". He could have merely prayed unto the Lord like so many pray, but in his eagerness for forgiveness, he said, "... I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul...".
How impressive his words! "Mighty prayer and supplication" is not the usual prayer. The Lord's agonies in Gethsemane, so long, so earnest, were mighty prayers.
Enos wept out his pleadings "And... said: Lord, how is it done?".
And the answer came: "... Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh...".
What faith! And what was the source of this great sureness except from home and parents?
This was somewhat comparable to home evenings. He said:
"... I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints...".
In this inspired program the parents, and especially the father, will teach the children. And it is available to the people of the world regardless to what church they may belong. It provides a formal meeting and a planned program and consistent teaching of the gospel of Christ with participation in the reading of the scriptures and in the program by the children and parents. Each child has his own scriptures. The organizational teachings may complement the home teaching.
The scriptures indicate that Jacob may have had the equivalent of home evenings, for it is recorded:
"Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods... and be clean, and change your garments".
King Benjamin from his elevated platform appealed to the parents: "And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin...
"But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another".
Isaiah follows with a plea and a command and a promise:
"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children".
In the command of Moses to the wanderers certainly there was the elements of home teaching.
"And these words... shall be in thine heart:
"And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up".
Certainly here was family worship. Then I remembered the forceful address of President Stephen L Richards several years ago when he called upon all men to come home and assume their rightful place as the head of the family.
May I quote from his eloquent sermon: "Termites are permeating the foundation of the kingdom-the homes of the people-even more destructive and elusive than those semi-microscopic little animals that break down our walls."
He quoted from a then-current magazine article wherein the eminent judge-author gave a nine-word cure for juvenile delinquency. With twenty-one years of his life a criminal lawyer and sixteen years a judge in the criminal court, he was a recognized authority. The challenging nine words were:
"Put father back at the head of the family." Ah! This is the foundation of true family life. The article revealed that criminal offenders under eighteen years of age in Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, and Britain were responsible for from 2 percent to 16 percent of sex crimes as compared with 35 percent for the United States.
The judge concluded that the primary reason for the reduced percentages of juvenile delinquency in the European countries was respect for authority, especially for authority in the home, which normally reposes in the father as head of the family.
President Richards explained the concepts of home, fatherhood, and motherhood, and stated this Church has always taught this exalted concept of putting and keeping father at the head. A pity he did not live to see this divine Church embark on this challenging, newly emphasized program of Family Home Evening, transforming houses into homes and homes into heavens.
One of the most provocative and profound statements in holy writ is that of Paul wherein he directs husbands and wives in their duty to each other and to family. First, he commands the women:
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
"For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.
"Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing".
This is no idle jest, no facetious matter. Much is said in those few words.
Paul says, "as unto the Lord."
A woman would have no fears of being imposed upon nor of any dictatorial measures nor of any improper demands if the husband is self-sacrificing and worthy. Certainly no sane woman would hesitate to give submission to her own really righteous husband in everything. We are sometimes shocked to see the wife take over the leadership, naming the one to pray, the place to be, the things to do.
Husbands are commanded: "... love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it".
Here is the answer: Christ loved the Church and its people so much that he voluntarily endured persecution for them, suffered humiliating indignities for them, stoically withstood pain and physical abuse for them, and finally gave his precious life for them.
When the husband is ready to treat his household in that manner, not only the wife, but also all the family will respond to his leadership.
Certainly, if fathers are to be respected, they must merit respect; if they are to be loved, they must be consistent, lovable, understanding, and kind, and must honor their priesthood.
President Richards further states: " know that that priesthood has true virtue within it-the power to bless, the power to heal, the power to counsel, to make peace and harmony prevail."
What great incentives the mother has to honor and build up her worthy husband in the esteem of the offspring when she knows that this contributes to the well-adjusted lives of her children. And what a great incentive the father has for rising to his tallest stature to merit the love and respect of all members of his family!
And so, we plead with the fathers to return to their little kingdoms and with kindness, justice, proper discipline to inspire; and we appeal to the mother to help to create that happy family relationship.
In the great Home Teaching Program and Family Home Evenings, the responsibilities lie first and properly on the head of the father. The wife will assist. What true father would shirk this great privilege? What father would shift the planning, organizing, conducting such family programs? What dutiful father would evade this teaching, opportunity, and responsibility?
Nephi credited his father with his training as did Enos. It was the words which he had often heard his father speak which stirred him to a soul-hungering which brought him back to spiritual health and landed him on his knees for an all-day, all-night communication with his Maker.
It would appear from the scriptures that it was Jacob who trained his household and gave them their blessings.
Now let us see the other side. The scriptures condemn men and women when they fail to do their duty.
The Lord punished the temple worker Eli, charging him with the serious sins of his sons.
And the Lord whispered through Samuel: "... I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house...
"... because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not".
In modern times the Lord said: "Now, I, the Lord, am not well pleased with the inhabitants of Zion, for there are idlers among them; and their children are also growing up in wickedness".
To Frederick G. Williams, he said:
"... you have continued under this condemnation;
"You have not taught your children light and truth... and that wicked one hath power, as yet, over you, and this is the cause of your affliction.
"... if you will be delivered you shall set in order your own house, for there are many things that are not right in your house".
Turning to Sidney Rigdon, the Lord charged: "Verily, I say unto my servant Sidney Rigdon, that in some things he hath not kept the commandments concerning his children; therefore, first set in order thy house".
And then the Lord said: "What I say unto one I say unto all; pray always lest that wicked one have power in you, and remove you out of your place".
How sad if the Lord should charge any of us parents with having failed to teach our children. Truly a tremendous responsibility falls upon a couple when they bring children into the world. Not only food, clothes, shelter are required for them but loving, kindly disciplining and teaching.
I wonder what this world would be like if every father and mother gathered their children around them at least once a week, explained the gospel, and bore fervent testimonies to them. How could immorality continue and infidelity break families and delinquency spawn? Divorce would reduce and such courts would close. Most ills of life are due to failure of parents to teach their children and the failure of posterity to obey.
Of course, there are a few disobedient souls regardless of training and teaching, but the great majority of children would respond to such parental guidance.
And then, I think: Had Israel's fathers and mothers done their full duty to their children, would Palestinian forests have vanished, their hills been denuded? Would they have been slain by their enemies, the sword running through their land? Would their power have been broken, their heaven made as iron, their earth as brass? Would hunger have stalked the land? Would mothers have devoured their children? Would the people have again been taken in bondage?
Had every father in Babylon, assisted by the mother, taught and trained little ones in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, would that great city have been covered with sand and its corruption buried in the earth, its springs dried up, its temples toppled? Would drunken revelry have lulled them to an unawareness of their danger? Would palms and willows wither and would lands be dried and desolate? Would Babylon have become a hiss and a byword and would the wolf and the jackal, the owl and doleful creatures be its only inhabitants and the shepherd and the Arabian avoid the haunted place?
Had every Roman father been teaching his sons righteousness instead of war and every mother making a home for her children, had all parents assembled their children in their homes instead of the circuses and public baths, had they taught them chastity and honor and integrity and cleanness, would Rome still be a world power? Certainly it was not the barbarian from the north but the insidious moral termites within which destroyed the Roman world empire.
Had the parents of the world from Adam down carried on their home teaching, their home evenings, their home togetherness and sweet family life as ordained by the Lord, would there have been a world deluge, a Tower of Babel, a Sodom and Gomorrah? Would the streets of Samaria ever have been plowed or the walls of Jerusalem leveled? Would there be oriental and occidental enemies today establishing military bases, accumulating ammunition, inventing missiles, preparing nuclear weapons? Would they be crouching as cats after mice, waiting for the rotting process to develop to the point of no return? Would increasing delinquency and rebellion cause them to wait while the progressing, softening illness would make that death inevitable?
In our own dispensation the Lord reiterated his basic command to those who brought children into the world when he said:
"And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion... that teach them not... the sin be upon the heads of the parents.
"For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion...".
"And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord".
Home life, home teaching, parental guidance is the panacea for all the ailments, a cure for all diseases, a remedy for all problems.
And in our land, if the home teaching by local leaders, crowned by the home evenings with father and mother enthroned, were the rule in Zion, would not taverns be closed, and gambling dens be boarded up, and licentiousness nearly eliminated, and hoodlumism terminated, and jails reduced, and penitentiaries limited?
Would we not be safe to walk in dark places and eliminate locks from our doors and enforcement officers from our streets if men and women returned home?
Oh, my brothers and sisters, the sons and daughters of God, the members of Christ's Church, the people of all religious affiliations, the people of all nations, let us take hold of this general panacea and heal our wounds and immunize our children against evil by the simple process of teaching and training them in the way of the Lord. Every father and mother in Zion, and every Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Mohammedan, and all other parents have the same responsibility: to teach their children to pray and walk uprightly before the Lord!
It is my humble prayer that this glorious world may yet be a reality, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Boyd K. Packer
Boyd K. Packer, Conference Report, April 1965, p. 69-71
I have appreciated, my brethren and sisters, the marvelous counsel given throughout this conference to parents with regard to their children. I wonder, would you object, would it be in order if I ignored you for the next few minutes and spoke directly to children about their obligation to their parents?
No age is quite so carefree, so restless, so potential as high school years. Notwithstanding the outward turmoils and nonconformity, these are years of quiet inner growth. These are years of silent, restless maturing. And it is to our youth of high school years that I speak.
A few days ago I visited a large automobile dealership and looked at many new automobiles. One in particular caught my eye-a convertible sports model with all of the fancy equipment you could imagine. It had push-button everything and more horsepower than a division of cavalry. And it can be purchased for only $7,100. How I would have enjoyed a car like that when I was in high school! It occurred to me that you may be interested in owning such a car.
Do you have an imagination? Imagine with me that I am your benefactor; I have decided to present to a typical teenager a car such as this, and you are the one who has been chosen. On the evening of the presentation, I see that you are not quite financially able to run such a car, so I generously include free gas, oil, maintenance, tires, anything your car will use; all of this, and the bills come to me.
How you will enjoy that car! Think of driving it to school tomorrow. Think of all the new friends you will suddenly acquire.
Your parents may be hesitant to let you use this car freely, so I will visit with them. I am sure they will be reluctant, but because of my position as one of the leaders of the Church, they will consent.
Let us imagine, then, that you have your car, everything to run it, freedom to use it.
Suppose that one evening you are invited to attend a church social. "There are just enough of you to ride in my station wagon," your teacher says. "You may leave your car home." When they come to take you to the party, you suddenly remember your new convertible parked at the curb with the top down. You hastily go back in the house and give the keys to your father, asking that he put it in the garage, for it looks as if it may rain. Your father, of course, obediently agrees.
Later you come home and notice your car is not at the curb. "Dear old dad," you muse, "always willing to help out." But as the station wagon pulls into the driveway and the lights flash into the garage, you see it stands empty.
You rush into the house, find father, and ask that very urgent question.
"Oh, I loaned it to someone," he responds.
Then imagine seriously imagine, a conversation such as this.
"Well, who was it?"
"Oh, that boy who comes by here regularly."
"What boy?"
"Oh, that... well, I have seen him pass here several times on his bicycle."
"What is his name?"
"Well, I'm afraid I didn't find out."
"Where did he take the car?"
"That really wasn't made clear."
"When will he bring it back?"
"Well, there really wasn't any agreement on that."
Then suppose that your father should say to you, with some impatience, "Now you calm down. He rushed in here. He needed a car. You weren't using it. He seemed to be in a frantic hurry over something, and he looked like an honest boy so I gave him the keys. Now relax. Go to bed. Calm down."
I suppose under the circumstances you would look at your father with that puzzled expression and wonder if some important connection had slipped loose in his thinking mechanism.
It would take a foolish father to lend such an expensive piece of equipment on an arrangement such as that-particularly one that belonged to you.
I am sure that you have anticipated the moral of this little illustration, you of high school age. It is in these years that dating begins-this custom of two sets of parents lending their teenagers to one another for the necessary and the important purpose of their finding their way into maturity and eventually into marriage. Perhaps for the first time you notice and you begin to resent the interest of your parents in and their supervision of your activities.
Dating leads to marriage. Marriage is a sacred religious covenant and in its most exalted expression may be an eternal covenant. Whatever preparation relates to marriage, whether it be personal or social, concerns us as members of the Church.
Now, I speak very plainly to you, my young friends. If you are old enough to date, you are old enough to know that your parents have not only the right but the sacred obligation, and they are under counsel from the leaders of the Church to concern themselves with your dating habits.
If you are mature enough to date, you are mature enough to accept without childish, juvenile argument their authority as parents to set rules of conduct for you.
No sensible father would lend your new convertible to anybody, to go anywhere, to do anything, to come back any time.
If you are old enough to date, you are old enough to see the very foolishness of parents who would lend their children on any such an arrangement. Don't ask your parents to permit you, their most precious possession, to go out on such flimsy agreements.
Actually the loan of the car would not be so serious as you suppose; for should it be completely destroyed, it could be replaced. There are some problems and some hazards with dating for which there is no such fortunate solution.
When you are old enough, you ought to start dating. It is good for young men and young women to learn to know and to appreciate one another. It is good for you to go to games and dances and picnics, to do all of the young things. We encourage our young people to date. We encourage you to set high standards of dating.
When are you old enough? Maturity may vary from individual to individual, but we are rather of the conviction that dating should not even begin until you are well into your teens. And then, ideal dating is on a group basis. None of this steady dancing, steady dating routine. Steady dating is courtship, and surely the beginning of courtship ought to be delayed until you are almost out of your teens.
Dating should not be premature. You should appreciate your parents if they see to that. Dating should not be without supervision, and you should appreciate parents who see to that.
Young people sometimes get the mistaken notion that the religious attitude and spirituality interfere with youthful growth. They assume that the requirements of the Church are interferences and aggravations which thwart the full expression of young manhood and young womanhood.
How foolish is the youth who feels that the Church is a fence around love to keep him out. Oh, youth, if you could know! The requirements of the Church are the highway to love and to happiness, with guard rails securely in place, with guideposts plainly marked, and with help along the way. How unfortunate to resent counsel and restraint. How fortunate are you who follow the standards of the Church, even if just from sheer obedience or habit. You will find a rapture and a joy fulfilled.
Be patient with your parents. They love you so deeply. They are emotionally involved with you, and they may become too vigorous as they set their guidelines for you to follow. But be patient. Remember, they are involved in a big do-it-yourself child-raising project, and this is their first time through. They have never raised a child just like you before.
Give them the right to misunderstand and to make a mistake or two. They have accorded you that right. Recognize their authority. Be grateful for their discipline. Such discipline may set you on the path to greatness.
An example of what a little discipline can do is found in the comment President McKay made at Merthyr Tydfil in 1963. "I was reminded," he said, "of a visit I made home when I was in college. Mother was sitting on my left, where she always sat at dinner, and I said, 'Mother, I have found that I am the only one of your children whom you have switched.' She said, 'Yes, David O., I made such a failure of you, I didn't want to use the same method on the other children.'"
Be open with your parents. Communicate with them. Discuss with them your problems. Have prayer with them before a dating event.
Stay in group activities. Don't pair off. Avoid steady dating. The right time to begin a courtship is when you have emerged from your teens.
Heed the counsels from your bishop, from your priesthood and auxiliary teachers, from your seminary teacher.
One further thought. When we talked about my giving you an automobile, that was make-believe. First, of course, at that price it had to be. But even if I could, while you are in high school, I wouldn't because I think too much of you. Your parents would be very wise to know what car ownership in high school contributes to school dropout, to broken hearts, and to broken lives.
We have a son who is driving now. We have talked about a car for him. We have put this off by suggesting that if he has a car of his own he must earn it. If it looks as though he may, I suppose we will have to pray that he has some kind of depression or another. In the meantime we will try as parents to be very generous with the use of the family car. We will try to see that he is not handicapped.
Young people, "honour thy father and thy mother": which is the first commandment with a promise, "that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee".
I bear witness that God lives. You are old enough now to be told that we, your parents, are children also, seeking to follow the authority and to relate to the discipline of Him. We love you, our youth. But more than this, we respect you. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Alma Sonne
Alma Sonne, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 72-73
My brethren and sisters, we have heard much during this conference about the home and the family, and I am sure you all know that they are the units of civilization. A nation can rise no higher than its homes.
Bruce Barton, in one of his books entitled On the Up and Up, tells about a clergyman who had recently visited a parish where he had labored successfully for thirty years. The old church had crumbled, and the region round about had become a slum. The families he had known so well had been scattered to the suburbs, and the church, of course, was closed. "What is left," he moaned in self-pity, "to show for all my labor?" He could not understand that everything was left. Some of the people, their sons and daughters, were left. To them he had preached Sunday after Sunday. He had built up their faith, enriched their lives, and given them renewed incentives to live a righteous life.
There is nothing more important than people-our own neighbors and friends. They are precious in the sight of God. To reclaim them from waywardness and sin is our greatest obligation. God loves them, and amid the changes which come and go, they still are his treasures. I have concluded that he is more interested in them than in their possessions, like stocks and bonds, houses and lands. We cannot fight change for we are living in a changing world. Permanency has few guarantees. There are things, however, which do not change. Honor, like truth, is not a composite thing. It never changes. It is the light which brightens our pathway. I suppose all people have a degree of light within them. Sometimes it is very dim; sometimes it has been extinguished by evil thoughts and deeds. The human mind is darkened by the shadows of earth. The word "light" appears many times in the scriptures, modern and ancient. When it does, it is symbolic of truth, for God's word is truth.
It was on the Master's lips many times as he spoke and conversed with people. I read from his Sermon on the Mount:
"Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven".
To Nicodemus, the Jewish ruler who came to Jesus at night, the Savior was a little more explicit. He said, "... this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil".
What happens when a light fades out-when a man, a woman, a family, or a nation departs from the standards by which they have arisen and succeeded? Then all things go to decay. They build their structures on sand. The winds of adversity blow. The storms come, and the structures tumble. Their hopes, their aspirations, and their innermost feelings and longings are shattered. Their house is left unto them desolate. It is the tragedy of an irresolute and misspent life.
Activity in the Church is the one best safeguard; it is essential to growth and development. Light does not penetrate the dark places without some effort and some solicitation. It requires the energy of individuals, personal contacts, patience, diligence, and the inspiration of devoted missionaries and teachers to spread the light and to place the gospel message in the hearts of people.
The gospel is a beacon light to guide humanity through the journey of life. It points the way. It inspires unselfish service. It fills the soul with love for others, and it is the pure, primitive faith preached by great men like Peter and Paul.
Jesus outlined the road to happiness, for his gospel in a way of life. It is the foundation upon which you and I must build our lives. There is no other safe and dependable road for us to follow, for "... strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it".
Those who have spoken today and in the past from the place where I now stand have testified to the divinity of Jesus Christ. His words are solemn declarations of truth, and his life is a shining light to all the world. That light will never fade away, for "heaven and earth shall pass away," said he, "but my words shall not pass away".
It will survive the harsh, superficial, and bitter criticism of bigots and cynics. In all of his assertions, Jesus never minimized nor underrated the importance of his message to the world.
Many of you who are listening to me at this moment, and I refer to the Latter-day Saints, have introduced the gospel into your lives. You have tested it. You have lived by it. It has guided your footsteps and has kept you mindful of your duty to God and your fellow men. Your convictions have deepened, and your understanding of the gospel has increased; you have recognized the priesthood as the life-giving power of the Church; you have read the literature of the Church, including the Book of Mormon; doubt and uncertainty have fled; doctrines and principles have been examined and compared with those taught in other churches. You know the purpose and meaning of mortal life. You have answered the questions which have perplexed humanity for centuries, namely: Whence did I come? Why am I here? and, What is my destiny? You are composed and satisfied.
The revival of faith and enthusiasm in the early Saints and followers of Jesus after the crucifixion and the resurrection is one of the marvels of history. They too had investigated and examined. They were convinced by what they had seen and by the promptings of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Redeemer, that truth had been personified before them, and they recognized it. The proof was overwhelming. They could not conscientiously deny it.
May we be true to our convictions. May we be loyal to our standards. May we serve the Lord with a singleness of purpose and live righteously before him and all men, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder William J. Critchlow, Jr.
William J. Critchlow, Jr., Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 73-75
President McKay, wherever you are, I love you. We all love you.
I have been reminded that we are short on time and long on speakers. I would be happy were all of my time given to Elder Hinckley, but maybe I should use a part of it. I'll pocket my prepared speech. Now I'll be prepared for conference next year.
Let me substitute for it a sermonette or two.
Sermonette No. 1: Would any of you who claim membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or who are assumed to be members, go to a food store on Sunday, buy food, take it home, put it on the table, and ask the Lord to bless it? End of Sermonette No. 1. The subject of that sermonette is "Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy".
Sermonette No. 2: Shame on the girl who would let a boy fondle her body with his hands in that evil practice of petting. And shame on the boy who would take advantage of a girl in that abominable practice of petting. Petting leads to something worse. End of Sermonette No. 2. The subject: "Be clean, ye youth of Zion, and stay clean."
I still have time for a storiette. A storiette is a very brief story. Sometimes it is a long story greatly condensed. Mine is that kind.
Jesus told storiettes. We call them parables. A parable is a fictitious storiette. This one is true:
I have a practice of purchasing a Book of Mormon before I board a plane or train here in Salt Lake City-more often it is a plane. The book provides me with reading material and material also for someone else, since I purposely leave the book on the plane or train. By the way, the last two or three times I have boarded a plane, I couldn't find the stand at which the books are sold. Whichever priesthood quorum is assigned to provide the stand and books, I wish it would get back on the job.
Returning from Los Angeles one evening after a stake conference, I tied myself in a seat next to a window. I was tired. I dozed. A bit later, I suddenly came to life in a seizure of coughs. I discovered the irritant. A man had strapped himself in the seat beside me and was smoking the stinkiest cigarette I ever smoked, second-handedly. I was glad when the stewardess requested him and others to put out their cigarettes. The plane, she said, was ready for take-off. But just as soon as we were up in the air, he lit up another, and he puffed the smoke in my direction; and when he had finished it, he lit another. He was near the butt of a third one when I, my dander up, decided to tell him off. I was practically fogged out. I turned to speak to him just as he stooped to take something from his briefcase on the floor. I waited. Straightening up he beat me to the punch-to the conversation, that is-and he said: "Have you ever read this book?" I looked at it in astonishment. What do you suppose it was? It was a Book of Mormon.
"May I see it?" I asked. He handed it to me, and I examined it and said to him:
"Yes sir, I have read this very book. Two weeks ago I purchased this identical book before boarding a plane in Salt Lake City, and I left it on the plane. I'm glad you found it and are reading it."
Well, you must know, from that moment on, all the way to Salt Lake City, the fragrance of his cigarette was fine; it didn't bother me at all, and I was sorry that I had to get off the plane in Salt Lake City. I wished I could have gone on farther with him because we were having such a fine conversation about the Book of Mormon.
If this storiette has a subject, it would be "Read the Book of Mormon."
You here in this building have read it. There may be people listening in on the air who have not read it. I plead with you, read it. You may find it as interesting as did the man on the plane.
I read the Book of Mormon when I was a young man. I read it on the top of a mountain down in southern Utah where I was tending a theodolite in the service of the US Coast and Geodetic Survey. Finishing it, I felt I had a fair understanding of the gospel principles contained in it.
Once I sat with General Authorities of the Church and heard President Joseph Fielding Smith say, in substance, "Brethren, all of us have to read the Book of Mormon. We are asking the members of the Church to do it, so we brethren must do it, too."
One of the brethren moaned, saying, "Must we who have read it so many times take time out to read it again?"
"Yes," replied President Smith, "we can't ask the members to do something we are not willing to do."
I turned to the brother sitting next to me and asked him how many times he had read the Book of Mormon. He answered, "Forty-five times."
"May I quote you?"
"Not until I go home and check."
The next day he told me I could quote him: "I have read the book fifty times." That brother is Milton R. Hunter. "I taught," he said, "the Book of Mormon in seminary and institute classes. That accounts for my reading it so many times."
How many times have you read it? Read it again. And this time read it slowly, so you can digest the spiritual calories you will find in it. Read it personally, putting yourself in the shoes of Lehi, who was told to take his family into the wilderness. What would you have done were you in his shoes? Put yourself in Nephi's shoes. He was instructed to go after the brass plates. What would you have done in his shoes? Yes, read it personally.
Read it purposefully, and let your purpose be to discover its spiritual calories and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Read it for pleasure. Discover how it testifies of the Christ. Somebody said his name is mentioned 526 times therein. It testifies also of the Bible. Turn off the TV, turn off the radio, and read the Book of Mormon. You will enjoy it.
I bear you my witness: In the Book of Mormon you will find the gospel of Jesus Christ. You may discover, reading it, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I did. May you so find it, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 75-78
I seek the direction of the Holy Spirit that the things I say may be in harmony with the inspirational things to which we have listened.
To the Galatian Saints Paul wrote these stirring words: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage".
I thought I witnessed something of this bondage recently while riding in the lounge of a crowded plane with three other men.
As the jet began the fast climb to its assigned altitude, I noticed that the man across the table had his eyes fixed intently on the "No Smoking" sign. The instant it went off, he reached for his cigarettes. As he began smoking, the man next to me became nervous. He clenched and opened his fists, looked out the window, turned to look at the man across the table, and his face reddened. The air was a little bumpy. I thought he might have been frightened. I took a closer look. He was a man of good physique, well-dressed immaculately groomed. He did not look the kind who would be frightened by a little bumpy air.
Then the fourth member of our quartet took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He offered me one, and I declined. He then offered my seat companion one, and he replied, "I'm trying to quit, and it's nearly killing me."
I had started a conversation.
The first man to light up told how he had resolved to quit after hearing in January 1964 the report of the Surgeon General of the United States. He recounted a tale of agonizing days and sleepless nights and of a final surrender to a habit that had held him for many years. He placed his cigarette between his lips, inhaled long and deeply, then lowered his head as the smoke drifted slowly from his lips and nostrils "I couldn't lick it," he said with an evident air of defeat.
The next smoker took up the conversation. "I almost quit. I'd been burning two packs a day. I thought I could taper off. I cut down to one cigarette after each cup of coffee. That was my formula. It lasted for a time but I found myself drinking too much coffee. Now I'm back to a pack a day."
He had the manner of an educated man. He held in his hands a business journal. He said that the report of the Surgeon General had frightened him also, but then he had read counteracting statements. Perhaps, he concluded, the relationship between cigarette smoking and cancer is only coincidental; the disease could just as likely come from the exhaust fumes we breathe. Then with an impulsive display of self-mastery, he crumpled his half-smoked cigarette into the ash tray, snapped shut the lid, and commented, "Just the same, I wish I could quit."
My seat companion then spoke: "I'm convinced there's some truth in what I've seen and read on the subject. We take the government's word for an awful lot these days, conclusions based on less convincing evidence than this I don't believe you can deny the facts. There is a hazard in smoking. But I'm having a terrible fight. I never dreamed a habit could be so tough to break.
One of them looked at me. "What about you?" he asked.
I replied: "I've never used them."
"How lucky can you be!" was his response. Without wishing in any way to appear self-righteous, I thought the same thing-"How lucky can I be!" And I thought of a day long ago when as a boy I sat in this Tabernacle and heard President Heber J. Grant speak with moving conviction on the "Little White Slaver," as he bore eloquent testimony of the Word of Wisdom as a divine law. I was greatly impressed that day, and that impression gave me resolution.
Who could question the bondage in which these men found themselves? Our conversation indicated that all three were educated, able men who made important decisions every day. But in a matter admittedly affecting their own lives and health, two already had conceded defeat, and the third was fighting a terrible battle, the victim of a habit that would not let him go.
One study indicates that among men who had stopped smoking, 371/2 percent reported they were smoking again. And even among those who reported that they had gone for as long as 12 to 24 months, nearly 18 percent had relapsed into the old habit.
Commenting on the January 1964 report of the Surgeon General, an editor concluded: "No longer can reasonable men argue whether smoking is or is not a major health hazard. It is. The remaining topic for consideration is what can be done about it."
A veritable mountain of evidence has been produced by the Surgeon General's office, the Federal Trade Commission, the American Cancer Society, the American Medical Association the National Tuberculosis Association, and many other groups and individuals. Responsible officers are concerned over the grim statistics indicating that somewhere between 125,000 and 300,000 people a year die in the United States from diseases that may be associated with the smoking of cigarettes, that your chances of death from lung cancer are 70 percent greater if you smoke cigarettes, that the hazards of other diseases are seriously increased.
It is an issue of serious magnitude when the American Cancer Society estimates that "one-pack-a-day smokers die five years earlier than non-smokers... Heavy smokers, two packs a day or more, die seven years earlier. This means that each pack shortens life five to seven hours".
Much of this shocking statistical data has been repeated in Washington during the past two weeks where public hearings have been going forward on proposals to nullify to a degree the effect of cigarette advertising with health warnings.
Notwithstanding the flood of evidence, there has been determined and skilful opposition.
Well might this be expected. Involved in this problem are the 8 billion dollar a year tobacco industry, the 200 million a year spent with advertising media, the millions paid in taxes, much of it to the federal government. This creates the strange anomaly of a government that is doing little if anything to reduce the smoking of its citizens and thereby safeguard their health, even though its own official agencies have produced alarming evidence of the hazards inherent in the continued use of cigarettes.
Britain has been more forward. It has placed a governmental ban on cigarette advertising, as has Italy.
The American tobacco industry recently set up a new advertising code. But make no mistake about it, advertising continues, with as much as 10 million dollars being spent to launch a single new brand. Pleas are made that as long as the manufacture of a product is permitted, its advertising should be permitted. To which comes the rejoinder that in cases where serious hazards are clearly indicated, there is a responsibility also to indicate those hazards.
To the many able and devoted men and women across the nation who are concerned with this problem, it is not a religious issue. It is a health issue.
But with all that has been said, with all the statistics that have been accumulated, with a constant and painful parade of surgery cases through the nation's hospitals, the consumption of cigarettes increases. There was a decrease in 1964 for a time, but the trend again is upward. There is belief but there is no faith.
132 Years Ago, God Said, 'Tobacco is not good for man.'
In contemplating all of this, one appreciates the incomparable wisdom of the Lord who in 1833 in a rural town on the frontier of America spoke these simple and encompassing words: "... tobacco... is not good for man".
He did not say that one would get lung cancer, develop heart or respiratory problems if he smoked. He did not produce mountainous statistics or recite case histories. He simply declared that "... tobacco... is not good for man..."
That declaration was given as "a principle with promise".
"In consequence of evils and designs"
It was given as a warning and a forewarning, "in consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days". How aptly descriptive these words are in light of what we today observe.
The Way to Liberty
God be thanked for this declaration and the promise that accompanies it. Can there be any doubt that it is a Word of Wisdom when great forces, with millions of dollars at their command and some of the cleverest minds in the art of advertising, promote that which sober men of science also now say "is not good for man"?
One cannot read the testimony without recognizing that true freedom lies in obedience to the counsels of God. It was said of old that "... the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light".
The gospel is not a philosophy of repression, as so many regard it. It is a plan of freedom that gives discipline to appetite and direction to behavior. Its fruits are sweet and its rewards are liberal, as I am confident my friends on the plane would have been happy to have testified.
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage".
"... where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.". In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 79-81
My dear brethren in the priesthood:
What is the end and purpose of religion, "swaying the lives of men the centuries through"? The members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints answer in the words of the Lord revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith that the end and purpose of true religion, which is the work of God, is "... to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man".
And what is the crowning glory of man in this earth so far as his individual achievement is concerned? It is character-character developed through obedience to the laws of life as revealed through Jesus Christ, who came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.
Man's chief concern in life should not be the acquiring of gold or of fame or of material possessions. It should not be the development of physical prowess, nor of intellectual strength, but his aim, the highest in life, should be the development of a Christlike character.
One of the most significant statements in the Word of Wisdom, one which carries with it evidence of the inspiration of the Prophet Joseph Smith, is found in the following statement, "In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarned you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation-" "... evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men..."-the purport of that statement impressed me way back in the twenties and thirties of this century.
I ask you to recall the methods employed by certain tobacco interests to induce women to smoke cigarettes. You remember how insidiously they launched their plan: first, by saying that smoking would reduce weight. Their slogan was: "Take a cigarette instead of a sweet." Later, some of us noticed in the theater that they would have a young woman light the gentleman's cigarette. Following this a woman's hand would be shown on billboards lighting or taking a cigarette. A year or two passed, and soon they were brazen enough to show the woman on the screen or on the billboard smoking the cigarette.
I have a newspaper clipping which I set aside in 1931 which corroborates this idea. It reads: "It is well-known that the cigarette manufacturers are now after the young women and girls. They say there are twenty-five million of these in the United States, and if they can popularize smoking among them, they will be able to increase their sales from three billions, six hundred million dollars annually, to six billion dollars. This is their claim and their aim."
Now, as you all know, it is common to see beautiful young women depicted on billboards and in magazine advertisements smoking cigarettes, and now most insidious of all are the cigarette advertisements which come into our homes by way of television and are viewed by our boys and girls, showing young men and young women smoking in the most enticing scenes possible.
Do these conspiring men have evil designs upon our youth? Keep your eyes and ears open to observe if they are not taking the same steps now to get our boys interested as they did to entice women to use that vile weed.
Our youth should be taught the hazards of cigarette smoking to health. They should be taught that doctors and scientists now have established a direct tie to cancer and cigarette smoking.
Emerson Foote, chairman of the National Interagency Council on Smoking and Health, has testified that "it has been concluded by responsible scientific authorities that cigarette smoking is responsible for at least 125,000 and possibly 300,000 deaths a year in this country.
"But death is not the only thing... It is beyond doubt that there are millions of people who suffer varying degrees of disability brought on by cigarette smoking."
Somewhere between sixty and eighty percent of boys and men and a somewhat lesser number of girls and women are already habituated to cigarettes or they are confirmed addicts.
The high death rates from cigarette smoking have created a demand from many interested groups for positive action that will lessen the dangers to health. The Royal College of Physicians of Great Britain, the American Cancer Society, and the United States Public Health Service have led the way in creating public reaction against smoking. The Cancer Society has supported research generously and has kept the public and the medical profession informed on the problems connected with smoking. The Surgeon General of the Public Health Service has used his official and moral influence in emphasizing the dangers involved in smoking.
These agencies, as well as the great body of research scientists, have compiled the evidence and stated the facts so clearly that every reasonable mind is fully aware of the danger entailed from smoking.
Notwithstanding the admission of danger from smoking, the advertising of cigarettes by the tobacco companies has been stepped up to an all-time peak. Yet there is never a hint that smoking is already a major threat to life. Instead, the advertising constantly emphasizes the mildness of the cigarette and its pleasurable qualities. This cigarette advertising is promoted with such reckless abandon, in spite of what research has already proved regarding the dangers from smoking, that the most charitable conclusion to be drawn is that the promoters have no regard whatever for the value of human life. It seems that success for the tobacco industry is more important than the avoiding of suffering and of death.
One hundred thirty-two years ago a twenty-seven-year-old youth told the world that tobacco was harmful for the human body. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were given by divine revelation the Word of Wisdom, in which they were advised to refrain from the use of tobacco in any form. They were promised better health as a result. This was strange as no one knew of any danger from smoking at that time. Most of the members accepted and applied the instructions given.
The demonstration presented today by more than two million people of the Church should be impressive to any skeptic. Hundreds of thousands of teenage youths have never smoked. They know that smoking is a destructive habit that mars the human body as well as the mind.
Our homes should establish the fact that the boy who indulges in cigarettes is not contributing to his advancement and growth in the Church and kingdom of God; neither is he preparing himself for his responsible place in society. The word of God to the Prophet Joseph Smith is that tobacco is not good for man. The statement is not qualified in any way. Scientists have demonstrated it; men who have tried to disprove it have failed; and we as a people stand committed to that command from God. Keep the habit of smoking and the use of tobacco in any form out of the lives of our boys. Resistance of the appetite will react upon the character and strengthen it, and just because a man has developed the habit is no justification for his continuing it. Just because some man may think he is immune from the ill effects of tobacco is no justification for its use in the priesthood of God.
Fathers and members of the priesthood have the obligation of setting an example worthy of imitation to the youth. Boys want to look upon you as men. Their ideals incorporate in your life all the Christlike attributes, as nearly as you can develop them, which Christ had when the Roman governor pointed to him saying, "Behold the man!". Remember, even though you have the habit, overcoming it will make you stronger.
"It is easy enough to be virtuous When nothing tempts you to stray, When without or within no voice of sin Is luring your soul away. But it is only a negative virtue Until it is tried by fire, And the soul that is worth the honor of earth Is the soul that resists desire."
To our boys I would say that if they want to live physically; if they want to be men strong in body, vigorous in mind; if they want to be good in sports, enter the basketball game, enter the football game, enter the contest in running and jumping; if they want to be good Scouts; if they want to be good citizens, in business, anywhere, avoid tobacco and live strictly the religious life.
May God help us as men of the priesthood, as fathers, to reach our boys and young men and impress upon them this great lesson, this divine truth, that to be carnally minded is to be miserable, unhappy, but to be spiritually minded, which means to obey the principles of the gospel in all that it means, is to have life, life eternal and peace, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Alvin R. Dyer
Alvin R. Dyer, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 82-86
I am truly grateful, my brethren, to be in the presence of President David O. McKay and his Counselors this night, and these, my brethren of the General Authorities, and you, my brethren of the priesthood; and I pray for an interest in your faith and prayers, prayers which I have earnestly made since receiving this assignment.
This marvelous testimony of the disparagements and the dissolutions that are being caused by the violations of God's laws as has been stated by President McKay presents the anticipation of a great tragedy among men. But perhaps the destruction of faith and honor in the lives of those who partake of any harmful indulgence will be even greater than the physical disabilities which it incurs. I believe that there is an honor in the priesthood of God which sustains man. As a fundamental reason for the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in this the last dispensation, the Lord gave the following to the Prophet Joseph Smith: "... that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world"; and I believe that the highest concept of this is that he who holds the priesthood shall do so and shall speak in this manner for and in behalf of his family. This bears the mark of the most crucial phase of the gospel plan, for the extent of the family priesthood sealing among the children of God the Eternal Father vindicates the purpose of mortality.
The articles of righteous dominion revealed to Joseph Smith are essential principles of the priesthood as applied to self and are the influence to be exercised over others for the good of all. In their highest sense they are characteristic of honor. Honor is the principle of power that must weigh in the balance all opposing principles of indulgence contrary to the will of God and the spirit of the priesthood. It was the honor or the power of God which Lucifer unrighteously sought in the preexistence. We who hold the priesthood of God have within our grasp the highest aspects of honor. The straightforwardness of living is obtained in magnifying the priesthood principles. Here is the direct channel as proclaimed by the Lord leading to glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life.
For a man to obtain the priesthood with God-given rights, to exercise and magnify it in behalf of his family he must be worthily ordained to it. But the proven stumbling block to this high privilege in our day and time are the dishonorable indulgences of things of a physical and moral nature. And because of the standards implied by abstaining from harmful indulgences, I have known many good men plagued with bad habits who absent themselves from priesthood activity. It affects a man's honor and becomes an obstruction which prevents him from responding to the priesthood which otherwise would be natural to him. The measure of honor we reach in life is dependent upon the caliber of that which we permit to become a part of ourselves, which affects our physical, emotional, and mental ways of life. Seeds sown in honor spring forth to become jewels of eternity, while seeds sown in dishonor for whatever purpose decay and die in the corrupted soil where they are sown.
God does not require of man the achievement of honor and nobility without having given him the inherent power to obtain it. As revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord has said to accomplish this that "... the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves". And as agents unto ourselves a man can therefore accomplish that which he wills to accomplish and needs not indulge in that which he does not will to indulge in. The complete restraining of harmful indulgences, both physical and moral, is a matter of personal honor. "Blessed is the man," says the Apostle James, "that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life...".
"He that overcometh," said the Master unto John, "shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son".
These are days of challenge to maintain individual honor and inner stability. Men and boys lose their honor for false reasons.
Not long ago in one of the large eastern cities of America, a young man in his middle teens was shot by a stray bullet in a gang war. As he fought for his life in a hospital, he told police authorities that he never really felt a part of the gang but that he had hung on because of his loyalty to two members of the gang that he had grown up with in his own neighborhood. He felt that if he were to drop out he would be untrue to them.
This incident tells the story of a false sense of loyalty that caused this young man to surrender the principles of decent living to participate in things against his own nature, even nullifying his chances for a good life and bringing disgrace upon his family and community. Had he with honor courageously faced up to his problem, following the tougher road of dropping out of the gang and revealing to the authorities the escapades of rape and murder and larceny that the gang, of which only a minority were the leaders, had perpetrated, many could have been rehabilitated and saved, and he himself would have lived to accomplish his boyhood dream to build ships. Instead, his life, as he died a few days later, was forfeited, and others of the mob have been sent to prison, one to pay for his life.
When we weigh in the balance the difference between honor and loyalty, there comes a time when in order to achieve honor one must determine the value of that to which he will give his loyalty. If it calls for a surrender of honor then it is false. False loyalty will sometimes seem very real, and there is a strange code among young men that induces such a false loyalty, but they must calculate the end result.
Once in ancient Israel King Saul found displeasure with God for failing to obey, although he thought that he had kept the law by offering sacrifice. To him came the denunciation, "... to obey is better than sacrifice...". This did not mean that sacrifice was not a good principle, but when exhibited by disobedience it is false. Loyalty likewise is a good principle, but never if it means the surrender of honor.
Just how much cheating goes on in colleges and universities-it is estimated to be far more than most educational officials realize-is the subject of a nationwide study by Columbia University. "Of the students questioned in the 99 college survey, more than half have admitted to cheating." The national conscience is shocked by the cheating scandal at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado. But conclusions "Based on the Columbia University survey involving 5,422 students at 99 colleges and universities coast to coast" suggest:
"Some ways to reduce cheating are indicated in the survey, based on questionnaires returned by 5,422 college students, 626 deans and 502 student-body presidents. Conclusions include:
"Colleges with honor systems, the study finds, 'are less apt to have a high level of cheating than those with other arrangements for control.'" Cheating and acts of dishonor are not confined to the classroom and wherever exhibited demonstrate abnormality.
When honor and integrity are sacrificed to gain some cheap and fanciful end, a change takes place within the inner structure of the individual.
Not all narcotics, which change conditions from normal to abnormal, from real to unreal, are found in pellets and powders, liquids, tipparillos, or in filtered white tubes of satisfaction.
In a true sense, any dishonorable, superficial, or insincere indulgence reacts upon the nervous system like a narcotic. And when unnatural or unearned pleasures are sought, there is a certain imbalance that takes place. The use of alcohol, heroin, tobacco, cocaine, tea, coffee, or other stimulants-and add to these dishonor, dishonesty, insincerity, the pollution of the mind with evil and immoral thoughts and you get a wider meaning of what is meant by a narcotic-these are the "kicks" that can kick a young man, or anyone for that matter, right out of the realms of decency, honor, and a character of integrity.
In all of the indulgences, both immoral and physical, the first makes the second easier; to yield to temptation once makes it easier to yield again and again. But to resist and restrain sustains normalcy, making later decisions even more positive. I once stood on a street in Trondheim, Norway, looking up at a statue of a Viking who had been mounted atop a lofty pillar. And at the time there came to my mind a fable of the Norsemen I had heard as a boy which I recall went like this: "The blood of the conquered goes over into the veins of the conqueror."
Thus, my brethren, 132 years ago the Lord revealed unto the Prophet Joseph Smith words of wisdom concerning harmful indulgences which tear down the structure of the human body by the abnormalities which contribute to moral and spiritual delinquencies, calling for a surrender of dignity and honor. The Lord, in concluding this revelation, indicates its relationship to the whole gospel plan when he said to keep and do these things, that we may then walk in obedience to the commandments of God. Herein I believe is the key of this revelation: to "find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures" .
To me the most important personal phase of the gospel and one that can realistically lead to the attainment of its many gifts is that part which reaches down into the very fiber of the personal self. Here is where the power is developed. It concerns the actuality of what a person really is and not what he professes to be. The real motivation of gospel law produces a character and nobility of soul that is devoid of any false and superficial veneer.
What I am suggesting here is that basically and inherently a man cannot be both evil and good; he cannot, as the Lord has said, serve two masters. Any attempt at double-mindedness can produce but one thing, and that is instability.
There are some, for vanity or other superficial reasons, who may seemingly offer a good gift, but only to deceive, and often as not this simulation is made to cover something ugly and sinful which lodges beneath the false veneer.
In the balance of the innermost thoughts and feelings lies the real person, to be evil or to be good. God recognizes no sense of good which is but a cloak of how the inner person really feels in opposition thereto.
And unto those who with dishonor surrender their cause to superficial and unearned pursuits that come from these harmful indulgences, the Prophet Moroni gives utterance to the teachings of his father Mormon:
"... a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water".
"... a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing".
"... if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God".
"And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray, and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such".
"Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil".
"... the devil... persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him".
It has been said, and wisely so, that the margin of difference between the causes that would confer the priesthood of God upon one but not upon another is only a hair's breadth. Basically men who are attracted to this Church are good men. We need to find that goodness. We must work at our business that every man may speak in the name of the Lord God in behalf of his own family and then that he may work with others. This calls for concerned individual and family analysis and projection within the framework of our priesthood program. It places particular stress upon the enterprise and action of the ward priesthood executive committee as they, under the direction of the bishopric, will give direction and assistance and counsel, working through the priesthood leaders and home teachers, to reach all, but especially at first the fathers, that they may be able to stand at the head of their own families in righteousness.
Disparagement should not exist as we strive with these many good men who are so close to the honor of taking their rightful place.
I remember one man that we had challenged to stop smoking cigarettes that he might be prepared to go to the house of the Lord where his wife might be sealed to him and their children to them. But he said to me, his bishop, "I like to smoke, the greatest enjoyment I get out of life is from smoking," and then he added, "I even set the alarm clock throughout the night and awaken and sit on the edge of the bed at every alarm and smoke a cigarette." Now I never heard of a habit any worse than that.
And I asked, "Do you really mean that?"
He said, "Yes, I do."
Well, I called at his home a few evenings later at 10 pm. This was the time he said he went to bed. He greeted me by saying, "Bishop, what are you doing here at this time of the night?"
"Well," said I, "I have come to see how you set the alarm clock."
He said, "I wouldn't want to do this with you here."
Well, I stayed deliberately until three o'clock in the morning, and I thought he was going to throw me out a number of times. I exhausted all of my understanding of these situations as I tried to keep him interested, but at three in the morning I said to him, "Now, brother, you have missed five alarms. Why don't you go the rest of the night without a cigarette?"
At that moment he felt a sense of honor and a dignity that he did not need to smoke. He looked at me with a peculiar smile that these men often get when they make a decision of this kind, and he said, "All right, I will." He never touched another cigarette.
I remember another man, who was a carpenter, who said that he couldn't quit. He smoked two packages a day, and he said, "My body requires nicotine, I have smoked so long." And two packages in that day before filters was a lot of nicotine. And he couldn't change, and he wouldn't accept the challenge to get ready to be ordained an elder.
But something very strange happened to him. He got hit on the head with a falling two-by-six as he worked on the roof framework of a house. His wife called me about the accident, and I rushed to the hospital. When he regained consciousness, he had lost his memory. He didn't know his wife; he didn't know me. He was that way for nearly six weeks. But the strange thing was that he didn't ask for a cigarette once. He forgot that he used tobacco. And on the day when he began to remember who he was and something of his experience, he asked for a cigarette, and the nurse said, "Well, I didn't know that you smoked."
He said, "Of course I do; please, may I have some cigarettes."
"Well," she said, "you haven't had a cigarette for six weeks."
And then he remembered the things we had told him, that it was in his mind, that his body didn't require nicotine, and he said, "Well, if I haven't smoked for six weeks, I am not going to take up the habit now." And he never smoked again.
I remember still another brother, a friend of mine, who had the habit of drinking. In many ways he was a wonderful man. He had the kindest heart, but he had this weakness which manifested itself every time he was under pressure or had some difficulty and couldn't seem to solve his problem. Then he would go off somewhere and drink into drunkenness. I have taken him home a number of times, but upon this occasion the police had got there first and had taken him to the county jail. So I had to go over there at the pleadings of his dear wife, arriving just about the time when they were taking the big coffee pot around to them to sober them and send them home. When they came to him he refused to take the coffee. He said it was against the Word of Wisdom.
Well, I finally got him out in the car, and with the help of his wife we took him home, got him upstairs, undressed and ready for bed. But he sat on the edge of the bed and wouldn't get in. It was nearly three in the morning. I had to get to work early in the morning, and I kept thinking "Why doesn't he go to bed?" I said, "Why don't you get in bed now? Here you are; you are in your own home."
And finally after a short while he told me why he wouldn't go to bed. He said, "I haven't said my prayers yet." And I had the privilege of kneeling with this good man. I see the goodness that is in these men that we have to reach. There is not much difference between them and the most active. They are wonderful men, and they can be corrected from these habits.
Now I bear my testimony to you, my brethren, that the abstaining from harmful indulgences is a great commandment from the Lord. There are many who say that it is only by way of counsel, but I would say in response to that that in the early days of the Church a number of the brethren were excommunicated and reasons given in some instances were because they had not kept the Word of Wisdom. The implication that it is just something we can take or leave has never, I believe, been a part of its intent. It is the will of God and therefore a commandment. These indulgences are the things that frequently keep men from receiving the honor and the dignity of the priesthood. I bear my testimony to the effectiveness and reality of things that we can do to help them, and I do it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Sterling W. Sill
Sterling W. Sill, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 86-90
My brethren, I appreciate very much this privilege of having a part with you in this great priesthood brotherhood under which we receive our commission to serve God.
Some time ago a friend of mine who lives on the farm was telling me that as his sons get old enough to share in the responsibility of farm work, he arranges for them to have a little land to till or some farm animals to raise. And, of course, they receive the compensation involved.
The Lord also has that kind of program. As his children become sufficiently mature, he invites them to have a part in that great enterprise that Jesus referred to as "my Father's business". That is the business of building character, integrity Godliness, and eternal life into his children. God has said that it is his work and his glory "... to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man".
And then by way of invitation to us he has said, "... If ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work". And we may have as large a part as we are able to qualify for in the very work in which God himself spends his entire time. Of course, we must also be prepared to accept our share of the responsibility.
We have been given the priesthood, which is the authority to act in the name of the Lord. But we ourselves must develop the leadership, which is the ability to act in the name of the Lord. And I suppose that one is not of great consequence without the other. That is, what good would come from a missionary having the authority to make converts if he did not also have the ability to make converts?
Our world itself is made up of opposites. There is a kind of north pole and south pole in every life. We live amid the contrasts of positive and negative, good and evil, uphill and downhill, heaven and hell. Jesus talked about the straight and narrow way that leads to life, but we must also be aware of the dangers of that broad road that leads toward death.
The Lord himself has said, "Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
"A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God,
"And a curse if ye... turn aside out of the way which I command you this day". And we determine the direction of our lives by which of the affinities, antagonisms, or inclinations we build into them. There is a natural duality in life which Plato called "the upper and the lower soul." Jesus referred to this antagonism as "the spirit and the flesh", but some time ago a psychologist said that each of us has within himself "a life instinct" and also "a death instinct."
The dictionary says that an "instinct" is a natural aptitude or tendency leading toward a goal. In introducing the Master, the Apostle John said, "In him was life; and the life was the light of men".
The greatest commodity in the universe is life. And Jesus announced his own mission by saying, "I came that ye might have life and have it more abundantly". God has endowed every seed with a life germ by which it is able to reach upward toward better things. But the greatest gift of God is eternal life, and after endowing his children with his own potentialities, he implanted in them a kind of upward reach, a natural inclination or a tendency to strive by which the offspring of God may hope to become like the parent.
But the life instinct also has its opposite. All around us we see the results of that sinister attraction leading toward death which might be compared to the instinct that leads the moth toward the flame that will destroy it. It is an interesting fact that nature never wearies of imposing punishment. The unfortunate moth may burn off its wings, blister its body, and burn itself blind, but the flame goes on and on, unmolested, unhurt, unsympathetic, and even unaware of the terrible pain it has inflicted. No one really knows how severe the torments of the body may be. We know they can be sufficient to send one insane or to bring about his death. But the spirit is eternal; it can suffer, but it cannot die. There is no such thing as a cancellation of existence. The chief characteristic of eternal death is not oblivion but endless pain and regret. When one dies as to things pertaining to righteousness, then misery and despair take over the control of life; and of some who had passed the point of no return, the Lord said, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still". And certainly those who allow their better impulses to die will be miserable forever, as there can be no happiness in wickedness.
The most feared experience of life is death. We instinctively cling to life with every ounce of our strength. In the days of Job it was said, "... all that a man hath will he give for his life". There isn't anything that we wouldn't do, there is no expense that we would not involve ourselves in to prolong life for a week or a month, even though we knew that that period would be filled with pain and unhappiness. But when John said, "There is a sin unto death", he was speaking of a more dreadful death than that of the body. And Paul describes this sin by saying, "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
"And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
"If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame". But this second death does not take place all at once. Spiritually we die a little bit at a time. Our enthusiasm dies, our faith dies, and our ambition dies.
No one ever gets off the straight and narrow way at right angles, and no sin is born fully grown. Every sin is a minor one to begin with. Percentage-wise, very few people will ever lose their blessings because they have become murderers or sons of perdition. As someone has pointed out, it isn't the giant redwoods that trip us up as we walk through the forest, it's the vines and the underbrush.
And one of the most damaging sins and one that gives greatest strength to our death instinct is the violation of that great revelation given 132 years ago called the Word of Wisdom. Some violators of this law tend to excuse themselves because it appears to be such a small thing. It seems like just a little disobedience, a little caffeine, a little nicotine, a little friendly indulgence in alcohol. Yet these are the springboards to disease, broken homes, immorality, disloyalty to God, physical death, and the death of many of our eternal interests.
In the February 26, 1965 issue of Life magazine, there is an appalling article about the toll being taken by the dope traffic in the United States. And among its most damning effects is the deadly addiction it forms and the good inclinations that are destroyed by its craving. Dope users often lie, steal, or kill to satisfy these appetites of death. But in some degree, these same results are characteristic of every sin. Every disobedience, every dishonesty, and every exercise of lust forms an evil addiction and strengthens the death instincts. No one ever needs a recording angel to look over his shoulder to take notes on his sins. Good or bad, everything that we do is being recorded in our appetites, our nervous systems, our personalities, our minds, and our immortal spirits. Every cigarette, every crime, and every irreverence is indelibly written down in the person of its victim. A violator of the man-made laws may at least hope that his crime will not be discovered. But for the violators of the laws of God, there is no possibility to escape punishment. And each transgressor becomes his own prosecutor, his own judge, his own jury, and his own executioner.
A violation of civil law can put us in jail. A crime against our health may cause us to be locked up in some wearisome hospital of pain, but a sin against our eternal lives may give our death instincts sufficient power to cast us into the fires of hell. And unfortunately, from this verdict there is no appeal, for when we sentence ourselves to be dope addicts, alcoholics, moral weaklings, or unprofitable servants, what power can nullify the condemnation?
The Apostle Paul said, "... the wages of sin is death". Death is the irrevocable consequence of allowing this strange affinity for evil to establish itself in our lives. Sin can make good seem so unattractive that we turn our backs on righteousness and fight against God.
The other day a man who had witnessed the long agonizing cancerous death suffered by his father shot himself when the doctor told him that the symptoms indicated that he might suffer a similar fate. Suicide may solve his problem so far as this life is concerned, but what about eternity? If we so much dread the pitiful, lingering, unhappy death of the body, what would it be like to endure eternal death in one's own soul?
Of those who sin unto death the Lord has said, "... it had been better for them never to have been born;
"For they are vessels of wrath doomed to suffer... with the devil and his angels in eternity;
"Concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come-
"... they... shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the devil and his angels-
"And the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power". And yet the most painful cancerous death that we can bring upon ourselves may be only a symbol of our eternal regret and suffering.
"To be spiritually minded is life and peace"
But on the other side of our possibility, what a thrilling opportunity we have to develop our life instincts. We live in the greatest age, under the most favorable conditions ever known in the world. The pathway to exaltation has been perfectly marked and brilliantly lighted, and no one needs to get off the straight and narrow way except by his own choice. In the revelation the Lord said, "And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
"And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
"And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
"And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them as the children of Israel, and not slay them".
The body is the temple of the spirit, and both mutually react upon each other. John Locke said, "A sound mind in a sound body is a short but full description of a happy state in this world." When the mind and the body are operating properly and the tissues are crying for exercise, then there is joy and zest in living. To maintain its health and strength the body must work. Likewise, a healthy spirit must be constantly and vigorously employed in doing good. Lethargy is a part of the death instinct, whereas righteous zeal builds up the life instinct. Probably the greatest idea in the universe is God's promise that we "... might have life, and... have it more abundantly". And our lives fail to the extent to which our life instincts lose their ascendancy by tolerating those little evils causing our addiction to sin.
The story has been told of an explorer walking through an arctic winter. Because he was tired and cold, he decided to sit down and rest. After a few minutes he began to feel better. The weariness and unpleasantness began to disappear. Because he was a little drowsy, he decided that a fifteen minute nap would give him the help he needed. Then suddenly it occurred to him that he was freezing to death. In desperation he jumped to his feet and ran with all his might. He was running for his life, and soon the blood was churning through his veins, producing the natural heat that saved him from death.
Through our world of opposites, we are also running for our lives, and Jesus has indicated what the amount of our effort should be when he said, "O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day".
May God help us to keep all of his commandments, that in its best meaning we may have life and have it more abundantly. This I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion D. Hanks
Marion D. Hanks, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 90-93
I suppose I could not possibly fail to tell you now what happened to me in Twin Falls some years ago in the home of the stake president's counselor, when two little girls engaged in conversation about the visitor to the stake conference the coming weekend. The smallest had been influenced by the full-time missionaries, who had impressed her greatly. She could hardly wait to grow up to be a missionary; she wanted to be an elder. Her older sister assured her that she couldn't possibly be an elder, that only men could be elders, and she said, "Oh, no. Daddy told me that Marion D. Hanks is coming to our conference, and she's an elder."
There are some things we live with gratefully, if sometimes patiently.
There is a poem which I believe was written for President McKay, though I am not sure the author knew he wrote it for him, and I would like to take this chance to quote it. It is short and impressive. Will you get the words-it says,
"'Tis human fortune's happiest height to be A spirit melodious, lucid, poised, and whole; Second in order of felicity To walk with such a soul."
I am sure I express your gratitude for the privilege of the walk with such a soul.
To me one of the most impressive sights in this world is the group at which I now look and what it represents. Interspersed among you men are many choice youngsters. I had a chance to shake hands with some a few minutes ago. And though I don't intend to talk only to them or especially to them in the few minutes I stand here, I would like to be able to feel that they understand what I am saying, and I am going to try to do that. If they do, I think the rest of us will.
Brother Hinckley gave us a wonderful sermon this afternoon. I'm hopeful that all will have a chance to read it. It revolved around an experience with mature, successful, effective, intelligent men in varying degrees of involvement or noninvolvement with tobacco. As he spoke the words of them, which he applied to himself, I applied them to myself; and you who are here were doing likewise, I feel sure: "How lucky can you be."
I thought of an experience that occurred on these grounds a few years ago when an internationally known nutritionist and research scientist, who had flown here from Stockholm for the express purpose of looking at us and getting something of our story, sat across the desk with a copy of the Doctrine and Covenants opened to section 89, of which and from which we have been speaking tonight. I had asked him a question, and I was very much interested in his answer. He had been a bit combative, or at least defensive along the route. I said to him, "Dr. Waerland, what would you think of a young man, 27 years of age, who wrote that document more than 120 years ago?"
He said, "I would say that he was 120 years ahead of his time." He then talked of some of the nutritional, affirmative aspects of the Word of Wisdom. He talked of the discoveries of science and of his own researches, and said that every suggestion of the Word of Wisdom was affirmative and valid.
I said again, "What would you think of a prophet who knew all that long ago, without any special preparation or training in the sense you have had it?"
And he said again, "I am not a religious man, and I know little of prophets, but whoever wrote that document was 120 years ahead of his time."
How fortunate can we be? Many of us are not acquainted with the facts, though many of us are, that in this world there are many choice forces seeking the same ends we are when we teach this great principle of health. One who represented an interesting viewpoint was Thomas A. Edison, thought by many to be the greatest creative genius this world has known. In his diary he wrote these words, and I would hope that every young Latter-day Saint who sometimes feels uneasy in the peculiarities or uniqueness of his own health viewpoints would remember them or have access to them. Edison is talking about ways of living and thinking and working. He says, "The useful man never leads the easy, sheltered, knockless, unshocked life. At 36 he ought to be prepared to deal with realities, and after about that period in his life, until he is 60, he should be able to handle them with a steadily increasing efficiency. Subsequently, if he has not injured his body by excess indulgence in any of the narcotics, and if he has not eaten to excess, he very likely may continue to be achievingly efficient up to his 80th birthday, and in exceptional cases until 90."
Now, I interpolated no words, all of those are his. He identifies narcotics specifically and interestingly as substances with which we as a Church have been at odds since God spoke to a boy-prophet a long time ago.
I cannot forget an occasion when Dr. John A. Widtsoe, whom you will remember as a great scientist as well as a great Latter-day Saint leader, was one of a group of panelists at a university. Two others, also representing religious points of view, preceded him. One attempted to make an accommodation to work out an acceptable approach to moderation in drink. The next was a fine young minister of the gospel, and he with measured but very emphatic phrases objected to all that his predecessor had said, and added, "As a people, and particularly as a group of young leaders in my church, we believe alcohol to be a tool of the devil, and we are against it." Dr. Widtsoe stood and very quietly and graciously said, "We link arms with this choice young man and those who walk with him because his view I accept and believe to be our own." And then, he said, "Because I have a little time allotted and because my background happens to be chemistry and its research, let me talk to you of the nature of alcohol." I understood that he was linking arms with other good people of honest intent who were seeking to teach the truth about substances that are not good for the human body.
Now, the Lord has given us a great program of health, but not infrequently I expect some of us don't tell our young people and maybe fail to recall ourselves that this program is based on marvelous fundamental eternal principles. You will remember that in the Doctrine and Covenants in a great section received in 1832, a great revelation, the Lord says, "... the spirit and the body are the soul of man". A little later he revealed again the truth that the elements-that is, the elements that make up our body- and the spirit in us, when they are combined, permit us to have a fulness of joy. These are eternally important principles. They go hand in hand with the great truth that God lives, that he is the Father of the spirits of all mankind, that mortal life has a great meaning in the eternal journey man makes, and that one of the great purposes of mortal life is to take upon ourselves a mortal body, because in our eternal experience there will come a time of reunion of body and spirit. You see, young men, when we die, as surely we do, the body goes to the tomb. The spirit persists, it goes on it lives. You will be you, and I will be I, each will be himself. Yes, there is a break in the eternal journey, but the break is only for the body. The spirit goes on, and then one day in God's wisdom and through his power the body will be reconstituted, resurrected, and the body and the spirit will recombine: "... the spirit and the body are the soul of man". A little later he revealed again the truth that the elements-that is the elements that make up your body-and the spirit in us, when they are combined, permit us to have a fulness of joy. These are eternally important principles. They go hand in hand with the great truth that God lives, that He is the father of the spirits of all mankind, that mortal life has a great meaning in the eternal journey man makes, and that one of the great purposes of mortal life is to take upon ourselves a mortal body, because in our eternal experience there will come a time of reunion of body and spirit. You see, young men, when we die, as surely we do, the body goes to the tomb. The spirit persists, it goes on, it lives. You will be you, and I will be I, each will be himself. Yes, there is a break in the eternal journey, but the break is only for the body. The spirit goes on, and then one day in God's wisdom and through his power the body will be reconstituted, resurrected, and the body and the spirit will recombine: "... the spirit and the body are the soul of man". That's one big reason why it is very important that we understand the fundamental principles upon which this great program rests. It is vital that we do everything we can to preserve in honor and cleanliness and integrity this mortal body. It is part of our eternal soul.
I remember reading a statement by a great person who said that this is one of the paradoxes of modern Christianity. It makes the body a very useless, negative, evil thing, and yet teaches, theoretically at least, the reality of a resurrection in which this body is part of an eternal soul. There is no such difficulty in the philosophy God has permitted us to understand. The body is a non-evil component of the eternal soul. That's one big reason why we ought to be anxious to keep it clean, anxious to be interested to keep from it the substances that would harm it-and not alone it, but the rest of us. Have you ever heard these words of Goethe, the great German: "The whole purpose of the world seems to be to provide a physical basis for the growth of the spirit."
Now, in effect, and perhaps with some limitations of understanding, Goethe was talking about what Paul said. Paul said that this is a temple, this body in which the Spirit of God dwells -a spirit child of God. And Paul thus expressed his understanding that it is our obligation to keep it clean and pure and, so far as we are able, free from the intrusions of that which would harm it.
Now let me say, as I conclude, one other thing. This is a principle with a promise. For years, young and some older people have been coming to me asking me to define substances or list them which were not to be used. And I have tried to reply with the words of the Lord: This is a principle with a promise. What is the principle? As I understand it, the principle is that everything that God has provided for us that is good we should use with thanksgiving, with judgment, with prudence, and not in excess. Everything that isn't good for us we should let alone. I understand that to be the heart of the principle. And the promise? The promise is that if we will obey the principle through obedience we will get better health, greater knowledge and wisdom, and wonderful spiritual blessings. There are so many examples of these great truths that I would like to tell you about, but let me mention one. As I walked to this building this very afternoon, I heard a man say to his companion: "When he gets a few drinks in him, he is really ugly and mean."
I'm not sure anybody can improve upon that description of one who makes the mistake of getting involved in a substance that dulls his judgment, that inhibits his natural anxiety to control himself, that imposes upon his will.
God bless us to have the courage of conviction to live the principle and therefore inherit the promise, and to be courageous enough as we mingle with those who do not understand the principle, to appreciate their value and their worth, and share with them, as they will permit, the important reasons why we should be concerned to be obedient to this law of God, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Nathan Eldon Tanner
N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 93-96
It's good to be here, my brethren, and to partake of the Spirit that has been here with us this evening and to hear the admonition which is good for all of us. All I wish to say on the Word of Wisdom this evening is to tell you an experience which I told you once before. When I was driving along and had two young men with me in my car, and a young man thumbed a ride with us, I asked the boys who were with me if we should take him with us, and they said yes. I picked him up, and after we had driven along a little way he said, "Do you mind if I smoke in your car?" I said, "No, not at all if you can give me any good reason why you should smoke." And I said, "I will go farther than that." "If you can give me a good reason why you should smoke, I will smoke with you."
Well, these two young men looked at me and wondered. We drove on for some distance, about twenty minutes, I think, and I turned around and said, "Aren't you going to smoke?" And he said, "No." I said, "Why not?" And he said, "I can't think of a good reason why I should."
I would like that word to go to all of our young men, and when you can think of a good reason, and only when you can, then begin to smoke.
At the priesthood meeting in October, I reminded you that President Joseph Fielding Smith had said a year before that we should all read the Book of Mormon. I said that I had read it, and I appealed to all under the sound of my voice to read the Book of Mormon before Christmas. I am happy to report that I received letters, telegrams, and people told me orally as they met me on the street, as they came into my office, and over the telephone, from some young boys in Montreal, Canada, to the General Authorities who said, "I read the Book of Mormon as you asked me to do, and I appreciated this challenge and have enjoyed reading the Book of Mormon."
Now I have two letters here that I should like to read to you: "Marg and I have accepted your challenge to reread the Book of Mormon and have extended it to include Steve. We have spent several pleasant evenings taking turns reading to each other and explaining passages to Steve. Though he is only eight he grasps the story very clearly. It gives him an opportunity to learn new words and meet new ideas that will be of value to him throughout his life. We are enjoying this rich experience and thank you for the challenge."
Another letter which I received:
"Dear President Tanner,
"I am the young boy, twelve years of age, you challenged to read the Book of Mormon after General Priesthood outside the temple grounds on the sidewalk by the drinking fountain.
"I want to thank you for the challenge. It was a great opportunity for me to work to accomplish the goal set by you, and it strengthened my testimony of the gospel a great deal.
"I would have written to you sooner, but I had some passages and some scriptures to memorize for my certificate of award.
"I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and it has helped me to become a better boy."
I might say that I received written replies from 261, and I am sure there were many more who did not take the time to write, and I didn't expect anyone to write.
Great Commandments: Love God and Neighbor
Now this evening I had hoped to talk to you for a little while on the answer that Jesus gave to the lawyer who, tempting him, said,
"Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
"This is the first and great commandment.
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself".
I won't have time to deal with that as it refers to "thy neighbor," other than I would like to say this: I should like you to include as your first neighbor the neighbor to whom you are most directly responsible, and that is the neighbor who lives in your house with you, your wife and your children.
Brethren, I have had a number of women in my experience come to me because they were not loved in the home. That is just too bad. It is a condition that just cannot exist where we have the priesthood at the head of the home. Surely a man thinks as much of his wife as he does of someone else who comes into the home, and surely he is prepared to treat her with the same courtesy, the same consideration, as he would a stranger coming into the home. Yet I remember as a boy going to homes where that was not true. And I remember going into homes where it was true, and the difference in those homes was very noticeable.
Brethren, if I gave you any challenge tonight, it is to go home and, when you go into the house, express appreciation to that wife who is there, and let those children know that you love them, and don't be afraid to do it.
When I was in the mission field interviewing missionaries I thought it was a very important thing for them to have love in their hearts if they were going to preach the gospel and be representatives, ambassadors, of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I asked those missionaries every time if they loved the Lord, and they said yes. And I said, "How does he know?" And they said, "Well, we have told him."
The Lord said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments". That's the way he knows. Then I asked those boys, "How many of you love your mothers?" There wasn't an exception. I said, "How many times have you told your mother you love her?" And on many occasions the answer was, "I don't know when I told her or how many times I have told her," or, "I don't think I ever told my mother I love her."
Imagine, any young man, an elder, out representing this Church, having never told his mother that he loved her. Do you know why he hasn't? Because his father didn't tell his wife that he loved her.
I felt like writing to the fathers of those boys every time, but each time I had that boy promise me that he would sit down and write a letter and say, "Mother, I love you," and tell her why he loved her. It is so important, brethren. Don't let another day go by without telling your wife you love her, how fortunate you are to have her, how much you think of her. And do what you can to make her believe it. Be the same with your children. "There is beauty all around when there's love at home." Be courteous. Be considerate. Be kind. I don't know of anything that is more important, and I think I am agreeing with the Lord when he says the same thing, "And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself", and surely the most important neighbor is the one who lives with you in your home.
Now, if we love the Lord God with all our hearts and with all our souls and with all our minds, as he said we will keep his commandments. And we who hold the priesthood of God have a covenant from the Lord which we read in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 84, verses 33 to 40:
"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," as Brother Hanks said, "unto the renewing of their bodies."
What an example we have before us tonight. "They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, 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."
I hope every stake president in this Church, when he interviews a young man who is to be advanced in the priesthood and ordained an elder, reads this covenant and explains it to 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".
Who cannot break? The Lord cannot break. That is the only thing I know the Lord cannot do, is break a covenant that he has made with his people; and when he says, "All that I have is thine", I would like to know, my brethren, what more we could ask for; and all we need to do is to keep the commandments and magnify our priesthood. Accept responsibility, brethren, and when you accept responsibility, carry out the responsibility that is placed upon you.
It has been a great strength to my testimony, to my appreciation of what this Church means and the strength it has as I have interviewed men to be set apart to preside over missions and over stakes, and those who have been chosen to be bishops. Since being in this office and interviewing men for any of these offices, I have never had an individual, regardless of his condition, but who has said, "If this is a call, I will go when you want me to go, where you want me to go, and remain as long as you want me to stay."
Now, brethren, what a testimony! I am sure all of us would do the same thing, but as Brother Sill says, it isn't a big redwood tree that is going to trip us up; it's the underbrush in life. Any of us would accept the great call, but will we live every day, magnifying our priesthood and doing what the Lord wants us to do?
Now, I want to give you this thought, brethren, that we who hold the priesthood of God are members of the greatest brotherhood in the world. We are expected to love one another and not judge our brother. If anyone here tonight has ill feelings or aught against his brother, I urge, as the Savior has admonished, that we all forgive one another and show our love for him. No matter who you are, ill feelings or a desire to hinder or hurt your brother will canker your soul, keep you from enjoying the Spirit of the Lord as you could if you would love and forgive. Under no conditions should anyone holding the priesthood wish to harm or hurt his brother. We must keep that in mind.
Coming back to this thought that I expressed, if we love the Lord, we will keep his commandments, we will accept calls that come to us and magnify the priesthood and carry out the responsibility.
Now in closing I should like to read a letter that I received from a young doctor. This is dated January 26, 1965:
"It has been a little over a year since you set me apart to my calling on the priesthood committee. I have been so thrilled with the experiences of the past year and the tremendous blessings that this calling has brought into my life and that of my family, as well as my associates at the clinic, that I thought I would like to write you concerning two or three of these items.
"In your blessing to me, the promise was made that my practice would not suffer during my absences from it. During the past year, my calling took me away from the practice 84 days. An additional six days were spent attending the April and October conferences, all of which made a total of 90 days absence."
Listen, brethren: "As I mentioned to you before, my colleagues are very willing to support me or any of us in church responsibilities and were pleased to vicariously share the experiences and blessings I enjoyed. During our business meeting earlier this month, at which time we made an accounting of our past year's production, we were all surprisingly shocked to see that in spite of my absences, my gross production was the highest of all the partners. During last year, my admissions to the hospital also outnumbered each of the other partners, and for that matter, all of the doctors in the community. During the year 1964, I had no deaths in my practice. Certainly the windows of heaven have been opened unto me and unto my associates in that we have never prospered better as a family or as a clinic than we have during the past year! It is a testimony to all of us of how the Lord blesses us for living the law of consecration in even a small way.
"Again, I am thrilled with this calling and the opportunity to serve the Lord and you brethren and appreciate very much this privilege."
Brethren, may we realize what a great privilege it is for us to hold the priesthood of God, which is the power of God to act in his name, and may we magnify our calling, that it may be possible for us to enjoy immortality and eternal life, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion G. Romney
Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 103-107
President McKay and Counselors, President Smith, the rest of the General Authorities, brothers and sisters and friends. I am embarrassed. Since my secretary gave the press and translators my notes, I have decided not to use them. Please accept my apologies, and don't blame her. Brother Evans, my co-worker, advised me on the way over here this morning that we have a much larger television and radio audience than I thought we would have. Therefore, on the 135th anniversary of the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have decided to say a word or two about the message the Lord charged this his Church to declare, particularly with respect to present and future world conditions.
I make no apology for the scriptures I am going to read. Of them the Lord said: "What I... have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled". In using these scriptures, I have no ill will toward the world-nothing but love and a hope that the world will listen to what the Almighty himself has said.
Fifteen months ago, in the Deseret News, was a column in which Sydney J. Harris referred to an entry in the log of Peary when he was trying to reach the North Pole.
"On this trip, he traveled a whole day ... At night, when he checked his bearings... he found to his surprise that he was much further South than he had been in the morning.
"All day... he had been driving toward the North on an immense iceberg drawn southward by an ocean current.
"And sometimes," said the commentator "it occurs to me that we are all standing on this iceberg, racing forward in one direction, while the very ground beneath us moves implacably in the other direction.
"With tremendous speed and power, we are moving toward discoveries and inventions that utterly dwarf Peary's conquest of the North Pole. In medicine, in technology, in food supply, in materials and techniques and processes, we have made more progress in the last fifty years than was made in the previous five hundred.
"Yet, at the same time, the ground we are standing on steadily seems to move backward, drawn not by ocean currents, but by social currents too vast and deep for us to comprehend, much less to control.
"As we check our bearings... at this point in history, we are more surprised and appalled than Peary to learn that we are 'farther South' than our fathers and grandfathers were.
"The first two-thirds of the 20th Century have witnessed a monumental regression from the hopes and aspirations of the 19th Century. For now, with all the new techniques at our disposal for mastering nature and controlling our own destinies, we appear further than ever from our goals."
From the October 13, 1964, issue of the same paper, I clipped the following from Walter Lippmann.
"Nobody knows," he says, "just why our affluent society is filled with so much anxiety, or just why crime is increasing so alarmingly among the young... These are all matters which can be mentioned, but which cannot be debated seriously, because the wisest men among us are still searching for, but have not found, the answers."
Now, like the rest of the world, informed Latter-day Saints are fully aware that our civilization is going forward backwards and that our affluent society is filled with much anxiety. But, unlike the rest of the world, we are not "still searching for... the answers." We know what they are. The Almighty himself has revealed them. He has made known the cause of the downward drift, and he has revealed the one and only remedy therefore. We not only know these things; but, as already said, we are under a divine charge to declare them to the world.
And so, pursuant to this charge, we do declare that more than a century ago God our Eternal Father, knowing where the course of men was leading, opened the heavens and gave warning. He not only confirmed the drift; he pointed out the reason for it. He revealed also the remedy for it. He further predicted the awful consequences of a failure to follow that remedy.
And finally, he gave assurance that righteousness, peace, and happiness will ultimately prevail among the inhabitants of the earth.
This, of course, is not the time or the place for an exhaustive review of what the Lord said on these vital issues. A few quotations will suffice, however to indicate the nature of what he revealed.
First, as to the downward drift: On the night of September 21, 1823, an angel, who introduced himself as "a messenger sent from the presence of God," appeared at the bedside of Joseph Smith, Jun., and informed him "... of great judgments which were coming upon the earth, with great desolations by famine, sword, and pestilence; and that these grievous judgments would come on the earth in this generation".
On Christmas day 1832 about thirty years before the Civil War broke out, the Lord said to the Prophet:
"Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls;
"And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations...
"And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn; and with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath, and indignation, and chastening hand of an Almighty God, until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all nations".
That the Lord's purpose in revealing these unhappy impending calamities was not to condemn but to save mankind is evidenced by the fact that with the warning he identified the cause and revealed the means by which the calamities may be turned aside.
As to their cause, he said, speaking of the inhabitants of the earth, "... they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant;
"They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own God, whose image is in the likeness of the world".
We are, then, going forward backwards, and our affluent society is filled with much anxiety because the inhabitants of the world "... seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own God". I ask you candidly, how could current attitudes of men and nations throughout the world be more accurately described?
To me the foregoing statements clearly reveal the fact that if men do not humble themselves and cease relying solely upon their own wisdom, if they do not turn and seek the Lord to establish his righteousness, they will implement the "decreed... end of all nations".
As to the way to avoid the calamities the Lord, in his preface to the publication of a compilation of some of the revelations which he gave during the restoration, said:
"Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments;
"And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world; and all this...
"... that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh-
"But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world;
"That faith also might increase in the earth;
"That mine everlasting covenant might be established;
"That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers".
The commandments referred to in these scriptures, which were given to the Prophet Joseph Smith and which others were commanded to declare to the world, collectively embrace the pure and simple gospel of Jesus Christ, which gospel is the remedy to the problems of our times. Because it now is, and has always been, the only plan by which men can live in righteousness, peace, and happiness in the earth, the Lord has from the beginning repeatedly revealed it He revealed it to Adam. Thereafter he revealed it to Enoch, to Noah, the Jaredites, Abraham, Moses, and the prophets, and to the Nephites. Jesus himself personally taught it in the Meridian of Time, both in the land of Jerusalem and in America. It contains the ordinances from which the Lord said the inhabitants of the earth had strayed. It is the "everlasting covenant" which he said they had broken. It leads men to "seek the Lord to establish his righteousness". It is literally, as Paul says, "the power of God unto salvation".
For the purpose of saving mankind in this world, and in the world to come, the Lord revealed it anew in this dispensation through the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jun. Through him also the Lord, 135 years ago today, reestablished his Church, "... even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints", commonly known as "the Mormon Church." This Church is the Lord's appointed custodian and legal administrator of the ordinances of his gospel.
If enough people will accept and live it, the troubles of the world will fade away as the hoarfrost before the burning rays of the rising sun. Our going forward backwards will be reversed, and the anxieties of our "affluent society" will diminish and cease.
And what if enough people do not accept the remedy? Well, in such event the inhabitants of the earth will suffer the consequences of their disobedience. I say this humbly but confidently because the Lord himself said to the Prophet Joseph Smith in March of 1829:
"... this generation shall have my word through you"; and
"Verily, I say unto you, that woe shall come unto the inhabitants of the earth if they will not hearken unto my words;
"For a desolating scourge shall go forth among the inhabitants of the earth, and shall continue to be poured out from time to time, if they repent not, until the earth is empty, and the inhabitants thereof are consumed away and utterly destroyed by the brightness of my coming.
"Behold, I tell you these things, even as I also told the people of the destruction of Jerusalem, and my word shall be verified at this time as it hath hitherto been verified".
Our choice, then, is clear. Men, in the exercise of their God-given free agency, will make-in fact, they are now making day by day-the decision.
Such, in brief and inadequate outline, is the message which we, the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are under divine charge to declare to the world. For as the Lord told his prophets in dispensations past, so he told his modern Prophet, Joseph Smith, that the revelations which had been given to him were not for the sake of himself and his associates only, but were for the sake of the whole world. In the preface already referred to he said,
"... the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth... unto all men...
"And again, verily I say unto you, O inhabitants of the earth: I the Lord am willing to make these things known unto all flesh".
As to who should make the declaration, the Lord was equally explicit. Speaking to the Prophet, he said, "... ye shall teach them unto all men; for they shall be taught unto all nations, kindreds, tongues and people".
"And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days".
"Send forth the elders of my church unto the nations which are afar off; unto the islands of the sea; send forth unto foreign lands; call upon all nations".
In conclusion, let me say that the message we declare includes the glorious assurance that in the end righteousness, peace, and happiness will come to the inhabitants of the earth. Whether after the destruction foreshadowed or as a result of repentance, men return to his ordinances, abide by his everlasting covenant, and "seek the Lord to establish his righteousness", remains to be seen.
The assurance of the glorious day of peace is frequently given in connection with references to the second advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. This one I have taken from the 45th section of the Doctrine and Covenants.
"... I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me.
"Wherefore, come ye unto it...
"And it shall come to pass that he that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man.
"And they shall see signs and wonders, for they shall be shown forth in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath...
"... and, behold, I will come; and they shall see me in the clouds of heaven, clothed with power and great glory; with all the holy angels...
"And at that day... shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins.
"For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived-verily I say unto you, they... shall abide the day.
"And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation.
"For the Lord shall be in their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and their lawgiver".
God grant that we may heed the message and be prepared for that great day I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Franklin D. Richards
Franklin D. Richards, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 107-110
My dear brothers and sisters, I pray that the Spirit of the Lord will guide and direct me as I speak to you on this the 135th anniversary of the organization of the Church.
One of the most frequent questions asked members of the Church is, "What is the difference between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other churches?"
There are many important differences, but one of the most basic and significant is stated in our Ninth Article of Faith: "We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God".
Many call us a peculiar people because we believe in modern revelation.
By way of explanation, in the year 1820 Joseph Smith, a boy of 14, living in the state of New York, was interested in joining a church but was unable to determine which church was right.
In his own words he said, "While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads, 'If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.'
"Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart...
"At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to `ask of God'".
So in accordance with his determination to ask of God, one beautiful spring morning in 1820 he retired to a grove of trees on his father's farm and knelt in prayer.
As he was praying he saw a pillar of light exactly over his head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon him. When the light rested upon him, he saw, standing above him in the air, two personages in the form of men, whose brightness and glory defied all description. One of them called Joseph Smith by name and said, "This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!".
He could see them as clearly as we see one another. And he could see that his own body was created in the image and likeness of God. At that time the churches taught that God was only a spirit, that he had no body.
Yes, God does have a body, and he made us to be like him. I know this to be true: that God lives and that Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer.
In the grove of trees that day, Joseph Smith asked the Savior which of all the sects was right and which he should join.
He was told that he should join none of them, for they were all wrong, that they taught for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.
This was a most startling message as it was an indictment of all churches in existence at that time.
Joseph Smith's vision is probably the most outstanding in the history of God's relationship with man. With the exception of Stephen's vision as described in the seventh chapter of Acts, God the Father has remained in the background-the Jehovah of the Old Testament being the preexistent Spirit of Jesus Christ, the Son of God the Father.
With the opening of the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, it was entirely appropriate that a fulness of the knowledge of God should be revealed to the Prophet. The importance of the dispensation was indicated by the Father introducing the Son to the Prophet Joseph. I bear you my witness that Joseph Smith is indeed one of the great prophets of all time.
It is difficult to appreciate the far-reaching effects of the Prophet's first vision-the first direct revelation in modern times. Consider for a moment what it did.
First. It clarified the conception of the Godhead. It made it clear that God does have a body, parts, and passions. He appeared to Joseph Smith as a glorified man. This being so, man is in form the same as God. The scriptures taught that man was created in the likeness and image of God, but it took this vision to restore the correct conception of God.
Second. It clarified the doctrine of the oneness of the Godhead. God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, appeared as two separate and distinct Personages-as separate and distinct as any earthly father and son. This makes it clear that the oneness of the Godhead is a type of unity of mind and purpose.
Third. It proved that revelation from God to man had not ceased even though Christendom taught otherwise.
Thus this great vision restored to man the true concept of God, made known that there had been an apostasy from the doctrines of the Church of Christ, opened a new dispensation, and provided a new witness for God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ.
In contemplating the knowledge that came to man through Joseph Smith's first vision, one can more fully understand the meaning of the Ninth Article of Faith: "We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God". Especially note the words, "we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God."
In keeping with this belief and subsequent to the first vision, the Lord through his Prophet restored the priesthood-the authority to act in the name of God-and authorized and directed the reestablishment of his Church on the earth. Membership in the Church affords every person a chance to serve-and service brings forth true happiness and peace together with personal growth and development.
Through the prophets that have stood at the head of Christ's Church in this dispensation, the gospel in its fulness has been restored.
The Book of Mormon and other modern revelations have brought increased knowledge and understanding, answering many vital questions such as. "What is the purpose of life?" "Where did we come from?" "Why are we here?" "Where do we go after death?" "What is our relationship to God?" "How do we obtain happiness, peace, and progress eternally?"
The first vision of Joseph Smith clearly indicated the need of continuing revelation through a prophet. This need is likewise pressing today.
The confused and frustrated condition of mankind is indicated in an article which recently appeared in a leading newspaper entitled: Nation at Crossroads of Advancement or Fall.
"Our progress, our genius, our productivity will go down in history. But where do we go from here? We've taken to the worship of money and pleasure, twisted moral values to suit ourselves, and scoffed at integrity. We have behaved like great civilizations of the past when they've become pleasure-ridden-just before they crumbled.
"Where do we go? What are our new goals? To some our goal is a simple one; we're rich, let's get richer. We hear of three cars to a family, instead of two; four-day work weeks and three days a week for amusement and indolence. It is questionable whether three cars will save a family from divorce, or from spiritual emptiness, or from boredom.
"Getting richer was yesterday's frontier. The new frontier is what logically follows the job of making a living. It is making a life. Finding new paths to family harmony, relatedness to God and fellow humans, inner ease instead of tensions. In other words-Peace."
Jesus was called the Prince of Peace, and at his coming the angels sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!". It was God's wish that everyone would share this great gift of peace and good will.
Peace and joy characterize his kingdom according to the Apostle Paul, who declared: "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost".
Family harmony, the relief of inner tensions and genuine peace can be obtained by adhering to the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and by following the counsel and direction of God's prophet.
Recently President McKay reemphasized the importance of the home and the role of parents in a program which is called, "Teaching and living the gospel in the home." This program provides for a weekly family night.
He said, "No other success can compensate for failure in the home," but promised that in those homes that followed the program, "... love at home and obedience to parents will increase, and faith will develop in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat evil influences and temptations, and to choose righteousness and peace, and be assured an eternal place in the family circle of our Father."
I call your attention again to the Ninth Article of Faith wherein it states, "... we believe that will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God".
The Family Night program is an excellent example of this and an evidence of the need of continued revelation and a prophet to guide and direct us.
I testify in all solemnity that God has raised up a prophet today and that he is the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President David O. McKay.
I urge all members of the Church to follow the counsel of this prophet, and to you who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but desire peace and relief from inner tensions, investigate the message that God has again spoken to men through a prophet. The Lord has restored the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness and reestablished his Church with the power to act in the name of God.
I bear witness that these things are true; you, too, may know that they are true by earnestly studying, praying, and attending the church services. We invite you to do so.
I leave this testimony with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Theodore M. Burton
Theodore M. Burton, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 110-114
A prophecy given in Malachi, chapter 4, verses 5 and 6, has long bothered Bible students. Since the Old Testament closes with these words, it would be well to understand what they mean. I quote:
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse".
Because of a misunderstanding of Luke 1:17, which states that the child later to be named John the Baptist would come in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, many persons have thought that John the Baptist who held the office of an Elias, or messenger, was the Elijah who was to return. This verse explains that John's work was a preparatory work to "make ready a people prepared for the Lord" and not the work of sealing or completion, which keys Elijah held. When John was bluntly asked the question, he said:
"... I am not the Christ.
"And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No".
This, of course, had to be true, for the prophecy stated that Elijah the Prophet should return before the second coming of the Lord, when Jesus was to come in great power, majesty, and glory as judge of all the earth. The mission of Elias held by John the Baptist comes first, and so just as John came before Elijah in the days of Jesus Christ, so John came before Elijah in these latter days to restore the preparatory Aaronic Priesthood before the greater power in the priesthood was given.
Among Jewish people Elijah is still the expected guest at every passover, for whom a vacant seat is reserved at the table. Thus the tradition of Elijah's return before the coming of the Redeemer in power and glory has been kept alive in the land. There must, therefore, be some important work that this great prophet had to perform, some power that he possessed which had to be restored again to the children of men so that they might be gathered as the "children of God". At the close of his ministry we read that as Elijah talked to his successor Elisha:
"... behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven".
Thus Elijah enjoyed the same glorious privilege that Enoch had of not tasting death but of being translated. According to prophecy both prophets had a special work to do which required this change in their mortal bodies.
Restoration Before the Coming of the Dreadful Day
It stretches credulity beyond the breaking point to assume that Joseph Smith the Prophet could have kept all these details in mind when the fulness of the gospel was restored. There is only one explanation which can fill all the requirements of the scripture, and this is that the events transpired just as he claimed they did. Following his great vision of the Father and the Son, an angel came to administer to Joseph and teach him what had to be done to restore the gospel again to the earth before the coming of the great and dreadful day for the wicked, but for the righteous, the glorious day of the Lord.
In the second great vision which Joseph Smith received, the Angel Moroni quoted the words of Malachi as they were originally written and should have been translated:
"Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
"And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.
"If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming".
After Joseph Smith received the priesthood and the power thereof, it was explained to him that the word "turn" could be better understood if the word "seal" were used. Thus the full meaning of the work of the priesthood becomes clear, that after Elijah shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers the children should be sealed to the fathers, otherwise the meaning of life would be misunderstood and the whole purpose of life on this earth would be utterly wasted when Christ should return again to claim his children.
First of all, then, we may ask a question. What were the promises made to the fathers which are so important to our understanding? The first father was Adam, and the Lord gave him a commandment to teach this promise freely unto his children , saying:
"That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory;
"For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified;
"Therefore it is given to abide in you; the record of heaven; the Comforter; the peaceable things of immortal glory; the truth of all things; that which quickeneth all things, which maketh alive all things; that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment.
"And now, behold I say unto you: This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time".
When Adam, hearing and understanding these words, made this covenant and was sealed accordingly to become alive both spiritually and physically, God said to him:
"... Thou art baptized with fire, and with the Holy Ghost. This is the record of the Father, and the Son, from henceforth and forever;
"And thou art after the order of him who was without beginning of days or end of years, from all eternity to all eternity.
"Behold, thou art one in me, a son of God; and thus may all become my sons. Amen".
Sealed by the Priesthood
Thus Adam was sealed a son of God by the priesthood, and this promise was taught among the fathers from that time forth as a glorious hope to men and women on the earth if they would listen and give heed to these promises
It was this power of sealing which was given as a key to Elijah by which he could seal the heavens that it did not rain on the wicked King Ahab and his unrighteous wife Jezebel nor on his whole kingdom for the space of three years and six months until the power of God was felt in the land. Later through the use of this priesthood, Elijah loosed the rains, which came again to restore life to the parched land. It was this same sealing power which Jesus Christ promised Peter as he said:
"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven".
This sealing power of the priesthood he later gave to the Twelve Apostles as he said to them:
"Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven".
Thus, when, according to prophecy the Lord restored the sealing power of the priesthood to earth again, he informed Joseph that he would send:
"... Elijah, unto whom I have committed the keys of the power of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, that the whole earth may not be smitten with a curse".
Joseph Smith recorded how this came to pass on April 3, 1836, in the temple at Kirtland, Ohio, as he wrote:
"After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said:
"Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi-testifying that he should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come-
"To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse-
"Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors".
The question is sometimes asked why the Prophet Joseph Smith forgot to include a baptismal font in the Kirtland Temple so that the work of salvation for the dead could be done. He did not forget or overlook this matter. The doctrine had not yet been fully revealed, and there was as yet no sealing power given. It is true that the Melchizedek Priesthood had been restored by Peter, James, and John and the gospel ordinances had been revealed, but there was as yet no sealing power given. This came with Elijah's visit as he restored the sealing power of the priesthood to the earth.
I want to impress upon the members of the Church of Jesus Christ that the great key of the priesthood which was given by Elijah to Joseph was the authority to seal on earth and have that sealing become effective in the heavens. It was not the work for the dead which he restored, but the power to seal the living which made work for the dead possible. It must be understood that the power of Elijah is given to the living, not to the dead. It is the living which are to be sealed to one another according to family lines, father to mother and parents to children and children to parents. Only through the exercise of this great sealing power of the priesthood for the living do baptism for the dead and salvation for the dead become meaningful and possible.
When the living are sealed, they may act as proxies for those who are dead, for as Peter taught:
"For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit".
It was for this purpose that Jesus Christ preached to the spirits in prison, that they might be converted and be willing to accept the sealings performed in their behalf by their living descendants. Unless the family of the righteous are thus sealed together from father to son and from mother to daughter back to Adam and from Adam to Christ and from Jesus Christ to God the Eternal Father, the purpose of earth life has been missed, and life itself has been a waste.
By the power of this priesthood restored by the Prophet Elijah, it is now possible for a man to prove his love for his wife and family by living righteously enough to be worthy to take them with him into a temple of the Lord and have them sealed to him, not for this life alone, but by this great sealing power to have that union sealed in the heavens for all eternity. When the poet sang of a love which would last until the "stars grow old and the sun grows cold," he was not singing of a love that was only to last "until death do you part," but of a marriage that would last throughout the eternity of time, never withering, never dying, never growing old or commonplace.
By the same token, then, our hearts being turned to the promises made to the fathers, we are also turned to the fathers themselves. Should they languish in a spirit prison or be held back from spiritual growth because they were born at a time when this sealing power was not on the earth? As God is a just God and one who loves his children, a way has been prepared whereby those who are dead may be identified and then sealed together in a family relationship in the temples of the Lord by their descendants who love them enough to do this work for them.
We have assumed that this work was to be done merely as a gesture of grace on the part of the living for those of our ancestors who are dead. This is a misconception which comes from not understanding the full meaning of the gospel. The plan of salvation is the plan of saving the children of God in a family relationship. Indeed, we may call this a universal salvation because it applies to all men and women who will qualify themselves through repentance and desire to become the children of God. We cannot be saved without our progenitors. In spite of the faith of all the prophets as cited by Paul in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, he concludes by saying:
"And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
"God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect".
We must be linked to them, and they to their fathers and mothers back to Father Adam and Mother Eve, and they to Jesus Christ, and he to God as his Only Begotten Son in the flesh. Thus to save our own selves and to complete our own salvation, we must have our hearts turned to our fathers, seek out their identities, and perform the work of salvation for them. We will be held accountable for their blood unless we do so.
Work of Elijah for the Living and the Dead
So the work of Elijah was not confined to the living or to the dead. It was a universal mission both for the living and the dead whereby the way was opened for all who will to hearken and obey and so receive the glory reserved for those who love the Lord. As Jesus told John the Beloved:
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me".
So the knock is at the door. Any man who really loves his wife and his family will not rest until he can qualify himself by acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ and by righteous living to take his wife and family with him into the temple of the Lord and there have them sealed to him forever under the sealing power of the priesthood, which was brought again to earth by the hand of the Prophet Elijah that our hearts may be filled with these great promises made to the fathers and that we may be sealed into the family of Jesus Christ and through him to be brought into the presence of God the Eternal Father.
I testify of the truth of these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Eldred G. Smith
Eldred G. Smith, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 114-116
We have heard much concerning family unity in the home during this conference. Truly this is a family church.
I, too, am concerned at the far too many divorces and temple cancellations and signs of disunity among members of the Church. The gospel should be the greatest means of uniting the family.
I can't understand how anyone who has been married in the temple and understands the meaning of celestial marriage, which is for time and all eternity, can get himself in such a condition as even to consider divorce.
I am pleased with the increasing reports success in missionary work as a result of teaching families. The fundamental purpose for which this earth was created was to establish individual families forever. The family is the only organization which is eternal.
In the beginning God said, "It is not good for man to be alone".
One of the fundamental purposes of this life is to have experiences whereby we may learn to be perfect. Man is not perfect without the woman, nor is the woman perfect without the man.
The Lord said unto Adam and Eve, as he drove them from the Garden of Eden, that they might learn obedience by their own experience.
He said "they," not the singular pronoun but the plural. We are given many varied experiences in this life to prepare us to live together forever. These experiences should bring an ever increasing love for each other. This includes learning to be patient with each other, to develop increasing tolerance, consideration, and kindness. Love is eternal and knows no bounds and has no measurable limits.
Priesthood and motherhood go hand in hand. Neither is complete without the other. Both are eternal. A perfect family requires the proper fulfillment of both. This life is to help us fulfil these two responsibilities, that we may exercise them through eternity.
Priesthood is patriarchal, which means "of the father." A married man is the patriarch of his home and is responsible to bless members of his family. The exercising of this privilege could be a means of preventing many broken homes. We think of a priesthood holder as one who should bless or christen his children, baptize and confirm them, and perform the other ordinances of the gospel in behalf of members of his family. We forget that it is not required to have some other ordinance such as christening and confirming attached thereto to enable the father to bless members of his family. His responsibility is not only to bless his children, but his wife is an important member of his family too. Yes, we think of blessing the wife when she is sick, but if the relationship between husband and wife becomes a bit strained, wouldn't it be a good thing for the husband to give his wife a blessing for the purpose of increasing the unity and love for each other?
I remember an experience I had when a good sister who wanted a special blessing came to my office. When I asked her why she wanted a special blessing, she refused to tell me. I learned from her that her husband was a member of the Church and held the Melchizedek Priesthood, so I spent considerable time trying to teach her the principle of priesthood order, where the father in the home should bless the members of the family, and concluded a long discussion of teaching her this principle, by having her go home to get her blessing from her husband instead of from me.
Sometime later she returned to my office, refreshed my memory of this experience, and said she left my office very resentful. Here I thought I had done a good job in teaching her this principle of priesthood order, so I had to ask more questions to find out what had happened.
She said the reason she refused to tell me why she wanted a blessing was that she wanted the blessing because there wasn't the proper relationship between her and her husband, and then I had sent her home to get a blessing from her husband. So naturally she was a little bit resentful.
Then she added, "That was one of the finest things that ever happened." She said she went home, she prayed about it, she thought about it, and then finally she mustered enough courage to ask her husband for the blessing. Of course it shocked him, but she was patient; she let him think it over a bit, ponder about it, and Fay about it; and finally he gave her a blessing. Then she added, "There has never been such a fine relationship in our home in all our lives as we have had since he gave me that blessing."
Naturally I could see what had happened. This is a two-way street. First she had to clean her side of the slate and humble herself. Then she asked him for the blessing, and he had to humble himself and clean his side of the slate. Then he sealed the blessing upon her which they had fulfilled by living the law upon which the blessing was predicated. This is priesthood order.
Brethren, magnify your priesthood. Bless your family, your children and your wife. When we follow the order which the Lord has laid out for us, we cannot fail. I believe this practice would save many teetering marriages and increase the unity in many homes.
It is usually the wife who is trying to save the marriage. This is a two-way street. It requires the efforts of both.
Too many couples are living lives of "quiet desperation." I don't know who used that term first, but it is so expressive. Some go through life just tolerating each other rather than correcting the trouble. Do something about it. Exercise the priesthood which is in your home.
First, each must have a desire to get along with each other. Each must be willing to do something to make amends. Each must be willing to forgive and forget. Wipe the slate clean of all unpleasant memories.
Ask the Father for help. Ask him to bless your efforts with success. Ask together, as well as separately in individual prayers. Kneel together and pray vocally together.
When you are married you must learn to do all things together. You are no longer single individuals.
The joy and happiness that comes from sharing this life together, living the gospel in its fulness, is worth all the effort you put into it, and it will be rewarding in this life and through all eternity.
May we all strive to this end is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder LeGrand Richards
LeGrand Richards, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 116-120
My brothers and sisters, in your presence this morning I would like to express my gratitude to my Heavenly Father for my membership in his Church, and for what it means to me and my family, and for the pattern of life that it gives us to live by, and for the thousands of faithful Latter-day Saints who are such wonderful friends everywhere I go in the Church. This is the greatest brotherhood in all the world.
Many of you know that I have spent many years in missionary service, and I thank the Lord for this great arm of his Church. As we heard here today in the statistics that were given, there are over 16,000 at the present time engaged in this missionary work, one of the most unselfish contributions for the blessing of humanity that this world has ever known. And as we labor among the people and see what the gospel does for them, that is when we really realize what a marvelous thing this work is.
I would like to make reference today to a few of my experiences. When I was president of a mission, a brother was on his way home from doing his branch teaching, and he saw my light burning, and he belled on, and said, "President Richards, I was just wondering, as I was going home, when I saw your light, if you would be interested in knowing what I was thinking." And I told him I certainly would. So he came in. He said, "I was thinking of who I was, and what I was when the Mormon elders came to my home, and who I am today and what I am, and I just can't believe that I am the same man." He said, "I have changed so much. I don't think the same thoughts. I don't have the same habits. I don't have the same ideals to live by. I have completely changed." Isn't that what the Apostle Paul meant when he said that we are buried with Christ in baptism and that as he arose to the glory of his Father that we should come forth and walk in a newness of life, knowing this first, that our old man of sin is buried with him?
You can go all over this Church and apply that to all who have come in faith and have entered into the waters of baptism and have taken upon them the name of Christ our Lord. According to the statistics here today we had nearly 100,000 converts during the last year, people who have left the teachings of their youth and joined this Church because they found something in it that they did not already possess in their own churches.
During the year we converted a very prominent minister who has held religious revivals all over the United States and has known many, many ministers. I visited with him, and this is what convinced him: He realized how this world was divided upon spiritual matters. If you just stop to think for a moment of all the hundreds of so-called Christian churches in the world, they have all come into existence because they couldn't agree in their interpretation of the Bible. If we had all the Bibles in the world, that wouldn't unite Christianity. It comes back to what was mentioned here a few moments ago by Brother Franklin D. Richards, that one of the fundamentals of this Church is modern revelation, and that is what convinced this minister that I have been talking about.
He has now been going around renewing friendships with many of the ministers he has known and making appointments for one of our brethren to meet with them and talk with them, and they are beginning to recognize that the great loss in this Christian world today is the lack of modern revelation-lack of something authoritative that we can turn to that tells us what is right and what is wrong. How could we hope with some hundreds of these different churches that they can ever get together and reconcile their differences, and even if they did that, where would they get their authority to bind the heavens to which reference has been made here today?
And so we come back to the story that has been told us during this conference of a search for truth on the part of the Prophet Joseph Smith and its importance in our lives.
Speaking of this fundamental requirement, all of the mistakes in doctrine could have been avoided if the Lord had just had living prophets for the world, and that is what has brought us to what we are today. If all of the Bibles in this world had been destroyed, we would still be preaching what we are preaching. We didn't get our Church by a study of the Bible; we got it through the revelations of God the Eternal Father and the sending to this earth of heavenly messengers that have brought back the power to officiate in the name of the Lord and have given us a clear, comprehensive understanding of the truths of the gospel.
When I was in Holland on a mission, I was invited at one time to talk to a group of businessmen-a Bible class. We met in the home of a prominent furniture dealer. They gave me an hour and a half and a subject to discuss. At the close of the hour and a half I don't think there had been one question asked. I laid my Bible on the table and folded my arms and waited for a comment. The first comment came from a daughter of the man of the house. She was the only woman in the room at that time with about twenty businessmen, each with his Bible. She said, "Father, I just can't understand it. I have never attended one of these Bible classes in my life that you haven't had the last word to say on everything, and tonight you haven't said a word."
He shook his head and said, "There isn't anything to say. This man has been teaching us things we have never heard of, and he has been teaching them to us out of our own Bibles." Now, that's why we have to have modern revelation. No one but God the Eternal Father could give us the truth.
You will remember the promise we read in the Book of Mormon how the Lord promised Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, that he would raise up a prophet from his loins in the latter days by the name of Joseph, whose father's name would be Joseph. He would bring forth his word. He not only would bring forth his word, but would also bring men to conviction of his word that had already gone forth among them. And that is what our message is as missionaries to the world: it is to teach them the truths that have been revealed through the restoration of the gospel, through the promised prophet.
I would like to refer to another experience I had a few years ago. Two of the large churches of the western part of the United States were holding a convention here in Salt Lake City. The leader wrote a letter to President McKay and asked if he would send one of the General Authorities to attend that convention and to talk for two hours in the morning session and tell them the story of Mormonism and to remain as their guest for lunch and then to remain for an hour and a half in the afternoon and let them ask questions.
President McKay gave me the assignment, and of course I was happy because I have always told the missionaries that you never need to worry about arguing as long as you learn how to tell our story and you keep the lead, for you are telling people things they have never heard of. They pushed their luncheon back a half an hour and gave me two hours and a half. I said, "Do you want it just the way we believe it, how we got this Church and what we believe?" And the leader said, "That's what we want." Of course, there isn't time to tell you very much about that, but I talked for two hours and a half to them, and when I went to leave, the man in charge said, "Mr. Richards, this has been one of the most interesting experiences of my entire life."
All those leaders, ministers, church executives of these western states only asked me one question, and I think you might be interested in what that question was. The leader said, "Now, Mr. Richards, you have told us that you believe that God is a personal God." I said, "That's right, that's the very foundation of our religion: whom we worship."
Now, brothers and sisters, we have nothing to fear; we have everything to give. The heavens have been opened, and the Lord has revealed his truth.
By the way, this minister I just told you about that believes in modern revelation has another minister ready for baptism who gives a radio address every day in one of our largest cities, and the only thing that is holding him back is that he doesn't know what he is going to do for a living when he joins the Church. But he has already confessed that he believes that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God.
Sometime back, we converted a minister who had been a minister for thirty years. I heard a letter read that he wrote in which he said he had always believed that he had as much authority as any man to administer the ordinances of the gospel until he met the Mormon missionaries. "Now," he said, "I have come to believe that I must accept baptism at their hands," and after he was baptized, he told me this himself as he sat in my office. He said, "I accepted Joseph Smith as a Prophet of God. I didn't feel that I could say I knew he was a Prophet, but I believed he was a Prophet. But," he said, "when the elders of Israel laid their hands upon my head and conferred upon me the Aaronic Priesthood, I felt a thrill go through my being from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet such as I had never felt in my life, and I knew that no man could do that for me, that such feelings had to come from the Lord."
When he sat in my office, he said this, "Brother Richards, when I think of how little I had to offer my people as a minister of the gospel compared to what I now have in the fulness of the gospel as it has been restored, I want to go back and tell all my friends what I have found. Now they won't listen to me. I am an apostate from their church." But his conversion was so genuine that he gave up his ministry and took a menial job in order that he might become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ and worship God the Eternal Father according to the new conversion and conviction that the Lord had planted in his heart.
He pointed to this temple here on this temple block and said, "I can't wait to get in there with my wife." That was one of the principles that appealed to him. How could any true Christian who lives the principles of righteousness and treats his wife and his children as he should-how could he ever look forward to an eternity without the companionship of his wife and his children? And yet because of lack of divine inspiration and modern revelation, the scriptures have been so misunderstood that there isn't another one of the reputable churches of this world, according to my investigation, that believes that the marriage covenant and the family unit will project itself beyond the grave.
We have had some wonderful talks on this subject in this conference. President Joseph Fielding Smith gave us a wonderful doctrinal talk in the first meeting on this subject. But people have been misled, and what is there now to induce them to live the kind of lives they ought to live. We have to have a foundation upon which to build. I like the story they tell about when they built this great temple here on this temple block, and they tell us that the footings are sixteen feet wide, and at one time President Brigham Young came along and saw them throwing in some chipped granite. He made them take it out and put in these great granite blocks with this explanation: "We are building this temple to stand through the millennium."
Is there any man in Israel or any man who truly loves his family who doesn't want to build his home to stand through the millennium? Can you imagine living forever and forever without the companionship of your wife and your children? I would just as soon believe that death is a complete annihilation of both body and spirit as to think that the ties that are so sacred here could not be projected into the eternal world.
And that is what the Lord has promised us through modern revelation. We don't have to depend upon man's interpretation of the Bible. We have the word of the Lord himself to his Prophet of this dispensation, telling us what we must do to have our wives and our children throughout the countless ages of eternity. No wonder the Christian world, who know nothing about the three degrees of glory that President Brown spoke about, don't know how to plan. There never was a time that the Lord gave this revelation as completely, as far as we know, until that revelation was given to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Paul was caught up into the third heaven and the paradise of God, and he saw things he was not permitted to write. He must have seen something pretty wonderful by the time he had passed the first and the second heaven and the paradise of God into the third heaven, but he did say, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him".
I thank the Lord that we have the truth. I like the statement made by Anderson M. Baten to his wife Beulah, in which he said:
"I wed thee forever, not for now, Not for the sham of earth's brief years. I wed thee for the life beyond the tears, Beyond the heartache and clouded brow. Love knows no grave, and it shall guide us, dear, When life's spent candles flutter, and burn low."
One other thought along that line. I preached a sermon on this subject in the mission field, and I quoted from all the major churches from their official statements to the effect that not one of them believed in the eternal duration of the marriage covenant and the family unit. At the close of the meeting I stood at the door to greet the people, and a man came up and introduced himself as a Baptist minister, and I said, "Did I misquote you?"
"No," he said, "Mr. Richards, but it's just as you say, we don't believe all the things our churches teach."
I said, "You don't believe them either. Why don't you go back and teach your people the truth. They will take it from you, and they are not ready to take it from the Mormon elders yet."
He said, "I'll see you again." That is all I could get out of him that day.
The next time I went there, my coming was announced because I was the mission president. As I walked up to that little church, there stood that minister. As we shook hands, I said, "I would certainly be interested to know what you thought of my last sermon."
He said, "Mr. Richards, I have been thinking about it ever since, and I believe every word you said, but I would have liked to hear the rest of it."
Brothers and sisters, I thank God that we have the voice of living prophets to show us the way and that we don't have to depend on the written word only. Wasn't that what Jesus meant when he stood overlooking Jerusalem and said, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
"For I say unto you, ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord".
So we invite all men everywhere to be willing to listen to the living prophets that God has raised up in this dispensation so that they can be taught correct principles and not be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, as we read in the scriptures; and may God help us as a people so to live that we may be worthy of the blessings he has in store for us and be a light unto the world, I pray and ask God to bless you all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 121-125
In 1831 the Lord said this to his Church:
"For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
"For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.
"But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned".
The purposes of the Lord-the great objectives-continue the same: the salvation and exaltation of his children.
Usually the Lord gives us the overall objectives to be accomplished and some guidelines to follow, but he expects us to work out most of the details and methods. The methods and procedures are usually developed through study and prayer and by living so that we can obtain and follow the promptings of the Spirit. Less spiritually advanced people, such as those in the days of Moses, had to be commanded in many things. Today those spiritually alert look at the objectives, check the guidelines laid down by the Lord and his prophets, and then prayerfully act-without having to be commanded "in all things." This attitude prepares men for godhood.
The overall objective to be accomplished in missionary work, temple work, providing for the needy, and bringing up our children in righteousness has always been the same; only our methods to accomplish these objectives have varied. Any faithful member in this dispensation, no matter when he lived, could have found righteous methods to have carried out these objectives without having to wait for the latest, specific church-wide program.
Sometimes the Lord hopefully waits on his children to act on their own, and when they do not, they lose the greater prize, and the Lord will either drop the entire matter and let them suffer the consequences or else he will have to spell it out in greater detail. Usually, I fear, the more he has to spell it out, the smaller is our reward.
Often, because of circumstances, the Lord, through revelation to his prophets or through inspired programs designed by faithful members which later become adopted on a church-wide basis, will give to all the membership a righteous means to help accomplish the objective; for instance, any member of the Church a century ago who studied church doctrine would have known that he had the prime responsibility to see that his children had spiritualized family recreation and were taught in the home lessons in character building and gospel principles. But some did not do it.
Then, in 1915 President Joseph F. Smith introduced, church-wide, the "weekly home evening program" with promised blessings to all who faithfully adopted it. Many refused and lost the promised blessings. Today we have the home evening manual and other helps. Yet some still refuse to bring up their children in righteousness.
But there are some today who complain that the home evening manual should have been issued years ago. If this is true then the Lord will hold his servants accountable, but no one can say that from the inception of the Church up to the present day the Lord through his Spirit to the individual members and through his spokesmen, the prophets, has not given us the objectives and plenty of guidelines and counsel. The fact that some of us have not done much about it even when it is spelled out in detail is not the Lord's fault.
For years we have been counseled to have on hand a year's supply of food. Yet there are some today who will not start storing until the Church comes out with a detailed monthly home storage program. Now suppose that never happens. We still cannot say we have not been told.
Should the Lord decide at this time to cleanse the Church-and the need for that cleansing seems to be increasing-a famine in this land of one year's duration could wipe out a large percentage of slothful members, including some ward and stake officers. Yet we cannot say we have not been warned.
Another warning: You and I sustain one man on this earth as God's mouthpiece-President David O. McKay-one of the greatest seers who has ever walked this earth. We do not need a prophet-we have one-what we desperately need is a listening ear.
Should it be of concern to us when the mouthpiece of the Lord keeps constantly and consistently raising his voice of warning about the loss of our freedom as he has over the years? There are two unrighteous ways to deal with his prophetic words of warning: you can fight them or you can ignore them. Either course will bring you disaster in the long run.
Hear his words: "No greater immediate responsibility rests upon members of the Church, upon all citizens of this Republic and of neighboring Republics than to protect the freedom vouchsafed by the Constitution of the United States." As important as are all other principles of the gospel, it was the freedom issue which determined whether you received a body. To have been on the wrong side of the freedom issue during the war in heaven meant eternal damnation. How then can Latter-day Saints expect to be on the wrong side in this life and escape the eternal consequences? The war in heaven is raging on earth today. The issues are the same: "Shall men be compelled to do what others claim is for their best welfare" or will they heed the counsel of the prophet and preserve their freedom?
Satan argued that men given their freedom would not choose correctly, therefore he would compel them to do right and save us all. Today Satan argues that men given their freedom do not choose wisely; therefore a so-called brilliant, benevolent few must establish the welfare government and force us into a greater socialistic society. We are assured of being led into the promised land as long as we let them put a golden ring in our nose. In the end we lose our freedom and the promised land also. No matter what you call it-communism, socialism, or the welfare state-our freedom is sacrificed. We believe the gospel is the greatest thing in the world; why then do we not force people to join the Church if they are not smart enough to see it on their own? Because this is Satan's way, not the Lord's plan. The Lord uses persuasion and love.
Hear again the words of God's mouthpiece: "Today two mighty forces are battling for the supremacy of the world. The destiny of mankind is in the balance. It is a question of God and liberty, or atheism and slavery...
"Those forces are known and have been designated by Satan on the one hand, and Christ on the other.
"In Joshua's time they were called 'gods of the Amorites,' for one, and 'the Lord' on the other... In these days, they are called 'domination by the state,' on one hand, 'personal liberty,' on the other; communism on one, free agency on the other".
Now, the Lord knew that before the gospel could flourish there must first be an atmosphere of freedom. This is why he first established the Constitution of this land through gentiles whom he raised up before he restored the gospel. In how many communist countries today are we doing missionary work, building chapels, etc.? And yet practically every one of those countries have been pushed into communism and kept under communism with the great assistance of evil forces which have and are operating within our own country and neighboring lands.
Yes, were it not for the tragic policies of governments-including our own-tens of millions of people murdered and hundreds of millions enslaved since World War II would be alive and free today to receive the restored gospel.
President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., put it clearly and courageously when he said:
"Reduced to its lowest terms, the great struggle which now rocks the whole earth more and more takes on the character of a struggle of the individual versus the state...
"This gigantic worldwide struggle, more and more takes on the form of a war to the death. We shall do well and wisely so to face and so to enter it. And we must all take part. Indeed, we all are taking part in that struggle, whether we will or not. Upon its final issue, liberty lives or dies... The plain and simple issue now facing us in America is freedom or slavery... We have largely lost the conflict so far waged. But there is time to win the final victory, if we sense our danger, and fight."
Now where do we stand in this struggle, and what are we doing about it?
The devil knows that if the elders of Israel should ever wake up, they could step forth and help preserve freedom and extend the gospel. Therefore the devil has concentrated, and to a large extent successfully, in neutralizing much of the priesthood. He has reduced them to sleeping giants. His arguments are clever.
Here are a few samples:
First: "We really haven't received much instruction about freedom," the devil says. This is a lie, for we have been warned time and again. No prophet of the Lord has ever issued more solemn warning than President David O. McKay. Last conference I spoke of a book embodying much of the prophets' warnings on freedom from Joseph Smith to David O. McKay which I commend to you. It is entitled Prophets, Principles, and National Survival.
Second: "You're too involved in other church work," says the devil. But freedom is a weighty matter of the law; the lesser principles of the gospel you should keep but not leave this one undone. We may have to balance and manage our time better. Your other church work will be limited once you lose your freedom as our Saints have found out in Czechoslovakia, Poland, and many other nations.
Third: "You want to be loved by everyone," says the devil, "and this freedom battle is so controversial you might be accused of engaging in politics." Of course the government has penetrated so much of our lives that one can hardly speak for freedom without being accused of being political. Some might even call the war in heaven a political struggle-certainly it was controversial. Yet the valiant entered it with Michael. Those who support only the popular principles of the gospel have their reward. And those who want to lead the quiet, retiring life but still expect to do their full duty can't have it both ways.
Said Elder John A. Widtsoe:
"The troubles of the world may largely be laid at the doors of those who are neither hot nor cold; who always follow the line of least resistance; whose timid hearts flutter at taking sides for truth. As in the great Council in the heavens, so in the Church of Christ on earth, there can be no neutrality".
Fourth: "Wait until it becomes popular to do," says the devil, "or, at least until everybody in the Church agrees on what should be done." But this fight for freedom might never become popular in our day. And if you wait until everybody agrees in this Church, you will be waiting through the second coming of the Lord. Would you have hesitated to follow the inspired counsel of the Prophet Joseph Smith simply because some weak men disagreed with him? God's living mouthpiece has spoken to us-are we for him or against him? In spite of the Prophet's opposition to increased federal aid and compulsory unionism, some church members still champion these freedom destroying programs. Where do you stand?
Fifth: "It might hurt your business or your family," says the devil, "and besides why not let the gentiles save the country? They aren't as busy as you are." Well, there were many businessmen who went along with Hitler because it supposedly helped their business. They lost everything. Many of us are here today because our forefathers loved truth enough that they fought at Valley Forge or crossed the plains in spite of the price it cost them or their families. We had better take our small pain now than our greater loss later. There were souls who wished afterwards that they had stood and fought with Washington and the founding fathers, but they waited too long-they passed up eternal glory. There has never been a greater time than now to stand up against entrenched evil. And while the gentiles established the Constitution, we have a divine mandate to preserve it. But unfortunately today in this freedom struggle, many gentiles are showing greater wisdom in their generation than the children of light.
Sixth: "Don't worry," says the devil, "the Lord will protect you, and besides the world is so corrupt and heading toward destruction at such a pace that you can't stop it, so why try." Well, to begin with, the Lord will not protect us unless we do our part. This devilish tactic of persuading people not to get concerned because the Lord will protect them no matter what they do is exposed by the Book of Mormon. Referring to the devil, it says, "And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, and they will say: All is well in Zion, yea, Zion prospereth, all is well-and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell".
I like that word "carefully." In other words, don't shake them, you might awake them. But the Book of Mormon warns us that when we should see these murderous conspiracies in our midst that we should awake to our awful situation. Now why should we awake if the Lord is going to take care of us anyway? Now let us suppose that it is too late to save freedom. It is still accounted unto us for righteousness' sake to stand up and fight. Some Book of Mormon prophets knew of the final desolate end of their nations, but they still fought on, and they saved some souls including their own by so doing. For, after all, the purpose of life is to prove ourselves, and the final victory will be for freedom.
But many of the prophecies referring to America's preservation are conditional. That is, if we do our duty we can be preserved, and if not then we shall be destroyed. This means that a good deal of the responsibility lies with the priesthood of this Church as to what happens to America and as to how much tragedy can be avoided if we do act now.
And now as to the last neutralizer that the devil uses most effectively-it is simply this: "Don't do anything in the fight for freedom until the Church sets up its own specific program to save the Constitution." This brings us right back to the scripture I opened with today-to those slothful servants who will not do anything until they are "compelled in all things." Maybe the Lord will never set up a specific church program for the purpose of saving the Constitution. Perhaps if he set one up at this time it might split the Church asunder, and perhaps he does not want that to happen yet for not all the wheat and tares are fully ripe.
The Prophet Joseph Smith declared it will be the elders of Israel who will step forward to help save the Constitution, not the Church. And have we elders been warned? Yes, we have. And have we elders been given the guide lines? Yes indeed, we have. And besides, if the Church should ever inaugurate a program, who do you think would be in the forefront to get it moving? It would not be those who were sitting on the sidelines prior to that time or those who were appeasing the enemy. It would be those choice spirits who, not waiting to be "commanded in all things", used their own free will, the counsel of the prophets, and the Spirit of the Lord as guidelines and who entered the battle "in a good cause" and brought to pass much righteousness in freedom's cause.
Years ago Elder Joseph F. Merrill of the Council of the Twelve encouraged the members of the Church to join right-to-work leagues and President Heber J. Grant concurred. For our day President David O. McKay has called communism the greatest threat to the Church, and it is certainly the greatest mortal threat this country has ever faced. What are you doing to fight it?
Brethren, if we had done our homework and were faithful, we could step forward at this time and help save this country. The fact that most of us are unprepared to do it is an indictment we will have to bear. The longer we wait, the heavier the chains, the deeper the blood, the more the persecution, and the less we can carry out our God-given mandate and worldwide mission. The war in heaven is raging on earth today. Are you being neutralized in the battle?
"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
"For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves".
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Thorpe B. Isaacson
Thorpe B. Isaacson, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 126-127
President McKay, President Brown, President Tanner, President Smith, and my dear brothers and sisters. One always feels dependent upon the Lord in occupying this position. Therefore, I humbly pray that I may have the sustaining influence of our Heavenly Father, as I need it greatly. Today as we have listened to this marvelous chorus from the fine institute of religion in Logan and the great Utah State University at Logan, I am sure we are very thrilled at the selections they have sung to us and the manner in which they were sung.
I would be very ungrateful if I did not publicly thank the Lord for the blessings of these three days. We have been here assembled in this very sacred building, and it is sacred, to listen to the sermons of the servants and the prophets of God.
President McKay the other day in the temple told us that we could rely upon the inspiration of the Spirit of the Lord. That I would like to do.
During these three days we have listened to the prophets and the servants of God. These brethren have spoken to us under the inspiration of the Lord. Now it is up to us as a people in and out of the Church what we are going to do about it. For it is the Lord's word that has been given to us through his servants. Certainly our testimony and our faith must have been strengthened the last three days. President McKay's appearance here early Sunday morning-the opening session-again yesterday morning, last night in priesthood meeting, and now his presence here today is a great blessing to us. If I may I would like to carry that a little further. His presence here today is largely because of his great faith, his will, his courage, his determination, and an answer to your and my prayers. For surely the people of this Church are praying for the prophet daily. His presence here is a miracle. The Lord gave him the strength to be here. It was not his own physical strength, but the blessings and the power of the Lord to him, and in turn a blessing to us. He has taught us so many wonderful lessons. Thousands and hundreds of thousands, yes, millions of people on the earth are grateful to him because he has literally touched their lives, and I, as the most humble among you, thank God for the blessing that he has been to me. Men who hardly know him, men not of the Church, after they have been in his presence, I have heard them say, "We felt an unusual influence." Well, it is understandable to us that they would feel an unusual influence because they were in the presence of a prophet of God.
Now, just two thoughts, because they taught me a lesson I might pass on to someone.
One is about a young man whom I had the chance to know and interview for his mission, and I had the privilege of setting him apart. I like to write to missionaries. I like to get their letters. I am sure I get more strength from their letters than they do from mine. This choice boy was sent to Australia. Some weeks ago he sent me a letter, and in that letter there were a number of large bills, greenbacks, currency. I thought he took a chance sending it that way, but it was wrapped well. There were also enclosed an envelope addressed to another elder and a note to this elder. The missionary in his letter to me said, "Will you put this money and this memorandum in the enclosed envelope, put a stamp on it, and mail it to this elder?" The letter to the missionary to whom the money was to be sent said about these words: "Enclosed is some money that I want you to have so that you can stay and finish your mission. Unsigned." His missionary companion's folks were having some financial difficulties. This boy had been saving a little money out of his missionary allowance, and he sent that to me to put in an envelope to send back to his companion, and he did not want him to know whence it came. Oh, what a lesson!
Saturday, another lesson. I picked up a little granddaughter, a beautiful little girl. I asked her to come home with me to lunch. I told her we would have to hurry because I had an appointment. I told her mother I would bring her back after lunch. As we were preparing to eat lunch, she was talking and visiting. She is a wonderful little girl, only ten years old, one of the choicest spirits I have ever known. She has suffered many illnesses, serious operations, but she is well now, thanks to the blessings of the Lord. As we were eating, I was hurrying her, and she said, "Grandpa, why are you always in such a hurry?" Then she looked at me so sweetly and innocently and said, "Do you have problems and worries?" "No, not me," I answered. "I have an appointment, but not necessarily worries or problems." Then she answered me and said, "I'm glad I don't have any worries or any problems. I love everybody." I wondered if she thought I didn't.
Perhaps, this is the source of some of our troubles. This may be the source of some of our worries and some of our problems. Do we love everybody?
I want to bear my testimony to you that I know that the Lord is our Father and that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, the Son of God. I would like to ask you: How would you feel if someone should tell you that the Prophet Abraham is in your midst? How would you feel if they should say that the Prophet Moses or Samuel or Isaiah is here in your midst? And what would you think if someone should say to you that the Apostle Paul or Peter or James or John is here? Well, there are prophets and Apostles here in your midst, and you are looking at them today. They are the prophets and Apostles with the same authority as the Apostles of old. You have been listening to the word of the Lord, for those who have spoken to you are of the Lord. Can you imagine what the Lord meant when he said, "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same"?
That means that the words you have heard today, yesterday, and the day before, and that you hear from time to time from the prophets and the Apostles are the same as if the Lord were speaking to you. We who are privileged to work closely with these great men constantly see the inspiration of the Lord flowing to them back to you and to me.
God grant that we may have the strength and the faith to purge our souls of all those things that are not of the Lord. I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder John Longden
John Longden, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 127-131
My brothers, sisters, and friends assembled here in this historic building, and those of you who are sometimes termed the "unseen audience," may I express my gratitude for your taking time to see and listen in to the proceedings of these great conference sessions. I would like to take this opportunity, too, to say hello to my sweetheart who is listening today, and I feel her spirit.
May I repeat the words of President McKay at the opening of this conference read by his son Robert, found in 2 Timothy, the fourth chapter:
"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ... preach the word".
That is what I have in mind at this time, if the Lord will bless me.
"We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost".
May I take you back in your mind's eye to almost 2,000 years ago, after the resurrection of Jesus, when he had commissioned his disciples, which means he had given them the authority to go forth and teach.
The day to which I refer is known as the day of Pentecost. Many were assembled, and Peter was the mouthpiece on this occasion. He taught:
"We all are witnesses"
"This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear...
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
"Then Peter said unto them, 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.
"And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls".
Those who were pricked in their hearts gave evidence of faith, the first principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The scriptures are replete with stories of faith.
"Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
"Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
"And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin;
"And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?".
Paul said, "... faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen".
"And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you".
The next principle is repentance as taught on that great day of Pentecost.
Repentance is a principle and not merely an expression of penitent grief. It involves a reformation of life. The Apostle Paul spoke to the Corinthian Saints:
"Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance
"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death".
Repentance is an eternal truth and principle. The Prophet Isaiah understood this principle when he said: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon".
In conclusion, as a true definition of repentance, let me quote the words of Paul to the Ephesians:
"Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour...
"Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
"Neither give place to the devil.
"Let him that stole steal no more...
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth".
This is the only repentance taught in Holy Writ and simply means to forsake all sin and accomplish a reformation of life.
Yes, a transition, a transformation, a miracle can come in the lives of individuals today.
I remember being at the baptism not too long ago of a fine businessman who had maintained the standards of the Church but hadn't conformed with the formalities. I listened to his first words as he came up out of the waters of baptism: "Oh, why have I waited so long?"
Another expression, "Why have I waited until the afternoon of my life to see and understand the truths of the gospel?"
Yes, miracles are taking place each day in this Dispensation of the Fulness of Times. What is a miracle? An act of happening in the material or physical world which seems to depart from the laws of nature or to go beyond what is known of these laws; yes, a wonder, a marvel.
That brings me to the third principle and the first ordinance of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is baptism.
Faith and repentance are principles, and in baptism we come to the first ordinance necessary to enter the kingdom.
Baptism is essential to salvation, and according to the scriptures it must be a specific type of baptism-in other words, performed by immersion. It is for the remission of sins, required by all who reach the age of eight years, for such the Lord has revealed in this day.
"In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
"And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
"Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
"And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
"But when he saw many of the Pharisees, and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
"Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
"And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
"And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
"Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
"But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
"And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
"And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased".
So we see how essential baptism is, performed legitimately by one having the authority, first to enter the kingdom and second to enable the individual to fulfil all righteousness.
"One Lord, one faith, one baptism".
The Lord to Nicodemus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God".
Which brings me to the fourth principle and the second ordinance, the reception of the Holy Spirit.
Having shown that faith, repentance, and baptism are essential to the remission of sins, let us now consider the reception of the Holy Spirit.
Man is not prepared for the indwelling of the Holy Ghost unless he repents of his sins and becomes freed from them by obedience to the laws of God.
To show that the laying on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost by those having divine authority was practiced by the ancient Apostles, I refer to Acts 8:14-21:
"Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
"Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
"
"Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
"And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
"Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
"But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
"Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God".
Another experience in the life of the Apostle Paul:
"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them".
The following references also indicate the laying on of hands as a sacred rite which would not have been adopted by the Apostles unless commanded of God to do so:
"Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands".
"Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands".
The Holy Ghost is a great boon or favor from the Lord, and many blessings are received because of it.
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father n-ill send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you".
Now in conclusion on this, may I give you a thought from Paul in Galatians, and then a thought from Parley P. Pratt.
Paul said, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering gentleness, goodness, faith,
"Meekness, temperance".
And Parley P. Pratt, a prophet of the Lord in this dispensation, gave this definition of the Holy Ghost.
"It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and charity. It develops beauty of person, form, and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation, and social feeling. It develops and invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens, invigorates and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being."
I bear witness that that Spirit is prevalent on the earth today and will come to those who have faith, who repent, who are baptized by the true servants of the Lord, and it will be unto them as a boon and a favor and a guide into further light, truth, and knowledge. I bear witness to these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Bernard P. Brockbank
Bernard P. Brockbank, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 131-132
Brothers and sisters, we are here today because of revelation from the Lord. I am going to be very brief, but I would just like to share with you a recent experience, one that many of us often have.
As I traveled from New York to Chicago on the way to this conference, I was seated next to a VIP from one of the large industrial firms of the world. He was well educated as a leader and as a lawyer in his profession. He said that he had met and personally knew several Mormons in responsible positions and that he was impressed with their loyalty, their integrity, and their dedication.
During our conversation on religion he said that he knew little about the Bible, but he believed in moderation regarding the laws and commandments of God. This sounds good, and sometimes we find ourselves indulging in the same type of thinking.
I asked him how moderation worked on the commandment, "Thou shalt not kill". How does it work on the commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery"?
How does it work on the commandment, "Thou shalt not steal"?
And after taking thought he said, "Moderation doesn't seem to work in all cases."
I asked him how it worked in regard to the great law given by the Savior, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind".
He said, "Moderation kills the strength of this great law."
Justification of sin, whether in moderation or otherwise, is not from God. It is deceitfully inspired by Satan.
May I be a little personal. Have you ever justified weakness and sin in moderation? Do you personally have anything to repent of? Of course we know the answer. How long have you had the sin or weakness that you desire to repent of? It is easier to give a sermon on repentance than to practice repentance.
What is the next move of one who has a problem to repent of? Have you taught repentance to your children? It is of such vital importance in God's program that it must be taught and learned and understood. Do your children know how to repent?
Real and deep-seated love for God and Jesus Christ comes into the human soul when forgiveness of sin and weakness comes from the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice and atonement becomes more genuine and purposeful when one repents and receives divine relief and forgiveness from sin and weakness.
How would you feel if the golden opportunity of repentance were canceled?
God's righteousness and spiritual growth, as well as many other basic principles, are founded on repentance.
Repentance is the one important part of the 'refiner's fire' that brings the human soul to celestial glory. God placed Satan on this earth to tempt man. Man has appetites and human frailties to master and conquer. The human, Godlike mind must be trained to be in full control of the soul and life of man. Fear and the appetites too often creep in and crush out the control of the mind. Self-control and self-mastery in righteousness is the real joy of this life.
I often reflect on the temptations of the Master. Do you think he gloried and enjoyed his strength and ability to say no to Satan, to say no to the temptation of weakness, even after the flesh and the body had been placed under forty days of fasting?
Repentance founded on Jesus Christ is one way to attain self-control and perfection.
I'd just like to speak personally. My own experience with repentance is teaching me that knowing the weakness and desiring to repent of it is not sufficient to eliminate the problem from my life. I found that I must again put my mind, my God-given brain, in charge and not let the habit or the weakness run on and inhibit my progress.
Sin in any form stops spiritual progress. I am finding that I have to memorize what I desire to repent of so that when I go to do it again I know what I told the Lord.
No wonder that in the gospel of Jesus Christ faith and repentance are the first principles.
God's program of righteous growth and eternal progress is founded on faith and repentance. Both are free, both are gifts from God, but both are of no value unless used.
Parents, you are God's representatives in the home. May we teach and use repentance ourselves and teach our children and our neighbors and our friends to do likewise, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Robert L. Simpson
Robert L. Simpson, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 132-134
My dear brothers and sisters, may I was a great experience of learning and first of all share a great experience that taught me a lesson that I shall never I had at the age of eight years. This was a great experience of learning and taught me a lesson that I shall never forget.
I remember the thrill of being taught simple division. Three goes into fifteen five times. It seemed almost like a miracle as the teacher further taught us that all we had to do was multiply the answer by the divisor, and we would have the number that we started with. She said that by following this simple plan and procedure we could check any division problem and make certain that the answer was right.
A few days later we had our first test in simple division. I shall never forget turning to my school chum and announcing, "I got an 'A.'" He said, "How do you know? We haven't even graded the papers."
"I know I have an 'A' because I checked every answer. I multiplied the answer by the divisor, and I was certain that it was exactly the same number we started with. I know I got an 'A.'"
And sure enough it was an "A" because I was standing on solid rock. There was no doubt in my mind. I was dealing with an exact science, and for the first time in my life I felt really secure in something that I had been taught in school. This was an exact science, and I was able to prove my answer beyond question.
Now in the world today, I think if there were one common wish among all mankind, that wish would be for peace-peace in the world, peace in each nation; peace in the community; even a feeling of peace in each home; and perhaps most important of all, peace of mind.
Our day will probably go down in history as the day of psychiatry, psychology, and tranquilizers. Now, I don't mean to suggest that there is no place for the professionally trained to treat the mentally disturbed or for the prescribing of proper medicine for the overwrought, but I do believe with all my heart and soul that most of these anxieties found in the hearts and minds of men today can be eliminated by a return to faith in God and the resultant desire to obey his commandments.
To me, and I am sure to you, God's plan is like a superhighway. This superhighway is built on solid rock; it is built well above the fog-shrouded valleys; and it is built well above the swamps of infidelity, selfishness, and immorality. The Lord himself has said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life".
Heavenly Father has also said that there are laws irrevocably decreed in the heavens upon which all blessings are predicated. If we keep the law, we reap happiness. If we violate the law or ignore the law, we have problems, and we have unhappiness. It is just as simple as that.
And so, as we think back to my third grade experience, how much the same are God's laws. His laws are also undeviating, certain, proven, and all we need do is keep his laws, and we will be happy, we will be successful, and we will regain his presence.
With you, I invite all men, all women, all children, all people everywhere to join in God's plan. Let's consider his law of health, for example. Why have all the upset that we have in the world through lack of health, when all we need do is follow God's plan as revealed in this day, and then we will most likely have the peace of mind of a strong, healthy body.
With you, I would share with the world the great truth that all we have to do is give back to Heavenly Father one-tenth of our increase, and again we have peace of mind, as we help to build his kingdom unselfishly.
With you, I would give to the world the great truth that we must have love and unity in our homes, and here again we can achieve a peace of mind unattainable in any other way.
The same thing can be said of the Sabbath day, of keeping it holy, and of the peace that comes to all who keep that great commandment.
The same thing can be said about the principle of prayer. As we communicate with our Heavenly Father, let him know that we love him and that we intend to keep his commandments to the very best of our ability.
Yes, brothers and sisters, there are eternal truths. Two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen is water. It was so when Heavenly Father was creating the earth. It is so today, and it will be so forever. This is an eternal truth of chemistry. Pi has always been and always will be the formula to find the area of a circle. One hundred and eighty-six thousand miles per second has been and always will be the speed of light. Einstein has given us in our day that E is equal to M, the theory of relativity.
As we quote these basic truths, they are simple. They are not complicated. All basic truth seems to be simple. It is only when we go beyond the realm of truth that we become complicated, that we become mixed up in our minds and our emotions.
Brothers and sisters, can we simplify our lives, simplify our living, take time to do the things that need to be done? If there is not time in our lives for the Family Home Evening, there is something wrong, and we are getting away from the way Heavenly Father would have us live. If there is not time in our lives for personal prayer, then we must take stock of ourselves. If there is not enough faith or money to give back to Heavenly Father his one-tenth, then we are mismanaging our affairs, and we are getting away from those things that would bring us pure and simple happiness.
So the gospel, brothers and sisters, is peace of mind, and only as rapidly as we get back to the standard works and give heed to his basic principles will we have the peace of mind that Christ himself spoke of when he proclaimed to the world: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid".
Brothers and sisters, the world giveth differently from the way Christ giveth, and when we partake of the world as the world giveth, we start reaching for our tranquilizers. But as we reach for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and as we reach for the standard works of the Church and the truths revealed therein, then I say we are going to have joy in our lives, and we can promise to all men there will be happiness in their lives. We can further say that theirs will be a peace of mind that will bring a surety to their souls and give them the happiness to which all Heavenly Father's children are entitled.
I so testify and pray that we might so live in the name of his Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Richard L. Evans
Richard L. Evans, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 134-137
President McKay and my beloved brethren and sisters. As we have listened during these days, there is a question by Daniel Webster that has come to mind, "How much is all this worth?" It is a question that everyone might ask himself.
How much would it be worth to know the purpose of life?
What would it be worth to have an assurance of everlasting life?
What would it be worth to know that we may have life with our loved ones everlastingly?
How much would it be worth to have peace and quietness of conscience?
How much is it worth to be sustained in sorrow, in sickness, to know that the Lord God is aware of us, that he loves us, that we are his children, that he will not leave us alone?
How much is it worth to have a solid, sustaining faith in the future, despite the grievous problems and contentions that are prevalent among mankind?
Think what it would be worth to students, to young people who are tom between conflicting theories and teachings that change from time to time, with the many disagreements there are even among the experts, to be encouraged to search, to seek for truth, to know that the Lord God, whose infinite intelligence embraces the whole universe, is the source of all truth, and to know that there is no point or purpose in losing faith because of conflicting theories, because time and patience and research and revelation will sometime see them all resolved. After all, eternity is a long time, and there is infinitely much that men do not know. Why be disturbed about the little that we think we know. Many theories once thought to be true have since been set aside, and others will be.
The Gospel Encompasses This:
What is it worth to be able to look at all things with patient faith, knowing that all the answers will sometime be in evidence?
What is it worth to have standards, commandments, moral laws, rules of life which are God-given, and by which to judge our choices, our conduct, so as not to be left to the perversions and sophistries of men for such decisions?
How much is it worth to those who are discouraged, to those who have been harshly dealt with, to those for whom life has been hard, to those who don't quite seem to have found their place; to those who have been misjudged, to those who have been deprived of opportunity, to know that God is our Father, that he is mindful of us, that all we cannot understand will sometime be understood; that all injustices will be corrected, that in the ultimate working out of our Father's ways, no one will receive anything he shouldn't, and no one will be deprived of anything he should receive?
As Emerson said in his essay on "Compensation," which ties in to what Bishop Simpson has just been telling us, "The world looks like... a mathematical equation, which, turn it how you will, balances itself." It is impossible for a person to cheat anyone but himself. It all adds up.
All this and much, much more is encompassed within the gospel of Jesus Christ. And certainly such peace and purpose, such assurance, would be worth the meeting of his requirements the keeping of his commandments, and should give incentive for living clean and useful and honorable and dedicated lives.
All this should be worth young people's waiting for the proper time and season, waiting for life to unfold, with virtue, with prayerfulness, with respect for principles, with respect for parents, with the keeping of the commandments.
All this should be worth overcoming appetites, refraining from what the Lord has said is not good for man, heeding the simple counsel God has given, which will help us to have health and wisdom and knowledge and physical and spiritual blessings.
Often we rush. We sometimes aspire. We sometimes seek to acquire and accumulate. We live with many problems, with much unrest; we do much running around and take time for lesser things, looking elsewhere for answers, failing to find them.
And with all the many things that men are finding, it would seem that bedrock answers should not be so elusive. Indeed, they are not, but the answers go back to the commandments of God, to the principles given by our Savior, to what has been revealed through the prophets, to that which gives peace and high purpose, and the assurance of everlasting life. And it is worth much to know that there are answers, that to all of the problems and all of the contentions of the world, there are answers. We heard Brother Romney speak of them. We heard Brother Kimball speak of them. We heard Brother Petersen and Brother Hunter speak of the commandments which have not been repealed. God has not changed his mind, as Brother Petersen indicated to us.
I should like to recall to your mind just a few sentences from these brethren:
From Brother Petersen: "To leave the path of virtue as set forth by Christ is an apostasy from Christ...
"I ask you-is God, who the scriptures say is the same yesterday, today, and forever, now changing his mind?
"Does Jesus no longer believe what he taught when he was on earth?
"For any man to attempt to change the moral law is like trying to change the Deity himself."
May I cite a few phrases from Brother Kimball, when he reminded us that if the problem "could be solved with money, people would tax themselves to curb it. If penal or correctional institutions would suffice, a great building program would be initiated. If additional social workers could prevail, universities would add courses in these subjects. If judges and courts and attorneys, policemen and prisons and penitentiaries would solve the problem, the onrush of delinquency, such institutions would be dotted over all the land. But such are not the cures for the malady; but the Lord has given us a plan, so simple, so costless. It requires a change of attitudes and transformation of our lives."
It requires that self-control of which Brother Brockbank has been speaking. And any man who can't control his thoughts can't control his actions, and any man who can't control his actions isn't safe in society.
May I share with you one sentence from Carlyle. He said, "Over the times thou hast no power... Solely over one man... thou hast a quite absolute... power.-Him redeem and make honest."
There are two pertinent lines from the closing of a beautiful song which the Tabernacle Choir sings, "America, the Beautiful": "Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law."
Sooner or later we learn that the commandments are self-enforcing. In all things there are causes and consequences. In all things there are standards, and all that we haven't yet reached or realized we must arrive at by repentance and improvement. There is no way except the Lord's way. As Dr. James W. Clarke expressed it many years ago in a radio sermon quoted by William H. Danforth:
"Christ is the greatest need of the world. Many of us profess to be Christians, yet we must confess that we do not take Him seriously. Our surrender is but in part. We salute Him, but we don't obey Him. We respect Him, but we don't follow Him. We admire Him, but we don't worship Him. We quote His sayings, but we don't live by them... There is only one way out for the world-the way of the man of Galilee."
Jesus asked this of the Nephites, and then answered his own question:
"Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am".
"And, if you keep my commandments," he said elsewhere, "and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God".
How much is all this worth? It cannot be calculated.
"We have nothing to lose-except everything." And nothing to gain except everything-eternal life with our Father and his Son, and with our loved ones with us everlastingly, and peace and purpose and assurance here and now.
Leaving you my witness as to the truth of this work and as to how much all of this is worth, in closing there comes to mind these words from President McKay: "Go home and live your religion... Radiate what you are and all who come under its influence will benefit from it."
May our Father's blessings be with you always, I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 137-138
We have had a great Conference and my heart is full. I should like to express appreciation, especially to the brethren and sisters who came down here this morning before daylight in order to get a seat. This audience is blessed by the presence of those men and women who have traveled many miles, some of them getting up in the middle of the night, to come down here and stay all day. I think their having done so preaches a sermon to all of us to devotion to the work, willingness to accept any assignment, and eagerness to get the guidance of truths as proclaimed by the members of the General Authorities.
I have dictated a few lines expressive of my feelings for fear I should not be able to say impressively what I want to say to you brethren and sisters, and give a blessing to all of you, so I am going to ask one of my sons to read what I handed him this afternoon and let that be the message I want to give.
He then evoked laughter from the audience as he said:
"I wish I had freer use of this old tongue that wants to wrap itself around my teeth."
God bless you, brethren and sisters, you stake presidencies, you bishoprics of wards, you officers, stake and local, you mothers and fathers, you young people who are doing so much to build up the kingdom. Much of what you brethren and sisters do we never hear about, and it seems as though you are working without visible results, but no good deed can be performed, no kind word can be spoken without its effects being felt for the good of the whole. Sometimes the good may be infinitesimal, but as a rock that is thrown into a pool starts a wave from the center which continues to enlarge until every part of the shore is touched, so your deeds, silent, many of them unknown, unspoken, and unheralded, continue to radiate and touch many hearts.
We are not unappreciative of what you are doing. Nobody can go out to a dedicatory service of one of our church edifices, hear incidents, details, illustrations, of what seems to be sacrifices of hours and hours of work freely given, without being deeply impressed with the integrity and sincerity of the members of this Church.
Why do we hold these conference meetings and all other meetings in the Church? They are held for the good of the individual-for your son and my son, your daughter and mine. The Lord has said, "... if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
"And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!".
The whole purpose of the organization of this great Church, so complete, so perfect, is to bless the individual. How that stands out in striking contrast, in opposition, to the claim of the communist who says that the individual is but a spoke in the wheel of the state, that the state is all in all, the individual being but a contributing factor to the perpetuation and strength of the state.
That idea is diametrically opposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus sought for a perfect society by perfecting the individual. He recognized the fallacy in the dream of those who hoped to make a perfect society out of imperfect individuals. In all his labors and associations, he sought the perfection of the individual.
The goal he always set before his followers was the emancipation of men and women from greed, from anger, from jealousy, from hatred, from fear; and in their place he hoped to bring about a complete and normal development of the individual's divine powers through right thinking and unselfish, efficient service.
He promised no material rewards, but he did promise perfected, divine manhood. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect". And with that divine manhood comes the resultant happiness-true happiness.
God bless you, my dear fellow workers, you General Authorities, stake presidencies, bishoprics, every officer and teacher throughout the land-every member! May the Spirit of the Lord abide in your hearts and in your homes, that people, partaking of your radiation of honesty, integrity, uprightness, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, will be led to glorify our Father in heaven.
God help us to bring about that peace in the only way that it can come, which is through obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ, I pray in his holy name. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 6-11
Brethren and sisters: It is truly a joy to meet with you. I want to take this opportunity to thank you and to tell you how grateful I am for your thoughtful solicitations and your faith and prayers. God bless every one of you for your integrity and devotion to the work of the Lord! It is an honor and a continual joy to be associated with you in the Church of Jesus Christ.
We are grateful for the blessing of the Lord to his Church in all the world, for the assurance of his divine guidance and inspiration. With deep gratitude we acknowledge in your presence the Lord's nearness and his goodness, and in that spirit of prayerful appreciation, proclaim that our souls respond in harmony with the glorious vision given to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
"Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, and rejoice ye inhabitants thereof, for the Lord is God, and beside him there is no Savior.
"Great is his wisdom, marvelous are his ways, and the extent of his doings none can find out...
"For thus saith the Lord-I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and truth unto the end".
I deeply sense my inadequacy in trying to express in words the message I have in my heart this morning. I earnestly pray for your help and assistance, and especially for the inspiration of the Lord, that we may sense his presence during this opening session and all the sessions of this conference. I am delighted to see these doorways crowded by interested listeners. It is a sight we all should take to heart, a manifestation of those who love the Lord and keep his commandments.
I cannot get my thoughts off the fact that there are two great forces in the world more potent than ever before, each force more determined to achieve success, more active in planning, and, on the one side, scheming, than ever before.
These two great forces are hate and love. Hate had its origin in our preexistent state. There is a significant reference in the Apocalypse to "a war in heaven". It is not only significant, but seemingly contradictory, for we think of heaven as a celestial abode of bliss, an impossible condition where war and contention could exist. The passage is significant because it implies a freedom of choice and of action in the spirit world. In the Pearl of Great Price we are given this account: "Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;
"And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice".
Two things you will note in that passage: one, that Satan was determined to destroy the free agency of man. Free agency is a gift of God. It is part of his divinity. The second point is that he desired to supplant God. I quote, "Give me thy glory".
The world does not comprehend the significance of that divine gift to the individual. It is as inherent as intelligence which, we are told, has never been nor can be created.
In the spirit of hate, as is manifest today in the world, the very existence of God is denied, the free agency of man is taken from him, and the power of the state supplanted. I do not know that there was ever a time in the history of mankind when the Evil One seemed so determined to take from man his freedom.
A fundamental principle of the gospel is free agency, and references in the scriptures show that this principle is essential to man's salvation; and may become a measuring rod by which the actions of men, of organizations, of nations may be judged.
"Therefore," we are told in the scripture, "cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves-to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life".
"For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves".
"Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.
"And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood".
"My independence is sacred to me," said Brigham Young, "it is a portion of that same Deity that rules in the heavens. There is not a being upon the face of the earth who is made in the image of God, who stands erect and is organized as God is, that would be deprived of the free exercise of his agency so far as he does not infringe upon other's rights, save by good advice and a good example".
The history of the world with all its contention and strife is largely an account of man's effort to free himself from bondage and usurpation.
Man's free agency is an eternal principle of progress, and any form of government that curtails or inhibits its free exercise is wrong. Satan's plan in the beginning was one of coercion, and it was rejected because he sought to destroy the agency of man which God had given him.
When man uses this God-given right to encroach upon the rights of another, he commits a wrong. Liberty becomes license, and the man, a transgressor. It is the function of the state to curtail the violator and to protect the individual.
Next to the bestowal of life itself, the right to direct our lives is God's greatest gift to man. Freedom of choice is more to be treasured than any possession earth can give. It is inherent in the spirit of man. It is a divine gift to every normal being. Whether born in abject poverty or shackled at birth by inherited riches, everyone has the most precious of all life's endowments-the gift of free agency, man's inherited and inalienable right. It is the impelling source of the soul's progress. It is the purpose of the Lord that man becomes like him. In order for man to achieve this, it was necessary for the Creator first to make him free. To man is given a special endowment not bestowed upon any other living thing. God gave to him the power of choice. Only to the human being did the Creator say: "... thou mayest choose for thyself for it is given unto thee". Without this divine power to choose, humanity cannot progress.
With free agency, however, there comes responsibility. If man is to be rewarded for righteousness and punished for evil, then common justice demands that he be given the power of independent action. A knowledge of good and evil is essential to man's progress on earth. If he were coerced to do right at all times or helplessly enticed to commit sin, he would merit neither a blessing for the first nor punishment for the second. Man's responsibility is correspondingly operative with his free agency. Actions in harmony with divine law and the laws of nature will bring happiness, and those in opposition to divine truth, misery. Man is responsible not only for every deed, but also for every idle word and thought.
Freedom of the will and the responsibility associated with it are fundamental aspects of Jesus' teachings. Throughout his ministry he emphasized the worth of the individual and exemplified what is now expressed in modern revelation as "his work and his glory". Only through the divine gift of soul freedom is such progress possible.
Force rules in the world today. Individual freedom is threatened by international rivalries and false political ideals. Unwise legislation, too often prompted by political expediency, if enacted, will seductively undermine man's right of free agency, rob him of his rightful liberties, and make him but a cog in the crushing wheel of regimentation.
Though it is not a pleasing thought, we must realize that over half the world is under the influence of hate, as manifest by the Chinese leader, manifest by the communist group in Russia, and manifest right next door to us in Cuba. Accompanying the spirit of hate is the denial of the existence of God. Satan was cast down because he tried to replace the Creator. But his power is still manifest. He is active and is prompting at this moment the denial of God's existence, of the existence of his Beloved Son, and denying the efficacy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Associated Press sometime ago related some instances that are taking place in China to change men's minds in a nation of over six hundred million people, whose hearts, whose minds have been changed as far as they could be changed by the spirit of hate. Forty-five or fifty years ago there was a spirit of tolerance and respect in China for Americans. In a school at Peking, which was fostered by Americans, I personally saw some of the most active young men in junior high school that I have ever seen in my life. I have never seen more courtesy in any country in the world. Today all that is changed. The Associated Press made this report:
"A decade ago Mao Tze-Tung's newly-created People's Republic of China threw its Red Shadow across an alarmed Asia. Today, the lengthening Shadow has crept half way across the earth to the Americas. No one can say with certainty where it will stop... In his sixty-sixth year this round-faced lofty-browed son of peasants has been raised by his communist followers to the eminence of a demi-god. His words, actions, and even his thoughts, are holy writ for 630 million people. He is one of the most powerful men on earth, and much of his power is based on the most debilitating of human emotions-hate. Hatred for the United States, hatred for rich landlords, for counter-revolutionaries, for Chiang Kai-Shek, hatred for anyone who fails to conform. 'Hatred,' said a traveler recently returned from Mao's China, 'has become an institution, particularly hatred for the United States. It is horrible to see this vast human machinery run by only one fuel-hatred! If it used love instead it could become the most powerful nation on earth'".
In the spirit of hate these men would supplant God. In the spirit of hate they deny his existence. They deny the existence of his Only Begotten Son. They would destroy the free agency of man. Here, in the spirit of love, we praise his name and teach his precepts.
Let us for a moment or two consider Jesus, the man of love. He revered and worshiped God, and is himself revered and worshiped by all Christian nations and classes of individuals. "Whatever may be the surprises of the future," wrote Renan, "Jesus will never be surpassed."
Millions of people, speaking different languages and cherishing various ideals, worship him and revere him today. We revere him because his wisdom and spirituality comprehend and exceed that of all others. He it is who said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life". He also said to his disciples, "... I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you".
First, in the spirit of love, let us consider Jesus' attitude toward God. That is the great question before the world today. The communists deny him, Mao ridicules him, and they have poisoned untold millions of minds against Christ
What about Jesus as manifest in the flesh? In announcing his birth the heavenly hosts sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men". In that message there is godliness, peace, and brotherly kindness.
Godliness, Jesus exemplified every hour of his earthly existence. On the banks of the Jordan at the beginning of his ministry, we hear him say to John: "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness".
On the Mount of Temptation, which rises just above the Jordan where Jesus was baptized, he was tempted by that Tempter who tried to supplant God; tempted with all the things of earth and the power thereof. We hear him say in sublime majesty, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve".
When he taught the disciples to pray, he included in the first petition godliness-"Hallowed be thy name".
Addressing the Twelve at the Last Supper, he said, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent".
That is the spirit of love, the spirit of faith in God the Creator of heaven and earth through his Beloved Son. God is worshiped by his Only Begotten Son.
"Peace be unto you"
What about the condition of peace?
Peace has been defined as the happy, natural state of man, the "first of human blessings." Without it there can be no happiness, and "Happiness," said the Prophet Joseph Smith, "is the object and design of our existence, and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it".
Jesus said, "... In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world".
On the same occasion, he said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you...". All through his life peace was on his lips and in his heart, and when he came forth from the tomb and appeared unto his disciples, his first greeting was, "Peace be unto you".
Peace as taught by the Savior is exemption from individual troubles, from family broils, from national riots and difficulties. Such peace refers to the person just as much as it does to communities. That man is not at peace who is untrue to the whisperings of Christ-the promptings of his conscience. He cannot be at peace when he is untrue to his better self, when he transgresses the law of righteousness, either in dealing with himself by indulging in passions or appetites, in yielding to the temptations of the flesh, or whether he is untrue to trust in transgressing the law.
Peace does not come to the transgressor of law, Peace comes by obedience to law, and it is that message which Jesus would have us establish among men-peace to the individual that he may be at peace with his God; perfect harmony existing between his Creator and himself, perfect harmony existing between himself and law, the righteous laws to which he is subject and from which he never can escape; peace in the home, families living at peace with each other and with their neighbors.
There are some who would say his teachings are not applicable today.
A few years ago there was a boy among boys who saw him, who heard him and received his teachings. Joseph Smith saw the Redeemer, and he has given that testimony to the world; he has recorded his message, and emphasized again the eternal truth that Christ's teachings are divine and as applicable to the civilized world today as to the people among whom Jesus walked and talked.
Fundamental in all Christ's teachings was the crime of wrong thinking. He condemned avarice, enmity, hate, jealousy as vehemently as he did the results that avarice, enmity, and hate produce. Modern psychology, as all students know, proves the virtue of such teachings regarding the injury that follows the harboring of hate. He who harbors hatred and bitterness injures himself far more than the one towards whom he manifests these evil propensities.
Equally applicable to present conditions are his teachings regarding the value and sacredness of human life, the virtue of forgiveness, the necessity of fair dealings, the crime of hypocrisy, the sin of covetousness, the saving power of love, the immortality of man.
If men ever reject the fact that Christ is our Lord and Savior and fill their souls with hatred as that nation of over six hundred million people are compelled to do, and not only deny Christ, but deny that his mission is to redeem man from the sordid life of selfish indulgence and sin, and lift him into a realm shown only by him of self-sacrifice, generosity, beauty, and love; if the majority of nations fail to recognize Christ as the only "name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved"; if doubting men reject the possibility of obtaining that spiritual assurance of Christ's divinity disclosed by Thomas when he reverently exclaimed: "My Lord and my God"; if the acts of men generally be in accordance with such rejection rather than in accordance with their acceptance of him as the Divine One, then this world will continue to be torn by contention, made miserable by hideous warfare, and ignominiously wrecked on the shoals of materialism, selfish indulgence, and disbelief and hatred.
Without Jesus of Nazareth, the Crucified Christ, the Risen Lord, the traits of the jungle will hold the human family in bondage.
In conclusion, the obligation and duty rests upon the Church of Jesus Christ to proclaim the mighty truth that the Man of Galilee, the resurrected Christ, is truly the Way, the Truth, and the Life -that he is in very deed the Savior of all mankind.
Pernicious efforts and sinister schemes are cunningly and stealthily being fostered to deprive man of his individual freedom and have him revert to the life of the jungle. With faith in the revealed word of God, let all true believers in individual freedom cherish the spiritual ideals of the Christ, and ever strive to make real the dream that all men shall be free, and that someday many nations will unite, not for war, but for peace and the establishing of the kingdom of God on earth. That this condition may soon be possible and real and that men may strive to bring it about, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Delbert L. Stapley
Delbert L. Stapley, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 11-16
Brothers and sisters, we are tremendously blessed by the presence of our beloved President David O. McKay and his dear wife, who is also here with him. President McKay always brings light and spirit into any assembly where he is present. An evidence of this is the masterful sermon he gave us this morning. We should ponder it in our hearts because the instruction and counsel are good. I humbly pray that the remarks I make will not detract from his splendid message.
During the earthly mission of Jesus Christ, he often employed the parable method of teaching his disciples and others who sought after him. Parables were used by Christ to convey a moral or spiritual truth. His parables were based upon real scenes or events such as occur in nature and human life. They are fundamental stories, true to life situations, employing given circumstances or facts of one's experience and have a vigorous moral and religious application. The parables of Jesus were provokingly adapted to challenge the understanding of his hearers.
Let us consider the following parable:
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
"Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.".
This parable is most significant and meaningful; to appreciate its purpose is to understand the message. The desire of the merchantman dealing in pearls is to find the most priceless one of all. Therefore, he earnestly seeks and may travel extensively to world markets before he discovers the fabulous jewel which measures up to his expectations in standards of quality, value, and iridescent beauty. Having found the pearl of great price, his joy and happiness is not complete until the gem becomes his personal property. To satisfy that desire, according to the parable, the merchant was willing to sacrifice all he had for ownership of the goodly pearl.
Allegorically the Savior likens the kingdom of heaven unto the merchantman seeking goodly pearls, signifying that the true pearl of great price is God's kingdom which, for man to be happy and exalted, he must diligently seek.
This parable accords with the Savior's teaching upon the Mount when he admonished:
"... seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you".
When we relate the parable of the goodly pearls and the challenge of our Lord to seek first the kingdom of God, we receive a more comprehensive understanding of the parable dealing with the pearl of great price. Pearls have always held a high place among gems, and merchants have been active and diligent in seeking the largest and richest to be had. Unlike the man in the parable of the hidden treasure, who, with little or no effort on his part, found concealed in a field a precious treasure of great worth, the merchant devoted his whole energy to the quest for goodly pearls; to find and secure the best was his greatest ambition and business.
When finally he beheld the pearl that excelled all others, he gladly sold all his other gems. Indeed, he sacrificed all that he had in gems and other possessions and purchased the pearl of great price. Seekers after truth may acquire much that is good and desirable but not find the greatest truth of all, the truth that shall save them and bring about their eternal exaltation and glory. Yet, if they seek persistently and with right intent and are really in quest of pearls of truth and righteousness and not imitations or substitutes, they shall find, for the Holy Ghost, which is the Spirit of truth, shall guide them.
Saul of Tarsus, while on his way to Damascus to persecute the Saints, found en route the pearl of great price by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Few are favored as Saul-who later became Paul the Apostle-with a heavenly manifestation to change their ways from evil purpose to the ways of righteousness.
Every soul earnestly and honestly seeking the pearl of great price is entitled to the Holy Ghost to aid him or her in that quest.
Two significant gifts of the Holy Ghost are the spirit of inspiration and revelation; and also a function of the Holy Ghost is to bear witness of the Father and the Son. By the gift of that power, the honest investigator can learn and know the eternal truths of the kingdom of God with certainty of soul conviction. If an individual fails to yield to the enlightenment of the Holy Ghost, then the Spirit departs from him, and he is left to his own resources to struggle alone with his problems.
Men who by search and research discover the truths of the kingdom of heaven may have to abandon many of their cherished traditions and even their theories of imperfect philosophy and science if they would possess the pearl of great price, God's kingdom, which, with its standards, principles, ideals, and holy ordinances is the gospel plan of life, salvation, exaltation, and glory.
The Apostle Paul as Saul of Tarsus, steeped as he was in the traditions of his people and the Sanhedrin, had this same choice to make. Importantly and wisely he chose to follow Christ, which he did with a dedication to duty that earned for him the title of the great Apostle to the Gentiles. He was esteemed and honored by his associates and the Saints. The Apostle Paul is a worthy example to all who find the pearl of great price. As he completely changed his life, so others must have the courage to change their way of life to the new life, the true gospel that Christ offers.
We understand that in this parable of the merchantman and the goodly pearls, as in that of the hidden treasure, the price of possession is one's all No individual can become a citizen of the kingdom of God by partial surrender of his earlier allegiances. He must renounce everything foreign to the kingdom, or he can never be numbered therein.
If he willingly sacrifices all that he has, he shall find that he has enough. The cost of the hidden treasure and of the goodly pearl is not a fixed amount alike for all; it is all one has, and the poorest may come into enduring possession. His all is a sufficient purchase price.
It is clearly seen that the key to finding the pearl of great price is to earnestly seek for light and truth as found in the gospel of Christ. The Lord has said: "Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me".
In Christ's Sermon on the Mount he taught: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you".
Moroni, an ancient American prophet, bidding farewell to his brethren and to the gentiles, bore his witness to having seen Jesus and of talking with him face to face, and then admonished:
"And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them may be and abide in you forever".
Lehi, an early American prophet, counseled:
"For he that diligently seeketh shall find, and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round".
It behooves many people to change their place of residence and maybe travel far to find the pearl of great price, and yet others may find it in their communities or nearby. Men and women must sincerely put their heart and soul into seeking the true gospel found in God's earthly kingdom. They can so live as to tune in on the spiritual channel activated by the Holy Ghost and obtain by prayer its companionship to guide them into all truth from God.
What should men and women look for to distinguish the kingdom of heaven, the goodly pearl, from all other churches? There are many facets to this goodly pearl. These facets are principles, standards, ordinances, and covenants. The scriptures also provide colorful facets of the goodly pearl. Limited time prevents a full discussion of these items. The following few comments must suffice.
Under principles we can include the following: free agency, as mentioned by President David O. McKay, faith in God and his Beloved Son Jesus Christ, sincere and sorrowing repentance for sins committed and refraining from being guilty of them again, the Word of Wisdom, the Lord's law of health, which he gave as a principle with promise.
Under standards are: chastity, virtue, and moral cleanliness, integrity which includes honesty, sincerity of purpose, truthfulness, and uprightness; to further emphasize standards, I quote in part the thirteenth article of our faith:
"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men... If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things".
Under the heading of ordinances we include: baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, the laying on of hands for both confirmation and bestowing the gift of the Holy Ghost, the bestowal of the Holy Priesthood of God by the laying on of hands, ordinances in the temple of God, which include the endowment and eternal marriage ceremonies and vicarious work for the dead.
Under covenants: The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is a covenant between God and his people. When baptized by an authorized servant of God, we covenant to do God's will and to obey his commandments. By partaking of the Sacrament we renew all covenants entered into with the Lord and pledge ourselves to take upon us the name of his Son, to always remember him and keep his commandments. There is an oath and covenant which belongs to the priesthood wherein men receiving this holy power pledge themselves faithfully to keep all the commandments of God and to magnify their callings in the priesthood, which is God's gift of his power and authority unto them. In connection with all ordinances pertaining to the temples of our God, men and women accept covenants and obligations which relate to the endowment and to the eternity of the marriage and family relationship. All these doctrines and more are necessary and vital to the salvation, exaltation and eternal happiness of God's children.
The final facet of the pearl of great price for consideration is the scriptures referred to by the Latter-day Saints as "the four standard works," which include the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. If all the books in the world were destroyed except the four standard works of the Church, man would have the foundation of principles and moral and spiritual values to reestablish his civilization and rise again to lofty achievements and happiness.
The Bible is listed first among the four standard works of the Church and is accepted by all Christian peoples.
The Book of Mormon records that Lehi, the first prophet of the Nephite nation, was counseled by the Lord that before his family and others departed the land of Jerusalem to the Americas, they must obtain a copy of the book of the Lord, so that, said he, "... we may preserve unto our children the language of our fathers;
"And also that we may preserve unto them the words which have been spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets, which have been delivered unto them by the Spirit and power of God, since the world began, even down unto this present time".
With this record in their possession they were able to establish an enlightened and a prosperous civilization in the early Americas.
The Book of Mormon is largely a record of a branch of the house of Israel, the covenant people of the Lord, who came to the Americas about six hundred years before Christ. It is a companion book to the Bible to convince both Jew and gentile that Jesus is the Christ.
The Doctrine and Covenants contains revelations given by the Lord mainly to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
The Pearl of Great Price-the title of the fourth named standard work-is taken from Christ's parable we are considering. The book contains the writings of the great prophets Moses and Abraham, also the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew as revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith. These writings are the word of God representing the goodly pearl so precious for mankind to study prayerfully and to know. The book also has the Joseph Smith testimony and the Articles of Faith.
Jesus counseled: "Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me".
Moroni, the last Nephite prophet, in his farewell message gave a marvelous testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon to all who read it with a sincere desire to know the truth:
"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things".
The Lord through the Prophet Joseph Smith challenged those reading the Doctrine and Covenants to:
"Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled".
All things pertaining to the kingdom of God are important for us to know. Our eternal happiness depends upon abiding the Lord's gospel plan. It is man's obligation to seek and to find this pearl of great price and then have the courage of faith and conviction to accept and to obey the gospel of the kingdom.
Tens of thousands of people in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have met this challenge unflinchingly because they sought and found the truth and had the courage of their convictions to accept it in full faithfulness. That many men and women today are truly searching for the pearl of great price is evidenced by the large attendance of people to the religious exhibits at the New York World's Fair. I should like to share with you a few statements of people visiting the church pavilion at the World's Fair. These few favorable comments can be multiplied many, manyfold and are from people of different faiths who are earnestly and honestly searching for the pearl of great price:
It was quite an eye opener. I was completely unaware of this faith. I would like to learn more.
I am very interested in your religion since going through the exhibit.
Found it extremely interesting, have seen nothing equal to it as far as religion is concerned.
Mormon literalism is perhaps the closest thing to original Christianity on earth today.
I think I have found the answer to my questions. Thank you.
I love the way you stay with the teachings of Christ.
It was a highly enlightening experience. I would like to know more about it to make a decision.
Words seem too inadequate to express the depth and beauty I see in your religion.
It was truly wonderful and I am very impressed. I am considering looking into this religion more.
This is the word of the Lord and his prophet.
I have strong feelings that this is true-what has been said here, I seem to remember I lived before.
I was soul searching when I first saw the pavilion. I have since become a member of this Mormon Church.
I know this is the word of the Lord. I am grateful to you for this pavilion which meant my conversion to the Church.
These comments are interesting and challenging to both church members and nonmembers alike. It should give all of us a real pride of belonging to the Church we testify to the world in all sincerity and solemnity as being the only true Church of Christ on earth today. Although church members have in the gospel the pearl of great price, yet complacency, inactivity, failure to keep the commandments will never save them. We must be doers of the word and not hearers only. Where much is given, much is expected. If we are true to the faith of our Lord, God will prosper his work and kingdom. The kingdom of God is the only hope of the world for understanding and peace. The menacing conflicts and threat of more and greater conflicts but presages the holocausts to follow. Man's ways are failing. Perhaps it is time for God's ways to take over now that all else seemingly is falling apart. The world needs the pearl of great price, which is God's kingdom, and it needs it today as never before.
Now brothers and sisters, may God bless and enlighten the earnest seekers for truth with faith to believe and with courage to accept when the truth is presented to them. We are the custodians of these great principles and truths. We have a tremendous responsibility of sharing what the Lord has revealed to us with our fellowmen. May we be true to this trust, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Alvin R. Dyer
Alvin R. Dyer, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 16-20
As we once again assemble in this historic building in the presence of the prophets of God, both departed and living, as we feel the surging faith of the Saints, we say to ourselves, Here is the peace that transcends all things. Here is found the true understanding. There is an ancient proverb that describes the opposite: "He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction".
As we listened to the words of President McKay this morning, we were reminded of the influence that a good man can have upon another. Being in his near presence recently brought to mind a verse that I have often associated with him.
"I saw him once, he stood a moment there, He spoke a word that laid his spirit bare. He grasped my hand then passed beyond my ken But what I was I shall not be again."
There are two particular declarations in the Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that pertain to man's national conduct and spiritual behavior. Obedience to the mandates of the law referred to in one of the declarations and the spiritual instructions of the other provide for man his greatest opportunity for success, happiness, and real personal progress.
I refer first to the twelfth article: "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law".
Governmental agencies, both local and national, report the astonishing annual increases in crime and other flagrant violations of law and order. These violations, both individually and mass committed, have reached the point now where they affect the lives and security of every individual, if not directly, then indirectly. It is obvious that the causes of law violations stem from man's unwillingness to heed certain laws which he does not find compatible with the way he seeks to live. Few men break every law, and for that matter few men keep every law. The decaying drift in the modern man's way of life can perhaps be traced to the usurped right to live by the laws that he feels are good laws for him, rejecting and often violating the ones that he personally feels are bad laws.
Charles E. Whittaker, associate justice of the United States Supreme Court, now retired, makes this significant statement concerning conditions in America, and what is said of America in this regard may be rightly true in other lands where constituted law exists for the protection of the people. Says he:
"'Obey the good laws, but breach the bad ones.' Who is to be the umpire that will determine which are good and which are bad? Does not that cliché invite men to violate the laws they do not like? If we allow men to obey only the laws they like will we not be trading ordered liberty for chaos? Though we have, as we justifiably and proudly boast, a Government of laws and not of men, we must recognize that even this virtue can be lost, and that no man is protected by the law unless all are equally bound by and required to obey it. No man will be secure in his just rights if power is given to, or held to exist in, the Government to prefer some over others. Would not such a concept make a mockery of the constitutional doctrine of 'equal protection of the laws'?"
As a parallel to this, and with greater significance, I refer secondly to the other article pertaining to spiritual laws by which man may attain perfection in that kind of ordered, righteous existence extending to eternal life, as a continuance of premortal and mortal existence: "We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God".
In the wise words of Paul the Apostle, we learn of a distinction between the laws of God and the laws of men. For the wisdom of God, ordained before the world was, is hidden unto man as man, as also are the things that God has prepared for man after mortal existence. Said Paul:
"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
"Which none of the princes of this world knew...
"Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual".
It is self-evident that from the beginning of man's placement into an earth-life existence, he has necessarily been under reliance upon God for direction. Thus, emanating from the center of all intelligence, from the presence or throne of God the Father, there has come unto man by revelation, which is the divine means of communication between God and man, the wisdom of the eternities pertaining to man's earth-life existence and his destiny.
An ancient prophet declared how this enlightenment would come unto man when he said, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets".
Unfortunately, however, man is not willing to accept all of the revelations from God. And often, as we have observed with regard to physical or natural laws, man assumes a position of selection as to which of the laws of God he will obey. Indicating how man from the beginning has tampered with and changed the laws of God to suit his own condition, Zwingli, the Swiss reformer, made this statement in Zurich in 1523, and it is as true today as then. Said he:
"From the remotest times God has made known His will to the human race... This word is clear in and of itself; but by human additions and teachings it has, for years and especially in our time, been troubled and befogged, so that the greater part of these who are called Christians, know less of nothing than of the divine will, but know only an imagined worship and mistaken holiness based on externals alone."
Continuous revelations from God unto his servants the prophets in every dispensation of mortal time, and especially in our own day and times, is essential in preserving the purity of divine communications. The observed mutations that men have made with the divine laws that God has revealed for the salvation of mankind can be rectified only as God reinstitutes them. A people without this divine contact with God the Father or people who fail in obedience to divine communication from such contact cannot claim rightfully the distinction of belonging to his Church and kingdom.
May we paraphrase the words of Associate Justice Whittaker given in behalf of the laws of the land, but with application to the revelations from God. If men obeyed only the laws of God which they like, what would be the end? Would this not be trading the way to perfection for that of a watered-down existence that would portray men as living without purpose?
The ancient prophet Moroni, whose statue stands on the spire of the temple adjacent to this building, spoke of the expediency of revelation in this manner:
"And again I speak unto you who deny the revelations of God, and say that they are done away, that there are no revelations, nor prophecies, nor gifts, nor healing, nor speaking with tongues, and the interpretation of tongues;
"Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read the scriptures; if so, he does not understand them.
"For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?".
In a revelation given to Joseph Smith at Kirtland, Ohio, in June 1833, the Lord explains why certain ones who even had been ordained were not chosen. Said he: "They who are not chosen have sinned a very grievous sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noon-day".
Similarly, those who are of the children of the light, having been made partakers of the revelations from God, but who fail in obedience to them, walk in darkness at noonday.
An example of revelation from God concerns parents' responsibility to teach their children to walk uprightly before God and man. Anciently a prophet of God declared, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it". A full interpretation of this scripture implies righteousness on the part of the parents and a teaching of their way unto the children. In our own day and time, presaging a great need in the safeguarding of the lives of our children and the righteous stabilization of the family unit, which is the core of any civilization, the Lord has reinstituted this divine communication unto parents, for said he:
"... I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth".
Speaking then of the disorder and the confusion that would come through the failure to heed this commandment of the Lord, he continued in these verses which were directed to an associate through the Prophet Joseph Smith:
"You have not taught your children light and truth, according to the commandments; and that wicked one hath power, as yet, over you, and this is the cause of your affliction.
"And now a commandment I give unto you-if you will be delivered you shall set in order your own house, for there are many things that are not right in your house".
To the hundreds of thousands of Latter-day Saint families who are obedient to this divine counsel, there is evolving order out of chaos in their family lives, righteous purpose out of lack of direction, a greater appreciation for each individual, which is pleasing unto God, and a greater sense of coordinated values, which builds personal strength, inducing a power of restraint against superficial things. Truly the righteous, well-ordered home, if the leaders of nations could accept it, is the panacea for their most serious problems. Here is God, if we all will but accept it, communicating with his children and pointing the way.
In a letter recently received from the executive secretary of one of the large Christian denominations in America who upon request had been sent a complete digest of the Family Home Evening program of this Church as it has been printed, this was said: "The Family Home Evening program of the Mormon Church has lifted and inspired us."
Other revelations from God have been given and are continually being given unto the prophets, and by obedience to them, without screening or deleting those that seem unfavorable to us, we can find the answers and develop the power to fulfill our earth-life purpose.
To have a prophet of God in our midst, with the opportunity to follow his counsel and direction as he is inspired of God, is a compelling force. I remember, as a boy, attending a priesthood meeting with my father. I sat close by with my hand in his most of the meeting, especially since the speaker, Apostle James E. Talmage spoke of the perils and deceptions of the last days which would try the faith of the members. One of the men in the meeting stood and asked Brother Talmage the question: "What will be the best thing for us to do in that day?" I shall never forget his answer.
"My brother, see that you follow the counsel and direction of the prophet, for he is God's representative upon the earth, and he will know."
I bear my testimony unto you that God has revealed his mind and will unto man in our own modern day, restoring divine laws, by obedience to which man can attain salvation and exaltation, that since the heralding of this last and greatest dispensation of the gospel of Jesus Christ by Joseph Smith unto this very minute, living prophets have been in communication with God for the salvation of the human race and have presided over his Church and kingdom here upon the earth for this purpose. And this testimony I bear in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion G. Romney
Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 20-23
Brethren and sisters: I stand before you today in deep humility. The words I intend to speak will have little meaning unless they are impressed upon our souls by the power of the Holy Spirit. I sincerely invite you to join with me in praying that they will be so impressed.
The theme I have in mind to discuss is "Making One's Calling and Election Sure." To do this one must receive a divine witness that he will inherit eternal life. The supreme objective of men who understand God, their relationship to him, and his designs for them is to gain eternal life. This is as it should be, for eternal life "... is the greatest of all the gifts of God". To bring men to eternal life is God's "work and glory." To this end he conceives, brings into being, directs, and uses all his creations.
Eternal life is the quality of life which God himself enjoys. The gospel plan, authored by the Father and put into operation by the atonement of Jesus Christ, brings eternal life within the reach of every man. The Lord gave this assurance when he said, "... if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life".
The fullness of eternal life is not attainable in mortality, but the peace which is its harbinger and which comes as a result of making one's calling and election sure is attainable in this life. The Lord has promised that "... he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come".
I think the peace here referred to is implicit in the Prophet's statement, "I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am calm as a summer's morning. I have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward all men."
I also think it is implicit in this statement of the late Apostle Alonzo A. Hinckley which he wrote in a letter to the First Presidency after he had been advised by his physician that his illness would be fatal: "I assure you I am not deeply disturbed over the final results. I am reconciled and I reach my hands to take what my Father has for me, be it life or death...
"As to the future, I have no misgivings. It is inviting and glorious, and I sense rather clearly what it means to be saved by the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ and to be exalted by his power and be with him ever more."
Now I come directly to my theme:
I take my text from Second Peter, and as he did, I direct my remarks "... to them that have obtained like precious faith with us".
Peter, having put the Saints in remembrance of gospel fundamentals, admonished them to "... give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall".
By making their calling and election sure, the Saints were to gain entrance "... into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." To this fact Peter bore powerful witness. He reviewed his experience on the Mount of Transfiguration with James and John, where, he says, they heard the voice of "... God the Father..." declare of Jesus, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Then by way of instruction that such an experience did not of itself make one's calling and election sure, he added, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy".
Speaking on Sunday, the 14th of May, 1843, the Prophet Joseph Smith took this statement of Peter for his text. From the Prophet's sermon I quote:
"Notwithstanding the apostle exhorts them to add to their faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, etc., yet he exhorts them to make their calling and election sure. And though they had heard an audible voice from heaven bearing testimony that Jesus was the Son of God, yet he says we have a more sure word of prophecy... Now wherein could they have a more sure word of prophecy than to hear the voice of God saying, This is my beloved Son, etc." Answering his own question, the Prophet continued, "Though they might hear the voice of God and know that Jesus was the Son of God, this would be no evidence that their election and calling was made sure, that they had part with Christ, and were joint heirs with Him. They then would want that more sure word of prophecy, that they were sealed in the heavens and had the promise of eternal life in the kingdom of God. Then, having this promise sealed unto them, it was an anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast. Though the thunders might roll and lightnings flash, and earthquakes bellow, and war gather thick around, yet this hope and knowledge would support the soul in every hour of trial, trouble and tribulation."
Then speaking directly to his listeners, the Prophet continued:
"... I would exhort you to go on and continue to call upon God until you make your calling and election sure for yourselves, by obtaining this more sure word of prophecy"
A week later, May 21, 1843, the Prophet preached another sermon on the same text, from which I quote:
"We have no claim in our eternal compact, in relation to eternal things, unless our actions and contracts and all things tend to this end. But after all this, you have got to make your calling and election sure. If this injunction would lie largely on those to whom it was spoken," he said, "how much more those of the present generation!" And then in conclusion, "It is one thing to be on the mount and hear the excellent voice, etc., etc., and another to hear the voice declare to you, You have a part and lot in that kingdom."
These two sermons were given by the Prophet just thirteen months before his martyrdom. Four years earlier, however, he had thus instructed the Twelve: "After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost,, which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John, in the 14th chapter"
In the 88th section of the Doctrine and Covenants is recorded a revelation in which the Lord, addressing some of the early Saints in Ohio, said: "... I now send upon you another Comforter, even upon you my friends, that it may abide in your hearts, even the Holy Spirit of promise; which other Comforter is the same that I promised unto my disciples, as is recorded in the testimony of John.
"This Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life, even the glory of the celestial kingdom".
I should think that every faithful Latter-day Saint "... would want that more sure word of prophecy, that they were sealed in the heavens and had the promise of eternal life in the kingdom of God."
As I read the sacred records, I find recorded experiences of men in all dispensations who have had this sure anchor to their souls, this peace in their hearts.
Lehi's grandson Enos so hungered after righteousness that he cried unto the Lord until "... there came a voice unto saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed." Years later he revealed the nature of this promised blessing when he wrote:
"... I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father".
To Alma the Lord said: "Thou art my servant; and I covenant with thee that thou shalt have eternal life".
To his twelve Nephite disciples the Master said: "What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father?
"And they all spake, save it were three, saying: We desire that after we have lived unto the age of man, that our ministry, wherein thou hast called us, may have an end, that we may speedily come unto thee in thy kingdom.
"And he said unto them: Blessed are ye because ye desired this thing of me; therefore, after that Ye are seventy and two years old ye shall come unto me in my kingdom; and with me ye shall find rest".
As Moroni labored in solitude, abridging the Jaredite record, he received from the Lord this comforting assurance: "... thou hast been faithful, wherefore, thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father".
Paul in his second epistle to Timothy wrote: "... I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day".
In this dispensation many have received like assurances. In the spring of 1839, while the Prophet Joseph and his associates were languishing in Liberty Jail, Heber C. Kimball labored against great odds caring for the Saints and striving to free the brethren. On the 6th of April he wrote:
"My family having been gone about two months, during which time I heard nothing from them; our brethren being in prison; death and destruction following us everywhere we went; I felt very sorrowful and lonely. The following words came to my mind, and the Spirit said unto me, 'write,' which I did by taking a piece of paper and writing on my knee as follows:..."
This is what he wrote as dictated by the Lord:
"Verily I say unto my servant Heber, thou art my son, in whom I am well pleased; for thou art careful to hearken to my words, and not transgress my law, nor rebel against my servant Joseph Smith, for thou hast a respect to the words of mine anointed, even from the least to the greatest of them; therefore thy name is written in heaven, no more to be blotted out for ever".
To the Prophet Joseph Smith the Lord said: "... I am the Lord thy God and will be with thee even unto the end of the world, and through all eternity; for verily I seal upon you your exaltation, and prepare a throne for you in the kingdom of my Father, with Abraham your father", italics added).
Now in conclusion, I give you my own witness. I know that God our Father lives, that we are as Paul said, his offspring. I know that we dwelt in his presence in pre-earth life and that we shall continue to live beyond the grave. I know that we may return into his presence, if we meet his terms. I know that while we are here in mortality there is a means of communication between him and us. I know it is possible for men to so live that they may hear his voice and know his words and that to receive "the Holy Spirit of promise" while here in mortality is possible. And so, in the words of the Prophet Joseph, "... I... exhort you to go on and continue to call upon God until you make your calling and election sure for yourselves".
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 27-30
My dear brethren and sisters: I hope and pray that what I shall say may be uplifting to one and all. I have many letters cross my desk in regard to the subject which I shall discuss: the blessings of eternal glory.
Nothing should be held in greater sacredness and honor than the covenant by which the spirits of men, the offspring of God in the spirit, are privileged to come into this world in mortal tabernacles. It is through this principle that the blessing of immortal glory is made possible. The greatest punishment ever given was proclaimed against Lucifer and his angels. To be denied the privilege of mortal bodies forever is the greatest curse of all. These spirits have no progression, no hope of resurrection and eternal life! Doomed are they to eternal misery for their rebellion. And then to think that we are not only privileged but commanded to assist our Father in the great work of redemption by giving to his children, as we have obtained these blessings for ourselves, the right to life and to continue on forever in perfection! No innocent soul should be condemned to come into this world under a handicap of illegitimacy. Every child has the right to be wellborn. Every individual who denies a child this right is guilty of a mortal sin.
The importance of these mortal tabernacles is apparent from the knowledge we have of eternal life. Spirits cannot be made perfect without a body of flesh and bones. This body and its spirit are brought to immortality and blessings of salvation through the resurrection. After the resurrection there can be no separation again; body and spirit become inseparably connected that man may receive a fullness of joy. In no other way, other than through birth into this life and the resurrection, can spirits become like our Eternal Father.
Since the kingdom of God is built upon the foundation of marriage and the unity of the family circle, there can be no satisfaction where the family circle is broken. Every soul is entitled to the right to come into this world in a legitimate way-in the way the Father has willed that souls should come. Whosoever takes a course contrary to this is guilty of an almost irreparable crime. Is there any wonder, then, that the Lord places the violation of this covenant of marriage and the loss of virtue as second only to the shedding of innocent blood? Is there not, then, sufficient reason for the severity of the punishment which has been promised those who violate this eternal law? The demand for personal purity is made by the Church upon both men and women equally. There is no double standard of judgment. "If purity of life is neglected," President Joseph F. Smith said once, "all other dangers set in upon us like the rivers of waters when the flood gates are opened."
Sexual impurity is a most deadly sin. "There is a sin unto death," John informs us. And sexual impurity is one such sin unto death.
President Brigham Young said that the world is fast coming to its destruction because of this. "Learn the will of God, keep his commandments and do his will, and you will be a virtuous person."
How wonderful is the peace and joy which fills the souls of the virtuous. How terrible are the torments of the unvirtuous. They shall have no place in the first resurrection. When the final judgment comes they are they who remain "filthy still". They cannot enter the holy city, they are the "dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie," who are cast out.
When man was first placed upon this earth, he was given the commandment to "be fruitful, and multiply". No more important commandment was ever given to man, for through honorable marriage are the spirits brought to earth. "There are multitudes of pure and holy spirits waiting to take tabernacles, now what is our duty?" said President Brigham Young. Then he answered his question: "To prepare tabernacles for them; to take a course that will not tend to drive those spirits into the families of the wicked, where they will be trained in wickedness, debauchery, and every species of crime. It is the duty of every righteous man and woman to prepare tabernacles for all the spirits they can".
Instructions were given to mothers of the Church by President Joseph F. Smith as follows:
"I think it is a crying evil, that there should exist a sentiment or a feeling among any members of the Church to curtail the birth of their children. I think that is a crime wherever it occurs, where husband and wife are in possession of health and vigor and are free from impurities that would be entailed upon their posterity. I believe that where people undertake to curtail or prevent the birth of their children that they are going to reap disappointment by and by. I have no hesitancy in saying that I believe this is one of the greatest crimes of the world today, this evil practice." That was the advice given to the Relief Society.
When young people marry and refuse to fulfill this commandment given in the beginning of the world, and just as much in force today, they rob themselves of the greatest eternal blessing. If the love of the world and the wicked practices of the world mean more to a man and a woman than to keep the commandment of the Lord in this respect, then they are shutting themselves off from the eternal blessing of increase. Those who willfully and maliciously design to break this important commandment shall be damned. They cannot have the Spirit of the Lord. Small families are the rule today. Husbands and wives refuse to take upon themselves the responsibilities of family life. Many of them do not care to be bothered with children. Yet this commandment given to Adam has never been abrogated or set aside. If we refuse to live by the covenants we make, especially in the house of the Lord, then we cannot receive the blessings of those covenants in eternity. If the responsibilities of parenthood are willfully avoided here, then how can the Lord bestow upon the guilty the blessings of eternal increase? It cannot be, and they shall be denied such blessings.
Now I wish to ask a question: How will a young married couple feel when they come to the judgment and then discover that there were certain spirits assigned to them and they refused to have them? Moreover, what will be their punishment when they discover that they have failed to keep a solemn covenant and spirits awaiting this mortal life were forced to come here elsewhere when they were assigned to this particular couple.
In the next world we are to be judged by the things we do. We will also be punished for the things we should have done and did not do. May I make this personal remark: I am the father of eleven children, and to this day every one is a faithful member of the Church and all are active, for that is the way they were taught, and they were obedient. They will belong to me forever and are the foundation stones of my kingdom. My posterity reaches today over the one-hundred mark.
I regret that so many young couples are thinking today more of successful contraceptives than of having a posterity. They will have to answer for their sin when the proper time comes and actually may be denied the glorious celestial kingdom.
Teaching the Sacredness of the Marriage Covenant
The world is rapidly coming to its end, that is, the end of the day of wickedness. When it is fully ripe in iniquity the Lord will come in the cloud of heaven to take vengeance on the ungodly, for his wrath is kindled against them. Do not think that he delayeth his coming. Many of the signs of his coming have been given, so we may, if we will, know that the day is even now at our doors.
"And it shall come to pass, because of the wickedness of the world, that I will take vengeance upon the wicked, for they will not repent; for the cup of mine indignation is full; for behold my blood shall not cleanse them if they hear me not". So said the Son of God.
May all Latter-day Saint fathers and mothers see to it that they teach their children the sacredness of the marriage covenant. Let them impress upon their children that in no other way than by honoring the covenants of God, among which the covenant of eternal marriage is one of the greatest and most mandatory, can they obtain the blessings of eternal lives.
If they refuse to receive this ordinance and other blessings of the house of God, then shall they be cut off from these higher blessings. They shall wear no crown; they shall have no rule and sway no scepter; they shall be denied the fullness of knowledge and power; and, like the prodigal son, they may return again to their Father's house, but it will be as servants, not to inherit as sons and daughters. If they will be true to these commandments, their glory and exaltation shall have no bounds, and "all things are theirs". May we all be blessed with the spirit of the Lord so that we may be directed in his ways, and may the Lord bless the young people starting out in life so that they may keep every commandment is my prayer in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder A. Theodore Tuttle
A. Theodore Tuttle, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 30-32
I would like to visit with the young people of the Church this afternoon. I would like to relate several experiences that have made a deep impression on my life.
One of them occurred nearly thirty-five years ago down in Manti in a testimony meeting when I was twelve years of age. Several of us boys were to be ordained deacons in the Aaronic Priesthood. We were called to the front of the chapel where we stood as our names were presented. Then, after the sustaining vote, we were asked to sit on the stand. During the testimony meeting which followed, I remember that my grandpa Beal bore his testimony. As was his usual custom, he came up to the front of the congregation and spoke. I remember only one part of his testimony, but it made an indelible impression on my memory. As he turned to us young boys, he pointed his finger at us and said: "Young men, I want you to remember-and never to forget-that when you are ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood as deacons, you will hold more power in your little finger than the king of England, because those who ordain you will have the authority direct from God."
I did not realize at the time the magnitude of what he said, but through the years I have reflected on it many times. I have come to realize that by virtue of the priesthood which we hold, we do have more power to save ourselves and ultimately others than any earthly ruler, for power to move oneself or others toward exaltation comes only from God-from whence this priesthood comes. Our obligation as young people is to honor the priesthood and maintain the high standards of the Church.
Our friends can help us do that, and we can help our friends. One of my friends told me his experience. He said: "When I was growing up in our town my friend and I used to hear lots of the boys swearing and taking the name of the Lord in vain. This offended us. Our parents had taught us not to swear. We knew that we should not take the name of the Lord in vain. One day as we were talking about this, my friend and I promised each other-we made a covenant-that we would never take the name of the Lord in vain. During the intervening years, each of us kept the vow which we had made.
"A few years later," he said, "I moved away from our home town to a farm in another valley. It was there that I met head on with trouble. We were hauling hay one hot summer day and had taken a break for lunch. After we unhitched the horses, my father sent me down to the well with a gallon jug to bring back some cool water. I mounted one of our work horses and loped down to the well. After filling the jug I put my finger through the handle, threw the jug over the back of the horse, and tried to jump up on its back. But before I could get completely on the horse, he wheeled around and started off on a trot back to the hayrack, jogging me on his back. There I was, half on and half off, bouncing along on the bony withers of that horse. My finger was so twisted it was about to break with the weight of that jug of water. I tried to jerk on the reins to stop the horse with the other hand, but he would not stop."
Then my friend continued, "With everything going all wrong I got so angry that I swore at the horse and took the name of the Lord in vain. At the very moment I did this, I realized what I had done. A great wave of guilt swept over me because I had broken my covenant with my friend. But worse, I knew that I had offended the Lord, and I had failed to be true to the standard I knew. As I finally managed to fall off of the horse, I kneeled immediately-right there in the stubble of the field-and asked the Lord to forgive me. I vowed again, this time with repentant fervor, that I would never again break the pledge which my friend and I had made about swearing."
And he said, "I never have."
As young people, we ofttimes think it's hard to live the standards of the Church because they are so high. It is true that no church on earth has higher standards than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-you'd expect that to be so, wouldn't you? Would the true Church of Christ have lower standards than a man-made church? Because our standards are so high-so different from the standards of the world-we tend to feel that it is difficult, if not impossible, to live them. But it is not nearly so hard to live the standards as not to live them.
This was impressed upon me some years ago as I interviewed a young girl of seventeen or eighteen years of age. She said: "I have broken all of the Ten Commandments, except the sixth one, and lots of other laws besides." During the course of the interview, which incidentally, was conducted behind bars, she confessed ashamedly some of the sins which she had committed. Near the close of the interview she pulled up the sleeve of her sweater and pointed to the telltale puncture wounds left by a hypodermic needle. "Those aren't mosquito bites," she said pathetically. I asked her if she had found happiness in the type of life she had lived. As she shook her head negatively, tears began to fill her eyes. She buried her head in her arms and sobs literally racked her body. As I watched her suffer, helpless at the moment to bring much comfort, I thought of the statement of Alma, made in the Book of Mormon: "Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness".
I have thought since of the statement Cecil B. DeMille made at the beginning of the film The Ten Commandments. Most of you have seen it. You will recall how, at the beginning of the motion picture, he walked through those large curtains and came onto the stage to give a short introduction to the film. As I remember he said something like this: "The history of mankind teaches us that we cannot break God's laws, rather we break ourselves against them."
I thought of this girl behind bars-she had not broken God's laws at all, but rather had broken herself against them, and so it is with anyone who tries to violate the laws which God has given to us for our own happiness. They are for our good, and when we violate them, we suffer spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Remember, oh youth, it's not nearly so hard to live the commandments as not to live them.
The burden of keeping the commandments of the Lord is light compared to the burden of sin which we carry when we violate the commandments of God. The Savior said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light".
May you, the youth of this Church, remember, as my grandpa Beal impressed upon us deacons that day, that there is more authority in the priesthood of God than in the hand of any monarch that ever lived. While you'll find it the greatest challenge in life to be true to the high standards which you know-as did my friend who repented of swearing at his horse-you'll find it easier, I promise you, to keep the commandments of God than not to keep them. You needn't carry the heavy burden of sin if you will carry his burden, for the Lord has said, "Come unto me... and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light".
I bear you my humble witness that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that President David O. McKay is the prophet and mouthpiece of the Lord on the earth today, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Alma Sonne
Alma Sonne, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 34-36
My brethren and sisters: I have been impressed as you have by the proceedings of this conference, and I was particularly impressed by the wonderful sermon delivered here this morning by President David O. McKay. I hope the Latter-day Saints will remember that sermon and will cherish it as long as they live.
I quote from Psalm nineteen:
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
"Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
"There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard".
The testimony of nature is strong and convincing regarding the existence of an overruling Providence. One need but look into the sky and see the sun, the moon, and the stars and observe their regularity as they glide through space. I have always been impressed with the majesty of the universe. We see enough of it to be profoundly touched by its grandeur and vastness.
There is no confusion in nature. Every one of its manifestations is a solemn declaration of a supreme power, a supreme knowledge, and a supreme design. It is not the result of chance, for the Creator is the source of intelligence and order. And intelligence is his glory, and it operates perfectly and is in harmony with established law. I see all this, and I am sustained by an "unfaltering trust."
I look around me, and I see the green fields, the flowers, the trees, and the shrubbery, and in the autumn I see the earth illuminated with red and gold before nature goes to rest. I witness God's handiwork. It bears the mark of a superior intelligence which is beyond my meager comprehension. I can conscientiously conclude that there is a divine plan which provides for man's future when and where mortality ends. I can join with the prophets and seers in the revelations from God and accept them as God's commandments. I am not a stranger, wandering aimlessly without purpose. I am a child of God, and I see evidences of his existence all around me. In other words, I believe in God. I do not serve and worship him blindly. I trust him. He hears and answers my prayers. He sustains me in emergencies and comes to my rescue in times of need.
I realize that a mastermind has planned and made tangible all these things. They are gifts from him to his children. The Lord has given them freely regardless of their obedience. It is a manifestation of his love for his sons and daughters.
How are the gifts received? Some receive them with thanksgiving, some with scorn, and some deny the existence of the giver. Others fail to recognize and identify this giver. They "knew him not", for they are absorbed in materialistic aspirations so characteristic of our day.
I read St. John's testimony regarding this giver and creator of all things.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth".
The above quotation answers the question: Who is the Creator? Paul the Apostle is even more explicit in his letter to the Colossians. In speaking of Jesus, he says: "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him".
Jesus, therefore, becomes the greatest benefactor of the human race. There is no one with whom he can be compared. He gave his life that we might live and enjoy the blessings of eternity. He offered the plan by which we may enter his kingdom and receive the exaltation promised to the faithful.
Those who deny his place in the eternal program of things are victims of deception and darkness. If Jesus Christ is not the Creator and Savior, the New Testament is fiction and not history, and the testimonies of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are figments of the imagination-false and unfounded. The same can be said of Peter's positive and fervent testimony regarding the man he called Lord and Master, and of the restored gospel and the divine calling of Joseph Smith the prophet of the latter days.
But they were not mistaken. All of them, without exception, gave their testimonies as eyewitnesses. We may deny him and fail to recognize his preeminence in nature and in a world of strife, contention, and corruption, but he is a reality. Millions of men have assailed him, and millions are indifferent to him, but he cannot be expelled. He cannot be eliminated by the sophistries of intellectuals or the bigotry of the ignorant. His name and his works of righteousness are secure on the pages of history. He came with a message of peace and goodwill. His program is the only thing that will end war and bloodshed. I hope we will remember that. He demonstrated his love for humanity, a love that knew no bounds and a devotion that has no parallel.
On this very day, in the blaze of the twentieth century since his birth, we need him more than ever. Nations and individuals need to be comforted by something outside and above the avarice and greed of men. All the world is in search of peace. International councils are in session in an attempt to avoid war. So far as the casual observer can see, no headway has been made. We are still groping in the darkness.
Members of the true Church are aware that Jesus Christ is the Creator of heaven and earth and is the way to peace on earth and goodwill to men. They marvel at the beauty of his creations, and they accept his divine leadership and agree with Paul the Apostle that Jesus is also the author of the plan of life and salvation. "Mormonism" declares to all the world that Jesus Christ lived upon the earth in the meridian of time; that he preached the Sermon on the Mount to a small group of friends and followers who had gathered on a mountainside to hear him; that he performed many mighty miracles, that he was born of the virgin Mary, that he was crucified on the cross by his enemies who were inspired by disgruntled religious leaders of his day, that he arose the third day from a borrowed grave where he was buried, and finally that he is the Son of God, the Messiah, about whom the prophets of Israel spoke.
"Mormonism" also declares that he chose twelve apostles to be his representatives and witnesses, that he commissioned them to preach the gospel of the kingdom which he had taught them during his three years of ministry among them. And that same gospel was restored to earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. This restored gospel makes life in all of its aspects worth living. It gives beauty, significance, and purpose to man's sojourn in mortality and fills him with courage and conviction and satisfies his spiritual longings.
May we live the gospel. May we introduce it into our lives, and may we not forget to remember that Jesus Christ is the Creator and Ruler of all things, I pray in his name. Amen.
Elder William J. Critchlow, Jr.
William J. Critchlow, Jr., Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 36-40
The Priesthood and Women
A good sister in the Church sent me a lengthy letter-a sort of diatribe, I would call it-on the subject of priesthood. "Why is it," she asked, "that so many preachers cannot tell us what it is?... Please tell me something of its substance-its contents, etc. Describe it. Why can't I have it?" And then, by inference, Why am I a woman?
Answering her, I wrote:
Dear Sister....: I don't know. Sincerely your brother, Wm. J. Critchlow, Jr.
My reply was obviously too brief and too curt; the page looked almost naked, so I added a line to lengthen it a bit:
Dear Sister....: I do not know. I'm not supposed to know. Sincerely your brother, Wm. J. Critchlow, Jr.
And then, to give it a little body, I added this postscript:
When He whose business priesthood is wants the sisters to have it, he will let his prophet know, and until then there is nothing we can do about it.
I still didn't have the heart to mail it. What I finally did mail matched her letter space for space, and page for page, with paragraphs to boot. It probably did not satisfy her questions, but it did at least satisfy a principle called courtesy.
If time permitted I would read to you the full text of the sister's letter. You will, I think, be able to fairly well surmise the nature of its content by the nature of my reply.
This is my reply: Dear Sister....:
I do not know; the "substance" of priesthood and the forces that operate to produce its power are presently incomprehensible to me. I've never seen them, nor heard them, nor smelled them, nor tasted them, nor touched them, but at times, officiating in the ordinances thereof, they have touched me. Neither do I comprehend the substance of faith, "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen", nor can I explain the forces that operated when the Brother of Jared's faith removed the mountain Zerin.
The power of faith and the power of God are twin-kindred, godly powers. No man has ever achieved in his mortal state the status of a god, acquiring all of our Father's knowledge, wisdom, and powers-Jesus not excepted. He came in the flesh endowed with godly powers and by those powers laid down his life and then took it up again. The "substance" of the priesthood power employed in his resurrection or the "contents" of the power of faith that moved the mountain Zerin I simply do not understand, and it does not embarrass me to say I do not know.
And I'm not supposed to know-this I believe. God has purposely veiled some things in secrecy. The "substance" of priesthood is presently veiled knowledge. Even so, God has not denied men the right to use it. Similarly, he has not denied man the right to use that other great power we call electricity. Who knows what that great power actually is? Scientists cannot tell you its "substance." They have never seen it, nor heard it, nor smelled it, nor tasted it; and they have so much respect for it that they avoid the risk of handling it unpreparedly. Carelessness around electric power lines can be suddenly lethal, yet for its many beneficent uses you and I are most grateful.
Miracles are a product of priesthood power. Who knows the "substance" of a miracle? Who understands the forces that operate when the sick are healed? Did anyone with mortal eyes see the forces that Jesus employed when he transformed water into wine? Mortal men, even those who honor their priesthood, do not know the "substance" of a miracle, nor do some who treat their priesthood lightly fully realize that carelessness with priesthood power can be slowly lethal, producing a lingering, withering, spiritual death. The man who works with priesthood power or the man who works with electrical power-neither of them has the right to handle either power unpreparedly, unworthily. Some men "... do not learn this one lesson-
"That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness".
I wish I knew Why the man is I and the woman is you; Why I am gentile and my neighbor is Jew; Why some have lovely white-skin faces-others born in colored races; Why some are sound in body and mind-others deformed and some born blind; Why some live but a moment or so-others for years before they go; Why some were born when our Lord held sway-others held for this latter day; Why? I wish I knew.
No mortal man, regardless of his place and state of birth, is born with a memory of his heavenly home. God planned it that way purposely. And "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither a knowledge of his future home, "which God hath prepared for them that love him". Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many mansions". The Prophet Joseph Smith called them "kingdoms." In which of these kingdoms or subdivisions thereof did he go to prepare a place for you? Describe your mansion, if you can. Of what substance is it made? Tell me about its contents. Tell me how God hears and answers your prayers. Tell me how my body after death, its remains blown to the four corners of the world, will be restored in the resurrection process, without the loss of a single hair. Surely God has denied his children here on earth some knowledge of things that were, and things that are, and things to be-purposely. And again, it does not embarrass me to say there are some things I do not know.
"... when the Lord shall come, he shall reveal all things-
"Things which have passed, and hidden things which no man knew, things of the earth, by which it was made, and the purpose and the end thereof-
"Things most precious, things that are above, and things that are beneath, things that are in the earth, and upon the earth, and in heaven". In the meantime we must live by faith.
But this I do know: Priesthood is the power of God, presently and purposely denied to women for reasons which he has not revealed. And when he whose business priesthood is wants the sisters to hold it, he will let his prophet know; and until then there is nothing we can do about it. And until the Lord or his prophet speaks, don't ever, Sister, make a pretense to priesthood power, and never simulate a priesthood ordinance.
Did women by their own first choice choose to be partners with God in his creative processes? Faced with an alternative-partnership or priesthood-did you, Sister, pass up priesthood?
Did women by their own free choice choose to be the family heart rather than the family head? Scripturally "the husband is the head of the wife", and he is the family priest and spokesman. Did God, however, in his infinite wisdom purposely make mother the family heart, blessing her with subtle power to sway the head?
"There is a center in every home From which all joys must start. Where is that center? It is in the mother's heart."
God, choosing woman to be his partner in the creative process, tucked away somewhere in her bosom a spark of his divine love, which later, at the time of motherhood, glows to brilliancy in every mother's heart.
A poet sensed this seemingly divine gift of devotion when he wrote:
"... I feel that, in the Heavens above, The angels, whispering to one another, Can find, among their burning terms of love, None so devotional as that of 'Mother'."
Now, Sister, faced with the alternative family head or family heart, did you turn down the head? Faced again with a choice between mother's love or priesthood authority, did you pass up authority?
Possibly some other considerations influenced you to be woman rather than man. I've listed a few suggestions. Now, which in this list of womanly virtues might possibly have influenced your choice-if and when, of course, you had a choice? At the head of the list I have placed:
Motherhood-co-creator with God. "Architects and builders of all humanity" our mothers are.
Mother's love-that very special kind for children-a spark of his divine love for his spirit children.
The family heart-with subtle powers to sway the head.
The teacher-if little children pray, give mother the credit. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it".
The dietician-lovingly concerned with the family health.
The cook-employing her daughters in the art.
The nurse-whose loving, tender care a man can never match.
The expediter-lovingly supervising children's chores and study.
The provoker-kindly provoking the husband to good works.
The psychiatrist-principally for her husband, for whom she is the receptacle of all his cares and most of his ill humor. Somewhere it is written that "the virtues of the mothers shall be visited on their children as well as the sins of the fathers."
The "helpmeet" -"Men undertake the doing and women the being. Man does, woman is."
All of these virtues and functions label the mother the homemaker. God labeled the father the provider or breadwinner when he made him the family head.
Now seriously, Sister, were you given a choice-as of right now, or perhaps a choice sometime in the dim premortal past-between homemaker or breadwinner, would you, or did you at some time, choose to be the homemaker, choosing motherhood over fatherhood?
Fathers, bearing the priesthood, are entitled to inspiration, but not all of them get it.
Mothers, God's creation partners, are endowed with intuition, and they all seem to have it.
Intuition and inspiration are also twin, kindred powers. Intuition is innate. Inspiration is acquired. Women are not denied inspiration. Did God favor them by adding to their precious virtues the extra gift of intuition? Could your awareness of this special gift possibly have been a factor in your choice to be a woman?
God made man the father, the head, the spokesman, the priest to rule over the family clan.
He made woman the mother, the heart the helpmeet, a partner with him in his creation plan.
He made man rugged, strong-the builder, provider, protector of the family living places.
He made woman gentle, fair-the homemaker, lovemaker, peacemaker, endowed with heavenly graces.
God made both to be happy in their respective places.
If God made man "a little lower than the angels", he must then have made women his very angels.
Does the lack of priesthood handicap you in teaching children in the home or in the priesthood auxiliaries? Does the loss of priesthood bar you from fellowshipping with sisters and priesthood in activities of the Church? Haven't the Relief Society, the YWMIA, and the Primary organizations all prospered without priesthood teachers? Haven't the blessings of the priesthood always been shared with the wives, mothers, and daughters of men who hold and honor their priesthood?
Blessings for Women
The emancipation of women in this mortal sphere does not yet involve priesthood.
Women in our great nation enjoy civil rights and liberties like men: they can vote and run for public offices like men: they can own property and drive cars like men; they can frequent public places like men, they can work when, where, and if they please like men; they can smoke, curse, and blaspheme the name of God like men; they can eat, drink, and be merry like men; they can cut their hair like men and wear men's clothes. One thing they cannot do as men-they cannot violate the oath and covenant of the priesthood as some men who bear the priesthood do. Maybe you should thank God for that. If that, dear Sister, gives comfort to your soul, then let me disturb your comfort by reminding you that by reason of your temple experience, you do have certain priesthood covenants to keep and to uphold. Had you forgotten them?
Just as that great unseen electrical power flows through wires to bless mankind, so does that great unseen priesthood power flow through ordained men to bless mankind. Can anyone come close enough to its source to actually see and know it?
Unfortunately, some men have and then have turned away denying and repudiating it-even rebelling against the revealed truth. We call them sons of perdition.
The husband is the family head for administrative purposes, solely.
He is first among equals for the sake of order in the family, only.
First among two personalities, husband and wife, is the man. Copartner and equal with him, in the sight of God, is the woman. "... neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord".
Can man achieve exaltation without a woman at his side?
"Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid". May his peace be with you, dear Sister.
Sincerely your brother, William J. Critchlow, Jr.
If the good sister to whom I mailed this letter is listening in on the air, may I say to her: Please pardon me for publicizing my reply to your letter. You will have observed that I have edited it, adding sentences here and there in the interest of clarity. Will a few others to whom I have read this letter please pardon the repetition.
To all others may I say: Priesthood is the power of God. Only through its saving ordinances can one attain exaltation and eternal life. Priesthood is eternal. Concerning it God has revealed:
"... 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".
Surely man cannot receive all that God has, in this mortal world; but if one will honor his priesthood, there is good reason to believe that God will be merciful unto him in time of need, in place of need, according to his need. This I believe, and to this I testify, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Richard L. Evans
Richard L. Evans, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 40-44
President McKay and my beloved brethren and sisters: Most earnestly I pray that the Spirit will give life and light to the words that follow. There would be emptiness in teaching and testifying of eternal truths without that Spirit. All of us would be empty without it.
Recently at a stake conference Dr. Arthur D. Browne quoted from a survey which said that by the time a child is twelve years of age, he will have spent approximately 52,000 hours in his home, besides time for sleep and in addition to any outside activities-52,000 hours at home by the time he is twelve!
Also cited by the same source was another study which said that out of every hundred hours a child, on an average, spends eighty-three hours at home, sixteen in school, and one in church.
Even conceding a margin of error, or a wide variance from person to person, these are still startling figures-52,000 hours at home, besides time for sleep, by the time a child is twelve.
This being so-or even if it were only half so-home had better be what it ought to be. Even with more and more take-over of other agencies and activities, and even with more and more intrusion upon privacy, the influence of home-and of those who are or ought to be home-clearly could be counted as the foremost influence. And when we complain of outside influences, of what schools teach or fail to teach, of the social and moral atmosphere of the community, of the wholesome or unwholesome influence of friends, companions, playmates, any or all of which could be desirable or undesirable, still, as parents we had better ask ourselves most searchingly what we are doing toward shaping the lives, the attitudes, the characters of our children in these 52,000 hours that we have, on an average, before the age of twelve-and all the other hours after.
This points most urgently the need for parents to be available, to be alert to all interests, activities, and attitudes, with wholesome common sense and quiet consistency, with love and an example of honesty and honor.
"... A child learns more by imitation than in any other way," said George Sanderlin. "Don't we all? And the persons he imitates most blindly and trustingly are bound to be his parents... Nature has made the relationship between parent and child such that beside it any other training bears a certain artificiality."
This simply states the simple fact that of all the areas of influence, home is the most important place. God has given parents first responsibility for their families, and indifference or resignation as to any influence that shapes their lives isn't an acceptable fulfillment of this sacred assignment. There must be selection, guidance, direction in all that is permitted to become a part of the lives of children, and society cannot offset the influence of an indifferent or irresponsible home. "When parents cannot control children in the home," said a current source, "it is difficult for the government to control them on the streets." As parents we must face the fact that we have the first and longest, the most intimate and impressionable opportunity to teach our children-52,000 hours on an average by the time they have turned twelve.
It is in the home that children should first learn love, responsibility, and respect. In the home they should learn the balance of liberty and law, that freedom of which President McKay spoke this morning, along with responsibility, each completely dependent upon the other. And in keeping them in balance, there is no more important essential than self-control. This extends into every area and activity, inward and outward, personal and public, and the most serious threats of our time are threats against liberty and law. "Our form of government," said Police Chief William A. Parker, "depends on the willingness of people to submit themselves to a rule of law. We can keep adding police until there is an officer for every citizen. But will this leave us with the freedom we desire?"
"Every man," said John Locke, "must sometime or other be trusted to himself". This is true of young people as they leave for school, for work, for missions, for military service, or into their social activities. Parents cannot go with them. What parents can do, early and prayerfully, is to teach children in the home, almost from the first of these 52,000 waking hours-teach them morality, cleanliness, reverence, honesty, the basic principles the commandments, the laws of life.
In a day when laws are publicly flaunted, and when such flaunting is seemingly not only sometimes condoned but even encouraged in some quarters, it is more important than ever to teach our children. If their every whim is satisfied, they may never learn the difference between what is theirs and what is others and may never learn the principle of self-control.
Perhaps on this point we can take some comfort from these lines from Socrates: "From the day your child is born, you must teach him to do without things. Children today love luxury too much. They have terrible manners, flaunt authority, and have no respect for their elders. They no longer rise when their parents or teachers enter the room. What kind of awful creatures will they be when they grow up?" It appears that all the problems are not new. But certainly we have our share.
Another factor contributing to laxity of law is the attempt to rationalize or explain away the commandments; and some of what we see in print comes from some alarming sources, including the suggestion that the commandments, after all, were only given for a particular time and place and that in this enlightened age, mature people can, in a sense, make their own commandments and serve their own convenience and ignore conscience.
"One of the basic tenets of the 'new morality,' " says one such source, "is that the Bible, God's Word, is no longer a binding standard and rule for life and conduct, but that each one can set up his own standards of right and wrong." And we could cite current sources to show that youth are being taught specifically not to be concerned about the moral sins.
But who can set the commandments aside? The answer is: Only God who gave them. And regardless of the views of some so-called modern minds, "there is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven". There are causes and consequences which no man can set aside.
Interestingly, there is some sentiment on the other side also, from some surprising sources. One of Stanford University's well-known staff members recently said: "Much of what is going on at present... gives the impression of being willing to jettison whatever is necessary in order to appeal to the modern mentality... It is not the task of Christians to whittle away their heritage until it is finally palatable to all."
It was never intended that the commandments of God should meet the convenience or the appetites or inclinations of everyone. If we dilute them to this point, they could become meaningless. We have to reach up toward living them, keeping them, reaching toward that perfection of which our Savior spoke.
"There is a great fascination with evil today," wrote a sophisticated writer-one whose words appeared not long ago in a widely circulated popular magazine, writing perhaps from being surfeited with the arrogance and flagrance of evil-"There always has been, but today it takes a funny form. People go around serving notice in one way or an another, that, Wow, you may not know it, but I'm a fairly evil person. This is an intriguing frame of mind...
"In fact, the evil that seems to fascinate men most today is violence...
"Well, anyway, what is needed is... to raise the banner and come out against the Sin Fad. If it will help at all, I am willing to do that. It is a shocking position, but I will come out now, flatly, against Sin. Right now!
"I am against Pride, Sloth, Greed, Envy, Lust, Gluttony and Anger!... History will absolve me!"
If nature were to violate law as men do, we could not be assured a succession of the seasons, nor a harvest, nor our daily sustenance, nor any order events.
This is all an indication of the attitudes and atmosphere of the time in which we live and an indication of the reasons why we need, more than ever, emphasis on and responsibility in the home, where there is, or should be, must be, the area of greatest influence.
"... I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth," said our Father.
"... set in order your own house".
"... I give unto you a commandment, to teach these things freely unto your children".
As parents there is no limitation on our responsibility to teach our children, to use all the wise and understanding influence we have to teach them the commandments, to teach them causes and consequences. "You have not done enough," said Dag Hammarskjold, "you have never done enough, so long as it is still possible that you have something of value to contribute."
"Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good actions," said Richter, "try to use ordinary situations."
Let it never be as Emerson sadly observed when he said, "Most of the persons whom I see in my own house I see across a gulf". Let it never be like that. Let it rather be as Phillips Brooks expressed it: "... in the home... hearts ought to be nearest and openest to one another".
We would plead with parents and children to draw close to one another in love and confidence, in respect and service and consideration.
We would plead with beloved friends everywhere-and would I could reach them in all the world-to turn from all the wandering ways, to turn homeward, to turn to the truth, the plan, the purpose that God has given. There is no other way to peace and the solving of personal or world problems except through the gospel of the Prince of Peace.
I would leave this witness with you, my beloved friends everywhere, of the personal reality of God and our relationship to him; of the divinity of our Lord and Savior, who redeemed us from death; of the mission of the prophets from all time past to the present; of the divine calling of President McKay and his predecessors, of the restoration of the gospel, and the need that all of us have for it and all the world, and there is no other way.
May I share some lines in closing from Joseph Auslander:
"World, O world of muddled men, Seek the Peace of God again: In the humble faith that kneels, In the hallowed Word that heals; In the courage of a tree, In the rock's integrity; In the hill that holds the sky, The star you pull your heart up by; In the laughter of a child, Altogether undefiled; In the hope that answers doubt, Love that drives the darkness out... Frantic, frightened, foolish men, Take God by the hand again."
In Jesus' name. Amen.
President Nathan Eldon Tanner
N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 45-49
President McKay, brothers and sisters, and all who are listening in, it is a real privilege and blessing to partake of the peaceful spirit of this great conference, to be instructed by these devoted men, and to be inspired to greater faith and better living.
We thank the Lord that our beloved leader, President David O. McKay, through the magnifying of his calling, has been sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of his body, which makes it possible for him to be with us today. People were never more inspired by a prophet of God than are we by his presence here, his stirring message yesterday morning, and his inspired leadership. We join in praying that he may continue to improve in health and strength. I thank the Lord for the privilege I enjoy of associating so closely with him and with these my dedicated colleagues.
Just five years ago this month, I was honored by a call from the Prophet to be an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve. As most of you know, I am a Canadian citizen. Though I love Canada, a country which was good to me in every way, and which is taking its proper place in the world, and is a strong proponent of liberty and freedom for all, I am planning, as soon as I can qualify, to become a citizen of the United States of America.
As I become a citizen of this great country, I am determined to join with all law-abiding citizens and dedicate myself to this nation's ideals of equality and justice under law, and to our responsibilities as free men. I am seriously concerned, however, about the lawlessness in the world today, and right here in the United States. As a prospective citizen, and in the position I hold in the Church, I should like to speak for a few minutes on our Twelfth Article of Faith, which is: "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law".
It is the duty of every citizen to be sincerely concerned with his country's efforts to advance freedom and individual opportunity, to curb lawlessness, and to achieve equal justice. The Church makes its position quite clear in its Declaration of Belief regarding Governments and Laws, some of which are as follows:
"We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man, and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.
"We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life...
"We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly...
"We believe that every man should be honored in his station, rulers and magistrates as such, being placed for the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty; and that to the laws all men owe respect and deference, as without them peace and harmony would be supplanted by anarchy and terror...
"We believe that the commission of crime should be punished according to the nature of the offense; that murder, treason, robbery, theft, and the breach of the general peace, in all respects, should be punished according to their criminality and their tendency to evil among men, by the laws of that government in which the offense is committed; and for the public peace and tranquility all men should step forward and use their ability in bringing offenders against good laws to punishment", italics added).
As pointed out by the President of the United States in his Proclamation on Law Day, our very lives, our liberty, and our rights to pursue our individual destinies are dependent upon our system of law and independent courts.
Laws are not made alone to curb the evildoer, or as negative restraint, but to protect the rights and liberties of every citizen. As John C. Cornelius said: "Laws are the rules by which the game of life is played." There is no reason or justification for men to disregard the law and try to take it into their own hands.
Abraham Lincoln once said: "Bad laws, if they exist, should be repealed as soon as possible, still, while they continue in force, they should be religiously observed."
Christ himself, while here upon the earth, was one of our greatest examples of a law-abiding citizen. When he was asked by those who were trying to discredit him, "What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?" his answer was, "Render... unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's".
And even when he was being tried for his life, he maintained a submissive demeanor toward the chief priests and council who were plotting his death. When he stood before Caiaphas he remained silent and made no reply to the questions asked until the high priest said: "I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God". When he spoke thus with official authority, the Savior gave an immediate answer, thus acknowledging the office of the high priest, however unworthy the man.
Someone wisely said: "To us law is the bedrock of our basic ideals: democracy, freedom, justice. However, from day to day most of us take the law for granted. We forget about it until we need it or break it, but law looks over our shoulders constantly, seldom intruding on us, so much a part of our lives that it has become more of a guide than a restriction, more protection than threat of punishment."
In our democratic countries everyone has the right: a. To acquire a good education b. To live where he pleases c. To choose his vocation d. To vote a secret ballot e. To own property f. To start his own business g. To have a fair and speedy trial if accused of crime h. To worship according to the dictates of his own conscience.
These rights, privileges, and blessings are just not available to those who live in the communist countries. It is a great privilege and blessing to live in a country where all people, regardless of race, religion, or national origin, can live together in peace and prosperity, where we have established a form of law by free men for the good of all; where all men enjoy the inalienable right to be free and self-governed.
Abraham Lincoln admonished: "Let reverence for the laws be breathed by every American mother to the lisping babe that prattles on her lap, let it be taught in schools, in seminaries, and in colleges; let it be written in primers, spelling books, and almanacs; let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative halls and enforced in courts of justice. And, in short, let it become the political religion of the nation, and let the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the grave and the gay of all sexes and tongues and colors and conditions sacrifice unceasingly upon its altars."
That is a small price to pay for liberty and the other blessings enjoyed in a free country. Let us fully realize that we adults can break no law with impunity without our children losing respect for the law. The juvenile delinquent is in trouble because he has not learned the importance of abiding by the law, or he has not learned to adjust his conduct to the standards of the community of which he is a part.
Some causes of the delinquent's troubles are: a. Disregard for law in the home b. Lack of discipline in the home c. Example of adults d. Expressed sympathy for criminals and criticism of police e. And last but not least, failure to accept Christ as the Savior of the world and failure to keep the laws of God.
The only solution to these problems is for adults to honor the law of God and the law of the land and to cultivate in our youth an understanding of and respect for the rules of civilized living which make an orderly society possible. A voluntary acceptance of the law is the civilized substitute for riots, chaos, and terror.
Though we hear much about the juvenile delinquent, I have every confidence in our youth and often wish that I could live long enough to see how much better they administer public affairs than those affairs are being administered today. However, they need guidance, example, encouragement, and discipline.
I should like to read "A Modern American Fable" by Al. McIntosh.
"One day, when Junior was 14, he noticed his father grinning all over when he came from his office. 'Got pinched for speeding,' he admitted, 'but got Jake down at the City Hall to fix the ticket for me.'
"When Junior was 15, he was with his mother in the family car when she backed into a tree. The damage would easily exceed $100. 'We'll say that someone rammed us when we were parked down town,' his mother said. 'Then we'll collect insurance for it, because that's what insurance companies are really for.'...
"When Junior was 17, he listened one night to his lawyer uncle bragging about how cute he'd been in getting his client off scot-free in a court case. 'It took a little high-class arm twisting on one of the witnesses,' he bragged, 'and by the time he got to court, we had it made. Even if you know they're guilty, you never want to plead them guilty, because you can't make any money at that,' said the uncle.
"When Junior was 18, his family pulled every possible string to get him a paying scholarship at a coveted Ivy League school. They even storied about the family income, to make it seem that Junior needed financial aid. He didn't make the grade there, but by a stroke of good luck he wangled an appointment to a service academy.
"Junior was having it a bit tough scholastically. An upper-classman sold him the answers to the calculus examinations. Junior was caught and expelled.
"On his return home his mother went into hysterics weeping over the disgrace. 'How could you have done this to us?' she sobbed. 'This isn't the way we raised you!'
"'Unbelievable,' said his father. 'I can't understand it!'"
We as citizens, each and every one of us, including our youth, have a heavy responsibility to obey and enforce the law. Imagine what our country would be today without law: a. No traffic regulations b. No marriage laws c. No property rights d. No police protection e. No courts of justice
Yet we find all too many people a. Rushing to beat an amber light b. Speeding on the highways c. Driving while intoxicated d. Ignoring marriage vows e. Carrying on illegal demonstrations and rioting f. Collecting undeserved unemployment insurance, etc.
In a recent case a sixteen-year-old boy obtained alcohol from the state liquor store, and under its influence he stole a truck and crashed into a parked taxi, causing severe injuries to the driver. Since the regulations forbid the sale of liquor to those under twenty-one, the government employee who sold the liquor broke the law and contributed to juvenile delinquency.
Just the other day a drunken driver ran a red light and crashed into another car, hitting two people, injuring other passengers, and ruining two cars. What tremendous loss to him and to the families of those who lost their lives and what great and lasting sorrow because of ignoring the law! We have cases every day where people are suffering because of disobedience to law.
Freedom, liberty, and peace can be enjoyed fully only as the laws of the land and the laws of God are honored and obeyed. Therefore, let us adopt the slogan: "As for me and my house, we will honor, obey, and sustain the law and use our best influence to encourage others to do the same."
Let us remember, too, and never forget, that if we keep the laws of God, the greatest of all lawgivers, we will automatically keep the laws of the land, and that the laws of God, if kept, will ensure peace, security, and happiness here on this earth and lead us to immortality and eternal life.
Some of these commandments given by the Lord are:
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me...
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy...
"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
"Thou shalt not kill.
"Thou shalt not commit adultery.
"Thou shalt not steal.
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
"Thou shalt not covet... any thing that is thy neighbour's".
And when the lawyer asked the Master, tempting him:
"Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
"This is the first and great commandment.
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself
"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets".
We are most fortunate, my brethren and sisters, to know that the law of God is contained in the gospel of Jesus Christ, that the gospel gives us the plan of life and salvation, the solution to all our problems; and, which if accepted and lived, will bring peace to the soul, peace to the family, peace to the community and to the country and to the world; and which would guarantee health, love, and happiness, success and eternal life.
I wish to bear my testimony to you, my brothers and sisters, and to all the world that these things are true; that the gospel in its fullness has been restored in these the latter days; that the priesthood of God is upon the earth; that God does live and that Jesus Christ is his Son, who came and gave his life for you and me; and that they are interested in us today. There is no doubt that the Savior meant what he said in these words: "... seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you".
May we accept these truths and as free men honor, obey, and sustain the law of the land in which we live, and obey the laws of God, that we might be found worthy of the country in which we live and worthy of eternal life, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 50-54
I am aware that I speak to many times more outside this historic building than are here assembled. I seek the inspiration of the Lord that my words may find reception in your hearts.
One of the fascinating and challenging scenes of this season is the procession of millions of young men and women returning to universities. One senses not only their great expectations, but also their fears and frustrations. Others of their age are depressed by the fact that they are being drafted into the armed services to form a vast military reserve while their associates on active duty are involved in an undeclared but nonetheless real and bloody war in a distant and strange land.
No one need be reminded that this is a frustrating time for youth. Many find themselves in rebellion against the practices and institutions of our day. They are sincere in their discontent. They hunger for something better.
They have come to realize that there are values which money cannot buy. They miss the stability of old-fashioned home life; they hunger for a more personal relationship with teachers who might challenge their inquisitive minds. Many are disillusioned over old standards of patriotism and loyalty. Even in the churches too many have found themselves worshiping a dead ritual rather than the Living God. They have hungered for bread and have been given a stone.
Those of you who witnessed or read of the Berkeley riots last spring, and lesser riots at other schools, cannot minimize the seriousness of the plight in which thousands of our young people find themselves.
I cannot agree with much of what they have done to voice their complaints, but I can agree that many of them deserve something better than they are getting. They are being cheated-by themselves in part-but more so by us their parents, their teachers, their leaders. They are entitled to more, and ours is the obligation to offer it. And so, I should like to speak to those of my own generation and propose in great earnestness a charter for youth based on the gospel which we espouse.
It is a four-point charter. It is a bill of entitlement, setting forth briefly some of those priceless values we owe every young American, and the youth of the world. They are-
1. A home to grow in. 2. An education worth striving for. 3. A land to be proud of. 4. A faith to live by.
I mention first a home to grow in. I recently read an article written by a young man who roamed the Berkeley campus and its environs. His descriptions were clever, but his illustrations were tragic. He told of a girl, a student from an affluent home. Her father was a man of means, an executive of a large corporation, loyal to the company, loyal to his club, loyal to his party, but unwittingly a traitor to his family. Her mother had saved the civic opera, but had lost her children. The daughter, a child of promise, had become entangled in a student revolt, and without an anchor, had quit school, and had drifted to the beatnik crowd, her will-o'-the-wisp satisfactions coming only from nights of reveling and days of rebellion.
Of course, her father mourned and her mother wept. They blamed her, evidently unaware of their own miserable example of parenthood which had done much to bring her to the tragic circumstances in which she found herself.
As I read that account there passed through my mind the classic statement uttered at this pulpit by President McKay-"No other success can compensate for failure in the home."
It is the rightful heritage of every child to be part of a home in which to grow-to grow in love in the family relationship, to grow in appreciation one for another, to grow in understanding of the things of the world, to grow in knowledge of the things of God.
I was recently handed these statistics taken from the county records of one of our Southwest communities. In 1964 in this county of which I speak, there were 5807 marriages and 5419 divorces, almost one divorce for every marriage. Can we expect stability out of instability? Is it any wonder that many of our youth wander in rebellion when they come from homes where there is no evidence of love, where there is a lack of respect one for another, where there is no expression of faith? We hear much these days of the Great Society, and I do not disparage the motives of those who espouse it, but we shall have a great society only as we develop good people, and the source of good people is good homes.
It was said of old, "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it".
Our children deserve such a home in which to grow. I am not speaking of the architecture or the furnishings. I am speaking of the quality of our family life. I am grateful that we as a Church have as a basic part of our program the practice of a weekly family home evening. It is a significant thing that in these busy days thousands of families across the world are making an earnest effort to consecrate one evening a week to sing together, to instruct one another in the ways of the Lord, to kneel together in prayer, there to thank the Lord for his mercies and to invoke his blessings upon our lives, our homes, our labors, our land.
I think we little estimate the vast good that will come of this program. I commend it to our people, and I commend it to every parent in the land and say that we stand ready to assist you who may not be of our faith. We shall be happy to send you suggestions and materials on how to conduct a weekly family home evening, and I do not hesitate to promise you that both you and your children will become increasingly grateful for the observance of this practice. It was John who declared: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth". This will be your blessing.
And it was Isaiah who said: "... all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children".
We cannot afford to disregard the sacred mandate laid upon us to teach our children, first by the example of our own living, and secondly, by those precepts which, if followed, will bring peace to their lives. Every child is entitled to the blessing of a good home.
I move to the second premise of this charter for youth-an education worth striving for. Time will permit little more than a brief mention of a few observations.
Education has become our largest business. On the basis of economics alone, it is larger than steel, or automobiles, or chemicals. On the basis of its influence upon our society, its impact is incalculable. Its very size, particularly in our universities, has brought into relief its most serious problem-a lack of communication between teacher and student, and a consequent lack of motivation of those who come to be taught.
A recent article in one of our national magazines contained this statement from a college teacher: "... there has hardly been a time, in my experience, when students needed more attention and patient listening to by experienced professors than today. The pity is that so many of us retreat into research, government contracts, and sabbatical travel, leaving counsel and instruction to junior colleagues and graduate assistants... What is needed are fewer books and articles by college professors and more cooperative search by teacher and taught for an authority upon which to base freedom and individuality."
I am aware of the "publish or perish" pressure under which teachers work in some of our universities, but I should like to say to these teachers that your learned monographs will yield little satisfaction as the years pass if you discover that while you published, your students perished.
The great thoughts, the great expressions, the great acts of all time deserve more than cursory criticism. They deserve a sympathetic and an enthusiastic presentation to youth, who in their hearts hunger for ideals and long to look at the stars. Nor is it our responsibility as teachers to destroy the faith of those who come to us, it is our opportunity to recognize and build on that faith. If God be the author of all truth, as we believe, then there can be no conflict between true science, true philosophy, and true religion. And, further, as George Santayana has said,
"It is not wisdom to be only wise, And on the inward vision close the eyes, But it is wisdom to believe the heart."
Your students deserve more than your knowledge. They deserve and hunger for your inspiration. They want the warm glow of personal relationships. This always has been the hallmark of a great teacher "who is the student's accomplice in learning rather than his adversary." This is the education worth striving for and the education worth providing.
I move to the next-a land to be proud of. Congress recently passed a law inflicting heavy penalties for the willful destruction of draft cards. That destruction was essentially an act of defiance, but it was most serious as a symptom of a malady that is not likely to be cured by legislation. Patriotism evidently is gone from the hearts of many of our youth.
Perhaps this condition comes of lack of knowledge, a provincialism that knows nothing else and scoffs at what little it knows. Perhaps it comes of ingratitude. This attitude is not new. Joshua, speaking for the Lord, doubtless had in mind this same indifference when he said to a new generation that had not known the trials of the old: "... I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat".
Those who have paid in toil and tears for their inheritance have loved the land on which they lived. The forebears of many of those assembled in this Tabernacle today walked the long trail over the prairie and the mountains. In these valleys they grubbed and toiled to wrest a living from the desert. They came to love that for which they labored, and a great patriotism filled their souls.
We shall not build love of country by taking away from our youth the principles which made us strong-thrift, initiative, self-reliance, and an overriding sense of duty to God and to man.
A terrible price has been paid by those who have gone before us, this that we might have the blessings of liberty and peace. I stood not long ago at Valley Forge, where George Washington and his ragged army spent the winter of 1776. As I did so, I thought of a scene from Maxwell Anderson's play in which Washington looks on a little group of his soldiers, shoveling the cold earth over a dead comrade, and says grimly, "This liberty will look easy by and by when nobody dies to get it."
How we need to kindle in the hearts of youth an old-fashioned love of country and a reverence for the land of their birth. But we shall not do it with tawdry political maneuvering and enormous handouts for which nothing is given in return.
Love of country is born of nobler stuff-of the challenge of struggle that makes precious the prize that's earned.
This is a good land, declared by the Lord in the scripture in which we believe to be "... a land... choice above all other lands", governed under a constitution framed under the inspiration of the Almighty.
"Breathes there the man, with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native land!"
This is what youth needs-pride of birth, pride of inheritance, pride in the land of which each is a part.
And now the fourth premise of my charter-a faith to live by.
It was said of old that "where there is no vision, the people perish". Vision of what? Vision concerning the things of God, and a stem and unbending adherence to divinely pronounced standards. There is evidence aplenty that young people will respond to the clear call of divine truth, but they are quick to detect and abandon that which has only a form of godliness but denies the power thereof, "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men".
I have sincere respect for my brethren of other faiths, and I know that they are aware of the great problem they face in a dilution of their teachings as some try to make their doctrine more generally acceptable. Dr. Robert McAffee Brown, professor of religion at Stanford, was recently quoted as saying:
"Much of what is going on at present on the Protestant scene gives the impression of being willing to jettison whatever is necessary in order to appeal to the modern mentality...
"It is not the task of Christians to whittle away their heritage until it is finally palatable to all."
To this we might add that what is palatable to all is not likely to be satisfying to any, and particularly to a generation of searching, questioning, seeking, probing young men and women.
In all the change about them, they need a constancy of faith in unchanging verities. They need the testimony of their parents and their teachers, of their preachers and their leaders that God our Eternal Father lives and rules over the universe; that Jesus is the Christ, his Only Begotten in the flesh, the Savior of the world, that the heavens are not sealed; that revelation comes to those appointed of God to receive it; that divine authority is upon the earth.
I know that young men and women will respond to this faith and this challenge. We have nearly twelve thousand of them today serving across the world as missionaries. Their strength is a certain faith. Their cause is the cause of Christ, the Prince of peace. Their declaration is a testimony that God has again spoken from the heavens. Their ministry is in the service of their fellowmen. Their joy, like that of the Master, is in the soul that repenteth.
I have been with them in the muddy back streets of Korea and in the crowded roads of Hong Kong. I have been with them in the towns and cities of America. I have been with them in the great capitals and the quiet villages of Europe. They are the same everywhere, serving for two or more years at their own expense in the cause of the Master and of mankind.
I earnestly hope that if there be any among those who are listening this day at whose door a Mormon missionary may knock, you will welcome him and listen. You will find him to be a young man with a faith to live by and a conviction to share. You will find him to be a happy young man, alert and lively, unashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and with a capacity to explain the reason for the faith that is within him.
And as you learn to know him better, you will discover that he likely grew up in a home where there was love and virtue, patience and prayer; that he was attending school when he left for his mission and hopes to return to sit at the feet of good counselors and able teachers and partake of wisdom and knowledge mixed with faith; that with a great inheritance from forebears who pioneered the wilderness for conscience' sake, he loves the land of which he is a part, and that he carries in his heart a certain quiet conviction of the living reality of God and the Lord Jesus Christ and of the assurance that life is eternal and purposeful.
Would that every young man and woman in the land might be blessed to develop and live under such a charter for youth-that each might have a home in which to grow, an education worth striving for, a land to be proud of, a faith to live by.
We their parents, their teachers, their leaders, can help them. God help us so to do that we may bless their lives and in so doing bless our own, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Sterling W. Sill
Sterling W. Sill, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 54-59
My brothers and sisters, I appreciate very much this privilege of having a part with you in this great general conference of the Church.
One of the biggest businesses in the world is this business of holding conventions. This week and every week men and women all around the world will be getting together to discuss their problems, exchange ideas, and try to develop more effective techniques for accomplishment. If it is desirable for doctors and lawyers and teachers and farmers to get together to pool their ideas and experiences and then use them to uplift and motivate each other, how much more important such a program should be for us, who labor in this greatest of all enterprises which Jesus referred to as "my Father's business". This is the business of building character, godliness, and eternal exaltation into human lives. God has said that it is his work and his "... glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man". But that is also our work, and it is also our glory, as God has invited each one of us to have a membership in his firm and to take as great a part as we desire in promoting our own eternal welfare. And what a stimulating idea it is that we may find our greatest employment in that work in which God himself spends his entire time.
One of the chief characteristics of our age is our high standard of accomplishment. We live in the greatest period of enlightenment and progress ever known in the world. No one desiring excitement or wonders or miracles could complain about our age. In super jets we can now fly through the stratosphere faster than sound. In atomic submarines we can live comfortably in the depths of the sea or travel under the polar ice cap. And we are even now flapping our wings for an adventure into space. But next to God himself, the thing that we know less about than anything else in the world is our own individual selves. That great masterpiece of creation which God fashioned in his own image still remains the mystery of the universe.
When someone asks us questions about science, invention, or history, we can answer them. But if we were asked to write out an analysis of ourselves and tell about our mind and soul qualities, we might not give a very good answer. We could not even explain why it is that we do as we do when we believe as we believe. Or when men are asked about the purpose of life or the origin and destiny of their own souls, they usually become confused and largely remain silent.
Shakespeare's Macbeth expressed his philosophy by saying, "Life... is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." That is, life didn't mean anything to Macbeth, and there are many in our day who share this opinion of life. Hamlet said, "How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable seem to me all the uses of this world!... 'tis an unweeded garden, that grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature possess it merely." And in this country last year, over 20,000 people followed this persuasion and destroyed their own lives.
The old Persian philosopher Omar Khayyam, who was among the wisest men of his day, confessed his own inability to comprehend life by saying,
"I came like Water, and like Wind I go?
"Into this Universe, and Why not knowing Nor whence, like Water willy-nilly flowing; And out of it, as Wind along the Waste, I know not Whither, willy-nilly blowing.
"Up from Earth's Centre through the Seventh Gate I rose, and on the Throne of Saturn sate, And many a Knot unravel'd by the Road; But not the Master-knot of Human Fate.
"There was one Door to which I found no Key; There was the Veil through which I might not see."
Someone has tried to help us understand life by comparing it to a three-act play. The scriptures tell of a long premortal existence, which was our first act. There is a little, short mortality, which is the second act; and then there is an eternal, everlasting third act. And someone has said that if you went into the theater after the first act had been finished and left before the third act began, you might not understand the play. Frequently life just doesn't make sense, when like Macbeth or Hamlet or Omar Khayyám we look at it in too limited perspective. How fortunate we are therefore to have God's point of view about life and to know his answers to the great questions. And it has been said that "the Big Three" among the questions of life are these-whence, why, and whither. Because of the particular relationship existing between God and man, they can best be studied together.
Out of the golden age of Greece, we hear Socrates say, "Know thyself." And Jesus gave a companion instruction when he said, "... this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent". To get a better appreciation for both God and ourselves, we might very profitably go back into the scriptures for a review of our own first act.
The Bible says that God is the literal Father of our spirits, and Jesus Christ was his first-begotten Son. Like Jesus we have all seen God, as we lived with him during that long period of our first estate. Presumably we saw the foundations of this earth being laid and knew that we were going to have the great privilege of living upon it. We were informed at that time that during our second estate we would be added upon with these beautiful, wonderful bodies, without which we could not have a fullness of joy either here or hereafter. We were told that for a few years we would have this miraculous power of procreation, making it possible for us to have children and organize a family, which under the authority of the priesthood would be the basic unit throughout eternity. When given this good news the scripture tells us that "... all the sons of God shouted for joy". And I am confident that if we now understood the importance of life as we understood it then, when we walked by sight, we would be willing to crawl on our hands and knees through life for this tremendous privilege which we presently enjoy. But we also knew then that during our second estate it would be necessary for us to learn to walk a little way by faith. It was important in our development that we see good and evil side by side. We needed to be tested and tried with the temptations of mortality and to develop a godly character by the exercise of our own free agency.
Henry Thoreau, an early American philosopher, once said that we should thank God every day of our lives for the privilege of having been born, and then he went on to speculate on the rather unique supposition of what it might have been like if we had not been born, and he pointed out some of the advantages that we would have missed as a consequence. But the scriptures tell us that one-third of all the spirit children of God never were born and never can be born because they joined the rebellion of Satan and their own evil caused them to fail in their first estate. And yet every spirit child of God hungers for a body. Some unembodied spirits who appeared to Jesus in his day preferred to have the bodies of swine rather than have no bodies at all. But because we successfully passed the requirements of our first estate; we earned the right to continue our progression into this life. From the beginning we have lived under the promise that if we passed the test of faithfulness during our years of mortality, we would graduate into a glorious, everlasting third estate. The third act is where the happy endings are; that is where the rewards are handed out. The third act is where, like the Redeemer himself, we may qualify for a glorious bodily resurrection and have all of the possibilities of eternal progression made available to us. To help us get ready we may pre-live our own third act by studying the prophetic pages of the holy scriptures.
I have a relative who practices this interesting forward-looking philosophy. When she reads a novel, she always reads the last chapter first. She wants to know before she starts where she is going to be when she gets through. That is also a pretty good idea for life.
Nothing is more clearly written in the scripture than the fact that the life of Christ did not begin at Bethlehem; neither did it end on Calvary. Jesus said, "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father". In his prayer in Gethsemane he said, "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was". Jesus was the first-begotten Son of God in the spirit and the only-begotten Son of God in the flesh. But God is also our eternal Heavenly Father, and it is just as certain that our lives did not begin when we were born; neither will they end when we die. Like our Elder Brother, in the spirit we were also begotten in God's image. We were also endowed with a set of his attributes and made heirs to his glory. And the greatest idea that I know of in the world is God's promise that through our faithfulness we may become even as he is.
But these truths having to do with our own glorious destiny have always been difficult for some people to get into their souls. When Jesus said, "I and my Father are one", the people took up stones to stone him for blasphemy. They gave their reason by saying, "... because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God". Jesus quoted to them the ancient Psalm in which God pointed out the destiny of his faithful children by saying, "I have said, Ye are gods". Then trying to help them to understand, Jesus said, "Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?"
And said he, "If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
"Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest because I said, I am the Son of God?".
We are still having some of this problem in our own day. In our disbelief we downgrade our divine possibilities. Paul said to the Corinthians, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him". We can imagine some wonderful things, but we cannot even conceive of that magnificent experience that lies beyond the borders of this life. Certainly the greatest wonders of the future will not be in the improvement of our television or our airplanes; they will be primarily in ourselves. The greater the understanding of our own future, the more effectively we will be able to prepare for it. And why should we call God our Heavenly Father and at the same time fail to believe his promise that the offspring of God may someday become like the parent? The great message of the Church in our own day is that God the Eternal Father has reappeared upon this earth to reestablish among men a belief in the God of Genesis, the God of Mount Sinai, the God of Calvary, and the God of the latter days. The message has been renewed that the second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth is near at hand, and he has also reaffirmed the fact that those who are faithful will be exalted and permitted to rule with him throughout eternity. If we only believe, then all things are possible and we will be able to make the necessary preparation. If the godlike powers of man are so manifest even in his present fallen state, what may be the eternal potential of that great masterpiece which God created in his own image?
The universe is God's handiwork, but man is his son. God placed the gold and silver in the earth, but he endowed his children with his own attributes and made them heirs to his potentialities. And according to his own immutable laws of heredity, the children may hope sometime to become like the parents. We should cling to our inheritance. There is everything in knowing our origin and possible destiny and in constantly reaffirming them in our lives. Someone once said to his friend, "Who do you think you are?" And he whispered quietly to himself, "I wish I knew."
Someday we will more clearly know who we are. We will understand the great scriptural teaching that God, angels, spirits, and men are all of the same species in different stages of righteousness and development. The scriptures point out that Jesus, the firstborn Son of God, was in "... the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person". But this same great truth also applies to us and will be manifest in our own future.
In singing of man's glory, the inspired Psalmist said, "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
"For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
"Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet". Another translation of this line says, "Thou madest him a little while inferior to the angels". Certainly God must have had a great destiny in mind for us when he promised to give us dominion over the works of his hands and to put all things under our feet. John the Revelator refers to man's divine possibilities by saying that God will make us kings and priests unto him for ever.
Many years ago in speaking of the possibility of the eternal progression of God's children, B. H. Roberts said, "Think for a moment what progress a man makes within the narrow limits of this life. Regard him as he lies in the lap of his mother, a newborn babe! There are eyes, indeed, that may see, but cannot distinguish objects; ears that may hear, but cannot distinguish sounds; hands as perfectly fashioned as Yours or mine, but helpless, withal; feet and limbs, but they are unable to bear the weight of his body, much less walk. There lies a man in embryo, but helpless. And yet, within the span of three score years and ten, by the marvelous working of that wondrous power within... what a change may be wrought! From the helpless babe may arise one like Demosthenes, or Cicero, or Pitt, or Burke, or Fox, or Webster, who shall compel listening senates to hear him, and by his master mind dominate their intelligence and their will, and compel them to think in channels that he shall mark out for them. Or from such a babe may come a Nebuchadnezzar, or an Alexander, or a Napoleon, who shall found empires and give direction to the course of history. From such a beginning may come a Lycurgus, a Solon, a Moses, or a Justinian, who shall give constitutions and laws to kingdoms, empires and republics, blessing happy millions unborn in their day, and direct the course of nations along paths of orderly peace and virtuous liberty. From the helpless babe may come a Michelangelo, who, from some crude mass of stone from the mountain side shall work out a heaven-born vision that shall hold the attention of men for generations, and make them wonder at the God-like powers of man that has created an all but living and breathing statue. Or a Mozart, a Beethoven, or a Handel... may... call out from the silence those melodies and the richer harmonies that lift the soul out of its present narrow prison house and give it fellowship for a season with the Gods. Or from that... babe may arise a master mind who shall seize the helm of the ship of state, and give to a nation course and direction through troublesome times, and anchor it at last in a haven of peace, prosperity and liberty; crown it with honor, too, and give it a proud standing among the nations of the earth; while he, the savior of his country, is followed by the benedictions of his countrymen.
"And all this may be done by a man in life! Nay, it has been done, between the cradle and the grave... Then what may not be done in eternity by one of these God-men? Remove from his path the incident of death; or, better yet, contemplate him as raised from the dead; and give to him in the full splendor of manhood's estate, immortality, endless existence, what may we not hope that he will accomplish? What limits can you venture to fix as marking the boundary of his development, of his progress?... Why should there be any limits thought of? Grant immortality to man and God for his guide, what is there in the way of intellectual, moral, and spiritual development that he may not aspire to? If within the short space of mortal life there are men who rise up out of infancy and become masters of the elements of fire and water and earth and air, so that they well-nigh rule them as Gods, what may it not be possible for them to do in a few hundreds or thousands of millions of years?... To what heights of power and glory may they not ascend?"
Certainly one of the greatest concepts of holy scripture is this great truth wherein speaking of our potentiality God himself has proclaimed, "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High".
May God bless our lives that through our understanding, our faith, and our good works we may reach the glorious destiny which he has ordained. For this I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Mark E. Petersen
Mark E. Petersen, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 59-63
Latter-day Saints Believe
We Latter-day Saints believe in the Lord Jesus Christ wholeheartedly and without reservation.
He is the Savior of the world, the Redeemer of all mankind. He is the Son of Almighty God. He is divine.
All power was given to him in heaven and on earth. He is the Creator. He made this planet on which we live and all other heavenly bodies.
As the scriptures say, "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made".
He became flesh and dwelt among mankind, some of whom beheld his glory, even the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. His mortal advent was accompanied by much sorrow and suffering, but the greatest tragedy of his coming was that the people generally, and more particularly their leaders, did not-or would not-either recognize or accept him.
His coming was not unexpected.
Quite the contrary.
The people of that day were anxiously looking for their Messiah, whose advent was clearly foretold in the scriptures with which they were well familiar. Particularly were the scribes, the lawyers, the high priests, and the learned members of the Sanhedrin well informed. They knew what the prophets had said about the expected Savior, but these self-centered leaders were so steeped in their traditions that they would not admit what they must have known to be true.
He was rejected
They were so jealous of their own positions that they were not willing to give way to the new King of Israel. This jealousy was so deep and bitter that it bred thoughts of murder in their hearts. They determined to kill him and on many occasions tried to trap him. At last, by the use of false witnesses, they condemned and crucified him.
It was the greatest tragedy of their lives.
Their God came among them, and they would not receive him. When he revealed his true identity, they said he blasphemed. They preferred not to associate him with the scriptures which so unerringly designated him as the Christ, and there were many such scriptures.
Let us briefly review some of the prophecies by which he could have been identified by any open-minded person.
Isaiah gave the first sign when he said: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel".
And did it not come to pass just as the prophet said?
Was not this virgin birth heralded among the shepherds who watched their flocks that night and by the angelic hosts who sang their hosannahs? Did not even the wise men, far away in the East, recognize it? And was not Herod so frightened by it that he killed the little children in an effort to destroy the newborn King?
The scripture was so detailed in describing the coming of the Lord that it predicted the flight into Egypt to escape Herod's wrath, as it also foretold the king's destruction of the little babies in Bethlehem.
It said that Jesus would be reared in the village of Nazareth. It indicated that he would perform many miracles and that he would teach in parables. It forecast his triumphal entry into Jerusalem and said: "Thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, the foal of an ass".
It told of the disbelief with which most of the people would regard him and of their hatred toward him, saying that he would be smitten, despised, and rejected, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
It predicted the betrayal of the Savior, actually mentioning the price to be paid: thirty pieces of silver, and revealed that this money would be used to buy a potter's field.
The prophets also predicted that at his crucifixion the soldiers would divide his clothing among them and explained that his bones would not be broken, but that his body would be pierced so that his blood would be shed, as with a sacrificial lamb.
All these marks of identification of the true Messiah were known in that day. For years they had been familiar to those who read the scriptures.
But they were ignored.
The Savior was rejected, and the world went back into the oblivion of its traditions.
Great as was this tragedy for the people of that generation, we of today are in danger of making a similar mistake. The Savior will come again in a glorious second advent, and definite signs are given in Holy Writ to presage this event also.
These signs are shown as clearly in scripture as were those of his mortal ministry. They are unmistakable. They are about us today and readily may be seen now.
Will our generation recognize them and wisely give heed to them? Or will these modern signs be rejected with all that they imply as were those of nearly two thousand years ago when the people of that generation failed to identify their Lord?
Let us review some of these modern signs, remembering that there are many more than the often-mentioned wars and rumors of wars and seas heaving themselves beyond their bounds.
The gathering of the Jews to Palestine is one of the most outstanding and significant of all the signs of the times. The Lord said through Jeremiah: "... I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it". Isaiah indicated that Palestine, long languishing in the grip of the desert, was destined to be turned into a fruitful field in connection with the gathering of the Jews to their homeland.
Have these predictions been fulfilled?
Today the nation of Israel, with a population of two and a half million people, occupies the land which the Lord gave to their fathers. It is a direct fulfillment of prophecy. It is a sign of the near approach of the Lord.
With their return the land has been revitalized. Palestine today is a fruitful field. We who live in England know how fruitful it is, for there we receive its oranges, its grapefruit, and other produce, which are likewise shipped to many parts of the world.
On August 15 of this year, the London Times reported that the nation of Israel had awarded contracts for the construction of thirty new cargo ships to be added to its already large and prosperous merchant marine to handle the agricultural exports of this little nation. So productive has Israel become.
The land has blossomed as the rose in fulfillment of prophecy.
But there is another sign closely allied to it which Isaiah said would precede Palestine's renewed fertility.
A sacred book was to come forth before that time-one which was new to the world, one that told of a fallen nation which was destroyed suddenly-a book to be offered in the latter days to a learned man who would reject it, but to be given by divine means to an unlettered man through whom it was to be given to the world.
Isaiah said that the book would be of such spiritual importance that it would cause many to rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. "And in that day," he said, "shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness" It shall cause the meek to "increase their joy in the Lord ".
Ezekiel spoke of the same book, explaining that it is the sacred record of the descendants of Joseph who was sold into Egypt, and that it would stand side by side with the Bible as a new volume of scripture.
Where is that book? It is one of the signs of the times.
Not only did the prophets predict its appearance, but Isaiah set a limit on the time of its publication. That time limit was related to the period when fertility would return to Palestine. Isaiah said that the book would come forth first, and then added that in "a very little while... Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest".
The time limit has expired. This new volume of scripture must have come forth before now or Isaiah was not a true prophet, for Palestine is fruitful again.
Where is that book?
Let us consider still another sign: The Apostle Peter taught that before the second coming of Christ there will be a restoration of all things religious, whatsoever "... God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began" . A new revelation of God was promised for the latter days-restoring the complete gospel to mankind.
The scripture teaches that this restoration would be accompanied by heavenly manifestations, including the ministry of angels. The prophet said that one of these angels must fly from the heavens in the latter days bringing back to earth the everlasting gospel to be preached anew to every nation, tongue, and people.
His coming is related to the new book of scripture mentioned by both Isaiah and Ezekiel. Has this angel come? Is the book available?
As part of this restoration the prophet also said that Elijah of old must come again to earth shortly before the great and dreadful day of the Lord in another modern revelation of heavenly power. Has Elijah come in this modern assignment? What was the purpose of his coming?
Do we believe the prophets?
Is the Bible true?
If Elijah has come, to whom did he come, and where?
Who saw him?
Who talked with him, and when?
His modern appearance is given as one of the signs of the near approach of the Lord.
The Prophet Daniel also knew of these events. He predicted that in the latter days God would establish his kingdom once more upon the earth, this time never to be destroyed nor given to another people.
Has that prophecy been fulfilled?
Has there been a new and modern establishment of God's kingdom on earth?
If so, is it related to the restoration of all things formerly revealed through the ancient prophets, as indicated by the Apostle Peter?
How could it be otherwise?
These inspired men spoke of the same thing: God's advance preparation for the second coming of Christ.
Where is that divinely established kingdom of modern times?
Isaiah even tells us where to look for it. He said that in the latter days God would establish his kingdom in the tops of the mountains, and that a temple would be built there in a high place, exalted above the hills, and that people from all nations would flow to it.
Where in a high mountain area has God thus erected his temple as he built his latter-day kingdom?
Look for it. It is one of the signs of the times.
Will we who live today be willing to accept these signs as we see them, or will we reject them in a spiritual and temporal tragedy like that of nearly two thousand years ago?
Will the marvels of our so-called enlightened age blind us to the events foretold in prophecy or convince us that they are unreal or that they are but myths and superstitions as some already say?
Will mankind once again deny their Lord?
We Latter-day Saints testify that these important signs, telling of the near approach of the second coming of Christ, have taken place and may be examined by any interested person.
The physical restoration of Palestine is a fact that no one can deny. It is part of our current history.
The book destined to precede renewed fertility in the Holy Land is also a reality. It is now in publication. It is the Book of Mormon, the sacred scripture of ancient America. It has taken its place by the side of the Bible as Ezekiel said it would. Let no one ridicule it nor ask if any good can come out of Nazareth. The book is true, and it is here for all to read.
Elijah has made his second appearance, and the results of his work may be seen and examined on every hand. The scripture says that the purpose of his mission was to turn the hearts of the present-day generation to their forefathers. This has been done through a worldwide interest in ancestry on a scale never before known.
Today there are many genealogical libraries and associations in different parts of the world, and literally millions of people of various religious denominations are tracing their ancestry, many of them not knowing why. Each one of them is direct evidence of the present-day ministry of Elijah.
Daniel's prophecy also has been fulfilled.
The Lord's kingdom has been established in the midst of the greatest mountain chain on earth, with headquarters nearly a mile above sea level, here in Salt Lake City.
The temple foreseen in scripture has now been built and is in daily use.
The kingdom of God has been re-established on the earth.
As Peter predicted, the time of the restoration of all things revealed by ancient prophets has now come.
The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored with its full organization, headed by prophets and apostles who, as Paul explained, form the foundation of the Church, with Christ himself as the chief cornerstone.
Acceptance of these vivid signs of the times can lead mankind back to God in this day of widespread unbelief. Ignoring them may bring a tragedy like that of two thousand years ago.
It is true that we are living in a marvelous age of intellectual and scientific development. But this, too, is one of the signs of the times and supports, rather than obscures, the prophecies of which we have spoken.
Let us not misunderstand our situation. Let us not suppose that our own wisdom is so great that we can ignore the handiwork of God.
As truly as that we are in a space age, as truly as that we can fire missiles into orbit, just that truly will the events spoken of in the scriptures come to pass.
The greatest miracle of the present day is not that we can send a spaceship to photograph the planet Mars.
The greatest miracle is that God has spoken in our time and has appeared in person to modern man, to be seen, and heard, and understood. He has restored his gospel in its fullest detail. This he has done in preparation for the glorious second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in whose holy name we give this as our solemn testimony. Amen.
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 65-72
My brothers and sisters: I desire today to emphasize our responsibility to the children of Father Lehi. In preface may I present this human drama composed of several acts and a number of scenes.
The time: yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The place: the world. The performers: flesh and blood and spirit people, awakening from the centuries' long sleep of their ancestors.
There he is running like the wind, barefoot, hatless, long hair in flight, in worn overalls and ragged shirt, his face brown, not only by the Arizona sun and wind, but from his parents, themselves brown-skinned. Barry and his little brother and sisters are a lively group, playing around the rock, pole, and dirt hogan. As we approach they scamper to cover in the hogan. Timidly in the doorway he peeks out as we approach. The Begays, sitting on the dirt floor, are eating their meal.
There is a leg of mutton. There is fry bread. There are no spoons nor forks. There is no milk; they have no cow. There is no salad, they have no garden. Their fare is scant.
Barry is seven. His little brother has no clothes on his little brown body. The little sisters have long, full skirts like their mother's, some silver coins sewed to their blouses.
The mother wears a worn, purple, velveteen skirt, reaching nearly to her ankles and a waist of greenish hue. Out here styles change slowly if at all. Her shoes are high-laced ones, her hair in a bob at the back tied with white wool yam. The father is thin and tall. He wears his curled-up hat even while he eats. They are not demonstrative, but it is evident that pride and affection are in these humble quarters.
A few days pass. It is bright and summery. Barry Begay is herding the few sheep. There is little fat on their bones, for this pasture is overgrazed and is dry and dusty. The scraggly dog also shows malnutrition. But as he barks and bites hind legs, the woolly animals heed direction. The little boy has a man's responsibility, for there are coyotes and other predatory animals also starving in this barren valley, and the sheep are precious. The lamb furnishes meat for the table; the pelt covers the cold ground in their hogan, being at once rug, chair, bed, cover. The fleece is sold at the trading post or saved to cord and spin and weave into rugs to exchange for flour and cloth and food.
Under the shade of the lone cedar tree, Mother Begay, an expert in her field, sits on the ground and laboriously works into an intricate design the yams she has dyed in brilliant colors.
Two years have passed. Nine-year old Barry may now go to the new government school only three miles away. How they want education for their children! Little Susie can now herd the sheep and drive away the predatory thieves. John Begay hitches up the hungry-looking horses to the light spring wagon; and they all drive to the school near the trading post, the mother and the children sitting on the floor, the father driving. For Barry it will be a long walk, and at times the wind will be merciless, the sun will beat down like a blowtorch, and the snow will be wet and freezing; but loving parents, ambitious to give their children what they never had, and a starry-eyed little boy are determined to make the effort.
A year has passed eventfully. It is a summer day, and the wind in whirling cones picks up trash and tumbleweeds and dances across the valley. Two fair and well-groomed young men are walking toward the hogan. Father Begay is fixing his wagon, and Mother Begay sits under the gnarled, weathered cedar, weaving her blanket.
"Yatehee," they say in greeting as they wipe the sweat from their brows and introduce themselves as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Begays have heard about the elders whom they called gamalii. They become interested as they listen. From the briefcase comes a little black book, and in spite of the Navajo-English language barrier, John and Mary Begay seemed to understand that the book was a history of their "old people" back for ages. It seemed that the spirit which accompanied the strange mixture of words and signs was like a "familiar spirit". Curiosity, genuine interest, and the pleasing personalities of the teenage ministers brought about many hours of learning, and then one day it happened. The Begay family members were baptized in the little pond some distance away, and when they had returned to the hogan, the young men laid their hands on their heads and conferred upon each the Holy Ghost. The Begays were members of the far-away Salt Lake City church, in which they now had confidence and a warm feeling of belonging. The missionaries returned frequently and taught them. Sundays, the family drove the wagon to the little branch many miles away to meet with the other Indians who were also joining the Church.
Time moves on. The Mormon elders have moved a trailer house near the school, and Barry attends the seminary they are teaching. It is crowded, but the elders tell the little red men stories about their forebears and teach them honesty and kindness and goodness and of the big, wide world "out there" where Indian children may have all that non-Indian children have. The little Indians have found real friends in the young elders as they learn English, ethics, and doctrine not taught in the secular school.
Barry is ten years old now, husky, laughing, running, and joking. He is summer-herding the sheep. The missionaries have announced a fantastic program. Barry may go to faraway Utah and live in a good home, attend a superior school, and be given advantages not afforded on the reservation. "Unthinkable," his parents feel at first, to send their little boy so far away for so long a time, but the Littlehorse family had spent one season in the beet fields up there and glowingly told of that promised land of prosperity and opportunity. Convinced it was for Barry's good, they agreed.
When the time came, all the family went in the wagon to the point of assembly, a day's journey away, and, with few tears but pounding hearts, placed their loved boy on the big bus with about thirty other little Indian boys and girls. They stoically stood like statues until the bus disappeared over the distant horizon. The hogan was a little empty without Barry, but opportunity would come to him. The chaperones on the bus were pleasant and tender, the bus driver was kindly, and their faith in their new Mormon brothers and sisters sustained them.
A few days later the Begays relived at the trading post a fat letter from the Smiths, the foster family here Barry had become a loved member, telling the intriguing story of how the bus had been met by interested case workers, former missionaries who fed the Indian people, how he had been shingled by a kindly volunteer barber, bathed and shampooed by other friendly volunteer men, and then had been examined by dentists and doctors and interested and concerned nurses, all of whom freely gave their time without compensation. The letter told then of a loving family driving to their comfortable home far away-how he had immediately found real companionship in a white brother his own age. The letter told of Barry's timidity and silence at first and then his blossoming out when he felt the warmth in his new home and family. And there was a picture of Barry. He is in new overalls and shirt and seemed happy.
Barry has been home for two summers and eagerly returned to Utah each August. The Begay family themselves are on the big bus headed northward. They locate the Smith family home, and what a joy to these good parents as they find Barry sharing a pleasant room with Sammy. They visit the school, and Barry and Sammy come meet them-white and brown, arms about each other. What an exultant moment! Embraces, tears, affection, pride. Barry is clean and neat, his eyes sparkling. It is evident he is well accepted here. The teacher comes to meet them, and there is warmth and friendliness.
The Begays attend the Sunday services with the foster family. They are little fearful of all these sophisticated folks but are soon at ease, and many me to greet them. In the Sunday school there are two or three hundred people, all Mormons like themselves. Two young people give extemporaneous talks, one a little white girl and the other their own Barry. He stands up speaks up in good English, and their pride knows no bounds. The Sacrament is administered, and, with nine other boys about the same size, Barry, a deacon, carries the plate with the broken bread, then the tray with the little paper cups of water blessed by two larger boys, one of them also an Indian.
What a new world the Begays have now entered! What a world of opportunity for their firstborn. They will try to get their little girls also in the program. They return home at peace, knowing their son is in good hands.
The summers are delightful for Barry. He is back with the sheep-back in the hogan, where there are now beds and a table and chairs. He is helping the Begay family to get into the regular habit of family prayers on their knees, which was so foreign to them, but they are learning the "Lord's way." They are speaking better English now that Barry teaches them. This carefree summer is a happy one for all the family. Out in the wind and the weather, he runs and yells and plays. On Sundays the Begays drive to the distant branch, and Barry helps with the Sacrament and speaks in the meeting, telling about his experiences in the northern land.
The summer is over, and Barry is as eager to go as he was to return home. Again the family is at the gathering point, and three instead of one climb out of the Begay wagon and board the big bus for the north. The two sisters have mixed feelings of awe and wonder and fear and eagerness. With near empty arms and hearts, the Begay parents return with their smaller ones to the hogan. Their personal sacrifices for their children are calculated ones.
Arriving in Utah, there are happy renewals of friendships. His white brother is overjoyed at the reunion. Barry is now a teacher in the priesthood, and, with a white adult brother, he visits five families and teaches them the gospel. Barry and Sammy are enrolled in seminary where they learn the gospel and to pray and speak and socialize. Barry is in MIA, the youth organization, and takes part in the dramatic skits, sings in the music groups, and is prominent in athletics. Young Begay for two years wears a Scout uniform purchased with money his generous foster family made possible for him to earn. He will go to Provo with hundreds of other Explorers, white, brown, and yellow. Now he is a priest. He may baptize with authority, bless the Sacrament emblems; in fact, no privilege of any boy is denied this fast-growing, young brave.
Eventful, full years have passed. It is graduation night, and Barry and his friend-brother are in cap and gown and in the line to receive high school diplomas. His foster family are as proud of Barry as of their own son. Barry has been president of his class, presiding over white and red. He was swift and strong and accurate on the ward basketball team. He has participated in every activity of the school, Church, and community.
At home this summer, he finds his parents have been prospering. Their faithful lives have brought them a degree of prosperity. No money do they spend on tobacco or liquor. All goes into their progressive living. Barry is surprised to find this time a two-room, frame house out in front of the hogan. There are curtains at the windows and rugs on the lumber floors and a cupboard with dishes and pots and pans. The gospel and the church associations are working miracles with the Begay family. When on Sunday he is called on to speak by the Indian president of the branch, he stands tall and straight and there is firmness in his voice as he says: "I am proud I am a Mormon. I am grateful for all the kindness of the people of the Church. I am proud I am an Indian. I am proud of my people. I intend to train to serve them, I shall attend Brigham Young University, and then I desire to fulfill a mission for the Church."
Another year is history. Two young nineteen-year-olds, one red and one white, are driving a car on the Indian reservation. They approach a cluster of hogans and spend the day among the families. The white companion sits quietly, adding a thought now and then; but the Indian elder-for he now holds the highest priesthood known to man-can speak two languages fluently. He knows these people's thinking processes, their idioms and expressions, their reactions. He is educated and inspires confidence. Coffee is thrown away, and milk substituted. No more liquor for these good people-that money will go into fixing up the home. A baptismal service is being conducted at the river, and twenty men, women, and children are brought into the fold of Christ's Church. The two missionaries take turns in baptizing and confirming. A little branch is soon organized; and Elder Begay is its first president, soon to be replaced by the older Indian converts as they are trained.
We enter a new chapel on the reservation and hear a chatter which is unintelligible. Why such a noise on this weekday morning? We open the door and see about ten young missionaries in a semicircle and Barry, the expert, as instructor. He is drilling them in Navajo so that they may better reach the understanding of the Indians on the reservation. He gives them a word. In unison they repeat it over and over. He corrects their pronunciation. He gives them a sentence, and they respond individually and as a group hundreds of times. A couple of intense hours and they take a breather, then are at it again. Their sounds must be near perfect. From Monday to Saturday they drill, then return to proselyting for three weeks using that which they have learned, and they note that the Navajos listen more intently now. Another week of drilling, then three weeks putting to use that which they have learned. Oh, how the Indians drink in the gospel message as it comes flowing clearly and distinctly from Elder Begay and his companions. The baptisms increase, and the branches grow.
Two years have flown by as by magic. Elder Begay says farewell to his fellow missionaries, stops a few days at the Begay home to ruffle his hair, put on his old overalls, run with the dog, tend the sheep, and to tell his loved folks more about the glorious message he has learned-and of the beautiful, talented Indian girl he met at the university, and of her concurrent mission in the Northern Indian Mission, and of his growing romantic interest in her. As he returns to college the wise and generous tribe gives him a scholarship, making his further education a certainty. There is pride and heartache, loneliness and joy as the Begays wave at the northbound bus heading for Provo.
Time flies on wings of lightning. We are now in a beautiful temple dedicated in "holiness to the Lord." The room is large, modest, exquisite. The tan rug helps keep a sacred quietness. In the center is the altar tastefully upholstered. Many people are here in white, for they, with Barry and the returned lady missionary Gladys, also have previously secured their holy endowments in the temple. The many witnesses are both Indian and non-Indian.
Four parents are here, exultant: the foster parents, the Smiths, so kind and gracious and generous, and there, miracle of miracles, are John and Mary Begay. The years and the associations have made some changes. They are older now. His long bobbed hair of years ago is short. He has been wearing a suit; his shoes have been shined and his clothes pressed. There he sits, tall and dark and handsome in his white temple clothes-robes appearing to be even whiter in contrast with his ruddy, happy, smiling face. And there sits Mary. Though she still loves her beads and turquoise, her silver and her velveteen, she now modernizes and styles her hair and dresses. And there she sits smiling, wondering, expectant, and happy beyond expression. Today she is to be sealed for all eternity to this stalwart husband with whom she has shared joy and pain, hardship and privilege, wind and weather, and she will be his loved wife for endless ages. How glad she was that the Mormon elders found her long ago weaving under that gnarled cedar! These new gospel truths are even more beautiful now.
And here we are in the house of the Lord, and with the eternal priceless keys of the priesthood, I am performing these holy ordinances. What a beautiful couple they are as tall, stalwart, intelligent Barry and his bright-eyed sweetheart Gladys stand admiring each other, then kneel and are sealed for all eternity! She wipes a tear, and his eyes are glistening. These and the tears from others around the room are not white tears or red tears for tears are not white tears or red tears, for tears are colorless, but impressive tears as they roll down both brown faces and white.
And now John and Mary come to the altar. Ah! What joy! What satisfaction! What accomplishment! A long looked for and awaited privilege is finally here. They kneel at the altar. The faces, which were near expressionless that first time we saw them, are now beaming. There is a new light in those eyes. In their white temple clothing, they look heavenly. And through the impressive priesthood ceremony, Mary becomes the wife of John for all eternity. These tears are quiet, happy tears. There are, you know, tears of ecstasy and joy, and these were of that holy kind.
Now John and Mary and Barry and his brother and sisters, all in white, become a tightly sealed eternal family. The guests are embracing them, and happy faces respond to kindly congratulations.
The today is gone, tomorrow dawns. More years pass on. We are on the university campus. The organ is playing a staccato march. A long double line of people in dark gowns, some adorned with bright colors and all with tasseled caps, march from the gathering field to the auditorium. The main body of the house is occupied by the graduates, the sidelines by relatives and friends. I peer about for certain faces. Ah yes, they are there on the sixth row, and the Begay parents are beaming. By them is Gladys with two little ones by her side and a baby in her arms. The marching lines are punctuated with darker faces. Yes, there is an Indian graduate, and there, and there, and there. How rewarding! And there is Barry. How handsome he is, and poised! Our pride is boundless. And now the president of the university is awarding the doctor's degrees. When the name "Barry Begay" is spoken, my heart jumps. Barry Begay with a doctor's degree! Our Barry Begay with a PhD! Our Barry Begay! All our efforts, our disappointments, our worries, our battles with contending forces, all our waiting and striving and praying! Our dreams are coming true! John, Mary, and Gladys modestly wait their turn to express pride and affection to their Dr. Barry Begay.
The scene changes to the Hole in the Rock at the Red Haystacks Cliffs at Window Rock. Several years have passed. We enter the little "Pentagon" in little "Washington," and at his desk in a most vital position is tribal councilman Barry Begay, tall and handsome and wielding a powerful influence among his people. Because of him and his fellow workers, the Indians now ride in better cars on safer highways to better homes. There are lights and water and telephones and radio and TV. Their sick and afflicted are treated in modern, well-equipped hospitals, and Indian nurses attend the patients for whom Indian doctors prescribe and on whom they operate. Tribal funds derived from gas, oil, coal, and timber guarantee every Indian child schooling through college. The former powwows are now fairs-dignified, colorful, impressive, national attractions. The Indians are experts on the farm, on the grazing lands, in the silversmith shop. Indian teachers train the little ones; Indian lawyers look after legal matters. Trained Indians are prominent in office, industry, business, government, and on college faculties. There are Indian governors, senators, and impressive and influential laymen.
The scene changes and years pass. It is the Sabbath, and stake conference is in session. The great congregation is mostly Indian. The one-hundred voice choir is a dark-skinned folk, though they are now much lighter. They have long been delightsome. It is 10 am. General Authorities from Salt Lake City are on the stand. The high council and the bishoprics, largely Indian, sit on the stand of the newly completed stake and ward building. Here is dignity and impressiveness. Three thousand eyes and an equal number of ears are focused on the impressive man who rises to the pulpit and opens the stake conference. It is President Barry Begay, former bishop, called Doctor Begay at the little "Pentagon," who preaches such a profound sermon to his people. His children are all being well trained. His son Barry, Jr., is on a mission in Bolivia.
It is President Begay, Doctor Begay, Brother Begay, Elder Begay who administers to the sick in the hospital, preaches funeral sermons, assists people with their marital, moral, financial problems. It is our Barry Begay, a little boy who is now a big man.
Barry Begay is typical. There are thousands of Barrys. They are of many tribes from New York to San Diego, and from Alaska to Florida, and from the isles of the sea. They are of numerous tribes and of many languages and dialects. They are coming from Cardston and Bemidji, from Blackfoot and Hopi-land, from South America and Mexico. They are coming to training in schools and church, growing in wisdom and coming into their own, learning the best of the white man's culture and retaining the best of their own.
The Lord chose to call them Lamanites. They are fulfilling prophecies. They are a chosen people with rich blood in their veins. They are casting off the fetters of superstition, fear, ignorance, and prejudice and are clothing themselves with knowledge, good works, and righteousness. And this Church is elated to have an important part in bringing about this transformation. The prophet echoed the promise of the Father of us all when he wrote:
"And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost, and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day... how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be".
Yesterday they were deprived, weakening, vanishing; today thousands are benefiting in the Indian seminaries, in regular seminaries and institutes as they become involved in the placement program and church work within the stakes and missions. Numerous are receiving secular as well as spiritual training in Mexico, South America, and Hawaii and the isles of the sea. Many are now in college and large numbers in full-time mission service. Tens of thousands are now eligible for superior training and service through church organizations in all the Americas and in the Pacific. Lamanite-Nephite leaders are now standing forth to direct and inspire their people. The day of the Lamanite is come, and tomorrow will be even better.
May I conclude with this experience of my friend and brother, Boyd K. Packer, as he returned from Peru. It was in a branch Sacrament meeting. The chapel was filled, the opening exercises finished, and the Sacrament in preparation. A little Lamanite ragamuffin entered from the street. His two shirts would scarcely make one, so ragged they were and torn and worn. It was unlikely that those shirts had ever been off that little body since they were donned. Calloused and chapped were the little feet which brought him in the open door, up the aisle, and to the Sacrament table. There was dark and dirty testimony of deprivation, want, unsatisfied hungers-spiritual as well as physical. Almost unobserved he shyly came to the Sacrament table and with a seeming spiritual hunger, leaned against the table and lovingly rubbed his unwashed face against the cool, smooth, white linen.
A woman on a front seat, seemingly outraged by the intrusion, caught his eye and with motion and frown sent the little ragamuffin scampering down the aisle out into this world, the street.
A little later, seemingly compelled by some inner urge, he overcame his timidity and came stealthily, cautiously down the aisle again, fearful, ready to escape if necessary, but impelled as though directed by inaudible voices with "a familiar spirit" and as though memories long faded were reviving, as though some intangible force were crowding him on to seek something for which he yearned but could not identify.
From his seat on the stand, Elder Packer caught his eye, beckoned to him, and stretched out big, welcoming arms. A moment's hesitation and the little ragamuffin was nestled comfortably on his lap, in his arms, the tousled head against a great warm heart-a heart sympathetic to waifs, and especially to little Lamanite ones. It seemed the little one had found a safe harbor from a stormy sea, so contented he was. The cruel, bewildering, frustrating world was outside. Peace, security, acceptance enveloped him.
Later Elder Packer sat in my office and, in tender terms and with a subdued voice, rehearsed this incident to me. As he sat forward on his chair, his eyes glistening, a noticeable emotion in his voice, he said, "As this little one relaxed in my arms, it seemed it was not a single little Lamanite I held. It was a nation, indeed a multitude of nations of deprived, hungering souls, wanting something deep and warm they could not explain-a humble people yearning to revive memories all but faded out-of ancestors standing wide-eyed, openmouthed, expectant and excited, looking up and seeing a holy, glorified Being descend from celestial areas, and hearing a voice say: 'Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are... and in me hath the Father glorified his name...
"'I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end'".
This day of the Lamanite brings opportunity. Millions farm the steep hillsides of Andean ranges and market their produce with llamas and horses and burros. They must have the emancipating gospel. Millions serve in menial labor, eke out bare subsistence from soil and toil. They must hear the compelling truths of the gospel. Millions are tied to reservations, deprived, untrained, and less than they could be. They must have the enlightening gospel. It will break their fetters, stir their ambition, increase their vision and open new worlds of opportunity to them. Their captivity will be at an end-captivity from misconceptions, illiteracy, superstition, fear. "The clouds of error disappear before the rays of truth divine."
And Nephi's vision is realized:
"... I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth".
The brighter day has dawned. The scattering has been accomplished; the gathering is in process. May the Lord bless us all as we become nursing fathers and mothers unto our Lamanite brethren and hasten the fulfillment of the great promises made to them, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder ElRay L. Christiansen
ElRay L. Christiansen, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 74-76
My brethren and sisters: With all my heart I wish to express appreciation to this wonderful chorus of students from the Brigham Young University for having sung those two highly appropriate numbers. It is as if they had expressed the prayer that I have had in my heart, "Shed forth thy Spirit, O Lord," and then that very humbling hymn which they sang so beautifully, "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me."
In what I shall say, I have in mind particularly you who have yet to act upon two momentous questions: Whom shall I marry? Where shall I marry?
There are many ways of doing things; but surely, in anything we do, there's no better way than the right way. And the Lord's way is always the right way. And fortunately, he has made his way very plain. Seldom is our problem one of knowing what is right, but rather in having the wisdom and the will to do what is right.
In my opinion, the most consequential event in your life takes place when you are united as husband and wife. It is bound to have a far-reaching effect upon your future. Like the ripples caused by a pebble cast upon a placid pool, the decision you make in regard to where, with whom, and by whom your marriage ordinance is administered will affect not only you, but the lives of many others, especially your children. In fact, it will likely affect generations to come.
In a matter of such vast importance, it is imperative that sober thought be given to your marriage long before it takes place. It is not merely for biological, social, or economic reasons that two people are united in matrimony. The purpose of marriage is far more sacred and more far-reaching than that.
We must realize, first of all, that marriage is a holy relationship designed by our Heavenly Father for the divine purpose of perfecting us and those who follow us. This is done in part by the husband and wife learning to love and respect each other as they should and in rearing children in the manner prescribed by the Lord.
After all, a person's dearest possessions are his loved ones-his companion and his family. In the hearts most of us there exists a deep spiritual affinity for our loved ones. It is natural to enjoy each other now and to look forward with assurance a grand reunion with them in the resurrection. True love is not earthbound. It is as eternal as our spirits, which never die. A continuing association in this life and in the next with those we love should be the great desire of every person. It is the ultimate! It is the greatest achievement in mortality!
It was President George Albert Smith who said this: "Fathers, I do not care how much property you have, what honor you may attain to-it is immaterial to me whether your names are written in the records of history because of your accomplishments.... The greatest blessings are your boys and your girls ".
But such an eternal relationship with our loved ones does not come about automatically, as some have supposed. It must not only be planned for; it must be earned.
Do you realize that only when you have lived in harmony with all the laws and ordinances of the priesthood, which include those administered in holy temples, that you can expect to find yourselves prepared to dwell in what I sometimes refer to as the "Kingdom of Families"?
In a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord has said: "And they who are not sanctified through the law which I have given unto you, even the law of Christ, must inherit another kingdom, even that of a terrestrial kingdom, or that of a telestial kingdom.
"For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory". And it is in that kingdom where husbands and wives will continue as such and where we may be surrounded by our loved ones, if we are willing to "pay the price."
Our heritage of doctrine in this Church and of knowledge and of authority to act in the name of the Lord is tremendous. How fortunate it is that after its absence from the earth for hundreds of years the Lord has revealed anew the principle of the covenant of eternal marriage and has restored the divine authority to administer it. It is here. It is yours to embrace! With the knowledge that it is the Lord's way and therefore the right way, no Latter-day Saint with a concordant spirit would deviate from it. Some may say, "Why not try a civil marriage first and if it works then later on go to the temple?" But surely the time to be married right is when you marry. Can we consign the Lord's prescribed way to a secondary position? We cannot. When you consider the incomparable blessings and the promises that may be realized in a marriage that may be perpetuated through the eternities ahead of you as compared with a temporary association, your desire, your determination should be to take hold of and insure these blessings and promises.
If ever there was a time to be realistic and to act in the light of things as they are, if ever there was a time to "use your heads," so to speak, it is when the thought of marriage first enters your mind, and from that point on to strive to become worthy and prepared to enter into that holy place and there receive the blessings that the Lord has awaiting for the faithful.
The necessity of this is emphasized in the words of President Joseph F. Smith who explained so clearly: "Unless a man and wife are married by the power of God and his authority, they become single again, they have no claim upon each other, after death; their contract is filled... and is therefore of no force in and after the resurrection".
This means that those husbands and wives who do not accept this heaven-sent gift will come forth in the resurrection separately, with no claim upon each other and with no claim upon their children. Think of it! To pass by this would be to pass by the greatest of all gifts that God can offer us-the means to eternal happiness.
It is comforting to know that death need not long separate husbands and wives and that death will not separate them if the sealing received in the temple is approved by the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the Holy Ghost. Moreover, death does not deny parents from associating with their children if they are born in the covenant previously made by their parents in the holy temple or if they are sealed in holy temples as families, provided, of course, that all remain faithful to the end.
Such "... children are legal heirs," said Brigham Young, "to the Kingdom and to all its blessings and promises"
When two souls have a true love for each other-a genuine, tender affection, not merely a physical attraction-when they are really united in spirit, having the same lofty ideals, the same beliefs, the same standards, trusting each other, confiding in each other; when there is sincere recognition of honor, virtue, and devotion; when such people are joined together through the sealing power and the ordinances thereof, their marriage, if continued on such a basis, should give them assurance and comfort in the thought that even though death may part them, yet in the resurrection they shall come forth and live in the family relationship forever.
In all kindness may I remind you that this is your earthly life that you are living now-yours. You will live it but once! There will be no rerun. There will be no repeat performance. What you do now in this life determines where you will be in the life to come. It is your future, your destiny, that you are molding.
You made good in that pre-earth life, of which we have heard today. You must not now "fumble the ball" on the eighteen or twenty year line. When you do take a wrong course, you are undoing the work of your prior existence, for there you struggled for ages to reach mortality where you now are.
My beloved friends, young men and young women, God bless you to keep your lives clean and wholesome, that you may go to him in prayer and ask him to guide you in choosing your mates, and when chosen, that you may both live so that you may enter the house of the Lord in worthiness, for there is no better way than the right way; and the Lord's way is always the right way. A marriage begun the right way starts you on the course to happiness, to the sweetest joy known in this life and throughout the eternities.
To this I bear testimony and pray for all of us the blessings of the Lord to continue and to be increased according to our merits, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Robert L. Simpson
Robert L. Simpson, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 77-79
Twenty years ago during World War II, I walked near the Mediterranean Sea by a city known anciently as Caesarea Philippi. I was all alone. I had come there with the hope of recapturing some of the surrounding influence that gave background to one of the significant discussions of all time. I refer to that occasion when the Savior had asked his disciples: "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?"
"And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets."
Then Christ became more direct, "... But whom say ye that I am?
"And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God".
As never before, the strength, the power, the conviction of that testimony declared so many centuries before had become mine to cherish and harbor as an integral part of my own personal testimony.
What happened to me that beautiful morning in the coasts of Caesarea Philippi was not unique nor was it physical in any way. As Christ explained to Peter: "... flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven". Peter was the recipient of personal revelation! And in like manner this same sweet confirmation of testimony can permeate the hearts of all truth-seeking, conscientious Latter-day Saints the world over. This great gift of personal revelation is unmistakable; it is direct. It is a more sure communication than the audible spoken word, for that which we hear through mortal ears is sometimes distorted, so often misunderstood. This precious gift of spirit speaking to spirit is infallible and direct and, in the case just cited, came from a loving Heavenly Father to his faithful disciple Peter.
During this same conversation, Peter's revelation was referred to as a rock-a rock firm and immovable. "... and upon this rock," the Savior declared, "I will build my church". He selected rock as the perfect symbol of uncompromised truth, the only possible foundation upon which to build his true Church-the rock of revelation.
This same rock of revelation is broad enough for all mankind to build upon. It beckons to all individuals who are willing to put on his yoke, for it is easy and the burden is light. The author of all truth has declared it so.
As a child of God man is never forsaken by him. War and contention among men whether it be an international conflict or a form of family disunity is not God's will. Man's unhappiness is of his own making-a direct result of nonconformity to the plan of life as contained in Heavenly Father's blueprint for happiness. Men never fail because of God's revealed word, but rather, in spite of it.
So how can we know as Peter knew? How can a person achieve this reassuring, motivating certainty that God lives? Surely, if there were no doubts our course would be undeviating. Can it be that only a few are chosen to receive this most precious gift of personal assurance?
The purpose of all creation is, hopefully, that all men may qualify to return to His presence. Now, there are those who spend most of a lifetime debating with themselves. They ask: Is it worth it? or, How can I truly know that this or that is God's will?
As the Savior taught in the temple on one occasion, the Jews marveled at his wisdom and knowledge. "How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?" they asked.
"Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether It be of God, or whether I speak of myself". The key phrase, of course, is, "If any man will do his will." The doing is of prime importance.
We are always touched when we hear a chorus of Primary children sing, "I Am a Child of God." The last two lines of that inspired song read: "Teach me all that I must know, To live with Him some day." I understand that future printings will follow a wise suggestion made by Brother Kimball, that the word "know" be changed to "do." "Teach me all that I must do, To live with Him some day." Only in the doing can we be assured of a confirmation by the spirit-yes, by good works we do become eligible for personal revelation.
May we now turn to another important key to this vital and sought-after knowledge of Deity. Two thousand years ago the great high priest Alma was travelling from city to city. He knew something about personal revelation and seemed most anxious to share it with those he attempted to teach as he declared:
"Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?
"Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit, and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me".
Now, Alma points out here that he did something more than just carry on the work. He hastened his process of sure knowledge through fasting and prayer. "I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself." These same principles will work for each of us today. Fasting has been practiced by men seeking spiritual strength from the very beginning of time. David the Psalmist tells how he humbled his soul with fasting.
And now speaking of prayer, if prayer were important for Alma, it is important for us, too. It is folly to think in terms of having this highly spiritual information made known to us by the Holy Spirit, without first parting the veil through prayer. It was this important step that led to this greatest of all dispensations, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. The young lad Joseph was touched by that invitation of Holy Writ, the promise given for all men alike: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him".
When we want bus travel information, we go to the bus terminal; when we want financial assistance, we seek out a banker; so why not go directly to God for a confirming testimony of him and his work?
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
"For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
"Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
"Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
"If ye then... know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask.
There is no sweeter work than his work. There is no joy to compare with the blessed assurance of obedience to his laws and ordinances. But we only do his work and obey his law when we are convinced that it is most important. This is why we must remove with all haste those barriers that would prevent such assurance from a loving Heavenly Father who is so anxious that we receive. May we guard against the condition that Laman and Lemuel found themselves in. They refused to cooperate in God's work even after receiving unmistakable direction from an angel and the still small voice. Nephi records that they were "past feeling," that they "could not feel his words". It is interesting to note that it was they, not God, who broke the bond. This seems to be the pattern, and our day is no exception.
I feel sorry for the man or woman who has become so negative that he is "past feeling" so far as the things of God are concerned. But we all rejoice as we see those who stand out in the crowd as a beacon on a hill, declaring with Alma that "... the knowledge which I have is of God"; those who reconfirm the testimony of Job, "For I know that my redeemer liveth..."; those who stand firm with Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in their famous declaration, "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: that he lives!" and then those who can feel with Peter, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God".
The world needs assurance. The world needs some solid rock to replace shifting sand. The world needs men with conviction about things most important. The world needs the added strength of several thousand more clarion voices that teach only truth because they live by the truth.
To my mind the main strength of the world we live in is the strength of his true Church. And where is the main strength of his true Church? Not in the buildings on this block, nor is it found in any group of men who might be designated as leaders for a short season. In my opinion, the Church has its foundation in the heart, in the home, and in the testimony of every worthy member. The widow cannot pay her mite, nor is it possible for an unselfish scoutmaster or quorum leader or dedicated bishop to take time to help a boy except the kingdom of God on earth is strengthened and the world is made a little more secure on its foundations
Indeed, the Savior of the world has declared if a foundation is built on the solid rock of revelation, be it an individual, a group, a nation, or the world, that "... the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". Peter heard it on the shores of Caesarea two thousand years ago. I found it still there undiminished twenty years ago, and you can find it in your quiet place today, tomorrow, and forever. May we ever be available for that most precious gift of the spirit-personal revelation-is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Milton R. Hunter
Milton R. Hunter, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 80-83
My dear brethren and sisters, I am very grateful for the privilege of once again bearing witness to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
On a certain occasion I had a conversation with Dr. Frederick L. Paxson, chairman of the History Department at the University of California and one of America's outstanding historians. This conversation suggests God's method of transmitting light and knowledge to his children here on earth, and so I shall use it as the basis of my talk today.
Dr. Paxson stated that it was his opinion that Brigham Young was perhaps the greatest colonizer that the world had ever known. He explained that after founding Salt Lake City, Brigham Young sent settlers in every direction from that center, resulting in colonizing an expansive desert country. Dr. Paxson stressed the point that wherever President Young told his followers to go, they went without any hesitation. Then he gave his reasons to account for Brigham's outstanding success as a colonizer.
"Brigham Young," so he explained, "was one of those rare individuals blessed with an exceedingly forceful personality. He was a man naturally endowed with unusual powers of leadership. Through those natural powers of leadership and as a result of his unusual forceful personality, he was able to completely dominate the lives of the Latter-day Saints. Thus his followers always did Brigham's biddings."
After completing his explanation, Dr. Paxson said to me, "Am I not correct, Mr. Hunter, in my appraisal of Brigham Young, and are not these the reasons why he was so successful in colonizing such a vast empire in the great West?"
I replied: "No, Dr. Paxson, in my opinion the reasons you gave are not the most vital factors which caused the Mormon leader to do such an outstanding job as a colonizer. I do agree that he possessed the powers of personality and leadership that you described, but there is another factor far more important than anything that you mentioned which completely dominated the lives of Brigham Young and his people.
"The supreme reason Brigham Young and all the Saints migrated to Utah was that each of them had in his heart a burning testimony of the truthfulness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Each one accepted without any mental reservation the reality of the existence of God the Father and Christ the Son and felt a close personal relationship to them. It was a positive fact to each Latter-day Saint that the Eternal Father and his Only Begotten Son had appeared to Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove, and also that other heavenly beings had appeared to the Prophet and given to him the priesthood through which he had organized the true Church of Jesus Christ. They firmly maintained that all the principles and ordinances of the gospel which had been on earth in former dispensations were revealed from heaven to the Prophet Joseph. Thus, Brigham Young and his followers maintained that Joseph had been God's mouthpiece here upon the earth-his holy prophet, seer, and revelator-just as literally as had any of the Old Testament prophets.
"Following the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, the members of the Church who migrated to Utah maintained that all the power and authority from God which had been brought by heavenly beings to Joseph had been bestowed upon his successor, Brigham Young. The Saints were positive that their pioneer leader was now God's holy anointed prophet, seer, and revelator. His word was accepted, therefore, as the word and the will of the Lord. The Saints firmly believed that they with Brigham were building the kingdom of God under divine direction from heaven.
"Thus, Dr. Paxson," I concluded, "an individual testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ possessed by each Latter-day Saint was actually the dynamic force which caused Brigham Young and his followers to withstand mob violence and terrible persecutions in the East, to leave their homes and comforts of life, and to willingly suffer untold hardships, hunger, disease, and-for many of them-death and endure numerous other difficulties encountered in making more than a thousand miles' trek through the wilderness to their promised land. Their positive, dynamic testimonies caused thousands of people to follow Brigham Young's suggestions, obey his instructions and commands, and successfully make the desert... blossom as the rose'".
My brethren and sisters, this power, known as testimony of the gospel, is one of the most dynamic forces in the world when it comes into a person's heart. It is that divine power which lights up men's souls and gives them deep feelings, indescribable inward peace, unbounded joy, and great understanding. Yes, it endows them even with hidden treasures of knowledge. It guides them back to God. Paul, the ancient apostle, tells us from what source mortals get their testimonies. He wrote:
"For what man knoweth the things of man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God...
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned".
From Paul's statement it is evident that people do not obtain their testimonies through their physical senses but through their spiritual senses. Thus Brigham Young and his people obtained their knowledge directly from God, receiving it through their spiritual senses, and so a testimony can be termed spiritual knowledge. Those who have received strong testimonies feel that spiritual knowledge may be even more real than knowledge gained through the physical senses. A statement made by Brigham Young illustrates his personal conviction regarding this matter. To quote:
"Men talk about what has been accomplished under my direction, and attribute it to my wisdom and ability; but it is all by the power of God, and by intelligence received from him...What I know concerning God, concerning the earth, concerning government, I received from the heavens, not alone through my natural ability and I give God the glory and the praise."
The Holy Ghost is the medium through which God operates in giving to men revelations, testimonies of the gospel, and all other spiritual gifts. Perhaps you recall that shortly before his death, Jesus said to his apostles:
"If ye love me, keep my commandments.
"And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever...
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you".
The Lord declared that "... the Comforter, the Holy Ghost... knoweth all things". His principal function is to bear witness, or testimony, to the hearts of righteous people. Throughout all ages the Holy Ghost has borne witness of "... the Eternal God, and the Messiah who is the Lamb of God". It is a fact of special significance that the Holy Ghost bears testimony to the hearts of men that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world. Paul definitely declared that "... no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost".
The Holy Ghost is the member of the Godhead through which both prophecy and revelation operate. For example, Peter wrote: "... prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost". John the Revelator declared that "... the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy". In the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, "No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations. The Holy Ghost is a revelator." The Lord has declared that "... the Holy Ghost... manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men". In fact, "... the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter... showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable things of the kingdom".
It is a fact that the gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed upon each baptized person when he is confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, but the Holy Ghost will not abide with that person if he is not righteous and pure in heart. A person who has a powerful testimony-even a dynamic, compelling testimony-can easily lose it. How? Through committing sins and not repenting. Then "... the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved". "And he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received; for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts".
On the other hand, a testimony grows through a person's humility, willingness to submit to God's will, and continuous obedience. The more completely one conforms his life to the teachings of the Master, the greater will be his testimony and the manifestations of the gift of the Spirit. Jesus declared:
"And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost".
The Savior has proclaimed what we might regard as a scientific pattern which must be followed if one attains a testimony and retains it. First, he must have a strong desire to gain a testimony. Second, he must study the holy scriptures prayerfully and with an open mind. You recall that the Master declared: "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me". Third, a person must render obedience to God's commandments. Jesus made this fact clear. He said: "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself". And fourth, he must pray to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ and sincerely ask for a testimony. By doing these things a person receives a testimony that the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is true.
In order to gain a thorough understanding of what it means to have the Holy Ghost bear witness to one's heart, a person must have that experience. One who has done so knows that the power of the Holy Ghost may come to an individual in varying degrees. On most occasions it bears witness to one quite gently, but there may be a few occasions in one's life when that divine power enters his body with such overwhelming force that he feels as if it might consume his flesh, such as was experienced by the ancient apostles on the day of Pentecost and by Heber C. Kimball at his baptism and confirmation. Brother Kimball wrote: "... I received the Holy Ghost, as the disciples did in ancient days, which was like consuming fire... it seemed as though my body would consume away."
On these rare and marvelous occasions, one feels the power of the Holy Ghost enter his body as if it were a wave of electricity. While he is under that spiritual influence, he experiences an indescribable joy throughout his whole being. Yes, he feels a love for everybody and everything far surpassing his natural ability to feel love and joy on other occasions. An experience of this kind is more dynamic, more powerful, and more awe-inspiring than any sensation that could be received through the physical senses. Such a dynamic experience leaves a lasting impression on the recipient that time does not dim and that he can never deny.
For example, if this powerful witness from the Holy Ghost comes to bear testimony of the divine nature and truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, the person who has had that witness borne to his heart will know beyond a shadow of doubt, just as surely as he knows that he is alive, that the Book of Mormon is true-that it is the word of God.
When Moroni was finishing the Nephite records preparatory to hiding them for future generations, he gave us the key to receiving a testimony. He wrote:
"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true, and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things".
This dynamic witness has come to me, as it has to thousands of other people who have followed Moroni's injunction. As a result of a gift from God through the power of the Holy Ghost, I know as positively as I know any other fact with which I am thoroughly acquainted that the Book of Mormon is true. It is a divine and sacred record of the history and religion of the ancient Americans. This knowledge is so thoroughly entrenched in my entire being that with all my heart, strength, and might I bear testimony to the divine authenticity of this holy book.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ, let us build, sustain, and retain our testimonies by living "... by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God". And then our names shall be "... written in the Lamb's book of life", and we shall be "... sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise" to rise in the resurrection of the just to be crowned with glory, exaltation, and eternal life.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder LeGrand Richards
LeGrand Richards, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 83-88
My heart is full of gratitude to my Father in heaven for the privilege of attending this great conference with you, my brethren and sisters, and those who have attended the other sessions of the conference. And I have rejoiced in the testimonies and the messages of all of my brethren who have spoken prior to my talk, and particularly commencing with that masterful address, the keynote to the conference, delivered by President McKay yesterday morning. I think that was no less than a miracle. Those of us who have been close to him and know the difficulty he has had for some time in expressing himself and have heard him here with the freedom that he had know that it could not have been other than the blessing of the Lord.
I am grateful to all of you good people for the experience I have had with so many of you as I have labored with you in the Church, as I have been in your stakes and in your missions. I sit here on the stand, and I have a happy feeling in my heart as I look along the rows and as I meet you and recall the experiences we have had together. It is a wonderful thing, and I thank God for your faith and your faithfulness. Just think of the power there is represented in this meeting today with all you wonderful leaders of the missions and the stakes and the wards, as you are gathered here in this great conference. And I thank you, as I know the brethren do, for your prayers for us of the General Authorities. And we pray for you and thank God for you and for your love and for your support.
As I tried to think what I might say at this conference, I thought of an article that I read a short time ago in one of the national magazines, written by the senior editor under the title "The Battle of the Bible." That whole article was devoted to the failure of the churches to perform what the churches should do in the world today, and I thought I would like to read you just three sentences from that article:
"You feel religious restlessness everywhere you go. The big denominations, long placid, are suddenly possessed by turmoil." Then he adds: "Many Protestant leaders believe that the church will not survive as it is."
Now think of that! Then I thought of what Brother Benson, just having returned from Europe, told us in our meeting in the temple Wednesday, that in that land only three percent of the people attend their churches. What a lack of faith!
Then I thought of the words of Paul of old when he said that perilous times should come: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
"For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy".
And then I asked myself, in the face of such declarations, What is the remedy? And I have come to think that there is only one remedy, and that is the voice of a living prophet. I thank God that we believe in a living prophet, that we have a living prophet to guide us in these latter days.
There are many thinking people in the world today in religious circles who believe that we need the voice of a prophet. I remember, when I was down in the South as a missionary, there appeared an article in The Atlanta Constitution, the largest newspaper of the South, reporting a Methodist conference where Bishop Ainsworth discussed the conditions existing in the churches relative to the alarming conditions observed today and urged the churches and people of all faiths to engage in a crusade to save civilization from moral decadence; and then the bishop added:
"Never in the nation's history was the arresting voice of a prophet of God more needed than it is today."
Now, it is wonderful if people begin to realize the need of the arresting voice of a prophet of God. Another article appeared in the Beds and Herts Saturday Telegraph a short time before that wherein the Reverend James A. Sutherland discussed the need of a prophet, and I would like to read you what he said:
"We all recognize that something has got to be done, for at the moment we are in a plight. Where our earthly leaders falter, our people drift and die. We cannot forget that when the blind set out to lead the blind, chances are that both will find themselves in a ditch. A dictator being out of the question, WHAT ABOUT A PROPHET?
"The Prophet never is self-appointed. It is well to keep that in mind. Nor is he chosen of his fellows. Always he is Heaven sent. Yet I am cheered at the thought that he has a knack of appearing at the right time. That being so, I incline to the belief that our Prophet must surely be getting ready for us. Let us not forget that; hope and pray as we will for his coming. Men have an old habit of greeting the true prophet with stones. We need not be surprised if an old-fashioned welcome awaits the Prophet of our day. No one can say when such a prophet will come, but of our need of him, there is no question."
Isn't it wonderful to think that spiritual leaders are beginning to recognize their failure, that they need the word of living prophets, like Amos of old said: "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets".
Another article appeared in The Atlanta Journal while I was in the South, quoting Bishop Warren A. Candler of the Methodist Church. He discussed the decadent condition of the Christian world and said: "The whole world, especially our own country, needs a revival of genuine religion."
After discussing that need, he said "We need the reappearance of prophets sent from God."
I think that it is a wonderful thing that these men recognize that they don't have what it takes!
Another article appeared in the Alabama Christian Advocate while I was in the South, under the title "The Cry for Prophets," and I would like to read you that:
O timorous Church of Christ, Cease counting your gain and losses. The future, imperiled is calling With the voice of a million crosses! Calling for faithful Prophets and Seers, To rise up and prophesy- To kindle a fading vision afresh, Lest a visionless people die. Our sins are many, our needs are sore; O, Prophet, show us the roll- Take up the scales of God once more, And weigh the things of the soul. Point not alone to the Patriarchs For the leading we need today- Scrolls of the Ancients we cherish, But the Prophets must lead the way.
Another statement came from one of the leaders of the Methodist Church, Dr. John Lidgett, as follows:
"It is undoubtedly true that we need a revival of religion, but such a revival cannot be man-made. It must be God-given. We must pray for it, work for it, but that alone will not make it possible. It must come from God."
As already indicated, when a true prophet is sent, an old-time welcome will await him. This thought is also expressed in Giovanni Papini's Life of Christ in these words:
"All the prophets who have ever spoken upon the earth were insulted by men, and men will insult those who are to come. We can recognize prophets by this, that smeared with mud and covered with shame, they pass among men, bright-faced, speaking out what is in their hearts. No mud can close the lips of those who must speak. Even if the obstinate prophet is killed, they cannot silence him. His voice multiplied by the echoes of his death will be heard in all languages and through all the centuries."
It is the mission and the privilege and the responsibility of the Latter-day Saints to bear witness to all the world that the God of heaven has raised up a prophet in our day to usher in the restored gospel of his Son Jesus Christ and it is our responsibility to bear that message.
Reference has been made today to the words of Peter when he said:
"And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
"Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began".
I ask you, and I ask the world: How can there be a restitution of all things spoken by the mouths of all the holy prophets since the world began without a living prophet upon the earth unto whom such a restitution can be conveyed by the powers of heaven, because no man, no prophet of God, is ever self-sent? He must be called and sent by our Father in heaven.
When Moroni, the prophet, who lived upon this American continent for hundred years after the birth of the Savior, visited the Prophet Joseph as a messenger from heaven, a resurrected being, he visited him three times during the night and again the next morning. Joseph was then only seventeen years of age, and Moroni told him that his name would be had for good and evil among every nation and every kindred and every people and that his name should be spoken of for both good and evil among all people.
We sing, "Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah! Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer," while the world has denounced him as a false prophet until they finally put him to death with his brother Hyrum. He said that he felt much like the Apostle Paul when he made his defense before King Agrippa, and I read you his testimony:
"I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true, and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it, at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation".
The evidence that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God is seen on every hand in the great organization of this Church and its great achievements and accomplishments. It has been said that one of the presidents of the United States said that this was the greatest organization in the world for the development of men and women. And we know that that is true. Men not of the Church even have borne testimony, and not only that, but as Brother Milton R. Hunter and Bishop Simpson have just talked about the testimony that God plants in the hearts of millions who have already borne witness, many of them have gone on to their rest. However, thousands like you men and women sitting here today have planted in your hearts by the power of the Holy Ghost a witness that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. And that, after all, is the best knowledge that one can get.
The Prophet Joseph Smith has given to the world more revealed truth than any prophet who has ever lived upon the face of the earth, aside from Jesus Christ the Lord, as far as any records we have today evidence anything to the contrary.
Many thinking people, not members of the Church, have recognized in Joseph Smith a conundrum and wondered where his power came from. A writer for the New York Herald, who had visited with the Prophet Joseph Smith back in 1842, published this:
"Joseph Smith is undoubtedly one of the greatest characters of the age. He indicates as much talent, originality and moral courage as Mahomet, Odin or any of the great spirits that have hitherto produced the revolutions of past ages... While modern philosophy, which believes in nothing but what you can touch, is overspreading the Atlantic states, Joseph Smith is creating a spiritual system, combined also with morals and industry, that may change the destiny of the race... We certainly want some such prophet to start up, take a big hold of the public mind-and stop the torrent of materialism that is hurrying the world into infidelity, immorality, licentiousness and crime."
It is a prophet, the voice of a prophet, that this world needs today.
Now, you remember the statement contained in the book Figures of the Past by Josiah Quincy, the former mayor of Boston, saying:
"It is by no means improbable that some future textbook, for the use of generations yet unborn, will contain a question something like this: What historical American of the nineteenth century has exerted the most powerful influence upon the destiny of his countrymen? And it is by no means impossible that the answer to that interrogatory may be thus written: Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet. And the reply, absurd as it doubtless seems to most men now living, may be an obvious commonplace to their descendants."
A college president, who taught down at Brigham Young University just a short time ago, at the close of his service there, made this statement:
"It may well be that the Mormon people have the key that will eventually save this country."
Men do not make statements like that without some reason for it. He had seen the lives of the people, and he knew something of the accomplishments of this Church.
Here are a few comments from a few of the visitors to our exhibition at the New York World's Fair, and this is just an inkling of the marvelous comments of people who have written in those books back there as visitors and made their comments:
One said, "There is hope for the world with people like you."
The next one: "More of this, no doubt shall save our world."
The next one: "Have seen nothing equal to it as far as religion is concerned."
We have similar statements from people who have visited our Welfare Square here, where the Church has made preparation to take care of underprivileged and needy people. I read you a few of those statements:
"It is a pattern for our federal government to attempt to follow."
"This is the most wonderful thing I have ever seen, and I hope to come back again."
"This, to my way of thinking, is a real religion."
"We believe your church and its members are doing the great deeds that may someday achieve a true brotherhood of man."
We knew that, but we are grateful to know that other people are finding it out!
Besides the great organization of the Church, we have the Book of Mormon to which Brother Milton R. Hunter has just referred, a tangible evidence; and that evidence is something that the world is beginning to recognize, even some of the ministers. No man would dare write a book of five-hundred pages and put in it such a promise as was read here by Brother Hunter, that when it comes if you would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, he would manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost.
A minister who visited our exhibit at the fair in New York wrote this:
"I am reading the Book of Mormon, and it is a revelation, and I believe it is the truth."
A minister wrote from the East some time ago, and he said that he had had a Book of Mormon in his library for years, and he had never read it. He said, "Recently I started reading it." And in this letter he referred to Alma and Mosiah and King Benjamin and their wonderful teachings, and he said, "I am quoting from them in my sermons to my people."
A minister of the gospel toured here on this temple block some years ago, and then he wrote a letter back and said that he had been a minister of the gospel for thirty-seven years, that he had acquired a library that had cost him over $12,000, and he said, "But I have in my library a book that is worth more than all the other books, because it is the word of God." And he mentions it as the Book of Mormon.
Some of you have heard President Nicholas G. Smith, when he was president of the California Mission, tell us from this pulpit about how he was invited by the Dean of Religion at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles to let him take a copy of the Book of Mormon, and President Smith gave him one that had been marked by the elders. And then he invited Brother Smith and the missionaries to come and listen to his sermon, and they did. He held up that Book of Mormon, he read verse after verse that had been marked by the elders and he said this:
"I have here a volume of scripture which has been in our midst for a hundred years, and we have not known about it."
And then he read many passages which the elders had marked and said this:
"This is not a dead book; it lives." And then repeating, "Isn't it beautiful?" And then he added, "Why can we not fellowship a people who believe in the beautiful things I have read to you today?"
Now brothers and sisters, people don't need to be in the dark. If they are just willing to be open-minded and will investigate the truth that we have to offer, they cannot help but know that this is the work of God the Eternal Father.
In closing, I say to all of our friends who are not of us, of every church and every creed, in the words of our song:
"Come, listen to a prophet's voice, And hear the word of God, And in the way of truth rejoice, And sing for joy aloud. We've found the way the prophets went Who lived in days of yore; Another prophet now is sent This knowledge to restore."
That is our testimony to the world, and we testify that we have a living prophet.
I bear you my witness to that effect in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Theodore M. Burton
Theodore M. Burton, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 95-99
My brethren in the priesthood: I am grateful for this privilege of addressing you tonight.
The First Presidency has asked me to speak to you concerning the responsibility of holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood. As I understand the gospel, that responsibility comes through our relationship to Jesus Christ. But it is with God the Eternal Father that the covenant of the Melchizedek Priesthood is made, and with him must that covenant be kept. It is the most sacred calling and the greatest power that God the Eternal Father has given to man, and I am fearful that too many of us do not realize the great responsibility and trust which this calling puts upon our shoulders when we covenant to become the very elect of God.
We who receive this priesthood, according to the words of Jesus Christ: "... become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, 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".
Scarcely a conference is held in which this marvelous scripture is not read, and yet some of us fail to understand its great significance.
As a first step in the new and everlasting covenant, we are born anew into the family of God the Eternal Father. But how? Remember, that though we were all spirit children of God the Father, he had but one Son in the flesh, who was born upon this earth, taking upon himself flesh and bones and carrying within himself the seed of immortality, for he was in very deed Jesus Christ the Redeemer, the Anointed, the Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh. Jesus Christ kept the covenant made with God the Eternal Father and became the Great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Because he kept the fullness of the covenant as a perfect Man, an obedient Son of God, and had the seed of immortality within his body, he became the firstfruits of the resurrection to live forever with that body of flesh and bones and to sit at the right hand of the Father. Through the covenant of baptism, which is called the rebirth, we are reborn into the family of God through those same three elements by which we were born into this world.
Adam was told to teach these things to his children:
"That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory;
"For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified;
"Therefore it is given to abide in you; the record of heaven; the Comforter; the peaceable things of immortal glory, the truth of all things; that which quickeneth all things, which maketh alive all things; that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment".
Note the perfect comparison, my brethren, of birth into this world with birth into the family of Jesus Christ. Thus we take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ and become members of the royal family. If we hope to reach the presence of God the Eternal Father in the flesh with these present wonderful bodies which shall become purified and spiritualized to dwell in the presence of God, it can only be through Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh. Thus, we become through Jesus Christ members of the family of God the Father.
The Apostle Paul wrote: "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ".
There is no other way, there is no other name given whereby we can return into the presence of God the Eternal Father, with a resurrected body of flesh and bones.
Nephi said: "... as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of whom I have spoken, whereby man can be saved".
And Peter, when he bore his testimony, used these words:
"This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved".
This doctrine is so important in understanding the deep principles of the gospel that it was repeated again in our generation:
"Behold, Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved
"Wherefore, all men must take upon them the name which is given of the Father for in that name shall they be called at the last day,
"Wherefore, if they know not the name by which they are called, they cannot have place in the kingdom of my Father".
Now brethren, I have spoken only of the first step along the path of progression which will yield eventually a fullness of the blessings which God the Father has in store for us if we are willing to pay the price attached to those blessings. Let us then go on to the next step up the ladder of progression.
A person going on a journey gives a power of attorney to his lawyer so he can act legally in his name. With this power the attorney can act in the name of his client and perform and execute his business just as if that person were present to perform and execute his business in person. So God our Father, by the laying on of hands by those having power to do so, has given us, his trusted covenant sons, priesthood, to speak in his name just as if he were here himself in person. This is the Melchizedek Priesthood, or "the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God".
There are those who might think God has given this priesthood power too widely in our day to men who do not appreciate this calling. However, I have faith in God and believe that this priesthood has been given widely because there are so many men now living who earned this right to receive that power through their faithfulness in the spirit world. Now they are given this power to see if they can be trusted with it, to see if they will appreciate it and magnify it according to the greatness which is within them. I believe this life is a period of testing such persons to see if they are worthy to be further magnified in the kingdom or family of God.
It is difficult for me to express the gratitude I feel for the confidence God the Father has placed in us, his children. I am reminded of the words of David, who sang:
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?".
Evidently God our Father has a higher opinion of us than we often have of ourselves, for he knows us well from our previous life. He told the Prophet Jeremiah:
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations".
Abraham reported:
"Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;
"And God saw these souls that they were good and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born".
The Prophet Joseph in speaking about such matters said:
"Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was. I suppose that I was ordained to this very office in the Grand Council."
I am confident, my brethren, that God knows the seed of greatness which he placed within us if we would only rise to the full stature of our manhood. With that confidence in us and with faith that we would respond to that calling, God has given us not only the Aaronic, but the Melchizedek Priesthood. The Aaronic Priesthood is limited "... to hold the keys of the ministering of angels, and to administer in the outward ordinances, the letter of the gospel".
The Melchizedek Priesthood power is not so limited, being concerned with "... the spiritual blessings of the church-
"To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant".
Thus we catch an understanding of the responsibility of the Melchizedek Priesthood to speak in the name of Jesus Christ, just as if he were here in person. What great responsibility that trust puts upon our shoulders! When we place our hands upon a person's head in the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood, it is as though the Lord were performing that sacred ordinance himself. This is what he said to Edward Partridge, referring to the power of the priesthood held by Sidney Rigdon:
"And I will lay my hand upon you by the hand of my servant Sidney Rigdon, and you shall receive my Spirit, the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which shall teach you the peaceable things of the kingdom", italics added).
The elders of this Church have been given sealing power held in fullness by the prophet of the Lord, for elders are to seal a blessing upon the heads of those who are ill and may rebuke illness and evil spirits according to the faith within them. There is no limit placed upon the power of that faith. We are told that the faith of Enoch was so great in the use of this priesthood "... that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him".
Now let us get back to our day. The power to speak the word of God in the name of Jesus Christ has been given to thousands and tens of thousands in the Church today. That great power is to speak in the name of Jesus Christ, to speak as mature sons of God, entrusted with power so great that it is limited only by our faith. God has great faith in us as a people to give us so widely such tremendous power. It is power which can only be used in righteousness. We cannot use it in power if we are not righteous ourselves. Therein lies the great responsibility of the Melchizedek Priesthood. We cannot speak nor act with power if we do not have a testimony of Jesus Christ in whose name we are to act. In order to speak in the name of God we should be virtuous, not speak and act harshly toward our wives and children, nor neglect our meetings. We should keep the Sabbath day holy . We should not be greedy and mean in our business dealings, nor lie to and cheat our fellowmen. We should be loyal to the promises which we have made in the temple and follow the counsel given us by the First Presidency, who speak in the name of the Lord. To use the priesthood we should magnify it by keeping our given word according to the oath and covenant of the priesthood.
I do not like to dwell on the negative side of our priesthood responsibility, but I must quote the word of God as a solemn warning to us who have had this priesthood responsibility placed upon our shoulders:
"Hearken and hear, O ye my people, saith the Lord and your God, ye whom I delight to bless with the greatest of all blessings, ye that hear me; and ye that hear me not will I curse, that have professed my name, with the heaviest of all cursings".
Though it is well to know this, I would rather dwell upon the promises in the words of Peter spoken directly to the brethren he called "... a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
"Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy", italics added).
By His Divine Power We Become Partakers of the Divine Nature
"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
"And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
"And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
"And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
"For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ", italics added).
This is my testimony of the responsibility of the Melchizedek Priesthood. It is to be loyal to those who preside over us and direct us toward righteous endeavors, to become tender and gentle and kind in the use of the greatest power God has ever given to man.
In view of this great responsibility of the Melchizedek Priesthood, we might well ask God, "What manner of men ought we to be?" Let me close with the words of Jesus:
"And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just. Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am".
I bear my witness of the divinity of this power in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 99-103
I suppose, brethren, that not in a long while have we had a communication which has brought greater disappointment than did the First Presidency's letter of September 22nd, placing restrictions on the number of young men who may be recommended for missions. No one feels more concerned than I over the thought that possibly some of our young men who have counted on and dreamed of missions may not be able to go, at least in the immediate future.
I want to say that what has been done has been done voluntarily. For the past fifteen years I have worked with draft officials in matters affecting our missionary program. From the national director on down through state directors and local board members, I have found them to be reasonable, fair, and disposed to be cooperative when they understand our program. Only two weeks ago General Hershey was in Salt Lake City and met President McKay and said in the course of that interview that it had been a pleasure to work with this Church over the years in this difficult matter, and particularly so in comparison with some other organizations with whom he had had to deal. We have come a long way since the days of the Korean War, when we had such serious misunderstandings. At that time under the inspired direction of President McKay and under the wise counseling of President Stephen L Richards, his first counselor, we set about to establish a legal and legislative history so that we might know where we stood should there develop such a situation as we are faced with today.
The repeated findings of the presidential appeal boards and the testimony of national Selective Service officials before both the Senate and House Armed Services Committees leave no doubt concerning the right of the Church to select, ordain, and send on missions such young men as we feel to call under our established procedures, and the eligibility of these young men for ministerial classifications. On the other hand, we recognize that the Selective Service System has an obligation under the law to meet certain requirements and quotas and that every young man in the United States who is a citizen, or who is in the United States as an alien under certain circumstances, has a military obligation imposed by the law. I should like to add parenthetically that the local draft boards did not write the law, that we did not write the law, and that our young men did not write the law. Congress wrote the law, and if you have complaints to make concerning the law, don't blame the draft board; more appropriately, you might write your congressman.
We have an obligation to uphold and sustain the law, as President Tanner made clear this morning. Local draft boards are made up of local citizens who perform without remuneration what at times must be for many of them an unpleasant duty. They deserve understanding rather than recrimination. They do not establish policies and regulations of their own. These are determined by national headquarters. I want to emphasize that we are not the enemy of Selective Service and that Selective Service is not our enemy.
Now as you know, draft calls have increased from about 8,000 in April to 34,600 for November. To meet these calls, national Selective Service headquarters, through state offices, imposes quotas on local boards. The boards must meet their quotas. If one young man cannot go for one reason or another, then some other Young man must go in his place. We should bear this fact in mind.
I have wanted to set forth these general principles as a preamble to what I wish to say briefly about our specific problem.
About 45 percent of our entire full-time missionary force comes from stakes within the area of Utah. It will be readily apparent to all that any appreciable increase in the number of young men sent on missions at a time when draft calls have been increased more than 400 percent could quickly result in serious tensions within local communities. These matters are likely to become emotional issues without regard to the facts. Parenthetically, I should like to mention one or two facts.
Our figures indicate that for comparable periods we have sent only 4 percent more young men on missions during 1965 than we sent during 1964. The natural growth of the Church would account for that increase. Actually, with all of the emphasis placed on getting more young men on missions that has been given in stake conferences, antedating by many months the increased draft calls, we might reasonably have expected a larger increase. I have said this only to set the record straight, that except for possibly an occasional instance there has been no apparent abuse on the part of bishops and stake presidents and no apparent effort on the part of young men to go on missions to escape the draft, as some may have inferred. Why should there be? Under present regulations a young man may continue in school and qualify for deferment. But because tensions were beginning to build in some communities, as more and more young men were ordered for induction while other young men were going on missions, Utah Selective Service officials came to us and requested our cooperation in setting up a program to provide some restraint and control on the number of young men sent on missions, and thus make it possible for local boards to anticipate the number of young men in whose behalf the Church might request ministerial classifications. This program was designed to permit approximately the same number to go this year as went last. We thought their request to be reasonable and in the best interests of the Church, the Selective Service System, and the young men themselves. The letter of September 22nd was the result.
We recognize that there has been some serious disappointment. We have been assured that if it becomes apparent that the program as announced places too tight a restriction and results in injustices, the entire matter will be discussed, and if feasible, adjustments will be made.
Numerous questions have been raised by church officers from other states where the problem is not so acute. We have felt that the program should be the same throughout the nation. There is wisdom in consistency and uniformity, and the more nearly we stay with uniform procedures, the stronger our position in dealing with problems. We ask, therefore, that until we have had opportunity to observe the effects of the announced program over a period of months, that you follow it and not attempt negotiation with local officials in your particular cities or states. We shall keep close to the matter and shall be available for consultation with you at any time.
Now very quickly, by way of amplifying and clarifying some points in the letter: The effective periods set up are periods of six months, one missionary per ward each six months, the dates being October 1st to March 31st inclusive, and April 1st to September 30th. The governing date will be the date of the letter of call, and if there be any local board members from the state of Utah who are listening to this tonight, I hope that they will not indulge in any speculative discussion on this matter until they have talked with the state Selective Service director or the deputy state director, with whom we have spent many hours in meetings.
Ward and branch quotas will be transferable within the area of the stake under the direction of the stake president, but will not be transferable at this time between the various stakes. No young man who has actually received notice of induction should be recommended for a mission. However, notice to report for preinduction physical examination should not be regarded as a notice for induction. It will not be unusual to find a young man who even though he has been called for a mission is ordered to report for preinduction physical examination. He must take that examination; and if there are any conflicting dates involved, I think that if you get in touch with us we can iron out those problems. We do not suggest that you go to boards and hasten examinations with the thought that some young men may be declared IV-F and may be able to go without being counted against the quotas.
Men in the following classifications will not be counted against the quotas. I would like to take just a moment to explain these classifications:
I-D are men with reserve classifications most of whom have served under the so-called six months' program. Their status may be subject to adjustment, depending on what happens concerning the reserves, and you should not consider that as a fixed situation governing the future.
I-Y are men given temporary deferments because of physical handicaps.
IV-A are for the most part men who have served two or more years on active duty.
IV-F are men who are disqualified for physical or mental reasons. I want to say that many men who have IV-F classifications can still be effective missionaries.
V-A are men 26 years of age or over and have no current military obligation.
Young men sent from student wards will be counted against the quotas of their home wards, although there may be some converts to the Church who have a student ward as a home ward.
Church builders who are out of their own wards and Indian students under the placement program will be considered as are students. No young man should be recommended for a mission more than thirty days in advance of his nineteenth birthday, and all recommendations concerning missionaries should give in detail the draft classification called for on the recommendation form, and also the name of the ward and the stake whose quota will be used by that particular individual.
Measures for maintaining missionary work
Now, brethren, we can do several things to keep the work going without a serious reduction in results:
1. We can strengthen our stake missions, which, in terms of hours spent, are far more fruitful in converts than are our full-time missions in terms of hours spent.
2. We can resolve that each one of us will be a missionary as President McKay has requested from this pulpit.
3. Bishops can and should appraise the older couples in their wards who might be eligible for missionary service and who can give needed service under some circumstances.
Several bishops have been in during the last few days and have said that our young men have been saving money for years to go on missions. What shall they do? I say keep saving and praying. I think that every priesthood holder in the Church ought to pray for peace, and I have the faith that the Lord will hear and heed those prayers.
We know that wars will come upon the earth. The word of prophecy is clear on that. But somehow I feel satisfied that God will hear our prayers and that most of those young men who want to go on missions will have the opportunity to go on missions. Some who may not have the opportunity may help others to go. Some years ago a letter came to the office of the First Presidency reading substantially as follows:
"Dear Brethren:
"All my life I have dreamed of going on a mission. I saved my money to that end. Then during the Korean War I was wounded, and I now carry a metal plate in my head. Because of that you and my doctors have said that I should not go on a regular mission. I work hard all day shoveling sand in a brick and tile factory. From my small wages I have been able to add to my savings account. I have now withdrawn my savings and am sending you herewith a cashier's check for $1,500. Since I cannot go, please use it to help some worthy boy who can. I will share my savings with him and hope that he will share with me his joy as he labors in the ministry of the Lord."
I hope that each young man who has been saving will go on saving and praying and preparing for that day when every boy who desires to go may go, and that in the meantime we shall have the faith to accept this program and live with it, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 103-106
Brethren, this is a glorious hour, not only for those of us who are assembled here, but for those who are assembled in four hundred other places, all holding the priesthood. All are under obligation to set a proper example, especially in the world of youth.
Priesthood is inherent in the Godhead. It is authority and power which has its source only in the Eternal Father and his Son Jesus Christ. If we appoint a member in a business concern, we give him our authority as voice to do the right thing as a representative, and what he does we are bound to uphold. We speak of certain powers and prerogatives possessed by the President of the United States, of rights and privileges vested in Congress, of power held by the Supreme Court of the United States; and the source of such authority we can easily comprehend. Ultimately the origin centers in the people as an organized body. There is no man living, or who has lived, who has the right to assume the right and authority of the priesthood.
In seeking the source of the priesthood, however, we can conceive of no condition beyond God himself. In him it centers. From him it must emanate. Priesthood, being thus inherent in the Father, it follows that he alone can give it to another. Priesthood, therefore, as held by man, must ever be delegated by authority. There never has been a human being in the world who had the right to arrogate to himself the power and authority of the priesthood. There have been some who would arrogate to themselves that right, but the Lord has never recognized it. As an ambassador from any government exercises only that authority which has been given him by his government, so a man who is authorized to represent Deity does so only by virtue of the powers and rights delegated to him. However, when such authority is given, it carries, within limitations, all the privileges of a power of attorney, by which one is empowered by another to act in another's stead. All official action performed in accordance with such power of attorney is as binding as if the person himself had performed it.
We can conceive of the power of the priesthood as being potentially existent as an impounded reservoir of water. Such power becomes dynamic and productive of good only when the liberated force becomes active in valleys, fields, gardens, and happy homes. So the priesthood, as related to humanity, is a principle of power only as it becomes active in the lives of men, turning their hearts and desires toward God and prompting service to their fellowmen.
Strictly speaking, priesthood as delegated power is an individual acquirement. However, by divine decree men who are appointed to serve in particular offices in the priesthood unite in quorums. Thus, this power finds expression through groups as well as in individuals. The quorum is the opportunity for men of like aspirations to know, to love, and to aid one another. "To live is not to live for one's self alone."
There are two conditions which should always be considered when the priesthood is conferred. The first of these is the individual's worthiness to receive it. The second is the service which he can render to the Church and to his fellowmen.
Recognizing the fact that the Creator is the eternal and everlasting source of this power, that he alone can direct it, and that to possess it is to have the right, as an authorized representative, of direct communion with God, how reasonable yet sublime are the privileges and blessings made possible of attainment through the possession of the power and authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood-they are the most glorious that the human mind can contemplate.
A man who is thus in communion with his God will find his life sweetened, his discernment sharpened to decide quickly between right and wrong, his feelings tender and compassionate, yet his spirit strong and valiant in defense of right; he will find the priesthood a never failing source of happiness-a well of living water springing up unto eternal life.
You who have the priesthood are his servants by divine right. I know the world thinks we are unreasonable, fantastic in our ideas when we tell them there is no other authorized church, but that is true. The priesthood came direct from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is the great High Priest; and he authorized Peter, James, and John, on whom he bestowed that priesthood, to bestow it upon Joseph Smith. And you brethren-seventy thousand on the air who hear my voice, and everyone present-can trace your ordination probably within five steps right back to the Savior himself.
If the representatives of our Father in heaven will live close to him, try to be true representatives, the Lord will guide them in their work. The priesthood, though, may be given to those who disregard it, who fail to be true representatives, and when such is the case, "... Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
"Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God", and to apostatize from the Church. The only way we can keep the priesthood and keep in touch with the Holy Spirit, the only way we can be true representatives, is to live up to the ideals of the Church which bears his name.
The Church of Jesus Christ is the mightiest force in the world, but you and your companions constitute the source of that force. The Lord cannot use his quorums without you, and everyone has the responsibility of doing his best to maintain the standards of the Church. Our boys and girls in high schools, in junior colleges, in universities need our help. Their parents need our help. It is time now to put forth extra effort to know the difference between right and wrong. We are facing conditions in the world which demand the highest intelligence, the deepest spirituality, the greatest effort that the priesthood of God can possibly put forth.
Oh my brethren, presidents of stakes, bishops of wards, God bless you in your leadership, in your responsibility to guide, to bless, to comfort the people over whom you have been appointed to preside. Lead them to come to you, if necessary, in confession. Guide them to go to the Lord and seek inspiration so to live that they may rise above the low and the mean and live in the spiritual realm.
Recognize those who preside over you, and when necessary, seek their advice. The Savior himself recognized his authority on earth. You will remember the experience that Paul had just as he neared Damascus with papers in his pocket to arrest all who believed in Jesus Christ. A light suddenly shone about him, and he heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"
And Saul said: "... what wilt thou have me to do?" The Lord answered, "... go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do". He could have told Saul in a few words what he should do, but there was a branch of the Church in Damascus, presided over by a humble man named Ananias, and Jesus recognized that authority. He knew Saul's nature. He knew that in the future it would be difficult for Saul to recognize the authority of the Church, as instances later proved. Saul had to receive from the very man whom he was going to arrest instructions regarding the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Here is a lesson for all of us ill this Church. Let us, too, recognize the local authority. The bishop may be a humble man. Some of you may think you are superior to him, and you may be, but he is given authority direct from our Father in heaven. You recognize it. Seek his advice, the advice of your stake president. If they cannot answer your difficulties or your problems, they will write to the General Authorities and get the advice needed. Recognition of authority is an important principle.
I pray that we may be blessed with the spirit of humility, blessed with the spirit and desire to be one in all things relating to the welfare and advancement of the kingdom of God. We can do that by sustaining the authority which is always delegated, you remember; and when it is rightly delegated you will be able to go to the source, which is God, in whom is inherent the authority of the Holy Priesthood.
God bless the men who find and assist those who are too weak to be true to the priesthood! I hope you got the message given here tonight by Brother Isaacson, especially concerning the young men who are inclined to join in social activities and aspirations of other young men. Do not deceive yourself that you can tamper with whiskey or cigarettes, things forbidden by the Lord, and which, if indulged in, will lead you away from the power which you have been given by those authorities who hold the priesthood.
I am glad to see these young men here this night. They are here by the hundreds, and as some came in I said, "Are you going to the priesthood meeting?" and they answered, "Yes, we are going to the priesthood meeting." They are proud of it. God bless them that they may be true to the ideals of the priesthood and never hesitate to say "no" to anybody who tells them, "Oh, indulge just a little-it will be all right."
God help us all to be true to the ideals of the priesthood-Aaronic and Melchizedek. It is a sobering thought to think what this great body of bearers of the priesthood can do to stir the people to acts of honesty, truthfulness; stir them so that they will become examples to the world. We have that right and that inspiration.
God help us to magnify our calling, and to set a proper example to the other men of the world who think that they are better than the humble men who, by right of that delegation and ordination, hold the right and power to instruct all men-not members in this one. but all men-to live higher and better lives than they have ever lived before; to help them all to be better husbands, better neighbors, better leaders, under all conditions, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Hugh B. Brown
Hugh B. Brown, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 107-111
During the sessions of this conference, we have heard from many speakers who have discussed various inspiring subjects. We who speak in later sessions find that what we had intended to say has already been discussed, but there is one subject I would like to mention. We believe in peace, patriotism, and loyalty, and the fact that America is a chosen land, preserved and discovered under divine inspiration, with a constitution which we believe was inspired and which we must, under all circumstances, maintain.
As this is a worldwide church, we counsel our members wherever they may live in other Christian countries to be patriotic and loyal to their homeland. Whatever may be said here about America, therefore, should be understood by members of the Church living in other countries as an appeal to all for loyalty and good citizenship.
Occasionally we hear derogatory statements about our government and ominous forebodings about the future of America. We are concerned when we see evidence of doubt, misgiving, and lack of confidence in the future of America as she faces current problems. We believe, however, that all good citizens of this country have a deep, heartfelt gratitude for the abundant blessings showered upon us by a benevolent Father. I should not like to be one of those who refuses to recognize the challenge of the problems of our times. On the other hand, I refuse to be numbered amongst those who are losing faith in America.
Let us remind you that the people of every country of every age and time throughout history have had to face up to problems and find their solutions. We believe that in the exercise of the freedom her people enjoy and with divine guidance, she will have full capacity to solve any problems she encounters.
This conclusion is not just our own. Our Heavenly Father has given us encouraging promises concerning this land. Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, he called this a land of promise to the people of our generation. However, to the Jaredites he made an important condition: "... if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ". This injunction cannot be overemphasized.
To the ancient inhabitants of this continent, he also said:
"Wherefore, I will consecrate this land unto thy seed, and them who shall be numbered among thy seed, forever, for the land of their inheritance; for it is a choice land, saith God unto me, above all other lands, wherefore I will have all men that dwell thereon that they shall worship me, saith God".
We believe and have confidence in these words of the Lord. They bring us a message of confidence and hope. Each of us has the right to rely fully upon them, for he has said: "... I will fulfil my promises which I have made unto the children of men".
Further reason for confidence is found in modern revelation wherein the Lord said that he had established the Constitution of the United States by the hands of wise men whom he raised up unto this very purpose. The constitutional framework of the law of this land has been the study of legal scholars and statesmen the world over. In no other document is the right and dignity of man lifted to so high a plane. Principles of freedom are inherent and fundamental to every concept. This did not just happen. To us the Constitution of the United States is God-given to the people of a promised land.
In the October issue of National Geographic Magazine, Professor Freidel of Harvard University calls attention to two of our great presidents. I quote:
"In the first two decades of the 20th century, Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson endowed the American Presidency with a powerful leadership the Nation had not known since Lincoln. Several of their successors gave nostalgic tugs backward, but these two-one a Republican, the other a Democrat-established a pattern for succeeding strong Presidents.
"At home both sought a larger measure of political democracy and economic justice, and abroad a share in responsibility for world order. They moved to assume the sober duties of the United States in its new status as an industrial giant and major world power....
"Both these Presidents and their supporters, the progressive generation, believed that, without abandoning the free-enterprise system, they could perfect the dream of the Founding Fathers by combining a scientific approach to the problems of the age with positive Government action."
We should understand that each of us has a duty to honor, support, and sustain our civil leaders and the law. The fact that everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion insofar as various matters of law and government are concerned does not relieve any of us of the personal responsibility to obey, honor, and sustain the elected governmental officers and the law which it is their duty to administer.
Unfortunately, there are those among us today who advocate breaking the law as one means of calling to the attention of the nation that some have not been given the full benefit of the law. They argue that the laws they break are minor and that the breach is useful and justified because it assists in the enforcement of a greater law. This reasoning is fallacious and inconsistent with Christian principles. To follow such thinking is to decide that every man is entitled to choose which law he will abide and which he will violate. No orderly society can be established on such theory. There are lawful ways and means of securing all human rights, and one does not foster Christian virtue through irresponsible breaking of the law. Seeds of anarchy are sowed in the minds of those who follow a lawless course. Anarchy was never the way of God but rather the way of Satan. Recent riots in various parts of our country emphasize this alarming trend. These lawless demonstrations are often instigated and led by misguided youth against authority, against discipline, against the orderly government of society and every symbol of authority. Let us heed the words of that vigorous patriot Theodore Roosevelt, who said, "We are the government, you and I."
I quote a paragraph from Destiny magazine:
"Let us always remember that the planting of America in the strain that determined our country's character was a spiritual planting. The fathers who planted this nation were Christians. They came here as Christians. They came because they were Christians. They came on a specifically Christian venture. Get it fixed in your mind that the planting that determined the genius of America was a Church-not a town, not a colony, not a trading or exploring venture, not a gold rush, but a church, a little Pilgrim church crossed the sea for the sake of its church life. That is the origin of the United States."
To those who are losing faith in America, to those who criticize her, we issue this challenge: Cast your eyes to the four corners of the earth. Can you see anything to compare with her? Where do you find greater evidence of freedom? In what land do the inhabitants have greater voice in governing themselves? Where do you see a way of life which has produced a greater abundance for its people? In which country do you find greater numbers of children receiving an excellence of education to surpass that which is to be found here? Where is there less want, less misery? Where in all the world do you find men who are given comparable rights to enjoy their freedom to worship as that freedom finds expression in the land of America? Can you really doubt that this land is in very deed a land of promise?
Let all men of goodwill offer constructive criticism to assist this great land of freedom in the solving of her problems. There will be problems, to be sure, but let these problems be solved with mature deliberation. Let those who speak out, speak in fairest. Let these problems and their proposed solutions be discussed in honest debate. All too often those who debate her issues distort and magnify all out of proportion the subject of their concern. More than any other people, members of this Church, having the prophecies of God before them, ought to know that America is not going to fail, that the God of heaven will not permit it, if her people will but serve the God of this land. She has a great destiny yet to fulfill. Imperfect though she may be, she is, nevertheless, the hope of the world. Men of faint heart and blurred vision may from time to time lose sight of this fact. The fact itself, however, is immutable.
America has thus far been preserved because she is built upon a sound foundation, which was ordained of God himself. She is the cradle of freedom prepared by him for the restoration of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let all who have permitted discouragement or despair to enter into their hearts take renewed hope and courage. Let all honest men everywhere rally and support the cause of freedom and justice under the law.
Surely, as we face the future there is reason for concern, but there is no reason for despair. Let us find reason to lift, to build, and to uphold. Let us shrink from those whose only contribution is to complain, to condemn, and to destroy. To win the future will require men of faith, of courage, and of purpose. The Lord God of heaven will prosper and gloriously support such men. He will, however, find little reason to consider the activities of those who are barren and unproductive, who simply criticize, complain, and deplore. America needs leaders who have eyes to see ears to hear, and hearts to understand. In their hands she will be preserved. I would hope that they will recognize in her not only a great but a divinely inspired form of government. They will understand that she is adaptable to changing times. They will know that she has the capacity to maintain fundamental integrity while meeting the needs of a world in motion. They must be wise enough to know that she will not always be infallible, but they will have faith that once the error of her ways is made known, she will return again to a wiser course of action. She will not stray far, for though the vision of her leaders may become obscure at times, the steadying hand of God will tide this nation through the troubled waters that may lie ahead.
The late Dr. Adam S. Bennion left us the following thoughtful statement:
"America has become a great nation because the men who builded her believed in her-loved her-sacrificed for her. That same patriotism and pride, if kept vigorously alive, can carry us through our present crisis to even greater heights.
"The heart of America is sound. There are ills, of course. There are base men and mean. There always have been. But the land is full of honest, toiling men, and worthy, devoted women. Let's herald their integrity as well as proclaim the evils of our social structure"
Then let us prepare for the future unafraid. Let faith replace fears. Let courage dispel gloom. Let hope triumph over despair, and let faith in God the Eternal Father reign supreme above all our works. It is to him above all others that we owe final allegiance. The plain duty of our lives is to so conduct ourselves that more and more of his children will desire him and his ways. One day the world will come to recognize that the jewel in the crown of America which surpasses all others is the jewel of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, because through it men can come to know that their Father in heaven is real, that he loves them, and that he has prepared a place for them. If they but follow the path that leads to the straight gate, the joy that transcends all other joy awaits them.
Concerning this jewel I would like to make this further statement to our friends who have joined us today. To a modern prophet, the Lord revealed to the world that a great and marvelous work was about to come forth among the children of men. He said that the field was white all ready to harvest in the reestablishment of his Church upon the earth. He exhorted all his children everywhere to ask him and promised that they should receive. He said, "... if you will knock it shall be opened unto you". He further counseled those to whom the message came to keep his commandments and to seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion. He counseled us to seek not for riches, but for wisdom, and in so doing the mysteries of God would be unfolded unto us.
We humbly advise you that this great and marvelous work is going forth in many parts of the earth today. In excess of twelve thousand young missionaries are laboring in your communities throughout the world. In their hearts burns a desire to speak with you, and they are anxious to tell you the full story of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are anxious to bring you evidence that our Father in heaven, the Father of all the inhabitants of the earth, is very real and that man was literally created in his image. These missionaries wish to share their knowledge of the risen Christ with you. They would like you to know that he is a being separate and distinct from his Father and that he actually lives today. He has restored to the earth the fullness of his gospel, including the full organizational structure of his kingdom.
These missionaries of the Church are likewise anxious to share their knowledge of the destiny of mankind, of the glorious things he has prepared for all his children who will give heed to his voice, who will follow him in the plain path which he has made known.
May I invite you to inquire of these missionaries of the Church concerning this marvelous work that they might make full explanation to you of the great message which has been revealed to the earth.
I cannot leave this subject without a sincere and heartfelt prayer that the spirit of Almighty God shall be upon all men everywhere. May our lofty institutions, our matchless Constitution, our love of freedom and liberty be noted by other nations and, insofar as they can be made applicable, be adopted by them that all men everywhere may join us in singing what might well become an international anthem, "Our fathers' God to thee, Author of liberty, to thee we sing. Long may our land be bright with freedom's holy light. Protect us by thy might, Great God, our King! That all may become the special concern of providential care, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Howard W. Hunter
Howard W. Hunter, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 111-115
The scholars of ecclesiastical history cannot date the time of the commencement of the Church of Christ. There is no specific event or any certain occurrence in the writings of the New Testament upon which they can agree as being the definite beginning. The Church came into existence over a period of time in which there were many important events. The groundwork was laid by a ministry which changed the lives and thinking of those who became the body of Christ. After the commencement of the ministry of Jesus, his followers were many. Mark said, "And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee".
He went from place to place teaching in the cities and in the synagogues, and the people gathered to hear him. They were impressed by his teachings and astonished by his power to heal the sick. He taught them as they came to ask questions and he conversed with them in small groups along the wayside. On many occasions great multitudes gathered to hear the one who often called himself the Shepherd. Many believed upon him, and some he called to follow after him. Groups of believers sprang up in Jerusalem and in many other places.
This period of time becomes the focal point of history. We measure time by the years that have preceded Christ and by the years that have come after him. His life, teachings, death, and resurrection in the center of time have had a profound effect upon all those who have lived since his ministry and all those who died prior to his resurrection. The establishment of his Church has blessed all Christendom
Some writers, seeking a doctrinal beginning rather than a specific event for the commencement of the Church of Christ, give great weight to the reply of the Lord when Peter bore his testimony that Jesus was the Christ. It was on the occasion when they were near Caesarea Philippi that Jesus asked his disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?". It doesn't seem reasonable to suppose that he didn't know what people thought and were saying about him. He was giving his disciples the opportunity to express their faith and to be strengthened. "And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets".
The Pharisees believed, of course, that the soul is imperishable and the soul of a good person passes into another body while the soul of the wicked suffers eternal punishment. "He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?". The Master may have been prompted to ask this question because of their surroundings. Caesarea Philippi is near the grotto and the temples of the Greek god Pan, a center of pagan worship, and he may have wanted his disciples to think about the contrast between pagan gods and the true God. "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God". In answer to this positive testimony of Peter, "... Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it".
"Upon this rock, I will build my Church"
This is a very significant statement. The Lord in effect said to Peter that this knowledge that Jesus was the Christ did not come to him from mortal men or from the reasoning or learning of men, but by revelation from on high, that is, direct, divine revelation of the divinity of the Master. In answer to the statement "Thou art the Christ", Jesus replied, "... thou art Peter" in friendly acknowledgment of his disciple. The Lord then added, "... and upon this rock I will build my church". Upon what rock? Peter? Upon a man? No, not upon a man, upon the rock of revelation, the thing which they were talking about. He had just said, "... flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven". This revelation that Jesus is the Christ is the foundation upon which he would build his Church.
There are others who, searching for the commencement of the Church of Christ, point to the day the apostles were engaged in the devotions of the Pentecost. This was only nine days after the ascension of the Savior of the world. The date becomes important because it was on this occasion that the baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost descended upon the apostles as had been promised by Jesus. They began to speak in other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance. When the Jews heard of this, a crowd gathered and Peter, the president of the Twelve, stood before them and delivered that great sermon condemning them for the sin of disbelief that the one crucified by them was the Christ. "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
"Then Peter said unto them, 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".
Even though this event may be accepted by some as the origin of the organized Church, it has deeper meaning. The power of the Holy Ghost descended upon the apostles as the Savior had promised, bringing to them a dynamic conviction that they were the followers of the Messiah of whom the prophets of old had spoken, who had come to earth in fulfillment of these prophecies completed his mission, had been crucified and resurrected as the Savior of all mankind.
It might be best said that the Church was founded as the result of the personal ministry of Christ and also by the testimony of the apostles who made the person and divine work of Christ known to men. This testimony on the day of Pentecost touched the hearts of those who listened. Apparently all of the apostles preached on that occasion, some in one language and some in another, so that all understood. They bore witness of the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ; and out of the great multitude which had been taught on that day, three thousand were baptized.
The earliest account of communal church life in the New Testament describes those who were baptized on the day of Pentecost in these words: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers". People of a common belief are drawn together because they enjoy a community of interest, and the church becomes the center of this life because there is comfort and support in the association of those who share the same understanding.
"He ordained Twelve"
During his lifetime the Master selected the apostles, and Mark states, "And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
"And have the power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils". God the Father had sent his Son into the world to bring salvation to the world. The Son chose apostles, conferred upon them authority, and said to them, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world". The atoning sacrifice of Christ brings redemption from the grave to all men, but in addition to this it is necessary that there be witnesses to the divinity of Christ and his death and resurrection. To be such a witness was inherent in the call and the ordination of the Twelve.
The apostles were not local officers of the Church. Their authority extended over the whole Church and to all of the world, to the Jews and to the gentiles. In the same manner that the apostles were clothed with authority, they empowered other officers of the Church to carry forward the work as it grew and spread. Elders were ordained in the branches as local officers. The record is not clear as to when the first elders were ordained, but we find reference to this office in the Jerusalem Church at an early date. In the missionary tours of Paul and Barnabas they ordained elders in the branches they established. Paul makes reference to his meeting with the elders in Ephesus as he was traveling to Jerusalem . The government of the local branch was in the hands of a body of men called elders, and they were charged with the instruction and the leadership. The term elder is also used in the New Testament in a general way and refers to any ecclesiastical function such as apostles, pastors, bishops, or other church officers. In his exhortation to the elders of the Church, the Apostle Peter refers to himself as a fellow elder.
Another step in the organization of the Church was the selection and call of the seventy who were sent two and two as missionaries into the world. Mention is also made of the priests of the Levitical order and high priests after the order of Melchizedek. Until the time of Christ there appears to have been no other office in the Levitical Priesthood than that of priest, but in the writings of Paul he includes the office of teacher.
One of the important ministers of the early Church was the deacon. The name comes from the Greek verb meaning to minister or to serve. Although his duties are not fully set forth, it appears that he was the assistant to the bishop and received his assignment of duty from the bishop. The deacons were the ones who received the offerings of the members and served to the Church the bread and wine of the consecrated sacrament.
The bishop in the Church of Christ was the one who presided over the local church community. He was the chief pastor of the flock. He was ordained to his office by an apostle in the usual manner by prayer and the laying on of hands. He was responsible for the preaching and teachings in his church, although he could delegate many of the functions to others. All things were done under his authority and direction, and the officers and those holding the lesser priesthood were subordinate and took their instruction and direction from him. He administered the offerings of the people and the charity to those in need. As the judge he determined the standing of the members of the Church and had the power to excommunicate. In short the bishop was the chief priest, pastor, and presiding officer of his church.
Modern Christian churches have not found it important to have the organization or officers as existed in the primitive Church as founded by Christ and those he called and ordained for this purpose. This is evidenced by the fact that the original organization and officers are lacking in these churches today. If modern Christian churches claim to follow after the Church established by Christ, it would seem that they would follow the same organization. They assert, however, that it is not necessary that there be continuation of the organization of the primitive Church.
This same argument is used with respect to the subject of apostolic succession. Those who make this claim say that there cannot be apostles except those chosen by Christ during his ministry. This is based on the premise that an apostle must be a witness of the resurrected Savior and because there have been no appearances since his ascension, there cannot be such a witness. This gives rise to the belief that no new apostle could succeed one who died. We remember, however, that Matthias was called to take the place of Judas. The answer of the proponents is that he did not take the place of one who died, but rather one who had forfeited his office because he had been unfaithful by betraying Jesus. A succession is nevertheless admitted. As proof that there was no succession on the death of an apostle, the case of James the son of Zebedee is cited. The record does not state there was no successor, it is merely silent. There is some evidence that James the brother of the Lord may have been ordained a successor member of the Twelve, because he took a prominent part in the council at Jerusalem and was with Peter in the leadership of the apostles. And Paul said of him, "Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
"But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother". We have little information concerning the acts of some of the apostles, and there are a number of whom we have no information after the time of their calling.
Paul was not one of the named Twelve, and the writings of the New Testament make it clear that he was not a witness of the Savior prior to his ascension, yet Paul claimed the apostleship undoubtedly from his experience as he journeyed to Damascus. Paul referred in his writings to a number of other persons as apostles who were not named as the Twelve. Because the record gives no information concerning them, scholars cannot ascertain if they were successors or if the word "apostle" was used in another sense. In any event, it would be fallacious to argue that because the record is silent it must be inferred that there was no succession.
The last and perhaps the weakest argument of all is that there is no need for apostolic succession because their testimony has been preserved for future generations by the writings of the New Testament. This of course violates all of the rules of evidence because the witnesses' lips have been sealed in death.
Today, the same organization as the primitive Church
There exists today in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the organization of the primitive Church of Christ with the same officers that have been mentioned: deacons, teachers, priests, bishop, elders, seventies, high priests, and apostles. Without taking into consideration revelation which reestablishes this organization, reason alone would dictate that Christ's Church should be the same today as when organized under his direction.
The principles embodied in the gospel of Jesus Christ are everlasting. It would logically follow that the Church founded upon these eternal and everlasting principles would have the same organization as that established under his direction, and it would be difficult to show good reason for the necessity of change or improvement. The historical facts themselves bear out that there has been a falling away, a corruption of the original, an unauthorized change of church organization in modern churches.
I have a personal conviction that after the long period of spiritual darkness in the world, the gospel has been restored in its fullness through divine revelation, and the Church of Christ has again been established on earth; that this restored Church has the same organization that existed in the original Church, including those of apostolic calling who do bear witness of the divinity of Christ, his death, and resurrection, and that he is the Son of God. To their witness, I humbly add my witness in the name of the Savior of the world. Amen.
Elder Paul H. Dunn
Paul H. Dunn, Conference Report, October 1965, p. 115-118
My brothers and sisters: this is most humbling, and I have been deeply impressed, with you, at the inspiring messages of this conference and at the great uplift that we have received this morning from President Brown and Elder Hunter. It is my sincere prayer that I shall not detract from these edifying words as I share with you a few thoughts that I have been thinking about, particularly since these great songs were sung to us and words of counsel given.
My mind immediately was called back to a day about twenty years ago when, as a young soldier participating in the activity of this country during World War II, I found myself on the island of Okinawa, somewhere in my nineteenth year. In that serious mortal conflict, while trying to do what we could to preserve these very freedoms that have been discussed today, by chance I fell into the good graces of another young man who had fine ideals and high standards. Almost automatically we got together and shared the experiences of the war together. Frequently we shared the same foxhole. One night during the month of May, our forces had sustained such heavy casualties that it became necessary for my friend and me to be separated. We were in different holes about fifty yards apart. It had commenced to rain about seven that evening, and it was a cold night. Along about eleven the enemy let go with a barrage that was almost unbelievable, and for almost two hours they harassed our lines with heavy artillery and mortar fire. Shortly after midnight one of these shells landed in the hole of my good friend. I could tell from the sound of the blast that it was serious. I called to him but couldn't get an answer, and the type of fighting we did in the Pacific prevented me from crawling over to offer aid. About an hour later I got a faint response indicating life still existed. All that night long, under heavy fire I tried to call words of comfort to him, and finally as it commenced to get light I crawled to the hole of my friend and found that he had almost become submerged in the water from the heavy rain of the night before.
As I lifted him out on that cold, muddy bank and laid his head in my lap, I tried to offer what physical comfort I could under those conditions, wiping his brow and face with a handkerchief. He was almost limp with death now. I said, "Harold, you hold on, and I'll get you to the aid station just as soon as I can. It's only a few hundred yards away." "No," he said, "I know this is the end, and I've held on as long as possible because I want you to do two things for me, Paul, if you would." I said, "You just name it, Harold." He said, "If you are permitted to live through this terrible ordeal, will you somehow get word to my parents and tell them how grateful I am for their teaching and influence which has enabled me to meet death with security and calmness and this in turn will help sustain them." And I'm happy to report to you I was able to fulfill that commitment.
"Second, Paul," he said, "if you ever have the opportunity to talk to the youth of the world, will you tell them for me that it is a sacred privilege to lay down my life for the principles that we have been defending here today." And with that testimony on his lips he, like so many others before, gave his life for the principles of freedom and righteousness.
Well, as we buried Harold along with his comrades, close friends, and associates, we placed over a cemetery on Okinawa this inscription, and I think it still stands for all to observe who would, "We gave our todays in order that you might have your tomorrows."
I would like to ask this morning, what are we doing with the tomorrows these thousands of men from all nations have given us? It is evident looking at the condition of the world today, that we are failing to live up to their expectations. Perhaps many of these men would not have been willing to pay this price if they could see the present world situation.
What is needed in the world today is a stabilizing power, something that will unite people and bring peace, joy, and security. What is this power? Well, it has been mentioned so many times this very day and the previous days. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ as it influences the family through the home. History proves that a nation is no stronger than the strength of the individual home. Someone has made this observation about the strength of homes: "If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world."
I am often privileged in my particular assignment to visit each year with hundreds of our youth who leave home to attend college, who enter military service, and those who go on missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is amazing how free these young people are to talk about their homes and family life. And almost without exception I have noticed that as they recall home, those of them who are secure and well-adjusted will invariably mention three qualities as being stabilizing forces in their lives. First, they always mention love and concern for them by their parents; second, communication and harmony between parent and child; and third, the spiritual level which characterizes the home.
It is interesting to me to note that those who are experiencing more than their share of problems definitely indicate the absence of one or more of these three qualities.
Let me share briefly with you a letter, one of many that I receive from some of these young people. I think he expresses so well the importance of these qualities:
"Dear Brother Dunn:
"Since having the chance to visit with you last month, I've done a lot of thinking about the things we discussed-the meaning of life, my goals for the future, my homesickness, and my efforts to adjust to being on my own, and I've felt impressed to write and tell you some of these things. Here I am hundreds of miles away in a completely new environment, and I'll admit I've been pretty down in the dumps at times, plenty homesick and wondering just what my next step would be. More than once I'd have given almost anything to be back at that kitchen table with the family, finishing off one of Mom's good meals. I wouldn't even have minded my folks wanting to know where I was going and when I'd be home-it used to really bug me but somehow now I'm glad they worried. I guess what I'm trying to write is that since being here I'm actually appreciating home and my folks in a different way than ever before. I'm grateful for the time that they've taken to worry about the little things, the talks we've been able to have about any crazy thing that was on my mind, the freedom I felt to go to them with my problems. It seems like they were always pretty fair about judging me when I made mistakes, too.
"I especially appreciate both Mom and Dad being so careful about living the principles of the gospel that they believed in and helping us to do the same. While there were times when I resented it, somehow it seems much easier now for me to discipline myself, to stick to what I should do in organizing my time, thinking, and life.
"I appreciate, too, the companionship we had as a whole family-the night each week we got together to talk about family problems and what we did about them, the times we went fishing together, prayed together, the get-togethers with cousins-mostly the things I guess I have taken for granted all of my life. Somehow, as ordinary as all of these everyday experiences are, thinking about them actually gives me the faith and courage I need right now when I've got so much adjusting to do and so many things to accomplish. I seem to have a new desire to live up to the things my folks have been trying to prepare me for all of these years. In some ways, even though I miss home, thinking out these things makes me feel better than I ever have before. I know I have lots to do, and I want to do it. And realizing that my family is behind me as they always have been gives me the strength I need and didn't know I had. Unfortunately, I have seen some out here whose home life has not been like mine, and now I understand better the value of the training I've had. Thanks for getting me started thinking-I just hope my parents can know how much the stability of our home has meant to me, and how very much I love them."
There is no question that this kind of boy coming from this type of home is going to give strength to this or any nation.
Parents, moms and dads, are we equal to the challenge? As we examine our lives and homes and look at our children, can we be certain that the teaching and training we are giving will produce the family unity, the solidarity, the spiritual understanding that is needed at this time? The Lord through his prophets today as in ancient times has counseled parents to train and teach their children in the things that they should do. The revelations in all the scriptures are replete, "And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
"And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates". In other words, in all places at all times, the Lord has placed the obligation, the responsibility upon the moms and dads of the world to teach their children in righteousness. To a latter-day prophet the Lord has said: "And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents....
"And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord".
Now, I have a great testimony of these things. I know, brothers and sisters, and I include all who hear my voice in that salutation, for we are an eternal family-I have had the inner conviction from the spirit on high. I know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that David O. McKay, who sits here and presides over this conference, is a living prophet. I bear you my solemn witness. May we be equal to the challenge and task of opening our hearts and our minds to accept these things and to lead our children in the way they should go, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion D. Hanks
Marion D. Hanks, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 118-121
In this conference we have heard repeated, and to me very impressive, references to the vital importance of the home and good loving parents who impress in that home the ideal of good example and sincere concern.
In the few minutes I stand here I would like to address my remarks to the place of the Church in helping to contribute to the lives of wonderful young people from such good homes, and in filling a well-nigh indispensable role with young people who haven't had the good fortune to have such homes.
This morning Elder Richard L. Evans referred to the suggestion of Paul to the Corinthians: "For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?".
Recently at a church area conference I found interesting application of this sobering challenge. The choir selected to sing at the conference rose to perform that glorious hymn, "Let the Mountains Shout for Joy." Most of you will know that in that hymn there is a section where individual voices form a quartet in a beautiful refrain. The people who were singing the four parts to the quartet in this instance didn't leave their sections but sang from their same position. Because three of the singers were far from the chair where I sat, I heard them indistinctly. To the congregation in front of them I am sure this was a very well-balanced and delightful presentation, but from where I sat near the alto soloist, it wasn't quite so well balanced, although it was very beautiful and very pleasant. The young lady who sang the alto part was in her teens. Her voice was strong, her knowledge of the music very good, and apparently her capacity for courage was high, because she sang through her part without a qualm, knowing that many of us near her were listening primarily to her.
That incident set me to thinking about my own and other people's children, because it illustrated a very significant, simple principle. We hear most clearly those voices that are nearest to us, and we are inclined to be responsive to those voices.
Do you remember what Paul wrote to the Corinthians after his allusion to the uncertain trumpet? These words: "There are... so many kinds of voices in the world".
What are the voices to which our young people are listening? What do they hear in their homes, in the streets of their towns and communities? What do they hear over television and radio? What is communicated to them in books and magazines and photographs? What do they hear when they mingle with groups of their associates?
Well, for some the answer will be very good because there are many wonderful parents whose hearts are truly moved toward a love for their young people. There are good teachers and fine, interested human beings all over the face of the earth who honestly try to be helpful to youth and to speak truly and honorably. But for many young people the answers won't be so affirmative. What voices are they hearing? Very frequently, commercial voices. They may be honest voices from honest commerce seeking the trade of youth. They may be voices of conspiring and deceitful men who seek profit at the expense of the future well-being of youth.
There are pagan voices, iconoclastic voices attacking old traditions and fundamentals, arrogantly assuring that the old ideals, the old standards, the old viewpoints of nobility and honest effort, all of these are outmoded, no longer applicable, and may be abandoned with old faith, old ways, old accepted patterns of moral behavior.
Entertaining voices come from illuminated screens, often in company with actions which are designed to emphasize that part of our nature that needs no emphasis. False voices issue from parked cars or darkened rooms, sometimes tainted with alcohol or inflamed with drugs, treacherously asking, always asking, for self-gratification. "Don't you love me?" they say. "You know I love you." Love they call it, but love it is not, and love they do not. True love "seeketh not her own". But these voices constantly sing their song of counterfeit love, always seeking satisfaction of their own lusts, never really giving or intending to give, or perhaps knowing how to give, not knowing how to truly love.
Misguided voices urging rebellion for rebellion's sake.
Beguiling voices inviting young eyes to filth or foulness, young ears to that which young ears should not hear.
Foolish voices which suggest that since most people seem to be doing it, it therefore becomes all right to do.
Cynical voices that propound moral relativism, saying that there are no virtues or principles that you can really count on anymore, none that are always applicable everywhere. You make your own rules in this time and generation.
Sophisticated voices that skirt the edge of truth, telling youth, "It's your life, you live it. Never mind what parents, honest teachers, earnest adults, persons who care, have to say about it or how they feel about it. You decide; it's your life."
Peer voices, voices that are inexperienced, something imitating what someone called the "imitation men" they have seen on the street corners.
Aladdin voices singing the same old strain, "New lamps for old."
Loud voices, persistent voices, persuasive, confusing.
In the midst of all this, where can young people turn to hear a voice that will move them in the direction of their dreams, their noblest and highest and most honorable dreams?
Do you remember the words of the Lord through Isaiah: "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left"?
Where can young people hear this voice?
Just last weekend with some other choice associates I had the blessing of mingling for three days with almost three thousand wonderful young Britons, members of this Church who had gathered together for a three-day festival. I wish all of you might have listened with us as these young people, who had found at least a part of an answer to that great question about where you go to hear the voice, themselves reiterated and expressed personal convictions about the message the voice had delivered to them.
A beautiful young woman, through her tears, thanking God that she now could pray, now could feel warm and good about him because she had learned that there is available in this world reaffirmation and a new witness that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ and that the will of God is being communicated to man.
The voice of a wonderful twenty-year-old girl who had traveled hundreds of miles training youth and their leaders in preparation for a dancing exhibition and then stood there that night conducting in her modest, gentle, beautiful way, as scores of choice young people went through the traditional dances of their nations in a dignified, pleasant, and very joyful way. They danced the modern dances, too, and they were dignified, and the feeling was strong and good.
The voice of a young Scotsman who walked more than a hundred miles with two choice associates to get to that conference and who stood to testify of his joy in the companionship along the way, in the spiritual thoughts they had exchanged before their morning prayer together, in the company he had found at the conference. And then he bore his testimony about his own immediate future missionary opportunities. I sat thinking as he spoke of another voice that had sounded, a time before but in very close proximity, the voice of a boy with, I am sure, less than favorable background and maybe less than favorable memories, who stood before a small congregation and in tears said something that constitutes as great a sermon as I have heard about an important subject. He said, "The way to be happy is to obey the commandments of God and not try to fix up some of our own."
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognizes the difficulties that arise in the lives of young people as they listen, often in confusion, to the strident chorus of voices of those who seek their attention. The Church seeks to provide for its youth the direction and leadership and inspiration that will help them to travel ways of integrity and honor and decency and responsibility.
If there were time to testify what we have heard these young voices repeat and reflect in their spirit and their witness, it would be a very impressive manifestation that there is a place to hear the right voice.
We met in England with a professional journalist who had lived in many parts of the land. He seemed unresponsive emotionally, as he watched, and I thought maybe he wasn't responding to these choice young people. And then he sought me out to say, "Mr. Hanks, it has been nice to hear you and the others, but the thing I really enjoyed after being in the Brighton riots and living in Asia and South America and elsewhere is to watch these young people. They are different from any other group I ever saw."
The Church offers to its youth answers to some of their serious, sacred, spiritual questions. It offers them a guide of conduct that will help them to live with meaningfulness and joy in this world, and it offers them this sacred personal commitment we call testimony that allows them to say, "I know God lives."
I echo that testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 121-125
My brothers and sisters, seen and unseen, humbly and gratefully I approach this sacred responsibility.
First may I endorse with all my heart the masterful keynote discourse of our beloved prophet, President David O. McKay, delivered Friday, entitled "Man's Free Agency-an Eternal Principle of Progress." As he closed his prophetic warning, he said, "Pernicious efforts and sinister schemes are cunningly and stealthily being fostered to deprive man of his individual freedom."
Once again the prophet has warned us about our loss of freedom and has left us without excuse. God grant we may be wise enough to heed his counsel. Let us become alerted and informed regarding the insidious influence abroad in this and other lands which would rob us of all we hold dear.
It is good to be home-to stay, insofar as a member of the Twelve can determine-after nearly two years abroad.
I bring you the love and greetings of tens of thousands of faithful members and friends of the Church in Europe.
I love America-my country-and so it is a joy to be home, but I love all of our father's children everywhere. I have seen them on both sides of the iron curtain, in forty-five nations in the last few years. Nineteen years ago I saw millions of them in Europe, hungry and cold as a result of the hell of war. I have been with them in bombed-out buildings, on their little farms, in their shops, in their homes. They are our Father's children, my brothers and sisters. I have a deep love for them.
Some of them have lost their freedom and are living in bondage under godless leaders. But there is a spark of divinity in all of them. Generally speaking they love the Lord. And our Father in heaven loves them. They want to live in freedom and peace. They want to be good neighbors. Many are confused, but they love their homes and families. They want to improve their standard of living. In their hearts they want to do what's right.
But with this love of our Father's children, I love America in a special way. The United States is not just another nation-not just one of the family of nations. This nation was intended to be a beacon to liberty-loving people everywhere. This is a choice land, for the Lord Jesus Christ-the God of this land -has so declared through his prophets. This is a land with a prophetic history which was held, as it were, in the hollow of God's hand to perform its great mission for the blessing of all peoples.
The Lord raised up the Founding Fathers. He it was who established the Constitution of this land-the greatest document of freedom ever written. This God-inspired Constitution is not outmoded. It is not an outdated "agrarian document" as some of our would-be statesmen, socialists, and fellow travelers of the godless conspiracy would have us believe. It was the Lord God who established the foundation of this nation; and woe be unto those-members of the Supreme Court and others-who would weaken this foundation.
I am sorry to say that I am saddened and sick at heart at what I see, at what has happened in the past few years and is happening today in my beloved country. But that is a subject for another time.
It was the Lord who created an atmosphere of freedom here in America so that his Church could be restored in its fullness for the blessing of all mankind. Here in these United States the Lord has established his base of operations in these last days. He selected America. That is why I love the United States of America in a special manner. Every true Latter-day Saint should love America.
No, the Lord's base of operations was not established by the General Authorities of the restored Church. The Lord himself prepared the way through the centuries. He established his base of operations here in America, and it is the duty of every liberty-loving soul, and especially every Latter-day Saint, to help protect, safeguard, and strengthen the Lord's base of operations, because it is from this base that the glorious saving principles of the eternal gospel are going and will continue to go forth to the world to bless all of our Father's children and to provide a true basis for peace. There is no other way.
Yes, I love America, but it is about something else, closely related, that I now testify.
Today I desire to bear witness to the inspiration and divine mission of a truly noble character and the reality of the greatest event of the past nineteen centuries. The setting for both is here in the United States.
Some thirty years ago the well-known Macmillan Company published a most significant book. On the flyleaf of this 400-page volume appeared a statement essentially as follows:
"Here is a man who was born in the stark hills of Vermont; who was reared in the backwoods of New York; who never looked inside a college or high school; who lived in six States, no one of which would own him during his lifetime... who, even when he had his freedom, was hounded like a fugitive; who was covered once with a coat of tar and feathers, and left for dead; who, with his following, was driven by irate neighbors from New York to Ohio, from Ohio to Missouri, and from Missouri to Illinois, and who, at the unripe age of thirty-eight, was shot to death by a mob with painted faces.
"Yet this man became mayor of the biggest town in Illinois and the state's most prominent citizen... the founder of cities and of a university, and aspired to become President of the United States.
"He wrote a book which has baffled the literary critics for a hundred years and which is today more widely read than any other volume save the Bible. On the threshold of an organizing age he established the most nearly perfect social mechanism in the modern world, and developed a religious philosophy that challenges anything of its kind in history, for completeness and cohesion. And he set up the machinery for an economic system that would take the brood of Fears out of the heart of man-the fear of want through sickness, old age, unemployment, and poverty.
"In nations are men and women who look upon him as a greater leader than Moses and a greater prophet than Isaiah; his disciples now number million; and already a granite shaft pierces the sky over the place where he was born, and another over the place where he... received the inspiration for his Book."
This book from which I have quoted is titled Joseph Smith, an American Prophet. I testify to you that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God-one of the truly great prophets of all time. This I know and bear witness to all the world.
Joseph Smith the Prophet went willingly to his death. He sealed his testimony with his life-his own blood. On that fateful day, 120 years ago in Nauvoo, Illinois, as he looked back upon his city and people whom he loved, on his way to Carthage Jail and his martyrdom, he declared:
"This is the loveliest place and the best people under the heavens; little do they know the trials that await them."
Later the Prophet said feelingly, but calmly and courageously:
"I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am as calm as a summer's morning. I have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward all men. If they take my life I shall die an innocent man, and my blood shall cry from the ground for vengeance, and it shall be said of me, 'He was murdered in cold blood!'".
Following his martyrdom his saddened and devoted followers who revered him as a prophet of God issued to the world a statement which appears in a sacred volume of scripture, the Doctrine and Covenants, and which reads in part as follows:
"To seal the testimony of this book and the Book of Mormon, we announce the martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and Hyrum Smith the Patriarch. They were shot in Carthage jail, on the 27th of June, 1844, about five o'clock p.m., by an armed mob-painted black-of from 150 to 200 persons. Hyrum was shot first and fell calmly, exclaiming: I am a dead man! Joseph leaped from the window, and was shot dead in the attempt, exclaiming: O Lord my God! They were both shot after they were dead, in a brutal manner, and both received four balls...
"Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any... man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord's anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!
"... their innocent blood on the floor of Carthage jail is a broad seal affixed to 'Mormonism' that cannot be rejected by any court on earth, and their innocent blood... is a witness to the truth of the everlasting gospel that all the world cannot impeach; and... is an ambassador for the religion of Jesus Christ, that will touch the hearts of honest men among all nations".
Yes, Joseph Smith, the latter-day Prophet, was an instrument in the hands of the Lord in opening a new gospel dispensation-the last and greatest of all gospel dispensations.
He witnessed and participated in the greatest event that has transpired in this world since the resurrection of the Master.
Here is a partial description, in his own words, of that great and all-important event:
"After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desire of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.
"But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction... just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.
"It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!".
This glorious vision of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, in broad daylight, in the spring of 1820, is the greatest event that has transpired in this world since the resurrection of our Lord.
Joseph Smith, who witnessed it, was and is a prophet of God. Today some 12,000 missionaries and more than two million members of the Church throughout the free world are bearing witness of this important fact.
Mormonism has been before the world for 135 years. It has met mob violence, persecution, drivings, and deception by wicked men, and prejudice and misunderstandings by many people throughout the world. Yet, in spite of widespread opposition, ambassadors of truth have carried from the very beginning and are today carrying to the world the all-important message of the restored Church.
Paraphrasing the words of Apostle Paul: This thing has not been done in a corner.
The world has generally revered the ancient prophets dead and rejected the living ones. It was so with Joseph Smith. Truth is often on the scaffold-error on the throne. But time is on the side of truth, for truth is eternal.
The message of Mormonism is a world message. It is the truth. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a world organization.
In the early days of the restored Church, the Lord, in a revelation to Joseph Smith, addressing all of his children, both in and out of the restored Church, said this:
"Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the voice of him who dwells on high, and whose eyes are upon all men, yea, verily I say: Hearken ye people from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together.
"For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men, and there is none to escape, and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated...
"And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days.
"And they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them.
"Behold this is mine authority, and the authority of my servants, and my preface unto the book of my commandments, which I have given them to publish unto you, O inhabitants of the earth...
"Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear may hear...
"Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing, the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments...
"And also those to whom these commandments were given. might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually-".
These are the words of Jesus Christ to his prophet and all the world.
The message of Joseph Smith-the message of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-the message of Mormonism-is the most important world message.
The Church is a world organization-the true Church of Jesus Christ restored to the earth in its fullness-and is intended to bless all of our Father's children.
These things I know and bear witness in humility and gratitude.
God lives, Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer of the world, with his latter-day base of operations here in America, and Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of the living God, as is our beloved present-day leader, David O. McKay.
This is my witness and testimony to all the world in humility and gratitude, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Harold B. Lee
Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 127-131
I should like to take as something of a text for my few remarks some words that were given in a revelation to the Church when it was in the midst of some of the most severe trials and persecutions which the Church has endured in this dispensation:
"For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.
"Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.
"For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.
"Remember this, which I tell you before, that you may lay it to heart, and receive that which is to follow.
"Behold, verily I say unto you, for this cause I have sent you-that you might be obedient, and that your hearts might be prepared to bear testimony of the things which are to come;
"And also that you might be honored in laying the foundation and in bearing record of the land upon which the Zion of God shall stand".
So frequently is heard the expression when frightening incidents and proposals seem to threaten the very foundations of the Church and the nation, "The devil is surely on the loose."
Time will permit only a few illustrations as to how we may be guided when such experiences come in our day to us as individuals. Well might we expect, as in the past dispensations, that our worst enemies will be those within our ranks who will betray us. Why should those within our ranks be our worst enemies?
The Prophet Joseph Smith made this statement: "From apostates the faithful have received the severest persecutions. Judas was rebuked and immediately betrayed his Lord into the hands of His enemies, because Satan entered into him. There is a superior intelligence bestowed upon such as obey the Gospel with full purpose of heart, which, if sinned against, the apostate is left naked and destitute of the Spirit of God, and he is in truth, nigh unto cursing, and his end is to be burned. When once that light which was in them is taken from them, they become as much darkened as they were previously enlightened, and then, no marvel, if all their power should be enlisted against the truth, and they, Judas like, seek the destruction of those who were their greatest benefactors".
The Master apparently had the same thought in mind when he said something that must have been startling and sobering in his day: "Think not that I am come to send peace..." he said, "I came not to send peace, but a sword.
"For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
"And a man's foes shall be they of his own household".
His coming as the Son of God seemed to have intensified the hatred of the forces of evil. So powerful was Satan that the Master, you recall, spoke of him as the prince of this world. Said he, "... the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me".
President Heber C. Kimball, shortly after the Saints had arrived here in the mountains-and some, I suppose, were somewhat gloating over the fact that they had triumphed for a temporary period over their enemies-had this to say: "... we think we are secure here in the chambers of the everlasting hills, where we can close those few doors of the canyons against mobs and persecutors, the wicked and the vile, who have always beset us with violence and robbery, but I want to say to you, my brethren, the time is coming when we will be mixed up in these now peaceful valleys to that extent that it will be difficult to tell the face of a Saint from the face of an enemy to the people of God. Then, brethren, look out for the great sieve, for there will be a great sifting time, and many will fall; for I say unto you there is a test, a TEST, a TEST coming, and who will be able to stand?...
"You imagine," said he, "that you would have stood by when persecution raged and he was assailed by foes within and without. You would have defended him and been true to him in the midst of every trial. You think you would have been delighted to have shown your integrity in the days of mobs and traitors.
"Let me say to you, that many of you will see the time when you will have all the trouble, trial and persecution that you can stand, and plenty of opportunities to show that you are true to God and his work. This Church has before it many close places through which it will have to pass before the work of God is crowned with victory. To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for yourselves. The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall. If you have not got the testimony, live right and call upon the Lord and cease not till you obtain it. If you do not you will not stand.
"Remember these sayings, for many of you will live to see them fulfilled. The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light. Each will have to be guided by the light within himself. If you do not have it, how can you stand?".
The Lord said something in our day which explains why many fail and are not chosen. He asked the question, "... why are they not chosen?" . We see those who fail in church life as well as we see it in public life. Sometimes we have elected men to public office whom we thought were faithful to church standards only to have them betray us and virtually sell their souls for temporary political advantage.
Likewise in the Church, men who have been elevated to high positions have betrayed us, and some have wondered why others have not been called to fill certain positions. The Lord tells us why men fail. He said, "Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men".
And I submit that it is the same now as it has been in every dispensation of the Church. Men fail to measure up to their highest possibilities because they seek after worldly things and they aspire to the honors of men.
In the days of Abraham Lincoln, a great preacher by the name of Wendell Phillips said something that we could well remember: "How prudently," he said, "most men creep into nameless graves, while now and then one or two forget themselves into immortality!" He who would be great must remember what this wise man has said.
I read recently in a national publication about what a worried father said to his overambitious son, who was trying to push aside the man over him in seniority. He was fretting because his boss was not getting out of the way for these younger men who were overly ambitious. This worried father said to his son: "I remember reading somewhere, my boy, that there are no honors too distant to the man who prepares himself for them with patience."
Wouldn't it be wonderful if it could be said of our leaders in public office as it was said of Abraham Lincoln: "When he spoke for the nation he so loved, his lips were as though touched with a live coal from the altar. He seemed to be of the same fibre with the prophets of Holy Writ and it may be said, without irreverence, that he was a 'priest after the order of Melchisedec, without beginning or end of days', combining the kingdom and priestly functions essential to the service of his Nation and his time."
Farsighted men in the early years of this nation foresaw dangers about which they warned us. You will readily see these dangers all too apparent among us today. This is a quotation again from President Abraham Lincoln:
"Is it unreasonable, then, to expect that some man, possessed of the loftiest genius, coupled with ambition sufficient to push it to its utmost stretch, will at some time spring up amongst us, and when such an one does, it will require the people to be united with each other, attached to the government and the laws, and generally intelligent, successfully to frustrate his design."
"Towering genius disdains a beaten path. It seeks regions heretofore unexplored... It thirsts... for distinction, and if possible it will have it, whether at the expense of emancipating slaves or enslaving freemen."
Now, again, the Lord has warned us of those who fight against Zion or who betray their sacred trust as holders of the priesthood. We would do well to remember what the Lord has promised to this people. The Lord declared, "How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints".
And again the Lord said, "Wherefore," speaking of our enemies, "let them bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord.
"Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you -there is no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper;
"And if any man lift his voice against you he shall be confounded in mine own due time".
It was in the midst of great persecution when the Prophet Joseph Smith received great comfort. "My son," the Lord said, "peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
"And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high, thou shalt triumph over all thy foes".
Beware of those who fight against the Saints! The Prophet Joseph Smith made this further statement: "And I would now say, Beware O earth, how you fight against the Saints of God and shed innocent blood; for in the days of Elijah, his enemies came upon him and fire was called down from heaven and destroyed them "
There are those among us who would set themselves up as critics of the Church, saying that the Church has gone out of the way. Some splintered apostate clans even from the beginning of this dispensation have made fictitious claims to authority. We should warn these, as well as those who are in danger of being led astray, of what the Prophet predicted. He said, "That man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the Church, saying they are out of the way, while he himself is righteous, then know assuredly that that man is to apostasy; and if he does not repent, will apostatize, as God lives."
Much has been said in the sessions of this conference about the recklessness and restlessness among college students. The president of one of our great universities wrote a letter to his students after a year of much discontent on the university campus. Said this university president: "I have often been reminded this past winter of the young student who found Christianity inadequate and decided to found his own new and better religion. He asked a wise old theologian for advice on how to get started. The old scholar, with a twinkle in his eye, said, 'I suggest that you arrange to get yourself crucified, and then rise from the dead on the third day.'-Your primary role as students here is to learn, not to teach. Students who think otherwise should go out, found their own universities and then take lessons from their students."
I think it would be well if our young students would listen to the wisdom of this university president.
The foundation on which to build for safety against adversity and storms is suggested in the answer of a little mother to a sister who had inquired about the rumored riots and troubles being fomented in our midst. This little mother said, "I'm so busy taking care of little riots and problems in my own home that I have my hands full without being bothered about these other rumors." So often in our day we are prone to be more concerned in brush fires abroad than about the problems in our own homes. The Master as he closed the great Sermon on the Mount gave us a parable.
"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
"And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
"And every one that heareth these savings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
"And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
"And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings the people were astonished at his doctrine:
"For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes".
It was Mark Twain who told us that everyone must expect to have personal trials and personal tragedies. He wrote this after the tragic death of his twenty-five-year-old daughter Suzy. He said, "Suzy died at the best time of life, age 25. She had lived her golden years. For after that there come the risks, the responsibilities, and the inevitable tragedies of life." The Master's parable gives us the key to avoid disaster when these trials come.
Many times I personally have wondered at the Master's cry of anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane. "And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt".
As I advance in years, I begin to understand in some small measure how the Master must have felt. In the loneliness of a distant hotel room 2,500 miles away, you, too, may one day cry out from the depths of your soul as was my experience: "O dear God, don't let her die! I need her; her family needs her."
Neither the Master's prayer nor my prayer was answered. The purpose of that personal suffering may be only explained in what the Lord said through the Apostle Paul:
"Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him".
So it is in our day. God grant that you and I may learn obedience to God's will, if necessary by the things which we suffer. One of the things that characterizes us as Saints, as King Benjamin told us, was to be "submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father".
There have been signs that have been given by which we shall know when the coming of the Lord shall be; and the Lord has given us two or three warning words to remember:
"... I say unto all men; watch, therefore, for you know not at what hour your Lord doth come...
"Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh".
"But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse God and die".
"... and he that watches not for me shall be cut off".
These are words to be remembered. Watch! Be ye therefore ready! Stand in holy places and be not moved! Be still and know that I am God!
I bear witness that until a person has been willing to sacrifice all he possesses in the world, not even withholding his own life if it were necessary for the upbuilding of the kingdom, then only can he claim kinship to Him who gave his life that men might be. God make us worthy, willing to accept whatever he sees fit to inflict upon us, as a little child to its father.
I bear you my solemn witness as to the divine mission of the Lord and to the responsibility we must bear as his Church and his people and his priesthood, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop John H. Vandenberg
John H. Vandenberg, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 131-134
It has been said: "The great of the twentieth century is. 'How can I acquire wealth?' No question occupies a larger place in the minds and... hearts of... people today than this. Millions... in our land worship at the shrine of mammon. The twentieth century is money mad. This is true of men in every station and in every walk of life."
Avarice and selfishness mastermind all sin and crime. The Lord has repeatedly warned against the disastrous consequence to the soul of one having his heart so set upon the things of this world as to neglect the real purpose and meaning of life.
For instance, a certain young man made this inquiry of the Savior: "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
"And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
"He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
"Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
"The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
"But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions".
Jesus touches upon a subject here which is essential to a successful and happy life. Had the young man been able to follow the Savior's counsel, he no doubt would have experienced great joy; certainly he would not have gone away sorrowful. It is interesting to note that the young man had qualified himself as far as keeping the carnal commandments was concerned. There was no serious transgression, but it was the follow-through-"if thou wilt be perfect"-that was the stumbling block. The requirement to use his worldly goods to benefit others proved to be his great test, a test that made him sad, as it does many today.
Immediately following this episode the Savior addressed his disciples and said: "Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven." Even his disciples seemed taken aback by this statement, for they asked: "Who then can be saved?" Jesus answered them: "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible".
Here then is the key-by the power of our Father in heaven man is saved. And this power of God is exercised through the action of his laws. His laws are given for the benefit of his children-to help them properly take command of their lives concerning worldly goods.
Christ taught: "... seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
"For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
"But rather seek ye the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you". There are many men who can testify to this truth.
Neither wealth nor the material things of the world in and of themselves are evil; it is the love of possessing them above all else that is evil.
The Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith: "... that which cometh of the earth is ordained for the use of man for food and for raiment, and that he might have in abundance.
"But it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin", italics added).
Many of the problems of society develop because of man's vain ambition to get gain and power "above another." Such desires follow the natural course in the heart of man. "... the natural man," said King Benjamin, "is an enemy to God...". One should cultivate thoughts of love for God and fellowmen and strive to serve one another.
"When Matthias Baldwin, who built the first American locomotive, had made good and had accumulated a fortune, he was wont to distribute liberal gifts freely among those who had been less prosperous than he. So generous, indeed, was he that when he had not the cash by him he would give personal notes instead. 'Nobody hesitates to sign promises to pay in the future in order to get capital for business,' he would say. 'Are we to trust the Lord to take care of our affairs, and not His own?' Sometimes, it is said, this practice would get Mr. Baldwin into small difficulties; but on the other hand it often helped him when he needed business notes for himself. Said one bank president to another, once,'You refuse to help him because he does not know what to do with his money. We will stand by him because he is determined to do good with his money. His collaterals are God's promises.'"
Mr. Baldwin may have been acquainted with Paul's admonition to Timothy: "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
"That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
"Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life".
Mr. Baldwin personally said, "I feel more thankful for the disposition to give largely than for the ability to give largely; for I know that immense wealth can be acquired a great deal easier than the heart to use it well. My money without a new heart would have been a curse to me."
A few days ago the Deseret News carried an article about Mr. J. C. Penney. In part it said: "One night, for example, at age 56, I was broke, discouraged, ill in a sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan. I felt that I would never see the dawn of another day," said Mr. Penney. "I got up and wrote farewell letters to my wife and to my oldest son. I sealed the letters. If I did sleep, it was not a sound sleep. I rose early, went down to the mezzanine floor, and found the dining room was not open.
"Suddenly, over in one corner of the mezzanine, I heard the singing of gospel hymns. The song was the old favorite, 'God Will Take Care of You.' You can imagine how heavy my heart was when I went in. Yet, I came out of that room that morning a changed man. Within just a few moments my life was transformed. It was almost as if I had had a new birth. God did take care of me... And ever since, I have been trying to fill that obligation.
"When I finally got back on firm ground, I had much less in a material sense than I enjoyed before. But I had gained immeasurably in spiritual wealth, for I had learned to turn to God for guidance in all the acts and decisions of my life.
"All spiritual awakening requires this realization: material arrogance and pride build up a sense of power that separates man more and more from God. Then when some desperate crisis brings this realization, the change appears almost a miracle.
"But that miracle is ever within a hand's reach of all of us. That is the wonderful thing about it. We have only to reach out and touch God, to take His hand and ask Him to lead us."
America as a whole is today economically prosperous; and unless we turn to God, grave consequences may result. Members of the Church are taken up in this surge of prosperity, and we should be alert to the words of Paul: "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows".
Avarice and selfishness seem to be the greatest sin and lead to many crimes. Robberies, burglaries, assaults, murders are committed because of the selfish attitude "I want it."
The Lord, therefore, has given his children guiding principles to assist them to overcome such inclinations as they may have. The Church will help a man to eradicate selfishness from his mind if he will but follow the laws of the gospel. For example, the law of tithing is for man's benefit. As a man voluntarily begins to pay an honest tithing, his interests and desires are focused toward God.
No one who is selfish can gain a righteous state. The principle of tithing will help one overcome this enslaving power, for at the very base of this principle lies the means of subduing and conquering selfishness. Hence it is a great blessing to the individual who will honestly live the law.
President Brigham Young once said: "The law of tithing is an eternal law. The Lord Almighty never had his Kingdom on the earth without the law of tithing being in the midst of his people, and he never will. It is an eternal law that God has instituted for the benefit of the human family, for their salvation and exaltation."
In 1831 the Lord, in a revelation through the Prophet Joseph Smith, said: "And if ye seek the riches which it is the will of the Father to give unto you, ye shall be the richest of all people for ye shall have the riches of eternity; and it must needs be that the riches of the earth are mine to give; but beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old". You will recall the Nephite nation was destroyed because the people sought to gratify their own pride and vain ambitions. They were unable to resist the appeal of wealth and the things it could buy, loving power and gain more than God.
President McKay has counseled: "Tithing should not be given with a selfish end in view. A man who pays tithing just to keep his name on the record will receive his reward, of course; he will have his name on the record. 'Verily, he hath his reward', as the man who prayed to be seen and heard of men. But he who gives because he loves to help others and to further the cause of righteousness, who gives cheerfully with thanksgiving in his heart, also has his reward; for in giving he is really obtaining. In losing his life for Christ's sake, he finds it.
"If all would thus lose themselves unselfishly in the law of tithing, there would be sufficient in the Lord's storehouse to insure the comfort and education of every person in need in the Church. The Church would thus become the best, the safest insurance society in the world. The time will come when tithing as a sufficient means of protection will be even more fully understood than it is today".
May God bless us that we may catch the vision and the spirit of the Savior's admonition: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal:
"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also".
May this be our lot, I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Franklin D. Richards
Franklin D. Richards, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 134-137
My dear brothers and sisters, the Lord has said, "... if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God".
In a glorious vision to Moses we learn that it is God's work and glory "... to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man".
Even though this is God's work and glory, life seems to be a mystery to most of God's children. Men wonder, "Where did we come from, and what is the object of life?" The answers to these questions are essential in order for each of us to achieve the maximum benefits, happiness, and peace that this life affords.
But to us God has revealed the object of life. He has revealed the great truth that he is our Father and that we are his spirit children. I am indeed grateful for this knowledge; and as we appreciate that we are spirit children of our Father in heaven, unlimited possibilities lie before us.
Through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, we learn that we enjoyed a premortal existence as spirit children of God the Father.
In our first estate or premortal existence we had our free agency, and because of our choice and worthiness we were eligible to come to this earth-our second estate. Thus, at the time of our earthly birth our spirit entered into our mortal body and became the life of our body.
The knowledge that this life is the second estate opens up the great concept of eternal progress. This is a basic truth of our religious thought. What a tremendous vision this gives us.
And why did we come to this second estate? To be proved and tested-to see if we will do all things whatsoever the Lord commands us.
Jesus said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect".
I bear witness to you that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, and that all of God's children will inherit immortality through the atonement of the Christ, but that only those who keep God's commandments and endure to the end will inherit eternal life and exaltation in the celestial kingdom.
How many experiences, pleasant and unpleasant, must we have, and how much knowledge must we attain to become perfect, even as our Father in heaven is perfect? Let us consider this matter before answering.
Great blessings come from the knowledge that we obtain and the experiences we have, and it should be remembered that every experience has a value.
The Prophet Joseph was proved the same as each of us is. He encountered intense opposition and what appeared to be insurmountable obstacles.
When he was crying to the Lord in Liberty Jail in March 1839, the word of the Lord came to him, saying:
"... if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good".
I am sure that it was difficult for the Prophet Joseph at that time to appreciate how this most difficult experience would be for his good, but it undoubtedly was a preparation for greater tests that came later.
I love the Prophet Joseph Smith and bear witness that he was one of the great prophets of all time.
You may recall that historic and memorable journey of Zion's Camp to Missouri. Since it failed of its purpose to reinstate the Saints in possession of their lands in Jackson County, it was regarded by some as being an unprofitable episode.
"A brother in Kirtland-one too weak in the faith to go with the camp-meeting Brigham Young on his return from Missouri, said to him, 'Well, what did you gain on this useless journey to Missouri with Joseph Smith?' 'All we went for,' promptly replied Brigham Young."
In the camp's journey of more than a thousand miles there were many experiences. There were fatigues, hardships, and disappointments to overcome; all of these experiences were valuable to the men who participated in them. Many became the leaders in two great exoduses involving the removal of 12,000 Saints from Missouri to Illinois and of more than 20,000 from Illinois to the Salt Lake Valley.
In another way also this Zion's Camp experience was profitable. In February 1835 a conference was held in which the Prophet explained "that the trials and sufferings endured on that journey to Missouri were not in vain, for it was the will of God 'that those who went to Zion with a determination to lay down their lives, if necessary, should be ordained to the ministry, to go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time.'" Thus it was from this group that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was selected.
Again it was the knowledge obtained and faith and strength that was developed that prepared these men for the great work that was ahead of them.
Yes, it is essential that each of us learn from our experiences as we are tried and tested by the afflictions of this life. God has explained that this is an important part of this life.
It seems, however, that human nature wants to follow the easy paths; but each of us should thank the Lord for the difficulties we encounter.
I know that as we look back upon our lives, we will acknowledge that those experiences that were the most difficult were in the end the most profitable. The lessons learned and faith developed in such hours of hardship will prove to be of eternal value to us in our path of eternal progress.
Many of us recall the dark days of the depression in the early nineteen thirties. The loss of one's possessions is a humbling experience, especially with the responsibilities of a family, but the lessons will never be forgotten.
Likewise, the loss of loved ones are sad experiences, but these difficult tests build great faith, courage, and humility. In the presence of death we are made humble, for then we realize our own helplessness and our dependence upon our Heavenly Father for comfort.
Those who have fulfilled missions understand the difficulties and disappointments in bringing souls into the kingdom of God. But none would deny the great opportunities for personal growth and development as well as eternal joy and happiness.
Service to mankind through activity in the Church affords one of the great opportunities for experience. This type of experience develops love, faith, wisdom, understanding, discernment and invariably results in increased knowledge.
The Savior said, "Woe unto You when all men shall speak well of you!".
The Church and the people of the Church have encountered and will encounter many trials and tribulations, but as the Lord explained to the Prophet in Liberty Jail, "... all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good".
We should not expect all to speak well of us or expect all to be well with us continually. Let us prepare steadfastly to face adversity regardless of the form it takes, recognizing that such experiences are necessary to the progress of the Church as well as ourselves as individuals.
God has not promised us that we won't have problems and troubles, but he has promised us comfort, increased faith and knowledge, as well as growth and development as we successfully meet each challenge of life.
What may appear to be a small problem to some may be a major one to another. The important thing about a problem is: How do we react to it?
As we pursue the study of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we perceive that it is a grand philosophy of life, yes, the plan of life.
President McKay has said that the purpose of the gospel is to change men's lives, to make bad men good and good men better, and to change human nature..
How much learning and how many experiences do we need to become godlike? The answer is that we need all we can receive on this earth; and as we successfully meet this life's challenges, we will be prepared for more as we leave this estate and move into the next estate in the hereafter.
Our Father has sent us here for a short period of mortal experience. He has given us principles to guide us and has endowed us with free agency to choose our paths. As we choose the right we are promised eternal progress and love and peace with our families and friends. And he has promised us that as we keep his commandments his spirit will be with us.
Words cannot describe the happiness that comes into our lives when the spirit of God is with us. This happiness includes a peace that passeth understanding except to the person that receives it.
Let us truly appreciate the object of this life and endure to the end by meeting life's challenges with a determination to make each experience of eternal value to us and thus contribute to our eternal progress.
I thank the Lord for the prophet our beloved President David O. McKay, who stands at the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today. May the Lord sustain him in his great calling, and may we all have the good judgment and courage to follow his inspired advice and counsel, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Bernard P. Brockbank
Bernard P. Brockbank, Conference Report, October 1965, p. 137-140
Brothers and sisters: It is a blessing and a privilege to be in the talented and spiritual atmosphere of this great Choir. We fondly remember their great strength back at the Pavilion at the World's Fair. They are still talking about it in many of the areas.
It is also a heartfelt joy and blessing to have a living prophet of God on earth today and to have a quorum of Twelve Apostles. This is a unique organization in this world of many varied religions, one that conforms to God's plan and to the scriptures.
The scriptures and ecclesiastical history reveal that many men are willing and anxious to accept the prophets and apostles of other ages. Many today are willing to accept Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jacob, and others as prophets of God, but few of the people living at the time these prophets lived accepted them as prophets of God.
Many men today accept Jesus Christ as the Savior and Son of God, but few accepted him when be lived on this earth.
Many are willing to accept the past prophets but comparatively few are willing to accept and follow the living prophets. Many today are willing to accept Jesus Christ, but few were willing to accept and follow him.
In the Mormon Pavilion at the New York World's Fair many from all sects and religions are asking, "How can we know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and the Son of God, and how can we know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that the restoration of the gospel took place?"
Anyone can know if he truly and sincerely wants to know if a prophet is a false or is a true prophet of God. Jesus Christ gave us the key of how one may know. He said, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?".
A false prophet is as out of place and out of pattern in God's program as a fig on a thistle or a grape on a thorn.
Jesus continued: "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit...
"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them".
A corrupt or false prophet will bring forth evil fruit. A prophet of God will bring forth good fruit or God's program.
A false prophet will not build the kingdom of God but will build in opposition to God's program and will build the kingdom of false men and Satan. A true prophet will not build the kingdom of Satan. A true prophet will help build the kingdom of God. He will teach the teachings and doctrines of Jesus Christ. He will teach the God-inspired scriptures. Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters...". Many have tried, but the statement of the great Teacher still stands.
A fine couple came into my office in the Mormon Pavilion recently, and the husband was concerned because his wife who had visited the Pavilion a few weeks before had recently joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and she was filled with peace, joy, and satisfaction. He said, "My wife seems to know, but I do not know, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I do not know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. I would like to know the truth."
He said, "I do believe that there is a God or a Creator."
In answer I said, "Your Father in heaven has a greater desire that you know that Jesus Christ is literally his Son and that he is the Savior, and he desires that you know the prophets, even more than you desire to know, but you must be ready to accept and follow the Savior."
Jesus Christ gave us the key of how we can know, and this has been repeated, and I think it is rather significant. It has been mentioned in this conference several times. I think it has great import and is very essential in the great missionary program because no convert can come into this Church, knowing the truth and knowing what is essential, unless he follows and understands what the Savior mentioned.
Picture the Savior with his apostles, living here in mortality, the very God that the people thought they were worshiping, the very Messiah they were looking for. And the Savior said to his apostles:
"Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?".
Well, you know the answer. It is well known. The people did not know who he was. I wonder if we would. He was the carpenter's son across the street, claiming to be the Son of God.
Jesus turned to the apostles, "But whom say ye that I am?
"And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God".
Peter knew. Many of us know, and all who wish the truth would like to know. And here is the key, as you know. Jesus then revealed a great gem of truth and a treasure of knowledge of God the Eternal Father's relationship and responsibility to his children. Our Father in heaven is not without responsibility.
"And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven".
The knowledge and testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God cannot come from flesh and blood but must be revealed from our Father which is in heaven. The children of God must receive this knowledge literally from their Creator.
I said to my friend, "Do you sincerely want to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God?"
He said, "Above all else."
"Do you know how to pray?"
He said, "I have never prayed."
"Would you like to talk to your Father in heaven?"
"Of course I would."
"Did Jesus Christ pray?"
The Lord's Prayer
"Yes, he prayed."
Jesus Christ taught us how to pray. Many know the Lord's prayer, but few really comprehend its great significance. To many it has been a pattern of repetition, but not a pattern literally of the great sequence of prayer from God's children to their Heavenly Father.
Let's just briefly analyze it. First, we pray to our Father in heaven: "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name".
Then we pray to help build the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. And you cannot Fay to bring it without being blessed. We pray to help build God's kingdom on earth. Then one prays to do the will of God What a difference this is over always praying for the Lord to give us blessings. "Thy will be done, in earth, as it is in heaven". Then we thank God for our blessings, for our daily bread. You ask your Father in heaven to forgive you for your debts, your sins and weaknesses, and likewise you will forgive anyone that has injured or offended you, so that your heart will be ready to receive the blessings.
You ask the Lord to help you when you are tempted with evil. You ask your Father to deliver you from evil. This is a tremendous request.
Then the prayer closes. No one praying can keep from the great significance of the three closing thoughts: "... For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.".
Jesus also said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
"... ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full".
I asked my friend again, "Do you want your joy to be full?"
And of course he said that he did.
"You must ask in the name of Jesus Christ when you pray to God for his blessings."
Then he said, "I would like to read all the church books I can get a hold of."
This revealed one of the little secrets that was keeping this young man from the Church. His desire was good, which is very important; he had a marvelous attitude, but he wanted a witness through his own mind, from his own reading, through his own understanding, even though we had been speaking about the message the Lord gave of how we can know. This witness cannot come from flesh and blood but must come from God the Eternal Father.
I again asked him if he would privately and secretly fast and pray from his heart to God, so that he might know the truth. He said, "I will do the best I can, but I assure you I will pray."
One week later he was baptized, and with tears in his eyes and joy in his heart he knew that Jesus Christ was his Savior and that he was literally the Son of the living God. His Father in heaven also revealed to him that Joseph Smith was a prophet; he also knew that the Book of Mormon was scripture and was the word of God. That came as an answer from his Father in heaven, and he was thrilled to get acquainted with it. He told me, "Life has greater meaning."
Fellow members of the Church of Jesus Christ, many of your neighbors desire to know the truth. The World's Fair has proven that the people are hungry for righteousness, hungry for the truth, but there are few to teach them. It is God's plan and program for this life. Many have been misled, even as Jesus said the religious Pharisees were misled by the traditions and doctrines of men.
The doctrines and ordinances and commandments of God and Jesus Christ, again I repeat, are found in the holy scriptures. Encourage your friends with love, kindness, and neighborliness to read the scriptures, to read the Bible and the Book of Mormon. All Saints should give their friends a copy of the Book of Mormon. This program has started. See how beautifully it works. Can you picture a million members of this Church with a testimony, with a witness from God, giving the great tangible witness to their neighbors, and then individually following through, encouraging their neighbors to pray, with love and kindness building within them the knowledge that this great book is the second great witness of God's program here upon the earth, along with the Bible? It may not be second, but is a witness with the Bible. It works.
A million copies! And it depends on you. Here the majority of the leadership of God's program on earth is represented. Everyone can be a missionary, and the Book of Mormon a little tool, and then with the follow-up, you will be surprised. The Book of Mormon will draw tears to the eyes of the honest in heart. After they have read this book they will know that Jesus Christ lives and that the Prophet Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the gospel has been restored.
In closing, I would just like to say that in a few days one of the greatest missionary tools of all time, the Pavilion at the World's Fair, where we have had the opportunity of meeting and touching the hearts of millions, will be closed and dismantled, but its strength and its potency and what it has done will live indefinitely. It is good to have been a part of it.
May the Lord bless all of us to be about our Father's business, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 140-144
This has been a most inspirational conference. As this the final session draws to its close, it is not my desire to speak to a formal text, but rather to bear my personal testimony concerning Jesus of Nazareth and to suggest that each person undertake a personal search for him.
Many of you have traveled far to attend this conference. From Europe, from Canada, from Mexico, from the isles of the sea, and from many other points you have come.
In the New Testament of our Lord, John describes a similar journey by those who would worship.
"And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
"The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus". I feel this is your desire even today. The little children have another way of expressing the same wish. Most often they say: "Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear; things I would ask him to tell me if he were here."
They seek after Jesus, and so it has ever been. No search is so universal. No undertaking so richly rewarding. No effort so ennobling. No purpose so divine.
The search for Jesus is not new to this present period of time. In his touching and tender farewell to the gentiles, Moroni emphasized the importance of this search: "And now I, Moroni, bid farewell...
"And... I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written,...". For generations, enlightened mankind anxiously sought the fulfillment of prophecies uttered by righteous men inspired of Almighty God. For did not Isaiah declare: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel"? And again, "For unto us a child is born... and his name shall be called... The Prince of Peace".
And on this continent God's prophets declared: "... the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent... shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay...
"... he shall suffer temptations, and pain...
"And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God".
Then came that night of nights when the angel of the Lord came upon shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock, with the pronouncement: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord".
Thus personally invited to undertake a search for the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, did these shepherds concern themselves with the security of their possessions? Did they procrastinate their search for Jesus? The record affirms that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem...
"And they came with haste...".
"... born King of the Jews"
Wise men journeyed from the East to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
"And... they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh".
With the birth of the babe in Bethlehem, there emerged a great endowment-a power stronger than weapons, a wealth more lasting than the coins of Caesar. This child was to be the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Promised Messiah, even Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, he came forth from heaven to live on earth as mortal man and to establish the kingdom of God.
During his earthly ministry, he taught men the higher law. His glorious gospel reshaped the thinking of the world. He blessed the sick; he caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear. He even raised the dead to life.
What was the reaction to his message of mercy, his words of wisdom, his lessons of life? There were a precious few who appreciated him. They bathed his feet. They learned his word. They followed his example.
Then there were the many who denied him. When asked by Pilate, "What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?" they cried, "Crucify him." They mocked him. They gave him vinegar to drink. They reviled him. They smote him with a reed. They did spit upon him. They crucified him.
Can we, in part, appreciate the suffering of God the Eternal Father as his Only Begotten Son in the flesh was placed on a cross and crucified? Is there a father or a mother who could not be moved to complete compassion if he or she heard a son cry out in his own Garden of Gethsemane, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done"?
All of us love the beautiful account from the Holy Bible of Abraham and Isaac. How exceedingly difficult it must have been for Abraham, in obedience to God's command, to take his beloved Isaac into the land of Moriah, there to present him as a burnt offering. Can you imagine the heaviness of his heart as he gathered the wood for the fire and journeyed to the appointed place? Surely pain must have racked his body and tortured his mind as he bound Isaac and laid him on the altar upon the wood and stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son. How glorious was the pronouncement, and with what wondered welcome did it come, "Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou has not withheld thy son, thine only son from me".
As God witnessed the suffering of Jesus, his Only Begotten Son in the flesh, and beheld his agony, there was no voice from heaven to spare the life of Jesus. There was no ram in the thicket to be offered as a substitute sacrifice. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".
Down through the generations of time, the message from Jesus has been the same. To Peter by the shores of beautiful Galilee, he said, "Follow me...". To Philip of old came the call, "Follow me". To the Levite who sat at receipt of customs came the instructions, "Follow me". And to you and to me, if we but listen, shall come that same beckoning invitation, "Follow me."
But how do we follow him if first we don't find him? And how shall we find him, if first we don't seek him? Where and how should we begin this search for Jesus?
Some have attempted to answer these questions by turning to idols, others by burning incense or lighting candles. In times past, great throngs journeyed in the crusades of Christianity, feeling that, if only the Holy Land could be secured from the infidel, then Christ would be found in their lives. How mistaken they were. Thousands upon thousands perished. Many others committed heinous crimes in the very name of Christianity. Jesus will not be found by crusades of men.
Still others searched for Jesus in councils of debate. Such was the historic Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. There, with the help of the Roman Emperor, the delegates did away in Christendom with the concept of a personal God and a personal Son-the two separate and distinct Glorified Beings of the scriptures. The Creed of Nicea, the "incomprehensible mystery" of which its originators seemed so proud precisely because it could not be understood, substituted for the personal God of love and for Jesus of the New Testament an immaterial abstraction. The result was a maze of confusion and a compoundment of error. Jesus will not be found in councils of debate. Men of the world have modified his miracles, doubted his divinity, and rejected his resurrection.
The formula for finding Jesus has always been and ever will be the same-the earnest and sincere prayer of a humble and pure heart. The Prophet Jeremiah counseled, "... ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart".
Before we can successfully undertake a personal search for Jesus, we must first prepare time for him in our lives and room for him in our hearts. In these busy days there are many who have time for golf, time for shopping, time for work, time for play, but no time for Christ.
Lovely homes dot the land and provide rooms for eating, rooms for sleeping, playrooms, sewing rooms, television rooms, but no room for Christ.
Do we get a pang of conscience as we recall his own words, "... foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head"? Or do we flush with embarrassment when we remember, "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn"? No room. No room. No room. Ever has it been.
As we undertake our personal search for Jesus, aided and guided by the principle of prayer, it is fundamental that we have a clear concept of him whom we seek. The shepherds of old did seek Jesus the child. But we seek Jesus the Christ, our older Brother, our Mediator with the Father, our Redeemer, the Author of our salvation, him who was in the beginning with the Father, him who took upon himself the sins of the world and so willingly died that we might forever live. This is the Jesus whom we seek.
And when we find him, will we be prepared as were the wise men of old to provide gifts from our many treasures? They presented gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These are not the gifts Jesus asks of us. From the treasure of our hearts Jesus asks that we give of ourselves.
"Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind".
In this marvelous Dispensation of the Fullness of Times, our opportunities to give of ourselves are indeed limitless, but they are also perishable. There are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done. There are souls to be saved. "Go, gladden the lonely, the dreary; go, comfort the weeping, the weary; go, scatter kind deeds on your way, oh, make the world brighter today."
As we remember that "... when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God", we will not find ourselves in the unenviable position of Jacob Marley's ghost, who spoke to Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens' immortal A Christmas Carol. Marley sadly spoke of opportunities lost. Said he, "Not to know that any Christian spirit working kindly in its little sphere, whatever it may be, will find its mortal life too short for its vast means of usefulness. Not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one life's opportunities misused! Yet such was I! Oh! such was I!"
Marley added, "Why did I walk through the crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raised them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode? Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me?"
Fortunately, the privilege to render service to others can come to each of us. If we but look we too will see a bright, particular star which will guide us to our opportunity.
One who saw such a star and followed it was the late Boyd Hatch of Salt Lake City. Deprived of the use of his legs, faced with a lifetime in a wheelchair, Boyd could well have looked inward and, through sorrow for self, existed rather than lived. However, Brother Hatch looked not inward, but rather outward into the lives of others and upward into God's own heaven; and the star of inspiration guided him not to one opportunity, but to literally hundreds. He organized Scout troops of handicapped boys. He taught them camping. He taught them swimming. He taught them basketball. He taught them faith. Some boys were downhearted and filled with self-pity and despair. To them he handed the torch of hope. Before them was his own personal example of struggle and accomplishment. With a courage which we shall never fully know or understand, these boys of many faiths overcame insurmountable odds and found themselves anew. Through it all, Boyd Hatch not only found joy, but by willingly and unselfishly giving of himself, he also found Jesus.
Every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the waters of baptism, has covenanted to stand as a witness of God "... at all times and in all things, and in all places..." and has expressed a willingness "... to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light".
By fulfilling this covenant in our lives, we will become acquainted with him who declared, "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world". This is the Jesus whom we seek. This is our Brother whom we love. This is Christ the Lord, whom we serve. I testify that he lives, for I speak as one who has found him, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, October 1965, pp. 144-146
Jesus Christ, the Personification of Perfection
My dear brethren and sisters: As we come to this parting hour, I hope that the teachings and life of the Master seem to you all to be more beautiful, more necessary, and more applicable to human happiness than ever before. Never have I believed more firmly in the perfection of humanity as the final result of man's placement here on earth. With my whole soul I accept Jesus Christ as the personification of human perfection-as God made manifest in the flesh, as the Savior and Redeemer of mankind. Accepting him as my Redeemer Savior, and Lord, I accept his gospel as the plan of salvation, as the one perfect way to human happiness and peace. There is not a principle which was taught by him but seems to me to be applicable to the growth, development, and happiness of mankind. Every one of his teachings seems to me to touch the true philosophy of living. I accept them with all my heart and pray that all who participated in this great conference, either as listeners or speakers, may have that same desire in their hearts.
Let us strive so earnestly to represent him or to follow him that our spirits may be eternally young. If thoughts affect the physical being, might it not be true that eternal truths will contribute to the eternal nature of the spirit within? On the night of his betrayal, the Savior said: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent". And how may we know of the doctrine? "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself".
Wisdom comes through effort. All good things require effort. That which is worth having will cost part of your physical being, your intellectual power, and your soul power-"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you". But you have to seek, you have to knock. On the other hand, sin thrusts itself upon you. It walks beside you, it tempts you, it entices, it allures. You do not have to put forth effort. It is like the poor, fallen woman who lies in wait to deceive. It is like the billboard advertising attracting you to drink and to smoke. It is like the message that comes into your very homes with the television and radio or the golden packet put right into your hand. Evil seeks you, and it requires effort and fortitude to combat it. But truth and wisdom are gained only by seeking, by prayer, and by effort.
We cannot be true to ourselves and to our loved ones, to our associates, without feeling a determination to know more about this great truth to which testimonies have been borne here throughout this conference. The spirit within bears testimony that truth exists in this old world.
"What seek ye?" were the first words that Christ uttered to some of his Twelve, or some who afterwards became members of the Twelve. "Master, where dwellest thou?" He didn't say over here or over there, but he said, "Come and see". And they went with him that day and spent the rest of the afternoon in his presence.
I ask the youth of the Church today, "Whom do you seek?" Would you keep that youth which is yours now? Then love the Lord your God with all your mind, with all your heart, and with all your soul; and though the body becomes decrepit and like an old house begins to tumble, your spirit will still be young, as young as the little babe that might be in that tumbled-down house, because your body, after all, is but the house in which you live. Even when your heart stops beating, your eyelids close, and you respond no more to your physical environment, that spirit, still young, will go into the presence of him whom you have made your ideal. Then truly will it be demonstrated that:
"The stars shall fade away, the sun himself Grow dim with age, and Nature sink in years; But thou shalt flourish in immortal youth, Unhurt amidst the war of elements, The wreck of matter, and the crash of worlds."
And now this great conference draws to a close. Our anticipation, our hopes, and our prayers that it might prove to be uplifting and inspirational have been realized, and for that we are grateful to our Heavenly Father, grateful for the inspiration he has given to us and to the world. Truly, our hearts have been filled with gratitude that the Lord has magnified each one who has spoken to the end that his words have emanated from the presence of our Father.
As we leave to go to our various homes, let us make real the good feelings that have been aroused in our souls. Let us not permit to evaporate from our minds and feelings the good resolutions we have formed. Let us resolve that from now on we are going to be men of higher and more sterling character, more conscious of our own weaknesses, more kind and charitable towards others' failings. As we depart let us be more determined to be kinder husbands, more thoughtful wives, more exemplary to our children, more determined that in our homes we are going to have just a little taste of heaven here on earth.
Cherish in your hearts the testimony of truth; make it as solid and as firm and unwavering as the fixed stars in the heavens. May there come into everyone's heart and into all our homes the true Spirit of Christ, our Redeemer, whose reality, whose inspiring guidance I know to be real. May a kind heaven help us to cherish worthy ideals and noble aspirations. Whatever our joys and sorrows, let us ever remember that what we ardently desire in our hearts will determine what we really are. How constantly and consistently we cherish noble aspirations in our minds and follow them will determine whether we drift as failures along life's highway or fulfill the divine purpose of our being.
Finally, let us be true to our country and to our country's ideals. Nearly three thousand years ago an ancient prophet said that this is a land choice above all other lands, and it is, and the Constitution of the United States, as given to us by our fathers, is the real government under which individuals may exercise free agency and individual initiative.
Let us oppose any subversive influence that would deprive us of our individual freedom or make this government a dictator instead of a servant to the people.
God bless you officers and leaders of the Church. May the love of the Redeemer be in each heart, and that means that that love will be expressed in serving one another. God bless these brethren of the General Authorities with increased health and strength to carry on their responsibilities throughout the world. I know that God lives, that his Son Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, and that divine beings restored to the Prophet Joseph Smith the gospel of Jesus Christ as he established it in the Meridian of Time.
I bear you this testimony as we part this afternoon and pray the blessings of the Lord to be upon each and every one of you, that the influence of the priesthood quorums, of auxiliaries, and of the missionaries may be more effective from this time forward than ever before in leading the honest in heart of the whole world to turn their hearts to the worship of God and give them power to control the animal nature and live in the Spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 12-15
My dear brethren and sisters, I am very thankful to be here with you at this, the 136th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I pray that I shall say something that will be for the upbuilding of the kingdom of our Father and for the benefit of those who are listening. I would like to speak on "The Signs of the Lord's Coming," and I pray that he will direct me in what I say.
Many things have taken place during the past one hundred and thirty-six years to impress faithful members of the Church with the fact that the coming of the Lord is near. The gospel has been restored. The Church has been fully organized. The priesthood has been conferred upon man. The various dispensations from the beginning have been revealed and their keys and authorities given to the Church. Israel has been and is being gathered to the land of Zion. The Jews are returning to Jerusalem. The gospel is being preached in all the world as a witness to every nation. Temples are being built, and ordinance work for the dead, as well as for the living, is performed in them. The hearts of the children have turned to their fathers, and the children are seeking after their dead. The covenants which the Lord promised to make with Israel in the latter days have been revealed, and thousands of gathered Israel have entered into them. Thus the work of the Lord is advancing, and all these things are signs of the near approach of our Lord.
Jesus said the Jews would be scattered among all nations and Jerusalem would be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles were fulfilled. The prophecy in Section 45, verses 24-29, of the Doctrine and Covenants regarding the Jews was literally fulfilled. Jerusalem, which was trodden down by the Gentiles, is no longer trodden down but is made the home for the Jews. They are returning to Palestine, and by this we may know that the times of the Gentiles are near their close.
The words of the prophets are rapidly being fulfilled, but it is done on such natural principles that most of us fail to see it. Joel promised that the Lord would pour out his spirit upon all flesh: the sons and daughters should prophesy, old men should dream dreams, and young men should see visions. Wonders in heaven and in the earth would be seen, and there would be fire, blood, and pillars of smoke. Eventually the sun is to be turned into darkness and the moon as blood and then shall come the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Some of these signs have been given; some are yet to come. The sun has not yet been darkened. We are informed that this will be one of the last acts just preceding the coming of the Lord.
One wonders if we are not now seeing some of the signs in heaven-not all, for undoubtedly some of them will be among the heavenly bodies, such as the moon and the sun, the meteors and comets, but in speaking of the heavens, reference is made to that part which surrounds the earth and which belongs to it. It is in the atmosphere where many of the signs are to be given. Do we not see airships of various kinds traveling through the heavens daily? Have we not had signs in the earth and through the earth with the radio, railroad trains, automobiles, submarines, and satellites, and in many other ways? There are yet to be great signs: the heavens are to be shaken, the sign of the Son of Man is to be given, and then shall the tribes of the earth mourn.
Among the signs of the last days was an increase of learning. Daniel was commanded to "... shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro," said he "and knowledge shall be increased". Are not the people "running to and fro" today as they never did before in the history of the world? Go to the Bureau of Information and ask there how many tourists visit Temple Square each year. Make inquiry at the various national parks, at the bus, railroad, and steamship companies; learn how many are running to Europe, Asia, and all parts of the earth.
Are we not, most of us, running to and fro in our automobiles seeking pleasure? Is not knowledge increased? Was there ever a time in the history of the world when so much knowledge was poured out upon the people? But sad to say, the words of Paul are true-the people are "ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth".
Have you ever tried to associate the outpouring of knowledge, the great discoveries and inventions during the past 136 years, with the restoration of the gospel? Do you not think there is some connection? It is not because we are more intelligent than our fathers that we have received this knowledge, but because God has willed it so in our generation! Yet men take the honor unto themselves and fail to recognize the hand of the Almighty in these things.
America was discovered because the Lord willed it. The gospel was restored in America, rather than in some other land because the Lord willed it. This is the land "shadowing with wings" spoken of by Isaiah that today is sending ambassadors by the sea to a nation scattered and peeled, which at one time was terrible in the beginning. Now that nation is being gathered, and once again they shall be in favor with the Lord.
Have we not had numerous rumors of wars? Have we not had wars, such wars as the world never saw before? Is there not today commotion among the nations, and are not their rulers troubled? Have not kingdoms been overturned and great changes been made among nations? The whole earth is in commotion. Earthquakes in divers places are reported every day. I took the liberty to call Dr. Melvin Cook and have him get for me some facts about how many earthquakes we have now. He quotes from a recent book by John H. Hodgson the following: "The way the numbers go up as the magnitude goes down makes it easy for us to accept the estimate that, if all earthquakes down to zero magnitude could be detected, the number would be between one and ten million each year." Then he goes on to say that there are about 2,000 earthquakes each year with the magnitude between 5 and 6 and about 20,000 between 4 and 5; therefore it looks as if there are around 20,000 earthquakes a year that could be damaging if they occurred in populated areas. The other signs given by the Lord have been seen or are at our doors. We know this to be the case both from observation and from the predictions of the prophets. Elijah, 130 years ago, told Joseph Smith that the great and dreadful day of the Lord was near, "... even at the doors".
Yet the old world goes on about its business paying very little heed to all the Lord has said and to all the signs and indications that have been given. Men harden their hearts and say "... that Christ delayeth his coming until the end of the earth".
They are "... eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage" according to the customs of the world, not of God, without one thought that the end of wickedness is near. Pleasure and the love of the world have captured the hearts of the people. There is no time for such people to worship the Lord or give heed to his warnings; so it will continue until the day of destruction is upon them.
At no time in the history of the world has it been more necessary for the children of men to repent. We boast of our advanced civilization, of the great knowledge and wisdom with which we are possessed; but in and through it all, the love of God is forgotten! The Lord, as well as Elijah, gave us warning, as did also Joseph Smith. The Lord said: "For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, the time is soon at hand that I shall come in a cloud with power and great glory.
"And it shall be a great day at the time of my coming, for all nations shall tremble.
"But before that great day shall come, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon be turned into blood; and the stars shall refuse their shining, and some shall fall, and great destructions await the wicked".
If the great and dreadful day of the Lord were near at hand when Elijah came 130 years ago, we are just one century nearer it today. But some will say: "But not Elijah, you are wrong! Surely 130 years have passed, and are we not better off today than ever before? Look at our discoveries, our inventions, our knowledge, and our wisdom! Surely you made a mistake!" So many seem to think and say, and judging by their actions they are sure, that the world is bound to go on in its present condition for millions of years before the end will come. Talk to them; hear what they have to say-these learned men of the world. "We have had worse times," they say. "You are wrong in thinking there are more calamities now than in earlier times. There are not more earthquakes, the earth has always been quaking, but now we have facilities for gathering the news which our fathers did not have. These are not signs of the times; things are not different from former times." And so the people refuse to heed the warnings the Lord so kindly gives to them, and thus they fulfill the scriptures. Peter said such sayings would be uttered, and he warned the people. In this warning Peter calls attention to the destruction of the world in the flood and says that at the coming of Christ-which scoffers would postpone or deny-there shall come another cleansing of the earth, but the second time by fire. Is not the condition among the people today similar to that in the days of Noah? Did the people believe and repent then? Can you make men, save with few exceptions, believe today that there is any danger? Do you believe the Lord when he said almost 135 years ago: "For I am no respecter of persons, and will that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion".
"And behold, and lo, I come quickly to judgment, to convince all of their ungodly deeds which they have committed against me, as it is written of me in the volume of the book".
"Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh;
"And the anger of the Lord is kindled, and his sword is bathed in heaven, and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth".
"Verily, I say unto you, this generation, in which these things shall be shown forth, shall not pass away until all I have told you shall be fulfilled".
Shall we slumber on in utter oblivion or indifference to all that the Lord has given us as warning? I say unto you, "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
"But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh".
May we heed this warning given by the Lord and get our houses in order and be prepared for the coming of the Lord, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
Elder Bernard P. Brockbank
Bernard p. Brockbank, Conference Report, April 1966, p. 16-18
Brothers and sisters, it is good to be in this historic Tabernacle in general conference-to be here near the mountain of the Lord's house in the tops of the mountains.
The spires of the temple capped with the Angel Moroni are one of the landmarks of the restoration of the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ through heavenly messengers here on this earth. As you know, the facade of the Mormon Pavilion at the New York World's Fair was a replica of the front of the Salt Lake Temple. Many visitors commented on its beauty and religious significance. It served as a beacon and a magnet to draw millions of people to the pavilion.
We found after visiting with millions of visitors at the Mormon Pavilion that many were sincerely seeking for greater light and knowledge relative to God's plan of life. Many wanted to know more about a living, personal God and about a living, personal Jesus Christ. They seemed hungry and anxious to hear the teachings of the Savior as they were taught and lived by him. They wanted to hear the doctrines of the holy scriptures as given by the ancient prophets, apostles, and Jesus Christ.
The main exhibit at the pavilion was the missionaries. The priesthood and the Holy Ghost were manifest to tens of thousands through the spirit, love, and dedication of the missionaries. Many visitors left their comments.
A Catholic said: "There should be more young men like this called all over the world. This is the most instructive religious pavilion at the fair. I'm impressed with so many young men knowing the truth."
A Baptist said: "Words fail to describe the beauty seen here. I wish every faith had as much conviction and such dedicated young people with the ideals of the spirit. There is hope for the future through your young people."
The Mormon Pavilion with its achievements is one of the greatest, most far-reaching missionary ventures of our time. We learned many lessons from the visitors at the pavilion; and if the lessons are fully used, they will help to bring into reality one of the great requests of our prophet, President David O. McKay. He requested that every member be a missionary and that each member bring one or more persons into the Church each year.
The Lord said in modern-day revelation, "Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor".
I have asked hundreds of members if they would like to bring someone into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and each said, "Yes"; but year after year passes, and they do not accomplish their desire. Only a very small percent of the Saints bring one or more converts into the Church each year. We have more than one million possible members who would like to help in reaching and teaching their friends, who would like to bring someone into the Church each year.
We are in the process of creating and setting up similar exhibits to those used at the Mormon Pavilion in each of the church bureaus of information where space is available. In the areas such as Salt Lake City the local missionaries and the Saints will be able to bring their friends and neighbors to the Salt Lake Temple Square Bureau of Information and there, with the help of visual aids, teach them about the restoration of the gospel and bring their friends to a knowledge of the Church of Jesus Christ. The exhibits will be built around the teachings and doctrines as taught and exemplified by the Savior. It has always been most interesting to me to know that Jesus not only taught his plan of life and salvation, but he also set the example and requested that we follow him. This leaves little room for private interpretation.
Missionary Saints through the help of the exhibits will be able to encourage their friends and neighbors to turn to the God-inspired scriptures to seek and find the true gospel through the recorded message that our Father in heaven has left here on the earth for us.
The exhibits will start with the creation of man in the image and likeness of God.
The ancient prophets will be shown as God and heavenly messengers appeared and directed them in the Lord's program.
The teachings and examples of Jesus Christ will be shown through murals and various visual aids, such as Jesus setting the example for proper water baptism, and all Christians will be encouraged to know and follow his example.
Jesus called, ordained, and built his Church around Twelve Apostles. Through visual aids and the spoken word, we will encourage the people to know that apostles are an essential part of Jesus Christ's Church.
The apostasy from the teachings of Jesus Christ will be shown through visual aids. Men have changed the concept of God and Jesus Christ. Some have even gone so far as to say that God is without body, parts, or passions. Men changed the baptism of Jesus. Men discontinued the Twelve Apostles. The Melchizedek Priesthood was changed. Tithing was discontinued among many. And many other changes were made that time will not permit to bring to our attention.
We will show through visual aids the First Vision and the restoration of the Church and the teachings and plan of life as given by the Savior.
The same film on eternal life that was shown at the pavilion will be used. I would like to quote a statement by Norman Vincent Peale regarding the film. He said, "The film told the story of where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going." He added, "The film motivated one to want to make the most of earth life, and the last two minutes of the film were the most touching, the most inspirational, and most revealing of any two minutes of a film I have ever seen in my entire life."
He also said, "I don't know the name of the character-actor who was the grandfather, but when he died and entered the eternal existence, bewilderment and wonder were written on his face. All of a sudden, he caught a glimpse of his wife from whom he had been parted. She ran to him and threw her arms around him. Then came his brothers, sisters, mother and father, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and all who were near and dear to him on earth. Surrounded by those who loved him, the camera gave us a closeup of his face, whereon was written radiant, exultant joy. I have never seen such a character portrayal, nor such a beautiful scene. Out of this film, I learned two things: an entirely new concept of the purpose of life and its connection with the eternities, and an entirely new concept of the importance of the family in connection with the eternities." Our family program is one of our great missionary tools.
We hope that many exhibits will be created to assist the Saints and the missionaries to teach and love their neighbors and friends into the Church. We hope that it will be possible to have similar portable exhibits that can be attractively set up in the cultural halls and stake centers of the Church. They would run for a week or ten days, and the missionaries and Saints can bring their friends and neighbors. The World's Fair film on eternal life could also be shown as part of this exhibit.
With sufficient bureaus and portable units we should be able to have a half million Saints and missionaries participate. Can you picture a half million Saints with the help of the Lord teaching their friends and neighbors about the restoration of God's program through a prophet of God and teaching them to see the plan of life as taught by the Savior and not the plan that has been changed and corrupted by men?
The religious unrest in the world today is causing the honest in heart to seek and look for the living God. Many of our friends and neighbors are waiting to hear and know God's program for man.
Fellow Saints, you who have a testimony that God lives, that Jesus Christ lives, and that God's plan of life is essential for entrance into the kingdom of heaven, you have a responsibility to warn your neighbors. In my humble opinion the greatest potential missionary power and force of this Church is vested in the Saints. May we follow our Prophet and teach our friends and neighbors, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Sterling W. Sill
Sterling W. Sill, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 18-21
My brothers and sisters, I appreciate very much this privilege of having a part with you in this great general conference of the Church. As important ideas are held up before our minds, we are helped to follow more fully that divine instruction that "man shall not live by bread alone". It is desirable at all times that we should live by the word of the Lord, but this applies particularly to us, as our age is the most important and the most exciting that the world has ever known. Our forefathers lived on a flat stationary earth and plowed their ground with a wooden stick. But we live on an earth of power steering, jet propulsion, and atomic power, and we need personality and character qualities to match the times. Great events are now taking place at breathtaking speed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord to Daniel, twenty-five centuries ago. Concerning our day, he said, "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words... even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased".
Certainly the knowledge explosion of our day furnishes a literal fulfillment of this prophecy before our own eyes. It is interesting to remember that George Washington rode to his inauguration in a chariot drawn by horses, but two thousand years earlier, Julius Caesar had gone to his Roman capital in exactly the same way. Little or no change had taken place in all of that long period. When I was born, the Wright Brothers had not yet made their famous maiden 60-foot flight at Kill Devil Hill. During the first part of our century we had no guided missiles, no space travel, no automobiles, no radios, no television, no movies, and no atomic bombs. And most of the world's work was then still being done by the muscle power of men and animals. However, the ancient prophets have known a great deal about our age of miracles for many centuries.
Moses was permitted to see the history of our earth from its beginning to its end. Much of the writings of Isaiah concerns our own day, though he seemed a little bit surprised when he looked out of his window into the future and exclaimed: "Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?". Foreseeing our day, the prophet Habakkuk said, "Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from afar; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat". And Nahum gives a clear mental view of one of our night scenes when he said: "... the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.
"The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall jostle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings".
The important world events all seem to have been foretold. The people of Noah's day were warned about the flood, and God made known to Sodom and Gomorrah that their evil would draw a rainstorm of fire and brimstone from heaven. Jesus warned Jerusalem of its impending doom and foretold his own death. He announced the apostasy from God and foretold the dark ages that would follow the Savior's rejection.
But one of the most important events on the divine timetable of the world's future is the glorious second coming of Jesus Christ. This will probably be the most momentous happening ever to take place in the history of the world. The most often mentioned event in the entire Bible is that wonderful, yet awful experience that we will have when Jesus Christ shall come to judge our world. There are many important gospel doctrines mentioned in the Bible only briefly, and some not at all. The new birth is mentioned in the Bible nine times; baptism is mentioned 52 times, repentance is mentioned 89, but the second coming of Christ is mentioned over 1,500 times in the Old Testament and 300 times in the New Testament. If God thought this subject that important, he must have wanted us to do something about it. The Holy Bible forecasts events before they happen, and much of our history has actually been written down before it occurred. The Bible accurately predicted Christ's first coming in every detail, hundreds of years in advance. It revealed that he would come from the tribe of Judah, that his birthplace would be Bethlehem, that he would be born of a virgin, that he would flee into Egypt, that he would heal the sick, that his own people would reject him, that he would be betrayed by a friend and sold for 30 pieces of silver, that he would take upon himself the sins of the world and be crucified with sinners, that his sides would be pierced, that he would institute a universal resurrection, and that he would personally rise from the dead the third day.
This same Bible also foretells that he will come to the earth a second time, though in a different manner. The first time he came as a man of sorrows who was acquainted with grief, but the second time he will come as the mighty God. He came the first time as the Prince of Peace. He will come the second time as King of kings and Lord of lords. He came the first time to atone for our sins; he will come the second time to judge those sinners who have not repented. The Apostle Paul says, "... the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
Malachi says, "... and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple....
"But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth?". And we might ask ourselves, who indeed?
According to the divine plan, our earth has been allotted a mortal or temporal existence of seven thousand years, patterned after the seven days of creation. The first four thousand years began with the fall of Adam and ended at the birth of Christ. But 1966 more years have come and gone since that time. Therefore, on the divine calendar we are now living in the late Saturday evening of time. This glorious second coming of Christ is scheduled to usher in the earth's Sabbath of a thousand years, known to the prophets as the millennium. During this period Christ will reign personally upon the earth. However, before this can happen, the wicked will be destroyed by fire and Satan will be bound. At Christ's coming a great number of very exciting things are going to take place. He is not coming alone; as Paul says, he will come with his mighty angels. At his coming a great many of the faithful dead will be resurrected and caught up to meet the Lord in the air. And some of the righteous who are then living upon the earth will be changed from mortality to immortality in the twinkling of an eye to join that impressive company in the air. Certainly this is something to look forward to.
At the time of Adam's fall, a curse was placed upon the earth, and since then it has existed in its fallen or telestial state. For nearly six thousand years it has brought forth thorns, thistles,, and noxious weeds, while crime, corruption, war, and sin have flourished upon its face. But at the second coming of Christ, the earth will be cleansed by fire ). It will then be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory as it is raised to the status of a terrestrial sphere.
On the last Tuesday of the Lord's life, his disciples came to him and said, "... what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?". Jesus warned them of the great wickedness that would exist upon the earth and the deception of false teachers. He said, "... then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
At that time Jesus said some rather uncomplimentary things about us. He said, "... as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be". Apparently Noah's day was quite a day; some of its chief characteristics were the people's lack of preparation and their disbelief in God. As in our own day, the antediluvians thought that the heavens were sealed and that God would never again reveal himself. It must have sounded a little bit ridiculous to them when on a warm cloudless day Noah prophesied that a flood would come and destroy their entire society if they did not repent, but we are in a similar situation. And even though the combined sins of Sodom, Babylon, and ancient Rome all glare at us from our own newspaper headlines, yet we are far from changing our ways. Instead, many people of our day are contending for a type of behavior that condones alcoholism, immorality, and a wide variety of deviations from God's laws.
As one of the signs that would precede his coming, Jesus said that there would be wars and rumors of wars, and an awful hate would exist among people. He said, "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places".
Dr. Carl Joachim Hambro, late president of the League of Nations, said that in World War I alone, thirty-five million human beings died of starvation and epidemics. But that is only a drop in the bucket compared to the possible horror and mutilation of present-day war. We can now drop concentrated fire on a nation and literally roast its population. War doesn't solve a single human problem, and yet the one place where our generation excels most is in its ability to make war. Modern war is undoubtedly the most highly developed of all of our sciences. Even a horrible kind of destructive cold war now seems to have become a fixed part of our unfortunate way of life. But sinful, unstable man now holds in his hands the ability to destroy everything upon the earth in just a few hours. Our failure has been that while we have perfected weapons, we have failed to perfect the men who may be asked to use them. But still there is no letup in our evil. Like the ancients, we can discern the face of the sky, but we fail in reading the signs of the times. This has always been one of the world's most serious problems.
On the Mount of Olives the Lord also foretold another event that would precede his glorious second coming. He said: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come". Angelic messengers with authority from God have been sent to the earth in our day to restore the simple principles and ordinances of the gospel that fulfill this prophecy. The Church of Jesus Christ has again been established upon the earth, built upon its necessary foundation of apostles and prophets.
In obedience to God's command, the world has also been given three great volumes of new scripture outlining in every detail the simple principles of the gospel of Christ. These modern scriptures add many additional prophetic statements to those of the Old and New Testaments, warning us to make ourselves ready for this tremendous event that is now at our doors. May God help us so to do, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Victor L. Brown
Victor L. Brown, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 21-23
My dear brethren and sisters, I am grateful to be here today and to participate in this great conference. I pray that what I shall say will in some way be helpful in lifting the heavy burdens carried by some.
Someone has written:
MY NAME IS LEGION
"Within my earthly temple, there's a crowd; There's one of us that's humble, one that's proud, There's one that's broken-hearted for his sins, There's one that unrepentant sits and grins; There's one that loves his neighbor as himself, And one that cares for naught but fame and pelf. From much corroding care, I should be free If I could once determine which is me."
Within my earthly temple, there's a crowd. There's one of us that's humble-one that's proud. There's one that's brokenhearted for his sins. It is these to whom I wish to address my remarks today.
It seems that one of the tragedies of sin is that once a mistake has been made, many feel there is no redemption. Consequently, they continue to live in error. There are others who, once having made a mistake, repent, and yet carry the burden of guilt throughout their lives, burying it deep in their hearts, letting it tear at their secret heartstrings until many times, later in life, they find it impossible to bear any longer. This often results in serious psychological problems. They have failed to realize that the Lord, through the blessing of repentance, does not expect this. He has said:
"Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more".
The essence and purpose of the Savior's life was salvation-not condemnation. He died that we might live, opening the way to eternal life and blessing us with the principles of the gospel, the second of which is repentance. He recognized that none of us is perfect nor free from sin.
Many times the principle of repentance is not fully understood. It is the blessing of hope that offers each of us forgiveness.
The first step in repentance is recognition and sorrow for the sin committed. Of course, if we are brokenhearted for our sins, we have recognized them. This sorrow is not simply remorse and a fleeting twinge of conscience. The sorrow I refer to has no mental reservation, no feeling that perhaps our sins are not so gross or serious after all.
Paul said: "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation... but the sorrow of the world worketh death". This kind of sorrow means abandonment of the sin. This means complete cessation from such actions from that point forward.
Another vital step in repentance is confession. The Lord said, "... I, the Lord, forgive sins unto those who confess their sins before me and ask forgiveness, who have not sinned unto death".
The Lord retains unto himself the right to judge the whole man. However, in the ecclesiastical order of his Church, he has appointed what are known as common judges in Israel, more commonly known as bishops.
The bishop receives the confessions of the members of the Church when a serious sin has been committed, such as one involving the moral law. His authority as a judge has to do with the retention of the individual's full fellowship in the Church. He has been given the responsibility to forgive as far as church membership is concerned. The Lord is the only one who can truly forgive.
Each bishop recognizes his special role as a servant of the Lord in assisting him to accomplish his purpose. He said:
"For behold, this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man".
The bishop knows that the confession received from a member of his ward is a sacred trust. He does not divulge it to his wife or any other person. A bishop who violates such a sacred confidence is, himself, guilty of an offense before God, the Church, and the individual.
We sit today with several thousands of these wonderful men who have been called and ordained by proper authority to this very special position of bishop. They come from all walks of life. They span many years in age. They are your neighbors and mine. They have grown up with us. Some of them have grown up with our children, and for these reasons and others, we too often fail to recognize them for what they have become. At the time of their ordination to bishop, they were given the authority to act as a common judge within the boundaries of their wards. They were given the blessing of discernment, wisdom, and understanding. They were counseled to be kind and thoughtful in their dealings with the membership.
Each bishop understands fully the following scripture:
"No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
"By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile-
"Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy".
As already stated, the bishop is the spiritual counselor to his people. He is the one to whom we should confess our serious transgressions. He is not a harsh judge but rather he constantly asks himself, "What would the Savior's judgment be in this case?" If we are truly repentant, we should be willing to place our trust in him and follow his guidance, because, after all, his whole purpose is not to condemn us but to help us.
May the Lord bless those who have transgressed, that they may understand his love for them and the blessings that can be theirs through repentance, never forgetting that the Lord himself has said:
"Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more".
My brothers and sisters, it is my humble witness that God lives. I know it with all the fiber of my being. I know that he loves us, and I know that he has the same love for the sinner as for the Saint. May he bless us, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Delbert L. Stapley
Delbert L. Stapley, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 23-27
My brothers and sisters and friends, it is a privilege always to attend the general conferences of the Church.
My message is taken from the Book of Mormon account of the vision God gave to the Prophet Lehi, who, with his family, lived in Jerusalem about 600 years before the birth of Christ. This prophet was warned concerning the destruction of Jerusalem by invading Babylonian armies. God therefore commanded Lehi to take his family and a small select group and to depart from the city. The Lord gave assurance that he would lead them to a promised land-the Americas as we know them today. These families belonged to the house of Israel, and Lehi was a descendant of that Joseph who was sold into Egypt.
After their departure from Jerusalem and while in the Valley of Lemuel, near the border of the Red Sea, God blessed the prophet with an inspiring vision. In this vision Lehi beheld a dark and dreary wilderness. He was led by a messenger from God, a man clothed in a white robe. It seemed to Lehi they were moving deeper into the wilderness of darkness, and he therefore earnestly petitioned his God for mercy. Following his supplication the dream unfolded to his vision important and significant events. Lehi beheld a large and spacious field and a tree, the fruit of which was desirable to make one happy. He went forth and partook of the fruit and in ecstasy declared it to be the most sweet above all that he had before tasted. When Lehi partook of the fruit, he described it as filling his soul with exceeding joy and he therefore desired that his family should partake of the fruit also, for he knew it was most desirable above all other fruit. As he cast his eyes about to discover his family, he beheld a river of water that ran along near the tree. As he looked toward the source of the stream, he saw his wife, Sariah, and two of his sons, Nephi and Sam. It seemed to Lehi that this part of his family were uncertain as to the way they should go. Being anxious about the welfare of his family, he beckoned unto them to come and partake of the fruit, which invitation they willingly accepted.
Lehi had two other sons, both of whom were wayward. He was desirous that they also should come and partake of the fruit. When he located them, they refused his invitation.
As the vision continued, Lehi beheld a rod of iron that extended along the bank of the river and led to the tree by which he stood. He also beheld a straight and narrow path that paralleled close to the rod of iron and also led to the tree and continued on to the head of the fountain unto a large and spacious field, as if it were a world. Lehi saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward that they might obtain the path that led to the tree laden with desirable fruit. Some commenced in the path, but there arose a mist of darkness of exceeding intensity insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way and wandered off and were lost.
In the vision Lehi beheld others pressing forward, and they caught hold of the rod of iron and continued through the mists of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, and moved along the straight and narrow path until they reached the tree and partook of its fruit. After partaking of the fruit they cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed. This caused Lehi to wonder, so he cast his eyes round about also and beheld on the other side of the river a great and spacious building. It was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female, who were well dressed, and they were in the attitude of mocking and were pointing fingers of scorn toward those who had partaken of the fruit. These wavering souls had made considerable progress toward their goal, but they could not withstand the scoffing of the multitudes and therefore they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.
Lehi saw another concourse of people, and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron until they reached the tree and partook of its fruit. He saw other multitudes feeling their way toward that great and spacious building. Many strayed and were drowned in the depths of the fountain, and others were lost from his view, wandering into strange roads. Great were the multitudes that entered the strange building, and after doing so they pointed the finger of scorn and did scoff at Lehi and the others who were partaking of the fruit. "... but," said Lehi, "we heeded them not". So closed the vision of Lehi.
The vision teaches:
Now, having the details of the vision in mind, let us consider the teachings and the lessons of this unusual vision. We learn that people must pray for light and truth to know the way to eternal life and happiness. Only by humility and prayer, with a heart open to truth, can one escape the dominant influence that Satan is exerting so strongly and effectively today in all areas of the world to destroy the souls of men.
Nephi, the son of Lehi, although fully believing the words of his father regarding his vision, was nevertheless desirous that he might see and hear and know for himself of those things witnessed by his father. He had faith that the vision of his father could be shown him by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. Nephi was granted his wish after he, too, had humbly and diligently supplicated the Lord in prayer for this privilege.
An angel of God appeared before Nephi and asked if he knew the meaning of the tree which his father saw. Nephi answered in the affirmative, stating, "... it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men, wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things." And the angel added, "Yea, and the most joyous to the soul".
The tree of life was not unknown to the descendants of Lehi, part of whom are the Indian tribes of the Americas, for it is found in the pictorial hieroglyphics that were carved upon rocks in regions of the past civilizations of Lehi's posterity. The tree of life is not something new taught in our day, for there are many references to it in the scriptures. The significance of this representation may not be understood fully, except by few, yet it has real and important spiritual value. In the book of Revelation we learn that "the tree of life... is in the midst of the paradise of God." In Genesis 2:9 we are informed that a tree of life was placed by God in the midst of the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were privileged to partake of the fruit of this tree until they transgressed God's law. Thereafter the fruit of the tree was denied them, if they had partaken, they would have lived forever in their fallen state. Death was in the great plan of God, and the hope of man became centered in Jesus Christ, who gave his life on Calvary to redeem and save man from the effects of the fall.
Alma, a Nephite prophet, quotes the Christ as saying, "Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life".
John the Revelator, speaking of the tree of life in the New Jerusalem that is to come down from heaven, said: "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city".
Lehi taught there must be an opposition in all things. "... even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter".
Nephi advises, "Wherefore, the wicked are rejected from the righteous, and also from that tree of life, whose fruit is most precious and most desirable above all other fruits, yea, and it is the greatest of all the gifts of God".
Nephi learned from the angel that the rod of iron seen by his father was the word of God, which word, if accepted and lived, will lead mankind to the tree of life and to the fountain of living waters, which waters are a representation of the love of God. Nephi beheld also that the tree of life is a representation of the love of God.
Man's duty, therefore, is to seek earnestly for the word of the Lord; and when he finds it, if he is sincere in his desires, he will enter into that straight and narrow path that will take him to the tree of life where he can partake of the fruit thereof. Remaining true, he will not fall into the byways of wickedness and sin but continue on to the eternal mansions prepared of God for the faithful and worthy of his children.
The river of water spoken of in the vision represents filthiness. The mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men and lead them away into broad roads, where they perish and become lost. The great and spacious building was the pride of the world which fell and said the angel, "Thus shall be the destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, that shall fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb". The building was filled with human beings-fools and scoffers-who, with their ribaldry, succeeded in making apostates and transgressors of some of those who had tasted of the fruit of the tree of life. The inmates of the building delighted in mocking and scoffing at those who desired to do right.
Inasmuch as Laman and Lemuel did not partake of the fruit of the tree of life, Lehi feared lest they would be cast off from the presence of the Lord forever. As their father, he had great concern for their eternal welfare, and his love was manifest in his exhortation to them with all the feeling of a tender parent, that they would hearken unto his words and not be cast off.
Parable of the Sower
The parable of Jesus dealing with the sower who went forth to sow parallels in teaching the lessons given Lehi in the vision that I have described. The Savior, after applying the parable of the sower to those whom he was teaching, interpreted it to the understanding of his disciples by saying:
"When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside.
"But he that received the seed into the stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
"Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
"He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
"But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty".
The Apostle Paul declared that he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, because, said he, "it is the power of God unto salvation".
No man, following the example and dedication of the Christ, should become ashamed or afraid of his true Christian status and lack courage and strength, in the face of opposition or the taunting of men, to remain true, firm, and steadfast to his conviction of what is right in the sight of God. This life is a probationary state wherein men and women are tried and proven in the crucible of mortal existence.
The vision of Lehi and the parable of the sower presented by the Christ suggest the weaknesses of men and the many avenues of personal indifference, lack of faith, wickedness, and sin which, if left uncontrolled, will destroy their very souls and lead them down to the depths of hell.
Lehi's love and concern for the eternal welfare and happiness of his family is applicable to all parents. They too, feelingly, kindly, and in love, must give children the opportunity of good moral and spiritual teaching and training with righteous and ethical parental example in order to create the desire and the strength within their children's hearts to love God and to serve him and keep his commandments.
The pitfalls of temptation and evil today are many. These evils are dressed up attractively and cunningly to deceive the very elect. Unless parents and youth are grounded in the basics of good behavior and the fundamental principles and standards of the gospel, which is the true Christian way of life, they can stumble and fall by the wayside and thus never reach the goal of eternal life.
The teachings of Lehi, his son Nephi, the Apostle Paul, and Jesus, to which I have referred, are guidelines and directions toward the tree of life. The vision of Lehi blesses all of us with its understanding of God's purposes for his children and the responsibility of parents to their families. The Church and its families are synonymous: one does not exist without the other, and both serve each other, and all belong to God the Father.
Now in closing I wish to summarize the vision of Lehi with the following brief comments:
Dreams or visions are often used as a teaching principle, unfolding the secrets of heaven to the prepared mind and prayerful heart.
The love of God suggests the good and wholesome things of life.
The tree of life is indicative of eternal life-or celestial life-life in the full enjoyment of God's love.
The fountain of living waters is representative of the love of God. All spiritual graces and refreshment communicated by the Spirit are compared to a fountain. We learn from Jeremiah, "... they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters".
God, then, is called the fountain of living waters. The Savior taught that those who drink of it shall never thirst.
The numberless concourses of people seen by Lehi in his vision represent the different races of men on earth.
The river of water, which is representative of the filthiness of sin, wickedness, and contamination, separates the wicked from the tree of life and from the Saints of God and is a prototype of the condition called hell.
Notwithstanding the numerous institutions of secular and theological learning, the human family, by and large, are groping in the mists of moral and spiritual darkness. Sin and vice, prideful exaltation of the human mind, and the pursuit of harmful pleasures blur men's perception, dull their sense of values, and obscure their vision of the rod of iron, or the word of God, which alone leads to eternal life.
The great and spacious building, in addition to representing the pride and vain imaginations of men, stands for the mockery and ridicule of the world. Our generation should be reminded that scoffers are far from the kingdom of God. Those who allow the ridicule of men to make them embarrassed by the cause, the standards, or the obligations that they have espoused as true followers of Christ, and are turned thereby from the straight and narrow path of truth and righteousness, are those who form the stony ground in which the seed sown soon withers and dies. Those who are drowned in the depths of the fountain refer to those who are engulfed in the quagmire of evil-mindedness, sin, and corruption; therefore, the wicked sink to destruction in the river of filth, and the depths thereof are the depths of hell.
Passing through the mist and clinging steadfastly to the iron rod, the faithful pass triumphantly through the temptations that beset man's mortal pilgrimage to the cherished goal of eternal life with God.
In man's search for happiness and his climb to eternal joy, there can be no relaxation, no deviation from the straight and narrow path; nor can he lose a firm hold upon the iron rod, which is the word of God. He must set aside the things of the world as he travels the path which leads to exaltation and glory in the kingdom of God.
I bear witness to you, my brothers and sisters, to the truthfulness of these things. I know the teachings of this vision are important to us and to all the world. May God bless us that we may so live and set the type of example that will incline the hearts of men and women to the restored Church of our Lord, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Mark E. Petersen
Mark E. Petersen, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 29-32
We Latter-day Saints bear testimony that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. He is the Redeemer and the Messiah. He is the divine Son of God and the Creator of heaven and earth. Amid persecution and great opposition he fulfilled his mortal ministry and brought about the atonement for all mankind. When he died on the cross, the heavens mourned, as did his disciples among the common people who believed in him. And yet, his enemies rejoiced, feeling that in delivering him to the Roman executioners, they had accomplished a great victory.
But Christ was the real victor. On the third day after his crucifixion he came forth from the tomb in a glorious physical resurrection. The same body that was crucified now arose, no more to die, opening the door to a resurrection for us all.
But Christ means more than resurrection, more than our hopes for immortality. He not only said, "I am the resurrection," but he also said, "I am... the life". He spoke of a particular way of life, which he himself represented. It is a way to live, a way by which each of us may pattern our daily habits after his high principles. It is the perfect plan for human relationships. It will do away with man's inhumanity to man, whether in our homes, in our neighborhoods, or in the world at large.
It was not his intention that we merely have a mental acceptance of him and then conduct our personal affairs to suit our own selfish purposes. His way of life provides that we shall rearrange our habits and readjust our standards in harmony with his teachings. Otherwise, of what value is Christianity?
He taught us to overcome our prejudices and enmities, for all human difficulties can be overcome through the application of Christlike love.
One of the greatest of all Christian principles is given by him in the Sermon on the Mount. He said, "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy.
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you:
"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven...
"For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
"And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?".
Again he said: "... if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
"Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift".
He also taught: "... if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
"But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses".
Continuing his outline for good human relationships, he said, "Judge not, that ye be not judged.
"Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"
"... first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye".
These and many similar teachings formed his program for goodwill among men. It is the only foundation for a lasting peace.
As Christians we never yet have accepted the true meaning of his title, the Prince of Peace.
Then are we truly Christians? Do we really follow him? Are we willing to adopt his principles and live them? The peace of Christ is attainable in the world. He does not command the impossible.
If it were not within the realm of both possibility and reason to love our neighbors as ourselves, he would not have commanded it.
If it were not possible to love our enemies, he would not have commanded it.
If it were not possible for us to turn the other cheek, to go the extra mile, to give our coat and our cloak also, he would not have commanded it.
If it were not possible for mankind to reconcile their differences in the spirit of brotherhood, mercy, and kindness, he would not have commanded
Was he dealing in mere verbiage when he gave the Beatitudes? Was he talking to modern Christians as well as to those of his own day when he said: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God"? Can any others be the children of God?
Christ is the Prince of Peace. But his peace will not come unless we live his teachings.
He is our Savior, but he cannot save us if we refuse to do what he says.
Christians of today must reassess the depth of their allegiance to Christ. It does no good to honor him with our lips if our hearts are far from him.
If there is one thing more than another that the Lord despises, it is hypocrisy. None in his day received the condemnation that he heaped upon the hypocritical professors of piety who, he said, "... make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess" and "... are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness".
The writer of the Proverbs said:
"These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
"A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
"An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
"A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren".
If there is anything basic to Christianity, it is honesty and sincerity.
It is also fair dealing and due regard for one's fellowman.
It is doing to others as we ourselves would be done by.
It is compassion and mercy.
It is a willingness to aid the downtrodden, to care for the orphan and the widow in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the sins of the world ).
There is no true Christianity without good feelings toward our fellowmen.
Is it surprising then that the Beloved Apostle John taught: "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
"And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also".
That is why the Savior said that the second great commandment is to love our neighbors as ourselves.
That is why John said further: "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love".
And that is why Paul's words were translated to read:
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.
"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not, I am nothing.
"And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not, it profiteth me nothing".
And that is why Jesus said: "... in vain they do worship me" as he spoke of those who give him lip service, but whose hearts are far from him.
The Savior constantly emphasized the "weightier matters" of the law, and they were not the rituals nor an outward appearance of piety.
They were the Christian acts that characterized the Good Samaritan; they were the expressions of what some have called the "milk of human kindness."
Note his description of the Judgment Day:
"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
"And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
"And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
"For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
"Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
"When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
"Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
"For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
"I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
"Then shall they also answer him saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
"Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal".
True Christianity is all this world really needs. It is the remedy for all our ills. It can cure all our troubles. But it takes faith, and works, and much of both.
It requires a new view of Christianity on the part of all, and a greater willingness to accept it and to live it.
When we see the present widespread disregard of the basic teachings of the Master, we begin to wonder just how many Christians there really are in the world.
Are we Christian if we are unfair to our neighbors? Are we Christian if we are dishonest, or if we resort to scheming, deceit, and duplicity? Are we really Christian if we find no place in our lives for the Golden Rule?
We "Christians" need to take a new look at true Christianity and ask ourselves if we are willing to become genuine disciples of the Savior. True disciples will follow him and will do his will. Hereby may we know that we love him-if we keep his commandments.
Jesus is the Christ. He is the Son of God. He is the Savior of the world, but he will not save us if we do not live the Golden Rule. He will not save us if we do not understand and live the law of charity. He will not save us if we reject the second great commandment, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself".
It is my earnest hope and prayer that we as Latter-day Saints, that we as Christians throughout the world, may really learn to know the Christ and know that the weightier matters of the law are the matters that will really save us, and for this I earnestly pray in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Theodore M. Burton
Theodore M. Burton, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 32-35
Following the resurrection of Jesus, two followers of Jesus traveled along the road to Emmaus discussing his crucifixion. The resurrected Lord drew near and joined them, but since their spiritual eyes were closed, they did not recognize him. He walked along the way with them, listening to what they said, then asked them to explain what they were talking about. One of them named Cleopas answered him, telling him how Jesus of Nazareth had been taken by the chief priests and rulers and slain before their eyes. Cleopas said they had hoped that this great prophet might be the one to redeem Israel. However, he had died three days ago, though certain women had reported they had seen an angel who told them that Jesus was alive. This they could not understand, and they were sad and discouraged at what had happened. Then Jesus said to them:
"O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
"Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself".
How profitably might we restudy the scriptures to know the full meaning of that sacrifice made by Jesus in redeeming us from death. Jesus died for all men, that all men might be made alive again as taught by Paul:
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive".
By his death Jesus redeemed all men, women, and children born upon this earth, that in him they all would be made alive again. Jesus, however, did more than just redeem us from death and the grave. He came into the world not only to redeem mankind from death, but to exalt all men and women who would make a covenant to accept him as their Savior and keep that covenant to the very end of their lives. This doctrine was to extend worldwide and be valid throughout all time as shown by the charge Jesus gave his ordained ministry:
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen".
This statement stretched the promise even beyond the grave so that the ordinance of baptism and every other earthly ordinance necessary for exaltation could be performed by living persons authorized to do this work vicariously for those that were dead. That this practice was used by the early Christians is made clearly evident when Paul used this ordinance work as an additional evidence of the actuality of the resurrection from the dead, for Paul argued:
"Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?".
Well might we ask this same question of every person now living and ask why this early Christian practice was neglected until 130 years ago when the great sealing power of Elijah was again returned to the earth. It was part of early Christian doctrine as taught by Peter, who said that the quickened or resurrected Jesus preached the gospel of exaltation to the spirits of those who were dead so that they might be judged like the living if they would accept this work done for them by living persons.
Peter addressed his letters to those who had covenanted to assist Jesus in the exaltation of mankind, saying to them:
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
"Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy".
Peter referred to the mercy of Jesus for the individual person. Even a person's personal sins could be forgiven in mercy, if he would fully repent, turn from his sinful ways, and keep the covenant with God to become his child through Jesus Christ.
In his next letter Peter pled with his brethren: "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things ye shall never fall".
Just before saying this, Peter had taught them the need for faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. The word charity is an expression used for love so great that a person is willing to sacrifice a part of his time or worldly possessions for others out of the greatness of his love for them. Mormon defined charity as the pure love of Christ which endureth forever.
It was with this personal priesthood responsibility in mind that in 1965 a program of compiling data for temple ordinance work for three generations in each individual family was given to the priesthood of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This program has been continued into 1966 for those who did not complete this work. By following this program themselves, the priesthood can lead the members of the whole Church into a charitable work for themselves, their families and their immediate ancestors. This is no make-work project, but the first step in an organized plan for teaching the priesthood the assignment given them by an angel on September 21, 1823, in these words:
"Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
"And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.
"If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming".
This three-generation program is the first practical step in compiling a record that each individual family must present as its sacrifice in the temple, as given in the following words from the scripture:
"Behold, the great day of the Lord is at hand; and who can abide the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap; and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple, when it is finished, a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation".
The compilation of an individual family record is a duty of such sacred importance that it cannot be wholly entrusted to others to do for us. We cannot just hope that an aunt or an uncle or a cousin will do this work for the whole family. Relatives and friends can help and assist us. All members of the family should help one another in assembling this information and passing it on to others. The responsibility for compiling a record for our own family, however, rests with each one of us in our individual families. We each must have a record to show that this holy work has been done as completely as we and our loved ones have power to complete it. As I understand the scripture, this is an individual family responsibility given to the priesthood to administer and to complete.
One of the amazing by-products of this program of listing the record of temple work done for our immediate families is to see how our complacency in the past had resulted in incomplete work for certain members of the family. An aunt, an uncle, or a cousin had been overlooked for one reason or another. Some records were incomplete, for a necessary ordinance here or there had been forgotten. As families worked to fill these gaps, relatives were drawn together as if by magic. Cousins we had not seen for years visited us or called on the telephone. Contacts with loved ones long neglected were awakened again and led to the formation of new family organizations. Family reunions were held that now had purpose and meaning.
Not to be overlooked was the spiritual awakening of some families as sins long overlooked or covered by deception and falsehoods were brought to light and corrected. This repentance would not have occurred without the impetus given through this priesthood program. Thus, the record required of us was made more perfect and our lives in turn made more beautiful as the need for tenderness, forgiveness, and consideration in home and family ties was made evident. No family should hesitate to join in this program of gathering and completing family records to produce a book of remembrance worthy of all acceptation in the temples of God.
The priests of Israel in olden times presented an offering of a male lamb, white and without blemish, as a remembrance of Jesus Christ, who was to come to redeem the world from death and the grave. In an analogous manner our priesthood today with their families are to prepare a book of their dead, perfect, without blemish, containing a record of completed ordinance work done for their dead ancestors. This record containing the completed temple ordinances is a sacrifice of the living for those of their dead loved ones to bind them into the family of Jesus Christ-not only to be redeemed from death, but also, if accepted, exalting them into the very presence of God the Eternal Father.
This program is the beginning, then for compiling an individual family record by which members of the priesthood can help make their calling and election sure. As the prophet Joseph Smith declared:
"The greatest responsibility... that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead."
Why is this so? Because the work of Jesus Christ must be made complete and perfect through the help of those of us who profess to be his servants so that every man and woman who desires to do so may make a personal covenant upon this earth to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord, their Redeemer, and their King.
Of him I testify in the name of the Only Begotten Son, even Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder ElRay L. Christensen
ElRay L. Christiansen, Conference Report, April 1966, p. 35-37
I stand before you, my brethren and sisters, in humility and in gratitude for the assurance I have that this is the Church of Jesus Christ, restored in fulfillment of the promises of the Lord made through his prophets and recorded both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament and in other volumes of scripture, and that his prophet-leader in our day is President David O. McKay, who sits with us here today. We are so thankful, President McKay, that you are here.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaims without reservation or hesitation the doctrine that Christ will return to the earth to reign in power and great glory. One of our articles of faith states: "We believe that... Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory".
It will be an actual, literal return of the Lord in person. His coming is assured by Job, who exclaimed: "... I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth".
From the writings of Moses we learn concerning the revelation given to Enoch: "And the Lord said unto Enoch: As I live, even so will I come in the last days, in the days of wickedness and vengeance, to fulfil the oath which I have made unto you concerning the children of Noah".
During his ministry upon the earth, Jesus gave his disciples assurance of his coming by saying: "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works".
To those who are not indifferent and who do not close their minds to the truth, the words of Jesus, revealed only a few decades ago, are clear and understandable. To the Prophet Joseph Smith came this promise: "For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, the time is soon at hand that I shall come in a cloud with power and great glory.
"And it shall be a great day at the time of my coming, for all nations shall tremble".
"... be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth".
There is no ambiguity in these words. That the Lord will come again no one needs doubt!
But when will this stupendous event take place?
Ever since his ascension into heaven, the faithful followers of Jesus have looked hopefully for the day when he would return. However, he himself was most explicit in explaining that the precise time of his return would not be known in advance. "... of that day and hour," he said, "knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."
"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."
"... for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh".
There is no fixed time for a generation, no year or precise date given by the Lord when events shall take place, and it is folly for us to attempt to do it for him. He will, however, see that his word is fulfilled, for he has said, "... one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled".
So while the day and the hour are not revealed and will not be made known to man, we can, by learning to understand the signs of the times, by watching the development of the work of God among the nations, and by noting the rapid fulfillment of significant prophecies, perceive the progressive evidence of the approaching event.
Indeed, most of the significant signs that the scriptures say will precede his coming have already taken place. These signs and noteworthy developments include:
1. A universal apostasy from the Church first established by Christ. Paul taught the Thessalonians, saying: "... that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first".
And he reminded Timothy that "the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
"And they shall turn away their ears from the truth".
2. The gospel in its fullness has been restored as promised, and the Book of Mormon has come forth as prophesied by Ezekiel.
3. Likewise, the priesthood has been restored through the visitation of heavenly beings.
4. The gospel has, for more than a hundred years, been taught to thousands of people in many nations.
5. As promised by the prophets, both of the Old Testament and of the New Testament, the Church has been established in conformity with the original Church.
6. In fulfillment of Malachi's promise, Elijah has restored the keys of the sealing power, which are exercised in the many temples throughout the world today.
Other marvelous signs and manifestations will be witnessed both in heaven and in earth prior to his coming. We must wait for them to develop.
How will his coming affect the inhabitants of the earth?
The very thought of it thrills the human soul I We are told that his coming will be sublime and glorious; awesome and terrible-terrible to the unrepentant and ungodly, but glorious and delightful to those who are worthy of him and who are ready to meet him.
"For," he has said, "I will reveal myself from heaven with power and great glory, with all the hosts thereof, and dwell in righteousness with men on earth a thousand years, and the wicked shall not stand.
"... for they will not repent".
The righteous shall be "caught up"
At his coming Christ will cause the hosts of righteous ones who have passed from life to come forth from the graves, and those who "are alive and remain shall be caught up" with them to meet him.
"And all they who have mourned shall be comforted.
"And all they who have given their lives for my name shall be crowned.
"Therefore, let your hearts be comforted... for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God".
Under such conditions, all of us will desire to live with him and with our loved ones upon the earth. And we can do this if we, like the five wise among the ten virgins spoken of by the Lord in the parable, will not only desire to meet and be with him but also make the preparation necessary to do so. We are not without direction in our preparation for his coming. He has given in the restored gospel the pattern to be followed.
Through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord made this known to the Church, saying:
"And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me", italics added).
"... at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins.
"For they that are wise and have... taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived-verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day".
"And it shall come to pass that the righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations, and shall come to Zion, winging with songs of everlasting joy".
The words of a lovely song come to mind: "If Christ should come tomorrow, what would he do? what would he say?" What would we do? What would we say?
"O that each in the day of his coming may say, 'I have fought my way through. I have finished the work thou didst give me to do.' Oh, that each from the Lord may receive this glad word: 'Well and faithfully done; Enter into my joy and sit down on my throne, Enter into my joy and sit down on my throne.'"
It is then that will be seen a fulfillment of the Lord's own prayer, which has been sung so beautifully today: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven".
May it so be, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Master. Amen.
Elder John Longden
John Longden, Conference Report, April 1966, p. 37-40
On September 23, 1909, I walked with my father, holding his hand, down a street called Edge Lane in Liverpool, England, into the office of the then British Mission and had the privilege of shaking the hand of President Charles W. Penrose just before we boarded ship to come to this great country of America.
In March of that same year, President Penrose dedicated a little corrugated, galvanized meetinghouse in Oldham, Lancashire, where I was born. Through the graciousness and kindness of President David O. McKay of the First Presidency, I had the privilege of returning to the land of my birth after fifty-six years to dedicate a beautiful structure in the town of Oldham. President McKay, we shall always be grateful to you for this assignment and the opportunity of holding conferences in London, in Leicester, and in Holland. It was a rich experience to associate with the members in Oldham. My, what a contrast from the little galvanized building in which I used to go to Sunday School and sacrament meeting and all the other services that were held at that time. Almost four hundred people assembled that Sunday night of February 27 with the Manchester Stake Mormon Choir, which they informed me they had permission to so be called by the First Presidency of the Church.
Fifty-six years ago! It seems like yesterday! How time flies!
We have heard much about time during this conference thus far, and I should like to spend a few moments on this subject of time.
How many times have you heard the statement, "I haven't time"-yet all individuals are blessed with the same amount of this precious commodity.
"Guard well your spare moments," Ralph Waldo Emerson advised. "They are like uncut diamonds. Discard them and their value will never be known. Improve them and they will become the brightest gems in a useful life."
Most of us waste an inexcusable amount of time. We go along using time thoughtlessly and failing to get out of it either enjoyment of life or the satisfaction of accomplishments.
Time passes quickly, we cannot save it, we cannot buy it. There is nothing we can do about it except to see as far as possible that it passes fruitfully.
Robert R. Updegraff once said, "To get all there is out of living, we must employ our time wisely, never being in too much of a hurry to stop and sip life, but never losing our sense of the enormous value of a minute."
Mere "busyness" is not necessarily evidence of the wise use of time. There should be time for mental and spiritual development as well as relaxation: time for worship and time to express our thankfulness for our ability to work, and think, and pray, and read, and help, and dream, and laugh, and plan, and learn.
"Dost thou love life, then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of," said Benjamin Franklin.
Modern conditions have and are creating more leisure, adding to our woes unless this precious time is used wisely.
I was interested in the word "leisure" because we hear so much about it, so referring to the dictionary, I found this description: "Spare time; unoccupied by work; as, leisure hours."
"The end of labor is to gain leisure."
"Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure; and, since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour." "Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain; but the lazy man, never." "A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things."
"Leisure is a beautiful garment, but it will not do for constant wearing."
"Leisure is pain; takes off our chariot wheels; how heavily we drag the load of life. Blessed leisure is our curse."
"Leisure for men of business, and business for men of leisure, would cure many complaints."
Spare minutes are the gold-dust of time; the portions of life most fruitful in good or evil; the gaps through which temptations enter.
Yes, temptations.
"Time well employed is Satan's deadliest foe; it leaves no opening for the lurking fiend," said Wilcox.
I think of another of my mother's teachings: "An idle brain is the devil's workshop." We know it is not when we are busy that we get into trouble.
Herndon said: "Satan selects his disciples when they are idle; Jesus selected his when they were busy at their work either mending their nets or casting them into the sea."
Then Hans Christian Andersen said, "Time is so fleeting that if we do not remember God in our youth, age may find us incapable of thinking about Him."
The Prophet Alma said: "... learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God".
"Remember now thy Creator, in the days of thy youth"
I thrilled this morning with this beautiful Primary chorus and to hear their melodious, sweet, young voices singing these glorious hymns: "I am a child of God... Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, Help me find the way." Yes, in their youth they are learning these precious teachings.
The Apostle Paul gave excellent counsel-Ephesians 6:10:
"... be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil".
The time we spend learning of our Father in heaven will bring untold blessings to us all the days of our lives and enable us to avoid or overcome the temptations of Satan.
Some can see the greatness of the past, some can sense the potential of the future, but few are able to recognize the greatness of the present. Those of us who have the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ and a knowledge of the purpose of life and the reason for being here have an advantage over those who do not have this blessing.
Therefore, we need to place the true value upon this precious commodity time.
There are 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week, 8,736 hours in a year. The average span of life at present is 70 years. In that many years there would be well in excess of 600,000 hours.
Let us not worry about the span of life or the total accumulated hours in those years, but take each day as it comes, living every minute, every hour.
May I read something very appropriate on this thought titled "Today." I do not know the author's name.
Today is here. I will start with a smile, and resolve to be agreeable. I will not criticize. I refuse to waste my valuable time.
Today has one thing in which I know I am equal with others-Time. All of us draw the same salary in seconds, minutes, hours-24 Golden Hours each day.
Today I will not waste my time, because the minutes I wasted yesterday are as lost as a vanished thought.
Today I refuse to spend time worrying about what might happen. I am going to spend my time making things happen.
Today I am determined to study to improve myself, for tomorrow I may be wanted, and I must not be found lacking.
Today I am determined to do things I should do. I firmly resolve to stop doing the things I should not do.
Today I begin by doing and not wasting my time. In one week I will be miles beyond the person I am today.
Today I will not imagine what I would do if things were different. They are not different. I will make a success with what material I have.
Today I will stop saying, "If I had time," for I never will "find time" for anything-if I want time I must make it.
Today I will act toward other people as though this might be my last day on earth. I will not wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow never comes.
Yes, we have time to be honest; time to be gentlemen and ladies; time to be polite; time to be virtuous, to be clean; time to study, to pray, to think; time to act wisely; time to be happy; time to worship, to develop self-control; time to have faith, to repent, to be baptized by immersion by one having the authority; and time to receive a witness of the Holy Ghost, that power which will guide us into further light and truth and knowledge, this great boon or favor from our Heavenly Father and his divine Son Jesus Christ. Then we are conforming with the formalities that permit us entrance into the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. I bear this witness and testimony that we can take advantage of our time and accomplish great deeds in rendering service to our fellowmen, and I ask that this will be our lot, in the name of Jesus Christ, our divine Savior. Amen.
Elder Eldred G. Smith
Eldred G. Smith, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 40-42
The scriptures are replete with the admonition to endure to the end with a promise of eternal life as a reward. To the Nephites the Lord said, "Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth unto the end will I give eternal life". In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord says, "... whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them".
What does it mean to endure? One definition is: "to have duration; to continue." This would be to outlast time; this is important too. But here is another definition: "to withstand or bear, as pain, sorrow, destructive force, without yielding; to suffer patiently, to remain firm, as under trial or suffering; to bear up under adversity." One of the main purposes of this life is to overcome obstacles, to gain strength, to grow to the point where we can endure many things. For instance, can you endure others and their differences of opinion? Can you accept the gospel of Jesus Christ in the face of adversity? Can you live as Christ taught, that you might be worthy of eternal life? To endure means more than just a good start alone-we must finish with zeal.
Life is much like a basketball game. You don't win if you don't start well and then slow down; but if you get off to a bad start, it is possible to catch up and even win. The finish is of most importance. Remember the parable Jesus gave of the laborers. He said, "For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
"And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
"And he went out" repeatedly during the day and hired other laborers even unto the eleventh hour, telling each that he would pay them that which was right. Then at the end of the day, paying the last laborer hired first, he paid each a penny, giving the same reward for the day's labor to each person. The Lord not only said to endure but to endure to the end-to the end of life, your life. How long is your life? Time is relevant. Brother Longden has just told us quite a bit about time which should stir up our interest in how we use it. Which time calendar do you use to measure your lifetime on the earth?
While Abraham was in Egypt, the Lord taught him much concerning the stars, especially those that control the times and the seasons. Thus Abraham wrote:
"And I saw the stars, that they were very great, and that one of them was nearest unto the throne of God; and there were many great ones which were near unto it;
"And the Lord said unto me: These are the governing ones; and the name of the great one is Kolob, because it is near unto me, for I am the Lord thy God: I have set this one to govern all those which belong to the same order as that upon which thou standest.
"And the Lord said unto me, by the Urim and Thummim, that Kolob was after the manner of the Lord, according to its times and seasons in the revolutions thereof; that one revolution was a day unto the Lord, after his manner of reckoning, it being one thousand years according to the time appointed unto that whereon thou standest. This is the reckoning of the Lord's time, according to the reckoning of Kolob".
So according to this, 1000 years of our time is equivalent to one day with the Lord. If you were to live to be 100 years old on earth, that would be 1/10 of one day with the Lord. Now suppose we divide the Lord's day into 24 equal parts, as our day is, just for comparative purposes: 100 years of our life would be equal to 1/10 of 24, or 2.4 hours. So according to this, if you live to be 100 on this earth, that would be equivalent to 2.4 hours in the Lord's time calendar. If you live to be 75, that would be one hour and 48 minutes. Fifty years of this time is equivalent to one hour and 12 minutes in the Lord's time.
Imagine yourself for a moment back in the spirit world before you came to earth. You were living in the presence of God in the celestial world. You knew from firsthand experience the fullness of the glory of God. You knew you could not participate in his glory, or become as he is, because you were only a spirit; you didn't have a physical body. Now the opportunity comes for you to go to earth where you can receive such a body and become as he is. Of course, you shouted for joy! Then let's assume that you were instructed that you would be allotted 100 years of mortal time. To you there and then, that would be two hours and 24 minutes. That would be the only time calendar you would be familiar with-only about 21/3 hours.
Only 21/3 hours to earn such a great reward-and some may not live 100 years; most of us will not. So we will assume about two hours time in the Lord's time is allotted to us in this life.
Brother John Longden has just told us that the average life was 70 years; that is about 1.7 hours in the Lord's time. I think that for that short length of time you would be willing to put up with most anything. We have in this life two golden hours.
Wouldn't you promise to endure almost anything for two hours to get the blessings that the Lord has promised of eternal life and to become as he is? He has promised that all that the Father has shall be given unto you. Then suppose you were instructed that you would have much to endure in this life on earth. Nothing would be too great to endure for two hours, would it? You would be willing to promise to build this body and keep it clean. You would not participate in any activities that would defile the body. You would be willing to accept the teachings of the Savior. You would accept his gospel when it was presented unto you. You would meet any adversity willingly for two hours. Even though you were instructed that you would have pain, sorrow, sickness, misery, wars, and even horrible wars to go through, you would still be willing to come, and even to beg for the opportunities of coming, to endure for two hours' time. Yes, even if you were told you would be born crippled, maimed, diseased, you would still be willing to come to endure whatever might be required of you to get the blessings of eternal life as a result of but a short period of time. You would even be willing to accept being born blind on this earth if it meant the outcome of this short time would be that you would have the blessings of eternal life.
I am sure that you would have promised that you would accept the gospel against any opposition. You would live the gospel. Oh, yes. You would be told that you would have to live the Word of Wisdom. You would have to pay your tithing. You would be asked to attend many meetings. You would be required to give much of your time and your assistance in order to promote the work of the Lord upon the earth. You might be asked to sing in the choir occasionally.
You might be required to do genealogical research work and to spend much of your time in the temples or in many other activities in behalf of someone else. You might be instructed that you would be required to be a bishop and give of your time unselfishly, as a bishop does, all for the benefit of others. What price could you pay that would be too high and too great for the blessings of eternal life and to become as your Heavenly Father?
Some say when the missionaries come to them, "I am too old; it is too late in life to change now. I am too old to change my religion." To such people I might say, "All the more reason why you had better make the change quickly so that you will be prepared to meet your Maker and say, 'I tried at the last minute when the opportunity first came to me.'" No one is too old to start doing good or to make changes and amendments in the right direction.
If you are married for 50 years in this life, that is equivalent to one hour and 12 minutes in the Lord's time.
Can you, as married couples, put up with each other and learn to be faithful in all things for an hour and 12 minutes? Could you withstand the test of prosperity? This is a test under which many individuals, as well as cities or nations, fall. Can we as a Church, can we as Americans, can we of this latter day withstand the trial of prosperity for two hours or so of the Lord's time? I think that when the Lord does the judging, he will think in terms of the eternal time, the Lord's time. And he might say, could you not be faithful for such a short time as two hours, or an hour and a half, whatever time was allotted you-a matter of one or two hours, generally speaking. If so, if you can meet these challenges to endure to the end, the blessings of eternal life are yours.
Then you can say, as Paul wrote to Timothy, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing".
May the Lord's blessings be yours to endure the trials of life and to endure temptations, to endure discouragement, to endure all adversities of Satan. That you may have the blessings of joy and eternal life I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder William J. Critchlow, Jr.
William J. Critchlow, Jr., Conference Report, April 1966, p. 43-46
Last year, a dignitary of a great Protestant church visited in Ogden. His coming was announced in the press, and an invitation was extended to the public to hear him speak on the subject "Are the Mormons Christians?" I missed his sermon, so I wouldn't know. I mean I wouldn't know what he said.
A visitor on Temple Square turned to a tourist at his side and asked, "Are these Mormons Christians?" Sensing the pressure of the crowd about him and obviously not wishing to be overheard, the tourist answered, almost in a whisper, "Yes, in a way, but they are not orthodox." Then, taking his wife by the arm, he squeezed his way out of the crowd-purposely, I think, to avoid explaining that word orthodox. The visitor who asked the question would probably like to know what an orthodox Christian is. So would I.
Up in Huntsville, Utah, where President McKay was born and reared and where he still resides when he is not in his apartment in Hotel Utah, a monastery has been established. I asked its abbot why his church came to Huntsville to build a monastery in President McKay's backyard, in a community where 90 percent of the residents are Mormons, in a state where Mormons constitute a substantial majority. He replied, "To bring Christianity to the Mormons." And he was not speaking facetiously.
Last year a Protestant minister on the local radio program "Public Pulse" was asked by one of his listeners, "Is there any basic, hard-core concept that is common to, and characteristic of, all Christian creeds?" In substance his answer was, "Yes, there are two. The first is a belief in a God to whom you can ascribe no physical characteristics. The other is a 'concept of Jesus Christ as a manifestation of God in the flesh, who came to establish his gospel on the earth.'" Christian churches are vehicles to spread it around the world.
Thanks to this minister, I think I now know what the tourist on Temple Square meant when he said, "Yes, in a way, but they are not orthodox." I also have a faint idea of what the minister up Ogden way probably said in this sermon, "Are the Mormons Christians?" Orthodoxy, it seems, is believing a little; unorthodoxy is believing too much.
A Christian, according to my dictionary, is one who "believes, or professes or is assumed to believe, in Jesus Christ, and the truth as taught by him." Under that broad definition there surely ought to be room for the abbot, the ministers, even myself, to qualify as Christians and room also to disagree. God, whoever and wherever he is, would be pleased to have his children, regardless of creed or color, keep the commandments he gave to ancient Israel, and how much happier this world would be if we of Christian faiths would follow the simple teachings of the Christ. I am a Christian. My dictionary sustains me. I believe in Jesus Christ and the truth as taught by him.
My acceptance of him literally as the Son of God, rather than as a manifestation or reincarnation of God, must not rule me out of the Christian society. Nor should my belief in a corporeal-flesh and bones-God affect my Christian status. And because I also accept the Holy Ghost as the third person in the Godhead, I should not be accused of believing too much for an orthodox Christian.
To the tourist, who may still be pondering the meaning of the word "orthodox," and to all of you listening in, may I submit three really basic, hard-core godhead concepts that truly are characteristic of my Latter-day Saint faith:
1. I affirm-we affirm-the existence of a true and living God in whose image and likeness man was created. He has "a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's". With limbs, he can stand and walk. In his head are eyes to see us, ears to hear us, a mouth to speak to us. Can anyone explain to me how he:
-without a mouth can speak?
-without eyes can see what his children are doing here on earth?
-without ears can hear my prayers and yours?
My God is capable of emotions and passions, else:
-how can he love? He did so love "the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".
-how can he be angry when his children blaspheme his name and break his commandments?
-how can he be long suffering? merciful and gracious?
From your Bible and mine I quote: "... God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...
"So God created man in his own image," and then, as if by way of emphasis, is added "in the image of God created he him".
This God of mine and yours has been seen and heard. In company with his son Jesus, God the Father appeared to Joseph Smith, the great American prophet. Introducing his son, he said, "This is My Beloved Son, Hear Him!".
The apostle John wrote: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent".
2. I affirm-we affirm-that Jesus Christ, whom the Father did send, is literally, not figuratively, the Son of God, our Heavenly Father. Jesus said he was. When Caiaphas on that fateful day of our Savior's trial shouted, "Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?... Jesus said, I am". His mother so claimed him; so did his apostles and others; Acts 9:17-20; D&C; 76:15-23). God the Father left no possible room for doubt about his sonship; four times are recorded in which he, the Father, introduced Jesus as his Son:
1. To Joseph Smith, as I have already related.
2. On the occasion of Christ's transfiguration on the Mount.
3. When Jesus made a personal visit to the Nephites.
4. At the baptism of Jesus by the hands of John the Baptist. This particular introduction is narrated by Luke in these words, which are almost identical with those of the other three introductions: "And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased".
There have been fathers without sons, but whoever heard of a son without a father? Jesus is no exception. God is his Father. To him he prayed and to him he counseled us to pray..
Luke's narrative introduces my third hard-core concept, namely:
3. I affirm-we affirm-that the Holy Ghost who "descended in a bodily shape like a dove" upon Jesus is the third member of the Godhead. Unlike Jesus and the Father, he does not have a body of flesh and bones but is a personage of spirit-a spirit entity. Like the Father and the Son, his spirit body has size and dimensions and is in the form of a man, not a woman. Whether he, in time, will take to himself a body is sheer speculation.
Some people who are given to speculating suspect that he might follow the example of the Savior, who took upon himself a body and then laid it down that he might take it up again. The Savior said he did the things he saw his Father do before him. His Father took unto himself a body. I would not dare to deny the Holy Ghost that same privilege; neither would I affirm it so. Some things we do not know; some things we are not now supposed to know. If evil spirits can enter into and thus influence mortal bodies, it must be within the power of the Holy Ghost on occasions similarly to contact and influence human souls for good. Perhaps that's why he has not taken upon himself a mortal body.
Spirit matter is too refined to be visible to the physical eye, yet God once permitted John the Baptist to behold the descent of the Holy Ghost "in a bodily shape" when John baptized Jesus. Like a dove the Holy Ghost descended-not in the form of a dove, but rather in the sign of the dove in witness of that administration. In explanation, the Prophet Joseph Smith has said, "The sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world, a witness for the Holy Ghost, and the devil cannot come in the sign of a dove. The Holy Ghost is a personage, and is in the form of a personage. ... cannot be transformed into a dove; but the sign of a dove... is an emblem or token of truth and innocence."
Again, like the Father and the Son, the Holy Ghost can only be in one place at a time, and he cannot transform himself into any other form or image. To affirm omnipresence of the personage of the Holy Ghost overstates divine purpose. However, his power and intelligence are omnipresent in perhaps the same way the light of Christ fills the immensity of space and is everywhere present. Who can affirm that the two are not in some way correlated agencies or powers through which the Holy Ghost, in administering his affairs, sends forth his gifts?.
His mission is to testify of Christ and to bear record of the Father as well as the Son and to all truth..
Sometimes he is referred to as the Messenger for the Father and the Son. Other times he is called the Comforter. As such he assuages sorrow, gives hope to dispirited persons, and soothes wounded hearts and feelings.
He is often called the Teacher. The apostle John said, "... he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance".
He is also a Revelator. The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations. The Holy Ghost is a revelator."
"... no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost".
By his power one may know that the Book of Mormon is true.
He is the Holy Spirit of Promise who "places the stamp of approval upon every ordinance: baptism, confirmation, ordination, marriage. The promise is that the blessings will be received through faithfulness".
The Prophet Joseph Smith was told that "all covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations" must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise if they are to have "efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead". Some of the Saints, I fear, fail to realize that he who places the seal upon the ordinances has power also to remove the seal when covenants are broken. How important it is that we remain faithful Saints to the very end.
The gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed after baptism by the laying on of hands by those who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood. This priesthood ordinance was carefully preserved from the Adamic dispensation and was fully understood in the meridian of time. "... when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied". Once, one Simon Magus made overtures with money, "saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost." Peter's rebuke stunned him: "Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money".
Now, what I have been trying to say in a profusion of words-and I offer it as my witness-is this:
I believe-"We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost".
We believe in God the Father, the Planner, Elohim by name; Jesus the Son, the Creator, the Jehovah of the Old Testament; the Holy Ghost the Testator, Revelator, Comforter.
The greatest gift God has bestowed upon us, his errant children, is the gift of his Only Begotten Son-our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The next precious gift, I think, is the gift of the Holy Ghost. Following that I would rate priesthood-the great power of God.
Crowning these is the gift of eternal life.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Howard W. Hunter
Howard W. Hunter, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 46-49
When the history of our time is written, it might well describe our generation as the one that has increased learning and scientific accomplishment to an extent far beyond the achievement of any preceding generation. We are constantly amazed at modern development, yet we have learned to expect the ever-expanding progress stemming from the mind of man and as the result of his genius.
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
"For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour".
The evidence of man's accomplishments has firmly planted in the modern mind the conviction of man's greatness-just a little lower than the angels and crowned with glory and honor.
Since the beginning, men have been born free moral agents with the freedom to choose between good or evil.
Even in the preexistence the spirit children of the father had their choice.
"... for, behold, the devil was before Adam, for he rebelled against me, saying, Give me thine honor, which is my power; and also a third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away from me because of their agency".
This same choice was given to the first man placed upon the earth, for after he was formed and placed amid the abundance that had been created the Lord said: "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat, But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself".
When the children of Israel stood on the threshold of the Promised Land, they faced the choice that was given to them. Israel was clearly told of the consequences of its decision. There was no neutral ground in the statement of the Lord to them:
"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
"A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day:
"And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God".
In the writings of Nephi we read of the instructions given by Lehi to his sons regarding this same inherent agency: "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great mediation of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all man might be miserable like unto himself".
There has never been a time when man has been forced to do good or forced to obey the commandments of God. He has always been given his free choice-his free moral agency. If one looks back through the events of history, there come into view the results of the greatness of men who kept the commandments of the Lord and made the choice on his side. One also sees strewn along the wayside the ruins that stand as silent reminders of those who chose otherwise. Both had their free moral agency.
In spite of the greatness of man and his accomplishments in the modern world, we observe the lack of faith in God and the absence of repentance, which has also been characteristic of those in the past who would not heed the commandments of God or the warnings of a prophet. Peace does not exist among men today. World leaders appear helpless to formulate a solution, and many of them have no regard for the principles of righteousness that would bring peace. The Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount have been set aside by those who formerly professed belief in them.
Morality appears to have been lost in the maze of human philosophies. We see it in the lives of individuals, people in high places in government, and even leaders of industry and labor. Many churches in the world are announcing compromises of their tenets so as not to offend the modern thinking of their membership. The cry has gone up from some pulpits that God is dead. When God ceases to live in the minds and hearts of men and women, moral concepts collapse and only disaster can result.
In this community crime is increasing. It is on the increase in all states of the union and all over the world. There is a growing disregard for law and order, a turn toward riot and mob rule, and in some cases total defiance of man's basic rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. The crimes of our generation are not excelled by any of the past, although we may read history and cringe at the atrocities.
The loss of morality extends up to the great commanders of the earth as well as down to the single individual man. The stability of the family has been affected, as demonstrated by the upsurge of the divorce rate. Juvenile delinquency is accepted. It is not a matter of how it can be reduced, but how the acceleration can be held in moderation, as one authority has stated. The use of liquor and addiction to tobacco are on the increase; sexual morality is being scoffed at in many modern circles; free love is tolerated and even advocated; venereal diseases among teenagers as well as others have taken a sharp upturn. In short, the will to resist evil seems to be vanishing. I have asked myself, and I ask you this question: What is the reason for these appalling circumstances in a world in which man has made such outstanding achievements in learning?
As I read the Old and New Testaments and also the Book of Mormon, I find that man has two theological concerns involving himself: his sins and his salvation. When man sins he suffers its painful effects. There are few chapters in these books that do not contain some reference to what sin is or does. The predominant conception of the nature of sin in these books is that of a personal alienation from God. We must conclude, therefore, that the vanishing resistance to evil in the world is caused by this personal alienation from our Heavenly Father.
Let us ask this question: What causes some men in a declining morality to shun evil and wrongdoing and to follow the course of righteousness in their temporal, moral, and spiritual lives? In my mind, there are three reasons for this phenomenon, and it is to these three points I would like to address my remarks.
The first is fear. It is said that man fears God, but such an emotion is ambiguous, for it may both repel and attract. I am mindful of the conclusion reached by the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes in the admonition: Fear God, and keep his commandments. The word fear and its synonyms occur several hundred times in the Bible, and I believe we would agree that a summary of scripture would indicate that the law is to love the Lord absolutely and exclusively. Many people, however, are compelled to do good because of fear-fear of the law, fear of the unknown, fear of the Almighty. In the book of Revelation, John catalogues fear with expressions of other evil doings in these words:
"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone".
To the restored Church the Lord has stated time and time again that fear is not of God and will not enter the hearts of those who love the Lord and live righteously: "Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you".
There are many people who live the so-called good life because of fear, but as Christians we must not serve for this reason. Fear must be banished from our hearts. In one of the epistles of John he wrote: "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love".
The second reason for men to shun evil, pursue righteousness, and serve their fellowmen is duty. Often we hear men say they do certain things because it is their duty. One great writer has penned: "The duty of man... is plain and simple, and consists but of two points-his duty to God, which every man must feel; and, with respect to his neighbor, to do as he would be done by." Do we have a responsibility beyond that which it is our duty to perform? The parable Jesus gave of the farmer and his servant is a direct answer to this question:
"But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
"And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
"Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
"So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do".
Even though the servant had come in from the field tired and weary, it was his duty to gird himself and serve his master's meal. It was never supposed that the master would wait on the servant. The servant is expected to wait on the master. He does not expect a word of appreciation, because under his agreement he is only doing that which was his duty to do. Men who only carry out that which is within their duty and go no further have no claim to any reward beyond the scope of that duty and are unprofitable servants.
The Lord requires obedience not because it is our duty nor because we fear him. Let me read from the 58th section of the Doctrine and Covenants:
"For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
"For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.
"But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.
"Who am I that made man, saith the Lord, that will hold him guiltless that obeys not my commandments?".
Now I come to the third reason, which in my opinion ought to be the objective of all men everywhere. The greatest motivating influence for righteousness and for service to one's fellowmen is the divine principle of love. The answer Jesus gave to the scribe is a summary of the law:
"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
"And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these".
Jesus revealed the meaning of love by his life, and the perfect example of love was given to us by the Father in the offering of his divine Son:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".
"If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
"And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also".
The logic of this is simple, clear, and unequivocal: the proof of love of God is love of one's brother. This becomes the fundamental commandment of Christianity. This was the religion taught by the Master. How happy would society be were these two plain, rational precepts properly observed: Love me, and love thy fellows.
The living of this commandment by all men would restore peace to the earth. It would cause them to love the Lord and thereby keep his commandments; thus the troubles of our age would vanish, and man's happiness in a moral world would result. The motivating influences generated within man through fear, his obligation to duty, or deep sense of love can turn the tide of the declining morality of our generation. The greatest of these is love. We must strive to obtain this virtue if we are to serve the Lord without faltering or growing weary in our pursuit of eternal life. We will do this not because of fear, nor merely because it is our duty, but because we have sought for and obtained the greatest of all virtues, love.
I know that God lives, that he is our Father, that he has given to each of his sons and daughters free moral agency, that his Son, the Redeemer of the world, through love, gave his life that each of us may have eternal life. I pray that we shall exercise that agency which we have been given by loving the Lord and our neighbor, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Robert L. Simpson
Robert L. Simpson, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 51-55
Once again in the tradition of the season all Christendom pauses with bowed head and contrite heart to contemplate the terrible agony, the pain, the suffering, and the indignities of the Lord and Savior of the world as he gave himself to be crucified for the sins of all mankind.
But with the rising of the sun of another Easter morning, there also wells up within each of us a glorious assurance of hope, a brilliant ray of peace, for he lives! Death is overcome! And life will be eternal.
Let us suppose that by some miraculous arrangement the privilege would be granted for each to spend one precious minute in private audience with the resurrected Christ this Easter day. What would you do? What would you say? Surely there would be great emotion because of your love for him. Then I am certain that many would ask the simple question: "What would thou have me do?" and he might conceivably answer, "If ye love me, keep my commandments".
Or might it be, "... love thy neighbour as thyself".
There is no reason to believe that his counsel and advice today would be any different than it was 2,000 years ago. For his house is a house of order. His gospel is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
"Where treasure is... "
And because he would be most anxious for us to overcome selfishness and lack of faith, which I believe are the two major sources of man's problems today, don't you think he might have some advice to give with respect to the mastery over worldly possessions, for surely "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also". Yes, this great principle of faith and the willingness to share our temporal increase go hand in hand.
In fact, someone has properly observed that it doesn't take money to pay tithing-it takes faith.
In this respect, I shall always remember the faith of an old Maori brother in New Zealand. As the missionaries came to his humble little fishing shack located well off the beaten track, he hurried to find an envelope that contained a letter addressed to him and in which he had also stuffed a sizable sum of hard-earned money. He promptly handed the envelope containing the money and letter to the missionaries. This fine brother didn't have the ability to read the letter when it arrived, for it was written in English and his tongue was Maori, but he could read the financial figures contained in it, and he recognized the letterhead as being from the mission office. He thought the mission needed the cash amount mentioned for some special purpose, and he had it all ready for the missionaries. After translating the letter for him, it was now clear that the letter merely confirmed his annual tithing settlement and stated the total amount paid for the previous year. His faith was such that he stood ready to pay the same amount all over again if the Lord's servants needed it for the work.
Now while I have you down in New Zealand, let me tell you about a beautiful little white chapel located in Maromaku Valley. About twenty-five years ago Brother Matthew Cowley, who was then the New Zealand Mission president, wrote to President Grant and his counselors, telling them of this faithful branch of English members. He expressed a recommendation that because of their devotion and outstanding tithing record over many years, a modest chapel be built for them without local participation, entirely from the general tithing funds of the Church. Soon the answer came back that the recommendation was approved. Immediately a special meeting was called in the community schoolhouse, and for the first time these wonderful people heard what had transpired in their behalf.
At first they just sat. No one seemed particularly elated by the news, and then, one by one, each family head stood to explain how he would be disappointed if he were not allowed to accept financial responsibility for a certain phase of the proposed chapel. Within twenty minutes, the entire amount had been subscribed to. These faithful people were in the habit of going the extra mile in helping to finance the needs of the kingdom, and this is the way they wanted it. You see, people overcome selfish desires as they practice the Lord's law of giving.
Just last week a man said: "Today's cost of living makes it impossible for me to consider ten percent of my income for tithing." By every standard of today's economic and financial teaching as figured by the mind of man, his reasoning seems justified. But the spiritual law is different. Do you remember how perplexed the multitude was when the Savior said this: "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it"? How much like this law is the law of tithing, wherein we receive by giving away. It just doesn't add up by worldly standards, and most men consider such teachings impractical and even abstract.
But it works! And hundreds of thousands can bear that witness today because their faith has been such that they were willing to accept God's invitation when he said: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it". No business proposition in all this wide world can begin to match this offer. Here is the only real answer to today's cost of living. We can't make the family budget stretch far enough on our own, so we had better form a partnership with the Lord by giving ten percent to him. "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say"; and then he concludes, "but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise". Now, it is just that simple. And when we decide to accept his terms, we'll be amazed to learn that we can do far better on $9.00 with the help of the Lord than we can with $10.00 on our own.
Many of us remember the tremendous enthusiasm of President Stephen L Richards of the First Presidency on the subject of "tithing." He had this to say concerning partnership with God: "I like to think of the Lord as a partner because the essence of partnership is a sharing of profits. It is however indispensable in a partnership that there shall also be a sharing of the burdens of the enterprise. The honor and the satisfaction that come to one in realization that he lives his life in partnership with God is to me a lofty and exalting thought. One cannot hope to realize the profits from that venture without bearing his portion of the expense-the giving which is requisite."
President Richards went on to say that our part of that partnership could only be confirmed through the payment of an honest tithe.
He also made this observation with regard to the spiritual power that comes to one who is willing to give of his substance to the Lord: "Observance of tithing brings spiritual power and after all, that to me, is the main thing. Religion is more than mere repose or relaxation. It is positive spiritual exercise. It makes for the growth of the soul, it cultivates all of the virtues. So one who is serious about religion will be willing to give to it the things which are vital to himself."
I want to share with you the testimony of a wonderful brother who had been impressed by one of the Church leaders as he explained the law of tithing. Meeting him on the street about three months later, he took some money from his pocket and said: "Do you see this? It is all mine. It does not belong to the butcher, the baker, or the loan agency. For the first time in my life I am free of debt. I can walk down either side of the street with my head held high. I no longer have to cross from side to side, avoiding the shopkeepers holding my delinquent accounts."
Then he went on to tell how all this came about because he took time to sit down with his family, and they decided how they were going to meet their obligation to the Lord.
This man has peace of mind today. He is now a leader in a branch of the Church and a blessing to scores of other people. While wearing the chains of indebtedness, he was literally in bondage and unavailable to the Lord for service. Tithing had been the answer, and he found financial freedom.
The personnel manager in a large Los Angeles plant, who is not a member of the Church, relates this story: "I asked one of your returned missionaries seeking employment with our firm if he paid his tithing, and when he said 'yes,' I hired him on the spot. I knew that he would be a man of integrity, I knew that he loved the Lord, and I also knew that he would be true to his wife."
So you see, brothers and sisters, the payment of tithing means many things to many people.
We often hear the comment: "I believe all you say about tithing, but I am so hopelessly in debt right now I will have to wait until next year to start." The only trouble with that is that next year never comes. Meet with your bishop right away and receive his kindly counsel. Then call a special meeting of all the family. Invite them to participate in the possible solutions to the problem. Maybe your son Johnny ends up with a paper route-that's great! And teenager Susan finds work on Saturdays-wonderful. I think all of our teenagers should learn well this wonderful principle of work. Not only that, but the entire family might agree to rough it for a few years by settling on a five year-old car that uses regular gas and has roll-up windows. This important family meeting on finances could be the turning point toward eternal exaltation and salvation.
Few topics have received as much time and attention from this pulpit as has the subject of tithing. There is good reason for such emphasis. Compliance to the great law of tithing develops and trains men in the vital attribute of obedience, which has been referred to as the first law of heaven. It trains men in the vital attribute of faith, without which there can be little hope for anyone, and also in the vital attribute of unselfishness, man's most immediate need for solving the world's dilemmas in this day of hate, greed, and distrust.
Speaking through the Psalmist the Lord declared: "... the world is mine, and the fulness thereof". He doesn't really need our ten percent-it is all his in the first place-but we need the experience of giving. Just as the Sabbath was created for man rather than man for the Sabbath, so it is with tithing: the value of the human soul is most important. "... my work and my glory," the Lord declares, is "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man". There is no thought more compatible with the spirit of Easter than that.
The God and Creator of heaven and earth could surely lay all the riches of the world at the feet of his leaders here in mortality if this were the important factor. But most important is that we demonstrate our love for God by making our means available to him according to his perfect plan and supreme wisdom.
Each dollar of tithing expenditure is for the blessing of people, the edification of the soul, the perfection of man; and in this, all who participate can find added comfort in the Savior's observation that "inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me". We make wonderful things possible for many wonderful people when we return the Lord's tenth to him.
I bear solemn witness to all who can hear that the law of tithing is God-given and that the purpose for which these sacred funds are used is sanctified by divine direction.
Old Testament prophets taught the law of tithing, for they said: "Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase:
"So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine". This admonition has never been rescinded.
On one occasion just prior to that first Easter morning two thousand years ago, the Savior admonished his disciples: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also".
To justify the purpose of the Savior's suffering and to fulfill the opportunity that he has afforded us of life eternal, man must break the restricting chains of selfishness. There is no better way than to do it in the Lord's way. He gave his life that we might truly live, not just exist. He established the pattern, declaring: "I am the way, the truth, and the life". He beckons all to "come... follow me". He pleads with seemingly indifferent children: "If ye love me, keep my commandments". He says that if we are to preserve life, we must be prepared to give it away-our time to the blessings and comfort and edification of others, our means to the building of the kingdom and the blessings of mankind here and now.
Yes, in my opinion, God issued the challenge of the ages when he said: "... prove me now herewith," and followed it quickly with a resulting promise that he would "open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it".
Control of "the windows of heaven" is in your hands
There has never been a more definite promise than this. Let us not forget that the "windows of heaven" can only be operated by the remote control switch in our hand. We must make the first move. This is the very foundation of the eternal principle of faith. Once that faith has been demonstrated, God stands ready and anxious to fulfill his part of the agreement.
May the spirit of Easter and the sure knowledge that he lives permeate our hearts this day. May his great atoning sacrifice be a constant reminder of the relatively insignificant sacrifices expected of us, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 55-59
"... Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him". My dear brethren and sisters, I commend to all the excellent sermon just delivered by one of the Presiding Bishopric of the Church, Bishop Simpson. I am grateful and happy to meet with you and worship with you this morning in this historic building in a general conference of the Church.
I extend greetings and my blessings to you and to our vast audience of members and friends who are tuned in by radio and television. It is a joy and a privilege to be associated with you in this great latter-day work.
As I stand before you to give you a message regarding the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I pray for the blessings of the Lord, that he might uphold me, and that he may enlighten our minds to see and touch our hearts to feel more deeply than mere words can denote the significance of this message.
Throughout Christendom we are celebrating, this Eastertide, the greatest event of all history-the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ. For over four thousand years, man had looked into the grave and had seen only the end of life. Of all the millions who had entered therein, not one person had ever returned as a resurrected, immortal being. "There was in all earth's area, not one empty grave. No human heart believed; no human voice declared that there was such a grave-a grave robbed by the power of a Victor stronger than man's great enemy, Death."
It was, therefore, a new and glorious message that the angel gave to the women who fearfully and lovingly had approached the sepulcher in which Jesus had been buried: "... Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him".
If a miracle is a supernatural event whose antecedent forces are beyond man's finite wisdom, then the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most stupendous miracle of all time. In it stand revealed the omnipotence of God and the immortality of man.
The resurrection is a miracle, however, only in the sense that it is beyond man's comprehension and understanding. To all who accept it as fact, it is but a manifestation of a uniform law of life. Because man does not understand the law, he calls it a miracle. There are many people who reject the reality of the resurrection of Jesus. They believe, or profess to believe, in the teachings of Christ, but do not believe in the virgin birth, nor in his literal resurrection from the grave; yet, this latter fact was the very foundation of the early Christian church. Even some of the religious leaders of the present day are claiming that Jesus is dead.
Someday man's enlightenment may bring the momentous event of the resurrection out of the dusk of mystery into the broad day of understanding.
Just recently a scientist, in speaking before a university audience, said, "Man has only begun the search. I cannot stop being amazed and reverent at the wonders of the Universe around me. It is hard to imagine that this just happened without the intervention of a power beyond man's comprehension. Anyone who denies the existence of a power beyond man's specific knowledge, lacks the necessary humility and objectivity which is vital for good scientific work."
Establish it as a fact that Christ did take up his body and appeared as a glorified, resurrected being, and you answer the question of the ages: "If a man die, shall he live again?".
That the literal resurrection of Christ from the grave was a reality to the disciples who knew him intimately is a certainty. In their minds there was absolutely no doubt. They were witnesses of the fact; they knew because their eyes beheld, their ears heard, their hands felt the corporeal presence of the risen Redeemer.
Peter, the chief apostle, on the occasion when the eleven had met to choose one to take the place of Judas Iscariot, said, "Wherefore of these men... must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection".
It always interests me to study about the class of men who surrounded the apostles at that time, from whom the apostles chose this special witness. They were men who had been "witnesses" of the resurrection. Only such a one was considered eligible and worthy to be chosen as one of the Twelve Apostles.
On another occasion Peter declared before their enemies, the very men who had put Jesus to death on the cross: "Ye men of Israel, hear these words... This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses".
Of the value and significance of the nearness and intimacy of the authors of the epistles, the author Beverly Nichols writes:
" were within hailing distance, historically, of Christ; at any rate, when their ideas, which they afterwards transmitted to paper, were formed. The winds had hardly had time to efface the sacred print of his steps in the sands over which He walked. The rain had hardly had time to wash away, with its callous tears, the blood from the rotting wood of the deserted cross.
"Yet these men knew-I can't go on using the word 'believe,' which is far too vapid and colourless-that God had descended to earth in the shape of a certain man, that this man had met an obscene and clownish death, and that the grotesque mode of his dying had redeemed mankind from sin. They knew, moreover, that He had risen from the dead on the third day and ascended into heaven."
Nearness to the event gives increased value to the evidence given by the apostles. A deeper value of their testimony lies in the fact that with Jesus' death the apostles were stricken with discouragement and gloom. For two and one-half years they had been upheld and inspired by Christ's presence. But now he was gone. They were left alone, and they seemed confused and helpless. Not with timidity not with feelings of doubt, gloom, and discouragement is a skeptical world made to believe. Such wavering, despairing minds as the apostles possessed on the day of the crucifixion could never have stirred people to accept an unpopular belief and to die martyrs to the cause.
What, then, was it that suddenly changed these disciples to confident, fearless, heroic preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ? It was the revelation that Christ had risen from the grave. "His promises had been kept, His Messianic mission fulfilled."
I urge all within the sound of my voice to consider carefully the testimonies of these eyewitnesses as recorded in the New Testament, whose honesty is not questioned even by skeptical criticism.
That the spirit of man passes triumphantly through the portals of death into everlasting life is one of the glorious messages given by Christ, our Redeemer. To him this earthly career is but a day and its closing but the setting of life's sun. Death, but a sleep, is followed by a glorious awakening in the morning of an eternal realm. When Mary and Martha saw their brother only as a corpse in the dark and silent tomb, Christ saw him still a living being. This fact he expressed in the two words: "... Lazarus sleepeth".
If everyone participating in Easter services knew that the crucified Christ actually rose on the third day-that after having greeted others and mingled with others in the spirit world, his spirit did again reanimate his pierced body, and after sojourning among men for the space of forty days, he ascended a glorified soul to his Father-what benign peace would come to souls now troubled with doubt and uncertainty!
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stands with Peter, with Paul, with James, and with all the other early apostles who accepted the resurrection not only as being literally true, but as the consummation of Christ's divine mission on earth.
Eighteen hundred years after Jesus died upon the cross, the Prophet Joseph Smith declared that the risen Lord appeared to him, saying: "... I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!".
Later, speaking of the reality of this vision, he testifies as follows: "... I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation".
If Joseph Smith's testimony stood alone, it would be, as Christ said of his testimony when he spoke of himself, of no avail; but Jesus had God's testimony and that of the apostles. And Joseph Smith had other witnesses whose testimonies cannot be questioned. Three witnesses corroborated Joseph Smith's testimony, the truth of which was made known by the appearance to them of the Angel Moroni.
Confirming the irrefutable testimony of Christ's early apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaims the glorious vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith:
The Testimony: "That he lives!"
"And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
"For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father-
"That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God".
In the light of such unimpeachable testimonies as given by the ancient apostles-testimonies dating from a few years subsequent to the event itself-in the light of that most marvelous revelation in this age of the living Christ, it seems difficult indeed to understand how men can still reject him and can doubt the immortality of man.
An unwavering faith in Christ is the most important need of the world today. It is more than a mere feeling. It is power that moves into action, and should be in human life the most basic of all motivating forces.
It was in this sense that an eminent doctor of medicine, who had but recently lost his mother in death, admonished his students to keep their faith. Said he, "Those of you who have discarded faith will live to regret it. There are times such as this when you lose a loved one by death that science is entirely inadequate. I commend you to think seriously about these matters. They give comfort and solace which can be obtained in no other way. Many have discarded religion because it appears unscientific. I believe you will find in the last analysis that Faith is scientific."
There is no cause to fear death; it is but an incident in life. It is as natural as birth. Why should we fear it? Some fear it because they think it is the end of life and life often is the dearest thing we have. Eternal life is man's greatest blessing.
If only men would "do his will", instead of looking hopelessly at the dark and gloomy tomb, they would turn their eyes heavenward and know that Christ is risen!
No man can accept the resurrection and be consistent in his belief without accepting also the existence of a personal God. Through the resurrection Christ conquered death and became an immortal soul. "My Lord and my God" was not merely an idle exclamation of Thomas when he beheld his risen Lord. Once we accept Christ as divine, it is easy to visualize his Father as being just as personal as he; for, said Jesus, "... he that hath seen me hath seen the Father".
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints declares to all the world that Christ is the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world! No true follower is satisfied to accept him merely as a great reformer, the ideal teacher, or even as the one perfect man. The Man of Galilee is-not figuratively, but literally-the Son of the living God.
Belief in the resurrection connotes also the immortality of man. Jesus passed through all the experiences of mortality just as you and I. He knew happiness, he experienced pain. He rejoiced as well as sorrowed with others. He knew friendship. He experienced, also, the sadness that comes through traitors and false accusers. He died a mortal death even as you will. Since Christ lived after death, so shall you, and so shall I, and so shall your soldier boy who gives his life on the battlefield.
Jesus was the one perfect man who ever lived. In rising from the dead, he conquered death and is now Lord of the earth. How utterly weak, how extremely foolish is he who would willfully reject Christ's way of life, especially in the light of the fact that such rejection leads only to unhappiness, misery, and even to death!
No man can sincerely resolve to apply in his daily life the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth without sensing a change in his whole being. The phrase "born again" has a deeper significance than what many people attach to it. This changed feeling may be indescribable, but it is real. Happy is the person who has truly sensed the uplifting, transforming power that comes from this nearness to the Savior, this kinship to the living Christ. I am thankful that I know that Christ is my Redeemer He is the first step to everlasting peace.
When Christians throughout the world have this faith coursing in their veins, when they feel a loyalty in their hearts to the Resurrected Christ and to the principles connoted thereby, mankind will have taken the first great step toward the perpetual peace for which we daily are praying. Reject him and the world will be filled with hatred and drenched in blood by recurring wars.
Members of the Church of Christ are under obligation to make the sinless Son of Man their ideal. He is the one perfect being who ever walked the earth; the sublimest example of nobility; godlike in nature; perfect in his love-our Redeemer; our Savior; the immaculate Son of our Eternal Father; the Light, the Life, the Way.
As Christ lives after death, so shall all men, each taking that place in the next world for which he is best fitted.
The message of the resurrection, therefore, is the most comforting, the most glorious ever given to man, for when death takes a loved one from us, our sorrowing hearts are assuaged by the hope and divine assurance expressed in the words: "He is not here; he is risen!".
With all my soul I know that death is conquered by Jesus Christ, and because our Redeemer lives, so shall we. I bear you witness that he does live. I know it, and I hope you know that divine truth.
May all mankind some day have that faith, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 60-63
Spring has returned to the community of Franklin, Idaho. One can hear the ever-welcome chirp of the robin and see the beauty of the first daffodil. Seemingly overnight, the drab brown grass of winter turns to a verdant green. Soon plows will turn the earth, seeds will be panted, and a new cycle of life will commence. Tucked away from the bustle of activity and snuggled against the friendly hills is the town cemetery.
Just three weeks ago a new grave was opened-not a large one-and a tiny casket was lowered into mother earth. Three lines appear on the attractive headstone:
MICHAEL PAUL SHUMWAY Born: October 24, 1965 Died: March 14, 1966
May I introduce you to the Shumway family. They are my neighbors here in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mark and Wilma Shumway and each of the children always greet you with a friendly smile or a wave of the hand. They brighten a neighborhood. They are good people.
Can you imagine the happiness in the family home on that 24th day of October when little Michael was born. Father was proud, brothers and sisters were excited, Mother was humble, as they welcomed this sweet new blossom of humanity, fresh fallen from God's own home, to flower on earth. Happy months followed.
Then came that fateful night in March when little Michael was called to his heavenly home and the breath of life was gone. As I visited with Mark and Wilma, so bowed down with grief from the loss of their precious son, I noticed one of Michael's tiny toys as it rested near the crib. I remembered the words of Eugene Field's masterpiece, "Little Boy Blue":
"The little toy dog is covered with dust, But sturdy and stanch he stands; And the little toy soldier is red with rust, And his musket molds in his hands. Time was when the little toy dog was new, And the soldier was passing fair, And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue Kissed them and put them there.
"'Now, don't you go till I come,' he said, 'And don't you make any noise!' So toddling off to his trundle-bed, He dreamed of the pretty toys. And as he was dreaming, an angel song Awakened our Little Boy Blue,- Oh, the years are many, the years are long, But the little toy friends are true.
"Ay, faithful to Little Boy Blue they stand, Each in the same old place, Awaiting the touch of a little hand, The smile of a little face. And they wonder, as waiting the long years through, In the dust of that little chair, What has become of our Little Boy Blue Since he kissed them and put them there."
There are many toy dogs and many toy dolls that belonged to many boys and girls who lived and then were taken from us. And while the toys may wonder while they wait, anxious parents need not wonder. The revealed word of a loving Heavenly Father provides answers to questions of the heart.
Mark and Wilma, could you gather your little ones around as we discuss some of these answers. There are many hundreds of thousands of others, perhaps millions, listening in, but they may benefit from our conversation; for who hasn't lost a mother, a father, sister, a brother, a son, or a daughter?
Every thoughtful person has asked himself that question best phrased by Job of old: "If a man die, shall he live again?". Try as we may to put the question out of our thoughts, it always returns. Death comes to all mankind. It comes to the aged as they walk on faltering feet. Its summons is heard by those who have scarcely reached midway in life's journey, and often it hushes the laughter of little children.
In Paul's message to the Hebrews, he declared: "... it is appointed unto men once to die...". While death is inevitable, it can best be understood when we learn of life, even eternal life.
Life on earth does not mark the beginning of our existence. The poet William Wordsworth wrote:
"Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting: The soul that rises with us, our life's Star, Hath had elsewhere its setting, And cometh from afar: Not in entire forgetfulness, And not in utter nakedness, But trailing clouds of glory do we come From God, who is our home: Heaven lies about us in our infancy!"
And who can fail to be sobered by the declaration of the prophet Jeremiah: "Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
"Before I formed thee in the belly knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations".
In the wisdom of God, an earth was created upon which man might dwell. Genesis records that the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. Then God said, "Let there be light: and there was light."
"Let there be a firmament," and there was a firmament.
"Let the earth bring forth grass," and the earth brought forth grass.. He made the fowls of the air, the creatures of the water, the beasts of the earth.
And then "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them". To man was given dominion over every living thing. Earth became a proving ground, a testing station, a provider of needed experience.
We laugh, we cry, we work, we play, we love, we live. And then we die. And dead we would remain but for one man and his mission, even Jesus of Nazareth. Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, his birth fulfilled the inspired pronouncements of many prophets. He was taught from on high. He provided the life, the light, and the way. Multitudes followed him. Children adored him. The haughty rejected him. He spoke in parables. He taught by example. He lived a perfect life. Through his ministry blind men saw, deaf men heard, and lame men walked. Even the dead returned to life.
Though the King of kings and Lord of lords had come, he was accorded the greeting given to an enemy or a traitor. There followed a mockery that some called a trial. Cries of "Crucify him, crucify him," filled the air. Then commenced the climb to Calvary's Hill.
He was ridiculed, reviled, mocked, jeered, and nailed to a cross amidst shouts of "Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe". "He saved others; himself he cannot save". "If thou be Christ, save thyself". His response: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do". "... into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus: he gave up the ghost". His body was placed by loving hands in a sepulcher hewn of stone.
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came unto the sepulcher. To their astonishment, the body of their Lord was gone. Luke records that two men in shining garments stood by them and said: "Why seek ye the living among the dead?
"He is not here, but is risen". Job's question, "If a man die, shall he live again?" had just been answered.
The sacred scripture records the events following his ascension. However, today, as always, the skeptic's voice challenges the word of God, and each man must choose to whom he shall listen. Clarence Darrow, the famous lawyer and agnostic, declared, "No life is of much value, and every death is but a little loss." Schopenhauer, the German philosopher and pessimist, wrote: "To desire immortality is to desire the eternal perpetuation of a great mistake." And to their words are added those of new generations as foolish men crucify the Christ anew. For they modify his miracles, doubt his divinity and reject his resurrection.
Robert Blatchford, in his book God and My Neighbor attacked with vigor the accepted Christian beliefs, such as God, Christ, prayer, and immortality. He boldly asserted: "I claim to have proved everything I set out to prove so fully and decisively that no Christian, however great or able he may be, can answer my arguments or shake my case." He surrounded himself with a wall of skepticism. Then a surprising thing happened. His wall suddenly crumbled to dust. He was left exposed and undefended. Slowly he began to feel his way back to the faith he had scorned and ridiculed. What had caused this profound change in his outlook? His wife died. With broken heart, he went into the room where lay all that was mortal of her. He looked at the face he loved so well. Coming out he said to a friend: "It is she and yet it is not she. Everything is changed. Something that was there before is taken away. She is not the same. What can be gone if it be not the soul?"
Later he wrote: "Death is not what some people imagine. It is only like going into another room. In that other room we shall find... the dear women and men and the sweet children we have loved and lost."
Against the philosophy rampant in today's world-a doubting of the authenticity of the Sermon on the Mount, an abandonment of Christ's teachings, a denial of God, and a rejection of his laws-we seek a point of reference, an unimpeachable source, even a testimony of eye witnesses. Stephen, doomed to the cruel death of a martyr, looked up to heaven and cried: "... I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God". Saul, on the road to Damascus, had a vision of the risen, exalted Christ. Peter and John also testified of the risen Christ.
Who can help but be penetrated by the stirring testimony of Paul at Corinth? He declared "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
"And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
"And... was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve;
"After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain unto this present...
"After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
And "... he was seen of me...".
To the agnostic, the skeptic, the reviler, I ask, "Agnostic, can you answer?" "Skeptic, can you save?" "Reviler, can you redeem?"
God the Eternal Father spoke to the multitude on this continent and said: "Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name-hear ye him.
"... as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven...
"... he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:
"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.
"... I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world".
"Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.
"And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:
"Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him".
This loving God who introduced his crucified and resurrected Son was not a God lacking in body, parts, or passions-the God of a man-made philosophy. Rather, God our Father has ears with which to hear our prayers. He has eyes with which to see our actions. He has a mouth with which to speak to us. He has a heart with which to feel compassion and love. He is real. He is living. We are his children made in his image. We look like him and he looks like us.
This is the God who so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son that we might have everlasting life.
To you, Wilma and Mark Shumway, and to all who have loved and lost a dear one, he provides the courage to say, "... the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord". As you and your children journey to the family home in Franklin, Idaho, where tenderly and lovingly you will place the flowers of springtime on that tiny grave, your eyes may be moist with tears, but your hearts will burn with the knowledge that the bands of death have been broken and that members of your family, though now separated by death, will one day be reunited to share the blessings of eternal life.
With all my heart and the fervency of my soul, I lift up my voice in testimony today as a special witness and declare that God does live. Jesus is his Son, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. He is our Redeemer; he is our Mediator with the Father. He it was who died on the cross to atone for our sins. He became the firstfruit of the resurrection. Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives, "I know that my Redeemer lives!" and may the whole world know it and live by that knowledge, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior. Amen.
Elder Harold B. Lee
Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, April 1966, p. 64-68
My prayer is that what I say in these next few moments may not be out of harmony with what has seemed to be the theme of this great conference, which has, among other things, impressed upon us the vital importance of keeping the commandments of God as an effective hedge against the evils of our day. Many questions are asked today as the disturbed conditions in the world become more confusing and appalling to our people and to others who are shocked by the continuance of undeclared wars and by the spectacle of government affairs and some private and public businesses being dominated, in many instances, by official mandate rather than by due legislative processes. We see rebellion against the law, which approaches anarchy when leaders openly incite riots against law and order; we are witnessing the constant parading of ugly and soul-destroying, lewd, and provocative literature, theatricals, and radio and television shows. We hear vicious attacks on public officials without the opportunity being given to them to make a defense or a rebuttal to the evil diatribes and character assassinations that tend to discourage worthy men from accepting appointments to public offices. These are but a few of the ills that afflict us in our so-called modern age.
In the midst of all this, we hear our faithful people asking these questions over and over again: Are we living in the last days? Is there a sure way we can know the false from the true? Does the Church take any position in these matters? Is the devil on the loose? Has the Church a defense against these terrifying circumstances?
To all of these questions, the answers are unwavering: Yes, we are living in the last days. There are sure guides to truth if church members will use them. The Church is a continuing revolution against any and all norms of society that fall below the gospel standards. Within the gospel of Jesus Christ may be found the solution to every problem confronting us that will enable us to find happiness here and eternal life in the world to come. Yes, the devil is certainly on the loose. The Church indeed has the most effective possible defense against these ungodly and terrifying conditions.
My text for this brief address sets out in cleanness the eternal contest with the evil forces among us. The Apostle Paul admonished the Saints of Ephesus:
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places".
This profound admonition was preceded by pertinent instructions that impress the very present needs of today. There must be the love of a husband for his wife and the love of a wife for her husband, and children must be obedient to parents. The Apostle Paul drew a parallel between the reverence for and love of parents and children in the home to the love of the Master for his Church, and then concluded with these words: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might".
All with righteous desires are opposed to sin. Some years ago I participated in a panel discussion at the University of Utah with public officials, businessmen, and a district judge, as well as professional men of the university. The district judge made a profound statement when he declared that the great need in the fight against lawlessness, against immorality, against atheism, socialism, Communism, or other related ills is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our city attorney had accompanied me, I being a city official at the time. To him the comment of the judge about faith as a weapon against sin was sheer stupidity and a pompous display of religious bigotry. As I have thought about the statement of the judge, I have recalled a wise observation by one of my esteemed colleagues: "Beautiful roses," he said, "do not grow unless the roots of the parent bush are planted in rich, fertile soil-watered and cultivated and carefully nurtured by the hand of a master gardener. Likewise, beautiful flowers of virtue, honesty, integrity, or sobriety do not blossom in a human soul unless his feet are firmly planted on a testimony of the divine mission of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
Despite the sarcasm of my nonmember attorney friend, the judge in the panel discussion was right. My knowledge of the Lord's word concerning sin and my experience in dealing with human problems have taught me that the judge was close to the mark. We must know the truth, for the truth only will make us free from the pitfalls of evil. Knowledge of and love for the Son of God as a perfected being will bring heaven close when temptations are near.
The Apostle Paul closed his sermon to the Ephesians with these meaningful words: "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness:
"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints".
To the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul set forth in plainness that his teachings would not be from his learning in secular fields in which he was a recognized scholar. His pledge to them as a preacher of righteousness and truth was significant:
"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
"For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified...
"That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God". I would that all who are called to high places in the Church would determine, as did the Apostle to the Gentiles, to know and to preach nothing save Jesus Christ and him crucified.
We are told plainly in the revelations that the fruits of the true gospel of Jesus Christ are unity and harmony. The following from a revelation while the Church was young and the leaders inexperienced plainly declares that the gospel in its fullness was given to overcome contention. Listen to his words:
"Yea, and I will also bring to light my gospel... and shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine, yea, and the only doctrine which is in me.
"And this I do that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine; and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them".
Then the Lord has declared something more, which all of us as leaders and teachers should heed:
"Behold, this is my doctrine-whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.
"Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church.
"And now, behold, whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.
"And now, remember the words of him who is the life and light of the world, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God".
"I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one, ye are not mine".
The absolute test of the divinity of the calling of any officer in the Church is this: Is he in harmony with the brethren of that body to which he belongs? When we are out of harmony, we should look to ourselves first to find the way to unity. A wise man has given us the key to his development in his unforgettable statement; here are his wise words: "If there was any 'key' to this process of growing up, it lay in the systematic effort I made to subject myself to critical self-appraisal. As I came to know myself, I acquired a better understanding of other people."
Martin Harris, you remember, was warned particularly to repent of his sins, for he sought the praise of the world. I suppose the love of praise and adulation of the world is the beginning of the downfall of many men. Alma, a prophet of the Book of Mormon, seemed to make it clear that the sowing of the seeds of hatred, suspicion, and contention in any organization is destructive of the purpose of life and unbecoming to the children of God.
This is a part of a great sermon delivered by this ancient prophet: "And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets.
"Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people.
"And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.
"And thus he commanded them to I preach. And thus they became the children of God".
A few years ago while touring the missions of South America, I heard President William Grant Bangerter of the Brazilian Mission make some interesting comments. He reported that there had been a wave of incidents in which evil spirits were afflicting the missionaries and the Saints. At every conference the missionaries were relating experiences they were having with evil spirits. The intensity of their influence was frightening. The mission president admonished them to cease talking about the works of the devil in the future and instead teach with power the works of the Lord and bear testimony of his works among them. There was an almost immediate cessation of the power of the evil spirits when the people confined their testimonies to the works of the Lord rather than of Satan, the mission president told me.
We should all learn that the fundamentals of gospel teachings are the Lord's weapons against evil and sins of all kind, whether they be political dangers, immorality, threatened family disasters, or any other sinister afflictions among us.
One wise teacher, the superintendent of California schools, has said: "You don't train a boy to refrain from burglary by teaching him how to manipulate the tumblers of a safe in the dark; neither do you teach him to avoid immorality by teaching him all about sex in the school room." By the same token, you don't teach people to avoid Communism by telling them all about Communism or to avoid murderous acts of violence by constantly telling horror stories.
President David O. McKay has said it better than I can. "In these days of uncertainty and unrest, liberty-loving people's greatest responsibility and paramount duty is to preserve and proclaim the freedom of the individual his relationship to Deity, and the necessity of obedience to the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Only thus will mankind find peace and happiness".
I should like to read that again because it is the key to what I am trying to say: "In these days of uncertainty and unrest, liberty-loving people's greatest responsibility and paramount duty is to preserve and proclaim the freedom of the individual, his relationship to Deity, and the necessity of obedience to the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Only thus will mankind find peace and happiness."
The conclusions we must reach are inescapable as we ponder these profound declarations. One who has an abiding conviction concerning God, who has faith in his relationship to Deity and the necessity of obedience to the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ who believes in and has a love for the Son of God, and who has a feeling of certainty as to the immortality of the soul can successfully combat sin and unrighteousness in any guise.
Ours, then, must be a positive rather than a negative approach, as indicated by these divine instructions. The Lord has explained this in his preface to his revelations in our day, as he tells us the value of the scriptures and why the fullness of gospel teachings was given to us today. He said:
"Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments;
"And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets-
"The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh-
"But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world;
"That faith also might increase in the earth;
"That mine everlasting covenant might be established;
"That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.
"Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding.
"And inasmuch as they erred it might be made known;
"And inasmuch as they sought wisdom they might be instructed;
"And inasmuch as they sinned they might be chastened, that they might repent;
"And inasmuch as they were humble they might be made strong, and blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time".
How much clearer can the Lord tell us the value of the gospel in keeping us from following false leaders up blind alleys?
The Lord has sounded a warning to all of us who hold responsible places in his kingdom in this day.
Said he: "But there is a possibility that man may fall from grace and depart from the living God;
"Therefore let the church take heed and pray always, lest they fall into temptation;
"Yea, and even let those who are sanctified take heed also". The sanctified, as defined, are those who have a holiness of life and character-those who may have titles of high places in the Church.
A President of the Church has told us where we may expect to find false leaders:
"First," he said, "The hopelessly ignorant, whose lack of intelligence is due to their indolence and sloth...
"Second-The proud and self-vaunting ones, who read by the lamp of their own conceit; who interpret by rules of their own contriving; who have become a law unto themselves, and so pose as the sole judges of their own doings".
Ours is the great responsibility to become fully involved in the great drive going forward in the Church today: to impress parents with their responsibility to teach their own families in their homes and to have a completely correlated course of gospel teachings in church auxiliaries and priesthood quorums for the children, the youth, and the adults-all to the end that we might develop a gospel scholarship in the individual that will withstand in this evil day the forces that, without this abiding testimony of the gospel, would make us and our children prey to all the vices and false ideologies in the world.
May the Lord continue to pour out his knowledge upon his Church and give to all who are members, and indeed to all the honorable of the earth, attentive minds and obedient hearts, that he may indeed be an ensign to the world as prophesied when "many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths".
For that I pray humbly for all of us as individuals and for the Church collectively.
The Master closed his last recorded sermon prior to his crucifixion with the words: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world".
I humbly bear solemn witness to the life and mission of our Lord and Master, the Prince of Peace, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 70-75
One night I lay awake thinking through the problems of the day. All week there had filed by my desk people-wonderful people-some bowed in grief and anguish of soul; others learning repentance through life's penalties; some frustrated in their marital upsets, in their moral aberrations, in their financial reverses, and in their spiritual deficiencies.
These people were good people basically; but as they traveled, they had found difficulty in staying on the main thoroughfare and had deviated on side roads; they had forgotten covenants and postponed putting into effect their good resolutions.
There came to my mind an article by Samuel T. Whitman entitled "Forgotten Wedges." I had learned to use wedges when I was a lad in Arizona, it being my duty to supply wood for many fires in the big house. May I quote Whitman:
"The ice storm wasn't generally destructive. True, a few wires came down, and there was a sudden jump in accidents along the highway. Walking out of doors became unpleasant and difficult. It was disagreeable weather, but it was not serious. Normally, the big walnut tree could easily have borne the weight that formed on its spreading limbs. It was the iron wedge in its heart that caused the damage.
"The story of the iron wedge began years ago when the white-haired farmer was a lad on his father's homestead. The sawmill had then only recently been moved from the valley, and the settlers were still finding tools and odd pieces of equipment scattered about...
"On this particular day, it was a faller's wedge-wide, flat, and heavy, a foot or more long, and splayed from mighty poundings. The path from the south pasture did not pass the woodshed; and, because he was already late for dinner, the lad laid the wedge... between the limbs of the young walnut tree his father had planted near the front gate. He would take the wedge to the shed right after dinner, or sometime when he was going that way.
"He truly meant to, but he never did. It was there between the limbs, a little tight, when he attained his manhood. It was there, now firmly gripped, when he married and took over his father's farm. It was half grown over on the day the threshing crew ate dinner under the tree... Grown in and healed over, the wedge was still in the tree the winter the ice storm came.
"In the chill silence of that wintry night, with the mist like rain sifting down and freezing where it fell, one of the three major limbs split away from the trunk and crashed to the ground. This so unbalanced the remainder of the top that it, too, split apart and went down. When the storm was over, not a twig of the once-proud tree remained.
"Early the next morning, the farmer went out to mourn his loss. 'Wouldn't have had that happen for a thousand dollars,' he said. 'Prettiest tree in the valley, that was.'
"Then, his eyes caught sight of something in the splintered ruin. 'The wedge,' he muttered reproachfully.
'The wedge I found in the south pasture.' A glance told him why the tree had fallen. Growing edge-up in the trunk, the wedge had prevented the limb fibers from knitting together as they should."
Forgotten wedges! Hidden weaknesses grown over and invisible, waiting until some winter night to work their ruin. What better symbolizes the presence and the effect of sin in our lives?
This brings to my memory some verses I heard long years ago entitled:
Jim Died Today
Around the corner I have a friend, In this great city which has no end;
Yet, days go by and weeks rush on, And before I know it a year has gone.
And I never see my old friend's face; For life is a swift and terrible race.
He knows I like him just as well As in the days when I rang his bell
And he rang mine. We were younger then And now we are busy tired men-
Tired with playing the foolish game; Tired with trying to make a name;
Tomorrow, I say, I will call on Jim, Just to show I'm thinking of him.
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes; And the distance between us grows and grows
Around the corner! Yet miles away- Here's a telegram, sir-"Jim died today!"
And that's what we get-and deserve in the end- Around the corner, a vanished friend.
And, as I thought of Jim, I thought also of John, my trusted friend. He was well regarded in his community, honorable in business dealings, kindly. He frankly admitted his principal weakness. John was an inveterate chain smoker. Always a cigarette hung between his lips. It seemed as much a part of him as his ear or nose or finger. Sometimes we joked about his inseparable companion. He always chuckled and said, "Everybody is entitled to one weakness." And then in more sober moments, he would become pensive and say, "I know it is bad, but it has hold of me like an octopus. Someday I'll conquer it." Yes, someday! But the days sped into years; his hair became thinner, his complexion more sallow; and there finally came a cough-a little hacking cough. It worried us who appreciated his good qualities, but there was little we could do.
I moved to Utah and saw him no more for many years. Time put on its running shoes, and years piled up; and one day I was on assignment in Phoenix when a mutual friend, knowing my affection for John, said, "Did you know he is in the hospital dying of lung cancer?" Dropping everything, I rushed to the hospital but almost too late. There he lay propped up in his bed, breathing irregular, painful gasps. I was glad he recognized me even for that single moment. His forced smile froze. His light went out. He had certainly intended to overcome the habit, especially after scientific research had confirmed the Lord's revelation, but his master dictator decreed otherwise.
Here he had lain in fear and alone, facing the inevitable. The cancer was too deep, too scattered, too entrenched.
I trembled as I saw him die, this friend of thirty years. He might have lived yet many years in health and happiness. And as I stood in awe and with head bowed low, I remembered another great tree that could not stand the storm because of forgotten wedges, slow death-dealing wedges. Tomorrow he would have thrown his cigarettes away, but that recreant tomorrow, that procrastinating tomorrow that supposedly never comes, was here. There would now never be another cigarette. The wedges had seen to that. And then there came to me the words of Ralph Parlett:
"Strength and struggle travel together. The supreme reward of struggle is strength. Life is a battle and the greatest joy is to overcome. The pursuit of easy things makes men weak..."
My thoughts shifted to a little boy in Arizona with curly hair who sat upon my knee long years ago. His smile was beautiful and his laugh contagious. He grew into handsome manhood, but as he went through teens, he carelessly threw into the forks of his walnut tree a bottle. In his sober moments he admitted it was bad for him. Tomorrow he would discard this little devil, his master. Yes, tomorrow!
When he was married, the bottle wedge was still in the tree and the fibers encasing it. With a hollow laugh, he passed it off and said he could certainly remove it tomorrow. The cursed thing was there when the children came. They loved this handsome dad! Yet, sometimes came strange situations they could not understand. Hardly could they believe this was their dad, so different he was at times-more and more frequent.
This bottle wedge was still there when the children were in their teens. They still could not comprehend how their father could be Dr. Jekyll yesterday and Mr. Hyde today, so wonderful he was when sober. Procrastination and the bottle wedge became deeper and deeper in his tree and engulfed by it. He had about reached the point of no return.
Years passed, and he entered my life again. He borrowed two dollars. On the spur of the moment, I did not realize what two dollars would buy and how desperate one could be for what two dollars would purchase. His hair was gray, his body sloppy fat, his eyes bleary, his laugh hollow. His children were now on their own. One son had died in a tavern, one had divorced three times. One day I found him in the gutter. The storm had come, the wedge was deeply imbedded. Yesterday, with self control, he could have defeated his enemy and been headed toward thrones and exaltations, but the yesterdays became tomorrows. And, as I helped him out of the gutter and for a moment to stand upon his feet, I sorrowed and remembered wedges-hidden wedges.
And, as I saw him fettered and enslaved, there came to my memory a paragraph from a modern writer, which I paraphrase:
History, which had yawned for thousands of years, stirred on her dust-covered couch, opened her eyes, and saw one more son of God become a fettered slave. She sighed, sat up, shook the dust from the pages of her voluminous book, glanced at the long list of victims, turned a fresh page, took up her pen and moistened it, and wrote another name.
"It is an old tale," she said, tiredly and hopelessly, as her old bones moved wearily to record again. "Millions have followed this highway through the ages of the past," she said, "depriving spouses, neglecting children, corrupting lives, destroying character." Then she remonstrated, "Why can I never sleep? Why must I continue on, recording distorted lives, corrupted civilizations-will men never learn?"
Here were bottle wedges! the winds and whirlwind wedges, broken trees split open, branchless tree-made skeletons.
And then I remembered Bill. His was also a sad story. His beginnings were auspicious, his backgrounds good. Even his home life was better than average, but he was tiring of restraints.
He would enlist in the military service, where he could do what he wanted to do. A short training period and he was shipped abroad. Saigon was an intriguing city with its great river, its exotic nature, its strange people.
One day he relaxed his hold, yielded to impulse, made a contact that dropped him into a foreign world to him-a world of sin. His training came to his rescue and brought him to his knees in repentance. But the memory of man is short, and the sensations and demands of the carnal are insistent; and with abandon, he threw his wedge into the forks of his walnut tree. Some day he would remove the wedge and put it away where it belonged.
Under some pressures from associates, he began to smoke and then to drink, his inhibitions smothered. With his wedge in the forks of his tree, he was uncomfortable at first and his conscience hurt, but soon he seared it. Many months passed, and his military stint was nearing the end. On one of the many occasions when he had imbibed too freely he pulled from his pocket a handful of coins and boasted loudly, "With these coins I can buy every kind of sin in the book." And he heedlessly proceeded to make his purchase. Long ago he had ceased to pray. How could he ask the Lord's blessings upon his sinful acts, perversions, and aberrations? Not long now and he would be done with this war business and would return to normal life. Surely he would remove the wedge then.
He did go home, but by now his mischief was entrenched, his habits of thought and action too deeply imbedded, his willpower too weak.
Fibers had grown over the wedge. Nothing short of major tree surgery could remove it now.
And then I remembered the story of the young farmer grown old and the walnut tree split apart, and I thought again: Forgotten wedges! Hidden wedges! And my heart was heavy. Then Horace Greeley's words came to me:
"The height of a man's success is gauged by his self-mastery, the depth of his failure by his self-abandonment. There is no other limitation in either direction. And this law is the expression of eternal justice.
"He who cannot establish a dominion over himself will have no dominion over others, he who masters himself shall be king."
Then came the couple from Texas. In their prolonged conflicts, selfishness, and stubbornness, a wide chasm had deepened between them. Their relatives mourned for them, their leaders struggled with them, and their innocent children suffered from frustration, rebellion, and delinquency because of these two potentially great souls. The beautiful love of 16 years ago was fast changing to hate; the long-ago trust was turning to bitterness, each was bent upon reforming the other. Argument, pressures, levers, and threats were used to bend the other to his and her will. And while they quarreled and manufactured venom in their incriminations and recriminations, they shriveled and wrinkled and dwarfed. The former great gentleman became a quarrelsome antagonist; the former lovely lady became a shrew. Two selfish people degenerated to wizened little pygmies. Their wedges had now been long in the tree. Some day he would conquer her. Some day she would win, justifying her position. Yes, they would tomorrow correct their errors, swallow their pride, neutralize their selfishness, and remove the wedge, but already it was tight in the forks.
Oh, how blind is self-centered, selfish man, with his ugly wedges!
These folks may never get their "chariot of the sun" as expressed by Ralph Waldo Emerson:
"Every man takes care that his neighbor shall not cheat him. But a day comes when he begins to care that he does not cheat his neighbor. Then all goes well. He has changed his market cart into a chariot of the sun."
And Phillips Brooks addressed such who permit themselves hatred and bitterness:
"You who are letting miserable misunderstandings run on from year to year, meaning to clear them up some day; you who are keeping wretched quarrels alive because you cannot quite make up your mind that now is the day to sacrifice your pride and kill them; you who are passing men sullenly upon the street, not speaking to them out of some silly spite, and yet knowing that it would fill you with shame and remorse if you heard that one of those men were dead tomorrow morning, you who are letting your neighbor starve, till you hear that he is dying of starvation; or letting your friend's heart ache for a word of appreciation or sympathy which you mean to give him some day, if you only could know and see and feel, all of a sudden, that 'the time is short.' How it would break the spell! How you would go instantly and do the thing which you might never have another chance to do!"
And then, I applied the wedge story in another area. For more than a century the living gospel has been restored on the earth, and tens of thousands of missionaries have proclaimed to millions the true message. Their testimonies have touched many hearts that said, "Yes," but whose lips with human fears resisted their accepting the gospel toward their eternal welfare. They have trembled as the Holy Ghost whispered to their spirits, "It is true embrace it," and yet poor excuses caused their postponing action. Numerous are those who all over the world have received the witness that the gospel is true, yet have postponed baptism. Great numbers have heard of the additional scripture, the Book of Mormon, which contains the fullness of the gospel, yet never have absorbed its truths. A million copies of it found their way in a million home libraries last year and other millions previously, yet procrastinating people have failed to complete their investigation and have remained estranged. "Tomorrow I will read it," they say; "another day I will invite the missionaries to teach me." But tomorrow is a sluggard and shifts along on leaden feet, and life goes on, and storms do come, and limbs are split, and trees do fall, and eternity approaches, and our sincere call goes unheeded.
Percy Adams Hutchison gave this verse in his "Swordless Christ":
"Ay, down the years, behold he rides, The lowly Christ, upon an ass; But conquering? Ten shall heed the call, A thousand idly watch him pass."
And I wondered how many tens of thousands did hear his voice, felt an inner twinge of heart, felt impelled to follow, but lingered and procrastinated.
How many saw his smile and heard his sermons on the mount and were pricked in their hearts, but stopped to eat and sleep and work and play, and failed to heed?
Numerous ones must have jostled him in narrow streets of Jerusalem and turned around and looked the second time at him whom they had touched, but went their way to daily tasks and missed their opportunity.
How many heard the story of his walking on the water but were too busy with their selling fish in the market or herding sheep to ask the vital reasons and fathom the deep powers?
How many who saw him hanging there upon the cross saw only wood beams and nails and flesh and blood and made no effort to penetrate the purposes and the reasons: how one could choose to die such an ignominious death how one could be so controlled in time of such excruciating pain; what were the reasons behind such treatment, what were the deep purposes, who was this "author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him"?
How many felt the stir that comes in human breasts when truth, pressed in upon them but pressured by minor exigencies, moves far away from their eternal destiny?
And then I think: Procrastination-thou wretched thief of time and opportunity!
When will men stand true to their one-time inspired yearnings?
Let those take care who postpone the clearing of bad habits and of constructively doing what they ought. "Some day I'll join the Church," says one. "I'll cease my drinking soon," says another. "One day I'll smoke no more," others pledge. "Some day we'll be ready for our temple sealings," promise a delayed-action husband and wife. "Some day, when they apologize, I'll forgive those who injured me," small souls say. "Some day I'll get my debts paid." "We'll get around soon to having our family prayers, and next week we'll start our home evenings." "We shall start paying tithing from our next pay check." Tomorrow-yes, tomorrow.
And then, we quote more lines from Whitman:
"Pride, envy, selfishness, dishonesty, intemperance, doubt, secret passions-almost numberless in variety and degree are the wedges of sin. And alas! almost numberless are the men and women who today are allowing sin to grow in the heart wood of their lives.
"The wedge is there. We know it is there. We put it there ourselves one day, when we were hurried and thoughtless. It shouldn't be there, of course. It is hamming the tree. But we are busy so we leave it there, and in time, it grows over and we forget. The years slip swiftly by. Wintertime comes with its storms and ice. The life we prized so much goes down in the unspeakable loss of spiritual disaster. For years after the wedge had grown over, the tree flourished and gave no sign of its inner weakness. Thus it is with sin.
"Many a fine house on many a fine street has a wedge of sin within its elegance. And many a man who walks the streets in pride and arrogance of worldly success is an unrepentant sinner before God. Nevertheless, the wedge is there and in the end of its work is a fallen tree, split and shattered and worthless."
May the Lord bless us all that we may early recognize and remember and remove all wedges before they wreak their havoc in our lives, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Alma Sonne
Alma Sonne, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 76-78
My brethren and sisters: Elder Kimball's remarks reminded me of the first memory gem I learned in Primary:
"Defer not till tomorrow to be wise, Tomorrow's sun to thee may never rise."
Economically, the world at present is disturbed about inflation. And it has been stated that only a spiritual revival can prevent it from becoming a catastrophe. I am sure a spiritual revival would solve many problems in our country and elsewhere.
But when all is said and done, the best hedge against inflation is the character of the people. New ideas, new methods, new departures from the beaten path will come and go, but fundamental things like thrift, self-reliance, and hard work will be restored in the final solution. Security does not come without preparation. Health and happiness cannot be bought or given. They are products of service and sacrifice. Only righteousness can exalt a nation and an individual. History has so proved. This was true 3,000 years ago and it is true today.
Roger Babson once said: "When Jesus appealed to people to give to the poor, He... had in mind the good of the giver even more than the good of the recipient.". He refers to changes that have come, like universal suffrage, the increase in transportation by means of the automobile and the airplane, the increase in vision through motion pictures and television. "Hearing," said he, "has multiplied a thousand times through the radio. Yet in the same period there has been almost no increase in the nation's character... A sane faith and philosophy of life is of greater economic importance than the gold content of the dollar."
I believe the United States of America will be free from bondage, economic and otherwise, "... if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ". There is only one plan by which humanity can be saved and preserved, and that is the gospel of Jesus Christ in all of its wide ramifications.
We have moved forward so rapidly in the various avenues that we have lost our bearings. Thoughtlessness and expediency dominate our efforts to succeed.
The other night I asked a group of teenagers to read the story of the Prodigal Son. Charles Dickens said: "It is the most beautiful story ever told." It is not difficult to picture that wayward son as he returned to his home, disappointed and ashamed-in rags and tatters. He had lost his inheritance, he had wasted his substance in riotous living, he had thrown away his opportunities, and he was now back where he started.
I reminded these youngsters that the greatest tragedy in human experience is a misspent life. Haphazard use of time, money, and energy means a poor return, devoid of satisfaction and fraught with failure and uncertainty. The young people to whom I refer are the homemakers of tomorrow and the future citizens of our country.
To me there is no grander spectacle in this world than that of a young man and a young woman kneeling at the altar and joining hands in holy wedlock and pledging to each other their love and devotion for time and all eternity. It makes for stability. Such a union is not easily severed. It is a sacred covenant which cannot be broken except by sin and wrong-doing.
There is an old proverb that reads: "... thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down". In modern language it means: Keep your promises and hold sacred your covenants.
The task before us is to safeguard the moral and spiritual agencies required to preserve a healthy and God-inspired civilization.
The rock-foundation of such a civilization is a firm faith in the true and living God. Without such faith the soul has no anchorage and life has no purpose.
The unbeliever has no program, He sees no future, he prepares for none; He does not hear the voice of the prophets, He has not looked beneath the crust of things, He flounders and stumbles, He lives in a vacuum; He has no road to the future And no rewards for right living. He is negative, doubtful, and unprogressive. To him death is the end, and all hope is gone.
To avoid the pitfalls of skepticism, our faith must be nourished and fostered by prayerful investigation, diligent research, and scriptural study, for God's plan of regeneration must be known to his children. Men cannot be saved in ignorance. The Church supplies the means and facilities for our growth and development. We are living in a day when our faith in the eternal values must be strengthened. We build our own fortifications against evil.
The great work which our Eternal Father has founded is destined to fill the whole earth. It will not fail, and no power, however great, can stop its progress. Small as it was in the beginning, destitute of influence and worldly advantages, it is a power that will continue to grow and increase. It will go forward through the power that is in it.
It cannot be understood unless it be "viewed with the eye of faith," for it is the product of faith. In other words, the person or persons who seek to understand it must have some knowledge of the power that founded it, the power that sustains it, and the power that goes with it in its operations in the world.
The Lord will never forsake his servants who stand at the head of his Church in any hour of extremity, when even strong men are tested and tried and when calamities and upheavals are threatening the stability and wisdom of men and nations.
Faith in God, in the immortality of the soul, and in the words of the prophets, living and dead, is more than a passive belief. It is the motive power in men's lives.
A man of faith makes decisions every day because of that faith; he knows where he is going; he rejects the unproven sophistries of the world; he can withstand the infidelity, the cynicism, the ridicule, and the groundless arguments of those who live without responsibility to God and without a program to guide them through the journey of life.
Those who deny God and his manifestations are a multitude in our day. They proceed without guide or compass. Their aims and ambitions are centered in the things of earth, and their conception of right and wrong is blurred.
Our mission as a Church is to teach the unbelievers and the uninformed the message of faith as it pertains to the gospel and the divine callings of Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith.
There is no other way, and the Church feels keenly its responsibility in this respect.
As a boy I remember attending church in a modest meetinghouse built by the early settlers of Cache Valley. My memory of that old chapel is very dim, but I recall the design painted on the wall behind the stand. On it were three messages.
In bold lettering on the top were the words: "Holiness to the Lord." It suggested worship. Below this expression of faith was another one which read: "Truth will prevail." Still further down and near the bottom were the words: "Truth crushed to earth will rise again." To me as a boy it meant one thing, the restored gospel of Christ. Truth was synonymous with Mormonism so called, and a revealed truth.
I think, generally speaking, it was the opinion of all the Latter-day Saints who met there. They were solid and sound in their beliefs. They were now free to worship God in their own way. Their chief concern was the success of their settlements made "... far away in the West". As I read their history and review their achievements, I conclude they were not mistaken nor led astray by selfish leaders. They had found the truth-the truth which, as Jesus taught, would make them free.
They read the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price, and modern revelations. The contents of these books were facts, not opinions. The prophets did not speculate. They spoke as one who knows. There are no books so positive and forthright as the scriptures, modern and ancient. The prophets did not support their messages by argument. These messages were self-evident.
Most of the pioneers who came to the valleys of the mountains are now gone. They had faced relentless opposition and severe persecution, but here they were in their Zion, worshipping the true and living God. It was all in fulfillment of prophecy and they were happy and satisfied. Their spirit was unconquerable, their faith never flagged, and their perseverance and powers of endurance were remarkable. Their example of devotion and steadfastness has not been in vain. As a people we are proud of their achievements. We are equally proud of present accomplishments, and we glory in the prospects for the future.
May God's kingdom grow and increase until the earth is full of those who love the Lord their God, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce R. McConkie, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 78-81
An apostle is a special witness of Christ. This morning we heard President David O. McKay, the senior apostle of God on earth, bear an inspired and fervent testimony of the divine sonship of our Lord.
I think it would be of interest to the conference to know that it was on April 9, 1906, exactly 60 years ago today, that President David O. McKay was ordained an apostle, a special witness of the Lord, a special witness of him who has redeemed us with his blood. Since that day, three-score years ago, this man who is now God's prophet on earth has stood as a light and a pillar of spiritual strength to the Church and to the world.
With all of you I rejoice and thank God for the ministry of that man who is the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who is the presiding high priest of God on earth, who in literal reality is an apostle, a prophet, a man of God, a man whom the Lord loves.
In this connection may I also note that it was on April 7, 1910, fifty-six years ago, that President Joseph Fielding Smith, also an oracle of God, was ordained to the holy apostleship to stand with President McKay in directing the affairs of God's kingdom on earth.
That Jesus, of whom President McKay testified this morning, issued this invitation,
"Come unto me...
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me".
He also said, "... this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent".
To know God in that full sense which will enable us to gain eternal salvation means that we must know what he knows, enjoy what he enjoys, experience what he experiences. In New Testament language, we must "be like him".
But before we can become like him, we must obey those laws that will enable us to acquire the character, perfections, and attributes that he possesses.
And before we can obey these laws, we must learn what they are, we must learn of Christ and his gospel. We must learn "that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent". We must learn that baptism under the hands of a legal administrator is essential to salvation and that after baptism we must keep the commandments and "press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men".
Our revelation says: "The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth".
Joseph Smith taught that "a man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge" of God and his saving truths and that "it is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance" of Jesus Christ and the laws of his gospel.
We believe in gospel scholarship. We think that devout men everywhere, in and out of the Church, should seek spiritual truth, should come to know God, should learn his laws, and should strive to live in harmony with them. There are no truths as important as those that pertain to God and his gospel, to the pure religion that he has revealed, to the terms and conditions whereby we may gain an inheritance with him in his kingdom.
Thus we find Deity commanding:
"Search these commandments".
"... study my word which hath gone forth among the children of men".
"... teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fulness of my gospel".
Thus we find Jesus saying:
"Search the prophets".
"Search the scriptures; for... they are they which testify of me".
"Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently".
Christ is the great exemplar, the prototype of perfection and salvation: "... he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me".
Also: "... what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.".
I know of no better way to respond to Jesus' invitation, "learn of me", than to study the scriptures with a prayerful heart.
I know of no better way to heed his counsel, "follow thou me," than to live in harmony with the truths recorded in the scriptures, for as Nephi asked, "... can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?".
The Old Testament prophets reveal Christ's laws and foretell his Messianic ministry.
The Doctrine and Covenants records his mind and will and voice as he speaks to men in our day.
The Book of Mormon is an American witness of his divine sonship which has come forth "to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations".
The New Testament contains the witness of the ancient apostles that he ministered among men and set up his earthly kingdom in the meridian of time.
I recently finished, primarily for my own personal enlightenment, an intensive, prayerful, and organized study of the four Gospels-Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John-those inspired accounts that speak plainly of our Lord's mortal ministry.
After concluding this study, I recorded my views and sentiments concerning the gospel accounts in these words:
"And so endeth the gospels-
"Those sacred scriptures which tell of the birth, ministry, mission, atoning sacrifice, resurrection, and ascension of the Son of God;
"Those revealed records which teach with power and conviction the eternal truths which men must believe to gain salvation in God's kingdom;
"Those true histories of the life of Christ which lead men to love the Lord and to keep his commandments; "Those sacred and solemn testimonies which open the door to the receipt of peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come.
"In this holy writ, in these gospel accounts, in these testimonies of the life of our Lord-
"We see Jesus-the Almighty, the Creator of all things from the beginning-receiving a tabernacle of clay in the womb of Mary.
"We stand by an Infant in a manger and hear heavenly voices hail his birth.
"We observe him teaching in the temple and confounding the worldly wise when but twelve years of age.
"We watch him in Jordan, immersed under the hands of John, while the heavens open and the personage of the Holy Ghost descends like a dove; and we hear the voice of the Father speak approving words.
"We go with him into a wilderness place apart and behold the devil come, tempting, enticing, seeking to lead him from God-directed paths.
"We view in wonder and amazement his miracles: He speaks and the blind see; at his touch the deaf hear; he commands and the lame leap, paralytics rise from their beds, lepers are cleansed, and devils desert their ill-gotten abodes.
"We rejoice at the miracle of sin-crippled souls being made whole, of disciples who forsake all to follow him, of saints who are born again.
"We stand in awe as the elements obey his voice: He walks on the water; at his word storms cease, he curses the fig tree and it withers; water becomes wine when he wills it, a few small fish and a little bread feed thousands because of his word.
"We sit with the Lord of life, as a man, in the intimacy of a family circle in Bethany; we weep with him at Lazarus' tomb; we fast and pray at his side when he communes with his Father, we eat and sleep with him and walk with him down the lanes and in the villages of Palestine, we see him hungry, thirsty, weary, and marvel that a God should seek such mortal experiences.
"We drink deeply of his teachings; we hear parables such as never man spake before; we learn what it means to hear one with authority announce his Father's doctrine.
"We see him:
"In sorrow-weeping for his friends, lamenting over doomed Jerusalem;
"In compassion-forgiving sins, caring for his mother, making men whole spiritually and physically;
"In anger-cleansing his Father's house, blazing forth with righteous indignation at its desecration;
"In triumph-entering Jerusalem amid shouts of hosanna to the Son of David, transfigured before his disciples on the mount, standing in resurrected glory on a mountain in Galilee.
"We recline with him in an upper room, apart from the world, and hear some of the greatest sermons of all time as we partake of the emblems of his flesh and blood.
"We pray with him in Gethsemane and tremble under the weight of the burden he bore as great drops of blood come from every pore; we bow our heads in shame as Judas plants the traitor's kiss.
"We stand at his side before Annas and again before Caiaphas, we go with him to Pilate and to Herod and back to Pilate; we partake of the pain, feel the insults, shudder at the mocking, and are revolted at the gross injustice and mass hysteria which hurl him inescapably toward the cross.
"We sorrow with his mother and others at Golgotha as Roman soldiers drive nails into his hands and feet; we shudder as the spear pierces his side, and live with him the moment when he voluntarily gives up his life.
"We are in the garden when the angels roll back the stone, when he comes forth in glorious immortality; we walk with him on the Emmaus road; we kneel in the upper room, feel the nail marks in his hands and feet and thrust our hands into his side; and with Thomas we exclaim: 'My Lord and my God!'.
"We walk to Bethany and there behold, as angels attend, his ascension to be with his Father; and our joy is full, for we have seen God with man.
"We see God in him-for we know that God was in Christ manifesting himself to the world so that all men could know those holy beings whom to know is eternal life.
"And now what shall we say more of Christ? Whose Son is he? What works hath he wrought? Who today can testify of these things?
"Let it now be written once again-and it is the testimony of all the prophets of all the ages-that he is the Son of God, the Only Begotten of the Father, the promised Messiah, the Lord God of Israel, our Redeemer and Savior, that he carne into the world to manifest the Father, to reveal anew the gospel, to be the great Exemplar, to work out the infinite and eternal atonement, and that not many days hence he shall come again to reign personally upon the earth and to save and redeem those who love and serve him.
"And now let it also be written, both on earth and in heaven, that this disciple, who has prepared this work, does himself also know of the truth of those things of which the prophets have testified. For these things have been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit of God, and he therefore testifies that Jesus is Lord of all, the Son of God, through whose name salvation comes."
This testimony I renew and reaffirm in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Henry D. Taylor
Henry D. Taylor, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 82-84
As we journey through life, requests may come to us from those who have been appointed to positions of leadership and authority to perform some labor or to accept some responsibility. We may not comprehend nor understand the reason at the time nor even later for such calls, but, with confidence in those making the request, we respond without question.
One of the beautiful incidents found in the scriptures relates to our first parents, Adam and Eve. After being driven from the Garden of Eden they began to till the soil and to have dominion over the beasts of the field and to eat their bread by the sweat of their faces. They called upon the name of the Lord and heard his voice speaking to them from the way toward the Garden of Eden, but they did not see him, as they were now shut out from his presence.
The Lord gave them commandments that they should worship him and should offer as a sacrifice unto him the firstlings of their flocks. No explanation was given for making such offerings, and I suppose they wondered as to the reasons, but without hesitation they were obedient unto the directions of the Lord.
After many days an angel appeared to Adam and inquired: "Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord?" Then came Adam's sublime, beautiful, trusting response as he answered: "I know not, save the Lord commanded me". Thus this noble couple gave sufficient reason for their obedience to the Lord's command. What a glorious example to us, their posterity.
Compliance to counsel without knowledge of the reason therefore is often referred to as blind obedience. But obedience is not blind when it is based on faith-implicit, trusting faith.
Marvelous deeds can be accomplished through faith and obedience. While in the wilderness the prophet Nephi was instructed by the Lord to construct a vessel in which to cross the mighty waters. To his doubting brothers this appeared to be an impossible task. But Nephi knew that it could be done and began fashioning tools and accumulating materials for his important assignment. When he advised his brothers of his purpose, they murmured and scoffed, saying: "Our brother is a fool, for he thinketh that he can build a ship; yea, and he also thinketh that he can cross these great waters".
In spite of their skepticism and ridicule, Nephi was moved by the spirit of obedience and had faith and confidence that the Lord would open the way for him to carry out the commandment he had received. Humbly, yet majestic in his trust, he proclaimed to his brothers: "If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done".
Another soul-stirring incident that is recorded in holy writ teaches a forceful lesson from which we may profit. As a devoted and loving father, Abraham's heart must have been heavy when he was commanded to take his beloved son, Isaac, upon a mountain and offer him as a sacrifice. Yet with unwavering faith and implicit trust in the Lord, he responded to the charge. He was dutifully obedient. Mercifully, however, he was relieved of the severe challenge the Lord had imposed upon him. But he had been tested and tried. For his faithfulness and obedience, the Lord gave Abraham this wonderful promise: "... in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed my voice".
In those ancient days the offering of burnt sacrifices was a subject that was repeatedly taught and stressed. Evidently there were many discussions as to which was the more important practice, sacrifice or obedience. Samuel, the prophet, asked Saul, whom he was teaching, the question: "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?" Then without waiting for a reply, he gave this inspired answer: "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams". How powerful to Adam, Abraham, Saul, and to us, also, is this lesson concerning the importance of obedience.
Now what of our own day? As we read the daily newspapers, view television, and listen to the radio, we are acutely aware of the unrest that exists in the world today. Wars, bloodshed, riots, and acts of lawlessness are characteristic of the times. They are evidence of some men's desires for unrighteous power, a lack of consideration for the rights of others, a disregard for established laws, and a tendency to be nonconformists. The jails today are crowded with such individuals. It is necessary, as we all know, for law-making bodies to enact legislation that will protect the rights of the law-abiding majority against the rebellious minority.
But these selfish, self-appointed nonconformists, whose inspiration is derived from an evil source rather than a source divine, have not learned to appreciate the peace and joy that come into the soul through obeying the laws of the land and observing the commandments of the Lord.
The Savior, on the other hand, subscribed to the principle of obedience to divine law. In referring to him the Apostle Paul observed: "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him". Should we not follow the Lord's example?
At the present time, through inspiration from the Lord, many worthwhile programs are being given to the Church. These programs have the endorsement, approval, and blessing of the General Authorities. Do we hearken unto the chosen servants of the Lord, who prepare these valuable aids for us? Do we render obedience to the counsel that comes to them through inspiration and revelation from our Father in heaven?
Well might we as individuals and as parents ask ourselves these questions:
"In these good and prosperous times, have I accumulated an adequate reserve of food, clothing, and savings to provide for me and my family in the event of illness, emergency, or unemployment?"
"Am I living in such a way that my life will be an inspiration and an example to others? and am I following the counsel of the prophet when he declares that every member should be a missionary?"
"Am I gathering my family around me each week in a home evening and studying the gospel?"
"Have I carefully analyzed my family records and engaged in prayerful research in order to complete the history of my progenitors?"
Over the centuries the Lord has given many assurances of his desire to pour out blessings upon the people, but he has made it equally clear that blessings are predicated upon obedience and a willingness to obey his commandments. Moses in his day promised the children of Israel:
"And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
"And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God".
And now in the latter days the Lord has again made it crystal clear that he is willing to bless the faithful. That is strongly evident in this assurance: "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise".
This harmonizes with the statement that the Prophet Joseph declared he had made a rule in his life and followed each day. It was simply this: "When the Lord commands, do it!"
Now, may I emphasize one more thought? In this year of 1966 renewed emphasis is placed on the importance of the home and the cultivating of the spirit of love therein. With listening ears and responsive hearts, we should hearken to the words of our beloved prophet, President McKay who has counseled: "... let us never lose sight of the principle of obedience.
Obedience is heaven's first law, and it is the law of home. There can be no true happiness in the home without obedience-obedience obtained, not through physical force, but through the divine element of love."
That we may be blessed with the rich rewards that come to the faithful through observing the beautiful principle of obedience to all that the Lord commands us is my humble prayer, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 84-87
My dear brethren and sisters, I approach this responsibility with a prayer in my heart that the Lord will prompt me by his Holy Spirit, as I add my word of testimony.
I have on the desk in my home a small metal box. It is about 12 inches square and half as high. On its face are six knobs and two dials. Now and again, when I have an hour, it becomes my plaything. It is a shortwave radio. Turning the knobs, I listen to London, Washington, Tokyo, Peking, Moscow, Havana, and other great capitals of the world.
The voices I hear are persuasive, seductive, fascinating, and confusing. Speaking across the earth, they are part of a mighty battle that is being waged for the minds of men. They are aimed at persuasion in political philosophy. There are voices of democracy competing with voices of Communism, and each is winning converts according to the discernment and the judgment of listeners.
The stakes are high, the weapons are sophisticated, the methods are clever.
There is a comparable battle being waged for the faith of men but the lines are not always so clearly drawn, for even among the forces of Christianity there are those who would destroy the divinity of the Christ in whose name they speak. They might be disregarded if their voices were not so seductive, if their influence were not so far-reaching, if their reasoning were not so subtle.
Tomorrow is Easter. At sunrise in the morning multitudes will gather on a thousand hills to welcome the dawn of the Easter day and to remind themselves of the story of the Christ, whose resurrection they will commemorate. In language both beautiful and hopeful, preachers of many faiths will recount the story of the empty tomb. To them-and to you-I raise this question: "Do you actually believe it?"
Do you actually believe that Jesus was the Son of God, the literal offspring of the Father?
Do you believe that the voice of God, the Eternal Father, was heard above the waters of Jordan declaring,
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased"?
Do you believe that this same Jesus was the worker of miracles, the healer of the sick, the restorer of the infirm, the giver of life to the dead?
Do you believe that following his death on Calvary's hill and his burial in Joseph's tomb, he came forth alive the third day?
Do you actually believe that he yet lives-real, vital, and personal-and that he will come again as promised by the angels at his ascension?
Do you actually believe these things? If you do, then you are part of a shrinking body of literalists who more and more are being smiled at by philosophers, who more and more are being ridiculed by certain educators, and who more and more are being considered "out of it" by a growing coterie of ministers of religion and influential theologians.
I have recently read a series of provocative writings setting forth the clever reasoning of American, British, and European theologians to "de-myth," as it is called, the story of Jesus of Nazareth. I quote from a capable Protestant layman who writes:
"The most disruptive questions are coming from theologians who... are questioning every old concept. They even suggest that maybe the word 'God' should be discarded, since it has become meaningless to so many people.
"Stripped of all else, the question the liberal theologians are asking is the old one that has time and again sundered the Christian church: Who was Jesus?
"The revolutionists... turn to the Bible as a source of truth, but their Bible is an expurgated version with embarrassing references to abnormal events edited out. 'De-mythologized,' one says. 'De-literalized,' says another.
"What the new wave casts up is 'religionless' Christianity; a faith grounded on a philosophic system, instead of being suspended precariously from old myths."
So, in the eyes of these intellectuals, these are myths-the birth of Jesus as the Son of God of whom the angels sang on Judea's plains, the worker of miracles who healed the sick and raised the dead, the Christ resurrected from the grave, the ascension and the promised return.
These modern theologians strip him of his divinity and then wonder why men do not worship him.
These clever scholars have taken from Jesus the mantle of godhood and have left only a man. They have tried to accommodate him to their own narrow thinking. They have robbed him of his divine sonship and taken from the world its rightful King.
While reading of this very effective and growing "de-literalization" process and of its evident effect on the faith of those who are its victims, particularly the youth who are caught up in this sophistry, the words anciently spoken by the prophet Amos come home with new clarity:
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:
"And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.
"In that day shall the fair virgins and the young men faint for thirst.
"... even they shall fall, and never rise up again".
How descriptive those words of many of the youth of our day, the young men and the young women who in their hearts hunger for a faith that will satisfy, but who, spurning it because of the manner in which it is offered, "faint for thirst" and "fall, and never rise up again."
To these I give our solemn witness that God is not dead, except as he is viewed with a lifeless interpretation.
Is a belief in the divinity of our Lord out of date in the twentieth century? The great scientific age of which we are a part does not demand a denial of the miracle that is Jesus. Rather, there was never a time in all the history of man that made more believable that which in the past might have been regarded as supernatural and impossible.
How can anyone today regard anything as impossible?
To those acquainted with the giant strides of biological science, where men are beginning to peek into the very nature of life and its creation, the miracle of the birth of Jesus as the Son of God certainly becomes more plausible, even to the doubter.
Further, it is not difficult to believe that he, possessed of knowledge commensurate with the task of creating the earth, could heal the sick, restore the infirm, return the dead to life. It may have been difficult to believe these things in medieval times, but can one reasonably doubt the possibility of such while witnessing the miracles of healing and restoration that occur daily?
Is the ascension so impossible a thing to comprehend after sitting in one's living room and watching the lift-off of Gemini 7 as it rose into the heavens to seek out with unerring accuracy its companion, Gemini 6, then orbiting the earth at more than 17,000 miles an hour?
Miracles? I should think so. This is the age of miracles. During my brief lifetime, I have witnessed more of scientific advance than did all of my forebears together during the previous 5,000 years.
With so much of what appears miraculous about me every day, it is easy to believe in the miracle of Jesus.
But a witness of the Lord is not obtained by observation of the accomplishments of men. Such observation makes reasonable a belief in his birth, life, death, and resurrection. But there is needed something more than a reasonable belief. There is needed an understanding of his unique and incomparable position as the divine Redeemer and an enthusiasm for him and his message as the Son of God.
That understanding and that enthusiasm are available to all who will pay the price. They are not incompatible with higher education, but they will not come only of reading philosophy. No, they come of a simpler process. The things of God are understood by the Spirit of God. So declares the word of revelation.
The acquisition of understanding and enthusiasm for the Lord comes from following simple rules, and in conclusion, I should like to suggest three, elementary in their concept, almost trite in their repetition, but fundamental in their application and fruitful in their result. I suggest them particularly to our young people.
The first is to read-to read the word of the Lord. I know that with the demands of your studies there is little time to read anything else. But I promise you that if you will read the words of that writing which we call scripture, there will come into your heart an understanding and a warmth that will be pleasing to experience. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me". Read, for instance, the Gospel of John from its beginning to its end. Let the Lord speak for himself to you, and his words will come with a quiet conviction that will make the words of his critics meaningless. Read also the testament of the New World, the Book of Mormon, brought forth as a witness "that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations".
The next is to serve-to serve in the work of the Lord. Spiritual strength is like physical strength; it is like the muscle of my arm. It grows only as it is nourished and exercised.
The cause of Christ does not need your doubts; it needs your strength and time and talents; and as you exercise these in service, your faith will grow and your doubts will wane.
The Lord declared: "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it".
These words have something more than a cold theological meaning. They are a statement of a law of life-that as we lose ourselves in a great cause we find ourselves-and there is no greater cause than that of the Master.
Pray... "ask and it shall be given you"
The third is to pray. Speak with your Eternal Father in the name of his Beloved Son. "Behold," he says, "I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me".
This is his invitation, and the promise is sure. It is unlikely that you will hear voices from heaven, but there will come a heaven-sent assurance, peaceful and certain.
In that great conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, the Lord declared: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Then he went on to say, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit".
I do not hesitate to promise that so it will be with you. If you will read the word of the Lord, if you will serve in his cause, if in prayer you will talk with him, your doubts will leave; and shining through all of the confusion of philosophy, so-called higher criticism, and negative theology will come the witness of the Holy Spirit that Jesus is in very deed the Son of God, born in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world resurrected from the grave, the Lord who shall come to reign as King of kings. It is your opportunity so to know. It is your obligation so to find out. God bless you so to do, I pray as I add my personal witness in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Richard L. Evans
Richard L. Evans, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 88-90
One of the most quoted New Testament texts is this from John: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".
It is comfortingly familiar-the love of God simply stated-and what he did about his love is the evidence of it: He sent his Only Begotten Son that whoso believeth in him should have everlasting life.
Suppose God had loved the world in a passive way? Suppose he hadn't sent his Son? Suppose he hadn't given us his gospel? Suppose he hadn't set out to save mankind or redeem us from death? Suppose he had let his children drift without plan or purpose or counsel or commandments? Would that have been love?
The point I hope to make, for a particular purpose, is the evidence, the proof, the test of love.
An editorial recently read in a medical magazine had an intriguing title: "Love Is a Verb." And from this the writer turned his attention to the importance of doing, of proving, of performing. The proof of any principle is what it does, and the proof of any person is what he does-how he acts, what he becomes-not simply what he says.
We might paraphrase and say that service is a verb, that life is a verb; for it is in doing, in living, in learning, and not just in words that we perform our purpose. No one really proves himself or his principles in neutrality or indifference or inaction. No one proves himself by merely thinking or simply sitting.
The writer of the article referred to above said that in some primitive languages, with their fewness of words, the description of the movement of game, for example, is described simply by one word: running. Perhaps we could say much more with fewer words by simply indicating the action: living, doing. "... when a noun replaces a verb there is a disadvantage..." because a noun is static, and life is movement. Some people "assign an intrinsic value to 'things' like purity and gratitude... They take credit for possessing nominal virtues. Or they punish themselves for having vices... we communicate with others in verbs... Gratitude has not even been born until it has been actually conveyed in word or deed"
The same could be said for sanity, said this same physician. It "is not structural but functional. It is not something one has or is. It is a measure of what one does." If we do sane things, we are sane. If we don't do sane things, we are not sane.
Actions do speak louder than words.
As to a young person who was speculating upon whether or not she loved someone, there is the reminder that love is not simply a noun and not simply a sentimental feeling. The proof of love is what one is willing to do for the loved one. The proof of love is how one behaves.
Dr. John A. Widtsoe turned his attention to this subject at times: "The full and essential nature of love we may not understand," he said, "but there are tests by which it may be recognized.
"Love is always founded in truth... Lies and deceit, or any other violation of the moral law, are proofs of love's absence. Love perishes in the midst of untruth... Thus, the lover who falsifies to his loved one, or offers her any act contrary to truth, does not really love her.
"Further, love does not offend or hurt or injure the loved one. By that test any human venture, past and present, may be measured for its real value. Cruelty is as absent from love... as truth is from untruth.
"... love is a positive active force. It helps the loved one. If there is need, love tries to supply it. If there is weakness, love supplants it with strength... Love that does not help is a faked or transient love.
"Good as these tests are, there is a greater one. True love sacrifices for the loved one... That is the final test. Christ gave of Himself, gave His life for us, and thereby proclaimed the reality of his love for his mortal brethren and sisters. The mother gives of her own flesh and blood, and jeopardizes her very life, for her child. In family relationships there must be mutual sacrifices among husband, wife, and children, else true love is not there."
Thus, anyone who would induce someone to do that which it is unworthy to do, or to take advantage, or rob someone of virtue, or embarrass, or hurt, really doesn't love the person he professes to love. What he feels under such circumstances is something less than love. The proving is in the doing.
And so it is with all the virtues. Either we live pure lives or we don't. Either we think pure thoughts or we don't. Purity isn't simply a noun. It is a verb. It is the living of a certain kind of life. It is the thinking of certain kinds of thoughts. Its proof is in keeping the commandments.
Goodness is not theory, it is fact.
We may think of tithing as a principle and discuss it and approve it, but if we are really convinced and converted, we will pay our tithing.
We may think well of the missionary system, but it works only because some leave home and sacrifice and serve sincerely-not merely because it is a good organization or idea.
We may think and talk of chastity as a virtue, but if we are converted and convinced, we will live chaste lives.
If we love our children we won't neglect them or let them run loose. If we love our children we won't leave them ignorant of the law, or of the commandments, or ignorant of how to behave, or unacquainted with sound habits of work, or ignorant of courtesy and acceptable conduct.
If we love our children we will urge them to prepare as fully as they can for life, persuade them to acquire all the training and education possible. If we love our children we will keep as close to them as possible and do our utmost to keep them free from sin and from anything that would clutter or scar their lives.
As parents there is no greater obligation that is ours-and neglect is not the evidence of love. Part of love is doing our duty in love and loyalty, "by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
"By kindness, and pure knowledge".
Jesus said: "... lovest thou me?... Feed my sheep".
Elsewhere it is written: "If ye love me, keep my commandments".
Abstract qualities of character don't mean much in the abstract. It is how we live, how we serve, how we teach our children, what we do from day to day that both indicate what we are and determine what we are; and all the theory and all the speculation, all the quoting of scripture, all the searching of the mysteries, and all the splitting of hairs, and all the knowledge of the letter of the law don't in the final and saving sense amount to very much unless we live the gospel, unless we keep the commandments, unless we prove the principles, unless we live lives of effectiveness, sincerity, and service.
Sometimes we hear someone say, "My life is my own. I am going to do with it as I please." But no one's life is his own. Too much of others has gone into the making of all of us.
We cannot hurt ourselves without hurting others. A sorrow, an illness, a disgrace, an accident, trouble, or difficulty of any kind-any loss to loved ones is a loss to family and friends. We are too much a part of one another for this not to be so.
If we love our parents, wouldn't the evidence of it be to do something about it: to be grateful, to help to care for them in their need, to honor them by being honorable, to take them into our confidence-not to worry them?
The best evidence of love for parents would be active evidence of kindness, consideration, appreciation, respect for their teachings and counsel.
The best evidence of love of country would be not what we say-or say we feel-but serving it, keeping the laws, preserving its principles.
The best evidence of love for our Father in heaven would be living lives of honor and reverence, not taking his name in vain, living useful, righteous lives; and keeping his commandments.
As to those who say they love the Church-the best evidence of that love would be serving, doing, giving of ourselves, living its standards, keeping the commandments.
God help us to be members not of record only, but members who place doing and serving and living the requirements of the gospel above our comfort or convenience.
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven".
It is important to believe; it is important to be; but it is also important to do.
Even the devil believes. "Conviction is worthless unless it is converted into conduct."
Thank God for the gospel, for the personal and literal reality of him who made us in his own image, for his Son our Savior, and for the blessed plan of everlasting life with our loved ones.
Thank God for his patience, for his understanding, for his comfort, for his commandments, for it would be a disillusioning life to be running loose without knowing what was expected of us-or why. Thank God that he sent his Only Begotten Son to show us the way, to redeem us from death, to lead us to everlasting life.
With you I offer gratitude and a pledge to do my best to demonstrate love for our Lord and Savior and his Father who gave us life by living the kind of lives that they would have us live, and leave my witness with you of the truth of that which gathers us here together, in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop John H. Vandenberg
John H. Vandenberg, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 92-95
Recently a statement in a magazine caught my attention. It said: "If you don't know where you are going, it doesn't matter which road you take." As I have pondered this expression, I see it as a timely warning to those of today's youth who throw all caution to the wind with a "don't care" attitude and to those who have lost all sense of direction, such as the giddy nonconformist who looks upon basic moral values with indifference and contempt. Young people, and particularly bearers of the priesthood of God, need to commit themselves to worthwhile goals and high moral values. Failure to do so breeds discontent, frustrations, and attitudes of rebellion. Conversely, however, a desired goal generates courage and definite purpose in the day-to-day affairs of life.
An article in a national magazine entitled "The Twisted Age" refers to the degrading influences that leave youth in a state of frustration, discontent, and confusion. The subtle, persuasive methods of some of the modern advertising used to attract attention seem to make forbidden things glamorous, exciting, and acceptable. Through such means, some are duped into tolerating and then embracing sins that cause emotional problems and ultimately destruction of the soul.
The frustrations, anxieties, and rebellions that are rampant today could be measurably reduced if young people could be encouraged to set high ideals. This would help fix in their minds an objective to achieve. The gospel of Jesus Christ provides such goals and gives purpose to life. It is a process requiring self-discipline.
The Savior's injunction in his Sermon on the Mount was; "Enter ye in at the strait gate..." And he tells why: "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life". It is a program for knowing where to go for maximum benefits. It is a road of discipline to follow, beamed on a goal. In contrast, he warned about the opposite road-the wide, undisciplined, easy, nonconforming way. He said: "... for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction".
Every individual is granted a span of mortality, as Carlyle expressed so simply: "One life, a little gleam of time between two eternities, no second chance for us for evermore." There is granted to most individuals the intelligence and power to reason for themselves. The tragedy is that so many succumb to the ridiculous mediocre reasoning of others, which often serves only to waste time and distort truth. We need to live every moment conscious that our actions will be compatible with the all-important goal of eternal life and that every moment, hour, and day is important.
Most of us know of some people who showed promise of great attainment but who lived their lives so they never quite measured up to that promise. Such a person was Solomon, who was blessed with numerous privileges, opportunities, and great wisdom. Yet he strayed into a path of foolishness. Solomon asked God for wisdom and was blessed so that there was not a king like him in all his days. His philosophy indicates he had an understanding of life and the experiences that were connected with it. He knew of life's purpose and its eternal nature. In fact, few men have had the experience he had. Even the Lord appeared to him and set him a goal: the strait and narrow way that leadeth to life.
"And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer...
"I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
"And if thou wilt walk before me in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do... all that I have commanded thee, and... keep my statutes and... judgments:
"Then I will establish the throne of kingdom upon Israel for ever... There shall not fail thee a man upon throne of Israel".
The alternative was the wide gate and the broad way of destruction.
"But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and statutes... but go and serve other gods and worship them:
"Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them: and this house... will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people".
Solomon had his choice of roads, and he turned from God. He bartered his long-range goal for Israel for worship of other gods and day-by-day gratifications. He failed himself and failed Israel.
In contrast, Moses entered the strait gate and received his errand from the Lord; and even though there were times when he did not know what the next approach might be, he knew the objective, which was to lead the Israelites out of bondage from Egypt. Because he knew the goal, he set his course. With tenacity of purpose he went back to Pharaoh the second time, the third time, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth-yes, even the seventh. Each visit culminated in dramatic experiences, but Moses was never dissuaded.
I cannot imagine a more "twisted age" than that of the time of Moses-a people in bondage under the control of the pagan Egyptians. The influences and temptations that surrounded him could have induced discouragement and abandonment of the goal in a weaker person. But Moses had set his objective. His life was in tune with his Lord, who had appeared to him. For him there was no failure.
Recently, the wife of a very dear friend of mine passed away in Denver, Colorado. She was one of the most devoted Latter-day Saints with whom I have ever been privileged to associate. There is no question in my mind that her loyalty to our Father in heaven germinated early in her youth as she committed herself to short- and long-range goals of righteousness.
One evening before the funeral service, her husband, their six children, grandmother and grandfather, and two close friends gathered in their home. The father called the family together and brought out a book-a book she had kept, which contained her life story as she herself had written it. Actually, there were two episodes to the story written at different periods in her life. It was the first time that some of the children had heard parts of it, and I am sure it gave them a new and deeper insight into the finer qualities of their mother.
The family has given me permission to share some of this information with you. Quoting from her own writing:
"I know that I lived in the spirit world together with all the hosts of heaven and with God before I came to this earth. I feel that I am a choice spirit to have been chosen to wait 6,000 years to come to earth at this time in these the last days when the world is so highly cultured and the second coming of the Savior is so near at hand.
"I want to be ready to help build up the kingdom of God on this earth. I believe I was put here to be tried and tested through the weaknesses of the flesh and through the free agency I have, to live as I will. I hope I can prove true to the test so that I will be ready to go on in the next world with my loved ones in the plan of eternal progression. I know that I am indeed blessed to be born of noble parents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' belief, because I think that there is more responsibility resting on us now in temple work than has ever been placed on the people before.
"The goal I am seeking through this life is that of being permitted to be in the celestial kingdom in the world after this, and I shall never quit working for my goal. I have attended church since I was old enough to go. I learned many of the Church's beautiful songs. My grandmother was the music director, and I love especially the songs she loved. I like Mutual and the social instruction given in the mixed chorus, drama, public speaking, and dancing. I am interested in all of these activities and would like to excel in each. Music, however, means more to me than the rest."
Now, before I read further, I want to let you know that these thoughts were written by her over 30 years ago, when she was a young girl.
"I want to be married to a clean Mormon boy who can take me to the temple, and I want to be worthy of him. I hope that I can pass on to my posterity a clean, perfect mind and body, my knowledge of the gospel, and a desire to live to attain the celestial kingdom. I hope that I will be permitted to live with my loved ones in the next world and that I may be the means of helping all I can of those around me, and those who have gone before, to get their temple work done. I want to be the means of bringing new souls into the world and to be able to be a worthy and good mother, to help provide a home for them that they may enjoy the same blessings that I enjoy in my home."
To look back over the successful life that this good sister lived, it is easy to see that she had been most successful in reaching the goals. She never digressed from the commitment she had made to herself over 30 years ago. I feel that goal-setting is absolutely necessary for happy living. But the goal is only part of the desired procedures. We need to know which roads to take to reach the goal. In many cases we set far-reaching goals but neglect the short-range ones. With such short-range plans, we need self-discipline in our actions-study when it is time to study, sleep when it is time to sleep, read when it is time to read, and so on-not permitting an undesirable overlap, but getting our full measure of rewards and blessings from the time we invest in a particular activity. In this respect, I feel that Aaronic Priesthood bearers especially need to learn more fully their responsibility for leadership. They need to commit themselves more to obeying the proven principles of the gospel. They need to commit themselves verbally to their friends and families, telling them of their desire to live righteously, so that their friends and families can help and encourage them and observe their progress. They need to make commitments with themselves by writing down their goals and keeping a record of the fulfillment of their achievements.
The entering of the strait gate requires the positive approach-a leadership approach-an approach of which all are capable. It is, in fact, the ideal life. The steps are fewer-no turning back, no sidestepping, only forward where the air is cleaner, purer, more wholesome; the attitude happier; and the achievement grander. There is no frustration or confusion when one is on the proper road to eternal life.
Truly, "If you don't know where you are going, it doesn't matter which road you take," for you will get nowhere. But if we will "enter... in at the strait gate", we will obtain life eternal. I bear you this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion G. Romney
Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 95-101
What I am going to give you now is a statement I have prepared in answer to the question, "Is Socialism the United Order?" Some of you may have already heard it. This is the first time I have ever attempted to give a talk a second time. My excuse is that the Brethren have asked me to give this talk here tonight.
I suppose the best way to start a comparison of socialism and the United Order is with a definition of the terms. Webster defines socialism as:
"A political and economic theory of social organization based on collective or governmental ownership and democratic management of the essential means for the production and distribution of goods; also, a policy or practice based on this theory".
George Bernard Shaw, the noted Fabian Socialist, said that:
"Socialism, reduced to its simplest legal and practical expression, means the complete discarding of the institution of private property by transforming it into public property and the division of the resultant income equally and indiscriminately among the entire population."
George Douglas Howard Cole, M.A., noted author and university reader in economics at Oxford, who treats socialism for the Encyclopedia Britannica, says that because of the shifting sense in which the word has been used, "a short and comprehensive definition is impossible. We can only say," he concludes, "that Socialism is essentially a doctrine and a movement aiming at the collective organization of the community in the interest of the mass of the people by means of the common ownership and collective control of the means of production and exchange."
Socialism arose "out of the economic division in society." During the nineteenth century its growth was accelerated as a protest against "the appalling conditions prevailing in the workshops and factories and the unchristian spirit of the spreading industrial system."
The "Communist Manifesto" drafted by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels for the Communist League in 1848 is generally regarded as the starting point of modern socialism.
The distinction between socialism, as represented by the various Socialist and Labour parties of Europe and the New World, and Communism, as represented by the Russians, is one of tactics and strategy rather than of objective. Communism is indeed only socialism pursued by revolutionary means and making its revolutionary method a canon of faith. Communists like other socialists, believe in the collective control and ownership of the vital means of production and seek to achieve through state action the coordinated control of the economic forces of society. They differ from other socialists in believing that this control can be secured, and its use in the interests of the workers ensured, only by revolutionary action leading to the dictatorship of the proletariat and the creation of a new proletarian state as the instrument of change.
A major rift between so-called orthodox socialism and communist socialism occurred in 1875 when the German Social Democratic party set forth its objective of winning power by taking over control of the bourgeois state, rather than by overthrowing it. In effect, the German Social Democratic party became a parliamentary party, aiming at the assumption of political power by constitutional means.
In the 1880's a small group of intellectuals set up in England the Fabian Society, which has had a major influence on the development of modern orthodox socialism. Fabianism stands "for the evolutionary conception of socialism... endeavoring by progressive reforms and the nationalization of industries, to turn the existing state into a 'welfare state.'" Somewhat on the order of the German Social Democrats Fabians aim "at permeating the existing parties with socialistic ideas than at creating a definitely socialistic party." They appeal "to the electorate not as revolutionaries but as constitutional reformers seeking a peaceful transformation of the system."
The differences in forms and policies of socialism occur principally in the manner in which they seek to implement their theories.
They all advocate:
That private ownership of the vital means of production be abolished and that all such property "pass under some form of coordinated public control."
That the power of the state be used to achieve their aims.
"That with a change in the control of industry will go a change in the motives which operate in the industrial system"
So much now for the definition of socialism. I have given you these statements in the words of socialists and scholars, not my words, so they have had their hearing.
Now as to the United Order, and here I will give the words of the Lord and not my words. The United Order, the Lord's program for eliminating the inequalities among men, is based upon the underlying concept that the earth and all things therein belong to the Lord and that men hold earthly possessions as stewards accountable to God.
On January 2, 1831, the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that the Church was under obligation to care for the poor. Later he said:
"I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth... and all things therein are mine.
"And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine.
"But it must needs be done in mine own way".
On February 9, 1831, the Lord revealed to the Prophet what his way was. In his way there were two cardinal principles: consecration and stewardship.
To enter the United Order, when it was being tried, one consecrated all his possessions to the Church by a "covenant and a deed which" could not "be broken". That is, he completely divested himself of all of his property by conveying it to the Church.
Having thus voluntarily divested himself of title to all his property, the consecrator received from the Church a stewardship by a like conveyance. This stewardship could be more or less than his original consecration, the object being to make "every man equal according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs".
This procedure preserved in every man the right to private ownership and management of his property. At his own option he could alienate it or keep and operate it and pass it on to his heirs.
The intent was, however, for him to so operate his property as to produce a living for himself and his dependents. So long as he remained in the order, he consecrated to the Church the surplus he produced above the needs and wants of his family. This surplus went into a storehouse from which stewardships were given to others and from which the needs of the poor were supplied.
These divine principles are very simple and easily understood. A comparison of them with the underlying principles of socialism reveal similarities and basic differences.
The following are similarities: Both deal with production and distribution of goods; aim to promote the well-being of men by eliminating their economic inequalities; envision the elimination of the selfish motives in our private capitalistic industrial system.
Now the differences:
The cornerstone of the United Order is belief in God and acceptance of him as Lord of the earth and the author of the United Order.
Socialism, wholly materialistic, is founded in the wisdom of men and not of God. Although all socialists may not be atheists, none of them in theory or practice seek the Lord to establish his righteousness.
The United Order is implemented by the voluntary free-will actions of men, evidenced by a consecration of all their property to the Church of God.
One time the Prophet Joseph Smith asked a question by the brethren about the inventories they were taking. His answer was to the effect, "You don't need to be concerned about the inventories. Unless a man is willing to consecrate everything he has, he doesn't come into the United Order." On the other hand, socialism is implemented by external force, the power of the state.
In harmony with church belief, as set forth in the Doctrine and Covenants, "that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property", the United Order is operated upon the principle of private ownership and individual management.
Thus in both implementation and ownership and management of property, the United Order preserves to men their God-given agency, while socialism deprives them of it.
The United Order is non-political.
Socialism is political, both in theory and practice. It is thus exposed to, and riddled by, the corruption that plagues and finally destroys all political governments that undertake to abridge man's agency.
A righteous people is a prerequisite to the United Order.
Socialism argues that it as a system will eliminate the evils of the profit motive.
The United Order exalts the poor and humbles the rich. In the process both are sanctified. The poor, released from the bondage and humiliating limitations of poverty, are enabled as free men to rise to their full potential, both temporally and spiritually. The rich, by consecration and by imparting of their surplus for the benefit of the poor, not by constraint but willingly as an act of free will, evidence that charity for their fellowmen characterized by Mormon as "the pure love of Christ".
No, brethren, socialism is not the United Order. However, notwithstanding my abhorrence of it, I am persuaded that socialism is the wave of the present and of the foreseeable future. It has already taken over or is contending for control in most nations.
"At the end of the year parties affiliated with the International were in control of the governments of Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Israel, and the Malagasy Republic. They had representatives in coalition cabinets in Austria, Belgium, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, constituted the chief opposition in France, India, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand and West Germany; and were significant political forces in numerous other countries. Many parties dominant in governments in Africa, Asia, and Latin America announced that their aim was a socialist society."
We here in the United States, in converting our government into a social welfare state, have ourselves adopted much of socialism. Specifically, we have to an alarming degree adopted the use of the power of the state in the control and distribution of the fruits of industry. We are on notice, according to the words of the President, that we are going much further, for he is quoted as saying:
"We're going to take all the money we think is unnecessarily being spent and take it from the 'haves' and give it to the 'have nots.'"
That is the spirit of socialism: We're going to take. The spirit of the United Order is: We're going to give.
We have also gone a long way on the road to public ownership and management of the vital means of production. In both of these areas the free agency of Americans has been greatly abridged. Some argue that we have voluntarily surrendered this power to government. Be this as it may, the fact remains that the loss of freedom with the consent of the enslaved, or even at their request, is nonetheless slavery.
As to the fruits of socialism, we all have our own opinions. I myself have watched its growth in our own country and observed it in operation in many other lands. But I have yet to see or hear of its freeing the hearts of men of selfishness and greed or of its bringing peace, plenty, or freedom. These things it will never bring, nor will it do away with idleness and promote "industry, thrift and self-respect," for it is founded, in theory and in practice, on force, the principle of the evil one.
As to the fruits of the United Order, I suggest you read Moses 7:16-18 and 4 Nephi 2-3, 15-16. If we had time we could review the history, what little we know, of Zion in the days of Enoch and about what happened among the Nephites under those principles of the United Order in the first two centuries following the time of the Savior.
Now what can we do about it?
As I recently reminded my wife of the moratorium on the United Order, which the Lord placed in 1834, that socialism is taking over in the nations and that its expressed aims will surely fail, she spiritedly put to me the question: "Well, then, what would you suggest, that we just sit on our hands in despair and do nothing?" Perhaps similar questions have occurred to you. The answer is, "No, by no means!" We have much to do, and fortunately for us the Lord has definitely prescribed the course we should follow with respect to socialism and the United Order.
He has told us that in preparation for the restoration of the gospel, he himself established the Constitution of the United States, and he has plainly told us why he established it. I hope I can get this point over to you. He said he established the Constitution to preserve to men their free agency, because the whole gospel of Jesus Christ presupposes man's untrammeled exercise of free agency. Man is in the earth to be tested. The issue as to whether he succeeds or fails will be determined by how he uses his agency. His whole future, through all eternity, is at stake. Abridge man's agency, and the whole purpose of his mortality is thwarted. Without it, the Lord says, there is no existence. The Lord so valued our agency that he designed and dictated "the laws and constitution" required to guarantee it. This he explained in the revelation in which he instructed the Prophet Joseph Smith to appeal for help,
"According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;
"That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.
"And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose".
Previously he had said:
"And now, verily I say unto you concerning the laws of the land, it is my will that my people should observe to do all things whatsoever I command them.
"And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me.
"Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land;
"And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this cometh of evil.
"I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.
"Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn.
"Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil".
These scriptures declare the Constitution to be a divine document. They tell us that "according to just and holy principles," the Constitution and the law of the land which supports the "principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before" God; that, "as pertaining to law of man whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil." They remind us that the Lord has made us free and that laws that are constitutional will also make us free.
Right at this point, almost as if he were warning us against what is happening today, the Lord said: "Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn." Then, that we might know with certainty what we should do about it, he concluded: "Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold"
In its context this instruction, according to my interpretation, can only mean that we should seek diligently for and support men to represent us in government who are "wise" enough to understand freedom-as provided for in the Constitution and as implemented in the United Order-and who are honest enough and good enough to fight to preserve it.
"... under no other government in the world could the Church have been established," said President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., and he continued:
"... if we are to live as a Church, and progress, and have the right to worship as we are worshipping here today, we must have the great guarantees that are set up by our Constitution. There is no other way in which we can secure these guarantees."
Now, not forgetting our duty to eschew socialism and support the just and holy principles of the Constitution, as directed by the Lord, I shall conclude these remarks with a few comments concerning what we should do about the United Order.
The final words of the Lord in suspending the order were: "And let those commandments which I have given concerning Zion and her law be executed and fulfilled, after her redemption".
Further implementation of the order must therefore await the redemption of Zion. Here Zion means Jackson County, Missouri. When Zion is redeemed, as it most certainly shall be, it will be redeemed under a government and by a people strictly observing those "just and holy principles" of the Constitution that accord to men their God-given moral agency, including the right to private property. If, in the meantime, socialism takes over in America, it will have to be displaced, if need be, by the power of God, because the United Order can never function under socialism or "the welfare state," for the good and sufficient reason that the principles upon which socialism and the United Order are conceived and operated are inimical.
In the meantime, while we await the redemption of Zion and the earth and the establishment of the United Order, we as bearers of the priesthood should live strictly by the principles of the United Order insofar as they are embodied in present church practices, such as the fast offering, tithing, and the welfare activities. Through these practices we could as individuals, if we were of a mind to do so, implement in our own lives all the basic principles of the United Order.
As you will recall, the principles underlying the United Order are consecration and stewardships and then the contribution of surpluses into the bishop's storehouse. When the law of tithing was instituted four years after the United Order experiment was suspended, the Lord required the people to put "all their surplus property... into the hands of the bishop"; thereafter they were to "pay one-tenth of all their interest annually". This law, still in force, implements to a degree at least the United Order principle of stewardships, for it leaves in the hands of each person the ownership and management of the property from which he produces the needs of himself and family. Furthermore to use again the words of President Clark:
"... in lieu of residues and surpluses which were accumulated and built up under the United Order, we, today, have our fast offerings, our Welfare donations, and our tithing, all of which may be devoted to the care of the poor, as well as for the carrying on of the activities and business of the Church."
What prohibits us from giving as much in fast offerings as we would have given in surpluses under the United Order? Nothing but our own limitations.
Furthermore, we had under the United Order a bishop's storehouse in which were collected the materials from which to supply the needs and the wants of the poor. We have a bishop's storehouse under the Welfare Plan, used for the same purpose...
"We have now under the Welfare Plan all over the Church... land projects... farmed for the benefit of the poor...
"Thus... in many of its great essentials, we have, the Welfare Plan... the broad essentials of the United Order. Furthermore, having in mind the assistance which is being given from time to time... to help set people up in business or in farming, we have a plan which is not essentially unlike that which was in the United Order when the poor were given portions from the common fund."
It is thus apparent that when the principles of tithing and the fast are properly observed and the Welfare Plan gets fully developed and wholly into operation, "we shall not be so very far from carrying out the great fundamentals of the United Order."
The only limitation on you and me is within ourselves.
A Prayer:
And now in line with these remarks, for three things I pray:
That the Lord will somehow quicken our understanding of the differences between socialism and the United Order and give us a vivid awareness of the awful portent of those differences.
That we will develop the understanding, the desire, and the courage, born of the Spirit, to eschew socialism and to support and sustain, in the manner revealed and as interpreted by the Lord, those just and holy principles embodied in the Constitution of the United States for the protection of all flesh, in the exercise of their God-given agency.
That through faithful observance of the principles of tithing, the fast, and the welfare program, we will prepare ourselves to redeem Zion and ultimately live the United Order, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 101-103
We have had a delightful meeting to this point, and I hope and pray that what I say will be for the benefit of all who are listening.
Service in behalf of others is one thing required of every soul. He who is able but who will not serve his fellows in some way is not fit to have place among them. Serving others is its own reward. When we receive the priesthood, we do so with the understanding that it will be used for the benefit of others. This is an obligation we take upon us. In fact, priesthood blesses us in two ways: first, it is the means through which exaltation comes to those who hold it; second, it is to be used in behalf of others that they also may be blessed. No man is independent. Put a man off by himself, where he could communicate with none of his fellow beings or receive aid from them, and he would perish miserably. It is a mistake for us to draw within ourselves as does a snail into its shell. No man has been given the priesthood as an ornament only. He is expected to use it in behalf of the salvation of others.
Not only is he expected, but he is commanded to do so, for the Lord said, after pointing out the various offices in the priesthood and the duties assigned to each:
"Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence.
"He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand. Even so. Amen".
This means that the man who accepts the priesthood also accepts the responsibilities that go with it. He promises that he will give service and make himself approved. If he breaks this covenant-for it is a covenant-then he will have to stand among those who do not exercise priesthood; he cannot stand among those who are approved. Let every man who holds the priesthood understand that he cannot enter into exaltation without the priesthood. If he refuses to use that priesthood when it is conferred upon him he will not be found worthy to hold it in that day when men are rewarded according to their works.
Each man holding the priesthood should learn his duty from the Parable of the Talents; for when the Lord shall come, like rewards shall be given us. Many who have promised to magnify their priesthood and who have failed to do so shall be cast out. Their priesthood shall be taken from them, and they shall find themselves outside the gates of the City, for they cannot stand with those who have been faithful. Theirs shall be a condition of weeping and gnashing of teeth. "For unto every one that hath shall be given... but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath". Simply this: We are under obligation as men holding the priesthood to put to service the authority which we have received. If we do this, then we shall have other responsibilities and glory added, and we shall receive an abundance, that is, the fullness of the Father's kingdom; but if we bury our priesthood, then we are not entitled to receive any reward-we cannot be exalted.
Every member of the Church should try to find some church duty to perform. Never refuse to serve. When a presiding officer asks your help, be glad to accept and give the best you have to that labor. The Lord expects this of us, and we are under covenant to do so. This course brings joy and peace, and at the same time those who serve receive the greatest blessing. The teacher gains more than the one taught; the blessing returned to us when we accept a call to work in the Church is far greater than the blessing we can impart to others. He who refuses to perform any labor or shirks responsibility when it is given him in the Church is in grave danger of losing the guidance of the Spirit. Eventually he becomes lukewarm and indifferent to all duties, and, like the plant that is not cultivated and watered, he shrivels up and dies a spiritual death.
Do you think it will ever be possible for any one of us, no matter how hard we labor, or even if we should suffer martyrdom, to pay our Father and Jesus Christ for the blessings we have received from them? The great love, with its accompanying blessings, extended to us through the crucifixion, suffering, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is beyond our mortal comprehension. We never could repay. We have been bought with a price beyond computation-not with gold or silver or precious stones, "but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish, and without spot".
"I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me, Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me; I tremble to know that for me he was crucified, That for me a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died. "I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt! Such mercy, such love, and devotion can I forget? No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat, Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet. "Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me, Enough to die for me! Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!"
The Lord bless you, in the name of Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
President N. Eldon Tanner
N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 103-105
Brethren: It is good to be with you this evening in our general priesthood meeting and to have the priesthood meeting in over 400 different places, listening to these services tonight.
We are very happy to have President McKay with us. We shall hear his message later.
I wish to say a few words about the Word of Wisdom. When I was a boy and they talked about the Word of Wisdom, all I thought of was that this was a religious requirement. In fact, we were told a good many times: a cup of coffee won't hurt you; a cup of tea won't hurt you; one cigarette won't hurt you; a drink won't hurt you, it's getting the habit that will bother you. And we kids used to think that the Church was prudish and odd for trying to get us to do things that made us look funny in the sight of the boys with whom we associated who were not members of the Church.
I would like to say just a few words about the breaking of the Word of Wisdom and what it means to us, the danger of tampering with things that the Lord has told us not to tamper with, both as it affects our bodies and as it affects our ability to resist, if we get on the wrong side of the line.
This has been said about Satan, as we read in the Doctrine and Covenants:
"Satan stirreth them up, that he may lead their souls to destruction.
"And thus he has laid a cunning plan, thinking to destroy the work of God; but I will require this at their hands, and it shall turn to their shame and condemnation in the day of judgment.
"Yea, he stirreth up their hearts to anger against this work.
"Yea, he saith unto them: Deceive and lie in wait to catch, that ye may destroy; behold, this is no harm. And thus he flattereth them, and telleth them that it is no sin to lie that they may catch a man in lie, that they may destroy him.
"And thus he flattereth them, and leadeth them along until he draggeth their souls down to hell; and thus he causeth them to catch themselves in their own snare.
"And thus he goeth up and down, to and fro in the earth, seeking to destroy the souls of men".
There is no doubt, boys-and you are the ones I am talking to tonight-there is no doubt but that Satan is out, going up and down, here and there, trying in every way he can to destroy us.
It is an interesting thing that over 130 years ago a prophet of God said "... tobacco... is not good for man", and now scientists all over the world say that tobacco is not good for man. You have heard it talked about a good deal, but I would like to appeal to these boys who are listening to me tonight-and have them appeal to other boys wherever they may be, and have their fathers appeal to them-to let them realize what a great danger is involved in partaking of tobacco and alcohol and these other things that are advised against.
Dr. William H. Stewart has said the so-called "next-guy theory"-that it can happen to someone else but not to me-is the psychology that is preventing anti-cigarette campaigns from making more headway. The fallacy of this kind of reasoning is illustrated in the story of a Honolulu reporter, who said, "It just can't happen to me; I'm safe." But this Hawaiian newsman, Mark Waters, spoke from the grave to readers of the Honolulu Star Bulletin. Waters died of lung cancer at the age of 56 on February 1, the day the Star Bulletin ran his last story. It was a by-line account of a 42-year rendezvous with his killer.
The story was written in the hospital five days before his death. Waters read proof on the story and made final corrections the day before he succumbed, observing that it might help someone else.
Waters told how he started smoking at 14, stealing cigarettes from his father's pack, and how he continued at the rate of two packs a day, even after suffering a stroke and contracting bronchitis. Doctors discovered cancer in his left lung. A lobe was removed. Waters gained 10 pounds after the September operation and felt fine. Four months later pain returned. The doctor removed fluid from his chest cavity but had to tell him that he had little time to live.
"Not a soul I've preached to has stopped smoking," he wrote from his hospital bed, "not a single, solitary soul.
"It's one of those things. You always think, it'll happen to others, but never to me. When you get lung cancer, God help you."
Like the rest of his story, Waters' conclusion was terse.
"I'm short of breath. I can't take five steps without having to sit.
"The cancer has gone to my liver and I don't know where else.
"I don't have a ghost of a chance.
"It's too late for me.
"It may not be for you."
I want to tell you a little story about a boy I knew very well, my baby brother, as sweet a boy as I ever knew-kind considerate of his mother, and loved by every member of the family. But he got into wrong company when he was just a little boy, and he started using cigarettes. He used to steal away and have his smoke, and then he got to smoking a little more and a little more, until he became a habitual smoker. He had four older brothers, and we tried to get him to quit smoking, to realize that he shouldn't be doing it.
He kept saying he was going to quit smoking, but just a few years ago he died of lung cancer. And if anything makes you hate tobacco, it is to have a brother, one of the finest young fellows that you know, go to his death because he had that habit of smoking. He thought when he was a kid, "I can quit any time I want to." In fact he used to say so, and he used to try to quit but he couldn't.
I want to tell you another story about a man whom I knew very well in Calgary, Alberta, one of the outstanding drillers in the oil business-one who was very well-to-do and had the biggest string of drilling rigs in the whole country.
He was doing a little social drinking.
This man of whom I am speaking I knew very well, since I was Minister of Mines up there. His social drinking made him an alcoholic. That poor fellow was worked with by his partner, he was worked with by his friends, he was encouraged in every way to quit this drinking, but it was getting the better of him. He said, "You are crazy. I can quit drinking any time I want to." But finally this was his story-of course I knew it without his telling it-and I had him go to a group of our young men to tell it: "I didn't realize until I was actually in the gutter that I was an alcoholic and couldn't control myself. It cost me my business, it cost me my wife, it cost me my friends, it cost me the respect of everyone who knew me. I was literally in the gutter because I took the first drink." And he added, "I want to tell you, young men, no man can afford to take one drink of alcohol. I don't care who he is, how much he is worth, or if he is a multimillionaire-he cannot afford to take one drink of alcohol."
I want to say to you boys, wherever you are tonight: Realize that you can't afford to play with these things that will take your life. You can't afford to do it anyway, because the Lord has said, "Don't do it." It is being proven in every way that tobacco and alcohol are not good for us.
Let us be men. Let us not be sissies. Anybody can drink, and anybody can smoke. It doesn't take brains to do that. But it does take brains and a little willpower and a little sense to refuse the first smoke and the first drink of alcohol. And leave the other things-tea and coffee alone as well, because they are the first steps to the other transgressions.
May the Lord bless you that every member in this Church holding the priesthood-in fact every member-will keep the Word of Wisdom, knowing that it is a commandment of the Lord. It is for your own good. You are not a sissy. Don't be a fool.
Remember that the priesthood you hold is the power of God delegated to you to act in his name. He has promised that if you magnify your priesthood all that he has is yours.
I want to bear you my testimony that God lives and that through his Son, Jesus Christ, the plan of life and salvation has been given to us to let us know how we can enjoy life here upon the earth and prepare ourselves for immortality and eternal life.
May the Lord bless us to this end and give us strength to do his will, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 105-110
It is a joy and a great privilege to meet with this vast audience of priesthood members gathered in this historic Tabernacle, the Assembly Hall, and more than four hundred other buildings throughout the United States and Canada. I extend my affectionate greetings and blessings to each of you.
"I charge thee... ", wrote Paul to Timothy, "before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ...
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine".
In the same letter he prophetically declared, "... that in the last days perilous times shall come.
"For men shall be lovers of their own selves...
"... lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof".
It is in the spirit of Paul's charge and prophecy that I call attention to the rising crime wave that is sweeping over the country. Few will question that we are living in perilous times and that many people have lost their moorings and are being "tossed to and fro... with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive".
Crime is costing this nation twenty-seven billion dollars a year and an annual toll of death, injury, suffering and anguish for thousands of Americans.
Just recently Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, in referring to the decline in moral standards, said, "Most radical social changes come slowly. But not this time. It is almost as if the demonic powers in sex-and make no mistake, sex has its demonic side-had been released in a sudden explosion that has blasted away the restraints and traditions of centuries. The spark that has set off this explosion is a twisted concept of freedom, a 'new freedom' that too often leaves its adherents in chains." And then Dr. Peale gives a Newsweek report which states: "Undoubtedly the key to the new morality is the widespread belief that a boy and girl who have established what the college calls a meaningful relationship have the moral right to sleep together."
The young people want to know what difference it makes if no one is getting hurt, but Dr. Peale says, "This sounds fine in theory, but multiply this attitude by millions of eager experiments and what do you get? You get such statistics as these: `Between the years 1940 and 1957 the illegitimacy rate increased: 112 percent in the 15-19 age group; 300 percent in the 20-24 age group; 462 percent in the 2529 age group; 478 percent in the 30-34 age group, 456 percent in the 35-39 age group; and 196 percent in the 40-44 age group.
"'Venereal disease among adolescents rose 130 percent between the years 1956 and 1961. The illegitimacy rate has tripled since 1953. By 1970, ten-million Americans will have been born out of wedlock. Forty percent of the unwed mothers are between the ages of 15 and 19.'
"No one is getting hurt?" continues Dr. Peale. "What a laugh! What a hollow, tragic, gruesome laugh! And the hurt is not confined to individuals; it damages and degrades our nation throughout the world. From the beginning of recorded history, men have known that the sex drive had to be controlled if civilization was to replace anarchy. Dr. J. D. Unwin, Historian of the Cambridge University, made a study of eighty civilizations ranging over a period of four-thousand years and concluded that a society either chooses sexual promiscuity and decline, or sexual discipline and creative energy. Writes Dr. Unwin: 'Any human society is free to choose either to display great energy, or to enjoy sexual freedom, the evidence is that they cannot do both for more than one generation.'"
One important cause of the increase in delinquency, especially in our youth, is a letdown in home ideals. A growing desire for economic independence or a too eager willingness to improve financial circumstances has influenced a great many mothers to neglect the greatest of all responsibilities-the rearing of a family.
J. Edgar Hoover, the national director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, makes the definite statement that "in the background of these youthful offenders lies the story of shocking neglect. Boys and girls are being deprived of the care and guidance necessary to the proper foundation of their characters. Their lawlessness had its roots in every instance in broken homes, in homes where mothers and fathers because of their neglect, misunderstanding, or irresponsibility had failed in their primary obligation. More often than not, God was unknown, or, more important, was unwelcome in their homes. On the other hand, in nearly every instance the youthful offender would have been a strong, upright citizen had he been given a chance."
The inspiration of God is seen in requiring the Latter-day Saints to keep their homes intact and to teach their children the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. "And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord." This command from the Lord, given to us in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 68, verse 28, leaves no question as to the responsibility of parents to teach their children-a responsibility too frequently shifted to the shoulders of the Church, public schools, and officers of the law.
I believe that parents in the Church generally are teaching their children the gospel, yet I am convinced that there is still much opportunity for improvement in this regard, especially in light of present-day conditions. I am grateful and pleased that so many are responding to our program for the family home evening, in which parents gather their children around them and instruct them in truth and righteousness and in family love and loyalty. A great number of families have testified to the rich blessings that have come to them from these family home evenings.
If you ask me where I first received my unwavering faith in the existence of a God, I would answer you: in the home of my childhood-when Father and Mother invariably called their children around them in the morning and at night and invoked God's blessing upon the household and upon mankind. There was a sincerity in that good patriarch's voice that left an undying impression in the souls of his children, and Mother's prayers were equally impressive. I ask tonight that every father in the Church see to it that in all sincerity he impress his children with the reality of the existence of God and with the reality that God will guide and protect his children. You carry that responsibility. Home is one of the units-the fundamental unit-of society. Before I heard my father testify that he had heard a divine voice, I knew that he lived near to his Maker. I also know, through a nearness to that same Eternal Father since, that my father told the truth when he said that when he was on his mission in Scotland, in answer to fervent prayer, he received the following admonition given in audible tones: "Testify that Joseph Smith is a prophet of the living God." Such is the reality of the true Latter-day Saint's conception of God the Father.
Ever since the organization of the Church, its leaders have raised their voices warning that infidelity and sexual immorality are two principal evils that threaten to weaken and to wreck present-day civilization. Unfortunately, the trends of modern life are disintegrating the very foundation of the Christian home. Sexual laxity, intemperance, and crime are its insidious and vicious enemies.
In the Church there is but one standard of morality. No young man has any more right to sow his wild oats in youth than has a young girl; she is taught that second only to the crime of taking human life is that of losing her virtue, and that should be also the ideal among young men.
I know from experience that the world does not believe us when we tell them that that ideal is followed in the Church, but we know in our hearts it is true. That young man who comes to his bishop and asks for a recommend to take a pure girl to the altar is expected to give just the same purity that he expects to receive.
No one can transgress the laws of chastity and find peace. That is the message that we must give as parents and priesthood members to the young men and women and all others throughout the Church. No matter what the opportunity, no matter what the temptation, let the young man know that to find happiness he must hold sacred his true manhood. Let him know that he is going to live, and live completely, by refusing to yield to temptations. Then he is happy. There is peace instead of turbulency in his soul.
A happy marriage begins when a young couple kneels at the altar, each giving to the other what each demands and each covenanting to be true to the other.
For the proper solution of the great problem of marriage, we may turn with safety to Jesus for our guide. He declared that the marriage relation is of divine origin and that marriage is ordained of God, hat only under the most exceptional conditions should it be set aside. In the teachings of the Church of Christ, the family assumes supreme importance in the development of the individual and of society. "Happy and thrice happy are they who enjoy an uninterrupted union and whose love unbroken by any complaints, shall not dissolve until the last day." It will not dissolve when a worthy couple is sealed by the authority of the Holy Priesthood throughout all eternity. The marriage ceremony when thus sealed produces happiness and joy unsurpassed by any other experience in the world.
To no other group of men in all the world is given a better opportunity to instruct and inspire our young men and women to keep themselves unspotted from the sins of the world ). Members of the Church and especially of the priesthood have the opportunity to be engaged in the noblest calling in life-to establish salvation and peace to the extent that their individual efforts, their talents, and their means are consecrated, and their lives are dedicated to make the world a better and fitter place for man.
The Prophet Joseph Smith was given the divine message: "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God". Such is the philosophy expressed by the Redeemer in the seemingly paradoxical statement, "... he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it". The meaning of this becomes clear in the light of another passage which says, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me".
Just to be associated with men striving toward such an aim is a joy, and to assist them in their quest, an inspiration. If you are true followers of the Savior, you are striving to serve your fellowmen in love.
To the thousands assembled in this historic Tabernacle, the Assembly Hall, and to the thousands listening in by direct wire, I pray with an earnest heart, God keep you away from the base, scheming plans of him who enthrones passion, who decries self-control, who renounces the sacredness of the family, and who, in the words of the communist, Marx himself, would "dethrone God."
Officers, leaders, men of the priesthood, you are chosen of God. Go forth radiating a testimony that this is God's work. Feel it yourselves, and then the men and women in your wards and stakes will feel it, the young people especially will feel it, for you are radiating not just what you say, but what you are and what you do.
God guide us, and help us, and inspire us in this great work, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Statement concerning the position of the Church on Communism, made by President David O. McKay at the general priesthood session of the 136th Annual Conference of the Church held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, Saturday, April 9, 1966, at 7:00 p.m., read by Robert R. McKay.
In order that there may be no misunderstandings by bishops, stake presidents, and others regarding members of the Church participating in non-church meetings to study and become informed on the Constitution of the United States, Communism, etc., I wish to make the following statements that I have been sending out from my office for some time and that have come under question by some stake authorities, bishoprics, and others.
Church members are at perfect liberty to act according to their own consciences in the matter of safeguarding our way of life. They are, of course, encouraged to honor the highest standards of the gospel and to work to preserve their own freedoms. They are free to participate in non-church meetings that are held to warn people of the threat of Communism or any other theory or principle that will deprive us of our free agency or individual liberties vouchsafed by the Constitution of the United States.
The Church, out of respect for the rights of all its members to have their political views and loyalties, must maintain the strictest possible neutrality. We have no intention of trying to interfere with the fullest and freest exercise of the political franchise of our members under and within our Constitution, which the Lord declared he established "by the hands of wise men whom raised up unto this very purpose" and which, as to the principles thereof, the Prophet Joseph Smith, dedicating the Kirtland Temple, prayed should be "established forever". The Church does not yield any of its devotion to or convictions about safeguarding the American principles and the establishments of government under federal and state constitutions and the civil rights of men safeguarded by these.
The position of this Church on the subject of Communism has never changed. We consider it the greatest satanical threat to peace, prosperity, and the spread of God's work among men that exists on the face of the earth.
In this connection, we are continually being asked to give our opinion concerning various patriotic groups or individuals who are fighting Communism and speaking up for freedom. Our immediate concern, however, is not with parties, groups, or persons, but with principles. We therefore commend and encourage every person and every group who is sincerely seeking to study Constitutional principles and awaken a sleeping and apathetic people to the alarming conditions that are rapidly advancing about us. We wish all of our citizens throughout the land were participating in some type of organized self-education in order that they could better appreciate what is happening and know what they can do about it.
Supporting the FBI, the police, the congressional committees investigating Communism, and various organizations that are attempting to awaken the people through educational means is a policy we warmly endorse for all our people.
The entire concept and philosophy of Communism is diametrically opposed to everything for which the Church stands-belief in Deity, belief in the dignity and eternal nature of man, and the application of the gospel to efforts for peace in the world. Communism is militantly atheistic and is committed to the destruction of faith wherever it may be found.
The Russian Commissar of Education wrote: "We must hate Christians and Christianity. Even the best of them must be considered our worst enemies. Christian love is an obstacle to the development of the revolution. Down with love for one's neighbor. What we want is hate. Only then shall we conquer the universe."
On the other hand, the gospel teaches the existence of God as our Eternal and Heavenly Father and declares: "... him only shalt thou serve".
Communism debases the individual and makes him the enslaved tool of the state, to which he must look for sustenance and religion. Communism destroys man's God-given free agency.
No member of this Church can be true to his faith, nor can any American be loyal to his trust, while lending aid, encouragement or sympathy to any of these false philosophies, for if he does, they will prove snares to his feet.
Elder LeGrand Richards
LeGrand Richards, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 111-116
I rejoice with you, my brothers and sisters, in the presence of our prophet this morning and in being able this Easter morning to commemorate the resurrection of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In my heart I thank him for having restored his kingdom to the earth in our day, and that those of us who are assembled here today have a witness through the Holy Spirit that the Lord has established his Church on the earth.
It is my privilege as one of the General Authorities to travel to the various stakes of Zion and to some of the missions, and I always return with gratitude in my heart for the faith and faithfulness of the Latter-day Saints evidenced in so many ways to prove their love of the Lord and their desire to help build his kingdom and to bring honor and credit to his holy name and blessing to his children.
The apostle James said: "... shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works". I want to tell you that I am proud of the way the Latter-day Saints are showing their faith in God and their love for him by the works that they perform.
Now, I thought in the few moments that I have to address you this morning that I would like to use for a text what the Prophet Joseph Smith said in an interview with the President of the United States when the President asked the Prophet wherein we differ in our religion from the other religions of the day.
The Prophet's answer was: "... we differed in mode of baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. We considered that all other considerations were contained in the gift of the Holy Ghost".
I thank the Lord that in the restoration of the gospel this promise has been given to all who enter into the waters of baptism by the mode that he has specified and that at the hands of those who have the authority to administer the same and by the laying on of hands, they become recipients of the Holy Ghost. I would rather have my children and my children's children enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost than any other companionship in this world because if they will heed the promptings of that Spirit, he will lead them into all truth and see them safely back into the presence of their Father in heaven. This statement by the Prophet is simply repeating again, in a sense, what the Savior said to Nicodemus. Remember when he said, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" and hence the importance that we have in this Church the same foundation and the same power to guide and direct us.
The promise of the Savior to his apostles prior to his crucifixion was that he would send another Comforter. There isn't time to go into the details of all that he promised that Comforter would do: but he was to lead them into all truth; he was to make known unto them things present, things past, things which are to come; he was to take from the Father and from the Son and reveal it unto them. And so the Savior said:
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you".
I think one of the most positive and powerful demonstrations of what this Holy Spirit, the Comforter, can do for a man, as we find recorded in Holy Writ, is the experience of the great apostle Peter. You remember just prior to the Savior's crucifixion Peter said, "Though all the world forsake thee, I will not forsake thee". And you recall the Savior said that before the cock would crow that he would deny him thrice. But after he had tarried at Jerusalem, according to the command of the Savior, and he had received the Holy Ghost, we have a different Peter. When he was commanded that he should no more preach Christ and him crucified in the streets of Jerusalem, his answer was, "We ought to obey God rather than men".
If the Lord had not placed in his Church of today his Holy Spirit, we would not be the Church that we are; we could not have accomplished what we have accomplished; the Saints could not have endured all the privations, hardships, and persecutions through which they have passed; neither could we carry on the great missionary program of the Church as we are doing, because the Lord has breathed into his work the breath of life, and our people are willing to make every sacrifice at the call of the Church in order to prove their love of the Lord and their desire to build his kingdom and to share the truth with their fellowmen.
When the apostles asked the Savior for the signs of his second coming and the end of the world, after declaring to them what would happen-that there would be wars and rumors of wars, that nation should rise against nation and people against people, and that his gospel should be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations -the Savior said: "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake". History has recorded how literally that prediction of the Savior has been fulfilled through the restoration of the gospel in our day. The Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum, the patriarch, were put to death by their enemies and along with them hundreds of Latter-day Saints. My grandfather's brother was shot down in cold blood at the Haun's Mill Massacre, and our people were driven from pillar to post until they came here to these valleys of the mountains. But the Lord didn't intend that they would always suffer persecution. He told the Prophet Joseph and his companions that he would give them power to lay the foundation of his Church and that he would bring forth out of darkness and obscurity the only true and living Church upon the face of the whole earth, "with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually".
I was very much intrigued with and interested in the experience that Brother Marion D. Hanks of the First Council of the Seventy had a few years ago when President Eisenhower called a youth conference in Washington to which over 7,000 delegates came to discuss what could be done to help the young people, the youth of this great land of America. Brother Hanks was asked to give the keynote address-not just to give a talk but to lay the foundation for the discussion at that great convention. When Brother Hanks sat down, the man conducting the convention made this statement:
"As I sat here, I reflected that Mr. Hanks comes from people that were driven from our region of the country because of the things they believed, that suffered bitter persecution for their ideals, that went finally to the far reaches of the country where they thought themselves away from all of this.
"Now we have invited a leader of that people to come here to talk to us of the same ideals and principles for which we drove them away."
It takes truth a long time to travel. They crucified our Lord, but think of what the world is doing today in recognition of his ministry. And so this work that God the Eternal Father has established in the earth in our day has been proclaimed by the prophets that it shall never be thrown down or given to another people, but it shall roll forth until it shall become as a great mountain and fill the whole earth.
This spirit of sacrifice is in the Church. Notwithstanding the persecutions heaped upon our people, they continued to send their representatives, mostly married men, into the mission field in the early days. We are told that after President Brigham Young accepted the gospel, for the next ten years he spent almost his entire time in the mission field, and when he went on his first mission, he didn't even have an overcoat. He took a quilt from the trundle bed, and his wife made him a cap out of a pair of old pantaloons. At the end of the ten years he said all he had ever had as a reward for his service was the half of a small pig that the Prophet Joseph divided with him and that had been given to him by one of the brethren. What besides the testimony of the Holy Ghost could have led a great leader like Brigham Young to spend ten years without any remuneration in order to share with the world the wonderful truths of the gospel? My grandfather, of the first 14 years of his married life, spent ten of them in the mission field away from his family. In this Church today there are many, many families in which there isn't a male member old enough to go on a mission who hasn't filled a mission. My grandfather, my father, my brothers, my sons, my wife's father, her brothers-why we are a missionary people. Today we have over 12,000 in the mission field at their own expense just to share the truths of the gospel with those who know not what the Lord has done in the restoration of his Church to the earth in our day. Among those there are many families that have two and three missionaries in the field at the same time. That spirit of sacrifice is still in the Church. Men give up their businesses. I had a friend of mine come in my office; he had been on two missions. A married man, he said, "Brother Richards, if I sell my home and my automobile I can go on another mission." He was willing to go for a third time and then come back and start all over again.
After our Saints had been driven from the East into these valleys of the mountains, five years after their arrival here, a convention was held in the old tabernacle on this block for the elders of Israel at which 98 of them were called to go on missions. They were all married men. In those days they didn't ask them if they wanted to go. They were told in that meeting that their missions would not be very long-that they would be separated from their families only from three to seven years. Many of them were sent so far away that they couldn't even hear from their families in less than six months time. And then the brother in charge, Heber C. Kimball, said, "If any of you men refuse to go, there isn't a wife that will remain with you, because there isn't a Mormon woman who would live with a man a year, or a day, if he refused to go on a mission." Now that same spirit carries through to this very day.
Here just a few years ago, when we were still letting young married men go on missions, I interviewed a young man for his mission; and when I saw the recommend from his bishop, I noted that he was a married man. I said, "Does your wife want you to go on this mission?"
He said, "She certainly does."
I said, "Why didn't you bring her so I could ask her?"
He said, "I couldn't, she's in the hospital. She gave birth to our first child this morning."
I said, "Then let's go to the hospital." We went to the hospital, and there was that young wife with her little babe in her arms. I said, "Do you want this husband of yours to go on a mission?"
She said, "I certainly do. When we married we decided that our marriage would not stand in the way of his mission. My parents are able to take care of me and our baby and are willing to, and I want him to go." He filled an honorable mission.
We go through the missions, and we meet for hours with these missionaries in their missionary meetings with not a dry eye there. They bear their testimonies and say that before they came on their missions they heard missionaries say that their mission was the happiest time of their lives. "We didn't believe a word of it. Now we know what they were talking about."
I met a man up in the Northwest who was a convert to the Church, and he had just returned from his mission. He said, "I wouldn't take a check for a million dollars for the experience of my mission."
I interviewed another young man there who had served several years in the armed forces. He said, "There isn't a company in this world that could offer me a large enough salary to get me to leave my mission."
Can anybody in the world plant such feelings in the hearts of people except through the testimony of the Holy Ghost? No wonder the Prophet indicated that of all considerations the gift of the Holy Ghost was the most important one.
We see that in everything about us. Take the Choir here-all these years-we don't have to pay them. They can't do that in other churches. And not only that, there are so many other things.
Take, for instance, the law of tithing, which Bishop Simpson talked about the other day. While I was serving in the Southern States Mission, an itinerant preacher came to the South telling the churches how they could get out of debt. I went to listen to him. He told them that if they would pay their tithing for ten months, they could get their churches out of debt. Then he quoted the words of Malachi indicating that it was the Lord's law of blessing his people. I went to him after the meeting and was introduced to him, and I said, "Reverend, I would like to bear you my testimony that you are getting near the truth. I am a Mormon elder. We have been paying our tithing all our lives. One thing I can't understand-you say it is the Lord's law of blessing of his children. If it is, why don't you ask them to pay tithing all their lives? If it would be good to be blessed for ten months wouldn't it be better to be blessed all their lives?"
He said, "Oh, Mr. Richards, we can't go that far. If we can get them to pay for ten months, we will do pretty well."
What sustains colonizing?
Speaking now of the gift of the Holy Ghost, I want to tell you another experience. Brother Ballard was up in the Northwest as president of the mission. In those days that country was not as well settled as it is now. A colonizer up there had heard about how the Mormons were colonizers, how they had settled these towns all up and down through these valleys of the mountains. He came down and wrote a brief on the program of the Mormon Church. Then he went back, but he couldn't make it work, so he brought his brief to Brother Ballard and asked him if he would read it and tell him what was the matter with it. Brother Ballard read it, and he said, "You have here a perfect corpse, if somebody would just breathe into it the breath of life, then it would work for you." I thank the Lord that he has breathed into this Church the breath of life.
We had a convention here not long ago-a ministerial convention. On Sunday they took the ministers to our various wards to attend the Sunday School. Out here in a certain ward where they have about twenty departments, they took a particular minister right through every department. On the way back to the general assembly, the minister said, "It must cost you a lot of money to run an institution like this."
The brother showing him around called the caretaker over and said, "Tell this man how many are on the payroll."
He said, "I am the only one. I keep the buildings clean." Well, they just can't do it, and I have had experiences with them to know.
Speaking of the law of tithing being a law of blessing of the people, the Lord said, "... and prove me now herewith... if I will not open you the windows of heaven".
I think I have time to tell you one experience of when I was on a mission back in the Eastern States. One of our branch presidents was a large tithe payer-paid every month as regular as the clock ticked-and I said to him, "You must have a wonderful testimony of the law of tithing."
He said, "I have."
I said, "Would you tell me what it is?"
He told me that his wife and children joined the Church over in England a few years before that, and when he told me who the missionary was, I learned it was an old MIA teacher of mine from out in Tooele Then he said, "I didn't join the Church, because I didn't have the faith to pay my tithing. Then one day a young missionary who was being released came to me and said, 'Brother, I want to baptize you before I go home!' I told him, 'You can't.'
"Why can't I?"
"Because I haven't the faith to pay my tithing."
And then that missionary said, "If you will let me baptize you before I go home, I promise you that within a year from now you will be in America with your family, earning three times what you are earning now."
He said, "That's a good enough promise for me." And he was baptized. He said that he didn't see how it could happen-he was under contract with his company to work for three years, and he knew he wouldn't break his contract. But he was able to have his contract bought off, and the company released him. Within one year he was in America with his family, earning four times as much as he was when that Mormon missionary promised him three times as much. I told that story a few years ago from this pulpit. At the close of the meeting one of the mission presidents sitting right down in front came up to me and said, "Brother Richards, I was the young man who made the promise."
Brothers and sisters, I say to you that if you will love the Lord and serve him and keep his commandments, you never can get out of the red-you will always be owing the Lord something. He has a way of paying and compensating that is worth more than all the wealth of this world. And this is my testimony to you. I know this is the work of God, the Eternal Father. I know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ. I am so proud to be one of his witnesses. I leave you my witness in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Hugh B. Brown
Hugh B. Brown, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 116-120
Many of the speakers during this conference have referred to the celebration of Easter and the resurrection of the Lord. Yesterday the President of the Church preached a powerful sermon on the fact of the resurrection of Christ. This morning we join with millions of people throughout the world in celebrating Easter in commemoration of this miraculous event This is a time when we should re examine and reaffirm our faith and rededicate our lives to Christ's service.
His birth into mortality and the details of his death and resurrection are well-attested facts of history. In addition to the New Testament story of these miraculous events, the scriptures, both old and new, abound with inspired predictions concerning his second coming.
Let us examine the basis of our faith as it is to be found in the Holy Bible and other sacred records and attempt to evaluate and coordinate the antemortal, the mortal, and the postmortal life of this transcendent personage.
The Apostle John tells us that the Word-which he identifies as the Savior -was with God in the beginning. This is a precise and unambiguous declaration, not only that he was with God in the beginning, but that he himself was invested with the powers and rank of godship and that he came into the world and dwelt among men. He was the Creator of all that is.
Jesus himself frequently referred to the fact of his preexistence. For example, he said, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me".
And then in that greatest of all prayers, recorded in John 17:5, we find the poignant plea: "And now O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was".
At another time he chidingly spoke to his uncomprehending followers and said: "Doth this offend you?
"What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?".
These and other proofs of Christ's preexistence confirm our faith that all men had a spiritual existence before mortal birth and that the souls of all men are immortal. Obviously, if the spirit had an existence before the body was created, that spirit is capable of independent existence after the body dies.
The fact that he came forth from the tomb with spirit and body reunited was positively stated and demonstrated by the risen Lord when he appeared to his amazed apostles and said, "... handle me, and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have".
This gives divine assurance that we too, through his atoning sacrifice, shall partake of the blessings of the resurrection. Hearken to his promise when he said,
"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die".
And again, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".
In these times of uncertainty, conflict, chaos, and confusion, where there is unprovoked aggression, attempted subjugation, and enslavement, when people are being denied their freedom and their liberties, and especially when whole nations of men, including some of the clergy, pride themselves on their atheism, deny the existence of God, speak of Christ as a myth and of religion as an opiate, when increasing numbers of men are declaring that God is dead and others are asking whether he in fact ever lived-in times like these we must reexamine and reemphasize our faith in Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, and conform our lives to his teachings and emulate his matchless example.
Indicative of the lack of faith, the confused and muddled thinking, and the dangerous teachings of some religious leaders, I quote from the February 22, 1966, issue of Look magazine:
"Last September, the Protestant Episcopal Bishop of California left on sabbatical for Cambridge University in England 'to find out what I really do believe'...
"What he believes is hardly typical of a bishop. 'I've jettisoned the Trinity, the Virgin Birth and the Incarnation,' he told Look in his Cambridge flat recently...
"The inquiry has inevitably led the Bishop to the enigma of Christ Himself. He sees Him not as Jesus among the lilies in a stained-glass window, but as a country carpenter turned itinerant preacher for three powerful years...
"Cambridge University, where Bishop... is staying, is the womb of what has been proclaimed-and condemned-as the 'new theology'... Its innovators, mainly Cambridge dons, are reacting to a society throttled by secularism. Only ten percent of the English attend church...
"The old theology starts with the divinity of Christ and tries to explain how God became man. The new theology starts with the only indisputable fact-that Christ was man-and tries to show how God acted through Him uniquely.'"
We reaffirm our faith in the Bible as the word of God. We believe in its teachings, its doctrines, its definitions and its revelations of an omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient God. The fact that man was created in his image confirms our faith that he is a living and personal God. He is our Eternal Father, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, and the promised Messiah.
We proclaim the preexistence and divine nature of Jesus the Christ, the purpose of his earth life, the reality of his resurrection and ascension, and the certainty of his second coming as eternal and well-attested truths and prophetic promises. They have illuminating and inspiring significance for our troubled world. They are our heritage from the Judeo-Christian world, clarified and amplified by modern revelation.
They are relevant to our time. This is an age of conflict of ideology, a time of ferment in technology, a period of startling and revolutionary progress in science-an era when at last the means lie at hand to free mankind from the ancient shackles of pain and hunger, fear and war. But the true crisis of our times lies at a deeper level. All this freedom and so-called elbowroom only thrusts upon us with additional force the fundamental issues of our faith.
There must be a reaffirmation of the truths concerning the fatherhood of God, the godhood of Christ, and the brotherhood of man-truths for which the Savior lived and died. Brotherhood-love of God and fellowmen-will make men free and establish peace in a world that is threatened with a devastating and final war.
The truculent and blasphemous attempts of the Communists to erase Christ from their literature and to expunge all memory of him from the hearts and minds of men must fail, for as God made man in his own image, so his image is indelibly stamped upon the souls of men, and instinctively they know that they are the immortal sons of God, predestined to be free. This inborn conviction accounts for the courageous and undiscourageable resiliency of many persecuted people.
The challenge of evil leading inevitably to chaos, confusion, and defeat tends to make the relevance of Christ's life and message more apparent, the application of his divine teachings more urgent, and eventual victory beyond question.
As Paul said, the time would come when "every knee should bow...
"And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father".
A comprehensive knowledge of prophecy and of history confirms the fact that God lives. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible contains the continuing story of God's dealings with his universal family, his begotten children.
Christ came to earth and glorified the Father, finished the work that was given him to do, and at the end asked only that he be glorified with the Father with the glory that he had with him before the world was.
Christians everywhere should believe and be guided by the revelations of God given through his prophets, whether on the eastern hemisphere or in the western world. The peoples in the western world are they to whom he referred as "other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd".
The United States of America and her allies have been forced to take up arms in defense of liberty and freedom. The scriptures, both ancient and modern, justify defending the liberties and freedom of ourselves and our weaker neighbors.
The various presidents of the United States, regardless of party, have declared that we have no desire for territorial gain or acquisition nor the subjugation of weaker nations. We stand for freedom and liberty for all, together with the right of untrammeled self-determination-all in the interest of permanent world peace.
The President of the United States recently restated and underlined this policy and disclaimed any intent on the part of the United States to gain empire, bases, or dominion. This is in strict harmony with the word of God given to ancient prophets, some of whom were kings, generals, and leaders of armies.
We concur in what was said by one of them on the subject of freedom, as recorded in Alma 61:14:
"Therefore... let us resist evil, and whatsoever evil we cannot resist with our words, yea, such as rebellions and dissensions, let us resist them with our swords, that we may retain our freedom, that we may rejoice in... the cause of our Redeemer and our God".
The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches the universality of God's concern for men and that obedience is a universal and fundamental law of progress, both temporal and spiritual. The aristocracy of righteousness is the only aristocracy that God recognizes. This leaves no room for self-righteous expressions in words or actions of being "holier than thou." There is a real unity in the human race, and all men have a right to equal consideration as human beings, regardless of their race, creed, or color.
For any church, country, nation, or other group to believe that it is the only people in whom God is interested or that it has special merit because of color, race, or belief, that they are inherently superior and loved by God, without regard to the lives they live, is not only a great and dangerous fallacy but is a continuing barrier to peace. This is demoralizing, whether it is the exploded and presumptuous myth of an Aryan race of supermen or disguised in more subtle forms. Let us steadfastly avoid such demoralizing arrogance.
The most important problem facing us in working out a long-range program for peace is a tolerant and sympathetic understanding between races and creeds. As Thomas Bracken wrote:
"O God, that men would see a little clearer, Or judge less harshly where they cannot see! O God, that men would draw a little nearer To one another! They'd be nearer Thee, And understood."
It is regrettable that very few people in the world are free from the idea that they and their people and race are superior. The people on this continent were instructed that they should not hiss nor spurn nor make game of any remnant of the house of Israel, "for behold, the Lord remembereth his covenant unto them, and he will do unto them according to that which he hath sworn".
We have fought two world wars and numerous other engagements to secure freedom and self-determination for ourselves and others, and yet we know the same old satanic forces are at work to destroy the peace and prosperity of the human family. We cannot have peace in the world until we have tolerance and understanding. The happiness we seek can only be found in righteousness, for wickedness never was happiness. There is no legerdemain method of getting blessings.
We are reminded by one of the prophets that if men die in their wickedness, they will be cast off as to things that are spiritual and must be brought to stand before God to be judged of their works. If their works have been filthiness, they must be filthy, and if they be filthy, it must be that they cannot dwell in the kingdom of God; there cannot be any unclean thing enter into that kingdom.
Having briefly considered then his preexistence, his mortal birth, his transcendent ministry, his crucifixion and miraculous resurrection and ascension, let us look to the future: is his work finished or is he still active and interested in the affairs of men? will he appear again on this earth?
The scriptures are replete with predictions and warnings concerning this event, but time will permit us to refer to but few of them.
Job said, "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth".
And Isaiah promises, "... behold your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you".
In Malachi we read, "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple".
We find many references to his second coming in the New Testament. Near Bethany, at the time of the ascension of the Lord, a prediction was made by the angel: "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven".
In Matthew 25:31 we read, "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory".
Luke tells us that great events shall precede his coming: "Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
"Men's hearts [shall fail them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
"And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory".
And the Apostle Paul tells us in Thessalonians 4:16, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first".
The Savior himself on many occasions predicted his return to earth. In Matthew 16:27 we read, "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works".
After referring to the signs that would precede his coming, he said, "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory".
We humbly, but without any equivocation, add our own witness to the testimonies of the apostles and prophets of old that God is not dead but is gloriously alive and that Jesus Christ not only did live, but that he still lives, that he is a personal being, that he will triumphantly come again with his resurrected, glorified body still bearing the marks of the crucifixion.
We humbly repeat what we often sing: "I know that my Redeemer lives! He lives, all glory to his name! He lives, my Savior still the same; O sweet the joy this sentence gives: 'I know that my Redeemer lives!'" to which I testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Paul H. Dunn
Paul H. Dunn, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 121-124
My beloved brothers and sisters, and I include all who listen in that salutation, I have been moved by the testimonies and the witnesses that have borne evidence again these past days and this morning to me of the truthfulness of the gospel. I am grateful for this opportunity to declare to you the inner feelings of my heart. It was just a few days ago that my little six-year-old daughter, Kellie, came rushing up to me and, throwing herself into my arms with all the exuberance that only youth can display, she said, "Daddy did you know it is only three more days until Easter?" I assured her that I did. Then she, with an anxious look, wanted to know just what it all meant, and so we took a moment to visit. We talked about the eternal things that have been so prominent in this conference. As we discussed the eternal verities of the gospel of Jesus Christ on a six-year-old plane, I commenced to think about the real meaning of Easter, as we do on these occasions. It reminded me of the delightful poem that Grace Daniels has recorded for us. Let me share it with you:
"EASTER IS COMING"
"'Easter is coming,'" I said to a boy, A wee, little lad, by the way; His eyes were bright and he smiled with delight As he quickly looked up from his play. 'Oh, yes, I know Easter, for that is the time When the bunny brings eggs red and blue, And inside they're just like what old chickie lays, But some are real candy too.'
"'Easter is coming,' I said to a maid, With brown eyes and shining brown hair. I looked in her eyes and not with surprise Saw the dreamlight of youth resting there. 'Yes, I know it is coming,' she shyly replied, 'And if you never will tell, There's a wedding that day and I'm going away To dear little home on the hill.'
"'Easter is coming,' I said to a man, To whom middle-age brought no reprieve. His silvering hair told of worry and care, And his voice held a note of peeve. 'Don't talk about Easter, that's all I can hear, Easter hats, Easter gowns, Easter shoes, And for ruffles and frills, old Dad pays the bills, Do you wonder I'm down with the blues?'
"'Easter is coming,' I said to a man With bent form and beard white as snow. His dim eyes grew bright with a wonder light And his withered old face was aglow. 'Ah, friend, 'tis a message I fain would proclaim To striving humanity. To me it means life, resurrection of youth, To endure through eternity.'
"I pondered their answers for many a day, For each with its meaning was fraught, And each one so different, yet, right in its way, But what was the answer I sought? Must pleasure come foremost, whatever the cost, While life, youth, and love have their day? And must the true meaning of Easter be lost Till we come to the end of the way?
"As springtime approaches with beckoning hands And the promise of things 'born anew,' And Easter draws near with its myriad of plans, Just what does it mean to you?"
I am sure to many of us it means new clothes, perhaps a vacation from school, spring at last, or the beginning of baseball season. These are all quite wonderful and vital to us, but they are not the real reasons we celebrate Easter.
Just a few weeks ago I stood beside the casket of a very close friend who had been taken in the prime of his life, leaving a young widow and four tiny children. And as we stood in that sacred room while the family said their last goodbyes, my, it tugged at my heartstrings to watch a little four-year-old boy slip his hand into that of his mother and, wistfully looking up at her, ask the question, "Mama, will we ever see Daddy again?" I am sure this scene has been repeated many times throughout all the world, because death brings us face to face with the question of the ages. To quote Job as we frequently do at this time of the year, "If a man die, shall he live again?".
It was just 21 years ago on another Easter morning when a great armada of ships assembled in the bay off the island of Okinawa. And on that Easter morn as I looked upon the faces of those who were to take the beach, one of the great, great questions of all the ages seemed again to be registered by those men. "What hope is there in the future?"
The answer came to me, I believe, in the midst of one of my darkest hours. As I pushed ashore with my buddies, I crawled a few feet into the sand, and there I found a young soldier in the last moment of this life. I didn't know his name, nor could I tell you to which faith he belonged. As I tried to give him a little bit of comfort, his last words were these: "Out of this filth, death, destruction, will come a new world and a new way of life." In the face of what seemed to be his defeat he saw the real victory. And almost in a providential way, just a few yards from where he lay was a patch of Easter lilies, signifying to those who would observe the new birth and the new way of life. It was later I discovered that Okinawa was the Easter lily capital of the Orient.
It is when we encounter experiences such as these that questions are often raised that one wants to know, and rightly so: How can we know the reality of the resurrection? Is it true? One of the great educators of our Church, Dr. Lowell Bennion, has listed for us four ways by which we can come to know truth or reality. First, he says, by accepting it on the authority of someone else, second, by thinking; third, by experiencing; and fourth, by feeling, which we in this Church would call inspiration or revelation.
Let me just discuss for a moment each of these channels by which we come to know.
First, authority. There was a time when a prodigious mind, such as that of Aristotle and Herbert Spencer, could survey the entire field of human knowledge and draw conclusions. But with the great accumulation of knowledge that has been derived through specialization, no single person can grasp all of the learning that is now available to mankind. For this reason man is compelled to rely upon the experience or authority of others for some of his information. Each of us turns to the doctor, the dentist, the lawyer, the teacher, the mechanic, the spiritual leaders, and many other persons for guidance in particular problems. The student of chemistry, for example, does not begin from scratch to rely upon his own experience. He uses the efforts of the teacher, the text, the reference book, and other sources of authority. To bypass such a vast accumulation of knowledge would be folly indeed.
Likewise, in religion we have preserved for us the sayings and teachings and testimonies of Moses, of Amos, of Paul, of Alma in the Book of Mormon; of Joseph Smith in his life and teachings; and of course, of the Christ. These were not persons who were eccentric, but individuals who were significant in stature, living in real-life situations, claiming wisdom from God, and bearing personal testimony that these things that are recorded in our scriptures are indeed true. They too deserve an honest hearing.
Reason
Second, reason or thinking. In man's search for truth, the mind plays a leading role. Man, as a child of God, was created in the image of his Heavenly Father, the glory of whose intelligence is reflected in the beauty and orderliness of the universe. Why should man, God's child living in his world, not trust his own mind and use it earnestly as one avenue by which he can come to know the truth about reality-in this case, the resurrection?
The mind has the ability to weave the separate experiences of life into larger and more unified views. Each day the mind is bombarded with numerous ideas, impressions, perceptions, and feelings from without and from within. These enter the mind in a disorganized and miscellaneous fashion, but the human mind has the ability to bring a measure of order out of chaos by establishing meaningful relationships among phenomena that it experiences.
However, reason alone is not a sufficient guide to truth. For, as Goethe has said, "Human life divided by reason leaves a remainder." Through reason alone one cannot choose a mate, find God, or determine all things of greatest value.
Experience
Third, experience. One of the most trustworthy avenues to truth lies along the path of experience. Each of us has a rich amount of it, for it is common to all. In the affairs of everyday life, we learn to trust experience. We learn sweetness by taste, softness by touch, colors by sight, and joy and sorrow, love and hate directly in life situations. There is no substitute for experience, and without it we cannot know the truth.
Two types of experience have been described: that which is based on science and its discoveries and that which is common to all of us in everyday life. The latter, which is a nonscientific experience, is just as real and may also be a valid source of knowledge, but it is often either more general or more unique and, therefore, somewhat more difficult to communicate to others.
Experiences of this type play an important role in religion. Many religious principles can be practiced and experienced in everyday life. The validity of religion does not rest on faith alone. We feel and observe the effects of selfishness, greed, lust, and hate. We also observe and feel the opposite effects of unselfishness, generosity, purity of heart, and love. Faith and repentance and forgiveness are not abstract principles but are real parts of life. Prayer and worship are religious experiences for those who participate in them with faith.
Revelation
And finally, revelation. Despite the great emphasis on reason and the experience of science, inspiration also plays a very important role in discovering truth. Scientists have testified that some of their most profound insights have come to them, not in the labored process of logical thought, but as unexpected, unpremeditated hunches, possibly as flashes from the imagination, the subconscious mind, or even from God. They, too, recognize inspiration as a source of knowledge.
Revelation is communication from God to man. It is another avenue to truth, to a correct knowledge of reality. Revelation includes all the other avenues.
A prophet is not without experience in human life, for he lives among men and with himself. He is not insensitive to good and evil, right and wrong, joy and sorrow, life and death. Questions and problems come to his mind. He thinks, he reflects, and he searches for the answers; and then-and this step is distinctive in the life of a prophet-he turns to God in humility and faith. When the answer comes, it is usually not in an audible tone, although it can be and often has been in both former and latter days, but more often it comes through the "still, small voice" of the Comforter. This Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, clarifies the mind of the prophet and causes his bosom to burn within him so that he knows the will of God. Then he declares it to man. The testimony or reality of these things can be the personal experience of every honest, seeking individual in the world. T through these channels man has come to know the reality of Christ's life, divine mission, death, and eventual resurrection.
In answer to the questions: "If a man die, shall he live again?" and "What hope is there for the future?" I summarize the words of our prophet seer, and revelator, President David O. McKay, who spoke yesterday:
To sincere believers in Christianity, to all who accept Christ as their Savior, his resurrection is not a symbol but a reality. As Christ lived after death so shall all men, each taking his place in the next world for which he has best fitted himself. With this assurance, obedience to eternal law should be a joy, not a burden, for compliance with the principles of the gospel brings happiness and peace. "He is not here," said a witness many years ago, "but is risen". Because Christ does live, so shall we. And then President McKay bore his sacred witness to that effect.
And I would like to declare to President McKay and to all of you this day that I too know that my Redeemer lives, and I give you that witness in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Alvin R. Dyer
Alvin R. Dyer, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 124-127
This morning I shall speak of him whom we honor this day and always, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, known to his contemporaries as Jesus of Nazareth and the Son of the carpenter. He taught the true meaning and purpose of life, which led Paul to say: "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable".
The story of the birth and life of Jesus of Nazareth is now accepted almost universally by mankind. But the power and efficacy of his earth-life existence and the purpose of it are subjects of controversy, also universally. Even within the realms of a Christendom there exists a vast canyon of variance as to who he is, the purpose of his mission, and the meaning of life that he propounded.
In the eyes of many of his contemporaries he was a disturber, an inciter to political division. We have this from Pundit Nehru, the Indian leader, and I quote:
"Jesus talked a strange language of revolt against existing conditions and the social order. In particular he was against the rich and the hypocrites who made of religion a matter of certain observances and ceremonial. Instead of promising wealth and glory, he asked people to give up even what they had for a vague and mythical Kingdom of Heaven. He talked in stories and parables, but it is clear that he was a born rebel who could not tolerate existing conditions and was out to change them. This was not what the Jews wanted, and so most of them turned against him and handed him over to the Roman authorities."
But to the humble and sincere who believed his message, he was worshiped and loved.
We who are here today have a firm conviction of the true purpose of his mission and life.
In our hearts we feel much the same as the two who walked unbeknown to them with the resurrected Christ, Cleopas and another, who, while walking to Emmaus at the time of the resurrection, were discussing Jesus as they journeyed. The Master joined them and opened the scriptures to their eyes. Impressed, they asked him to tarry with them as they stopped to be refreshed.
Not knowing that he was the resurrected Christ, they asked further questions but did not understand his answers. But they talked together concerning the events of the past days that had greatly disturbed the area around about. The Christ also asked them questions, and alarmed at his questions Cleopas said:
"Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
"And said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people".
Then said they: We had supposed him to be the one to redeem our people, but now he is gone, having been turned over to the high priests. Yet they said it has been three days, and we wonder. Still, a woman among us has been to the grave, and he is not there. Others of us have also been to the sepulcher, and we found him not. What does it all mean?
Then said Jesus unto them, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe..."
Later their eyes were open and they knew him, but he had vanished. Said they: "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way?".
As we contemplate his life and mission, our hearts burn within us, for we know that he lives.
He is Christ the Lord, the Redeemer of mankind, who according to the plan wrought the atonement, which made possible the redemption of the soul in all its glorified implications. We believe and know him to be divine, the Son of God, our Heavenly Father, and who himself being a separate and distinct personage also is a God. This is abundantly attested to in the holy scriptures and by direct and divine manifestation to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
There are many who will deny his divinity and ascribe unto him the rank of teacher and perhaps prophet. Many there are of his professed disciples, who speak from the pulpits that bear his name, who turn away when challenged as to the actuality of his divinity.
The weakening trends of faith in Christ today are the same as in the time of test when he ministered among men upon the earth. He taught them in the hills of Judea and on the shores of Galilee; he satisfied them with miracles and fed them with loaves and fishes. The multitude followed him everywhere he went, but when the time came for him to tell them of his divine mission and that he was the Son of God, they turned from him and walked no more with him. Accept him as a teacher and a provider of both physical and spiritual food? Yes! Acknowledge him as the Son of God and divine? No, this they could not do, and they turned away from him.
What of Christ today? Nearly 2,000 years have passed since his glorification. Men ignore the purpose and the meaning of existence for which he gave his life, yet will give credence to the exhumed doctrines of the madman Nietzsche and the immoralist Plato, who taught that God is dead and that man drifts in an endless nothingness, that mankind generally has no spiritual contact with God the Father and his glorified Son. These live in the shadows of confusion, without a sense of reference or a cause for being. Here are the soul cries of some of these men:
"Until a man figures out the trap and hunts... the ultimate ground of being," ponders one, "he has no reason at all for his existence. Empty, finite, he knows only that he will soon die. Since this life has no meaning, and he sees no future life, he is not really a person but a victim of self extinction."
Another has exclaimed: "How long can man bear emptiness?" Still another: "Here is what frightens me. To see the sense of life dissipated. To see our reason for existence disappear. That is what is intolerable. Men cannot live without meaning." And from still another: "When I consider the short duration of my life, swallowed up in eternity before and after, the little space I fill, and even can see, engulfed in the infinite immensity of space of which I am ignorant, and which knows me not, I am frightened, and am astonished being here rather than there, why now rather than then."
The immensity of the universe and man's relationship to time and eternity cause him to ask over and over again: Who am I? Where did I come from? What is my destiny? Why should man come into mortal existence and then fade and die?
The answer to this is that the way to eternal life is in the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent. Heeding not this eternal truth, men are groping in darkness. The way out of the shadows into the light is in the revealed wisdom of the gospel of Jesus Christ communicated unto the spirit of man. But he must respond to this unmistakable truth of eternal life by the innate power within himself.
Exposed to the truth in this manner, he will see and feel his life calibrated to eternal existence and will thus be in the way of joy and perfection; herein lies the true meaning of the resurrection of the Christ, who as the pattern for all men proclaimed "I am the way, the truth, and the life no man cometh unto the Father, but by me".
Concerning a fullness of joy obtained through resurrection, the Lord revealed this thought to Joseph Smith: "For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy".
But it is impossible for man, as man, devoid of revelation from God to understand the plan of life and salvation. Jacob, a righteous son of the prophet Lehi, declared: "... great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him, and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him".
Without divine communication man stands confused about his own existence. He is faced with many conflicting concepts of the meaning of life and of his destiny, or no meaning and destiny at all! To find the way to an understanding of himself, man must, as a beginning, rely upon normal innate instincts. This inner force is personal; it is instinctive. But he must be consciously aware of what this power can do for him as he responds to the forces of good and the teachings of truth for which the Christ sacrificed his life.
The great French philosopher and teacher Du Nouy spoke with inspiration when he said the most effective path that can eventually lead to the comprehension of man is revelation. This "direct road," says he, "... is closed to a great many people and independent of rational thought. Those who can make use of it are fortunate." But make use of it he must if he is to find God and the meaning of life.
Scientific, religious, and educational thought that is bent on revising and supposedly amplifying man's knowledge and that does not keep alive the fundamental concept of the eternal nature of God and his Beloved Son and their relationship to man in eternity creates only secular concepts and mere rationalization. Such indoctrination imposes false direction, retarding man's natural response to the truth.
But man may know of the eternal truths of redemption made effectual by the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God. Concerning this the Apostle Paul declared:
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
"But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
"For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
"Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned".
In conclusion, in these times of stress a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith might well be repeated with significant meaning:
"Hearken, O ye people of my church, to whom the kingdom has been given; hearken ye and give ear to him who laid the foundation of the earth, who made the heavens and all the hosts thereof, and by whom all things were made which live, and move, and have a being.
"And again I say, hearken unto my voice, lest death shall overtake you; in an hour when ye think not the summer shall be past, and the harvest ended, and your souls not saved.
"Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him".
It is my sincere conviction that God has literally spoken unto a prophet at this crucial time in our world's history. The truth has been restored. Each must stand the burden of his own blame if he does not take advantage of the revealed knowledge about God and his Son Jesus Christ, who is the author of the plan of salvation that gives to mankind the purpose and meaning of life and of man's eternal destiny. The heralds of truth representing the Church and kingdom of God restored to earth are this day among the nations of mankind throughout the world declaring this message. To this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Ezra T. Benson
Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 128-132
Humbly I approach this sacred assignment on this glorious Easter Sunday.
Today as a great Christian nation-a nation with a spiritual foundation-we join the Christian world in commemoration of that all-important and glorious event-the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I bear witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world, the very Son of God.
He was born the Babe of Bethlehem.
He lived and ministered among men.
He was crucified on Calvary.
He is risen-really resurrected.
He has appeared to men as a glorified Eternal King-in Palestine and also in America.
I bear this witness to all, but direct my remarks today especially to our youth of the free world for whom I have great hope and a fervent prayer.
My text, from Luke in the New Testament, stands out boldly in its impressive beauty. It covers a period of 18 years following the return of Jesus from Jerusalem to Nazareth. Except for this one rich sentence of greatest import, the scriptures for this 18-year period are silent:
"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man".
Here then in one sentence-14 words-is the impressive, meaningful, and comprehensive account of 18 years of preparation of the Son of God the Savior and Redeemer of the world.
From these impressively simple words of Luke we can well take inspiration for this hour:
"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man".
Here in broad outline, in one succinct sentence-four points-are given the major fields of man's activity and striving-mental, physical, spiritual, and social.
Young men and women, remember, it is people-not things-that are all-important. Character is the one thing we make in this world and take with us into the next. God's purpose is to build people of character, not physical monuments to their material accumulations.
Point 1: "And Jesus increased in wisdom..."
In the 14th chapter of John, Jesus is tenderly saying his farewell to his disciples after the last supper. He tells them that he goes to prepare a place for them in his Father's house; that where he is, they also may be. And Thomas says to him:
"Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me". The road lies before us. It is clearly marked.
In Proverbs we read: "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding".
This same Jesus who increased in wisdom declared to a modern prophet: "Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be rich".
It was once thought, and still is in some places, that when a young man sets out upon a quest for academic knowledge, his faith in God would soon be destroyed. Our youth generally are living proof to the contrary. It is not the search for knowledge-nor knowledge itself-that costs a man his faith. It is rather the conceit of small minds proving anew that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing It is intellectual pride that leads one to think he is self-sufficient in matters of mind and of spirit. Let us ever realize the vast difference that exists between discovery of the truth and the custodian of all truth. The one is human; the other is divine.
Religion and science have sometimes been in apparent conflict. Yet the conflict should only be apparent, not real, for science should seek truth, and true religion is truth. There can never be conflict between revealed religion and scientific fact. That they have often occupied different fields of truth is a mere detail. The gospel accepts and embraces all truth; science is slowly expanding her arms and reaching into the invisible domain in search of truth. The two are meeting daily-science as a child, revealed religion as the mother. Truth is truth, whether labeled science or religion. There can be no conflict. Time is on the side of truth-for truth is eternal.
Yes, truth is always consistent, whether it is revealed direct from God to man through his inspired prophets or comes from the laboratory through the diligent searching of his children and the influence of the spirit of the Lord upon them.
Youth of the free nations, you face a changing world beset with many perplexities. But while change is and will continue to be all about us in the physical world, we must recognize that there are certain heaven-sent verities, principles, and values that are eternal. These never change.
As you travel life's highway, you will encounter theories, proposals, and programs that have wide appeal. You will be required to pass your judgment on them. Be not misled. Remember that ideas and theories are either sound or unsound; soundness does not depend upon which men hold them.
Our inability to explain a thing in terms of our materialism does not disprove its reality.
"Opinions at variance with time-honored beliefs, although receiving considerable current acceptance, may not always rest on truth." It is the truth that endures. It is the truth that makes men courageous enough to become Christlike. It is the truth that makes men and nations free. Yes, be intelligent. Intelligence is the wise and judicious use of knowledge.
Continue to grow mentally-to grow in wisdom-to grow in truth. Desire it! Pray for it! Study it! Practice it!
Do all this and you will find truth; it cannot be denied you. Having found it, never forget its source, remembering always that "the glory of God is in truth".
"And Jesus increased in wisdom..." Like the master, in whose footsteps you should follow, may you constantly increase in wisdom.
Point 2: "And Jesus increased in... stature..."
You, the youth of the free world, are the trustees of posterity. The future of your country will, sooner than you think, rest in your hands and those of your contemporaries.
Be worthy trustees. Continue to grow in stature.
Be cheerful in all that you do. Live joyfully. Live happily. Live enthusiastically, knowing that God does not dwell in gloom and melancholy, but in light and love.
A clean mind in a healthy body will enable you to render far more effective service to others. It will help you to provide more vigorous leadership. It will give your every experience in life more zest and meaning. Robust health is a noble and worthwhile attainment.
Possibly the best measure of the stature of men or women is in their own homes, at their own firesides. Some of you have already established homes. Practically all of you will do so. As you look hopefully forward, what conclusions have you reached about marriage, the home, and family?
Are you planning for honorable parenthood even at the sacrifice perhaps of parties, clubs, and other social enticements? Parenthood carries with it peculiar responsibilities. Are you planning to accept these without quibbling? Are you willing to accept and enthrone motherhood as the highest calling of woman?
No nation rises above its homes. In building character the church, the school, and even the nation stand helpless when confronted with a weakened and degraded home. The good home is the rock foundation-the cornerstone of civilization. There can be no genuine happiness separate and apart from a good home, with the old-fashioned virtues at its base. If your nation is to endure, the home must be safeguarded, strengthened, and restored to its rightful importance.
Remember that moral purity is an eternal principle. Its violation destroys the noblest qualities and aspirations of man. Purity is life-giving; unchastity is deadly.
Moral purity is one of the greatest bulwarks of successful homemaking. Happy and successful homes-let alone individual lives-cannot be built on immorality.
Youthful sweethearts, be true to God's holy laws. Remember they cannot be broken with impunity. If you would be happy and successful in your early association, courtship, and homebuilding, conform your lives to the eternal laws of heaven. There is no other way.
And in so doing you shall increase "in stature."
Point 3: "And Jesus increased... in favour with... man."
The formula for successful relationships with others boils down to that divine code known as the Golden Rule:
"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them...".
It was the Master who said:
"... whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant".
Unselfish, willing service to others was the keynote of his relationship with men.
"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many".
Love one another. Serve your fellowmen. The example has been given you. The road lies clearly before you.
If we would serve God through service to our brethren, we shall have need of a love for work.
Energetic, purposeful work leads to vigorous health, praiseworthy achievement a clear conscience, and refreshing sleep. It has always been a boon to man. Have a wholesome respect for labor, whether with head, heart, or hand. Accept the challenge given by one of America's eminent journalists, Edward W. Bok:
"When you are called to get into the game, get into it good and strong. There's no fun in going through life spoon-fed; in finding the soft seat. That makes a man soft, and a soft man is an abomination before God and man. And put everything you've got into it Take hold and carry the biggest load your shoulders can carry, and then carry it right. Set the pace for others, don't let them set it for you."
May you ever enjoy the satisfaction of honest toil. The decree that by the sweat of his brow man should eat bread is still basic. You will never wish or dream yourself into heaven. You must pay the price in toil, in sacrifice, and in righteous living.
It is a truism that "security is achieved not bestowed." It cannot be gained by self-pity or compromising principles. The world owes no man a living.
Youth of the world, as you strive to increase in favor with man, be ever on your guard that you do not unwittingly, in the name of tolerance, broadmindedness, and so-called liberalism, encourage foreign "isms" and unsound theories that strike at the very root of all we hold dear, including our faith in God. Proposals will be offered and programs will be sponsored that have wide, so-called "humanitarian" appeal. Attractive labels are usually attached to the most dangerous programs, often in the name of public welfare and personal security.
Have the courage to apply this standard of truth. Determine what the effect of the various issues at stake is upon the character, the integrity, and freedom of man. Which increase his freedom? Which abrogate or destroy? Which recognize and respect the individual dignity of man?
We have the greatest material wealth ever known because we are free, and our people have been encouraged to produce it-out of themselves.
It is foolish to place our material wealth first and decide that it, rather than the freedom and energy that produced it, is our real wealth.
Freedom, a willingness to work, and the desire to serve your God through service to your fellowmen-these are the sources of true wealth. Cling fast to these truths, and you must inevitably increase in favor with man. "And Jesus increased... in favour... with man."
Point 4: "And Jesus increased... in favour with God..."
Seek first the Kingdom of God
This is the most important of all man's strivings-without it, nothing is of the slightest account.
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?".
Growing in favor with God is the most important because it is the veritable foundation upon which all other worthwhile blessings rest. Concerning this fact the Savior admonished his disciples:
"... seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you".
Spiritual strength promotes positive thinking, positive ideals, positive habits, positive attitudes, and positive efforts. These are the qualities that promote wisdom, physical and mental well-being, and enthusiastic acceptance and response by others. "Favour with God" gives necessary incentive and perspective to life. It gives man real purpose for living and achieving.
As always, we have the example of the Master to guide us. "My meat," he said, "is to do the will of him that sent me".
And again: "Father... I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do".
We increase in favor with God as we do the will of God. Let us be faithful in the work he gives us, whatever it may be and whatever our station in life. Let our desires be in harmony with God's will as it is revealed to us-keeping his word in our hearts-conquering selfish desires that would lead us astray.
If we would advance in holiness-increase in favor with God-nothing can take the place of prayer. And so I adjure you to give prayer-daily prayer-secret prayer-a foremost place in your lives. Let no day pass without it. Communion with the Almighty has been a source of strength, inspiration, and enlightenment to men and women through the world's history who have shaped the destinies of individuals and nations for good.
Will you value and take advantage of the opportunity to tap these unseen but very real spiritual powers? Will you, with Lincoln before Gettysburg and Washington at Valley Forge, humble yourselves before Almighty God in fervent prayer?
Prayer will help you understand the apparent conflicts in life-to know that God lives, that life is eternal.
Be not ashamed to believe and proclaim that God lives, that he is the Father of our spirits; that Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer of the world; that the resurrection is a reality; that we lived as spirits before mortal birth and will live again as immortal beings through the eternities to come. Blessed are you if you have a testimony of these things. These great spiritual truths have seen systems come and go, and so it will be in the future. These truths will, if you are wise, take precedence in your lives over all contrary theories, dogmas, or hypotheses from whatever source or by whomsoever advocated.
Therefore go forward intelligently and yield simple and loyal obedience to all the laws of the universe and the truths of eternity.
Yours is a great responsibility in this day when the need for courageous leadership is so urgent:
You can become those leaders!
Young men and women of the Free World, yours is a great challenge. You can be choice spirits in your land. Forget not that each of you has been endowed with the priceless gift of free agency. Each of you is, in very deed, the master of your fate, and Christ should be the captain of your soul. You need not be the victims of circumstance, for unto you it is given to achieve and become "perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect".
Jesus lives today. He is risen. This I know.
"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man".
May you, by following this same path, merit the same commendation. For if you follow this divine pattern established by the resurrected Christ, you cannot fail, for you will have fulfilled the measure of your creation.
Yes, Jesus Christ is divine. He lives today. He was resurrected. He is the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world.
I bear this witness and pray that the young men and women of all the world may be blessed with a testimony of this all-important truth, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President N. Eldon Tanner
N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 133-139
President McKay, my beloved colleagues, brothers and sisters, and all you in this great conference today and who are listening in, it is with a deep feeling of humility that I stand before you in this great conference today and participate with you as we commemorate the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.
The inspiring talks we have heard and the lovely music to which we have listened and the beautiful spirit that has pervaded this whole conference, I am sure, have touched our hearts and helped us to appreciate the great significance and sacredness of this occasion that we are commemorating today. The most important and most significant of all events that have happened in the history and life of mankind are the birth, life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten of God the Eternal Father.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".
The scriptures give us an accurate and dramatic account of how Christ went about doing good, healing the sick, making the blind to see and the lame to walk, how he was persecuted, tried, and sentenced to death; how he was betrayed; the agony he suffered before he was actually hanged on the cross. Yet in spite of all persecution and suffering, he said as he was hanged on the cross: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do".
And his last words before he died were: "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit".
As the women, through their love, came seeking Jesus at the tomb, the most glorious of all messages was given to them by the angel who said: "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said".
Then we have the irrefutable testimonies of Peter and John and the other apostles and many others who saw him and talked to him after his resurrection and were instructed by him, both in the Old World and on this the American continent.
I say to the world as the late President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., said in his closing words to a large group of business leaders at a dinner given in his honor in New York City:
"For us Christians he is the Christ, the Only Begotten Son of the Living God, the Creator under God, of the earth, the Redeemer of the world, our Savior, the First Fruits of the Resurrection, which comes to all born into this earth, believer and unbeliever alike, the only name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Today, while we in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, together with millions of others throughout the world, believe in God the Eternal Father and in his Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost, there are those who are trying to convince the world that God is dead. Some claim to be Christians, yet atheists, and claim that God died in Christ.
This theory is not new, but it is more serious and probably worthy of our attention because the argument is originating within Christendom and is being argued by intellectuals, theologians teachers of the seminaries in universities, ministers, and bishops who preach it from the pulpit and perpetrate it in books and magazines.
The seriousness of the claim that God is dead is also emphasized by conditions in the colleges in America today. In Cornell University's Value Study, the researchers found little or no evidence of absolute conviction or adherence, and ended by calling student belief "secular religion."
In the Weekly Religious Review, we read: "It is a serious theological matter, though not without its comical aspects, all of a sudden seminary professors are popping up in every country, it seems, saying: 'We simply must stop believing in God.' Faith, they say, wagging their heads at their students is no longer possible."
It is significant to note that many of America's colleges were originally founded by religious groups for religious purposes. During most of the nineteenth century they were centers of religious activity, but in this century there has been a radical shift toward religious neutralism among academic leaders. Thus the student of traditional faith may discover that his cherished convictions are ignored, dismissed, and silenced or questioned by another standard of belief. Their decline in a secular environment, intellectually and morally, is rapid and not infrequently disastrous.
In order to help our students meet this trend, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the policy of establishing seminaries and institutes near every high school and university where there are sufficient of our students to justify it. I would encourage parents to have their children attend schools where these facilities are available. These people who profess and promote the "God is dead" theory say that it is old-fashioned to believe in God and warn that unless Christians bring their faith into line with modern knowledge, Christian faith itself will be abandoned. Can you think of anything more abhorrent than to claim that we should seek to make God acceptable to man rather than to try to bring man back to God?
The promise given by God to Israel as found in Deuteronomy is worthy of our very careful attention:
"But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
"When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice
When you read the prayer offered by Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, as he left his three apostles, "and he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt", is there any doubt in your mind that he was talking to his Father, that he knew God lived?
Then as he reported to his Father in that beautiful prayer recorded in John 17: "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
"As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
"I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
"And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was".
Can anyone believe in Christ, accept his words, and doubt that God lives, that he stands ready to hear and answer prayers, and that he is the Father of Jesus Christ?
Let us consider Joseph Smith's own words as he tells of his experience when he went to God in prayer after reading in James: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him".
Joseph says: "At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to ask of God, concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture.
"So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt".
As a result of this earnest and sincere prayer, he had a visitation that gave further evidence in this dispensation of the reality of the Father and the Son. He records: "When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!".
In spite of all these examples of the force of prayer, much doubt seems to exist in the world today; therefore, it is evident that somewhere along the line the churches have lost touch with the twentieth century. Could this be because they have lost touch with God and have been led by blind guides? If so, there is good reason, as all seem to agree, why the old forms must be changed and for us to return to God.
To help us understand how prevalent this need is and how important it is for all people individually to acknowledge and return to God, I should like to refer to one source of evidence that might be helpful.
During the last decade, an average of about 10,000 young men have been acting full-time in a religious peace corps throughout the world. They are our Mormon missionaries. They spend a good part of every day in person to person contact with all the world's culture-the churched, the unchurched, the high and the low, the Christian and the non-Christian. They meet millions of people in their homes and in makeshift settings, at which time they discuss God and prayer.
As these missionaries kneel with their new-found friends in prayer and teach them to pray, they pour out their hearts to the Lord in all humility. They find that prayer has become as meaningless to many people as the purpose of life has become meaningless. They find that few pray in any satisfying or in any effective way. They find that very few have any form of family prayer. It is appalling to find how few people feel that they are really praying to a living God or have any clear expectation of what the result might be. In fact, if they believe in God, they admit they believe in a kind of God and in a kind of religiousness, but to actually talk to God is foreign to them.
Many say: "Praying is listening to music or responding to nature."
Others say: "I have my own kind of prayer."
And still others say: "Prayer at its best is just silence-seeking nothing, expecting nothing."
The most difficult problem the missionaries have is to get the people whom they are trying to teach to kneel down and actually pray with them. This attitude toward prayer is clearly pointed out in a report of a recent survey of one of the outstanding centers of religion in the United States.
All of the students here are preparing either for teaching or ministerial careers in religion. The survey showed that only 9 percent of them reported having any significant prayer life. The others said "None" or "Almost none," yet all said they were deeply religious and cared to help others become so.
If these cases are typical, one must come to the conclusion that the world has reached the point at which they think of God, whatever God is, as a kind of being who makes prayer meaningless, or something to which one cannot go for guidance, strength, and comfort.
These Mormon missionaries of whom I spoke have had some very outstanding and encouraging experiences with those who have learned to pray to a living God. They have seen hundreds of thousands of them come alive to reality.
One outstanding businessman, when asked how he happened to become interested in the Church, said to me personally: "When I knelt with those boys and heard them pray, I knew that they knew to whom they were speaking." He went on to say that as he became interested, he too began to pray to a living God and proved without doubt the statement of Moroni therein he said:
"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye should ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true, and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost".
Nothing can bring a greater feeling of joy and peace and satisfaction and security to us than to know that God is present and interested in us. This changes the outlook and the lives of the people when they have discovered or rediscovered that prayer is a vital, vibrant link. Then their lives become meaningful, and the change is evident to all.
As these people who now know through prayer that God lives try to explain their attitude toward prayer before they met the missionaries, it brings us to one conclusion, and that is that men were deadened toward God, and not that God is dead. Until they are conscious of a living God to whom they can go, the gospel means very little to them.
The issue, then, becomes quite clear; that it is not what kind of God man can believe in, but what kind of man does the living God reach. One able theologian makes this profound statement:
It may be that the funeral that is now being held in some churches is not for a God who had died, but for a God who was never alive, whom it was blasphemy to worship, and is now folly to mourn. Before such a God one can pray himself to death-in vain."
For those who have been worshiping an unknown God, or idols of some kind or other, the crumbling of these gods or idols may be a good thing, providing the worshipers can see beyond the idols. It may be that our cultures in the twentieth century are so sick and tired of false prophets that many are not interested in or capable of listening to true ones and, in fact, not capable of acknowledging that there ever were true prophets. Therefore, they feel no relationship to God and no need of calling on him. This in itself is a most serious situation indeed.
There surely can be no real comfort in what is called an atheistic religion. Imagine a religion in which one can only think of a God who is formless, faceless, and heartless, who makes no demands, who has no consequences, who takes no role in any of the real battles of life except to provide the ground of battle.
What can a man expect of God, or how can he expect God to reach him, if he is convinced that the only proof of God's reality is his total absence or if he has a hundred reasons why divine revelation, if it came, would not be divine and not be revelation?
In referring to these conditions in the world today, the eloquent Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel says:
"I speak as a person who is often afraid and terribly alarmed lest God has turned away from us in disgust and even deprived us of the power to understand his word. Some of us are like patients in the state of final agony, who scream in delirium: The doctor is dead! The doctor is dead!"
In order for life to have a purpose, and for us to know where we came from and why we are here and what our future might hold, it is necessary that we be willing to admit the possibility that God does exist, that his absence is not his will, but our lack of will or our unwillingness to reach, to listen, and to respond.
All down through the ages the prophets have borne testimony that they have talked with God, that they have received instructions and been led by him. This applies to prophets in varying conditions, in different countries, and at different times, including our own. Also, hundreds of thousands of individuals scattered throughout the world today can and do bear testimony that their prayers have been answered in many ways.
What a beautiful sight and experience and what a great privilege and blessing it is for a family to kneel down together in family prayer and talk to God, knowing that he is there, that he will hear and answer their prayers. The value of such a prayer and the influence it has on the individuals who kneel in that prayer, from the father and mother to the youngest child, cannot be measured.
I remember so well as we knelt in family prayer how Father used to talk to the Lord as one man would talk to another, how he expressed his gratitude for his blessings, and how he prayed for the welfare of his family, and how he pled for wisdom and knowledge and courage and strength for all of us to do the right.
He who made us wants us to succeed and stands ready to answer the call. As the Lord said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you".
But as President McKay said at October conference, you must knock, you must ask, and you must seek. The question as to whom can the Lord reach may be answered in the following description given by a young man of a prayer offered by another man. He said:
"I had heard men and women pray ... from the most ignorant, both as to letters and intellect, to the most learned and eloquent, but never until then had I heard a man address his Maker as though He was present listening as a kind father would listen to the sorrows of a dutiful child. was at that time unlearned, but that prayer... to my humble mind, partook of the learning and eloquence of heaven. There was no ostentation, no raising of the voice as by enthusiasm, but a plain conversational tone, as a man would address a present friend. It appeared to me as though, in case the veil were taken away, I could see the Lord standing facing His humblest of all servants I had ever seen. Whether this was really the case I cannot say; but one thing I can say, it was the crowning, so to speak, of all the prayers I ever heard."
This is a description of Joseph Smith by Daniel Tyler, then in his teens, on hearing Joseph, age 30, in Kirtland, Ohio.
Prophets, whether in ancient or modern times, prayed to a God who was alive. For them he is alive and present. He acts, he moves, he informs, he intervenes. He transmits knowledge and power. He is not just ultimate, he is intimate. He is a person. He is a jealous God.
I should like to bear my personal testimony to everyone under the sound of my voice today that I know as I know I live that God lives, that he does hear and answer prayers. When as members of the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve we meet in the temple and join in prayer, he who is mouth actually speaks to the Lord, expressing our gratitude, our concern, asking for strength and wisdom and inspiration. And I wish to bear testimony that I have seen these prayers answered many times.
I know of no greater blessing that I enjoy than to know that I can go to God the Eternal Father in humble prayer, knowing that he is there as a living, personal God. I appeal to all of you who have any doubt in your mind that you accept the words of Jesus Christ himself and of the prophets of every dispensation who have said that God lives, that he is the Creator of mankind, in whose image we are made. Through accepting the gospel as given by Jesus Christ and in going to God in all humility, our prayers will be answered, our success will be greater, our lives will be happier; and through the resurrection of Jesus Christ we may go forward confidently toward immortality and eternal lives into the presence of God the Eternal Father.
May we all prepare ourselves for these blessings, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder James A. Cullimore
James A. Cullimore, Conference Report, April 1966, p. 139-140
My brothers and sisters: I think that possibly only these brethren of the General Authorities who have preceded me can really tell how I feel. I think it is impossible to know unless you go through it yourself.
I am most grateful, however, for this tremendous honor that has been bestowed upon me, for the privilege I have of working with these brethren and with you, in the service of the Lord. I feel very humble in this calling I feel entirely inadequate and unqualified. I think that I feel somewhat as Newel K. Whitney did when he was asked by the Prophet Joseph Smith to be the bishop of Kirtland, for he said that he felt that he was not capable, he was unqualified and just could not do it. After the Prophet had told him that the Lord had called him and that it was by revelation that this was made known, he still didn't feel that he was able and could act. Then the Prophet said, "Go and ask Father for yourself." He went and knelt in humble supplication, and he heard a voice from heaven which said, "Thy strength is in me." He accepted and went about his work, and I understand was a bishop of the Church for some 18 years.
I know that only by virtue of the strength I can receive from the Lord can I be made a qualified and capable servant of the Lord in the fulfillment of this responsibility.
I am so grateful for the heritage that I have, for the teachings of a good mother and capable father who taught me in my youth to love the Lord. I am grateful for the experiences that I have had of living away from Zion-Utah Zion-in the far-flung corners of this country and in many areas of the country. There are many such circumstances as mine all over the world and especially in the United States. I see, as I have made visits to your stakes, that almost without exception a devoted family has been instrumental in the growth of the Church in that particular area, as family members have seen fit to serve the Lord, to devote themselves to the work, and to build the Church.
We are grateful for any part that we may have had in building the Church in the areas where we have lived, and in so doing we have built our testimonies and have felt strong in the things that we have done. I take strength and consolation in the teachings that the Lord gave to the Prophet Joseph Smith wherein he said, "Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great".
One of my favorite scriptures and one from which I receive a great deal of consolation is found in the 59th section of the Doctrine and Covenants: "... he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come". I can think of no greater reward than to have peace in this world, the vindication of the Father, feeling that the things you are doing are acceptable unto the Lord and that you are serving him to such an extent that you have peace in your life. And, of course, all that any of us are working for is eternal life in the world to come.
I bear you my testimony that this is his work and that if we will keep the commandments of the Lord and serve him well, we shall have peace in our souls, we shall have that vindication of the Father, the peace that we are searching for and we shall certainly have eternal life, which is our ultimate goal. I pray for this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Franklin D. Richards
Franklin D. Richards, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 140-142
My dear brothers and sisters, I rejoice in being with you this beautiful day in this peaceful and inspirational environment, knowing that throughout the world there is generally a lack of peace and men's hearts are failing them.
The great need in the world today is a knowledge that God lives and that he governs the affairs of this world, that we are his spirit children, and that he is vitally interested in our welfare. I am grateful for the knowledge I have that God lives and that Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer. I am thankful for my testimony that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, the instrument through which the gospel was restored to earth.
We are blessed beyond measure by having a great prophet who stands at the head of the Church of Jesus Christ at this time, our beloved David O. McKay. May the Lord bless and sustain him. Peace will replace fear in men's hearts when they listen to the counsel of God's Prophet and accept and follow the principles of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
One of the wonderful things about the gospel is that its principles are eternal and unchanging. It is, therefore, true that as we live in accordance with these principles, we are assured results consistent with our compliance. The Lord made this clear when he instructed us through the Prophet Joseph Smith that "all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing".
Regarding this matter, Elder John A. Widtsoe said: "The great governing principles of truth are unchanging. But, the conditions brought about by human activity are forever changing... we span changes that in the past seemed impossible. And undoubtedly the future holds developments that today are equally inconceivable.
"Such changes affect human thinking. New social and economic problems arise. Even the spiritual outlook is invaded. Then, it becomes the duty of the Prophet to teach how the eternal laws of the gospel may be applied amidst constant change, for the benefit and blessing of humanity."
With the rapid changes that are taking place today in every phase of our lives, it is very important that we recognize the eternal nature of principles of truth. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the first great eternal principle of the gospel and is indeed a very vital factor in our lives. Time it is one of the most interesting and inspiring principles to contemplate. I would like to consider with you the principle of faith, together with its corollaries-work and progress.
In consideration of this great principle we should recognize that it does not promise something for nothing. The apostle James asked the question:
"What doth it profit, my brethren though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?
"If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone".
The Prophet Joseph, in speaking on this subject, said: "Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation... and it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God."
"And as faith is the moving cause of all action in temporal concerns, so it is in spiritual".
Frequently we refer to the gospel of Jesus Christ as the gospel of work, and the Prophet Joseph stated in his Lectures on Faith that this means mental as well as physical effort.
Plans are carefully developed before important projects are commenced. All worthwhile endeavors require mental exertion-making decisions or the making up of one's mind-before physical exertion comes into play.
We should realize that as we develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ it is possible and natural for us to develop faith in ourselves; and recognizing the great importance of faith in our lives, we see the great need of continually building our faith. Among other things, the building of faith involves a prayerful study of eternal gospel principles and the obtaining of a testimony that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ. The process also involves making up one's mind to live the gospel and serve his fellowmen through the sacrifice of earthly things. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers great opportunities for the building of faith.
Faith, being the moving cause of all action in temporal as well as spiritual concerns, is evidenced by an affirmative attitude together with a well-developed plan of action. Nephi of old, when required to go back to Jerusalem to get the record of his forefathers, possessed a strong affirmative attitude, the evidence of a great faith, when he said: "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them".
On one occasion at a district conference, I was interviewing a man for ordination to the office of elder. He was having some difficulty with the Word of Wisdom. I asked him what his attitude was, and he replied that there was nothing in the world that he would rather do than stop smoking.
I told him that all he had to do was to make up his mind never to have another cigarette and that when he did that, 90 percent of his problem would be solved. I would then tell him what the other ten percent was.
I asked him to make up his mind immediately, look me in the eye, shake my hand firmly, and tell me that he would never have another cigarette. I extended my hand to him and asked him if he were ready. He hesitated a moment and said, "No," that he was afraid that if he promised he would not smoke and then later did so, his conscience would hurt him.
Under these circumstances I could not approve his ordination and so told him, since I felt there would be many things that he would not do that an elder should do. He left considerably disturbed.
Later in the day he asked to speak to me again. As he sat down his face lighted up. He said that he had made up his mind to stop smoking and that he had never experienced such a wonderful feeling in his whole life. He felt as though a 50-pound weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
He then asked me what the other ten percent was. I told him that if he had any cigarettes on him or at home, he should get rid of them immediately so they would not be a temptation.
I also suggested that he discontinue going out with his smoking friends on his breaks. These and other things that he could do to strengthen himself constituted the other ten percent. Then, with prayer and fasting by himself and with his family, he could be assured that the Lord would make him equal to the task of overcoming the smoking habit. This incident occurred some six years ago. He has never smoked since and is now an honored and respected bishop. Thus, through his affirmative attitude and works, he manifested his faith; and with the help of the Lord, he achieved his goal.
Effective faith is always connected with works, and it is only through this combination that we achieve. This is indeed the key to success, happiness, and growth. Keeping in mind that faith is a gift of God, some of the blessings that come from obedience to the great principle of faith are:
A desire to achieve worthwhile objectives.
An affirmative attitude with the capacity to really make up one's mind.
Confidence and power that make the difficult or seemingly hopeless possible of attainment.
Loyalty and steadfastness in service to our fellowmen.
And finally, peace, happiness, and growth resulting from achievement of worthwhile objectives.
It was necessary for each of us as spirits to leave the spirit world and come to this earth and learn to walk by faith, that the purposes of this life might be accomplished.
As we enter into each activity of life, both spiritual and temporal, let us apply these great fundamental and eternal principles of faith and works. By so doing we can be assured like Nephi of old that the Lord will prepare a way for us to do the things we are assigned to do. Our hearts will not fail us, we will achieve our righteous objectives, and we will have peace that surpasseth all understanding.
I bear this testimony to you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder A. Theodore Tuttle
A. Theodore Tuttle, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 143-145
My dear brothers and sisters, obedient to my responsibility as a seventy, having been "called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witness... unto the Gentiles and in all the world", I humbly take this opportunity to give my witness or to bear my testimony to you all. In so doing I seek for the spirit of which Nephi spoke:
"... for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men".
I bear my testimony that God lives, that he is our Eternal and Heavenly Father, and that he loves us because we are his children.
I bear witness that Jesus is the Christ, that he was the First Begotten in the spirit and the Only Begotten in the flesh, that he was in the beginning with God, that he is the Creator of the world and all that is in it, that he is the promised Messiah of whom the prophets spoke for 4,000 years bear witness that he is our Savior and Redeemer, that he wrought the atoning sacrifice in our behalf. I know that he was resurrected on the third day, that he lives today and is the head of this his church. I testify that he will come again the second time, as has been said so often in this conference.
I bear my testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet, sent to the earth to open this the last dispensation of the gospel. I know that he actually saw God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ and that he was instrumental in restoring the true Church of Jesus Christ to the earth.
I bear witness that the apostleship with its keys and powers that were conferred upon the Prophet Joseph have been conferred upon his successors and that President David O. McKay holds them today. I bear witness that this courageous, determined, noble man is indeed a prophet of God.
I know that the modern scriptures found in this Church, consisting of the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price, are true; that to follow the plan of salvation contained therein will lead us to our exaltation.
I know that we are members of "the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth", with which the Lord is pleased.
Some of you may wonder how it is possible to say without reservation and with such certainty that "I know" these things. This witness comes through the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, and it has come to me. This is characteristic of the true church in this and all other ages. This certainty has always been present with the prophets or whenever the Church with its authority and priesthood has been on the earth.
In days of old Job spoke with this same certainty:
"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
"And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God".
The Book of Mormon is a classic example of such definite declarations on testimony. The word "know" and such derivations as "knew" "knowledge," "known" appear frequently in the Book of Mormon. The phrase "I know" appears more than 100 times-virtually all of them testimony oriented, the prophets declaring a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Testimonies about the Book of Mormon are equally certain. After having seen an angel and the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated, the Three Witnesses bore testimony with words of soberness, saying: "And we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true".
About the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord said: "Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled".
In spite of such certainty of knowledge, there are those who still doubt the revelations from God.
I had a bright, but confused, young man in my office just last week. His problem may be typical of this generation's searching, doubting youth. He believed only that which can be proved. It seemed easy for him to accept and believe the discoveries and conclusions of the scientist, but he was having difficulty believing revealed knowledge. I explained to him that there are different kinds of knowledge, some more readily discernible than others, but that spiritual matters must needs be discerned by the spirit.
This problem pertains not to this generation only. Paul, speaking to the Corinthians, explained:
"For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
"Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned".
My young friend held to that old statement, "Seeing is believing." There is one realm, however, where it works the other way: Believing is seeing! The Lord hides some choice truths behind obstacles that will melt only before the warmth of faith. Faith, like courage, is tempered by trial. Moroni was speaking thus when he said:
"And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen, wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith".
When one hears the still small voice of the Spirit testifying that Jesus is the Christ, this kind of knowledge, for that person, is as valid as a mountain of so-called "scientific" evidence. That person really knows a truth. It affects his whole being. It affects all other kinds of knowledge that he may have.
This kind of knowledge is not restricted to a special few. It is available to all who will receive it. It is our Father's desire that all his children shall come to a knowledge of his son: "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me".
A testimony can come to anyone who desires a testimony on the basis that Elder Hinckley outlined yesterday-by a study of the scriptures, by serving in the Church, and by asking the Lord for a testimony. A testimony, when it comes, stimulates a man to want to progress. It gives him a desire to achieve.
I met a man in Mexico recently. Several years ago when he was baptized, he could neither read nor write. It is amazing today, however, to see this man holding a position of leadership in the branch, filling out the numerous reports that a branch president must send in, preaching from the scriptures, and counseling with his brethren.
This achievement was not imposed externally. This yearning to do and to be was kindled internally by as simple a thing as a testimony of the gospel.
I have received that testimony. I have given you my witness. The test of the truthfulness of my witness, as well as the witness of all those who have so testified in this conference, is not the acceptance by the nonmembers of the Church, nor even by the members of the Church. The test is whether God inspired it and recognizes and honors such testimony. Any of you may know of the truthfulness of these things which have been spoken by asking the Lord for your own personal witness that these things are true. May each of you be concerned enough about your eternal destiny so to ask, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Boyd K. Packer
Boyd K. Packer, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 145-148
My beloved brethren and sisters: Much of the past year we have spent presiding over the New England Mission. I can't resist quoting a few lines from Robert Frost. Coming from New England here to the many varieties of good weather we have seen today, these lines seem so appropriate:
"The sun was bright but the day was chill. You know how it is on an April day, When the sun is bright and the wind is still, And you're one month on in the middle of May. But if you as much as dare to speak A cloud comes over the sunlit arch, A wind comes off the frozen peak And you're two months back to the first of March."
New England is beautiful in many ways:
"Oh beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern, impassioned stress A thoroughfare of freedom beat Across the wilderness!"
It is a place of beginnings. It was there...
"By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flags to April's breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood, And fired the shot heard round the world."
Something is said about its being the cradle of liberty. It is more than that. It is the birthplace of prophets of God. Joseph Smith was born there, Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, and many others. Joseph Smith twice preached there from door to door.
Today our elders set foot on the same granite cobblestones, tap the same knockers on the same doors to bear the selfsame witness.
They see them come, two by two-teaching truth, leaving blessings. Because they are but striplings, they do not see them as servants of the Lord, authorized to represent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by his own declaration "the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased".
This dedicated service of the missionaries is most appealing to nonmembers. Last week I sat at lunch with two executives of a national service organization. "Will you," one of them solicited, "spend an evening with us to explain how your volunteer program works? We depend to a large measure on volunteer help, and we need to know the secret of your success."
If there is a secret to our success, it is poorly kept. The whole purpose of this conference and of our missionary effort is to tell it-over and over and over again.
A prominent minister recently reflected on why their people would not serve. "Our ministers are dedicated. Why will our people not respond?" The thing he does not understand is that the response to such a call does not depend on the dedication and conviction of the minister or the one making the call but rather upon the dedication and conviction of the one who answers it.
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there is no professional clergy, as is common in the other churches. Perhaps more significant than this, there is no laity. All members of the Church are subject to call to render service and carry on the activities of the Church. The miracle is the members respond!
On one occasion I was in the office of President Henry D. Moyle when he placed a call. After greeting the man, he said, "I wonder if your business affairs would bring you into Salt Lake City sometime in the near future? I would like to meet with you and your wife, for I have a matter of some importance that I would like to discuss with you."
Though it was many miles away, that man suddenly remembered that his business would bring him to Salt Lake City the very next morning. I was there when President Moyle announced to this man that he had been called to preside over one of the missions of the Church.
"Now," he said, "we don't want to rush you into this decision. Call me in a day or two, as soon as you are able to make a determination as to your feelings concerning the call."
The man looked at his wife and she looked at him, and without a word there was that silent conversation between husband and wife, and that gentle almost imperceptible nod. He turned back to President Moyle and said, "Well, President, what is there to say? What could we tell you in a few days that we couldn't tell you now? We have been called. What answer is there? Of course, we will respond to the call."
Then President Moyle said gently, "Well, if you feel that way about it actually there is some urgency about this matter. I wonder if you could be prepared to leave the 13th of March?"
The man gulped, for that was just eleven days away. He glanced at his wife. There was another silent conversation. And he said, "Yes, President, we can meet that appointment."
"What about your business?" asked the President. "What about your grain elevator? What about your livestock? What about your other holdings?"
"I don't know," said the man. "But we will make arrangements. Somehow all of those things will be all right."
Such is the great miracle that we see repeated day after day. These men, each with his wife and family, leave their private affairs settled as best they can with relatives or partners. They respond to the call, giving up political preference, opportunities for promotions and advancements in their careers, opportunities to enlarge their holdings and increase their wealth.
One of the marvelous testimonies we witness regularly is the generosity of nonmember employers. They not only permit but indeed encourage men who may be their key executive officers to respond to such calls and reassure them with this farewell: "We do not understand it, but we compliment you on your dedication. We assure you that you can return with full status."
The generosity of such men, though not members of the Church, will not go unheeded. To you, our friends, who have been thus generous, we say that you are within the scope of our prayers, and blessings will accrue to your benefit.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the men and women who serve is their willingness to pay for the privilege.
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it".
Without any dunners or any billing or any system of collections, ten percent of their increase is generously donated. Indeed, this is just the beginning. There is a fast offering to sustain the poor; there are building funds; there are donations of every kind. Such giving robs them of selfishness. It is one thing to give lip service-it is another to order one's life.
These are men and women who are "in the world" but "not of the world". They are Saints-Latter-day Saints-and there are hundreds of thousands of them. The test, of course, is not in numbers only. To know the so-called "secret," one must see within the heart of the individual.
It is no light thing to open one's heart and expose the most tender and delicate feelings. I hesitatingly do so only from the feeling that it may help someone, that it may illustrate, that you may understand that the gospel has practical application in everyday life; but most of all because it is Easter.
Just more than a year ago, my mother passed away, a lovely trim little mother of eleven children, about whom I have spoken before at this pulpit. Her parents emigrated from the old country, and she grew up speaking Danish.
Two years ago she contracted a fatal malady. Fortunately, she was under the care of a doctor who was like a son; his ministering to her showed such a reverence. She faced the experience all too common among us, the gradual weakening and erosion of her capacities, accompanied by increasing pain. At this time one of my brothers in company with the patriarch gave her a blessing, as authorized under the revelation that specifies that "the elders of the church, two or more, shall be called, and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name; and if they die they shall die unto me, and if they live they shall live unto me".
In a marvelous way she was released from pain and could rest comfortably, except when moved about. She faced the long ordeal of the decline.
One Friday afternoon at my desk, while I was working on correspondence, it suddenly occurred to me that we should go and visit Mother. It was a very strong impression. We made the trip that very day.
We found Mother about the same as we had seen her on a number of previous visits. She seemed more appreciative than usual for our visit. She then whispered over and over again the single word, "Tomorrow." Finally, I understood and said, "Mother, is tomorrow the day?" She smiled a radiant smile that brightened the face of this weakened little lady. "Yes," she said. "Mother, are you sure?" "Oh, yes," she said. "I am sure."
I then asked if she would like to have a blessing. "That would be good," she said.
That evening the brothers came as they usually did, and the six of us administered to her. The spirit of inspiration was present, and the words of the blessing hold a sacred assurance to our family.
I was under the necessity of meeting a conference appointment in Panguitch the following day, and hesitated; but finally I felt that I must be about the ministry to which I have been called. The doctor assured us that there was no change, and it was suggested that I call them on Sunday evening when I returned.
"Oh, no," I said. "I'll check with you tomorrow."
On Saturday, the tomorrow about which she spoke, I called before leaving. The doctor had been there, and everything was as before. Upon arriving at my destination I called again and received the same assurance. After the first meeting I placed another call and was informed that Mother had slept peacefully away, surrounded by her family. The last words she was heard to speak were "Ira, Ira," the name of my father, who by six years had preceded her in death.
This then is the secret: In a thousand quiet, spiritual ways, that witness comes. The gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I bear solemn witness that Jesus is the Christ. I know, and she knew, that he is the resurrection and the life and that as he said, "he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die".
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion D. Hanks
Marion D. Hanks, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 148-153
It has been a great blessing through this conference to have with us Brother Ivins, our dearly loved and respected associate. He isn't here at this meeting, but I think it not inappropriate to tell you that he has been very ill and through the graciousness of the Lord has been restored marvelously and is able to be with us occasionally. He has been in meetings of this conference.
I would like to commend also the appointment of President Cullimore, a strong and choice associate in the missionary course in England-a man of great substance and faith and strength.
I was thinking a few moments ago about a meeting in Idaho at which I listened to a speaker who had waited for a long time to be called on. He commended the people at the meeting for their graciousness to him, expressed appreciation for their kindness, thanked them for making him feel at home, and said, "You have really made me feel like one of you. I don't know which one, but he ought to be about ready to go home-he's tired!"
As I have listened with you to the great sermons of this conference and to the marvelous music and have felt the spirit and enjoyed the instructions, like you I have paid many of the speakers the tribute of divided attention. Their sermons have started me thinking. Two thoughts in particular have recurred. The repeated references to the modern movement celebrating the demise of God have recalled a reported exchange between Nietzsche and another. Nietzsche's message read, "God is dead." Signed "Nietzsche." The answer came back, "Nietzsche is dead." Signed "God."
The other thought: Someone said that atheists do not find God for the same reason that thieves do not find policemen.
During these conference sessions I have been thinking of you-you and your counterparts all over the Church, all over the world-you who do so much of the meaningful work of the Church in your own area and sector. I am sure that you, like I, will go home with the desire and determination, born of appreciation, to apply and make use of what has been said here.
Perhaps you will go home strengthened in two pivotal principles around which our efforts revolve.
The first is provocatively expressed in a few words shared with me by a choice friend sometime ago. I suspect you will remember them as I have He said: "You can count the seeds in an apple, but can you count the apples in a seed?"
"... the worth of souls is great in the sight of God". The worth of the individual soul is great in the sight of God and in the lives of those who love God and seek to express this love through affectionate service to his children.
In order that we might cooperate with our Heavenly Father in his stated purpose to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man", we have been blessed with the gospel, the Church, and the priesthood.
The gospel is God's plan for the exalting of man to an eternal creative opportunity with his Father through giving him a vision of his great origins and heritage, his purposes and responsibilities, and his inspiring potential.
The Church is the institutional embodiment of the gospel, the organization through which one may experience and express the great principles of God's plan.
The priesthood is the power by which God and his sons move in spiritual leadership. And all of these-gospel, Church, priesthood-are designed to bless man and bring about God's purposes for him.
The earth itself was prepared for man. "Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it".
The individual, then, is the focal point of all the programs and performance of the Church-not the program itself, not the statistics. Not institutional expansion but individual exaltation is the purpose of it all.
The implications of the thought are clear: "You can count the seeds in an apple, but can you count the apples in a seed?"
Every choice child of God is a link in a chain stretching from the past to the future. In the choice young people of the Church are the seeds of the future.
Do you know four lines that mean much to me?
"Nobody knows what a boy is worth; We'll have to wait and see, But every man in a noble place A boy once used to be."
Each boy and girl, and every adult also, is infinitely valuable. None is to be rejected, none written off, none neglected or left without the conscious concern of devoted brothers and sisters in the kingdom of God.
This leads, then, to the second basic conviction of which I have been thinking: Each of us has a solemn and significant responsibility to others of God's children and the capacity to wholesomely and favorably influence them for good if we will. We are brothers to all men, and we have a special responsibility to those of our own household and to those in whose lives we may, by reason of our church membership and by reason of responsibilities assigned us in the various organizations and programs of the Church, exert some important influence through love.
The organization of the Church makes available to every individual, old and young, at every stage in his life, strong supportive friendships and leadership. From babyhood through the whole of life every individual should have available always the friendship and sincere concern of a bishop and his counselors, of priesthood and auxiliary organization leaders and workers, of interested and loving family and friends and neighbors relating under the special motivation and inspiration of the Lord through his Church. Every individual all of his life should be blessed in the Church by a program that involves the consistent concern of teachers-home teachers they are now called-who are assigned to a special relationship of interest and helpfulness.
In preparation for the imminent organization of the Church in 1830, the Lord revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith that His representatives holding the priesthood were to visit the homes of the members of the Church, "exhorting them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties.
"... to watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them;
"... And see that there is no iniquity in the church, neither hardness with each other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking;
"And see that the church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty."
"They are... to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ". As in the ancient Church, the members of the Church are to be "remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith."
And to "meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls".
To every person thus blessed by office or assignment or membership in the Church with the special responsibility of stewardship and concern in the lives of others, the Lord said:
"Therefore, let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling, and let not the head say unto the feet it hath no need of the feet; for without the feet how shall the body be able to stand?
"Also the body hath need of every member, that all may be edified together, that the system may be kept perfect".
Illustrations:
Let me spend a few minutes illustrating the great importance of our responsibilities to each other under these sacred assignments from the Lord to be stewards in his kingdom.
In one of the stakes of the Church in another land, a lovely young lady left her home to live in another city where she had found employment. She was away from family and established friends and from the Church and its warm involvements. She didn't take occasion to look up the church organization in the city to which she went, finding it easy for a time to avoid the customary associations of her church membership. She formed other associations in the new city, and they were not the kind she had had at home. Gradually she began to become involved in another kind of attitude and another kind of behavior. She had not made serious mistakes but had begun a way of living that would not have pleased her parents and that was not the manner of her former life.
There came a night when, dressed in clothing that she might previously have been embarrassed to wear in public, perhaps harboring in her mind anticipations of conduct that she would not ever have considered before, she waited for the arrival of some of her new friends. It was a critical hour in her life and a critical night in her life, and she knew it. When she answered the knock at the door, she was surprised to find not those whom she was anticipating but rather three adults whom she did not know. They identified themselves as the bishop and his counselor and the president of the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association. The bishop had received a letter from the bishop of the girl's home ward notifying him of the address and circumstance of his ward member in the new city. The bishop and his associates were calling to express their friendship and concern and to invite the young lady to the activities and associations of the Church in this town. As she talked with them she became embarrassed at her clothing, chagrined at the activities of the recent past and the anticipations of the evening. She wept and rejoiced and responded gratefully to the friendship of this bishop and his fellow workers. The anticipated events of the evening never transpired. She formed the warm and wonderful friendships she needed with people of quality and devotion. She became active in the Church and went on to her happy and wholesome opportunities.
In another city, long enough ago that the story can now be told without likelihood of the recognition of the individuals involved, I heard another and different story.
Let's use the name Donna to designate another sweet young lady who left her home for a nearby bigger city for employment. She had a great desire to attend a church university and needed funds to help her achieve her ambition. She failed to find work in the big city, and as time went by she became more and more discouraged. Then, through a series of incidents, she came into the influence of an unscrupulous and designing person who took advantage of Donna's loneliness and youthfulness and the discouragement of her inability to find work and led her into an immoral experience.
The experience was horrifying to Donna, and she returned home with a broken heart to tell her mother and, after a time, her bishop of the tragedy.
There was counsel and compassion, admonition and direction, prayer and blessing. Donna went back home to make her adjustments and to begin to learn the sorrow of remorse of conscience and the blessing of gratitude for the graciousness and goodness and mercy of God. Then one day she had to counsel again with the bishop, to report to him that through this one fragmentary, tragic experience it was now apparent that she was with child. Now a different situation existed, and there was additional counsel and an effort to meet this new situation. There was consideration of the Relief Society Social Service program, which provides for such situations, and other possibilities were considered; but the decision was finally made by Donna that she would remain at home in her small town to wait her time. Some efforts were made at dissuasion in view of the problems this course involved, but Donna decided that, under the special circumstances of her widowed mother's illness and otherwise, she would remain there.
Donna stood up in the next fast and testimony meeting and explained her condition. She acknowledged her fault and asked the forgiveness of her people. She said to them, "I would like to walk the streets of this town knowing that you know and that you have compassion on me and forgive me. But if you cannot forgive me," she said, "please don't blame my mother-the Lord knows she taught me anything but this-and please don't hold it against the baby. It isn't the baby's fault." She bore testimony of appreciation for her bitterly won but dearly treasured personal knowledge of the importance of the saving mission of Jesus Christ. Then she sat down.
The man who told me the story reported the reaction of the congregation to this experience. There were many tearful eyes and many humble hearts. "There were no stone throwers there", he said. "We were full of compassion and love, and I found myself wishing that the bishop would close the meeting and let us leave with this sense of appreciation and concern and gratitude to God."
The bishop did rise, but he didn't close the meeting. Instead he said, "Brothers and sisters, Donna's story has saddened and touched us all. She has courageously and humbly accepted full responsibility for her sorrowful situation. She has, in effect, put a list of sinners on the wall of the chapel with only her name on the list. I cannot in honesty leave it there alone. At least one other name must be written-the name of one who is in part responsible for this misfortune, though he was far away when the incident occurred. The name is a familiar one to you. It is the name of your bishop. You see," he said, "had I fully performed the duties of my calling and accepted the opportunities of my leadership, perhaps I could have prevented this tragedy."
The bishop then told of his conversation with Donna and her mother before her departure for the big city. He said that he had talked with some of his associates. He had talked with his wife, expressing concern for Donna's well-being. He worried about her lack of experience and her loneliness. He had talked, he said, with the Lord about these things also.
"But then," he said, "I did nothing. I didn't write a note to the bishop or to the brethren in Salt Lake City. I didn't pick up the telephone. I didn't drive a few miles to the big city. I just hoped and prayed that Donna would be all right down there all alone. I don't know what I might have done, but I have the feeling that had I been the kind of bishop I might have been, this might have been prevented.
"My brothers and sisters," he said, "I don't know how long I am going to be bishop of this ward. But as long as I am, if there is anything I can do about it, this won't happen again to one of mine."
The bishop sat down in tears. His counselor stood up and said, "I love the bishop. He is one of the best and most conscientious human beings I have ever known. I cannot leave his name there on the list without adding my own. You see, the bishop did talk with his associates. He talked with me about this matter. I think that he thought that because I travel occasionally in my business through the big city, I might find a way to check on Donna. I might have done, but I was hurrying to this meeting or that assignment and I didn't take the time. I too talked with others. I mentioned my concern to my wife. I am almost ashamed to tell you I talked to the Lord and asked him to help Donna. And then I did nothing. I don't know what might have happened had I done what I thought to do, but I have the feeling that I might have prevented this misfortune.
"Brothers and sisters," he said, "I don't know how long I will be serving in this bishopric, but I want to tell you that as long as I am, if there is anything I can do about it, this will not happen again to one of mine."
The president of the YWMIA stood up and told a similar story. The bishop's counselor in charge of this auxiliary organization had talked with her. She had had some moments of thought and concern but had done nothing. She added her name to the list.
The last witness was an older man who stood and added two names to the list-his own and that of his companion ward teacher. He noted that they were assigned to the home in which Donna and her mother lived and that they had failed in some visits and made no effective effort to be the kind of teachers that the revelations of God had contemplated.
"I don't know how longer I will be a ward teacher," he said, "but as long as I am, I will not miss another home another month, and I will try to be the kind of teacher that the Lord seemed to have in mind."
The meeting ended, and the wonderful man who shared this great experience with me said, "Brother Hanks, I think we could not have more clearly understood the importance of the offices and officers and organizations in the Church if the Lord himself had come down to teach us. I think that if Paul had come to repeat his instructions to the Corinthians that 'the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay... the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it' -I think we could not have understood the point more clearly."
A number of years ago Brother Joseph Anderson and I had the privilege of driving with President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., to a solemn assembly in St. George. On the way I related to him this story, it having recently happened then. He thought a long time and had a tear in his eye as he said "Brother Hanks, that is the most significant story I ever heard to illustrate the great importance of our filling our individual obligations in the Church. When you have thought about it long enough, pass it on to others."
I have thought about it long and often. I believe it illustrates powerfully and humblingly the purposes of the Lord in establishing his kingdom and permitting us the blessing of individual service therein. I now share it with you and pray God to bless us all to understand its implications and to act on them, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 153-154
Brethren and sisters, we have had a glorious conference. I do not know when I have been more thrilled with the messages than I have been by those given at this conference, which began on the sixth and has continued through Saturday and Sunday.
One thing has stood out in my mind as most significant. It is the response of brethren and sisters to calls to duty, either in the Church locally or away on calls that require absence from the town in which they live. I have been impressed with the responsiveness of men, women, and children to a call of the Church to duty that they need to perform at home or abroad.
The government has a great plan for calling the youth of the country to perform service, not for themselves but a mission for the country itself. They are not succeeding so well as they had anticipated in getting the young men of the United States to fill the calls made. But you do not find a responsiveness to duty unheeded by the membership of the Church of Jesus Christ.
I have had occasion to be thrilled with the willingness of the church membership to respond to the call of missionary work, whether it is local or foreign. Every man, almost without exception, and particularly every woman says he or she is ready to respond to any call that the Church makes. I don't know of anything more impressive in this Church than this response to a call to service by these faithful members. When you think of the thousands of missionaries, most of them men, but many of them women, who are giving their time, their means, in response to calls of bishops, stake presidents, and others in the service of this great Church, it is wonderful. Many have said, "I will sell my home, I will make any sacrifice in order to fulfill the call to duty."
As I stand here before you, I think I cannot refer to one refusal to a call to duty. I have in mind a postponement for a year, or for six months and sometimes more, but I cannot think of one person who has said, "I cannot accept a call." One of them might say, "Give me six months, a year, two years, and I will fulfill the call, the duty, that you now give me."
Yes, I can think of one, a young man, who said, "No, I think I can't fulfill that call." He is thinking of it now and worrying. He will accept it, I am sure; if he is given a few months, maybe six months, he will come back and say, "I will take that call and do the best I can."
Now, when you multiply the calls in the missionary area alone, it is wonderful that the membership of the Church is so responsive to any duty, any responsibility that the Church desires of them. It is apparent to all the Church, this responsiveness of the membership to the call to duty; it is an outstanding feature of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Young men, young women, older men, and older women, stand ready to respond to a call of the Church and to make any sacrifice necessary in order to give the call of the Church preference in preaching the gospel, not only a missionary call that requires a sacrifice to duty, but the rendering of finances, sometimes reaching millions of dollars, in order to make the call more successful as a service to the Church.
What I am saying is this: that every man and every woman with the Spirit of the Lord in his or her heart will deny himself or herself in order to make the calls to the work of the Lord successful. It is not only a half-dozen persons that I am referring to, but thousands in this Church will give an affirmative response to the call to an office in a ward or a stake.
Brethren, I am saying to you with appreciation, God bless you for your ready response to the calls that come to you either in your ward or stake or area. And the Lord is mindful of your willingness to make a ready response and to do what you can to extend the work of the Lord at home and abroad.
Some of you may feel as though the General Authorities are unappreciative, but I want you to know that we appreciate more than ever before in the history of this Church the willingness of men and women to respond to the service which the Church needs in the furtherance of the establishment of the gospel.
God bless you! Don't feel discouraged. "... seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness," and all else will be added. You are showing your willingness thus to do your best and give your all if necessary.
I have in mind men who say, "Well, if you need us in this area, if you need more help, if you need money, just let us know." It is the spirit of willingness and the response to the call of duty that overwhelms us sometimes. I am saying at the end of this glorious conference that never before in the history of the Church has there been manifest such willingness to give financially or intellectually anything the Lord wants of you as is manifest throughout the Church today.
May the Lord bless you for your willingness to deny yourselves physically, intellectually, and temporally for the good of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I should like to say this in better terms, but I cannot express it as I should like to. Not only are my legs defiant, but my tongue gets twisted.
The Lord bless you in your homes, in your church appointments, whether at home or abroad. God bless you, you young men and girls, in living the honorable life your parents would have you live, and God will make you happy by being true to the ideals of virtue and purity and will bring happiness to your parents, happiness to your wards, happiness to the membership of the kingdom of God.
I ask that you uphold and sustain your authorities in the wards and the stakes. Be true to the standards of right as taught by your fathers and mothers. Be true to your individual selves by upholding the ideals of righteousness, I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 4-8
We are grateful for the blessings of the Lord to his Church in all the world and for the assurance of his divine guidance and inspiration. With deep gratitude we acknowledge his nearness and his goodness. It is a source of real encouragement to contemplate the loyalty and energetic efforts of the members of the Church who are contributing of their time and their means to building up the kingdom of God on earth. There is a general response, as the figures and reports of the Church indicate, on the part of the people of the Church everywhere. The responsibilities they carry, the undertakings that they adopt and employ to raise their share of the cost of our houses of worship are most remarkable.
I love life! I think it is a joy to live in this age. Every morning, as I view from my window the mountains to the east and greet the sun as it ushers in these unexcelled autumn days, I feel the joy and privilege of life and appreciate God's goodness. I appreciate and realize the accomplishments, to a certain degree, of this wonderful atomic age in which we are living. Scientific discoveries of today stagger the imagination. Nearly every day we read of almost unbelievable accomplishments. The age of the atom has only begun, and no one knows what exciting developments may yet unfold when the atomic research now in progress is completed. Its potential for good far outweighs its potential for destruction. The discoveries and inventions of this age are unequaled by any previous period in the world's history, discoveries latent with such potent power, either for the blessing or the destruction of human beings, as to make man's responsibility in controlling them the most gigantic ever placed in human hands.
Yes, it is a glorious age in which we live, but no thinking man will doubt that this age is fraught with limitless perils, as well as untold possibilities. There are causes for real apprehension over world conditions. As we study and learn of the increase in crime and disrespect for law and order that exist right here in our own country, we become alarmed.
Just the other day, I read an editorial in the Deseret News giving the information that an estimated six million Americans suffer from alcoholism. The Public Health Service ranks alcoholism as the fourth major public health problem in the United States. At the moment Utah, fortunately, contributes less than its share to this problem. Contrary to what many people think, Utah ranks forty-sixth from the top among the 50 states in the number of alcoholics it has in proportion to the total population. Furthermore, it is the only state in which per capita consumption of alcohol, as well as the alcoholism rate, has consistently decreased for several years. Let us hope that Utah will not adopt the proposed legislation for "liquor by the drink" and thereby entice more people to drink in more places more of the time. As the editorial points out, our state, with our traditions and standards, should be doing just the opposite. Liquor by the drink, as a recent study of the experience in Iowa shows, only increases drinking and the attendant evils of alcoholism. The impaired morals, ruined health, broken homes, and increased traffic deaths that result from drinking are well known by all of us.
It is because of these threatening dangers that the world should become anchored in the eternal truths of Jesus Christ and realize that there are eternal verities in this changing world.
Dr. Charles Foster Kent, commenting upon the "chaotic state" of our civilized world, says:
"Political organizations and ideals that have both fortified and handicapped us have been thrown into the discard. Long accepted social theories have suddenly been rejected, and new ones are being adopted. Many of the moral standards of our Fathers are being set aside in theory as well as in practice. The rising generation has no fear and little respect for Elders... Religious dogmas, long regarded as the corner stones of religion and the Church, are being disproved, or supplanted."
Efforts are being made to deprive man of his free agency, to steal from the individual his liberty; and we must never forget that next to life itself, free agency is the greatest gift of God man.
The two most important documents affecting the destiny of America are the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. Both of these inspired, immortal papers relate primarily to the freedom of the individual. Founded upon that principle of free enterprise fostered by these documents, the United States of America, in less than two centuries, has achieved a greatness that far exceeds that of any other country in the world. The deep concern of every loyal citizen regarding the threatened loss of our freedom has been well expressed by Fred G. Clark, who is chairman of the American Economic Foundation, New York City. In a speech given over a decade ago, he expressed the fear that the "code of the people" is replacing the "code of God." His words so impressed me that I quoted them in an address delivered in 1952. He declared that "something is wrong with America.
"At this moment of history when the task of world leadership has been thrust upon us, we stand confused, reluctant, and hesitant...
"We are no longer certain what we stand for, and this, I believe, is because have forgotten the circumstances surrounding the birth of our nation...
"For decades it has been popular in America for the cynical intellectuals to sneer and scoff at what we call the traditions of Americanism.
"The instruments of this sabotage were words and thoughts-plausible half-truths, sly appeals to that spark of larceny that lurks in every human was heart, subtle suggestions of an atheistic obvious that the nature, and the careful nurturing of a patronizing attitude toward anything America has held to be fine and sacred.
"The people who planted these words and thoughts may have been either stupid or vicious, fools or foreign agents, smart-alecs or smart organizers.
"What they were does not now matter. The thing that does matter is to counteract what they have done.
"Everybody in every position of leadership has to get into this act because the damage has affected every phase of our life.
"The places in which this sabotage occurred were the schools, the churches, the Communist-dominated labor halls, the lecture platforms, the motion pictures, the stage, the pages of our newspapers and magazines, and the radio. Every means of communication has been utilized against us...
"The man, who has a plan-a way of life-in which he believes, has mental security.
"To destroy this security, one must destroy that man's faith in his plan...
" reliance on a code of life which, if held in common with one's fellow men, brings peace of mind, develops the abilities of the group...
"The degree to which the American code of life has been weakened can best be demonstrated by simply calling attention to the degree to which the foundation of that code has been weakened...
"That foundation is made up of the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule.
"Within this moral code, we have a complete way of life.
"Acceptance of these precepts takes care of every phase of human life-spiritual, political, social, and economic...
"America was a nation of people who had faith in their political and economic systems because they had faith in God, and had built those systems around the teachings of God.
"Every collectivist from Karl Marx to has agreed that faith in God must be destroyed before socialism can take over.
"Therefore, it was obvious that the problem of sabotaging America's faith in America was the problem of transferring the people's faith in God to faith in the State.
"That thing called morality in politics, business, and private contracts, had to be broken down.
"To an increasing extent the people have come to look upon morality as an old-fashioned superstition.
"Religion has for many church members become a safe way of dying rather than a good way of living."
We all know that these threatening upsets in national standards have increased since that speech was given. We know, also, that there has been an alarming increase in the abandoning of the ideals that constitute the foundation of the Constitution of the United States and of the American home, and you will agree with me that ears from the truth, and shall be there is real cause for apprehension.
At this very moment while we are here worshipping, war is raging and blasting out the lives of young men, old men, women, and children in Viet Nam. The standards of the home, even the criteria for the rearing of children, have broken down.
J. William Hudson, formerly professor of philosophy at the University of Missouri, states: "The leisure occupations of youth, always symptomatic in any age, are not only unguidedly and frankly hedonistic, but have gone across the borders of what was once considered decorous, not because of a new and liberalizing moral standard, as we sometimes pretended, but because of the lack of any. The popularity of certain recent dances, formerly forbidden even in the 'red-light' districts, is typical. So is much of our periodical reading matter, and any number of 'movie' plays, over the edge of the decadently erotic, with a censorship that does not censor because of moral and financial doubt."
He also mentions the fact that "dishonesty is permeating public and private life alike, tainting the administration of justice, tainting our legislative halls, tainting the conduct of private business, polluting at times even the church itself."
He goes on to assert that "if there is to be social and political regeneration in out Republic and in the rest of the world, it must be by tremendous regeneration of moral ideals."
"What shall we do?"
What shall we do about all this?
When Paul was a prisoner in Rome, he sent a letter to Timothy, saying in substance:
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
"And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables".
It is just as important today as when Paul wrote that farewell message to Timothy that officers and teachers and members and everywhere "preach the word; be instant in season, out of season."
Today, in the midst of the world's perplexity, there should be no question in the mind of any true Latter-day Saint as to what we shall preach. The answer is as clear as the noonday sun in a cloudless sky.
In the year 1830, there was given to the people of this land and the world a divine plan whereby individuals can find security and peace of mind and live in harmonious accord with their fellow beings. In all man's theories and experiments since history began, human intelligence has never devised a system which, when applied to the needs of humanity, can even approach this plan in effectiveness.
In simple words, then, this is the word that we should preach-the gospel plan of salvation.
The founders of this great republic had faith in the economic and political welfare of this country because they had faith in God. Today it is not uncommon to note an apologetic attitude on the part of men when they refer to the need of God's governing in the affairs of men. Indeed, as has already been pointed out, success of Communism depends largely upon the substitution of belief in God by belief in the supremacy of the state.
But I say to you, preach in season and out of season belief in God the Eternal Father, in his Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
Proclaim that fundamental in the gospel plan is the sacredness of the individual; that God's work and glory is "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man".
Under this concept, it is a great imposition, if indeed not a crime, for any government, any labor union, or any other organization to deny a man the right to speak, to worship, and to work.
The least child was sacred to Jesus. "... it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish". What would that simple truth mean in this world? "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me". And in this modern day, he said, "Remember the worth of souls is great".
A proper conception of this divine principle would change the attitude of the world to the benefit and happiness of all human beings. It would bring into active operation the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you". What a different world this would be if men would accumulate wealth, for example, not as an end, but as a means of blessing human beings and improving human relations.
Declare the truth that man has the inherent power to do right or to do wrong. In this he has his free agency to choose the right and obtain salvation, or he may choose to do evil and commit abominations.
Preach that the plan of salvation involves the belief that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man. Man was not born for the benefit of the state. Preach that no government can exist in peace, and I quote from the Doctrine and Covenants, "except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life".
Proclaim the necessity of honesty and loyalty, doing an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. Preach that honesty in government is essential to the perpetuation and stability of our government as it is necessary to the stability of character in the individual. "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men... If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things".
Proclaim that God lives, and that his Beloved Son is the Redeemer and Savior of mankind; that he stands at the head of his Church that bears his name; that he guides and inspires those who are authorized to represent him here on earth, authorized by the priesthood when heavenly messengers bestowed upon the Prophet Joseph Smith and others associated with him divine authority.
Preach that the responsibility of declaring this plan of life, this way of life, this plan of salvation, rests upon the entire membership of the Church, but most particularly upon those who have been ordained to the priesthood and who have been called as leaders and servants of the people.
These eternal verities are as applicable in the year 1966 as they were when Jesus first promulgated them and they will remain fundamental and essential in man's progress and happiness as long as life and being last.
In the questioning days of early boyhood, I first felt a kinship with Christ, our Lord and Savior. I know his love and his divine guidance. He is the sinless Son of man. "He is the first and the last... and alive for evermore". Only by obedience to his teachings can man find happiness and peace. Our Father is a kind and loving Heavenly Father who is as ready and eager today as ever to bless and to guide all his children who will sincerely seek him, and I bear you witness to that truth.
God help us all to walk in the light as he is in the light, thereby avoiding the unhappiness, sinfulness, and misery of a misguided world, and find joy and peace and beauteous life here in this probation and in the life to come, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 8-11
President McKay, I know that I speak the innermost thoughts of all assembled here and those listening and watching by radio and television everywhere in expressing a prayer to our Heavenly Father, wherein we would say, "We thank thee, O God, for a prophet, to guide us in these latter days." As a part of that prayer, I would also include another feeling of gratitude an expression of appreciation to President McKay, for the precious privilege that he has afforded me, together with Elder Paul H. Dunn, to work so closely with Polynesia's people scattered upon the isles of the sea.
The choir brings to us a message of hope, of gratitude, of peace. However, the daily newspaper from distant Tahiti tells of fear, frustration, and conflict, for on the atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa, thermonuclear testing has begun. Atomic and hydrogen explosions thrust a new dimension upon Polynesia. One native was heard to say, "The kiss of death has been bestowed upon Tahiti, the queen of the islands of the Pacific." Well might we who most love these people ask the perplexing question, "Has paradise caught up with progress, or has progress overtaken paradise?"
But then, the people of Polynesia have survived a variety of threats from a multitude of sources through many periods of time.
When Captain James Cook and his ship's crew of the Endeavor first sailed into Matavai Bay in the mid-1700's, they found a literal Polynesian paradise, with fresh water in torrents and flowers and fruit everywhere. They found a people every bit as beautiful as their surroundings. There was food all around them: fish in the lagoons, breadfruit and coconuts in the branches overhead, bananas, yams, and sugarcane growing wild in prolific abundance. For the most part, the people knew no sickness, except the gentle decline into old age and death. But then came what has been called the "fatal impact" of European civilization. Firearms, disease, alcohol, an alien code of laws became a threat to the people and their culture, just as the current products of our advanced society pose the threats of today.
But Polynesia remains synonymous with paradise. The word itself, meaning "many islands," is descriptive of the area of Polynesia that covers a major portion of the Pacific Ocean. Geographically, it is bounded roughly by an imaginary triangle drawn from Hawaii southward to New Zealand, thence eastward to Easter Island, and thence back to Hawaii. Here we find major island groups, large volcanic islands, smaller coral atolls, and tiny, uninhabited islets.
Robert Louis Stevenson described the Polynesian sky as "immoderately blue"; but for the Polynesians themselves, he reserved the fitting tribute: "... the sweetest people God ever made." Polynesians are friendly, loving, handsome, and intelligent people. Their history is exciting, their spoken words like a beautiful melody, their hospitality genuine, and their beauty legendary.
Many ask "Why are these people so bounteously blessed?" "Why do returning missionaries always retain in their hearts a love for the islands and their people?" "Why do Polynesia's people so love the Lord?" The answer is found recorded in sacred scripture: "Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea". "... great are the promises of the Lord unto them who are upon the isles of the sea".
These promises, these gifts from God, are apparent to those who visit Polynesia. May I invite you today, for a few moments, to accompany me on a journey to the islands of the Pacific and look in on Polynesia's people, that we might learn of God's gifts to them. Whether we stop at New Zealand among the Maori, at Samoa, "the heart of the South Seas " at Nuku'alofa, Tonga, in the Friendly Islands, at Papeete in Tahiti, or at beautiful Rarotonga, we find people who are recipients of choice and cherished gifts.
Time permits a review of but five such gifts. I have chosen the gift of song, the gift of faith, the gift of love, the gift of obedience, and the gift of gratitude.
We have witnessed today an expression of this gift of song. Polynesians need no formal lessons in music Their voices are naturally resonant, their ears tuned to melody. A ukulele is as common to a lad there as a jackknife is to a boy here. Dancing and song become parts of a way of life.
Just this past June in New Zealand a tragic drowning claimed the lives of two instructors at the Church College at Temple View. The young widows and their children were overcome by grief and heartache. Many wellwishing and sympathetic friends offered words of consolation, but the remorse remained. There came a soft knock at the door; a group of Maori Saints entered the room. Not a word was spoken, but song came forth from their lips and hearts. The bereaved families received a sustaining influence that accompanied them through the lonely and long journey homeward and even today turns tears of sorrow to warm smiles of gratitude. "... the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads". The Polynesians have the gift of song.
The gift of faith, which they also enjoy, at times takes the form of miraculous healings of body and mind. In other instances it is reflected by simple trust and calm assurance that God will provide.
On my first visit to the fabled village of Sauniatu, so loved by President McKay, my wife and I met with a large gathering of small children. At the conclusion of our messages to these shy, yet beautiful, youngsters, I suggested to the native Samoan teacher that we go forward with the closing exercises. As he announced the final hymn, I suddenly felt compelled to personally greet each of these 247 children. My watch revealed that the time was too short for such a privilege, so I discounted the impression. Before the benediction was to be spoken, I again felt this strong impression to shake the hand of each child. This time I made the desire known to the instructor, who displayed a broad and beautiful Samoan smile. He spoke in Samoan to the children, and they beamed their approval of his comments.
The instructor then revealed to me the reason for his and their joy. He said, "When we learned that President McKay had assigned a member of the Council of the Twelve to visit us in far-away Samoa, I told the children if they would each one earnestly and sincerely pray and exert faith like the Bible accounts of old, that the Apostle would visit our tiny village at Sauniatu, and through their faith, he would be impressed to greet each child with a personal handclasp." Tears could not be restrained as each of those precious boys and girls walked shyly by and whispered softly to us a sweet talofa lava. The gift of faith had been evidenced.
The gift of love is found throughout Polynesia: a love of God, a love of sacred things, and love for family, friends, and fellowmen. At Papeete, Tahiti, I met a distinguished yet humble man, extraordinarily blessed with the gift of love. He was 84-year-old Tahauri Hutihuti from the island of Takaroa in the Taumotu Island group. A faithful Church member all his life, he had longed for the day when there would be in the Pacific a holy temple of God. He had a love for the sacred ordinances he knew could only be performed in such a house. Patiently, and with purpose, he carefully saved his meager earnings as a pearl diver. When the New Zealand Temple was completed and opened, he took from beneath his bed his life savings of $600, accumulated over a 40-year span; and together with loved ones, he journeyed to the temple and thereby brought a fond dream to final fulfillment.
As I said a tender good-bye to the Tahitians, each one came forward, placed an exquisite shell lei about my neck, and left an affectionate kiss upon my cheek. Tahauri, who did not speak English, stood by my side and spoke to me through an interpreter. The interpreter listened attentively and then, turning to me, reported: "Tahauri says he has no gift to bestow except the love of a full heart." Tahauri clasped my hand and kissed my cheek. Of all the gifts received that memorable night, the gift of this faithful man remains the brightest.
Allied with this gift of love is the gift of obedience. When a Polynesian hears God's Prophet speak, he obeys. When he sings, "We thank thee, O God, for a prophet," he sings with his heart, as well as his voice, and the walls resound.
Lauvale Tialavea, a counselor in the Samoan Mission presidency, typifies the spirit of obedience. He is handsome in appearance, sincere in his testimony, and responds to each call with seldom equalled enthusiasm A convert to the Church, he formerly studied for the ministry of another faith. Intelligent, educated, keen thinking, and fearless, his actions demonstrate his love for the newly found truth that is his very life. A kind husband and father of ten, he has, since his baptism in 1961, taught the gospel to many hundreds of persons and has himself baptized 174 as they have entered the kingdom of God.
Ridiculed by the unbelievers for lifting his voice in testimony, stoned for his teaching of the truth, mocked for his adherence to a rigid code of conduct, he courageously tells others of an apostasy from the Church that followed the death of the Lord and his apostles, and of the restoration of the gospel in this dispensation through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I asked, "What provides your incentive, your strength to carry on such a missionary crusade amidst such a storm of protest?" He replied: "Our prophet, God's mouthpiece, has asked that 'every member be a missionary.' My desire is to be obedient to the Prophet." I thought of the words of Samuel: "... to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams". I heard the clarion call of Joshua: "... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord". To these people, obedience is a gift, and they honor it.
I introduce next the gift of gratitude. Late one evening on a Pacific isle, a small boat slipped silently to its berth at the crude pier. Two Polynesian women helped Meli Mulipola from the boat and guided him to the well-worn pathway leading to the village road. The women marveled at the bright stars that twinkled in the midnight sky. The friendly moonlight guided them along their way. However, Meli Mulipola could not appreciate these delights of nature-the moon, the stars, the sky-for he was blind.
His vision had been normal until that fateful day when, while working on a pineapple plantation, light turned suddenly to darkness and day became perpetual night. He had learned of the restoration of the gospel and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His life had been brought into compliance with these teachings.
He and his loved ones had made this long voyage, having learned that one who held the priesthood of God was visiting among the islands. He sought a blessing under the hands of those who held the sacred priesthood. His wish was granted, a blessing provided. Tears streamed from his sightless eyes and coursed down his brown cheeks, tumbling finally upon his native dress. He dropped to his knees and prayed: "Oh God, thou knowest I am blind. Thy servants have blessed me that my sight return. Whether in thy wisdom I see light or whether I see darkness all the days of my life, I will be eternally grateful for the truth of thy gospel which I now see and which provides the light of my life." He arose to his feet, thanked us for providing the blessing, and disappeared into the still of night. Silently he came. Silently he departed. But his presence I shall never forget. I reflected upon the message of the Master: "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life".
There came to me an appreciation of these gifts of God to Polynesia's people: The gift of song, the gift of faith, the gift of love, the gift of obedience, and the gift of gratitude. But such gifts were suddenly dwarfed as I remembered God's greatest gift, given not only to the Polynesians, but to you, to me, and to all persons everywhere-the gift of his Only Begotten and precious Son, Jesus Christ.
We may never open gates of cities or doors of palaces, but we will find true happiness and lasting joy when there enters our heart and soul a knowledge and understanding of this supreme gift. "He comes to us as one unknown, without a name, as of old, by the lakeside, when he came to those men who knew him not. He speaks to us the same words, 'Follow thou me,' and sets us to the tasks that he has to fulfill for our time. He commands; and to those who obey him, whether they be wise or simple, he will reveal himself in the toils, the conflicts, the sufferings that they shall pass through in his fellowship; and they shall learn in their own experience who he is".
Like a bright searchlight of truth, his gospel will direct our journey along the pathways of life. Oh, how blessed are we to have this never dimming, always glowing hope and the eternal knowledge that belongs to us and that we share with the world: that the gospel has been restored to earth, that God lives, that Jesus is his Son, our elder brother, our mediator with the Father, our Lord and our Savior, God's greatest gift to us.
May our Heavenly Father bless us with an appreciation of his sacrifice; may our lives reflect our gratitude, I ask in the name, the blessed name, of Jesus Christ, God's gift to us. Amen
Elder Paul H. Dunn
Paul H. Dunn, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 12-14
President McKay, your stirring message this morning has touched each of us very deeply, and I have felt the Spirit of our Heavenly Father on this most sacred occasion. I have thrilled with you in the testimony of Elder Monson. It brought very forcefully to my mind many similar experiences I have been privileged to share with him in the South Pacific. And I think it has been a fitting climax to have this marvelous choir share their testimonies through song as they have praised the Lord.
Did you know that Woodrow Wilson had a pretty long nose? And they tell us that he often wore his glasses near the end of it. Upon being asked the reason for this practice, he jokingly replied: "I wear my glasses near the end of my nose so that I can always see what I am talking about."
I hope you ladies in the listening audience will pardon me if it seems to you for a moment that I don't know what I'm talking about. And I hope you will excuse me if I seem to be a bit frank. I think the hair styles you are wearing now-perhaps I should say some of the styles that some women and girls are wearing now-are, to say the least, quite out of the ordinary, although I suspect that if you would ask the opinion of men at the end of the season, you would find that they had become quite accustomed to your unusual styles.
Or take the problem of ladies' makeup. "If my sister or girl friend makes up her face like some magazine ads, I'll disown her," fellows used to say. But after a while they had "grown accustomed to her face". "Well, it may be all right for girls, but you can be assured that my wife shall never so degrade herself in the eyes of other people," another says. A few months pass and something happens. "Well of course, if you really like it and since all the other women are doing it, go ahead, and see how it looks."
Now you brethren, don't tell me you haven't had some of these conversations or thought. But we did draw the line at grandmothers. All right for young ladies, not so bad for the middle-aged, but when it came to old folks-well, there we called it quits. And now we like it. At least when it's done in moderation and good taste and we find ourselves fussing when women threaten to return to the old style.
It's the same with inventions. I can remember when we used to laugh at certain makes of new cars, because they were so low slung, so close to the ground. To have real class, an automobile must ride high above the road and have enormous wheels. Today, after the passing of only a few decades, we seldom see one of the old skyscraper cars on the street, and when we do, we smile.
"Why, I wouldn't use one of those new-fangled electric sewing machines, it you'd give it to me," a highly educated woman said not more than 20 years ago. Now I'm quite certain she would be satisfied with nothing else.
Have you known many mothers, after using electric washers after for some time, who longed for the good old days when they had the privilege of washing their clothes by hand, or fathers who would give anything in the world to get rid of motor cars and go back to muddy roads and the one-horse shay?
And yet a lot of these same people, who gradually accept new styles and inventions, close their minds to new inventions, close their minds to new ideas and truths in religion that could bring them eternal joy and salvation.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could adjust ourselves as easily to new truth as we do to the new habits of styling and to new inventions? It is only natural that people should criticize when new ideas first arrive. Anything that is new and different always arouses suspicion. But why they should gradually accept new discoveries of truth in other fields and not in the restored gospel is difficult to understand. Still, I think there may be one reason for this difference. Folks accept new customs because through use they gradually learn to see their value. The reason some people don't accept revealed truth from heaven is because they are afraid or too stubborn to give it an honest trial and thus find its worth.
My brothers, sisters, and friends, our forefathers did not know all about electricity. Let us consider our knowledge of electricity as compared with that of Benjamin Franklin's day. Do we think that they had the last word in scientific truth? As mankind has grown in the use of electricity, so has he also grown in the knowledge of it. This, likewise, applies to the truths of the gospel. In the same manner, by using the gospel in our daily lives, we are prepared for increased knowledge of revealed truth.
Today, as in every age, we should look to the living prophets of the Lord for guidance and direction. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led by such a prophet in David O. McKay. Through him and the Prophets of this dispensation-beginning with Joseph Smith-many new truths have been revealed.
May I share with you five of the significant truths that mark the belief of Latter-day Saints in their understanding of a universe in which God is a gloriously real and intelligent being, and in which they, individually, have a significant part to play.
First, the Latter-day Saint knows himself to be an eternal being. He is challenged by a divine plan of progression that can make both mortality and the eternities to come an ongoing experience of purpose and meaning. He sees an unmeasured capacity within himself for growth and development in a universe of order and design.
Second, he believes that he has a divine heritage. His eternal, primal self was born into a spirit body of which God is the eternal father. Thus men and women are truly sons and daughters of God. So men partake of the divine nature of God in whose image they are created. Weak and imperfect as men may be today, their future growth and achievement is limited only by the extent to which they fulfill the promise of the spark of divinity that lies within them.
Third, it is the freedom that exalts the individual. True freedom is a condition that every individual must develop for himself. It is based upon the gospel principle of responsible free agency-not just free agency, but responsible free agency-because responsibility and the right and capacity to choose go hand in hand in the gospel. We need to distinguish between free agency and freedom. Free agency is the right to choose, while freedom is both the ability and the opportunity to put that choice into action. True freedom, however, must be achieved. This achievement is accomplished through individual growth in the understanding of, and the ability to, accept and use eternal truth. You and I are not only responsible free agents, but we are literally divine offspring of God in that capacity. Personal freedom that comes from acceptance of, and adherence to, eternal truth is one of the great revelations that guides our lives today.
Fourth is the eternal principle of marriage. For the Latter-day Saint, marriage is more than a relationship established for convenience; rather, it is an eternal companionship that exists between husband and wife and between parents and children wherein they are bound together as a unit for time and all eternity. In line with the eternal nature of man, the Latter-day Saint idea of marriage is an exalting one, for, as the scripture indicates, "... neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord", indicating that the marriage and family covenant is not a "till death do we part" relationship but one that exists for time and for all eternity.
Fifth is the cheerful news that the gospel plan for man is both optimistic and positive. As the Prophet Joseph Smith explained, "Happiness is the object and design of our existence". Progress is a mechanical thing. We must be aware of the forces that shape our lives and of our part in them. Sorrow and unhappiness mark our failures to seize upon and make the most of the opportunities life gives us for growth and achievement. Happiness is not the reward of an indefinite future but comes daily along the way. It comes to those who can recognize and mark their own individual progress in making the divine truths of the universe about them an effective part of their lives and daily living. The man most likely to use truth is the one who seeks to understand it and to appreciate its value in his own life.
Remember, as Bruce Barton has said, "When we're through changing, we're through."
"The secret of genius " declared Carlyle, "is to carry the spirit of childhood into old age-with boundless curiosity about the future-flexible, growing, hoping, trying, ready at all times for change."
And that applies to religion as well as to every other phase of thinking.
The Savior taught that "you must become as a little child". I take it he meant to be not only innocent, but also open-minded and searching, seeking unto the end of life for more and more truth, wherever it can be found-the truth that sets us free.
Today several thousand men and women, missionaries, in every corner of the world carry the divine message of the restored gospel. May I challenge you this day member and nonmember alike, to search your hearts. Open your homes and your hearts, that you might come to know the truth.
The revealed truths that we declare to the world today are true. God has spoken again, and he speaks through his Prophet, David O. McKay; I give you that solemn and personal witness, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Howard W. Hunter
Howard W. Hunter, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 14-17
On the campus of one of our large universities there were recent riots by students carrying large placards, some of which had the words, "We demand peace." It cannot be denied that we live in troubled times and that the lives of most people in the world today are affected by war. Both sides of the controversy have stated their terms for peace, and politicians talk about an equitable and lasting peace despite the fact that down through history there has been almost continual warfare and political unrest.
The Apostle James, in writing to Israel, asked this question: "From whence come wars and fighting among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
"Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts".
At the time of this writing, the Jews were revolting against the Romans in defense of their religion and fighting to procure the liberty to which they believed themselves entitled. They had been split in many factions and were having conflicts among themselves. At the same time they were waging wars against the heathens in Egypt, Syria, and other places, killing many and being massacred in their turn.
James asks this question: Does not war come from lusts? The Jewish contentions and predatory wars were generated upon lust. Lust has been the motivating force of the wars that have afflicted and desolated the world. One nation has coveted another's territory or property or has attempted to force its will or way of life upon another by resorting to physical violence as a means to accomplish its purposes. Nations kill, slay, burn, and destroy until one of them is overcome. History is a repetitious recital of intentional and wanton destruction of life and property. Today is not different from the yesterdays. The populace prays and cries for peace.
The word peace appears frequently in scripture and has many meanings. In classical Greek the word refers to cessation, discontinuance, or absence of hostilities between rival forces. This definition is the antithesis of war and strife. The New Testament, however, has given far wider range of meaning. This is partly due to the influence of the Hebrew word for peace, which is far more comprehensive of meaning. It was commonly used as a form of greeting when persons met or parted: "May peace be with you."
Jesus said, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace" . On the evening of the day of the resurrection, he came to the place where the disciples were assembled and said to them, "Peace be unto you.
"And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
"Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you".
Paul has incorporated this greeting into the opening sentences of his letters, as do the other writers of the epistles.
The word has also been used in the New Testament in reference to "domestic peace" between husband and wife, to harmonious relationships within the whole family, and in many instances to happy, personal relationships with others. It has also been used to mean "peace of mind" or serenity, and the right relationships between God and man.
Because of the difference in definitions, those who seek peace may be searching for unrelated conditions. The peace for which the world longs is a time of suspended hostilities; but men do not realize that peace is a state of existence that comes to man only upon the terms and conditions set by God, and in no other way.
In a psalm in the Book of Isaiah are these words: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee". This perfect peace mentioned by Isaiah comes to one only through a belief in God. This is not understood by an unbelieving world.
On the last occasion that Jesus had supper with the Twelve, he washed their feet, broke bread for them, and passed them the cup; then, after Judas had left their midst, the Master spoke to them at some length. Among other things, he told of his impending death and of the legacy he left for each of them. He had accumulated no goods, property, nor wealth. The record tells us of no possessions other than the clothing he wore, and on the next day after the crucifixion this would be divided by the soldiers, who would cast lots for his coat. His bequest was given to his disciples in these simple yet profound words: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid".
He used the Jewish form of salutation and benediction: "My peace I give unto you." This salutation and bequest was not to be taken by them in the usual sense, for he said, "... not as the world giveth, give I unto you." Not empty wishes, not just polite ceremony, as the people of the world use the words as matters of custom; but as the author and Prince of peace, he gave it to them. He bestowed it upon them and said, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Within a few hours they would be subjected to trouble, but with his peace they could overcome fear and stand firm.
His last statement to them before the closing prayer on that memorable evening was this: "... in the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world".
There is no promise of peace to those who reject God, to those who will not keep his commandments, or to those who violate his laws. The Prophet Isaiah spoke of the decadence and corruption of leaders and then continued in his admonitions by saying: "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
"There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked".
The unrighteous and wicked have no peace, and their actions take away the peace of others. Turmoil in the world has usually been caused by a few individuals or a minority, causing millions of innocent persons to suffer. Today, as in eras gone by, those who are the innocent victims of oppressors hopefully look for peace. This cannot come by riots or placards or even the cessation of hostilities. It can come only in the way the Lord gave his peace to the Twelve, "not as the world giveth."
One of the great writers has penned: "Peace does not dwell in outward things, but within the soul; we may preserve it in the midst of the bitterest pain, if our will remains firm and submissive. Peace in this life springs from acquiescence, not in an exemption from suffering."
Emerson wrote: "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself; nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles." These principles are incorporated into the gospel of Jesus Christ. Indifference to the Savior or failure to keep the commandments of God brings about insecurity, inner turmoil, and contention. These are the opposite of peace. Peace can come to an individual only by an unconditional surrender-surrender to him who is the Prince of peace, who has the power to confer peace.
One may live in beautiful and peaceful surroundings but, because of inner dissension and discord, be in a state of constant turmoil. On the other hand, one may be in the midst of utter destruction and the bloodshed of war and yet have the serenity of unspeakable peace. If we look to man and the ways of the world, we will find turmoil and confusion. If we will but turn to God, we will find peace for the restless soul. This was made clear by the words of the Savior: "In the world ye shall have tribulation"; and in his bequest to the Twelve and to all mankind, he said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth".
We can find this peace now in a world of conflict if we will but accept his great gift and his further invitation: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls".
This peace shelters us from the worldly turmoil. The knowledge that God lives, that we are his children, and that he loves us soothes the troubled heart. The answer to the quest lies in faith in God and in his Son, Jesus Christ. This will bring peace to us now and in the eternity to follow.
I witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world, and that this is his Church, in his holy name. Amen.
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 21-26
President McKay, my brethren; brothers and sisters and friends:
I pray that my brief remarks this day may touch believing hearts.
My reference Bible is described as "The Holy Bible... translated out of the original tongues: and with the former translations diligently compared and revised, by his Majesty's special command"-King James Version.
This is a transcendentally wonderful volume, a combination of about 66 books, 1,189 chapters, with 1,545 pages.
We of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints "believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly".
When I was about 14 years of age, I read this marvelous volume from Genesis to Revelation.
I believe the Bible. I love the Bible. It stimulates me. It lifts me. It inspires me. And, I never tire reading its pages.
There is one phrase that brings me up short as I finish the Book of Malachi. In bold type are these words, "THE END OF THE PROPHETS". Regardless of what the compilers meant, I do not believe that Malachi was "the end of the prophets." As I finished the New Testament, I found once more in bold letters the words, "THE END." I do not believe that even the Book of Revelation was the end.
Then I pondered. If it was meant that there were no more prophets or no more revelations, then that implication would be terrifying.
Another of the Articles of Faith says, "We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God".
In the Old Testament, from Adam until Malachi, the prophets were testifying of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was the God of the Old Testament, and it was he who conversed with Abraham and Moses. It was he who inspired Isaiah and Jeremiah; it was he who foretold through those chosen men the happenings of the future even to the latest day and hour.
And then the New Testament is what it implies-a new, additional witness and testimony of Jesus Christ and the divinity of his work and of the necessity of living the gospel that he outlined and proclaimed.
I like the words of William Cowper:
"God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform... "Deep in unfathomable minds of never failing skill, He treasures up his bright designs and works his sovereign will. "Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan his work in vain God is his own interpreter, and he will make it plain."
I believe with Peter: "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost".
How this confused world needs revelation from God!
Transportation and communication shorten time and distance, yet the world goes on. With war and pestilence and famine, with increased numbers, poverty, desolation, and with more graft, dishonesty, and immorality, certainly the people of this world need revelation from God as never before. How absurd to think that the Lord would give to a small handful of people in the Palestine world his precious direction through revelation and that now, in our extremity, he would close the heavens as he told the children of Israel he would if they would not live his commandments. The Lord said: "And I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass".
And the prophet Moroni quotes his father Mormon as asking:
"... has the day of miracles ceased?
"Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?
"... Nay, for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain".
If the Bible were "the end of the prophets," it would be through lack of faith, and that is the reason the heavens at times were closed and locked and became as iron and the earth as brass.
The Lord will not force himself upon people; and if they do not believe, they will receive no visitation. If they are content to depend upon their own limited calculations and interpretations then, of course, the Lord will leave them to their chosen fate.
Moroni quotes again: "... if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made".
There were the centuries of the dark ages when the heavens were as iron, when there were no revelations recorded; but more than a century ago, the iron ceiling was shattered, since which time revelations have been continuous.
Other books of scripture came into being. Vital and priceless records of ancient America with the teachings of Christ, another testimony of his divinity, were translated. And this Book of Mormon we declare to be divine scripture.
And then there fell into the hands of Joseph Smith some ancient scriptures from the catacombs of Egypt that were the writings of Abraham while he was in Egypt and that were written by his own hand upon papyrus, from which they were translated and are known as the Book of Abraham; this book we declare to the world to be authentic and of divine origin. We also have the Book of Moses, an account of the ancient days, contemporary with the Book of Genesis but a more complete record of that period as revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Since that momentous day in 1820, additional scripture has continued to come, and numerous pertinent and vital revelations have been flowing in a never-failing stream from God to his prophets on the earth. These scriptures are called the Doctrine and Covenants. We declare them to be divine and official and authentic communications from the Lord to men through divinely appointed prophets and that there never has been and never shall be an end to the prophets so long as men have faith and believe and live righteously.
There are those who would assume that with the printing and binding of these sacred scripture records, that would be "the end of the prophets." But again, we testify to the world that revelation continues and that the vaults and files of the Church are full.
Revelations come from month to month and from day to day, and since 1830, they have continued. As long as time shall last, a prophet, recognized of God, will continue to interpret the mind and will of God.
Since we know positively that God lives and is the same yesterday, today, and forever, we can gauge the faithfulness and spirituality of men by the degree and fullness of the communications between them and God.
Harper's Bible Dictionary defines revelation, saying:
"... and only God can make God known. Revelation is the process whereby God makes himself known to men... Revelation presupposes on the part of men a capacity of response... Response calls for faith...
"The scriptures are the record of God's self-revelation and its results...
"Revelation is therefore inseparable from faith, and unless a faith response is evoked there is no proper revelation."
As the thoughtful student reads the numerous experiences of the modern leaders and the revelations and dreams and visions, it is apparent that they compare well with all those of the ancient past.
The visions of Wilford Woodruff and Joseph F. Smith would certainly be on a par with the visions of Peter and Paul. The visions and revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple and in the Sacred Grove in New York were awesome, like the manifestations to Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration.
Certainly, if there is no variableness in the Lord, if there is no shadow of changing, and if, as he said, he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, then we may fully expect that the same revelations, visions healings, and tongues are all available today as in any other day, providing there is the necessary faith.
Joseph Smith's revelations were spectacular. After many centuries of spiritual darkness in the world, it was necessary that the Lord Jesus Christ restore his program on the earth, and that the Father return to introduce the Son, who would then establish the gospel of restoration.
Revelation does not always mean "walking with God", nor "face-to-face", nor "lips-to-ear". There are many kinds of revelation-some more and some less spectacular.
The vision to Peter, James, and John, the pillars of the early Church, was awesome. They followed Jesus into the high mountain, where "his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light". Here these three great prophets saw Moses and Elias, long since dead, and were with Christ and heard the voice of Elohim introducing his Beloved Son, Jehovah.
Magnificent and eternity-embracing were the revelations to Abraham, known as "the friend of God". Angels ministered to him and the Lord spoke to him. He said:
"I, Abraham, talked with the Lord face to face as one man talketh with another; and he told me of the works which his hands had made".
"... the Lord spake to Moses face to face as a man speaketh with a friend".
Indicating the different types of revelation, the Lord revealed through Aaron and Miriam:
"... If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
"My servant Moses is not so....
"With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold".
The vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1820 was spectacular and magnificent when the Father introduced his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to the boy prophet. Joseph Smith saw and heard. He said:
"... I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!".
Realizing the skepticism of his contemporaries, he continued:
"... it was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision...
"... I had actually seen a light and in the midst of that light, I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me... I was led to say in my heart: 'Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen?' For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it-at least I knew that by so doing, I would offend God, and come under condemnation".
Elder John A. Widtsoe says of this:
"There was no mysticism about it. Joseph saw, in full sight, the personages of the vision and heard their words. The vision was beyond philosophic quibbling."
Nothing short of this total vision to Joseph could have served the purpose to clear away the mists of darkness of the centuries. Merely an impression, a hidden voice, or a dream could hardly have dispelled the old vagaries and misconceptions of the ages.
Moroni again said:
"... I speak unto you who deny the revelations of God, and say that they are done away...."
"... he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read the scriptures; if so, he does not understand them.
"And now if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles.
"But behold, I will show unto you a God of miracles... and it is that same God who created the heavens and the earth, and all things".
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has its prophets and has had them since the beginning of the restoration in 1830. Listen to Brigham Young:
"I have the keys and the means of obtaining the word of God on the subject...
"Joseph conferred upon our heads all the keys and powers belonging to the Apostleship which he himself held... and no man or set of men can get between Joseph and the Twelve in this world or in the world to come.
"How often has Joseph said to the Twelve, 'I have laid the foundation and you must build thereon, for upon your shoulders the kingdom rests'".
Brigham Young, the leader of the exodus across the plains, also said:
"I do not wish men to understand I had anything to do with our being moved here, that was the providence of the Almighty; it was the power of God that wrought out salvation for this people, I never could have devised such a plan".
Most recorded revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants and in the Bible were from deep feelings and an impressive consciousness of direction from above. But some were more direct. The believer of the Bible would hardly question the call of Enoch, nor the call of Saul of Tarsus, nor that of Barnabas. And yet, those same Bible readers would take upon themselves the assumed authority to preach and teach and perform ordinances without special authority from God.
Brigham Young received a vision before building this beautiful temple on this block. Here are his own words:
"... five years ago last July, I was here and saw in the Spirit the Temple not ten feet from where we have laid the Chief Corner Stone. I have not inquired what kind of a Temple we should build. Why? Because it was represented before me... it will have six towers to begin with instead of one".
If all the spectacular manifestations and visions and pertinent dreams and healings and other miracles were written in books, it would take a great library to hold them.
Comparable to the numerous revelations of the past would be the one of Wilford Woodruff, President of the Church in the last century:
"I had some remarks last Sunday upon... revelation. Read the life of Brigham Young and you can hardly find a revelation that he had wherein he said, 'Thus saith the Lord.' But the Holy Ghost was with him; he taught by inspiration and revelation... Joseph said, 'Thus saith the Lord' almost every day of his life, in laying the foundation of this work. But those who followed him have not deemed it always necessary to say, 'Thus saith the Lord.' Yet they have led the people by the power of the Holy Ghost...
"It is by that power that we have led Israel; by that power President Young presided over and led the Church. By the same power, President John Taylor presided over and led the Church. And that is the way I have acted according to the best of my ability in that capacity... He is giving us revelation, and will give us revelation until the scene is wound up.
"I have had some revelations of late and very important ones to me and I will tell you what the Lord has said to me...
"... The Lord... has told me exactly what to do... I went before the Lord, and I wrote what the Lord told me to write...".
The work goes forward-and one prophet succeeds another.
Joshua succeeded Moses, who had laid his hands upon him and ordained him. And then the Lord said:
"There shall not any man be able stand before thee, all the years of thy life: as I was with Moses I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee".
Upon Elisha fell the mantle of Elijah.
And likewise, the mantle of Joseph Smith fell on Brigham Young when seemed to be transformed before the people who seemed to hear the voice of Joseph and see the person of Joseph. This remarkable miracle was attested to by great numbers of people. The mantle of Joseph fell from Brigham to John Taylor, to Wilford Woodruff, to Lorenzo Snow, to Joseph F. Smith, to Heber J. Grant, to George Albert Smith, and to our Prophet today, President David O. McKay.
Revelations have continued: Brother Merrill, president of the Logan Temple, received a comforting manifestation; Elder Melvin J. Ballard's call, as told by President Grant, was remarkable. President Joseph F. Smith's vision in 1918 on the redemption of the dead was most comprehensive; the temple work for the signers of the Declaration of Independence is illuminating; President Grant's Arizona experience is remarkable; Heber C. Kimball's experience of unusual discernment in the Endowment House-these and numerous experiences of latter-day authorities all are testimony that, as George Q. Cannon said, there has never been a single minute since 1830 when the people were left without the revealed guidance of the Lord.
The Almighty is with this people. We shall have all the revelations that we shall need if we will do our duty and keep the commandments of God. If men could just realize that there may be sound even though few ears hear it. There are revelations even though most minds be materialistic and most hearts impenetrable.
Remember that of all who traveled the "way to Damascus" that notable day, only Paul heard and recognized the face and voice of our Redeemer. And that of all the numerous professionals and court attaches in Babylon's court, only Daniel received the dream of Nebuchadnezzar and its interpretation; and while Belshazzar and others saw the handwriting on the wall, only the Prophet Daniel could give it meaning.
Remember:
If there be eyes to see, there will be visions to inspire.
If there be ears to hear, there will be revelations to experience.
If there be hearts which can understand, know this: that the exalting truths of Christ's gospel will no longer be hidden and mysterious, and all earnest seekers may know God and his program.
I bear witness that there will never be an "end of the prophets," as implied in my Bible, but that Christ's Church moves on through the revelations of God to its divinely called leaders. This I know in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder S. Dilworth Young
S. Dilworth Young, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 26-28
Many years ago President Charles W. Penrose of the First Presidency attended a sacrament meeting in Richards Ward in Salt Lake City. Just before the meeting commenced President Penrose walked down the aisle toward the pulpit, accompanied by the bishop. About halfway down he stopped, turned to the bishop, and inquired of him, "Who put that sign there?" "That sign" was a placard that was attached to the front of the pulpit and that read:
The bishop didn't know but supposed that the sign had been installed by one of the auxiliaries. Nothing more was said. The march down the aisle continued, and the meeting duly commenced.
I do not know what subject President Penrose intended to speak on when he arrived at the chapel, but when he arose to speak, he said that order is not the first law of heaven, but that obedience is. He spent the next 45 minutes marshalling instances and scripture to prove his thesis. The main point that impressed me, a boy at the time at the time, was that by obedience order may be established and that without obedience there will be no order, but chaos.
We are all familiar with the revelation given to Abraham concerning the purpose of the Lord God:
"And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;
"And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them".
We have learned that in order to obey the Lord we must obey his servants. Each presiding officer is to be obeyed in righteousness, in the field of his presidency. And so it is clear that we obey the President of the Church, the president of the stake, the bishop of the ward, and president of the quorum each in his field of service. And finally, forgotten by many as a requirement of heaven, is the necessity of obedience to our parents.
Too many of our children do not realize that obedience to parents is a principle of the gospel.
Young people feel some responsibility for obedience to the law of tithing and of obeying the law of the fast. They know they should attend Sunday School or MIA or Primary. They feel guilty if they do not attend sacrament meeting, and they generally know enough to understand that to break the law of chastity is to break the law of God. But too many of our children do not consider disobedience to their parents as breaking the law in the same manner as is breaking the law of tithing. The fault for this lack does not necessarily lie at the feet of the children. Children know what they are taught, and if they are not taught to understand and obey this first law of heaven, they cannot be expected to obey it.
There is a clear scripture that has to do with this relationship:
"... inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents".
While this revelation does not specifically mention all that should be taught to children, certainly it is clear that parents must teach if children are to obey the teaching.
Home evenings and the daily association with children provide the schoolroom for the teaching. While they are small, children should be taught to obey their parents and teachers. When they enter adolescence, it should be understood that with the addition of new freedom comes new responsibility of obedience to the laws upon which that freedom is predicated. The law is clear that children obey their parents in righteousness until they reach their legal maturity. This is not something to be enforced by the parents; it is rather an obligation to be voluntarily obeyed by the children. Children should be taught that they obey their parents in the same spirit that they pay tithing, attend sacrament meeting, or keep the fast once a month.
It is a law of God.
Our first parents set the example. After he left the garden with Eve, Adam heard the voice of the Lord over toward Eden, which commanded him to offer a sacrifice. The voice made no explanations but merely stated the command. Adam and Eve obeyed.
It was a long time, during which they obeyed explicitly, before an angel came and asked Adam why he offered sacrifices. His reply was short but truthful.
"I know not, save the Lord commanded me".
In that reply is the example that should be followed by all children. If parents tell children to be in from a party at midnight, or that they may not have the car, or that such tight clothes must not be worn, or that dresses are too short, or that the allowance this month cannot be increased, or that the lawn must be cut on Saturday, the reply of the children should be "we'll obey." The Lord didn't give Adam a reason. Children should not expect reasons from parents, although most parents are glad to tell their children the reasons.
I marvel at the meticulous care with which the Lord conducts his affairs in obedience to the laws he himself establishes:
Remember the night of September 21, 1823, when Joseph Smith was visited three times by Moroni, and how the next day Joseph, feeling ill, was sent home to rest. He crossed the fence and fainted. As he regained consciousness, there once more stood Moroni, who told him to go to his father and tell him all that had transpired. Why? For many reasons, one of which was that he had told Joseph to go to the Hill Cumorah. Joseph could not in righteousness leave that farm without his father's permission. That was the law. Generally it was enforced. So to leave the farm and go to the hill, Joseph had to obtain the approbation of his father. Upon completion of his account of what had happened, the father told him that this was of God and to obey.
I do not recall a single time that Joseph asked permission of his father to perform any act after he was 21. Until that time he was completely obedient.
It is so with you and me and with our children. Let us, who are fathers, be engaged in the business of rearing children, teaching them the law of obedience to parents.
Let children learn this law of God as a commandment to be obeyed. Let us also teach them that this is the great restoration of the gospel promised by ancient prophets. Let us teach them that obedience to their parents, and to those who preside over them, from the quorum leader to the president of the Church, is the foundation of their future success in this world and their exaltation in the world to come.
These are the last days. This is the last time. Through President McKay as prophet, seer, and revelator we may hear the inspired word of the Lord God if we will but listen and obey. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder William J. Critchlow, Jr.
William J. Critchlow, Jr., Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 28-32
I have several storiettes to tell. A storiette is a brief story or tale. Mine are not tales. They are true stories greatly condensed and I employ them to make a point that I hope you will discover before I disclose it later on.
Storiette #1: Less than a score of years ago, a 15-year-old Bedouin lad, tending a flock of goats in the desert on the western coast of the Dead Sea, threw a stone at a straying goat. The stone missed its target and fell into a cleft in a rocky cliff. He heard something break. Climbing up to investigate, he found a cave filled with clay jars, one of which lay shattered by his stone. In the shattered jar were seven relatively intact Hebrew scrolls. These old documents provide scientific and historical information covering a period of approximately 250 years, dating from about 150 B.C. to about 100 A.D., a period about which very little is known. These scrolls, along with fragments of other scrolls since discovered may, when fully translated, be worth their weight many, many times in gold. Scholars have predicted that their message will shake the faith of Christians all over the world.
Storiette #2: These scrolls tell about a community of Hebrew people who lived near the shores of the Dead Sea, and who, prior to the birth of the Savior, believed, practiced, and taught doctrines and ordinances that also were a fundamental part of the teachings Christ taught a hundred or so years later. They had set up a religious organization similar to the one created years later by Jesus and his disciples. Presiding over it were 12 laymen and three priests. Functioning in it were bishops, priests, teachers, and deacons.
"They practiced baptism by immersion.
"They conducted their communal meal in a form similar to the Christian Sacrament.
"They taught brotherly love.
"They believed in the coming of a prophet or Messiah.
"They accepted the possibility of direct revelation.
"They had joined in a new covenant.
"They believed they belonged to a chosen people and practiced a form of communal living much as did the first Christians during the lifetime and soon after the crucifixion and resurrection of the Savior."
The historian Josephus called these people the Essenes. Another name for them is the Dead Sea covenantors. They were Hebrew people of the Qumran period who, as you have just heard, practiced Christian principles and Christian ordinances years before Jesus came to earth. Shocking? Well, to Christian people who generally believe that Jesus initiated and introduced these principles and ordinances at his coming, years later, I suppose it is.
It is possible, thinks Dr. Yigael Yadin, a Hebrew scholar, that these people became converts when Christ appeared. "Who," he asks, "among all Hebrew people, were better prospects for conversion than they, whose teachings and ordinances were so similar to the Christ's?" Later, in the days of the Apostle Paul, when the people were slipping back to some of their original pre-Christ practices, Dr. Yadin suggests that it was to them that the Apostle Paul addressed his epistle to the Hebrews.
Storiette #3: One of the Dead Sea scrolls, still only partially translated, contains a bit of history purportedly written by Abraham. Unlike the Book of Genesis story, Abraham tells in the first person how he was called by the Lord to go into Egypt and how in a dream he was instructed to tell the Egyptians that Sarah, his wife, was his sister. Abraham also tells how, by the laying on of hands-a gospel ordinance-Pharaoh was healed of an affliction that had come upon him when he had taken Sarah away from Abraham. Pharaoh asked for this blessing, obviously knowing that his own priests were without priesthood power. He undoubtedly knew, too, that an earlier pharaoh had sought the priesthood, and he certainly knew why it was denied him. But more about Abraham later in another storiette.
My next storiette involves a Frenchman by the name of Antonio Sebolo. About 135 years ago, while excavating in ancient catacombs in Egypt, he uncovered 11 well-preserved mummies which, because of their meticulous and expensive embalming, were thought to be persons of royalty. On his way to France with these mummies, he died. His will left them to a nephew, Michael H. Chandler, who received them at the port of New York. Bound to the chest of one of the mummies was something enclosed in tidy linen wrappings. If Mr. Chandler expected to find therein gold, silver, diamonds, or other precious stones, he must have been sadly disappointed when he removed the wrappings and found instead two well-preserved papyrus scrolls. He never suspected them to be very valuable; otherwise he would not have sold them, along with four of the mummies, to friends of Joseph Smith, the American prophet, for a rather modest but undisclosed sum of money. Before selling them to Joseph Smith's friends, he exhibited them throughout the Northeastern States, where thousands of people viewed them.
The Prophet Joseph Smith subsequently translated the Egyptian characters on one of these scrolls and found them to be a fascinating first person, historical account of Father Abraham's activities, including his visit to Egypt.
Unlike the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls, which was heralded in newspaper headlines and in radio broadcasts throughout the world, this discovery by Joseph Smith received practically no publicity. It deserved news headlines. Its message, like the message of the Dead Sea scrolls, could also shake the faith of Christians throughout the world. A basic, hardcore Christian concept may crumble under the impact of its message if it ever receives the same consideration and acceptance now being accorded the Dead Sea scrolls. But more about that concept when I finish my story about the Egyptian scroll.
An account in the Egyptian scroll discovered by Sebolo parallels incidents in Abraham's life, as related in the recently discovered Dead Sea scrolls. It thus confirms the Dead Sea scroll story. Conversely, the Dead Sea scroll story confirms the Egyptian scroll story.
The Egyptian scroll reveals to the world the eternalness of the gospel.
It reveals to the world a knowledge of our eternal existence.
It tells about the grand council of the gods in heaven before the earth was peopled.
It tells about the presentation of the gospel plan to his spirit children before they came to earth.
It tells about the selection of Jesus to be the administrator of the gospel plan on earth, the purveyor of the gospel throughout the world, from Adam on down.
It discloses Jesus to be the Savior of the world.
It tells how one rejected the gospel plan in that council of the gods.
It discloses the gospel to have had its origin before the foundations of the earth were laid, and it thus confirms again the Dead Sea scroll story or expose, i.e., principles of Christ's gospel, his teachings, and some of the ordinances were on the earth before Christ came in the flesh.
We have been told that "in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established".
Two witnesses to the fact that the gospel is eternal are: the Egyptian scroll and the Dead Sea scrolls.
We have additional witnesses which scholars, delving the scrolls, ought to examine:
The story on the golden plates is a third and most impressive witness.
The writings of Moses contained in the Pearl of Great Price is a fourth and very special witness.
The Doctrine and Covenants adds a wealth of persuasive evidence that the gospel is eternal, that Jesus is the Son of God.
Furthermore, every Bible student knows that prophets foretold the Savior's coming and testified that he was the Son of God and that his gospel was for everyone. The "Jewish Talmud makes it plain that baptism," a gospel ordinance, "was required for admission to the Church." Other ancient writings, such as the books of the Apocrypha, excluded from the Bible, provide evidence that a messiah would come to bring his gospel, even the same gospel that had been taught to Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and others.
Why, then-in the face of all this historical evidence to the fact that much of what we now know as Christianity was taught and practiced by prophets, religious teachers, and religious groups prior to the advent of Jesus on the earth-is it that this knowledge was not, and presently is not, widespread among the lay members of Christian churches?
Dr. R. H. Charles, an eminent scholar and writer on ancient Hebrew history, believes that some of the books rejected as scripture "fell under the ban of such authorities as Hilary, Jerome and Augustine," who, he thinks, were concerned about their contents. "These three men... exerted a tremendous influence on what was accepted or rejected as scripture, were probably disturbed about the Christian doctrine that some of these books taught long before the time of the Savior. Having no knowledge of the eternal nature of the gospel and Christ's authorship of it before this world was organized... could have feared that the Christian nature of these books would disturb the faith of lay church members" and they therefore suppressed them. The Christian concept today is exactly what it was in their day, namely, the gospel was initiated and first introduced to the world by Jesus at his coming nearly 2,000 years ago.
I began this address by promising storiettes that I said would develop a point. Jesus employed storiettes to develop a point, usually a moral. His storiettes are called parables. A parable is a fictitious story. My storiettes are true, and the point I promised to make is, I hope, by now obvious. Simply, it is this: Jesus came in the flesh not to initiate and introduce his gospel but to restore it. The gospel of Jesus Christ is eternal.
Provoking this talk were the radio remarks of a Protestant minister who said that there were two basic, hardcore concepts common to and characteristic of all Christian creeds or churches. One, he said, is a "belief in a God to whom no physical characteristics can be ascribed"; the other, a belief that Jesus came to earth to introduce and "establish his gospel" and that the Christian churches are agencies to promote it.
I wish I had time now to discuss his God concept. I've already said enough about the other concept-introducing and establishing the gospel-to make my point.
The impact of the message of the Dead Sea scrolls upon the Christian churches could be, as I said before, faith-shaking. To support that statement, I submit to you comments by eminent scholars.
One said: "Christianity, we must now see, instead of being a faith once for all delivered to the Saints in the Judea of the First Century, is a development of one branch of Judaism into a religion which presently, when mingled with other religions in the gentile world, developed by natural evolution into the religious system... that we know today... Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Taoism-all high religions, no matter what their claims-have grown in natural ways."
Another eminent scholar has written: "Surely with the evidence at hand, any fair-minded Christian should admit that Jesus was not a miraculous incarnation of a Son of God, preexistent in the heavens and sent to earth as the long awaited Messiah... The scrolls... the man Jesus to the world as a great teacher who learned from Hebrew prophets, from the Essene teachers, from the great thinkers of the Greek Alexandrian cultures of his time. He thought it all over and created his own message from the best of all he had studied, and finally dramatized it as the suffering servant, Savior, Son of Man."
Another scholar declared the scrolls to be "medieval forgeries." Still another scholar suggests that they don't make sense. "Actually they make very good sense, but it is a sense quite contrary to conventional ideas of Judaism and Christianity."
Repudiating the scrolls is one way of preserving that dominant hard-core Christian concept that my radio friend said was common to, and characteristic of, all Christian churches. But truth crushed to earth shall rise again.
Our own O. Preston Robinson sums up the reaction of these scholars as follows:
"Faced with the overwhelming evidence of the Gospel's antiquity and bereft of a knowledge of Christ's original authorship of it, these scholars flounder in uncertainty and can only conclude that Christ was a great teacher, an imitator, but not in reality the Son of God. If Jesus was nothing more than a clever teacher utilizing the ideas and principles promulgated by others before him, he would necessarily have been one of the world's most deceptive frauds."
My personal reaction is this: If these floundering scroll scholars, if these confused Christian leaders would take time out to examine the other witnesses that I have cited, particularly the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price, and the Doctrine and Covenants, they could help a frustrated church membership restore Jesus Christ to the status of a Son of God, the very Savior of all mankind. He did come in the flesh, nearly 2,000 years ago, to restore his gospel which, after his death and the death of his apostles, was lost to the world. But, thanks to a merciful God, it has been restored again in this latter day through the great American Prophet Joseph Smith. To this I bear my humble witness, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Theodore M. Burton
Theodore M. Burton, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 32-35
Among the ancient Israelites, the temple of God was the pivotal point around which the whole nation revolved. This building was considered to be the house of the Lord and was made as beautiful as man could make it, for it was to be a place to which God could come on the earth to reveal his will to his prophet. Thus, to be near the temple was a blessing, and to go into it was a great privilege. However, not all the people were permitted to go into the temple. This right was limited only to the priests, and only the high priest could go into the inner court. There were undoubtedly some in that day who thought this practice was discriminatory, but that was the word of the Lord, and it was obeyed.
So modern temples constructed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are built as houses of the Lord and are as beautiful as we can make them in a simple, dignified manner. Entrance to these temples is restricted to those who have proved their faithfulness and loyalty to God, and the temple serves as a pivotal point in our belief being a place of revelation of the will of God to man.
Let us consider the need for temples in our day. First let us consider life itself. Life on this earth is beautiful and wonderful, despite some of the terrible things that happen. A newborn infant is truly a wonder, and a little child is easy to love. Instinctively we love all little ones. But did the total life of that infant begin at birth, or will it cease at death? Reason and instinct tell us otherwise. Talents and potentials and spiritual gifts differ from child to child.
Where did these differences come from? We claim they were brought here as a result of a previous life. This previous life, lived in the spirit is the basis of the present talents and gifts that we now enjoy. A premortal existence can explain much of life and can account for the differences that we see around us in mortal life. How otherwise could God be just?-for there is no question that people differ, and there is no question in my mind but that God is just and merciful to all his children.
This belief in a previous life is based on scripture. When the Lord called the prophet Jeremiah he said:
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations".
This doctrine of a premortal life must have been taught by Jesus, for his apostles used this teaching to ask a question:
"And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
"And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?".
How could the man have sinned before birth unless he had lived before? Life on this earth is a gift of God given to us as a reward for previous virtue. But his disciples failed to understand that so-called curses are oftentimes blessings. Jesus reminded them of the danger of passing judgment based on mortal existence alone:
"Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him".
Note that he did not rebuke them for this doctrine, but merely told them not to pass judgment on people based on what we can see and experience as mortal beings. As spirit children of God, we covenanted to agree to accept this life. But life on this earth does have a purpose, and much of what we experience in this life is based on the kind of life we led before we came here. One thing we can state with confidence: God will give an opportunity to every man to make the best use of whatever life he was assigned in his mortal station. God has made it possible for us to find on this earth the reason for existence and has given or will give every man, every woman, every child born upon this earth an opportunity to make a new and everlasting covenant with him to accept Jesus Christ as a living Lord and Savior.
Just as this life depends upon the previous life, so this life is most important for the future, for life hereafter depends upon our life here in mortality. Jesus has shown us the actuality of the resurrection. We have overwhelming testimony of eternal life. It is not some mysterious nirvana, but an eternal life in the flesh that we will receive as individual beings. Life, therefore, follows death as dawn follows darkness, breaking forth into the light of a perfect day. What kind of life will this be for you? The ancient prophet wrote:
"Now behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body, that is from death even from the first death unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption".
The prophet warned us, therefore, to do something about this now, while there is time left to us, and not delay our repentance, which is the way we change from our present lives to a better way of life. He told us:
"Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world".
What he is trying to say is that although repentance later on is not impossible, it is certainly more difficult than it is right here in mortality.
May I then ask you now, "What kind of a life will you have in the hereafter?" I can answer this question for you quickly. "You will have the kind of life you earned here." You chose the life you are now leading. Are you happy with it? Would you like to improve it? You can, you know. You can choose your life hereafter, and you will have to live whatever kind of life you choose. Just as this life could have been beautiful for all, have we been willing to pay the price, so life hereafter can be beautiful for all. I ask you to look around you. Will your life be beautiful?
Do you love your wife or husband here? Has your marriage here been wonderful? Do you love your children-I mean really love them? Do you love your father? Your mother? Has your family life been a joyful, happy one? If not, then get started to work on it to make that life beautiful. It will take effort, to be sure, but it is worth all the work and energy it takes.
If your family life has been beautiful and happy, you will want your loved ones near you hereafter. How happy could life be without those we love? Could you be happy alone? No one can, to be sure, and therefore the need for eternal companionship. I won't be happy without my family and loved ones, and neither will you, for real love should never die.
How can you tie this family to you? This is the goal of priesthood genealogy. All our efforts are to seal this union right here on earth. This power was given to his apostles by the Lord when he said:
"Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven".
These marriages cannot be united in heaven, but must be done right here on this earth. Jesus rebuked those who thought this could be done later when he said:
"Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
"For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven".
This sealing must be done in temples of God erected specifically for this holy ordinance. Hence there is a need to build temples of God in our day.
Priesthood genealogy is not just seeking records of dead ancestors alone. It involves the completion of these temple ordinances. Priesthood genealogy is a work for the living, for those who are dead shall also live again. It is to make possible family life after death that we gather these records and do this ordinance work in temples for our family members while we are still in mortality. We prove our love for our dear ones by first sealing our own family to us in the temples of God built for that purpose. Then we prove our love for our family by doing a useful service for them in their behalf-sealing them to us here on earth by the sealing power of the priesthood of God.
Thus the gospel permits love to become in our lives a reality that can exist throughout all eternity. It is love and spirituality at their very best. The key to true spirituality is priesthood genealogy. We invite you to prove your love for those you hold dear. Is your grief and longing for a loved one real? Do you love a wife enough to want her with you forever? Do you love a child enough to save it? If you do, then first perfect yourselves sufficiently so you can qualify to go into the temple and there do for them the work that will bind them to you forever. God bless you to catch the spirit of Elijah, which was given in this dispensation along with the binding power to bind together the hearts of men in love one for another. This is the way life was meant to be. It is the basic doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that it is the divine method by which Jesus Christ can exalt us into the presence of God the Eternal Father, and I bear you this witness in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder John Longden
John Longden, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 35-38
It is the aim and responsibility of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to present the statement of the scriptures, which are clear in declaring the actual resurrection of the body.
Christ is the firstfruits of the resurrection and the pattern of what is an eternal principle applicable to all mankind. As he took up the same body that was laid in the tomb, so will all the human family receive a renewal, each of his own body. The change is that the blood, which is the life of the mortal body, will not occupy the immortal one. "... flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God".
It is evident, however, that flesh and bones occupied by immortal spirit can inherit the kingdom of God, for Jesus was the type and example. After his resurrection, he appeared unto many. He said to his disciples when they were "affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
"Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have".
He then showed them his hands and feet, which had been pierced with spikes in the terrible hour of his crucifixion. While he was with them, he called for food; and they gave him broiled fish and honeycomb, which he ate in their presence.
What could be more real or tangible than this? When he was resurrected, many others received the same glorious blessing and came bodily out of their graves.
"And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
"And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many".
These, undoubtedly, were the bodies of the righteous who had embraced the gospel in the various dispensations prior to the coming and atonement of our Lord and Savior. The antediluvians who rejected Noah were not among this number. Peter informs us that the Messiah, when put to death in the flesh, was quickened by the Spirit:
"By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
"Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah".
The Savior himself said to his disciples:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live".
John the Revelator declared:
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works".
Nothing could be more literal, more tangible, more real than this, nothing more just. The righteous are to come forth and enjoy absolute peace and freedom from the tribulations heaped upon them by the wicked, untrammeled with trials brought upon them by Lucifer, free from sickness, sin, and sorrow, living in the personal presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, in full enjoyment of the earth and all its glory.
No wonder Job rejoiced in all his afflictions because his soul was enlightened with the visions of the future. Notwithstanding his bodily pains and the annoyance of friends who attributed his afflictions to his own failings, he claimed from the depths of his soul:
"Oh, that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
"That they were graven with an iron pen... in the rock for ever!
"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
"And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
"Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me".
Undoubtedly, this great and good man was resurrected when the Messiah was and received a partial fulfillment of this glorious vision, but whatever was lacking in the full realities of the prophecy will be complete when the Son of man shall come in his glory to reign on the earth.
Paul, speaking to the Thessalonians, said:
"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first".
This agrees with the testimonies already quoted from the Savior and the Apostle John in reference to the resurrection.
In modern revelation, the Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith:
"And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel".
The chief apostle, Peter, taught:
"Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
"Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
"And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead".
It is evident that the burden of the teachings and testimonies of the apostles was to establish the divinity of the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ. This necessarily included his atonement and resurrection. The fall of our first parents brought not only a banishment from the presence of the Lord, which may be termed a spiritual death, but it caused the death of the physical body. When an atonement was wrought out as a redemption from that fall, it would be incomplete unless it brought to pass immortality and eternal life to the body.
The spirit and the body are the soul of man. The body is resurrected from the grave independent, whether the individual was in this life good or bad, as is shown by the declaration of scripture:
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive".
Paul describes in a very definite way the degrees of glory in the resurrection, which vindicates the justice of God and rewards man according to his works, thus establishing the free agency of man by holding him personally accountable for every act of his life.
"There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
"There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differs from another star in glory.
So also is the resurrection of the resurrection of the dead".
Jesus said to the apostles:
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
"... that where I am, there ye may be also".
These assertions all agree that there has been a resurrection. The only reasonable conclusion to be reached by reading these testimonies is that the resurrection will be an actual reunion of the spirit and the body.
Should there still be doubt in the mind of anyone that there seems to be a deficiency in the conclusions from the statements quoted, may I suggest you read the account of the resurrection from the inspired writings of Ezekiel. Please read the entire 37th chapter of Ezekiel. The words of this prophet should dispel any doubt.
To the Latter-day Saints, the doctrine of the resurrection is a living, tangible reality, because added to the testimonies of the Jewish scriptures, the Old and the New Testaments, and the Book of Mormon which corroborates the Bible, we have the testimony of men in this day who have seen the living bodies of resurrected beings. Joseph Smith was a man of unblemished character. His veracity was never impeached. His honor in religion, in morality, and in business transactions, as attested by friend and foe, was unsullied to the end of his mortal career, when he sealed his testimony with his innocent blood. His testimony is that he saw God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, the latter on several occasions.
One such visitation was experienced by Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and Oliver Cowdery, in the temple at Kirtland, Ohio, April 3, 1836. The occasion was that of a Sabbath day meeting. The Prophet prefaces his record of the manifestations with these words:
"In the afternoon, I assisted the other presidents in distributing the Lord's Supper to the Church, receiving it from the Twelve, whose privilege it was to officiate at the sacred desk this day. After having performed this service to my brethren, I retired to the pulpit, the veils being dropped, and bowed myself, with Oliver Cowdery, in solemn and silent prayer. After rising from prayer, the following vision was opened to both of us".
"The veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened.
"We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber.
"His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:
"I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father".
Joseph Smith also had a visitation from John the Baptist, from Peter, James, and John, from Moses, Elijah, Moroni, and other ancient prophets of God who lived on the eastern or western hemispheres. He was not alone in being a witness to the existence of resurrected beings. Others in modern times also have seen these and have published their testimonies to the world. Those who have received the witness of the Holy Ghost and who also know that there is a resurrection and that the words of the Savior and the prophets are true and faithful are numbered in the thousands.
This is my testimony of the subject. I testify in the name of the resurrected Redeemer that God has spoken from the heavens in this age of the world; that Jesus Christ is the son of God, the Redeemer of the world; that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the Most High and received the revelations of God for the benefit of mankind; that angels and ancient prophets visited him and delivered to him the keys of the dispensation of the fullness of times; that Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, Joseph F. Smith, Heber J. Grant, George Albert Smith-each in his time has been the successor of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and that David O. McKay is now such successor. I also testify that all who receive this gospel with honest heart shall know that the doctrine is true, and if they are faithful unto death they shall come forth in the resurrection of the righteous, to live and reign with Christ a thousand years.
Certainly these scriptures give evidence that God is not dead. He lives. Jesus Christ lives; and I further testify and bear witness to the reality of the resurrection for all mortal beings, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
Elder Milton R. Hunter
Milton R. Hunter, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 38-41
"Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all of God's commandments." These are the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
An ancient American prophet declared: "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy".
Robert Louis Stevenson said, "Man's highest duty is to be happy."
Thus it is reasonable to believe that man's highest duty is to obey the laws of the land and the laws of God in order that he might attain the happiness that he desires. Our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to show us through his teachings and his life how to live an abundant life. In modern revelation, he gave us the formula by which we should live in order to be supremely happy. He declared: "For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God".
By so doing, men do not offend other men, nor do they offend God, but live in perfect harmony and peace with each other at all times. Kindness and love predominate in all their actions. Constantly they do unto others as they desire other people to do unto them. In fact, the measure of a people's happiness comes in proportion to the amount of love they have in their hearts for their fellowmen. Also, those righteous people love God with all their hearts, might, mind, and strength. The men and women who have most nearly complied with God's commandment to "live by every word that proceedeth forth from" his mouth know the joys and sweetness derived therefrom. By living this way, they have attained the condition described by the poet James Russell Lowell. To quote:
"Now the heart is so full that a drop overfills it, We are happy now because God wills it."
Satan however, has never exerted more influence among the children of men than he is exerting throughout the world today to bring about sin and misery and the destruction of the human race. Wars, strife, hate, greed, selfishness, and all sorts of evil exist everywhere. Crime is on the increase throughout the nation, especially among the youth. Murder, adultery, robbery, traffic in drugs, and numerous other crimes are reported daily in the newspapers.
The world is in such a condition today that evil is ofttimes presented on television and radio, in the movies, in books, magazines, and newspapers as if it were virtue and good. An author recently wrote:
"No one can read and savor the kind of printed material, pictures, and shows which present lurid and sordid aspects of life and remain pure in thought and mind.", p. 150.)
Attitudes toward homosexuality have been liberalized in England, and in many cities in the United States some lawmakers, clergymen, and social leaders are clamoring for a liberal attitude in our land.
Violent race riots have occurred during recent years throughout the United States. Both white leaders and Negro leaders have been responsible for stirring up social conflicts through hate tactics. The love that Jesus Christ established as the basic element in Christianity seems to have vanished from the hearts of many people. That some are trying to replace love with a satanic doctrine is evidenced by one of its leaders: "Down with love of one's neighbor. What we want is hate. Only then shall we conquer the universe."
The spread of poisonous hate, strife, and internal conflicts has also gone into college campuses, with the result that some-even though a small minority-of the youth of our land are engaging in rioting and defiance of law. The most drastic case yet to occur was at the University of California at Berkeley. Here even some of the professors participated.
One hundred thirty-three years ago the Lord said to an American prophet, "... tobacco... is not good for man". Doctors and scientists now maintain that cigarettes are the principal cause of many deaths from cancer, especially of the lungs, throat, and mouth. Thus modern scientists have sustained the word of the Lord.
Since members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints accept the Word of Wisdom as a law from God to the Church this law comes within the spiritual realm of their lives, and so the spiritual effects that tobacco has upon church members may be more disastrous than the physical damage. The use of tobacco helps to drive away the Holy Ghost and deprives one from the ordinances of the priesthood and thus from exaltation.
The devil has never found a better tool in the history of the world to destroy the happiness of human beings than liquor. It is a companion of prostitution, an associate of gambling, a friend of murder, robbery, poverty, and divorce. In fact, liquor is a companion of all the bad and sordid things one finds in life. Of course, with all of these evils come unhappiness, sorrow, regret, and grief. The use of liquor, then results in the opposite of joy. As an ancient prophet declared: "... wickedness never was happiness".
God is our Father. We are his spirit children. He placed us here upon this earth and gave us the privilege of parenthood. He gave us the divine laws by which our earthly parenthood should operate: namely, the laws of love, purity of heart, chastity, celestial marriage, and family life.
The greatest joys in all of life and throughout all of eternity come in connection with the love that husbands have for wives, wives have for husbands, children have for parents, and parents have for children. The service and sacrifices that each member of the family renders to each other member are the jewels of which the joys of life are made. In fact, all the experiences of home life when lived according to God's plan bring supreme happiness into the hearts and lives of righteous family members.
As a final reward, the Lord promises that righteous people who are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise will eventually come back into his presence and receive eternal life.
One of the most terrible counterfeits of happy family life is sexual immorality. Some people who desecrate the fountain of life by committing adultery have grief enter their hearts. The guilt of conscience ofttimes is almost unbearable. The adulterers, the whoremongers, and all who are impure in heart lose their ability for full, complete, and pure love and appreciation of the finer things of life.
Their lives become filled with sorrow and shame, and if they do not repent, eventually in the world to come they will be banished from the presence of God.
Let us quote from the prophets of the Lord on this subject. An ancient American prophet named Alma said to his son, Corianton, who had committed adultery:
"Know ye not, my son, that these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord-yea, most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost?".
From the positive viewpoint, Paul's admonition is excellent. He wrote-"If you believe in goodness and if you value the approval of God, fix your minds on the things which are holy and right and pure and beautiful and good."
In modern revelation, the Lord declared:
"Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God: and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distill upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
"The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth".
Our Savior declared to a modern prophet: "... he who doeth works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.".
"Let virtue garnish thy thoughts"
The peace spoken of by the Lord in this modern revelation is the peace that results from a clear conscience. It is that peace which comes when one stands void of offense against God and man. It is that peace which Christ promised his ancient apostles. Paul wrote to the Philippians: "... the peace of God... passeth all understanding".
Paul also described accurately the peace and happiness of the righteous person when he defined the fruit of the Spirit. To quote:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance".
If all people would accept and live the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, their hearts would throb with a sweet peace, a divine love, and an exquisite joy. Thus all covetousness, hate, greed, envy, stealing, lust, adultery, whoredoms, strife, riots, war, and all other sordid and evil acts would cease. Men would love God and man with all their hearts. A perfect condition of peace and righteousness would prevail throughout the world. The King of kings could come and reign. The only hope for this wicked world, therefore, is for its people to repent and accept and live the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Time and time again, the ancient American prophets declared that at the resurrection righteous people will rise from their graves into a state of everlasting happiness. Paul, the ancient apostle, described it this way:
"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him".
These statements are exactly in accordance with the words in Ecclesiastes:
"Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
"For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil".
Let us live in such a way that we shall have inward peace and exquisite joy in such abundance that it passeth our understanding, and let us at all times give God the honor and glory for all the blessings we receive, I humbly pray. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder LeGrand Richards
LeGrand Richards, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 41-44
It is a great pleasure, brothers and sisters, to share this wonderful conference with you. I love the Latter-day Saints. I appreciate your kindness to me as I travel to your stakes and some of the missions, and it is a glorious thing to meet you as you come here in our midst to attend this conference.
In President McKay's inspired talk this morning, after outlining some of the advantages that we have in the day in which we are privileged to live, he said, "It is a joy to live in this age." I have thought a lot about that, and I think that we all feel that way about it. And then I thought, it is not only a joy, but it is also a responsibility to know what we know.
We have listened here this afternoon to these wonderful testimonies of the brethren and have thought of the marvelous things the Lord has done in restoring his truth. Think of our responsibility! As Jesus said, "... For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required".
I think of the words of the Apostle Paul. He, like most of the prophets, saw the latter days, the days in which we are privileged to live, and he saw the marvelous things that the Lord would accomplish in our day. He said that the Lord had revealed the mystery of his will unto him. Now that is quite a statement, if you stop to analyze it. "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him".
As I analyze that statement, I think it means that all things that the prophets have beheld for the latter days ultimately would be brought forth in this, the dispensation of the fullness of times. That being true, are we not privileged to live in the dispensation of the fullness of times to enjoy all these gifts and blessings?
I like the words of Isaiah, when he spoke of the Lord, "declaring the end from the beginning". We are told that all things are known unto the Lord and that his purposes fail not; neither are there any who can stay his hand.
I like to study the prophecies. I think they are a lot easier to understand after they are fulfilled than when you look forward to them. Nevertheless, they are a guide along the way, because when they are fulfilled, we know that it is by the doings of God the Eternal Father, that he rules in the heavens above and upon the earth beneath and in the lives of men. Things pertaining to his eternal purposes don't just happen-they happen at his command.
Speaking of prophecies, you remember the prophecy of Isaiah, when he declared the destruction of Babylon, which was at that time the greatest city in all the world. I read a description of it, and it is wonderful. Isaiah said that it would ever be rebuilt, that it should become the abode of wild animals and reptiles, that the Arab would no more pitch his tent there.
When Brother Hunter and Brother Kimball came back from the Holy Land after Christmas 1961, I asked Brother Hunter if he saw Babylon. He said he saw what there was left of it. Just think of anyone but a prophet of God being able to say that one of the great cities of the world today would be destroyed and never be rebuilt.
In the Book of Mormon we are told in at least three places that we should study the prophecies of Isaiah. Moroni said that we should study the prophecies of Isaiah because they would all be fulfilled. Then in 2 Nephi, chapter 25, we read that we should study the prophecies of Isaiah because in the day of their fulfillment it would be given to the Lord's people to understand them. When the Savior visited the Nephites, he told them to study the prophecies of Isaiah because the day of their fulfillment would be the day of the establishment of his covenant with his people, the house of Israel.
I think that Isaiah was privileged to live almost more in our day than in the day he was actually here upon this earth. He was able to see so much of what the Lord would do in the latter days. He saw us settled here in these valleys of the mountains; he saw the desert made to blossom as the rose; he saw the rivers flow in the desert, where we have built these great irrigation canals; he saw the water flow down from the high places, where it has been reservoired in the mountains for summer use; he saw the daughters of Zion come up and sing in the heights of Zion. Where can you find anything to fulfill that prophecy in all the history of the world except the singing of these sisters of the Tabernacle Choir, now in its 38th year of continuous broadcasting. Then think of our people coming from all over the Church to sing in our conferences, like the Singing Mothers who sang in the Relief Society conference. Truly, this is the center, you might say, of the singing people of all the world, and now with telestar, they will be singing to all the world.
Isaiah saw the railroad train and the airplane and how the people would be gathered to Zion without even being able to loosen the latchets of their shoes.
A few years ago President McKay went to Scotland to help organize the first stake in his bonny Scotland. When he returned, he reported to us brethren of the Twelve, telling us that he left London at two o'clock in the afternoon, stopped for a short period in Chicago, and was here in Salt Lake City that night to sleep in his own bed. Then he compared this to the time his family crossed the ocean; they were 43 days on the water with a sailing vessel and then had to cross the plains the best they could.
Just think of the day in which we live. Why has there been such a change? If the veil were parted and the world could know why there had been such a change since the Father and the Son appeared to the Prophet Joseph, anybody who confesses a love for God the Eternal Father would be glad to have the Mormon elders come and bring to them a knowledge of this work.
Isaiah prophesied: "For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people," and during that period of time the world made no progress.
When I went on my first mission to Holland, they were still cutting grain with a scythe and a sickle; they had no electric lights or modern homes, and the streetcars were drawn by horses.
Just think how the world has changed, because the Lord not only foretold through his prophets that darkness would cover the earth but said: "I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions". And I could give you many illustrations of how this has been fulfilled.
I would like to return now to a statement in the Book of Mormon. You remember that when Lehi was in the desert, he told his son Joseph that the Lord had promised Joseph who was sold into Egypt that, in the latter days, he would raise up a prophet from his loins by the name of Joseph, whose father's name was Joseph. He said, "Unto him will I give power to bring forth my word".
That prophet was none other than the Prophet Joseph Smith. He brought us the Book of Mormon, as has been testified here today, and the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price, and many other writings. Concerning this prophet, the Lord said he would give him power "not to the bringing forth of my word only... but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them".
As I interpret that, it means that he would be able to understand the scriptures and the spirit in which they were written. You remember the words of Peter, who said:
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost".
If all men reading the scriptures were moved upon by the power of the Holy Ghost, we wouldn't have hundreds of churches claiming that they have the truth. If you just stop to think a minute, they have come into existence because men could not agree in their interpretation of the scriptures.
Thus this prophet of the latter days was to bring men to a conviction of the Lord's word that had already gone forth among them. And then the Lord said of this prophet, "He shall bring my people unto salvation". He also said, "And I will make him great in mine eyes". Now, whatever the world may think of this prophet of this dispensation, we have the witness from God himself that this prophet would be great, and I think no prophet has ever lived, except the Redeemer of the world, who was greater than the Prophet Joseph Smith, for he has committed to this world a greater volume of truth and scripture than we have received from any other prophet.
Brethren and sisters, I thank God for what he has done for me. When Isaiah saw the marvelous work and a wonder that would cause the wisdom of wise men to perish and the understanding of their prudent men to be hid, that to me is real, as well as his other prophecies. He saw that God would "set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people...
And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth". That is what he has literally done.
You remember the poem written by Mary Ann Evans about Antonio Stradivarius, who made violins that are worth their weight in gold. It goes like this: "If my hand slacken, I should rob God, since he is fullest good, leaving a blank instead of violins. God could not make Antonio Stradivarius violins without Antonio." I like to feel that, for me to be privileged to live upon the earth at this day, the Lord couldn't build his kingdom until it shall become as a great mountain and fill the whole earth without the little help that I can give.
May God help each one of us to realize that we are not only honored and privileged to live in this day, but that a responsibility comes with it that we may measure up to, I pray, and leave you my blessing, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
President N. Eldon Tanner
N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 45-50
President McKay, my beloved brothers and sisters, it is a privilege indeed to be here and to participate with you in this great conference where we have felt the Spirit of the Lord, where we have heard and will hear testimonies of those who have been chosen to lead and direct the work of the Lord in these, the latter days. We have been built up in our faith and in our determination to live lives in keeping with the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
It is a great blessing to be permitted to associate so closely with these men who know and bear testimony, by the power of the Holy Ghost, that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, and that God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. These men love the Lord with all their heart, mind, and strength, and dedicate themselves entirely to the service of their fellowmen and to the building up of the kingdom of God on the earth.
I do not suggest that these of any human beings are without fault, but it must be clear to all the world that men who live righteous lives and lose themselves in the service of the Lord meet the problems of the world with greater serenity and assurance.
I should like to acknowledge the presence of, and express my appreciation to, these dedicated stake presidencies, bishoprics, mission presidents, missionaries, officers and teachers in the priesthood quorums and auxiliary organizations, and all others who are prepared to sacrifice and spend their time in furthering the cause of truth and righteousness throughout the world.
We meet in these general conferences of the Church for the purpose of being taught the principles of the gospel, instructed in our duties, and encouraged and built up generally, and to reason together and strengthen one another. I sincerely pray that the Spirit and the blessings of the Lord will attend me and all of us at this time.
It is trite but true to say that never before in the history of the world have we or our young people been faced with more evil, serious problems, and challenges than we are today. Wherever you go, and regardless of whatever news media you pick up or listen to, or whatever company you may be in, even as we have listened to our speakers in this conference, we hear discussed and have forced upon our minds the importance of such questions as divorce and family disintegration, new morality, new freedom, new security, the "God is dead" theory, war and strife, riots, murders, burglaries, and all kinds of crime and deception.
It is most important that we be acquainted with the evils of the day and realize how insidious they are and accept our responsibility to guard against these evils. We should realize that the new morality is nothing more than the old immorality, that the new freedom is nothing more than disrespect for law and the rights of others and will lead to anarchy. The new security gives one the idea that the world owes him a living, and destroys individual initiative and infringes on his liberty and freedom.
I am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that the only way to guard successfully against these evils is to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, which offers not only a better way of life but the solution to these and all other problems facing us today. In fact, we would have no more war or strife or any of the evils that I have enumerated if the world would accept God as the Creator of the world and Jesus Christ as its Savior.
We as leaders and as members of the Church have a heavy responsibility to help our youth to know and understand that the Bible and the Book of Mormon, which were written on opposite sides of the world, are records of God's dealings with his people on these two hemispheres. They are no fairy tales, but testimonies of many righteous men whose integrity cannot be questioned. These testimonies have been handed down to us by the prophets from Adam to the present day. These records show that in every dispensation those who accepted the word of God and kept his commandments prospered and were happy, successful, and blessed, while those who denied God and Jesus Christ and refused to accept the gospel have suffered heartaches, defeat, Godless dictatorship, and general anarchy.
We all know the story of Moses and the Israelites. We know that when they followed the instructions of God and kept his commandments, they were blessed and preserved from their enemies, and how quickly they were left to the buffeting of Satan when they turned away from and ignored God and his teachings.
Another story with which we are all familiar is that of David and Goliath, how Goliath, that powerful leader of the Philistines, was slain by David with his sling. We should remind our youth of the words of these two men, that show why David was successful and Goliath slain. David kept the commandments of God and had complete faith in his power. Listen to the boastful words of Goliath and to David's humble, but confident, response.
"And the Philistine said to David, Come to me and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
"Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
As a result, Goliath and the Philistines were defeated, and the Israelites were saved by the power of God. The scriptures are replete with records of individuals and nations who succeeded or failed as a result of their faithfulness or disobedience.
Also, we should appreciate and help our young people to understand that the greatest leaders of recorded history, and of today, in industry and government, have always believed in God.
George Washington, in his first inaugural address, said: "It would be peculiarly improper to omit in this official act, my fervent supplications to the Almighty Being who rules over the universe." And in his famous farewell address he said: "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports."
Abraham Lincoln, in that oft repeated statement, said "Without the assistance of that Divine Being,...I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail."
It is very interesting and significant to know, as pointed out so well by Wendell J. Ashton in his article in the October Instructor, that Columbus had great faith in God. This famous explorer in his report to the king and queen of Spain wrote near the end of his letter:
"And the eternal God, Our Lord, gives to all who walk in his way victory over things which appear impossible, and this was notably one."
Columbus concluded his letter with the suggestions that "all Christendom ought to feel joyful and make great celebrations and give solemn thanks" for the privilege of bringing Christ's message to the peoples of these newfound lands. Because of his faith and courage he was able to withstand the mutinies and succeed in his mission.
One of our great industrialists, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., included in his creed under the heading "I Believe":
"I believe in an all-wise and all-loving God... and that the individual's highest fulfillment, greatest happiness, and widest usefulness are to be found in living in harmony with his will.
"I believe that love is the greatest thing in the world; that it alone can overcome hate; that right can and will triumph over might."
Many who argue that Christianity has failed excuse themselves for their actions by saying that men who profess God and Jesus Christ are hypocrites and do not live the teachings that they profess. Too often men waste their time questioning even the existence of God instead of accepting his teachings and enjoying his blessings.
It is something like those who try to prove that Shakespeare never lived, that he was not the author of the Shakespearean plays, some of the choicest of all literature. While they waste their time arguing, others are enjoying the beauty and philosophy of his works.
Christ's teachings, which are so important to our happiness, security, and exaltation, may be summed up in the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, Christ's answer to the lawyer as to which is the great commandment in the law, and the Articles of Faith as given by Joseph Smith.
Some of the Ten Commandments are:
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
"Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
"Honour thy father and thy mother.
"Thou shalt not kill.
"Thou shalt not commit adultery.
"Thou shalt not steal.
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour".
No one will argue that the keeping of these commandments would not make for a better and happier individual or contribute to a happy and spiritual home, a better community, and a better world in which to live. You are familiar with the old Chinese proverb that says:
"If there is righteousness in the heart there will be beauty in the character;
"If there is beauty in the character there will be harmony in the home;
"If there is harmony in the home there will be order in the nation;
"If there is order in the nation there will be peace in the world."
In fact, the Ten Commandments leave us with the impressive message that we are free either to serve God and keep his commandments or to be ruled by tyrants.
Then we have the answer that Jesus gave to the lawyer who asked him a question, tempting him and saying:
"Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
"This is the first and great commandment.
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets".
Homes are broken, individuals are confused and lost, and prisons are full of men who do not believe in God and who fail to love their neighbors. And many argue that we cannot be honest and compete, that we cannot love our fellowmen as ourselves without their taking advantage of us, and that we cannot apply the principles of the gospel in dealing with other nations.
There are those, too, who claim that the gospel is old-fashioned; that men through scientific development are becoming more and more self-sufficient and need not rely on God. Others argue that the gospel is too restrictive, that it takes away our liberty, and that we cannot enjoy the advantages of a broad education, accept scientific truths, and participate in worthwhile community activities.
This is just not true. We know that the Lord has given us the earth and all things therein for our use and for our benefit. We have been told to subdue the earth. As members of the Church we are encouraged to gain an education, to learn what we can, to prepare ourselves to take our places in the world, and to contribute all we can to the good and welfare of mankind.
We know that great strides have been made in science and in subduing the earth. We know that mankind is enjoying conveniences, comforts, and blessings far greater than at any other time in the history of the world. However, we must also realize that no scientist or group of scientists or philosophers has ever, through scientific research, been able to find out or give us an understanding of the relationship of God to man or where we came from, why we are here, or even when the spirit enters the body or what happens to it when we die.
Elder James E. Talmage, in his book The Articles of Faith, emphasizes the importance of gaining an education, and we know that it is more important every day. He says that in the short span of mortal existence it is impossible for a man to explore with thoroughness any considerable part of the vast realm of knowledge. It therefore becomes necessary for him to determine which field of knowledge will be of greatest worth to him in his chosen field of endeavor and then to learn everything he can about it. However, he emphasizes the importance of everyone gaining theological knowledge, as a personal knowledge of God is essential to the salvation of every human soul. Therefore, its importance cannot be overestimated.
This theological knowledge has been given to us by revelation down through the ages from Adam to our present-day Prophet. However, from the history of mankind we learn that as man and the world prosper they have a tendency to forget God and to depend on their own knowledge and strength. As a result, millions of men and women are disturbed and confused, and many of them are committing suicide. They need something positive.
Let me emphasize again that those who have contributed most to the world are men who have had a belief in God and have tried to govern their lives accordingly. How much happier an individual is who can go to bed knowing that he has been honest with his fellowmen, that he is morally clean, that he is at peace with God, his Creator.
How much happier are those who live in a community made up of God-fearing people!
In my experience as a bishop, a stake president, and a general authority, I have never had anyone who understands the gospel and who has an abiding faith in God come to me with serious personal problems.
J. Edgar Hoover, in his analysis of "The Problems of the Day," says:
"The basic cause of the present situation is that so many of our young people have no real sense of moral responsibility which comes from an infinite knowledge of God's teachings. The tragic lack of God and prayer in their lives weakens our homes and our nation's welfare."
Then he emphasizes that either faith in God must triumph in the United States or we will be dominated by criminals and communists.
Let us go forward with a positive attitude. Be not ashamed. Be not influenced by those who ridicule and those who question and those who deny God. Let us not be among those who believe but do not have the courage and the strength to live according to the teachings of the gospel.
As recorded in John, "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
"For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God".
Let us enjoy the good things in life. Enjoy the gospel and its teachings. Let us not waste our time looking for things to criticize in the gospel or in our neighbors. We must look at ourselves and repent and improve. And let us remember that there is nothing else quite so sure as that we will one day leave this frail existence. Let us set about to prepare ourselves for that day.
"... for... the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and stand before God, and be judged according to their works".
If we are to stop the onslaught of immorality, divorce and family disintegration, lawlessness, strife, riots, burglaries, murders, crime, and deception, we must not ask what are they doing about it. We must ask and answer the question, "What am I doing?" Let us examine ourselves, acknowledge our faults, and repent where we should.
We must begin by having righteousness in our own hearts, by disciplining ourselves, by having love and harmony in our homes, and by truly loving our neighbors. Let us have the wisdom, courage, and determination to say with Joshua:"... choose you this day whom ye will serve;\... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord".
I pray that each and every one of us will realize how important it is that we have family prayer in our home, that we have home evening, that we keep the Sabbath day holy, and dedicate ourselves to overcoming evil and keeping his commandments.
Let us realize that "this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent", and set about to learn to know God.
I thank God with all my heart that I know as I know I stand here that God lives, that we are his spirit children, that Jesus Christ is his Only Begotten Son, and that through his atonement all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel as revealed through his prophets.
May the Lord bless us to this end, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion G. Romney
Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 50-54
I greet you all this morning, members and nonmembers of the Church, both seen and unseen, as brothers and sisters. My message for you today is "be not troubled". Since I shall give much of it in the words of the Savior, I invite you to join me in a prayer that we may enjoy the enlightenment of his Spirit, that we may both understand and appreciate the significance of his words.
If I correctly divine the temper of our times, people are troubled-troubled by the portent of current events: "The rising risk of runaway inflation"; the shocking debauchery of the "new morality"; crippling industrial strife; increasing crime and general disrespect for law and order; mob rule; threatening world food shortages; the denial of God; his eviction from the affairs of our daily lives; escalating wars. These and other signs of the times fill the minds and hearts of honest, God-fearing people everywhere with foreboding doubts and fearful apprehension.
Informed believers in Jesus Christ see in these events fulfillment of the words that he spoke to his disciples as, on the last day of his public ministry, he stood before them in the flesh and responded to their questions concerning the signs of his coming in glory in the clouds of heaven, to fulfill the promises he had made concerning the redemption and also the restoration of the scattered Israel.
He first told them, as he stood with them there on the Mount of Olives, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, and that from there a remnant of Israel would "be scattered among all nations;
"But they shall be gathered again; but they shall remain until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
"And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men's hearts shall fail them".
"And when the times of the Gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fullness of my gospel".
"And there shall be men standing in that generation, that shall not pass until they shall see an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the land.
"But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse God and die.
"And there shall be earthquakes also in divers places, and many desolations; yet men will harden their hearts against me, and they will take up the sword, one against another, and they will kill one another.
"And now, when I... had spoken these words unto my disciples, they were troubled.
"And I said unto them: Be not troubled, for, when all these things shall come to pass, ye may know that the promises which have been made unto you shall be fulfilled".
The fact that the Lord recounted these predictions to the Prophet Joseph in 1831 surely emphasizes their importance to us. And since the disciples were troubled when they were but being told of these calamities to come far in the future, it is no wonder that we are troubled as we witness their occurrence.
But to proceed with the rest of what the Lord told his disciples:
"And...it shall be with them like unto a parable which I will show you-
"Ye look and behold the figtrees, and ye see them with your eyes, and ye say when they begin to shoot forth, and their leaves are yet tender, that summer is now nigh at hand;
"Even so it shall be in that day when they shall see all these things, then shall they know that the hour is nigh.
"And it shall come to pass that he that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man.
"And they shall see signs and wonders, for they shall be shown forth in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath".
"And then they shall look for me, and, behold, I will come; and they shall see me in the clouds of heaven, clothed with power and great glory; with all the holy angels; and he that watches not for me shall be cut off".
But before they are cut off, the promised redemption and gathering-the assurance of which was to comfort his disciples both then and now-are to be fulfilled. This is the way the Savior put it:
"But before the arm of the Lord shall fall, an angel shall sound his trump, and the saints that have slept shall come forth to meet me in the cloud.
"Wherefore, if ye have slept in peace blessed are you; for as you now behold me and know that I am, even so shall ye come unto me and your souls shall live, and your redemption shall be perfected; and the saints shall come forth from the four quarters of the earth".
It was in the light of Christ's foreknowledge of this glorious consummation that he said to his disciples, "be not troubled".
"Then," he continues, "shall the arm of the Lord fall upon the nations.
"And then shall the Lord set his foot upon this mount, and it shall cleave in twain, and the earth shall tremble, and reel to and fro, and the heavens also shall shake.
"And the Lord shall utter his voice, and all the ends of the earth shall hear it; and the nations of the earth shall mourn, and they that have laughed shall see their folly.
"And calamity shall cover the mocker, and the scorner shall be consumed; and they that have watched for iniquity shall be hewn down and cast into the fire".
"And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins.
"For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived-verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.
"And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation.
"For the Lord shall be in their midst and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their King and their lawgiver".
I hope we are all familiar with these words of the Lord and with his predictions concerning other coming events, such as the building of the New Jerusalem and the redemption of the old, the return of Enoch's Zion, and Christ's millennial reign.
Not only do I hope that we are familiar with these coming events; I hope also that we keep the vision of them continually before our minds. This I do because upon a knowledge of them, and an assurance of their reality and a witness that each of us may have part therein, rests the efficacy of Christ's admonition, "be not troubled".
It has always been faith in a lofty goal and confidence that it may be attained that have held people on the rugged course to high attainment. It was the assurance that they could obtain the land flowing with "milk and honey" that held Moses to the task of leading Israel through the wilderness. It was faith that they could obtain the "land choice above all others" that led Lehi and his colony through the desert and across the sea. It was the vision of Zion as it shall yet be that sustained the pioneers as they trudged across the plains. Paul says that even Jesus himself endured the cross "for the joy that was set before him.".
If we are to remain on course through the stresses of the rising storm, it is imperative that we have a similar sustaining and motivation goal. The Lord has given us no reason to think it will be easy to stay on course. As a matter of fact, he said that deception would become so persuasive that if it were possible, the very elect shall be deceived. Neither has he promised that the impending calamities will be miraculously turned aside nor that through the wisdom of men they can be averted. They are upon us because men have refused to be led by the living God. Generally speaking, men have rejected him and have chosen to put their trust in their own wisdom. In this they have made a terrible, tragic mistake. All history vindicates, and coming events will vindicate, the prophet's statement, "Cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh".
Warning us of the consequences of our present course and identifying the cause of our troubles, the Lord said, as early as November 1, 1831:
"Hearken, O ye people of my church... Hearken ye people from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together.
"For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men".
"...that all that will hear may hear:
"Prepare ye!"
"Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh;
"And the anger of the Lord is kindled, and his sword is bathed in heaven, and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth".
And what had brought the inhabitants of the earth to such a predicament?
"...they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant;
"they seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own God, whose image is in the likeness of the world".
Since man's failure "to seek the Lord to establish his righteousness" is the cause of his troubles, is it now obvious that the remedy is for him to reverse his course?-that is, "seek the Lord to establish his righteousness." Such is the clear implication of the next statement o the Lord in this revelation:
"Wherefore, I, the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon y servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments;
"And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world".
The commandments given, which were to be and which ever since have been proclaimed to the world, were given in connection with the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ-the light that the Lord told his disciples would break forth among men when the times of the Gentiles should come in. It was restored to earth, he said, "to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me".
In it are revealed the ordinances from which men have strayed and the everlasting covenant that they have broken. It also instructs men how they must "seek the Lord to establish his righteousness".
Now, the basis for the hope and courage that will keep us from being troubled does not lie in the expectation that enough people will accept and obey the restored gospel to turn aside the oncoming calamities. Nor does it depend upon any such contingency. As already indicated, it lies in the assurance that everyone who will accept and obey the restored gospel of Jesus Christ shall reap the promised rewards, and this regardless of what others do. And certain it is that those who receive the blessings will have to prevail against great opposition, for the world in general is not improving. It is ripening in iniquity.
As early as January 2, 1831, the Lord declared:
"... all flesh is corrupted before me; and the powers of darkness prevail upon the earth, among the children of men...
"... eternity is pained, and the angels are waiting the great command to reap down the earth, to gather the tares that they may be burned".
About two years later he said again upon the subject:
"Behold, verily I say unto you, the angels are crying unto the Lord day and night, who are ready and waiting to be sent forth to reap down the fields;
"But the Lord saith unto them, pluck not up the tares while the blade is yet tender... lest you destroy the wheat also.
"Therefore, let the wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest is fully ripe; then ye shall first gather out the wheat from among the tares, and after the gathering of the wheat, behold and lo, the tares are bound in bundles and the field remaineth to be burned.".
Sixty-five years later, President Woodruff, then the mouthpiece of the Almighty on the earth, said:
"I want to bear testimony... that the day is come when those angels are privileged to go forth and commence their work. They are laboring in the United States of America; they are laboring among the nations of the earth; and they will continue... We need not marvel or wonder at anything that is transpiring in the earth... We cannot draw a veil over the events that await this generation. No man that is inspired by the spirit and power of God can close his ears, his eyes or his lips to these things."
In confirmation of this testimony, the tempo of wickedness and destruction has been greatly accelerated since President Woodruff spoke those words, and so has the gathering in of the wheat. Even now the tares are binding themselves in bundles, making ready for the field to be burned.
Naturally, believing Christians, even those who have a mature faith in the gospel, are concerned and disturbed by the lowering clouds on the horizon. But they need not be surprised or frantic about their portent, for, as has already been said, at the very beginning of this last dispensation the Lord made it abundantly clear that through the tribulations and calamity that he foresaw and foretold and that we now see coming upon us, there would be a people who, through acceptance and obedience to the gospel, would be able to recognize and resist the powers of evil, build up the promised Zion, and prepare to meet the Christ and be with him in the blessed millennium. And we know further that it is possible for every one of us, who will, to have a place among those people. It is this assurance and this expectation that gives us understanding of the Lord's admonition, "be not troubled".
And now I close with this quotation from the Master:
"... labor ye, labor ye in my vineyard for the last time-for the last time call upon the inhabitants of the earth.
"For in mine own due time will I come upon the earth in judgment, and my people shall be redeemed and shall reign with me on earth.
"For the great Millennium, of which I have spoken by the mouth of my servants, shall come...
"Hearken ye to these words. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Treasure these things up in your hearts, and let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds".
I bear my witness to the truth of these sayings. I know they are true, that we are living in those days and seeing the signs just preceding the coming of the Redeemer. That we may live the gospel of Jesus Christ and "be not troubled", I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Richard L. Evans
Richard L. Evans, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 54-58
President McKay and my brethren and sisters:
Gratefully I have come to know the worth of people worldwide, and I see no need for any other salutation-except my brethren and sisters, pertaining to all people.
In turning today to a series of separate and yet related subjects, there comes to mind a sentence I have quoted many times in many places since I first read it some months ago. It comes from Albert Camus, who said: "Conscious of the fact that I cannot separate myself from the time in which I am living, I have decided to become a part of it."
The facts of our time are here to face. They are both encouraging and discouraging. They include much of the best the world has ever known, and problems so complex as to discourage all who have a responsible awareness of them.
And yet here we are on earth, with the God-given gift of life, with the opportunity of living here and now, not at some other time, but in this time, with these people, with these problems, with great purpose, great opportunities, great responsibilities.
And with all the problems, with all he uncertainties, all the loosening of moral foundations, all the rationalizing of principles, all the doubts expressed about life's purpose, I should like to begin with a simple declaration: If we live the gospel, if we keep our standards, if we keep the commandments, if we prepare ourselves, if we keep prayerfully close to our Father in heaven and to his Church, we can live in the world, and serve and succeed. And the Lord God never intended that we should do anything but succeed. That is what he sent us here for; that is his work and his glory, as it is of any father pertaining to his children-that they shall be happy and useful and righteous, and realize success.
And I should like to mention some specific things that are essential to success:
One pertains to preparation, and this more particularly pertains to young people. Young people become discouraged. They see the distance between where they are and where they want to be. They look at the long years of preparation and sometimes give up too easily. The fact is that the mind of man is infinite, and anyone who does less than prepare himself solidly for useful and significant service is exceedingly shortsighted and wasteful in a most deplorable way.
From a church welfare bulletin of some years ago, I recall this counsel, as sound and urgent today as ever it was, or perhaps more so:
Obtain sufficient education and training to qualify for positions that will produce adequate income. Live within income and accumulate savings. Avoid excessive debt.
To summarize, this says:
Prepare well, save something, avoid the slavery of debt.
As to the first of these points: "Obtain sufficient education and training to qualify for positions that will produce adequate income." In these days, there are more ways to acquire an adequate education than there ever were before, and those who are determined to do so can usually find some way to acquire such education as they are willing to take. It may be difficult, it may take longer, but there are ways and means, and those who want to prepare and improve can prepare and improve.
The needs are great, the opportunities are limitless, and the mind of man is capable of much more than we have ever used it for. We believe that the glory of God is intelligence. We believe that it is literally impossible to be saved in ignorance. We believe that education is an obligation.
Emerson said: "The future belongs to those who prepare for it." Our families, the Church, the community, the nation, the kingdom of God are better served by the best-prepared people. Preparation and knowledge, with faithfulness, are infinitely better than just faithfulness alone. And those who drop out for trivial reasons, and those who cease to learn, those who don't continue to try to increase their competence are, I believe, failing to do their full duty.
I would challenge young men and women to succeed. I see no virtue in mediocrity. The Lord God gave man the earth and told him to subdue it, and he isn't likely to subdue it with a dull instrument. I would say this generation, old and young: In faithfulness and righteousness, prepare and improve yourselves for service. And I am not speaking of theoretical academic knowledge only. Acquire skills, develop talents, increase competence in such useful fields as you are best fitted for. Improve and serve with mind and hands and heart. Your families will be better, the world will better, your country and the kingdom of God will be better for your doing so. This is not a time for unpreparedness. Dull tools are not much in demand. We had better sharpen ourselves.
Now as to saving something, and the matter of debt, and meeting obligations: Old fashioned as it may seem, there is much self-respect and assurance in saving something, in having something set aside. It isn't wise, and it never was, to spend everything, or to live beyond the reasonable possibility of paying, or to mortgage the future, except for urgent necessities. There is no man who is not likely to meet an emergency. Something saved, something in reserve, brings self-respect and assurance. And paying obligations is, of course, a matter of simple honesty.
I would say also that we ought to be able comfortably to face our Father in heaven in the matter of paying our tithes and offerings. I cannot perhaps prove it mathematically, but I can prove in my own observations and experience that the full and honest payment of tithing and the meeting of obligations to the Church and to God bring blessings and peace and assurance-both material and spiritual assurance that cannot otherwise be accounted for.
And in this context let me say that the commandments have not been repealed-not those pertaining to loving the Lord God, or taking his name in vain, or loving our fellowmen; not those pertaining to keeping the Sabbath day holy, not those pertaining to parents and children and the honor they owe each other; not those pertaining to taking life; not those pertaining to stealing or coveting or bearing false witness, not those pertaining to morality and adultery and personal purity.
"... let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly," the Lord has said to us; "then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God". How heartbreaking it would be to feel shame in his presence. How wonderful to feel confidence in the presence of God, or in our own presence, or in the presence of our loved ones and others, to live with a sense of rightness and honesty, to live without a sense of shame.
Despite all cynicism and so-called sophistication, the commandments are still in force. There are causes and consequences in all things, and there is only one acceptable way to live; that is in faith and faithfulness, keeping the commandments, living the standards, working earnestly and honestly, being loyal to trust, not defrauding, not misrepresenting, not with short measure-but preparing, learning, improving, becoming increasingly competent, in honesty and honor. We have been given much. We have weighty responsibilities. We must be a light unto the world. If we are not, our darkness will be deeper.
Another thing for which I would plead would be for us to become more earnestly active in public affairs. I do not mean politics only, but would not exclude politics. We should be aware of the way the world is run, of the ways whereby laws and practices and policies are put into effect and by which our environment is conditioned, and we should have honorable and effective part in these processes, and be men among men. We must be a part of our own time. We can blame no one but ourselves for adverse results if we are not informed and active and effective, if we are indifferent or complacent in public and private affairs. I think it was Edmund Burke who said: "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." And in all of this we need to be informed, to know the facts, to be forthright, to deal fairly.
And always we need humility. Always we need to search ourselves, our minds, our hearts, our motives. The more knowledge, the more success, the more humility we need. Indeed, there is much to keep us humble. Despite all learning and all accomplishment and all that men know, there is still the fact, as someone has reminded us, that "man owes his very existence here on earth to a six-inch layer of top soil and the fact that it rains." Life here is possible because of Divine Providence. And while men may learn and use the laws of nature, the laws of life, we are still children in understanding, children before the infinite and inscrutable wisdom that keeps creation in its course.
We may make much of man's orbiting in space-but why marvel so much, asked one observer. Haven't we been orbiting in space all our lives on a wonderful world? The Creator is still in command.
Much of my life is lived among those who are not of my faith, men and women of graciousness and sincerity and goodwill, whom I love and respect, worldwide. I have never been embarrassed by the standards of the Church. But I'm sure we would all lose the respect of many men, indeed of all men, if we were not true to our own faith and convictions. We disappoint our friends when we depart from our own principles.
There are commandments to keep, standards to live by, and eternal purposes and promises that we can count on.
Learn, prepare, improve, work, keep clean, become competent, live with honor and honesty; don't waste, don't be idle, don't drift; keep life balanced and pursue its purposes, and don't be unduly discouraged.
It isn't all as easy as it sounds. All men have problems. All of us personally have problems. There is no perfection on this earth, but there are still eternal truths that we can count on and for which we are accountable.
"How well can we learn the lessons of life"
"The important consideration is not how long we can live," said President Joseph F. Smith, "but how well we can learn the lessons of life, and discharge our duties and obligations to God and to one another. One of the main purposes of our existence is that we might conform, to the image and likeness of him who sojourned in the flesh without blemish-immaculate pure, and spotless!"
This is our day on earth. It isn't likely that we are going to be able to turn back the clock. It isn't likely that conditions in this world will ever again be just as once they were. Life moves in one direction only, and we move with it; but it is comforting and assuring to know that there is an overall prevailing plan and purpose, and that each of us has a part to perform, an eternal part in God's great purpose.
And as our fathers did before us let, us begin where we are with what we have, and be what we ought to be, and begin to go where we ought to go, to use our opportunities and energies, and to move forward, to have faith, to keep faith, to become part of things, to take public and civic responsibility, to keep an interest in government, in all the affairs and forces that run the world, to be a constructive and effective part of what shapes and moves men. It isn't enough to sit on the sidelines.
"Please God let us not live by default... but by the acquisition of truth and dedication to it", to the realization of the God-given purposes of life, and the things that matter most.
"Conscious of the fact that I cannot separate myself from the time in which I am living, I have decided to become a part of it."
And so this day I would plead with you, my beloved young friends of this generation, and also to us who are older, to prepare, to be competent, to succeed, to be an effective participating part of that which shapes the future before us, going forth with faith and confidence, not sacrificing principles, but being part of our own time.
To my beloved friends everywhere, I leave you my witness that God lives, that he is our eternal Father, that he made us in his own image, that he sent his Divine Son, our Savior and Redeemer, to teach us and to redeem us from death.
I leave you my witness that his work is with us, restored to earth for our time, for our guidance, for our assurance, for our success, and that as we live and learn and do his will and keep his commandments, we shall have everlasting life with our loved ones, which is the greatest assurance of the gospel, the greatest of God's gifts.
May his peace and blessing and guidance and protection be with you always, I pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 58-61
According to the dictionary, chastity means "the quality or state of being chaste, free from sexual impurity-free in thought; modest, virtuous and free from vulgarity."
When the Savior was with the Nephites he emphasized this principle and said to them:
"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.
"Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;
"Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day".
From the observation that we make as we travel from one place to another and from what we read in the public press we are of necessity forced to the conclusion that repentance from sin is extremely essential throughout the world today. There has seldom been a time in the history of mankind when sin was not prevalent and the violation of the divine commandment was almost, if not entirely, universal. We read in the sacred writings that it was not long after the children of Adam and Eve were grown that these children began to pair off and establish families in the earth, and the influence of Satan was felt among them, and they began to forget the teachings their parents had given them. Thus do the scriptures read:
"And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and daughters.
"And Satan came among them, saying: I am also a son of God; and he commanded them saying: Believe it and they believed it not, and they loved Satan more than God. And they began from that time forth to be carnal, sensual, and devilish".
Very frequently I have this question asked of me: "When Lucifer, or the devil, was cast out of heaven, why did a Lord permit him to come to this earth to tempt and torment mankind? Why did he not punish him by sending him to some other, but isolated, place with his angels?"
My answer has been that the Father permitted Lucifer to come here so that he could tempt us and test our faith. It is a divine decree, and me that is evidently essential, that we have this mortal probation, we are in it to be tested and proved to see if we can keep the commandments in the face of temptation or trial. Our Eternal Father did not place us here without some protection against sin and the temptations of Satan. In the very beginning Adam and Eve were definitely instructed in the way of salvation and were given strict commandments to serve the Lord and bring their children up in the light and truth of the gospel, the principles of which are essential to man's salvation. Evidently angels from heaven were their instructors, and while the record does not reveal the event, Eve was baptized as well as Adam. Let it be remembered that the Fall was not the terrible thing which too many good people believe it to have been and which is proclaimed quite generally in the so-called Christian world. It is customary for many religious teachers in the world to refer to the Fall as "man's shameful fall," and it is so recorded in the King James translation of the Bible. However, the Fall was an essential part of man's mortal probation. It is a mistaken notion that prevails quite generally in the world that Adam and Eve would have lived in a world of ease, with their posterity, free from temptation and sin, if that fruit had not been taken. The fact is very clear, nevertheless, that had Adam and Eve not partaken, the great gift of mortality would not have come to them. Moreover, they would have had no posterity, and the great commandment given to them by the Lord would not have been fulfilled. The divine truth is that Adam and Eve were expected to do the very thing that they did. All of this was part of the divine plan.
This mortal life is a part of our eternal life. Adam's "transgression," and I place the word in quotation marks, was an essential act which opened the doors for the millions of spirits to come to this earth and receive bodies of flesh and bones preparatory to their eternal salvation and exaltation.
Mortality, therefore is a part of the temporal plan in relation to the salvation and exaltation of the human family. Here we are tried, tempted, and proved to be either worthy of exaltation to thrones and kingdoms or partakers of his displeasure and thus assigned to some lesser kingdom.
Lehi, when giving counsel to his on Jacob, spoke by prophecy of the Coming of the Son of God in the meridian of time and had this counsel for him:
"Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah, for he is full of grace and truth.
"Behold he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.
"Wherefore how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.
"Wherefore, he is the firstfruits to God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved.
"And because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him to be judged of him according to the truth and holiness which is in him. Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement-
"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.
"Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God".
In course of time, so the scriptures say, "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and the every imagination of the thoughts his heart was only evil continually.
And thus, down through the ages, we discover, if we are willing to believe what is written in the scriptures, the judgments and destructions had to be poured out upon the wicked because they would not repent.
Not only were these punishments meted out to the inhabitants of the called Old World, but destruction awaited the inhabitants of this western world for the same cause. Through their prophets, they will constantly reminded that this land "choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people".
But we who live in the present day should take heed and profit by the experiences of those who have gone before and not fall into their grievous errors. We should remember that the same warnings have been given to us and "to all the inhabitants of the earth", that destruction awaits this age unless men refrain from wickedness and abominations. Let us not forget that the Lord said it should be in this day as it was in the days of Noah. We should remember also that he is still a "God of wrath" as well as a "God of love", and that he has promised to pour out his wrath upon the ungodly and to "take vengeance upon the wicked" who will not repent.
Not only did the ancient prophets predict that such should be the case in these latter days; the Lord has also spoken it in our own dispensation.
I want to bear testimony to this congregation, and to the heavens and the earth, that the day is come when those angels are privileged to go forth and commence their work. They are laboring in the United States of America; they are laboring among the nations of the earth; and they will continue. We need not marvel or wonder at anything that is transpiring in the earth. The world does not comprehend the revelations of God. It did not in the days of the Jews; yet all that the prophets had spoken concerning them came to pass. So in our day these things will come to pass. We cannot draw a veil over the events that await this generation. No man who is inspired by the Spirit and power of God can close his ears, his eyes, or his lips to these things.
And thus we might quote indefinitely from the ancient prophets as well as from the prophets of this dispensation and even from the Lord himself, in relation to the troubles, destructions, wars, and plagues which are to come upon the inhabitants of the earth-yes, even Zion also-unless the people repent. "The Lord's scourge," he says, "shall pass over by night and by day, and the report thereof shall vex all people: yea it shall not be stayed until the Lord come;
"For the indignation of the Lord is kindled against their abominations and all their wicked works."
But the promise has been made to Zion and the pure in heart, that they shall escape if they "observe to do all things whatsoever I have commanded".
What is here given will suffice as a warning to a "perverse generation" and to remind the members of the Church that the Lord has said:
"Even so it shall be in that day when they shall see all these things, then shall they know that the hour nigh.
"And it shall come to pass that he that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man.
"And they shall see signs and wonders, for they shall be shown forth in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath.
"And they shall behold blood, and fire, and vapors of smoke".
"And take heed to yourselves, lest any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
"For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man".
May we walk in paths of righteousness for his name's sake is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 62-66
I am grateful for the inspirational music of these lovely women.
As we sit here in security and comfort this beautiful autumn day, my thoughts reach across the vast stretches of the Pacific to our brethren in Viet Nam. It is early Sunday morning there. Many of those who can be excused from war duties will soon gather for their Sunday meetings. The only room available to them in Saigon will be crowded to capacity. Other meetings will be held in Bien Hoa, Phu Loi, Cam Ranh Bay, Bac Lieu, Chu Lai, Plei Ku, and a score of other places with strange-sounding names. Most of those in attendance will be in uniform. With grateful hearts they are likely to sing, "We thank thee, O God, for a prophet." They will pray for us who are here assembled in conference. They will renew their covenants with the Lord as they partake of the emblems of his sacrifice. They will study his word. They will comfort and sustain one another.
I have thought that I would like to take this opportunity, if the Spirit will give me inspiration, to speak a few words concerning our men in the armed services the world over-whether in the service of the United States or other nations-Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, the Philippines, and others.
I should like to speak a word of assurance to mothers and fathers, many of whom are sick with worry concerning their sons. I should like to extend an invitation to those of our young men in service who may not be actively associated with the Church. I should like to express appreciation to those of our brethren who have done so much to bring a measure of peace to the hearts of many others with whom they are associated while in the service of their respective countries.
In the United States growing numbers our young men are being inducted. Draft requirements have tremendously during the past months, and there is no indication that they will be substantially lessened in the near future.
Many thousands of young men of the Church are now in military service, and more are entering every week. Sorrow and anxiety and gnawing fear concerning our loved ones afflict the homes of many of our people.
The word that most strikes fear in the heart of a mother these days is Viet Nam. It is a land so far away. The heat is oppressive. The jungle is so dark. Everything is so strange. Is the Church there, they anxiously ask?
Some few weeks ago a mother called me. She said that her son was in the Marine Corps. She inquired whether there was a branch of the Church anywhere in South Viet Nam. I assured her that there are many groups and branches and told her how her son could find the one nearest his base.
A few days later she called back and said that she had just received a letter that she would like to read. He had written: "Mother, don't worry about me any more. I've found the Church. Your prayers have been answered. This morning seven of us found a place where we could be off by ourselves. We sang the hymns we sing at home, but they had a new meaning for us. We administered the sacrament, and I have never appreciated it so much. We read together the Book of Mormon, and we bore testimony one to another. Don't worry about me. The Church is here, and I'm in the Church."
I join with you in a prayer that peace will soon come to that troubled part of the world. I would earnestly hope that your sons will not be called to serve in those hot, fearsome battlegrounds; but in case orders take them there, I want to assure you that they may find the Church operating under the direction of devoted and faithful men.
South Viet Nam is a zone of the Southern Ear East Mission. There are four such zones in that mission: Taiwan, or the Republic of China; the Philippines; Hong Kong; and South Viet Nam. Presiding over the South Viet Nam Zone is a presidency of three worthy men, and under them are three district presidencies, each consisting of three worthy men. Within these districts are nearly thirty branches or groups, each with a president or presidency.
Three Mormon chaplains are stationed there, and a fourth is assigned to go there. No more devoted or capable members of the Church will be found anywhere in the world. May I read a few lines from one of them, our zone president, Major Rozsa. These words were penned as he rode a C-47 over the bomb-cratered jungle of that embattled land. He says:
"Viet Nam, in many ways, is a wonderful experience for our LDS brothers and sisters. I have never been amongst more choice men and women in the gospel than those serving here in Viet Nam. I have never seen so much priesthood talent assembled in one area, except at conference time in Salt Lake City, as I have witnessed in Viet Nam. We have numerous brethren who have served as bishops, in bishoprics, on high councils, as branch presidents, and in other offices. I firmly believe that those priesthood bearers who remain faithful and serve their country and the Lord while in Viet Nam will provide a great potential leadership within the Church.
"Our priesthood holders face a life in Viet Nam that is different from anything they have known elsewhere. The fighting is different, the political situation is different, the controversies over our presence in Viet Nam are unparalleled in past conflicts-controversies among our fellow Americans at home, and the constant temptations that lead to immorality and moral decay, are more pronounced here than I have witnessed in other lands during other conflicts.
"Our men and women are being tried in a refiner's fire. Those who remain true will have made great strides toward the kingdom of God." Such is the estimate of Major Rozsa.
Now listen to the words of another young man in a remote battle area: "I've just attended services held in a tent here on base... I'm only a deacon, but I have come to learn that in our Church... everyone seems to help everyone else as brothers and sisters should... This group may be small in number but it is large in faith. I attended an hour-long service this morning and I'm proud to tell you even though we are miles away from our home, Church, and loved ones, we still believe in the gospel and bear our testimonies with sincere faith."
Let me give you another snatch from a letter: "I'm thankful," this young officer in a commando unit writes, "for the Church here in Viet Nam. It has really been a great help to me. It's been here in times of need when we come under mortar and recoilless rifle attack. I'm thankful that I know about the plan of salvation and what to expect after death, because it has really been a source of strength for me."
This leads me to a second point I wish to mention-an invitation to our young men over there who may not have become actively associated with the Church. You need the Church and the Church needs you. The individual there must seek out the Church. A systematic effort is made to find all Church members, but it is not easy under present circumstances. There are more than 300,000 Americans there, among whom it is estimated there may be 3,000 members of the Church. You families, you fathers and mothers, urge your sons to look for the Church. Or you may write to our brethren there concerning your boys. A pair of dedicated home teachers will call on that son or brother and extend him an invitation with all the solicitude that home teachers in your ward would exercise.
And to you young men who may be sent to that distant part of the world, may I extend an invitation in behalf of your brethren in Viet Nam, that you make your presence known. The fellowship in the priesthood you will enjoy will prove to be a priceless blessing in your life. It will bring you the association of good men-of great men who love the Lord and who love their fellowmen. You will find happiness in such company-and more important, you will be protected from those evils which, if partaken of, will inevitably bring sorrow and regret all your days. And you will be prompted to participate in new and enriching opportunities for service. Listen to the words of a letter written by a young man in that area where there is much of evil, of bloodshed, of tragedy:
"The two of us," he writes, "have been teaching the gospel to our associates. We've taught Vietnamese, Koreans, Chinese, Filipinos, and Americans and have been having really wonderful and gratifying results. Every baptismal that is held we have people ready for baptism. Right now we are using five Vietnamese, who have already joined the Church, as interpreters, and this is surely an experience teaching these people... with an interpreter. It takes a lot more explaining to get a point across, but you can always see and feel the Holy Ghost working with us... Right at the present time we have sixteen people that we are teaching. Six of them have committed themselves to be baptized October 8."
And from another letter: "Last night I interviewed a young man for baptism who had been taught the gospel by one of our recent converts. We will hold his baptismal service tomorrow in the South China Sea."
Nor is this matter of sharing the gospel with their associates the only thing for which I extend the appreciation of the entire Church and of many others who are the beneficiaries of their inspired and selfless service. One of our chaplains writes: "I again visited C-Med last night. We had two LDS casualties brought in... Both were in the intensive-care wards. I took Elder Richard Southard with me, and we anointed and blessed them, as well as a badly wounded Episcopalian boy and a Baptist boy, who requested a blessing from us as they were in the same ward. We also anointed and blessed a small Vietnamese child who had been wounded, while its heartbroken mother sat on the bed weeping."
This great spirit in our men who have gone to war as citizens of the nations of which they are a part is almost as old as the Church. More than a century ago British members of the Church had what they called the "floating branch" among sailors in the Mediterranean. There was also an "expeditionary branch" of our British brethren during the Crimean War of the 1850's.
We now have approximately 20,000 native members of the Church in the Far East-some 3,000 in Korea, 10,000 in Japan and Okinawa, 6,000 Chinese in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and a thousand Filipinos. This marvelous Church membership is the sweet fruit of the simple, quiet work begun by our servicemen stationed in these lands who initially taught the gospel there, first by their example and secondly by their precepts, and in so doing they opened the way for the coming of missionaries, for whose coming they had pleaded.
I am confident that today, out of the misery of that fearful, tragic, vicious war in Southeast Asia, will come some measure of good as the Lord, working through faithful men, turns the evil snares of the adversary to blessings in the lives of many of his children.
As I think of our brethren, there come to mind these great words of promise given through revelation in the year 1831: "Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.
"Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind".
To our brethren over there I extend our appreciation and invoke upon you the blessings of the Lord, that you may be encouraged in your faith, that you may be protected in your duties, and that you may have cause to rejoice in the midst of sorrow as you share with others the precious gift of the faith that is yours. God bless you, my dear brethren, this Sabbath day, as the sun rises over those distant embattled shores and you gather together to worship in the name of him whose peace must come, if peace is to come at all, even Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop John H. Vandenberg
John H. Vandenberg, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 66-69
Under the heading of "Vital Statistics" in the daily newspaper, there are listed the names of those happy men and women who have received to enter into the holy state of matrimony. There are also listed under the same heading those unhappy individuals who have failed in matrimony and are now suing for divorce. Oftentimes, this is a longer list. One wonders what happened in the latter cases that brought their status from bliss to chaos.
The following excerpt from a written by a 16-year-old girl tells how family trouble may start:
"My dad and mother are good people, and I love them very much. We have family prayer but not very often any more because Mom and Dad are always fighting about money. We have lots of bills to pay each month, and my dad is working two to make more money. I am wondering if it is all right for me, since I have a job at a drive-in, to give my money to my mother and skip tithing for a while?"
The young lady should be commended for her desires to help her parents, but the matter would not be helped by diverting her tithing to cause.
The answer to this family's problem is not necessarily more money. The need for more money is merely the symptom. The malady is excessive debt, caused by uncontrolled credit purchasing. The cure is a reappraisal of the income after allowing God's due, a survey of the amounts needed for the real necessities-shelter, food, clothing, health-and a calculation of the residue of income for the amortization of other indebtedness, with a resolve by all that no further credit purchases be made. It may even mean the forfeiture of some luxury items that should not have been purchased in the first place. Here I would caution people against borrowing more money to consolidate debts, thereby increasing their interest rates and extending their bondage.
Unwarrantable indebtedness is one of the curses of this day and age. It causes many people to live their lives in bondage. The lure of buying on time under the "easy payment plan" too often puts the millstone around the neck of the purchaser-and when once in the credit rut, it is very hard to get out. Sorrow, grief, divorce, and delinquency are all perpetuated by such foolishness.
When a family finds itself too far in debt, the atmosphere of discouragement enters the home, relationships become tense, tempers become short, and marital troubles begin to erupt. To meet the indebtedness, the mother may frequently leave her children to themselves while she finds employment out of the home. Irregularities in the home follow: service to God is disregarded, tithing is neglected, prayers become less frequent, persons begin to feel separated and apart from God and church, and the condition explained by Isaiah ensues:
"... the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear;
"But... iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear".
Some weeks ago, discussing this subject at a stake conference, a judge said to me that from his experience on the bench, financial problems were, in the majority of cases, the real cause of marital failure.
A study was undertaken at one of our universities some years ago concerning the relationship of divorce with financial matters. It revealed that steady employment is a real factor in the success of marriage, that marriage becomes increasingly less stable when there is a disturbance in the family income, such as unemployment and work layoffs.
Anyone contemplating marriage should certainly recognize that an adequate income is paramount. Young people need to prepare for this responsibility. Then the wise handling of that income would be to see that the outgo does not exceed the income, with a designated amount for reserve. Family financial disturbances come from inadequate planning, overbuying, poor vision, emotional immaturity, and lack of self-discipline. Getting in debt is largely an emotional decision rather than a rational one. Major purchases should not be made in a hurry; take a few months or years to think and plan. Marriage is a partnership arrangement between two individuals. Decisions should be made by the husband and wife jointly. They should talk financial matters over freely.
Because the home is the basic unit of society, its stability, sanctity, and harmony should be maintained. Our objective should be to help eradicate anything that tends to upset the equilibrium of the family unit.
The admonition of our Church leaders has always been to stay out of unwarrantable debt. We should "shy away from debt as we would a plague" was the counsel of the late President J. Reuben Clark, Jr. He also warned: "To buy on the installment plan means to mortgage your future earnings. If, through sickness or death or through loss of work, the earnings cease, the property bought is lost, together with what has been put into it." President Joseph F. Smith said: "It is highly proper for the Latter-day Saints to get out of debt."
We ought not to allow financial problems to enter our homes to cause the family unit to deteriorate. We ought to hearken to the Savior as we build and establish our homes. I think his advice is a trustworthy guide for us today, for he said:
"For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
"Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
"Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish".
The principle here is: be sure you have a program to pay your way before you buy. It was sound 2,000 years ago; it is still a sound practice today.
Admittedly, there are so-called economists who plead for liberal use of credit. But as Charles Neal states in his book, Sense with Dollars: "If you fall for this hogwash and get yourself into financial trouble, the same economists will chide you for being 'economically illiterate' and hint that you are a threat to the free enterprise system, and the truth is, you would be."
Our society has been pummeled with so many "easy credit" signs, and the lure of such has made many a covetous people. The Lord decreed on Mount Sinai: "Thou shalt not covet". Covet means, according to my dictionary, "Eagerly desirous, especially inordinately desirous of possessions or wealth; grasping, avaricious, often eager to possess that to which one has no right." If you cannot pay for an article, you have no right to it.
Young couples should discipline themselves with the thought, "Don't try to get everything at once. Rome was not built in a day." And again, they should be reminded that there is no such thing as an "easy payment." All payments are hard-cash payments. Unwarrantable installment buying is a pit into which those who covet fall. Debt is the tyrannical master.
We read with abhorrence that years ago, in many parts of the world, it was a practice to place people in bondage and bring them to America to serve as bonded servants to their masters for a specified period of time. All their work and energies were used for the benefit of their master. The citizens of this country could not tolerate such a practice for long. It was this attitude for liberty that gave birth to this nation, a nation in which its citizens could be free from bondage. Yet, today many of our citizens are slaves to unwarrantable credit practices. They can free themselves if they will. Naturally, it isn't easy to break old habits, but obedience to the gospel principles should give an adequate incentive to get out of debt.
Most individuals are endowed with production power. There is no substitute for personal production. True wealth is termed production, and there is only one basic, proper way to live: upon the fruits of one's own labor. Enjoyment of life comes through such a practice. Jesus stressed this principle in his parable of the talents when he said:
"... he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained besides them five more.
"His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord", italics added.)
Providing for one's self and family is a sacred charge to the husband, for if he does not, he is considered by God worse than an infidel. To provide indicates that parents will teach their children, early in life, self-reliance, to abhor debt as a plague, how to earn income through industry, how to receive proper value for money expended, how to build reserves for schooling and missionary service, the value of interest rates, what it costs them when they pay, what it earns for them as they build their reserves. There seems to be only one place for children to learn these lessons, and that is in the home. Sylvester Kellerman, U. S. referee in bankruptcy at Louisville, Kentucky, calls to our attention:
"What we need is a basic course in economics for everybody. Money management should be taught in grade schools. Schools can teach children French in the second grade, but they can't teach them interest rates.
"People seldom see how much an item costs any more. It's how much a week. When people have trouble meeting their credit installments, they begin traveling from loan company to loan company. That's like trying to drink yourself sober."
It is impossible for anyone to borrow himself out of debt.
The declaration made by the Church that "work is to be... the ruling principle of the lives of church membership" should settle any questions we may have about the ever-growing feeling and belief that people can live off the public without laboring.
Perhaps many of us need to take a good look at our own financial situation and philosophy, because I fear that many Latter-day Saints are being swept into the rising tide of financial insolvency. The virtues of thrift and saving need to be taught in our families. In accordance with the teachings of the Church, let us try to be free of debt and have an adequate reserve of food, clothing, and money to meet an emergency. Remember the adage: "A family out of debt is out of danger."
Wise family budgeting begins with obeying the law of tithing, for the payment of tithing puts the mind at ease and alert to cope with other essentials of family financial matters Publilius Syrus said: "When the mind rules wisely, money is a blessing"; hence, wisdom in spending can be a blessing to any family. Failure of a married couple to handle wisely and efficiently the thousands of dollars they receive and disburse during marriage may lead to the chaos and disaster of divorce and the listing of their marriage failure in the "vital statistics" column of the newspaper. This must not happen.
Since marriage is a fulfillment of a divine command, we should take God our partnership with the implied promise that we will sustain him and his truth. Our homes must foster the lasting virtues of honesty, thrift, work, self-discipline, sacrifice, economy, obedience, production, and freedom from debt. These are important facets of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which gospel is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth".
May we catch its visions and blessings, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Franklin D. Richards
Franklin D. Richards, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 69-72
During the early history of the Church the Lord, in revelations to the Prophet Joseph Smith, explained that the fullness of his gospel would be restored and that it would be proclaimed by the weak and simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers, that he required their heart and a willing mind, and that they should not weary in well-doing.
And inasmuch as they are humble, they would be made strong, and blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time.
They would have power to lay the foundation of this Church and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness.
In these revelations the Lord explained his use of weak and simple instruments to proclaim his gospel. However, he gave them commandments that they might possess understanding and knowledge, receive power and become strong, thereby qualifying themselves to be effective servants.
The Prophet Joseph Smith is the chief example. He was weak insofar the learning of men is concerned; but because he was humble, obedient, and possessed a willing mind, he became a mighty and strong leader and witness of the divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In all ages this has been the pattern or those who would succeed in the work of the ministry: humility, prayer, dedication, and a desire and willingness to learn the will of the Lord.
With the development and application of these qualities come knowledge, power, and strength.
Membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides many opportunities to participate in the building of the kingdom of God and what a great privilege this is. We should, therefore, have an impelling desire to be humble and become strong, that we might be worthy and able instruments-strong spiritually, morally, mentally, physically, financially, and in every other way.
I would like to discuss the development of these qualities with you.
President McKay has told us that the purpose of the gospel is to change men's lives, to make bad men good and good men better, and to change human nature. The great joy received in missionary work is to witness the change that comes into the lives of converts as they learn these eternal truths and apply them in their lives.
Spiritual food is as essential as material food, and yet many are starving themselves spiritually.
In this latter day the Lord has reconfirmed that his "Spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble and contrite"
How do we receive this enlightenment? We must of course, be humble, but we have also been instructed to "seek... diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith".
Let us remember that the best books include the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price, as they contain the words of the Lord to his children.
In our studies we should also recognize the value of prayer and being submissive to inspiration from the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is a great teacher and revealer of truth and will quicken our minds. Everyone who has received the Holy Ghost has the privilege of this source of enlightenment, providing he is living in such a way as to be in tune with the Spirit.
The Savior explained to the Prophet Joseph that "the glory of God is intelligence, or in other words, light and truth", that "it is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance"; and that "whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection".
The path is clearly defined-to seek diligently words of wisdom out of the best books by study and faith. Let us resolve today to study regularly the four standard works of the Church and other good books.
Then, as we are enlightened and learn the great eternal principles of truth, we have the responsibility of applying them in our lives. Activity in the Church opens up many avenues of service whereby we can apply these eternal principles. Through service we evidence our love of God and of our fellowmen.
We are told that as we are humble and do this, we will be endowed with power and receive growth and development, great joy and happiness.
This is the path to spiritual, moral, and mental power and strength.
Now let us consider the development of physical strength.
One of the outstanding blessings of this earth life is to obtain a body for our spirit to inhabit. Lucifer's great punishment was that he should not possess a body.
The Apostle Paul in writing to the Corinthian Saints said, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
"If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are".
Inasmuch as our body is the abode of our spirit, the offspring of God, we should make certain that we do not defile it. To this end the Lord has given us a specific Word of Wisdom by revelation.
This principle was given with a "promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints". It contains a promise that "all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings... shall receive wealth in their navel and marrow to their bones;
"And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
"And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint".
We are counseled in this revelation to eat and drink those foods and drinks that are beneficial to our bodies and to refrain from taking anything into our bodies that is injurious or harmful. We can likewise protect our health by getting proper exercise and rest.
The Word of Wisdom is a basic law, and those who live the law will be strengthened in body and in mind.
Now with reference to the development of financial strength: God has given us our free agency, but we are required to work for our sustenance, growth, and development.
We frequently refer to the gospel as "the gospel of work." This principle incorporates the necessity of sustaining ourselves and our families. To properly fulfill this requirement in this day, we must be financially responsible or strong. Being strong financially does not necessarily mean being wealthy with earthly possessions; it means possessing sufficient to meet our requirements and living within our income rather than overextending ourselves.
In modern revelation the Lord has given us these commandments: "Behold, it is said in my laws, or forbidden, to get in debt to thine enemies". "And again, verily I say unto you, concerning your debts-behold it is my will that you shall pay all your debts".
President Brigham Young repeatedly counseled the Saints to get out of debt and stay out of debt. Other Latter-day Prophets have given similar counsel. President Joseph F. Smith told the Saints, "Get out of debt and keep out of debt, and then you will be financially as well as spiritually free."
President Heber J. Grant said in one of his sermons, "If there is any one thing that will bring peace and contentment into the human heart, and into the family, it is to live within our means; and if there is one thing that is grinding, and discouraging and disheartening, it is to have debts and obligations that one cannot meet."
One of the Relief Society lessons deals with this subject, and the appropriate title is "Don't Let Your Yearnings Exceed Your Earnings." This lesson is certainly in line with the injunctions of the Lord to his people. Today much unhappiness results from financial problems; they are a major factor in unhappy marriages, many of which result in divorce.
Personal financial weaknesses come about primarily by unwise use of credit and obligating ourselves for more than we receive. This frequently brings about bankruptcy, and unfortunately, bankruptcies have greatly increased during the last few years.
Many business failures are likewise the result of overextension and inability to finance the enterprise properly.
I counsel you to get out of debt and stay out of debt, and if it is necessary to use credit, use it wisely and sparingly. Financial strength is realized by keeping God's commandments, one of which is the payment of an honest tithe, and by developing habits of work, thrift, and living within one's income.
It is vital to our welfare and happiness that we be strong financially as well as spiritually, morally, mentally, and physically. In all ages men and women who have had important missions to perform possessed great strength. The trek to Utah of the Mormon pioneers, many of whom were our ancestors, was made by those who were strong in purpose and in faith. They left us a noble heritage.
Today's problems are, in many respects, different from those confronting our pioneer forefathers. However, our problems are as real and important to us as their problems were to them, and it requires great strength and faith on the part of men, women, and children to successfully meet today's challenges.
We should consistently study the gospel, as it teaches us in simple terms how to develop this strength. These gospel principles are eternal. As we apply them in our lives, we are able to meet our challenges with purpose, faith, and vision, as did our forebears, and become strong instruments in the hands of the Lord in building the kingdom. Yes, as we do our part, the Lord will make us equal to the tasks that lie ahead.
I am grateful for my knowledge that God lives and that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, that the gospel in its fullness was restored to earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and that we have a great Prophet at the head of the Church today, our beloved President David O. McKay. May the Lord bless and sustain him as he continues to inspire us and give us strength.
In October 1831 the Lord through revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith said to William E. McLellin, "... he that is faithful shall be made strong in every place; and I, the Lord, will go with you".
Each of us has this same assurance: As we are faithful we shall be made strong in every place, and the Lord will go with us. May this be our great desire and blessing I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Alma Sonne
Alma Sonne, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 72-73
My brethren and sisters, I have just read the autobiography of Elder John A. Widtsoe in a book called In a Sunlit Land. I read from Chapter 15, entitled, "Apostleship":
"Since my boyhood I had known the restored gospel to be true. In my college days I had subjected it to every test known to me. Throughout my life it had made the days joyous. Doubt had fled. I possessed the Truth and understood, measurably, the pure and simple gospel of Jesus Christ.
"I had studied the gospel as carefully as any science. The literature of the Church I had acquired and read. During my spare time, day by day, I had increased my gospel learning. And I had put gospel truth to work in my daily life, and had never found it wanting.
"The claims of Joseph Smith the Prophet had been examined and weighed. No scientific claim had received a more thorough analysis. Everywhere the divine mission of the latter-day prophet was confirmed.
"The restored Church has been compared with other churches. Doctrine for doctrine, principle for principle, organization for organization, the churches had been placed side by side.
"Compared with the churches of the world, the Church of Jesus Christ, as restored through Joseph Smith, stood like a field of ripening grain by the side of scattering stalks."
This was John A. Widtsoe's testimony, given to the world a short time before he passed on. It was based on investigation, research, and prayerful study.
Dr. Widtsoe was not deceived. He had not only "weighed and examined" the claims of the Church; he had also introduced the saving principles into his life, as suggested by the Savior, when he said:
"My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself".
This teaching is sound and logical.
Those who live the gospel and introduce it into their daily lives will find no reason to deny its power to save and uplift mankind. The gospel teaches that life after death is a reality. There is a spirit world. The antediluvians were there when Jesus taught the gospel among them.
It is a place of reunion when mortal life is ended. We will meet our loved ones there, and I believe we will recognize them and mingle with them. Death is not the end. It is a forward step in the program to bring us back to God, who is our Father.
I was 16 years old when I first read the Book of Mormon. Each time I have read it since then, it has been more appealing, more satisfying, and more reassuring about the mystery of life and death and the purpose and objective of our sojourn in mortality.
The gospel plan is in operation in the world. It is being presented as it was 1,900 years ago, with similar results and manifestations.
From the beginning to the end, the Book of Mormon, which is at your disposal and mine, is a builder of faith in the true and living God and in his son, Jesus Christ. All of us need to strengthen our faith. It has given to the world a clearer concept of the Savior, his mission, and his position in the eternal plan to save and exalt God's children. Nothing has been brought forth during my life that has weakened my faith in that divine plan and in the story told by Joseph Smith the Prophet.
Slowly, but surely, prejudice and antagonism are breaking down, and the light of God's truth is penetrating the dark places of the earth. The criticism and bigotry of the past are melting away, and the purifying and ennobling power of the restored gospel is touching the hearts of humanity.
Today, 12,000 missionaries are inviting people everywhere to investigate the gospel message as thoroughly and carefully as did Elder John A. Widtsoe. He left no stone unturned to determine its validity and divinity.
Who will evaluate this great man's power and influence as a missionary in Europe and elsewhere? His literary contributions are tremendous, and his sermons and writings on gospel themes would fill volumes.
The Church presents a progressive religion. We are constantly moving to higher ideals. We existed before we came to earth. Our future life is inseparably connected with this life here on earth.
Those who destroy the divinity of Christ must also contend with and destroy his servants, like Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles; like the Book of Mormon, which is a witness to all men that Jesus is the Christ. The Apostle Paul provides the same convincing evidence as the Book of Mormon that Christ lived, that he died on the cross, and that he rose from the dead. Paul heard the voice of the Redeemer; he was baptized for the remission of his sins and became a messenger of life and salvation to the Jews and the Gentiles. This great man, a servant of God, as was Dr. John A. Widtsoe, has given purpose and significance to your life and mine. His message was from God, and God enlightens this world through the prophets whom he has chosen.
May our hearts go to God. May we be true and faithful and devoted to our sacred covenants, and may we do our part to build up his kingdom upon the earth, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Victor L. Brown
Victor L. Brown, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 74-77
The laws of Utah prohibit the use of firecrackers. In a neighboring state they are permitted. This summer, while visiting in this neighboring state, our 12-year-old son, with his friends, had great fun with his fireworks. We told him it would be necessary for him to dispose of all of the firecrackers before going home. This seemed rather silly to him. If it were legal in one town, why not in the next, only a few miles away? He finally complied.
Upon arriving home, he found a neighbor boy who still had some. The temptation was just too great, so he bought a few from his friend. What could it possibly hurt? Firecrackers aren't much fun unless you do something with them, which these boys set out to do.
This happened while his mother and I were away for the evening. Through some strange coincidence, a police officer found out about it, picked the boys up, and returned them home.
Can you imagine being 12 years old and having a policeman return you home for breaking the law?-particularly after having just graduated from Primary, where you had learned the Twelfth Article of Faith, "We believe... in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law", and having just been ordained a deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood, at which time you promised your bishop you would honor the priesthood, and also having just become a Boy Scout.
This was a traumatic experience indeed, and I am sure one that will never be forgotten by either of us.
As he sat there waiting in our living room for us to return home, the thought of having let down the bishop, his parents, and, above all, his Heavenly Father weighed heavily upon him. He wanted to tell us himself. He didn't want us to hear it from anyone else.
Notwithstanding the disappointment at his disobedience, which resulted in his breaking the law, my heart swelled with pride that he had the courage to voluntarily tell us of the trouble he had been in. There was no desire to deceive or mislead us.
During the very serious discussion that followed his disclosure, it was implied that he had let others lead him and had not been strong enough to stand on his own feet. Then he said, "This is my responsibility. No one else is to blame."
It was only after I had assured him that the only purpose of relating this experience was to try to help someone else learn from his mistake that he gave his permission for me to use it today.
It seems to me that there are at least two lessons to be learned from this sad experience. The first one is quite obvious-the need to obey the law, no matter how small or unnecessary it may appear to be. In today's society, there are many who teach the philosophy that we have a right to break those laws we do not agree with. If each segment of our society were to adopt this attitude, anarchy would run rampant, and chaos would reign.
One of the basic tenets of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is found in the Twelfth Article of Faith, written by the Prophet Joseph Smith on March 1, 1842: "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law". This, then, leaves no room for personal preference as to which laws we will obey.
The second lesson is perhaps not quite so obvious, but it is, nevertheless, vitally important, and that is: as parents, we share the responsibility for the actions of our children, whether their actions be for good or ill. I suppose there are none of us who wouldn't acknowledge the successes of our children and perhaps feel some pride in having had something to do with their achievements, but what happens when they make mistakes? Quite a different reaction takes place. Too often we give vent to feelings of anger. Whereas we had a hand in their success, we deny, through our actions, any part in their failure.
What is the first thing that generally happens when a child or young person confesses a wrongdoing to his parents? Many times, a serious rebuke or perhaps even physical punishment results. This, of course, is the best way in the world to insure that hereafter the child will not confide in his parents. Seldom do we first think of the child's feelings and how the problem affects his life, but rather we feel that our pride is hurt or our reputation is damaged. I wonder how many mothers and fathers have said, "How can I possibly face my friends after this?" Are our feelings and actions for the benefit of the child or ourselves?
Becoming a parent is one of the greatest blessings and opportunities in life. With this blessing comes grave responsibility. The home is the most important unit in all society, and parents to a great measure establish the spirit of the home. No responsibility is greater than the rearing of our children. Sometimes no responsibility is more difficult. When they do as we wish, there is no problem, but when they are rebellious and disobedient, here is a problem Sometimes this problem requires all of the patience, understanding, and long-suffering it is possible for parents to muster. This does not mean that wise discipline is not necessary; on the contrary, it is absolutely necessary.
There are those parents who will effect abandon a child in trouble. Perhaps they have been rebellious and unruly and have caused many heartaches. When do they need a greater measure of love and reassurance that all is not lost? Certainly when they are in difficulty, particularly if it is serious.
We parents need to examine our reaction to these children who get into trouble. If we are to display true love, will think of the child's needs first and ourselves last.
I wonder about the judgment whereby we will be judged. You will recall the lesson taught us by the Savior regarding the prodigal son, who, after having wasted his life with riotous living, decided that he would return to his father's household.
"And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
"And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
"But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him: and put a ring on his hand, shoes on his feet:
"And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it: and let us eat, and be merry:
"For this my son was dead, and is again: he was lost, and is found".
In a recent editorial in the Church News, a letter to the editor was published that to me has great significance in parent-child relationships. It reads:
"I had an experience a few nights ago which I feel I should mention to you.
"We had spent the evening at the cabin of some friends in upper Ogden Canyon, and as we drove home we found it necessary to telephone back to our friends at their cabin.
"Accordingly we spent a half hour or so looking for a telephone. While I was making the call, an attractive young girl approached my wife sitting in our car in the parking lot, and asked if we would give her a ride to Ogden.
"It developed that she had been offended and frightened by her boy friend at a picnic ground lower down in the canyon. She left his car and walked alone up the dark canyon looking for a telephone to call some friends to come for her.
"Being unsuccessful, and becoming more and more afraid, in desperation she approached a total stranger, my wife, for help.
"In the course of her conversation, she had said that she was afraid to call her parents as they would 'die' if they knew she was in this situation.
"She said, 'We are awfully religious: I don't suppose you are LDS, are you?'
"When my wife told her that I was a bishop, she exclaimed in relief: 'O, I did come to the right car, didn't I?'
"Two or three things impressed us about this experience:
"First, the long-shot coincidence of a bishop stopping at a public telephone booth around midnight in upper Ogden Canyon, and finding there a lovely LDS girl seeking help.
"Second, and more to the point, was impressed by the fact that she was afraid to call her parents.
"Here was a girl of obvious courage, having dared to leave the car of her boy friend and walk up the dark canyon and approach a stranger for help, but yet without the courage to let her parents know of her danger and her need.
"It reminded me of how a friend some years ago told me that he had taken his daughters to one side and told them: 'Any time you need my help, wherever you are or under whatever conditions, all you need to do is call and I will come to you.'
"I have told my own daughter this, and the result has been that I have done a good deal of taxiing her and her friends around, but I have enjoyed every minute of it.
"I wonder if an effective editorial might be written urging parents to let their children know they love them and that they are ready to help under any conditions, and urging children to confide in their parents, and call on them whenever they may need help.
"Also, of course, young people should be cautioned to avoid getting into such situations in the first place."
Dr. Dana L. Farnsworth, in an article entitled "Six Rules for Parents Who Want Their Youngsters to Grow Up Secure and Self-reliant," says:
"Whenever I talk to parent groups about their adolescent youngsters, one complaint invariably occupies much, if not most, of the discussion: 'Our children never tell us anything!' When communication lines break down between parents and children, unhappiness and even tragedy may result. For their part, parents may think and do all the wrong things and thus build a wall between themselves and their children that may never be removed. As for teenagers, they may develop antagonism toward their parents that can trigger all sorts of things, such as a rush into too-early marriage to escape unhappiness at home. When they grow into adulthood, youngsters may always regard all persons in authority, such as bosses, with fear or mistrust.
"In every case of broken communications, the trouble started many years before the child's adolescence. Unwittingly, parents themselves had begun snipping the wires when the children were young. You can keep the lines intact, so that messages can move freely between the generations, in these ways ...
"2. By curbing your temper. Frequent displays of great anger can so terrify a child that he withdraws emotionally from you. Justified irritation at something he does wrong is acceptable, and even beneficial, but uncontrollable rage is something else."
"6. By disciplining him properly and fairly when necessary. I know of no better way of showing a child he is truly loved than by firm discipline. And a child who knows he is loved is not likely to draw too far away from his family."
Now to conclude my story: Several days after the incident with the police officer, my son and I were discussing some of the social problems he would face in his first year at junior high school.
After explaining some of these problems, I expressed my faith in him that he would have the courage to withstand these temptations. He said, "You really have faith in me, even after I got into trouble with the law?"
May the Lord bless each parent with vision and understanding in their early years of parenthood so that they do not find it necessary to experiment on four or five children before arriving at an understanding of how to rear them wisely.
I know that God lives, that this is his Church and that he is the Father of the spirits of these choice children who have come to bless our homes. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Patriarch Eldred G. Smith
Eldred G. Smith, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 77-79
Since the dawn of history, civilizations have fallen or been destroyed when the people became ripened in iniquity. It seems that when we, as mortals, follow the path of least resistance, our moral standards fall rather than rise.
Genesis tells us of the conditions which preceded the flood. The book of Moses gives more detail. Noah preached to the people, calling them to repentance, but they mocked him and refused to listen. The Lord sent the flood in his anger against the wickedness of the people. Only Noah, his wife, and his three sons and their wives were saved-and that because of their righteousness.
Time and again throughout Bible and Book of Mormon history the wicked multitudes have been destroyed and only those who were the more righteous remained. Does this mean that God does not strive to help his people and to teach them? No! His prophets are preaching the word of God. Enoch preached to the wicked people with such success that they became righteous-so righteous, in fact, that the entire city of Zion "was not, for God received it up into his own bosom".
It is said that history repeats itself. If this is true, and I believe it is, then the Book of Mormon should be one of the most valuable records we have. It gives us a record of a people from their small beginning, through many generations, through growth and decay.
Here, then, we should find the answer to all the national problems of peace and war. What do we find? Look at the over-all story and we find a continual wave of peace with righteousness on the one hand and wars accompanied by, or the result of, unrighteousness on the other.
The Book of Mormon early in the history records a great promise referring to the people who should possess this land. The Lord made the promise that if they should "serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever". The word "forever" brings this promise to us in this day also.
This promise and warning is repeated often in the Book of Mormon Yet, all through history we find wars, and contentions associated with sin and unrighteousness.
When the people were faithful in keeping his commandments, God blessed them with prosperity and peace and helped them fight their battles against their enemies. The following is typical of many such examples:
"... the Nephites had all power over their enemies; and thus the Lamanites did attempt to destroy the Nephites until their chief captains were all slain; yea, and more than a thousand of the Lamanites were slain; while, on the other hand, there was not a single soul of the Nephites which was slain".
The Lamanite leader "was exceedingly wroth, and he did curse God, and also Moroni... and this because Moroni had kept the commandments of God in preparing for the safety of his people.
"And it came to pass, that on the other hand, the people of Nephi did thank the Lord their God, because of his matchless power in delivering them from the hands of their enemies".
The story of the sons of Helaman is another matchless tale of the blessings of God and the rewards for keeping his commandments.
These promises refer as much to us today as they did to the time in which they were given. You cannot deny that God has guided our destiny, that the settlement of this land, the declaration against tyranny, the war that followed, the framing of a constitution-all have been guided by the hand of God. How else could his gospel have been brought forth, were it not for the blessed freedom provided in this "land of promise"?
And now here we are today, the recipients of the greatest blessings of all time. What are we doing with them?
Where are we now in this cycle of life-this cycle of righteousness with peace and prosperity or unrighteousness and wickedness, accompanied by wars and destruction? This is what an editorial from the San Francisco Examiner has to say:
"What has happened to our national morals?
"An educator speaks out in favor of free love.
"A man of God condones sexual excursions by unmarried adults.
"Movies sell sex as a commercial commodity.
"Bookstores and cigar stands peddle pornography.
"A high court labels yesterday's smut as today's literature.
"Record shops feature albums displaying nudes and near nudes.
"Night clubs stage shows that would have shocked a smoker audience a generation ago.
"TV shows and TV commercials pour out a flood of sick, sadistic and suggestive sex situations.
"A campaign is launched to bring acceptance to homosexuality.
"Radio broadcasts present discussions for and against promiscuity.
"Magazines and newspapers publish pictures and articles that flagrantly violate the bounds of good taste.
"Birth control counsel is urged for high school girls.
"Look around you. These things are happening in your America. In the two decades since the end of World War II we have seen our national standards of morality lowered again and again.
"We have seen a steady erosion of past principles of decency and good taste.
"And-we have harvested a whirlwind. As our standards have lowered our crime levels and social problems have increased.
"Today, we have a higher percentage of our youth in jail... in reformatories... on probation and in trouble than ever before.
"Study the statistics on illegitimate births... on broken marriages... on juvenile crimes... on school drop outs... on sex deviation... on dope addiction... on high school marriages... on crimes of passion.
"The figures are higher than ever. And going higher."
How do we stand today?
With this level of corruption at home, how can we expect to have peace or victory on the battlefield? Satan knows that time is short, and he's waging an all-out effort to win. He's stopping at nothing.
The enemy in Viet Nam is the same enemy at home. It is the same force of evil that is the cause of riots and destruction all over our country. The same force that is causing all the conditions referred to in the San Francisco Examiner is prevalent all over our land.
With conditions at home as here described, is it any wonder that we are at war in Viet Nam? The answer for peace is not military might alone. We must turn to God and keep his commandments. We must seek him in prayer, and be sincere in our prayers.
We must cleanse ourselves from all iniquity. We must humble ourselves must again make the home sacred, and we must honor virtue!
There is only one answer: Repent and turn to God.
Will you who are within the sound my voice strive with your whole souls to live the kind of life Christ would have you lead? to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind... And... love thy neighbor as thyself"?
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven".
President McKay has said: "Peace is the exemption from individual troubles, from family brawls, from national difficulties. Peace does not come to the transgressor of law. Peace comes by obedience to law, peace to the individual that he may be at peace with God at peace in the home, and in the neighborhood. Peace can come to the world only through obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ."
I pray that we may all keep the commandments of the Lord, that we may have the blessings promised that this "shall be a land of liberty" and "never be brought down into captivity," that this land shall be "blessed forever".
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 83-84
This is a wonderful sight to me, as I look to the other end of this building, and in the gallery, and back of me, and see all of you brethren who hold divine authority. I have thought that the best thing I could do would be to prepare something that had to do with this divine authority with which the Lord has blessed us, and with your help, for I need your faith, I want to read what I have written.
Authority is an eternal principle operative throughout the universe. To the "utmost bounds" of space, all things are governed by law emanating from the Lord our God. On Kolob and other giant governing stars, and in the tiny electron, infinitely small and of which all things are composed, divine authority is manifest in the form of immutable law. All space is filled with matter, and that matter is controlled and directed by an all-wise and omniscient Creator.
Priesthood is divine authority that is conferred upon men, that they may officiate in the ordinances of the gospel. In other words, priesthood is a part of God's own power that he bestows upon his chosen servants, that they may act in his name in proclaiming the gospel and officiating in all the ordinances thereof. All such official acts performed by these duly authorized servants are recognized by the author of our salvation.
Man cannot act legally in the name of the Lord unless he is vested with the priesthood, which is divine authority. No man has the power or the right to take this honor to himself. Unless he is called of God, as was Aaron, he has no authority to officiate in any of the ordinances of the gospel; should he do so, his act is not valid or recognized in the heavens. The Lord has said that his house is a house of order, and he has given the commandment that no man shall come unto the Father but by his divine law, which is established in the heavens.
All men who assume authority but who have not been properly called will have to answer for their acts in the day of judgment. Nothing that they perform in the name of the Lord is valid, for it lacks the stamp of divine authority. To deceive and lead others to believe that unauthorized acts are valid when performed in the name of the Lord is a grievous sin in the sight of God.
The question of priesthood, or divine authority, is a vital one, since it concerns the salvation of each of us. It is impossible for a man to enter the kingdom of God without complying with the laws of that kingdom. Only authorized officers may properly officiate in rites and ceremonies of his kingdom. No man has the right to assume the authority and officiate without being ordained to the ministry. To do so is an unauthorized and illegal act.
With regard to the holding of the priesthood in the preexistence, I will say that there was an organization there just as well as an organization here, and men there held authority. Men chosen to positions of trust in the spirit world held the priesthood.
Adam received the holy priesthood and was commanded by the Lord to teach his children the principles of the gospel. Moreover, Adam was baptized for the remission of his sins, for the same principles by which men are saved now were the principles by which men were saved in the beginning. In that day all those who repented and were baptized received the gifts of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. Adam made all these things known to his sons and daughters.
A false notion prevails today that men may assume the authority to speak and officiate in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ when they have not been divinely called. The commission given by our Lord to his disciples nearly two thousand years ago does not authorize any man today to officiate in the ordinances of the gospel or to preach and expound the scriptures by divine authority. The Bible does not and cannot give to any man this right to exercise the functions of the priesthood. This can only come, as in days of old, by authority from the Son of God or his properly constituted representatives. There is a perfect order in the kingdom of God, and he recognizes the authority of his servant.
It is our duty to save the world. That is our mission, insofar as they will listen unto us and receive our testimony. All those who reject the testimony of the elders of Israel will be held responsible and will have to give an accounting for their stewardship, just as we will have to give an accounting of our stewardship as elders and teachers of the people.
Never before in the history of the Church has the responsibility that has been given to the priesthood been more necessary of fulfillment than today. Never before have we been under greater obligation to serve the Lord, and keep his commandments, and magnify the callings that have been assigned to us.
The world today is torn asunder. Evil is rampant upon the face of the earth. The members of the Church need to be humble and prayerful and diligent. We who have been called to these positions in the priesthood have the responsibility upon our shoulders to teach and direct the members of the Church in righteousness.
If we do not serve the Lord with all our heart, might, mind, and strength, if we are not loyal to this calling that we have received, we are not going to be blameless when we stand before the judgment seat. It is a very serious thing to hold the priesthood.
Brethren of the priesthood, these are your responsibilities. The Council of the Twelve did not place them upon you; the Presidency of the Church did not place them upon you. It is true that they, or their representatives, called you and ordained you to the ministry, but the responsibility to perform this labor came to you from the Son of God. You are his servants. You will be held accountable to him for your stewardship, and unless you magnify your callings and prove yourselves worthy and faithful in all things, you will not stand blameless before him at the last day.
May the Lord bless you good brethren, holders of the priesthood, and may you magnify your callings in the Church, and may the Lord bless you in all that you do is my humble prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 85-88
My dear brethren of the priesthood:
When we realize that eighty-five thousand or more members of the priesthood of the Church are assembled in this historic Tabernacle, the Assembly Hall, and in 472 other buildings throughout the United States and Canada, each one of whom can say in his own heart, "I know that my Redeemer lives," we can sense, at least dimly, the strength of this Church; for upon the priesthood rests the entire structure of the Church of Jesus Christ. This vast assembly of priesthood members of itself is an inspiration, especially when you contemplate its significance and realize that in the brotherhood of Christ we are all one, supporting one another. It is truly sublime!
I pray for your sympathy, for your faith and prayers, and above all, for the inspiration of the Lord, that the message I give may be of interest and contributive to the advancement of God's work.
The mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may be considered in two great aspects: the proclamation to the world of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ-the declaration to all mankind that God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ appeared in this dispensation to the Prophet Joseph Smith; the other great purpose of the Church is to translate truth into a better social order or, in other words, to make our religion effective in the individual lives of men and in improving social conditions.
It is the first great purpose to which I wish to call attention this evening.
On a momentous occasion two thousand years ago, eleven men assembled near a mountain in Galilee-eleven humble, obscure men who had been chosen and ordained apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. According to appointment, these men met the resurrected Christ, who made what to them must have been a startling declaration. They had been with their Master fewer than three years and had been expressly enjoined by him to go not in the way of the Gentiles, to enter no city of the Samaritans, but to go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. At this meeting, however, as his final parting instructions, he opened their eyes to the universality of the gospel by giving them this divine commission:
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world".
In the restricted experience of these eleven disciples, the idea of preaching Christ and his saving doctrine to any but members of their own race germinated very slowly. Indeed, the Savior of men found it necessary to give another direct revelation to Peter, the chief apostle, before he fully realized that the Gentiles "should hear the word of the gospel, and believe".
However, as the light of truth dawned in their hearts, these earnest followers set about to give the gospel to the world-"twelve simple men, with only the wind to bear them over the seas, with only a few pence in their pockets, and a shining faith in their hearts. They fell far short of their ideal, their words were twisted and mocked, and false temples were built over their bones, in praise of a Christ they would have rejected. And yet, by the light of their inspiration many of the world's loveliest things were created, and many of the world's finest minds inspired."
The followers of the Redeemer were reviled, persecuted, and martyred, but they continued to testify to the truth of their risen Lord.
Three hundred years passed, and Christianity became the dominant religion of the most powerful nation in the world, and the persecuted became the persecutors. Pride and worldliness supplanted humility and faith. The church became corrupt. Doctrines of men supplanted the commandments of God; spiritual darkness enshrouded the nations of the world.
Later, courageous, God-fearing men began to protest against the evil practices of a corrupt clergy. The dawn of a spiritual awakening appeared, but none either claimed or received divine authority to re-establish the Church.
Roger Williams, pastor of the oldest Baptist Church in America, resigned his position because, said he, "There is no regularly constituted church on earth, nor any person authorized to administer any church ordinance; nor can there be until new apostles are sent by the Great Head of the Church, for whose coming I am seeking.".
In Section 4 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation that "behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.
"Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day".
When this revelation was given to the Prophet Joseph, he was only 23 years of age. The Book of Mormon was not yet published, no man had been ordained to the priesthood. The Church was not organized; yet the statement was made and written without qualification that "a marvelous work about to come forth among the children of men".
Another significant feature of this revelation, and of others given about the same period, is the naming of essential qualifications of those who were to participate in the bringing about of this marvelous work. These qualifications were not the possession of wealth, not social distinction, not political preferment, not military achievement, not nobility of birth; but a desire to serve God with all your "heart, might, mind and strength" -spiritual qualities that contribute to nobility of soul. I repeat: No popularity, no wealth, no theological training in church government-yet "a marvelous work about to come forth among the children of men."
Manifestly, some higher power was operating to bring about this marvelous work other than through mere human and material means.
The same charge that was given by the risen Lord to his authorized disciples more than nineteen hundred years ago has been given by direct revelation to his authorized servants today.
Though the Church is still young and has had to struggle through persecution, mobocracy, drivings, poverty, misrepresentation by egotists, uninformed preachers, apostates, and by a prejudiced public sentiment, it is moving steadily forward toward its worldwide destiny. Almost immediately after the organization of the Church, the proclamation of the restored gospel began. The Church was scarcely seven years old before the scope of missionary work had included the United States, Canada, and the British Isles.
Since that humble beginning in 1830, 75 missions, including one in Italy that has just recently been organized, have been established throughout the world. Our missionaries, each paying individually, or with the aid of his parents, his or her own expenses, are now declaring to a troubled world that the message heralded at the birth of Jesus-"peace on earth, good will toward men" -may become a reality here and now by obedience to the principles of the gospel.
They are instructed that they go out as representatives of the Church, as representatives of their families, and most important, as representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose servants they are. They are instructed that a representative of any organization, economic or religious, must possess at least one outstanding quality, and that is trustworthiness.
These missionaries go out in the spirit of love, seeking nothing from any nation to which they are sent-no personal acclaim, no monetary acquisition.
What is the outstanding message that they have to give Christian, as well as non-Christian, countries? There must surely be something distinctive to justify their presence in all parts of the world.
First, they are to declare the divinity of the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Redeemer and Savior of mankind. They declare with Peter of old that "there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved".
The second distinctive message is the restoration of his gospel by the appearance of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and that divine authority through the priesthood has been given to represent Deity in establishing Christ's Church upon the earth. Thus, they are fulfilling to the best of their ability the injunction to preach the gospel to every creature, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever the Lord has commanded.
True Christianity is love in action. There is no better way to manifest love for God than to show an unselfish love for our fellowmen. This is the spirit of missionary work. Our hearts respond with the poet:
O Brother Man! fold to thy heart thy brother; Where pity dwells, the peace of God is there; To worship rightly is to love each other, Each smile a hymn, each kindly deed a prayer."
This, then, is a worldwide Church, organized preparatory to the establishment of the kingdom of God on high. God has given us the power of whispering across space, of transmitting thoughts within minutes from one end of the earth to another. Geological conditions or distances are the same, but modern means of transportation have made practically nations neighbors.
Now, I am going to ask Brother Bernard P. Brockbank of the Church Information Committee and Brother Arch L. Madsen, president of Church Broadcasting, to tell you what the church is doing to disseminate the gospel by these modern means through church information service and broadcasting facilities.
May God bless you men of the Priesthood. God bless our missionaries and brethren everywhere for their willingness to consecrate their time, their means, and their ability to the advancement of the kingdom of God.
I bear you my testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and when I say this, it means that I know that Jesus lives, that he is our Redeemer, and that this is his Church. We are merely his representatives. When we accept that, then the reality of God the Father, the Father of our spirits, is easy to accept.
With all my heart I bless you, and pray that peace and love and kindness will abide not only in your hearts but in your homes, that your wives, our wives, and our children, may have memories sweet of a home in which God would be pleased to dwell.
May this be our lot, our experience throughout the Church in all the world, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Bernard P. Brockbank
Bernard p. Brockbank, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 88-91
Brethren in the priesthood: Isn't it marvelous to hear the great vision of a great Prophet? My, how he sees the great scope of the work to be done on this earth by the priesthood holders! Brethren, I hope you sense deeply in your hearts the power and the responsibility that you have.
As President McKay opened the conference yesterday, he made this statement: "A proper conception would change the attitude of the world to the benefit and happiness of all human beings." "A proper conception of the sacredness of the individual"-in the image and likeness of Deity.
The Apostle Paul tells us of the holiness and sacredness of the individual when he said, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
"If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are".
Paul also said to the Corinthian Saints, "... know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?".
We were created by God in his likeness and image, and we should not stand alone, but we should stay close with even the loyalty and love of a child to our Creator and Heavenly Father. The creator is not without obligation to that which he created, and we who hold the priesthood of God have a great, important responsibility to our Lord and to his children. Only through priesthood holders, such as you, can God's children receive baptism by water and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Both are essential, according to Jesus Christ, for entrance back into the kingdom of heaven. And, of course, we know that many other great blessings are attached to the priesthood.
We are called to help build the Church and kingdom of God on this earth. We who hold the priesthood literally need to be our brother's keeper. The day in which we live is the dispensation of the fullness of times. "The dispensations of the fulness of times is made up of all the dispensations that ever have been given since the world began, until this time."
In 1830, near the opening of this dispensation, there were approximately a billion people on the earth; 137 years later, today, over three and a half billion; by 1970, four billion; and it is predicted, by men who know what they are talking about, that by the turn of the century, 2000 A.D., there will be seven billion of God's children upon this earth.
It is a great and glorious period of time for the righteous and an era when the unrighteous will also prosper.
The President also declared in his opening message at this conference that this "is a glorious age in which to live, but no thinking man will doubt that this age is fraught with limitless perils, as well as with untold possibilities."
After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, prior to his departure from this earth and his return to the kingdom of heaven, he gave important instructions to all those who would represent him and participate in building his Church and kingdom on this earth. And this was repeated twice by the Prophet in the message just delivered by his son Robert. According to the Gospel of Matthew, the closing words of the Savior just prior to his ascension to his Father were: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations...
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world". That includes us; it includes the priesthood holders here assembled. We are to teach the gospel and commandments of Jesus Christ.
Similar statements were made by the Savior according to the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Luke.
The Apostle John in giving the closing words of the Savior showed a rather interesting and beautiful scene of the Savior and Peter, the man he was to leave in charge of his Church. He asked Peter, "Lovest thou me?" three times. And the great answer from the great Teacher the Lord and Savior, was: "Feed my lambs; feed my sheep".
Priesthood holders, do you love the Lord? Do you have any hungry lambs and sheep in your area-friends and neighbors hungry for God's righteousness and the gospel plan of salvation-good, honest people waiting for the voice of a righteous teacher who speaks as one having authority, one with the priesthood and authority from God?
Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice". The voice to mortal man must come from an authorized teacher and servant of the Lord.
Our assignment, brethren, with all the Latter-day Saints, is to teach the doctrines, ordinances, and commandments of Jesus Christ.
I repeat what Jesus said, "Teaching... whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world".
We are to teach every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. The Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith, when there were only one billion of his children on this earth, that the field was white and ready to harvest.
Today, with over three and a half billion people on this earth, the task and responsibility of harvesting is great and challenging. The field today is still white and ready to harvest. Millions of honest in heart are waiting to be taught.
Brethren, have we taught the gospel of Jesus Christ to two percent of God's children living on this earth today? Two percent would be more than seventy million people. When and how are we going to teach every nation, kindred, tongue, and people?
The answer has been given by a Prophet of God. Every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should be a missionary. Each member should bring one or more of his neighbors and friends into the Church each year. Each member must increase his faith and turn up his divine luster and candle power and let his light so shine before men that they may see his good works, and glorify their Father which is in heaven.
We will need greater unity between full-time missionaries, stake missionaries, and the Saints in order to reach and teach additional millions. We need to supply the helps necessary so that over a million Saints can help the missionary work.
The Lord said, "... by their fruits ye shall know them". The fruits of the Church, of the gospel, and of the lives of the Saints need to be seen by the world.
We have learned a great many things from the success of the Mormon Pavilion at the New York World's Fair. We have learned that with finely created religious art, oil paintings, and sculptured pieces, movies and backlighted transparencies, we can arrest the interest and excite the imagination of nonmembers of the Church.
But we have also learned something even more important: that the most valuable tool we have in delivering the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is the testimony of the priesthood and the missionary. We have discovered that when one of our missionaries stands in front of a religious painting and bears his testimony to the validity of its spiritual message, that same oil painting suddenly becomes a powerful visual evidence for truth that is deeply etched on the minds of the investigators. They go away remembering both what they heard and what they saw, and the honest in heart have had a spiritual experience.
So it is that we now stand at this point of bright discovery. We must blend the testimony of the missionary with vital and powerful visual messages; we must accelerate our effectiveness in giving outsiders something they can both see and hear.
Today we must find ways to reach and teach millions and even billions by having them come to centers where the teachings and fruits of the gospel of salvation and God's plan of life are on exhibit and where the teacher filled with faith, love, and the Holy Ghost can touch their hearts. Millions of the Saints can participate.
Under the direction of the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve, we are creating and setting up visitors' centers with visual aids and missionaries to teach and reach millions.
The new visitors' center right here on Temple Square, just to the north of this building, will be completed some time early next year. It will hold some of the great messages of the latter-day restoration. These will be in the form of specially created artifacts. The great Thorvaldsen statue that was also shown in the Mormon Pavilion at the New York World's Fair now stands on the second floor and has as a background a 12,000 square-foot mural of the firmament with the celestial bodies painted. There is also a 150-foot painted mural showing outstanding scenes on the life and teachings and examples of Christ. There are other great paintings of Christ ordaining the Twelve Apostles and Joseph Smith receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood from Peter, James, and John.
There will also be a First Vision diorama, a replica of the Sacred Grove. The trees will be duplicated facsimiles made from plaster molds taken right in the grove. Also displayed is a figure of the 14-year-old Joseph Smith as he kneels in this grove and looks into a light overhead which is "above the brightness of the sun", depicting his first great vision and the first ray of light to this world after a period of darkness, showing that God lived and that man was literally in his image and likeness.
We'll have a series of paintings, now being created, illustrating the great dispensations of the Bible, showing Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and others. Some of these scenes will depict the great prophecies of the Old Testament, prophecies concerning the birth of Christ; concerning the apostasy and the restoration of the gospel; concerning the temple of the Lord being established in the "tops of the mountains".
We'll have a series of rooms that will deal in fine detail with such significant subjects as "the plan of salvation," the scriptures, the contributions of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and the pioneers, the apostasy and reformation, and, certainly, the restoration and all its great fulfillment of prophecy throughout the ages of man.
And the vision of the Church has swept beyond these works on Temple Square. We have now completed a great display at the Prophet's birthplace in Sharon, Vermont. Another has just been installed in Liberty, Missouri.
We are now working on the possibility of a visitors' center at each of the temples throughout the Church.
We are working to establish these visitors' centers with visual aids similar to those used at the New York World's Fair and on Temple Square in Salt Lake City but with the exhibits fitting in with the particular area.
We've had over 75 requests from various church groups for help in preparing displays this fall. Hundreds of fairs, both county and state, have asked for visual aids so that the local members of the Church can deliver the gospel message and bring people to an understanding of the beautiful doctrines of the Church.
In conjunction with the missionary committee, the church information committee is now printing a series of large-sized posters that will tell in sequence the message of the teachings and doctrines of Christ, the falling away, and the restoration of the gospel. The posters will be available soon. They will be a great help in many areas.
New paintings are being painted by talented artists, depicting a wealth of scenes portraying with spirituality and inspiration the story of the gospel and attempting to relate to individuals their needs to repent of their sins and come unto Christ.
The Book of Mormon is "to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations", and displays of the Book of Mormon are being set up to bring this book and record closer to the people. It would be wise for every priesthood holder to have several copies of the Book of Mormon for missionary use with his friends and neighbors.
When the visitors' centers and posters are ready, the members with the missionaries can bring their friends and neighbors to see the exhibits. Other exhibits will be set up in homes and churches and in many areas for the use of the members. New motion pictures will be made. Millions have seen the motion picture, Man's Search for Happiness, and it has touched the hearts of many that had little or no concept of preexistence and life after death.
The members are anxious, we discover throughout the world, to follow the Prophet's counsel to do missionary work among their friends and neighbors, but they need the help of the great Christian teaching exhibits.
This, brethren, is the greatest of all dispensations in which to do missionary work. Many millions are looking for the gospel of Jesus Christ as given in the God-inspired scriptures and by the Savior. Millions today would like to know, hear, and follow a prophet of God, and to know that there are twelve living, ordained apostles of the Lord on this earth.
May we do the will of the Lord and his prophets, under their inspiration and revelation, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Arch L. Madsen
Arch L. Madsen, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 91-97
President McKay-President Tanner-My Brothers in the Priesthood: I have always felt humbled standing in the presence of Latter-day Saints, but never to the extent of this moment. I earnestly pray for the blessings of the Holy Ghost that from my feeble lips may come words worthy of this sacred hour.
Ours is the deep responsibility and privilege of the missionary in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our Prophet, Seer, and Revelator has highlighted and rehighlighted this fact.
The everlasting gospel has been restored to the earth, for the last time, to be preached "unto every nation and kindred and tongue and people." The Prophet Joseph has told us "That the truth of God will go forth boldly, till it has penetrated every continent, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished."
In the 58th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord reminds us: "For verily, the sound must go forth from this place unto all the world, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth-the Gospel must be preached unto every creature."
What an awesome challenge we have-with earths rapidly multiplying billions, as pointed out by Brother Brockbank. Experts estimate of course as you have heard, that 1 billion lived at the time of the restoration; 3 1/2 billion now and some 7 billion by the year 2000.
President McKay, in his inspiring message opening this Conference, referred to scientific discoveries which "stagger the imagination"-"discoveries latent with such potent power, either for the blessing or the destruction of human beings as to make men's responsibility in controlling them the most gigantic ever placed in human hands... this age," he went on to tell us, "is fraught with limitless perils as well as untold possibilities."
Now, it is with some of these blessings made accessible through scientific knowledge that I have been assigned to speak with you for a few moments tonight.
The great Alma cried to the Lord that his voice might be multiplied to shake the earth with the plan of salvation.
King Benjamin, in his efforts to communicate the Gospel more effectively, caused a tower to be built that he might speak to the great multitudes.
What mighty towers has our Heavenly Father permitted us to have in this dispensation through the use of Radio and Television. Surely, they are powerful instruments beyond imagination, to help the Gospel message "sound in every ear" on this planet.
Under the direction of our Prophet, the use of Radio and Television is expanding. The Church now owns totally, or has ownership in, 20 broadcasting facilities:
Five Television stations; 4 Radio stations, two of these stations are 50,000 watt-the most powerful authorized; we have 6 FM and 5 shortwave, in areas ranging from New York City to Seattle, Washington.
May I briefly review our activities in five areas: Standard AM Radio; International Radio; Telephone line and cable related to broadcasting; Film related to broadcasting; and, finally, Television.
The potentials of standard AM radio have surpassed all boundaries of our imaginations, with the development of the transistor-a miracle in itself, which some claim will be recorded by future historians as an event greater than the invention of the printing press. This has been brought into sharp focus by the fact that illiteracy and ignorance reign so supremely upon this earth today that many overseas, and even on our own continents here in the Western Hemisphere, are not able to read and to write.
I listened numbly as one of our great behavioral scientists recently in New York made the statement that in the world as we have it today, over half of all the children between the ages of 5 and 19 will never see a school room; and that the degree of illiteracy of this world increases every time the clock ticks because we are totally unable to build educational facilities and train teachers to keep literacy, the ability to read and to write, ahead of the population explosion.
The only way we can reach millions of people will be through the spoken voice. The transistor radio, inexpensively manufactured today, has opened the doors of intelligence to literally millions. The best place you can possibly see this is to go to South America and see people with hardly enough to eat, and hardly any clothes on their backs, with an expensive transistor radio in their possession.
In the United States there are over 250 million operating radio-more sets, by far, than people. We have, in addition, over 350,000,000 sets outside of the U. S. and the number increases rapidly. For instance, some 31 million new sets were sold in the U. S. last year.
There are over 4,000 AM broadcasting stations and over 1,400 FM stations in the U. S. with some 7,000 of these stations in addition, overseas. The channels are wide open for our use.
Now the use of AM radio by the Church, of course, is highlighted by the Salt Lake Tabernacle Choir and Brother Evan's Spoken Word program, now the oldest continuous network radio broadcast in history-and a missionary tool of immeasurable value.
It is fitting, I believe, to pay tribute here tonight to the memory of Earl J. Glade, the Chief Executive for many years, and the guiding light of KSL, who left us three weeks ago at the age of 80; and who, through his great vision in industry, in the early days of radio, sold the Network on the idea of a weekly Choir broadcast. Its effect cannot be measured.
Today, this Choir program is heard weekly over 194 CBS stations; over 100 additional stations in the U. S. and Canada by tape; and a growing area that we are very proud of, 94 Latin American stations, with the narration corrected and translated into Portuguese and Spanish. It is also heard over the Voice of America and on the Armed Forces Radio and Television service.
In addition, hundreds of radio stations also provide large audiences for the Choir's music via recordings. In fact, in one of the leading stations, I discovered recently in the East, the management requires the playing of four Choir numbers per day as station policy.
Brother Sterling Sill's outstanding weekly program is now released on over 400 stations via tape recordings.
Through AM Radio alone, General Conference is heard on over 25 stations, with tapes also now being sent for the first time to Latin-American stations.
At night we have had an interesting experiment for the past several years-we re-broadcast General Conference for four hours, from 1:00 AM to 5:00 AM over KSL and KIRO, two powerful 50,000 watt stations. The results have been most gratifying with expected letters from people in hospitals, service stations, all-night auto drivers and people who have to work in the daytime, expressing their gratitude that we are broadcasting the Conference when they can hear it. These letters come from all over Western America, Canada, Mexico, and far beyond.
In fact, mail from a single session encouraged by an offer of a few Choir albums to those writing from the greatest distances, brought responses from Kingston, Jamaica to Suva in the Fiji Islands; 27 countries; 42 states; 3 ships at sea. Letters from such as one from a wonderful Relief Society President in the Island of Samoa -she said that hundreds listen clearly in Samoa to this program-hearing Conference for the first time when we started to re-broadcast it.
A letter from a dear sister in Canada who awakened at a very early hour, being unable to sleep, turned on her radio, heard an organ, she told us in her letter, and was quite surprised; in fact said she was alarmed as she looked at her clock three or four times to find out she was listening to the Mormon Conference from Salt Lake City. She was so excited that she awakened all of her family and made them stay up all night to listen to Conference. The post-script to her letter said, "It may not be important to you to hear Conference, but it is very important to us; it is a wonderful event in our lives because, you see, we just joined the Church a few weeks ago."
Standard AM Radio is also used from 12 midnight to 6:00 AM each Sunday on KSL and KIRO, to broadcast a program we call "Prelude to the Sabbath," a six-hour workshop program in which our own people here are seeking to learn the means and the ways to make so-called religious programming more interesting and palatable, to people. We have invited to participate with us in this, many faiths, and we are receiving and broadcasting their programming as they attempt to explain the Gospel as they understand it. It is an understatement to tell you that we have learned much from those of other churches in the excellent utilization they, too, are making of radio and television, and we have made many friends of people of other faiths through this workshop program.
The second area of international broadcasting is little known. Today, there are over 3,000 stations around the world in over one hundred nations broadcasting to the world. Most of these are government-owned and operated, and are used in an ideological war of freedom vs. collectivism which most Americans should have the privilege of hearing. It is raging through the air with venom enough to turn the color of the air. These great principles of freedom and collectivism are being debated through these radio channels.
Now the Church owns five out of a total of seven international radio licenses given by the Federal Communications Commission in the United States. In this project, we have entered a great arena, and as one of the nonmembers of the Church said recently to me, "Your Church now speaks with the voice of nations."
The proper operations of these stations challenges the best skills and abilities of the most professional of our nation's broadcasters, and certainly requires a great deal of dedication and funds. It is an opportunity presented to us to help explain to the world the divine principles of the Constitution of the United States attacked overseas viciously misunderstood by too many of us at home.
It is our opportunity to explain to the people as best we can, the blessings which can come to all men and women worldwide as they apply these principles to their lives. This is a project in embryo which can open doors to worldwide communications unlimited.
The sessions of this General Conference are broadcast over WNYW, as the five stations are known, to over 100 countries in four continents, in four languages. In addition, every week regularly, we broadcast 30 special L. D. S. programs in English and Spanish over these international facilities.
In one Conference session broadcast over WNYW, we offered a few Choir albums to those writing from the greatest distances, to encourage mail response; and it came from 61 foreign countries; 37 of the 50 states; 8 ships at seas. Letters came from young men buried in the snow on the dew line far to the North; a letter came from a young man in a small village in Mexico, some 200 miles south of Monterey, who said, in his broken English, "I contacted the missionaries, or they found me in Monterey; my Mother became ill and I had to come back to my village. Last Sunday afternoon I was listening to the shortwave radio and I heard the mighty organ from the Salt Lake Temple, and I heard the sermons in Spanish. My Mother came and sat beside me for a few moments and she stood up angrily and said to me, 'Get away from that thing-it will turn your mind.'" He said, "Oh, how I need the Gospel. Will you please tell the missionaries to come and find me."
A letter from a student in Bogota, Colombia, who said, "I have never heard of your church before. Are there any people in the country of Colombia that could help me understand more of your religion?"
A family in Europe brought into the Church through listening to this instrument; and letters from Saints and others in Africa. I wish I had time to relate some of the stories behind these letters-they brought tears to our eyes; perhaps they would to yours.
The third area relates to telephone lines and cables in broadcasting. Now this session of Priesthood Conference is being heard in over 400 chapels in Canada and in the United States, and is being seen in some areas by cable television.
For some sessions of our General Conference, over 50 chapels in Europe are connected to the Tabernacle by telephone line and by cable, of course, under the water, and report perfect clarity of reception in these chapels.
Another area relating to film is broadcasting. We have now a remarkable device called a kinescope which has been greatly perfected in the last year or two, which permits us to transmit effectively television video tape programs to film-regular 16 mm movies-sound-on-film. With this machine we are now adapting the weekly Choir program to 16 mm film with a Spanish and a Portuguese sound-track-the narration, of course, for use on a dozen or more Latin American stations. That list will grow appreciably as we learn how to do this more effectively.
Use of sound-on-film
In addition, this device has permitted us to do something else that has caught a great deal of our attention. A session of General Conference is transferred to sound-on-film with the words of the speakers translated and then lip-synced with the motion picture so that the General Authorities appear to be speaking in French, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Mandarin Chinese. We have had a wonderful response; these films are in wide use-continuing use-in chapels throughout the world where we are told there is seldom a night where there isn't General Conference in some chapel, in some mission, in some distant spot. It, of course, opens a complete new area for us.
The fifth area, very quickly, in Television, of course represents the near ultimate in that "mighty tower" to help bring the Gospel to every nation and kindred and tongue and people, for Television represents the nearly perfect device for mass communication. And certainly there are no more precious truths that the world needs, or should have, than the principles of the Gospel; and the great challenge is to be able to transmit those in a way that we will be able to have them penetrate this quarter-inch of skull that seems so impenetrable by so many other methods.
In this country, the average television set operates six hours and 27 minutes per day. The audiences to this type of communication are simply fantastic. We think the people would even watch the test signal if we had a couple of cowboys shooting in back of it.
The Choir is now seen in six cities every week via television-Los Angeles, Seattle, Salt Lake City and three other communities-it is just beginning. In telecasting the General Conference, we stand doubly humble because we have, indeed, been greatly blessed.
It is not too difficult to occasionally obtain gratis, a quarter-hour, or even a half-hour, from a TV station, but to obtain two hours in one unit-is almost unheard of except for things like football games.
The extent of our blessings in telecasting Conference is mirrored in these statistics: In the Conference of October, 1962, 21 stations in the U. S. carried our Conference broadcast. Eighteen months later, April, 1964, 194 United States and Canadian stations released Conference-practically all of them for a full two hours
Why this remarkable Conference TV coverage? One reason is this great blessing we have in our Choir. This unparalleled talent is respected in all the world of radio and television.
Number two reason, and of great importance-almost equal importance in many areas-is the respect of television station ownership and management for the L. D. S. members of their communities.
In the southwest, a television station executive vice president and general manager told me, in essence: "Do you know the local L. D. S. representative you sent to me to ask for air time for your Church?" When I confessed I did not know him, he said "You certainly should. He is one of the most loved men in our entire area; he could have anything he wants from this station."
In another instance, the station owner recounted how his music librarian, a young lady, had come and asked for two hours on Sunday for her church. "Of course, we agreed," he told me, "she is one of the finest persons I have ever met or employed."
In the midwest, another television executive called me on the phone to tell me the good news he had cleared time for Conference. "I just couldn't help clearing time," he said. "I have a sister-in-law who is one of the most wonderful people and wonderful member of a family that a person could ever have-and she's a 'fire-ball' Mormon. When she called me and said, 'Lou, are you going to give me any conference-or not?' All I could say, and gladly, was-Yes."
Another of many fine examples-five stations covering an entire state cleared because of their respect for an LDS leader living among them. And in one of our largest cities, the same experience was repeated. We have had many more similar occurrences.
May I express appreciation to Brother Paul Evans and his associates who work diligently for many months to build this Conference TV network each session. But in doing so, may I underline this fact that the help of many members of the Church has made this blessing possible. And Mission Presidents tell us it has now become an important tool to them in helping investigators to learn more about the Church, and to help to keep up the interest and morale of the members who are still isolated from us.
Everyone a missionary. How wonderful it is to see President McKay's counsel in action as relates to our business. How important it is, too, for many reasons to be living testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for we never know when our attitudes and actions will be, and can be, used for good.
Briefly we have reviewed Church mass communications in five areas: Standard AM Radio; international radio; telephone line and cable related to broadcasting; film related to broadcasting; and television. May we tell you quickly we have taken only first steps-they will be multiplied many times. We have taken only a few steps-just far enough to see the unlimited horizons in the technical ability to communicate to every nation and kindred and tongue and people that are now within our grasp.
The great future hangs above the earth some 22,000 miles above the East Coast of Brazil in an 87 pound speck, motionless in position to the ground. Through this tiny object, the early bird satellite, hundreds of telephone calls, a television signal and other material, Can effectively reach "unto" one-third of the earth's surface.
Already we have sent a special broadcast of the Salt Lake Tabernacle Choir to Europe through this instrument; and another broadcast through an earlier satellite.
Another early bird is scheduled to be hung high above the Pacific within the next thirty days, thus bringing two-thirds of the earth's surface under two early birds.
Marvelous as these satellites seem to all of us at this time, it has been called the "crystal set" of the future of worldwide broadcasting.
Just three of these instruments make it possible for us to fulfill the Doctrine & Covenants, Section 58, Verse 64:
"For verily, the sound must go forth from this place unto all the world, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth-the Gospel must be preached unto every creature".
I leave with you my testimony that I know this work is divine; that we are led by a mighty Prophet, Seer, and Revelator; that great prophets surround him; that God in His wisdom has given us television and radio to assist Him in His great purposes.
May we be blessed and ever diligent in the use of all communications media to hasten the day of His Kingdom, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President N. Eldon Tanner
N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 97-100
I always feel most humble as I stand before a body of men who hold the priesthood. The priesthood of God is the power by which all things were done in the universe, but the priesthood that you hold is the power of God delegated to you to act in his name in the office to which you have been called.
Just think what that means, the authority that is given to us, for the Lord has said to his elders that they may baptize an individual, and he is baptized; he is as much baptized as if the President of the Church had baptized him, or any of the Twelve. And when he is confirmed, it is of the same effect as if the Lord himself had confirmed him. And then when he is ordained a deacon, teacher, priest, elder, it is of the same effect. That authority is given to us, and with that authority goes a great responsibility.
This evening I should like to address my remarks to the topic: the importance of keeping pledges. There are many kinds of pledges. Maybe some of you would think that the things I am listing here are not pledges. I say keeping an appointment is a pledge. You may not think it is very important, but keeping an appointment is important, and that is a good place to start to learn to keep pledges. I should hate to miss my appointment when I leave this frail existence, and be found someplace for which I hope I am not preparing, just because I am late.
To pay a bill or a note is a pledge that is very important; to keep one's word in anything one says or agrees to do is a pledge. When one joins the Church, he pledges certain things as he goes into the waters of baptism. When accepting the priesthood, we make a very definite covenant with the Lord. When partaking of the sacrament, we renew our covenants. Notice that I am using covenants, promises, and pledges interchangeably.
When partaking of the sacrament, we renew those covenants. When accepting office in the Church, we agree to do certain things. We take upon ourselves certain covenants, we make certain pledges. You who have been to the temple know the covenants you make and the obligations you take upon yourselves.
In home teaching, or any assignment that is given to us, if we accept that assignment, we certainly covenant with the Lord and the one who is giving the assignment that we will perform that duty.
Now some may emphasize one covenant or one requirement or one of the commandments; but we covenant to keep all the commandments when we join this Church, accept and are ordained to the priesthood.
The Prophet spoke out clearly on Friday morning, telling us what our responsibilities are. He mentioned and spoke emphatically of liquor by the drink. A man said to me after that, "You know, there are people in our state who believe in following the Prophet in everything they think is right, but when it is something they think isn't right, and it doesn't appeal to them, then that's different." He said, "Then they become their own prophet. They decide what the Lord wants and what the Lord doesn't want."
I thought how true, and how serious when we begin to choose which of the covenants, which of the commandments we will keep and follow. When we decide that there are some of them that we will not keep or follow, we are taking the law of the Lord into our own hands and become our own prophets, and believe me, we will be led astray, because we are false prophets to ourselves when we do not follow the Prophet of God. No, we should never discriminate between these commandments, as to those we should and should not keep.
A man said to me just a few days ago-and he is a member of the Church and thinks he is a pretty good member, and I am not questioning him on that-but he said, "You know, this Church requires too much of its people. There isn't another church in the world that requires or demands as much of its people as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormon Church."
I said, "Brother, the Church doesn't demand anything of you. It offers you great opportunities and many privileges that are not given to any individual any place in the world other than through the Church of Jesus Christ. And the priesthood offers opportunities, privileges, and blessings that one can enjoy only as he accepts the rules and keeps the covenants upon which these privileges and blessings are predicated. You may choose what you wish to do in this Church, and you will be blessed accordingly. It is entirely up to you." But I added, "As far as I am concerned, brother, I would rather walk barefoot from here to the celestial kingdom and back into the presence of my Heavenly Father, if I can get there, than to let the things of this world keep me out."
And I am serious about it. These privileges that are offered to us, holders of the priesthood, just cannot be evaluated. If we keep these covenants, we are blessed. As we go to the temple, we make those covenants that I mentioned before. And I would like to say to you men who hold the priesthood, just remember three words: keep the covenants. Now, anybody who is listening tonight, anybody who holds the priesthood, surely can remember three words: keep the covenants.
I should like to read a covenant that I have read before in priesthood meeting; to me it is most important, the covenant that we make when we accept the priesthood. I shall read from the 84th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants:
"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 Abraham, 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 altogether turneth therefrom," is left on his own.
Note that the Lord says: "I cannot break this covenant, but if you break it there is no promise." Isn't it something to think about when the Lord says he cannot break a covenant that he makes with his people. That covenant stands as long as we will keep the covenant, but when we break the covenant, there is no covenant as far as the Lord is concerned.
Referring to these covenants in the temple, I would like to say to you again, remember these three words: keep the covenants. And I think I am safe in saying to you that if you and your families will keep these covenants, you will be happy, you will be successful, you will be respected, you will have good families that you can take back into the presence of our Heavenly Father. All you will have to do is remember three words: keep the covenants, the obligations that you have taken upon yourselves, the pledges that you have made. Keep the covenants.
Now among our fellowmen, neighbor to neighbor, it is important that we keep our covenants, our pledges, our agreements. A young man came to me not long ago and said, "I made an agreement with a man that requires me to make certain payments each year. I am in arrears, and I can't make those payments, for if I do, it is going to cause me to lose my home. What shall I do?"
I looked at him and said, "Keep your agreement."
"Even if it costs me my home?"
I said, "I am not talking about your home. I am talking about your agreement; and I think your wife would rather have a husband who would keep his word, meet his obligations, keep his pledges or his covenants, and have to rent a home than to have a home with a husband who will not keep his covenants and his pledges."
I don't know whether everyone here agrees with me or not; in fact, I am wondering. There are too many today, I feel, who are prepared to take the easy way out of paying their debts by not paying them and take whatever action is necessary to keep them free. It is important, brethren, that we keep our pledges and our covenants and keep our name good. A man's good name is worth more than any material thing he could have.
And if it is important that we keep our covenants with our neighbor, with a man with whom we have made an agreement, how much more important it is that we keep the covenants that we make with our Heavenly Father when we hold the priesthood and accept office in this Church.
Brethren, it is a pleasure to be with you, to join with you men of the priesthood; I feel most humble in your presence, and particularly do I feel humble when I realize that the body of the priesthood in the Church of Jesus Christ is the only body that holds the power of God to act in his name in the office to which they have been called. And think of the responsibility that has been placed upon us to take this message to the world. We have been told by these two speakers tonight, Brother Brockbank and Brother Madsen, how we are striving to make it possible for everyone to hear the gospel. Our lives, brethren, will help to determine how they receive it.
A man told me that he was just about ready to accept the gospel when he met a particular LDS family. Then he said, "If that's the way your people live, I don't want to have anything to do with it."
I want to bear you my testimony that I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is here in our midst; it has been restored. The priesthood has been restored and it is most important that we honor that priesthood. We are guided by a prophet, who has been called and given the authority and responsibility of directing our work here. May we follow him and keep the commandments of the Lord. May we choose to keep all the commandments, not those which we ourselves choose. May we accept the Prophet and not be our own false prophet, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Hugh B. Brown
Hugh B. Brown, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 101-105
An editorial in the Church News section of the Deseret News last night suggested a theme for this morning. It refers to the home and the family, where parents and children live together in very intimate relationship, where they work and play together, sing and pray together, and occasionally weep together in one another's arms.
I quote from the editorial:
"A stabilized home, in which religious instruction forms a major part, is the only real answer to juvenile delinquency.
"This is the consensus of opinion of scholars who have made a serious study of the causes and prevention of delinquency.
"These scholars say that parents and children alike must be taught how to live together as a family: their home must be 'God-centered,' and must be associated with a Church which provides an uplifting, character-building program for youth."
When God created or organized the heavens and the earth in accordance with eternal law, he placed man upon the earth. Noting that it was not good for man to be alone, he provided a helpmeet for him. In Genesis 2:23-24 we read, "And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman...
"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife".
Thus it is seen that God instituted marriage in the very beginning. He made man, male and female, in his own image and likeness and designed that they should be united together in sacred bonds of marriage and declared that one is not perfect without the other.
Marriage, the family, and the home are among the most important subjects of our whole theological doctrine, and as the family is the basic and fundamental unit of the Church and of society, its preservation and is righteous needs should take precedence over all other interests.
A family may be defined as a group of people of various ages, united by agreement and covenant, living together in the most intimate relationship. In such a society children learn that certain things are right and others are wrong. They grow from stage to stage of confidence, skill, affection, understanding, and responsibility. In other words, they build character. A family is a project in group living in which the thing to do and the thing not to do are absorbed through precept, example, and practice.
The purpose of this life, and indeed the purpose of existence, is that man might grow into greater likeness of his Maker. We do not derogate from the Creator any of the attributes that orthodox Christianity accords him. Rather, we worship him as a personal God who is all powerful, all knowing, and, in fact, perfect, our Heavenly Father. We point out, moreover, that we, as his children, are the only creations of the Father to be blessed with his image. It follows that under the divine law of "like begets like," our progress through the eternities may be limitless. We take seriously and literally the injunction of the Savior to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect. The essential institution to obtain this perfection, which is necessary to enable us to re-enter our Father's presence and be happy there, is the eternal family unit.
Parents are charged with the responsibility to teach the undoubted truth that there is no principle more widely seen in all nature and more sternly enforced, from the infinitesimal electron to the incomprehensible galaxies in outer space, than this: "Not only liberty, but law prevails."
The words freedom and rights have a magic sound in the ears of young people, but sometimes they translate them into self-indulgence and self-gratification. The time to start putting them into focus is before the impact of dawning personality has created habits in the children that will have to be vanquished someday either by self-discipline or by the discipline of the law.
The Chief Justice of the Ontario Supreme Court said recently that the violent juvenile crimes do not reflect on the great body of young people, but they do reflect on the manner in which the adult population is discharging its responsibility. The warden of one of our largest prisons said, "This institution is filled with spoiled children."
I do not wish to speak today so much on juvenile delinquency as I want to talk to those primarily responsible for it. The group that is creating most of our trouble is, for the most part, a product of undisciplined homes and irresponsible parents. The trouble begins in the home, and ultimately it will have to be corrected in the home. Obviously, it is better to prevent the problem of delinquency from arising rather than to invoke the law to cure its effects.
I quote from a recent letter sent out by the Royal Bank of Canada discussing this important subject:
"Today's young people have lived their lives from infancy in a world of turmoil. Uncertainties crowd upon them as they see adults bent upon violence and destruction.
"What we call civilization has moved so fast that the structure and instincts of man have not kept up. Ideological battles are also raging in the political world. Men and women, and boys and girls, must still face the profoundly individual issues of life and the vital interpersonal relationship of parent and child."
Young people need rules to guide them and standards by which to judge themselves. The home takes its rightful and eminent place in preparing children for life when basic principles are quietly but firmly announced and lived up to. The final test is not how amenable young people are to compulsion of the law, but how far they can be taught to obey self-imposed law in the interest of family solidarity.
The time has come to cease emphasizing the gadgets of every-day living and to set over against them the imperishable qualities of honesty, integrity, unselfishness, purity of thought and action, and respect for law.
To the child, with his short perspective, life is all foreground, composed of persons who feed, coddle, chastise, and sometimes abandon him. These people are responsible not only for immediate care but for all the years of his life, because they help build his personality at the same time they nourish and protect his body. In a good family the child grows up in an atmosphere of mutual respect. He participates in wholesome, unselfish, democratic practices; and in the nature of things, he will project all these into his wider adult life.
The child does not want a do-as-you-please, permissive world; it makes him confused and unhappy. He wants a stable, reliable wall around him, defining his world, giving him a large free area, but telling him exactly how far he can go.
This wall can be built of such things as respect for the property rights of others, respect for elders, observance of the conventions that lubricate social life. If children are not being taught these things, they are being handicapped. As R. P. Smith said, "The reason these kids are getting into trouble with cops is because cops are the first people they meet who say and mean it 'you can't do that.'" It goes without saying that parents who seek respect for their precepts must, as the principle of the law of equity puts it, "come with clean hands." Children quickly detect insincerity.
In the transmission of ideas and of culture, in the building of character and the qualities needed in this changing world, the family of today must be the burden bearer and the path breaker. It recognizes children as being more important than things, ideas as more precious than gadgets, and personal worth the touchstone by which all other values are tested.
Parents of today should give their children some memories to guide them-memories of love in family life in which justice was upheld, affection unstintingly given, discipline tenderly but firmly explained, and fine example habitually displayed. We do not believe that self-discipline is best developed in a monastic life, in a desert, or in a cave, but rather in the home. All the virtues toward which we are striving are only really obtainable within society and are best obtainable within the building blocks of that society-that is, within the family unit.
The Lord instructed Adam as to the basic purpose of marriage. As we read in Genesis, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it".
Marriage was intended from the beginning to be eternal. This is evidenced by the fact that the first known form of human government started with Adam and Eve, who, according to the scriptures, were united by God himself. This was before there was any death; therefore, the words "until death do you part" would have been meaningless. After the Fall they added children to their family, and together they comprised an eternal unit.
The family organization is patriarchal in nature and is patterned after the one in heaven itself, as referred to by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:14-15: "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
"Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named".
The very essence of divine government is fatherhood and the recognition of the family relationship. The Church itself exists to exalt the family, and the family concept is one of the major and most important of the whole theological doctrine. In fact, our very concept of heaven itself is the projection of the home into eternity. Salvation, then, is essentially a family affair, and full participation in the plan of salvation can be had only in family units.
One of the first commandments given to Adam and Eve was to multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it. This injunction has never been revoked. When the father and mother and children are sealed together by the same divine authority as was given to Peter, celestial marriage commences an eternal family. Christ said to Peter: "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven". All who are faithful to the teachings of the gospel will continue as a family into the highest degree of the celestial kingdom and will be crowned with immortality, eternal life, and eternal increase.
President Lorenzo Snow gave an intimation of what eternal marriage meant: "A man and a woman in the other life, having celestial bodies, free from sickness and disease, glorified and beautified beyond description, standing in the midst of their posterity, governing and controlling them, administering life, exaltation and glory, world without end." And President Joseph F. Smith told us, "The very foundation of the Kingdom of God, of righteousness, of progress, of development, of eternal life, and eternal increase in the Kingdom of God is laid in the divinely ordained home."
The leaders of the Church have, from the beginning, taught faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and we acknowledge him as our Savior and Redeemer. It is our duty to teach this to our children-teach them to respect their neighbors, their seniors, their teachers; teach them to respect old age, to venerate their parents, and to help all who are helpless and needy; teach them to honor all who preside over them in church or civic government; teach them to honor the laws of God and be loyal to their country, loyal to principles of righteousness; and, because they are children of God, teach them to be loyal to the royal spirit that is in them.
The action and reaction of family life will rub off from our personalities those abrasive and anti-social characteristics that hinder our functioning as individuals in society. Nowhere else can such intimate and close association be had. Certainly this polishing process is best accomplished in the crucible of family life.
President Lyndon B. Johnson, speaking at Howard University last year, warned us that at the root of much of the social malaise that is gripping our country is the breakdown of the family unit among important groups within our nation.
We repeat, marriage and the family are the basic and fundamental units of our society. Dr. Paul C. Glick, the census bureau's expert on marriage, says: "The more I study the subject, the more apparent it becomes that marriage is regarded as-and is-the happiest, healthiest, and most desirable state of human existence. We live longer and are healthier if we are married. Marriage is the central fact of our lives."
But we must insure that this way of life contains the basic requirements and fulfills the fundamental purposes of that family life if it is to continue throughout the eternities. Within the family the parents may find an inspiring challenge to magnificent accomplishment and contribution: that is, to mold an immortal spirit, to teach eternal precepts, and to instill discipline and obedience in the mind of a child. Dr. Adam S. Bennion pointed out: "The family is by far the most important single institution in our commonwealth, and happy indeed is the man, who, when he closes his desk at night, has before him the gladsome picture of the sparkling family group with which he shortly will have the evening meal. Family bonds are gilt-edged investments. If you wish to check me on this, ask the man who owns them."
Laws and customs represent only the external or social aspects of marriage. These externals do not reach the inwardness and depth of the problem that the individual person confronts upon the advent of his marriage. From the great poems, novels, plays, and books of history and biography, we find the psychological and emotional aspects of marriage have been discussed in all ages. From these and thousands of case histories, we are impressed by the fact that marriage is at all times, in every culture and under the widest variety of circumstances, one of the supreme tests of human character.
Here we are faced with a consideration of the relation of men and women in and out of marriage, and the relation of parents and children when crises are met. Tensions and conflicts between love and duty, between reason and passion, from which no individual can entirely escape, are among the most serious of the problems that all must confront. This is a subject that touches every man, woman, and child, both psychologically and morally. Sometimes it is tragic, but often it is happy and blessed. Here is an opportunity for men and women everywhere to measure up to one of the greatest responsibilities of life.
It is hoped that this brief and sketchy outline may call to the attention of members of the Church their responsibilities as members of family units, in which they have opportunity to cooperate in the great and continuing work of our Heavenly Father. It is hoped also that our friends who are attending this conference in person or by means of radio and television may get a clearer outline of the Church's doctrine with respect to the home and the eternity of the marriage covenant that is so fundamentally a part of the restored gospel.
Potentially, man is more precious in the sight of God than all the planets and suns of space. Incomprehensibly grand as are the physical creations of the earth and space, they have been brought into existence as a means to an end; they are the handiwork of God; man is his son. The supreme purpose of creation is, in his own words, "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man".
Thus we emphasize the dignity of the individual, his supreme importance in the family unit and in society, his potential unfolding into a Godlike status, and eventually his exaltation in the celestial kingdom. We pray for divine guidance to this end in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Mark E. Petersen
Mark E. Petersen, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 105-108
I earnestly pray that the Holy Spirit will assist me as I stand before you this morning.
One of the Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints includes these words: "We believe in being honest".
This is one of the most important tenets of our religion, and for many people it is one of the most difficult to live. Honesty is as basic to true Christianity as baptism or the resurrection of the dead. It is the foundation of all character development. Just as no man can see the kingdom of heaven without baptism, as explained by the Savior, so it may be said with equal truth that no dishonest man, except he repents, can see the kingdom of heaven.
... to civilization
Our Christian civilization is built upon integrity. Without it our way of life would collapse. If we allow dishonesty to weave itself into the fabric of our lives, we invite moral suicide.
Dishonesty in the world is appalling. The cost of major crime is shocking in the extreme, but petty crime involving far more people is becoming a national disgrace. It is almost incredible that here in the United States, for example, shoplifting costs our stores nearly three billion dollars a year. Most shoplifters are women and children.
Other types of petty crime cost American businessmen an additional billion dollars annually.
One hotel in New York last year lost 18,000 towels, 355 silver coffee pots, 15,000 fingerbowls, and 100 Bibles.
Seventy-five percent of all insurance claims are estimated to be dishonest, costing insurance companies 350 million dollars a year in overpayments. Cheating in school is admitted by hosts of our students.
And yet, lest we think that dishonesty is completely engulfing us, we should recall that department stores, for example, when reporting on their charge accounts, say that the rate of default is less than 2 percent. Last year fewer than 2,000 people out of 102 million taxpayers were indicted for income tax fraud. It is estimated by revenue officials that 95 percent of all income is reported to the government. So said the September 9 issue of Time magazine.
In a recent Look magazine survey of teenagers, it was most heartening to note that these young people said they want to live honestly in what they call "this dishonest world."
We claim to be a Christian people. But to what extent have true Christian principles become a part of our lives?
Are our daily habits indicative of a genuine Christian conversion?
Is our personal conduct a reflection of Christlike virtues?
Can any professed Christian be a Christian indeed if he is not honest?
What is the gospel for-merely to talk about?
Or is it something to live, to incorporate in our daily conduct?
The Savior said it is to assist us to become perfect in all we do, as perfect as God.
Then is there any place for deceit in a true Christian life?
Is not dishonesty an apostasy from Christ to the extent of our misbehavior?
Can we have a living faith in Christ without doing his works?
To profess belief in him and yet refuse to live his laws seems to be a dishonest act in itself.
The Christian religion cannot be separated from the Christian life, and there can be no Christian life without honesty.
When the Savior told us to love our neighbors as ourselves, he spoke of honesty.
When he told us to do unto others as we would be done by, he again spoke of honesty.
When he told us to go the extra mile, to give our cloak as well as our coat, if need be, and even to turn the other cheek, he again spoke of honesty.
When he advised us to reconcile any differences we may have with others, he spoke of honesty.
When he vigorously denounced the hypocrites, he defended the principle of honesty.
When he described the Good Samaritan, he extolled not only an act of mercy, but a man who was being honest with himself in regard to his fellowman.
When he taught us to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, he asked us to be honest both with God and ourselves.
When he told us to avoid judging other people, he again spoke of honesty.
When he blessed the pure in heart, the merciful, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, he glorified honesty.
When he taught repentance as a principle of salvation, he commanded us to bring honesty into our lives.
When he permitted us to seek remission of our sins through baptism, he expected us to do so honestly.
When he taught the moral law, again he taught us to be honest with ourselves, with our fellowmen, and with God.
When he said that we cannot serve both God and mammon, he spoke of this same principle of honest living.
When he commanded us to become perfect even as our Father in heaven, he most certainly taught the strictest kind of honesty.
When he said, "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven," he spoke of honesty and integrity.
When he advised his listeners, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt," again he spoke of honesty.
When he said, "If thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness," he spoke of dishonesty.
When he taught us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, he referred to sincerity of purpose, which is honesty.
He asked at one time: "Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" In doing so, he held up the principle of honesty.
When he counseled, "Enter ye in at the strait gate," he expected us to walk in straight paths, and to honestly and sincerely avoid crooked ways.
And when he said, "Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit," he referred to honesty and its ugly opposite.
He warned against devious ways by saying: "... fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather, fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell".
And yet, how gracious he was in his kindly invitation to help us to overcome our evil tendencies: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest to your souls".
But can rest come to the insincere? Can they have peace of mind? They can if they change their ways and repent, but not otherwise.
Honesty is intimately and inseparably related to true charity.
Charity is the perfect love of Christ. Can there be true charity, then, without honesty? Is there any charity in a dishonest act?
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not honesty, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal".
How is a man profited if, by dishonorable means, he shall gain the whole world but lose his own soul?
What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
It is unthinkable that anyone would hide under a cloak of piety while deceiving his fellowmen, yet it is done.
Paul once asked the Corinthians if Christ is divided. I now ask the same question.
Paul referred to denominational schisms. I refer to conflicts in principle.
Is Christ divided on any matter of principle? Does he deal in double standards? Does he countenance devious practices? Is there any duplicity in him? Then can duplicity exist in his followers?
What does he mean when he says: "Thou shalt not lie," "Thou shalt not steal," "Thou shalt not covet," "Thou shalt not bear false witness"?
Does he give us permission to tell little lies with the understanding that we will not tell big ones?
Does he allow us to steal a little here and a little there, providing we do not commit grand larceny?
The Book of Mormon speaks of the power of the devil in latter days and tells of his persuasive efforts to cheat and deceive human beings.
The scripture says he will cause anger to rage in the hearts of some, but others "will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well-and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
"And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none-and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains from whence there is no deliverance".
Lucifer also urges us to "eat, drink, and be merry," saying, "it shall be well with us.
"... Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God-he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die: and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God".
What a pity that so many people actually believe that devilish doctrine!
With false teachings such as those, Lucifer induces many to cross the line into his realm, persuading them that they can, in fact, serve two opposing masters and get gain from both.
But there is only one God and only one way to be saved in his presence. That is by avoiding all forms of hypocrisy and by honestly and sincerely keeping his commandments.
He is truly a God of charity and mercy, but he is also a God of law. He has said in clear and precise terms that no unclean thing can come into his presence.
Dishonesty is uncleanness. It is a form of filth that must be shunned by every true follower of the Savior.
There is no salvation without true charity, and true charity embraces the spirit of brotherly love to the point that it permits no injustice on the part of any one of us toward our fellowmen-no deceptions, no dishonesty, and no predatory designs.
As the ancient prophet said, a man must "have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing...."
Charity "rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth".
Another Book of Mormon prophet said further: "... except ye have charity ye can in no wise be saved in the kingdom of God".
Then who can be saved?
"Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
"He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
"He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation".
I earnestly and humbly pray, Latter-day Saints, that we may be sufficiently true to the articles of our faith, that we may be sufficiently devoted to the Savior of the world that we will be willing to accept and live this very important article of our faith, "We believe in being honest", and for this I earnestly pray in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce R. McConkie, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 109-111
I desire to speak as directed by and in fulfillment of a revelation given by the Lord to a modern prophet.
This revelation came to Joseph Smith in the early days of this dispensation. It has since changed the lives of millions of people and shall in due course affect the spiritual well-being and eternal salvation of all men among every nation and kindred and tongue and people.
But first, may I invite your attention to a revelation received by an ancient apostle, a revelation that he said would "come to pass" in a day subsequent to his, a day after New Testament times.
This ancient apostle, the beloved disciple John, the one who with Peter and James had been favored so highly by Jesus, recorded his vision and revelation of the future in these words:
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue and people,
"Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters".
As is well known, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announces to the world that God has spoken again in this day; that angels have again descended from the courts of glory to minister to men; that revelations, visions, and all of the gifts of the Spirit have again been poured out upon the Saints; that the church and kingdom of God has again been set up on earth with every priesthood, key, power, grace, and prerogative possessed in former dispensations; and that the everlasting gospel-the same power of God unto salvation had by the Saints of old-has been restored in all its glory, beauty, and perfection.
In this connection we may well give careful consideration to the angelic visitation foreseen by John. What, then, is the meaning of the biblical account left us by the beloved disciple?
John saw that angelic ministration would occur in a day subsequent to New Testament times, that God would again send heavenly messengers to man on earth, even as he had done to Saints and prophets of old.
John's announcement was that revelation would commence anew, that the heavens-long sealed-would be opened, that the mind and will and voice of God would be heard again by mortal man.
The ancient apostle foresaw that the everlasting gospel-God's plan of salvation for his earthly children-would be restored, so that Latter-day Saints could receive, possess, and inherit the same blessings poured out upon the Saints of former days.
He beheld that the very gospel restored by angelic ministration would be preached to the whole earth, to all mankind, to every nation and kindred and tongue and people, thus signifying that no other people had the fullness of gospel truth and that all needed to come to a knowledge of revealed religion.
John's message was that this restored gospel would invite men to worship the true and living God, to fear and glorify the Creator of all things, rather than to give allegiance to any false and untrue concept of Deity.
And finally, John specified that all this was to precede the glorious second coming of the Son of Man; it was to transpire in that day when the hour of his judgment was set, in the day just prior to his great millennial reign.
Now we may well ask: Has the Lord's promise, given through the beloved revelator, been fulfilled? Has the mighty restoration of latter days taken place? If not, when will it occur, and who will be the mortal recipients of the promised revelations and blessings from on high? And how can these glorious purposes of the Lord be fulfilled unless he calls prophets to receive the angelic visitations, to record the revelations, to preach the gospel among all people?
We are bold to announce that the promised restoration has taken place. The promised angel has come. The promised latter-day work has begun.
In the spring of 1820, the Lord made known the prophet whom he had chosen to usher in his great latter-day work. This prophet, Joseph Smith, records the opening of this gospel dispensation in these words:
"Believing the word of God, I had confidence in the declaration of James-'If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him'. I retired to a secret place in a grove, and began to call upon the Lord; while fervently engaged in supplication, my mind was taken away from the objects with which I was surrounded, and I was enwrapped in a heavenly vision, and saw two glorious personages, who exactly resembled each other in features and likeness, surrounded with a brilliant light which eclipsed the sun at noon day. They told me that all religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines, and that none of them was acknowledged of God as His Church and kingdom: and I was expressly commanded 'to go not after them', at the same time receiving a promise that the fulness of the Gospel should at some future time be made known unto me.
"On the evening of the 21st of September, A.D. 1823, while I was praying unto God, and endeavoring to exercise faith in the precious promises of scripture, on a sudden a light like that of day, only of a far purer and more glorious appearance and brightness, burst into the room, indeed the first sight was as though the house was filled with consuming fire; the appearance produced a shock that affected the whole body; in a moment a personage stood before me surrounded with a glory yet greater than that with which I was already surrounded. This messenger proclaimed himself to be an angel of God, sent to bring the joyful tidings that the covenant which God made with ancient Israel was at hand to be fulfilled, that the preparatory work for the second coming of the Messiah was speedily to commence; that the time was at hand for the Gospel in all its fulness to be preached in power, unto all nations that a people might be prepared for the Millennial reign. I was informed that I was chosen to be an instrument in the hands of God to bring about some of his purposes in this glorious dispensation".
In due course, primarily through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the glorious restoration promised here took place, and God's true Church was once again established on earth.
Now may I quote the revelation in conformity with which I speak at this time. On November 3, 1831, the Lord said to his latter-day Prophet:
"... I have sent forth mine angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel, who hath appeared unto some and hath committed it unto man, who shall appear unto many that dwell on the earth.
"And this gospel shall be preached unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.
"And the servants of God shall go forth, saying with a loud voice: Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come;
"And worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters".
And now may I say, as a servant of the Lord, by way of testimony, that all these glorious things are transpiring. The Lord has sent his angel, whose name was Moroni, which angel revealed to Joseph Smith the ancient record from which the Book of Mormon was translated. This volume of holy scripture is a record of God's dealings with the ancient inhabitants of America and contains the fullness of the everlasting gospel.
This everlasting gospel-the same revealed laws and powers had by the ancient apostles-is now being preached in many of the nations of the earth and will be heralded in due course unto every nation and kindred and tongue and people, for God has so decreed.
When we as the Lord's servants take this restored gospel to his other children, we invite them to come and worship him.
Our message is one of a living God who speaks now, whose voice we have heard, whose countenance has shined upon us, and whose words we know and teach to others.
We invite all men everywhere to come and see, to investigate the glad tidings of great joy which have been revealed in this day, and which shall go forth to all people, for "the voice of the Lord is unto all men, and there is none to escape; and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated".
This message of revelation and restoration embraces the most glorious hopes and promises known to man. It is the message of the ages, the everlasting gospel. Through it, men may find peace and joy in this life and eternal reward in the life to come.
And God be thanked it is true-a message of salvation based on eternal truth. And truth will prevail.
May I bear testimony of the final triumph of God's great latter-day kingdom by using these prophetic words of Joseph Smith, the mighty Prophet of the restoration:
"... the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Delbert L. Stapley
Delbert L. Stapley, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 111-114
My brothers and sisters and friends: In the confusion of today's beliefs, philosophies, sophistries, changing standards of personal behavior, and the bold voice of unorthodox extremists, man's need for spiritual guidance to choose the right and forsake the wrong is of paramount importance to his assurance of hope for peace and happiness. Without the light of the spirit, people see through a glass, darkly. Their judgments and decisions are so often faulty. They bog down in confusion, frustration, and utter bewilderment.
The Apostle Paul's query is still meaningful. Said he: "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned".
This declaration should leave no doubt in one's mind that without the Spirit of God the things of God cannot be understood. However, man usually attempts to interpret all things according to his own learning and knowledge. We would do well to acknowledge that the Spirit of God should reflect itself in all our doings. Christianity has little value if men do not take it with them and use it honestly in all their activities in life. Oh if man would only understand and willingly accept the source of his knowledge and the power and skill of his achievements. All intelligence in any form comes from God, who knows and comprehends all things.
We marvel at the numerous and varied discoveries that are achieved in the laboratories of industry, in universities of learning, and through private research. If man would concentrate the same degree of research in the laboratory of his soul, he would discover life's purpose and God's way to attain eternal life. This should be man's greatest and most important goal.
Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life," and "without me ye can do nothing".
The Holy Ghost aids and guides the honest seeker after truth. How wonderful if all would be pricked in the heart as the apostles' listeners were on the day of Pentecost and would willingly follow the admonition given by them on that occasion, to "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".
These two steps open the door to understanding, peace, brotherhood, and happiness to all men. The baptism with the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands obtains for the truly repentant companionship of this spiritual power with its gifts and blessings. John the Baptist, speaking of the Christ, testified: "... he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire".
Man can only become spotless and sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost in his personal life. The Holy Ghost is a cleansing and purifying agent to all who receive it and are righteous. This means that sin and iniquity are spiritually burned out of the repentant person. He then receives a remission of sins, and his soul is sanctified and made clean for the Holy Ghost to abide in him. The cleansed person enjoys a newness of life and becomes a new creature in the spirit. The Lord has declared:
"And this is my gospel-repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable things of the kingdom".
The Prophet Nephi gave this admonition to his people:
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism-yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost".
The Holy Ghost is a revelator of truth and has the related power of discernment, which interprets the mind and motives of men; therefore, it has the function of preventing confusion and deception to the possessor of this gift.
The Holy Ghost is an actual, heavenly endowment from God in the life of an individual. It is a power he can feel. If faithful and obedient, one learns to be sensitive and responsive to its guidance and influence. This accords with the Lord's promise to the faithful to visit them with the manifestation of his Spirit.
The Holy Ghost then becomes a needful adhesive attribute to one's personal spirit and is a determining character factor in one's life. It gives meaning and direction in both temporal and spiritual matters. The Holy Ghost has many powers, gifts, and functions, but it will not abide in an unworthy, dishonest, or sinful person.
Prior to Christ's death upon the cross, he cautioned his disciples to tarry in Jerusalem and not begin the ministry until they were endowed with power from on high.
This promise was fulfilled to them in full measure on the day of Pentecost.
Later the Apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthians, declared: "... no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost".
When Jesus inquired of his disciples: "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?", Peter answered and said: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God".
By the power of the Holy Ghost, the Father revealed this knowledge to Peter. This spiritual manifestation confirms the Apostle Paul's statement that no one can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost. Paul added: "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal".
How can man profit by it if he hasn't received it? How can he receive it unless he follows the gospel path as taught by the Christ and has the Holy Ghost conferred upon him by the laying on of hands by one authorized to bestow it? The Apostle Peter declared: "... God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power".
Jesus, thus anointed, conferred the Holy Ghost and its powers upon his chosen apostles, setting the example and pattern for all men to receive this holy gift from God. Jesus also informed his disciples before departing from them:
"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".
Without this spiritual endowment, Christ's disciples could not become true witnesses to testify that Jesus was their Redeemer, Savior, Lord, and God. The need of this same blessing applies to each of us, or we will be without conviction and faith of Christ's reality, earthly mission, death upon the cross, and resurrection to life eternal. Jesus also described other attributes of the Holy Ghost when he said:
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come".
The Holy Ghost, then, is the Spirit of truth; therefore, those who are worthy to possess it will be guided into all truth, which truth is the word of God. The Holy Ghost will not abide with the unrighteous, the insincere, or the wicked person. It is a gift from God, most valuable to those who enjoy its companionship and powers. Said Moroni, a Nephite prophet: "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things".
Without the Holy Ghost one lives in spiritual darkness, blind to truth, unbelieving of heart, and apostate in feelings and teachings.
The Holy Ghost is also a comforter; it has the power to give peace to the soul of the righteous.
The Holy Ghost is the spirit of prophecy. The Apostle Peter, speaking of the more sure word of prophecy, admonished all to take heed, "knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost".
If prophets speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, then the Holy Ghost is required to interpret correctly the teachings of holy men. Therefore, those who do not possess the Spirit of God cannot comprehend the things of God.
The Holy Ghost is a revelator. Jesus, speaking of the Holy Ghost, promised his disciples: "... and he will shew you things to come".
Revelation is God's plan of instructing his people and guiding his work and kingdom upon earth. The Holy Ghost, as a personage of spirit, has the power and capacity of touching the spirit of man and influencing him for good and righteousness if he is tuned to its spiritual wave length. The Holy Ghost has the power to quicken one's mind and increase one's understanding and comprehension of divine and temporal things. Without it there can be no faith, hope, nor personal assurance of eternal life.
The Holy Ghost inspires, uplifts, and motivates a sincere person to love truth and pursue righteousness. This feeling and power does not come without effort. One must ask of God after study and meditation if a thing is right. If true, one's bosom shall burn within him; but if it is not right, an individual will have no such feelings, but a stupor of thought shall prevail his being.
Like the parable of the talents, every child of God endowed with the Holy Ghost is blessed with one or more spiritual gifts that can be strengthened and added upon. The Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit; otherwise, it could not dwell in us. Too many are skeptical about the actuality of the Holy Ghost or lack faith in it and thus deny themselves of its powers and blessings.
God is not a partial God but is the same yesterday, today, and forever to those who love and sincerely seek him. Possession of the gift of the Holy Ghost is important and needful to the servant, the wage earner, the businessman, the farmer, the professional man, the scientist, the politician, the teacher, whether engaged in secular or religious teaching, and also to the rich and the poor alike. No one can afford to be without it nor devoid of its influence and power. It is sweet to the taste and satisfying to the soul.
The natural inclination of man is to rely solely upon himself and to ignore the purpose of his existence as well as his relationship to God who is his spiritual father. If man will recognize his divine origin, he will then realize his Heavenly Father will not leave him alone to grope in darkness of mind and spirit, but will make available a power to influence him in right paths and into standards of good behavior. The Holy Ghost is that power.
It is the Holy Ghost, or the Comforter, that fills us with hope and perfect love. Men find peace, contentment, and comfort when by the Holy Ghost they gain a testimony of the Christ. Without this spirit, one cannot teach correct doctrine.
This Church is directed by the Holy Ghost. Without the influence and directing force of this third member of the godhead, this Church would be just another church. True religion, with its standards, principles, and ideals interpreted, guided, and influenced by the Holy Ghost, is the basis for solving all problems, whether personal, national, or international.
I humbly pray, my brothers and sisters, that the Holy Ghost will always be our constant guide and companion, that we will listen to its voice and follow its guidance, for it will take us back to the presence of God, our eternal Father, and his beloved Son, Jesus Christ, of whom I testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Harold B. Lee
Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 115-119
This morning I will take as a text for my few remarks the statement of a great missionary as recorded in sacred literature. This is an incident in western hemisphere religious history in which a prophet-teacher named Ammon exultantly praises God for his missionary successes.
His brother Aaron chided him, saying: "Ammon, I fear that thy joy doth carry thee away unto boasting.
"But Ammon said unto him, I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom...
"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak, therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things".
Frequently the question is asked by those in and out of the Church: How do we develop the spiritual quality in our natures in order to serve our earthly missions more completely and thus become attuned with that infinite power of which the Prophet Ammon speaks?
Ammon answered that question in part: "Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing-unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God".
For a few moments today, I would have you hear the testimonies as found in sacred scriptures of a few of the great leaders who learned how to tap the sources of divine power and became spiritual giants among the people of their day.
David, the psalmist, learned even as a young man the source of spiritual power. The spirit whispered, "Be still, and know that I am God...
"... the God of Jacob is our refuge".
Prophets of old learned, as all must know, how to communicate with the Lord by prayer, to talk with and then receive answers in the Lord's own way. To know God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent, as the Master told his disciples, is to begin on the sure course that leads to eternal life in the presence of these glorified beings.
The Lord told Elijah, the prophet: "Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:
"And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
"And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave".
All too often when God speaks in this still, small voice, as he did to Elijah in the cave, it may not be audible to our physical hearing because, like a faulty radio, we may be out of tune with the infinite.
Nephi, of Book of Mormon history, speaks of this spiritual communication when he rebuked his brothers who had it in their hearts to destroy him:
"Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder".
In the Gospel of John is related a parallel experience in the Master's ministry showing how, out of a multitude, only a few-or none-may hear God when he speaks.
As the Master entered Jerusalem on this occasion, the people gathered around and heard him pray: "... Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
"Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
"The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
"Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes".
Only the Master, apparently, knew that God had spoken. So often today, men and women are living so far apart from things spiritual that when the Lord is speaking to their physical hearing, to their minds with no audible sound, or to them through his authorized servants who, when directed by the Spirit, are as his own voice, they hear only a noise as did they at Jerusalem. Likewise, they receive no inspired wisdom, nor inward assurance, that the mind of the Lord has spoken through his prophet leaders.
The great law-giver, Moses, has given us the key to the beginning of heavenly wisdom. After he had sought God on Mt. Sinai, a soul-stirring vision was given him in which he was permitted to enter into the presence of the Lord. When the vision was ended and he was left unto himself, he made this profound statement: "Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I had never supposed".
That was the beginning of his wisdom unto the obtaining of the spiritual power necessary for him to perform his great mission. He had found himself by losing himself in the great work to which God had now called him.
In one of the greatest religious motion pictures of our day, The Ten Commandments, we are given a dramatic portrayal by the great actor, Charlton Heston, of the Moses before and after he had been commissioned of God for his great ministry to become the mouthpiece of the Lord to all Israel.
Charlton Heston apparently studied and researched carefully in order to portray accurately the character of Moses. This actor has written of his spiritual experiences while filming this great epic drama:
He first takes us to Mt. Sinai for the filming of that tremendous experience as Moses was shown climbing that sacred mountain to commune with God.
Then, by contrast, this actor gives his impression of the Moses, now divinely commissioned, leading the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage:
"The last glimpse I had of Moses was at the edge of the desert not far from Cairo, where 7,000 Egyptians had assembled for the Exodus.
"I was lost, now, not in space, but in centuries. Surely, on the morning of that long-ago Exodus, these were the same eyes that followed Moses. The same skinny animals, the ragged clothes, the stink of poverty. I squeezed through the farthest rim of the crowd and out into the desert. Lifeless and endless it stretched to the horizon, while behind me the voices faded and swelled. These people trusted Moses, they had followed where he led-and where had he led them? Into this unspeakable wilderness?
"Of course Moses could not lead these thousands across the desert. He never would have tried. But God could do it. And Moses, this all-too-human man, this man, so much like the rest of us, had simply turned himself into the instrument through which the strength of God moved.
"With joy I cried out the words that Moses cried:
'Bear us out of Egypt, O Lord, As the eagle bears its young upon its wings.'
"Then I lifted Moses' staff and saw the multitude heave into a vast shudder of motion and walk out from bondage."
Here again we have the testimony of Jacob, son of Lehi, the pioneer of the Nephite dispensation, explaining how one can come to know God and to learn of his mysteries and to attain a state in which one may act in very deed as an agent of the Almighty.
"Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea".
It was so with another of the Nephite leaders. Enos, grandson of Lehi, gives us to understand why some can receive a knowledge of the things of God while others cannot. Enos recounts his struggle to obtain a forgiveness of his sins that he might be worthy of his high calling.
He then concludes: "And while I was thus struggling in the spirit, behold, the voice of the Lord came into my mind again, saying: I will visit thy brethren according to their diligence in keeping my commandments".
There you have, in simple language, a great principle: It isn't the Lord who withholds himself from us. It is we who withhold ourselves from him because of our failure to keep his commandments.
This "spiritual fitness program" must begin in childhood and youth. You parents of children and impressionable youth, may you teach yours to keep the commandments, that they may not fail their destiny.
Now, may I direct a few words especially to our younger people, to my grandchildren and yours:
You, the youth of today, are living in the midst of turmoil. In this militaristic age, most of you able-bodied young men may, at one time or another, be required to engage in military service. Do you know that in your day, the voice of the Lord has spoken to you words of admonition, of blessings, and of promise, through your Church leaders, the living mouthpieces of the living God today? Listen to this inspired utterance from the First Presidency of the Church, given to you who go into military service or elsewhere, for that matter:
"To our young men who go into service, no matter whom they serve or where, we say live clean, keep the commandments of the Lord, pray to him constantly to preserve you in truth and righteousness, live as you pray, and then whatever betides you the Lord will be with you and nothing will happen to you that will not be to the honor and glory of God and to your salvation and exaltation. There will come into your hearts from the living of the pure life you pray for, a joy that will pass your powers of expression or understanding. The Lord will be always near you; he will comfort you; you will feel his presence in the hour of your greatest tribulation; he will guard and protect you to the full extent that accords with his all-wise purpose.... Your faith and testimony will be strong beyond breaking. You will be looked up to and revered as having passed through the fiery furnace of trial and temptation and come forth unharmed. Your brethren will look to you for counsel, support, and guidance. You will be the anchors to which thereafter the youth of Zion will moor their faith in man."
And to you young girls, will you hear the voice of the Lord to you today from this same source, as a Prophet dedicated a beautiful new temple:
"We pray for the daughters of Zion. May they be preserved in virtue, chastity, and purity of life, be blessed with vigorous bodies and minds, and with great faith. May they develop into true womanhood and receive choice companions under the new and everlasting covenant for time and for all eternity in thy temples provided for this priceless privilege and purpose. May they too be privileged to enjoy as the fruits of their union a noble posterity which, we pray thee, may be taught at their mother's knee to believe in thee and in the divine mission of thy Beloved Son."
May youth of today never forget what our inspired leaders have counseled.
Even in times of great danger, moral or physical, when, like the Apostle Paul, you may be in danger of "shipwreck" either to your body or your soul, there can be standing by you, as there was by him, after fasting and prayer, an angel of God who whispered peace to his soul.
How is it done, you ask? The Lord answers:
"And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done."
Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall.
"And the day cometh that you shall hear my voice and see me, and know that I am".
How can you recognize the spirit of revelation when it comes? The Prophet Joseph Smith tells us:
"A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus."
Mother's intuition, with which most of you are familiar, is a form of divine guidance in its purest and simplest form. Can you now understand why we counsel you to heed the admonitions of your parents during your growing-up years?
In one of the Master's parables, he tells of the foolish rich man who laid up treasure for himself but was "not rich toward God".
In King Solomon's "personal diary," as someone has called the Book of Ecclesiastes, this wise king gives us an enumeration of the things he had acquired, but which did not make him rich toward God. All of such, he concluded, "was vanity... and there was no profit under the sun".
I heard an impressive testimony of a college student in a sacrament meeting in my ward. He had been warned not to take a certain course at the university because it had threatened to destroy the faith of previous students who had taken this course. He determined to take the course, and he determined also that he would not lose his faith. This was his testimony as to how he sidestepped this hazard: He kept active in the Church. He continued to pray. He kept himself clean. In a word, he kept himself rich toward God.
Then he bore testimony that these university courses did cause one to doubt; and if these doubts were aggravated by inactivity, the result could mean the loss of faith and possibly his standing in the Church.
Will you remember the great experience of Peter, the ranking member of the Twelve, whose loyalty to the Master seemed to have exceeded his courage when, in the face of physical hazard, he denied the Master thrice on the night of the betrayal? Compare this fear-torn Peter with the boldness he manifested shortly thereafter, before those same religious bigots who had so recently demanded the death of Jesus. He denounced them as murderers and called them to repentance, suffered imprisonment, and later went fearlessly to his own martyrdom.
What was it that had changed him? He had been a personal witness to the change that came to the broken, pain-racked body taken from the cross, unto a glorified, resurrected body that could pass thereafter unhindered through walls of mortar and stone, that could eat broiled fish and honeycomb, that could appear and disappear suddenly from the sight of mortals. The plain and simple answer is that Peter was a changed man because he now knew the power of the risen Lord. No more would he be alone on the shores of Galilee, or in prison, or in death. His Lord would be near him.
There is the Lord's promise if we live worthily before him: "... let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
"The Holy Ghost shall be thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and with out compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever".
God grant that each of us may so live that we may enjoy that communion with Deity through the Holy Ghost, and know without doubt that he does live, and be prepared one day to enter into his presence, I humbly pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 120-125
Humbly and gratefully I take as my theme for these brief remarks the following words from the inspiring opening address by President David O. McKay at the Friday morning session of this great conference.
"Efforts are being made to deprive man of his free agency, to steal from the individual his liberty... There has been an alarming increase in the abandoning of the ideals that constitute the foundation of the Constitution of the United States"
I therefore speak on the subject: "Protecting Freedom-An Immediate Responsibility."
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaims that life is eternal, that it has purpose. We believe we lived as intelligent beings in a world of progress before this mortal life. Our life on this earth is a probation, a testing period, an opportunity for growth and experience in a physical world. It is all part of the plan of our Heavenly Father for the benefit and blessing of us, his children.
This is to be done through a great and all-wise plan-the gospel of Jesus Christ. This master plan, if lived, will build men of character, men of strength, men of deep spirituality, Godlike men.
Basic to this all-important plan is our free agency, the right of choice. Free agency is an eternal principle. We enjoyed freedom of choice in the spirit world as spirit children. In fact, a counter-plan to the gospel of our Lord was presented by Lucifer, a plan of force that would have robbed man of his freedom of choice. Lucifer's plan was rejected, and the scriptures tell us that he, with one-third of the hosts of heaven, was cast out; and they continue their opposition to God's plan, which is based on the freedom of the individual.
The scriptures make clear that there was a great war in heaven, a struggle over the principle of freedom the right of choice.
History, both sacred and secular, clearly records that the struggle to preserve and safeguard freedom has been a continuous one. Prophets of God as watchmen on the towers, have proclaimed liberty. Holy men of God have led the fight against anarchy and tyranny. Moses was commanded to "proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof".
Why have prophets of God been commanded to proclaim liberty and lead the battle to preserve freedom? Because freedom is basic to the great plan of the Lord. The gospel can prosper only in an atmosphere of freedom. This fact is confirmed by history, as well as by sacred scriptures. The right of choice-free agency-runs like a golden thread throughout the gospel plan of the Lord for the blessing of his children.
To a modern-day prophet the Lord declared that "it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another". In a revelation to the restored Church in 1833 the Lord declared:
"... that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me.
"I, the Lord God, make you free therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.
"Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn.
"Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil".
A year ago in a great general conference address on freedom and how it is threatened today, our beloved President warned us, saying, "I do not know that there was ever a time in the history of mankind when the Evil One seemed so determined to take from man his freedom." He went on to explain that "pernicious efforts and sinister schemes are cunningly and stealthily being fostered to deprive man of his individual freedom and have him revert to the life of the jungle."
Still earlier the First Presidency warned the Saints that "Satan is making war against all the wisdom that has come to men through their ages of experience. He is seeking to overturn and destroy the very foundations upon which society, government, and religion rest. He aims to have men adopt theories and practices which he induced their forefathers, over the ages, to adopt and try, only to be discarded by them when found unsound, impractical, and ruinous. He plans to destroy liberty and freedom-economic, political, and religious, and to set up in place thereof the greatest, most widespread, and most complete tyranny that has ever oppressed man. He is working under such perfect disguise that many do not recognize either him or his methods... Without their knowing it, the people are being urged down paths that lead only to destruction. Satan never before had so firm a grip on this generation as he has now."
In spite of the scriptural evidence and the counsel of modern-day prophets during the past more than 100 years, there are still some who seem to feel we have no responsibility to safeguard and strengthen our precious God-given freedom. There are some who apparently feel that the fight for freedom is separate from the gospel. They express it in several ways, but it generally boils down to this: Just live the gospel; there's no need to get involved in trying to save freedom and the Constitution or to stop Communism.
Of course, this is dangerous reasoning, because in reality you cannot fully live the gospel without working to save freedom and the Constitution, and to stop Communism.
In the war in heaven, what would have been your reaction if someone had told you just to do what is right-there's no need to get involved in the fight for freedom?
Of course, the war in heaven over free agency is now being waged here on earth, and there are those today who are saying "Look, don't get involved in the fight for freedom. Just live the gospel." That counsel is dangerous, self-contradictory, unsound.
The Book of Mormon pays tribute to General Moroni in these words: "And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of perfect understanding, yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery...
"Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood".
And then Moroni is paid this high tribute: "Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men".
Now, part of the reason we may not have sufficient priesthood bearers to save the Constitution let alone to shake the powers of hell, is because unlike Moroni, I fear, our souls do not joy in keeping our country free, and we are not firm in the faith of Christ, nor have we sworn with an oath to defend our rights and the liberty of our country.
Moroni raised a title of liberty and wrote upon it these words: "In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children". Why didn't he write upon it: "Just live your religion; there's no need to concern yourselves about your freedom, your peace, your wives, or your children"? The reason he didn't do this was because all these things were a part of his religion, as they are of our religion today.
Should we counsel people, "Just live your religion. There's no need to get involved in the fight for freedom"? No, we should not, because our stand for freedom is a most basic part of our religion; this stand helped get us to this earth, and our reaction to freedom in this life will have eternal consequences. Man has many duties, but he has no excuse that can compensate for his loss of liberty.
As members of the Church we have some close quarters to pass through if we are going to get home safely. We will be given a chance to choose between conflicting counsel given by some. That's why we must learn-and the sooner we learn, the better-to keep our eye on the Prophet, the President of the Church. And that Prophet today is President David O. McKay.
On the day the Church was organized, the Lord gave a revelation, too often overlooked, that he expects members of the Church to "give heed unto all his words and commandments which" the Prophet and President "shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;
"For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith".
All men are entitled to inspiration, especially men who bear the priesthood, but only one man is the Lord's mouthpiece. Some lesser men have used in the past, and will use in the future, their offices unrighteously. Some will, ignorantly or otherwise, use their office to promote false counsel; some will use it to lead the unwary astray; some will use it to persuade us that all is well in Zion: some will use it to cover and excuse their ignorance. Keep your eye on the Prophet, for the Lord will never permit his Prophet to lead this Church astray. Let us live close to the Spirit, so we can test all counsel.
Now, after all the counsel that has been given, what did President McKay have to say to the priesthood at our last annual world conference in April? Fortunately, his inspired words were printed on the editorial page of the June Improvement Era and have been reprinted in folder form by the Deseret Book Company as "the position of the Church." It would be well if every family in America could have a copy. You who have felt that you can righteously avoid standing up for freedom, heed these words:
"In order that there may be no misunderstanding by bishops, stake presidents, and others regarding members of the Church participating in non-church meetings to study and become informed on the Constitution of the United States, Communism, etc., I wish," said President McKay, "to make the following statements that I have been sending out from my office for some time and that have come under question by some stake authorities, bishoprics, and others.
"Church members are at perfect liberty to act according to their own consciences in the matter of safeguarding our way of life. They are, of course, encouraged to honor the highest standards of the gospel and to work to preserve their own freedoms. They are free to participate in non-church meetings that are held to warn people of the threat of Communism or any other theory or principle that will deprive us of our free agency or individual liberties vouchsafed by the Constitution of the United States...
"The position of this Church on the subject of Communism has never changed. We consider it the greatest satanical threat to peace, prosperity, and the spread of God's work among men that exists on the face of the earth.
"In this connection," President McKay continues, "we are continually being asked to give our opinion concerning various patriotic groups or individuals who are fighting Communism and speaking up for freedom. Our immediate concern, however, is not with parties, groups, or persons, but with principles. We therefore commend and encourage every person and every group who are sincerely seeking to study Constitutional principles and awaken a sleeping and apathetic people to the alarming conditions that are rapidly advancing about us. We wish all of our citizens throughout the land were participating in some type of organized self-education in order that they could better appreciate what is happening and know what they can do about it.
"Supporting the FBI, the police, the congressional committees investigating Communism, and various organizations that are attempting to awaken the people through educational means is a policy we warmly endorse for all our people."
Everyone should study the complete statement. This statement is timely and clear. The need for such a Church position has never been greater. I realize that it is sometimes unpopular to speak the solemn warning truth. As a people, we do not like to be disturbed from our comfortable complacency. But today we are face to face with an increasingly successful, ruthless conspiracy. Our remaining liberties are hanging in the balance.
Hear President McKay's further counsel:
"Next to being one in worshiping God, there is nothing in this world upon which this Church should be more united than in upholding and defending the Constitution of the United States."
President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., emphasized this fact as he discussed the freedom-slavery issue, from which I quote:
"Now, what has business and industry done about all this revolutionary activity?... Business and industry neither planned nor did anything effective. There was no concerted effort...
"A common cause with a united front would have worked salvation for us. But business officials were afraid of their stockholders and their outcry against loss of dividends; the lawyers were afraid of getting whipped in the courts, businessmen felt strong vigorous action might further disturb business; bankers shivered at their own shadows.
"So one constitutional right after another yielded without any real contest, our backs getting nearer to the wall with each retreat. It is now proposed we retreat still further. Is not this suicide? Is there anyone so naive as to think that things will right themselves without a fight? There has been no more fight in us than there is in a bunch of sheep, and we have been much like sheep. Freedom was never brought to a people on a silver platter, nor maintained with whisk brooms and lavender sprays...
"And do not think that all these usurpations, intimidations, and impositions are being done to us through inadvertence or mistake.
"The whole course is deliberately planned and carried out, its purpose is to destroy the Constitution and our constitutional government; then to bring chaos out of which the new Statism, with its Slavery, is to arise, with a cruel, relentless, selfish, ambitious crew in the saddle, riding hard with whip and spur, a red-shrouded band of night riders for despotism.
"... if we do not vigorously fight for our liberties, we shall go clear through to the end of the road and become another Russia, or worse."
"A bunch of sheep." An old adage declares, "A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves."
In a general conference, President Clark issued this sobering warning:
"... I say unto you with all the soberness I can, that we stand in danger of losing our liberties, and that once lost, only blood will bring them back; and once lost, we of this church will, in order to keep the church going forward, have more sacrifices to make and more persecutions to endure than we have yet known, heavy as our sacrifices and grievous as our persecutions of the past have been.
"We face a war to the death, a gigantic worldwide struggle. We must face it, enter it, take part in it. In fact, we are all taking part in the struggle, whether we will or not. Upon its final issue, liberty lives or dies."
Yes, we all love the gospel-or should do. We should all strive to live according to its precepts. But the basic thread running through the gospel plan is the freedom, the right of choice, of the individual. The gospel can prosper only where there is freedom.
I have personally witnessed the heart-rending results of the loss of freedom. I have been close to the godless evil of the socialist-communist conspiracy on both sides of the iron curtain, especially during my service as European Mission president at the close of the war and today, and also during eight years in the Cabinet.
I stood in Czechoslovakia and witnessed the ebbing away of freedom, resulting in the total loss of liberty. I visited among the liberty-loving Polish people and talked with their leaders, as the insidious freedom-destroying philosophy moved in, imposing the chains of bondage on a Christian nation.
In both of these freedom-loving nations were members of the Church, striving, as we are, to live the gospel. But it was not enough. It did not stop the Communists. Our members were few in number, and the danger to freedom seemed far away. One trembles at the thought of members of the Church today in the Communist slave labor camps.
In fact, freedom-loving people have been brought under Communist bondage at the average rate of 6,000 per hour, 144,000 per day, 52 million per year since the end of World War II.
But here in America, the Lord's base of operations-so designated by the Lord himself, through his holy prophets-we of the priesthood, members of his restored Church, might well provide the balance of power to save our freedom. Indeed we might, if we go forward as General Moroni of old and raise the standard of liberty throughout the land.
Today our Prophet and President has said: "No greater immediate responsibility rests upon members of the Church, upon all citizens of this Republic and of neighboring Republics than to protect the freedom vouchsafed by the Constitution of the United States." Is this plain enough? In view of this solemn warning, how can any member of the Church fail to act to help save our freedom? We must not be lulled away into a false security
We have a Prophet today. What we need is a listening ear. Let us live the gospel in its fullness, and by so doing we will work unceasingly to preserve and strengthen our God-given freedom.
I bear witness that David O. McKay is a Prophet of God-I know it as I know that I live-and that through him the Lord reveals his will for each of us, our families, and the kingdom of God on earth. God grant we may heed his inspired counsel, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder ElRay L. Christiansen
ElRay L. Christiansen, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 125-127
My beloved brethren and sisters: I concur in what has been said just now by Elder Benson, and I would like to add one other essentiality to which we must adhere and which we must follow in our lives. That is, that Jesus pointed the way through our difficulties.
During the time that Jesus was on earth, many people were curious to know whether or not he was the expected Messiah. These people were of two classes: those who hoped he was and those who feared he might be.
Those who hoped he was and who sought to know of a certainty received positive answer in testimony through the Spirit and rejoiced because of it. It is possible that those who feared that he might be the Christ made no serious effort to find out, and because of this lack of effort, they received no spiritual witness. They doubted the many physical evidences before their eyes, even though such evidences fulfilled scriptural declarations to the letter. They seized upon isolated statements lifted out of context in an attempt to justify their doubting.
And it is the same today. There are those who have complete assurance of his divinity, and there are those who fear that he is divine. So, although nearly twenty centuries have rolled by and volumes have been written of him, yet these questions are still asked: "Is Jesus indeed the Redeemer of the world? And if he is, to what degree do his teachings apply to me and my generation?"
If I should ask you what you think of the policies advocated by certain immediately have an opinion. At least, you could declare yourself as generally "for" or "against" the philosophy and actions of such men. It is desirable to possess informed opinions of world leaders. But it is necessary-indeed, imperative-that we have not only an opinion but a conviction as to the role and the doctrines of Jesus Christ. This is so because he taught that as the Son of God, he was sent to earth by his Father to perform a mission so vital that world peace and individual salvation can never be achieved except through him.
Since Jesus declared that he is the Son of God and the Redeemer of mankind, it would be foolish for anyone to ignore him, his declarations and doctrines. For each of us there is too much at stake to reject him and his gospel. But, unfortunately, many have rejected him without making an adequate test of his claims. Such a test is available; it can be made by any earnest, truth-seeking person.
The key is given in the Gospel of John:
"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine".
This flawless test is easily understood. But all too many people with a carpe diem philosophy, living only for today, are unwilling to make the test by doing his will. Thus, according to the Book of Mormon, the "devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them carefully down to hell".
It was the same at the time of Christ. To lift the religious thinking of the people from their ritualistic practices of worship of that day, from the letter of the law to the spiritual concepts of worship that call for "a broken heart and a contrite spirit", was difficult.
President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., once said:
"If you want to know how far he had to go from the laws which had been given to ancient Israel, read the Sermon on the Mount, read the sermon on the Plain, read the sermon at the second Passover, and see how he had to drive, and drive for the new law."
But to all people, Jesus has pointed the way. As an example, he said to them of old:
"Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart".
That was the new law-a drastic step forward toward the Christ-like life. To the people it seemed revolutionary.
Another notable incident is applicable to us: Before the time of Christ, it was almost inconceivable to think that God had any compassion for a sinner. The Pharisees criticized Jesus, saying: "This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them".
Obviously, they failed to distinguish between sin and sinner. They hated the sinner as much as they hated the sin! Jesus taught that the sinner was greater than all his sins. While he condemned sin, he had compassion for the sinner.
They who brought to him the woman in adultery would have stoned her to death, but Jesus said to them:
"He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her".
In the day when the law demanded an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, Jesus taught the doctrine that hate, retribution, and vengeance should be supplanted by goodwill and tolerance and love. Said he:
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you".
Of the countless thousands who since his time have heard his message and have accepted him, how many have really learned to love their enemies, or even to love their neighbors as themselves, and "bless them that curse you," and "do good to them which despitefully use you and persecute you"?
President Clark felt it was necessary to remind us of this principle when, during the Second World War, he said,
"This divine command of love gives the one and only remedy that will bring lasting peace out of this bloody tragedy that is now devastating the world. Hate is born of Satan... It strikes the friend of today and makes the enemy of tomorrow".
My brothers and sisters, only the weak become hateful and angry and unforgiving. Those who maintain composure when despitefully used and persecuted show evidences of emotional maturity. There is a need for this in each of us.
While many are striving valiantly to do the Lord's will, it is evident that many men and many nations are drifting away from him. In too many cases, leaders of nations have lost their bearings. Because of vain ambitions, pride, and self-sufficiency, their vision is blurred, and their wisdom is blunted. As a result, vague and untested theories are offered as cures for our social and economic ills.
Christ's remedy for such social evils as violence, class strife, and contention is to banish iniquity, revenge, selfishness, lawlessness, and corruption-in short, to do his will.
"... for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved".
And "saved" in this statement may be applied to social and national problems as well as to our individual salvation.
President David O. McKay, as the Prophet of God, has given warning by declaring:
"If men ever reject the fact that Christ is our Lord and Savior... if the majority of nations fail to recognize him as the only 'name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved'; if doubting men reject the possibility of obtaining that spiritual assurance of Christ's divinity... if the acts of men generally be in accordance with such rejection rather than in accordance with their acceptance of him as the Divine One, then this world will continue to be torn by contention, made miserable by hideous warfare, and ignominiously wrecked on the shoals of materialism, selfish indulgence, and disbelief and hatred.
"Without Jesus of Nazareth, the Crucified Christ, the Risen Lord, the traits of the jungle will hold the human family in bondage."
My brothers and sisters, Jesus has shown us the way. His gospel is timeless. And through one of his prophets, he has made this promise to you and me:
"... I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord hath spoken it".
In his gospel revealed anew, Jesus has shown us the way! May we find the way and keep it I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Master. Amen.
Bishop Robert L. Simpson
Robert L. Simpson, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 128-130
Biblical history tells us that no mortal man has ever been subjected to the humility, the pain, the suffering that were experienced by the Savior of the world during his final hours of mortality.
Following a number of false charges, he was betrayed by one considered to be among his closest circle of friends. He was then subjected to a so-called trial, which produced a sentence that was dictated by political convenience and public sentiment rather than justice.
Then in rapid agonizing succession: there was the long struggle to Calvary as he bore the heavy cross; he was jeered at and spat upon by the multitude all along the way; there was the offering of vinegar, climaxed by the cruel spikes; and finally, there he hung, his body broken and bleeding, still taunted by his enemies; and it was in the midst of all this that Jesus plead perhaps quietly, with deep reverence, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do".
With this plea of forgiveness in behalf of his oppressors, Jesus indeed practiced what he taught, for it was during his remarkable Sermon on the Mount that he said: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you".
In contemplating the subject of forgiveness as a possible conference theme, it was most enlightening to observe the overwhelming importance of this oft-neglected principle as a necessary prerequisite to individual salvation and exaltation.
First of all, it must be recognized that the great principle of repentance is largely dependent upon forgiveness. He who has transgressed and then decides to repent is expected to seek out those he has offended, to solicit their forgiveness. I know of one man who carried his grudge to the grave after 40 long, bitter years of refusing to forgive. What a tragedy! His light was never able to shine forth as intended. As recorded in 1 John, "But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes". Paul wrote to the Saints at Corinth about the importance of forgiving readily, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices".
Only as we forgive do we earn the right to be forgiven. This is an eternal principle, so taught by the Savior when he said: "For if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you".
Paul certainly understood this great truth, for he taught: "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you".
Not only need we forgive to be forgiven, but we must also repent to earn this great blessing. A prophet of our day has recorded that the repentant "shall be forgiven, according to the covenants and commandments of the church". Then this sweet assurance followed: "... and I, the Lord, remember them no more".
This, brothers and sisters, is the hope of mankind, to have our mistakes wiped clean. There is no other way; there are no shortcuts in the kingdom of God. We repent, we forgive, we progress, and may we remind ourselves once more, it all starts with our own willingness to forgive one another. Yes, after all is said and done, the Golden Rule still stands supreme, "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you". First forgive and then stand eligible in the sight of God to be forgiven. The simplicity of the process testifies of its divinity.
Now, in case someone has forgotten the extent of our obligation in forgiving that wayward neighbor, just remember 70 times 7 is 490. But we will never make it to 490, because if we follow the Lord's formula with sincerity, something very special always comes into our lives and into the lives of our neighbors long before we achieve 70 times 7.
Another interesting observation is made by the Lord for the benefit of all who come close to him with their lips but whose hearts are far from him. Too frequently we come to worship and to leave our offerings without attempting to prepare our inner selves to the same degree of perfection that we achieve in our outward dress and grooming.
It was Matthew who advised such folks to "leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift". So it appears that a generous offering of time, talent, or means to the building of the kingdom is not fully acceptable if we bear such gifts without first truly forgiving our offenders. In so doing, we guarantee forgiveness for our own weaknesses.
Forgiveness and good-will dispel bitterness
Lillian Watson has recorded an interesting episode from the ministry of Phillips Brooks, a great American clergyman, as he addressed his affluent, well-dressed congregation on a Sunday morning in Boston nearly 100 years ago:
"He looked into the faces of men and women he long had known, men and women who had come to him with their problems, who had asked for his help and guidance. How well he knew what seethed behind the pleasant, smiling masks of their Sunday best respectability! How well he knew the petty spites that embittered their hearts, the animosities that set neighbor against neighbor, the silly quarrels that were kept alive, the jealousies and misunderstandings, the stubborn pride!
"Today his message was for those bitter, unbending ones who refused to forgive and forget. He must make them realize that life is too short to nurse grievances, to harbor grudges and resentments. He would plead for tolerance and understanding, for sympathy and kindness. He would plead for brotherly love.
"'Oh, my dear friends!' he said,... and it was as though he spoke to each separately and alone:
"'You who are letting miserable misunderstanding run on from year to year, meaning to clear them up some day;
"'You who are keeping wretched quarrels alive because you cannot quite make up your mind that now is the day to sacrifice your pride;
"'You who are passing men sullenly upon the street, not speaking to them out of some silly spite, and yet knowing that it would fill you with shame and remorse if you heard that one of those men were dead tomorrow morning;
"'You who are... letting your friend's heart ache for a word of appreciation or sympathy, which you mean to give him someday;
"'If you only could know and see and feel, all of a sudden, that the time is short, how it would break the spell! How you would go instantly and do the thing which you might never have another chance to do.'
"As the congregation poured out of the church that Sunday morning, people who hadn't spoken in years suddenly smiled and greeted each other... and discovered it was what they had been wanting to do all along. Neighbors who had disliked and avoided each other walked home together... and were astonished to find how very much they enjoyed doing it. Many who had been grudging and unkind firmly resolved to be more generous in the future, more considerate of others... and all at once felt happier and more content, felt at peace with themselves and the world.
"'Forgive,' Phillips Brooks urged his congregation. 'Forget. Bear with the faults of others as you would have them bear with yours. Be patient and understanding. Life is too short to be vengeful or malicious. Life is too short to be petty or unkind.'"
So spoke Phillips Brooks one hundred years ago, that great humanitarian who, incidentally, composed the words to that favorite Christmas hymn, "O Little Town of Bethlehem."
We need not reach back one hundred years for an example of bitter hearts. Such feelings are common in these very last of latter days. Unwillingness to forgive on a person-to-person basis is indeed a major and chronic illness of today's world.
"Love the Lord thy God!" This is the number one foundation of all Christianity, and the second is like unto it, "Love thy neighbor as thyself". How can you love God and hate your neighbor? You cannot! So forgive right now, today. That is the beginning of love, for forgiveness is indeed the prime ingredient of love. It is the function of love.
Not one of us is incapable of calling to mind, this very instant, a person who has offended in some way; and if my understanding of the scriptures is correct, we had better make it a matter of urgent business to forgive that person, whether he asks it or not. Woe unto that man who stands stubbornly in the way of another's plea for repentance by failure to forgive, "for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
"I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men".
Yes, forgiveness enlarges the soul, for "he that loveth his brother abideth in the light". To abide in light is to abide in the pathway that leads to the very presence of our Heavenly Father. In forgiveness there is a divine satisfaction that is also sublime. The fruit is sweet, the way is easy, and the time is so short. Slow forgiveness is almost no forgiveness.
Yes, brothers and sisters, as long as man lives in his mortal state, we will be confronted with imperfection, with our main chore to overcome that imperfection. As we forgive, we achieve the right to be forgiven. As we forgive, we increase our capacity for light and understanding. As we forgive, we live beyond the power of the adversary. As we forgive, our capacity for love expands toward heaven. And as we forgive, we approach the ability to stand one day in the midst of oppressors who do their ugly deeds out of ignorance and misdirection with the capacity to say, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do". In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Boyd K. Packer
Boyd K. Packer, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 131-133
My dear brethren and sisters: We are greatly pleased to be in the mission field. In trying to convey to you that feeling, the best I can do is to tell you that when it comes to missionary work we feel just the way Elder LeGrand Richards sounds. We appreciate deeply the opportunity to serve in the New England Mission. We are amazed at the great power and strength of the missionaries. We stand in awe of the Latter-day Saint missionary.
A few days ago the general authorities assembled in the upper room of the temple to prepare for general conference.
President McKay admonished us to feel free, perfectly free, uninhibited. From this invitation I approach with reverence a subject I had theretofore not intended to pursue.
Some years ago two of our little boys were wrestling on the rug before the fireplace. They had reached the pitch-you know the one-where laughter turns to tears and play becomes a struggle. I worked a foot gently between them and lifted the older boy.
That lesson has lingered with me. Among the many things we have learned from our children, this, perhaps, has been the most tempering.
Much of what I know-of what it matters that one knows-I have learned from my children.
Parenthood is the greatest of educational experiences. Bishop Brown made reference to a lesson taught to his 12 year-old son. Were you conscious of the lesson learned by a much older Bishop Brown?
Our children and the children and youth in the Church are great teachers. Let me relate two lessons.
In the days of the pioneer settlements, it was not uncommon to have a ward marshal whose assignment it was, under the direction of the bishop, to maintain orderly conduct among the teenagers.
On a Sunday evening after sacrament meeting, the ward marshal at the little settlement of Corinne came upon a buggy with some teenagers. Since it was his responsibility to check on the young people, he stealthily crept near the buggy to see just what was going on. He managed to reach a rather insufficient tree very close to the buggy just as the moon came out. He had to stand more or less at attention to keep from being seen, but he could easily hear all that was transpiring in the buggy.
Later, in reporting it to the bishop, he told of what had gone on. There had been some jokes told, much laughter, and the usual teenage chatter. He said they sang several songs. The bishop interrupted his report with the question, "Well, was there anything out of order in that situation?" His answer, "Yes! me behind that blamed tree."
Always our youth are teaching those of us who are older, and they teach serious, sacred lessons, too.
President Joseph T. Bentley presided over the Mexican Mission. I recall hearing him tell an incident that happened, I think, somewhere in Mexico. An 11-year-old boy had been seriously injured in an automobile accident. By the time they got him to the doctor, he was dying from loss of blood. In looking for a donor for an emergency transfusion, the doctor decided on the boy's seven-year-old sister. He explained to the little girl that her brother was dying and asked whether she would be willing to donate her blood in order to save his life. The little girl turned pale with fright, but a moment she consented to do it.
The transfusion was made, and the doctor came to the little girl. "The color is coming back into his face," he said. "It looks as though he is going to be all right." She was happy her brother would be all right, but said, "But doctor, when am I going to die?" She had thought all the time that she was not just giving her blood but literally her life to save an older brother. We learn great lessons from our youth.
With parenthood such a glorious experience, how important it is that we have reverence for it.
Frequently I receive letters and not infrequently young couples come, particularly of college age, struggling to achieve advanced degrees, and they ask for counsel on the coming of children in their lives.
Never has a generation been so surrounded with those who speak irreverently of life. Never has there been such persuasion to avoid responsibilities of parenthood. Never has it been so convenient to block that frail footpath of life across which new spirits enter mortality.
Several years ago, while representing the Church at the University of Montana, I found myself on a panel with representatives from several churches. The moderator asked each of us to respond to the question, "Do you believe in planned parenthood?" My answer was a resounding "yes!" with this explanation: We plan to have families.
Often when young couples come, they ask the specific question, "How many children should we plan to have?" This I cannot answer, for it is not within my province to know. With some persons there are no restrictions of health and perhaps a number of children will be born into the family. Some good parents who would have large families are blessed with but one or two children. And, occasionally, couples who make wonderful parents are not able to have natural offspring and enjoy the marvelous experience of fostering children born to others. Planned parenthood involves a good deal more than just the begetting of children. Nothing in our lives deserves more planning than our responsibilities in parenthood.
I am concerned because our young couples are often in a quandary, particularly when the arbitrary limiting of families is represented as an act of social good.
In this generation we find the indiscriminate marketing of products. Medical advancements with the potential to sustain life and to extend it for the infirm are advertised-even among our unmarried youth-as agents to prevent life and to extinguish it.
Young couples are continually told that parenthood means forfeiture of advanced degrees and limiting of occupational progress, a representation they will live to know is false.
Whether you will be blessed with many children or but a few, or perhaps experience parenthood through the raising of little ones left homeless, is a matter that will be made known as your life unfolds. But I urge you, I warn you to approach parenthood with reverence. When you covenant in marriage and are free to act in the creation of life, when you stand at the threshold of parenthood, know that you stand on holy ground. Recognize also that in those areas of greatest opportunity lie the snares of persistent temptation.
We are grateful for our family, grateful for all of our children. We have learned so much from them, some of the things we weren't conscious that we wanted to know. Each of them is needed and wanted in our family; and I say again, much of what I know, of that which matters that one knows, I have learned from our children.
Young couples, draw reverently close to your Father in heaven in these monumental decisions of life. Seek inspiration from the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Grow close to him. Perhaps you, as he, will come to "suffer the little children to come unto, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God". In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Alvin R. Dyer
Alvin R. Dyer, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 133-135
One of the great scriptural accounts in the Old Testament tells of the children of Israel gathering at the gateway into the promised land at Kadesh-Barnea, where the great Moses, their lawgiver, stood up before them. He was confronted not with the ones who had left Egypt, but with their sons and their daughters, for the ones who had left Egypt had been wasted in the wilderness. According to the biblical writings, this is what he said to those who now were about to enter the promised land: "There are eleven days' journey for Horeb, or Mt. Sinai, unto Kadesh-barnea by way of Mt. Seir".
The camel trains of that time had no difficulty in traveling that distance in 11 days, and yet it had taken Israel 40 years. I have often thought that in our own way of life, in our own problems, many times we take the long way, instead of the short way, in accordance with the laws and commandments of our Heavenly Father.
In ancient biblical times, "the feast" was a time of gathering, a time of harvest, a time of rejoicing, and what is more particularly significant, "the feast" was designated by the Lord as a time of remembrance. These observances were established among the people for various reasons. Three times, said the Lord, thou shalt keep a feast in the year: the feast of the harvest, the feast of the weeks, the feast of tabernacles, and there were others. But in all of these there seemed to be a central motive, a time of the renewal of spirit, of regeneration, that the people might continue with gratitude and sacrifice to fulfill the purposes of the Lord, which were intended for their good and blessing.
There are "feasts" that we observe at which we also gather to rejoice and be renewed in spirit and in thought, and to which we too bring the harvest of our achievements to evaluate, and then, with renewed determination, go forward to do better. Here, as in all the "feasts" of ancient times, is to be found the need of the people themselves, seeking the strength and the fortitude to push on. From such occasions will come this strength, if our hearts and minds can be brought in tune with the Spirit of God.
Establishing the custom of "conferences" for his people in this day and age, the Lord said the following: "The... elders composing this church of Christ are to meet in conference once in three months, or from time to time as said conferences shall direct or appoint".
From experience in the Church we have learned that the expressed will of our Heavenly Father comes to his people at conference time. This great conference, now approaching its closing moments, has truly been and will continue to the end to be a time of the renewal of the spirit.
But now may I ask a question of you? What will the aftermath be? It will ever be a great privilege and blessing to receive the inspiration of the general conference sessions by personally being present or indirectly by television or radio. But can it not be said that the real significance of this conference will register in the weeks and months that are ahead? May we fuse inspirational experience with righteous and obedient action. As leaders may we evidence in the time ahead a true response to this conference by seeking to excel in our responsibilities; and this, as the Apostle Paul has said, "that righteousness may abound", that our lives will be such that we shall merit the spiritual guidance needed to fulfill our callings.
May we as home teachers become more dedicated to our callings to "watch over" our families, rather than making just reporting visits.
Let the stake missionaries become more aware of the power of the gospel in the lives of people, to go back again and again to the honest-of-heart and sincere in our midst, always keeping the goodwill of those who have not yet received the testimony of Jesus and the work of our Heavenly Father.
Let our class teachers become better teachers, to teach more by the Spirit, to be more concerned about the individual lives of class members, both participating and non-participating.
Let us all as members, through greater faith and devotion, live closer to the laws and ordinances of the gospel, be more concerned in seeking after our kindred dead, and thus do the will of our Heavenly Father and his Beloved Son.
And so in the closing moments of this great conference, may these few particular scriptural revelations serve not to supplant in any way the great inspiration we have felt here during these past three days, but may they add a little, in the earnest hope that we may more closely adjust to the will of our Heavenly Father.
"... Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees".
But his disciples thought he referred to bread. Then he declared unto them:
"How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
"Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees". This is what we are confronted with in this day.
Upon another occasion he declared:
"... Take heed, and beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth".
"And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments".
Continuing in a revelation given to our great modern Prophet:
"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
"For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.
"But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned".
To those of us who have leaned more to our own strength, or to carnal-mindedness, let us seek for the Spirit, then live and teach by it as declared in the revelations from our Heavenly Father:
"And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach".
"For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned".
Father, mother, children, practice influence of the priesthood with "love unfeigned"
In the uniting and spiritually anchoring of the family, which is the broad and over-all intent of the gospel plan:
Let every father who has felt the spirit of this conference seek to become a better father, to magnify the priesthood in his own home, to place it in order, and, having done this, to labor that others will see the necessity of doing this in their own behalf.
Let every wife sustain her husband in the priesthood, that they as parents may fulfill the commandments of the Lord regarding the family.
Let children obey their parents in the Lord, for this is right. In the words of Paul, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your husbands...
"For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church".
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right.
"Honour thy father and mother;
"That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord".
President McKay has often referred to the home as the center of civilization, and the responsibility of the home rests upon the parents of the home. As parents, in the aftermath of this great conference, let us put our homes in order, for it is in this, as declared by the Lord by revelation found in Section 93 of the Doctrine and Covenants, that will come the power to overcome evil. Let us not be deceived in the causes that bring spiritual decay and affliction upon the family.
Here is the law: "For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized.
"And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord".
The father in magnifying the priesthood in his own home will contribute to the saving of his wife and children by safeguarding their lives, and with the assistance and help of his wife and companion he will exercise the rights of fatherhood in accordance with the principles of righteous dominion. Thus, the father, holding the priesthood of God, will know:
"No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
"By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile-
"Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy".
Finally, in the words of our beloved President, which have been echoed from this pulpit many times since he made this statement: "No other success can compensate for failure in the home."
Now, in the words of the Apostle Paul, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard... the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" and keep his commandments. I bear testimony, my brethren and sisters, that this is God's work and that the great spirit and the power and the influence of this conference have truly been a feast to which we can anchor, which we can carry away with us, and which can modify our lives where they need to be modified, that we might draw closer unto our Heavenly Father and our committed purpose as the children of our Heavenly Father. I bear witness of this and of the reality of the mission of his Beloved Son, and I do it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 136-138
And now, my brethren and sisters, we have come to the closing session of another great conference of the Church. My soul, with yours, has been filled with thanksgiving and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for the outpouring of his Holy Spirit throughout the entire conference. We have heard inspirational and uplifting messages from the leaders of the Church. I love these associates of the general authorities, and love them in the spirit of the true meaning of that word-the love of the brotherhood of Christ. God bless them!
During these various sessions of conference, we have had testimony of the Spirit that we are children of our Father in heaven. We have had testimony that God is a living being. We have had testimony that Christ, who was crucified and who rose the third day a resurrected being, is the head of his Church. We have had testimony of the Spirit that he has revealed in this dispensation the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is again established on earth in all its fullness. The gospel of Jesus Christ, as revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith, is in very deed in every way the power of God unto salvation. It gives to every man the perfect life here, and through obedience to gospel principles it gives us eternal life.
What is eternal life? In that glorious prayer of intercession offered by Jesus, our Redeemer just before he crossed the brook Cedron and received the traitor's kiss that betrayed him into the hands of the soldiers, we find these words: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent". To know God and his Son is eternal life. There is the key. Life eternal is what I desire. I desire it more than I desire anything else in the world-life eternal for me and mine, for you, and for all the world. And there in the words of the Redeemer himself we have the secret.
But how may we know him? That is the next question. Has he at any time, or on any occasion, answered that question? If so, we want the answer, because it is vital. In searching the record as it is given to us by men who associated daily with the Lord, we find that upon one occasion men who were listening to him cried out against him. They opposed his works, as men today oppose him. And one voice cried out and said in effect, "How do we know that what you tell us is true? How do we know that your profession of being the Son of God is true?" And Jesus answered him in just a simple way: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.".
That test is most sound. It is most philosophical. It is the most simple test to give knowledge to an individual of which the human mind can conceive. Doing a thing, introducing it into your very being, will convince you whether it is good or whether it is bad. You may not be able to convince me of that which you know, but you know it because you have lived it. That is the test that the Savior gave to those men when they asked him how they should know whether the doctrine was of God or whether it was of man.
We have answered the question that if we shall do his will we shall know, but now comes the question, what is "the will"? And therein is the whole essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Just as plainly as Jesus stated and defined what eternal life is, or how we shall know it, just as plainly as he laid down that test, just as plainly has he expressed what his will is.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bears testimony to the world that this will of God has been made manifest in this dispensation, that the principles of the gospel, the principles of life, have been revealed. They are in harmony with the principles that Christ taught in the meridian of time. It is impossible to give here all the principles that constitute that will, but they are so simple that, as the scriptures say, "the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein".
After obeying the principles and ordinances of the gospel, "the will" of God is to serve your fellowmen, benefiting them, making this world better for your having lived in it. Christ gave his all to teach us that principle. And he made the statement: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me". This is the message God has given to us. This Church is God's Church, which is so perfectly organized that every man and every woman, every child, may have an opportunity to do something good for somebody else. It is the obligation of our priesthood members, it is the responsibility of the auxiliary organizations and of every member to serve and do God's will. If we do, and the more we do it, the more we shall become convinced that it is the work of God, because we are testing it. Then, by doing the will of God, we get to know God and get close to him and to feel that life eternal is ours. We shall feel to love humanity everywhere, and we can cry out with the apostles of old, "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren".
God does reveal today to the human soul the reality of the resurrection of the Lord, the divinity of this great work, the truth, the divine and eternal truth that God lives, not as a power, an essence, a force, but as our Father in heaven. Oh, why do men try to make that power, recognized by science and religion everywhere, a mere force? I sometimes wish men would kneel down and try to pray to electricity or atomic power. Imagine trying to pray to these forces. You cannot do it, and yet they are great and known forces. You can, however, pray to God the Father, a personal being. God reveals to the soul his existence. He reveals the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, who came to make known to us the great reality of the existence of God and his Son; and in that spirit, and with such witness in my soul, I bear testimony today that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of the world.
"I know that my Redeemer lives; What comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, He lives, who once was dead. He lives, my ever-living head.
"He lives, all glory to his name! He lives, my Savior, still the same; O sweet the joy this sentence gives: 'I know that my Redeemer lives!' "
God help us and all the world to sense the reality that the gospel of Jesus Christ is established among men, and that through obedience to it the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man may be realities to every mother and father, every son and daughter. God hasten the day when that testimony will be real in every heart.
God bless you men of the priesthood. May you hold it in dignity and righteousness that comes from within, not from without.
God bless our friends of the radio and television audience and the managers and owners of the stations who have made these broadcasts possible. God bless our friends with whom we associate and who are contributing to the advancement of this great Church. We are grateful for their fellowship.
God bless us that we may go home with a firmer resolve than we have ever had before to live the gospel of Jesus Christ, to be kind to our families and to our neighbors, to be honest in all our dealings so that men seeing our good works may be led to glorify our Father in heaven.
I leave my blessings with you, with the sick and afflicted, with our soldier boys, some of whom are paying the supreme sacrifice for freedom, with our missionaries scattered around the world. I pray that God's protecting care will be with them wherever they are.
May God bless you all, and may he guide and help you that righteousness, harmony, and love for one another may dwell in each home, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 4-8
My dear brethren and sisters: It is with mixed feelings that I greet you this morning, and with all my heart bid you welcome-you who are assembled in the Tabernacle and all who are listening in to this opening session of the 137th Annual Conference of the Church.
I acknowledge with deep gratitude the blessings of the Lord and express profound appreciation to the members of the Church throughout the world for their prayers in my behalf, which have upheld and sustained me. I am grateful for your loyalty and devotion, and I know that our Heavenly Father is pleased with the unselfish service of the officers and teachers of the stakes and wards, and of every man and woman who is helping to advance the cause of truth. You are truly fellow servants of the Lord, and I extend my blessings and love to all of you.
It is a great privilege to join with you and partake of the inspiration of a general conference of the Church. The proceedings will be widely disseminated, and I am pleased to announce that during this conference we will usher in the use of space-age communications in carrying the messages of the gospel.
For the first time, a radio broadcast of the Sunday morning session of this conference will be sent overseas via the Lani Bird satellite, in orbit 22,000 miles above the Pacific Ocean. This historic broadcast will be heard in Hawaii, its destination, six-tenths of a second after our words are uttered here in the Tabernacle, after traveling over 100,000 miles through space. Thus, we begin to utilize another great communication tool in the work of our Heavenly Father.
It is estimated that the April conference will be seen and heard by the largest audience ever to witness the proceedings of a general conference of the Church.
We are truly living in a marvelous age of history, and the work of the Lord is being carried forward throughout the world in wondrous ways. We acknowledge his goodness and his blessings to this people.
However, as I read in the daily press and national magazines of the conditions that are existing in the world about us, I become greatly concerned. I wonder whether we are so absorbed in our personal and too often selfish pursuits that we have forgotten what God has done for us and what he has said about this country. Have we forgotten the promises he has made which will bring us both peace and victory over evil if we will but accept the Lord at his word?
It seems to me that never before been arrayed in such deadly formation as they are now. Few will question the fact that we are living in critical times and that many people have lost their moorings and are being "... tossed to and fro... with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive". Satan and his forces are attacking the high ideals and sacred standards that protect our spirituality, and, as one of our brethren just recently stated, "He encompasses us round about by encircling us with allurements and temptations which already have destroyed high standards among many people of the world, and by which he now hopes to infiltrate our ranks.
"By making sin popular with the world, he hopes to make it equally popular among us.
"In the world about us, high standards are falling, and lower ones... are being set up. Some efforts are being made toward no standards at all."
Among the glaring evils of our day are two which seem to be most detrimental and which must be curbed if we would preserve true Christian ideals. These are: first, an increasing tendency to dishonor the marriage vow; and second, the moral decline and the mounting juvenile delinquency.
I am very happy and deeply grateful for the high type of young manhood and womanhood being reared in the Church, and I acknowledge that there are many worthy young men and young women throughout the world. It is because I adore youth and earnestly desire that their lives be directed along the pathways of righteousness, success, and happiness that I call attention to the threatening dangers that are clearly on the horizon. One cannot help being alarmed to note in local newspapers and national magazines the ever-increasing crime wave. Even children are being corrupted by it, and youth are caught in its whirlpool and are being contaminated overwhelmingly by it.
J. Edgar Hoover, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has repeatedly warned the nation of the spiraling crime wave in this country, calling attention to the fact that youthful offenders are responsible for 72 percent of the total arrests for crime, and that the cost of crime has reached the staggering sum of over 27 billion dollars a year!
I again call attention to Mr. Hoover's statement given at a dinner held in his honor in Chicago, Illinois, on November 24, 1964:
"What a grim and unhappy commentary on the moral climate of this great nation! The moral strength of our nation has decreased alarmingly. We must return to the teachings of God if we are to cure this sickness. These shocking statistics, together with the public's apparent indifference to them, are indicative of the false morality we are tolerating today. It is a false code which is based on the worship of things of man's own creation. It is as imperfect and feeble as a man himself! However captivating to the senses, this type of moral climate cannot give the support nor the strength which is so vital to our national survival. This breakdown in our moral standards can only render us impotent as a people and as a nation." And this is from a man who is probably our nation's leading authority on crime. Many citizens are deeply troubled over the increase in crime, the high divorce and illegitimacy rates, the increasing incidents of venereal diseases, the scandals in high office, and other symptoms of private and public dishonesty.
Is there a moral breakdown? Is there cause for alarm? The world is all about us, and the statistics we read about are frightening indeed, and they are a necessary warning. I believe that all Americans are seriously concerned over the immorality, the disregard for law and order that are weakening this great land of ours.
The mission of the Church is to minimize and, if possible, eliminate these evils from the world. It is evident that we are in need of a unifying force to eliminate these evils. Such a uniting force, such an ideal is the gospel of Jesus Christ, as restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. It explains man's life and its purpose and has within it the vital saving elements, noble ideals, and spiritual uplift for which the heart of man is yearning.
Right-thinking, upright men and women everywhere are desirous of eliminating from our communities evil elements that are constantly disintegrating society-the liquor problem with its drunkenness, the narcotic habit with all its attendant evils, immorality, poverty, etc. The Church is seeking to make both home and community environment better and brighter.
The enemy is active. He is cunning and wily, and seeks every opportunity to undermine the foundation of the Church, and strikes wherever it is possible to weaken or to destroy. To every normal person God has given the freedom of choice. Our moral and spiritual progress depends upon the use we make of that freedom.
In the most impressive prayer ever offered, Jesus prayed for his disciples on the night that he faced Gethsemane, saying to his Father-
"And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee...
"I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
"I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil".
Nor did he pray for his disciples alone, but as he said, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for then also which shall believe on me through their word".
In the text is a clear implication of the divine purpose for man's being in this mortal probation. This purpose is expressly stated in the book of Abraham by the Eternal Father to his fellow intelligences as follows:
"... we will make an earth where these may dwell;
"And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them".
And so our place in this world is divinely appointed. We are not to be out of it. Christ himself prayed that we should not be taken out of it.
There can be little doubt that war and materialistic science have had a deadening effect upon the moral sensibilities of too many of our youth. One critic goes so far as to say, "Self-interest alone remains as a motive, and pleasure as the sole end of life."
It is the duty of parents and of the Church not only to teach but also to demonstrate to young people that living a life of truth and moral purity brings joy and happiness, while violations of moral and social laws result only in dissatisfaction, sorrow, and, when carried to extreme, in degradation.
Man has a dual nature-one, related to the earthly or animal life-the other, the spiritual life, akin to the divine. Man's body is but the tabernacle in which his spirit dwells. Too many, far too many, are prone to regard the body as the man and consequently, to direct their efforts to the gratifying of the body's pleasures, its appetites, its desires, its passions. Too few recognize that the real man is an immortal spirit, which "intelligence or light of truth" was animated as an individual entity, with all its distinguishing traits, will continue after the body ceases to respond to its earthly environment.
Whether a man remains satisfied within what we designate the animal world, satisfied with what the animal world will give him, yielding without effort to the whim of his appetites and passions, and slipping further and further into the realm of indulgence, or whether, through self-mastery, he rises toward intellectual, moral, and spiritual enjoyments depends upon the kind of choice he makes every day-nay, every hour of his life.
"Man has two creators," says William George Jordan, "his God and himself. The first Creator furnishes him the raw materials of his life-the flaws and conformity with which he can make that life what he will. The second creator-himself-has marvelous powers he rarely realizes. It is what a man makes of himself that counts."
We need not shut our eyes to the fact that too many of our young folk respond to the call of the physical, because it seems the easy and natural thing to do. Too many are vainly seeking shortcuts to happiness. It should always be kept in mind that that which is most worthwhile in life requires strenuous effort. When a man seeks something for nothing and shuns effort, he is in no position to resist temptation.
Too many prefer to revel on the lower animal plane of life rather than to strive for the higher and better things of life. Persons who condemn their will to the service of their appetites suffer the penalties. Charles Wagner in The Simple Life says of those who have condemned their will to the service of their appetites: "I have been listening to what life says, and have recorded, as I have heard them, some of the truths that resound in every square. Has drinking, inventive as it is of new drinks, found the means of quenching thirst? Not at all. It might rather be called the art of making thirst inextinguishable. Frank libertinage, does it deaden the sting of the senses? No, it envenoms it, converts natural desire into a morbid obsession and makes it the dominant passion. Let your needs rule you, pamper them, and you will see them multiply like insects in the sun. The more you give them, the more they demand. He is senseless who seeks for happiness in material prosperity alone."
It is said that one Roman emperor offered a reward to anybody who would invent a new pleasure. Nero set Rome on fire for the mere pleasure of a new form of diversion. Rome fell because of extravagance, luxury, and dissipation. In personal, as in national life, these are unfailing signs of decline and decay. Truly, "... he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting".
In their yearning for a good time, young people are often tempted to indulge in the things that appeal only to the baser side of humanity, five of the most common of which are: vulgarity and obscenity; drinking and the using of narcotics and now the vicious LSD drug, especially among the young; unchastity; disloyalty; and irreverence.
It is right, indeed, essential, to the happiness of our young people that they meet in social parties, but it is an indication of low morals when for entertainment they must resort to physical stimulation and debasement. Such indulgence weakens and degrades character, discredits the family name, robs the future wife or husband of a priceless treasure, and sows seeds that will ripen into bitter fruit and marital suspicion, unhappiness, and divorce. A girl who sacrifices self-respect for social popularity debases true womanhood. A spotless character, founded upon the ability to say "no" in the presence of those who mock and jeer, wins the respect and love of men and women whose opinion is most worthwhile. Drinking, using narcotics, and lewd parties form an environment in which the moral sense becomes dulled, and unbridled passion holds sway. It then becomes easy to take the final step downward in moral disgrace.
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there is but one standard of morality. No young man has any more right to sow his wild oats in youth than has a young girl. He who is unchaste in young manhood is untrue to a trust given to him by the parents of the girl, and she who is unchaste in maidenhood is untrue to her future husband and lays the foundation of unhappiness in the home, suspicion, and discord. Do not worry about these teachers who encourage promiscuity and self-gratification. Just keep in mind this eternal truth, that chastity is a virtue to be prized as one of life's noblest achievements.
In this day when modesty is thrust into the background, and chastity is considered an outmoded virtue, I appeal to parents especially, and to my fellow teachers, both in and out of the Church, to teach youth to keep their souls unmarred and unsullied from this and other debasing sins, the consequences of which will smite and haunt them intimately until their conscience is seared and their character becomes sordid. A chaste not a profligate, life is the source of virile manhood. The test of true womanhood comes when the woman stands innocent at the court of chastity. All qualities are crowned by this most precious virtue of beautiful womanhood. It is the most vital part of the foundation of a happy married life and is the source of strength and perpetuity of the race.
Health, happiness, peace of mind, and character come through self-restraint. The only thing that places man above the beast of the field is his possession of spiritual gifts. Man's earthly existence is but a test as to whether he will concentrate his efforts, his mind, his soul, upon things which will contribute to the comfort and gratification of his physical instincts and passions, or whether he will make life's aims and purposes the acquisition of spiritual qualities.
The Savior's constant desire and effort were to implant in the mind right thoughts, pure motives, noble ideals, knowing full well that right words and actions would inevitably follow. He taught, and modern physiology and psychology confirm, that hate and jealousy and other evil passions destroy a man's physical vigor and efficiency.
No man can disobey the word of God and not suffer by so doing. What a man continually thinks about determines his actions in times of opportunity and stress. A man's reaction to his appetites and impulses when they are aroused gives the measure of that man's character. In these reactions are revealed the man's power to govern or his forced servility to yield.
Brethren and sisters, spirituality is the consciousness of victory over self, and of communion with the Infinite. Spirituality impels one to conquer difficulties and acquire more and more strength. To feel one's faculties unfolding and truth expanding the soul is one of life's sublimest experiences.
Being "honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men" are attributes that contribute to spirituality, the highest acquisition of the soul. It is the divine in man, the supreme, crowning gift that makes him king of all created things, the one final quality that makes him tower above all other animals.
Divine is that admonition and promise given to the Prophet Joseph Smith:
"... let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God, and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
"The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever".
God help us to keep that admonition, and to follow the ideals of the Church established by direct revelation in this day, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Richard L. Evans
Richard L. Evans, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 9-12
President McKay, my beloved brethren and sisters, and I include in this salutation my friends worldwide and all mankind everywhere:
We come back from having been on every continent and more than fifty countries, with gratitude for our fellowship with you and for the happiness of homecoming, which is one of the greatest blessings on earth. If the welcome in heaven is as happy as the welcome at home, it will be well worth all the doing and enduring, and well worth waiting for.
If we were to focus on this-a happy homecoming, here and hereafter-we wouldn't go far wrong in this world. May we live to be comfortable in the presence of our Father, with the assurance of a happy homecoming, and reunion with our loved ones everlasting.
We have met worldwide many wonderful people, many in positions of high public responsibility-heads of countries and communities, men of business and professional competence, men who make decisions and who do much to shape the future and much to run the world. Generally, we have felt their earnest sincerity as they carry a heavy complexity of problems. And often this thought has come: Without a source of guidance and inspiration and direction outside themselves, men of themselves, however earnest and able, are not equal to the problems and complexities of the day in which we live.
We have met no infallible men, no indestructible men-just men mostly honest and able, trying to do their best. And we have come to a deeper awareness than ever before of the need for divine guidance, for inspiration, for revelation, thanking God more fervently for a prophet to guide us in these latter days. We come with a greater awareness that without such guidance there are no adequate answers. Never in the past did we need revelation, inspiration, commandments, standards, principles, and a prophet more than in the present.
With the charge and admonition and appeal we have heard from President McKay, may we turn our hearts, young and old-indeed all of us-to live and keep the counsels of God, to live and keep the commandments. In any other way of life there is frustration and sorrow and an empty rationalizing uneasiness within, that never rests and never seems to satisfy. In answer to the question, "Shouldn't the commandments be rewritten?" someone thoughtfully replied, "No, they should be reread." This is true of things physical and temporal, as well as things spiritual and eternal. We need to look closely to the counsel and commandments God has given.
It isn't unusual-indeed, it is expected-that the maker of any machine should send a set of instructions on how best to use it, how best to care for it; and this our Father in heaven has done for us, mentally, morally, physically, spiritually. In the gospel are instructions from our Maker on how to care for and keep ourselves at our best for the purpose for which we were brought into being.
As to the physical side: More than a century ago, a prophet of God simply said that some things are not good for man. Now, knowledgeable and intelligent men of science and medicine also say so. But we had just as well have saved all the time and trouble, for the Maker knew it and said it to his servant. And what could be more important than a completeness of health and happiness-happiness and health of the spirit, the body, and the mind of man.
Some say there is no moral question on how we physically live our lives. But isn't it a moral question to abuse what God has given? And what a waste to abuse any useful creation of any kind. If someone were to give us a finely working watch, wouldn't it be foolish, indeed irrational, to put into it that which would corrode and defeat its purpose?
We have only one body. It is irreplaceable, indispensable, sacred. It has to last a mortal lifetime. With it, and the spirit within, we think, we plan, we work, we feel, we live our mortal lives.
It is a miracle and most amazing: the housing for the spirit, the mind, the intelligence of man; the instrument through which we think and plan and pursue life's purpose.
Don't dissipate it; don't impair any part of it. Keep it clean and functioning. Don't quibble about words, about what is counsel and what is commandment. Don't rationalize. Don't clutter life with what is sure to distress and embarrass and lose peace and cause problems. Find what is good, and do it. Find what isn't good, and leave it alone.
If I may cite a phrase: "If a thing is right, it can be done. If wrong, it can be done without."
Don't let the temptations, the false advertising, the false appeals, the false endorsements, the glamorizing of evil, conceive the cynicism and sophistry of those them who would pull man down to the lower levels of life-don't let these impair health and peace and happiness and the everlasting possibilities of life. "If a thing is right, it can be done. If wrong, it can be done without. Basically, it is that simple.
And don't expect life to be easy. It never was for anyone, and never was intended to, so far as I know. On this point I quote from President McKay: "I am grateful for membership in a Church whose religion fits men for the struggle with the forces of the world," he said, "and which enables them to survive in this struggle."
Of course there are temptations, problems, things to overcome. Learning is a long and perennial process. The pursuit of excellence requires the best of all our effort. Life is for learning, and the lessons are clearly there to learn. The rules, the basic laws of life, have been given. The choice is ours. There is a law of cause and consequences. We realize the results of the lives we live. And we must live to respect ourselves and others also.
I would cite a sentence or two from Harold B. Lee: "Oh, God, help me to hold a high opinion of myself." That should be the prayer of every soul: not an abnormally developed self-esteem that becomes haughtiness, conceit, or arrogance, but a righteous self-respect, a belief in one's own worth, worth to God and worth to man.
Sometimes we may feel that it is easier for others than it is for us. But we all have our struggles. We all have our problems. We all have things to overcome, decisions to make, need for self-control.
Many years ago Phillips Brooks said: "But... some men live strongly and purely in this world, you say, and then go safely and serenely up to heaven... who never know what struggle is. What shall we say of them?... you may search all the ages.... You may go through the crowded streets of heaven, asking each saint how he came there, and you will look in vain everywhere for a man morally and spiritually strong, whose strength did not come to him in struggle. Will you take the man who never had a disappointment, who never knew a want...? Do you suppose that man has never wrestled with his own success and happiness...?" There are no such.
Blessedly, as we engage, each of us, in this struggle, we have the principles and the purposes. God help us to live by them, to live what we teach, for our own sake as well as for the sake of others.
There is no place, no people anywhere on earth, that would not be benefitted and blessed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. And ours is the opportunity and obligation of example, of sharing it with others. How can we be a light unto men if we don't live according to the light that God has given?
May I say, before concluding, how grateful I am for those who gave us this Tabernacle, with its organ, its traditions, and all that pertains to Temple Square, this year being the hundredth anniversary of this great building, at which thoughtful men the world over have marveled. It has been my privilege to spend much of my life here, for 38 years, at every hour of the day and night, at every season meeting visitors who have come from worldwide, and reaching out worldwide by radio and television through the facilities God has given.
We have performed in many of the great concert halls of Europe and America, and have talked in many auditoriums around the world, and find nothing to exceed this building in uniqueness of structure, in remarkable versatility, in its most pleasing and responsive acoustic qualities, in its simplicity and beauty and spirit. There have been some who would change it, some who have thought to "improve" it, so they say, even as to some of its basic essentials; but it satisfies my soul, and I thank God for the minds that conceived it, for the inspiration given them to do so, for the hands that fashioned it in their poverty and loving care and skill and devotion
Many of the great artists and engineers and architects of the earth have commented on it. I give you one from Eugene Ormandy, director of the Philadelphia Orchestra, that he sent in Brother Isaac Stewart, president of the Tabernacle Choir. "We have, as you probably know," said Mr. Ormandy, "performed in almost every great hall in the world, but we have found no better hall anywhere than the Tabernacle. Its acoustics are superb, and I only hope that no human hands will alter them in trying to make improvements. It is as near perfect now as any hall can be, and it is a joy to perform in it for you wonderful audiences."
This is typical of many, many more, and I hope we may always preserve it in its simple and basic qualities and character.
With you I thank my Father in heaven for the heritage from our fathers, for the restoration of the Gospel, for a prophet to guide us in these latter days, for devoted parents, for wholesome homes, for faithful young people, for our opportunities, for the beauty of the earth, for the commandments to subdue it. May we also subdue and control ourselves and realize the highest possibilities in life, physically, spiritually, mentally, and morally, in a completeness of the greatest possible attainments, now and always and forever.
God bless President McKay and these my brethren, and all of you, and your families, and our beloved friends, worldwide, that the spirit of truth may move upon us all and bring gospel of us closer together in a oneness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and in the brotherhood of mankind.
And may we remember how many there are yearning in their hearts for what we have or could hold in our hands, and never turn away from our opportunities for education, for preparation, for improvement, never turn away from respecting life, respecting ourselves, our bodies, our minds, our spirits, our eternal opportunities-remembering that "if a thing is right, it can be done; If it is wrong, it can be done without."
I bear you my witness of the personal reality of God, our Father, of the divinity of his Son, our Savior, and the divine calling and authority and inspiration and prophetic office of President McKay, and his predecessors.
May the Lord bless our President and strengthen and sustain him, and each of us in our homes, in our counsels with our families, in our private and public performance; and lead us to know the truth, to live it; and help us in the struggle to become strong and improve and repent and refine our selves so that we may face our Father and his Son our Savior, straightforwardly, when the summons comes to each of us, as we must leave this life, so that we will be comfortable where they are.
A line from Albert Camus comes to mind: "We have nothing to lose-except everything."
God help us to live so as to have a happy homecoming always-here and hereafter, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Sterling W. Sill
Sterling W. Sill, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 12-15
One of the outstanding memories carried over from childhood is my recollection of the Sabbath day. Back in those early times out on the farm, Sunday was a day completely set apart from the rest of the week. From Monday through Saturday, our attention was centered in the heavy labor involved in making a living by the muscle power of men and animals.
But Sunday was different-it was the Sabbath. It was the day of rest. It was the day of the Lord. On Saturday night the horses were turned out to pasture and all work was suspended. Saturday was also a kind of special housecleaning day to get things and people ready for Sunday. The final act of the work week was concerned with that important ancient rite known as the "Saturday night bath." This was supplemented by a parental issue of properly mended, clean clothing, all laid out, ready for Sunday.
A thorough physical and spiritual preparation also served as our acknowledgment of the Creator's intention that the Sabbath day was supposed to be the high point of the week. It has been said that our civilization would never have survived for half a century if it had not been for this one day in seven. This is the day when we are expected to live at our best, when we put on our best clothes, read our best books, think our best thoughts, and associate with the people who mean the most in our lives. And after we have laid aside the cares that have concerned us during the other six days, we go to the house of prayer and let our minds reach up and try to comprehend the things of God.
The unit of life is the week, and each week, which was the week of creation. As the scene opens on that first day, we feel the brooding, unbroken darkness covering the deep, and that thrill at that first forward step when God first said, "Let there be light". We follow the other creative acts to the crowning scene, which took place during the sixth day, when God created man in his own image and endowed him with his own attributes and potentialities. Then in summarizing the accomplishments of this period of creation, the holy record says, "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
"And on the seventh day, God ended his work, which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day...
"And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it".
Then in programming the world's mortal or temporal existence, God gave it a time allotment of 7,000 years, 1,000 years to represent each of the seven days of creation. The first 4,000 years began at the fall of Adam and ended at the birth of Christ. To this have been added the 1967 years that have passed since that time, so that on the divine calendar we are now living in the year of the world 1967, which is the late Saturday evening of the world's history. This divine time table as well as God's signs of the times indicate that the earth's Sabbath, which is the seventh 1,000-year period, is about to be ushered in.
After the creation, God looked out upon his handiwork and called it very good. The earth was then a paradise of beauty, peace, and plenty. Our first parents were placed in the beautiful Garden of Eden, where everything had been provided for their benefit. But at the fall of man the earth also fell. And in announcing the penalty for man's disobedience God said, "... cursed is the ground for thy sake in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
"Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth unto thee".
We may think of this earth as a pretty wonderful place just as it is, but for nearly 6,000 years it has been operating in its fallen condition as a telestial world. Not only has it brought forth thorns, thistles, and noxious weeds out of the ground, but lawlessness, corruption, and every kind of disobedience have flourished upon its face. Its surface has been made unproductive by deserts and waste places, while enmity and hate have been festering in the hearts of both men and beasts; and during all of this long, sad period, sin, suffering, and death have been the general portion of all mankind.
But the next one-thousand year period will be the earth's sabbath. This will be the period when the earth will rest and enjoy its sanctified state. For this period the earth will be renewed and regain its former status as a terrestrial sphere, with all of its paradisiacal beauty, glory, and righteousness fully restored. But first the earth must be cleansed. During its long history of sin and trouble our earth has become soiled and dirty. And it must have its "Saturday night bath," and be dressed in fresh clean clothing in which it can appropriately live its best 1,000 years.
On several previous occasions God has attempted to cleanse the earth: once by a flood of waters in the days of Noah, and on other occasions he has used wars, famines, pestilence, and disease, trying to rid the earth of that wickedness that defiled its face. But in preparation for the earth's sabbath, God has indicated that fire will be the cleansing agent, and every corrupt thing will be consumed. Anyone who as a boy objected to having his ears scrubbed might look forward to this coming experience with special anticipation.
Through Malachi the Lord has said, "For behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be as stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch". Then will follow the long awaited seventh 1,000 years. This will be a millennium of peace when Christ will reign personally upon the earth as King of kings and Lord of lords. This change in the earth's status will be initiated at the glorious second coming of Jesus Christ, and after its purification, the new king will remove the curse from the earth and reinstate its former terrestrial magnificence.
This great millennial period with its perfect government has been a favorite theme of the prophets since time began. It should also be one of the most motivating influences in our lives. Over 3,000 years ago the Psalmist looked beyond the apostasy, the dark ages, and the wickedness and disbelief of our own day and said, "Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
"He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
"Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice".
For this final 1,000-year period many sweeping changes will take place in the earth itself, as well as in the lives of the people who live upon it. The delightful paradisiacal condition of the earth with its Garden of Eden beauty will be restored. Its deserts and waste places will disappear; Satan will be bound; and there will be no more corruption, death, or disease, as we now know them.
About this event, John the Revelator said, "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit, and a great chain in his hand.
"And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.
"And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years are fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season".
During this millennium, the enmity among men and beasts will cease. Isaiah says, "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead "And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
"And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
"They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea". Then no one will say that God is dead, or that his revelations have ceased, or that life has no purpose.
Many years ago Harry Emerson Fosdick wrote an interesting book entitled It's a Great Time to Be Alive. He pointed out some of the miracles and wonders that have made our age the most exciting since creation. And yet the magnificence of this coming 1,000-year period will make our day of wonders and miracles seem like the dark ages by comparison.
Of course, the Lord is not coming to the earth alone. As Paul says, "He will come with his mighty angels in flaming fire". And many of the righteous dead will then be resurrected and caught up to join the Lord and his company in the air. In speaking of this event, Paul said to the Thessalonians, "... I would not have you... ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep...
"For... them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him...
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with a voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord". What a great time this will be to be alive!
And what a great time it will be when peace shall cover the earth, and children will grow up without sin unto salvation. How meaningful will then be the Lord's promise through Zechariah, saying, "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord".
Isaiah says, "And they shall build houses, and inhabit them, and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
"They shall not build, and another inhabit, they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
"They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble, for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.
"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking I will hear.
"The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw with the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord".
Then men shall no more die and sleep in the earth, but they shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye and shall be caught up, and their rest shall be glorious. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.
What a great time to be alive, when Christ himself will be our lawgiver and righteous men and women, from both sides of the veil, will live and reign with Christ for a thousand years. On the other hand, what a tragic time it will be for those who fail to qualify. Suppose that we should find ourselves among that group mentioned by John the Revelator when he said, "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished".
A modern-day revelation says, "For... the Lord shall utter his voice out of heaven... and the earth shall tremble... and shall say to the sleeping nations: Ye saints arise and live; ye sinners stay and sleep until I call again".
At the end of the seventh 1,000 years, Satan will again be loosed for a little season before evil is completely banished forever. After the millennium the status of the earth will again be increased to reach its final destiny as a celestial sphere on which the elect will live forever as members of that exalted order to which God himself belongs.
May God grant us success in this greatest of all of earth's enterprises, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder John H. Vandenberg
John H. Vandenberg, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 15-18
The story is told of a teacher who was quizzing her students about the products being manufactured in a nearby building. "Who can tell me what is manufactured in that plant?" she inquired, pointing toward the factory visible from the classroom window.
Quickly a small lad raised his hand and named a number of products. The teacher, amazed at his answer, said, "That is correct, but how did you know?"
"That's easy," replied the boy. "My father works there, and that's what he brings home in his lunch pail every night."
This may seem humorous, but it carries serious consequences; for the boy had unwittingly disclosed the dishonest act of his father, and by its repetition had already erroneously been taught by example that such an act was all right.
Recently a newspaper carried an article entitled, "What Is Honesty?" The question is akin to "What is truth?" In this article an inquirer wrote: "My husband and I have a friend whom we have both idolized because of his high standards of conduct. We have always felt that not only did he try to persuade others to live the truly good life, he did this himself. He has been an inspiration to us.
"The other day... he remarked, 'You know, I am not sure I know what honesty is any more.'
"We all felt like gulping with surprise. I do feel that society today... presents a dozen temptations to youth... But is this true also of highly educated, morally motivated, mature men and women today?
"Is it so difficult to know the difference between right and wrong, honesty and dishonesty? If so, where are we heading?"
The columnist in response suggests, "There is no... need to despair... for he is apparently thinking and trying to choose the right-and, no doubt, to do it."
Note here the tendency to perceive everything as relative, suggesting there is no standard test for honesty or truth. The scriptural definition of truth suggests reality and constancy. "... truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come".
When we think of honesty, the expression "Honesty is the best policy" quickly comes to mind. Someone has wisely challenged this adage by asserting: "Honesty isn't the best policy. It isn't any kind of a policy. It is a state of mind, or else it isn't honesty." Honesty must be an integral part of a man's every thought and action, to be honesty. History is replete with evidences of this fact.
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, came face to face with the question when the excited mob brought to him the Master and asked Pilate to indict him. Jesus stood before Pilate in the hall of judgment. "Pilate... said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
"Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all".
And here Pilate stated the truth he sought. But he added a word that many add when they find that honesty and truth are to them socially relative policies and not really integral parts of their character. Not willing to admit that honesty could stand alone, Pilate added to his truthful declaration of the innocence of the Savior the weakening conjunction but-"But ye have a custom" -and gave in to the mob. Pilate seems to have compromised his position because of public pressure. In this respect he was not so different from many today who advocate and practice that which is expedient for themselves.
In the Acts of the Apostles we read:
"... the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul... they had all things common...
"Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
"And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
"And... Barnabas... a Levite...
"Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet".
"But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
"And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet."
And Peter, perceiving that Ananias was viewing honesty only in a socially acceptable sense and not as an integral part of his character, said: "Ananias why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
"Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
"And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost...
"And the young men arose, wound him up... and buried him.
"And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
"And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
"Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
"Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost".
Barnabas' example indicates a wholesome state of mind. Without reservation he sold his land and gave the full amount, in honesty, he simply and truthfully did what was in his mind and heart.
But the state of mind of Ananias and his wife Sapphira was the thinking: yes, we believe, we want to belong, but we will only go part way. Peter will not know the difference, so we will hold back some for ourselves." They simply rationalized that it is all right to be dishonest as long as no one knows. Honesty cannot be compromised; it requires the full and free consent of the mind. People who pursue the course of Ananias and Sapphira, while they may not die as suddenly, will just as surely receive the same reward, unless they repent.
It is difficult to believe that men and women have strayed so far from true values that they need to ask, "What is honesty?" It is because they are allowing the pressures of a material society to influence them, and thus their senses become dull.
It may be unwise for me to try to set up universal standards of honesty. I can do that for myself, as you can do for yourselves, but the Lord through his prophets has not left this subject untouched. We can begin with Moses, through whom the Lord gave the Ten Commandments, which include "Thou shalt not steal" and "Thou shalt not bear false witness". But they are not alone. Every one of the commandments requires the correct state of mind to live honestly and truthfully. The Lord further commanded: "Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.
"And ye shall not swear by my name falsely...
"Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired...
"Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.
"Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have...".
The prophet King Benjamin said, "... remember, that whosoever among you borroweth of his neighbor should return the thing that he borroweth, according as he doth agree, or else thou shalt commit sin".
Notice that these prophets did not add to their statements on honesty any conjunction as did Pilate with his truthful statement of the Savior's innocence, which he followed by the condemning, "But ye have a custom".
To be honest, to adhere to truth, is not something to be conditioned by the situation of the moment. Honesty is the very foundation of character. Dishonesty takes upon itself many forms, some of which are the following, all condemned by God: larceny, kidnapping, misappropriation, plagiarizing, misrepresentation, purloin, swindling, usurping, misleading, embezzlement, graft, lying, concealing, cribbing, extortion, falsifying, forging, absconding, trickery, fraud, deceit, infidelity, and shoplifting.
As to the latter, it is reported: "The professional shoplifter, it seems, is being elbowed aside by swarms of amateurs. So says the Northwestern Life Insurance Company, which also predicts that final reports for 1966 will show a new shoplifting record-well over three billion dollars worth of goods. Leading the amateur looters are juveniles and housewives, most of them from well-off families. The ultimate losses extend well beyond the store. More restrictions are imposed, more conveniences are eliminated, shopping becomes more of a chore. The problem was summed up in a sign spotted by one of Northwestern National's staffers on a candy vending machine: Please be honest-we know you can beat the machine. If we continue to lose money the machine will need to be removed, as we cannot afford to buy another one."
An act of dishonesty immediately brands an individual. He is not to be trusted any more. His name is marked. His happiness may be ruined. His path begins to be strewn with thorns. How honorable would Pilate have been had he had the courage and state of mind to resist that which is not honest.
But Pilate lacked courage. Today's temptations demand the correct state of mind and courage to resist the cry of the mob, which Pilate found too much for him. Unless a serious attempt is made in the home to teach and practice honesty and implant it in the minds and characters of our families, grave problems are ahead for us. A few dishonest acts by parents, such as an item in a lunch pail taken from the employer, plant the seed of rationalization that will destroy true character. The Lord requires allegiance from the whole man. Plain, ordinary, simply honesty as was displayed by Barnabas is required to please God.
May we do this I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder LeGrand Richards
LeGrand Richards, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 18-23
We sang as our rest song today "We thank thee, O God, for a prophet to guide us in these latter days," and I am sure that every Latter-day Saint feels in his or her heart an echo to those words. And after listening to the message of President McKay this morning, I am sure that there will be no life nor home that would not be successful if we would all follow his counsel and his advice. I thank the Lord for my testimony that he truly is a prophet of God and a true successor to those who have preceded him back to the Prophet Joseph Smith, to whom God restored his truth through the opening of the heavens, in sending forth heavenly messengers in this dispensation. I love the Church, and I love its people.
I thought today that I would like to say a few words about the Book of Mormon. When I was a boy, in the little town where I was raised, I was asked in a Sunday School conference to lead the Sunday School in reciting the testimony of the three witnesses to the truth of the Book of Mormon. That made such an impression upon my life that I have loved the
Book of Mormon ever since. To me it is the most tangible evidence that we have, aside from the great Church itself, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I would like to quote it to you as nearly as I can recall it:
"BE IT KNOWN unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That we, through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken. And we also that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are on the plates, and they have been shown us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he laid before our eyes, that we beheld him and saw the plates, and the teachings thereon; and we know that by the grace of God the and our Lord Jesus Christ, that and bear record that these are true. And it is marvelous in our eyes. Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should make record of it; wherefore, to be obedient to the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things".
How could any lover of truth, any man or woman desiring to serve the Lord as he would like to be served, listen to such a testimony as that and not want to know more about it, and whether it is true or not? In addition to that, we have the testimonies of the eight witnesses to whom the Prophet Joseph Smith showed the plates; we have the testimony of Prophet himself; and we have the testimonies of hundreds of thousands of sincere seekers after truth who listen to the admonition given by Moroni as he closed the records of the Book of Mormon, when he said:
"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost".
Thousands and hundreds of thousands have put that promise to the test, and the Lord has made good the promise of his prophet as contained in the Book of Mormon.
I would like to discuss the Book of Mormon from a different angle; that is, that the Book of Mormon has made possible the proper interpretation and understanding of many of the holy scriptures of the Bible that no theologian could properly understand or explain until the Book of Mormon came forth. I take for my first text the tenth chapter and sixteenth verse of John, in which the Savior said to his Twelve, "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd".
No theologian could give a proper interpretation of that statement until the Book of Mormon came forth. It has been thought that he had in mind the Gentiles, but he said he had come only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. In the Book of Mormon we find the record of the Savior's visit to the Nephites following his resurrection and ascension, and that is not an unreasonable thing to understand, because he tarried for forty days with his disciples in the Holy Land before he left them.
He came to the people in this land of America, and he organized his Church here. He told his disciples that they were the other sheep of whom he had spoken to his disciples in Jerusalem. He said never at any time had the Lord commanded him to tell his disciples who the other sheep were, only that he had other sheep that were not of that land. He told his disciples here in America that they assumed he had meant the Gentiles, but he said that he never went to the Gentiles, that they did not understand that the Gentiles were to be converted through their preaching. But he said, "... behold, ye have both heard my voice, and seen me... and ye are numbered among those whom the Father hath given me". Isn't that a marvelous explanation of that glorious statement of the Master! Surely it had great significance to him, or it would never have been recorded in the holy scriptures.
I would now like to refer to the blessings given to the twelve sons of Jacob, or Israel. Jacob called his sons together and told them that he would tell them that which would befall them in the latter days. I will pass over all of them except Joseph's blessing. Jacob said that Joseph was a fruitful bough whose branches would run over the wall -and where was he to go over the wall? Unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills. Is there any theologian in this world who can tell us where those everlasting hills are to which the Lord, through the father of Joseph, promised Joseph that he and his people would go?
He further said that his blessings would prevail above the blessings of his progenitors, and his progenitors were Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Can you imagine that God would have in store for that chosen one blessings greater than those of his progenitors, and then not provide that a record should be kept of the fulfillment of those promises unto that great branch of the house of Israel?
The Book of Mormon tells us where that land is. It tells us how the Lord moved upon one, Lehi, and led him with his family and others to this land of America. He promised them that it would be a land choice above all other lands. He commanded them that they should keep records, and for a period of a thousand years the records were handed down from one prophet to another until they were finally buried in the earth, waiting to come forth in these latter days.
When Moses gave a blessing to the tribe of Joseph, he described the land that the Lord would give to the descendants of Joseph, who was separated from his brethren; he used the word precious five times in just four verses in describing that land. It is so important that I would like to read Moses' statement:
"And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord, be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,
"And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,
"And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills,
"And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren".
Could you describe a land more wonderfully, a description that would describe this land of America to which the seed of Joseph was led? Let me refer to this one statement, the first precious he named: he said, "for the precious things of heaven". I have thought a lot about that and what it means. I think it means that their holy prophets would have communion with the heavens so that they could be led and inspired and directed, as we are today, by living prophets at the head of this Church.
It seems incredible that such a promise would be made to Joseph of a new land in the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills, with promises greater than those of his progenitors, and that there should not be a record kept of the fulfillment of those promises. No other people can tell you where the land is that the Lord promised to Joseph and his posterity. This we learn from the Book of Mormon.
That brings us to the command the Lord gave Ezekiel that two records should be kept, one for Judah and his companions, the house of Israel, and one for Joseph and his companions, the house of Israel, and he said:
"... the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these.
"Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand".
The stick of Judah is nothing more than the Holy Bible, which has remained with the people through the ages. But the record that had been in the hands of Ephraim, who was one of the sons of Joseph, was to be taken and put with the record of Judah to make them one in the Lord's hand. Why should the world hesitate to accept the word of the Lord and its fulfillment? We have that record, and it is the record that was kept of the Lord's dealings with his people in this great land of America.
I would like to give you another statement from the Bible that no theologian could understand until the Book of Mormon came forth. This is from the twenty-ninth chapter of Isaiah:
"Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the City where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices.
"Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel".
In other words, Isaiah not only saw the final destruction of Jerusalem, but he also saw the destruction of another great center; that great center was here in America. No theologian could determine where that other center was until the Book of Mormon came forth. Then Isaiah adds,
"And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee.
"And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust".
No theologian could understand that statement of Isaiah until the Book of Mormon came forth. Now I will read you from the Book of Mormon the explanation:
"After my seed and the seed of my brethren shall have dwindled in unbelief, and shall have been smitten by the Gentiles; yea, after the Lord God shall have camped against them round about, and shall have laid siege against them with a mount, and raised forts against them; and after they shall have been brought down low in the dust, even that they are not, yet the words of the righteous shall be written, and the prayers of the faithful shall be heard, and all those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not be forgotten.
"For those who shall be destroyed shall speak unto them out of the ground, and their speech shall be low out of the dust, and their voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit; for the Lord God will give unto him power, that he may whisper concerning them, even as it were out of the ground; and their speech shall whisper out of the dust.
"For thus saith the Lord God: They shall write the things which shall be done among them, and they shall be written and sealed up in a book, and those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not have them, for they seek to destroy the things of God".
Now isn't that a wonderful explanation of that passage in Isaiah? Nobody could have given an explanation like that until the Book of Mormon came forth; it states here that it shall be sealed up and come forth out of the dust. In that same chapter in which Isaiah tells about the destruction of Ariel and this other center, he says, "... the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed".
You know how literally that was fulfilled when Martin Harris took some of the characters copied from the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated to one Professor Anthon in New York; after Professor Anthon had given a certificate indicating that the translation was genuine, he asked that the records be brought to him that he might translate them. Martin told him that they were sealed, and he answered in practically the same words recorded in Isaiah, "I cannot read a sealed book".
How can you fit all these things together and imagine that it was the thinking of the mind of young Joseph Smith, at the time the Book of Mormon was published, if this isn't the work of God, the Eternal Father? As Isaiah said, the Lord has declared the end from the beginning:
"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever".
There is another great principle that was made plain by the coming forth of the Book of Mormon that no one could understand until then; that is the fact that there were to be two gathering places for the Lord's children. All through the scriptures, after the division of Israel into two great kingdoms, there were the kingdom of Judah and the kingdom of Israel; the kingdom of Israel was scattered among the nations, and the world does not understand that there should be two gathering places. They think that Israel will all be gathered back to Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Yet the scriptures in the Book of Mormon make so plain that when the Lord provided this land of America for the descendants of Joseph, the new Jerusalem should be built upon this land and that this should be the land of the gathering of many descendants of Joseph.
There isn't time to go into all the scriptures, but you remember when the Angel Moroni appeared to the Prophet Joseph three times during the night and again the next morning, he quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, wherein Isaiah said the Lord would set his hand again the second time to gather scattered Israel, and that he would bring in the dispersed of Judah and would set up an ensign unto the nations. Thus there were to be two great gathering places.
Again, when Isaiah saw the latter days, he said, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
"And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem".
He knew there would be two great gathering places. He knew that Israel would be gathered here in these valleys of the mountains and I think that the temple on this block is the very house of the God of Jacob that Isaiah was privileged to see. He knew that the Jews would be gathered back to the land of their inheritance, for the scriptures are replete that when Jesus shall come and visit them, they will ask: "What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends". The Church was to be established here, and the law to go forth from here, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
I will now add one more thought concerning another great truth that is revealed through the Book of Mormon and that is not understood in the scriptures by the theologians; that is the promise mentioned by Brother Sill concerning the new heaven. John saw the new Jerusalem let down from heaven. The world has never understood that there were two Jerusalems. They did not know anything about the new Jerusalem, or where it was, or why it should come down from heaven. But we read in the Book of Mormon the words of Ether, who tells us that this is the land of the new Jerusalem, and that it would be established upon this land. Then he goes on to tell how the new Jerusalem would come down from heaven and that this would not be the old Jerusalem in the Holy Land.
Brothers and sisters, just think how these truths so completely evidence the fact that the Prophet Joseph's story and Book of Mormon are true. I bear witness that the Book of Mormon it is the one tangible evidence that Joseph Smith was truly a prophet, for no man nor body of men could have written such a book as that without the divine help of God, the Eternal Father. I know it is true. I know it is part of God's great "marvelous work and a wonder," and that in the same chapter about Ariel and the sealed records, where he said that he would proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder, and that the wisdom of their wise men would perish and the understanding of their prudent would men would be hid. That is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
This is my testimony to you: that this Church is built upon the foundation Paul declared of apostles and prophets, with Christ our Lord as the chief cornerstone, and that through his living prophet today, Christ the Lord is directing his kingdom; it shall become as a great mountain and fill the whole earth.
I bear you that witness in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Delbert L. Stapley
Delbert L. Stapley, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 30-34
Recently, I read a talk, given by a doctor to a convention of medical men, entitled "The Pangs of Unlearning." He called attention to the discoveries through research of new drugs and improved treatments that require much unlearning by physicians and surgeons, because many former practices and medicines do not best serve the interests of today's patients. A doctor friend of mine significantly stated that the majority of medical services practiced ten years ago are obsolete today. This talk challenged my interest, as I envisioned updated learning, reorienting, and retraining as applying to the pattern of our own lives.
I should like to share with you some of my thoughts on this subject of unlearning and the possible personal improvement each individual can attain by living strictly within the framework and spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The word unlearn as here used does not mean a casting aside of eternal truths and everlasting knowledge. Rather, it means altering our habits of behavior so as to live more in harmony with God's will. It reflects a desire and a willingness to keep pace with up-to-date knowledge gained through research, which provides advanced learning, new methods, and techniques to replace the less effective or obsolete. Are we faithful and obedient enough in the Church to accept authorized changes that represent improvement and growth?
The wonderful, complex instrument for registering our experiences that we call the mind gathers a maze of data, to be sifted, analyzed, and appraised. In such a process some data will be found useful and some without value. In the latter case, what shall be done with such material?
It would be well, of course, if it could be thrown away, like refuse, and forgotten altogether. That, however, is quite out of the question, as the Master so clearly illustrated in his parable of the wheat and the tares. And no way has, as yet, been discovered by which we may press a button or turn a switch and have that which is of no value to our learning cast aside automatically. That which is learned, the useful and the seemingly unuseful alike, memory retains.
What, then, can be done as our learning process grows and expands and memory retains the good and the not good that have been accumulated there? The simplest answer to such a question would be "unlearn the not good." We are then faced with the next question, "How can that be done?"
The answer is not so simple nor so easy. It involves many matters and requires earnest, prayerful consideration. In the first place, the primary law of intelligent life, free agency, or the personal power to exercise judgment should be made operative. With that power set in motion, the good and the not good may be determined. Yet even here man on his own may not be perfect in judgment. One needs to be humble in spirit, contrite of heart, ready in prayer, as was the Master, even though he was perfect. By such means one is entitled to the prompting and guidance of the Holy Ghost, so necessary when one is on the road perfectness, yet needing to "unlearn" that which is not good.
Another factor important in the process of learning and unlearning is that of attitude. Some of us need to unlearn personal attitudes that are contrary and resistant to gospel teachings and requirements. Certain attitudes are destructive to true character. They inhibit growth. If allowed to develop, they may produce disastrous consequences. Negative, cynical, and other kindred attitudes are dangerous to faith, hope, humility, righteous desires, and high purpose, which virtues are essential to the discovery and retention of that which is best in the learning process and of "unlearning" the undesirable in life. One should, therefore, be well aware of the many types of attitudes present in daily living.
We sometimes wonder why people behave as they do. Perhaps it is because they are unwilling to unlearn the reasons for their unwarranted behavior. Now, I do not want you to think I am advocating the unlearning of eternal truths, principles, standards, ideals, and ordinances, because these gospel verities never change. God's laws are immutable and endure forever. By increasing our learning, however, we become acquainted with additional truths and higher laws referred to in scripture as truth, light, spirit, and the mysteries of godliness. A scientist frequently forsakes theory he has learned because research uncovers advanced knowledge that changes or makes obsolete some former concepts but does not eliminate basic principles. The sciences are subject to constant change. This is true also in technological advances, where we forsake the old and accept the new improved methods of performance that have advanced our civilization tremendously.
While all this advancement takes place in our modern world, we cannot afford to forsake or discard the teachings and revelations of God. People brought up in a religious faith that does not teach the true doctrines of Christ, regardless of how sincere they may be, must unlearn much of what they were taught and accept the new light and way to obtain salvation and glory. Because the children of Israel had gone astray and were so steeped in the faith and tradition of their fathers, they were unable to unlearn the law given for their temporal benefit, for the higher spiritual law brought to them personally by the Christ. They thus failed to recognize the Christ when he was sent of God, the Father, to live among them. It was Christ who came to fulfill the lesser law and to reveal to them the higher law of his gospel. Jesus was put to death because his own people of the house of Israel could not unlearn and prepare themselves to receive him, their Jehovah, Savior, and God.
The peoples of the world must unlearn the idea that all churches are acceptable unto God. Some teach that it doesn't matter which road one takes, since all roads, it is claimed, lead back to the presence of God. This premise does not accord with the teachings of the scriptures.
Christ did not accept any of the churches of his day to supply the framework for his earthly kingdom. He taught, "Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break... but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved". For the same reason the organization of his Church and the gospel of his kingdom could not fit into the framework of the existing churches. They were false and unsuited to Christ's needs and purpose. The identical condition was also true in this dispensation when God restored the gospel and his kingdom through his divinely called servant, Joseph Smith.
Man must unlearn the idea that any and all baptisms are acceptable unto God. There is only one true mode of baptism, and that is immersion. Only men who hold the appropriate priesthood office and are divinely called and ordained can efficaciously perform this holy ordinance in the gospel and know that it is acceptable to God and that a record will be made of it on earth as well as in heaven.
I sincerely testify that as all members of Christ's Church progress toward perfection they will enjoy increased knowledge and clearer vision of God's plans and purposes. They will also have some unlearning to do, not because basic truths, standards, and principles change, but because new methods and techniques are employed to achieve greater and more widespread improved performance and spiritual results.
Now, to support this thought, I quote from the teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith: "We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker, and is caught up to dwell with him. But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment; he must have been instructed in the government and laws of that kingdom by proper degrees, until his mind is capable in some measure of comprehending the propriety, justice, equality, and consistency of the same... that it is necessary for men to receive an understanding concerning the laws of the heavenly kingdom, before they are permitted to enter it: we mean the celestial glory."
Nevertheless, people become too complacent and satisfied with what they have. It is most difficult for them to unlearn and accept the better way. It is also difficult for some members of the Church to unlearn and give up less effective methods of doing things for greatly improved programs planned to build increased spirituality, faith, and testimony to perfect the Saints of God. The Church programs are constantly being strengthened and perfected to meet the challenge of the growing, progressive needs of its members.
We hear much these days about Church correlation, which is an important step forward in promoting a rounded-out educational understanding of all that pertains to God's latter-day kingdom. The lesson outlines are prepared by the Church correlation committee and are adapted to meet the needs of the members of each Church organization. This prevents any overlapping in study courses, which produce well-informed doctrinal and Church history students who can intelligently give an answer and reason for the hope within them. Correlation of Church organizations, lesson material, and coordination of activities will increase effectiveness and strength in the lives of members, both young and old.
Parents must unlearn the leaving of all gospel teaching to the organizations of the Church, when the prime responsibility for the teaching of children rests upon the home. If home evenings are not held or are poorly planned, children and parents are denied the wholesome association and companionship of one another. This condition requires a change of attitude and an up-dated learning to enjoy the blessings of this choice family experience. The Church program planned for these occasions is ideal and can, with some imagination, be adapted to every family need. Parents should unlearn the ineffective methods of dealing with their children, finding more effectual ways; then children will feel free to discuss and counsel with parents about the intimate, delicate, and confidential matters that concern them.
Do some of us need to reevaluate what constitutes proper observance of the Word of Wisdom? Are we becoming too liberal in our personal interpretation and application of this law? The Apostle Paul counseled: "Abstain from all appearance of evil". Here again, we can unlearn and resolve to stay strictly on the Lord's side of this law and be safe and at peace with ourselves.
Can we justify a partial payment to the tithing fund as an honest accounting with the Lord on his law of the tithe? Shouldn't we be honest with him and unlearn any wrongful practices to fully meet the obligation and conditions of this law?
Man must unlearn his changing liberal attitude toward sex that minimizes the sacredness of sex behavior and opens the way for licentious living. I proclaim with all the power of my being that God's seventh commandment to the children of Israel through Moses, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," is a law as binding upon man today as then. Adultery is one of the most abominable sins in the sight of the Lord, and forbidden by our God. Those who willfully violate this law must pay God's penalty, which is denial to the celestial kingdom.
If prayers are not a regular practice in the home and personal prayers uttered daily, isn't it wise for us to be more faithful in keeping in contact with our God? Wouldn't it be wise to unlearn some of our feelings, habits, and doings that prevent us from enjoying the sweet companionship of the Holy Ghost to guide and direct us in our personal lives? Many brethren endowed with the Holy Priesthood should unlearn a complacent approach to the duties and responsibilities attendant to this holy power. The Lord has counseled that every priesthood bearer is to "learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence". Slothfulness in one's duty isn't acceptable to the Lord. He further requires that men must "do many things of their own freewill, and bring to pass much righteous".
There is unlearning to do to adjust from the previous ward teaching program to the present home teaching plan to Church families. The new plan is much superior to the older method and has far greater potential for effective results.
This can also be said of new programs in other fields of church service, such as genealogy, temple work, stake missions, education of youth.
Failure to accept and follow wholeheartedly the counsel and example of our leader in moral, ethical, and spiritual matters does not produce harmony but disharmony. It also places one in the position of pitting one's knowledge and learning against that which God has inspired or revealed through his anointed servant. Some question the right of the Church through its leader to speak up and let the world know and understand the position of the Church on ethical, moral, and political principles or standards that have to do with the rights and welfare of man. Who is able to speak more clearly and authoritatively on such matters? If man loses his God-given right of agency, freedom, and ethical practices by unrighteous interference and unjust controls, his religious life will suffer, because the climate in which religion should flourish becomes restricted and untenable.
The Savior taught many truths during his ministry upon the earth; but men were offended by his teachings and reviled against him, for their hearts were not right, and their spirits were not attuned to his. Although many stood against him, he was right and they were wrong. Was not his atoning sacrifice for the purpose of helping man to unlearn his sinful ways, which grow up within us like the tares among the wheat? We must unlearn all dross, that we might be more like our Redeemer and our Eternal Father.
In this present day many need to unlearn unorthodox teachings and improper standards and to humble themselves, as it were, in sackcloth and ashes. All of us should make a personal evaluation and determine where we can profitably unlearn false opinions and erroneous teachings. Our duty is to condition ourselves to be more valuable in promoting the work of God's kingdom. Freedom does not license contention nor approve nonconformists to supplant God's ways with their own. The Lord proclaimed to Isaiah: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts".
Perhaps this statement will cause us to remember how small we are in comparison to our God, who is all-knowing and all-powerful. The Lord taught Moses a great lesson in this regard. After he had shown Moses by vision the workmanship of his hands, he withdrew from Moses, and his glory was not upon him. Moses was left unto himself, and he fell unto the earth exhausted. It was many hours before he again received his natural strength, and when he did, he humbly said: "Now for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed". This counsel should remind all of us to be meek and contrite of spirit.
As we advance toward perfection, there will be higher laws revealed to our understanding and benefit that will replace those of a lower order. This truth was first taught to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, when the Lord gave them two choices: not to partake of the forbidden fruit; and to multiply and replenish the earth, which choices call for obedience to a lesser law or a higher one. They chose to fulfill the higher law. Again, when the Savior sojourned among men, he replaced a lesser law, which Moses, his servant, had given to the children of Israel, with the higher law of the gospel, his plan of life and salvation. Therefore, as we progress in righteousness and truth, we will come in contact with higher laws previously unknown that, when revealed, all of us must accept and obey to perfect ourselves and become more like our God and his Son, Jesus Christ. When that goal is achieved, we will again be in their presence and glory. God bless us with the Holy Ghost to help us choose wisely and with faithful assurance, that we, without question, are always on the Lord's side of every question.
I leave you my witness and my testimony, brothers and sisters, to the truthfulness of this work. I know this is God's restored kingdom and that it is here for the blessing and for the salvation of his children. God bless us to so live, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Victor L. Brown
Victor L. Brown, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 34-37
In recent days, it has been my privilege to walk on the shores of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus, speaking to two fishermen, Simon and Andrew, said: "Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men".
As I stood on the Mount of Olives, looking toward Jerusalem, I recalled that on this same mount, the Master instructed Peter, James, John, and Andrew as to the future of the world, even as to his second coming. He told them of wars and rumors of wars, of terrible calamities that would befall nations, kingdoms, and peoples before the Son of Man would come in clouds of great power and glory.
Another statement Mark attributes to the Savior on this same occasion took on new meaning for me. He said: "And the gospel must first be published among all nations".
Approximately two years ago, the First Presidency of the Church directed the Presiding Bishopric to establish a translation, publishing, and distribution organization, with the charge that Spanish-speaking members of the Church in Mexico, Central America, and South America were to receive the literature and materials of the Church in their own language and that they were to receive them at the same time they were received by the members of the Church in the center stakes.
Shortly thereafter, Portuguese and the languages of western Europe-Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, German, French, and Italian-were included. And now in recent days, Samoan, Tahitian, and Tongan have been added.
Bishop Vandenberg asked that I represent the Presiding Bishopric in carrying out this assignment. During these past two years, many faith-promoting and inspiring events have taken place. May I share some with you.
In approaching such an assignment, one first begins by developing an organization. This involves people. It is my conviction that the Lord has touched the hearts and the lives of men and women in many lands who-have been preparing for such a work, and then he has led us to them.
As Brother J. Thomas Fyans, the director of the overall organization, and I have traveled over the world, carrying out our assignment, we have marveled at what has taken place.
We traveled to one distant land, not having an idea as to the course of action that would be necessary. Within two or three hours after meeting with the mission presidents involved, our course of action was as clear as though we had spent weeks of analysis. We were able to appoint a manager and initiate the work within a matter of hours after our arrival.
One of the mission presidents said, "We are ready for a stake in our mission, but it cannot be accomplished in our mission until your program is in operation." The program is in operation. The first stake in South America was organized under the direction of Elders Spencer W. Kimball and Franklin D. Richards, May 1, 1966, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Within the last few weeks, a similar experience has taken place in another area of the world. Several weeks ago, as we traveled to New Zealand to meet with the mission presidents of the South Pacific, we had no idea as to the means for the solution to the literature problems of the Church in the non-English languages of the South Sea islands. After meeting only a few hours with Elder Thomas S. Monson, Elder Paul H. Dunn, and the mission presidents, again the course was clear. Now we have a manager in this area and a building has been leased. The preparatory work to translate the Church literature into Samoan, Tongan and Tahitian is moving forward at full speed. Of course, all of this is under the direction of the First Presidency and those members of the Twelve responsible for these areas of the world.
As we have met with the translation personnel in the various countries, I have marveled at their unusual talents translating is a very exacting work, requiring considerable training and much concentration. Just because someone is familiar with a particular language does not mean he can translate into that language. Each translation applicant is given a thorough test, which he must pass before he can begin to work with us. Many who would like to do this work cannot because they are not sufficiently well trained. There are many words and terms in English that cannot be translated directly into other languages. The translator must have the ability to transfer the author's meaning from one language and culture to another with an absolute minimum of distortion. This is most difficult. It is even difficult sometimes to be sure one understands the author's intent in English. Take, for instance, the translator who received a Relief Society lesson for translation. In the lesson was a recipe calling for "Chicken of the Sea." Every Relief Society sister knows that "Chicken of the Sea" is a brand of tuna fish-that is, every sister in the United States. The translator checked her encyclopedia and other reference books. She checked the library and university. Finally, in desperation, she translated "Chicken of the Sea" as "hen of the ocean."
Here is what one of our wonderful Danish translators has to say about translating work in the Church:
"I should like to tell you just a fraction of what you ought to know when asked to translate MIA books. You have to be a dancing master, beauty specialist, choir director, and you have to know something about sports and athletics. You should be a chemist or a druggist. You should be an educated musician. You ought to know something about baking, cooking, gardening, arranging of flowers; something about singing, acting, first aid, and puppet shows.
"You have to know as much as possible of Church organizations and of how the different auxiliaries are organized and how they work. In some cases, you will have to call the ministry of education, the airport, the fire service a domestic science college, the Olympic games committee, and the inspector of business. You have to know about weights and measures and of the different expressions used by lawyers, and so forth.
"You must know the scriptures, and it is good if you know Shakespeare's works almost by heart, because you will often find quotations or citations without any references. You must be able to know where to find a quotation, if it belongs to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants or Pearl of Great Price, and also if it is written by Matthew, John, or Paul."
Another of our translators received the songbook The Children Sing to be translated into German. Music is most difficult to translate, and The Children Sing is no exception. In this case, however, the translator could not write fast enough to keep up with the flow of words as they came to her.
There was no doubt in her mind as to the source of her inspiration.
One example of devotion was manifest in the life of a lovely sister who recently passed away. She had just completed translating the book Jesus the Christ into Swedish, her native tongue. Her manuscript was typewritten. This does not seem unusual until we are made aware of the fact that she was almost totally paralyzed and was so crippled that she pressed one key at a time with a rubber-pointed stick. You can imagine the thousands of times this stick held in her gnarled hand had to be depressed on a typewriter key to record the teachings of this book in her native language.
There are many other stories, some humorous, some serious, all examples of devotion and faith.
It might be well to indicate in general the materials to be translated. Of course, the standard works have been translated into many languages. They will be done in others as the First Presidency directs. Other approved books will be translated. Material to appear in the July monthly unified magazine is being worked on today.
The programs that have been correlated for the English-speaking Saints, such as home teaching, family home evening, Melchizedek Priesthood, Aaronic Priesthood, and the Relief Society lessons, will be available in the Latin American and European languages on September 1, 1967, which is the date they will also be introduced in the English language.
Once these materials have been translated, they must be printed and distributed to the officers, teachers, and members of the Church. Six printing and distribution centers have been established to accomplish this phase of the work.
In Copenhagen, Denmark, we are now prepared to serve Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. In Liege, Belgium, service is being provided for all French- and Dutch-speaking members of the Church. Frankfurt, Germany, is providing service to the German and Italian members; Sao Paulo, Brazil, to the Portuguese: Mexico City, to the Spanish. Auckland, New Zealand, will soon be in operation, providing services to Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti.
In each case, we are convinced that special men, with particular training abilities, have been called. Time after time, I have heard such comments as this: "Now, we finally know why we moved here," or, "I know my training over the years has been to prepare to accomplish this work." These and many other comments have come have come from our associates. Most of them have been members of the Church for less than five years.
All of this work is being accomplished under the direction of the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve. It is possible today because of the great correlation program that is in the Church. I think it would be almost impossible without correlation.
Our associates, both at home and abroad, are motivated by the desire to be anxiously engaged in this great cause as we contemplate the 90th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, 11th verse, we realize the Lord is speaking of our day. He says: "For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language".
We feel this work is a literal fulfillment of prophecy. We are deeply grateful for the great privilege of being a small part in making it possible for many thousands to hear the fullness of the gospel in their own language. If I interpret the scriptures correctly, all of this is to the end "that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth".
It is my witness, my brothers and sisters, that God lives, that Jesus Christ will come again, and that there is much to be done before he comes. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Henry D. Taylor
Henry D. Taylor, Conference Report, April 1967, p. 37-39
Most persons in the world today are striving for recognition. They want to be respected and have the world look up to them. They would like to feel that they are wanted and needed. They wish to be loved. As strong as this desire is, President McKay has emphasized that there is a virtue that exceeds being loved, when he taught: "To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved."
A person in whom trust can be placed is one who must be loyal, steadfast, and dependable. Before he can be loyal to others, he must first be loyal to himself.
Our Heavenly Father has granted man the privilege of making decisions, the right to choose between good and evil; the glorious principle of free agency. A person living a wholesome, clean life may have the Spirit of the Lord in making his choices and decisions. He must remain firm, steadfast, and unwavering in the decisions he has made and considers to be right, if he would have peace within himself and be loyal to himself. The wise man Shakespeare expressed the thought in these words:
"To thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man."
Many centuries ago the Lord taught the children of Israel through Moses that if they wished to have their days prolonged upon the earth, they would honor their father and their mother. That was wise counsel, and still applies to us today. In honoring our parents, it is contemplated that we will be obedient and loyal to them.
As the Lord made known to the Church through revelation in the year 1831, he charged the brethren to be loyal to their wives. These are his words: "Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else". Yet there are some who have not followed the counsel of the Lord and who have allowed their affections and loyalties to stray into forbidden paths. Separation, divorce, and heartache have been the result of such disobedience.
Through obedience, we have been privileged to come to this earth and to enjoy the many wonderful opportunities and blessings that come to us here in mortal life. People are born and live in many different lands and countries. The Lord has decreed that we shall be loyal to the country in which we dwell and will abide by the laws of the land, as long as those laws are founded upon just principles. Loyalty to country is an admirable quality.
Upon man has been placed the responsibility of preparing himself, so that he can earn a livelihood for his wife and his family. He may establish his own business and provide work for himself, or he may seek and secure employment from others. As he works he comes to realize the satisfaction and happiness that comes from useful and productive labor. Loyalty to his employer is fundamental to his conscience and peace of mind. One has aptly pointed out: "Loyalty consists in giving faithful allegiance and untiring service to the concern that furnishes you with bread and butter. It consists in working during business hours and after business hours and before business hours for the best interests of your concern. It consists in doing everything within your power to figure out some new method that will advance the interests of your employer." Knox 117
A feeling of loyalty may not be apparent immediately. It may take time to develop and strive for, through experiences, the necessary courage to display the kind of loyalty we would hope for.
When the Savior told Peter, one of his beloved associates and companions, that before the night was ended and the cock would crow, he would deny Christ three times, Peter was astonished, and inwardly might have been indignant, as he cried out: "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee". Nevertheless, three times during the long night, as different individuals confronted Peter with the accusation that he was an associate of Jesus, he loudly and emphatically denied any acquaintance with Christ. Just as he uttered his final denial, the cock crowed. Peter then remorsefully recalled the words of Jesus "And he went out, and wept bitterly".
From this experience, sad to Peter, he gained courage and throughout the remainder of his life, in spite of persecution and even torture, he was loyal to the memory of the Savior and his teachings.
Judas Iscariot learned through torment and remorse the bitter lesson that can come from disloyalty, when he betrayed the Master for 30 pieces of silver. Disloyalty to righteousness results in unhappiness.
If loyalty is misapplied, or even if it is given to an evil cause or person, the result will be evil. Satan and his rebellious hosts are zealous and loyal, but to an evil cause. Ungodlike and unchristianlike communistic forces are active in the world today, attempting to impose their will on others, which is an unrighteous cause. To follow them can bring only sorrow and disaster.
There is also a danger in being over loyal to an individual, rather than to the cause such a one represents. Lyman Wight was a devoted friend and associate of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and when the Prophet was unjustly placed in the dungeon at Liberty Jail, Wight in company with other close friends accompanied Joseph. Following the Prophet's martyrdom, Wight declared: "The only man who can handle me is dead." He became rebellious and unmanageable and refused to follow the leadership of Brigham Young and the Twelve. Finally he led a group of his followers to Texas, where he sank into obscurity and oblivion, while the faithful followers of the Prophet Joseph, who believed in him, not only as a man and a Prophet, and in the gospel principles he taught, followed his successors, Brigham Young and the Twelve, westward, where Brigham Young and the brethren rose to fame and founded a great commonwealth.
When Joseph was thrust in prison at Carthage, at his side was his ever-loyal and faithful elder brother, Hyrum. Joseph knew and had predicted that his life would not be spared. He had attempted to dissuade Hyrum from accompanying him. But Hyrum, with a strong conviction in his heart that his brother was the Prophet, called by the Lord, loyally insisted on sharing the trials and dangers, even though it would mean the giving of his own life. His love for and allegiance to his younger brother is a heartwarming example of true loyalty. In a tribute paid to them by their associated, it was said: "In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated".
Loyalty is a principle of action. One must be loyal to something, a cause, a person, a principle; one must give one's best for that to which one is loyal. But, if one is satisfied to do one's duty only, one is but half loyal. When one, however, is willing to go beyond the call of duty, to go the "second mile", to do more than that for which duty calls, then one is truly loyal.
As Latter-day Saints we have in the gospel the greatest cause in all the world to which to be loyal. We also have true prophets of God to lead and guide us, and a country that guarantees us the right to be loyal to all of them. Shall we not be true to our sacred trust?
May the Lord bless us as individuals with powers of discernment, that we may make proper decisions, righteous decisions: then, with a display of will power and courage, be loyal to those convictions.
May we be loyal to the country in which we live, to the Church in which we enjoy membership, its teachings and its leaders. May we love and be loyal to our parents, our husbands, wives, and families. May we be loyal and true to ourselves and the trusts that are placed in us, so that when the question is raised: "Who's on the Lord's side?" we can step forward with confidence, knowing that we have kept the faith, have justified the confidence and trust placed in us, to the end that we will realize the truth and significance of great teaching that "to be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved," for which I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder S. Dilworth Young
S. Dilworth Young, Conference Report, April 1967, p. 40-41
As I travel over the parts of the vineyard of the Lord to which I am assigned, I marvel at the miracle that is the Church.
Each week the faithful gather to hear instruction and to renew the covenant that they made at the time of their baptism and to receive that blessings of the gifts of the Holy Ghost. The men who call them together are the appointed leaders, those called by revelation to lead the flock into righteousness.
I say appointed leaders, for in this Church we do not wait for men to exhibit the leadership necessary to preside over a stake, or a mission, or a ward, but call them through the guidance of the Spirit. "This one," whispers the Spirit to the soul of the appointed servant, "is the one to now lead at this time." He is presented to the people for their sustaining vote.
Time after time I have seen the multitude of hands raised. Some doubters have said that the vote is automatic. With this I beg to differ. The unanimity of vote is the sign of the great principle of obedience in action, but this cannot conceal the expression on people's faces. Every conference to which I have gone where this action was taken I have witnessed the approval in the expressions exhibited on the faces of the people. More than once I have heard a deep, rumbling, awesome murmur of approval that has swept through a congregation the moment a name was mentioned, even before the vote was called for. I have seen the smiles and nodding of heads as those in tune with the spirit of the meeting gave more than the raising of a hand in approbation. It is this expression, given so freely, that heartens the presiding officer and confirms his inspiration.
Undoubtedly there are those present at these conferences who do not feel the whispering of the Spirit yet they raise their hands in confirmation.
They do more than that, for at the bidding of the newly sustained president-or bishop, as the case may be-they respond to his call and serve faithfully. These may not have been assured that the call came from the Lord, but they are sure that the call came from the servant of the Lord and, for reasons known to themselves, believe that their personal call to service by this new servant came from the Lord. And so it will ever be.
The principle on which this constantly recurring scene is based is found in the great vision given to Abraham and preserved for us, as miraculously almost as the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.
The papyrus containing the vision of Abraham came to Joseph Smith through a series of events that only the guidance of supernatural power could have made possible. The events that brought it about seem natural enough, but they took place at the right moment in history to the right people, with the result that we have knowledge of the vision. I quote from part of it:
"And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;
"And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them".
We acknowledge that in order to obey all things whatsoever we are commanded, we must obey the leaders through whom the commands come. In our personal lives we have the Ten Commandments, the 42nd Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, which states again for our day these commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, and the golden text from Micah to guide us, but in the service of the organized Church we also obey the leaders. And in direct proportion to the degree of that obedience we receive of the Holy Ghost to guide us and sustain us. If we can obey this principle, we shall avoid contention in the Church.
This principle is universal in the I have just now returned from a visit to the Tongan Mission located in one group, of many groups, of island in the far Pacific. The living customs are far different from ours; the culture of the people has taken a different path than has ours. Yet the respond in exactly the same way as we do here. They obey their leaders. On a Sunday one can see them dressed in their lava-lavas, their best shell necklaces over their shoulders, wending their way to sacrament meeting in the branch chapel.
One such chapel is a small building with a thatched roof and meager furniture. There in the tongue of the Tongans the branch president conducts the service. And the members go home uplifted through their obedience to the appointed leader and participation in the ordinance reminding them of their acceptance of Christ. I felt at home among these people, just as much at home as Brother Hinckley expressed here sometime ago when he described his visits to the Saints on Taiwan and in Korea and Japan.
I am thankful for the binding force of the priesthood when made active by the obedience of the people to their leaders. We see the same principle in force in this building this very day, and we rejoice at its continuation in the Church.
I desire to make one more statement. Everywhere in Tonga I was asked to convey the love of the Saints to you, President McKay. They have not forgotten the harassment of the Tongan officials years ago when they found excuse to quarantine you on a nearby island, nor have they forgotten your visit with them after the officials relented.
We tried to visit Niue Island. The same set of circumstances were there. The sea was rough and the captain would not let us go ashore. We talked about your experience in the same situation.
I think I was most moved when we stood in a valley surrounded by cloud-bathed mountains on the edge of a foaming, tumbling stream of clear water in the mountains of Upolu, Samoa. There we read an inscription on a bronze plaque fastened to a monument. It was placed there, it said, in honor of the visit of President McKay to that place, and of the things he had said there. I looked at the school now here in response to President McKay's pledge to the people and could recognize what it is doing to children through their growing years. I do not imitate the Lord as he is quoted in Genesis, but I could see that it was "good".
President McKay, the people standing there with me asked that I bring you their love. With theirs I add mine. Someone had to have the vision of the service to be rendered to those people. That it fell to your lot to have it gives me joy. With these people, our brothers of the blood of Israel, I sustain you as a prophet, seer, and revelator, and witness that from Joseph Smith the Prophet until now we have been led by prophets called of God and sustained by the people. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Theodore M. Burton
Theodore M. Burton, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 42-44
A charge has been given me today to teach the people. What people shall I teach? To teach, I must narrow both subject and class to fit a specific need. Specifically, then, I limit my remarks to the priesthood leaders called by the First Presidency to this annual conference. But priesthood leaders are changed from time to time under inspiration received from God; hence, all brethren receiving the priesthood may prepare themselves for leadership by applying my remarks to themselves.
Since we men need encouragement and assistance from our wives in the performance of our assigned priesthood duties, the sisters should understand the nature of priesthood responsibility and become as Mother Eve, "an help meet" for the man. By the word "meet" is meant a person who is worthy, or of the same ability, quality, and status.
Presidents of every priesthood quorum in the Church of Jesus Christ receive keys of administration for that quorum by which they are authorized to preside over the members thereof. Beginning with the deacons' president and repeated for the president of every quorum, presidents are instructed to sit in council with quorum members, to "teach them their duty, edifying one another, as is given according to covenants".
A priesthood leader's responsibility, then, is personally to watch over an assigned segment of the Church. "The teacher's duty is to watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them;
"And see that the church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty".
This duty to teach and counsel applies even more specifically to those who are chosen to preside over a quorum of the sons of God who hold the powers of the priesthood.
Limiting my remarks to priesthood leaders requires a limit also to the subject to be taught. When the Apostle John wrote to the saints, he urged them to come out of the darkness of sin into the true light of Jesus Christ. By righteous living they were to qualify themselves to receive added spiritual blessings. He reminded those who had so qualified themselves:
"But ye have an unction from the Holy One and ye know all things ". And, he continued:
"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him".
We have been told that oil is the sacred symbol of the spirit's operations. This anointing spoken of by John is an actual anointing with oil, which shall teach people the divinity of Jesus Christ and how to live more righteously. Paul referred to this anointing as he wrote: "Now he which establisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
"Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts".
Where can such anointings and gifts of the Spirit be obtained? The Lord has revealed it to us in these words:
"For, for this cause I commanded Moses that he should build a tabernacle, that they should bear it with them in the wilderness, and to build a house in the land of promise, that a those ordinances might be revealed which had been hid from before the world was.
"Therefore, verily I say unto you, that your anointings, and your washings, and your baptisms for the dead, and your solemn assemblies, and your memorials for your sacrifices by the sons of Levi, and for your oracles in your most holy places wherein you receive conversations, and your statutes and judgments, for the beginning of the revelations and foundation of Zion, and for the glory, honor, and endowment of all her municipals, are ordained by the ordinance of my holy house, which my people are always commanded to build unto my holy name".
Such a house of God, called a temple, is defined as: "... a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God".
The value, therefore, of having members of the Church qualify themselves by righteous living to receive such great spiritual blessings in the temple of God is obvious.
One of the duties of priesthood leaders is to teach, counsel, and train the members of their quorums and their wives and families, so that they will live worthily enough to be able to receive permission to go into the House of the Lord to receive these ordinances and blessings that lead to family exaltation. In addition, they should be encouraged and counseled to return often to the temple for the spiritual uplift such temple attendance will give those who attend. This, then, requires genealogical activity to identify our kindred dead for whom we can then perform those temple ordinances that will open the doors of exaltation for them also. Each time we return to the temple to do such ordinance work for others, we receive a renewal of that spiritual strengthening which brings us personally closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In checking on the spiritual growth of members of his quorum through attendance at the temple, the priesthood leader is faced with the same problem as in checking on the payment of tithes and offerings, which is a necessary preparation for any spiritual service in a member of his priesthood quorum makes tithing payments. It is not necessary to know how much tithing the member pays, but only to be assured that he is a full tithe payer. If he is, the priesthood leader can express appreciation for his faith and devotion, and the leader can then concentrate his encouragement and teaching on those who need help in understanding this principle and the values of obedience to God.
So in checking on temple attendance, it is important to know that each member of the quorum and his wife understand the principles involved and attend the temple regularly. It is not necessary to know how many times a month the member and his wife have been to the temple, any more than the leader needs to know how much tithing has been paid. His only interest is to know that each man for whom he is personally responsible to the Lord has taken advantage of every spiritual blessing to which that member and his wife are entitled by reason of their faith and righteous living. By patient teaching and continual encouragement the leader can cleanse himself of the blood of responsibility for that individual, as explained by Ezekiel:
"So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
"When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
"Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it: if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul".
By wickedness, I mean in this instance those who are slothful in taking advantage of opportunities that God has provided for them. This is what the Lord himself said to the Prophet Joseph Smith, when he stated: "... by this you may know they are under the bondage of sin, because they come not unto me.
"For whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin". By warning, I mean teaching in meekness and in mildness the advantages of obedience.
To fill this teaching requirement, the priesthood leader can obtain from the bishop the names of quorum members and their wives who have received a recommendation to attend the temple to perform temple ordinances. To these he can address a simple inquiry in private: "Have you and your wife been to the temple during the past month?" To those who attended the temple, the priesthood leader can express his appreciation and give them a word of commendation for their offering to the Lord in righteousness.
The leader need neither chide nor rebuke those who failed to take advantage of this glorious opportunity but should encourage them to go to the temple during the current month for the spiritual uplift it will bring. It alerts the leader to the need of checking again at the end of the month to see if that member has caught the vision of this work. If the member and his wife have not gone to the temple by then, the leader knows that the process of teaching and motivation must begin again, and with the help of the home teachers he can begin a program of patient encouragement and teaching that will bring spiritual growth back into their lives.
The major effort must be placed by priesthood leaders and home teachers in a program of teaching that will qualify those not worthy to receive a temple recommendation. Such persons must be taught how to modify their lives so they can find that happiness and joy for which reason man was placed upon the earth to learn.
If we are charged with watching over the Church, the question must remain continually before our eyes: "Have we taught our members unselfishness and service? Are they willing to assist others, both those living and those dead, to come unto Jesus and receive this anointing of God by which they may receive that grace provided for by the atoning sacrifice of our Lord?"
I am reminded of the words of the Book of Mormon, which is an additional witness for the divinity of Jesus Christ:
"For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do".
So to priesthood leaders I can say:
"Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence.
"He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand".
In this one thing, then, I urge leaders of the Priesthood quorums to take positive action and to realize that no report form, no filled-out slip, no written word can ever take the place of a kind and patient teacher. This teacher loves those he teaches and gives them the warmth of his personal attention, as our Lord gives us through his chosen prophets and apostles, who, I testify by personal knowledge, are men of God.
I testify that God does live, that Jesus is divine, that he rose from the dead and is our living advocate before the Father. I pledge anew my love for Jesus Christ, whom I humbly acknowledge as my Lord and King.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder ElRay L. Christiansen
ElRay L. Christiansen, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 45-46
My brothers and sisters, with you I have been thrilled this day since the moment this conference opened and we heard the outstanding message of our President, David O. McKay.
Now in order to meet the demands of the clock, I beg of you to let me "amputate" the first part of my remarks. I hope the hemorrhage is not so great that something will not be left.
Notwithstanding the precious promises made by the Lord as recorded in the scriptures, I discover that many people are still in doubt and disbelief and uncertainty as to the reality of their coming forth in the resurrection. There is nothing more certain than the resurrection of the body; there is nothing more universal than the resurrection. I do not pretend to understand all the complexities of this great event; neither do I know just how the food that I eat is assimilated and transformed, some into bone, some into muscle, some into blood, some into digestive juices. I am not so concerned about the process as I am about the fact.
Amulek, the Nephite prophet, speaks of a complete and literal restitution. Said he: "The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored us to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time".
And our beloved President Joseph Fielding Smith has assured us in these words, that "every fundamental part of every body will be restored to its proper place in the resurrection, no matter what may become of the body in death. If it be burned by fire, lost at sea, no matter what. Every fundamental part of it will be restored to its own proper place." What an enlightening and comforting thought that is.
But what of those who die in infancy? The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that the physical body will develop to its full stature, whether on earth, or in the life hereafter, and he gave assurance that mothers who have laid their children away in infancy may hold them again in their arms and they will, in due time, develop to their perfect stature.
One thing we must keep in mind: all persons will, as a gift of the Redeemer, be raised from mortality to immortality, with perfect bodies, no more subject to aches, or pains, or high blood pressure, or arthritis, or disease, or any kind of physical deformity. But, in order to have the fullness of joy and the fullness of opportunity, and that peace which passeth understanding, and all opportunities in the resurrection-in order to have these blessings, we must earn them through obedience to God and through service to others.
When we are resurrected, I doubt that we will be asked, "How many positions did you hold?" but rather, "How many people did you help?"
Through the justice of God, each of us will receive exactly what he merits. Each will be raised to a condition commensurate with that for which he has qualified himself. The gifts and abilities we have developed here will be restored to us. The knowledge and intelligence we have acquired will continue with us. Our attitudes, our weaknesses, our virtues, our positive attributes will be part of us. Indeed, what we are to be, we are now becoming.
The Book of Mormon teaches that we shall in the resurrection "have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness... and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment and their righteousness".
In summary, then, God organized our spirits and our bodies and then, in his great wisdom, permitted us to create or shape our future. We are reaping in this life what we have sown in the preexistence. We shall reap hereafter what we now sow. It was in harmony with this principle that the Prophet Joseph Smith taught the divine truth that "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".
Therefore, the scriptures assure us that our resurrection shall be according to that glory by which and to which our bodies are quickened.
"Ye who are quickened by a portion of the celestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.
"And they who are quickened by a portion of the terrestrial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness".
And so also with the telestial glory: "And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received.
"For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift".
Such, then, is the reality of life after death.
By divine appointment and by his own acceptance, Jesus died that all might live again; and he provided a plan whereby they who will buy receive, in addition to life hereafter, honor and joy and satisfaction and happiness in the fullness; where we may, if we will, live in a state of never-ending happiness with those we love. To this I testify, bearing also my witness that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith was the instrument in their hands to restore this great gospel and Church and kingdom, and that David O. McKay is today the Prophet of God as surely as any other prophet ever was.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Master. Amen
President Hugh B. Brown
Hugh B. Brown, Conference Report, April 1967, p. 48-51
My dear brothers and sisters: We are all children of the same God, and therefore we are brothers and sisters.
I should like to bear witness of the Master and to the fact of the immortality of the soul. In fact, recent poignant experiences have reminded some of us that a foundation stone of all religion is entwined with the thought of life beyond the grave, of the immortality of the soul, and man's relationship to Deity. Sooner or later life's vicissitudes bring each of us to grips with this important subject, giving us cause to reevaluate our convictions, to reexamine our faith in this essentially spiritual aspect of our religion. Each of us, regardless of color, creed, or nationality, has a rendezvous with the experience that we call death.
The question of the immortality of the soul is the most persistent, the most universal inquiry of all time. It has in every age attracted the attention of the learned and the unlearned, the religious and irreligious, the rich and the poor. No other subject touches human welfare and human happiness so intimately.
The belief that the road of life merges into an endless freeway that leads to a more beautiful home and more fruitful life than any experience in mortality has been the inspiration of the great souls in all ages. This belief, older than the pyramids, antedating the first record of man's thoughts, has been firmly established in the minds and consciousness of the human race. There is a remarkable unanimity on this subject among the leaders throughout the ages, regardless of their adherence to other aspects of religion. This almost universal belief inspires hope, faith, and fortitude as we approach our turn to join that innumerable caravan and take our place in the sacred halls of death.
Revelation is unfolding truth whether in the test tube, the human mind, or message from the Creator. It is the infinite becoming known.
Death is not extinguishing the light, but is putting out the lamp, because the dawn has come. Night never has the last word. The dawn is irresistible.
Both religion and science teach us that nothing is ever annihilated; forms change and patterns are altered. We do not even attempt to anticipate the details, but it is unreasonable to conclude that a law that operates everywhere else in life ceases to operate only in life's highest, noblest form-human personality.
The human spirit shrinks from extinction. It refuses to believe that the departed have vanished like the flame of a burnt-out candle. There has never been an age in which the hope of life, immortal and eternal, has not flamed brightly.
In this world of indestructibility, each of us is a timeless, spaceless unit of energy. Is it not absurd to assume that the infinitesimal electron is of more import in the economy of the universe than the creative consciousness that is I?
If there are permanent values in the universe, it seems that human sympathy, love, mutual service among mankind, intellectuality, and spirituality-the highest and noblest qualities of which the human mind can conceive, qualities which have been produced at tremendous cost and sacrifice-must be permanent.
That the Savior conquered death, after having taken upon himself mortality, gives us the divine assurance that our spirits also transcend death and that our loved ones who have gone before still live. Our spirits are divine, for they are the offspring of Deity; therefore, our spirits cannot be touched by death. It was this transcendent thought that inspired the Apostle Paul to say: "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?".
Faintly we are beginning to discern the fact that the real world is the spiritual world, and that a spiritual civilization must spring from ruins of the old if man is to keep his place in the universe. Life is the absolute power that overrules all else. There can be no cessation. Man does not have the power to destroy life.
Our world is an interesting, beautiful, wonderful, increasingly intelligible place, and in many ways a delightful home, but the question will not be repressed: Does it have some significance beyond what is seen and temporal? Dare we think of a design connecting the antemortal, the mortal, and the post-mortal?
The supreme appetite of man is for life-harmonious, eternal life. Nature provides for the complete fulfillment at some time or place of all of the appetites of man. The desire for immortality is the supreme, the eternal, the everlasting desire.
When I consult my own inner consciousness I find a deep-seated-in fact, an instinctive-feeling of immeasurable oldness, an echo of time immemorial, as well as a feeling of necessary endlessness. No logical reasoning can dispel these feelings. I did not put these feelings in my inner self; I found them there when I grew old enough to introspect my mind. In spite of recurring doubts and criticisms, there they have remained. If we believe in man's divine origin, we must conclude that mankind has a mission that cannot be encompassed in mortality; that power had a divine purpose that cannot be fully employed or utilized during earth life; that every faculty has a function, even though some are not in evidence in our earthly environment.
Each of us must someday face the question propounded by Job: "If a man die, shall he live again?". In other words, is the death of the body the finality of human existence? What becomes of the soul, the self-that intangible but very real essence we call personality? Does it vanish into nothingness?
The heart-hunger of mankind after mortality is instinctive within him, and like all other normal instincts is grounded in the structure of his being. The human spirit, by its very nature, has a passion for life-continuous life. It has eternity stamped upon its inner constitution, and it reflects in its hopes and dreams that which eternally is.
With the tremendous strides that science is making in our day, there is dawning upon this age what might termed a scientific spirituality-a new type of mind that studies the truths of faith with the care and caution and candor of science, yet keeping the warmth and glow and power of faith.
Spiritual insight is as real as scientific insight. Indeed, it is but a higher manifestation of the same thing. The saint as well as the scientist has witnessed the truth of reality. One may redeem his knowledge revelation, and the other, intellectual conclusion, but in both cases it is insight-the conviction reality.
That which impresses one most strongly in the teachings of Jesus is the fact that he did not argue. He stated the sublime truth of immortality of man as though it were an elementary fact that needed no argument to justify its acceptance.
Man, in his mortal state, is not a being completed and perfect. Rather, mortal life is a prenatal state, awaiting birth. As Franklin so truly said, "Life rather a state of embryo, a preparation for life. A man is not completely born until he has passed through death."
Even the best of men, when they come to the end of their days, feel a keen sense of incompleteness. They have been unable to do what they learned and resolved they would do. May this not be a confirmatory suggestion that there is a design still to carried out?
The mind of man is never satisfied with its accomplishments; it seems to be built upon a scale that only life eternal can satisfy. Perhaps this is at Browning meant when he said: "... a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?"
There may be and doubtless will be new conditions, new laws, new methods; but the essential soul will still have its faculties unimpaired-in fact, heightened and clarified-to pursue its quest for truth.
No bodily change, no earthly vicissitude affects the integrity and the permanence of the self. The spirit does not age with the body nor does it perish with the body. It is a divine effluence of reality, and as such must always persist. The self, by its very nature, transcends mortality.
Victor Hugo left us a challenging reflection not long before he died. He said, "The nearer I approach the end the plainer I hear around me the immortal symphonies of the world which invites me. It is marvelous yet simple. For half a century I have been writing my thoughts in prose and in verse; history, philosophy, drama, romance, tradition, satire, ode and song; I have tried all. But I feel I have not said the thousandth part of what is in me. When I go down to the grave I can say like many others,-'I have finished my day's work.' But I cannot say, 'I have finished my life's work.' My day's work will begin again the next morning. The tomb is not a blind alley; it is an open thoroughfare. It closes on the twilight, it opens on the dawn. My work is only beginning; my work is hardly above the foundation. I could gladly see it mounting forever. The thirst for the infinite proves infinity."
When those eleven downhearted men suddenly become aware that Jesus was in their midst-the Jesus who only hours before had been scourged and stabbed on the hill-they, as Luke said, "believed not for joy". It was too good to be true, and then came his marvelous challenge and demonstration as he said: "... handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
"And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet". They saw; they touched, and were touched by his glorious resurrected body. That was the great revelation-Christ was real and touchable.
What I say here now reflects not only Bible study and prayerful meditation, but also actual experience that defies a thousand and one traditions and assumptions. I would not be standing here if it had not come to life within me when I was on the edge of my own abyss.
The hands, feet, and side of Christ had bled in the awful turning of his solitary winepress before they were pierced at Golgotha. His whole body bled in the midst of his vicarious pain. This was an actual experience; it was not a myth.
When the eleven apostles were celebrating an extended Easter at Jerusalem, they were overwhelmed by the implications of his final instructions and seemed moved by an endowment of the Spirit, for they witnessed not only his own unforeseen immortality but also their own immortality. It was the reality of reunion of their lives with his life; it was knowing him again, in their midst, being with them. It was his ministering, dining, sharing with them. It was being close-closer than ever before. They became aware of his great power-indeed, all power both in heaven and in earth had been given unto him.
We bear witness to these New Testament insights, the newest of which is his present touch. To be in touch with Christ means today what it meant to John and Peter and Paul: to see, to receive, and to prize the actual ministrations.
We witness that his voice, his person, has been manifested today in our time and culture. And more: that he will now, as then, manifest himself to those who will come as John came, not counting the cost. He can be and is touched by the power of his divine Sonship.
We bear witness that Christ was the revelation of God, the Father, and I dare proclaim what some creeds have forbidden us to say: that when the disciples knelt at Jesus' feet, embraced his knees, looked into his face, they were beholding and touching a personality who had become absolutely like the Eternal Father.
We bear witness that the touch of Christ, as he is presently glorified, is the touch of the highest nature of God. When he entered the presence of God, the Father, he was transformed into the express image of his person. He became not only the revelation of the Father but also the revelation of redeemed man.
Behold the vibrant Christ who manifests a love that does not flourish on distance, on utter unlikeness, on the removal of similitude! Union and communion-real kinship-are the sharing of all levels of experience.
Behold the Christ who knew all human sickness, that he might have compassion; who was healed and lifted up, that he might have healing and lifting power; who was glorified in the presence of the Father, that he might glorify the Father by glorifying us.
For this cause came he into the world; for this cause he voluntarily offered his life, broke the bands of death, was resurrected from the dead, vouchsafed to all men the blessings of the resurrection, and was glorified by the Father.
One of the best-attested facts in history is the fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He said, "... I go prepare a place for you... that where I am, there you may be also". Paul tells us that "as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive". Hear Christ's inspiring message to Martha and to all the world.
"... I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die".
With Job of old and with the apostles I humbly bear witness that I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the last day upon the earth. I bear this testimony humbly and faithfully, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 51-55
My brothers and sisters: Since our last conference Elder Marion D. Hanks and I have been in Vietnam and other areas in Southeast Asia. In that troubled part of the world we have had many inspiring and sobering experiences, as we have met with our brethren in the armed forces-not only American, but also a few British and Australian.
Particularly sobering were our meetings in South Vietnam. Our first stop was the great military base at Da Nang. There in the base chapel we were greeted by our brethren, most of whom looked so young. Their automatic rifles were stacked along the rear pews, and they sat in their battle fatigues, many of them with a pistol on the right hip and a knife on the left.
They had come down from the Rock Pile, Marble Mountain, and other hot and deadly places whose names are only words in our newspapers, but which to them are battlegrounds where life is ever so fragile and the smell of death is in the air.
I am not disposed to discuss the merits of the war, but I would like to say a few things about some of the young men involved in it. We spent an afternoon in Da Nang in religious services that included a memorial for three of their number recently killed in action. Following that we talked with them individually for hours.
It is a sobering experience to converse with a young man who grew up in a quiet country town not far from here, a boy who was sent off to war and who had just come through 42 days of deadly battle. He had seen 68 of his company of 70 killed. He had been sickened by the atrocities inflicted by the enemy on the helpless native population. He, like most of his associates, was not there of his own wish, but in response to an obligation imposed upon him, and, without fanfare or heroics, he was doing his duty honorably as he understood that duty.
I turned to another young man who stood beside him. He was a handsome boy, tall, clean-faced, wholesome in his look. Hoping to relieve the somber tone of my conversation with the first, I said lightly and half jokingly, "What are you going to do when you go home? Have you ever thought of it?"
A wistful sort of light came into his eyes. "Have I ever thought of it? I think of little else, sir. We're moving north again tomorrow, and if I can last another two months I know exactly what I'm going to do when I go home. I'm going to do three things. First, I'm going back to school and finish my education so that I can earn a living at something worthwhile.
"I'm also going to work in the Church and try to do some good. I've seen how desperately the world needs what the Church has to offer.
"And then I'm going to find me a beautiful girl and marry her forever."
I countered with a question, "Are you worthy of that kind of a girl?"
"I hope so, sir," he said. "It hasn't been easy to walk through this filth. It's been pretty lonely at times. But you know, I couldn't let my folks down.
I know what my mother expects. I know what she's saying in her prayers. She'd rather have me come home dead than unclean."
I didn't sleep well that night. For one thing, it was terribly hot and the bed was not comfortable. For another, every few minutes a Phantom Jet would roar overhead. And beyond that was the statement of this young man who was about to go north again to face death.
I don't know whether he lived or died. I am sorry that I do not remember his name. We met and talked with so many and our schedule was so heavy that I do not recall his name or where he was from, but I have not forgotten him. I thought of him when I recently read of the growing multitude of so-called hippies, beatniks, glue-sniffers, goofball addicts, and makers and partakers of LSD. I thought of him when I talked with a school dropout who had come to think it more important to buy an old jalopy than to go on with his education. I thought of him when I talked with two young people, the one a once-beautiful girl and the other, a once-handsome young man, who had blighted their lives in walking a sordid trail of immorality.
I would that the Lord would give me the power to say something out of that young marine's words to youth wherever they may be listening, to the young men and women of this challenging generation in this and other lands. He mentioned three things he wanted to do, and then spoke indirectly of another he was already doing. Out of these I would like to formulate a challenge, a series of four challenges to youth. They are based on his statements and on the vital gospel in which he and I believe. Though these challenges may sound trite and old-fashioned, I hope you will not close your ears to them. All that is old e is not necessarily unworthy, as this young man had concluded while walking the lonely jungle patrols of Vietnam. Nor is all that is necessarily good, as I have concluded while observing young people throwing their lives away in debilitating practices.
I therefore offer you these challenges:
1. That you prepare for usefulness. 2. That you serve with faith. 3. That you walk in virtue. 4. That you marry for eternity.
The first: Preparation for usefulness.
If ever there was a gospel, it is the gospel of work. Jehovah established the law when he declared, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread".
Without labor there is neither wealth, nor comfort, nor progress. It was said of old, "... the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags".
We are commemorating this year the hundredth anniversary of the completion of this great Tabernacle in which we meet today. Not long before his death the late President John F. Kennedy spoke from this podium, as had many of his predecessors. At the conclusion of his address, the Tabernacle Choir sang with a majesty it has never excelled, Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord... His truth is marching on."
As the sound rolled through this historic house, touching the emotions of everyone here assembled, I felt a catch in my throat and a tingle in my spine, not alone for the presence in this building of the chief executive of the nation, not alone for the magnificent music of this choir, but more especially for the quiet men of faith and vision who a century ago laid the stone of the great buttresses which form the walls that encircle us and support the roof that shelters us. They were people possessed of a dream of destiny. This is their handiwork, prayerfully wrought. Notwithstanding the fact that they were largely isolated in this desert land, notwithstanding the fact that they erected this before ever the railroad came to this part of this country, they built with an excellence unsurpassed in our time. They possessed the skill, they nurtured the dream, and they labored with devotion to make this magnificent structure a reality.
Today one need not look far in this or other lands to witness a growing tendency toward superficiality and irresponsibility.
I hope that all who are within the sound of my voice, and particularly the youth, will see in this great and sacred structure an example of the fruits of excellence. I do not expect that all shall pursue academic training. But I would hope that all would seek to develop skills and abilities with which to make a contribution to the world in which they live. For the century during which this tabernacle has been an assembly place for our people, there has gone forth from this pulpit the counsel of wise and inspired men to each new generation to secure that preparation which will make them useful to society, bring satisfaction to their lives, assure their families the comforts and graces which alone come of effort, and dignify their divine inheritance as sons and daughters of God.
Now to the second item suggested by my young friend in Vietnam-to labor to help build the kingdom of God. To all I say, Serve with faith. The world so much needs young men and women who love the Lord and who will work to build his kingdom.
A night or two ago I received a phone call from an officer just returned from Vietnam. He had hoped to be here today. I was with him during the time we were there. I heard him speak of his reluctance to go to Asia. It was not easy to leave his wife and seven children, including triplet sons three years of age. "But," he said, "I resolved I would give the Air Force the best I had, and I would try to help my brethren in the Church."
He went on to say quietly but earnestly, "I think I have done a better work here than I have ever done before in my life."
I can bear witness to the great good he has done. Not only has he been highly honored by his government and by the government of South Vietnam; his good example and his faithful service under difficult circumstances have brought religious activity into the lives of hundreds of men. I have heard many of these testify of the vast good that has come to them, of the great strength they have gained from such activity in the Church.
To young people everywhere I should like to say that you need the Church, and the Church needs you. There is no better association than that with other young men and women of faith who recognize God as their Eternal Father and Jesus Christ as the living Savior of the world.
That association will give you strength. It will give you companionship. It will challenge your abilities. It will afford you opportunity for growth. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there is office and responsibility for all.
I have seen backward men become giants as they served in the work of the Lord. The cause of Christ does not need critics; it needs workers. And to restate an old quotation, "Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can't, you're right."
To those of this generation the Lord has said: "... be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.
"Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind".
That, my young friends, is the substance of the matter: "the Lord requireth a heart and a willing mind."
And now to the third challenge: Walk in virtue.
I commend to you the stirring and inspirational message from President McKay at the opening session of this conference. In behalf of the vast audience who did not hear that message, I should like to read a paragraph from this man whom we sustain as Prophet:
"In this day when modesty is thrust into the background, and chastity is considered an outmoded virtue, I appeal to parents especially, and to my fellow teachers, both in and out of the Church, to teach youth to keep their souls unmarred and unsullied from this and other debasing sins, the consequences of which will smite and haunt them intimately until their conscience is seared and their character becomes sordid. A chaste, not a profligate, life is the source of virile manhood. The test of true womanhood comes when the woman stands innocent at the court of chastity. All qualities are crowned by this most precious virtue of beautiful womanhood. It is the most vital part of the foundation of a happy married life, and is the source of strength and perpetuity of the race."
To which I wish to add a divine promise uttered long ago by the Savior of the world, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God".
And now finally: Marry for eternity.
My young friend in Vietnam was not simply indulging a romantic dream when he said he planned to return and find a beautiful girl and marry her forever.
One of the distinguishing features of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a belief in the divine nature of the family as an institution ordained of God. Here center the most sacred of all human relationships. Life is eternal. Love is eternal. And God our Eternal Father designed and has made it possible that our families shall be eternal.
In that great colloquy between the apostles and the Christ wherein the Savior asked, "Whom say ye that I am?" and Peter answered "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," Jesus went on to say, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven".
That same priesthood authority has been restored to earth by this same Peter, and it is exercised today in the temples of this Church. Those who kneel at the altars in these holy houses are not joined only until death. They are sealed for all eternity as families.
On Monday I shall be with a wonderful couple who have come all the way from Korea to enter the temple that stands a few feet to the east of us, there to be joined together for time and for eternity under the authority of the Holy Priesthood. Their faith, like the faith of that young marine in Southeast Asia, is such that no sacrifice is too great, no cost too high to bind together forever those whom they love most.
I give you my witness and my testimony that this authority is among us today. I give you my witness that God our Eternal Father lives and that Jesus is the Christ. I invoke upon you, my choice young friends, the choice blessings of heaven as you go forward with your lives, that you may choose those values that are enduring, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 55-58
To the east and a little south from where we are now meeting, marking the entrance to the valley of the Great Salt Lake, standing as a sentinel pointing the way, is located "This Is the Place" monument. Here we see featured Brigham Young, his back turned to the privations, hardships, and struggles of the long desert way, his outstretched arm pointing to the valley of precious promise.
Miles that once took months are now traveled in minutes. The many hundreds of thousands of visitors who each year pause at the monument tingle with the spirit of pioneer tradition. Such tradition reaches its high point on Pioneer Day, July 24 of each year. A grateful posterity sets aside the busy cares of our fast-moving world and reflects for a moment on the everlasting principles that helped to guide those noble pioneers to their promised land.
That first trek of 1847, organized and led by Brigham Young, is described by historians as one of the great epics of United States history. Mormon pioneers by the hundreds suffered and died from disease, exposure, or starvation. There were some who, lacking wagons and teams, literally walked the 1,300 miles across the plains and through the mountains, pushing and pulling handcarts. In these groups, one in six perished.
For many the journey didn't begin at Nauvoo, Kirtland, Far West, or New York but rather in distant England, Scotland, Scandinavia and Germany. Tiny children could not fully comprehend nor understand the dynamic faith that motivated their parents to leave behind family, friends, comfort, and security. A little one might inquiringly ask, "Mommy, why are we leaving home? Where are we going?"
"Come along, precious one; we're going to Zion, the city of our God."
Between the safety of home and the promise of Zion stood the angry and treacherous waters of the mighty Atlantic. Who can recount the fear that gripped the human heart during those perilous crossings? Prompted by the silent whisperings of the Spirit, sustained by a simple, yet abiding faith, they trusted in their God and set sail on their journey. Europe was behind, America ahead.
On board one of those overcrowded and creaking vessels of yesteryear were my great grandparents, their tiny family, and a few meager possessions. The waves were so high, the voyage so long, the quarters so cramped. Tiny Mary had always been frail, but now, with the passage of each day, her anxious mother knew the little one was becoming especially weak. She had taken seriously ill. No neighborhood drugstore. No family doctor. No modern hospital. Just the steady roll of the tired, old ship. Day after day worried parents peered for land, but there was no land. Now Mary could not stand. Lips that were too weak to speak just trembled with silent but eloquently expressed wonderment. The end drew near. Little Mary peacefully passed beyond this veil of tears.
As the family and friends gathered on the open deck, the ship's captain directed the service, and that precious, ever-so-small body, placed tenderly in a tear-stained canvas, was committed to the angry sea. Strong father, in emotion-choked tones, comforted grieving mother, repeating, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. We'll see our Mary again!"
Such scenes were not uncommon. Tombstones of sage and rock marked tiny graves the entire route from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City. Such was the price some pioneers paid. Their bodies are buried in peace, but their names live on evermore.
Tired oxen lumbered, wagon wheels creaked, brave men toiled, war drums sounded, and coyotes howled. Our faith-inspired and storm-driven ancestors pressed on. They, too, had their cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.
Often they sang:
"Come, come ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear; But with joy wend your way. Though hard to you this journey may appear, Grace shall be as your day... "All is well. All is well."
These pioneers remembered the words of the Lord: "My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion".
As the long, painful struggle approached its welcomed end, a jubilant spirit filled each heart. Tired feet and weary bodies somehow found new strength.
Time-marked pages of a dusty pioneer journal speak movingly to us: "We bowed ourselves down in humble prayer to Almighty God with hearts full of thanksgiving to Him, and dedicated this land unto Him for the dwelling place of His people."
All struggle had not ceased; privation and hardship had not disappeared. Mrs. Rebecca Riter describes Christmas Day in 1847 in the valley of the Great Salt Lake: "The winter was cold. Christmas came and the children were hungry. I had brought a peck of wheat across the plains and hid it under a pile of wood. I thought I would cook a handful of wheat for the baby. Then I thought how we would need wheat for seed in the spring, so I left it alone."
The crude homes were described by a small boy in these terms: "There was no window of any kind whatever in our house. Neither was there a door. My mother hung up an old quilt, which served as a door for the first winter. This was our bedroom, our parlor, our sitting room, our kitchen, our sleeping room, everything in this room of about 12 x 16 feet. How in the world we all got along in it I do not know. I recollect that my dear old mother stated that no queen who ever entered her palace was ever more happy or proud of shelter and the blessings of the Lord than was she when she entered that completed dugout."
Such were the trials, the hardships, struggles, and heartaches of a former day. They were met with resolute courage and an abiding faith in a living God. The words of their Prophet leader provided their pledge: "And this shall be our covenant-that we will walk in all the ordinances of the Lord".
The passage of time dims our memories and diminishes our appreciation for those who walked the path of pain, leaving behind a tear-marked trail of nameless graves. But what of today's challenge? Are there no rocky roads to travel, no rugged mountains to climb, chasms to cross, trails to blaze, or rivers to ford? Or is there a very present need for that pioneer spirit to guide us away from the dangers that threaten to engulf us and lead us rather to a Zion of safety?
In the two decades since the end of World War II standards of morality have lowered and lowered. Today we have more people in jail, in reformatories, on probation, and in trouble than ever before. From the padded expense account to grand larceny, from petty crimes to crimes of passion, the figures are higher than ever and going higher. Crime spirals upward! Decency careens downward! Many are on a giant roller coaster of disaster, seeking the thrills of the moment while sacrificing the joys of eternity. We conquer space but cannot control self. Thus we forfeit peace.
Can we somehow muster the courage, that steadfastness of purpose, that characterized the pioneers of a former generation? Can you and I, in actual fact, be pioneers today? The dictionary defines a pioneer as "one who goes before, showing others the way to follow." Oh, how the world needs such pioneers today!
We forget how the Greeks and Romans prevailed magnificently in a barbaric world and how that triumph ended, how a slackness and softness finally came over them to their ruin. In the end, more than they wanted freedom, they wanted security, a comfortable life; and they lost all-security and comfort and freedom. From the confusion of our modern world, sincere persons searchingly ask themselves: "To whom shall we listen? Whom shall we follow? Whom shall we serve?"
Today, chronic strife even permeates the personal province of the Prince of Peace. Contention thrives where taught he who declared, "... contention is not of me, but is of the devil". However, when we have ears that truly hear, we will be mindful of the echo from Capernaum's past. Here multitudes crowded around Jesus, bringing the sick to be healed; a palsied man picked up his bed and walked, and a Roman centurion's faith restored his servant's health. Many turn away from our Elder Brother, who said, "I am the way, the truth and the life", and rather follow blindly after that Pied Piper of sin who would lead us down the slippery slopes to our own destruction. He cunningly calls to troubled youth in truly tempting tones: "Just this once won't matter." "Everyone is doing it." "Don't be old-fashioned."
Thank God for the spirit expressed by one youth who saw through Satan's deceit and boldly declared: "I am old-fashioned enough to believe in God, to believe in the dignity and potential of his creature, man; and I am realistic, not idealistic, enough to know that I am not alone in these feelings."
President David O. McKay paid faithful youth the highest compliment when he recently said: "There has never been a time when we had greater reason to be proud of our young people than at present."
The unsatisfied yearnings of the soul will not be met by a never-ending quest for joy midst the thrills of sensation and vice. Vice never leads to virtue. Hate never points to love. Cowardice never reflects courage. Doubt never inspires faith.
It is not difficult to withstand the mockings and unsavory remarks of foolish ones who would ridicule chastity, honesty, and obedience to God's commands. The world has ever belittled adherence to principle. Times change. Practices persist. When Noah was instructed to build an ark, the foolish populace looked at the cloudless sky, then scoffed and jeered-until the rain came.
In the Western Hemisphere, those long centuries ago, people doubted, disputed, and disobeyed until the fire consumed Zarahemla, the earth covered Moronihah, and water engulfed the land of Moroni. Jeering, mocking, ribaldry, and sin were no more. They had been replaced by sullen silence, dense darkness. The patience of God had expired, his timetable fulfilled.
Must we learn such costly lessons over and over again? When we fail to profit from the experiences of the past, we are doomed to repeat them with all their heartache, suffering, and anguish. Haven't we the wisdom to obey him who designed the plan of salvation-rather than that serpent who despised its beauty?
In the words of the poet, "Wouldst thou be gathered to Christ's chosen flock, shun the broad way too easily explored, And let thy path be hewn out of the rock, The living rock of God's eternal word."
Can we not follow the Prince of Peace, that pioneer who literally showed the way for others to follow? His divine plan can save us from the Babylons of sin, complacency, and error. His example points the way. When faced with temptation, he shunned it. When offered the world, he declined it. When asked for his life, he gave it!
"'Come, follow me', the Savior said, Then let us in his footsteps tread, For thus alone can we be one With God's own loved, begotten Son. "For thrones, dominions, kingdoms, powers, And glory great and bliss are ours If we, throughout eternity, Obey his words, 'Come, follow me.'"
Now is the time. This is the place. May we follow him, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 58-62
My beloved brothers and sisters-all children of the same Father, in the spirit: Humbly and gratefully I address you, with a prayer that what I say will be pleasing to the Lord.
Nearly two thousand years ago a perfect man walked the earth: Jesus the Christ. He was the son of a heavenly father and an earthly mother. He is the God of this world, under the Father. He taught men truth, that they might be free. His example and precepts provide the great standard, the only sure way, for all mankind. He became the first and only one who had the power to reunite his body with his spirit after death. By his power all men who have died shall be resurrected. Before him one day we all must stand to be judged by his laws. He lives today and in the not too distant future shall return, in triumph, to subdue his enemies, to reward men according to their deeds, and to assume his rightful role to rule and reign in righteousness over the entire earth.
Nearly two hundred years ago, some inspired men walked this land of America-not perfect men, but men raised up by the Perfect Man to perform a great work. Foreordained were they, to lay the foundation of this republic, the Lord's base of operations in these latter days. Blessed by the Almighty in their struggle for liberty and independence, the power of heaven rested on these founders as they drafted that great document for governing men, the Constitution of the United States. Like the Ten Commandments, the truths on which the Constitution was based were timeless; and also, as with the Decalogue, the hand of the Lord was in it. They filled their mission well. From them we were endowed with a legacy of liberty-a constitutional republic.
But today the Christian constitutionalist mourns for his country. He sees the spiritual and political faith of his fathers betrayed by wolves in sheep's clothing. He sees the forces of evil increasing in strength and momentum under the leadership of Satan, the archenemy of freedom. He sees the wicked honored and the valiant abused. He senses that his own generation faces Gethsemanes and Valley Forges that may yet rival or surpass the trials of the early apostles and the men of '76. And this gives him cause to reflect on the most basic of fundamentals, the reason for our existence. Once we understand the fundamental purpose for mortality, we may more easily chart a correct course in the perilous seas that are engulfing our nation.
This life is a probation: a probation in which you and I prove our mettle, a probation that has eternal consequences for each of us. And now is our time and season-as every generation has had theirs-to learn our duties and to do them.
The Lord has so arranged things in this life that men are free agents unto themselves to do good or evil. The Lord allows men to only go so far, but the latitude is great enough that some men promote much wickedness and other men much righteousness.
Clearly, there would be little trial of faith if we received our full reward immediately for every goodly deed, or immediate retribution for every sin. But that there will be an eventual reckoning for each, there is no question.
The Lord is displeased with wickedness, and he will help those who oppose it. But he has given all of us freedom to choose, while reserving for himself our final judgment. And herein lies the hope of all Christian constitutionalists. Why?
Because the fight for freedom is God's fight. For free agency is an eternal principle. It existed before this world was formed; it will exist forever. Some men may succeed in denying some aspects of this God-given freedom to their fellowmen, but their success is temporary. Freedom is a law of God, an eternal law. And, like any of God's laws, men cannot break it with impunity. They can only break themselves upon it. So when a man stands for freedom, he stands with God. And as long as he stands for freedom, he stands with God. Therefore, any man will be eternally vindicated and rewarded who stands for freedom.
Blessings for obedience
Men receive blessings by obedience to God's laws, and without obedience there is no blessing. Before the final triumphal return of the Lord, the question as to whether we may save our constitutional republic is simply based on two factors: the number of patriots and the extent of their obedience.
That the Lord desires to save this nation that he raised up, there is no doubt. But that he leaves it up to us, with his help, is the awful reality.
There is a time and season for all righteous things, and many of life's failures arise when men neither take the time nor find the season to perform their eternal duties. What, then, in this time and season may best equip us to save our Christian constitutional legacy, while at the same time rescuing our own souls? May I humbly submit six suggestions:
1. Spirituality. In the Book of Mormon, sacred to me as scripture, the Lord states that America is a land choice above all others and that it shall remain free so long as the inhabitants worship the God of the land, Jesus Christ.
Certainly spirituality is the foundation upon which any battle against sin and tyranny must be waged. And because this is basically the struggle of the forces of Christ versus Antichrist, it is imperative that our people be in tune with the supreme leader of freedom, the Lord our God. And men only stay in tune when their lives are in harmony with God, for apart from God we cannot succeed, but as a partner with God, we cannot fail. We must be in the amoral and immoral world, but not of it.
2. Balance. We have many responsibilities, and one cannot expect the full blessings of a kind Providence if he neglects any major duty.
A man has duties to his church, his home, his country, and his profession or job.
Duty to Church-Each man, in communication with God, must determine his responsibility to the Church. This becomes a serious consideration in a day when many pulpits are being turned into pipelines of collectivist propaganda, preaching the social gospel and denying basic principles of salvation. The least any Christian can do is to study daily the word of the Lord and seek divine aid through daily prayer. We invite all men to examine prayerfully. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-the Mormon Church-which I testify is the Church of Christ, restored to the earth and led today by a prophet of God.
Duty to home-Fathers, you cannot delegate your duty as the head of the home. Mothers, train up your children in righteousness; do not attempt to save the world and thus let your own fireside fall apart. For many years now the Mormon Church has advised parents to set aside one night a week when the family meets together for an evening at home. At this time family goals and duties are discussed, spiritual guidance given, and recreation enjoyed. To this end the Church has published and distributes, free of charge, a home evening manual with helpful suggestions for each week's activities.
The duty of parents is to be of help to each other and to their children; then comes their duty to their neighbors, community, nation, and world, in that order. The home is the rock foundation, the cornerstone of civilization. No nation will ever rise above its homes. A modern prophet declares that: "No other success can compensate for failure in the home."
Duty to country-No one can delegate his duty to preserve his freedom, for the price of liberty is still eternal vigilance. There are now thousands of businessmen behind the Iron Curtain who, if they had their lives to live over, would balance their time more judiciously and give more devotion to their civic responsibilities. An ounce of energy in the preservation of freedom is worth a ton of effort to get it back once it is lost.
Duty to job-Every man should provide the necessities of food, clothing, and shelter for his family. As Paul wrote to Timothy:
"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel".
Indolence invites the benevolent straightjacket of the character-destroying welfare state. But a man pays too high a price for worldly success if in his climb to prominence he sacrifices his spiritual, home, and civic responsibilities. How a person should apportion his time among his several duties requires good judgment and is a matter over which each should invite divine assistance.
3. Courageous action. I believe that, while we should ask the Lord's blessings on all our doings and should never do anything upon which we cannot ask his blessings, we should not expect the Lord to do for us what we can do for ourselves. I believe in faith and works, and that the Lord will bless more fully the man who works for what he prays for than he will the man who only prays.
Today you cannot effectively fight for freedom and not be attacked, and those who think they can are deceiving themselves. While I do not believe in stepping out of the path of duty to pick up a cross I do not need, a man is a coward who refuses to pick up a cross that clearly lies within his path.
A man must not only stand for the right principles, but he must also fight for them. Those who fight for principle can be proud of the friends they've gained and the enemies they've earned.
4. Education. We must each of us do our homework. "My people are destroyed," said Hosea, "for lack of knowledge". We must be wise as serpents; for, as the Apostle Paul said, we wrestle "against the rulers of the darkness... against spiritual wickedness in high places".
We are going through the greatest, most insidious propaganda campaign of all time. Even the character-destroying "credibility gap" seems to be gaining respectability. We cannot believe all we read, and what we can believe is not all of the same value. We must sift. We must learn by study and prayer.
Study the scriptures and study the mortals who have been most consistently accurate about the most important things. When your freedom and your eternal welfare are at stake, your information best be accurate.
5. Health. To meet and beat the enemy will require clear heads and strong bodies. Hearts and hands grow strong, based on what they are fed. Let us take into our body and soul only those things that will make us more effective instruments. We need all the physical, mental, and moral power we can get.
Righteous concern about conditions is commendable when it leads to constructive action. But undue worry is debilitating. When we have done what we can do, then let's leave the rest to God.
Man needs beneficial recreation, a change of pace that refreshes him for heavy tasks ahead. Man also must take time to meditate, to sweep the cobwebs from his mind, so that he might get a more firm grip on the truth and spend less time chasing phantoms and dallying in projects of lesser worth.
Clean hearts and healthful food, exercise, early sleep and fresh air, wholesome recreation and meditation, combined with optimism that comes from fighting for the right and knowing you'll eventually win for keeps-this is the tonic every true Christian patriot needs and deserves.
6. Be Prepared. We have a duty to survive, not only spiritually but also physically. Not survival at the cost of principles, for this is the surest way to defeat-but a survival that comes from intelligent preparation. We face days ahead that will test the moral and physical sinews of all of us.
The scriptural parable of the five wise and the five foolish virgins is a reminder that one can wait too long before he attempts to get his spiritual and temporal house in order. Are we prepared?
A man should not only be prepared to protect himself physically, but he should also have on hand sufficient supplies to sustain himself and his family in an emergency. For many years the leaders of the Mormon Church have recommended, with instructions, that every family have on hand at least a year's supply of basic food, clothing, fuel, and provision for shelter. This has been most helpful to families suffering temporary reverses. It can and will be useful in many circumstances in the days ahead. We also need to get out of financial bondage, to be debt free.
Now these suggestions regarding spirituality, balance, courageous action, education, health, and preparation are given not only to help equip one for the freedom struggle, but also to help equip one for eternal life.
Those who hesitate to get into this fight because it is controversial fail to realize that life's decisions should be based on principles, not on Gallup polls.
There were men at Valley Forge who weren't sure how the revolution would end, but they were in a much better position to save their own souls and their country than those timid men whose major concern was deciding which side was going to win, or how to avoid controversy.
The basic purpose of life is to prove ourselves, not to be with the majority when it is wrong. Those who hesitate to get into the fight for freedom because they're not sure if we're going to win fail to realize that we will win in the long run, and for good.
Time is on the side of truth, and truth is eternal. Those who are fighting against freedom and other eternal principles of right may feel confident now, but they are shortsighted.
This is still God's world. The forces of evil, working through some mortals, have made a mess of a good part of it. But it is still God's world. In due time when each of us has had a chance to prove himself-including whether or not we are going to stand up for freedom-God will interject himself, and the final and eternal victory shall be for free agency. And then shall those weak-willed souls on the sidelines and those who took the wrong but temporarily popular course lament their decisions.
Let us get about our business, for any Christian constitutionalist who retreats from this battle jeopardizes his life here and hereafter. Seldom has so much responsibility hung on so few, so heavily; but our numbers are increasing, and we who have been warned have a responsibility to warn our neighbor.
To his disciples, the Lord said that they should be of good cheer, for he had overcome the world -and so he had. And so can we, if we are allied with him. Time is on the side of truth, and the wave of the future is freedom. There is no question of the eventual, final, and lasting triumph of righteousness. The major question for each of us is what part will we play in helping to bring it to pass.
This is a glorious hour in which to live. Generations past and future will mark well our response to our awesome duty. There is a reason why we have been born in this day. Ours is the task to try to live and perpetuate the principles of the Christ and the Constitution in the face of tremendous odds. May we, with God's help have strength for the battle and fill our mission in honor for God, family, and country.
The Lord declared that "if ye are prepared ye shall not fear". May we prepare, then fear not, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 64-67
My beloved brothers and sisters and especially the youth: The song "O My Father" has been traditional in the Kimball family since I was an infant. My grandfather, Heber C. Kimball, was buried, I believe, from this Tabernacle and it was sung then. It was beautifully sung today. I think I have never heard it sung more reverently.
In his impressive opening sermon on Thursday, President David O. McKay spoke with feeling of "the threatening dangers that are clearly on the horizon," and he sounded a warning to young people who "in their yearning for a good time are often tempted to indulge in the things that appeal to the baser side of humanity."
This world of youth is full of temptations and snares and booby traps. It is not wholly different from earlier worlds, but these problems to solve and situations to meet seem to be accentuated.
There are the usual rebellions and temptations of the ages; but today, the urges manifest themselves in new forms. The car with its privacy and possible distances has multiplied the possibilities of evil. The revolution on the campus has unleashed new demands for the so-called freedoms of thought and of action. There are marches and riots against restraint and limitation.
Many youth have exhausted the usual pleasures that seemed to satisfy their predecessors; and now, in their boredom, they demand new experiences they call "kicks," which often run into hazardous immoral, indecent activities, bringing destruction to body and mind and soul.
The so-called "new morality" is but the old immorality in a new setting, except perhaps less restrained, less inhibited. Freedom of sex, freedom to drink and smoke, and freedom to rebel and march-all come into the picture. Such evils as glue sniffing and LSD are taking their toll, and narcotics are introduced by dope pushers to unsuspecting youth. Mugging, brutality, and many other aberrations-all come in turn supposedly to relieve boredom as new "kicks." All these and more fester themselves like a leech upon unprotected folks, later to become the tyrannical master. The simple experiment becomes a complex habit; the embryo becomes a giant; the little innovation becomes a dictator; and the person becomes the slave with a ring in his nose. The so-called freedom becomes abject slavery.
I am happy that the great majority of our youth are stalwart; but realizing that evil is everywhere present and the evil one eager to tempt our finest youth, we are obligated to broadcast a warning to those who will listen.
As an example of the increasing pressures of youth to fall prey to the sins of the world, we quote the statement of Wallace Sterling, president of Leland Stanford University. He says that "since May, students over 21 have been allowed to drink alcoholic beverages in campus residences... A five-year study of student development at Stanford has shown that for more than three out of four students, drinking is well established... even at the time they enter Stanford and... is apparently sanctioned by their peers, their parents, and society."
Paul warns against the "principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places".
Many fine young persons have been trapped by evil, little realizing that they are in danger-like standing on a crumbling ledge.
I am indebted to my good friend, Jim Smith, formerly of central Arizona, who told me the following story:
"Long years ago when I was a little boy and rode the range with the men, tending the cattle and helping with the roundup, I used to look forward to the 'rest stop' under the wide spreading branches of a most beautiful tree on Ash Creek.
"How we used to enjoy it and admire it with its uniform shape and its thick green foliage! How we came to look forward to it, depend on it, and almost love it as we came to think of it as our very own, having been planted there for our comfort and to satisfy our needs.
"Its green coolness was a haven of protection for the birds that made their nests in its branches and perched upon the outer twigs for their chorus rehearsals.
"The cattle sought out its cool shade and the soft, pulverized, unrocky ground under it for their afternoon relaxation.
"And we thirsty cowboys always made a stop to get a cool drink from the canteen, perhaps to play mumblepeg for a few minutes, and to stretch our tired, cramped limbs for a few moments as we rested from the hot summer Arizona sun.
"As we lay on the soft cool earth on our backs and looked up into the tree, we saw high in one of the limbs a little sprig of mistletoe. It stood out in contrast from the grayer leafage of the tree and was not unattractive in its dark green dress with its little whitish berries.
"I imagined I could hear the gigantic tree saying to the little mistletoe, 'Ha! little friend! Welcome to stay with me. In my great strength, I can easily spare you a little of my sap, which I create from the sun and air and the water under the creek bed. There is plenty for all, and you in your smallness can do me no harm!' "
My friend Smith continues:
"Years later when I was a man, I again came up Ash Creek, again driving cattle. Imagine my consternation and sadness to find the beautiful tree of my adoration dry and dead, its long jagged branches reaching high like the bony fingers of a skeleton. Not even an uninhabited bird nest graced its forks, no cattle lazed under its branches, no foliage covered its grim nakedness, and no welcome was there to traveler or cowboy to take shelter under its nude wretchedness, and already its limbs were being hacked away by woodcutters.
"The infinitely beautiful tree of my youth was now the ugliest tree on Ash Creek."
In seeking for the cause of such devastation, I saw hanging from the limbs of the tree great clusters of mistletoe-the parasite of the tree. The translucent glutinous berries perhaps had been carried by a bird or the wind. The stickiness of the berry served to attach it to the tree limb or host plant until germination was complete, the little sprout always turning toward the point of attachment.
And as I pondered, this thought came to me: Who would ever dream that a sticky little white mistletoe berry would overpower and kill a huge, beautiful tree? How like the little mistletoe is the first cigarette or first drink! How like this predatory plant is the first lie or dishonest act! How like this parasitic growth is the first crime, the first immoral act!
This particular group of youth little dreamed that an insignificant little bottle could finally destroy a mighty soul. It was for kicks, they said, that they took the alcoholic beverage with them to the party. They felt they had proved they were mature and not "chicken." Future parties and associations seemed to be weak without it. It came to be a regular thing, a lift from boredom, and an escape from depressions, a hideout from problems.
How could these young people know except through advice and counsel from others that the bottle was a demon, that it would become master, that like the mistletoe it would take over and bleed the host?
How could these youth know with their first drink that it would become a habit, a part of them? How could they believe the parasite would waste their precious needed money, break up their homes, rob them of their self-respect, or cause numberless accidental deaths, create worlds of unhappiness, and destroy the mighty soul?
Neither the tree nor the little carrier bird could possibly know that the waxy, sticky little mistletoe seed would kill the mighty ash. But the youth who begins to drink can know that eventual destruction and loss face him if he lets this drinking become a habit, for he or she is a child of God, created in his image, born of royal blood to become a king or queen.
I worked with such a person who in his youth laughed at the thought that he might become involved beyond his powers. He scoffed at the suggestion that he was losing his power of resistance-almost insulted at the suggestion that he was fast becoming a slave to a merciless, tyrannical master, but I heard him one day in sober moments curse himself and cry out, "What a waste of everything good! How senseless. How stupid!"
I pondered again: How like the little mistletoe was the abominable practice of cheating, the first little dishonest act! This particular boy died in the gas chamber, a cigarette between his lips. He had stood tall like the tree on Ash Creek. He had been clean, honorable, and loved but had become barren, desolate, and a menace to society, untrusted, unloved. It had begun with cheating, a little seductive vice no bigger than a mistletoe branch, no stickier than a mistletoe berry. Cheating was done in games and in school lessons. There were little inconsequential misappropriations, followed by thefts, small and larger, which finally ran into armed robberies, to killing, and to the gas chamber.
Whoever suggested that the little white sweet berry was tasteless or the mistletoe without color? How else would it attract? How else would it be propagated and spread? Whoever said that sin was not fun? Whoever claimed that Lucifer was not handsome, persuasive, easy, friendly? Whoever said that sin was unattractive, undesirable, or nauseating in its acceptance?
Transgression wears elegant gowns and sparkling apparel. It is highly perfumed, has attractive features, a soft voice. It is found in educated circles and sophisticated groups. It provides sweet and comfortable luxuries. Sin is easy and has a big company of bed fellows. It promises immunity from restrictions, temporary freedoms. It can momentarily satisfy hunger, thirst, desire, urges, passions, wants, without immediately paying the price. But, it begins tiny and grows to monumental proportions. It grows drop by drop, inch by inch.
It is doubtful if Cain had murder in his heart when his first jealous thought crossed his mind, when the first hate began to develop; but ounce by ounce, moment by moment, the little parasite developed to rob him of his strength, his balance, and his peace. The evil took over, and Cain, like the tree, changed his appearance, his attitudes, his life, and became a world wanderer, vicious and desolate.
How like the first cigarette is the predatory mistletoe plant! Just on a sneaking dare, or to avoid a momentary embarrassment, or to be "smart," or to be accepted, or for nebulous other foolish reasons, the first cigarette is often taken.
Certainly, the novice has no idea of becoming a chain smoker or dying of lung cancer. Surely, he can control. There can be no habit-he assures himself-he is master, but time and habit and repetition take a terrible toll.
A bird or the wind or other carrier transports the tiny berry to a tree; it sticks to the limb and grows to suck the life's sap blood from the tree and eventually leaves the giant dead and dry.
The single cigarette multiplies from one to a dozen, to a hundred, yes, to a thousand, to an almost uncontrollable habit.
"Can you quit?" I asked a tobacco addict. "Can you abandon the weed before you are 'hooked'?"
The big man laughed. "Of course," he replied and said, as did the great tree on Ash Creek figuratively say, "Ah, little weed, I am not afraid of you. You are insignificant. I am strong."
And then years after, I heard him say, in disgust, "I cannot break the habit. I am its slave. How stupid of me!"
How like the mistletoe is immorality. The killer plant starts with a sticky sweet berry. Once rooted, it sticks and grows-a leaf, a branch, a plant. It never starts mature and full grown. It is always transplanted an infant.
Nor does immorality begin in adultery or perversion. Those are full-grown adults. Little indiscretions are the berries-indiscretions like sex thoughts, sex discussions, passionate kissing, pornography. The leaves and little twigs are masturbation and necking and such, growing with every exercise.
The full-grown plant is petting and sex looseness. It confounds, frustrates, and destroys like the parasite if it is not cut out and destroyed, for, in time, it robs the tree, bleeds its life, and leaves it barren and dry; and, strangely enough, the parasite dies with its host.
Each seemingly small indiscretion seems powerless as compared to the sturdy body, the strong mind, the sweet spirit of the youth who gives way to the first temptation and who might, like the majestic tree, say: "Ha, little weed, little bottle! I can take you between my lips without harm. I'll look smart and be a good fellow with the crowd. Ha, little indiscretion! You are weak-I am strong. I can discard you at my pleasure."
But years later, I see him once again, and what a change! The strong has become weak; the master, the slave; his spiritual growth curtailed; he has isolated himself from the Church with all its uplifting influences. Has he not suffered a kind of spiritual death, leaving him like the tree-a mere skeleton of what he might have been?
If the first unrighteous act is never given root and the mistletoe never permitted to lodge, the tree will grow to beautiful maturity and life toward God, our Father.
May our youth and all others fortify themselves against the insidious evils of the world that overpower and destroy, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Robert L. Simpson
Robert L. Simpson, Conference Report, April 1967, p. 67-70
During the past few weeks, most of us have either participated in or listened as some rather serious commitments were made. With a group of eager young Scouts, it was: "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country." These boys were committing themselves to a better effort.
At a patriotic rally recently, a group of us earnestly vowed a pledge of allegiance to the flag of our country. Every citizen, whatever his nationality, makes strong commitments to uphold and honor his government. This is as it should be.
Few, if any, go through life without committing themselves to a sacred trust and promise of one type or another. In proper perspective and with lofty and worthy objectives, such covenants can and should be stimulating, motivational, and indeed a most stabilizing influence among men.
But any and all social or civil promises, commitments, and oaths entered into by man with man fade into relative insignificance when compared with those promises and covenants between man and God, the Eternal Father.
Could any commitment be more important than a sacred covenant between mortal man and his Maker?
A long, long time ago-yes, even before the foundations of this earth were laid-the plan was clear; the process for the successful undertaking of building souls for eternal purposes was established. The covenant procedure was decided upon as an essential element to that end.
The Prophet Joseph has recorded this explicit observation from the Lord himself: "For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world".
Now, no one is suggesting that it is inappropriate for men to establish some mutual understandings and contracts from time to time, provided such agreements stimulate, motivate, and bind us more closely together in a good and worthwhile cause.
It is expedient, however, that we place first things first, and any agreement that we make with the Lord through his Holy Priesthood takes precedence over all else, regardless of its source or its apparent value. Speaking further through the Prophet Joseph, the Lord declares that "all covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed ... are of no efficacy, virtue, or force... for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead".
He then gives this reassuring promise: "Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion". Then, thinking in terms of eternity, he states:
"For whatsoever things remain are by me; and whatsoever things are not by me shall be shaken and destroyed". The sacred agreements that we have entered into with our Heavenly Father must be kept first and foremost and above all else.
Most within range of my voice have taken upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ through the waters of baptism. By virtue of this sacred ordinance, we have come forth in a spiritual birth, just as real and necessary as our birth into mortality. Woe be unto that child of God who would enter such a sacred covenant deceitfully or with ulterior motives. Little better is he who enters the waters of baptism without the intention of valiance or effort. Nothing is sadder in all this world than those who, after participating in this great blessing, regard it as of little or no consequence in their lives and then proceed to lose the possibility of life eternal by default. There can be no room for indifference in the wake of such an honor and blessing as that found in the sacred ordinance of baptism.
Indeed, it has been appropriately observed that where much is given, much is expected. All who have had the privilege of baptism in his appointed way and by his appointed authority are indeed richly endowed. Commitment of the highest order has been made. The obligation to bear his name worthily becomes paramount.
As man was being created, surely our Maker must have realized how short our memories and how weak the flesh in this temporal setting. Consequently, his great plan provided for a regular reminder to all who took upon them his name in the waters of baptism.
The sacrament was revealed by the Savior himself, first of all to his very closest associates in the ministry with the specific instruction that "it is expedient that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in the remembrance of the Lord Jesus". It is, therefore, most important for members of his Church to recommit themselves every week.
Commitment No. 1: That they are willing to take upon them the name of his Son.
Commitment No. 2: And always remember him.
Commitment No. 3: To keep his commandments which he has given them.
These are not idle thoughts and words but rather sacred obligations and promises entered into with God, the Father, as each worthy member partakes with contrite spirit and deepest reflections concerning the atoning sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father.
Show me the man, woman, or child who truly and sincerely covenants to take upon himself the name of Jesus Christ, and I will show you a person who is upright and honest in all of his dealings.
Show me the man, woman, or child who truly commits himself to always remember, and I will show you a child of God who is without guile, one who is understanding and quick to forgive.
Show me the man, woman or child who makes it a matter of daily and hourly endeavor to keep God's commandments that he has given them and lives that pledge in his every act, his every word, to the very best of his ability, and I will show you one who radiates the true Spirit of Christ and who, if unwavering to the end, will inherit eternal life, which is, according to the Lord, "the greatest of all the gifts of God".
Unfortunately, there are those who choose to commit themselves by covenant to the adversary. Conspiring men have formed secret combinations all through the ages to promote wickedness and evil. Immediately preceding the advent of the Savior on this continent 2,000 years ago, we are told of such a group who "did enter into a covenant one with another, yea, even into that covenant which was given by them of old, which covenant was given and administered by the devil, to combine against all righteousness.
"Therefore they did combine against the people of the Lord, and enter into a covenant to destroy them".
Times have not changed. Less than two months ago, most of you read the disturbing article in our newspapers about a group of individuals who have established a so-called Satanic church, with the sole purpose to participate only in the realms of evil and darkness. They are in open defiance of and diametrically opposed to all of His holy purposes that bring us together in this great conference. Without a goodly number of God-fearing men committed to the cause of truth, these societies of evil could well take over our society.
The only effective tool against evil and darkness is truth and light, particularly truth and light held in the hands of those bearing God's Holy Priesthood: worthy, dedicated men such as I see before me here today.
No man or boy who has accepted the commitment of priesthood can stand idly by, for if we do not abide in this covenant with the Lord, if we are less than anxiously engaged in doing something about it, he says: "... ye are not worthy of me".
The oath and covenant of the priesthood stands singularly supreme among God's covenants with his children. The Spirit of the Lord is companion to the priesthood. "... all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord...
"And he that receiveth me receiveth my father". These reassuring promises from the Lord, as though there were not enough, are climaxed by what has to be the most generous reward ever accorded to mortal man. He confirms his part of the contract as repayment for complete faithfulness in these words: "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".
Oh, my dear brothers and sisters, can't we see the folly of any course except it be that course which is priesthood-centered and pointing toward eternal life? The yoke is easy, the burden is light, the Savior tells us. The only difficult way is the cobblestone byway of periodic indifference, broken covenants, and half-hearted effort.
If ours has been the commitment of baptism, then stand up tall and bear his name with honor and dignity, for the promise is that as we prove faithful over a few things, he shall make us rulers over many things.
If our commitment is in the form of the sacrament, may we partake each time worthily, that we may always have his Spirit to be with us. Such is the unqualified promise from our Heavenly Father.
If ours is the commitment to honor the priesthood, may we do so nobly, using it for the blessing of mankind, that our inheritance may indeed be "all that the Father has".
The commitment we make through our covenants with the Lord is serious business. All else is secondary. His rewards are certain, for he has declared for all to hear: "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise".
Let every father stand fearlessly at the head of his family and accept Joshua's challenge that has stood through the ages: "... choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord".
May we commit ourselves without reservation. May ours be the whole armor of God, that our calling and election may be made sure, I pray humbly in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce R. McConkie, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 70-72
We have received from the Lord-in this day and age in which we now live-a commission to proclaim his divinity and to invite all men to come and worship him as Lord and King.
To most people now living, God is unknown and unknowable. Some consider him to be a mystical spirit essence that fills the immensity of space; others feel that the laws of nature and the forces that govern the universe are God; while yet others are not sufficiently concerned with spiritual things to give any serious thought to matters pertaining to Deity.
Even the religious creeds of almost the whole body of modern Christendom state flatly that he is uncreated and incomprehensible, that he is a spirit without body, parts, or passions, and that in some inexplicable way he is three gods and yet one God.
We know him, however, as a living and real being, a personage of tabernacle in whose image man is created. He is our Father in heaven, meaning, as Paul expressed it, that "we are the offspring of God", that he is "the Father of spirits"; that he is the parent of the intelligent, sentient beings who dwelt with him during their pre-mortal or first estate.
When the Beloved Disciple John, as the last of our Lord's ancient apostles to minister among men, saw in vision the latter-day restoration of "the everlasting gospel," he recorded that this proclamation would then go forth "to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
"... Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water".
It is of this God-the only true and living God, the God whom Jesus said it was life eternal to know, the God who is the Creator of all things, who made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of waters-it is of him we now desire to speak and testify.
The proclamation we now make, and the testimony we now bear, is that God our Father has revealed himself anew in this day and age of the earth's history, and that he has commissioned us to take the knowledge of him to his other children.
God stands revealed, and we are commissioned to teach all men what and who he is, and-standing as legal administrators, authorized and appointed, so to speak-we are commanded to carry his message of salvation to the world.
In the spring of 1820, Joseph Smith, Jun., a choice and favored youth, then in his 15th year, sought wisdom from God. Finding himself in the midst of a religious revival that was sweeping the then frontier area of America, and desiring to know which of all the churches was true, he asked of God in accordance with the divine promise:
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him".
To fulfill his own inscrutable purposes, and because the time had then come to usher in the prophetically promised era of restoration, God then gave to this young man one of the greatest visions of all time. Of this glorious manifestation Joseph Smith wrote:
"I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.
".... When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!".
Thus the heavens were opened, and thus the knowledge of God and of salvation began to be revealed in modern times.
And so it is that we into whose hands these modern revelations have come, we who have been called and commissioned to represent the Lord in testifying of him and his gospel, are now prepared-and to fulfill the divine commission must-proclaim that God lives and has spoken again in this day.
Our announcement, thus, in the language of the scripture is this:
"... we know that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them...
"Wherefore, the Almighty God gave his Only Begotten Son as it is written in those scriptures which have been given of him.
"He suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them.
"He was crucified, died, and rose again the third day;
"And ascended into heaven, to sit down on the right hand of the Father, to reign with almighty power according to the will of the Father;
"That as many as would believe and be baptized in his holy name, and endure in faith to the end, should be saved".
And so now, obedient to the divine commission that is ours, and speaking as those having authority and who know whereof they speak, we the elders of Israel proclaim that God is our Father, literally and personally; that we are his offspring, created in his image and likeness; and that he has endowed us with the talents and abilities which if developed to the full, will enable us, as Jesus said, to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect.
We announce a new revelation of God to the world and invite our Father's other children everywhere to come and see, to learn for themselves by the power of his Spirit of the truth and divinity of these glorious things.
We bear testimony of the divine Sonship of our Lord and know that he came into the world with the power of immortality, thus enabling him to work out the infinite and eternal atonement.
We assert that God was in Christ revealing himself to the world; that Christ represents and speaks for the Father; and that, as Jesus said, "no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him".
Thus our invitation is to come unto Christ and worship the Father in his name. It is to learn of God, of Christ, and of the laws and ordinances of the gospel. It is to listen to the voices of living prophets, who represent Deity, and who reveal him to the world and speak forth his mind and will.
Thus our invitation is for men to come and "worship the Father in spirit and in truth for," as the scripture saith, "the Father seeketh such to worship him". It is for men to learn of Christ and his laws and to take his yoke upon them and keep his commandments.
Thus our invitation is for men to read the Book of Mormon, which is a new witness for Christ and his gospel, and which also has been given of God to prove the truth of his great latter-day work. It is for men to study the life and teachings of Joseph Smith, the American Prophet, the man who saw God in modern times, and who received revelations and commandments from him. It is for men to learn how to recognize the voice of the prophets and to lend listening ears to their teachings.
Thus our invitation is for men to investigate the message of the restoration, to come to a knowledge of him whom it is life eternal to know, to find the path leading to the celestial city. It is for men to accept The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the kingdom of God on earth, as "the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth.". It is for truth seekers everywhere to sell all that they have and come and buy the gospel pearl, the pearl of great price.
Now our cause is just. It is true. It came from God. It is his cause. It shall triumph, for truth shall prevail. To hasten that glorious day when the light and truth of heaven will dwell in every heart; that day when it shall no longer be necessary for every man to say to his neighbor, "Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord" -to hasten that day we now, obedient to our divine commission, proclaim the divinity of the great Creator and invite all men to worship him and thereby gain his friendship here and his association hereafter. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Alma Sonne
Alma Sonne, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 73-74
My brethren and sisters, I believe in the prophets. "Where the Scriptures speak," said the Reverend Thomas Campbell, "we speak; where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent." Saint Augustine, who lived around the year 400 A.D., made a similar statement when he said, "Nothing is to be accepted save on the authority of the Scriptures."
These declarations, you will readily see, close the doors to continuous revelation from God and eliminate the holy prophets. Contrary to these expressed views, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints declares to all the world: "We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God".
The world is constantly looking for new knowledge, not only in science but also in religion. It is the keystone to progress. Herein lies the apostasy of the Christian Church established by Jesus and the apostles. In other words, they believed in the prophets dead, and rejected the living oracles. Spiritual knowledge comes from God through his prophets.
Ancient Israel was a prophet nation. The prophets appeared from time to time as they were needed. Their messages were vital, for they were the inspired spokesmen of the Lord. They were not always popular. They were often ridiculed, persecuted, and held in disrepute. Stephen, the Martyr, in his last and solemn testimony, said to the mob, "Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them".
These chosen servants, misunderstood and maligned, devoted themselves wholeheartedly and constructively to the task assigned them. It was never an easy one. It was a challenge to strong men who put their service to God above all worldly aspirations. Their aim was always to rescue and fortify against the forces of evil, of moral and spiritual disintegration. Through these holy men God has given commandments to his children. But, generally speaking, their words were ignored and rejected. Had they been respected and accepted, the course of human history would have changed. They appeared as lighthouses to the generation in which they lived. When they were ignored and cast aside by unscrupulous leaders, as was often the case, the light was extinguished and darkness covered the earth. There were no prophets during the dark ages.
God's message to his children comes through his chosen servants, the prophets. These servants were chosen before they were born. They had a divine message that was not only timely but important. They gave evidence of their divine calling wherever and whenever they appeared. Spirituality is a consciousness of God, an awareness of his place and power in the universe. To know him is life eternal. When Israel was at its lowest ebb spiritually, Elijah, a great prophet, came to their rescue and converted a nation to the true worship of Jehovah. They had been reassured through a manifestation of God's power.
I have often said that the story of Joseph in Egypt gives the world its finest lesson on morality and clean living. It should be told and repeated frequently to every boy and girl during their adolescence. The example and teaching of the prophets will never become outmoded by a righteous people. Every page of scripture contains a directive for you and me as we move along in the journey of life. Where would we be today if all the idealism and morality taught by the prophets had been lost in the scramble for earthly and worldly recognition? International negotiations and all the controversies now going on, it seems to me, are tinctured with selfish ambitions. May I remind you there is no place for selfishness in God's kingdom or in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
Someone has said that Moses was the first man in history who fought for human rights. He freed the Israelites from the Egyptian bondage. He freed them from their own limitations and taught them the fundamentals of good government. He laid the foundation for law and order. Moses brought to the world the Ten Commandments. They are very fundamental. They are basic to every system of law made to govern humanity. To violate them means disaster and destruction. The road to wickedness begins when one of these mandates from God is broken. "And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face".
Like the prophets of old, Joseph Smith, the modern Prophet, saw visions, received revelations, predicted the future, and interpreted the scriptures. The Church would not have come into existence without a prophet. There could have been no restoration without these holy men who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Their powers and understanding went beyond the limits of our finite comprehension of things. They looked beyond the veil that separates the seen from the unseen world. Had Joseph Smith lacked the insight, the power, and the enlightenment that came to him through his prophetic calling, the Book of Mormon could not have come forth.
Without the visions of Moses and Elijah, there would have been no gathering of Israel, and the temple building program characteristic of the Church would have had no beginning. The existence of these temples in the United States, in Canada, in Europe, and on the islands of the sea is a solemn testimony of the sincerity, the conviction, and the positive faith of the Latter-day Saints.
I believe in the prophets, modern and ancient. We have listened to their words during this conference. May we remember them and may we abide in the holy commandments that came from God to them, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Franklin D. Richards
Franklin D. Richards, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 74-77
My dear brothers and sisters I am grateful for the blessings of this day. I am thankful for my knowledge and testimony that God lives and that through the atoning sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we may enjoy eternal life as we are obedient to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. We are blessed to be living in this dispensation when the gospel, the Church, and the power to act in the name of God have been restored through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith, one of the greatest prophets of all time. Likewise we are blessed to be led and guided today by another great Prophet, our beloved President David O. McKay. May the Lord bless and sustain him.
William W. Phelps, an early convert to the Church and gifted hymn writer, wrote the inspiring hymn "Praise to the Man," a magnificent tribute to the Prophet Joseph Smith. This beautiful hymn not only incorporates the elements of rejoicing and prophecy but also contains choice bits of basic doctrine as well, as is evidenced by the statement: "Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven."
About this time the Saints were experiencing many blessings resulting from their manifold sacrifices. The Prophet, in delivering a lecture on faith, impressed this truth when he said:
"... that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation... It was through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that man should enjoy eternal life".
Yes, the law of sacrifice is a fundamental doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ and contributes to the building of faith, love, and many other virtues.
In this connection it is interesting to note that Webster's dictionary defines sacrifice as "a surrender of some desirable thing for a higher object."
This is undoubtedly true, but it might be observed that the higher object is not always discernible at the time of the surrender or sacrifice.
However, to fully realize the importance of the law of sacrifice, it is necessary to consider the purpose of life. This earth life has been provided that each of us might be proved to see if we will do all things that the Lord commands us to do.
While the Lord has given us a clear plan to follow, we must recognize that evil influences exist and provide temptations and obstacles for us to overcome.
For, as Lehi said to his son Jacob: "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so... righteousness could not be brought to pass".
Inasmuch, then, as this earth life is a proving ground, it provides choices for us, and frequently the decisions we have to make are not easy. Many of our decisions require sacrifices, and sacrifices involve giving up something-something that appears important and desirable.
In considering our free agency and the opposition that exists in all things, we must never forget that God always functions within eternal laws.
The Lord has said, "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise". "And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated".
Hence it becomes evident that many great blessings are predicated upon obedience to the eternal law of sacrifice.
The Savior said, "Let no man be afraid to lay down his life for my sake; for whoso layeth down his life for my sake shall find it again".
Thus the supreme sacrifice of one's life is rewarded by that person finding his life again, "even life eternal".
You and I may never be asked to lay down our lives for the gospel's sake, but obedience to the law of sacrifice in a lesser way is also rewarding. The history of the Church of Jesus Christ in each era is replete with experiences of every kind and description that men are prone to call sacrifices. The Saints more frequently have described these experiences as opportunities and blessings rather than sacrifices.
On one occasion a rich young ruler came to the Savior and asked what he should do to be saved. Jesus enumerated several things, including honoring his parents, chastity, and honesty. He replied that he had done all of these things from his youth. Then Jesus told him to go and sell all that he had, give it to the poor, and follow him. But the young man thought more of his riches than the kingdom and refused to make this sacrifice, which could have turned out to be a great blessing-even eternal life.
On another occasion one of Jesus' disciples said that he wanted to follow him but asked, "Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
"But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead".
As the Savior was calling the fisherman Simon, also called Peter, and other disciples, he said, "Fear not; for henceforth thou shalt catch men.
"And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him".
Peter and the other disciples were willing to accept and comply with the law of sacrifice. The rich young ruler was not.
According to Webster's dictionary definition, Peter and the other disciples were willing to surrender a desirable condition for a higher object; the rich young ruler was not. Peter and the other disciples received the blessings.
Jesus' life was the perfect example of dedication and sacrifice. He had no silver or gold to give, but he gave faith to his disciples, health to the sick, and hope to the discouraged. His life was in every respect a sacrifice for all.
Joseph Smith's life was another great example of dedication and sacrifice. While in Liberty Jail the word of the Lord came to him: "... if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee... know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good".
Here the Prophet was specifically told that these tribulations and sacrifices would be for his good and blessing, and undoubtedly the Liberty Jail experience was preparing him for coming events. In the end he and his brother Hyrum were called upon to be martyrs for the kingdom of God-another great story of sacrifice and blessing.
The words of the Master are certainly applicable in the case of Joseph and Hyrum: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends".
The building of the Church, from the time of the Prophet Joseph Smith to the present, has required constant sacrifices on the part of the Saints.
As we study the history of the Church we find peculiar situations and obstacles in each era. I am certain that those that lived in these various periods each felt that the problems of his time were most acute and required great sacrifices.
Undoubtedly the problems of establishing the Church and the persecutions incident thereto were severe. Likewise the difficulties of the migration to and settlement of the West required great faith and sacrifices. The period preceding and following the Manifesto was most difficult. And so each period had its own peculiar tests, and as they were successfully met, a broad and solid foundation was laid for us to build upon.
The Savior instructed us to seek first the kingdom of God, and to do this, we must put the Church first in our lives, even though it requires self-denial and sacrifice.
We are living in a new era, a period of constant changes, a time of unprecedented growth and development-the age of the jet airplane, the computer, and the communications satellite.
Our problems are those incident to great and rapid growth and change. Far-reaching challenges are requiring the sacrifice of the Saints' time, talents, and means, possibly as great as ever before.
Today, some are sacrificing friends, family, and positions when they join the Church, as some did in the early history of the Church.
Today many are sacrificing for missionary work, either in supporting missionaries or by going on missions themselves, as many have throughout the history of the Church.
Today we have a full Church program, and whether we are called upon to be a Sunday School teacher, a bishop, an usher, to pass the sacrament, to be a missionary, to work on a welfare project, to do genealogical work, to consult on data processing problems, or any other Church assignment, or whether we are called upon to make contributions of our means, we should recognize that "whatever do according to the will of the Lord is the Lord's business".
Sacrifices today are in reality opportunities, the same as they have always been. With reference to sacrifices incurred in building the kingdom of God, the Savior promised, "... There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
"Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting".
How true this is!
Each of us has his duties to perform, and to perform them faithfully should be our constant aim, even though self-denial is required.
Let us all appreciate that today as of old: "Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven."
May we each put the Church first in our lives and more fully understand and appreciate the eternal law of sacrifice. May sacrifice become a part of our daily lives, that we and our families may enjoy the blessings derived therefrom, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Eldred G. Smith
Eldred G. Smith, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 77-78
We all remember well the Savior's explanation of the final judgment. He explained that to the righteous on his right hand he would say: "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
"For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
"Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
"When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
"Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me".
To serve God, then, is to serve our fellowmen.
How can we serve? Our ability to serve might well be increased through preparation.
In seeking education, one should seek to develop those talents that he has that would make him most serviceable to his fellowmen. Therefore, learn to do that which you enjoy doing, the thing you are happiest at doing. People like doing that which they do well.
Give only secondary thought to the monetary advantage of your chosen vocation. As you serve others, your joy in serving increases.
Einstein said: "It's high time that the ideal of success should be replaced by the ideal of service."
Lord Halifax said, "Service is the rent we pay for our own room on earth."
I like this slogan the Brigham Young University uses: "Enter to Learn-Go Forth to Serve."
Your vocation should be to help you serve more fully. If one's education omits the spiritual side of life, it is very unbalanced.
To know where we came from, why we are here and where we are going is most vital of all our learning.
In the Church we learn by doing. Knowledge alone is of little value. For this reason the Lord has given opportunities to serve in his kingdom. Each member of the Church may have the opportunity to serve in one capacity or another.
Being a missionary is a wonderful way of serving. He who fulfills a mission with the idea uppermost in his mind to take the glorious message of the gospel to others, giving little thought to his own benefits, will have the greatest joy and happiness and success in his work.
President McKay has said, "Every member a missionary," which should give everyone an opportunity of serving in the kingdom of our Lord.
All the activities of the Church are acts of service. Priesthood is given to us that we might be of service to others. There is no such thing as priesthood power that enables a man to elevate or benefit himself, except as he serves others. He cannot use priesthood for his own benefit. Priesthood is service.
Joseph Fielding Smith has said: "No man is independent. Put a man off by himself where he could communicate with none of his fellow beings or receive aid from them, and he would perish miserably. It is a mistake to draw within ourselves, as does a snail into its shell. No man has been given the Priesthood as an ornament only. He is expected to use it in behalf of the salvation of others."
Then we have the unselfish service rendered by mothers. There is no greater service than honorable motherhood, not just the biological service of motherhood, but the rearing of children and teaching them the ways of the Lord, teaching them what they should know and what they should do that they might live with him some day. To me, the greatest title of all is the title of "Mother." The Lord has said, "... he that is greatest among you shall be your servant". What better way to describe motherhood!
Temples are built, first, that the living might receive the ordinances of sealing of families together for time and all eternity, that each may serve each other as a family unit; then, that we may take part in that grand and glorious work of service of vicarious work for the dead, of sealing families together for time and eternity.
President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., has reminded us, "In the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how."
The greatest of all the acts of service was that of Jesus Christ, our Savior, who suffered as he did and gave his life for us, for all mankind, that we might, through our faithfulness, receive immortality and eternal life; not to satisfy the will of Christ alone, but for the will of our Father which is in heaven, who has declared, "... this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man".
Then we too must come to that degree of perfection of total service as he did, if we are to receive the great blessings promised of immortality and eternal life.
If service is the work of God, and if we are to become as he is and return to live with him in his kingdom, our work must be to serve others. There are many ways to serve. Every activity of the Church provides an opportunity to serve-priesthood, Relief Society, genealogy, the paying of tithes; all of the auxiliary organizations are mediums through which we may serve.
We can serve God by serving our fellowmen and by keeping his commandments. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I wish to bear testimony that this gospel has been restored in these latter days by revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and to us today through President David O. McKay, who is now the President and Prophet of God in this dispensation. I pray the blessings of the Lord on all, that we may learn to do his will and serve him by serving our fellowmen; I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion G. Romney
Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 79-82
My brothers and sisters, I have in mind speaking to you a few minutes this afternoon about a subject that I myself have learned about through some rather severe experiences since the last conference. Therefore, if I am to do this effectively, I must have the Spirit of the Lord. I have sought it. I ask you now to join with me in asking the Lord to bless us while I occupy your valuable time. The subject I have selected is "peace in this world." I have taken my text from the 59th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants:
"... he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come".
This text promises two rewards: one in this world and another in the world to come. Reference to "the world to come" brings to mind an incident that occurred in a divorce action when I was practicing law some 35 years ago. As the court was about to render its decision, the plaintiff, a woman, requested and was granted a private conference. Nervously approaching the bench, she audibly whispered: "Your honor, I want a divorce for this world only, not for the world to come."
Unlike that judge, the Great Judge who spoke the words of our text has jurisdiction both in this world and the world to come; although the promised rewards in the two are interdependent, propose in these remarks to deal principally with peace in this world.
First, let us agree upon the meaning of the word "peace." "Freedom from civil disturbance or war" is one dictionary definition. That this is not the "peace" promised, however, is evident from the fact that about the time the Lord spoke our text, he also said: "... the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth", and from the further fact that in 1894 and again in 1896, President Woodruff, then the Lord's mouthpiece on the earth, indicated that the time for such peace to be taken from the earth had then come. Informed Latter-day Saints know that this earth will never again, during its telestial existence, be free from civil disturbance and war.
Nor does the "peace" of which we speak mean "harmony in personal relations," another dictionary definition. Jesus made this plain when he said:
"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
"For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law".
Jesus was, however, talking about the "peace" of which we speak when to his disciples he said:
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid".
He was also talking about such "peace" when, just before he offered his intercessory prayer, he concluded his instructions to his disciples with the words:
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world".
From these scriptures it is apparent that the "peace" of our text is heaven-sent.
Among those who enjoy it, of course, it brings "harmony in personal relations." If men generally enjoyed it, it would banish civil disturbance and war. But in the absence of both mutual concord and civil peace, it may and does dwell in the hearts of many people. The promise of it runs to each and every person who will qualify himself to receive it, regardless of the actions of those about him "... he who doeth the works of righteousness shall," says the Lord-not may or can, but shall-"receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come".
The revelation from which our text is taken not only extends to the Saints the comforting promise of peace in this world; it also specifies some of the specific works of righteousness upon which the promise is conditioned. The circumstances under which the revelation was received, as well as its content, are interesting and instructive.
During the summer of 1831, "the mission to Western Missouri and the gathering of the Saints to that place was the most important subject which then engrossed the attention of the Church." Those are the words of the Prophet Joseph. Between the 19th of June and the middle of July the Prophet and his associated traveled from Kirtland, Ohio, to Independence , Missouri. The Prophet himself walked all the way from St. Louis to Independence, a distance of about 300 miles.
Between the time of their arrival and the 7th of August, when the revelation was given, the Colesville Branch arrived to join the few Saints who had preceded them. "W. W. Phelps preached to a western audience." Several other revelations were received. "The first log, for a house, as a foundation of Zion in Kaw township" was laid. The site for the temple was revealed and dedicated, and the first conference in Zion was held.
Interest and enthusiasm among the people ran high. The Saints, having but recently arrived on the scene, were all agog over the glorious predictions concerning latter-day Zion.
It was under these circumstances, with the Saints perhaps a little over-anxiously anticipation Zion as it shall be in its perfection and without fully appreciating the works of righteousness required to bring about the perfection, that the Lord said to them:
"... blessed... are they who have come up unto this land with an eye single to my glory...
"Yea, blessed are they whose feet stand upon the land of Zion, who have obeyed my gospel; for...
"... they shall... be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time-they that are faithful and diligent before me.
"Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.
"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Thou shalt not steal; neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do anything like unto it.
"Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.
"Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
"And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day".
Then after giving detailed instructions concerning observance of the Sabbath day, the Lord concludes with this promise:
"... learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come".
In this manner did the Lord relate the rewards to specific works and urged the Saints to learn for themselves that peace in this world comes as a reward for works of righteousness.
Peace in this world, being an inner feeling, is difficult to define. It may, therefore, perhaps be best understood through illustrations. You who are familiar with the Book of Mormon will recall the experiences of Enos, who, in the true spirit of repentance, sought forgiveness of sins with such persistent faith and prayer that "there came a voice unto saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed." Whereupon Enos wrote:
"... I... knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.
"And I said: Lord, how is it done?
"And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ... wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole".
Thereafter Enos besought the Lord into preserve a record, "... that it might be brought forth at some future day unto the Lamanites...
"... and he covenanted with me that he would bring them forth unto the Lamanites in his own due time.
"And I, Enos, knew it would be according to the covenant which he had made; wherefore my soul did rest".
Contributing to the peace and rest that filled the soul of Enos was the accompanying assurance of eternal life in the world to come that accompanied it. This he thus expressed:
"... I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen".
At times numerous persons have sought and obtained this feeling of peace at the same time. Recorded in the first chapters of Mosiah is a powerful message received by King Benjamin from an angel of the Lord and delivered by him to his subjects. The message concerned the atonement of Christ, by means of which men, through faith and repentance, may obtain forgiveness of sins, which forgiveness heals the spirit and thus brings peace to the soul. Having delivered the message, Benjamin "cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had fallen to the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them.
"... And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God...
"And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ".
Another dramatic example of a community experiencing peace in a world of tribulation concerns the people of Alma, who had covenanted with the Lord in the waters of Mormon and who were later brought into bondage by Amulon, who "put tasks upon them, and put taskmasters over them.
"And... so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God.
"And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death.
"And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him...
"And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me...
"And I will... ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs... while you are in bondage...
"And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease...
"And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage".
These illustrations are but samples of the many to be found in the scriptures. But each of them, as do the others, evidences the truth of our text that peace in this world always comes after the receiver has done the works of righteousness. Enos, the subjects of King Benjamin, and the people of Alma had all demonstrated, by good works, their faith in Christ before the reward came. This is the way peace comes in this world. It can be obtained in no other way. The promised peace of our text emanates from Christ. He is the source of it. His spirit is the essence of it.
I bear you my witness that I know that you and I may enjoy the promised "peace in this world" and the assurance of "eternal life in the world to come" on the prescribed terms. Only those who experience such peace and assurance can appreciate how they come and the joy they bring. The thought of them, however, is associated in my mind with two scriptures. First, from the account Nephi gives of his experience on the mount with the Spirit of the Lord, who said to him:
"... Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?
"And I answered him... Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.
"And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul".
Now, such joy and peace does not come from knowing about Deity; it comes from the knowledge implied by Jesus when, thanking his Father for the power to give eternal life to his followers, he said: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent".
God bless you, my beloved brothers and sisters, that you may get your sights on coming to know God, the Eternal Father, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent: not just to talk about them, but a personal acquaintance with them. When you get such a knowledge, you will have "peace in this world". In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 84-88
Brethren of the priesthood, and esteemed fellow workers, my heart is full of gratitude tonight for the privilege of participating in this meeting with you. There is a concentration of power in these priesthood meetings that is inspiring. No one who attends can escape that influence, and the responsibility of giving a message to you is overwhelming. I, therefore, pray for your sympathy, your faith, and prayers that the message given may be divinely directed.
It has always been my nature to enjoy the company of my associates. I love to be with my friends, and the older I grow the more intense becomes my appreciation of fellowship in the brotherhood of Christ, and I sense that tonight more deeply, more sincerely than ever before. As I feel of your spirit, I picture those of you who are gathered in the Assembly Hall, and in the 478 other meetings being held at this hour across the United States and in Canada. I have nothing but blessing in my heart for you. I like to call you my beloved associates and fellow workers, and that love is akin to the love we have for our families. If we can keep this unity, this confidence, nothing in the world can stop the progress of this work.
The greatest comfort in this life is the assurance of having a close relationship with God, and I believe in the statement that "the greatest battle of life is fought within the silent chambers of your own soul." It has been said that "consciousness of God is the highest achievement in human experience and is the supreme goal of human life. This is true religion. It is a mental, spiritual experience of the highest order." Many of you priesthood members know what that experience is. It is a good thing to sit down and commune with yourself, to come to an understanding with yourself and decide in that silent moment what your duty is to your family, to your Church, to your country, and what you owe to your fellowmen.
In view of the responsibilities facing this body of priesthood holders and leaders in the Church, especially during these uncertain and crucial times, I should like to emphasize the need for more spirituality, for more meditation and communion with our Father in heaven. I ask that you men of the priesthood-you stake presidents, you bishops, and other leaders in stakes and wards-see to it that a spirit of reverence is maintained in our homes and houses of worship.
Our houses of worship furnish a wonderful opportunity to commune with one's self and to commune with the Lord, especially during the sacrament period. Sunday is a day of worship, which we turn over to him. We may rest assured that he will be there in that house of worship to inspire us if we come in proper attunement to meet him.
We are not prepared to meet him if we bring thoughts regarding business affairs, and especially if we come knowing we have been disloyal to our wives and other members of our families, and bring feelings of hatred, enmity, and jealousy toward our fellowman. Most certainly no individual can hope to come into communion with the Father if that individual has such disloyalty or entertains any such feelings, as they are foreign to worship and are particularly out of tune with the partaking of the sacrament.
I think we pay too little attention to the value of meditation, a principle of devotion. In our worship there are two elements: One is spiritual communion arising from our own meditation; the other, instruction from others, particularly from those who have authority to guide and instruct us. Of the two, the more profitable introspectively is meditation.
Meditation, spiritual language
Meditation is the language of the soul. It is defined as "a form of private devotion or spiritual exercise, consisting in deep, continued reflection on some religious theme." Meditation is a form of prayer. We can say prayers without having any spiritual response. We can say prayers as the unrighteous king in Hamlet, who said: "My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go."
The poet Robert Burns, contrasting the outward form of worship and the prayer of the soul, said:
"The Power, incens'd, the pageant will desert. The pompous strain, the sacerdotal stole; But haply, in some cottage far apart, May hear, well-pleas'd, the language of the soul, And in His Book of Life the inmates poor enroll."
Meditation is one of the most secret, most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord. Jesus set the example for us. As soon as he was baptized and received the Father's approval-"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" - Jesus repaired to what is now known as the Mount of Temptation where, during forty days of fasting, he communed with himself and his Father and contemplated the responsibility of his own great mission. One result of this spiritual communion was such strength as enabled him to say to the tempter: "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve".
Before he gave the beautiful Sermon on the Mount, he was in solitude, in communion. He did the same thing after that busy Sabbath day, when he arose early in the morning after having been the guest of Peter. Peter undoubtedly found the guest chamber empty, and when he and others sought Jesus, they found him alone. It was on that morning that they said: "All men seek for thee".
Again, after Jesus had fed the 5,000, he told the Twelve to dismiss the multitude. Then Jesus, the historian says, went to the mountain for solitude; and "when the evening was come, he was there alone". Meditation! Prayer!
I believe the short period of administering the sacrament is one of the best opportunities we have for such meditation, and there should be nothing during that sacred period to distract our attention from the purpose of that ordinance.
One of the most impressive services I have ever attended was a group of over 800 people to whom the sacrament was administered, and during that administration not a sound could be heard except the ticking of the clock-800 souls, each of whom at least had the opportunity of communion with the Lord! There was no distraction, no music, no singing, no speaking. Each one had an opportunity to search himself introspectively, and to consider his worthiness or unworthiness to partake of the sacrament. His was the privilege of getting closer to his Father in heaven. That is ideal!
I strongly urge that this sacred ordinance be surrounded with more reverence, with perfect order; that each one who comes to the house of God may meditate upon and silently and prayerfully express appreciation for God's goodness. It is up to you bishops to see to it that the sacrament is administered only by boys and young men who are worthy to attend to this sacred ordinance, and that it is done reverently with a full understanding of its significance to them and to the audience. Let the sacrament hour be one experience of the day in which the worshiper tries at least to realize within himself that it is possible for him to commune with his God.
Never forget that great events have happened in this Church because of such communion, and because of the responsiveness of the soul to the inspiration of the Almighty. I know it is real! You will find that when these most inspirational moments come to you, you are alone with yourself and your God. They come to you probably when you are facing a great trial, when a wall is across your pathway and it seems that you are facing an insurmountable obstacle, or when your heart is heavy because of some tragedy in your life. I repeat, the greatest comfort that can come to us in this life is to sense the realization of communion with God.
Great testimonies have come in those moments. It is just such an experience as that which came to my father in the north of Scotland when he prayed to God to remove from him a spirit of gloom and despondency that overwhelmed him. After a night of worry and restlessness, he arose at daylight and repaired to a cave on the shore of the North Sea. He had been there before in prayer. There, just as the rays of the morning light began to come over the sea, he poured out his soul to God, as a son would appeal to his father. The answer came: "Testify that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God." The cause of his discouragement flashing upon his mind, he said aloud: "Lord, it is enough!"
Those who knew my father could testify as to his integrity and his honesty. A testimony of that kind has one hundred percent value.
These secret prayers, these conscientious moments in meditation, these yearnings of the soul to reach out to feel the presence of God-such is your privilege and mine!
Inseparable from the acceptance of the existence of God is an attitude of reverence. The greatest manifestation of spirituality is reverence; indeed, reverence is spirituality. Reverence is profound respect mingled with love. It is a "complex emotion made up of mingled feelings of the soul." Carlyle says it is "the highest of human feelings." If reverence is the highest, then irreverence is the lowest state in which a man can live in the world. Be that as it may, it is nevertheless true that an irreverent man has a crudeness about him that is repellent. He is cynical, often sneering, and always iconoclastic.
Reverence embraces regard, deference, honor, and esteem. Without some degree of it, therefore, there would be no courtesy, no gentility, no consideration of others' feelings or of others' rights. Reverence is the fundamental virtue in religion. It is one of the signs of strength; irreverence, one of the surest indications of weakness. "No man will rise high," says one man, "who jeers at sacred things. The fine loyalties of life must be reverenced or they will be foresworn in the day of trial."
Churches are dedicated and set apart as houses of worship. This means that all who enter do so, or at least pretend to do so, with an intent to get nearer the presence of the Lord than they can on the street or amidst the worries of a workaday life. In other words, we go to the Lord's house to meet him and to commune with him in spirit. Such a meeting place, then, should first of all be fitting and appropriate in all respects, whether God is considered as the invited guest, or the worshipers as his guests.
Whether the place of meeting is a humble chapel, or a "poem in architecture" built of white marble and inlaid with precious stones, makes little or no difference in our approach and attitude toward the Infinite Presence. To know that God is there should be sufficient to impel us to conduct ourselves orderly, reverently. Presiding authorities in stake, ward, and quorum meetings, and especially teachers in classes, should make a special effort to maintain better order and more reverence during the hours of worship and study. Less talking behind the pulpit will have a salutary effect upon those who face it. By example and precept, children should be impressed with the inappropriateness of confusion and disorder in a worshiping congregation. They should be impressed in childhood, and have it emphasized in youth, that it is disrespectful to talk or even to whisper during a sermon, and that it is the height of rudeness, except in an emergency, to leave a worshiping assembly before dismissal.
Reverence for God's name should be dominant in every home. Profanity should never be expressed in a home in this Church. It is wrong; it is irreverent to take God's name in vain. There is no provocation that will justify it. Let us apply that quality and that virtue of reverence at all times.
If there were more reverence in human hearts there would be less room for sin and sorrow, and there would be increased capacity for joy and gladness. To make more cherished, more adaptable, more attractive this gem among brilliant virtues is a project worthy of the most united and prayerful efforts of every parent, every officer, and every member of the Church.
My soul is stirred with deep emotions when I think of what the gospel has done for this people, and what it will yet do if we will but keep in tune with his Spirit and commandments. I love the gospel and believe in it with all my soul; I know it is the power of God unto salvation. I bear witness that the gospel of Jesus Christ was revealed in its completeness to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and I pray that our young people, and all people everywhere, will be led to know of its truth.
God bless you men of the priesthood, you teachers of youth, you parents, and all good people everywhere. May the ecclesiastical groups of the Church be blessed with the spirit of unity and harmony. May there be banished from their hearts the spirit of enmity, backbiting, and evil speaking, and may they keep in their hearts the truth expressed by Jesus when he said, "... if ye are not one ye are not mine".
I pray we may have the strength so to live that we may merit divine guidance and inspiration; that through worship, meditation, communion, and reverence we may sense the reality of being able to have a close relationship with our Father in heaven. I bear you my testimony that it is real; that we can commune with our Heavenly Father. And if we so live to be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Spirit, he will guide us unto all truth; he will show us things to come; he will bring all things to our remembrance; he will testify of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and restoration of the gospel. God bless you all for your faith and loyalty, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 97-99
Dear Brethren:
I am very happy to be here with you this evening. I hope what I say may be beneficial to one and all, and I pray that the Lord will bless me with his Spirit. I am sure that we all know the Fifth Article of Faith, that a man must be called of God, by prophecy. I need not quote it, but invite you to read it.
In the month of February 1835, the twelve apostles in this dispensation were called. As early as June 1829, it was made known to Joseph Smith by revelation that twelve apostles would be chosen. This information came before the organization of the Church, and Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer were then appointed to "search out the Twelve" when the time should come for them to be chosen. One month after the apostles had been chosen, the twelve in council sought information by revelation, that they might have a better understanding of their calling. In their behalf Joseph Smith sought the Lord and received the revelation on priesthood. This revelation is in the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 107.
This revelation gives us light in relation to the priesthood and the various offices that grow out of it, which the Church did not have previous to that time. It was made known that there were in the Church two priesthoods, or grand divisions of priesthood: the Melchizedek and the Aaronic, including the Levitical. "Why the first is called the Melchizedek Priesthood is because Melchizedek was such a great high priest.
"Before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God.
"But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek Priesthood".
This information was all new, only general statements pertaining to this truth having been revealed before that time, and the world knew nothing of it. There are some further phases of the priesthood, however, that we should clearly understand.
Every man who is ordained to the priesthood has authority to officiate in some capacity in the Church. Without priesthood there could be no church, and if there were no priesthood, no official act could be performed in the name of the Lord. Men would be left in darkness without an understanding of the truth, for the power of God could not be made manifest. "... this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.
"Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
"And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh". So the Lord taught us through Joseph Smith.
This Holy Priesthood which is eternal, is the authority which prevails in all the universe. The ordinances of the gospel are made valid through its power, and without it the knowledge of God could not be made manifest. It is by this authority and through the ordinances that man is able to know of God. Without the priesthood it would be impossible for man to gain the knowledge which would bring him into the presence of the Father. Is there any wonder, then, that the world, deprived of the priesthood, is in such spiritual darkness and confusion?
Men may search and they may study, but they will never come to a knowledge of God until they receive the gospel and obtain light through the power of the priesthood and the ordinances of the gospel. See the sad condition of those who once belonged to the Church but have fallen away-how they have lost the key to spiritual knowledge! Certain organizations have been formed from time to time by those who have gone out of the Church, but the light which they formerly had has left them. They are soon left to grope in spiritual darkness, because the "power of godliness" ceases to be with them. When the light goes out, then darkness of the worst kind enters in. As Alma said, they are bound by the chains of hell.
There is a difference between receiving an office in the priesthood and in receiving the keys of the priesthood. This we should clearly understand. Peter, James, and John conferred upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery the Melchizedek Priesthood. Before that time John the Baptist came and conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood. But it was necessary for Elias, who lived in the days of Abraham, to come and restore the keys of his dispensation; for Moses to come and restore the keys of the gathering of Israel; and for Elijah to come and restore the keys of the sealing power, by which the hearts of the fathers and the children are turned to each other. In fact, it was necessary that the keys of all the dispensations should be restored in this dispensation of the fullness of times, and so the Prophet Joseph Smith has recorded it, as found in Doctrine and Covenants 128:20-21. Please read it.
From this description we discover that all who held keys of authority in dispensations from the days of Adam down came in this dispensation and declared their keys, their honors and priesthood. All of this had to be done, for this is the dispensation of restoration.
President Joseph F. Smith has given us a very clear understanding of what is meant by keys of the priesthood in the book Gospel Doctrine, page 136.
So we learn that while all men hold the priesthood who are ordained to any office, yet there are special, or directing, authorities, bestowed upon those who are called to preside. These authorities are called keys. The bishop of a ward has the power to direct the members of his ward, for he holds the keys of presidency there, and he acts both as bishop and as the president of the ward by virtue of his high priesthood. Now, in his ward may live an apostle, but as a member of the ward the apostle is under the jurisdiction of his bishop. For instance, should the apostle desire to baptize one of his children, it would be his duty to obtain the permission of his bishop, for that is the order of the Church. The bishop holds the keys for the performance of all ordinances in his ward, but he may delegate authority for administering these to others.
The President of the Church, the Prophet Joseph Smith has clearly stated, holds the keys over all the Church, or the keys of the priesthood. There is only one at a time on earth who has this power. No man can officiate in and confer the blessings of the temple without the authority to do so being delegated to him by the President of the Church. No man can officiate in any capacity in this Church without the virtue accompanying him in that act, as it is obtained through the power and keys held by the President of the Church. The President has power, if the Lord should direct him to do so, to call home all the missionaries in the world. He could say that there shall be no more preaching of the gospel to the nations. He could forbid the official act of baptizing or of ordaining to the priesthood, anywhere in the world, if the Lord should so direct. This authority is vested in him, for he holds all the keys of the priesthood. If by virtue of his keys he should say that certain privileges should he withdrawn from the people, then no man would have authority to officiate in conferring those particular privileges. Should anyone attempt to do so, the act would be invalid, and the one so attempting to officiate would have to answer before the bar of God, if not before the Church, and would be found in transgression. Let it be understood that no man has authority to perform sealings of wives to husbands, for time and eternity, outside a temple, because all such ordinances pertain to the house of the Lord, and the privilege of performing this ordinance elsewhere has been withdrawn by the one holding these keys. Neither can any man officiate in these or other sealings, unless he has been called and set apart and had that authority given him by the President of the Church, in whom those keys are vested.
When men are commissioned by the one who holds these keys, then their acts are valid. That which they do is sealed and ratified in the Church both on earth and in the heavens. When the apostles or other brethren visit the stakes of Zion and are appointed to set in order anything requiring attention there, they do it by virtue of the commission, or authority, delegated to them by the President of the Church.
This same principle applies in the lesser degree in stakes and in wards.
I hope and pray that what I have said to you good brethren will be of assistance to you, and may the blessings of the Lord be with you, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen.
Elder Don Lind
Don Lind, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 99-100
Brethren, it is an honor to be with you this evening.
It is amazing what irrelevant ideas come to your mind as you are walking up that flight of stairs. The thing I was thinking about was the fact that a great amount of our training is involved in such things as riding centrifuges, when you have a great variety of sensors attached rather painfully to your body to give the doctor a monitor of your pulse rate, heart beat, and general physical condition. As I was climbing the stairs I was grateful that I wasn't being monitored, because I think I exceeded a number of limits. If lying on an Apollo couch is as disturbing as sitting in that little green chair, we may have to postpone a launch.
Brethren, it is a pleasure to be with you. I enjoyed greatly the first half of this meeting, as well as the afternoon session. I was grateful for the opportunity to come and be with you for conference. It has been inspiring.
When I was in grade school, a number of movies were made about great square-rigged whaling vessels. I always felt at that age in my life that I had been born at the wrong time, that I should have been born back in the days of the whaling vessels; but since I have grown a bit older, and hopefully a little wiser, I have decided that this is the time in the world's history that I am most grateful for being alive, not only for having the opportunity of participating in one of the most exciting adventures I think mankind has attempted, but also the opportunity of being born at a time when the Gospel is here upon the earth, in going to the particular home to which I was assigned.
I would not be here today if it were not for my parents.
The words that were spoken about the responsibility of fathers and parents in general this evening touched my heart in my responsibility to my family, but I also marvel at the wonderful job that my father and my mother did for me. I, with Nephi, can say that I have come of goodly parents. I would never have made the astronaut program, nor would I be a priesthood bearer in the Church, if it had not been for my father and my mother, and I thank them for it.
I am grateful for this gospel. I have been in situations when religion was not necessarily the most popular topic of conversation. I have been in situations involving my schooling when people expressed openly the idea that religion was fairy-tale, was legend, was myth, was only for those who were not sufficiently well educated to get along without it; and obviously I did not agree.
I have been in situations where the principles that we hold have not been lived, if even believed, and I have been grateful for the strength that I received in my home, and grateful for the strength that a testimony of the gospel gave me in those situations. The gospel means more to me than my life, more to me than anything that I would be capable of describing. I don't know how to express in words the feeling of what my testimony of the gospel means to me.
Brethren, it is an honor to be with you as a member of this priesthood. I have marveled at the strength it can give one in various situations. I have a testimony that God lives, and that strangely enough, is a fact I am afraid most of the world do not share with us. There are a great many who wonder whether God really lives at all.
I wasn't in the Sacred Grove with Joseph Smith, but I have just as strong a conviction of the fact that he saw God and talked with him face to face as I have the conviction of something I got my doctoral dissertation on, the existence of pi-mesons. I haven't seen pi-mesons either, but I accept their existence on secondary evidence. And on secondary evidence I believe that Joseph Smith saw God in the Sacred Grove; and that is a great strength in my life.
I believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet, that he received revelations. Scientifically I believe it because I think it would be just too difficult to forge the Book of Mormon, if for no other reason. I do not think it could be done by a man with Joseph Smith's education. So I believe the Book of Mormon is an evidence that Joseph Smith has to be a prophet of our Lord. I am grateful too that we have a prophet living today to guide and direct the Church.
Brethren, let me repeat once more, it is a pleasure to be with you, because I couldn't be with you if I did not hold the priesthood, which I hold dear. Brethren, I bear you my testimony that the gospel is true; I am grateful to be a member of this Church, and I do this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President N. Eldon Tanner
N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 103-106
President McKay, we feel happy and blessed to have you with us this morning. On behalf of the First Presidency, I should like to greet all those assembled in this great Tabernacle and those who are listening in this morning.
As we were commemorating at Easter time the death and resurrection of our Savior, I was greatly impressed again with the words: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".
Then I was reminded of the answer the Savior gave to the lawyer, who temptingly asked him:
"Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
"This is the first and great commandment.
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets".
From this statement it is evident that love is the greatest thing in the world. Then referring back to the early scriptures, I found, as recorded in Leviticus 19:16-18, the Lord, in speaking to Moses, gave this commandment:
"Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people.
"Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart...
"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
Then in Deuteronomy we read:
"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
"And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up".
When Christ came to the earth the law of Moses was in effect, an example of which was "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth". But the Savior said:
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another".
The Lord also gave us what is often referred to as the Golden Rule. It is found in Matthew 7:12.
"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets."
If we are to have this love of which the Savior spoke, and which he emphasizes as being the most important thing in life, it must begin in the home and then carry into our daily lives. A happy marriage is never handed to a couple on a silver platter, but it is something we have to build continually. If each will think of the other's convenience, comfort, needs, and happiness, and determine to see the best in each other, try to understand and express love for each other, there will be true love and harmony in the home.
Yes, the only slogan we need in order to be happy in our home is: Love Each Other-three simple words. Apply the ingredients of love. Sacrifice for each other. Make each other happy. If this were always uppermost in our minds, we would have very little trouble indeed. If there is love between the father and the mother, there will be love between the parents and the children and among the children. One cannot overemphasize the importance and value of being courteous, kind, considerate, and polite in the home.
Have you ever seen anything sweeter than the family that loves one another? Where there is true and perfect love in a family, such commandments as "honour thy father and thy mother", "thou shalt not steal", "thou shalt not bear false witness", are quite unnecessary. Love is really the fulfilling of the law.
As we look back over our life, whether it be short or long, we realize that the thing that gave the greatest joy was doing something for someone else because we loved him. Let us express our love to God and to our fellowmen now, while we can, by our every act and word, for "we shall not pass again this way."
The most difficult thing for us seems to be to give of ourselves, to do away with selfishness. If we really love someone, nothing is a hardship. Nothing is hard for us to do for that individual. There is no real happiness in having or getting, but only in giving. Half the world seems to be following the wrong scent in the pursuit of happiness. They think it consists of having and getting, and in having others serve them, but really it consists of giving and serving others.
Just a few days ago, early in the morning, I had an experience that really touched my heart, and was an evidence of great love. A woman called me to say that she had just received word that her grown son had been killed in an auto accident in the East, where he lived. She said that her husband, the father of this boy, was in another city carrying on some very important and serious business negotiations, and that she did not want to disturb him while he was thus involved. In our conversation I agreed to call someone who was with the father so that he might be informed as soon as the negotiations were concluded. To me her action was an outstanding example of love and unselfishness and interest in her husband's welfare to the extent that she was prepared to suffer alone.
We cannot apply or fulfill all at once the Golden Rule that the Savior gave to us, but by seriously trying, we will find greater joy, success, satisfaction, and friendship as we go through life, and enjoy the love of others and the Spirit of our Father in heaven. If we will always look for the best in others, in our friends, in our neighbors, in our wife, in our husband, in our children, they will turn out to be the most wonderful people in the world. On the other hand, if we are looking for their weaknesses and faults and enlarge upon them, these same people may become even despicable.
Sometimes as I move among people I am almost convinced that it is human nature to magnify the weaknesses in others in order to minimize our own. We sing these words in one of our hymns:
"Let each man learn to know himself; To gain that knowledge let him labor, Improve those failings in himself, Which he condemns so in his neighbor.
"How lenient our own faults we view, And conscience's voice adeptly smother, Yet, oh, how harshly we review The self same failings in another!...
"Example sheds a genial ray Of light which men are apt to borrow, So first improve yourself today And then improve your friends tomorrow."
Let us always remember that men of great character need not belittle others or magnify their weaknesses. In fact, the thing that makes them great is the showing of love for and interest in their neighbors' success and welfare.
As we try to apply the Golden Rule we must realize that love will not permit us to hold grudges or ill feelings. These canker the soul and crowd out love. We hurt ourselves by holding grudges and ill feelings. We hurt and sometimes destroy the person about whom we are bearing tales. We would not think of stealing from or injuring physically one of our associates, friends, or neighbors, but we do even worse by stealing his good name. It is not uncommon to see people-clerks in stores, secretaries in corporations, individuals in clubs and in affairs of church and state-talking about and criticizing one another, trying to enlarge on their weaknesses with the idea of belittling them in the hole that their own weaknesses might be minimized or overlooked. If we really loved one another as the Lord loves us, there would be none of this friction, but confidence and happiness would reign.
I should like to join with each and every one of you in taking stock of ourselves to see if we are actually really striving to apply the principle of love toward those with whom we are associated. Are we patient, kind, generous, humble, courteous, unselfish, showing no temper, guileless, and sincere? Do we try to put ourselves in the other person's place, whether he be a merchant, a clerk, secretary, a caretaker, one of another religion or race, or a man in prison, and then act toward him as we would like to be treated were we in his place?
Let us never forget that the Lord gave us this commandment to love God and to love one another and apply the Golden Rule. We cannot love God without loving our neighbor, and we cannot truly love our neighbor without loving God. This applies to you and to me, and if each of us applies it to himself, we need not worry about the other.
Some time ago a friend of mine related an experience that I should like to pass on to you. He said:
"My father's cousin and my father lived in the same community and were competing in the construction business. There grew up over the years a very keen and bitter rivalry between them. This was triggered in the beginning in the bidding of construction contracts, and later in our city political affairs where they opposed each other in very spirited elections.
"Our immediate families inherited this situation upon the death of my father, for we boys seemed to take over where Dad left off. It was quite a strain on the members of his family and ours even to be civil to one another, even in our Church callings where he served as bishop of one ward and I in another, and later in the high council where we were both members. When we came together it seemed that Satan took over, and I am sure he did, for haven't we been told that where contention is, the Spirit of the Lord is not?
"This situation continued to fester. Suddenly I found myself with a call to put aside all worldly things and go to preside over a mission. This was a thrilling experience to contemplate, and yet I subconsciously had a most uneasy feeling about it. I kept asking myself: 'Are you really worthy to accept such an important call?' I was living the Word of Wisdom, I was a full tithe payer, I was faithful in all my Church activities, I was morally clean, and yet this uneasy feeling persisted.
"I set about immediately to get my business and personal affairs in a condition where others could handle them while we were gone. While returning home from my office one afternoon, it really happened. I didn't hear a voice, but just as clearly as if a voice spoke to me something said: 'You must go to your father's cousin and get things straightened out. You cannot go on this mission and teach the gospel of love when this terrible feeling exists between you.'
"I drove to his home, and with great fear and trepidation went up and rang the doorbell. There was no answer. After waiting a few minutes I went back to my car and said silently, 'Lord, I made the attempt. I am sure this will be acceptable.' But it wasn't. This uneasy feeling still persisted. I prayed earnestly about it.
"The next day as I sat in a funeral service, my cousin came in and sat across the aisle from me. The Spirit moved me to ask him if I could see him at his home after the service. He agreed. This time I went with calmness and tranquility in my soul because I had asked the Lord to prepare the way for me.
"When I rang the doorbell he invited me into the living room and congratulated me on my mission call. We talked a few minutes about things in general, and then it happened. I looked at him with a feeling of love, which replaced all the old bitterness, and said: 'I have come to ask forgiveness for anything I have ever said or done that has tended to divide us and our families.'
"At this point tears came into our eyes, and for a few minutes neither of us could say a word. This was one time when silence was more powerful than words. In a few minutes he said: 'I wish I had come to you first.' I replied: 'The important thing is that it is done, not who initiated it.'
"At this moment we had a rich spiritual experience, which caused us to purge our lives and our souls of those things which had separated us, which has resulted in our having proper family relationships.
"Now I could go on my mission and teach the true meaning of love, because for the first time in my life I had experienced its deepest dimension, and now I could honestly say that there wasn't a person in the world that I didn't love and appreciate. Since that day my life has never been the same, for it was then that I learned in a most positive way as I had never understood before the injunction of the Master to his disciples when he said: 'A new commandment I give unto you That ye love one another'".
This same dimension of love is so beautifully portrayed by Leigh Hunt in the story of Abou Ben Adhem:
Abou Ben Adhem Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace, And saw within the moonlight in his room, Making it rich and like a lily in bloom, An angel writing in a book of gold; Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, And to the Presence in the room he said, "What writest thou?" The vision raised its head, And with a look made of all sweet accord, Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord." "And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so," Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low, But cheerily still, and said, "I pray thee, then, Write me as one that loves his fellowmen." The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night. It came again with a great wakening light, And showed the names whom love of God had blessed; And, lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest!
Let us strive to live worthily to have our names listed among those who love their fellowmen, and so prove our love for God. God does live. Jesus is the Christ. Through him we have the restored gospel, which offers us immortality and eternal life.
This is my humble testimony to you, and I leave my blessings with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Alvin R. Dyer
Alvin R. Dyer, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 107-110
I am grateful, my brothers and sisters, for the presence of President McKay. It is always an honor to be in his presence.
The degree of a man's faith in God, his religious concepts, and his feeling of eternal destiny are characteristics that make him different. Man is a spirit child of God the Eternal Father, and his birth into mortality is a crowning achievement; whether to be rich or poor, ignorant or educated, white, brown, or black, as to color, sinful or righteous by nature.
God is mindful of man and, such as he is, has given him dominion over all things upon the earth. He is the appointed master over all creatures of a lower kingdom of creation, and over inanimate objects upon the land, in the sea, and in the air. "... thou hast made him," declared the Psalmist, "a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour".
Mortal existence is such that man must give concern to material progress, but since he has been given, by divine right, dominion over all things upon the earth, all material things can be made to serve him. But, as to carnal things, God has given man a special warning, with the commandment to cultivate the attributes of spirituality and intelligence, the opposites of carnalism.
Unto the early day Roman Saints, Paul the Apostle wrote: "... to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." He then explained what was meant by the carnal mind, when he said the carnal mind "is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God".
Unto the Latter-day Saints, the Prophet Joseph Smith speaks of intelligence, with an explanation of its meaning; said he: "The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth."
"Light and truth forsake that evil one".
He said also that a man with a carnal mind cannot abide the presence of God.
Almost everyone today who has given the matter any concern and study is convinced that material gain progressively achieved during the past century and a half has reached great heights. The oft-referred-to phrase, "this age of enlightenment," refers to the progress that man has made in the fields of science and industry. These advances, generally, are proving to be of great benefit to man's natural existence, and there is no foreseeable end to this type of progress. But the terrific impact of transpiring material progress is making inroads upon man's spiritual and moral behavior.
These inroads, I believe, are not made because of that which has been achieved materially, for surely the true spiritual concept does not stand in the way of material progress; but rather inroads are being made because of the contemporary surrender and mutation of spiritual values and the fundamental truths of righteous existence needed to meet the challenge of material progress.
Man's spiritual decay in the face of material advancement, the evidence of which surrounds us, must then be attributed to intensive drifts to carnalism.
As the apex of time draws closer, which will culminate the earth-life existence of man, the basic issues of the spiritual mind and the carnal mind, of right and wrong, and of good and evil will become more pronounced. For example, we see at work in the world today powerful forces of carnalism that are opposed to God and the influences of a spiritual nature that can persuade and direct man to the righteous life. These advocates of carnalism would substitute God for an invisible earthly comrade and are prepared to lead the masses into a global conquest, on the carnal premise that, collaterally, concepts of God as a creator and the divine mission of the Son of God, the Redeemer of mankind, who is the advocate of a system of proven and eternal laws of progress, are to be systematically "nominalized," and finally eliminated.
But man need not be deceived by such principles of unrighteous dominion that are centered in "carnalism," for the opposite-those principles of spirituality, faith in God, and exposure to the eternal laws of righteousness-have been made fresh and new by divine restoration from God, through his chosen prophets, in our own day and time. But as this and other issues of right or wrong, good or evil, grow even sharper, we shall witness separations among men. Out of the masses will come those who are of the "carnal mind" and those who are of the "spiritual mind." It is in the latter realm that, by persistent conformity to spiritual or eternal laws, man can reach perfection. In this we see the work and glory of God.
It is the right of each individual to work out his salvation. Given enough of such individuals who adhere to this right, there exists a kingdom of righteousness, or a kingdom of God. Paul, the apostle, evidenced his clear understanding of this when he said: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned." He declared: "For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God".
In my own life I have received complete confirmation of righteous principles taught in my early years by parents who cared, and by others, pertaining to a spiritual life. In my weak way I am working with these traits, hoping to gain the complete supremacy that they offer. To the Prophet Joseph Smith were revealed many divinely inspired truths that can lift man into the light. In the following, the effect of spiritual mindedness in one's life is given:
"... your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things".
Here are a number of practical and effective ways of cultivating "spiritual mindedness":
1. Hold fast to the standards of right and truth. When we "water down" or compromise standards, we weaken our personal selves, and our chances of true happiness grow less and less as each sliding step is taken downward.
Certain biblical and other contemporary writings confirm the fact that, in the days of Israelite bondage in Egypt, not all of the Israelites were slaves; some gained release and favored positions by "going over" to the gods of Egypt. On the garden walls of their palatial mansions they painted pictures of the idols of the land, demonstrating their defection and surrender of principle, as well as infidelity to their own people. This incident portrays a universal lesson that has many parallels today in faith, in family, and in government.
2. Rise above adversity. David Starr Jordan once said: "Only that becomes real or helpful to any man which has cost the sweat of his brow, the effort of his brain, or the anguish of his soul. He who would be wise must daily earn his wisdom." Continuing, he said: "No one is ever miserable who would truly pay the price of happiness. No one is miserable who has not tried to cheapen life."
I recall a fable of the Norsemen that when a man won a victory over another, the strength of the conquered went over into his veins, suggesting that a victory over the carnal natures of adversity and weakness brings strength.
The life of the apostle Paul, after his conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ, gives evidence of faithful endurance in rising above adversity.
If in any man a sense of disappointment, a conviction that life is too hard for us and that we cannot shake off the crushing weight of its destinies, could have ever been excusable, it would have been so in the life of Paul. What visible success had he achieved?-the founding of a few churches, of which the majority were already cold to him.
He saw his efforts at Corinth, Ephesus, Thessalonica, and Galatia slowly undermined by heretical teachers, a movement that eventually spread throughout all of early Christendom, leading to complete apostasy.
But what had Paul personally gained? Wealth? He was absolutely dependent upon the chance gifts of others. Personal power? At his time of greatest need there had not been one friend to stand by his side. Love? He had learned by bitter experience how few there were who were not ashamed, even to own him in his misery.
Now, after all that he had suffered, after all that he had done, what was his condition? He was a lonely prisoner awaiting a malefactor's death. What was the sum total of earthly goods that the long labor of his life had brought to him? An old cloak and some books.
And yet in what spirit did he write Timothy, his young convert, who was faltering in the faith? Does he complain of his hardships? Does he regret his life? Does he dampen the courage of his younger friend by telling him that almost every earthly hope is doomed to failure, and that to struggle against human wickedness is a fruitless fight?
Not so! His last letter to Timothy is one of hope rather than despair. For himself the battle is over; the race is run. The days' work in the Master's vineyard is well nigh over. When it is quite finished and when he has entered the Master's presence, then and there-nowhere and now-shall he receive the crown of righteousness and unspeakable reward. It is Timothy, not Paul, who is in danger of yielding to languor and timidity, and forgetting that the Spirit of God is not of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
3. Overcome weaknesses. One of the great principles of the gospel is found in the fact that man by divine right is an agent unto himself and therefore dues only that which he wills.
Someone offered this suggestion:
"Life by the yard is hard, but By the inch, it's a cinch!"
The overcoming of the tobacco habit is much the same as overcoming any weakness that is detrimental to health, happiness, and being of a spiritual mind.
Take, for instance, the case of a man I knew who had the habit of smoking to the extent that he would set the alarm clock for definite intervals during the night and then sit in reverie on the edge of his bed. Or take another man I knew who did the same thing without the aid of an alarm clock, simply in response to the habitual urge to smoke. With such men the desire to answer the challenge to quit requires something more than just the statement, "I have smoked my last cigarette."
As one of them said to me: "If I could just quit for one hour, it would be an achievement. Then I would say, 'now I'll go another hour.'" He learned a great lesson: anything you can do for one hour, you can do for two, and as each hour passes, new strength comes-yes, even new strength to meet the times of extreme pressure when things seem to go all to pieces.
From the apostle James we have this for those who overcome a weakness: "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him".
5. Love the truth. In my own acquaintance, the most happy persons are those who love the gospel and its truths of righteousness and who are making a real effort to live by the standards of life it teaches.
To be truly happy, our thoughts and deeds must be on the side of good, not evil. When men love darkness rather than light, their deeds are evil.
I love the restored Church of Jesus Christ, because I know it helps me to be a better person. I cannot say how good I am, but I know that without the gospel I would be less good. Like all men, I have inherent weaknesses, and if yielded to, they could take me down to sin and carnal-mindedness; but this will never happen so long as I magnify the priesthood that I bear and stay close to the Church and its gospel influences. And so it is with all men. To know and love the truth is to be free.
6. Be humble. One of the crowning goals of being spiritually minded is the human quality of humility, especially if it is self-imposed. As Alma, a prophet of ancient America, once said, "... blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble...". Actually such humility is of the nature of meekness, concerning which the Master said: "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth".
The Prophet Joseph Smith possessed this quality of humility, as evidenced from this account: During the translation of the Book of Mormon, food was brought to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery by Joseph Knight, a farmer friend. They had no money, not even for paper needed in the translation. The Prophet asked Joseph Knight if he would bring them some paper that the translation could continue, which he did. His great interest in what was happening led him to ask the Prophet to inquire of the Lord what he might do to further the work.
In response to this the Lord gave to the Prophet a revelation for Joseph Knight, which teaches the great principle of humility:
"Behold, I speak unto you, and also to all those who have desires to bring forth and establish this work;
"And no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope and charity, being temperate in all things whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care".
This account indicates the circumstances of humility under which the Book of Mormon was brought forth. The Prophet and these men had nothing of the world's goods, yet they were pursuing a cause that was to bring to the world a record of the ancient inhabitants of North and South America, which without doubt is a new witness of Christ, and of the divine work of God our Eternal and Heavenly Father in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
I bear testimony that the truth has been restored, that man may seek for and find in the restoration the power that can lift him into the light of spiritual understanding and conviction. This I do in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Mark E. Petersen
Mark E. Petersen, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 111-114
In this day when many question the existence of God, a clear voice comes from the western hemisphere testifying in unmistakable terms that he lives!
It is by no means a voice of weakness that may be ignored. It is the collective voice of millions, some speaking from the past, but many speaking now in this atomic age.
All together they exclaim: God lives, and Jesus is his Christ!
Ancient America, and the America of Christopher Columbus, the America of the Revolutionary War, the America of the Civil War, and America of today join in a united testimony of this great and comforting truth: God lives, and Jesus of Nazareth is his Christ.
Let us begin with the testimony of Columbus, who discovered this land. He testified not only of the reality of God in his life, but also declared that he was guided by divine power in his voyage of discovery.
Jacob Wasserman, in his book Columbus, the Don Quixote of the Seas, quotes the discoverer as saying: "The Lord was well disposed to my desire and he bestowed upon me courage and understanding; knowledge of seafaring he gave me in abundance... and of geometry and astronomy likewise... The Lord with provident hand unlocked my mind, sent me upon the sea, and gave me fire for the deed. Those who heard of my enterprise called it foolish, mocked me and laughed. But who can doubt that the Holy Ghost inspired me?"
To King Ferdinand Columbus said: "I came to your majesty as the emissary of the Holy Ghost," upon which Wasserman the author commented:
"In the same way before that pious assemblage in San Esteban he insisted that he must be regarded as one inspired."
On page 62 of this book the author says: "His achievement did not seem to him something unimportant and fortuitous: It was in his eyes so tremendous, so inexpressibly great that it could only have been achieved by the direct assistance of God."
Washington Irving, describing Columbus before Queen Isabella, said that "he unfolded his plans with eloquence and zeal, for he felt himself, as he afterwards declared, kindled as with a fire from on high and considered himself the agent chosen of heaven to accomplish the grand design."
Columbus' own son Fernando, in a biography of his father, quotes the discoverer as saying: "God gave me the faith and afterwards the courage so that I was quite willing to undertake the journey."
Columbus' last will and testament reads in part: "In the name of the Holy Trinity who inspired me."
The testimony of the discoverer of America is that God lives, for he inspired him. Shall we not accept his word?
And what of the father of our country, George Washington?
He bore the same kind of testimony.
Washington did not take up the command of his army in the first instance until he had gone to the Almighty in humble prayer. He fought no engagements that were not preceded by appeals to the Deity, and there was never a victory that was not followed by acknowledgment of divine aid.
Characteristic of these expressions is his memorable announcement to the troops following the battle of Yorktown:
"Divine service is to be performed tomorrow in the several brigades and divisions. The Commander-in-Chief earnestly recommends that the troops not on duty should universally attend with that seriousness of deportment and gratitude of heart which the recognition of such reiterated and astonishing interposition of Providence demands of us."
In his farewell orders to the army, dated November 2, 1783, he said: "The singular interpositions of Providence in our feeble condition were such as could scarcely escape the observance of the most unobserving."
To Congress he said on April 30, 1789:
"No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of Providential agency."
Washington knew, and bore testimony, that God lives and that he has his hand over America. Shall we not accept his word?
And what of him who saved our country in times of civil war?
Abraham Lincoln bore testimony like that of Washington, repeatedly.
One of his most impressive statements was this:
"I have had so many evidences of God's direction, so many instances when I have been controlled by some power other than my own will, that I cannot doubt that this power comes from above... I am satisfied that when the Almighty wants me to do or not do a particular thing, He finds a way of letting me know it."
As he left for the city of Washington after his election, Lincoln said to his neighbors who had gathered to say farewell:
"Without the assistance of that Divine Being I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in him who can go with me and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all may yet be well. To his care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell."
Lincoln had no doubts about the existence of God. He knew God lives, by reason of his almost daily experience. Shall we not accept his word?
One of the most convincing testimonies of the past comes from the aboriginal inhabitants of America.
As careful research puts together facts now being disclosed by students of ancient America there appears clear and convincing evidence that the ancient Americans actually knew Christ personally, and that he walked and ministered among them.
Native American traditions of the "Great White God"
Probably the most persistent of all the traditions handed down through past generations to our present-day Indians of both North and South America is that of the Great White God. This being came among their forefathers in ancient times, healed their sick, raised some of their dead, and taught them a brotherly way of life. Some traditions say that he told them that when he was born in the flesh, he was the son of a virgin.
This Great White God promised that at some time he would return.
When the Spanish explorers came, as you well know, the Indians believed that their leader was the returning White God. This is what made their conquest so easy, and accounts for the lack of resistance on the part of the natives.
Captain Cook found this same tradition in the South Seas and like Cortez he took advantage of it.
It is remarkable that authorities say that the aboriginal inhabitants of America knew more about the Christian religion than did their European conquerors, and that a definite form of Christianity existed in America before Columbus ever came to these shores.
Dr. Daniel H. Brinton, for example, says that the existence of these traditions is irrefutable and that they were intimately and widely current from Chile to Alaska long before the inhabitants of this hemisphere ever saw a white man.
Another scholar of renown, Miles Poindexter, wrote that the tradition of the Incas concerning the White God was a nobler concept of our Creator and was more enlightened than that of the Europeans.
Is it possible that Christ came to ancient America giving this hemisphere a testimony of his existence?
It is not only possible-it is a fact.
The ancient record of his coming, as disclosed in the Book of Mormon, is clear and convincing.
That record shows that following his crucifixion and resurrection in Palestine, the Savior came to his "other sheep" here in America. It tells of a multitude expectantly gathered together and adds:
"... they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven...
"... and it said unto them:
"Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name-hear ye him.
"And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them...
"And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:
"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.
"And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of the bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.
"And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.
"And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying:
"Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.
"And it came to pass that the multitude went forth and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.
"And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:
"Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him".
He blessed their children, healed their sick, even raised their dead, and established his Church among them.
This is the true record of the visit of Christ-the Great White God-to ancient America. This is what gave rise to the traditions that still live in the hearts of American Indians and natives of the South Seas.
So ancient America, both in its written records and in its traditions declares that God lives and Jesus is his Christ. Can we doubt testimonies as great as these?
But modern America likewise gives testimony of God and Christ.
The Almighty has raised up a new and modern prophet on the earth as anciently he raised up Moses and others.
And as he appeared to Moses, speaking to him as one man speaks to another, so in this modern day he has appeared personally to an American prophet, and face to face has spoken to that prophet, giving him revelation.
This American prophet was Joseph Smith. His first view of the Almighty came as a young man in answer to a humble prayer.
Of this event Joseph Smith wrote:
"... I saw a pillar of light, exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun...
"... When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!".
At this time Joseph not only saw the Father and the Son, but also spoke to them, asked their questions, and received answers in return.
Think of it! God and his Christ came to America-in modern times-and spoke to an American youth face to face and called him to be a prophet.
Later still, in company with his associate Oliver Cowdery, Joseph again was visited by the Savior. Of this experience, which took place in the temple built by the Mormon people in Kirtland, Ohio, he wrote:
"We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber.
"His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:
"I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father".
And again, with Sidney Rigdon, Joseph once again was blessed with a view of the Deity. Of this he wrote:
"And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
"For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father-
"That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God".
America is a land chosen of God for a great and divinely appointed work. Essential to the performance of that task is an unerring testimony that God lives.
That testimony is here. It comes from the ancient world; it comes from today. It comes from our national leaders, and it comes from modern prophets raised up for God's special work in these last days.
The testimony of all, unitedly and together, is that God lives, and Jesus is his Christ. This is the testimony of Latter-day Saints the world around They know that God lives, for their modern prophets have seen him.
And this is our humble testimony, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Howard W. Hunter
Howard W. Hunter, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 115-118
The greatest search of our time is the search for personal identity and for human dignity. Each of us wants life to be worthwhile and to have real meaning-a personal meaning-in the living we do from day to day. There is a search being made by people everywhere, a search as important as life itself for self-respect, for self-fulfillment, and for emotional maturity. Much of our character and nature, as individuals, depends upon how and to what ends we conduct this search. Too many of us turn the direction of our lives to tragic goals and distorted purposes. The friends we choose, the choices we make, and what we do about these choices are the determining guide lines that form and mold our lives; but choices alone are not enough. The best goals, the best of friends, and the best of opportunities are all meaningless unless they are translated into reality through our daily actions.
Belief must be realized in personal achievement. Real Christians must understand that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not just a gospel of belief; it is a plan of action. His gospel is a gospel of imperatives, and the very nature of its substance is a call to action. He did not say "observe" my gospel; he said "live" it! He did not say, "Note its beautiful structure and imagery", he said, "Go, do, see, feel, give, believe!" The gospel of Jesus Christ is full of imperatives, words that call for personal commitment and action-obligatory, binding, compulsory.
There is never achievement in any field of endeavor unless it is preceded by a strong sense of purpose. There must be reasons for action and guides for action in the form of real goals and objectives. That is why we are given a plan of salvation and progression. Because the gospel is a long-range even an eternal-goal, it must be broken up into short-range, immediate objectives that can be achieved today and tomorrow and the next day. The gospel imperatives constitute an immediate challenge to action in our lives right now, today, as well as a plan for action eternally.
Notice the forceful expression Jesus gave to his teachings; he said: "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
"For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened".
"... Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you".
I believe he would have endorsed the modern addition to an ancient scripture: "And with all thy getting, get going!" His principles are briefly paraphrased. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". "Go the second mile". "If you want to know whether what I say is true, try it out!" This is what we mean by gospel imperatives. They are words that challenge to action-"Go, do, pray, repent, love, find, give, consider, provide," and a host of others.
One of the most dynamic challenges in the scriptures comes at the end of King Benjamin's address to his people as he concludes his ministry and turns the reigns of government over to his son, Mosiah. Standing on the tower he built to address the people, he guides them through the fundamentals of the gospel and commits them to the wisdom, power, and purposes of God, making this most important challenge: "... and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them". The sincerity of their belief must be demonstrated in the verity in their actions.
Action is one of the chief foundations of personal testimony. The surest witness is that which comes firsthand out of personal experience. When the Jews challenged the doctrine Jesus taught in the temple, he answered, "... my doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me." Then he added the key to personal testimony, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself" 7.
Do we hear the imperative in this declaration of the Savior? "If any man will do... he will know!" John caught the significance of this imperative and emphasized its meaning in his gospel. He said, "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked".
Merely saying, accepting, believing are not enough. They are incomplete until that which they imply is translated into the dynamic action of daily living. This, then, is the finest source of personal testimony. One knows because he has experienced. He does not have to say, "Brother Jones says it is true, and I believe him." He can say, "I have lived this principle in my own life, and I know through personal experience that it works. I have felt its influence, tested its practical usefulness, and know that it is good. I can testify of my own knowledge that it is a true principle."
Many people carry such a testimony in their own lives and do not recognize its worth. Recently a young lady said, "I do not have a testimony of the gospel. I wish I did. I accept its teachings. I know they work in my life. I see them working in the lives of others. If only the Lord would answer my prayers and give me a testimony, I would be one of the happiest persons alive!" What this young lady wanted was a miraculous intervention; yet she had already seen the miracle of the gospel enlarging and uplifting her own life. The Lord had answered her prayers. She did have a testimony, but she did not recognize it for what it was. Of such, Jesus said, "... they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
"And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive". The gospel is the way of life. It is practical, plain, and simple. It is a gospel of action, even to the tiny day-to-day actions that make up the art of living.
Elder Adam S. Bennion, when he was with us, used to say, "Important as knowing is, there is a more important field, and that is the field of doing. Life is always bigger than learning. It is a wonderful thing to know, but it is better to do." This, of course, is the meaning of the biblical injunction, "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only", which is another gospel imperative.
This gospel imperative expresses the very nature of Church education. The doctrine of making hearers into doers of the word extends to the point at which we believe that what we know and do in the gospel needs to become ingrained into the very nature of our being. Nels L. Nelson expresses this gospel imperative in one of his books defining the Mormon concept of education in these words: "The only kind of education which squares with the ideals of Mormonism is that which trains a man to do. If it be asked, to do what, the answer is, to do the things that need to be done...
"True education is therefore training a man to do his part in the social world...
"... knowledge is only half of intelligence. To stop here is to be falsely educated. If, however, the truth perceived becomes a dynamic fact in a man's character; if it is incorporated into his mental attitude, and reacts immediately upon his life; if, in short, it ceases to be something in a man and becomes the man himself changing the very... thinketh in his heart, so is he" ought to be a prime tenet in every gospel lesson.
Fourth, be assured that one kind of ability we must have is "stick-ability." No matter how good the beginning, success comes only to those who "endure to the end."
Fifth, whenever we tackle a gospel imperative, immediate goals will help us master it. Our decision to read scripture becomes quite practical when we decide to read a chapter at night before we go to sleep. We should set up long-range and eternal goals, to be sure-they will be the guides and inspiration of a lifetime; but we should not forget the countless little immediate objectives to be won tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. To win and pass these objectives marks our progress toward the greater goals and insures happiness and the feelings of success along the way.
Gospel imperatives are action words challenging every Latter-day Saint to gospel living. They are the active pathway to personal participation in the laws of the gospel, and every one leads to rewards and blessings. An example of this may be found in the blessing attached to one of these gospel imperatives. It reads, "And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones
"And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures". Such are the blessings promised, and there are many more, each to its own gospel imperative. They are imperatives because they call to action, and every positive action in the gospel plan makes better and happier men and women.
I never think of gospel imperatives without remembering the story of Mary Fielding Smith, that indomitable pioneer mother who was the wife and widow of the Patriarch Hyrum Smith brother of the Prophet. I am sure you are all familiar with the story of her struggles to bring her little family to the valley of the Great Salt Lake. Well, one of the highlights in that story for me is also the signature of gospel imperatives. One spring as they opened the potato pits she had her boys get a load of the best potatoes, which she took to the tithing office.
She was met at the steps of the office by one of the clerks, who remonstrated as the boys began to unload the potatoes. "Widow Smith," he said, remembering no doubt her trials and sacrifices, "it's a shame that you should have to pay tithing." He added a number of other things her son did not care to repeat, chided her for paying her tithing, and called her anything but wise and prudent; he said that there were others able to work who were supported from the tithing office. The little widow drew herself up to her full height and said, "William, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. Would you deny me a blessing? If I did not pay my tithing, I should expect the Lord to withhold his blessings from me. I pay my tithing, not only because it is a law of God but because I expect a blessing by doing it. By keeping this and other laws, I expect to prosper and to be able to provide for my family."
This is the goal of gospel imperatives, "to be able to prosper and provide for our families." The abundance of the good and worthwhile things of life comes from following them. I bear you my testimony that in them lies the wisdom of eternity. It is my witness that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world. My appeal is to each of us, and the hundreds of thousands of persons who joined with us by viewing this conference today, to catch the vision of and follow the admonition contained in the key to all imperatives: "For every one that asketh, receiveth and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened". This is my humble prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 119-123
My dear brethren and sisters: I am happy to be with you this day. I do hope and pray that the Lord will bless me with his Spirit, that I may be able to give you something that will be for your good and the up-building of the kingdom of God.
For a theme I thought I would take the words of our Savior: "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father".
I am going to read to you a few words from Paul the apostle, written to the Corinthian Saints. Now, the people out in the world have a strange idea about these epistles of Paul and of the men who have written the epistles we have in the Bible. They apply them unto themselves, and they look upon them as being declared as messages to all the world. But this is not so. Definitely, each of these epistles was written to members of the Church -not to denominations, but to those who heard the words of the apostles of old, had received them, and had been baptized and confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ in that dispensation.
Therefore, we should have the understanding when we read these epistles that the things said by the apostles are not things that apply to those who have not made covenants through the gospel of Jesus Christ and did not in that day. I am going to read a most definite, emphatic statement to members of the Church, some of whom had been drifting a little in that day, just as we do today, some of whom were not fully converted, and some of whom had forgotten the messages that the brethren taught to them and that they received when they came into the Church.
So Paul instructed these members of the Church and called attention to certain conditions which are peculiar to those who have made covenants with Jesus Christ. And Paul is not speaking to our generation. He is speaking of the generation in which he lived. And so to these Corinthian members of the Church he said:
"Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stone, wood, hay, stubble;
"Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
"If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
"If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?".
Thus he wrote to the Saints in Corinth, and these words apply equally to the Saints of this present day. Paul could not say that to those who had not been baptized and confirmed, for the Lord has said definitely that those who are not members of the Church cannot receive the Holy Ghost; and so Paul said:
"If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy, for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
"Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness".
So we should take notice of this. We cannot build on any other foundation. I think that there are members of the Church who have pride, who have placed gold, silver, precious things as their great goal. And they have neglected their duties and responsibilities, which their membership in the Church requires of them.
Now, let me read another passage to these same members of the Church, many of whom had sadly departed from the true teachings that they had received from Paul and others who had been sent to teach them:
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's". That statement of Paul's is just as true and applies with equal force in the cases of Latter-day Saints today.
Paul could not say that to those who had not made covenants. He could have told anybody anywhere that he was bought with a price, but he could not tell them that the Holy Ghost had been given to them, because it was not given except to members of the Church. But the fact remains that every soul upon the face of the earth was bought with a price -Jew and Gentile, the heathen, the atheist. No matter where a man lives or what he believes or the circumstances under which he lives, he was bought and paid for with a price, a price that was paid by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and he was the only one who could pay it. No one else was ever born into this world who could pay this price.
And from what were we bought? Before I answer that question, I want to say something else. I have heard people say, and members of the Church too, "I have a right to do as I please." My answer is: No, you do not. You haven't any right at all to do just as you please. There is only one right that you have, and that is to do just what I read to you: keep the commandments of Jesus Christ. He has a perfect right to tell us so. We have no right to refuse. I do not care who the man is; I do not care where he lives, or what he is -when the gospel of Jesus Christ is presented to him, he has no right to refuse to receive it. He has the privilege. He is not compelled to receive it, because our Father in heaven has given to everyone of us, in the Church and out, the gift of free agency. That free agency gives us the privilege to accept and be loyal to our Lord's commandments, but it has never given us the right to reject them. Every man who rejects the commandments of our Father in heaven is rebellious.
Of course, I realize that there are thousands of people who have never heard the gospel. They are not going to be punished for that. We cannot expect a person to observe a commandment he has never heard. But all those who have never had the privilege of hearing it will at some time have that privilege. If it is not in this life, it will be in the spirit world. And every soul will have the opportunity to accept the mission of our Savior Jesus Christ or to reject it. When the Lord commands us, if we love him we will keep the commandments. This is the law to members of the Church, in the words of the Savior: "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me". Again, the Savior said: "If ye love me, keep my commandments".
Unfortunately we have members of the Church who set aside the commandments the Lord has given us, who fail to observe them strictly. This is not your right. It is just your privilege, the privilege the Lord has given you to act for yourself. You are agents with the power within you to obey or to disobey. If it were not so, no one could be tried for disobedience. We read in the scriptures that every man will be tried according to his works. Well, if we are not under obligation, who can try us? Did you ever think of that? If there were no obligation for me to keep the commandments of the Lord, if I broke them, I could not be punished.
We do not punish men for doing something that is not contrary to the laws do we? But the Lord has given us his laws, the gospel of Jesus Christ, not because it is pleasing to him, not because he is going to get anything out of it. He has given us these laws that we might get something out of them. And, of course, every person who keeps these commandments adds that much to his personal glory. There is no question about that, because when we sustain our Savior and are true and faithful to him, he is the benefactor. But are we not benefited, and are not the benefits greater to us by far than they are to him? Our Lord never gave a commandment in this world to any man that was not intended to be to his eternal benefit. I think sometimes we overlook that.
I hope the Lord will help me to keep his commandments. As I said, his commandments are not hard to keep. He said that himself. Some people say that his commandments are hard to keep. This is an admission, isn't it, that they are not keeping them?
Let me ask you a question: Is there anybody here who has not committed some sin or transgression of divine law? If so, you may please raise your hand. I don't see any hands up. I can't raise mine. Well, did you ever, after you had committed some wrong, feel sorry and get the spirit of repentance and wish you had not done it? If you have not felt that way, you had better see your bishop. I have done things I should not have done, and I have felt sorry. I never committed murder; I have kept my body clean; I have not been stealing from people. When I was a child, I may have taken something that did not belong to me, like the neighbor's apples. But when I have done some wrong, I have been troubled.
The Savior never committed any sin nor carried any troubled conscience. He was not under the necessity of repenting as you and I are; but in some way that I cannot understand, he carried the weight of my transgressions and yours and the transgressions of every soul who comes into this Church from the days of Adam to our present time and to the end of time. He came and offered himself as a sacrifice to pay the debt for each of us who is willing to repent of his sins and return to him and keep his commandments. Think of it, if you can. The Savior carried that burden in some way beyond our comprehension. I know that, because I accept his word. He tells us of the torment he went through the torment was so great that he pled with his Father that if it were possible he might not drink the bitter cup and shrink: "... nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done". The answer he got from his Father was, "You have to drink it."
Can I help loving him? No, I cannot. Do you love him? Then keep his commandments. If you do not, you will have to answer for them yourselves.
When Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden, they did not have to die. They could have been there to this day. They could have continued on for countless ages. There was no death then. But it would have been a terrific calamity if they had refrained from taking the fruit of that tree, for they would have stayed in the Garden of Eden and we would not be here -nobody would be here except Adam and Eve. So Adam and Eve partook. Eating of that forbidden fruit subdued the power of the spirit and created blood in their bodies. No blood was in their bodies before the Fall. The blood became the life of the body. And the blood was not only the life thereof, but it had in it the seeds of death. And so we grow old and we die. But it would have been a dreadful thing if Adam and his posterity had been forced, because of the Fall, to die and remain dead; that would have been the case had there been no redemption.
That is what Satan wanted, so he worked on them. I think he had this idea: "Now, I have destroyed the Lord's plan. I have caused Adam and Eve to become mortal and they are going to die; everyone will have to die, and they will become subject to me." And he laughed about it.
There was only one way of redemption, one way in which reparation could be made and the body restored again to the spirit; that was by an infinite atonement, and it had to be made by an infinite being, someone not subject to death and yet someone who had the power to die and who also had power over death. And so, our Father in heaven sent us his Son, Jesus Christ, into the world with life in himself. And because he had a mother who had blood in her veins, he had the power to die. He could yield up his body to death and then take it again. Let me read his own words: "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
"No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father".
He had power to lay down his life, and on the cross he paid the price for our sins and at the same time for Adam's transgression. His infinite atonement resulted in two things: restoration of the body to the spirit, and the redemption of those who accept the gospel of Jesus Christ and who will be loyal in the keeping of his commandments -freedom from their sins.
Now, in conclusion, what are we going to do? Are we going to love him? Are we going to realize the great work he did for us and are we going to be grateful, or are we going to violate his commandments? I would like to read something by Sydney Harris, taken from the Deseret News in 1964, entitled "Would We Believe and Follow?"
"If there should be a second coming, would there not be soon a second crucifixion? And this time, not by the Romans or the Jews, but by those who proudly call themselves Christians? I wonder! I wonder how we today would regard and treat this man with his strange and frightening and 'impractical' doctrines of human behavior and relationships. Would we believe and follow, any more than the masses of people in his day believed and followed?
"Would not the militarists among us assail him as a cowardly pacifist because he urges us not to resist evil?
"Would not the nationalists among us attack him as a dangerous internationalist because he tells us we are all of one flesh?
"Would not the wealthy among us castigate him as a trouble-making radical because he bars the rich from entering the kingdom of heaven?
"Would not the liberals among us dismiss him as a dreamy vagabond because he advises us to take no thought for the morrow, to lay up no treasures on earth?
"Would not the ecclesiastics among us denounce him as a ranting heretic because he cuts through the core of ritual and commands us only to love God and our neighbors?
"Would not the sentimentalist among us deride him as a cynic because he warns us that the way to salvation is narrow and difficult?
"Would not the puritans among us despise and reject him because he eats and drinks with the publicans and sinners, preferring the company of winebibbers and harlots to that of 'respectable' church members?
"Would not the sensual among us scorn him because he fasts for forty days in the desert, neglecting the needs of the body?
"Would not the proud and important among us laugh at him when he instructs the twelve disciples that he who would be 'first' should be the one to take the role of the least and serve all?
"Would not the worldly wise and educated among us be aghast to hear that we cannot be saved except we become as children, and that a little child shall lead us?
"Would not each of us -in his own way -find some part of this man's saying and doing to be so threatening to our ways of life, so much at odds with our rooted beliefs, that we could not tolerate him for long?
"I wonder, I wonder if we are any more prepared for the second coming than we would have been for the first."
When we go to our homes let us get on our knees and thank the Lord for his many blessings, and our Lord Jesus Christ for his mercy and his greatness and goodness for making it possible for us, through the keeping of his commandments, to go back into the presence of God our Father and dwell with him. May the Lord bless you with every righteous desire of your hearts is my prayer, in the name of his son Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen.
Elder Marion D. Hanks
Marion D. Hanks, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 123-126
A few days ago as I pondered this responsibility a letter arrived from an anguished parent whose child had taken a wrong turn in the road and had become enmeshed in serious trouble. About the same time a telephone call brought a request for help from a mother, under similar circumstances. That weekend the "Church Section" quoted in an article a letter from another heartbroken mother whose promising son had been destroyed by drugs. Experience recalls many such matters.
Each of these instances involved parents who had earnestly tried to do their duty, had themselves lived honorable, devoted lives, had reared choice families, had loved and found much to praise in the child who had made the wrong decisions. Nevertheless, the child had made the wrong decision.
Beyond the anguish caused by the errant child in such cases is often the added burden of censure from neighbors, and self-condemnation as scriptures are read or alluded to in classes and meetings and discussions.
What has the Church to say to a sincere parent who, like all parents, has made mistakes, but who has really tried -only to have a child disregard his teachings and example and choose another way?
Possibly no subject is more frequently and earnestly treated in Church instruction and admonition and programming these days than that of the responsibility of parents to their children. All who have association with youth and families know the importance of this emphasis, and none could question the validity of the effort.
Outside the Church, people of honest interest and goodwill feel the same and seek the same objectives.
Few scriptural admonitions are more clearly or strongly given than those relating to the responsibility of parents and adults to their children and the younger generation. If we were to select a scripture that is perhaps as frequently referred to as any other by speakers and teachers, we would be reasonably safe in choosing the 68th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, where a well-known instruction from the Lord to his children is recorded. Certain of the brethren received counsel, and instructions of general application were included. Among the choice directions from the Lord is this verse:
"And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents".
Parenthood, the revelation teaches, involves the responsibility to "teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord".
My purpose today is to express my own deep appreciation of the validity and relevance of these instructions, and to say that I believe and accept them as the word of the Lord. But there is another side of this story that deserves attention and compassionate consideration.
We are all aware that home and parental and adult influence are of greatly persuasive importance in the lives of children. In commenting on the relationship of adult to child over this pulpit some years ago, I noted that among other things the following are true:
1. Children are inclined to be like their parents and the homes from which they come.
2. Children are also influenced by associates who come from other homes and therefore are influenced by the nature of the other homes and the parents who live in them.
3. Other adults and environments have great influence on young people.
4. Young men and women soon discover the truth about parents or other adults whose lives are not consistent with their expressed convictions in the way they live.
It is true that there are a number of examples of fine young people who rise above their home and family environments and their training and the example of the adult generation. They somehow find the way themselves and, setting high goals, manifest the determination and courage and capacity to achieve them. There are exceptions on the other side of the coin also, and it is of this that I would like to speak for a moment.
What of the earnest, sincere parents who do their best to rear their family with integrity and devotion, only to see a child choose paths leading to destinations that break the hearts of the parents? Like other parents, this father and mother, aware of their vulnerabilities and limitations, have earnestly tried to rear their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. As they hear the sermons and testimonies and observe the good fortune of neighbors whose children follow the established way, their hearts break and their spirits sag. They are sickened by questions they cannot answer, critical of themselves, assisted in their own self-criticism by the sometimes unthinking judging of others.
What shall be said to such heart broken parents? Is there any encouragement for them in the scriptures? What have the prophets said?
Ezekiel was a prophet during the captivity of Israel. He preached to a people to whom it was comforting to attribute their current problems to the sins of former generations. They were habituated to quoting a prophecy: "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge"
There is, of course, a measure of truth in this proverb, as every parent or close observer of the human experience knows. Our children do suffer in many ways from our defections or derelictions, just as they prosper from our proper instruction and our love and good example.
As Ezekiel admonished Israel he spoke these words, recorded in the 18th chapter of Ezekiel:
"The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,
"What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?
"As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel".
As I read the record, Ezekiel was not minimizing the sorrowful imposition of trouble in the life of a child who is deprived of the truth or misled by the faithlessness of a parent. Ezekiel was reemphasizing for Israel the great importance of individual responsibility before God and of God's impartiality in dealing with every man according to his own character. Hear these words of the Lord through the Prophet, immediately following his instruction that they no more use the proverb in Israel:
"Behold, all souls are mine, as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die".
Repeating those last words, "the soul that sinneth, it shall die," the Lord added:
"The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him".
Ezekiel then encouraged repentance and obedience, noting that the repentant sinner may avoid the eternal consequence of his deed through the forgiveness of the Lord. A wicked man who repents and becomes righteous will live. A righteous man who becomes wicked will die. Every man must stand before God and answer for his own choices and for his own character.
What Ezekiel said to ancient Israel, I believe we must understand and apply to modern Israel. Where homes and hearts are sundered by the resentful or rebellious bad choices of a child who is accountable and has made his own stubborn decisions, which cross in their willfulness the purposes of the parents, God understands and does not condemn the honest parents.
Jeremiah quoted and refuted the same proverb:
"In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge.
"But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge".
There is some solace for the sorrowing heart in recalling the first family of the Bible. Seeking earnestly to live obediently in response to their knowledge of good and evil, faithful parents tried to teach their children. One son understood and offered unto God an acceptable sacrifice. Another son did not or would not understand. To him and his offering God had no respect. So serious was his misunderstanding and his response that he rose up against his brother and slew him.
What of the first family of the Book of Mormon? Reared by the same mother and father in the same household, some of the brothers loved God and followed the counsels of their parents. They were loyal to their heritage and possibilities. Other sons took an opposite course. They were willful and rebellious and unresponsive to the instructions and example and entreaties of their father and mother. Repeatedly they followed their own wayward wills, to the heartbreak of their parents and to their own ultimate disaster.
If there needs be more evidence of the widespread nature of the problem and the deep compassion of the Father for those who suffer through it, consider another family in which one choice son humbly accepted the counsel and plan of his father and followed that plan according to his father's will, while another son, also an authority in the kingdom of his father, followed his own wayward will and base arrogance, rebelled against his father and his instructions, and, not content with this, induced a third of his brothers and sisters to rebel against their father and to follow him, to their own heartbreak and sorrow.
Whatever application is to be made of Ezekiel's instructions, surely there is this invitation to those in whose households there is peace and joy and rejoicing because of their posterity: be humble. Be compassionate and considerate and prayerful in behalf of those who have suffered the misfortune of a wayward child. Thank God, watch and pray, and be humble.
To those to whom the sorrow of a child unresponsive to parental instruction and example has come, be comforted. God understands. He knows what it means to have a rebellious son and wayward children. Many others understand.
Again let it be said that there is no disposition to minimize the importance of our doing all we can to lead and direct and inspire obedience in our children. We can tragically impose upon their lives by our failures. But let there be concern and consideration also in recognizing the principle of agency in accountable people and the responsibility to answer for the choices that are made.
God requires that we accept responsibility for our individual decisions; he deals with every man according to his own character. He has taught us through Ezekiel not alone that every man must stand on his own and answer for his own decisions, but that God desires that all shall turn to him and live, he having no pleasure in the suffering of his children for their sins.
In a recent magazine it is quoted: "On the last six days of Passover, Jews say a special prayer -the half Hallel. Tradition has it that when the Egyptians, in pursuing the Jews, were drowning in the Red Sea, the Lord kept his angels from singing his praises, admonishing them, 'How can you sing hymns while my creatures are drowning in the sea?' "
God help us to be humble if we are blessed with children who follow the way they have been shown. God help us to be gracious and compassionate with others whose experience has not been so favorable. God help choice parents who have truly tried, but have had heartbreak, to know his love and his warmth and the gracious encouragement of his understanding heart. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder John Longden
John Longden, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 127-129
We have been fed and uplifted spiritually in music, song, prayer, and speech during all the sessions of this conference. The spirit of encouragement has been richly manifest. Where do we go from here? What are we going to do about it?
I remember the words of President McKay some months ago when he made this statement: "Make Jesus Christ the center of our lives." I feel these are the doctrines that have been taught in all the sessions of this conference.
In an age of the world when rebellion is to be found in many areas, obedience is, by mistaken ideas of freedom, considered a mark of humiliation. In reality, true obedience to the Lord's commands is an indication of moral courage, strength, and power.
Samuel, the Old Testament prophet declared:
"Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
"For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king".
Here obedience is referred to in simple, understandable terms. This is an eternal truth that is characterized by the ancient seers and saints, who, like the Messiah, were ready to say by word and deed, "I came not to do mine own will but the will of my Father who sent me".
The Savior taught this great lesson 2,000 years ago. "... My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself".
The Father of our spirits requires obedience. The best embodiment of this principle, the most humble in yielding to the divine will, was the best and purest being who ever dwelt in mortality, even the Lord Jesus Christ-he, in whose mouth there was found no guile, who was perfect and without blemish in all the walks of life. While he was obedient to his Father's will and humble to the extreme, he was independent of the influence and persuasions of wicked men, including Satan, who tempted him severely.
Then, said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him:
"If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free".
Truth or principle does not change; today, if we desire the blessing of God, we must be obedient-obedient to conscience, to conviction of right, to divine authority, and to God, in whom we trust.
Obedience applies to all-to youth in school, those who work in the shop and factories, the farmer, the rancher, the office worker, the teacher, all the professions, mothers and fathers and children, in their homes and out of their homes.
Obedience to the gospel, making application of the gospel principles in our daily lives, guarantees every adherent the companionship of the Holy Spirit, and this Spirit secures to every faithful individual a living testimony concerning the truth or falsity of every proposition presented for our consideration.
The Apostle Paul said that "by one spirit have we access unto the Father".
All who embrace the gospel are entitled to an individual testimony of the truth; the same Spirit guides into all truth, reveals the things of the Father, and imparts the inspiration essential to preserve mankind from a blind obedience to erroneous principles and false guides.
Again, may I repeat the statement of the Savior, recorded in John 7:17:
"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself".
This secures to all men protection against imposition and abuse of power and the false decisions of man-made councils.
The Lord has promised to guide and direct his Church upon the earth, for he "will do nothing but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants the prophets".
This does not imply the infallibility of man, but it does imply the promise that no man or council of men who stand at the head of the Church shall have power to lead the Saints astray.
With this assurance, then, the people of God in every dispensation have been justified in rendering absolute, yet intelligent, obedience in the direction of the holy prophets.
The evidence is sure that whatever has come, either by written document or verbally, from the presidency of the Church has been attended with good results.
Applying this principle of obedience to organizations of a civil and business character, confusion and weakness result from men refusing their support to the decision of the presiding authority or of the majority where the action is left to popular vote. Carlyle, the great writer, said:
"All great minds are respectfully obedient to all that is over them; only small souls are otherwise."
The twelfth article of our faith states:
"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law".
Each family in the Church is encouraged to hold a family home evening. A home evening manual has been presented to every family encouraging them to study the lessons that it contains for the first eight months of 1967, the subject matter being "Obedience to Law."
The obedience rendered to God is based upon a conviction that he is perfect in all his ways, possessing the attributes of justice, judgment, knowledge, power, mercy, and truth in all their fullness. Obedience to his appointed authority upon the earth is obedience to him and is so taught by the Savior.
"He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me".
And further on, we are told and strengthened thereby: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me".
It is not the person who calls for this respect and consideration-it is the principle involved. God has placed authority upon the humble men. Through their administrations can be secured the benefits and blessings that follow obedience to the ordinances of the gospel. Implicit obedience must be rendered. The mandates of the Lord Jesus are imperative. No substitute will do.
The path has been marked and led by the Savior. This is the only sure pattern for living.
Obedience is essential to salvation, essential to success in every avenue of human enterprise, whether rendered to the laws of God direct in their moral and spiritual phases or to his authority vested in man. Obedience must be implicit.
Our leaders ask us to do right, to live pure lives, to do good to all men and evil to no one, and to respect the order of God's kingdom, that salvation and exaltation may come to all.
The epistle of Paul, the apostle, to the Hebrews:
"Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered".
Jesus set the example in the Garden of Gethsemane as he prayed to his Father just previous to his crucifixion:
"O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done".
I humbly pray that we may exercise this power and strength in obeying and keeping the covenants we have made with the Lord Jesus Christ. I feel that more than any other thing, the human family today needs to keep close to Jesus through obedience to his spiritual and moral laws. As we make Jesus Christ the center of our lives, this will be our lot, and I pray for this, bearing my witness that these things are true. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
Elder Boyd K. Packer
Boyd K. Packer, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 129-133
I feel subdued in spirit, brethren and sisters, as we come near the closing moments of this great conference. There is the promise that "when a man carries it into the hearts of the children of men". Because there are some here visiting with us as guests about whom I care deeply, I pray for an interest in your faith and prayers as I direct my remarks to them.
It has been our privilege over the past two years in the mission field to become acquainted with clergymen from a number of Christian churches. We find them to be good men-sincere, honest in their dedication to the ministry that they have chosen. It is to you "men of the cloth," as you term yourselves, that I speak.
Would you be offended if I called you "our brethren"? This term, commonly used in the Church, is a title of dignity and honor, and I address you thusly in respect for your ministerial assignment.
Please understand the spirit in which I speak. It is with humility and without arrogance that I call to your attention a matter of significant spiritual importance; in the spirit of what might be termed "a call to the Christian clergy."
In conversation several of you have opened your heart and given expression to your solemn feelings concerning the Christian Church at large, the feeling that something is out of order that wants to be put in order. Not so much as you have said, that the clergy is not desirous of moving people to good works, but rather that there is something missing.
Your youth have become unresponsive, and although you have introduced innovations into the worship services-jazz combos, poetry reading, interpretive dancing, all thought to be appealing to youth-nevertheless, they are drawn away and grow up without faith.
One reads with serious reflection the words of the Prophet Amos:
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:
"And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.
"In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst".
I testify that such a spiritual famine is upon the world. And as moral fiber is weakened, forces of darkness grow in courage. Evil has unclothed herself and walks the street in brazen impudence, defiant, frightening, persuasive.
In recognition of this, you point with nervous realization that the churches are not fulfilling their obligation to mankind; and you find yourselves reaching out to one another, hoping to draw close together, to stand shoulder to shoulder, sensing that in unity there may be strength.
You have told me of your councils-local, regional, national, and worldwide-in which you devote yourselves to the spirit of ecumenism. These are ecumenical councils in which you labor industriously to bring into one the whole of Christianity.
In all of this you see us, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, standing apart, not participating. We are not in the councils. And not only this, you find us sending missionaries among your parishioners, pleading with them to hear the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and bearing witness that he lives.
Why, you ask, will we not support the great ecumenical movement? Why do we absent ourselves from councils called in the name of Christian unity?
It is in answer to this question to you and to the wondering youth in the Church that we yearn with prayerful, fervent desire that you may feel the spirit in which we speak.
Our brethren, we declare that councils alone will not bring unity. The efforts of men only, regardless of how well-intentioned, will not call it forth. No more will be accomplished through uninspired reorganization and attempted unification of the Christian churches than has been accomplished through the uninspired separation of them.
It was when men denied the gift of the Spirit and failed to heed the inspirations from the Lord and the promptings of the Holy Ghost that they strayed from the gospel of Jesus Christ and began to contend one with another and to protest one against the other.
The very concern, the recognition of the need to be put together again, the very feeling that something is out of order that wants to be put in order, indeed, the very reason for which the ecumenical councils are being called are evidence that the division in the first place was wrong and even apostate in its dimensions.
There is indeed a need for unity. But we would be mistaken to assume that each of the multiplicity of Christian churches is part of the so-called "body of Christ", and that putting them all together would make the full "body of Christ".
They are not component parts, but are imperfect and distorted copies of the whole. To pretend that bringing them together will constitute bringing into one whole all that is essential for the salvation of mankind would be to mislead one another.
You have no doubt on many occasions read these words in the gospel of John:
"If ye love me, keep my commandments.
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever
"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you".
In no age in the history of the world were men more in need of that spiritual comforter.
Is it unreasonable to ask you, who are by disposition such seekers after truth that you have chosen the ministry, to set aside for a moment self-interest, prejudice, even concern over the source of your livelihood, and to openly and honestly and prayerfully consider that there may be an answer provided by the Lord that cannot be arrived at in ecumenical councils?
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts".
Are you so illiberal that you could not admit at least as a thought that God may have chosen not to restructure, nor repair, nor to renovate, nor even to re-unite the churches?
Mankind is not left alone. There is the answer to the problem of Christian unity, but it is not a reuniting nor a renovation. It is the restoration!
The Lord's way was certified to man on April 6, 1830, when there was organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Father and the Son had appeared. The heavens were opened!
Angelic messengers restored by ordination the priesthood. God once again spoke through his Prophet. A council of twelve apostles was called. And the organization, with proper authority, was restored as it had been first established by Jesus Christ.
It is not an easy way we offer. It is not easy to change, particularly when we come to see the path we have walked in a new light.
A naturalist one day knelt in the Scottish highlands with his magnifying glass focused upon some blossoms of the heather until, as he afterwards confessed, he lost track of time. Suddenly he glanced over his shoulder and found an old highland shepherd watching. I suppose he was somewhat embarrassed, but without saying a word he plucked the heather bell and handed it with the magnifying glass to the shepherd. The old man put the instrument to his eyes and peered at the heather bell. He was silent for awhile; then, handing back the flower and the instrument, he said slowly: "Ay, man, I wish ye no had shown me that."
"Why?" asked the naturalist.
"Because these rude feet have trodden so many of them." It is not easy to change.
In this conference you have heard quotations from the Book of Mormon.
Some have been offended that anyone would assume that the Bible was incomplete or that there needed to be more. They have, indeed, said, "A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible. What need have we for more Bible?".
We are, nonetheless, inescapably faced with the fact that with the Bible only, well-intentioned men, as worthy as you today, with centuries of opportunity to seek their end, have devised such a multiplicity of churches that even the ecumenical movement seems hopeless to unite them. And if the present trend continues, the Bible itself will be repudiated by the churches.
Our brethren, as you look for that "missing something," consider these words spoken by a Book of Mormon prophet:
"And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.
"And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved.
"And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day, that they are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles ceased?
"Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?
"Behold I say unto you, Nay-for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.
"For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made.
"But behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I judge that ye have Faith in Christ because of your meekness; for if ye have not faith in him then ye are not fit to be numbered among the people of his church".
"What today's world must have," said President J. Reuben Clark, "if humanity is to go on climbing upwards, is men-those wearing the cloth as well as the laity-who know that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ; men who, having this knowledge, have also the intellectual honesty not only to admit but to proclaim it; who have further the moral courage and the sterling character to live the righteous lives this knowledge demands. This knowledge must be a living, burning knowledge of God and Christ."
Today's dilemma foreseen
Our brethren, we bear testimony that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's Church upon the earth, by his own declaration the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth with which he, the Lord, is well pleased.
One hundred thirty-seven years ago, in anticipation of the dilemma that man would face, the problem of Christian unity was answered with the organization, the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, presided over by a prophet of God, having the apostolic power and authority and all the organization as it had existed in the primitive Church.
I bear you my witness that I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, that it is the power of God unto salvation, and that all men who will may come and receive by baptism the saving ordinances of the Church and know of a certainty in their own heart of the truth of the message of this gospel. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1967, pp. 133-135
The hour is now drawing to a close wherein this great annual conference of the Church soon will have become an event of the past. The sessions themselves will be mere history, but we pray that the messages given will ever remain on the tablets of our memories and will become moving factors in our daily lives.
All that has been said and done, all the testimonies borne have directly or indirectly led to this divine admonition-"... seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you".
Let us make God the center of our lives. That was one of the first admonitions given when the gospel was first preached to man. To have communion with God, through his Holy Spirit, is one of the noblest aspirations of life. It is when the peace and love of God have entered the soul, when serving him becomes the motivating factor in one's life and existence, that we can touch the lives of others, quickening and inspiring them, even though no word be spoken. There is operative in the world a spiritual force as active and as real as the waves that have carried the messages of this conference over a vast network of television and radio stations.
May we realize as never before that mastery of one's personal inclinations is the heart of the Christian religion and of all religions. By nature the individual is selfish and inclined to follow his immediate impulses. It requires religion, or something higher than an individual or even a society of individuals, to overcome the selfish impulses of the natural man, which will lead him to a more successful, fuller life. Self-mastery comes through self-denial of little things. Christ in these singular words said: "... whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it". Whenever you forget self and strive for the betterment of others, and for something higher and better, you rise to the spiritual plane. If, in the moment of quarreling, in the moment of temptation to find fault with another, we will lose our self-centered self for the good of the Church of which we are members, for the good of the community, and especially for the progress of the gospel of Jesus Christ we will be blessed spiritually, and happiness will be our reward.
"What though I conquer my enemies, And lay up store and pelf! I am a conqueror poor indeed Till I subdue myself."
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God"
"... seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness-and all these things shall be added unto you". Seeking first the kingdom of God, making him the center of our life, is an essential and fundamental part of religion; indeed, you cannot imagine religion without it. Faith in God as a supreme being is the fundamental principle of religion.
When God becomes the center of our being, we become conscious of a new aim in life-spiritual attainment. Physical possessions are no longer the chief goal in life. To indulge, nourish, and delight the body as any animal may do is no longer the chief end of mortal existence. God is not viewed from the standpoint of what we may get from him, but rather from what we may give him.
Only in the complete surrender of our inner life may we rise above the selfish, sordid pull of nature. What the spirit is to the body, God is to the spirit. When the spirit leaves the body, it is lifeless, and when we eliminate God from our lives, spirituality languishes.
We accept God as indeed our Father. Christ taught us to address him as "Our Father which art in heaven". To us he is so real that we accept his appearance in this dispensation as an expression of his love for his children. God is not merely a force though he is that. He is not merely something away out of our touch, but he is as near as your father is to you and my father to me. I like to think when I have a task to perform that in secret I can say, "Father, guide me today," and feel that I shall have added strength to do that task. I may not succeed always. My own inhibitions and weaknesses may prevent my doing so, but there is strength in the assurance that I can go to him and ask him for help and guidance. That is what you can do.
Christ declared: "... I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly". In him we have our life, our guide. His name is the only one whereby mankind will find peace, safety, comfort, and salvation. He who would have the abundant life must follow him.
As we depart now to go to our various homes, let us make real the good feelings that have been aroused in our souls throughout this conference. Let us not permit to evaporate from our minds and feelings the good resolutions we have formed. First, let us resolve that from now on we are going to be men and women of higher and more sterling character, more conscious of our weaknesses, more kind and charitable toward the failings of others. Let us resolve that we shall practice more self-control in our homes-that we shall control our tempers, our feelings, and our tongues that they may not wander beyond the bounds of right and purity; that we shall do more seeking to develop the spiritual side of our lives, and realize how dependent we are upon God for success in this life, and particularly for success in the positions we hold in the Church.
With the prevalence in the world, and around about us, of pernicious ideas and subversive teachings that pervert the minds of the unstable and uninformed, and, as has been noted in the meetings of this conference, divert some of our young people from Church standards, may parents, stake presidencies, bishoprics, quorums of the priesthood, and auxiliary leaders realize that they have a greater responsibility than ever before to do all they can to counteract these poisonous influences.
Let us testify to the youth that God is our Father, that the spirit within us is just as eternal as he. This body is physical. It is a mere house, just as physical as this building, which, if left alone, is lifeless, no matter how beautiful or how substantial, and will not fill its purpose if left unoccupied.
Our body will not fulfill its purpose-it cannot-without that life-giving something within which is the offspring of Deity as eternal as the Father. When death comes, his power ends with the silencing of the physical heart. He does not, he cannot touch that eternal part of man any more than he touched Christ's spirit while his body lay in a borrowed tomb. He himself lived and moved and had his being. It is also true that death cannot touch that spirit within us. That spirit within, young man, young woman, is the real you. What you make of yourself depends upon you as an individual. You are in this world to choose the right or the wrong, to accept the right or yield to temptation. Upon that choice will depend the development of the spiritual part of you. That is fundamental in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
May parents especially realize that the most potent influence in child life is the home, and that the Lord has directly placed the responsibility of teaching their children upon the parents. I wish the following paragraph, given by revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, could be written and put upon the wall of every home in the Church:
"... inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents".
The character of a child is formed largely during the first twelve years of his life. He spends 16 times as many waking hours in the home as in the school, and 126 times as many hours in the home as in the church. Each child is, to a great degree, what he is because of the ever-constant influence of home environment and the careful or neglectful training of parents. Home is the best place for the child to learn self-control, to learn that he must submerge himself for the good of another. It is the best place in which to develop obedience, which nature and society will later demand.
Homes are more permanent through love. Oh, then, let love abound! Though you fall short in some material matters, study and work and pray to hold your children's love. Establish and maintain your family hours always. Stay close to your children. Pray, play, work, and worship together. This is the counsel of the Church. Would you have a strong and virile nation?-then keep your homes pure. Would you reduce delinquency and crime?-then lessen the number of broken homes. It is time that civilized peoples realized that the home largely determines whether children shall be of high or low character. Home-building, therefore, should be the paramount purpose of parents and of the nation.
With all my heart I say, God bless you, brethren and sisters, you parents, you men of the priesthood, you leaders of our stakes, wards, and missions, you temple presidents, you missionaries. God bless and protect the valiant young men who are in the armed forces of our country.
I pray that the spirit of this great conference will remain in all our hearts and be felt throughout the uttermost parts of the earth, wherever there is a mission or a branch in all the world, that that spirit might be a unifying power in increasing the testimony of the divinity of this work; that it may grow in its influence for good in the establishment of peace and brotherhood throughout the world.
I bear you my testimony that the head of this Church is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I know of the reality of his existence; of his willingness to guide and direct all who serve him. I know that in this dispensation he restored with his Father through the Prophet Joseph Smith the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness.
May we have increased power to be true to the responsibilities that the Lord has placed upon us as General Authorities, and upon you, my brethren and sisters, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 4-11
My dear brethren and sisters and friends of the radio and television audience: With a deep sense of the responsibility that rests upon me in giving to the membership of the Church a message at a general conference, I earnestly pray for your sympathy, your understanding, and your spiritual support. I pray that the blessings of the Lord will be with us that we shall have a spiritual response to the truths of the gospel as never before, not only during this opening session, but throughout all the meetings of this 137th semi-annual conference. I extend to each of you a hearty welcome, and want you to know that I am grateful for your presence here in this historic tabernacle, the one-hundredth anniversary of which we are celebrating this month.
I acknowledge with deep gratitude the loyalty and faith of the members of the Church, and again express heartfelt appreciation for your prayers in my behalf, which have sustained and upheld me. It is truly a joy and a rich blessing to be associated with you in the work of the Lord, and I am grateful for the success and growth of the Church during the past six months.
You no doubt will be interested in knowing that for the first time sessions of this conference are being televised in color over more than 200 stations in the United States and Canada, and will reach a potential of 40 million homes.
"I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
"I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
"They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
"As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
"And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
"And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one".
This text is taken from one of the most glorious prayers-I suppose the greatest prayer-ever uttered in this world, not excepting the Lord's Prayer. This was Christ's prayer uttered just before he entered the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of his betrayal. It must have been impressive for John to remember so much of it and to write it word for word, as he has here.
The occasion itself would be impressive to John, and undoubtedly as they knelt there in that upper room before they went through that beautiful gate into Gethsemane, the garden of olives at the base of the Mount of Olives, he noted particularly the plea of the Savior. I know of no more important chapter in the Bible. The parts I have quoted contain two important messages to you and to me. One of these messages is found in the words, "Make them, one as thou, Father, and I are one".
It is the principle of unity that has enabled the wards, stakes, branches, and missions of the Church to progress and to accomplish the purposes for which the Church was established. It could not have been done by dissension and hatred. There have been difficulties. Each member of the Church has his own ideas. Sometimes they are not the same as those of the bishopric, and not the same as those of the presidency of the stake, and not the same as the Presidency of the Church; but each has had to submerge his own ideas to the good of the whole, and in that united purpose we have achieved something that is wonderful.
As I think of the future of this Church and of the welfare of the young men and women, as well as of the mothers and fathers, I feel impressed that there is no more important message to give than "to be one", and avoid things that may cause a rift among members. I know that the adversary has no stronger weapon against any group of men or women in this Church than the weapon of thrusting in a wedge of disunity, doubt, and enmity.
The Prophet Joseph Smith spoke of the cloud that hangs over the Church when we are not united. He said: "The cloud that has been hanging over us has burst with blessings on our heads, and Satan has been foiled in his attempts to destroy me and the Church, by causing jealousies to arise in the hearts of some of the brethren; and I thank my heavenly Father for the union and harmony which now prevail in the Church".
The experiences of the chosen children of the Lord upon other occasions signal to us the causes of temporary failure coming out of disunity, and an unwillingness to abide the will of God. Unto the Jews of ancient Jerusalem, the Lord said:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate".
And in our own dispensation, to the saints who again by division and disunity did not see the redemption of Zion, he said:
"Behold, I say unto you, were it not for the transgressions of my people, speaking concerning the church and not individuals, they might have been redeemed even now".
The challenge is before us; we cannot fail in the divine commitments given to us as a people. Unity of purpose, with all working in harmony within the structure of Church organization as revealed by the Lord, is to be our objective. Let each member, teacher, and leader feel the importance of the position that each one holds. All are important to the successful accomplishment of God's work, which is our work.
Unto the Ephesian saints the Apostle Paul gave this wise counsel:
"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
"One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
"One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ".
Unity of purpose, with all working in harmony, is needed to accomplish God's work In a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith about one year after the Church was organized, the Lord in a broad sense makes known why his great work, to be accomplished, has been restored for the benefit of mankind and to prepare the way for his second coming. Said he:
"And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me".
Herein we learn of the great obligations placed upon this people to assist the Lord in bringing these things to pass among men. It requires unity and dedication to its purposes. Concerning this need, the Lord has given this warning:
"... Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand".
The greatest safeguard we have for unity and strength in the Church is found in the priesthood, by honoring and respecting it. Oh, my brethren-presidents of stakes, bishops of wards, and all who hold the priesthood-God bless you in your leadership, in your responsibility to guide, to bless, to comfort the people whom you have been appointed to preside over and to visit. Guide them to go to the Lord and seek inspiration so to live that they may rise above the low and the mean, and live in the spiritual realm.
Recognize those who preside over you and, when necessary, seek their advice. The Savior himself recognized this authority on earth. You will remember the experience that Paul had just as he neared Damascus with papers in his pocket to arrest all who believed in Jesus Christ. A light suddenly shone about him, and he heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"
And Saul said: "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do".
He could have told Saul in a few words what he should do, but there was a branch of the Church in Damascus, presided over by a humble man named Ananias, and Jesus recognized that authority. He knew Saul's nature. He knew that in the future it would be difficult for Saul to recognize the authority of the Church, as instances later proved. Saul had to receive from the very man whom he was going to arrest instructions regarding the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Here is a lesson for all of us in this church. Let us, too, recognize the local authority. The bishop may be a humble man. Some of you may think you are superior to him, and you may be, but he is given authority direct from our Father in heaven. Recognize it. Seek his advice and the advice of your stake president. If they cannot answer your difficulties or your problems, they will write to the General Authorities and get the advice needed. Recognition of authority is an important principle.
Unity and its synonyms-harmony, goodwill, peace, concord, mutual understanding-express a condition for which the human heart constantly yearns. Its opposites are discord, contention, strife, confusion.
I can imagine few, if any, things more objectionable in the home than the absence of unity and harmony. On the other hand, I know that a home in which unity, mutual helpfulness, and love abide is just a bit of heaven on earth. I surmise that nearly all of you can testify to the sweetness of life in a home in which these virtues predominate. Most gratefully and humbly I cherish the remembrance that never once as a lad in the home of my youth did I ever see one instance of discord between father and mother, and that goodwill and mutual understanding has been the uniting bond that has held together a fortunate group of brothers and sisters. Unity, harmony, goodwill are virtues to be fostered and cherished in every home.
One of the first conditions that will bring about disunity will be selfishness; another will be envy: "Brother So-and-so passed me by and said nothing to me about the matter." "The bishopric chose Sister So-and-so to be organist, and she can't play half as well as I." "I'm not going to priesthood meeting any more because the bishopric appointed a certain man to act as adviser of the priests." "The Sunday School chose So-and-so as a teacher." "The superintendent released me, and I feel hurt." "The presidency of the stake has never recognized me, and I feel offended." "The General Authorities do not always see eye to eye." Oh! a hundred and one little things like that may come up-little things, insignificant in themselves when we compare them with the greater and more real things of life. And yet, I know from experience that the adversary can so magnify them that they become mountains in our lives, and we are offended, and our spirituality starves because we entertain those feelings.
There is another element-fault-finding-associated with that spirit of envy. We find fault with a neighbor. We speak ill of each other. When that feeling comes, it is a good thing just to sing that simple little Mormon hymn, "Nay, Speak No Ill."
"Nay, speak no ill; a kindly word Can never leave a sting behind; And, oh, to breathe each tale we've heard Is far beneath a noble mind. Full oft a better seed is sown By choosing thus the kinder plan, For, if but little good is known, Still let us speak the best we can.
"Then speak no ill, but lenient be To other's failings as your own. If you're the first a fault to see, Be not the first to make it known, For life is but a passing day; No lip may tell how brief its span; Then, O the little time we stay, Let's speak of all the best we can."
"Let us speak of all the best we can." Would not that be a glorious lesson in the world today in the midst of the false propaganda that is going out from one nation to another-reviling, defiling, defaming? Is it not terrible when you think of it in the light of the gospel?
And that reminds me of a beautiful story that I read many years ago. It happened before the English guns opened the doors to the Japanese nation. During those days they worshiped their ancestors as they do now, but they worshiped beautiful spots in nature, too; and even today, if you follow a walk up one of those hills, you will be sure that it will lead you to a magnificent view where you may contemplate the beauties of nature.
The story says that an old philosopher used to meet the people and teach them the lessons of virtue and uprightness that he drew from the flowers and shrubs that grew so luxuriantly in that land. One morning, following his lecture, the old philosopher was accosted by a workman who said, "Tonight, when you come back from your walk, will you please bring me a rose that I may study its stamens, its petals, and see the lesson that you gave us last night?"
The old philosopher said, "I will give you the rose tonight."
And a second accosted him and said, "Will you bring me a hawthorn twig that I may continue my study of that?" And he replied, "I will bring you a hawthorn twig."
And a third said, "Will you please bring me a lily tonight that I may study the lesson of purity?"
"I will bring you a lily."
After working hours the three were at the gate to meet the philosopher. To the first he gave the rose, to the second the hawthorn twig, and to the third the lily, as he had promised.
Suddenly the man with the rose said, "Oh, here's a thorn on the stem of my rose!"
And the second said, "And here's a dead leaf clinging to my hawthorn twig."
And the third, encouraged by the remarks of his companions, said, "And here's dirt clinging to the root of my lily."
"Let me see," said the old philosopher, and he took the rose from the first, the hawthorn twig from the second, and the lily from the third. From the rose he broke the thorn and gave it to the first. He plucked the dead leaf from the hawthorn twig and handed it to the second. He took the dirt from the roots of the lily and placed it in the hands of the third. Holding the rose, the hawthorn twig, and the lily, he said, "Well, each of you has what attracted him first. I left the thorn on the rose purposely, the dead leaf on the hawthorn twig, and the dirt on the lily. Each of these attracted you first. You may keep them now, and I will keep the rose, the twig, and the lily for the beauty I see in them."
Not a few of us have a thorn in the flesh as did Paul. Perhaps to some of us a dead leaf of some past act is clinging. It may be that there is a little dirt in our character, but each one has also a rose in his life, a hawthorn twig, or a lily. And it is a glorious lesson for us to learn: to see the rose and be blind to the thorn; to see the hawthorn twig and be blind to the dead leaf; to see the lily and not the dirt in our fellow's character.
I do not know of anything that will contribute more to unity in a ward, in a stake, and in the Church than for members to see the good in man, and to speak well of each other.
On the world horizon calamities continue to menace the people-the tragedy of war with the suffering of the innocent, the broken harmony of the homes in the death of a valiant son or husband. The seeds of discord and confusion among the masses caused by riots and violence of all sorts make important the need for complete unity within our own ranks, as we see these worldwide disturbances tear apart the home, and undermine our very civilization.
As we concern ourselves with unity in the Church, we must not be insensible to the evil forces around us, both here in America and in the world at large-the influences, the avowed object of which is to sow discord and contention among men with the view of undermining, weakening, if not entirely destroying constitutional forms of government. If I speak plainly and, in condemnation, refer to reprehensible practices and aims of certain organizations, please do not think that I harbor ill will or enmity in my heart toward other United States citizens or the citizens of any country whose views on political policies do not coincide with mine. But when acts and schemes are manifestly contrary to the revealed word of the Lord, we feel justified in warning people against them. We may be charitable and forbearing to the sinner, but we must condemn the sin.
Timely references and appropriate warnings have been given from time to time on the danger and evils of war. There is another danger even more menacing than the threat of invasion of a foreign foe of any peace-loving nation. It is the unpatriotic activities and underhanded scheming of disloyal groups and organizations within any nation, bringing disintegration, that are often more dangerous and more fatal than outward opposition.
For example, an individual can usually protect himself from thunder showers, and even from tempests, from freezing weather or intense heat, from drought, or floods, or other extremes in nature; but he is often helpless when poisonous germs enter his body or a malignant growth begins to sap the strength of some vital organ.
The Church is little, if at all, injured by persecution and calumnies from ignorant, misinformed, or malicious enemies. A greater hindrance to its progress comes from faultfinders, shirkers, commandment-breakers, and apostate cliques within its own ecclesiastical and quorum groups.
So it is with any government. It is the enemy from within that is most menacing, especially when it threatens to disintegrate established forms of good government.
Today, there are in this country enemies in the form of "isms." I call them anti-Americanisms, and what is true in America is true in other countries. Only a few of the leaders fight openly; most of the army carry on as termites, secretly sowing discord and undermining stable government. Of the truth of this statement, investigations made by a committee of the United States Senate and the FBI bear ample evidence. Of the menace of one of these, Dr. William F. Russell, dean of Teachers College, Columbia University, and one of the many authorities whom we might quote as to the pernicious activity of these groups, said nearly 30 years ago in an address that has since proved to be prophetic:
"Communist leaders have steadily insisted that Communism cannot live in just one country. Just as we fought to make 'the world safe for democracy,' so they are fighting to make the world safe for Communism. They are fighting this fight today. Every country must become Communistic, according to their idea. So they have sent out missionaries. They have supplied them well with funds. They have won converts. These converts have been organized into little groups called 'cells,' each acting as a unit under the orders of a superior. It is almost a military organization. They attack where there is unemployment. They stir up discontent among those oppressed. They publish and distribute many papers and pamphlets."
"These are scurrilous sheets. In one issue I noted twenty-nine errors of fact. After a recent address of mine they passed out a dodger attacking me, with a deliberate error of fact in each paragraph... The idea is to try to entice into their web those generous and public-spirited teachers, preachers, social workers, and reformers who know distress, and want to do something about it. These Communists know what they are doing. They follow their orders. Particularly they would like to dominate our newspapers, our colleges, and our schools. The campaign is much alike all over the world. I have seen the same articles, almost the same pamphlets, in France and England as in the United States."
One of our U. S. senators just recently called attention to conditions existing in our country today. He said: "America has been afflicted over the past three or four years by an epidemic of acts of so-called civil disobedience. Municipal ordinances and state statutes have been wilfully and intentionally disobeyed by individuals and groups. Private property has been subject to deliberate trespass.
"Mobs have taken to the streets, interfering with commerce, creating public disorder, and breaching the peace. Civil disobedience has at times been advocated from some of the pulpits throughout the land and encouraged, upon occasion, by ill-advised statements of public officials. Mobs have frequently been so large that the police were helpless to make arrests.
"These acts of so-called disobedience have been proclaimed by important political personages to be in the finest American tradition. It was said to be good Christian doctrine to disregard man-made laws which conflicted with one's own conscience, and, of course, by implication, those who enforced man-made laws were likewise to be disregarded. This a strange and false doctrine....
"Few people have dared to voice an objection for fear of being labeled 'bigot,' and representatives of law and order have become pictured as villains while lawless marchers and sit-downers have become the figures for compassion."
The senator then continues, "Finally, perhaps the most responsible and damaging factor underlying the riots, growing crime rate, and disrespect for law and order, is that of a lessened discipline, which is evident today among an increasing number of young people in our society. The American home is not what it once was and this is reflected in a parental discipline which is not what it used to be.
"All too many children are not taught to respect their elders. The general atmosphere of permissiveness permeates too many homes, too many schools and too many churches in America. A few, but highly articulate and vocal, churchmen advocate the decease of divinity.
"These are all symptoms of a sick society, a sickness which, if left to run its course unchanged, will destroy law and order and a progressive society of free men.
"In such an atmosphere of permissiveness, civil disobedience and disrespect for civil law, the seeds of crime have taken deeper root and the nation is now reaping the harvest."
Thus, we are witnessing the attempts that are being made at this very time by insidious forces to induce contention and confusion in organized societies of mankind.
And now, brethren and sisters, I echo the prayer of the Savior: "Make them one, Father, as thou and I are one. In the world, but not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil".
God help us that we may continue to serve humanity; that we may feel in our hearts that we are privileged to serve God's children; that we shall be united as his people, and that we shall be united as a country.
May every father magnify the priesthood of God in his own home and, with his beloved wife and companion, teach his children the ways of the Lord as revealed to us.
Priesthood bearers are to watch over the Church always, for the Lord has given this instruction, that our families may walk uprightly before our Father in heaven: "The teacher's duty is to watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them;
"And see that there is no iniquity in the truth, neither hardness with each other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking;
"And see that the church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty".
I bear testimony that we are engaged in God's work, in the saving of souls. May we find the strength, by unity within the Church, to go forward in the accomplishment of his purposes. This I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Howard W. Hunter
Howard W. Hunter, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 11-14
How many times have you heard the statement made or the opinion expressed that it is not necessary to have membership in a church, or to participate in a religious organization, in order to be a good Christian or live a good Christian life? For a few moments I would like to examine with you the validity of such a statement as it relates to the scriptures and to sound reasoning, which can be supported in fact
In order to commence a search of this subject, it would seem basic that we turn to the author of Christianity. When speaking to the multitudes, the Master said: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven".
As I listen to these words, it seems to me that the Lord is saying, "Just because a person may acknowledge my authority or have a belief in my divine nature, or merely express faith in my teachings Or the atoning sacrifice I made, does not mean he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven or attain a higher degree of exaltation." By implication he is saying, "Belief alone is not sufficient." Then he expressly adds, "... but he that doeth the will of my Father," that is, he that works and prunes the vineyard that it may bring forth good fruit.
In the revelation that deals mainly with the proper mode of living, given by the Lord as a word of wisdom to us, there are some things mentioned that are good for man as well as things that are not good for him, and then the Lord adds this: "And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
"And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
"And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
"And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them".
"Keep and do these sayings" seem to be the key words. Again we must be doers of the word and not just believers in order to obtain the blessing.
In his letter addressed to the twelve tribes scattered abroad, James admonishes them in this way: "... be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
"For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
"For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
"But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed".
There is historical background for this statement of James. According to the records that have come down to us, the early Church, established by Christ and expanded into the world under the direction of the apostles, followed a similar form of worship on the Lord's Day as had been practiced by the Jewish people in their synagogues. In these services there was the reading of the scriptures of the Old Testament.
The writings of the books now known as the New Testament had not yet been compiled, but undoubtedly the teachings of Jesus and the apostles were introduced. They sang the psalms and the early Christian hymns and offered prayers. James seems to be referring to participation in religious services in the statement, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only". The value of participating in church services, according to James, is realized when the word heard becomes the word in action. If anyone considers himself to be a devout worshiper without carrying over into his daily living the truths he has heard, his worship is as useless as a glance in a mirror, which is straightway forgotten.
"Honorary" membership in inherited tradition!
The apostle Paul made a statement that is somewhat similar. He referred to the requirements of the law in his letter to the saints in Rome in these words: "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified". In other words, it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous but the doers of the law. Paul's remarks are aimed at those who live under the guise of the mistaken notion that an honorary membership in an inherited religious tradition will constitute them believers entitled to blessings. They pay only lip service but are not doers of the law.
In referring to the parable of the two houses, Luke records the statement of Jesus concerning lip service: "And why call me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
"Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
"He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
"But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great".
This same principle is true as it affects other relationships. Friendships cannot endure if they are based on the sands of selfishness. Marriages do not endure when they have no ground except in physical attraction, and do not have the foundation of a deeper love and loyalty. The same principle is true of the individual's relationship to the Church. Traditions are not enough; dogmatic orthodoxies are not enough; formal creeds are not enough. It is not sufficient to say "Lord, Lord". Such beliefs have their foundations in sand.
All nature, which is God's domain, seems to portray this same principle. The bee that will not "doeth" will soon be driven from the hive. As I watch the busy ants on the trail and around the ant pile, I am impressed by the fact that they are doers and not just believers. Clucking doesn't produce any seeds for the hen; she must scratch. A stagnant pool, green with algae and the scum of inactivity, is the breeding place of the diseases of the swamp, but the clear mountain stream dashing over the rocks as it winds its way down the canyon is an invitation to drink.
The words of the Master regarding the house without a foundation say to me that a man cannot have a shallow and reckless notion that he is sufficient to himself and can build his own life on any basis that happens to be easy and agreeable. As long as the weather is fair, his foolishness may not be evident; but one day there will come the floods, the muddy waters of some sudden passion, the rushing current of unforeseen temptation. If his character has no sure foundation in more than just lip service, his whole moral structure may collapse.
What can we consciously do to build a strong foundation and put ourselves in a position in which we can do the will of our Father? How can we be best assisted, beyond the point of being hearers only or merely believers, to become doers of the word? If we study the laws of God and the teachings of the Savior, we find that in nearly all instances they have reference to our relationships with others. An individual is limited and confined in being a doer if he is in isolation or solitude.
A man alone doesn't build his own automobile, but the association of men with a united purpose provides the means by which the product is produced and marketed. In the society in which we live, few persons are self-educated. We rely on the organization of a great number of people to accomplish the objective. In business and industry, men who are aggressively organized for a common purpose achieve success. There are many things a man can accomplish in association with others that would otherwise be almost impossible working alone.
Beyond the individual, the smallest group in society is the family. A home based upon the principles taught by Christ is one of the most beautiful examples of Christian living. Each member of the family has the opportunity and privilege of being a doer and enlarging the ability to live the commandments more perfectly. Expanding the family unit into the great community of the Church gives rise to even greater opportunities of being doers of the word. It is from this enlarged family relationship that we derive our Christian vocabulary, calling God "Father," Jesus our "Elder Brother," and referring, to each other as "brother" and "sister."
The objectives of the Church are to teach the laws of the Lord and the principles of the gospel, to assist individuals in religious education, to implant the firm testimony that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ and Savior of the world, and to help and encourage each member along the path to celestial and eternal exaltation through the opportunity of doing. There is a real reason why Christ established his Church during his personal ministry on earth. We need only to listen to his words and the teachings of those he sent into the world in order to understand.
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven"; "And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings"; "... but the doers of the law shall be justified"; "Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them" -these are the admonitions.
We must assume from the fact that the Church was established by Christ during his ministry, that it is essential for man and not an elective. His life and ministry were to set the pattern and create the model. The things established by him were given with the admonition that we follow them.
I submit that the Church of Jesus Christ is as necessary in the lives of men and women today as it was when established by him, not by passive interest or a profession of faith, but by an assumption of active responsibility. In this way the Church brings us out of the darkness of an isolated life into the light of the gospel, where belief is turned into doing according to the admonitions of scripture. This is the hope of the individual, the family, the Church, the nations of the earth.
Thirteen thousand men and women, principally young persons, are engaged in the world as missionaries, declaring that the Church established by Christ during his personal ministry, and lost to the world because of the corruption of men during those dark ages of history, has again been restored to the earth; that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that Church; that the power and authority to act in the name of God have again been conferred upon men. I add my confirming witness to these facts. I know that God lives and that Jesus, his Son, is the Christ and the Savior of the world. I humbly pray that we may each become doers of the word by active Church participation, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder A. Theodore Tuttle
A. Theodore Tuttle, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 14-16
My dear brothers and sisters:
I was inspired by President McKay's message this morning. I want to bear my testimony that we have heard a message from the mouthpiece of the lord. I pray that it will find a responsive chord in our individual lives, in our homes, in the Church, and, hopefully, among all nations.
When I was in seminary class many years ago, we had a lesson entitled "Sweet Are the Uses of Adversity." The thing I remember most about that lesson was that it seemed to be a paradox. It was difficult to understand how adversity could be sweet. I was not aware of the great significance the lesson had for me, yet, as is so often the case, the teachings of our youth return again and again to our memories, ofttimes with greater significance and meaning than they had when they were taught. So it has been with this lesson, and in the intervening years I have learned something about the truth of this statement.
Adversity, in one form or another, is the universal experience of man. It is the common lot of all men to experience misfortune, suffering, sickness, or other adversities. Ofttimes our work is arduous and unnecessarily demanding. Our faith is tried in various ways-sometimes unjustly tried. At times it seems that even God is punishing us and ours. One of the things that makes all this so hard to bear is that we ourselves appear to be chosen for this affliction while others presumably escape these adversities.
On one occasion, in the presence of the Prophet Joseph Smith, someone commented that a person was suffering affliction because of his sins. The Prophet Joseph responded that that was an unhallowed statement to make-that afflictions come to all.
Henry Ward Beecher said, "Affliction comes to us all, not to make us sad, but sober; not to make us sorry, but to make us wise; not to make us despondent, but by its darkness to refresh us as the night refreshes the day; not to impoverish, but to enrich us."
Too often we are shortsighted as we view the effects of adversity upon us. We fail to see the purifying and refining effect wrought by the flames of adversity. These flames are not meant to consume but only to purify us. Disguised as adversity, blessings are showered upon us.
Recently after administering to a seriously afflicted infant, a man who was present observed: "This is one of our finest and most faithful families. I don't know why they should be thus afflicted." Some misunderstand. It does not necessarily follow that righteousness immunizes us against adversity. Elder Harold B. Lee has observed that living the gospel of Jesus Christ is no guarantee that adversity will not come into our lives; but living the gospel does give us the strength and faith and power to rise above that adversity and look beyond the present trouble to the brighter day.
William Cowper, a noted English poet, returning home one night in a dense London fog became completely and hopelessly lost. Try as he would, the driver could not find his home. Finally, the cabby stopped and said, "It is hopeless." Alighting from the carriage, Cowper groped his way to a doorway-to find that he was on his own doorstep. He went in and penned these lines, now the lyrics of the hymn, "God Moves in a Mysterious Way His Wonders to Perform."
"Ye fearful Saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head.
"Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust him for his grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face."
"Out of the lowest depths," Thomas Carlyle has said, "there is a path to the loftiest heights."
We cannot indulge ourselves the luxury of self-pity. Ours is the duty to seek the path that leads us upward. Lives of great men teach us that many of them rose to significant achievement because of their adversities.
To those who this day are weighed-down by adversity, I suggest this thought from Robert Browning Hamilton:
Along the Road
"I walked a mile with Pleasure. She chattered all the way, But left me none the wiser For all she had to say.
"I walked a mile with Sorrow, And ne'er a word said she; But, oh, the things I learned from her When Sorrow walked with me!"
Those who have been driven to their knees in weakness, grief, and humility commune with God not in the learned clichés of prayer, but in heartfelt, soul-revealing communion. And when our Father sustains and assures a tested faith and a tested love, they learn the sweetness of adversity.
While living the gospel will not necessarily temper the elements, it will temper you so you can endure the trials come with patience your afflictions.
Sweet indeed are the uses of adversity. If we bear adversity well, we can learn the principle enunciated by Moroni: "... wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith".
It takes faith, too, to believe what Lehi taught:
"But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.
"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy". But we all need to keep in mind that joy is ofttimes camouflaged in the robes of hard work, sorrow, sickness, and a tested faith.
The trials and adversity experienced by the pioneers who crossed plains and mountains to reach and build this city and this building were related by President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., in his address: "To Them of the Last wagon." I quote:
"... The wife, soon to be a mother, could hardly catch her breath in the heavy, choking dust, for even in the pure air she breathed hard from her burden. Each jolt of the wagon, for those ahead had made wagon ruts almost 'ex' deep, wrung from her clenched lips a half-groan she did her best to keep from the anxious, solicitous husband plodding slowly along, guiding and goading the poor dumb cattle, themselves weary from the long trek. So through the long day of jolting and discomfort and sometimes pain, sometimes panting for breath, the mother, anxious only that the unborn babe should not be injured, rode, for she could not walk; and the children walked, for the load was too heavy and big for them to ride; and the father walked sturdily alongside and prayed...
"Then the morning came when from out that last wagon floated the of the newborn babe, and mother love made a shrine, and Father bowed in reverence before it. But the train must move on. So out into the dust and dirt the last wagon moved again, swaying and jolting, while Mother eased as best she could each pain-giving jolt so no harm might be done her, that she might be strong to feed the little one, bone of her bone, flesh of her flesh. Who will dare to say that angels did not cluster round and guard her and ease her rude bed, for she had given another choice spirit its mortal body that it might work out its God-given destiny?"
Why should we then ask God for relief from adversity when we as a people have been made strong by adversity? Rather let us search our hearts to learn the Refiner's purpose in our lives. May we all come to know that God is still in his heaven and rules in the world, and that in the providence of a loving Father, "all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good".
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Robert L. Simpson
Robert L. Simpson, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 16-19
President McKay, my dear brethren and sisters of this great Church: May I spend a moment and discuss with you one of the most neglected of all our Heavenly Father's laws and commandments to his children.
May I begin this important assignment by bearing my testimony that all of Heavenly Father's commandments are perfect; each law when lived brings happiness to the individual.
One of the most neglected and yet most needed laws for this troubled generation in a modern world of acceleration and distraction is the law of the fast. Fasting and praying have been referred to almost as a singular function from the earliest times. Adam's generation fasted and prayed, as did Moses on Sinai.
The Prophet Elijah traveled to Mt. Horeb under the influence of fasting and prayer. There he received the word of the Lord. His preparation had not been in vain.
Mordecai's advice from Esther as he faced an emergency at Shushan pointed out that he and his people should "neither eat nor drink three days, night or day". This was the true fast, abstinence from both food and drink. This is still the manner of the true fast in our day.
There were significant changes made at the time of Christ's mission in mortality. The law of sacrifice, for example, was replaced by a higher law. We are told that following the Master's visit to this, the western hemisphere, the people were told to continue in "fasting and prayer and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord". So complete and sincere were the people in obeying his commandments "that there was no contention among all the people, in all the land; but there were mighty miracles wrought among the disciples of Jesus". Wouldn't it be thrilling to enjoy such a condition today!
His law has been reconfirmed in our day, for through a modern prophet in the year 1839, he said: "... I give unto you a commandment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth." Then in the very next verse he mentions gospel teaching almost as a prime product of the prayer and fasting process. In the words of the Lord: "And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.
"Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand".
No man or woman can hope to teach of things spiritual unless he is directed by that spirit, for "the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach.
"And all this ye shall observe to do as I have commanded concerning your teaching, until the fulness of my scriptures is given.
"And as ye shall lift up your voices by the Comforter, ye shall speak and prophesy as seemeth me good;
"For, behold, the Comforter knoweth all things, and beareth record of the Father and of the Son".
Oh, that every teacher might catch the spirit of this promise and claim this offered partnership, available to all who are engaged in the teaching of truth.
There are no better examples of teaching by the Spirit than the Sons of Mosiah. The Book of Mormon tells us how they became "strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.
"But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God".
Is there a priesthood or auxiliary leader any place in this Church who wouldn't give all to possess such power, such assurance? Remember this, above all else, that, according to Alma, they gave themselves to much fasting and prayer. You see, there are certain blessings that can only be fulfilled as we conform to a particular law. The Lord made this very clear through the Prophet Joseph Smith when he declared: "For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world".
Now, the Lord could not have stated the position more clearly, and, in my opinion, too many Latter-day Saint parents today are depriving themselves and their children of one of the sweetest spiritual experiences that the Father has made available to them.
In addition to the occasional fasting experience for a special purpose, each member of the Church is expected to miss two meals on the fast and testimony Sunday. To skip two consecutive meals and partake of the third normally constitutes approximately a 24-hour period. Such is the counsel.
Competent medical authorities tell us that our bodies benefit by an occasional fasting period. That is blessing number one and perhaps the least important. Second, we contribute the money saved from missing the meals as a fast offering to the bishop for the poor and the needy. And third, we reap a particular spiritual benefit that can come to us in no other way. It is a sanctification of the soul for us today just as it was for some choice people who lived 2,000 years ago. I quote briefly from the Book of Mormon: "Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God". Wouldn't you like this to happen to you? It can, you know!
Did you notice it said that those who do this have their souls filled with "joy and consolation"? You see, the world in general thinks that fasting is a time for "sackcloth and ashes," a time to carry a look of sorrow, as one to be pitied. On the contrary, the Lord admonishes: "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
"But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
"That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly".
Now, may we turn to the most important part of this great law. So far we have only discussed those areas that bless us. The real joy comes with the blessing of the poor and the needy. For it is in the fulfillment of this wonderful Christlike act that we practice "pure religion and undefiled" spoken of by James. Can you think of a better or more perfect Christian function than "pure religion and undefiled"? I can't.
The Lord speaking through Moses observed: "If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him". Then he goes on to promise him who gives: "... the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto". He concludes: "therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land".
Amulek had something to say on this subject. Alter instructing the people for some time on various vital matters, he turned his thoughts to the poor and the needy, advising the congregation that even if they are diligent in all of these other things, and "turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance... to those who stand in need-I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith".
Yes, the law of the fast is a perfect law, and we cannot begin to approach perfection until we decide to make it a part of our lives. When you start and stop the fast is up to you, but wouldn't it be nice to culminate it and be at your spiritual peak for the fast and testimony meeting?
How much you give the bishop as a donation is also up to you, but isn't it thrilling to know that your accounting with the Lord has been paid willingly and with accuracy?
Why you fast is also up to you. But suppose the main reason was simply that you wanted to help someone in need and to be a part of "pure religion undefiled". Wouldn't your faith be lifted and sanctified? Of course it would. And incidentally, have you ever noticed how satisfying it is way deep inside each time you are obedient to Heavenly Father's desires? There can be no equal to the peace of mind that always comes as the reward for obedience to truth.
The world needs self-discipline. You can find it in fasting and prayer. Our generation is sick for lack of self-control. Fasting and prayer help to instill this virtue.
The world's future depends upon an urgent return to family unity. Fasting and prayer will help to guarantee it. Each person has greater need for divine guidance. There is no better way. We all have need to overcome the powers of the adversary. His influence is incompatible with fasting and prayer.
There can be no greater joy than in helping others, for "inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my, brethren, ye have done it unto me".
And now, my dear brothers and sisters, although not as worthy perhaps, but equally enthusiastic in the cause we represent, I join my testimony with Alma of old when he declared: Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?
"Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit". In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Victor L. Brown
Victor L. Brown, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 19-20
President David O. McKay has said: "The home is truly the first unit of society, and parenthood is next to Godhood. The relationship of the children to the parents should be one which would enable those children to carry out ideal citizenship as they become related to the state and to the larger forms of society. The secret of good membership in the Church or good citizenship in the nation lies in the home. If and when the time ever comes that parents shift to the state the responsibility of rearing their children, the stability of the nation will be undermined, and its impairment and disintegration will have begun...
"Would you have a strong and virile nation?-then keep your homes pure. Would you reduce delinquency and crime?-lessen the number of broken homes. It is time that civilized people realize that the home largely determines whether children shall be of high or low character. Home-building, therefore, should be the paramount purpose of parents and of the nation."
As I travel about the Church and discuss various problems of youth, I invariably get the response: "If we did not have trouble with the parents, we would not have trouble with the children."
A national Explorer leader emphasized this point when be said, "One of our greatest problems is to know how to teach boys to be honest when their parents are dishonest."
Today I should like to direct my remarks to parents.
If I understand the teachings of the Church, one of the greatest of all responsibilities we have as members is that of parenthood. We hear this statement repeated frequently: "The family is the most important unit in time and in eternity." This I accept as truth.
There probably is not a parent in the Church but who would be offended if accused of not loving his or her children, and yet, when looking at parent-child relationships through the eyes of a teenager, many questions arise.
Take, for instance, the young man who had almost reached the state of incorrigibility when he came to a counselor for help. He was drinking excessively; he was a chain smoker; he was continually in trouble with the law; and yet he came from a good LDS home. I'm sure his parents loved him and would have done anything in the world to help him, but let us see what the counselor discovered.
When asked if he liked the taste of liquor, the boy replied that he hated it. When asked if he enjoyed smoking, he said he detested the taste of tobacco. When asked why he was constantly in trouble with the law, he answered that he really didn't want to do many of the things he did.
The counselor delved deeper and found that the boy's bedroom was in the basement, directly under the living room. When his father walked across the room, the boy could hear his footsteps overhead, the sound of which made him acutely nauseated.
Further interviews revealed that the boy loved his father but felt that he was a total failure in his father's eyes. You see, he simply could not satisfy him, no matter how hard he tried. His father was a perfectionist, and no matter what the son did, the father pointed out how he could have done better. Never did he compliment him. The result: a boy lost in a confused, frustrating, and difficult world with no one to help him.
His father was a good man, active in the Church. I am sure he loved his son, but did he really? Was his love unselfish? Was it the kind of love that gave nourishment and encouragement to those less able than he, or was it the kind that demanded perfection to satisfy himself?
Parents, I believe it behooves us to analyze closely our relationship with each of our children to see if our actions reflect true love. Do we want to teach and train our children to take their proper places in society and become better parents than we are? If so, we must be aware of our shortcomings and overcome them. You see, this father had had the same kind of strict, overbearing father himself. Like father, like son. Surely, we must encourage our children to develop their talents and to achieve to the greatest extent of their ability. I hope, however, our motive is for their own development, growth, and happiness and not to satisfy our personal pride.
A few months ago I had a most revealing interview with a lovely young college student. This young lady was the youngest in her family. All her brothers and sisters had married and left home. Her father was a farmer. She had worked on the farm each summer plowing and doing other farm work generally done by boys and men. This she did not mind, but now she was 19. She said she loved her parents with all her heart and would never do anything to hurt them. She said, "Bishop Brown, my folks expect me to come back home this summer and help on the farm, but I have simply got to find out if I am really Susie Jones or just Brother Jones' little girl, as I have always been. I have got to find out if I am a real person, if I can stand on my own feet and make decisions, or be totally dependent upon my parents."
Here was a lovely young lady loved by her parents-there is no doubt about that because of the respect and love she had for them-but in the process of growing up, it would appear that decisions she should have been making for herself were made by her parents. Had their love smothered their daughter? Were they preparing her for the day when she would, of necessity, have to make decisions on her own?
There are some parents who feel their children just are not capable of making decisions. How can children ever develop this capacity if, as they grow up, they are not taught and given wise guidance?
Of course, good sense must be used in determining how far to go in letting a child make his own decisions. Recently, I visited with a young woman who is having marital difficulty with her third husband. This young lady has a mother who is still making her decisions for her.
Parents, may I suggest that we analyze our relationships with our children. Are we teaching them in such a way as to prepare them for the responsibilities of life, or are we protecting them to the point that when they find themselves on their own, they are lost?
I should like to quote a few excerpts from a discussion Dr. Dana L. Farnsworth had with Lester David regarding parent-child relationships:
"Your prime goal as a parent is to help your child grow up with the good inner feeling that he or she is a perfectly capable, worthwhile human being, able to stand on his or her own feet."
Here are some of the rules he gives toward accomplishing this objective:
First: "Give them emotional support when they need it most-right at the start of their life.
"A baby comes into the world utterly dependent upon other human beings. If the help he needs is forthcoming promptly and consistently, accompanied by love, he learns very early one of the most important lessons of his entire life-that he can rely upon people. The baby whose first basic needs are met begins to develop a positive, confident outlook essential for later emotional health. Chances are that through life, he will have the feeling that things are going to work out well for him.
"If parents are not warmly responsive to an infant, he is apt to develop a suspicion and a mistrust of people. He may later withdraw from them, refusing to be their friend, in order to protect himself from hurt. Such a person cannot become a warm and loving wife or husband.
"Of course, when I suggest parents respond to their infants' needs, I certainly do not mean that babies must be hovered over and entertained every minute. Strike a happy medium."
Second: "Start them early on the road to independence.
"Once I watched a very small child trying to button his coat. His mother, suddenly aware he was having difficulties, quickly said: 'Here, let Mommy fix it.' And she did. But she also did nothing to help her son feel capable...
"You can help balance by permitting him to try his own wings, while at the same time protecting him from real dangers. Let him stand, walk, climb, do as much as possible for himself, and praise him for his accomplishments. Have you seen the smile of triumph that lights up a toddler's face when he's done something all by himself-fixed a toy, carried a package or even just stood up? He glows inside, too, with a wonderful feeling of `I can.'
"As he grows, the child becomes more and more concerned with doing useful things. The things he achieves himself become crucially important to him. He gains confidence by trying and succeeding. So let him try out his basic knowledge and skills. Let your son try to climb that fence, build a tree house, manage his affairs. Let your daughter arrange her own social activities, even plan her own party.
"Be sure, of course, that you do not expect too much of your child, criticize him with undue harshness, or permit activities that are unsafe at his age."
Third: "Teach children to make up their minds.
"A twelve-year-old boy came home from school one day and told his mother he wanted to run for class president, but wasn't quite sure. That evening at dinner, while the boy sat quietly, his parents debated whether he ought to make the race, discussing the pros and cons and, finally, deciding that he should not because his schedule for the next year would be too heavy.
"Too many parents do all or most of the problem-solving for their children. As a result, the child never learns how to make up his mind about things, crucial for good mental health. Every human being must make decisions all through life, and those who never learn how are seriously handicapped.
"A child can be taught to make decisions by allowing him to do so as often as possible and to profit by his mistakes. In all of his day-to-day problems, let him understand you have faith in his ability to unravel them. Listen to and discuss the facts with him. Suggest approaches and give the child the benefit of your wisdom and experience. But avoid taking over his independent right to decide upon the clothes he should wear, school problems and the like.
"Common sense should dictate the kind of problems best left to a child's judgment. Those with potentially serious consequences, of course, must still be decided by Mother and Father."
Fourth: "Keep the lines of understanding open...
"... that each of your children is an individual, with his own abilities, personalities and needs. Don't expect one to match another's accomplishments; rather, help him take pride and pleasure in what he does well.
" courteous to your child, listening when he speaks, respecting his rights and feelings.
" logical arguments for your decisions. 'Because I say so' is a poor reply when a child asks why he is required to do something. Giving sensible reasons makes you a fair and reasonable person in your child's eyes. He may not acquiesce gracefully, but inwardly, in most cases, he will probably see your point."
Fifth: "Commend them for what they do well instead of condemning them for what they don't.
"... A 21 year-old college co-ed, under treatment for a severe neurosis, told her therapist: 'If I came home from kindergarten with two stars, Mother wanted to know how come I didn't get three like the day before. If I got four marks over 90, she wondered how come the fifth was only 80.
"Psychiatrists know that many persons with personality problems report they too seldom received praise at home for their accomplishments. Rather, their areas of weakness were constantly being pointed out. Over and over, they say, 'I grew up feeling I couldn't do anything right'...
"Many parents feel guilty when their children do not turn out as well as they think they should. This is not justified unless they really haven't tried to train their children or haven't loved and respected them. Even then it is of no help unless it motivates efforts to try to learn how to develop better relations with them. Being a parent is not easy and mistakes are always made: they will not be too harmful if love and respect prevail."
I pray that we as parents will accept the sacred nature of our responsibility to our children and that we will endeavor to apply love in a wise and intelligent manner, and, of course, to do this, the first requirement is that there is love and harmony between mother and father. Our homes must be a bulwark against the confusion and trials of the world. If this generation is to fulfill its destiny, it must be strong in the most important of all places and that is the home, for in Proverbs we read, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it".
I leave you my testimony, my brethren and sisters, that God lives, that this is his Church, and I do so in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 29-34
"Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him".
My beloved friends and brothers and sisters:
The subject I wish to discuss today is not a happy one. It would be far easier to bypass it, but when I read this scripture in the Psalms, I determined to speak:
Who will become involved?
"Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
"Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence".
When God surveyed his creations, he said: "And I, God, saw everything that I had made, and behold, all things which I had made were very good" ).
Among the very good things, there were "the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards; Yea, all... made for the benefit and the use of man".
These plants were made expressly for man, since he is the supreme creation with divine potential. But through the ages, man has corrupted the use of many of the products and used them for his downfall; corn, barley, dates, grapes, and other crops have been diverted from "food" channels for which they were created into destructive, death-dealing liquor. And that which was good for man has become destructive and bad for him.
Recently, an editorial in one of our local papers was entitled, "How Often Must We Battle Liquor?" The article states that an estimated six and one half million Americans suffer from alcoholism, and that this malady was rated by the public health service as the fourth major public health problem in the United States.
J. Edgar Hoover says: "Three out of ten who start as light drinkers end up as drunkards."
Hardly had the earth and its people settled when men began to concoct intoxicating beverages. Even in primitive lands, some product has been found that can be fermented and used to muddle and confuse the brains and numb the sensitivity. With it, man tries to drown his sorrows, whip his lagging spirits, dull his conscience.
A revelation to God's Prophet in 1833 says:
"In consequence of evils and designs which... exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you and forewarn you... That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you... it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father".
There may be some honest but misguided people, but there are many conspiring people with evil designs in their hearts who for money or other advantage use distorted figures and arguments and continue to stir the matter, working relentlessly for easier access and increased use of liquor. Little thought is given to impaired morals, ruined health, broken homes, and increased traffic deaths that come from drinking.
Is there a single actual, lasting value that comes to mankind from the liquor traffic? Is not money and what money will buy at the root of it?
There are two forces working with every individual constantly. One is the power of darkness with intentions to enslave and destroy. When Lucifer was expelled from the realms of God, "he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead the captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice".
The other influence is the Spirit of the Lord, striving to lift and inspire and build and save.
Satan boasted he would buy his helpers, and he has devised and concocted every plan imaginable to deceive and fetter man. He is clever. He is experienced. He is brainy. He seeks to nullify all the works of the Savior. He is the arch deceiver. Even Simon Peter, the first apostle, was not spared from his designs:
"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
"But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not".
Another scripture: "Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil... inviteth and enticeth to sin...
"But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually".
One of Satan's sharpest tools is alcohol, for it blinds and deafens, numbs and manacles, impoverishes and maims, and kills unfortunate victims.
The liquor fight is an eternal battle and moves from scene to scene and sin to sin.
There are numerous people who profit financially-some politicians, manufacturers, wholesalers, deliverers, dispensers, and the underworld. Added to that army are the rationalizers who demand their liquor, regardless of harm to others. Do they pray over their work?
"The liquor traffic is sacrilege, for it seeks profit from the damnation of human souls."
Arguments are specious, but to the gullible, unsuspecting, righteous, busy people, they are made to seem plausible. The tax argument, the employment one, the school lunch program, the freedom to do as one pleases-all are like sieves with many holes. There is just enough truth in them to deceive. Satan deals in hail truths.
Macaulay said at one time: "Even the law of gravitation would be brought into dispute were there a pecuniary interest involved. Nothing shows the truth of this more than the liquor traffic."
As to children's lunches: is this a reason or a cover? Do we need lunches so much? We spend relatively little on lunches in proportion to the amount liquor costs us. Perhaps we could also tax the robber's take, or license the murderer or the grafter. We could tax the profit also of the prostitute, the rioter, the looter. Certainly we could get much revenue for children's school lunches with many other camouflaged programs.
Mormon's teachings described the kind of people for whom dollars became so important, for he said:
"Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil".
The powerful Lucifer has his day. He whispers into every man's ears. Some reject his enticing offers, others yield. Satan whispers, "This is no sin. You are no transgressor. I am no devil. There is no evil one. There is no black. All is white."
What an indictment of a nation which provides the drinks to its soldiers.
During World War II, the Brewers' Digest said:
"One of the finest things that could have happened to the brewing industry was the insistence by high-ranking officers to make beer available at army camps...
"Here is a chance for brewers to cultivate a taste for beer in millions of young men who will eventually constitute the largest beer-consuming section of our population."
Havoc of liquor where control should be greatest!
How can a government-national, state, or local-ever justify providing liquor for its highest officials in diplomatic services and foreign contacts, even at summit conferences?
Liquor looses the tongues of trusted employees and government officials, and numerous top secrets and classified information have been revealed to enemies.
The wise writer of the Biblical Proverbs said:
"... it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment any of the afflicted".
We suppose the same warning would apply to presidents, senators, prime ministers, ambassadors, governors.
Thomas Jefferson said: "Were I to commence my administration again... the first question which I would ask... every candidate for public office would be 'Is he addicted to the use of ardent spirits?'"
We must not fool ourselves as to who pays for the gin at ambassadorial soirees, the cocktail party, or afternoon receptions.
Senator Olin D. Johnson from South Carolina wrote: "I have never heard of the United States influencing anyone to our benefit as a result of feeding him liquor with which to become inebriated."
"Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?".
In 1855, Abraham Lincoln refused to allow liquor served in his home to the delegation that came to give him the official notice of his nomination for the presidency, even though the liquor was free.
On the day of Lincoln's assassination, he said to Major J. B. Merwin of the United States Army, a guest at the White House, "Merwin, we have cleaned up, with the help of the people, a colossal job. Slavery is abolished. Alter reconstruction, the next great question will be the overthrow and abolition of the liquor traffic. You know, Merwin, that my head and heart, and hand and purse will go into that work.
"In 1842, less than a quarter of a century ago, I predicted that the time would come when there would be neither a slave nor a drunkard in the land. Thank God, I have lived to see one of those prophecies fulfilled. I hope to see the other realized."
The picture shows, TV, and stage productions show actors being offered liquor by friend or foe every time they enter a home. How mankind has degenerated! Actors who are jilted or disappointed invariably turn to drink to drown their sorrows.
Everywhere people congregate, liquor is made available. Cannot we remember that Babylon drowned itself in liquor and Rome drank itself to death?
Hardly is any plane airborne until lovely young women become barmaids, collecting dollars for drinks. No service is given other passengers until the liquor drinkers are served. Millions of barmaids! We wonder how airlines justify forcing their stewardesses to sell liquor. And what is said of airlines should be said of hotels, cafés, and all other places that require the waiters and waitresses to serve liquor.
J. Edgar Hoover said: "There are more barmaids in this country than college girls."
Liquor has been used to neutralize the inhibitions and dull the senses of many a young woman so that her virtue might be more easily taken.
"Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also".
It is said that "our nation harbors three times as many criminals as college students." It is reported that American citizens spend of the national income two and one half times as much for liquor as on education.
Dr. Kelly of Harvard said: "Since alcohol cures no disease, it is not a medicine. It has no place in medical practice."
Again from the Biblical Proverbs: "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise".
Quoting the Salt Lake Tribune: "Has liquor ever been a cause of trouble in your family? At least twelve persons in every hundred admit that this has been the case."
To the Christian, Paul says:
"Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils".
When we think of even the light drinkers, would you not be suspicious of your doctor if he drank? Would you trust a vital case in court to a lawyer who may have just had a cocktail or two?
The great physicist Helmholtz said: "The smallest quantity of alcohol scares away novel ideas."
The moderate drinker intrudes upon others' rights.
One authority says that "more than half the prisoners entering the penal institutions of America say: 'Drink brought me here.'"
Hundreds of thousands of relief checks are cashed in saloons and taverns. Many people wrongly think themselves sharper, brighter, more clever after cocktails than before.
J. Edgar Hoover once said: "Three out of ten who start as light drinkers end up as drunkards." "A greater menace than the drunken driver is the drinking driver."
Of 17,000 accidents in one state, the report showed that about three times as many accidents were caused by drivers who "had been drinking" as by those actually "under the influence."
"Liquor has its defenders, but no defense," said Abraham Lincoln.
Evil mockery of celebrating Christmas with liquor
One of the saddest notes in this business is the blasphemy at Christmas time in social home parties, club socials, and staff Christmas parties where drinks are supplied to employees.
Remember Habakkuk: "Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest the bottle to him".
How wonderful it would be if the staff parties this Christmas could be happy, harmless affairs without a drop of liquor served!
Someone said: "A drinking driver, homeward-bound after a Christmas staff party, could become the front page headline with your company name featured. Exactly this has happened many times."
Jesus Christ was the greatest teacher who ever taught. He made known the greatest truths ever learned. He revealed the meaning of life, the way to success, and the secret of happiness.
Think of celebrating the birth of our Creator, the Lord, our Redeemer, our Savior, with a cocktail party! Imagine using the birth of the Son of God as incentive for a dinner party serving liquor! How sacrilegious! What poor taste! What an affront to the Son of God!
Drinking is now considered aristocratic in planes, in cafés, hotels, in airport bars-everywhere. Someone said, "The cocktail parlor is but a saloon in petticoats."
What a frightening responsibility to be an advertiser, dispenser, manufacturer who would go into the living rooms of millions of homes and indoctrinate little children's minds till they accepted liquor as part of acceptable social living. For the dollar today, they would corrupt a generation tomorrow. Someone made a survey and found that 67 percent of the films show drinking as the smart and proper thing to do.
Entertainment with liquor is wicked betrayal of friendship
People need help who feel that a party cannot be held, a celebration enjoyed, without liquor. What a sad admission that a party must have liquor for people to have a good time. How barren must some guests be if they must be inebriated!
Emily Post said: "Nothing is in worse taste than forcing any guest either to take alcohol or else to sit conspicuously empty-handed."
They are poor hosts and hostesses who embarrass their guests. The hostess who serves liquor at her dinner table to "liven up her guests" is insulting them. It is as though she were saying, "I knew you would not be interesting and sociable without it."
In Proverbs we read:
"Look not thou upon the wine when it is red.... it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder".
"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling?...
"They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine".
It would appear now that wine manufacturers are designing to do what cigarette manufacturers did in the past-to bring wine to every table, in every hospital, in every social gathering.
General Pershing said, "Drunkenness has killed more men than all of history's wars."
Dr. Sam Morris says, "Murder, robbery, rape, stealing, embezzlement, graft, pay-offs in political corruption-these are daily headlines in the newspapers... liquor is the major culprit."
Abraham Lincoln said, "I'd rather lose my right hand than sign a document to perpetuate the liquor traffic."
"The filthiest business in the world!"
The Boston Herald calls the liquor traffic "the filthiest business in the world."
William Gladstone: "The four great scourges of mankind have been drink, war, pestilence and famine; and drink has been more destructive than war, pestilence and famine combined."
Recently, the question was polled: Would you favor or oppose a law forbidding the sale of all beer, wine, and liquor throughout the nation? And it was surprising how many people indicated they would favor such a law. The pendulum may be about to swing back the other way.
To Latter-day Saints: The Word of Wisdom regarding intoxicating drinks was given in 1833 as a word of wisdom; but 18 years later, another Prophet of God declared it to be a commandment. All members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who drink intoxicating beverages are in disobedience to the commandments of God. There are no compromises nor half-way measures.
The good people who would like to protect themselves and their families and their neighbors from all of the corruption that liquor brings instead of yielding to the opposition could start to move toward prohibition again. The Lord says the traffic is evil. Why will good people be tricked and deceived?
One cannot touch the liquor traffic without contamination. It is evil; it is prostituting the lives of men.
Should we not take the offensive, and move to eliminate the curse from our communities? Why stand always on the defensive while those who have ulterior motives campaign to make alcohol more readily available? Are we involved and beholden because of our rents, or holdings, or leases, or conventions, or tourists? Are dollars so important?
Why do we not close the bars and taverns? An aroused vote could put an end to loss and waste and annoyance and death and suffering from this source. If no one bought and consumed liquor, there would be no manufacture nor traffic in it.
A law in Arizona is reputed to make illegal a bartender's drinking even in his own tavern while on duty. If bankers should not drink, nor doctors, nor train engineers, nor attorneys, nor bus drivers, nor airplane pilots, nor bartenders, nor anyone carrying responsibility, then why tolerate such a damaging thing?
Lincoln, in an address to the Washingtonian Society, said:
"Whether or not the world would be vastly benefited by the total and final banishment from it of all intoxicating drinks, seems to me not now an open question. Three fourths of mankind confess the affirmation with their tongues; and I believe, all the rest acknowledge it in their hearts."
Let us arouse ourselves and unite to break the fetters with which liquor interests have manacled us. The Lord knew what he was doing when he commanded men to forgo it.
I pray that we shall have the courage to live his commandments. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 34-39
In the Book of Mormon the prophet Nephi exclaims: "O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm".
Prophesying of our day, Nephi said, "... they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men".
Yes, it is the precepts of men versus the principles of God. The more we follow the word of God, the less we are deceived, while those who follow the wisdom of men are deceived the most.
Increasingly the Latter-day Saints must choose between the reasoning of men and the revelations of God. This is a crucial choice, for we have those within the Church today who, with their worldly wisdom, are leading some of our members astray. President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., warned that "the ravening wolves are amongst us from our own membership and they, more than any others, are clothed in sheep's clothing, because they wear the habiliments of the Priesthood... We should be careful of them."
The Lord does not always give reasons for each commandment. Sometimes faithful members, like Adam of old, are called upon to obey an injunction of the Lord even though they do not know the reason why it was given. Those who trust in God will obey him, knowing full well that time will provide the reasons and vindicate their obedience.
The arm of flesh may not approve nor understand why God has not bestowed the priesthood on women or the seed of Cain, but God's ways are not man's ways. God does not have to justify all his ways for the puny mind of man. If a man gets in tune with the Lord, he will know that God's course of action is right, even though he may not know all the reasons why.
The Prophet Joseph Smith understood this principle when he said, "... the curse is not yet taken off from the sons of Canaan, neither will be until it is affected by as great a power as caused it to come; and the people who interfere the least with the purposes of God in this matter, will come under the least condemnation before Him; and those who are determined to pursue a course, which shows an opposition, and a feverish restlessness against the decrees of the Lord, will learn, when perhaps it is too late for their own good, that God can do His own work, without the aid of those who are not dictated by His counsel."
The world largely ignores the first and great commandment-to love God-but talks a lot about loving their brother. They worship at the altar of man. Would Nephi have slain Laban if he had put the love of neighbor above the love of God? Would Abraham have taken Isaac up for a sacrifice if he had put the second commandment first?
The attitude of the world is reflected in a phrase of falsehood that reads, "Presume not God to scan, the proper study of mankind is man." But only those who know and love God can best love and serve his children, for only God fully understands his children and knows what is best for their welfare. Therefore, one needs to be in tune with God to best help his children. That's why the Church, under the inspiration of the Lord, encourages its members to first look to themselves, then their family, then the Church and if need be to other voluntary agencies to help solve the problems of poverty, unemployment, hunger, sickness, and distress. Those who are not moved by that same inspiration turn instead to government. Such man-made course of action does little good compared to the Lord's approach and often results in doing great harm to our Father's children, even though the intentions may seem to have been noble.
Therefore, if you desire to help your fellowmen the most, then you must put the first commandment first.
When we fail to put the love of God first, we are easily deceived by crafty men who profess a great love of humanity, while advocating programs that are not of the Lord.
In 1942 Presidents Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., and David O. McKay warned us about the increasing threat to our constitution caused by revolutionists whom the First Presidency said were "using a technique that is as old as the human race-a fervid but false solicitude for the unfortunate over whom they thus gain mastery, and then enslave them. They a suit their approaches to the particular group they seek to deceive."
That timely counsel about "a fervid but false solicitude for the unfortunate" could have saved China and Cuba if enough people knew what the Communist masters of deceit really had in mind when they promised agrarian reform.
Such timely counsel could help save our country from Communism, as the same masters of deceit are showing the same false solicitude for the unfortunate in the name of civil rights.
Now there is nothing wrong with civil rights; it is what's being done in the name of civil rights that is alarming.
There is no doubt that the so-called civil rights movement as it exists today is used as a Communist program for revolution in America just as agrarian reform was used by the Communists to take over China and Cuba.
This shocking statement can be confirmed by an objective study of Communist literature and activities and by knowledgeable Negroes and others who have worked within the Communist movement.
As far back as 1928, the Communists declared that the cultural, economic, and social differences between the races in America could be exploited by them to create the animosity, fear, and hatred between large segments of our people that would be necessary beginning ingredients for their revolution.
Briefly, the three broad objectives were and are as follows:
1. Create hatred 2. Trigger violence 3. Overthrow established government
First, create hatred. Use any means to agitate blacks into hating whites and whites into hating blacks. Work both sides of the split. Play up and exaggerate real grievances. If necessary, don't hesitate to manufacture false stories and rumors about injustices and brutality. Create martyrs for both sides. Play upon mass emotions until they smolder with resentment and hatred.
Second, trigger violence. Put the emotional masses into the streets in the form of large mobs, the larger the better. It makes no difference if the mob is told to demonstrate "peacefully" so long as it is brought into direct confrontation with the antagonist. Merely bringing the two emotionally charged groups together is like mixing oxygen and hydrogen. All that is needed is one tiny spark. If the spark is not forthcoming from purely spontaneous causes, create it.
Third, overthrow established government. Once mob violence becomes widespread and commonplace, condition those who are emotionally involved to accept violence as the only way to "settle the score" once and for all. Provide leadership and training for guerilla warfare. Institute discipline and terrorism to insure at least passive support from the larger, inactive segment of the population. Train and battle-harden leadership through sporadic riots and battles with police. Finally, at the appointed time, launch an all-out simultaneous offensive in every major city.
Police and National Guard units will never be adequate to handle such widespread anarchy, especially if a large part of our men and equipment are drained away in fighting foreign wars. In self-defense, larger numbers are brought into fighting on both sides. The appearance of a nationwide civil war takes form. In the confusion, potential anti-Communist leaders of both races are assassinated, apparently the accidental casualties of race war.
Time the attack to coincide, if possible, with large-scale sabotage a water supplies, power grids, main rail road and highway arteries, communication centers, and government buildings With fires raging in every conceivable part of town, with wanton looting going on in the darkness of a big city without routine police protection, without water to drink, without electrical refrigeration, without transportation or radio or TV, the public will panic, lock its doors in trembling fear, and make it that much easier for the small but assembled and fully disciplined guerrilla bands to capture the power centers of each community. Overthrow the government! After complete control is consolidated, only then allow the people to discover that it was a Communist revolution after all.
If Communism comes to America, it will probably not happen quite like that. Even, though this is the basic formula used in so many other countries now part of the Communist empire, there is one very important difference. In China, in Cuba, and in Algeria, the segment of the population that the Communists used as the "battering ram" of their revolution of force and violence was the majority segment. In America, though, the Negro represents only 10 percent of the population. In any all-out race war that might be triggered, there isn't a chance in the world that Communist-led Negro guerilla units could permanently hold on to the power centers of government even if they could capture them in the first place.
It would be a terribly bloody affair, all Americans suffering mightily but with Negroes paying the highest toll in human life. And the Communists know this better than anyone else. They do not really expect to take America with a "war of national liberation" unless the aggressive revolutionary force can be broadened to include not only the minority of Negroes, but also migratory farm laborers, the poor, the unemployed, those on welfare, other minority groups, students, the so-called "peace movements," and anyone who can be propagandized into mob action against established government But unless and until they can manipulate an overwhelming majority of the population into at least sympathizing with their revolutionary activities, they will use violence, anarchy, and sabotage, not as a means of seizing power, but merely as a support operation or a catalyst to an entirely different plan.
In such countries as Czechoslovakia, the Communists have used an entirely different method of internal conquest. Instead of the force and violence of a bloody revolution, parliamentary and political means were used to bring about a more peaceful transition to Communism. The Communist strategists call this alternate plan a "proletarian" revolution.
This plan is as follows: Using unidentified Communist agents and non-Communist sympathizers in key positions in government, in communications media, and in mass organizations, such as labor unions and civil rights groups, demand more and more government power as the solution to all civil rights problems. Total government is the objective of Communism. Without calling it by name, build Communism piece by piece through mass pressures for presidential decrees, court orders, and legislation that appear to be aimed at improving civil rights and other social reforms. If there is social, economic, or educational discrimination, then advocate more government programs and control.
And what if riots come? Then more government housing, government welfare, government job training, and, finally, federal control over police. Thus the essential economic and political structure of Communism can be built entirely "legally" and in apparent response to the wishes of the people who have clamored for some kind of solution to the problems played-up, aggravated, or created outright by Communists for just that purpose. After the machinery of Communism is firmly established, then allow the hidden Communists one by one to make their identities known. Liquidate first the anti-Communists and then the non-Communist sympathizers who are no longer needed in government. The total state mechanism can now openly and "peacefully" be transferred into the hands of Communists. Such is the so-called proletarian revolution. Such has happened in other, once free, countries. It has already started here.
The Communists are not entirely certain whether force and violence or legal and political means or a combination of both would be best for the internal conquest of America. At first, there was talk of splitting away the "Black Belt," those southern states in which the Negro held a majority, and calling them a Negro Soviet Republic. But, as conditions changed and more Negroes migrated to the northern states, they applied this same strategy to the so-called ghetto areas in the North. It now seems probable that the Communists are determined to use force and violence to its fullest, coupled with a weakening of the economy and military setbacks abroad, in an effort to create as much havoc as possible to weaken America internally and to create the kind of psychological desperation in the minds of all citizens that will lead them to accept blindly the application of legal and political means as the final blow.
Some wonder if it can happen here. Just take a good look at what has been going on around us for the past few years. It is happening here] If it is to be prevented from running the full course, we must stop pretending that it doesn't exist.
Let us consider some suggestions for our survival. The hour is late.
The Communist program for revolution in America has been in progress for many years and is far advanced. While it can be thwarted in a fairly short period of time merely by sufficient exposure, the evil effects of what has already been accomplished cannot be removed overnight. The animosities, the hatred, the extension of government control into our daily lives-all this will take time to repair. The already-inflicted wounds will be slow in healing. But they can be healed; that is the important point.
1. First of all, we must not place the blame upon Negroes. They are merely the unfortunate group that has been selected by professional Communist agitators to be used as the primary source of cannon fodder. Not one in a thousand Americans-black or white-really understands the full implications of today's civil rights agitation. The planning, direction, and leadership come from the Communists, and most of those are white men who fully intend to destroy America by spilling Negro blood, rather than their own.
2. Next, we must not participate in any so-called "blacklash" activity which might tend to further intensify inter-racial friction. Anti-Negro vigilante action, or mob action, of any kind fits perfectly into the Communist plan. This is one of the best ways to force the decent Negro into cooperating with militant Negro groups. The Communists are just as anxious to spearhead such anti-Negro actions as they are to organize demonstrations that are calculated to irritate white people.
3. We must insist that duly authorized legislative investigating committees launch an even more exhaustive study and expose the degree to which secret Communists have penetrated into the civil rights movement. The same needs to be done with militant anti-Negro groups. This is an effective way for the American people of both races to find out who are the false leaders among them.
4. We must support our local police in their difficult task of keeping law and order in these trying times. Police should not be encumbered by civilian review boards, or asked to be social workers. They have their hands full just trying to keep the peace. Recent soft-on-crime decisions of the Supreme Court, which hamper the police in protecting the innocent and bringing the criminal to justice, should be reversed. Persistent cries of "police brutality" should be recognized for what they are-attempts to discredit our police and discourage them from doing their job to the best of their ability.
Salaries should be adequate to hold on to and attract the very finest men available for police work. But, in questions of money, great care should be taken not to accept grants from the federal government. Along with federal money, inevitably there will come federal controls and guidelines that not only may get local police embroiled in national politics, but may even lead to the eventual creation of a national police force. Every despotism requires a national police force to hold the people in line. Communism is no exception. Our local police should remain free from federal control.
5. Further encroachment of government should be stopped and the entire process reversed. The solution to most, if not all, of the current problems involving civil rights is less government, not more.
6. Lastly, we need a vast awakening of the American people as to the true nature of the Communist blueprint for revolution. Considering the degree to which the controlling influences of the federal government and many of the communications media are now furthering this Communist revolution, it is unrealistic to expect most of our present leaders or the networks to bring about this awakening. In fact, they may be expected to resist it. That means that individual citizens must stand up and assume more than their share of the responsibility. The speaker's platform, hand distribution of literature, study clubs, home discussions-all must be pressed into service. All of us should read the new book, Communist Revolution in the Streets, written by Gary Allen, with an introduction by W. Cleon Skousen. Each of us must be willing to discuss the problem openly with our friends-especially those of the Negro race.
The success or failure of Americans of all races to meet this challenge may well determine the fate of our country. If we fail, we will all lose our civil rights, black man and white man together, for we will live under perfect Communist equality-the equality of slaves.
As President McKay has stated, "The position of this Church on the subject of Communism has never changed. We consider it the greatest satanical threat to peace, prosperity, and the spread of God's work among men that exists on the face of the earth."
He has also counseled that "next to being one in worshiping God, there is nothing in this world upon which this Church should be more united than in upholding and defending the Constitution of the United States!", p. 94.)
May we unite behind the Prophet in opposing the Communist conspiracy and preserving our freedom and our divine constitution, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Alvin R. Dyer
Alvin R. Dyer, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 40-42
My dear brothers and sisters, it is most difficult at a time like this to express one's true emotions. As I sat there since the sustaining of the officers today, I thought that in every life there are a number of semaphores of direction; and rather hastily there came back to me a few of those semaphores which, if I had taken the wrong turn, most surely would have prevented me from occupying this position today.
These brethren who hear me sing would not suspect that in my early life I sang in a quartet: we became pretty good, to the extent that at the age of 18 we received a contract to go on a vaudeville circuit to sing for some 42 weeks, and we were all primed for this. But at this time Bishop Parry of the 16th Ward called me to his office and said that they wanted to recommend me to be called on a mission, and, of course, that was the end of the quartet as far as I was concerned. I went into the mission field at the age of 18; and when I came back, having previously played some baseball in my high school years, I was approached by two or three semi-pro teams who wanted me to play for them. It was then, because of my great desire to play baseball, that the possibility of making it a career occurred to me. I signed to play with one of these teams but soon found, as I was called to labor in a bishopric about the same time, that it was interfering with my responsibilities as a member of the bishopric, so I had to make the decision; and the decision was to continue my work in the bishopric and serve the Lord to the best of my ability.
I then settled down to the work of succeeding in business. As the years passed, it became more favorable, and as most young men, I desired to make a lot of money. I had as my goal a million dollars, and I felt that if I would follow the course that I had taken, perhaps I could do this by the time I would reach the age of 55. Things were progressing very well in this direction when President Stephen L Richards called me to his office and said that I had been called to preside over the Central States Mission. A year or so after that I disposed of my business interests, so I will never know whether I would or could have made a million dollars.
I remember receiving a telephone call, after I had become one of the Assistants to the Twelve, while attending a conference in the Teton Stake. It was just a matter of routine, yet the tremendous implications of it have startled me many times when I think about it. A member of the First Presidency on the other end of the telephone said, "Brother Dyer, we would like you to go to Europe. When can you leave?" I said, "I can leave any time," thinking that I was to go there on a trip for maybe two weeks to attend some conferences or some other assignment. But he said, "You won't be coming back very soon, so you had better think a little longer about this." But it made no difference. I accepted the call and with my wife spent 25 months presiding over the European Mission.
There have been many other semaphores in my life, and I am confident that each of you in your own life has had many of your own.
When President McKay asked me in the temple a few days ago if I would accept the calling of the apostleship, I replied that I would, although I was somewhat perplexed as to what this calling would mean under the circumstances. As we moved to another room in the temple, my feelings were somewhat quieted by the kind and meaningful words of a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, whom I greatly love and respect. After extending his well wishes, he said these words: "Don't worry, Alvin. You have been called by the highest authority upon the earth to this calling, and it will be made known to you what you are to do."
I know only partially now, at the present time, what holding the apostleship in my case will entail for me. I know, of course, that the Lord has made known that an apostle is to contend against none but the church of evil, to take upon himself the name of Christ and speak the truth in soberness, and to be a witness, a special witness for Jesus Christ in the world.
But it matters not as to its entirety, for I am committed to serve the president of the High Priesthood, whom we call the President of the Church. He is the one declared by the Lord to be like unto Moses, to preside over the whole Church, and there is only one appointed to this high and holy position upon the earth at one time. I know with all my soul that President McKay is that servant of God upon the earth today.
I have been privileged to feel the nearness of President McKay's spirit. I have felt the majesty of his soul as we stood in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, observing in the short distance a place there known as Spring Hill, referred to in Section 116 of the Doctrine and Covenants as the place where Adam, Michael, or the "Ancient of Days," in accordance with the prophecy of Daniel, shall in the due time of the Lord visit the earth for an important reason, and while there hearing President McKay utter quietly, "This is a most holy place." I have shed tears of joy and of sorrow with this great man upon occasions.
I remember the experience of a very noted European who came to America, Dr. Hans Wacher of Munich, a very accomplished and well-known architect who had been converted to the Church, a man known all over Eurasia, South America, and Africa for his great ability. He has written a number of books on the use of light in buildings. I had the privilege of introducing him to the President and sitting at the other end of the table while they talked. And then I heard this man say, as we reached the foyer outside the President's office, these words which in a sense echo my own thoughts over and over again this day: "Today I have stood in the presence of a prophet of God. Truly he is a prophet. I shall return to my beloved Bavaria and testify unto my family and my friends that David O. McKay is a prophet of God."
These past days, my brethren and sisters, have been most glorious, as the Spirit of the Lord has been made manifest in the progress of the Church and its programs of the future in the service to mankind. Yesterday, in the regional representatives seminar, we all felt an overwhelming surge of the Spirit as Brother Lee was testifying of the work. It had a motivating power over all who were present, and affected me very deeply. I am firmly committed to the laws of the priesthood and to the instruction and direction, given to us as a people by the Lord, of this important work and of all the revelations, both for the present and for the future. In this the priesthood is the governing force, while revelation is the guiding light.
At this time my feelings concern most deeply my tried and true and most wonderful companion for time and for all eternity, my dear wife and sweetheart. Together we have shared many years of service in the work of the Master, and always there has been that feeling of oneness in that service; even now my heart is full, and I know that her heart is with me in this call and that she is a part of it. How wonderful is her support and understanding. I am most grateful for her and our two children, Gloria and Brent, who with their companions for time and eternity bless our lives with our grandchildren. I have one brother living. My brother Gus and I are the only two of a family of 15, and I am grateful for him and his untiring work in the Church, which he has pursued throughout all his life.
I do not feel to speak longer, but in closing may I read just one verse that has impressed me for many years as reflecting the true teachings of the Master in our dealings one with another. The spirit of every word can be found in his parables and teachings:
"May I be no man's enemy, and may I be the friend of that which is eternal... May I never devise evil against any man: if any devise evil against me, may I escape... without the need of hurting him. May I love, seek, and attain only that which is good. May I wish for all men's happiness and envy none... May I win no victory which harms me or my opponent... May I respect myself... May I always keep tame that which rages within me."
May joy and happiness continue as a possession of those who love and are obedient to the gospel, and may the gospel be the hope and the opening of the door of light to the honest in heart who seek its golden truths the world over, that they may be thus numbered with the children of our Heavenly Father in this great latter-day work. I bear you my testimony that I know without any question that this is the work of our Heavenly Father; I am grateful for the semaphores of life that have pointed the way, and I await now only the opportunity to continue that service in the kingdom of God. I bear this witness in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce R. McConkie, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 42-44
May I raise in the minds of thoughtful and sincere Christian people such questions as these:
Does the Holy Bible foretell the mission and ministry of Joseph Smith?
Is the advent of Mormonism spoken of in the ancient scriptures?
Was its establishment, growth, and eventual earth-filling destiny known to the prophets and seers of old?
Did Peter, Paul, John, and the other ancient apostles know that their apostolic mantles would rest in due course on the shoulders of Mormon elders, on prophets and apostles of modern times?
Did the ancient apostles and prophets know that after the predicted falling away from the faith once delivered to the saints, there would be a day of restoration and renewal, a day when all the glories of old would be seen and known again?
Strange and improbable as such questions may seem at first blush, more extended investigation will reveal their aptness and deep significance.
If it is true that inspired men of old knew and spoke of the very events now transpiring where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is concerned, then a knowledge of this Church and its doctrines becomes more important than any other knowledge in the whole realm of religion.
If it is true that these New Testament authors foretold both an apostasy and a restoration, then the traditional concept of many equally true Christian sects must give way to the stern reality that there is and can be but one true Church on earth, one place where legal administrators chart the true course to salvation.
May I now open the door to investigation where these matters are concerned?
Shortly after the ascension of the resurrected Christ into heaven, Peter made this inspired statement to those who were guilty of our Lord's death: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
"And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
"Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began".
Now let us analyze this prophetic utterance with care. Peter is not inviting our Lord's murderers to be baptized and to join the Church. They are not heirs of salvation. They have already rejected and slain their Messiah. But Peter is holding out some hope to them in a future day, a day named the times of refreshing. This designated period, this times of refreshing, is to take place at the second coming of the Son of Man, in the day when the Lord sends Christ again to earth.
If we are to catch the vision of Peter's prophecy, we must know pointedly and specifically what is meant by the times of refreshing. It is elsewhere spoken of by Jesus as "the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory". It is the day "when the earth shall be transfigured, even according to the pattern which was shown unto mine apostles upon the mount," the Lord says. It is the day when "the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory". It is the day of the "new earth" that Isaiah saw, the earth which will prevail when wickedness ceases, when the millennial era is ushered in, when "every corruptible thing, both of man, or of the beasts of the field, or of the fowls of the heavens, or of the fish of the sea, that dwells upon all the face of the earth, shall be consumed". It is the day when men "shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks", a day of universal peace and justice, a millennial era when Christ shall reign personally upon the earth.
Having thus announced that Christ will come again in this day of refreshing, of regeneration, of transfiguration, this day of paradisiacal glory, this millennial era, then Peter says that the heaven must receive him "until the times of restitution of all things". Here then we need another definition. What is meant by the times of restitution? These words mean age of restoration, an age in which God has promised to restore all things that he spoke by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Thus, Christ came once and ministered among men, climaxing his ministry with his atoning sacrifice and ascension to his Father. He is to come again, a second time, in a day of refreshing and renewal, to reign personally upon the earth. But he cannot come this second time until an age in the earth's history commences which has the name the times of restitution, or in other words he cannot come until the age or period of restoration; and in that age or period all essential things that God ever gave in any age of the earth for salvation, betterment, blessing, and edification of his children will be restored again.
What a glorious doctrine this is! How little it is known and understood in the world! Here we have a plain, pointed, prophetic proclamation that before the second coming of the Son of Man, an age named the age of restoration is to commence in the earth's history; and sometime in the course of this age or period, everything that God ever spoke or said or revealed to any ancient prophets is to come again to men on earth. What a door of investigation this opens.
Now, what is it that God revealed anciently? Has the great age of restoration commenced? Come, let us enter the door of investigation.
Was God known in ancient times? Did he walk and talk with the prophets of old? Were his laws revealed in plainness and in perfection? If so, all this is to occur again.
Did men of old hold the holy priesthood, the power and authority of God to act in all things for the salvation of men on earth? Were there legal administrators who had power from God to perform the ordinances of salvation so that they would be binding on earth and have full efficacy and force in eternity? If so, this power and this priesthood must come again.
Did men of old hold the keys of the kingdom of heaven? By these keys, could they bind on earth and have it sealed everlastingly in the heavens? If so, such divine power must be exercised again by mortal men.
Did legal administrators of old have power to baptize with fire and the Holy Ghost? Could they seal men up unto eternal life? Were the gifts of the Spirit poured out upon the saints? If so, all these powers and gifts must come again.
Were there apostles and prophets in ancient times-men who actually represented the Lord; who stood between him and the people; who spoke his mind and his will to men; whose voice was as the voice of God to mortals? Is it true that the Church in ancient times was built on the very foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone? If so, such will again be found in the age of restoration.
In ancient times was the gift of the Holy Ghost poured out upon men? Were their minds quickened and enlightened from on high? Did they receive and utter words beyond man's power to devise? Did they foretell the future? Were the visions of eternity opened to the seers of old so that they knew of things past, present, and future? Did angels descend from the courts of glory to give them counsel, direction, and understanding? If so, all of these things must be revealed anew in the age of restoration.
Were there miracles in days gone by? Did signs follow those that believed? Were the eyes of the blind opened, the ears of the deaf unstopped, the lame caused to leap, and the dead raised? Was there healing power in the priesthood? Were the elements controlled, wild beasts subdued, the violence of fire quenched, the armies of men put to flight, rivers moved from their course, and mountains moved? If so, like miracles must come again.
Now we testify-boldly and truly-that all these things were part of God's true religion anciently and that they have been, are being, or will be restored in the very age in which we live. We announce that the times of restitution, the age of restoration, began in the spring of 1820, with the appearance of the Father and the Son to Joseph Smith, that it is now continuing and will continue until after the second coming of the Son of Man.
Verily, it is true that the Holy Bible foretells the mission and ministry of Joseph Smith. It is true that the advent of Mormonism was spoken of in the ancient scriptures and that its establishment, growth, and eventual earth-filling destiny were known to the prophets and seers of old.
It is true that the times of restitution has commenced, and that Holy Being who is no respecter of persons, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, that Being in whom is neither variableness nor shadow of turning, is again pouring out upon his saints every grace, right, gift, power, prerogative, and good thing ever enjoyed by the saints of any age.
These things are true. They deserve investigation. They demand investigation. A knowledge of them brings peace in this life and an assurance of immortal glory in the world to come. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder James A. Cullimore
James A. Cullimore, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 45-48
My brothers and sisters, I am grateful today for this choice experience. Sister Cullimore and I have just concluded a tour of all the missions of Great Britain, holding meetings with many of the branches and the wards there, and we bring you greetings, especially to President McKay; the members want you to know how much they love you, and wanted us to bring you their greetings.
One of the greatest thrills that came to us as we visited these missions was to see the light in the eyes of the new converts, the tremendous radiance and light that came into their eyes as they expressed their faith and their happiness in receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ. I think, too, as I see the happiness and the radiance-the joy in the eyes of good members everywhere who are living the gospel-that it lets me know more than ever that the restored gospel is indeed the way to joy and happiness. As the Lord placed man upon the earth, he intended for him to be happy. He gave him laws which, if he is obedient to them, will bring him happiness. He filled the earth with all things to make him happy.
In this dispensation the Lord has said, "... inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;
"Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;
"Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;
"Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.
"And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used".
Now all that he asks of us is gratitude through obedience; for he said, "... in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments".
And then he gave us the real key to joy and happiness. He said: "But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come". Peace comes as the Father witnesses unto us his divine approval of the things that we are doing. This peace is a basis of real joy and happiness, and it comes to us through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
One of the most profound statements in the scriptures as to the purpose of man's advent upon the earth is in the Book of Mormon, as Lehi teaches his son Jacob in the many truths of the gospel. He said: "And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.
"And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.
"But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.
"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy".
He taught Jacob also that as the Lord desired men to have joy, so the devil seeketh to make him miserable, "for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself".
This great joy came to our first parents as the Lord revealed unto them the purpose of the creation, and they saw that now through the Fall these purposes could be fulfilled.
The Fall is generally looked upon by our Christian friends as a great sin, committed by our first parents, which brought shame and death to all the human family. They believe that if Adam and Eve had not partaken of the fruit, their posterity would have lived on endlessly in peace and bliss, free from temptation and sin and the problems of the flesh today. The Lord has revealed to us that only by the Fall could his plan be accomplished.
Is it any wonder then that as these glorious truths were revealed to Adam and Eve, they had great joy and praised God?
The Holy Ghost fell upon Adam and Eve and bore record of the Father and the Son and gave witness that as they had fallen, they may also be redeemed, and "all mankind, even as many as will." We are told that Adam "blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.
"And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient".
Yes, the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is the way to joy and happiness. The Lord intended that his children should be happy, that they would have joy as they served him. He gave them understanding of his plan and how they would enter hack into his presence. He had given his children a promise of great blessings for obedience. Almost every commandment is accompanied by a promise of reward for obedience. Paul said to the Corinthian saints: "... Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him".
I like the verses of President George H. Brimhall:
"The aim of man's existence is That he may have more joy Than sorrow, in the sum of life- Build rather than destroy; To seek the truth, love man and God And in his work be glad; Be much more moved by love of God Than by the fear of bad."
The Lord intended that man should have joy in his labors; that even through adversity and sorrow and trials the hand of the Lord could be seen as he fulfills his purposes in the earth; that in the sum of life we should emerge with more joy than sorrow, more gladness in work than drudgery, be motivated by love rather than fear, have joy as we build and achieve, have peace and satisfaction as we seek to find the truth. That joy and happiness often come through sorrow and trials is attested to by President Brigham Young:
"... in the midst of the sorrows and afflictions of this life, its trials and temptations, the buffetings of Satan, the weakness of the flesh, and the power of death which is sown in it, there is no necessity for any mortal man to live a single day without rejoicing, and being filled with gladness. I allude to the Saints who have the privilege of receiving the Spirit of truth, and have been acquainted with the laws of the new covenant... it is necessary that we should be tried, tempted, and buffeted, to make us feel the weaknesses of this mortal flesh... We rejoice because the Lord is ours, because we are sown in weakness for the express purpose of attaining to greater power and perfection. In everything the Saints may rejoice-in persecution, because it is necessary to purge them... in sickness and in pain... because we are thereby made acquainted with pain, with sorrow... for by contrast all things are demonstrated to our senses. We have reason to rejoice exceedingly that faith is in the world, that the Lord reigns, and does His pleasure among the inhabitants of the earth... I rejoice because I am cast down... Because I shall be lifted up again. I rejoice that I am poor, because I shall be made rich; that I am afflicted, because I shall be comforted, and prepared to enjoy the felicity of perfect happiness, for it is impossible to properly appreciate happiness, except by enduring the opposite."
In the Fall the Lord told man, "By the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread," and unto woman, "I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception". This didn't take away the possibility of happiness and joy from the Father's children. It made it possible for them to appreciate true joy as they understood sorrow.
The restored gospel is truly the way to joy and happiness, as it gives men truth to live by and a knowledge that they are free to act for themselves; that free agency is a gift of God; and that by proper exercise of our agency we might have great glory with our Father in heaven. It teaches the happiness that comes by keeping our bodies clean and pure and free from sin in abiding by the code of health as revealed to the children of the Lord, knowing that our bodies are the temples of God. It gives man an understanding of the plan of salvation; that we lived premortally; the real purpose of mortal life; and the hope of eternal life-life with God in all its glory. It witnesses unto us the vindication that comes from the Father, as we give service to our fellowmen.
President McKay said that he who seeks for happiness seldom finds it, but he who lives for the welfare of others, who loses himself in giving happiness to others, finds it in double portion, for it comes back to him.
Our Father witnesses to us his acceptance of our obedience to him in keeping his commandments by the warm, sweet feeling of heavenly peace that burns within. Quoting President McKay again, "Peace comes by obedience to law." "That man is not at peace who is untrue to the whisperings of Christ, the promptings of his conscience. He cannot be at peace... when he transgresses the law of righteousness... Peace does not come to the transgressor of law." Happiness "is a warm glow of the heart at peace with itself."
There is no question but that man receives the greatest happiness from compliance to law. Our knowledge of the promised glories of our Father that are prepared for those who are obedient to his commandments gives obedience to these laws and great happiness.
Possibly equal to the joy that comes to one in the feeling of vindication of the Father as he witnesses to us his divine approval for our good lives is the "joy in the soul that repenteth." The Lord has said: "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God... And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!".
The Lord is greatly concerned about every one of his children and would that all would repent and enter into the joy that he has prepared for those who keep his commandments.
The Prophet Joseph Smith summed the matter up like this: "Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God."
May each of us be worthy to receive great joy and happiness each day is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President N. Eldon Tanner
N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 50-56
President McKay, brothers and sisters everywhere, it is a joy indeed to be here today in this historic Tabernacle, here on this beautiful Temple Square, where members of the Church have been meeting at these regular conferences during the past hundred years; where, as did those who have preceded us, we enjoy the Spirit of the Lord, listen to words of wisdom, and are instructed in gospel principles; where we can have our faith renewed and our testimonies strengthened; from where, as radio and television have made it possible, the great messages of the leaders of the Church have gone out to all the world. We wish to extend a warm welcome to our radio and television audience today.
We have just heard the beautiful rendition of this great Tabernacle Choir, which was organized in 1847, and which, with the "Spoken Word" by Richard L. Evans, has been heard weekly by millions of people since 1929. The latest tour, which was made about a month ago, made it possible for thousands and thousands of people in Canada at the exposition, in New York, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island to enjoy its magnificent concerts.
On behalf of the First Presidency, those assembled here, and, I feel sure, all members of the Church, we wish to express our sincere and deep appreciation to President Isaac M. Stewart; to the conductors, Richard P. Condie and Jay Welch; to our organists, Alexander Schreiner, Robert Cundick, and Roy Darley; to every dedicated member of the choir, and to others who have contributed to its outstanding success. May the Lord continue to bless them with success.
As we reflect on the many conferences that have been held under the direction of prophets and inspired leaders, all of whom have been dedicated servants of God, many of whom were really giants of the Lord, it certainly makes one feel humble to occupy this position. I do earnestly pray and ask that I may have an interest in your faith and prayers, to the effect that the Spirit of the Lord will be with us while I stand before you, that what I may say will be in keeping with his Spirit and helpful to those assembled here and to those who may be listening in. I sincerely pray that the Spirit and blessings of the Lord will attend you, that those things you desire in righteousness will be given you.
I have great faith in prayer, and believe that "more things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." In fact, I have chosen to talk on prayer and pray that the Lord may help us realize the importance and value of prayer, and what a great privilege and opportunity every one of us has of going to the Lord in thanksgiving and supplication.
It is because I have had my prayers answered so many times throughout my life, and because I feel so keenly the great need of calling upon the Lord, and because I have experienced the strength and blessings and guidance of the Lord in the position which I now hold, that I have chosen to discuss this subject with you today. I pray that those who doubt might be helped to see and understand that God is our Father, that we are his spirit children, and that he is really there, and has said: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
"For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened".
I often wonder if we really realize the power of prayer, if we appreciate what a great blessing it is to be able to call on our Father in heaven in humble prayer, knowing that he is interested in us and that he wants us to succeed.
As Richard L. Evans has said so beautifully: "Our Father in heaven is not an umpire who is trying to count us out. He is not a competitor who is trying to outsmart us. He is not a prosecutor who is trying to convict us. He is a loving Father who wants our happiness and eternal progress and who will help us all he can if we will but give him in our lives an opportunity to do so with obedience and humility, and faith and patience."
To pray effectively, and to feel that one can be heard and have his prayers answered, one must believe that he is praying to a God who can hear and answer, one who is interested in his children and their well-being. The first record we have of anyone praying to the Lord is that record by Moses in these words: "And Adam and Eve, his wife, called upon the name of the Lord, and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them, and they saw him not...
"And Adam and Eve, his wife, ceased not to call upon God".
Great and influential men have always prayed for divine guidance. Even this great nation was founded on prayer. U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond reminded us of this in May of last year wherein he said:
"The Mayflower Compact, written in November of 1620, begins with a prayer, 'In the name of God,' and goes on to state: 'We... having undertaken, for the glory of God... do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and of one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic.'
"Thus our nation began founded on prayer. The kneeling figure of George Washington through that bitter winter in Valley Forge is a part of this country that should never be forgotten...
The Constitutional Convention in June of 1787 had been meeting for weeks without agreement, when Benjamin Franklin rose to his feet and addressed George Washington:
"'Mr. President: The small progress we have made after four or five weeks close attention and continual reasonings with each other... is a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the human understanding... We have gone back to ancient history for models of government that now no longer exist. And we have viewed modern states... but find none of their constitutions suitable to our circumstances... How has it happened, Sir, that we have not, hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of Light to illuminate our understandings?
"'In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for divine protection.
"'Our prayers, Sir, were heard; and they were generously answered...
"'I, therefore, beg leave to move:-
"'That henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessings on our deliberations be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business.'"
This was done, and now we enjoy the fruits of their labors in answer to prayer. Prayer has never been outmoded in this great country. Lincoln, who prayed to the Lord continually for guidance, said:
"It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow... and to recognize the sublime truth that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord."
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, at the time of his inauguration, petitioned the Lord:
"Give us, we pray, the power to discern clearly right from wrong, and to allow all our works and actions to be governed thereby, and by the laws of this land... so that all may work for the good of our beloved country, and for thy glory. Amen."
Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the telegraph, said that whenever he could not see his way clearly, he knelt down and prayed for light and understanding.
We have that sweet and simple prayer recorded by astronaut Gordon Cooper while orbiting the earth:
"Father, thank you, especially for letting me fly this flight. Thank you for the privilege of being able to be in this position, to be up in this wondrous place, seeing all these many startling, wonderful things that you have created."
I join with Senator Thurmond in his appeal to "our people to pray more, to examine the religious heritage of our country, and to see the benefit of seeking God's blessings. Prayer is the only way in which the finite can communicate with the infinite... in which the visible may be in touch with the invisible. You may easily see, if you but examine the history of our Nation, that prayer and communication with God is the cornerstone of our society. If you a low it to be abandoned now, you will be casting away the greatest asset this Nation, or any other nation, has ever known."
All of the prophets, from Adam to our present prophet, have prayed unceasingly for guidance, and even the Savior prayed continually to God the Eternal Father. We read, regarding the Savior: "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God".
The Lord has admonished all of us to pray, and through the prophet James has given us this promise:
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed".
This promise is given to every one of us-high and low, rich and poor. It is universal, unrestricted to you and to me and to our neighbors. He has told us that we must believe and have faith in God. We should know that the Lord stands ready to help his children if they will put themselves in tune through prayer and by keeping his commandments. In fact, the Lord has said: "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise".
The Lord has warned us that we must humble ourselves and not be as the ancient prophet said: Many men "are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block... nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning".
Paul said, concerning the proud man of the world:
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned".
"For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God".
As that great student, the late President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., said, if men are to learn of God and be guided by him, they "must put pride of their learning and their achievements from their hearts. And why not? For how like a drop in the ocean is the knowledge of the wisest compared with the fullness of the truth of the universe. Men must humbly confess Jesus as the Christ, 'for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.'"
We must be prepared to recognize God as the Creator of the world, and that he, through his son Jesus Christ and his prophets, has given us in simple language man's relationship to God, information regarding our premortal existence, the purpose of our mission here on earth, and the fact that our post-mortal existence, or our life after death, is real, and that what we do here will condition us for the world to come.
We must not be misled by the doctrines of men. All the studies of science and philosophy will never answer the question: "What is man and why is he here?" But It is answered clearly and simply in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we are instructed: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God".
Let us be prepared to do this and not be as those to whom the Savior referred, when he said: "... well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
"This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
"But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men".
Yes, it is important, and the Lord emphasizes that we must humble ourselves and accept the teachings of Jesus Christ and keep his commandments if we would expect him to hear and answer our prayers. We should all be prepared to say truthfully, as Paul did, in speaking to the Romans, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth".
It is difficult to understand why some cannot believe, or find it very hard to believe, that God can hear and answer our prayers, and yet they believe that astronauts can leave the earth and travel in outer space at thousands of miles per hour and still be directed from home base; that they can keep in touch with home base and receive instructions and be led in their activities and then be brought back to a safe landing here upon the earth.
How can we question God's ability to hear and answer our prayers and direct us in all things if we will but keep in tune with him and at the same time have no doubt that Surveyor III, a mechanical instrument, can be sent out from the earth to the moon and there be directed by mere man here upon the earth? It followed instructions as it was directed to dig, to stop digging, to make a report, to send back pictures, and to dig again. As long as it was in tune, it could be directed.
We are as astronauts, or the Surveyor, sent out by God to fill our missions here upon the earth. He wants us to succeed. He stands ready to answer our prayers and assures us a safe landing as we return if we will but keep in touch with him through prayer and do as we are bid.
As we pray, however, are we prepared to ask the Lord to bless us as we answer his call or acknowledge and serve him?
Are we prepared to ask the Lord to forgive us as we forgive one another? For the Lord has said: "... if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you; But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses".
We may well stop and analyze our own situation. Do we wait until we are in trouble and then run to the Lord? As we pray, do we give orders to the Lord by saying, "Bless this," and "Bless that," "Give us this," and "Give us that," "Do this," and "Do that"?
Or do we pray that we might be led to do that which is right, or be blessed with those things which are for our best good? We should always pray for the desire and strength and determination to do the will of our Heavenly Father, and always stand ready to do his bidding.
Men pray for different reasons. Many are driven to their knees out of fear, and then only do they pray. Others go to the Lord when in dire need of immediate direction for which they know of no other place to go. Nations are called by their governments in case of a national tragedy, drought, or plague, famine or war, to call upon God for his blessings, for his protection, and for his direction. Some people ask to be healed, others to be strengthened. They ask for the blessings of the Lord to attend their families, their loved ones, and themselves in all their righteous endeavors. This, I am sure, is all good in the sight of the Lord.
It is most important, however, that we take time to express our gratitude to our Father in heaven for the many blessings we receive. I was deeply touched one day following our family prayer when one of our little daughters said, "Daddy, I don't think we ought to ask for more blessings. The Lord has been very good to us, but I do think we should ask him to help us to be worthy of the blessings we receive." Since then we have tried more diligently to express our gratitude to our Father in heaven and pray for guidance that we might be worthy of that which he has given us.
As we express our appreciation for our many blessings, we become more conscious of what the Lord has done for us, and thereby we become more appreciative. We all know what it means to hear or receive an expression of gratitude for anything we might have done. Our forefathers set aside a day of thanksgiving. I fear that some of us even forget that day.
I wonder if we are sometimes guilty of not expressing to the Lord our gratitude, even as the lepers who were healed. We all remember so well the story of Jesus healing the ten lepers, who cried: "... have mercy on us.
"And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
"And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
"And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
"There are not found that returned to give, glory to God, save this stranger".
And as Mark Antony said when referring to Caesar, who recognized his friend Brutus among his assassins:
"This was the most unkindest cut of all; For when the noble Caesar saw him stab, Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, Quite vanquished him: then burst his mighty heart."
I am sure that the Lord expects us to express our gratitude for our many blessings as we ask for his continued blessings, and to ask forgiveness for our failings and the desire and strength to do right.
When we pray, it is important that we set about to do all in our power to make it possible for the Lord to answer our prayers. As my father said to me when I was just a boy, "My son, if you want your prayers to be answered, you must get on your feet and do your part."
I often think how much more effective it would be, when the country's president calls upon his people to set aside a day of prayer, if we were all living righteous lives and were prepared to acknowledge God as our Creator and to keep his commandments. It seems that many have lost belief in God entirely, and others question his ability to answer our prayers. Others have faith and confidence in their own learning and in their own strength and power.
Then there are those who are as the chief rulers referred to in John:
"Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
"For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God".
Let us all pay heed to the warning of the Lord himself, wherein he said, regarding the American continent:
"Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ".
With this warning from the Lord, we have this promise: "... seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you".
We should all have the courage and determination to say as did Joshua: "... choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord".
The Lord has instructed parents to teach their children to have faith in Christ, the Son of the living God, and to pray and to walk uprightly before the Lord. There is no doubt that our children, if they are taught to pray to a living God in whom they have faith, can more easily walk uprightly before the Lord.
I shall never be able to express fully my appreciation to my parents for teaching me to pray secretly and to participate with them in family prayer. My mother taught me at her knee. She made me feel and know that I was talking to the Lord, to our Maker, our Father in heaven, and that he was conscious of my acts and my wishes and my needs. I was taught that I should express my sincere thanks, ask for forgiveness, and ask for strength to do the right. This has always been a great strength to me throughout my life, and today I pray even more diligently than I ever did before that the Lord will guide and direct me in my activities, that whatever I do will be acceptable to him.
As I think back to when we used to kneel as a family in prayer every morning and every evening, I realize what it meant to us as children to hear our father call upon the Lord and actually talk to him, expressing his gratitude and asking for the blessings of the Lord on his crops and flocks and all of our undertakings. It always gave us greater strength to meet temptation when we remembered that we would be reporting to the Lord at night.
Family prayer in any home will draw the family closer together and result in better feelings between father and mother, between parents and children, and between one child and another. If children pray for their parents, it makes them more appreciative of their parents, and as they pray for one another, they feel closer to one another and part of each other, especially as they realize that they are talking to their Father in heaven while on their knees in family or secret prayer. Then is when we forget our differences and think of the best in others, and pray for their well-being and for strength to overcome our own weaknesses. There is no doubt that we are better people when we try to tune in to the spirit of our Father in heaven so that we might communicate with him and express our desire to do his will as we pray for his blessings.
The Lord has admonished us to "pray always, lest you enter into temptation and lose your reward.
"Be faithful unto the end, and lo, I am with you. These words are not of man nor of men, but of me, even Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, by the will of the Father".
The Lord has also said: "... the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much".
I have often asked myself and tried to answer the question, "Why do some people refuse to pray? Is it because they feel they have not the time?" I remember very well a father coming to me one day regarding his oldest son, with whom he was having some difficulty. The boy was a good boy, but he was getting out of hand. I asked the father if they had regular family prayers in their home. His answer was, "Well, no, but sometimes. You know, we are too busy and we go to work at different times, and therefore it is most difficult for our family to get together for family prayer."
I asked: "If you knew that your boy was sick nigh unto death, would you be able to get your family together each night and each morning for a week to pray that his life might be spared?" He said, "Why, of course."
I tried then to explain to him that there are other ways of losing a boy than by death. I also explained that where families pray together, they usually stay together, and their ideals are higher, they feel more secure, and they have a greater love for one another.
Next, do they feel too independent, too smart, and that they can go it alone? Or are they ashamed to call upon God? Do they think it shows a weakness? Or do they not believe or have faith in God? Or is it that they do not appreciate their many blessings? Or do they not feel worthy?
If one does not feel worthy, he should acknowledge his weaknesses, express regret, repent, covenant to do right, and ask for guidance.
Is it because some do not know how to pray? If that is true, I suggest that you go to your Heavenly Father in secret. Pour out our heart to him. Pray regularly so that you can feel at home and comfortable while communing with him. All one needs to do is express his feelings, which the Lord understands. He has invited all of us to call on him regularly and has promised that he will hear our supplication.
The ancient prophet Moroni, referring to the Book of Mormon, said:
"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things".
This promise applies to all of us if we will but repent and go to the Lord, knowing that he can hear and will hear and answer our prayers. We should all realize that we are God's children and that he is still as interested in us as he ever was. He still answers the prayers of the righteous and those who diligently seek him.
This is my testimony to you. May we all humble ourselves and diligently seek him through prayer, and then walk uprightly before him, that we may be led to immortality and eternal life, I sincerely and humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion D. Hanks
Marion D. Hanks, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 57-61
With President Tanner, I too believe in prayer, and learned long ago that there are occasions when, perhaps not very literally but with utmost earnestness, we say, "Lord, help me now," and I pray to that effect this morning.
We are told that this broadcast is going to beloved Britain, and so it is appropriate that I begin by noting that in the foyer of a church building in a British city a time ago, I happened by a group of older ladies who were discussing somewhat critically the behavior of several young members of the congregation who had just walked noisily by. I had observed the incident and had thought the young people a bit exuberant, but not objectionably so. The ladies disagreed. As I passed by I heard one of them disapprovingly say, "Ah, well, what can you expect from this younger generation, anyway!"
I did not agree with her implication, but I take her rhetorical question very seriously, believing that the answer is of vital significance.
What can be expected of this younger generation?
There are few questions more important.
In the first place, there are so many young people. Most of us have heard the statement, sometimes uttered in solemn and hushed tones, half in apprehension, half in resignation, that soon 50 percent of the population will be under age 25.
The statistic is correct, the prospect sobering. Some who speak of it do so almost as if they expected that when the magic mark is reached, the older generation will relinquish their responsibilities and succumb, and the young will then automatically take over] Of course, it will not happen that way. But there really are so many of them! And they are so important.
Publicity
A small, raucous, rebellious, sometimes harmless-in some cases very dangerous-minority gets most of the publicity. The hippies, the drug adventurers, the motorcycle brigade, the flower crowd, the politically unstable, the lawless get so much press attention that there is an unquestionable effect on the style of life and the way of thinking of multitudes of youngsters everywhere.
Speaking of the discontented ones, a writer has recently said: "So far I have seen or heard very little in the way of constructive suggestions from them. What fruitful insights and programs have they to offer us? I can't help wondering if they ever wonder what their children will have to thank them for. For fouling their chromosomes with LSD? For dropping out and copping out at a time when society was never in greater need of their participation? What are their credentials for billing themselves as the take-over generation?"
We cannot afford to underestimate or ignore their influence.
But obstreperous and well publicized as they are, they constitute a small minority of the young generation.
The solid majority of our young people want to do well, are doing well, and intend to do well with the great challenges facing them.
Across the world I have found them threading their way resolutely through the maze of a civilization often characterized by conflict and inconsistency, a civilization that could not exist except upon indispensable foundations in good homes, stable marriages, happy families, exemplary parents, yet increasingly beset by disrupted family life, contention, divorce, parents who do not teach or discipline or set a good example. The young are sensitive; they see the gap that exists between our stated convictions and our conduct, and they are bewildered, sometimes embittered. They say that the adult generation condemns a promiscuity it frequently practices, preaches peace and supports war, counsels the priority of the spiritual but in fact seeks first the material, talks of love but acts in self-interest, and generally represents a hypocrisy that cannot be admired.
In all of this our generation must acknowledge some measure of guilt.
But the young people can and do also take heart and direction from the unselfishness and sacrifice they observe in the adult generation. They see much patience and patriotism, goodness and truth, and beauty and brotherly love all about them. They appreciate the values of good homes and parents who care. They love God and their country. They want to live wholesome and happy lives. Their insights are sometimes remarkable. I heard one of them say about another, "His parents don't like him. He can do anything he wants."
Let me tell you about two or three of them whom I have recently met.
Over the jungles of Vietnam a few months ago Brother Hinckley and I sat buckled in bulkhead seats in what the flying men call the "Gooney Bird"-the old C-47. Alongside me was a 19-year-old corporal who was serving with distinction as a chaplain's assistant. He told me how he had become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"I didn't like my way of life or my associations or my prospects for the future," he said. "I knew I was missing something. So one day when I was 16, I went into a grove of trees near my home in Colorado. I didn't know much about prayer or God. I had never heard of Joseph Smith. I just stood there and looked up and said, 'God, I am ready for you, if you are ready for me.'"
There was no voice, no vision, no startling experience, just sweet peace and assurance in his heart.
Within hours, through the help of the Lord, as he testified to me, he was in touch with people who introduced him to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. His life since is a stirring youthful expression of faith and great promise. He was ready for God, and God was ready for him.
In Hong Kong I asked a young Mormon missionary how he was getting along in his efforts to master the difficult Cantonese language. "Just fine," he said. And when I expressed mild surprise at his optimism and faith in the face of heavy obstacles, he told me of the courage with which his parents had met a deep personal tragedy.
"With an example like that," he said, "you wouldn't expect me to whine or whimper about the blessing of learning this choice language and teaching the gospel to this wonderful people, would you, Brother Hanks?"
A high school student leader was called on to speak extemporaneously in a church meeting. He responded with good feeling and good sense. He spoke briefly about the conflict in which our country is engaged; then with a tear in his eye, he electrified and moved us emotionally when he said, right off the top of his heart, "If there has to be trouble, thank God it can be in my time. I don't want my little brother or the son I hope someday to have to have to fight a war on these or other shores. If there has to be trouble, thank God it can be in my time."
Well, what can we expect from the younger generation? Everything good, creative, decent, wholesome, uplifting, if we help them, and if somehow they come to a knowledge of what makes for happiness, makes for joy.
Plato said, "What is honored in a country will be cultivated there."
And Pericles said, "The young draw strength not from twice-told arguments, but from the busy spectacle of our great city's life as we have it before us day by day."
We can be more consistent in our lives. We can provide a better example. We can repent. We can obey the commandments of God. We can teach them.
Do you remember the stirring statement of the Apostle Paul to his young brother in the gospel, Timothy:
"... the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned".
The promise is valid and personally relevant to all of us. Paul-he of great intellect and strong training and shattering experience; he who had persecuted, and then been turned around, and who thereafter gave his full measure to the better way-he knew the really important values of life. His testimony to Timothy was that in good conscience, in wholesome, happy relationships with our families and fellowmen, and in the true faith that grants us confidence in the presence of God lie the real blessings of life.
Is good conscience important? It is a prize beyond expression! And conscience is more than a local standard or the accumulation of the mores and traditions of a community or a society or a generation. Whatever else it is, it is the voice of God speaking to us, inspiring moral obligation. Washington called it "that little spark of celestial fire." It is true that we can desensitize our conscience, as it were. In the Book of Mormon we read of a group to whom God had spoken "in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling". It is also said that there are those who have become "dead as to things pertaining unto righteousness". As we can desensitize a conscience, so to speak, so we can prepare ourselves better to hear the voice of the Lord by stripping off what the poet called the layers of "muddy vesture and decay," by ceasing to sin and learning to obey. There is the privilege of learning true values and living to them.
Abraham Lincoln is credited with a simple summation of conscience and the way to live with joy: "When I do good I feel good, and when I don't do good I don't feel good."
No one can be truly happy who has a bad conscience, and bad conscience is the inevitable result of conduct below the level of our understanding.
"We live in a universe of moral law. We can choose evil and get what we want right now and then pay for it afterward. Or we can choose good and pay for it first, before we get it." So it is with a life of honesty and responsibility, of sexual purity, of integrity, of selfless service. The blessing is substantial and sweet and satisfying-worth everything, worth working and waiting for.
When Paul spoke of charity out of the "pure heart", I believe he was talking about the sense of honest, unselfish concern for others that is the mark of moral and spiritual maturity. To accept the responsibilities as well as the benefits of loving, loyal membership in a family is a high challenge to a teenager tempted on all sides by other peer and worldly loyalties. To truly care about others, to be considerate and kind and responsible reflects true maturity. The rebel group we have mentioned is expressing the selfishness of babyhood and the rebelliousness of early youth. In babies and in children these are natural expressions of stages of living, which, sublimated and disciplined as maturity comes, become appropriate self-concern and self-reliance. In a generation charged with major responsibilities amid great complexities, these characteristics are not worthy. Beyond the give me and the "let me alone, don't tell me what to do" stages is that level of life which leads us to say, "How can I help? What can I do to be useful? Where am I needed?" It is on this level, we bear testimony, that the real contribution and happiness of life can be found.
I read recently of the development of "breeder reactors," which produce vast amounts of energy from a given amount of fuel and "breed" or produce more fuel than they use while they are doing it. Life is meant to be like that. We are meant to appreciate and use the good things of our inheritance and to leave a greater store behind us.
With good conscience and a genuine concern for others, we need faith in Almighty God. Jesus told the lawyer that the first and great commandment is to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind...
"And the second is like unto it," he said. "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself". All other commandments depend upon this.
In a generation represented by youth who refuse to whine and whimper in the face of great difficulties, who can thank God for trouble in their time if it has to come, there is great and glorious promise. But I believe the summation of the best in them, or in any of us, is in that attitude which motivated one of their number to say, "God, I am ready for you, if you are ready for me."
Have you said that, in your own way, and really meant it?
The problems of our day are very great. Many of the voices we have traditionally been able to count on are silent or confused. In the world of theology and religion there is uncertainty and controversy. Faith seems to wane, spirits to sag. We worry about what men say. Perhaps it is time to cease to worry so much about what men say and ask ourselves, "What has God said?" More important than what our neighbors are doing, or what the rest are doing, is what has God done.
Long ago there was a young man who, though "little in own eyes," was chosen king of all Israel. The humble Saul was ready for God; and when the prophet of God had anointed him, he "turned into another man." The Spirit of the Lord came upon him. "God gave him another heart." While he listened to the Lord and his prophets, he led with great strength. When he became willful and stubborn and rebellious, he ceased to be useful and he lost his place. "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry".
A young man named Solomon loved the Lord and earnestly said to him, "... I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in". He asked God for an understanding heart that he might discern between good and bad, and he was so blessed. Only when he ceased to listen to the Lord and became a law unto himself did he lose his gift and his place.
On the other hand, young Samuel learned and remembered all his life to say, "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth," and became a great power for good and a chosen instrument in the hands of the Lord.
Young Joseph, sold into Egypt as a slave, remembered who he was and what he had been taught, even in the terrible temptations of Potiphar's household, and lived to serve and save his people.
A humble young Joshua presented himself to the Lord pleading for help, and the Lord said to him. "... as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
"... Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest".
God has spoken and still speaks, and the message is clear.
Beyond these, and above them all, is the scriptural account of a choice Son of God knowing the need for a messenger from God to man, on a mission requiring great faith and courage and sacrifice, who said to his Heavenly Father: "Send me".
He delivered his message, completed his mission, gave his life. In his moment of great agony and torment before Calvary, he laid his life on the altar and said, as we have learned:
"O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt".
He was saying, as one of his humble young disciples said in a grove of trees in Colorado a little time ago, "God, I am, ready for you, if you are ready for me."
To the younger generation, our admonition and loving invitation is that you accept the responsibilities of your great promise. Continue to prepare for the duties of the day and the morrow. Get the help of the Lord. Appreciate your heritage. See the great goodness around you. Forgive us our trespasses and improve upon our performance. Respect our earnest efforts to protect and perpetuate the good things of life for you. Have a decent respect for generations yet unborn. Know that your decisions will materially affect the opportunities open to them. Build more strongly than we have the foundations for a decent future for all mankind. Keep the idealisms of the fathers of your freedom and the fathers of your faith. Accept the implications of your freedom; make the difficult choices when they are right, and act on them, even if you must stand alone.
Through search and service and reverence, through a life of personal cleanliness and consideration and caring, through faith and trust in God you can be ready for him. Tell him you are, and he will surely give you the strength and courage and quality to live with contribution and meaning and with great personal satisfaction in this, his world.
God bless us in Jesus' name. Amen.
Elder Richard L. Evans
Richard L. Evans, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 62-65
President McKay and my beloved brothers and sisters-you who are here, and you, my dearly beloved friends worldwide-we would want you to know that you whom we do not see are cherished, remembered, and appreciated.
Reference has been made by President Brown and President Tanner to the centennial of the Tabernacle, which was first used a hundred years ago for the general conference of the Church, in October 1867. It is most remarkable to note that it was built by an isolated people in the days of their poverty, at a time when the membership of the Church was fewer perhaps than 100,000; when there were only four stakes; and when Salt Lake City had a population of about 10,000.
We read from the Deseret News report of the first Tabernacle conference session of a century ago, October 1867:
"An hour before the appointed time for conference commencing, the immense building was crowded in every part, great numbers being unable to obtain admission..."
"Altogether, the Tabernacle was full," said the minutes of the meeting, and "no building could be constructed large enough to hold the Saints." Basically the Tabernacle was built in not many months, although some phases of it were started as early as 1863 and some phases were pursued for some considerable time following 1867.
I have read much of the men whose names are mentioned most in bringing it about: Brigham Young; Henry Grow, the bridge builder, whose name seems most associated with the basic design; William H. Folsom, Church architect at the time; Truman O. Angell, who undoubtedly was largely entrusted with the interior; Joseph Ridges, the first builder of the organ. Their words are great and human, inspired and ordinary. History happens like that. It is occasional highlights in the intermixture of heroic accomplishment and the routine and drudgery of daily duty. I wish there were time to share their words at some length. But there is never that much time for the past; the present is always so compelling. But some of their words we would share.
Said Brigham Young in May of 1867, only four or five months before the building was to be ready for use: "... We want the Tabernacle finished, and when a man is asked to go and work on it, do not begin to make a wry face, and say, 'I have got so much work to do.' When you carpenters are asked to go and help to finish it, so that we can hold our October Conference in it, do not say 'I have so many jobs on hand' wherever they will pay you sixpence more."
Friday, June 14, 1867, Truman O. Angell wrote in his diary: "... Brigham Young took me in his carriage... and we went together into the new Tabernacle...
"Tuesday, June 18th... There are some difficulties not over come.
"Friday 21st... There is much to do...
"Monday 22nd... I now have located a good place for the chorister, and he likes it very much. He is a very modest man...
"Thursday 15th. Had a busy time of it today. The President came here today and made many requests. He made up his mind to have a change on the plan of the seats... I like the change...
"Friday 23rd. This morning I feel cast down. I think it is not important for me to stay here when so many smart men are on hand... Surely they do not need me. So I pass it off till I am more reconciled. I feel crushed. This morning I had so many obstacles in my way, I felt like withdrawing from the appointment as architect. But President Young viewed the subject otherwise and a few words from him made me reconciled. Thank the Lord."
Five days before the opening of the Tabernacle, Truman O. Angell's son died, but on October 4th, two days before the opening, Truman Angell wrote: "Be assured then, the house is ready for use..."
The largest number of men employed on the building at any one time was said to be 205, in addition to some seventy plasterers mentioned as working at one time.
"The scaffolding was taken down... without injury to any of the workmen. The single accident which occurred during the erection of the building resulted from carelessness, and was not fatal..."
"Prayer was offered by President Young, in which he expressed to the Most High the grateful feelings of the Saints for the favors which He had multiplied upon them, enabling them to have finished thus far an edifice in which they could assemble and worship Him their Creator in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, imploring the aid of the Holy Spirit to teach them how to pray and what to ask for acceptably in His sight.
"Monday morning, October 7: President Young said he had no idea when Conference would terminate, but... he would ask... for short sermons"-a request that some echo even in these days.
Built a century ago, recently wrote Professor Carl W. Condit of Northwestern University, the Tabernacle "is the largest work of timber roof framing surviving, and the only one in which lattice trusses were built as arch ribs. Despite its mammoth size, the structure was built completely by hand in an area isolated from centers of building activity and railroad lines...
The celebrated acoustical properties of the Tabernacle," Professor Condit continues, "are a result of both shape and material. The concave ellipsoidal surfaces above the organ and choir blend and hold instrumental and vocal sounds, projecting the reflected waves cleanly throughout the auditorium. The possibility of annoying echoes is further reduced owing to sound absorbency of the cattle hair embedded in the plaster."
Frank Lloyd Wright said on a visit to Salt Lake City that "the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square is 'one of the architectural masterpieces of the country and perhaps the world.'"
Adelina Patti, world-renowned artist of her triumphal time, said: "Never have I encountered such perfect resonance as here in the Tabernacle. Why, my voice is twice as large here. It carries further and with ever so much more tone than in any hall that I have ever sung in."
The Tabernacle Choir recently appeared twice again in concert with the Philadelphia Orchestra, in the choir's most successful Tabernacle Centennial-Expo '67 concert tour, which reminded us again of some significant things pertaining to the Tabernacle from Eugene Ormandy: "We have, as you probably know, performed in almost every great hall in the world," said Mr. Ormandy, "but we have found no better hall anywhere than the Tabernacle. Its acoustics are superb, and I only hope that no human hands will alter them in trying to make improvements. It is as near perfect now as any hall can be, and it is a joy to perform in it."
Many presidents of the United States of the past century have spoken here. Many of the great artists and orchestras of the century have performed here. Many significant messages have been heard here. And on this coming December 17, 1967, the two thousandth performance of "Music and the Spoken Word," with the Tabernacle Choir and organ, the oldest continuously presented nationwide network broadcast in American radio history, is scheduled to be presented from here-which broadcast is now in its 39th year, and heard ever more widely over the world.
There were perhaps not then in all America, in 1867, a handful of auditoriums of such size. And as we have performed in the great capitals and concert halls of Europe and America, we are ever more grateful and humbled and ever more amazed at what our pioneer forebears did with what they had-people not long since homeless, at times hungry; facing untold hazards; some six thousand of them died along the way before the railroad came; no rescue by helicopter, no drugstores, no hospitals, no doctors, for the most part; death and birth; illness, accident, anxiety; and yet they traveled the world sharing the gospel message, and built homes, schools, theaters in the desert, places of worship, temples, the Tabernacle. They demonstrated their willingness to work, not only for physical necessities, but for ideals and culture and family and freedom. And along with implements and utensils, they brought with them books and musical instruments, even pianos, by ox cart across the plains, as circumstances made possible. This was not a cowboy culture, but the gathering of talented and dedicated and resourceful people from many places of the earth to the mountains and the valleys, and spreading out from here to establish a hundred or more settlements not only in the intermountain area, but in other areas, including California and the West Coast, with many disappointments, many setbacks, but with solid foundations.
Well, the Tabernacle was many years before its time, but it is still one of the wonders of the world, architecturally, artistically, acoustically, spiritually, and an evidence of the faith and foresight of our fathers. God bless them and their memories.
But I didn't want to talk today only about a building. I want to say something of the principles of the people who built the building, the convictions that caused them to give up homes and all physical possessions for freedom, for the truth as they testified of it, and at times to lay down their lives-a people who sang in their homeless, hard-pressed sorrow: "All is well! all is well! And should we die before our journey's through... all is well." A people who knew that God lives; that education is essential; that chastity and honesty, health and cleanliness, integrity and solvency, work, service, and sacrifice are essential to happiness; that life is limitless, that the family is forever, and that by keeping clean, keeping virtuous, keeping the commandments, there is peace and purpose, comfort and a quiet conscience, and love and respect and happiness at home.
Such were their belief-and such are ours also.
Now, where from here?-in such an age as ours, an age where all are searching, some with inspired and inspiring achievement, and some in appalling aberration and lack of respect for life.
To the young we would say, indeed to all: There are no shortcuts to salvation, or excellence, or exaltation-nor to peace and self-respect. Whoever you are, wherever you are: Don't waste life. It is all you have. Study, learn, prepare, respect your privileges; respect and keep the law; respect yourselves. "Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean". Keep the commandments; live and work to qualify and accomplish and to be comfortable with conscience. Don't be misled by those who are confused and cluttered and dissipated in their lives, those who give way to irresponsibility and low-minded morals. Most earnestly one could wish that there would not be given so much play and publicity to the comparatively few who receive too much attention in entertainment and otherwise, as President Hanks referred to, in their eccentric and sometimes sordid ways. Why should we so much emphasize the unwholesome?
And for those who may need reminder of the irrevocable law of cause and consequence, we recall these words of Robert Burns, to whose memory we recently paid our respects with a visit to his birthplace:
"But pleasures are like poppies spread, You seize the flower, its bloom is shed; Or like the snow falls in the river, A moment white-melts forever."
This is not a time for letting down. It is a time for learning and knowing, for doing and developing, for increasing competence and quality.
The glory of God is intelligence. Righteousness does exalt a nation. Life is everlasting. And "what we are to be, we are becoming." Life here is so short and eternity is so endlessly long. And to young and old, to the eager and impatient, to the weary or any who feel lost along the way: Keep the faith. Keep serving, wording, improving, repenting, conquering, overcoming, Take courage and comfort in the assurance that there is divine plan and purpose. It is never too late to begin to do what we ought to do. God has given us no requirements, no commandments, that we cannot keep.
I would plead with my generation and the generations of my children and children's children to be true to the faith, to the commandments of God. They are still effective and in force. Don't try to ignore them or explain them away or set them aside. There are still laws and standards and qualities of character upon which all blessings are predicated, and as we live the principles we shall realize the results in peace and self-respect and the blessed assurance of everlasting life with loved ones.
May I leave with you my witness that God lives, that he did make us in his own image, that he wishes us to succeed, that he sent his divine Son to show us the way and to redeem us from death; that the gospel is with us here; and that it has been restored, with all that is required of us to realize our highest happiness here and hereafter.
"To be what we are," said Robert Louis Stevenson, "and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life."
God give us the wisdom and courage so to live, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
Elder Mark E. Petersen
Mark E. Petersen, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 66-69
America is in travail.
Never since the Civil War have law and order been so gravely challenged in this great land.
And the challenge is many-sided.
The majority of Americans, who are law-abiding and who desire to live in peace and harmony with their neighbors, have been shocked and dismayed by the rioting, the anarchy, the arson, and the pillaging in our cities and smaller communities.
Life and limb among the innocent have been imperiled. The protection of property has been disregarded. Even sacred things have been desecrated. This condition has nearly reached the point of insurrection, and its causes still persist.
As we have been told repeatedly by enforcement agencies, lawlessness in the form of almost every kind of crime is growing at an unbelievable rate. Irresponsibility is multiplying under an erosion of character and integrity.
Public confidence in political administration has been shaken by repeated examples of malfeasance in office. And yet, without stability in administration, government itself becomes insecure and well-being of the citizenry is threatened.
Immorality is another evidence of our backsliding, as is drunkenness; and the diseases that accompany immorality now appear in epidemic proportions. This immorality feeds upon pornography in films, on the printed page, even in advertising material that goes through our postal system, in violation of the law. Women's styles approach the obscene.
People are losing respect both for the laws and for those who make and attempt to enforce them. It has become popular to be a violator. Some courts of justice seem to have forgotten the purpose of their own existence.
All of these forces-and more-combine to threaten the solidarity of our homes and families, which always must be the basic units of society.
These forces promote infidelity. They nurture discord between husband and wife. They become a source of conflict between parents and children. They encourage immorality in the rising generation.
Some parents set an example of serious delinquency to their own offspring, and excuse-if not encourage their repeated delinquencies.
It is true that most people are good people, and for this we are thankful. But it is also true that the evil influences all about us are taking a toll beyond anything we can afford. Our best homes are being invaded by evil influences. Every family is threatened.
We have reached a point where decency at last must make a stand against indecency and corruption. We can no longer permit avaricious peddlers of filth to corrupt our loved ones, nor allow gangs to make our peaceful neighborhoods unsafe.
Our cities and towns, our rural areas and our villages should never become battlefields, nor our streets unsafe for pedestrians traversing them after dark.
We can no longer stand by as criminals carry on their nefarious work. We can no longer permit the deliberate weakening of the arm of the law, which originally was intended to protect the innocent. We must no longer coddle and protect the predators who sap the vitality of our democracy. We can no longer stand for the corroding infiltration of filthiness into our homes and communities.
The Almighty gave freedom to America based upon obedience to the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ. Our freedom will continue only as our righteousness survives.
Our righteousness can exist only as we obey the source of all righteousness, who is Jesus Christ.
Every force now corrupting America is a form of anti-Christ. Criminality is anti-Christ. Immorality is anti-Christ. Drunkenness is anti-Christ. Rioting, pillaging, and anarchy likewise are anti-Christ. Robbery, assault, and murder are all anti-Christ. Deception, duplicity, perjury, and covetousness are anti-Christ.
The distribution of pornographic material that corrupts the morals of young and old alike is anti-Christ. And so is every other force destructive of the high principles that have made America great.
I ask you-how Christian is America?
How deep is your own Christian faith?
Would you fight for it?
Do you believe enough in Christian teachings to take a stand for cleanliness and high morals-for honesty and integrity?
The abandonment of Christian principles has brought this nation to its present unfortunate plight. Only a return to Christ can correct our condition. Politics cannot do it. Higher taxes will not do it. New laws cannot do it. We have tried all these and they have failed.
We have tried every other manmade device, with only a worsening of the condition. It is time now to try God's way.
The irreligious need not scoff at such a suggestion. Which among them can show how their godless philosophy has offered any remedy for our situation? What have they gained by turning their backs upon Christ?
Rejection of God-like principles has caused us to reap the whirlwind in riots, criminality, drunkenness, immorality, broken homes, and a rebellious new generation.
Since the irreligious have nothing to offer, we challenge them to study and apply true Christian principles. We appeal to men in government and business alike to discover the strength to be found in the gospel of Christ and to apply its sacred principles in their relationships with other people.
We urge the poor, even the hungry, to believe in Christ and to pray God to soften the hearts of others and thereby obtain the help they need, rather than to resort to violence.
All mankind should remember that hate begets hate, violence begets violence, and that love and understanding-cooperation and brotherhood-will reproduce themselves in the hearts of others when given willingly and sincerely.
We appeal to all mankind to practice the Golden Rule and to honestly and sincerely do to others as they would be done by.
We plead with everyone to love his neighbor as himself and to reconcile all differences by an application of the teachings of Christ.
Christianity works when it is applied. It is the one and only solution to our personal and national ills.
Christ is the Prince of Peace. By truly serving him, every wrong can be adjusted. Bitterness and hatred can fade away. Wars can end. There would be no further cause for riots. Looting would be a thing of the past. Communism would pass away.
Neighbors truly would respect each other and enjoy a friendly existence. Delinquency would end. There would be no more drunkenness nor the ills that follow it. Gangs would disappear. Character would be strong again. Cleanliness would prevail over filth. We could have a virtual heaven on earth.
Do you believe Christ can do all this for you? If you do not so believe, are you sure you are a Christian?
Christianity is not something to be used as a mere intellectual exercise. It is a way of life, and if applied it will solve all of our problems.
Are you doubtful about the power of Christ, or do you wonder if he really lives? We testify to you that he does live. And how do we know? We Latter-day Saints know that Christ lives because our modern prophets have seen him and have come to know him personally.
Jesus Christ has appeared in our day-here in the United States of America-and has appointed a modern ministry. He has revealed that our American form of government was given by inspiration, that he raised up the founding fathers of our country and by divine power set our ship of state upon its way. And he has said that if we will but obey him, he will preserve both us and our liberty.
But no mere lip service will do. He requires the hearts of men. If America now will turn to him in humble obedience, the light of heaven will shine again upon our land; our stains will be washed away; and man to man will brothers be, and peace will come to every heart.
The founding fathers of our country understood this fact and warned that our nation never can survive if, in the words of Washington, it "disregards the rules of order and right which heaven itself has ordained."
One of our greatest statesmen, Daniel Webster, echoed this thought in 1852 as he addressed the New York Historical Society and said:
"If we and our posterity shall be true to the Christian religion-
"If we and they shall live always in the fear of God and shall respect his commandments-
"If we and they shall maintain just moral sentiments and such conscientious convictions of duty as shall control the heart and life
"We may have the highest hopes of the future fortunes of our country, and we may be sure of one thing: Our country will go on prospering.
"But-if we and our posterity reject religious instruction and authority, violate the rules of eternal justice, trifle with the injunctions of morality, and recklessly destroy the political constitution which holds us together, no one can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us, that shall be all our glory in profound obscurity.
A former president of the American Bankers Association, Walter W. Head, once said:
"Unless we recognize the fundamental values of the church, and through the church seek a closer relationship with the divine, social justice cannot be achieved, political leadership will not accomplish its desired purpose, and economic leadership will fail in its effort to establish a full measure of prosperity.
"The application of the principles enunciated by the church is necessary to the perpetuity of our republic," concluded Mr. Head.
Oh, America-wake up to the peril that confronts you. Arouse yourself from this delirium in which you find yourself. Realize that this Christian nation can never survive on the principles of anti-Christ.
As Lincoln said, we can live on only if we humble ourselves before the offended powers of heaven, "confess our national sins, pray for clemency and forgiveness," and stop giving mere lip service to the Almighty.
"Praise the Power that hath made And preserved us a nation!... Then conquer we must, When our cause it is just And this be our motto;
'In God is our trust!' And the star-spangled banner In triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free And the home of the brave."
Elder Delbert L. Stapley
Delbert L. Stapley, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 70-75
I take my text from a conference statement by President Joseph Fielding Smith. He declared: "The chief business of our lives is to build a house that will bear the weight of eternal life."
You will note that this statement is profound with its important content and challenge. It suggests we are the architects and builders of our own fate. Our God-given free agency will permit us to choose the pattern we wish to follow; hopefully the gospel will furnish the blueprint for the eternal house we are now building.
Also involved in this statement is a challenge to obtain knowledge of God's plan for our whole existence, both now and eternally. There are opposing evil forces who would tempt us to forsake the teachings of our God and encourage adults, and youth particularly, that everything can be explained on the basis of conditioned reflexes. They say that by removing our inhibitions and reverting to an animal existence, everything will turn out all right, which philosophy, of course, is false. Of such writers, Robert South observed: "He who has published an injurious book sins in his very grave, corrupts others while he is rotting himself."
We must be careful not to succumb to the insidious forces of evil, for they will divert us from the path which leads to immortal glory.
Lehi said to his son Jacob:
"... it must needs be that there is an opposition in all things...
"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great mediation of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself".
The Savior taught: "That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornication, murders,
"Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
"All these evil things come from within, and defile the man".
The apostle Paul, writing to the Romans about the sins of the flesh, admonished:
"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
"Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourself unto God... and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God".
By comprehending what to avoid, we will understand that which we must do. Our first step is to make certain that our thoughts are clean and pure. Then we can give attention to our bodies, since they house a spirit child of God both here in mortality and in eternity. The spirit of man should have ascendancy and control over the physical body, for the spirit is the power that quickens and animates the body and gives it life and intelligence.
We have the challenge; we ought now to concentrate on developing and improving our present physical house, which tabernacles a spirit child of God, and prepare it for eternal glory.
As his earthly mission neared its close, Jesus revealed this knowledge to his disciples:
"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you... that where I am, there ye may be also".
In his infinite wisdom and concern for all mankind, Jesus opened a vision wherein we get a glimpse of the heavenly house and its mansions being prepared for us to inhabit. Each one of us is inexorably building an eternal home, the mansion we will occupy in our future everlasting life.
Brigham Young said:
"Prepare to die, is not the exhortation in this Church and Kingdom; but prepare to live is the word with us, and improve all we can life hereafter, wherein we may enjoy a more exalted condition of intelligence, wisdom, light, knowledge, power, glory, and exaltation. Then let us seek to extend the present life to the uttermost, by observing every law of health, and thus prepare for a better life." Also, the words of President Heber J. Grant:
"Upon our lives here is predicated the degree of perfection in which we shall rise... A man will not awake on resurrection morning to find that all that he neglected to do in mortal life has been put to the credit side of his account and that the debit side of his ledger shows a clean page. That is not the teaching of the gospel.
"'Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting.' He whose every act has fitted him for the enjoyment of eternity will be far in advance of the man whose all has been centered on the things of this life."
It is worth all the effort we can muster to obtain the highest degree of glory-a promise given only to the faithful. We are not without divine teachings as to how this glorified state can be attained.
The Savior gave this counsel:
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also".
Treasures earned here are credited to our account in eternity and, if sufficient, will build for us a house that will bear the weight of eternal life.
Alma informs us that this life becomes a probationary state, a time for men to prepare to meet God.
President David O. McKay has added this wise counsel:
"Let us make God the center of our lives. That was one of the first admonitions given when the gospel was first preached to man. To have communion with God, through his Holy Spirit, is one of the noblest aspirations of life. It is when the peace and love of God have entered the soul, when serving him becomes the motivating factor in one's life and existence...
"When God becomes the center of our being, we become conscious of a new aim in life-spiritual attainment. Physical possessions are no longer the chief goal in life. To indulge, nourish, and delight the body as any animal may do is no longer the chief end of mortal existence."
In these latter days we are surrounded by demons. We can identify some of these demons; they are those who promulgate the uses of deleterious items that are not good for the body-all the habit-forming drugs that are foisted upon us by seductive advertising and designing persons who would lead us down the paths of sin to degradation and destruction, or, in the vernacular, "on trips" through LSD, heroin, marijuana, morphine, and other habit-forming and harmful drugs detrimental to the maintenance of a healthy body in which to house our eternal spirit. We are thus encircled about by the angels of him who seeks to destroy our souls; but thanks to the Lord, the days of probation are still with us. However, we cannot afford to procrastinate the day of our salvation. We should be anxiously engaged in building a house that will support and delight us in the eternal life to come.
If we nurture the finer qualities of the Spirit that come from the presence of God, the Spirit will gain ascendancy over the carnal body and subject the flesh to its will.
There is much conquering of self and overcoming of bad habits before the soul of man can be sanctified by the Holy Spirit. We should determine now the kind of body or house we want our resurrected being to occupy throughout the eternities of time. Shall it be clean and pure, worthy to receive glory in the eternal mansions of our God, or shall it be one that cannot abide that glory and thus will be assigned to a kingdom of lesser glory or to a place without kingdom or glory?
The choice is ours to make. The Lord has said, "For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in no wise lose their reward".
Now I call your attention to one of the greatest visions ever granted to any prophet of God respecting the future status of this earth's inhabitants. This revelation describes the three degrees of glory and is without doubt one of the most profound revelations given in any dispensation. It encompasses the knowledge, wisdom, and light that our Heavenly Father feels is expedient for us to have in relation to the hereafter and the future destiny of his children.
Perhaps no other scripture furnishes us with such direct knowledge on this subject as does this wonderful revealing vision. I direct your attention to the essentials in each of these degrees: the celestial, the terrestrial, and the telestial. To further support this latter-day vision, I quote the apostle Paul, who likened the highest degree of glory unto the sun, which is the most radiant of all God's planets; the second is likened unto the moon, which is a much lesser light than the sun; and the other is likened unto the stars; and as one star differs from another star in glory so also is the resurrection of the dead.
An understanding of this revelation enables one living in mortality to examine himself and his mode of life and to personally determine whether it fully satisfies his need. He can change his life if additional time is spared him and set his sights on a higher goal. This knowledge enables him to see more understandingly the purpose of life here and now, and makes perfectly clear that the nature and quality of the life he pursues in this existence will determine his destiny in the eternities to come.
From this vision of the three degrees of glory given to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, we learn the various punishments and rewards meted out to all persons according to their worthiness.
The conditions for entering the celestial glory for those who come forth in the resurrection of the just are as follows: They are the ones who receive the testimony of Jesus and believe on his name and are baptized in his name that they might be cleansed of their sins, that they might receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands of those possessing this authority. They are they who have overcome by faith all things and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, and into whose hands the father has given all things. They are priests and kings of the most high and receive of the fullness of God's glory. They are they who will glory in God and not in man. They shall dwell in the presence of God and Christ forever. They are men, made perfect through the atonement of Christ, whose bodies are celestial and whose glory is as that of the sun.
The terrestrial glory differs from that of the celestial kingdom, as the moon differs in glory from the sun. Those who achieve this glory are they who died without law. They are the spirits of men kept in prison. They are the ones who did not receive the testimony of Christ in the flesh, but who afterwards received it. They are the honorable men of the earth made blind by men's craftiness. These will receive of Christ's glory but not of his fullness. They will receive of the presence of the Son but not the fullness of the Father. Their bodies are terrestrial.
In the vision, they then beheld the glory of those in the telestial kingdom, which is the least of the three degrees of glory. Its glory differs from that of the other two, as the glory of the stars differs from those of the sun and the moon, and as the glory of one star differs from that of another star in glory.
Those in this kingdom received not the gospel of Christ nor his testimony, yet did not deny the Holy Spirit. They are thrust down to hell. They will not be redeemed from Satan until the last resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ, the Lamb, shall have finished his work. Those of the telestial glory will not receive the Lord's fullness of the eternal world, but of the Holy Spirit through the ministration of the terrestrial, and the terrestrial through the ministration of the celestial.
Such are the degrees of glory in Christ's many mansions. They provide the knowledge necessary to understand the goals toward which we are to strive in order to enjoy the blessings of our God in whatever kingdom we may merit, be it great or small. We cannot inherit a higher glory than that which our bodies are prepared and conditioned to receive.
This enlightening revelation in the 76th section of the Doctrine and Covenants should be prayerfully studied in its entirety and understood fully, for it is a safe guide to one's life here in mortality. The goal for every person is to build a house by good works, to attain the highest degree of the celestial kingdom of God. Anything short of this, with the light and knowledge we possess, would be settling for a great deal less than our Lord offers us.
By careful study of the revelation, each person can determine the degree of glory he will inherit hereafter. Understanding this, he should project himself and his thinking into the eternal world and picture himself there according to the pattern of life he is now living. If he does so, I wonder if he would be happy with what he envisions his future inheritance to be?
Knowledge is necessary to salvation. The Prophet Joseph taught: "It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance". Knowledge is power, the power to aid us to adjust to the various conditions and circumstances of life in which we find ourselves at any moment of our lives.
Imagine a builder attempting to construct an edifice of any kind, without knowledge, plans, and specifications to guide him. We all know it cannot be done successfully. Therefore, when building mansions for our souls, the greater our knowledge concerning them, other things being equal, the more glorious our mansions will be. It must, of course, be knowledge of the right kind, divine knowledge, knowledge that comes through inspiration or revelation to us from God or through his anointed servants. Knowledge, then, is the first requisite for building a house that will bear the weight of eternal life.
Thus equipped, we are to observe the laws associated with the knowledge God has provided us, and keep the commandments he has so abundantly given to help implement that knowledge.
To do all this we need vision and insight, for as is recorded in Proverbs, "Where there is no vision, the people perish".
This means that without the type of vision given to our prophets, people in general will lack the information necessary to discover divine truth. It also has a personal application, for any man lacking vision or insight into truth is slow to progress in spiritual things.
One with active vision will seek understanding of God's commandments and will find ways to obey and keep them. From such knowledge gained he will realize that his body is the tabernacle of his immortal spirit, that the temple of the spirit should not, in any manner, be defiled. It must be preserved in purity-physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual purity. This is why the Lord has given us the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the Word of Wisdom, the temple ordinances, and persuasive instruction from his prophets and servants. This is why he requires that we resist and overcome all evil, all immorality, all baseness. This is why he urges us to live righteously before him. Those who observe his physical or temporal laws shall receive health in the navel and marrow to their bones, and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures.
There is a close relationship between physical health and spiritual development. All excesses are wrong and ultimately lead to disaster. When one's physical health is impaired by disobedience to God's eternal laws, spiritual development will also suffer.
The same is true of the intellectual phase of life. Intellectual dishonesty disquiets and curses the lives of those guilty of such deceit. Can the spirit of the Lord activate one guilty of intellectual dishonesty? How glorious our society would be if all those who make up that society were intellectually honest.
The quotable gem from Tennyson's beautiful character, Sir Galahad: "My strength is as the strength of ten, because my heart is pure." What strength? Not only physical strength, but moral strength, the strength that resides in purity of life, that faces danger, disaster, abuse, false witness, and accusation undaunted; the strength that comes from doing right and living righteously before the Lord, that knows no "new morality," but only the one, the true, the eternal morality instituted by God and preserved in the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes.
Brothers and sisters, be not deceived and led astray by the wiles and seductive "charms" of those advocating that which they call the "new morality." There is no such thing. It is a name only, given to an old evil whose ultimate effect is to destroy man, the thing it has done under other guises through the centuries. It will never permit you to build a house that will bear the weight of eternal life.
The truly spiritual person is the one who finds joy and happiness and true purpose in the things of God, such as prayer, humility, selfless service, kindness, virtue, chastity, obedience to God's will and laws, love unfeigned, nobleness of soul, regard for that which is sacred and holy-in short, all the attributes God would have us acquire and exercise here in mortality. We may never know all of them in our brief mortal sojourn, but implementing those we know will help us wisely build that structure which will bear the weight of eternal life.
Truly life on this earth is brief indeed, but the worth of it can be priceless. By vigorously seeking God's help, by striving for true knowledge, the knowledge of God's eternal plan will become ours to live by.
God has given this promise: "... if you keep my commandments and endure to the end, you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God".
The renewal and sanctification of our bodies by the power of the Holy Ghost is obtained by living the gospel. Our treasures of good works that precede us are building our eternal mansions. To project one's thinking into the eternities under the influence of the spirit will stretch one's mind and give clear vision of God's plan, which will help chart a true course back to his presence. Keep eternity always before you here in mortality and base your acts and judgments and decisions upon God's eternal laws. We should educate ourselves not only for time but also for eternity.
My brothers, sisters, and friends, I hope we will always remember and keep uppermost in our minds and never forget that in all our doings, the chief business of our lives is to build a house that will bear the weight of eternal life. I bear witness to the truthfulness of these things. They are things we should know and never forsake. May God give us the courage to walk humbly before him, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop John H. Vandenberg
John H. Vandenberg, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 75-78
The apostle Paul, in advising Titus of those things which would be of most value to teach the saints, said:
"But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
"That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
"The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
"That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
"To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
"Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded".
Had parents the wisdom in this modern day to follow that simple bit of counsel, our communities would not find themselves in their present dilemma, the dilemma being: a murder occurring every 48 minutes, a forcible rape every 21 minutes, a robbery every three and a half minutes, an auto theft every 57 seconds, a grand larceny every 35 seconds, and a burglary every 23 seconds. Our nation is searching for an answer to this most serious problem; and our efforts to this point have been somewhat futile, primarily because we are not adhering to the "sound doctrine" mentioned by Paul.
In an editorial aired recently on KSL, which dealt with this problem, we find some searching questions. I quote:
"You hear all kinds of solutions proposed-better schools, more public housing, more integration, more social workers, more federal money to eliminate poverty.
"But most of those solutions run up against some troubling questions, such as, Why is there more crime than ever before when per capita income is higher than ever before? Why more crime when national illiteracy is at an all-time low? Why does crime seem to rise, the more federal money is poured in to fight poverty?
"There are no simple answers. But on one principle most people can agree: Juvenile crime is usually spawned by inadequate homes."
We can spend millions in remedial programs aimed at the prevention and cure of crime, but the plain fact remains that until citizens recognize their divine responsibility as parents and are willing to be honest and respected themselves, and to teach their children likewise, crime will continue to increase. The home must ever foster the great and lasting virtues of purity of life, honesty, thrift, benevolence, and patriotism. To do this requires effort from both mother and father. It cannot be relegated to a baby sitter or a nursery school.
From an editorial written by David Lawrence, it seems that all who study the problem agree that neglect of children is a major factor in the rapid rise in crime, particularly among persons under 21. Placing much of the blame on parents, the report of the National Crime Commission makes these two significant statements:
1. "The programs and activities of almost every kind of social institution with which children come in contact-schools, churches, social service agencies, youth organizations-are predicated on the assumption that children acquire their fundamental attitude toward life, their moral standards, in their homes."
2. "What appears to be happening throughout the country, in the cities and in the suburbs, among the poor and among the well-to-do, is that parental or paternal authority over young people, is becoming weaker."
The value of parental discipline and guidance is further illustrated from a broadcast delivered by Paul Harvey on Saturday, March 27, 1965:
"San Francisco's Chinatown epitomizes grinding poverty.
"For the child of Chinatown, life is mostly rice and salt, fish and work with his hands as soon as he's able.
"This is poverty. Chinatown population is 16 times more dense than the San Francisco average. Eight-tenths of all buildings need renovating."
He further states:
"Yet, in the United States there has never been arrested a chronic delinquent child of Chinese parents!
"Seven percent of America's juveniles will be in trouble with the law this year. Not one Chinese.
"In the United States there has never been a Chinese convicted for rape, burglary, bank robbery, or desertion.
"In the half century of Chicago's Chinatown, there has been only one arrest for breaking and entering.
"Despite generations of western influence, this race has somehow check-reined the impulses of its vigorous youngsters. How?
"Albert K. Leong, president of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of Chicago, says, 'We keep a tight rein on our children until they are really responsible.'
"Editor Thomas Y. Fu of the China Times in Chicago's Chinatown says, 'Our children just naturally respect and obey their parents. A boy or girl would not bring shame on his family or his family name.'
"P. H. Chang, Chinese Consul-General in New York City, says, 'A Chinese child, no matter where he lives, is brought up to recognize that he cannot shame his parents. Before a Chinese child makes a move, he stops to think what the reaction of his parents will be.'"
This being true, what then is wrong with our homes? Wherein does the weakness lie, or may we ask whence will come the strength to cope with the problem? Such strength as we will muster can only come from within-within the individual, within the family, and within the community. Such strength can only come by the family's being solidly bound together with love and respect of the child for the parent, and parent for the child, and the love of husband and wife. The home is the place to build such strength. This can only be done with full-time mothers, who are the divinely appointed keepers at home.
If there is no order in the home, if mother is absent, if it is deficient of a sound code of moral ethics, if it fails to have unity of purpose and omits the parental performance of guiding, disciplining, and teaching children, heaven cannot help that home. Parents must teach their children that the family name is important, that their actions must always be for the good of the individual, the family, and the society as a whole. They should be taught never to bring shame on themselves, their families, or their community. Since the family builds the individual, the family needs to be strong; and strong families come from strong parents who have adhered to the sound doctrine alluded to in Paul's epistle.
God set the order of the family. He created Adam; then, because, as he said, it is not good for man to be alone, he created the woman, whom Adam called Eve because she was to be the mother of all living. Mother is the term given to "one who gives birth" and "exercises protective care over." Father is the term given to "the male parent who begets a child" and "exercises protective care over."
As Adam and Eve were sent out of the Garden of Eden, Adam received the command, "in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread", and Eve received the admonition, "in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee". This was the family relationship as it was divinely instituted. Any action to upset that order can only lead to failure and trouble.
In Paul's epistle, he instructed those responsible to teach the young women to be "keepers at home". We are prone to skip lightly over that statement, but it is one of the saving factors of the home. There is one place for the mother, and that is in the home; particularly, she needs to be there when the children are home.
There are further comments that advise us that economic factors indirectly play a part in the absence of parental discipline. Working mothers are not at home during most of the day, and they are unaware of what their children are doing before or after school hours or with whom they are associating. Usually when the working mother is at home, her waking hours are filled with the usual domestic chores of washing, ironing, and general household duties. The school, therefore, during five days of supervision each week, must play a serious part in teaching morality. Admittedly, this is a poor substitute for a mother's duty, and the evidence stares at us.
The economic factor referred to above seems to be mothers leaving the home in an effort to secure unnecessary worldly goods and conveniences. Even with the most sophisticated reasoning to justify why mothers should work, the risk of failure in the home is still present.
After discussing the subject at a recent stake conference, I received this letter from a working mother. The letter reads:
"At our stake conference today, I could have stood up and cheered your comments about working mothers. I am thoroughly convinced that many of the nation's ills could be eliminated by mothers remaining at home and being good homemakers and wives. Husbands would respond to the dependence of being the provider and head of the family; youngsters could contribute to their own miscellaneous needs for money by paper routes, etc., and not be contributing to delinquency. The whole family could definitely benefit and grow by working together in harmony and understanding to live within the wage that was brought into the home. Being a good wife and mother and sweetheart is career enough for any woman.
"For us, 25 years of ideal marriage has evaporated in divorce and despair... A goodly portion of the breakdown came from my going out of the home to work, and the chain reaction of minute events that grew like a cancer, quietly and deadly."
Sorrow and unfulfillment will lie at the end of the career of a working mother who has neglected her family. While it is understood that some mothers must work because of no other income coming to the home, there should be no excuse for supplementing the husband's income for the purchase of so-called luxuries and conveniences.
My wife and I were married during the time of the depression. I had purchased a new car, and it was all paid for. I was employed-my salary was $ 125 per month. I remember bringing home my first check. My wife said, "It isn't very much, is it?" I replied, "No, but it will do." She said, "Yes, if we budget it." So we sat down and budgeted: $12.50 for tithing; $1.00 for fast offerings; $45 for rent; $40 for food, and additional amounts for utilities and clothing; and $10 in the savings account, for we presumed and anticipated that a child would come eventually. When we added it all up, the $125 was all allocated. I said to my wife, "It's all gone, and there isn't any left to buy gasoline for my car. What am I going to do?" She replied, "Sorry. I guess you'll have to walk."
So I walked back and forth to work, and the car stayed right in the garage for several months until I got a raise and could spare a little to buy gasoline. We've always managed to get along on my income, and I don't think we have ever had an unhappy moment over it, but rather, much satisfaction in coping with the situation. It isn't so much what you earn but how you manage.
I am grateful for the home in which I was reared. It was a humble home, but mother was always there, just in case an injury occurred or we needed discipline and attention.
This, my brothers and sisters, is the way out of the racking situation that we are in today in this nation. It is sound doctrine for the mother to assume her divinely appointed role as "keeper at home", and the father to provide for his family, and for both mother and father to restore parental authority in the home through sound teachings and wise love and discipline of their children.
May we not have to learn through suffering and misery the truth of our Prophet's words, "No other success can compensate for failure in the home." This is my fervent prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Theodore M. Burton
Theodore M. Burton, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 79-82
My brothers and sisters, I desire today to speak to you concerning the importance of temples. When the saints of God had gathered at Nauvoo, Illinois, the Lord gave them a revelation telling them to build a temple to him. These are his words:
"And send ye swift messengers, yea, chosen messengers, and say unto them: Come ye, with all your gold, and your silver, and your precious stones, and with all your antiquities; and with all who have knowledge of antiquities, that will come, may come, and bring the box-tree, and the fir-tree, and the pine-tree, together with all the precious trees of the earth;
"And with iron, with copper, and with brass, and with zinc, and with all your precious things of the earth; and build a house to my name, for the Most High to dwell therein.
"For there is not a place found on earth that he may come to and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away, even the fulness of the priesthood".
In order to obtain a fullness of the priesthood of God, we must have temples wherein those sacred ordinances of the priesthood can be revealed to people who are willing and worthy to receive them. The Lord continues:
"And again, verily I say unto you, how shall your washings be acceptable unto me, except ye perform them in a house which you have built to my name?
"For, for this cause I commanded Moses that he should build a tabernacle, that they should bear it with them in the wilderness, and to build a house in the land of promise, that those ordinances might be revealed which had been hid from before the world was.
"Therefore, verily I say unto you, that your anointings, and your washings, and your baptisms for the dead, and your solemn assemblies, and your memorials for your sacrifices by the sons of Levi, and for your oracles in your most holy places wherein you receive conversations, and your statutes and judgments, for the beginning of the revelation and foundation of Zion, and for the glory, honor, and endowment of all her municipals, are ordained by the ordinance of my holy house, which my people are always commanded to build unto my holy name.
"And verily I say unto you, let this house be built unto my name, that I may reveal mine ordinances therein unto my people.
For I deign to reveal unto my church things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world, things that pertain to the dispensation of the fulness of times".
This temple was constructed at Nauvoo, Illinois, and dedicated to the Lord. It was used by the saints, therein to receive these sacred ordinances which were mentioned in the revelation. In my book of remembrance I have a record of such ordinance work having been performed in the Nauvoo Temple for my progenitors on my Burton and on my Garr ancestral lines. I am humbly grateful that they were among those earliest members of the Church who received such priesthood blessings. Through sacred temple ordinances they provided a patriarchal inheritance of righteousness for all their descendants who remain faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ and who continue to obey his commandments after taking upon themselves his holy name.
In that same revelation from which I have quoted, there is a passage that gives me considerable concern:
"And if my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, verily I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place.
"But if they will not hearken to my voice, nor unto the voice of these men whom I have appointed, they shall not be blest, because they pollute mine holy grounds, and mine holy ordinances, and charters, and my holy words which I give unto them.
"And it shall come to pass that if you build a house unto my name, and do not do the things that I say, I will not perform the oath which I make unto you, neither fulfil the promises which ye expect at my hands, saith the Lord.
"For instead of blessings, ye, by your own works, bring cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments upon your own heads, by your follies, and by all your abominations, which you practise before me, saith the Lord".
The Church of Jesus Christ has built many houses to the Lord since that time, but are we doing all that the Lord desires of us? I know there are thousands of faithful saints who go to the temples and there perform saving ordinances in behalf of their kindred dead. Those who do this work and accept their obligations and keep their covenants are blessed of the Lord. There is a gentleness of spirit and a sweet peaceful influence that accompanies them in their daily lives. There is light in their eyes and peace in their souls that reflects the goodness of God. They foster the brotherhood of man as children of God and are good citizens in the lands in which they live. They are slow to quarrel and quick to forgive. They are truly trying to be saints.
The thing that worries me is that not all who go to the temples do so with a proper attitude. Some go to fulfill a duty almost in a spirit of "Let's go and get it over with!" They make no effort to prepare themselves by prayer and study for such sacred work. They take their problems and worries and secret sins to the temple with them. They are tense and many times selfish. They are in a hurry to be out again and so do not take the peaceful spirit of the temple back into their daily lives. They do not find the happiness and joy within the temple which should be found there. A person can never give what he does not receive. Unless we go to the house of the Lord taking with us the influence and spirit of God, we cannot expect God to fulfill the oath and promise he made to those who really love and serve him out of the abundance of their hearts.
Those who understand the patriarchal nature of the sealing covenants made in the temple realize the greatness and value of these temple blessings. They cannot rest until they have gathered together that information for their progenitors which identifies them. They then go to the temple to have those sealing ordinances performed in behalf of their ancestors by which their ancestors' places and their own places in the family of God are made secure. Such persons keep those sacred covenants themselves by which they can retain their inheritance as the children of God.
I have read again the words of the Angel Moroni when he appeared to give a revelation of instruction to the Prophet Joseph Smith, using these words:
"After telling me these things, he commenced quoting the prophecies of the Old Testament. He first quoted part of the third chapter of Malachi; and he quoted also the fourth or last chapter of the same prophecy, though with a little variation from the way it reads in our Bibles. Instead of quoting the first verse as it reads in our hooks, he quoted it thus:
"For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble; for they that come shall burn them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
"And again, he quoted the fifth verse thus: Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
"He also quoted the next verse differently: And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming".
The first instruction Moroni gave concerned the end goal toward which we are working. When Malachi prophesied of the second coming of Christ, he spoke of "the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly". Of whom was he speaking? First, of those who rejected Christ because of the pride of their hearts, and second, of those who, having accepted Jesus, were not valiant in keeping his commandments.
Malachi went on to say they "shall burn as stubble." This means that they shall be destroyed. By whom? Malachi explains, "They that come shall burn them, saith the Lord of Hosts".
Those who come are those righteous hosts of heaven and righteous persons caught up from earth who shall come and return with the glorified, resurrected Savior to cleanse the earth. But what is meant by the expression "that shall leave them neither root nor branch"? This expression simply means that wicked and indifferent persons who reject the gospel of Jesus Christ will have no family inheritance or patriarchal lineage-neither root nor branch. Such persons cannot be received into the celestial kingdom of glory of resurrected beings, but must be content with a lesser blessing.
The prophet thus stressed the need of turning the hearts of the children to their fathers and the hearts of fathers to their children. This turning of hearts to family relationships means establishing and sealing patriarchal lineage within the sacred confines of the temple and carrying that family inheritance into our daily lives. That is why, even if we do build temples, if we do not keep the covenants made in them, we will be rejected as a people.
Why was Jesus so hard on the scribes and Pharisees of his day who rejected his message? He denounced them vigorously in these words:
"Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
"Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
"That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
"Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation".
Let me quote the explanation of this scripture given by the Prophet Joseph Smith. In speaking of the gospel being preached to the spirits of those whose bodies lie in the grave and citing the necessity of baptism for and in behalf of the dead, the Prophet said:
"Hence it was that so great a responsibility rested upon the generation in which the Savior lived... Hence as they possessed greater privileges than any other generation not only pertaining to themselves, but to their dead, their sin was greater, as they not only neglected their own salvation but that of their progenitors and hence their blood was required at their hands."
If this was true of those who neglected their inheritance in the days of the Savior, is it not equally true today of us who live in the period known as the fullness of times? In our day the gospel in its entirety has been revealed, and our duty and obligation lies clearly before us. Small wonder then that the Lord instructed us as I have read before, that even if we build temples, if we do not also perform a labor of love therein, we will be rejected. The blood of our righteous ancestors will come upon our heads, and instead of blessings we will bring upon ourselves cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments. The Lord has called such neglect both a folly and an abomination.
What a time this is, then, for repentance! It is a time to seek the Lord humbly by knocking at the doors of his holy house with the sheaves of our offerings in our hands. These sheaves of offerings are the names of our progenitors to present before the Lord, that we and they may be saved through a sealing in that family relationship which is characteristic of the patriarchal order of the priesthood.
I bear you my witness of the divinity of this work given to us by God our Heavenly Father through living prophets. This privilege of having this knowledge comes to us only through the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord. Of him I testify that he lives! In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Eldred G. Smith
Eldred G. Smith, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 82-84
I too would like to begin my message today with the same passage that President Tanner used this morning, this oft-repeated passage found in the 11th chapter of Luke where the Lord said: "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
"For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened".
He says, "ask," "seek," and "knock." It's as if he were standing there with outstretched hands, waiting for us to reach out and take them. If we do not reach out, he cannot help.
It seems quite simple, but to "ask," "seek," or "knock" involves effort on our part.
Oliver Cowdery learned this lesson too. It seems that he had made an attempt to translate and failed, as a result of which we have the revelation given in Section 9 of the Doctrine and Covenants, which is a key to revelation, in which the Lord said to Oliver Cowdery through Joseph Smith: "Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.
"But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.
"But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me".
As it was with Oliver Cowdery, so also we may have assumed that all the Prophet Joseph Smith did was to look into the Urim and Thummim and all the rest was done for him, with no other effort on his part.
As we look into the record, we find that after the first visit to the Hill Cumorah, Joseph told the story of the history of the early American inhabitants to his family. His mother wrote: "From this time forth, Joseph continued to receive instructions from the Lord, and we continued to get the children together every evening for the purpose of listening while he gave us a relation of the same. I presume our family presented an aspect as singular as any that ever lived upon the face of the earth-all seated in a circle, father, mother, sons and daughters, and giving the most profound attention to a boy, eighteen years of age." This sounds like the first family home evening of this dispensation.
Then she continued to say: "We were now confirmed in the opinion that God was about to bring to light something upon which we could stay our minds, or that would give us a more perfect knowledge of the plan of salvation and the redemption of the human family. This caused us greatly to rejoice, the sweetest union and happiness pervaded our house, and tranquility reigned in our midst.
"During our evening conversations, Joseph would occasionally give us some of the most amusing recitals that could be imagined. He would describe the ancient inhabitants of this continent, their dress, mode of traveling, and the animals upon which they rode; their cities, their buildings, with every particular; their mode of warfare; and also their religious worship. This he would do with as much ease, seemingly, as if he had spent his whole life among them."
This was before he received the plates. He must have received this by revelation, for he knew the whole story of the content of the record that is now the Book of Mormon. He had had five long visits with Moroni, and his mother says he received many revelations.
When Joseph finally received the plates, he did not take them directly home.
When Moroni, an angel of the Lord, gave him the gold plates, he told Joseph: "Now you have got the Record into your own hands, and you are but a man, therefore you will have to be watchful and faithful to your trust, or you will be overpowered by wicked men; for they will lay every plan and scheme that is possible to get it away from you, and if you do not take heed continually, they will succeed. While it was in my hands, I could keep it, and no man had power to take it away] but now I give it up to you. Beware, and look well to your ways, and you shall have power to retain it, until the time for it to be translated."
He had also been instructed not to let anyone see the plates except as he would be instructed. Now he was going home in broad daylight, with the plates, wrapped in his linen frock, under his arm. He must have felt quite uneasy about this, so, while still about three miles from home, he went into a grove of trees and hid the plates in a partially rotted log, which he had hollowed out with his pocket knife.
When he returned later to get them, he found them safe. He wrapped them in his linen frock, put them under his arm, and started home. On the way, "as he was jumping over a log, a man sprang up from behind it and gave him a heavy blow with a gun. Joseph turned around and knocked him down, then ran at the top of his speed. About half a mile farther he was attacked again in the same manner as before; he knocked this man down in like manner as the former and ran on again; and before he reached home he was assaulted the third time. In striking the last one, he dislocated his thumb, which, however, he did not notice until he came within sight of the house, when he threw himself down in the corner of the fence in order to recover his breath. As soon as he was able, he arose and came to the house. He was still altogether speechless from fright and the fatigue of running."
I consider this a rather remarkable physical feat: to carry the plates under his arm, knock down three men, and run the approximate three miles.
I think the Lord gave him this experience purposely, to show him by his own experience that the adversary would exert every effort to get the plates and would stop at nothing to hinder the work of the Lord; also, to teach him that he would be given help as may be needed if he would exert his own efforts first. The Lord must have given him extra strength beyond his own physical abilities to carry the plates, knock down three men, and run three miles.
When the Prophet started to translate, he had to study the characters for quite awhile. Then his wife Emma did some writing for him. Then Martin Harris became his scribe. Then after the 116 pages of transcription were lost, Oliver Cowdery came to be his scribe.
By this time, Joseph had had considerable experience at translating, and the work went forth with good speed.
Not even with the Urim and Thummim does it come without effort. Joseph had to exert all his effort, physically and mentally. He had to put forth his full effort. So it is with us today. We must put forth our full effort, give our full Church-service time.
The promise is also to us: we will be given the help that we need to fulfill the Lord's work if we will put forth our effort first.
May I say to all who are not yet members of the Church of Jesus Christ: seek, ask, and knock. The Lord may someday ask you if you tried to find his Church. We are trying to bring this great message of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world. We would that all could rejoice, as the Prophet's mother did as she said, "This caused us greatly to rejoice, the sweetest union and happiness pervaded our house, and tranquility reigned in our midst."
This is our message to the world: to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ, with its peace, happiness, and tranquility, into every family, the world over.
"For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened".
I testify to you that this is truly the work of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and do so in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder William J. Critchlow, Jr.
William J. Critchlow, Jr., Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 85-89
"All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages."
Yes, the world is truly a huge stage, and upon it the greatest drama ever conceived and produced is still coursing 6,000 years after the curtains were opened to unveil a beautiful scene in Act 1 called the Garden of Eden.
In a single sentence the author of this great drama set forth concisely a purpose, a motive, and an objective for his marvelous work. He said:
"For behold, this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man".
In that simple sentence, I find a fitting title: "The Eternal Life of Man." You who like brevity may shorten it to Eternal Life. I like it either way. I hope the author will approve.
Later in my remarks I shall comment on the author's purpose.
Members of the drama's cast respectfully address the author as God. Frequently we dispense with formality and affectionately call him "Our Father which art in heaven". His real name is Elohim. May he pardon me for calling him the author. This I do reverently to avoid too frequent use of the sacred title, God.
The theme of the great drama is free agency, meaning man's agency or freedom to choose. The script is divided into seven acts, each 1,000 years in length. The play has advanced far into the sixth act. Soon the curtain will rise for the seventh or millennial act.
To stage and direct the drama, the author needed a director. Bidding for it, a talented and ambitious character known as Lucifer, frequently called Satan, offended and insulted the author. His bid offended because he proposed to alter the author's script in a way that nullified the author's theme concept-free agency; it insulted because the bidder sought as his price the author's honor and power: "... wherefore give me thine honor," and give unto me thine "own power". His bid rejected, he rebelled and cried out in anger, "... I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God... I will be like the most High".
The author awarded the directing Job to his son Jehovah, who agreed to "go down" and prepare the world stage and to direct the play according to the author's script.
Lucifer's rebellion escalated into a war in heaven. It spread to earth, a fierce struggle between Lucifer and Jehovah. Battles are still raging on the stage here in the sixth act. Approximately one third of the cast selected for the great drama defected and sided with Lucifer. For so doing, they were dropped from the cast and thus denied physical appearances on the stage. This infuriated them. They vowed to make the play flop, and to that end they have used freedom-the very agency they at first protested-to destroy "free agency."
Lucifer's strategy is to induce the cast to use their individual agency in a way that will produce chaos on the stage. By exposing the cast to as much evil as possible, he hopes to gain numerical strength so that he might shout when the curtain rolls down at the end of the play, "I have the majority of the heavenly host on my side; numerical strength is my power. Now I can claim 'thine honor'; now 'I will ascend into heaven'; now 'I will exalt my throne above the stars of God'".
One thing we are forced to admit: Despite the fact that Lucifer's spirit followers were eliminated from the cast and thus deprived of physical appearances on the stage, their power to tempt and adversely influence the cast has been tremendous.
God in his infinite wisdom undoubtedly appointed his son Jehovah to be the drama director because of the Son's vast experience in building stages or worlds. "... worlds without number have I created... and by the Son I created them," he said.
By the time the stage was readied, the cast was ready, the leading roles filled by a process or doctrine called foreordination.
"... the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy", and the heavens resounded with praise when a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice" announced curtain time for the first act.
John the Revelator likens the curtains throughout the play to seals. "We are to understand that the first seal contains the things of the first thousand years, and the second also of the second thousand years, and so on until the seventh ".
The first seal or curtain revealed a beautiful scene called the Garden of Eden. The first man to appear on the stage was one Michael, an assistant to Jehovah in the stage-building project. His stage name is Adam. He was given a wife in a marriage that will last forever. Her name is Eve. Free agency, with some help from Lucifer, got this couple into trouble just as Lucifer had predicted, and they were "cast out from the Garden of Eden because of his transgression".
Cain, a son of the couple, exercising his free agency unrighteously, slew his brother Abel. For this he was cursed with "a mark upon lest any finding him should kill him". Thousands upon thousands in the huge drama cast have had problems by exercising their agency unrighteously; other thousands have soared to great heights by exercising their agency righteously.
Wickedness reigned upon the stage as Act 1 came to a close, save in the little city of Zion, where under the leadership of one Enoch the people prospered in righteousness. Adam lived 930 years. Shortly before his death he called his righteous posterity together at a place now known as Adam-ondi-Ahman and previewed for them the six remaining acts of the drama, predicting "whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the last generation," the end of the play.
In Act 2 the greatest catastrophe of the drama up to this present time was enacted. Flooding waters swept over the stage, engulfing and destroying "every living thing" save eight people and certain "beasts" and "fowls" and "creeping things" which these people had stored with them in an ark. Noah was the hero personality in this act. Before the waters poured onto the stage, the drama director rewarded the righteous people of Enoch, lifting them "up into heaven, into his own bosom," by a process or doctrine called translation, to save them from the flood.
In Act 3, Abraham, "Father of the Faithful", played a leading role. Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses made appearances. Moses delivered the children of Israel from their captivity in Egypt. Great physical changes in the earth's appearances were made in the days of Peleg; and, when the director confused the tongues of the people, a small group under the leadership of one Jared made an epochal voyage across great waters to found a colony on this western hemisphere. In this act, Israel possessed its promised land and divided it among 11 tribes, leaving Levi without a portion. In one of the final scenes, the great prophet Samuel anointed Saul first king of Israel; and later, behind Saul's back, he secretly anointed the lad David to be Saul's successor.
Act 4 opened with King David on the throne. Solomon succeeded him and built a great temple. Enemies overrunning Israel destroyed it, and friendly enemies subsequently helped restore it. Ten of the twelve tribes went into the north countries and were lost. A prophet Lehi built ships that came, under the power of God, to this western hemisphere, where his people became a great nation.
When the curtain or veil was drawn for the fifth act, it revealed the drama director in person on the stage. His name was Jesus. Because he said he was the Son of God, certain members of the cast nailed him to a cross. In brief appearances in Palestine and on the western hemisphere, he reestablished his gospel, organized a kingdom, and ordained 24 apostles to direct it-12 in Palestine and 12 on the western hemisphere. For associating with Jesus, the apostles in Palestine were martyred, save one John who was exiled to Patmos, where in vision he saw the script of the author's great drama-"Eternal Life."
No scene in the entire drama can match the resurrection scene in the sixth act, unless it be a scene programmed in the seventh act when Jesus will come in glory to rule and reign in person for a thousand years. Then "every knee should bow... and... every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord". Then Satan will be bound, "that he should deceive the nations no more"; then "the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid... and the cow and the bear shall feed" together; then "they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more". Temples then will dot the land, so kin may do work for kindred dead. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him".
Before these blissful scenes are enacted in the seventh or millennial act, Act 6, running its full course, will crowd the intervening time space with spectacular events, some too tragic and distressing to give comfort to our souls. Already in this act:
-the author, accompanied by his director son, has made a brief behind-the-scenes appearance;
-the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored;
-the kingdom of God has been established to stand forever and forever;
-the great latter-day Prophet Joseph Smith has come and gone, forfeiting his life in the restoration cause.
The apostle John forecast a great earthquake in this sixth act. He wrote:
"And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
"And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth".
Employing earthquakes and fire, war and lightning, famine and plague, and a desolating, overflowing scourge, the author will yet cleanse and prepare the stage for the peaceful millennial act. "Behold," he said, "the day has come, when the cup of the wrath of mine indignation is full".
The stage was cleared and cleansed in Noah's day with a flood of water. "... as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man", but the cleansing coming up soon will involve a flood of the other destructive agents I've just listed, atomic bombing not ruled out.
At this very moment Lucifer may be gloating at the confusion on the stage. To his confederates he might right now be repeating, "I told you so. Free agency doomed the play before it started." Well, he may think so, but not seriously. Certain lines in the author's script must worry him. On the other band, those lines give hope and comfort to a distressed and confused cast. I delight in quoting them:
"Hearken, O ye people of my church... Hearken ye people from afar... listen together.
"... I am no respecter of persons, and will that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion.
"And also the Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst, and shall come down in judgment upon Idumea, or the world".
If man's reckoning of time is accurate, the curtain at the end of Act 6 may fall in less than two score years from now. My children-surely some of my grandchildren-will be involved in this act's closing scenes. I call upon them and all of you to "put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil".
Some of my grandchildren may witness the return of the lost ten tribes; some of them may be around when ancient Enoch and his people return; one might even be bidden to Adam-ondi-Ahman to sit with Adam in another great council. Do I hope for more than I deserve, to hope that I myself might be caught up with the righteous dead to meet the great director when he comes in glory to rule and reign upon the stage? One other hope I'd like to tuck in-I hope I haven't offended by calling this world a stage.
God never intended his great work to be accepted as a play. Life is not simulated. It is real; the scenes are real; the characters are real; the acting is "for keeps." The drama analogy is mine. I like it. I like the title, "Eternal Life." I like the worthy purpose it serves.
It is our Father's way of providing his billions of spirit children with mortal, flesh and bone bodies.
It is a course designed to give his children a fullness of joy, like unto our Heavenly Father.
It provides his children with powers of procreation for the first time.
It provides a period of probationary testing.
It is designed to condition his children forever against rebellion and sedition.
It prepares his children for citizenship in a theocratic kingdom, the kingdom of God.
I like the author's objective: "... this is my work, and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man".
When the drama runs its 7,000-year course, what, at its close, happens to the cast? Will the players be unemployed? How were they employed before the play began?
My answer must be brief. This world drama is but a small part, a very brief act, in a great, grandiose drama that has been coursing through time and will continue to course through time for millions of years, without end. It is a drama within a drama, both by the same author. May he pardon me for the liberty I take in calling it Act 2-the mortal act-involving the cast in their mortal, flesh and bone, state. Act 1 I would call the pre-mortal act, involving the cast in their spirit state. The future, Act 3, will later involve the cast in their immortal state. I must call it the post-mortal or immortal act.
In these several acts God's grandiose drama courses on and on and on, everlastingly, eternally.
Life is eternal. Faithful members of the cast, after their resurrection, may attain a state of exaltation in God's kingdom in a glory called celestial. That glory holds a promise of eternal life, the power of eternal increase, a continuation of the seeds.
"Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul."
God, the great Author, lives. He is in his heaven dispatching his spirit children to this mortal stage. Jesus Christ is the director, the very Son of God. Joseph Smith was a prophet. He played an important role in the great drama, "Eternal Life." David O. McKay is another prophet, our prophet, in another important role in that great drama. To this I bear my humble witness, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 89-92
Our Eternal Father, we ask thy blessing "upon the priesthood, all in authority in thy Church and kingdom, that they might enjoy the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to qualify them in the discharge of every duty."
This prayer was voiced by President Brigham Young a century ago as he stood at the pulpit of this great tabernacle and offered the invocation on the first conference of the Church ever convened here. The day was October 6, 1867. A hundred years later his plea to the Lord is as timely as it was on the day it was offered.
We need the Holy Spirit in our many administrative responsibilities. We need it as we teach the gospel in our classes and to the world. We need it in the governing of our families.
As we direct and teach under the influence of that spirit, we shall bring spirituality into the lives of those for whom we are responsible.
Worldwide scope of the Church:
With the tremendous growth of the Church we become increasingly aware of the great magnitude of the affairs of this the Lord's kingdom. We have a comprehensive program for the instruction of the family. We have organizations for youth, for children, for mothers and fathers. We have a vast missionary system, a tremendous welfare operation, probably the most extensive genealogical program in the world. We must build houses of worship, hundreds and thousands of them. We must operate hospitals, schools, seminaries, institutes. The ramifications of our activities now reach around the world. All of this is the business of the Church. Sometimes the tendency is to handle it as we would ordinary business. But it is more than an organization of enterprises. It is more than a social body. These are but means to the accomplishment of its one true purpose.
That purpose is to assist our Father in heaven in bringing to pass his work and his glory, the immortality and eternal life of man.
The forces against which we labor are tremendous. We need more than our own strength to cope with them.
To all who hold positions of leadership, to the vast corps of teachers and missionaries, to heads of families, I should like to make a plea: In all you do, feed the spirit-nourish the soul. "... the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life".
I am satisfied that the world is starved for spiritual food. Amos prophesied of old: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:
"And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.
"In that day shall the fair virgins and the young men faint for thirst".
There is hunger in the land, and a genuine thirst-a great hunger for the word of the Lord and an unsatisfied thirst for things of the spirit. Ours is the obligation and the opportunity to nourish the soul.
First, to administrators, the leadership of the Church, you who structure and conduct the many and varied meetings-and I include myself-I make a plea that we constantly seek the inspiration of the Lord and the companionship of his Holy Spirit to bless us in keeping our efforts on a high spiritual plane. Those prayers will not go unanswered, for the promise has been given through revelation that "God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost".
Concerning the conduct of our meetings, the Lord has said that "the elders are to conduct the meetings as they are led by the Holy Ghost, according to the commandments and revelations of God". And again: "... it always has been given to the elders of my church from the beginning, and ever shall be, to conduct all meetings as they are directed and guided by the Holy Spirit".
And now listen to a statement made long ago. Concerning those who had come into the Church, Moroni wrote:
"... after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer".
Brethren, in the conduct of all our meetings let us see that we "feed the flock of God", with that bread which perisheth not.
Next, a word to those who teach the gospel, including the missionaries. To each of you I should like to pose a question given by the Lord himself. "Wherefore, I the Lord ask you this question-unto what were you ordained?"
He then answers it: "To preach my gospel by the Spirit..."
And then he goes on to tell of the remarkable thing that happens when we preach by the Spirit: "Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together".
Is not this the objective of all our effort, that both we who teach and we who are taught understand one another and are edified and rejoice together?
There sits with us in this conference a man in military uniform, an officer of the United States Army. He returned only two weeks ago from South Vietnam. He is one of our LDS chaplains, a man of great faith and great devotion and, I may add, a man of great courage. For a year or more he has been in the central highlands of that sad, embattled nation. He has been where the fighting has been bitter and the losses as tragic as in any area of Vietnam. On two occasions he has been wounded. He has seen a tragically large percentage of his brigade become casualties, many of them killed in action while he has been in the field at their side. The men of his unit have loved and respected him. His superior officers have honored him. To look at him you would never think of him as an extraordinary man. He is rather small of stature, light of frame. He has been a good student, but he has not been a great scholar. He has not been trained as a minister of religion, but as I have observed him in conversations in Vietnam, in Japan, and here at home, I have felt of his great spirit. I have heard his quiet testimony.
He was not always a member of this Church. As a boy in the South he grew up in a religious home where the Bible was read and where the family attended the little church of the community. He desired the gift of the Holy Ghost of which he had read in the scriptures but was told that it was not available. The desire never left him. He grew to manhood. He served in the army at borne and abroad. He searched but never found the thing he most wanted. Between military enlistments, he became a prison guard. While sitting in the gun tower of a California prison, he meditated on his own deficiencies and prayed to the Lord that he might receive the Holy Ghost and satisfy the hunger which he felt in his soul. That hunger had not been satisfied with sermons to which he had listened.
One day two young men knocked at his door. His wife invited them to return when her husband would be at home. These two young men taught that family by the Holy Spirit. In two and a half weeks they were baptized. I have heard this man testify to the effect that as he was taught by the power of the Holy Spirit, he was edified and rejoiced with those who taught him. Out of that marvelous beginning, with the gift of the Holy Ghost, has come a shedding forth of light and truth that has given peace to the dying, comfort to the bereaved blessings to the wounded, courage to the timid, and faith to those who had scoffed. Sweet are the fruits of teaching done under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. They feed the spirit and nourish the soul.
Finally, a word to parents, and particularly to fathers who stand as heads of families: We need the direction of the Holy Ghost in the delicate and tremendous task that is ours in strengthening the spirituality of our homes.
Oh, the countless tragedies that are found across the land, tragedies whose roots find their bitter nourishment in contentious homes.
My phone rang one afternoon. The young man on the other end of the line said frantically that he needed to see me. I told him that I was involved with appointments for the remainder of the day and asked if he could come tomorrow. He stated that he had to see me at once. I told him to come and asked my secretary to change the other appointments. In a few minutes he walked in, a boy with a hunted and haunted look. His hair was long, his appearance miserable. I invited him to sit and to talk openly and frankly. I assured him of my interest in his problem and of my desire to help him.
He unraveled a story distressing and miserable. He was in serious trouble. He had broken the law, he had been unclean, he had blighted his life. Now in his extremity there had come a realization of the terrible plight in which he found himself. He needed help beyond his own strength, and he pleaded for it. I asked him if his father knew of his difficulties. He replied by saying that he could not talk with his father, that his father hated him.
I happened to know his father, and I know that his father did not hate him. He loved him and mourned and grieved for him, but that father had an uncontrolled temper. Whenever he disciplined his children, he lost control and destroyed both them and himself.
As I looked across the desk at that trembling, broken young man, estranged from a father he considered his enemy, I thought of some great words of revealed truth given through the Prophet Joseph Smith. They set forth in essence the governing spirit of the priesthood, and I believe they apply to the government of our homes.
Power available through "love unfeigned"
"No power or influence can or ought to be maintained... only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
"By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy and without guile-"
I believe those marvelous and simple words set forth the spirit in which we should stand as fathers. Do they mean that we should not exercise discipline, that we should not reprove? Listen to these further words:
"Reproving betimes with sharpness when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;
"That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death".
This, my brethren of the priesthood who stand at the head of families, is the key to government in the home directed by the Holy Spirit. I commend those words to every man within the sound of my voice and do not hesitate to promise that if you will govern your families in the spirit of those words, which have come from the Lord, you will have cause to rejoice, as will those for whom you are responsible.
I caught a glimpse of that kind of family life the other day in the Salt Lake Temple.
The father was a handsome young man, an air force officer, a jet fighter pilot. The mother was a beautiful young woman. With them were three lovely children.
They had joined the Church in the South a little over a year ago. They had put into their lives the program of the Church. They had experienced a joy they had never previously known. Now he had been ordered to Vietnam on an assignment fraught with peril. They all sensed the terrifying odds against his coming back alive and whole.
It was a picture almost celestial in that quiet, sacred room of the Lord's house. There in the authority of the Holy Priesthood they were sealed together as a family with a bond and covenant that time could not break and death could not destroy.
At the conclusion of that holy ordinance the father took his beloved companion in his arms, and together they held their beautiful children.
With emotions incident to the expected separation that would divide them in a few hours when he left for Asia, but with a faith that shone through her tears, the wife looked up into his eyes and softly said words to this effect: "Come what may now, dear, you are ours and we are yours, forever."
Somehow heaven seemed very near that morning.
It is the spiritual sinews of the gospel that become the fiber of our faith. God help us to cultivate them in every activity in the Church and in every association in our homes.
I return to President Young's prayer from this stand a century ago: Our Eternal Father, we ask thy blessing "upon the priesthood, all in authority in thy Church and kingdom, that they might enjoy the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to qualify them in the discharge of every duty," in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 94-97
My dear brethren, bearers of the priesthood of God, who are in this historic building tonight and in other appointed places throughout this and other lands, I extend to you my greetings and blessings and a hearty welcome. As I once again have the great privilege of giving a message to this vast body of men, I am impressed with the power which you represent-a power given to us not for personal gain, but for the common good and advancement of the kingdom of God upon the earth.
The priesthood is an everlasting principle that has existed with God from the beginning and will exist throughout all eternity. The keys that have been given to be used through the priesthood come from heaven, and this priesthood power is operative in this Church today as it continues to expand in the earth.
We see in the divine ordinances conferred upon us and in the revelations from the Lord on the priesthood the solution to every need in the government of the Church. This is particularly significant as the Church continues to expand.
In the revelations dealing with the appointment of one to preside over the high priesthood of the Church and the quorum of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve and Assistants to the Council of the Twelve, the First Council of Seventy, and other callings in the priesthood, such as presidents of stakes, bishops of wards, and local priesthood quorums, the Lord declares the following concerning others who may be called:
"Whereas other officers of the church, who belong not unto the Twelve, neither to the Seventy, are not under the responsibility to travel among all nations, but are to travel as their circumstances shall allow, notwithstanding they may hold as high and responsible offices in the Church".
But all, regardless of their callings, are to perform their labors diligently. Concerning this the Lord says further:
"Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence.
"He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand".
In seeking the source of the priesthood, we can conceive of no condition beyond God himself. In him it centers. From him it must emanate. Priesthood being thus inherent in the Father, it follows that he alone can give it to another. Priesthood, therefore, as held by man, must ever be delegated by authority. There never has been a human being in the world who had the right to arrogate to himself the power and authority of the priesthood. There have been some who would arrogate to themselves that right, but the Lord has never recognized it.
The power of the priesthood becomes dynamic and productive of good only when the liberated force becomes active in the lives of men, turning their hearts and desires toward God and prompting service to their fellowmen, just as an impounded reservoir of water becomes productive of good only when the liberated water becomes active in valleys, fields, gardens, and happy homes.
Strictly speaking, priesthood, as delegated power, is an individual acquirement. However, by divine decree, men are appointed to serve in particular offices in the priesthood unit in quorums or are to function under the direction of quorums. Thus, this power finds expression through groups as well as individuals. The quorum is the opportunity for men of like aspirations to know, to love, and to aid one another. "To live is not to live for one's self alone."
Recognizing the fact that the Creator is the eternal and everlasting source of this power, that lie alone can direct it, and that to possess it is to have the right, as an authorized representative, of direct communion with God, how reasonable, yet sublime, are the privileges and blessings made possible of attainment through the possession of the power and authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood! They are the most glorious that the human mind can contemplate.
A man who is thus in communion with his God will find his life sweetened, his discernment sharpened to decide quickly between right and wrong, his feelings tender and compassionate, yet his spirit strong and valiant in defense of right. He will find the priesthood a never-failing source of happiness, a well of living water springing up unto eternal life.
You who have the priesthood are his servants by divine right. I know the world thinks we are unreasonable, fanatic in our ideas when we tell them there is no other authorized Church, but that is true. The priesthood came directly from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who is the great High Priest; and he authorized Peter, James, and John, on whom he bestowed that priesthood, to bestow it upon Joseph Smith. Many of you brethren can trace your ordination within five steps right back to the Savior himself.
I pray that we may be blessed with the spirit of humility, blessed with the spirit and desire to be one in all things relating to the welfare and advancement of the kingdom of God. We can do that by sustaining the authority which is always delegated; and when it is rightly delegated, you will be able to go to the source, which is God, in whom is inherent the authority of the Holy Priesthood.
May you Regional Representatives of the Quorum of the Twelve, presidents of stakes, bishops of wards be blessed in your leadership, in your responsibility; may you be true to the gospel; may your lives be examples to the "flock", so that you may be guided from on high to bless, to comfort the people over whom you have been appointed to preside. God bless the men who find and assist those members of the priesthood who are weak and those members who, for some reason, have become inactive in the Church.
We are facing conditions in the world which demand the highest intelligence, the deepest spirituality, the greatest effort that the priesthood of God can possibly put forth. Our boys and girls in high schools, in junior colleges, in universities need our help. Their parents need our help. It is time now for us to put forth extra effort to know the difference between right and wrong. Warn our young boys and girls not to deceive themselves that they can tamper with alcohol, cigarettes, and narcotics, because dangerous effects follow indulgence in such things.
I was pleased to read in a local newspaper the other day that the office of the dean of Harvard University issued a recent statement taking a firm stand against the use of drugs at Harvard as follows: "The Dean's office has been repeatedly pressed by members of the freshman class for a statement of the college's administrative position with respect to the use of drugs, including marijuana and LSD. If it will help anyone, I am pleased to clarify our position.
"As anyone bright enough to be at Harvard knows perfectly well, possession of, or distribution of marijuana and LSD is strictly against the law, and taking the rugs involves the users in psychological dangers and contacts with the criminal underworld.
"The college is prepared to take serious disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, against any student found to be involved in the use or distribution of illegal and dangerous drugs.
"In sum, if a student is stupid enough to misuse his time here fooling around with illegal and dangerous drugs, our view is that he should leave college and make room for people prepared to take good advantage of a college opportunity. Office of the Dean, Harvard University."
These things have been forbidden by the Lord and, if indulged in, will lead our young people away from activity in the Church, and the Spirit of the Lord will not dwell in them.
Young man, you cannot tamper with the evil one. Resist temptation, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Your weakest point will be the point at which the devil tries to tempt you, will try to win you, and if you have been made weak before you have undertaken to serve the Lord, he will add to that weakness. Resist him and you will gain in strength. He will then tempt you in another point. Resist him and he becomes weaker, and you become stronger, until you can say, no matter what your surroundings may be, "Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve".
William C. Sullivan, assistant director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said in Salt Lake City on August 24, 1967:
"Our young people are growing up in a rapidly changing world, and too many of them are becoming imbued with false attitudes and notions of law and order. Their important periods of childhood and adolescence too often lack sufficient character training and parental guidance and example."
He pointed out that 49 percent of persons arrested for serious crimes in 1966 were under 18, and this age group accounted for 54 percent of the burglaries and 63 percent of the automobile thefts.
I am happy to see these young men gathered in the Tabernacle this evening They are here by the hundreds, and many thousands more are listening at various designated places, and we want you young men to know that we are proud of you, and commend you for your faith, your courage, and your loyalty to the Church.
My heart was touched to the core and I was overwhelmed with thankfulness to the Lord for the letters and messages sent to me during my 94th birthday celebration from young men in the mission field, from seminary students, and from other young members of the Church telling me of their love for the gospel and of the testimonies they have of its truthfulness. I love the young people, and my heart goes out to them. May God keep them true to the faith and bless them that they will be able to withstand the temptations which constantly beset their paths. To the youth of the Church I say, go to our Father in heaven in prayer, seek the advice of your parents, your bishops, your stake presidents.
"Do your duty, that is best; Leave unto the Lord the rest."
It is a sobering thought to think what this great body of bearers of the priesthood can do to help these young people, and to stir the people to acts of honesty, truthfulness-to stir them so that they will become examples to the world. We have that duty, that right, and that inspiration!
To hold the priesthood of God by divine authority is one of the greatest gifts that can come to a man, and worthiness is of first importance. The very essence of priesthood is eternal. He is greatly blessed who feels the responsibility of representing Deity. He should feel it to such an extent that he would be conscious of his actions and words under all conditions. No man who holds the Holy Priesthood should treat his wife disrespectfully. No man who holds that priesthood should fail to ask the blessings on his food or to kneel with his wife and children and ask for God's guidance. A home is transformed because a man holds and honors the priesthood. We are not to use it dictatorially, for the Lord has said that "when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man".
That revelation, given by the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith, is one of the most beautiful lessons in pedagogy or psychology and government ever given, and we should read it over and over again in the 121st section of the Doctrine and Covenants.
Let us realize that we are members of the greatest fraternity, the greatest brotherhood-the brotherhood of Christ-in all the world, and do our best each day, all day, to maintain the standards of the priesthood.
Let us live honest, sincere lives. Let us be honest with ourselves, honest with our brethren, honest with our families, honest with men with whom we deal-always honest; for eyes are upon us, and the foundation of all character rests upon the principles of honesty and sincerity.
God is guiding this Church. Be true to it. Be true to your families, loyal to them. Protect your children. Guide them, not arbitrarily, but through the example of a kin father, a loving mother, and so contribute to the strength of the Church by exercising your priesthood in your home and in your lives.
God help us all to be true to the ideals of the priesthood-Aaronic and Melchizedek. May he help us to magnify our callings and to inspire men by our actions-not only members of the Church, but all men everywhere-to live higher and better lives, to help them all to be better husbands, better neighbors, better leaders, under all conditions, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Harold B. Lee
Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 98-108
I suppose that I would speak the mind of all of us when we would say to President McKay that the greeting that he gave us at the commencement of the conference yesterday was probably one of the most uplifting things that will be said during the entire conference. Where the President is, there is strength, and to know that he is with us and is presiding is a strength to the entire Church.
I wonder if I might be pardoned for a little personal reference tonight. I am mindful of the fact that it has been a whole year since I stood before a general conference in this pulpit. During the last six-month period I have gone through some painful experiences that kept me from being in the conference, and I was aware that my life could have been terminated at that time. I became conscious then, through the ministrations of wonderful doctors, skilled nurses, and most of all the love and prayers and faith of my family and the members of the Church, that my ministry had been continued for a longer period here. And so with joy and thanksgiving in my heart tonight, I return to my ministry with a pledge that my life and my energies will be devoted to this glorious service that has been and will be my whole life.
I am aware that I have had to submit to some tests, some severe tests, before the Lord, I suppose to prove me to see if I would be willing to submit to all things whatsoever the Lord sees fit to inflict upon me, even as a little child does submit to its father.
We were touched by Brother Hinckley's impressive talk this afternoon in which he told about the couple who had been sealed just prior to the husband's leaving for battle in Vietnam, and they said to each other, "I am yours, and you are mine forever."
On two sacred occasions I too had to stand by and bear my witness, "You are mine, and I am yours forever." God grant that I will not fail my Heavenly Father nor you, my beloved brethren of the priesthood of God.
President McKay has asked me to talk to the priesthood of the Church tonight on correlation. My prayer is, President McKay, that I may discharge this assignment as you would have desired me to do; and so with that assignment, and if I might have interest in your faith and prayers tonight, I will attempt to say what I should say of the great movement known as the Correlation Program, which was launched by the First Presidency in a letter seven years ago to the general priesthood committee. I shall read from that letter:
"We of the First Presidency have over the years felt the need of a correlation between and among the courses of study put out by the General Priesthood Committee and by the responsible heads of other Committees of the General Authorities for the instruction of the Priesthood of the Church.
"We have also felt the very urgent need of a correlation of studies among the Auxiliaries of the Church. We have noted what seemed to be a tendency toward a fundamental, guiding concept, particularly among certain of the Auxiliary Organizations, that there must be every year a new course of study for each of the Auxiliary organizations so moving. We questioned whether the composite of all of them might not tend away from the development of a given line of study or activity having the ultimate and desired objective of building up a knowledge of the gospel, a power to promulgate the same, a promotion of the growth, faith, and stronger testimony of the principles of the Gospel among the members of the Church...
"We think that the contemplated study by the Committee now set up should have the foregoing matters in mind. We feel assured that if the whole Church curricula were viewed from the vantage point of what we might term the total purpose of each and all of these organizations, it would bring about such a collation and limitation of subjects and subject matters elaborated in the various Auxiliary courses as would tend to the building of efficiency in the Auxiliaries themselves in the matter of carrying out the purposes lying behind their creation and function.
"We would therefore commend to you Brethren of the General Priesthood Committee the beginning of an exhaustive, prayerful study and consideration of this entire subject, with the cooperative assistance of the Auxiliaries themselves so that the Church might reap the maximum harvest from the devotion of the faith, intelligence, skill, and knowledge of our various Auxiliary Organizations and Priesthood Committees.
"This is your authority to employ such necessary technical help as you might need to bring this about. We shall await your report.
"Faithfully your brethren, David O. McKay J. Reuben Clark, Jr. Henry D. Moyle The First Presidency"
In that same letter they called attention to the fact that the membership of the Church might be divided into three groups: the children's group, under 12 years of age; the youth group, from 12 to the 20's; and the adults, from the youth group on through life.
That is what set us to a study of this whole plan that we now speak of as correlation. In our study we came across another prophetic statement that has been read before, but I read it now as a part of this presentation in order to tie the matter all together.
At the April conference in 1906, President Joseph F. Smith made this statement:
"We expect to see the day, if we live long enough, when every council of the Priesthood in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will understand its duty; will assume its own responsibility, will magnify its calling, and fill its place in the Church, to the uttermost, according to the intelligence and ability possessed by it. When that day shall come, there will not be so much necessity for work that is now being done by the auxiliary organizations, because it will be done by the regular quorums of the Priesthood. The Lord designed and comprehended it from the beginning, and he has made provision in the Church whereby every need may be met and satisfied through the regular organizations of the Priesthood. It has truly been said that the Church is perfectly organized. The only trouble is that these organizations are not fully alive to the obligations that rest upon them. When they become thoroughly awakened to the requirements made of them. They will fulfil their duties more faithfully, and the work of the Lord will be all the stronger and more powerful and influential in the world."
An organization was set up under the direction of the First Presidency following that assignment seven years ago, and seven members of the Twelve and the Presiding Bishop were named as the Correlation Executive Committee. It should be understood when we say executive committee that the Correlation Committee in total includes the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles. We then considered ourselves a task committee to bring all our work to that body whom we represented for final approval.
Three correlation committees were set up: the children's correlation committee; the youth correlation committee; and the adult correlation committee, with aides or editorial boards for curriculum study and lessons for family home teaching. Also appointed were managing directors for four phases of priesthood activity: home teaching, missionary, welfare, and genealogy. These directors were three Assistants to the Twelve and one of the presidents of the First Council of the Seventy, with one of the members of the executive committee as the chairman of the group working with these managing directors.
We then called to our aid professionally trained men to be our general secretaries. These men, trained in educational work, preferred not to be paid employees. They asked to make this contribution to the Church on their own time and without cost, and to continue their teaching roles at the universities where they were employed. There are also others of our secretarial staff whose work relates to correlation.
We therefore have set ourselves, under the direction of and with the help of these aides, to the monumental task of correlating all the curricula in all Church organizations, and to a continuing study of correlation problems for action of the First Presidency and the Twelve. This organization has been in effect for these seven years.
Some developments have been outwardly observed by the membership of the Church. I call these to your attention so that you will have them in mind.
The first step that was made was to place the priesthood in the place where the Lord had placed it: to watch over the Church.
In the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 20, the Lord said:
"The teacher's duty is to watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them;
"And see that there is no iniquity in the church, neither hardness with each other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking;
"And see that the church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty".
This, you will note by careful reading of this great revelation in its entirety, was to apply to the whole priesthood of the Church.
The name of home teaching was given to this movement, to distinguish it from ward teaching. When this was discussed with President McKay, some suggested we should call them watchmen-"priesthood watchmen"-but the President wisely counseled that we had better not let the membership of the Church think of the priesthood as detectives, that it would be better to call them the priesthood home teachers.
The genealogical representatives called our attention to the fact that home teachers was the title they gave to their genealogical workers in the wards. The President then advised that these genealogical workers be called family teachers, a name that is more descriptive of the work of genealogical visitors to the homes in each ward.
Home teaching, in essence, means that we consider separately each individual member of the family who constitutes the entire home personnel. Home teaching, as distinguished from ward teaching, is to help the parents with home problems in their efforts to teach their families the fundamentals of parental responsibility, as contrasted with merely bringing a message, a gospel message, to the entire family. Quorum leaders were given the responsibility of selecting, training, and supervising quorum members in visiting with and teaching assigned families of their own quorum members.
Presidents or group leaders of each Melchizedek Priesthood quorum and general secretaries of Aaronic Priesthood-Adult and Youth were then brought together in what were called "priesthood executive committees." Once a week this committee, bringing together representatives of every priesthood group, has been meeting with the bishopric, and there have been correlated and discussed all problems pertaining to the priesthood. Here is a teaching opportunity for the bishop to train the leaders of each priesthood group in his ward.
Greater emphasis on the teaching of the children in the home by the parents was brought forth in what we call the family home evening program. This was not new. Fifty years ago it was given emphasis; and as we went back into history, we found that in the last epistle written to the Church by President Brigham Young and his counselors, it was urged that parents bring their children together and teach them the gospel in the home frequently. So family home evening has been urged ever since the Church was established in this dispensation. Six hundred and fifty thousand family home evening manuals with lessons for each week have been prepared and placed in the hands of every parent throughout the Church. Each year's theme of the home evening lessons has been correlated with the Melchizedek Priesthood and the Relief Society lessons, and this year the Sunday School general board has instituted a special class each week for parents to aid in their weekly family home evening and to help prepare the parents to be better teachers of their children.
Plans were laid early in this dispensation to meet the challenge of anticipated growth as indicated by the scriptures and by prophetic utterances of presidents of the Church. President McKay gave us the key to our search for what we should do in these matters. In discussing a matter pertaining to the missions, he said this: "Now in changing our policy here, let us keep as near as we can to the revelations of the Lord, and we will never be wrong if we do that." That sounds like good logic, doesn't it?
That injunction from the President took us into a study of all that the Lord has said about the place of the priesthood and how it should operate in the kingdom. We found what the Lord said about the work of the Twelve:
"The Twelve are a Traveling Presiding High Council, to officiate in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Presidency of the Church, agreeable to the institution of heaven; to build up the church, and regulate all the affairs of the same in all nations, first unto the Gentiles and secondly unto the Jews".
About the Seventy the Lord said: "It is the duty of the traveling high council to call upon the Seventy, when they need assistance, to fill the several calls for preaching and administering the gospel, instead of any others".
I think you will see in what has gone forward in the last few years that now as never before in our recollection, the seventies have been given a major role in the missionary work of the Church. Perhaps the door has opened as widely as it has ever been for the work of the seventies, and we thank the Lord for the work of our leaders in the seventies quorums.
Now to support what the First Presidency's message has already said about others who would be called as leaders: "Whereas other officers of the church, who belong not unto the Twelve, neither to the Seventy, are not under the responsibility to travel among all nations, but are to travel as their circumstances shall allow, notwithstanding they may hold as high and responsible offices in the church".
That would allow, besides those mentioned, a place for the Assistants to the Twelve.
Then we found another scripture that had significance. It has always been there, but we had never read this scripture as we saw it now. The Lord said in the 84th section of the Doctrine and Covenants:
"Therefore, go ye into all the world; and unto whatsoever place ye cannot go ye shall send, that the testimony may go from you into all the world unto every creature.
"And as I said unto mine apostles, even so I say unto you, for you are mine apostles, even God's high priests; ye are they whom my Father hath given me; ye are my friends".
Where we couldn't go, then, the Lord has said, "Send," that the testimony, your testimony, might by those you send be brought to every creature throughout the world.
Soon after the death of President Young, President John Taylor and the Twelve took over the presiding authority of the Church for approximately three years before President Taylor was sustained as the President of the Church. In a message to the Church at that time, two or three things were said to which I would like to call your attention:
Keys of the Holy Priesthood and the Apostleship
"The keys of the kingdom are still right here with the Church... the holy Priesthood and Apostleship, which He restored to the earth, still remain to guide and govern, and to administer ordinances to the Church which He has established. Our beloved brother Brigham Young has gone from us to join the Prophet Joseph and the host of the holy and the pure who are behind the veil; but we do not therefore lose the benefit of his labors. He is now in a position to do more for that work which he loved so well, and for which he labored so ardently, than he could possibly do in the flesh; and that work will roll onward with increased power and accelerated speed."
And then they quoted from the Prophet Joseph Smith's instructions the following:
"The Twelve are not subject to any other than the First Presidency, viz: myself, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams, who are now my counselors."
After the death of the Prophet Joseph, President Young, in speaking to the Saints, said: "... Here are the Twelve, appointed by the finger of God, who hold the keys of the Priesthood, and the authority to set in order and regulate the Church in all the world."
Then there followed a statement which indicated that there was some tendency to look back to the previous administration and think what the Prophet Joseph might have done had he been there. President Brigham Young and his counselors wrote this in their closing epistle to the Church:
"Here is Elder Amasa Lyman and elder Sidney Rigdon; they were councilors in the first presidency, and they are councilors to the Twelve still; if they keep their places; but if either wishes to act as 'spokesman' for the prophet Joseph, he must go behind the veil where Joseph is."
Now that was a rather interesting observation.
May I now say this: Those keys of the kingdom are still here with the Church today. As President Taylor declared, "... the holy Priesthood and Apostleship, which He restored to the earth, still remain to guide and govern, and to administer ordinances to the Church which He has established." President David O. McKay is the one man today who holds those keys, as did the Prophet Joseph Smith, as did President Brigham Young, as did President John Taylor, and so on down to President McKay, who presides today.
Then President John Taylor added this final statement, which indicates something in which you will be interested:
"That there may be a correct understanding among all the Stakes of Zion respecting the time for holding the quarterly Conferences in the different Stakes, and the Presidents be enabled to make preparations therefore, we have deemed it best to make the following appointments for the conferences during the next half year. It will be seen that in most instances they will be held in two stakes upon the same days. This is unavoidable, in consequence of the great number of stakes."
And then I counted the "great" number of stakes: Salt Lake, Davis and Utah, Weber and Juab, Tooele and Box Elder, Wasatch and Cache, Summit and Bear Lake, Morgan and Sanpete, Sevier and Millard, Panguitch and Beaver, Kanab and Iron, and St. George-20 stakes, a great number of stakes. There were nine missions-nine organized missions-at that time. Well, as we think about that now, and as they closed that epistle after making that profound statement about the great number of stakes, the Twelve then added:
"And now, brethren and sisters, we exhort you to arouse yourselves and seek unto the Lord in fervent faith and prayer. We know that our Father in heaven is a God of Revelation. He is ready and willing to pour out his blessings and gifts upon those who seek unto Him for them. We need them as individuals and as a people to qualify us for the duties which devolve upon us. We should remember and carry into practical effect the counsels and instructions we have so liberally received from our departed President. He has gone from us; but the flock is not left without a shepherd. Latter-day Saints should so live that they will know the voice of the True Shepherd, and not be deceived by pretenders... The Latter-day Saint who does not live so as to have the revelations of Jest's constantly with him, stands in great danger of being deceived and falling away... All the signs which the Lord promised to send in the last days are making their appearance. They show that the day of the Lord is near. A great work has to be done, and there is but little time in which to accomplish it; great diligence is, therefore, required... Let us not slacken our diligence, or give way to doubt, unbelief or hardness of heart; but be strong in the Lord, and cry unto Him unceasingly to give us the power to build up His Zion on the earth, and to help establish a reign of righteousness, peace, and truth."
And so ended that remarkable epistle to the Church.
Now to point up our challenge of the present growth and to prepare for the fulfillment of the hastening of the Lord's work, which he promised he would do in his own time: If one were to paint a picture in broad strokes of just a few features of the future, here are some things that will challenge the Church in the years that lie ahead:
When I came into the Council of the Twelve we had 35 missions. I helped to organize, along with President Joseph Fielding Smith, the 138th stake. We now have 443 stakes.
During the 70 years from 1830 to 1900, the Church grew by 258,000 members. Today, a quarter of a million expansion in membership takes not 70 years, but in only two or three years, we expand by a quarter of a million.
Our Church membership is increasing at about three times the growth rate of the population of the United States. But, just as significantly, the regional distribution of Church membership is also following some clear trends that we trust recognize, not only intellectually, but also administratively.
In 1910, Utah and Idaho contained approximately 75 percent of all Church membership. Today, only 40 percent of the Church's members live in these two states. Utah once held two-thirds of all members. Today, even though the number of members in Utah has now risen from 224,000 in 1910 to 714,000, only one-third of all members now live in Utah. Brazil now has 23,000 Latter-day Saints; Australia, 21,000; and Mexico, 50,000.
During the last ten years, membership in the southern states has risen from 72,000 to 170,000; in South America from 6,000 to 67,000; and in Asia from 1,500 to 21,000.
We have no choice but to think regionally.
Research has been done by the department of statistics at the Brigham Young University by Dr. Howard Nielsen, and he estimates the Church membership by 1985, just 17 years from now, will total from 5,700,000 to 7,700,000, depending on the rate of conversions.
By the year 2000 A. D., which means that our children now eight years of age will then be 41 years old, we could have a total membership of over ten million people. Though this may sound very distant to some of us, it is the year, I repeat, when these eight-year-olds will become 41, if you get that clearly.
In 1985 there will be more than one million members in Utah, but they will represent only 21 percent of all Church membership. California will have almost a million members by then, and the southern states one-half million. Canada will host 160,000 members, with more than 200,000 in the British Isles, and over one-quarter million in Central and South America.
Today, there are approximately 443 stakes and nearly 4,000 wards and branches. By 1985, depending on our effectiveness and external events, we should have 1,000 stakes and nearly 10,000 wards.
In the calendar year 1985, about 200 new stake presidents will be appointed to new or existing stakes, and General Authorities will need to direct five stake reorganizations each week. The brethren will then need to clear between 50 and 60 names for the office of bishop each week.
Well, you begin to see something about the growth, and so we could go on with auxiliary organizations.
Now just a word about the missions: It is estimated that in the missions within that 17-year period, in contrast to 77 or 78 missions we have today, we could have as many as 185 missions by then, with probably as many as 30,000 missionaries instead of our 13,000 as of today.
Perhaps this is enough, then, to indicate the great challenge that demands an extended authoritative supervisory ministry.
When the first five Assistants to the Twelve were called in 1941, the Presidency said: "The rapid growth of the Church in recent times, the constantly increasing establishment of wards and stakes... all have built up an apostolic service of the greatest magnitude. The First Presidency and Twelve feel that to meet adequately their great responsibilities and to carry on efficiently this service for the Lord, they should have some help." That was said when we had 137 stakes. Now, when we have 443 stakes and twice as many missions, you begin to see what we are talking about. All of this is sobering to think about, even superficially. It is awesome to contemplate, at any length. How can we best provide the necessary leadership with enough worthy, able leaders in the right places at the right time? How can we best finance a kingdom of this scope and dimension? How can we best absorb, fellowship, and teach this many souls?
While sacrament meeting attendance rose from 21 percent in 1921 to 36 percent in 1965, we appear to have hit a plateau. We are not advancing from that 36 percent. Effective preaching of the gospel and showing how it relates directly to the lives of people today are partial but needed answers to this challenge.
Now the plan that has been announced is for the appointment of Regional Representatives of the Twelve. Many of you heard the announcement by the First Presidency yesterday. This was the official announcement:
"As many of you will remember, in 1941, it became necessary for the First Presidency and the Twelve to provide for additional brethren to help with the work of overseeing and setting in order an ever-growing, world-wide Church. Thus in the General Conference of April, 1941, Assistants to the Twelve were named and sustained, 'to be increased or otherwise from time to time as the necessity or carrying on the Lord's work seems to dictate.'
"Since then the world-wide demands of the Church have increased in ever greater degree, and it is felt by the First Presidency and the Twelve that a further provision for guidance and direction is now needed.
"What, therefore, is now proposed is the calling of as many brethren as may be necessary, to be known as Regional Representatives of the Twelve, each, as assigned, to be responsible in some aspects of the work to carry counsel to and to conduct instructional meetings in groups of stakes or regions as may be designated from time to time.
"These Regional Representatives of the Twelve will not be 'General' Authorities, as such, but will serve somewhat as do stake presidents, giving full Church service for greater or lesser periods of service as circumstances may suggest.
"Fuller details will be in evidence as this plan proceeds under the guidance of the First Presidency and the Twelve."
During these last few years, we have had in preparation for this regional expansion 114 priesthood committee members representing the four phases of priesthood work previously referred to. They have rendered a great and monumental service and will do so to the end of 1967, after which they will be released by the First Presidency. When their present service is concluded, we hope to show our appreciation to them in some more appropriate manner. And, parenthetically, I might say, I would think that presidents in stakes where these well-trained committee members reside would be something less than alert if they did not move after January 1 to bring these brethren into some of their local priesthood structures, in order to take advantage of the great experience these brethren have had throughout the Church.
Most all of these who are called now to be Regional Representatives of the Twelve have served in stake presidencies or as mission presidents or both. Fifteen of them are now serving as stake presidents and will be released before the end of this year.
Areas of the Church, where clusters of stakes will be brought together, will be assigned to the 69 Regional Representatives of the Twelve; and so far as possible, these men are being assigned to areas as near to their homes as possible. Forty-four Regional Representatives will live within their assigned areas. Twenty-five will be assigned outside their own areas, but about 12 of them convenient to their homes. Eleven will be in distant areas and nine outside of continental United States, particularly those countries that need men with special language aptitudes to teach effectively the leaders in these foreign language stakes.
One of the reasons we have released a number of priesthood committee members is because we are trying to find men within the regions, so far as it is practicable so to do, to regionalize as far as is possible close to their homes.
With this in mind, perhaps we should say just a word about the role of Regional Representatives. For two days this past week, we have had eight hours each day with our Regional Representatives of the Twelve together with the General Authorities and the heads of our auxiliary organizations, in an intensive instructional period, highlighted by a devotional in the temple under the direction of the First Presidency.
This, then, will be the program that will go into effect.
Last night after two hours of meeting with all the stake presidents of the Church and these Regional Representatives, each representative received his assignment to a given area and went thereafter to an office in the Church Office Building where he met, for the first time, the stake presidents who will work under his supervision, and to become acquainted and there to establish a relationship that, we hope, will grow strong and very precious throughout the years.
As the Church has grown, we have felt somewhat guilty. I called attention last night to the fact that last Sunday I was in Dallas, Texas, where we organized a new stake, the Fort Worth Stake. We took all the time between the two sessions to set new officers apart. We then went into the second session, after which, as we rushed to catch a plane to come home, I said to the stake president, "The Lord bless you, President Kelly. I will see you at general conference." I had a guilty feeling that I didn't take the time, didn't have the time, to sit down and do an adequate job of teaching and training those new officers.
So, in the stake quarterly conferences hereafter, or beginning in 1968, the General Authorities will be the only official visitors to attend stake conferences except in those single stakes that are not aligned with regions. In those stakes the Regional Representative of the Twelve will go on the conference dates when no General Authority is to be in attendance; and with the auxiliary representatives, they will hold a regional meeting similar to that which will be held in all the regions semiannually throughout the Church and remain over for the stake conference.
The General Authorities will go to stake quarterly conferences on Saturday afternoon, and there we will have a leadership training session in the afternoon with the stake presidency, the high council, and the bishoprics; with all the priesthood leaders in the evening; and on Sunday morning, with the stake presidency. And then we are endeavoring to get all the families to come to conference. In order to provide a place for the small children, we are suggesting that in every stake the stake superintendency of Sunday School arrange for a Junior Sunday School, perhaps in a separate building, if one can be found nearby, or in another area of the stake conference center; and there, with a suggested program that we will give, the children will be taken care of during that two-hour period, which will perhaps be broken down into short periods, with some diversion for the children.
Now, beginning in 1968, there will be only one general session of conference in each stake; in the afternoon, when the General Authority is in attendance, we will take time to give instruction that we haven't had time to give, as I have illustrated in the case of the Fort Worth Stake leaders at Dallas this past week.
As we read the revelations we found something significant about stake conferences, as the Lord designed them. Let me read what the Lord said, as recorded in Section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants, about stake conferences:
"The several elders composing this church of Christ are to meet in conference once in three months, or from time to time as said conferences shall direct or appoint...
"It shall be the duty of the several churches, composing the church of Christ, to send one or more of their teachers to attend the several conferences held by the elders of the church".
That was a stake conference. If we understand that instruction correctly, we should understand that the prime purpose of a stake conference was to instruct the leaders of the stakes; and that is what we are now intending to do, more than we have done in the past.
It will be expected that every ward in the stake will return home and have a sacrament meeting in the evening, where the greater number of the membership of the Church will be brought into some worshiping assembly on the day of a stake quarterly conference.
Now, we have had excellent conferences in the stakes, but we find we have had good attendance in the morning, while many have stayed away from the afternoon session. That is happening not in one stake but in many stakes. Now, in order to see that there is a place in every stake for every member to attend, we are asking that there be a sacrament meeting in every ward in every stake on the day of stake conference.
At the conferences where no General Authority is in attendance, we are asking our stake presidents not to have an imported speaker to take the place of a General Authority, or to expect their Regional Representative to come. He will only go there as he may indicate he would desire for some special purpose or may be assigned by the First Presidency or the Twelve. This will be the opportunity for the stake president with his staff, meaning his auxiliary and priesthood leaders, to instruct his people as the leaders have been instructed in their previous regional meetings. And so our quarterly conferences will be more intensive training in leadership by General Authorities, and we are now trying to gear ourselves to do a better job than we have been doing in the past.
We will have in addition some specialists or, as we will now call them, priesthood aides, in genealogy, welfare, missionary and home teaching, who may be brought into service as necessary to meet the needs of our Regional Representatives or individual stakes needing specialized attention.
Now then, I conclude with just one or two observations. Again and again has been repeated the statement that the home is the basis of a righteous life. With new and badly needed emphasis on the "how," we must not lose sight of the "why" we are so engaged. The priesthood programs operate in support of the home; the auxiliary programs render valuable assistance. Wise regional leadership can help us to do our share in attaining God's overarching purpose, "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man". Both the revelations of God and the learning of men tell us how crucial the home is in shaping the individual's total life experience. You must have been impressed that running through all that has been said in this conference has been the urgency of impressing the importance of better teaching and greater parental responsibility in the home. Much of what we do organizationally, then, is scaffolding, as we seek to build the individual, and we must not mistake the scaffolding for the soul.
Now may I just say this: I was with one of the brethren who formerly presided over the Swedish Mission. He told me about being on a ship that was going out among the various islands into the open sea. As the ship was being steered near one particularly unimpressive island, he wondered why it wasn't steered past another island. Finally he noticed ahead what appeared to be broomsticks sticking up; these sticks were attached to buoys, to guide the ship through safe channels. Engineers had discovered the safe places.
God's engineers have charted the course ahead of us. Now our critics will wonder why we didn't take some other course to meet the problem. This reminds me of the saying: "A man is usually down on what he ain't up on." We suppose we will have more and more of that.
The Lord's chosen leaders have signaled us now to move forward. When Moses went to lead the children of Israel out into the desert, it was not the Moses who had fled for his life; it was not the Moses who had climbed the mount with fear; but it was the Moses endowed by the power of Almighty God. When he lifted his staff and signaled, the whole company moved forward. We must not lose ourselves in the mechanics of leadership and neglect the spiritual. "... if your eye be single to my glory," the Lord said, "your whole body shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you".
Evidence of improved leadership will bring more consistent study of the scriptures, greater concern of the holders of the priesthood in watching over the Church, more devotion to family duties, more of our young people married worthily in the temple, greater faith and righteous exercise of the priesthood, and so on.
The Prophet Joseph Smith said as he wrote from Liberty Jail:
"Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things.
"You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.
"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed".
To which I bear humble testimony, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder LeGrand Richards
LeGrand Richards, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 109-113
Brethren, I feel humble this evening as I stand here before you, this wonderful body of priesthood. With you, I enjoyed the message from President McKay and the message and information that we had from Brother Lee; and I am sure that we realize that we should not be just hearers only of the word, but doers.
I think of a message that I received in a letter from one of my grandsons, who was on a mission in Switzerland. He is now a bishop, and I think he is listening in here tonight. In that letter he told me about how he was qualifying a man for baptism and was telling him about what would be expected of him, such as keeping the Word of Wisdom and paying tithing and working in the priesthood to help build the kingdom; and the man stopped him, and said, "You don't need to tell me all those things." He said, "All I want to know is, was Joseph Smith a prophet of God? If he was, I will do anything that the Prophet asks me to do."
I hope we all feel that way toward our great leader today, that all we want to know is what he wants us to do, and what the Lord wants us to do.
Some of you will remember that President Grant often used to tell us that we sing "We thank thee O God for a prophet, to guide us in these latter days," but, he said, "There are many of the Latter-day Saints who would like to add a P.S.: 'Providing he doesn't ask us to do what we don't want to do.'"
I hope that we don't accept the counsel and the advice of our great leaders with any reservation, and that we want to do all they would have us do.
Speaking of the priesthood, and we have many boys of the Aaronic Priesthood here tonight, it was my great pleasure to supervise the Aaronic Priesthood of the Church as Presiding Bishop for 14 years.
When one of my boys was ordained a deacon, after I returned he came into my office and said, "Daddy, I have more authority than the President of the United States, haven't I?" It took my breath away. I had to think pretty fast, and finally I said, "Well, yes, you do. The President of the United States gets his authority from the people, and when his term of office expires, his authority is all gone. Yours comes from the Lord, and if you will live for it, it will be yours forever and ever."
After he had grown into manhood and was in the mission field, I memorized one statement from his letter, which read like this: "Father, these saints are wonderful. They do us all kinds of favors. Shucks, they make my fraternity brothers look sick." He said, "I will never ask for the privilege of joining a fraternity again. The priesthood of God is the greatest union in all the world, isn't it?"
Now, I believe that with all my heart, and I was happy to know that my son had come to that conclusion in his youth. Isn't that what President McKay said tonight in his message: that it is the greatest brotherhood in all the world? I know that this is true. We can go anywhere in this world, and it doesn't matter what mission it is; for as long as people have taken upon them the name of Christ in the waters of baptism, they are truly brothers and sisters, no matter what color their skin may be. It is the greatest brotherhood in all the world.
I would like to read a statement from the Prophet Joseph as related by President Wilford Woodruff in general conference, April 1898. He tells about when he first met the Prophet Joseph, which was back in 1833, three years after the Church was organized. These are the words of the Prophet: "Brethren, I have been very much edified and instructed in your testimonies here tonight, but I want to say to you before the Lord, that you know no more concerning the destinies of this Church and Kingdom than a babe upon its mother's lap. You don't comprehend it. It is only a little handful of priesthood you see here tonight, but this Church will fill North and South America-it will fill the world. It will fill the Rocky Mountains. There will be tens of thousands of Latter-day Saints who will he gathered in the Rocky Mountains, and there they will open the door for the establishing of the Gospel among the Lamanites." I have already talked to five groups of priesthood today on the work with the Lamanites.
The Prophet said there was only "a handful of priesthood." Now maybe he knows what is going on here tonight, but when we are told that this priesthood meeting is being broadcast in 502 buildings, with a possible attendance-in addition to what is on this block-of 95,000 people, isn't the spirit of understanding and testimony marvelous that this great Prophet of this dispensation had, to be able to point to the future of the Church? At that time, and that was 14 years before the saints came west to the Rocky Mountains, he said they would come here, that the saints would be gathered in the Rocky Mountains, and there they would open the door for the establishment of the gospel among the Lamanites.
Some years ago while I was the Presiding Bishop of the Church, we had what we called the Aaronic Priesthood pageant. I don't know if any of you are old enough to remember that or not, but we repeated it a year or so after the first showing. We had people who were traveling through tell us that it was the most impressive religious gathering they had ever seen in their lives. It was built around the theme that we lived in the spirit world before we were born; and then we were told we would come upon the earth and would have experiences here such as we could not have there; and the question was asked, "Will there be anyone there to show us the way?" The answer was, "There will be your parents and the Church, and the priesthood of God."
I hope that we fathers who are here today realize how great our responsibility is. We have been told that by all of our leaders. President McKay has said so often that no success in life can compensate for failure in the home.
I once heard President Joseph F. Smith make the statement that he hoped it could never be said of him that, in trying to save others, he had lost his own.
A short time after the pageant one of the good sisters attending Relief Society out in the Southeast was telling about how she brought her husband to see that pageant. In the pageant each of the boys had a little spotlight on his forehead, and then some of those lights went out. In one scene, there they were, on the platform, discussing all their problems, and one little fellow turned and said "My father doesn't go to priesthood meeting, and I want to be like my father." This woman, in telling about taking her husband to the pageant, said when that little fellow said, "My father doesn't go to priesthood meeting, and I want to be like my father," she felt her husband just cringe, like he had been hit with an electric shock. The next Sunday morning when the boy got ready for his priesthood meeting, the father said. "Wait a minute, son. I am going with you." The boy said, "You are kidding me, Dad." But his mother got his eye, and you know what happened.
I don't suppose I would be standing here tonight were it not for the noble teachings and example of that father of mine. I grew up on a farm. When everything went dead wrong, as it did at times, I remember a hayrack we were trying to get on the gears; it tumbled down, and the worst swear word I ever heard my father use in all the years on that farm was "Oh, fiddlesticks," and I think the Lord will forgive him for that.
I can remember hoeing weeds out of the old corn patch-acres of it when father would take rows and we would take rows, and he would keep calling to us and asking us Church questions: "What is the gospel?" I can remember that question when I was just a little fellow, my daddy asking it as we were hoeing the corn. You can't get away from things like that.
At the end of the year, he would gather us three boys around the table in the dining room. We each had a notebook, and we would figure out the tithing. You know, on the farm it isn't like getting a monthly check. We figured what the chickens had produced, and what the garden had produced; and if a calf was a year older than at the beginning of the year, then we would figure its growth and the added value; and then after we had gotten everything all figured out, Father would always throw in a little for good measure, so that we would be sure that we had paid a full tithing.
Do you suppose that any one of those three boys who sat around that table year after year with that kind of leadership would have ever ended a year without being a full tithe payer? Well, you know where I am. I am the middle one of the three; both of the others have been mission presidents; they are both patriarchs today. I tell you, there is no substitute for what you get from a father who sets the example. You know the little story that "he stepped in his father's footsteps all the way."
"I would trust you anywhere..."
I left home as a young man and came to the city here to board and go to school; and when my father came to town and stayed with me, he would put his arms around me and say, "My boy, I never thought I could trust one of my boys in the big city." Then he said, "I would trust you anywhere I would go myself." It was just like putting a steel rod up my backbone. How could I let my father down?
One of my boyfriends said, "If I didn't believe there was a God, and I didn't believe that some day I would have to answer for what I do here on this earth, I couldn't break the commandments because of the respect I have for my father."
Just another little thing about how Daddy trained us boys: You know, in the country town where I was raised, the greatest sport the boys had was to go buggy-riding in the afternoon on Sunday with their girls. Of course, my brother and I could never go buggy-riding because Father was a member of the stake presidency, and we had to set an example. One day we went to Father, and we said, "Now, man to man, Father, why can't we buggy-ride on Sunday like these other boys?" Father didn't want to deprive us of anything, but he said, "Now, I'll tell you boys what you can do. You can leave one of the best teams home any day of the week you want, and you can quit work at noon and come home and clean up, and then you can go buggy-riding." Wouldn't we have looked pretty buggy-riding around in the middle of the week when no one else was buggy-riding? Can you imagine our asking the girls to go buggy-riding with us under those conditions?
Well, these are just some of the little things that tied us together to that daddy of ours. I walked into my father's apartment when he was just about 90, and as I opened the door, he stood up and walked toward me and took me in his arms and hugged me and kissed me. He always did that. I received letters from all over the Church when I kissed Father here on the stand once after I became the Presiding Bishop. Taking me in his arms and calling me by my kid name, he said, "Grandy, my boy, I love you." You can't get away from love like that, can you?
Now, that is what it takes to make families in which the children will all be married in the temple, and in which they will all serve the Lord. I thank God with all my heart that all of mine are active in the Church and holding positions of responsibility, because Mother and I have tried to set the example. And you have to do it. You can't go golfing on Sunday and then expect your children to go to Church and expect to raise them in the Church. You have to go with them. You have to set them the example.
That same spirit carried forward in this pageant of ours. We were told that there would be our parents, and there would be the Church to show us the way. My, the work that is being done in this Church to try and raise boys and girls! And we are raising many of them far above the standards of their own homes. We had one mission president who reported to the General Authorities in the temple that he had 18 elders in his mission who came out of inactive Latter-day Saint homes. They weren't there because of the leadership of their parents, but because of the influence of the Church upon their lives and the influence of their young associates. Incidentally, he said that in 15 of the homes, the parents became active while these boys were in the mission field. I could understand that.
When I was president of the Southern States Mission, I shed many a tear reading the letters that came in from my missionaries, some of which went like this: "President Richards, I just had a letter from Mother. She said Father has quit his tobacco. He has started attending his priesthood meetings. He is getting ready so that when I come home, we can all go to the temple together."
It is like a two-edged sword. It cuts at home as well as it does in the mission field. I visited with that particular mission president a short time ago up in Canada, and he said, "Brother Richards, in the case of 12 of those 18 families, the parents came up with their autos and met their missionaries when they were released and had their families with them, and they went through the temple for the first time."
The Church is doing a tremendous job. When I was the Presiding Bishop, we used to like to know what the boys thought of their leaders, so when we attended a stake conference, we would have the boys tell us what kind of a man they liked for a bishop. It might interest some of you bishops if you were to try an experiment of that kind.
I remember one little fellow out here in the Granite Stake. He said something like this: "We boys like a man for a bishop who doesn't think that a boy is just a pain in the neck." You know, I thought that was a wonderful sermon. I used to tell the boys that if any of them had fathers who felt that way about them and if there were any way they could trade them off, they ought to get rid of them like you would an automobile.
We have to have the right attitude. I am going to give you two more illustrations.
When I was back in Washington some years ago, I overheard one of our Mormon men who was standing in line to get in a theater; and he got in conversation with the man next to him and found that he was from Utah. He said, "Then you are a Mormon, aren't you?" He said, "No, I am not a Mormon." And this man who asked him thought he was afraid to own up to it, so to make it a little easier he said, "Well, I am a Mormon. I thought all of us from Utah were Mormons." Then the other man added, "I was once, but I am not any more." "How come that you are not?" "Well," he said, "when I attended Aaronic Priesthood meeting one night, one of the good brethren threw me out by the nape of the neck, and as I went out I said, 'If you put me out of here, I will never darken the door of your church again.' And he did, and I never have."
I am afraid that if I had been there and had been big enough, there would have been two going out instead of one. I think the wrong man was put out.
I want to show you just a little contrast to that. I went over here on the west side of town to attend an award night when I was the Presiding Bishop; we had a program, and then we went in the cultural hall for a banquet, and it was beautifully spread with nice linen and silverware. I sat with the stake president next to me; and there was a place for the bishop next to me on the other side, but the bishop wasn't there. Finally he came in and sat down. He nibbled a little at his food and then pushed his plate away. I turned to him and said, "Bishop, what's the matter?" "Oh," he said, "one of the boys talked during the closing prayer, and I spoke to him about it, and it offended him. He grabbed his hat and away he went." He said, "I followed him home. I stayed with him until he had apologized to me, and I had apologized to him, and we are both back together."
You see, there wasn't anything lost, since that wound had been healed before it calloused over. The only thing lost was the bishop's appetite, and he could make that up.
Now, brethren, I am proud of our youth. I have stories by the dozens about how they have brought us honor, and I love them; I love the work that you men are doing for them, and what this Church is doing, and I trust that there will be no fathers whose boys will not be able to look up to them.
We had a miller come to our town when I was a boy. We used to take a load of wheat to the mill and get credit for it, and then we would go and draw on it for our mush and for shorts for pigs, etc. A new miller came, and I went up to get a grist, but had no credit, and he wouldn't let me have it; he didn't know me. I said, "Well, you check up on my father," and I gave him the name.
A few days later, I went up with a load of wheat, and I said, "Did you check on my father with the owner of the mill?" He said, "Yes, sir." I said, "What did he say?" "He said, 'The next time one of those sons of George F. Richards comes to this mill, if he wants the mill, get out and give it to him.'"
Fathers may not all be able to hand down to their sons in the way of money, stocks, and bonds; but I want to tell you that when you can hand down a name to your boys, so that they will be proud to say, "He is my father," then you will be doing what God, the Eternal Father, expects you to do with these sons who are entrusted to your keeping.
May God bless each one of you, I pray, and leave you my blessing in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Hugh B. Brown
Hugh B. Brown, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 115-117
My dear brethren, seen and unseen: I am conscious of a whole army of men out there in various wards and branches and stake houses who are tuned into this meeting and have listened to what has gone on.
I am sure all of you have been inspired and blessed and lifted up. I am sure the message from our President, David O. McKay, has found lodgment in the hearts of all, and I trust that each of us will carry from this meeting a resolution and a determination not to let him down, to show him our love and our support and our loyalty by doing the things he has asked us to do and the things we know we ought to do.
We have all been inspired too by the splendid message given by Brother Lee, and in the absence of the President, I just want you to know that it is not Brother Lee's program. It is not the program of any one man. It is a program that is supported and instituted, is being advanced, and will be carried on by the Presidency of the Church and the Twelve Apostles, and those who have been and may be called to assist.
It seems to me that of all the signs of the times this is one of the significant signs of the times-that the Church of Jesus Christ, the kingdom of God, is massing its forces, getting ready for that which is to follow. These 69 men have been called in to serve. They are seasoned men. They are men of great faith and considerable experience. They are all men on whom we can rely. They are men to whom you can look and from whom you will get much instruction, advice, and counsel, and I pray that the Lord will help us all to support them and uphold them, for they are representatives of the Twelve and the First Presidency.
I say this is in a sense one of the signs of the times. I see thousands of young men here, and I know there are other thousands listening; and I would like to say to you young men that those of us who are growing older will pass on. We must pass the torch to you. You must have the faith to hold it high. You have the authority and will have greater priesthood than you have now, those of you with the lesser priesthood; you will be expected to represent the Church, and in that representation you will represent the Lord.
I hope that no man under the sound of our voices here tonight will allow himself to be tempted to do anything that would cause him to blush if it were known by those he loves the most.
I hope that every young man under the sound of my voice will resolve tonight, "I am going to keep myself clean. I am going to serve the Lord. I am going to prepare every way I can for future service, because I want to be prepared when the final battle shall come."
And some of you young men are going to engage in that battle. Some of you are going to engage in the final testing time, which is coming and which is closer to us than we know.
I want to leave with you my blessing, the blessing of the First Presidency and the Twelve. We are greatly appreciative of the wonderful work done by Brother Lee and his committee, the Council of the Twelve, and others who have been called in to serve in the preparation of this wonderful program. We hope it will have your wholehearted support, and that you will in supporting it realize that you are only doing the work of the Lord.
I want to say to you, brethren, that in the midst of all the troubles, the uncertainties, the tumult and chaos through which the world is passing, almost unnoticed by the majority of the people of the world, there has been set up a kingdom, a kingdom over which God the Father presides, and Jesus the Christ is the King. That kingdom is rolling forward, as I say, partly unnoticed, but it is rolling forward with a power and a force that will stop the enemy in its tracks while some of you live.
Do you want to be among those on the side of Christ and his apostles? Would you like to be with those who are on the side of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and the others of the leaders, including President David O. McKay?
Now is the time to make a resolution to that effect and to prepare to put yourselves in a position where you can do the will of God, keep control of yourselves, and control your passions and your appetites and those other things that lead downward into forbidden paths.
I pray you, brethren, avoid drugs of all kinds, as you would avoid the very gates of hell. I pray that his Spirit may be with you, qualify and prepare you for that which lies ahead.
Daniel saw our time. Daniel knew, through the Spirit that prompted President McKay to inaugurate this work, that there would be a day when the God of heaven would set up a kingdom. I want to read you his words. Speaking of a time subsequent to the Roman Empire, when the government of the world had been divided into kingdoms, part of clay and part of iron, Daniel says:
"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever...
"And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him".
I want also to bring to your attention one verse from the 65th section of the Doctrine and Covenants:
"The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth".
I want to bear testimony and by way of emphasis repeat that statement, "The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth.
"Wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come, that thou, O God, mayest be glorified in heaven so on earth, that thine enemies may be subdued; for thine is the honor, power and glory, forever and ever".
Remember, brethren, the Lord has spoken. There is a spirit hovering over this group and reaching out to the various groups who are listening in, and it is a yearning spirit. It is the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, calling upon all men who have been baptized into the Church and have received some order of priesthood to stand up and be counted, for the time will come when those who are not for him will be found to be against him. I urge all of us to set our houses in order, to set our lives in order, to be prepared for that which lies ahead; and God will bless and sustain us in our efforts.
O Father, bless these young men, and these older ones. Let thy Spirit guide them. May it hover over them, shield and protect them against the wiles of the adversary. We realize, O Father, that they are fighting not against flesh and blood alone. They are fighting against enemies in high places. They are fighting against empires. They are fighting against organized sin, organized rebellion. They are fighting against riots and all manner of disobedience and lawlessness.
O Father, help these young men who are listening tonight, when they go home to get on their knees and commit themselves to thee; and then they may know, and I promise them in thy name that they will know, that with thy help they need not fear the future.
God bless us all to this end, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Hugh B. Brown
Hugh B. Brown, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 117-121
My brothers and sisters who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and my brothers and sisters who are members of other churches, or of none; all who may be listening to the proceedings of this conference, I salute and welcome as my brothers and sisters because I believe in the universal Fatherhood of God and the consequent universal brotherhood of man.
I should like to support and bear witness to the claim that the gospel of Jesus Christ as it was taught by him and his apostles in the meridian of time was restored in the state of New York in 1830 by Jesus the Christ, and was organized under his direction through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I should like to give some reasons for this faith and attempt to justify my allegiance to the Church. Perhaps I can do this best by referring again to an interview I had in London, England, in 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II.
I had met a very prominent English gentleman, a member of the House of Commons and formerly one of the justices of the supreme court of Britain. In a series of conversations on various subjects, "vexations of the soul," he called them, we talked about business and law; about politics, international relations, and war; and we frequently discussed religion.
He called me on the phone one day and asked if I would meet him at his office and explain some phases of my faith. He said, "There is going to be a war, and you will have to return to America, and we may not meet again." His statement regarding the imminence of war and the possibility that we would not meet again proved to be prophetic.
When I went to his office, he said he had been intrigued by some things I had told about my church. He asked me if I would prepare a brief on Mormonism and discuss it with him as I would discuss a legal problem. He said, "You have told me that you believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that you believe that God the Father and Jesus of Nazareth appeared to him in vision."
"I cannot understand," he said, "how a barrister and solicitor from Canada, a man trained in logic and evidence and unemotional cold fact, could accept such absurd statements. What you tell me about Joseph Smith seems fantastic, but I wish you would take three days at least to prepare a brief and permit me to examine it and question you on it."
I suggested that, as I had been working on such a brief for more than 50 years, we proceed at once to have an examination for discovery, which is briefly a meeting of the opposing sides in a lawsuit where the plaintiff and defendant, with their attorneys, meet to examine each other's claims and see whether they can find some area of agreement and thus save the time of the court later on.
I said perhaps we could find some common ground from which we could discuss my "fantastic ideas." He agreed, and we proceeded with our "examination for discovery."
Because of time limitations, I can only give a condensed or abbreviated synopsis of the three-hour conversation that followed. I began by asking, "May I proceed, sir, on the assumption that you are a Christian?"
"I am."
"I assume that you believe in the Bible-the Old and New Testaments?"
"I do!"
"Do you believe in prayer?"
"I do!"
"You say that my belief that God spoke to a man in this age is fantastic and absurd?"
"To me it is."
"Do you believe that God ever did speak to anyone?"
"Certainly, all through the Bible we have evidence of that."
"Did he speak to Adam?"
"Yes."
"To Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jacob, and to others of the prophets?"
"I believe he spoke to each of them."
"Do you believe that contact between God and man ceased when Jesus appeared on the earth?"
"Certainly not. Such communication reached its climax, its apex at that time."
"Do you believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God?"
"He was."
"Do you believe, sir, that after the resurrection of Christ, God ever spoke to any man?"
He thought for a moment and then said, "I remember one Saul of Tarsus who was going down to Damascus to persecute the saints and who had a vision, was stricken blind, in fact, and heard a voice."
"Whose voice did he hear?"
"Well," he said, "the voice said 'I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.'"
"Do you believe that actually took place?"
"I do."
"Then, my Lord"-that is the way we address judges in the British commonwealth-"my Lord, I am submitting to you in all seriousness that it was standard procedure in Bible times for God to talk to men."
"I think I will admit that, but it stopped shortly after the first century of the Christian era."
"Why do you think it stopped?"
"I can't say."
"You think that God hasn't spoken since then?"
"Not to my knowledge."
"May I suggest some possible reasons why he has not spoken. Perhaps it is because he cannot. He has lost the power."
He said, "Of course that would be blasphemous."
"Well, then, if you don't accept that, perhaps he doesn't speak to men because he doesn't love us anymore. He is no longer interested in the affairs of men."
"No," he said, "God loves all men, and he is no respecter of persons".
"Well, then, if you don't accept that he loves us, then the only other possible answer as I see it is that we don't need him. We have made such rapid strides in education and science that we don't need God any more."
Great need for the voice of God
And then he said, and his voice trembled as he thought of impending war, "Mr. Brown, there never was a time in the history of the world when the voice of God was needed as it is needed now. Perhaps you can tell me why he doesn't speak."
My answer was, "He does speak, he has spoken; but men need faith to hear him."
Then we proceeded to examine what I may call a "profile of a prophet."
We agreed that any man who claims to be a prophet should have at least the following characteristics:
1. He will boldly but humbly declare, "God has spoken to me."
2. His message will be dignified, intelligent, earnest, and honest, but he will not necessarily be a learned person.
3. There will be no spiritualistic claims of communion with the dead, no clairvoyance or legerdemain.
4. Generally he will be a young man such as Samuel; a man having good parentage and associates.
5. His message must be reasonable and scriptural.
6. He will be fearless and positive, unmindful of current opinion and the creeds of the day.
7. He will make no concessions to public opinion or the effect upon himself or his reputation or personal fortune.
8. His message must be current, unusual, but historically consistent.
9. He will simply but earnestly tell what he has seen and heard.
10. His message, not himself, will be important to him.
11. He will boldly declare, "Thus saith the Lord!"
12. He will predict future events in the name of the Lord, events that he could not control, events that only God could bring to pass.
13. His message will be important not only for his generation but for all time, such as the messages of Daniel, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah.
14. He will have courage, fortitude, and faith enough to endure persecution and, if necessary, to give his life for his testimony, and be willing to seal his testimony with his blood as did Peter and Paul.
15. He will denounce wickedness fearlessly and be rejected and ridiculed therefore.
16. He will do superhuman things, things that only a man inspired of God could do.
17. The consequence of his teachings will be convincing evidence of his prophetic calling: "By their fruits ye shall know them".
18. His word and message will live after him.
19. All of his teachings will be scriptural. In fact, his words, writings, and message will become scripture. "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost".
Evidence that Joseph Smith is a prophet
I believe Joseph Smith was a prophet of God because he gave to this world some of the greatest revelations of all time. I believe that he was a prophet of God because he foretold many things that have come to pass, things that only God could bring to pass.
John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, declared, "... the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy". If Joseph Smith had the testimony of Jesus, he had the spirit of prophecy, and if he had the spirit of prophecy, he was a prophet. I submitted to my friend, that as much as any man who ever lived, the Prophet Joseph had a testimony of Jesus, for, like the apostles of old, he saw him and heard him speak, and like them he gave his life for that testimony. I know of no one who has given more convincing evidence of the divine calling of Jesus Christ than did Joseph Smith.
I believe Joseph Smith was a prophet because he did many superhuman things. One was translating the Book of Mormon, which is a history of the ancient inhabitants of America. Some people will not agree, but I submit that Joseph Smith in translating the Book of Mormon did a superhuman work I ask anyone to undertake to write the story of the ancient inhabitants of America, to write as he did without any source material. He must include in the story 54 chapters dealing with wars, 21 historical chapters, 55 chapters on visions and prophecies. He must write 71 chapters on doctrine and exhortation, and here too, he must check every statement with the scriptures or he will be proved to be a fraud. He must write 21 chapters on the ministry of Christ, and everything the writer claims Jesus said and did and every testimony he writes in the book about him must agree absolutely with the New Testament.
I ask, would anyone like to undertake such a task? I point out, too, that he must employ figures of speech, similes, metaphors, narration, exposition, description, oratory, epic, lyric, logic, and parables. I ask the writer to remember that the man who translated the Book of Mormon was a young man who had very little schooling, and yet he dictated that book in just a little over two months and made very few, if any, corrections. For over one hundred years, some of the best students and scholars of the world have been trying to prove from the Bible that the Book of Mormon is a fraud, but not one of them has been able to prove that anything in it was contrary to the scriptures, the Bible, the word of God.
The Book of Mormon not only declares on the title page that its purpose is to convince Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, but this truth is also the burden of its message.
In Third Nephi it is recorded that multitudes of people testified, "We saw him, we felt of his hands and his side, we know he is the Christ".
Joseph Smith undertook and accomplished other superhuman tasks. Among them I list the following: He organized the Church. He undertook to carry the gospel message to all nations, which is a superhuman task and is still progressing with accelerated speed. He undertook, by divine command, to gather thousands of people to Zion. He instituted vicarious work for the dead and built temples for that purpose. He promised that certain signs should follow the believers. There are tens of thousands of witnesses who certify that this promise has been fulfilled.
I said to my friend, "My Lord, I cannot understand your saying to me that my claims are fantastic. Nor can I understand why Christians who claim to believe in Christ would persecute and put to death a man whose whole purpose was to prove the truth of the things they themselves were teaching, namely, that Jesus is the Christ. I could understand their persecuting Joseph if he had said, 'I am Christ,' or if he had said, 'There is no Christ,' or if he had said someone else is Christ; then Christians believing in Christ would be justified in opposing him.
"But what he said was, 'Him whom ye claim to believe in, declare I unto you.' Paraphrasing what Paul said in Athens, 'Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you'. Joseph said to the Christians of his day, 'You claim to believe in Jesus Christ. I testify that I saw him and I talked with him. He is the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world. Why persecute me for that?'.
"When Joseph came out of the woods where he had this vision, he had learned at least four fundamental truths, and he announced them to the world: first, that the Father and the Son are separate and distinct individuals; second, that the canon of scripture is not complete; third, that man was actually created in the image of God; and fourth, that the channel of communication between earth and heaven is open, and revelation is continuous."
The judge sat and listened intently. He asked some very pointed and searching questions, and at the end of the interview he said, "Mr. Brown, I wonder if your people appreciate the import of your message. Do you?" He said, "If what you have told me is true, it is the greatest message that has come to earth since the angels announced the birth of Christ."
This was a learned judge speaking, a great statesman, an intelligent man. He threw out the challenge, "Do you appreciate the import of what you say?" He added: "I wish it were true. I hope it may be true. God knows it ought to be true. I would to God," he said, his voice trembling, "that some man would appear on the earth and authoritatively say, 'Thus saith the Lord.'"
As I intimated, we did not meet again. I have mentioned very briefly some of the reasons why I believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. But undergirding and overarching all that, I say from the very center of my heart that by the revelations of the Holy Ghost I know, and you may know, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. While the evidences I have mentioned and many others that could be cited may have the effect of giving one an intellectual conviction, only by the whisperings of the Holy Spirit can one come to know the things of God. By those whisperings I say I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. I thank God for that knowledge. I pray that you may in humility ask him whether it be true, and I promise you that he will respond and that you will know from the warmth in your heart that what I have said this morning is God's eternal truth, to which I humbly bear witness in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 121-122
My dear brethren and sisters, I made a few notes and thought I would present them here on this occasion, but I have changed my mind after what we have heard, and I hope the Lord will help me.
The singing of the choir has called my attention to the fact that there is a divine Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. When Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden, he was in the presence of God our Eternal Father. He talked with the Father and the Father with him. But something happened, and it had to happen: Adam partook of certain fruit. My Bible, the King James version, says in the margin, speaking of Adam's fall, "Man's shameful fall." Well, it wasn't a shameful fall at all.
Adam came here to bring mortality upon the earth, and that resulted in the shutting out from the presence of the Eternal Father of both Adam and Eve and their posterity. The Son of God comes upon the scene from that time henceforth as our Redeemer, as we have just heard in the song this choir has sung. It is the Savior who stands between mankind and our Heavenly Father. We don't pray to God, except through the Son. The Son is the mediator between mankind and the Eternal Father. You seldom hear a prayer that isn't offered to our Heavenly Father in the name of his beloved Son, and that's right. Christ came into this world to represent his Father. He came into this world to teach mankind who his Father is, why we should worship him, how we should worship him. He performed the greatest work that was ever performed in this mortal world by the shedding of his blood, which paid a debt that mankind owes to the Eternal Father, and which debt we inherited after the fall of Adam.
Adam did only what he had to do. He partook of that fruit for one good reason, and that was to open the door to bring you and me and everyone else into this world, for Adam and Eve could have remained in the Garden of Eden; they could have been there to this day, if Eve hadn't done something.
One of these days, if I ever get to where I can speak to Mother Eve, I want to thank her for tempting Adam to partake of the fruit. He accepted the temptation, with the result that children came into this world. And when I kneel in prayer, I feel to thank Mother Eve, for if she hadn't had that influence over Adam, and if Adam had done according to the commandment first given to him, they would still be in the Garden of Eden and we would not be here at all. We wouldn't have come into this world. So the commentators made a great mistake when they put in the Bible at the top of page 3, as I think it is, the statement "Man's shameful fall."
Well, that was what the Lord expected Adam to do, because that opened the door to mortality; and we came here into this mortal world to receive a training in mortality that we could not get anywhere else, or in any other way. We came here into this world to partake of all the vicissitudes, to receive the lessons that we receive in mortality from or in a mortal world. And so we become subject to pain, to sickness. We are blessed for keeping the commandments of the Lord with all that he has given us, which, if we will follow and be true and faithful, will bring us back again into the presence of God our Eternal Father, as sons and daughters of God, entitled to the fullness of celestial glory.
That great blessing of celestial glory could never have come to us without a period of time in mortality, and so we came here in this mortal world. We are in school, the mortal school, to gain the experiences, the training, the joys, and the sufferings that we partake of, that we might be educated in all these things and be prepared, if we are faithful and true to the commandments of the Lord, to become sons and daughters of God, joint heirs with Jesus Christ; and in his presence to go on to a fullness and a continuation of the seeds forever, and perhaps through our faithfulness to have the opportunity of building worlds and peopling them.
Brethren and sisters, let's thank the Lord, when we pray, for Adam. If it hadn't been for Adam, I wouldn't be here; you wouldn't be here; we would be waiting in the heavens as spirits pleading for somebody to do what the scriptures say-a "shameful thing", which it wasn't-or to pass through a certain condition that brought upon us mortality.
We are in the mortal life to get an experience, a training, that we couldn't get any other way. And in order to become gods, it is necessary for us to know something about pain, about sickness, and about the other things that we partake of in this school of mortality.
So don't let us, brethren and sisters, complain about Adam and wish he hadn't done something that he did. I want to thank him. I am glad to have the privilege of being here and going through mortality, and if I will be true and faithful to the covenants and obligations that are upon me as a member of the Church and in the kingdom of God, I may have the privilege of coming back into the presence of the Eternal Father; and that will come to you as it will to me, sons and daughters of God, entitled to the fullness of celestial glory. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Paul H. Dunn
Paul H. Dunn, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 123-126
President McKay, my beloved brothers and sisters, both seen and unseen: I too am very grateful this morning for the many blessings that are mine. I have thrilled with this delightful conference and the divine messages that have been delivered. Now I too seek an interest in your prayers and your faith, that I might relate some of the things that are in my heart at this hour.
This summer I made a trip through Arizona and California. While driving with my family across the desert and enjoying every minute of the trip, even though it was quite warm, I suddenly became conscious of the fact that my car had lost all of its power. For a few moments it coasted, and then at a very slight rise in the road it stopped dead still. I looked at the gas gauge and discovered that I had plenty of fuel; the radiator temperature was normal; the oil level was all right; and the fan belt was still in place. So I knew that the trouble was not in an over-heated engine. And knowing my mechanical aptitude, I knew I was in for a short hike. A friendly traveler took me to a phone a couple of miles up the grade; I called a mechanic and then had to walk back two miles to the car. The mechanic arrived and almost immediately sensed the difficulty; he stuck the end of a very tiny pin through a hole in one of the parts in the engine, and the car was ready to go again. A tiny speck of dirt, so small that it could hardly be seen by the naked eye, yet sufficient to stop the progress of five people for two hours, cause one of us to walk two miles, and change the plans of the entire party for that night and for the rest of the trip.
I've been thinking, since that experience, that it's not only cars and carefree travelers, but also the work of whole institutions and the plans of communities and nations that are sometimes held up by tiny specks of dirt-for our purposes, false philosophies or untruths that thoughtless and sometimes scheming people place in our way. For some reason or another there are those who seem to feel that the highest mission they have is to undermine and weaken the faith and belief of our youth in the reality of God, of Christ, and of his mission. These are they whom I would call modern anti-Christs. They are found in many walks of life. Some are religionists; some are teachers; others are influential community leaders. Their cry is like the cry of old.
Many years ago on this continent one of the great prophets of the Book of Mormon, Alma, called our attention to such an anti-Christ in the form of a teacher, a philosopher, a lecturer, a man by the name of Korihor. Let me just give a brief quote from that great Book of Mormon section, which sounds almost modern: "O ye that are bound down under a foolish and a vain hope, why do ye yoke yourselves with such foolish things? Why do ye look for a Christ? For no man can know of anything which is to come.
"Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which ye say are handed down by holy prophets, behold, they are foolish traditions of your fathers.
"How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ".
No age in history has been exempt from such teaching or thinking.
Gilbert Murray, in his famous description of the mood of the Roman world in the first century of our era, used the phrase, "the failure of nerve." This failure of nerve exhibited among other things "a rise of asceticism, of mysticism, in a sense, of pessimism; a loss of self-confidence, of hope in this life and faith in normal human effort; and a despair of patient inquiry."
A cursory survey of the cultural trends of our times reveals many signs of a modern failure of nerve in western civilization and of the anti-Christs among us. Our day is also characterized in many quarters by pessimism, a loss of self-confidence and hope in this life, a disregard for traditional values, and a large-scale skepticism of a belief in God and in his Son Jesus Christ and his divine mission. Perhaps it is more accurate to say that men today are losing faith in themselves because they have lost faith in God. Having lost faith in both God and themselves, many of our contemporaries have no place to turn. Much of the literature of today describes this situation. Such titles as The Decline of Western Culture, The Predicament of Man, The Annihilation of Man, "The Twisted Age," "The Troubled Campus," and, if you or any sincere thinking person can imagine, a most recent edition, A Cat Called Jesus, suggest something of the posture of present-day western man.
Perhaps the most familiar example of the temperament of our times comes from our university and college campuses. Nearly every newspaper or magazine one reads today has an article or report about the ferment within a sizable segment of our college students. The general reaction is to blame the colleges; and while the philosophies that are causing this ferment are often found at their greatest height in the university environment, and while some of the great teachers must take part of the blame, the one thing we sometimes fail to realize is that if the proper direction were being given by the homes, communities, and, in general, the society that produces these young people, students would not be as susceptible to these false teachings.
As Milton Barron has accurately stated, the problem isn't one of juvenile delinquency, but of the juvenile in a delinquent society.
Children who have grown up in a society of broken marriages and homes, of slums, of false and misleading advertising of war, and of a general disregard for spiritual values are now rebelling as young adults. The sad and most distinguishing features of their resistance are their disillusionment with their own rebellion and the absence of any redeeming ideals. Theirs is a rebellion, not without a cause, but without a purpose.
It is not an unusual thing for young people to rebel. Every new generation has its rebels. But a rebellion of sad young people with little confidence in their own rebellion is something quite unique. One needs only to have a brief exposure to a university environment to witness the demonstrations of rejection against proven values. Beards, long hair, grubby clothes, sit-ins, and the lack of restraint in matters of alcohol, chastity, and drugs are merely the symptoms of the problem that is, at its deepest level, a spiritual problem.
It seems to me that the pessimism and frustration of our time, particularly among our students, are not due to any lack of commitment, but rather to the absence of a faith in anything worthy of one's commitment. And this in turn is due to the lack of faith in God, which alone gives any ultimate meaning, value, or lasting purpose to man's existence or actions.
It is when this lack of purpose is found that the anti-Christ makes his appeal. Here is a typical statement: "I'm less and less inclined to believe that religion is a necessary thing." This is a quote from a minister of one of our prominent faiths, made to a large college audience in which I was recently in attendance. Within the last few months this statement came from a college professor and appeared in a widely circulated campus newspaper: "Nobody believes in God. God is dead. The God of the long beard and the arm six cubits long has been dead for a long time. He's stinking up the whole western world in refusing to get buried."
Is it any wonder that many young people are confused? Thirteen years' experience in working directly on university and college campuses has proven to me that these statements are not isolated but are quite common in the experience of college youth. However, students for the most part don't learn their atheism and doctrines of uncertainty from the philosophies they study in school. These philosophies only make articulate a latent and unexpressed way of life that they have learned all too well in the home and from the society that nurtured them.
One professor, in describing the condition of some of his students, said, "Lacking an embracing cause and a fervent ideology, the students' search for a durable purpose is likely to become aggressive, extremist, at times despairing. It can easily turn into preoccupation with subjective feelings and plain egoism. Paradoxical as it sounds, the real problem of our college youth is to discover some authority, both private and public that will make possible authentic individuality."
The professor further states, "But before we succeed in building the great society, we shall need to resolve the doubt and bafflement about its validity and worth in the minds of those now in college who should serve as its leaders. Many of the harassed young men and women I teach, at any rate, have not decided what sense, if any, their existence has."
What alienated youth of today need most is a self-definition, a feeling of identity, and a sense of belonging-indeed, a sense of belonging to a universe which, at its core, is not hostile or indifferent to man's highest values, hopes, and longings. What youth need today is a faith and a confidence that the things that matter most are not at the mercy of the things that matter least; that man is not simply an "accidental arrangement of atoms," but a child of the living God who gives meaning and purpose to existence, not only in ultimate terms but also in terms of the problems of the here and now.
The principles of the restored gospel are the surest, safest guide to mortal man. Christ is the light to humanity. In that light man sees his way clearly; when it is rejected, the soul of man stumbles in darkness. No person, no group, no nation can achieve true success without following him who said, "... I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life".
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we bear witness to the troubled youth of today that God is real and that he lives, that he has concern for you and for me and for the world, that the world is a moral order, and that man's life is purposeful and meaningful.
We reject the inherent pessimism of humanism and fundamentalism alike; we reject the negativism of existentialism as the logical extension of a thorough-going atheism. We proclaim that "man is that he might have joy"; we therefore look upon the despair and melancholia of our day as abnormal and unnatural.
We believe that the only real cure for this spiritual sickness, which I have described as a "failure of nerve," is to be found in a faith that looks upon God and man as real partners in the task of creating a better world. And we believe that man's contributions to that partnership make a real difference to the final outcome.
We believe that the peace and happiness of mankind lie in the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Redeemer and Savior, and that there is "none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we be saved".
We believe that to declare this faith is our greatest responsibility, and for the moment it is man's greatest need. And we bear added testimony, my brothers and sisters, wherever you are, that in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God our Father, in whom our faith resides, was revealed to the world. We believe that it is only with this kind of meaning that man can give himself wholeheartedly and courageously to the solution of our current problems. "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!". And I know this from the inner whisperings of the Spirit from on high, and I hear this testimony humbly and gratefully in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Boyd K. Packer
Boyd K. Packer, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 126-129
I ask, my brethren and sisters, for an interest in your faith and prayers as I continue a theme introduced by President Joseph Fielding Smith in his remarks.
A number of years ago I went with a brother to tow in a wrecked car. It was a single car accident, and the car was demolished; the driver, though unhurt, had been taken to the hospital for treatment of shock and for examination.
The next morning he came asking for his car, anxious to be on his way. When he was shown the wreckage, his pent-up emotions and disappointment, sharpened perhaps by his misfortune, exploded in a long stream of profanity. So obscene and biting were his words that they exposed years of practice with profanity. His words were heard by other customers, among them women, and must have touched their ears like acid.
One of my brothers crawled from beneath the car, where he had been working with a large wrench. He too was upset, and with threatening gestures of the wrench, he ordered the man off the premises. "We don't have to listen to that kind of language here," he said. And the customer left, cursing more obscenely than before.
Much later in the day he reappeared, subdued, penitent, and avoiding everyone else; he found my brother.
"I have been in the hotel room all day," he said, "lying on the bed tormented. I can't tell you how utterly ashamed I am for what happened this morning. My conduct was inexcusable. I have been trying to think of some justification, and I can think of only one thing. In all my life, never, not once, have I been told that my language was not acceptable. I have always talked that way. You were the first one who ever told me that my language was out of order."
Isn't it interesting that a man could grow to maturity, the victim of such a vile habit, and never meet a protest? How tolerant we have become, and how quickly we are moving. A generation ago writers of newspapers, editors of magazines, and particularly the producers of motion pictures, carefully censored profane and obscene words.
All that has now changed. It began with the novel. Writers, insisting that they must portray life as it is, began to put into the mouths of their characters filthy, irreverent expressions. These words on the pages of books came before the eyes of all ages and imprinted themselves on the minds of our youth.
Carefully, profanity has inched and nudged and pushed its way relentlessly into the motion picture and the magazine, and now even newspapers print verbatim comments, the likes of which would have been considered intolerable a generation ago.
"Why not show life as it is?" they ask. They even say it is hypocritical to do otherwise. "If it is real," they say, "why hide it? You can't censor that which is real!"
Why hide it? Why protest against it? Many things that are real are not right. Disease germs are real, but must we therefore spread them? A pestilent infection may be real, but ought we to expose ourselves to it? Those who argue that so-called "real life" is license must remember that where there's an is, there's an ought. Frequently, what is and what ought to be are far apart. When is and ought come together, an ideal is formed. The reality of profanity does not argue for the toleration of it.
Like the man in the shop, many of us may never have been told how serious an offense profanity can be. Ere we know it we are victims of a vile habit-and the servant to our tongue. The scriptures declare:
"Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
"Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
"Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things...
"For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
"But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
"Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
"Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be".
There is something on this subject I would tell young people who are forming the habit patterns of their lives. Take, for example, the young athlete and his coach. I single out the coach, for to him, as to few others, a boy will yield his character to be molded.
Young athlete, it is a great thing to aspire for a place on the team. A young man like you is willing to give anything to belong. Your coach becomes an ideal to you; you want his approval and to be like him. But remember, if that coach is in the habit of swearing, if he directs the team with profane words or corrects and disciplines the athletes with obscenities, that is a weakness in him, not a strength. That is nothing to be admired nor to be copied. It is a flaw in his character. While it may not seem a big one, through that flaw can seep contamination sufficient to weaken and destroy the finest of characters, as a disease germ can lay low the well-framed, athletically strong, physical body.
Coach, there are men in the making on the practice field. Haven't you learned that when a boy wants so much to succeed, if he hasn't pleased you, that silence is more powerful than profanity?
While this counsel may apply to other professions, I single you out, coach, because of your unparalleled power of example.
There is no need for any of us to use profanity. Realize that you are more powerful in expression without it. I give you two examples:
Sir Winston Churchill, in his postwar account of the struggle with Nazism, introduced the most revolting character in recent centuries without a profane adjective. I quote:
"Thereafter mighty forces were adrift; the void was open, and into that void, after a pause there strode a maniac of ferocious genius, the repository and expression of the most virulent hatreds that have ever corroded the human breast-Corporal Hitler."
Nobody needs to profane!
You may argue that we are not all Winston Churchills. Therefore, this next example is within the reach of most everyone.
On one occasion, two of our children were at odds. A four-year-old boy, irritated beyond restraint by an older brother but with no vocabulary of profanity to fall back upon, forced out his lower lip and satisfied the moment with two words: "You ugly!"
Nobody needs to swear!
Because of little protest, like the man in the shop, any of us may have fallen victim to the habit of profanity. If this has been your misfortune, I know a way that you can break the habit quickly. This is what I suggest you do: Make an agreement with someone not in your family but someone who works closest with you. Offer to pay him $1.00 or $2.00, even $5.00, each time he hears you swear. For less than $50.00 you can break the habit. Smile if you will, but you will find it is a very practical and powerful device.
Now, keeping in mind the statement of President Smith, there is a compelling reason beyond courtesy or propriety or culture for breaking such a habit. Profanity is more than just untidy language, for when we profane we relate to low and vulgar words, the most sacred of all names. I wince when I hear the name of the Lord so used, called upon in anger, in frustration, in hatred.
This is more than just a name we deal with. This relates to spiritual authority and power and lies at the very center of Christian doctrine.
The Lord said: "Therefore, whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name".
In the Church that Jesus Christ established, all things are done in his name. Prayers are said, children are blessed, testimonies borne, sermons preached, ordinances performed, sacrament administered, the infirm anointed, graves dedicated.
What a mockery it then becomes when we use that sacred name profanely.
If you need some feeling for the seriousness of the offense, next time you hear such an expression or you are tempted to use one yourself, substitute the name of your mother, or your father, or your child, or your own name. Perhaps then the insulting and degrading implications will be borne into you, to have a name you revere so used. Perhaps then you will understand the third commandment.
"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain".
However common irreverence and profanity become, they are none the less wrong. We teach our children so. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we revere his name. We worship in his name; we love him.
He said: "Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.
"Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name;
"And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.
"Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed"
The authority to use his name has been restored. The disease of profanity, now in epidemic proportions, is spreading across the land, and so, in his name, we pray that a purity of heart might descend upon us, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
I bear to you my solemn witness that I know that Jesus is the Christ, that he lives, that this is his Church, that there stands at the head of this Church a prophet of God, and I bear that witness in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 129-133
My brothers and sisters, the peace that we feel in this historic tabernacle this morning is in stark contrast to the situation that prevailed some many miles from here on the 5th day of June this past year. On that day, the quiet air of Sinai's desert was broken as jet aircraft streaked toward their targets, cannons sounded, tanks lumbered, men fought and died, women wept, children cried. The Holy Land, once the personal province of the Prince of Peace, again was shattered by war.
This troubled land has witnessed much conflict; its peoples have suffered terrible trials and tribulations. No single battle is better remembered, however, than occurred in the Valley of Elah during the year 1063 B.C. Along the mountains on one side, the feared armies of the Philistines were marshaled to march directly to the heart of Judah and the Jordan Valley. On the other side of the valley, King Saul had drawn up his armies in opposition.
Historians tell us that the opposing forces were about evenly matched in number and in skill. However, the Philistines had managed to keep secret their valued knowledge of smelting and fashioning iron into formidable weapons of war. The sound of hammers pounding upon anvils and the sight of smoke rising skyward from many bellows as the smiths went about the task of sharpening weapons and fashioning new ones must have struck fear into the hearts of Saul's warriors; for even the most novice of soldiers could know the superiority of iron weapons to those of brass.
As often happened when armies faced each other, individual champions challenged others from the opposing forces to single combat. There was considerable precedent for this sort of fighting; and on more than one occasion, notably during the tenure of Samson as judge, battles had been decided by individual combat.
Now, however, the situation was reversed as far as Israel was concerned, and it was a Philistine who dared to challenge all others-a veritable giant of a man called Goliath of Gath. Old accounts tell us that Goliath was ten feet tall. He wore brass armor and a coat of mail. And the staff of his spear would stagger a strong man merely to lift, let alone hurl. His shield was the longest ever seen or heard of, his sword a fearsome blade.
This champion from the Philistine camp stood and cried unto the armies of Israel: "Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me".
His challenge was that if he were overpowered by the Israelite warrior, then all the Philistines would become servants to the Israelites. On the other hand, if he were victorious, the Israelites would become their slaves. Goliath roared: "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together".
And so, for 40 days came the challenge met only by fear and trembling. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man Goliath, "fled from him and were sore afraid".
There was one, however, who did not quake with fear nor run in alarm. Rather, he stiffened the spine of Israel's soldiers by his piercing question of rebuke toward them: "... Is there not a cause?... Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine". David, the shepherd boy, had spoken. But he did not speak just as a shepherd boy, for the hands of Samuel, God's prophet, had rested upon his head and anointed him, and the Spirit of the Lord had come upon him.
Saul said to David: "Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth". But David persevered and, bedecked with the armor of Saul, prepared to meet the giant. Realizing his helplessness so garbed, David discarded the armor, took instead his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones out of the brook and put them in a shepherd's bag; and with his sling in hand, he drew near to the Philistine.
All of us remember the shocked exclamation of Goliath: "Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves?... Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field".
Then David said: "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
"This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand... that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
"And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.
"And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
"And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine... that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
"So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him".
The battle had thus been fought. The victory had been won. David emerged a national hero, his destiny before him.
Some of us remember David as a shepherd boy divinely commissioned by the Lord through the prophet Samuel. Others of us know him as a mighty warrior, for doesn't the record show the chant of the adoring women following his many victorious battles, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands"? Or perhaps we look upon him as the inspired poet or as one of Israel's greatest kings. Still others recall that he violated the laws of God and took that which belonged to another-the beautiful Bathsheba. He even arranged the death of her husband, Uriah.
I, however, like to think of David as the righteous lad who had the courage and the faith to face insurmountable odds when all others hesitated, and to redeem the name of Israel by facing that giant in his life-Goliath of Gath.
Well might we look carefully into our own lives and judge our courage, our faith. Is there a Goliath in your life? Is there one in mine? Does he stand squarely between you and your desired happiness? Oh, your Goliath may not carry a sword or hurl a verbal challenge of insult that all may hear and force you to decision. He may not be ten feet tall, but he likely will appear equally as formidable, and his silent challenge may shame and embarrass.
One man's Goliath may be the stranglehold of a cigarette or perhaps an unquenchable thirst for alcohol. To another, his Goliath may be an unruly tongue or a selfish streak that causes him to spurn the poor and the downtrodden.
Envy, greed, fear, laziness, doubt, vice, pride, lust, selfishness, discouragement-all spell Goliath.
The giant you face will not diminish in size or in power or strength by your vain hoping, wishing, or waiting for him to do so. Rather, he increases in power as his hold upon you tightens.
The poet Alexander Pope truly describes this truth:
"Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As, to be hated, needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace."
The battle for our immortal souls is no less important than the battle fought by David. The enemy is no less formidable, the help of Almighty God no farther away. What will our action be? Like David of old, "our cause is just." We have been placed upon earth not to fail or fall victim to temptation's snare, but rather to succeed. Our giant, our Goliath, must be conquered.
David went to the brook and carefully selected five smooth stones with which he might meet his enemy. He was deliberate in his selection, for there could be no turning back, no second chance-this battle was to be decisive.
Just as David went to the brook, well might we go to our source of supply-the Lord. What polished stones will you select to defeat the Goliath that is robbing you of your happiness by smothering your opportunities? May I offer suggestions:
The stone of courage will be essential to your victory. As we survey the challenge of life, that which is easy is rarely right. In fact, the course that we should properly follow at times appears impossible, impenetrable, hopeless.
Such did the way appear to Laman and Lemuel. When they looked upon their assignment to go unto the house of Laban and seek the records according to God's command, they murmured, saying it was a hard thing that was required of them. Thus, a lack of courage took from them their opportunity; and it was given to courageous Nephi, who responded, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them". Yes, the stone of courage is needed.
Let us not overlook the stone of effort-mental effort and physical effort.
"The heights by great men reached and kept Were not obtained by sudden flight, But they, while their companions slept. Were toiling upward through the night."
The decision to overcome a fault or correct a weakness is an actual step in the process of doing so. "Thrust in thy sickle with thy might" was not spoken of missionary work alone.
Then there must be in our selection the stone of humility, for haven't we been told through divine revelation that when we are humble, the Lord, our God, will lead us by the hand and give us answer to our prayers?
And who would go forth to battle his Goliath without the stone of prayer, remembering that the recognition of a power higher than oneself is in no way debasing; rather it exalts.
Finally, let us choose the stone of duty. Duty is not merely doing the thing we ought to do, but doing it when we should, whether we like it or not.
Armed with this selection of five polished stones to be propelled by the mighty sling of faith, we need then but to take the staff of virtue to steady us; and we are ready to meet the giant Goliath, wherever, and whenever, and however we find him.
Marshal resources for battle
The stone of courage will melt the Goliath of fear; the stone of effort will bring down the Goliaths of indecision and procrastination. And the Goliaths of pride, of envy, of lack of self-respect will not stand before the power of the stones of humility, prayer, and duty.
Above all else, may we ever remember that we do not go forth alone to battle against the Goliaths of our lives. As David declared to Israel, so might we echo the knowledge, "... the battle is the Lord's, and he will give into our hands".
The battle must be fought. Victory cannot come by default. So it is in the battles of life. Life will never spread itself in an unobstructed view before us. We must anticipate the approaching forks and turnings in the road.
However, we cannot hope to reach our desired journey's end if we think aimlessly about whether to go east or west. We must make our decisions purposefully. Our most significant opportunities will be found in times of greatest difficulty.
The vast, uncharted expanse of the Atlantic Ocean stood as a Goliath between Christopher Columbus and the new world. The hearts of his comrades became faint, their courage dimmed, hopelessness engulfed them; but Columbus prevailed with his watchword, "Westward, ever Westward, sail on, sail on."
Carthage jail; an angry mob with painted faces; certain death faced the Prophet Joseph Smith. But from the wellsprings of his abundant faith he calmly met the Goliath of death. "I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am as calm as a summer's morning. I have a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward all men".
Gethsemane, Golgotha, intense pain and suffering beyond the comprehension of mortal man stood between Jesus the Master and victory over the grave. Yet he lovingly assured us, "... be of good cheer: I have overcome the world". "I go to prepare a place for you,... that where I am, there ye may be also".
And what is the significance of these accounts? Had there been no ocean, there would have been no Columbus. No jail, no Joseph. No mob, no martyr. No cross, no Christ!
Should there be a Goliath in our lives or a giant called by any other name, we need not "flee" or be "sore afraid" as we go up to battle against him. Rather we can find assurance and divine help in that inspired psalm of David: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want...
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me".
May this knowledge be ours, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion G. Romney
Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 134-137
Brothers and sisters, as I have sat here on the stand through seven sessions under these intense lights for color television, I must confess that they have worked in me a change of allegiance. I have always felt that Daniel was the hero of the Book of Daniel, but I admit now that my sympathy is running strongly to the three Hebrew children who were thrown into the fiery furnace.
I would like to begin my remarks this afternoon by using the scripture, referred to by President Brown this morning, which Paul spoke on Mars Hill in Athens. As he stood among the people, he said, "Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you".
As I now address you on three types of evidence through which God has revealed himself, I invite you to join with me in a prayer that the Holy Spirit will bear witness to the truth and importance of what is said.
The three types of proof to which I refer are first, the orderliness of the universe; second, the testimony of eyewitnesses; third, the witness of the Holy Spirit.
As to the orderliness of the universe and its probative evidence, the Psalmist exclaimed: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork".
In 1887 the English physicist, Lord Kelvin, wrote: "If you think strongly enough you will be forced by science to the belief in God."
Countless scientists have confirmed this judgment.
Dr. Henry Eyring, our own world-renowned scientist, has said that the two most famous modern mathematicians, Sir Isaac Newton, the Englishman, and Carl Friederick Gauss, the German, were both believers "in an all-wise Creator of the universe."
He has further said that "in the autumn of 1957, in Houston, Texas, the Welch Foundation invited the top nuclear physicists and chemists from all over the world to a symposium. At a dinner, twelve of the most distinguished were seated at a table... Mr. Malone, a trustee of the foundation, said, 'Dr. Eyring, how many of these gentlemen believe in a Supreme Being?' I answered, 'I don't know but I'll ask.'
"... twelve people were asked and every one said, 'I believe." All of these students of the exact sciences-two of them Nobel Prize winners-saw in the universal order about them evidence for a Supreme Being."
Dr. Thomas J. Parmley, another of our own eminent scientists, has eloquently written:
"The moon and stars in the night sky, one hundred million suns with their attendant planets, space, oceans, earth and nature, the flight of a bird, the wonder of a flower, the intricate design and unbelievable coordination of the human body, all of these and countless other creations proclaim the handiwork of God."
The Lord gave his own personal witness that the orderliness of the universe is probative evidence of his existence, in these words:
"The earth rolls upon her wings, and the sun giveth his light by day, and the moon giveth her light by night, and the stars also give their light, as they roll upon their wings in their glory, in the midst of the power of God.
"Behold, all these are kingdoms, and any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power".
Myriads of people are persuaded by the universal order about them that there is a divine power, a God, presiding over and controlling the universe. This conclusion is correct and comforting as far as it goes, but it is not enough. The honest, believing, inquiring soul wants to know about the nature and personality of God. This vital information God has provided in the testimony of the prophets, to whom he has revealed himself.
In Eden God revealed himself to Adam and Eve. They "carried with them from the Garden a personal knowledge of" him. There they had seen, heard, and talked with him. They knew from personal association that they were his offspring, created in his image. These truths they taught to their posterity.
Noah not only learned about the personality and nature of God from his father, Lamech, who had learned from the lips of Adam; he also "held direct communication with God, and lived to instruct ten generations of his descendants. Then followed Abraham, who also enjoyed personal communion with God... Unto Moses the lord made Himself known, not alone from behind the curtain of fire and the screen of clouds, but by face to face communion." Moses beheld "the similitude" of God.
Jesus in his mortal ministry, being, as Paul said, "the express image of his person", was a true and complete revelation of the person and nature of God. This he confirmed to Philip when he said: "... he that hath seen me hath seen the Father".
Even though these testimonies of Jesus and the ancient prophets concerning the person and nature of God are clear and convincing, the Lord does not require us to rely upon them alone. He has never required the people of one age to rely upon the records of the past alone. At the beginning of every dispensation he has revealed himself anew. The revelation which he gave of himself in this day and which is binding upon us, you and me, came about in this manner:
In the spring of 1820, disturbed by the conflicting claims of the contending churchmen, Joseph Smith, Jun., desiring to know "which of all the sects was right", found privacy in a grove near his home. There he kneeled and called upon God in humble, fervent prayer. As he did so, a pillar of light descended upon him from above.
"When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!".
Later on, the Prophet said of these "two personages": "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also." To this he added, "but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit".
He said further: "When the Savior shall appear we shall see him as he is. We shall see that he is a man like ourselves".
Nor does Joseph Smith stand alone as the only modern witness to whom the Father and the Son have revealed themselves. Making record of an experience that they had together, February 16, 1832, Sidney Rigdon joined with the Prophet in his magnificent testimony:
"By the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened and our understandings were enlightened, so as to see and understand the things of God...
"... we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fulness...
"And now... this is the testimony... which we give of him: That he lives!
"For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father".
Some months later, Oliver Cowdery, a third witness, joined the Prophet in this testimony concerning an experience that they had as they bowed "in solemn and silent prayer" at the pulpit in the Kirtland Temple:
"The veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened.
"We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us...
"His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:
"I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father".
Now the revelations that God has given of himself have in every age been intended and given for the benefit of all men, not just for those chosen servants who received the revelation. Even as he gave them, he declared: "... the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear may hear".
God has, from the beginning, seen fit to place a knowledge of himself within the reach of all men. We who are his present witnesses are but discharging our responsibility when we bring these testimonies of the prophets and our own testimonies as to the form and nature of God to your attention.
To the extent we do bring them to your attention, the responsibility passes from us to you to determine the credibility of the witnesses and their testimonies. Let no man underestimate the importance of his decision concerning this matter. To know God and his Son Jesus Christ is life eternal. Without such knowledge no man can be saved. And the only way to get it is to obtain a personal witness to the truth of the revelations which God the Father and Jesus Christ, his Son, have given of themselves.
This brings us to a consideration of our third and last source of evidence to which I will refer: the witness of the Holy Spirit of God-the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Trinity. He is, as has already been said, "a personage of Spirit". One of his functions is to bear witness of the Father and the Son to the honest, believing truth seeker.
In harmony with the Lord's promises, every soul who will acquaint himself with the testimonies of the prophets concerning God and then ask him "in the name of Christ... with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ," if these testimonies are true, will receive a manifestation "by the power of the Holy Ghost" that they are true.
It is not easy to explain to the uninitiated how this witness comes. Speaking about it to Nicodemus, Jesus said:
"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit".
In 1829, the Lord gave this explanation to Oliver Cowdery as to how the witness of the Spirit comes:
"Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.
"But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right".
On another occasion, he said to Oliver Cowdery:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things."
He was then trying to find out for himself whether or not the Prophet had the plates as he said he had. And then the Lord continued:
"Did I not speak to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?".
He whose desire to know the living God is strong enough to induce him to follow the prescribed course can and will get the witness for himself. And then he will understand what the Lord was saying in these scriptures. However, he who does not so seek will never understand these revelations, nor the revelations which God has given of himself.
One who receives the witness of the Holy Ghost has a sure knowledge that God lives; that he is our Father in heaven; that Jesus Christ is our Elder Brother in the spirit and the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh, our Savior and Redeemer. Such a one knows that the universal order in the heavens above, in the earth beneath, and in the waters under the earth, all give evidence that God lives; he knows that the testimonies of the prophets concerning the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are accurate and true. Secure in this knowledge, his life has purpose. The gospel of Jesus Christ becomes for him what Paul said it is: "The power of God unto salvation".
Now as for myself, the Holy Ghost has borne and continues to bear witness to me that the words of the prophets are true. I know that God lives, that he is my Father, and that Jesus Christ is my Redeemer and that he spoke the truth when he said:
"It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am".
Now this testimony, my brethren and sisters, I bear unto you in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, and in the authority of the holy apostleship which I hold, and I tell you it will be binding upon you. God grant that the Holy Spirit may bear witness of the truth of the testimonies of the prophets, my own included, I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Elder ElRay L. Christiansen
ElRay L. Christiansen, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 138-140
My brothers and sisters: The destiny of America can be realized and the work of the Lord can be accomplished only through the exercising of the guarantees given us in the Constitution of the United States.
As part of an official declaration setting forth the belief of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in relation to civil power, we may read the following in the Doctrine and Covenants:
"We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society...
"We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly".
As you know, the government of the United States is a republic. The genius of this form of government is that the foundation of all law, power, and authority is derived from the will of the people.
Such a government is based upon a written constitution, which provides for three divisions of government: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial, each independent of the others, having certain powers within prescribed limitations through a "built in" system of checks and balances, in order that the rights and freedoms of the people may be insured.
The leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have taught its members ever since its organization to honor and respect the Constitution of the United States as well as the men who brought it forth and who were patriots indeed!
Joseph Smith described the constitution as a "heavenly banner," a "glorious standard."
One of our great international lawyers, President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., at one time declared:
"... Out of the depths of eternal truth was born the Constitution of the United States... It is my conviction that God inspired the indicting of that document, the Constitution becomes sacred scripture to me. It is the greatest political heritage ever bequeathed by fathers to their posterity. God grant that we may preserve it."
And the Lord himself has declared that "it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another. And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this... purpose". And he said that it "should be maintained for the... protection of all flesh".
Thus, under the guidance of the Lord was established a government based upon a written constitution in which were set forth the laws whereby its citizens were to maintain their freedom, freedom for us-
To live, To pray and worship, To work, To own property, To keep and bear arms, To educate our children, To assemble together, To be tried by a jury, To speak without fear of being cast into jail, To go where we choose and do as we wish, so long as we do not jeopardize the rights, the welfare, and the safety of others.
Doubtless in all the world there is no document to compare with this "heavenly banner," this "glorious standard," the Constitution of the United States!
But in any society, good government can be had only if administered by good men, selected by good citizens.
To be a good citizen, we should learn for ourselves what is set forth in the constitution. This knowledge can be obtained only through individual study of the document itself. We must not only study it, but we must also guard it. It was Daniel Webster who uttered these prophetic words: "Watchful guardianship over the Constitution is the proper means for its support."
In addition to the love of God and the love of our neighbor and, as Jesus said, the love of our enemies, there should be found in each of us a love of our country and of the constitution which binds it together.
It is the obligation of parents to acquaint their children with this great document:
1. That they may have understanding of and appreciation for the principles that make their liberty and freedom possible.
2. They should be taught as well what their personal obligations will be when they become mature citizens of the United States.
3. We must see to it that they learn the factual history of our country.
4. They must be made to recognize and resist the constantly fomented ideologies that threaten the very life of our republic, the individual liberties of our people, and the God-given heritage of freedom. One of the greatest contributions of a free people is to transmit that freedom to their children.
We must remember that reverence for and obedience to law should begin in the home. President David O. McKay has warned that "no greater immediate responsibility rests upon the members of the Church, upon all citizens of this Republic, and of neighboring Republics, than to protect the freedom vouchsafed by the Constitution of the United States."
In the face of the conditions as they are today, it seems imperative that individuals develop loyalty to their country and responsibility for their own behavior. Such attributes are ideally based on knowledge, which requires deliberate effort to obtain. Thomas Paine, one of the early patriots, reminded us that "what we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly."
We need not fear invasions from without, so long as we as a nation and as a people understand and uphold the Constitution of the United States, and reject not the God of the land who is Jesus Christ. But if we permit ourselves to forget God, we have no promise!
Moved upon by the Holy Spirit, the Prophet Lehi prophesied this regarding America:
"Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever".
What a simple recipe for peace and safety in this choice land!
Like the patriots of old who, under extreme difficulties and discouragements, hammered out our constitution, may we say of that inspired document:
"And for the support of this with a firm reliance upon the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our, fortunes, and our sacred honor."
I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Henry D. Taylor
Henry D. Taylor, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 140-142
As the Savior went up into a mountain, a great multitude followed him, absorbing with eagerness his profound and divine teachings. Among his instructions was this interesting challenge: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect". That same counsel to strive to become perfect applies to the followers of the Lord today, as well as it did to those in the meridian of time.
For mortal man, with all his limitations and weaknesses, to achieve perfection might seem impossible, but the Savior's admonition, given on several different occasions, would indicate that such a worthy goal is attainable.
We recognize that the Savior achieved perfection. However, it was a gradual and continuing process, extending from childhood to maturity. John, the beloved apostle, attests to this natural development in these words: "And I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace... until he received a fulness".
When he was but 12 years of age, Jesus realized that he was the son of a divine father. When Joseph and Mary, his mother, found him conversing with the wise men in the temple and mildly chided him because of their concern, he replied: "... wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?". Yet the full comprehension of the purpose of his earthly mission developed within him only as he progressed step by step in unfolding experience and wisdom.
Perfection came to Jesus through many experiences, which involved trials and sorrows. Although begotten of an immortal father, he was born of a mortal mother, through whom he inherited the capacity to be tempted, to suffer, and to die. The apostle Paul testified: "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him".
Emulate His example:
With the Lord Jesus as an example, we should desire and attempt to pattern our lives after his and follow his teachings in our quest for perfection.
What were his characteristics? Though they are many, time will permit mentioning but a few:
First, he was kind and forgiving. When a woman accused of a sinful act was brought before him, he faced her accusers with the challenge: "... He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her". As he bent down to write upon the ground, her conscience-stricken accusers slunk away. When he raised his head, he noted that only the woman remained. Of her he asked: "Women, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
"She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more".
"The woman was repentant; she remained humbly awaiting the Master's decision, even after her accusers had gone. Jesus did not expressly condone; He declined to condemn; but He sent the sinner away with a solemn a better life."
When the Savior hung on the cross, he again taught a powerful lesson in forgiveness. As his body was wracked with the excruciating pain of crucifixion-one of the most inhuman, lingering, and torturous forms of execution-he evidenced no malice toward his tormentors, but mercifully prayed: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do".
Among the impressive qualities of our Lord was his concern for the comfort and well-being of others. Upon one occasion the people were so intent on hearing his inspiring words and witnessing the miraculous healings he performed that they remained in the wilderness, oblivious to the passing hours. Evening was drawing nigh. Jesus realized that the people were hungry, and turning to Philip, one of the Twelve, he asked: "... Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?".
Andrew, who was standing nearby, remarked that there was a lad present who possessed five barley loaves and two small fish. Jesus suggested that the people seat themselves in groups of fifties and hundreds. It was determined that about 5,000 men were there, in addition to women and children. The Master took the loaves and fishes, looked toward heaven, pronounced a blessing upon the food, and divided the provisions among the apostles, who distributed them to the people. When all had feasted to their entire satisfaction, there remained 12 baskets filled with the surplus.
The Savior was modest. When performing miraculous healings, he often requested that the person made whole should tell no one.
Again, the Savior was loyal-loyal to his trust and to his mission, even though it involved intense anguish of both body and spirit. The path that he was asked to tread was neither smooth nor easy; it was filled with temptations and afflictions. Realizing that his betrayal was near, he went to Gethsemane, an olive orchard on the slope of Mt. Olivet, accompanied by the remaining 11 of his apostles. Eight of them stopped near the garden entrance; and at the Savior's request, Peter, James, and John continued on with him. He suggested that they wait in a designated place, and then he went on a little farther by himself. He soon found, to his amazement, that his soul had become heavy and sorrowful. As he fell on his face and prayed, his human qualities became manifest. He pleaded: "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt".
Again and again he implored the Father with the same yearning entreaty. Then an angel appeared to strengthen him. But not even the presence of this heavenly being could dispel the torment of his soul. The historian Luke, commenting on his suffering, says: "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground".
Concerning this acute distress, a former member of the Twelve in these days has observed:
"Christ's agony in the garden is unfathomable by the finite mind, both as to intensity and cause. The thought that He suffered through fear of death is untenable. Death to Him was preliminary to resurrection and triumphal return to the Father from whom He had come, and to a state of glory even beyond what He had before possessed; and, moreover, it was within His power to lay down His life voluntarily. He struggled and groaned under a burden such as no other being who has lived on earth might even conceive as possible. It was not physical pain, nor mental anguish alone, that caused Him to suffer such torture as to produce an extrusion of blood from every pore; but a spiritual agony of soul such as only God was capable of experiencing. No other man, however great his powers of physical or mental endurance, could have suffered so; for his human organism would have succumbed, and syncope would have produced unconsciousness and welcome oblivion. In that hour of anguish Christ met and overcame all the horrors that Satan, `the prince of this world' could inflict. The frightful struggle incident to the temptations immediately following the Lord's baptism was surpassed and overshadowed by this supreme contest with the powers of evil.
"In some manner, actual and terribly real though to man incomprehensible, the Savior took upon Himself the burden of the sins of mankind from Adam to the end of the world."
Perhaps the sweetest attribute in the life of Christ was love. Throughout his life he constantly displayed strong affection and respect for his mother. This tender concern was demonstrated as he hung on the cross and gazed down upon her as she stood weeping beside John, his beloved associate. First he spoke to Mary, saying: "Woman, behold thy son I" and then to John he said: "Behold thy mother!". The disciple tenderly led the grief-stricken mother away from her dying son, and took her into his own home to care for and protect her.
Shortly after this, Jesus exclaimed in a loud voice of holy triumph: "It is finished", and then, addressing his Father, he said: "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit". Bowing his head, he voluntarily gave up his life.
Having been begotten of an immortal sire, Jesus possessed as a heritage the power to withstand death indefinitely. He literally and really gave up his life. It was not taken from him.
We regard the Lord as our everlasting pattern and example. May we then progressively develop within us those traits exemplified by him: kindness, unselfishness, forgiveness, modesty, loyalty, obedience, and love-the forgetting of ourselves to think of others-to the end that we, too, may from our experiences and sufferings become perfect and be privileged to dwell with him in the presence of our Father in heaven.
Recent personal events have brought to me a greater appreciation for the life and the atoning sacrifice of the Savior.
I am so grateful for the knowledge and assurance that family ties do extend beyond this mortal existence and reach into the eternities. To this I bear witness in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Bernard P. Brockbank
Bernard P. Brockbank, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 143-146
Brothers and sisters: Just prior to the ascension of the Lord, he gave counsel to teach them "to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world". That includes the counsel and the teaching that we should give today.
It is rather interesting how the theme of this session follows in line with many of the thoughts that I have to give. There will be some repetition of scriptures. They are good and they bear repetition.
One of the most valuable passages of scripture is found in the very first chapter of the Old Testament: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them". This scripture is well-known by many, but not comprehended by many, when you take the world as a whole.
To know that we were created in the image and likeness of God is important knowledge and a great blessing, and it is a challenge to know and to do the will of the Creator. I find that many of the Lord's children never learn the important truth that they are created in the image and likeness of God.
When God created man, he created a holy temple, his masterpiece.
The apostle Paul said, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are". The holy body is sacred.
Jesus said of man, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect".
It is also a challenge to master one's self, to choose right over wrong, to choose first the kingdom of God and his righteousness over evil. When we choose right over wrong, we have made the perfect choice. Choosing God's righteousness is a commandment that is possible to live. But sometimes we knowingly choose wrong over right.
Jesus said relative to the purpose of this life: "... this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent". This is a great goal given by the Master himself: to know the Creator and to know God.
Knowing this passage of divine truth does not eliminate the dedication and effort required to obtain the knowledge to know the Father and the Son. The Savior was sent to this earth to teach his plan and to set an example for all others to follow, as has been mentioned. He said, "... I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me". There is no other way. Only through our mediator Jesus Christ and his gospel plan can anyone know God and return to the kingdom of heaven.
We have been warned to avoid false doctrines and man-made philosophy. The apostle Paul said, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ". Our lives should be patterned after the Messiah's.
Because we are in the image and likeness of God, we can sometimes become self-sufficient and foolishly follow our own ways or the ways of men and the ways of this world.
The Lord said, and I quote from the great prophet Isaiah, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than tour ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts".
God did not receive his ways and his thoughts, his gospel plan of salvation and eternal life from man. The gospel plan was created before the foundations of this world were laid. But man may by obedience receive from God his thoughts and his ways and his plan of life.
Jesus gave another key to perfection when he said, "... seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness".
There is another type of righteousness on this earth, and the Lord spoke of it when he spoke to the Pharisees, "... except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven".
We have been counseled by Jesus Christ and his apostles not to accept false doctrines of men and false ways of men that have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. False doctrines create darkness in the human mind and in this life, but the Lord's doctrines and ways create light and eternal hope and eternal life.
The apostle John said, "... God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
"If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin".
There is no greater blessing that can come to man than to walk in the way and in the light and truth of Jesus Christ.
In contrast, when anyone creates his own light for this life, he stumbles and finds voids of despair and darkness and depression.
The following statement by Jesus has great purpose and meaning: "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life".
This is a promise from the Lord himself that if we follow him, we shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life. This light is more profound and of greater power on the human soul than the brilliant rays of the noonday sun. One can feel this light in the mind and in the divine nature, the very essence of life. One can also see this light in the character and countenance of all those who walk and act and serve in the light of the Savior.
All that have the light and truth of Jesus Christ have been asked to "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven". The light should be turned on with full glory, with full radiance, with happiness, and with a countenance of glory.
The Lord has promised us great blessings if we will be obedient to his laws and commandments and radiate and teach to others the light of eternal life. In the Lord's plan, the gospel plan of salvation must be taught by his mortal children.
To know the Lord is to love the Lord. Jesus said, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him". A great promise by the Lord himself.
"I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise". When we follow the counsel and doctrines of men, we are only entitled to the rewards and blessings of men.
The Lord has promised that if we will humble ourselves in his sight, he will lift us up. "... If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free".
The light and truth that come from obedience to the will of God bring eternal happiness and eternal glory.
President McKay said, "Happiness is the end and design of life. Happiness is a state of the spirit and an attitude of the mind... Man's success or failure, happiness or misery, depends upon what he seeks and what he chooses."
The full and abundant life is built around true happiness. True happiness comes from the light of divine righteousness built into the character of those who follow Jesus Christ. Joy and happiness come from God, and unhappiness comes from Satan. Satan and his legions are at work on this earth.
The world today is full of unhappiness. The apostle Paul gives a few of the causes of unhappiness and misery, and each is inspired by Satan. We must avoid the evils and pitfalls of the flesh. Paul mentioned several of the great evils of the flesh. "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
"Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
"Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings... they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God".
There is no entrance into the kingdom of God for those who are accountable, unless they use the principles of repentance. Repentance is God's law to purify the human soul to greater self-control and to perfection. Growth in God's righteousness comes from the principle of repentance and must be used for eternal progression.
Jesus started his ministry saying, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand". Every living soul needs to master the use of the principle of repentance.
We live in the dispensation of the fullness of times; we have been counseled and warned by all the prophets, apostles, and the Savior himself of the evils and the conspiring of men in the last days and that even Satan himself will be transformed to appear as an angel of light to deceive those who fail to follow Jesus Christ.
Here is a great warning by the apostle Paul: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
"For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
"Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
"Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.".
We see today these prophecies and many others being fulfilled.
We have been counseled and we must be careful in this life not to love pleasure and the creations of this world more than God. Because of the greed and interests in this great mortal life and world, we have been given the greatest and most important of all laws and commandments. The first great commandment was given by the Savior himself. "... thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment".
It requires desire, effort, and genuine love and practice to live this first commandment.
When one keeps and lives this commandment, he finds little love left for Satan and for the uninspired philosophies of men.
When this commandment is built into one's life and character, he feels and finds eternal purpose and a desire to return after death and the resurrection to the kingdom of heaven and to be with God the Eternal Father and with our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Brethren and sisters, may love for our Heavenly Father and our Savior be strengthened in our own hearts and in the minds and hearts of those whom we serve, and our neighbors, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Franklin D. Richards
Franklin D. Richards, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 146-149
President McKay, my dear brothers and sisters and friends, I am grateful to be with you. I have been inspired by the words of our beloved Prophet as well as my brethren. The beautiful music and prayers have likewise contributed to the wonderful spirit that has attended each session of this conference. Truly the Spirit of the Lord has been with us.
In a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord revealed that "the keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth". "Wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come...".
Our mission is here defined as being worldwide in preparation of the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and in fulfilling our mission, the Church is fast becoming a worldwide organization.
In 1947, as the saints were celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of the entrance of the Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley, President George Albert Smith addressed a communication to the members of the Church entitled "Looking Ahead-Into a New Century of Growth and Development." In this article he stated:
"I assure every man and woman of the Church that you have a great obligation to spread the word of the Lord abroad and to carry the truth to every land and clime so that the power of the Priesthood will be made manifest among our Father's children in many places where it has never yet even been heard of.
"You men of the Church have this responsibility and as one of your number, I would like to say that we cannot let our own personal affairs stand in the way...
"That is the spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Great is the joy that comes into the hearts of the men and women, who devote themselves to doing what our Heavenly Father desires of them, and great will be their happiness as they participate in the new era of growth and development that lies ahead for the Church as we look forward into a new century of progress."
We are now 20 years into this new era of growth and development, and growth and development mean change. We must not resist change, as we believe that God "will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God".
Anthropologists tell us that if we were to construct an imaginary graph of the growth of human knowledge, the bar representing everything man knew up to the steam age would be about three inches high. A second bar, representing the gain in knowledge from the steam engine to the atomic bomb, would be about 15 inches high. But a third bar, representing the knowledge gained from the atomic age to the present, would have to be higher than the Washington Monument!
This powerful illustration points up the rapidity of change in our time. The Spirit of the Lord is truly being poured out upon the face of the earth. This is in fulfillment of prophecy.
Since 1947 tremendous changes have occurred in transportation, communication, electronic equipment, and many other areas. The Church has been quick to utilize the jet airplane, television, radio, shortwave broadcasting, and electronic equipment in building a worldwide organization.
True, the basic principles of the gospel are eternal and do not change. However, the methods used in bringing the gospel to the attention of God's children and administering the affairs of the Church on a worldwide basis must be geared to the age in which we live. The patterns of 1920 or 1947 are inadequate for today's worldwide responsibilities.
Looking forward to an enormous increase in membership and operating on a worldwide basis, we see great challenges, opportunities, and responsibilities. Our great need is leaders, and our greatest challenge is to develop them.
As I go about the Church, one of the most frequent questions asked me is: "How do you motivate and inspire people to accept and discharge their responsibilities?" This question is present in every area of life's activities.
How is a mighty important word in our vocabulary and is often linked to the word know. Thus know-how frequently becomes the key to answering the question "How?"
To be able to inspire and motivate, one must set a good example. He must possess leadership ability. And one can learn to be a leader as he learns other things in life. How then does one develop the know-how to be a successful leader?
In my opinion, he must first prepare himself. This preparation involves: the development of spirituality, the development of faith, and the acquisition of knowledge.
For a moment let us consider this formula for developing leadership ability.
First, the development of spirituality: Shortly after the Church was organized the Lord requested the elders to "sanctify yourselves and ye shall be endowed with power, that you may give even as I have spoken". How do we sanctify ourselves? By keeping God's commandments.
Let us quickly consider just two of God's commandments that contribute to the development of spirituality. In answering the question, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life," the Savior answered, "... love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself".
We evidence our love of God and of our neighbors as we serve them, and the Church offers many opportunities, such as home teaching, Sunday School teaching, passing the sacrament, and missionary work.
Prayer is another essential element. The Savior instructed his disciples to "pray always". In the atmosphere of peace and communion with God, spirituality is nurtured and developed. Love and prayer are involved in every doctrine and activity of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and they are strong influences in developing spirituality.
The second item involved in one's preparation is the development of faith.
Orson Pratt, in his treatise on "The True Faith," said, "This is not an abstract principle, separate and distinct from mind, but it is a certain condition or state of mind itself."
Thus we see that faith is a state of mind or attitude, an affirmative and positive attitude. Yes, the attitude of success. A leader must make up his mind to succeed in his assignment. He must be affirmative in his thinking and his speech.
Remember, however, that faith without works is dead and that this is indeed a gospel of work. Let us develop faith in ourselves; we are spirit children of God the Eternal Father, and as we magnify our callings, by doing our part, God will make us equal to every task.
The third step in building leadership ability is to acquire knowledge.
The Lord has revealed to us that "it is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance", and we are saved no faster than we gain knowledge.
A successful leader must possess knowledge about any matter in which he desires to interest others. I therefore encourage you to study the gospel regularly and particularly the four standard works of the Church. Become familiar with subjects in areas of activity in which you must supervise, inspire, and motivate people.
To a very large extent, then, the know-how to become a successful leader and be able to motivate and inspire people to accept and discharge their responsibilities in the Church or elsewhere is based upon the development of spirituality, faith, and the acquisition of knowledge.
We all need goals and objectives to accomplish, and I challenge each and every member of the Church to develop his God-given leadership abilities.
I am thankful that I am privileged to live at this time when the gospel in its fullness has been restored and in this new era of growth and development when great changes are occurring. The importance of this dispensation was indicated in the first vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith, when our Father in heaven personally introduced the Savior to the Prophet by saying, "This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!".
I bear witness to you that God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, do live.
Likewise, I testify without equivocation that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that we are blessed to have a prophet at the head of the Church today, our beloved President David O. McKay. May the Lord bless and sustain him in every way.
Today, as a worldwide Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a tremendous appeal to young and old alike because it is a dynamic yet realistic way of life. It offers involvement and expression for all. When you stop to consider it, every program of the Church is aimed at the development of character and leadership. Truly as we serve in this great cause we will see "the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands, roll forth until it fills the whole earth".
Let me again repeat the words of President George Albert Smith who, in 1947, said, "Great is the joy that comes into the hearts of men and women who devote themselves to doing what our Heavenly Father desires of them, and great will be their happiness as they participate in the new era of growth and development that lies ahead for the Church."
May we appreciate the great privilege of living at this time. May we develop our leadership abilities and become a vital part of this great worldwide Church. May we think big as we assume our opportunities to serve, and may we receive the great joy and happiness and growth and development that come through such service, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 149-153
As this great conference draws to a close, I bear testimony that our anticipations, our hopes, and our prayers that it might prove to be uplifting and inspirational have been realized. May there come into everyone's heart, and into all our homes, the true spirit of Christ, our Redeemer, whose reality, whose inspiring guidance I know to be real.
The gospel is our anchor. We know what it stands for. If we live it, feel it, and bear record to the world by the way we live, we will contribute to its growth and upbuilding. Speak well of it, of the priesthood, of the Authorities; let the standards of the gospel radiate in our lives.
We cannot go from this great conference without an added responsibility to contribute to a better life around us. As individuals, we must think nobler thoughts. We must not encourage vile thoughts or low aspirations. We shall radiate them if we do. If we think noble thoughts, if we encourage and cherish noble aspirations, there will be that radiation when we meet people, especially when we associate with them.
The gospel finds its greatest expression in the individual. It finds expression in the home, as we have heard in this conference. Our homes radiate what we are, and that radiation comes from what we say and how we act in the home. No member of this Church-husband, father, or child-has the right to utter an oath in his home or ever to express a cross word to his wife or to his children or to parents. We contribute to an ideal home by our character, by controlling our passions, our temper, by guarding our speech, because those things will make our homes what they are and what they will radiate to the neighborhood. Anger, hatred, jealousy are but tools of destruction.
The Savior set us the example-always calm, always controlled, radiating something which people could feel as they passed. Remember the woman who touched his garment? The Savior felt something go from him -that radiation which is divine.
Each individual soul has that divine radiation. The body is only the house in which we live. God help us to radiate strength, control, love, charity, consideration, and best wishes for all human beings. We should do what we can to produce peace and harmony, no matter what we may suffer.
We leave this conference today with greater responsibility than ever before-as men of the priesthood, as women of the Church, and as the youth who are the leaders of tomorrow-to make our homes such as will radiate to our neighbors harmony, love, community duties, loyalty.
And what is the responsibility which rests upon every member of the Church? Read the 107th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, and there find enumerated the duties of the various organizations of the priesthood. In the 99th verse, we find the following:
"Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence".
Two principles in that admonition stand out as the duty of the officers to whom this revelation was given: first, to learn-to know what one's duty is; and second, to act in all diligence in the performance of duty.
To know one's duty, to learn the truth, is the duty of every member of the Church, of every man and woman in the world.
All mankind, I believe, are being impelled, lifted upward by that Spirit which makes them desire the truth. There is a natural feeling which urges men and women toward truth; it is a responsibility placed upon mankind. That responsibility rests upon members of the Church in a greater degree than upon their fellowmen.
There is no one great thing that we can do to obtain eternal life, and it seems to me that the great lesson to be learned in the world today is to apply in the little acts and duties of life the glorious principles of the gospel. Let us not think that because some of the things we have heard during this conference may seem small and trivial, they are unimportant. Life, after all, is made up of little things. Our life, our being, physically is made up here of little heartbeats. Let that little heart stop beating, and life in this world ceases.
The great sun is a mighty force in the universe, but we receive the blessings of its rays because they come to us as little beams, which, taken in the aggregate, fill the whole world with sunlight.
The dark night is made pleasant by the glimmer of what seem to be little stars; and so the true Christian life is made up of little Christ-like acts performed this hour, this minute, in the home, in the priesthood quorum, in the organization, in the town, wherever our life and acts may be cast.
In an article written at 88 years of age by Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick, New York City's Riverside Church minister, author of 35 books, and known nationwide for his Sunday broadcasts and his dauntless dedication of his own life to the brotherhood of man and the Fatherhood of God, when asked, "Isn't it hard to believe there is a moral order in the universe when we look around us today?" he said, "No harder than it always has been. There never were any 'good old days.' The tragedy of the human heart has been the same since time began-the tragedy of man's blinding self-concern that prevents him from accepting God's ways.
"In this world if we want physical results, we must fulfill physical conditions. If we want spiritual results, we must fulfill spiritual conditions. This is the law of life, and it is both stern and magnificent. Modern religion says: Go out in God's world and fulfill His conditions. If you want health, fulfill the conditions of health-physical, mental, and spiritual. What a man sows he indeed reaps. Sow friendliness and reap friendship. Sow unselfishness and reap an enlarged life. Sow goodwill and reap a better world for our children. Sow worship-the uplift of the heart toward the Highest-and reap openhearted responsiveness to things Eternal."
God help us and all the world to sense the reality that the gospel of Jesus Christ is established among men, and that through obedience to it the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man may be realities to eve mother and father, every son and daughter. God hasten the day when that testimony will be real in every heart.
Throughout this conference you have heard testimony from men who, with tears in their eyes, if you were close enough to see, their lips quivering with emotion, testified that they know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, and that the Father and the Son appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and gave instructions about organizing Christ's Church; and that Peter, James, and John, who held the authority from the Christ himself, gave that authority in this dispensation; that the Melchizedek Priesthood was bestowed upon the Prophet Joseph and Oliver Cowdery; that John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus Christ, bestowed the Aaronic Priesthood.
You know that, and you know these men who have given you their testimonies during this conference. I give you my testimony that God lives; that he is close to us; that his Spirit is real; that his voice is real; that Jesus Christ, his Son, stands at the head of this great work; and that no matter how much of the atheistic philosophy takes hold of the blinded boys and girls and men who hear Satan's voice, the truth stands as declared by the Father and the Son to that boy Prophet. You and I, and all true members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have the responsibility to declare that truth to the world; and the world is full of honest men and women waiting to hear that truth. Let us not condemn them. Condemn the evil men who would blind them with their sophistry and with false reasoning. Some of our young boys are so blinded, but it is our duty as officers of the Church to lead them from the things of the world.
Now, what do we mean by the world? It is sometimes used as an indefinite term. I take it that the world refers to the inhabitants who are alienated from the saints of God. They are aliens to the Church, and it is the spirit of this alienation from which we should keep ourselves free. We are told by Paul not to conform to the fashions of the world. Timothy was warned not to partake of those things-the evils of the world-and to "flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart".
Purity of heart! Zion is the pure in heart, we have been told, and the strength of this Church lies in the purity of the thoughts and lives of its members. It is then that the testimony of Jesus abides in the soul and strength comes to each individual to withstand the evils of the world.
It is the responsibility of every member of the Church to preach the restored gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, that the evils of the world may be met by the counteracting forces of truth.
When do temptations come? They come to us in our social gatherings; they come to us at our weddings; they come to us in our politics; they come to us in our business relations; on the farm, in the mercantile establishment. In the dealings in the affairs of life we find these insidious influences working; and it is when they manifest themselves to the consciousness of each individual that the defense of truth ought to exert itself. There may never come a greater opportunity to defend this Church.
When that still small voice calls to the performance of duty, insignificant though it seems, and its performance unknown to anyone save the individual and God, he who responds gains corresponding strength. Temptation often comes in the same quiet way. Perhaps the yielding to it may not be known by anyone save the individual and his God, but if he does yield to it, he becomes to that extent weakened and spotted with the evil of the world.
It is the unseen influence at work in society that is undermining the manhood and womanhood of today. It is these unseen influences that come from the world that overcome us when we are least prepared to defend ourselves. When we do not withstand the encroachments of these evil influences, we weaken the possibility of defending the Church of Jesus Christ. This is an individual work, and what the individuals are, that the aggregate is.
God bless you, my dear fellow workers. Bless you in your homes. Make your faith shown by your works in your home. Husbands, be true to your wives, not only in act, but in thought; wives, be true to your husbands. Children, be true to your parents; do not arrogate to yourselves that they are old-fashioned in their beliefs and that you know more than they do. Girls, follow that sweet mother and her teachings. Boys, be true to your fathers, who want happiness and success for you, which come only through living the principles of the gospel. Strangers, seeing such homes, will say, "Well, if that is the result of Mormonism, I think it is good." You will show by your faith and acts in everyday life what you really are.
To no other group of men in all the world is given a better opportunity to serve mankind than that which is afforded the elders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To establish salvation and peace to the extent of their individual efforts, their lives are dedicated. To make the world a better or a safer or a fitter place for man, their talents and means are consecrated.
Just to be associated with you, with men striving toward such an aim, is a joy, and to assist you in this quest, an inspiration. Unselfishly you are trying to serve your fellowmen in love. You are true followers of the Master, for to those who have the Christian faith, the most sublime of his teachings, and to him who penetrates its deepest sense, the most human of all is this: To save mankind, the Lord came to dwell among us in the form of man, and was willing to make himself known by this-simple, though glorious, principle love.
The animal world is filled with selfishness, each thing seeking its own life, its own perpetuation. But Christ lived for love. "... love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind... And... thy neighbour as thyself".
God bless the elders and the sisters who, if not with perfect love, at least with a desire to bring joy and peace to others, are engaged in the noblest calling of life. Worth servants of Christ you are!-our teachers, followers of the true Redeemer, our Lord. There is nothing greater than this noble work, none more righteous. Yours is the joy promised by the Savior, who said:
"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
"And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!".
God bless you men of the priesthood. May you hold it in dignity and righteousness that comes from within, not from without. To hold the priesthood of God by divine authority is one of the greatest gifts that can come to a man. He is greatly blessed who feels the responsibility of representing Deity. He should feel it to such an extent that he is conscious of his actions and words under all conditions.
God bless our friends who are contributing to the advancement of this great Church. We are grateful for their friendship and goodwill.
God bless us that we may go home with a firmer resolve than we have ever had before to live the gospel of Jesus Christ, to be kind to our families and to our neighbors, to be honest in all our dealings so that men, seeing our good works, may be led to glorify our Father in heaven.
I leave my blessings with you, with the sick and afflicted, with our men in the service, and with our missionaries scattered around the world. I pray that God's protecting care will be with them wherever they are.
God bless you officers and leaders, stake presidencies and bishoprics, of the Church. May the love of the Redeemer be in each heart, and that means that the love will be expressed in serving one another.
God bless these brethren of the General Authorities for their devotion and untiring efforts in furthering his work on earth. May they be blessed with increased health and strength to carry on their great responsibilities throughout the world.
I know that God lives, that his Son Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, and that divine beings restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith the gospel of Jesus Christ as he established it in the meridian of time.
I bear this testimony as we part this afternoon, and pray the blessings of the Lord to be upon each of you, that the influence of the priesthood quorums, of auxiliaries, and of the missionaries may be more effective from this time forward than ever before in leading the honest in heart of the whole world to turn their hearts to the worship of God and give them power to control the animal nature and live in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 4-10
My dear brethren and sisters, and friends of the radio and television audience: At this moment there is just one supreme wish in my heart. It is that the Spirit of the Lord and of this great conference may be felt in every home and in every heart in the Church, as well as in the hearts and homes of all peoples everywhere who may come within the radius of the broadcasts of the various sessions, which will be carried worldwide.
I pray for the blessings of the Lord, not only during this session, but throughout all of the sessions of this 138th annual conference of the Church.
My heart is filled with thanksgiving for our blessings and for God's great love for his children. The older I grow, the more grateful and impressed I am with the glorious truths and great possibilities and opportunities of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I appreciate the loyalty, faith, brotherly love, and prayers of the membership of this Church. Realizing the great responsibility that rests upon me this morning in giving to the Church a message at a general conference, I earnestly pray for his guidance and for your faith and prayers.
I extend a hearty welcome to all present in this historic Tabernacle, erected on Temple Square by our pioneers 100 years ago, and to all who may be listening in, and pray that God's blessings may be with each of you in rich abundance.
On April 14, there will be celebrated throughout Christendom the greatest event of all history-the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In speaking of that event, the Apostle Paul declared: "... if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain...
"Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ."
He who can thus testify of the living Redeemer has his soul anchored in eternal truth. In our time, the most direct confirmation that Jesus rose from the grave is the appearance of the Father and the Son to the Prophet Joseph Smith, eighteen hundred years after the event Christendom will celebrate this Easter.
That the spirit of man passes triumphantly through the portals of death into everlasting life is one of the glorious messages given by Christ, our Redeemer. To him this earthly career is but a day, and its closing but the setting of life's sun; death, but a sleep, is followed by a glorious awakening in the morning of an eternal realm. When Mary and Martha saw their brother only as a corpse in the dark and silent tomb, Christ saw him still a living being. This fact he expressed in just two words: "Lazarus sleepeth."
If everyone participating in Easter services knew that the crucified Christ actually rose on the third day from the tomb, that after having greeted others and mingled with others in the spirit world his spirit did again reanimate his pierced body, and after sojourning among men for the space of 40 days he ascended a glorified soul to his Father, what benign peace would come to souls now troubled with doubt and uncertainty!
On the reality of the resurrection in the minds of the apostles, the beginning of early Christianity was founded. For over four thousand years man had looked into the grave and had seen only the end of life. Of all the millions who had entered therein, not one had ever returned.
It was, therefore, a new and glorious message that the angel gave to the woman who, fearfully and lovingly, had approached the sepulcher in which Jesus had been buried: "... Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here."
If a miracle is a supernatural event whose antecedent forces are beyond man's finite wisdom, then the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most stupendous miracle of all time. In it stand revealed the omnipotence of God and the immortality of man.
The resurrection is a miracle, however, only in the sense that it is beyond man's comprehension and understanding. To all who accept it as a fact, it is but a manifestation of a uniform law of life. Because man does not understand the law, he calls it a miracle. Someday man's enlightenment may bring this momentous event out of the dusk of mystery into the broad day of understanding.
That the literal resurrection from the grave was a reality to the disciples who knew Christ intimately is a certainty. In their minds there was absolutely no doubt. They were witnesses of the fact. They knew, because their eyes beheld, their ears heard, their hands felt the corporeal presence of the risen Redeemer.
At Jesus' death, the apostles were stricken with gloom. When he lay dead, their hopes all but died. Their intense grief, the evident preparation for a permanent burial, combined to illustrate the prevalence of a fear that the redemption of Israel had failed.
Notwithstanding the often-repeated assurances of Christ that he would return to them after death, the apostles did not seem fully to comprehend it. At the crucifixion, they were frightened and discouraged. For two and one-half years they had been upheld and inspired by Christ's presence. But now he was gone. They were left alone, and they seemed confused, fearful, helpless.
The world would never have been stirred by men with such wavering, doubting, despairing minds as the apostles possessed on the day of the crucifixion.
What was it that suddenly changed these disciples to confident, fearless, heroic preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ? It was the revelation that Christ had risen from the grave. His promises had been kept, his messianic mission fulfilled. In the words of an eminent writer, "The final and absolute seal of genuineness has been put on all his claims, and the indelible stamp of a divine authority upon all his teachings. The gloom of death had been banished by the glorious light of the presence of their Risen, Glorified Lord and Savior."
On the evidence and testimony of these unprejudiced, unexpectant, incredulous eyewitnesses of the risen Christ, faith in the resurrection has its impregnable foundation.
The direct evidence that the tomb did not hold Jesus is threefold: the marvelous transformation in the spirit and work of his disciples; the practically universal belief of the early Church, as recorded in the Gospels; and the direct testimony of Paul, the earliest New Testament writer.
In the very beginning of this dispensation of the fulness of times, the 14-year-old Joseph Smith said:
"... I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"
Later, speaking of the reality of this vision, he testifies as follows:
"... I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation."
Confirming the irrefutable testimony of Christ's early apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaims the glorious vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith:
"And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
"For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father."
In the light of such unimpeachable testimony as given by the ancient apostles' testimony, dating from a few years subsequent to the event itself; in the light of that most marvelous revelation in this age of the living Christ, it seems difficult indeed to understand how men can still reject him and can doubt the immortality of man.
"How can we know the way?" asked Thomas, as he sat with his fellow apostles and their Lord at the table after the supper on the memorable night of the betrayal; and Christ's divine answer was: "I am the way, the truth, and the life." And so he is! He is the source of our comfort, the inspiration of our life, the author of our salvation. If we want to know our relationship to God, we go to Jesus Christ. If we would know the truth of the immortality of the soul, we have it exemplified in the Savior's resurrection.
If we desire to learn the ideal life to lead among our fellowmen, we can find a perfect example in the life of Jesus. Whatsoever our noble desires, our lofty aspirations, our ideals in any phase of life, we can look to Christ and find perfection. So, in seeking a standard for moral manhood, we need only to go to the Man of Nazareth and in him find embodied all virtues that go to make the perfect man.
The virtues that combined to make this perfect character are truth, justice, wisdom, benevolence, and self-control. His every thought, word, and deed were in harmony with divine law and, therefore, true. The channel of communication between him and the Father was constantly open, so that truth, which rests upon revelation, was always known to him.
His ideal of justice is summed up in the admonition: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." His wisdom was so broad and deep that it comprehended the ways of men and the purposes of God. The apostles could not always comprehend the significance and depth of some of his simplest sayings; the lawyers could not entrap him, nor get the better of him in a discussion or argument; the greatest teachers were but pupils in his presence. Every act that is recorded of his short, though eventful, life was one of benevolence that comprehends charity and love. His self-control, whether exemplified in his power over his appetites and passions or his dignity and poise when before his persecutors, was perfect-it was divine.
Now, what are the teachings of the Church regarding these virtues and all they comprehend? If the Church fails to make men true, fails to foster moral manhood, then there is no reason for its existence, and its pretension to be Christ's Church is a farce.
No man can be a true member of this Church and not love truth. Being true is a fundamental doctrine of the Church. When we stop to consider what this means, we begin to realize what an important element in character building truth is. A man who is true is upright, is conscientious, is honorable in all his dealings; he is faithful in fulfilling his obligations; he is trustworthy and diligent in the performance of duty; he is true to himself and, therefore, to his fellowmen and to his God.
As for justice, all the teachings of the Church cry out against injustice, and its condemnation is most severe upon him who oppresses his brother. Members are admonished to use their authority justly, for "the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness." Justice is rendering to every man his due. To be just, one must of necessity be honest, fair, and impartial. He will be respectful and reverential. It is impossible for a man to be just and at the same time be disrespectful or irreverent, for when disrespectful or irreverent, he is unjust in not giving respect and reverence where they are merited. True manhood possesses justice and is an attribute of the divine nature.
Honesty, as included in justice, is the first virtue mentioned in the Church's Thirteenth Article of Faith. It is impossible to associate manhood with dishonesty. To be just with one's self, one must be honest with one's self and with others. This means honesty in speech as well as in actions. It means to avoid telling half-truths as well as untruths. It means that we are honest in our dealings-in our buying as well as in our selling. It means that an honest debt can never be outlawed, and that a man's word is better than his bond. It means that we will be honest in our dealings with the Lord, for "true honesty takes into account the claims of God as well as those of man; it renders to God the things that are God's, as well as to man the things that are man's."
Wisdom: "... seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith." Such is the commandment of the Lord given to this generation through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the full significance of it may be more fully realized when we know that man's eternal salvation-God's greatest gift to man-is dependent upon his knowledge; for "it is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance." Wisdom is the right use of knowledge and comprehends judgment, discrimination, prudence, discretion, and study. "To know is not to be wise," says Spurgeon. "Many men know a great deal and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom."
Benevolence in its fullest sense is the sum of moral excellence, and comprehends every other virtue. It is the motive that prompts us to do good to others and leads us to live our life for Christ's sake. All acts of kindness, of self-denial, of self-devotion, of forgiveness, of charity, of love, spring from this divine attribute. So when we say "we believe in being benevolent," we declare a belief in all the virtues that go to make a Christ-like character. A benevolent man is kind and true to his family, is active for good in his city and state, and is a faithful worker in the Church.
Great as are these virtues I have named, they do not seem so practical and applicable to daily life as the virtue of self-control. It is as impossible to think of moral manhood apart from self-control as to separate sunlight from the day. Self-control means the government and regulation of all our natural appetites, desires, passions, and affections; and there is nothing that gives a man such strength of character as the sense of self-conquest, the realization that he can make his appetites and passions serve him and that he is not a servant to them. This virtue includes temperance, abstinence, bravery, fortitude, hopefulness, sobriety, chastity, independence, tolerance, patience, submission, continence, purity.
One of the most practical teachings of the Church regarding this principle is the Word of Wisdom. It is true. It deals principally with the appetite. You show me a man who has complete control over his appetite, who can resist all temptations to indulge in stimulants, liquor, tobacco, marijuana, and other vicious drugs, and I will show you a youth or man who has likewise developed power to control his passions and desires.
As I have read recently of the prevalent use of these drugs among our high school and university students and others, I have become greatly alarmed. With all my heart I warn the youth of our Church and of this nation that they will lose their manhood and womanhood if they yield to this enticement of Satan. A person who indulges his appetites, either secretly or otherwise, has a character that will not serve him when he is tempted to indulge his passions.
The sexual impurity of the world today is the result of the loss of true manhood through indulgence. Unchaste thoughts have bred unchaste words, and unchaste words, unchaste acts. In the teachings of the Church, next to the crime of murder comes that of adultery, and sexual unchastity. If the members of the Church will remain true to their belief in chastity, and will develop true manhood through practicing self-control in other ways, they will stand as beacon lights whose rays will penetrate a sin-stained world.
We are indeed living in a troublous age, and many people in the Church, as well as millions in the world, are stirred with anxiety; hearts are heavy with feelings of foreboding. At the crucifixion of Christ, a little group of men faced a future that was just as threatening and foreboding to them as that which the world faces today. Their future, so far as Christ's triumph on earth was concerned, seemed all but blighted. They had been called and set apart to be "fishers" of men, and to Peter had been given the keys of the kingdom.
Notwithstanding all this, in that hour of despondency, when the resurrected Christ said to Peter, the discouraged leader of the Twelve, who had turned to his old vocation of fishing: "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?" Peter answered, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee." Said the Lord, "Feed my sheep." On that occasion Peter became conscious of his responsibility, not only as a fisher of men, but also as a shepherd of the flock. It was then that he sensed finally and completely the full meaning of the divine injunction, "Follow me." With that neverfailing light, those 12 humble men succeeded in changing the course of human relations.
Jesus' teachings may be applied just as efficaciously to social groups and national problems as to individuals, if men would only give them a trial. In our efforts to develop true manhood, we must accept Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the Light of Humanity. In that light man sees his way clearly. When it is rejected, the soul of man stumbles in darkness. It is a sad thing when individuals and nations extinguish that light-when Christ and his gospel are supplanted by the law of the jungle and the strength of the sword. The chief tragedy in the world at the present time is its disbelief in God and his goodness.
The gospel, the glad tidings of great joy, is the true guide to mankind; and that man or woman is happiest and most content who lives nearest to its teachings, which are the antitheses of hatred, persecution, tyranny, domination, injustice-things which foster tribulation, destruction, and death throughout the world. What the sun in the heavenly blue is to the earth struggling to get free from winters grip, so the gospel of Jesus Christ is to the sorrowing souls yearning for something higher and better than mankind has yet found on earth.
What a glorious condition will be in this old world when it can truthfully be said to Christ, the Redeemer of mankind, "All men seek for thee." Selfishness, envy, hatred, lying, stealing, cheating, disobedience, quarreling, and fighting among nations will then be no more!
Brethren and sisters, I have cherished from childhood the truth that God is a personal being and is, indeed, our Father whom we can approach in prayer and receive answers thereto. My testimony of the risen Lord is just as real as Thomas', who said to the resurrected Christ when he appeared to his disciples: "My Lord and my God." I know that he lives. He is God made manifest in the flesh; and I know that "there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
I know that he will confer with his servants who seek him in humility and in righteousness. I know because I have heard his voice, and I have received his guidance in matters pertaining to his kingdom here on earth.
I know that his Father, our Creator, lives. I know that they appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and revealed to him the revelations which we now have recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants and in other Church works. This knowledge is as real to me as that which occurs in our daily lives. When we lay our bodies down at night, we know-we have an assurance-that the sun will rise in the morning and shed its glory over all the earth. So near to me is the knowledge of Christ's existence and divinity of this restored Church.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are under obligation to make the sinless Son of Man their ideal-the One Perfect Being who ever walked the earth.
God bless the Church, particularly our young people who are going to maintain its standards. God bless fathers and mothers and teachers who instill this faith in the hearts of the youth and proclaimit throughout the world, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph F. Smith Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 10-12
My dear brothers and sisters, it is a pleasure to me to have the privilege of being here with you in this conference.
We as Latter-day Saints have a great many duties to perform. I wonder if we do not sometimes get a little careless, a little thoughtless, a little neglectful; and we do not pay attention to the simple things that belong to the gospel.
I wonder if we ever stop to think why the Lord has asked us to pray. Did he ask us to pray because he wants us to how down and worship him? Is that the main reason? I don't think it is. He is our Heavenly Father, and we have been commanded to worship him and pray to him in the name of his Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. But the Lord can get along without our prayers. His work will go on just the same, whether we pray or whether we do not. He knows the end from the beginning. There are many worlds that have passed through the same experience that we are going through. He has had sons and daughters on other earths, where they have had the same privileges and the same opportunities to serve him and the same commandments that we have had given to us. Prayer is something that we need, not that the Lord needs. He knows just how to conduct his affairs and how to take care of them without any help from us. Our prayers are not for the purpose of telling him how to run his business. If we have any such idea as that, then of course we have the wrong idea. Our prayers are uttered more for our sakes, to build us up and give us strength and courage, and to increase our faith in him.
Prayer is something that humbles the soul. It broadens our comprehension; it quickens the mind. It draws us nearer to our Father in heaven. We need his help; there is no question about that. We need the guidance of his Holy Spirit. We need to know what principles have been given to us by which we may come back into his presence. We need to have our minds quickened by the inspiration that comes from him; and for these reasons we pray to him, that he may help us to live so that we will know his truth and be able to walk in its light, that we may, through our faithfulness and our obedience, come back again into his presence.
If we will just be true and faithful to every covenant, to every principle of truth that he has given us, then after the resurrection we will come back into his presence and we will be just like he is; we will have bodies that will shine like the sun. Moreover, if we are faithful and true while we are here, we will be his sons and his daughters.
But the Lord is going to make a great segregation after the resurrection of mankind, and many-in fact, the greater part of the inhabitants of this earth-will not be called the sons and daughters of God, but they will go into the next world to be servants. The Lord said in that wonderful sermon we call the Sermon on the Mount:
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Eternal life is the great gift held in reserve for all those who are willing to keep the commandments of the Lord. All will receive the resurrection. Is that eternal life? No, not in the words of our Father in heaven. We call that immortality, the right to live forever. But the Lord has put his own interpretation upon eternal life. Eternal life is to have the same kind of life that our Father in heaven has, and to be crowned with the same blessings and glories and privileges that he possesses, that we might become sons and daughters of God, members of his household.
To become sons and daughters of God, we have to keep all of the covenants that belong to the gospel and be true to them to the end of our lives. Then we will inherit; we will be called heirs. We will be joint heirs with Jesus Christ -to inherit what? Not that he is going to step down from his throne that we may ascend. Not that, but we will inherit the same blessings and privileges, opportunities of advancement that he possesses, so that in course-I may say of time, but I will say of eternity-we may become like him, having ourselves kingdoms and thrones.
If any of you who are here present prefer, when you get on the other side, to be a servant and perhaps go into the terrestrial kingdom, you will have that privilege. You do not have to keep other commandments. You do not need to pay your tithing; you do not even have to be baptized for the remission of your sins, if you want to go into those other kingdoms. But if you want to go into the presence of God and dwell in the celestial kingdom and see the glories of exaltation, then you must live by every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God. We must pray to keep humble, to draw nearer to our Father in heaven, that we might be in closer communion with him.
We must learn to be truthful, obedient, sincere, having the willingness to walk by every commandment the Lord has given.
When a man confesses that it is hard to keep the commandments of the Lord, he is making a sad confession: that he is a violator of the gospel law. Habits are easily formed. It is just as easy to form good habits as it is to form evil ones. Of course, it is not easy to tell the truth if you have been a confirmed liar. It is not easy to be honest if you have formed habits of dishonesty. A man finds it very difficult to pray if he has never prayed.
On the other hand, when a man has always been truthful, it is a hard thing for him to lie. If he has always been honest and he does some dishonest thing, his conscience protests very loudly. He will find no peace, except in repentance. If a man has the spirit of prayer, he delights in prayer. It is easy for him to approach the Lord with assurance that his petitions will be answered. The paying of tithing is not hard for the person fully converted to the gospel, who pays his tenth on all that he receives. The Lord has given us a great truth: his yoke is easy, his burden is light, if we love to do his will! The Lord has said:
"Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day."
If we will all serve him in this way, we will have plenty to do. The Father asks nothing inconsistent with reason but that which is in harmony with his law, and which he himself obeys. Can you imagine our Eternal Father and Savior doing nothing?
So we see that the great work of the Father, and of the Son, is not for self alone. They work, as they have worked hitherto, for the benefit of man. When a man joins the Church, it is on the principle of faith in the Father and in the Son and in the Holy Ghost. It is on the principle that he accepts all that pertains to the gospel. These requirements are made of all men who seek repentance and a place in the kingdom of God. If a man tries to get in by some other way, he is classed as a thief and a robber. Why? Because he is trying to obtain eternal life by fraud! He is trying to obtain a reward of exaltation by counterfeit coin, and this cannot be done.
Obedience to the gospel ordinances is required of all men, and they cannot enter into the kingdom without complying with the law the Lord has given.
Our Savior came into the world to teach us love for each other, and as that great lesson was made manifest through his great suffering and death that we might live, should we not express our love for our fellowmen by service rendered in their behalf? Should we not show our appreciation for the infinite service he rendered us, by giving service in his cause?
The man who does only those things in the Church which concern himself alone will never reach exaltation. For instance, the man who is willing to pray, to pay his tithes and offerings, and to attend to the ordinary duties which concern his own personal life, and nothing more, will never reach the goal of perfection.
Service must be given in behalf of others. We must extend the helping hand to the unfortunate, to those who have not heard the truth and are in spiritual darkness, to the needy, the oppressed. Are you failing? Let us think of the words of the poet, Will L. Thompson, as we think about being saviors on Mount Zion. The poem starts this way:
"Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad, And made someone feel glad? If not I have failed indeed."
I hope and pray that none of us fail in our service to our Father in heaven. May the Lord continue to bless us one and all and keep us in the path of truth and righteousness, I humbly pray, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Franklin D. Richards
Franklin D. Richards, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 13-15
President McKay, my dear brothers and sisters: President McKay, we love you. We have been blessed and inspired this morning as we have received the great messages from you and President Smith. And now, my brothers and sisters, I pray that the Lord will bless me with his Spirit as I speak to you this morning.
As the foundations of the Church were being laid in this dispensation, many wonderful revelations were given for the guidance of those engaged in the great work.
Although some revelations were given to particular persons, we know that they were generally for the edification and direction of all who would heed them, whether at that time or at a later date.
One of the great revelations was given in February 1829 through the Prophet Joseph Smith to his father, and is recorded in Section 4 of the Doctrine and Covenants.
The revelation commences with the declaration that a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.
Qualities necessary for success in his service are then given and include: "... faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience."
In today's world of uncertainty, pressures, strains, and tribulations, patience is a very essential virtue.
The dictionary definition of patience is: to be undisturbed by obstacles, delays, or failures, to be able to bear strain and stress, to be persevering, and the ability to exercise forbearance under provocation.
The apostle Paul, in writing to the Roman saints, said, "... we glory in tribulations... knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope."
And so our trials and tribulations, as we meet them with patience, give us valuable experiences and prepare us for challenges that lie ahead.
Likewise, it is possible to glory in health, prosperity, and happiness, as well as in tribulations. All of life's experiences provide us with opportunities to develop patience.
In periods of health, prosperity, and well-being, we are inclined to overlook the importance of patience and are apt to become impatient. It is well to remember, however, that there are many hazards connected with impatience. One of the greatest is that of overextending one's self-physically, mentally, financially, or in many ways.
In 1828 the Lord, in a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, said, "Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength."
By exercising patience, we will not be inclined to run faster or labor more than our strength justifies.
In this regard, an adage that has been particularly helpful and inspirational to me is: "Survey large fields, but cultivate small ones." Often we want to cultivate large fields before we are properly prepared and equipped to do so.
Concentrating on an immediate task while envisioning and planning for extensive growth requires genuine patience, and patience is very essential to sound growth and development.
A stabilizing influence
Some might construe patience to be a negative force, resulting in resignation and discouragement. However, patience is a great stabilizing influence in our lives, while impatience frequently brings fear, tensions, discouragement, and failure.
In a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith to his brother Hyrum in May 1829, the Lord counseled Hyrum in regard to his assignment, saying, "... be patient until you shall accomplish it."
Here patience is identified as a positive force and as a requisite to accomplishment. It is important to realize that patience can be a tremendous positive force when combined with prayer, faith, and works. In this light let us further consider the great value of patience and how it can be developed.
One way to develop patience and to make it a positive force is to carefully plan our activities and set realistic objectives and goals. Sound planning requires meditation, patience, and prayer. President McKay has frequently referred to the great benefits to be derived from meditation.
Frequently, patience is developed when coupled with repentance: a changing of one's attitude, a controlling of one's temper, or some other corrective action. But patience combined with prayer, repentance, faith, and works will overcome obstacles of every nature.
Patience means persevering, and persevering means work-mental and physical.
President Grant used to quote Ralph Waldo Emerson: "That which we persist in doing becomes easy to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed, but that our power to do it has increased."
It is not unusual for one to develop the idea that the grass on the other side of the fence is greener. But in every aspect, of life we should realize that "a rolling stone gathers no moss."
Assuming that moss in this axiom means the better things of life, then patience or staying on the job or magnifying one's calling will bring these better things to us. Then to develop patience, "don't expect too much too soon." Make the most of what you have.
Exercise patience in the matter of buying a new home, a new car, furniture, or other important things. Get out of debt and stay out of debt; here patience will reward you with peace of mind, happiness, and success.
A young person should plan and patiently prepare for a mission years ahead of the time he leaves, providing he wants to perform an outstanding mission.
The planning and obtaining of one's education is especially important in this day and age, and, of course, planning and preparing for one's vocation become a significant part of planning and obtaining one's education. Faith and patience are vital to accomplish these desired objectives.
Hasty courtships tend to create unhappy marriages and often result in divorce. Be patient in the selection of a husband or wife. Be patient and take sufficient time to prepare for a temple marriage. Here is one place where your patience will be rewarded with eternal blessings.
Our need for continual patience is greatest with our loved ones, our family. Here is where we may be the most impatient, but here is where patience pays the greatest dividends.
Nothing is sweeter than to watch a loving parent patiently teach his child the right way. A father stood by his small son in a swimming pool. The boy wanted so much to learn to swim. The father patiently showed him how. Day after day they returned to the pool, the father always evidencing patience and appreciation for the boy's efforts. This same method is used by truly successful parents in teaching their children the lessons of life-social, moral, intellectual, and spiritual as well as physical: telling, showing, over and over, until the lesson is learned, always with patience, love, and appreciation of every evidence of progress, no matter how small.
Patience and perseverance in Church work also pay tremendous dividends, as in all other areas of life's activities.
As early as 1831 the Lord, in a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, counseled the elders of the Church to "be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great."
How important this counsel is to us today: "Be not weary in well-doing." Be patient in your home teaching and other teaching assignments, in your home evenings, and in all relationships with one another.
I recall that in our stake mission our missionaries called on one non-member family at least once every three months, covering a period of two and a half years, but were never invited into the home. Then on the next visit they were invited in. This family was then taught the gospel. As they studied, prayed, and attended Church, they received testimonies and were baptized.
The reward of patiently persevering in this case was the bringing of an entire family into the kingdom of God.
As one reviews the various areas of life's activities and appreciates the many human inadequacies, the great value of patience becomes more and more evident.
Sometimes we are misunderstood, even by those who are closest to us. Under such circumstances, patience will develop within us the capacity to accept criticism and censure, whether we feel such criticism is warranted or not. This ability to exercise forbearance under provocation means that we are following the Savior's teachings, to do good to those who despitefully use us and to turn the other cheek.
Patience is truly a mighty virtue, and can be developed as we recognize its importance and make up our minds to be patient in our own life as well as with others.
I encourage you to develop patience in your daily lives and enjoy the satisfaction of accomplishment, free from many of the customary pressures and strains incident to modern living.
I am grateful for my knowledge of the gospel and that the gospel incorporates the remarkable principle of patience. I am most thankful for the patience my Father in heaven has evidenced with me in my life.
I am grateful for my testimony that God lives and that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I thank God for the Prophet Joseph Smith and for our present President and Prophet, David O. McKay, both of whom have exemplified in their lives this great quality of patience.
And may I close with the words of the apostle Paul to the Hebrew saints, "... let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Sterling W. Sill
Sterling W. Sill, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 15-19
My brothers and sisters, I would like to recall to your minds one of the great scenes of the holy scriptures. It has been referred to as the Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. After a long absence, Jesus and his disciples were making their way toward the temple for what was to be the last three days of the Lord's public ministry. As he came near the historic city, he wept because of the wickedness of its people.
The feast of the passover was at hand, and as he approached the city, other travelers, Jerusalem bound, merged with his party at the crossroads. Soon there was an imposing procession, with Jesus as the central figure, riding upon a colt, in fulfillment of an ancient prophecy. As they entered the Holy City, the people cast branches of palm trees in his path, thus carpeting his way as for the passage of a king. And for the time being he was their king, and the voices of the multitude sounded in reverberating harmony, saying, "Hosanna to the bon of David: Blessed is that cometh in the name of the Lord."
This picturesque scene might well symbolize another coming, as the scripture projects our minds ahead to that time when with holy angels he will appear in flaming fire to cleanse the earth of sin and to inaugurate the millennial era of a thousand years of peace, during which he will reign personally as King of kings.
Among those attending this particular passover were certain Greeks who sought a conference with the Master. In making their request through Philip, they said, "Sir, we would see Jesus." In these five words they were also voicing an idea that has the greatest significance for every age. That is, what could be more helpful in our own days of miracles, atheism, and crime than for everyone to have an unshakable testimony of, and an inspiring personal relationship with, the divine Ruler of this earth.
Since that long ago day, some nineteen wide centuries have come and gone. And we now have the judgment of time shining upon the life of Christ, enabling us to see it in clearer perspective. We are now aware that he is much more than a prophet from Nazareth. He is also the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the Author of life, the Redeemer of men, and the giver of all good things. By our absorbing the spirit of his life, understanding his doctrines, and following his example, this ancient Grecian request to see Jesus might well be granted in our own behalf. Certainly this request should represent the universal desire of all people, for as the sun is the center of the solar system, so is the Redeemer the center of our lives. Without the sun our solar system would fly apart, and without God the greatest values in our lives would be lost. As the apostle Peter said, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
The prophets have looked forward to his coming since time began, and even as Jesus was being born, wise men from the east were asking: "Where is he is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." And that is what wise men have been asking and doing ever since. The Master himself said, "... this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
After the people had listened to the preaching of the gospel at Pentecost, they were pricked in their hearts; and desiring the better way of life that had been recommended, they cried out to the apostles: "... Men and brethren, what shall we do?" And Peter answered: "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."
People have found Jesus in different ways. The Greeks found him through Philip; the wise men from the east were led to Bethlehem by his star; Peter was taken to Jesus by his brother Andrew; and Paul found him through a miracle on the Damascus road. Jesus gave his own formula for discovery when he said, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine." He said, "... seek me diligently and ye shall find me." However, the greatest tragedy of our world remains the fact that so many never attain this all-important objective. And yet only he who fails to seek fails to find.
Emerson pointed out the consequences of failure in this important quest when he said, "On the brink of an ocean of life and truth we are miserably dying. Sometimes we are furtherest away when we are closest by." So frequently that is true. Think how near they were who lived contemporaneously with Jesus. He walked among them; they heard him speak; they knew of his miracles; and yet they were so far away that they said, "His blood be on us, and on our children", and so it has been, and so it may be with us. We are so near and yet we may be so far away. We are standing on the brink of an eternal life, and yet each must take the steps that will bring him there.
Jesus gave us the best approach for this accomplishment when, on the last day of the passover feast, he stood up and cried, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me... out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." That is, our eternal success is not like pouring water into a cistern; rather it is like opening a living spring within ourselves. Through the Prophet Jeremiah the Lord said, "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out... broken cisterns, that can hold no water. And Jesus elaborated upon this idea by saying, "... unto him that keepeth my commandments I will give the mysteries of my kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life." What a tremendous possibility for us!
As Jesus was passing through Samaria on his way to Jerusalem, he stopped to rest at Jacob's well near the ancient city of Shechem and requested a drink from the woman of Sychar. He said to her, "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me a drink; thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but shall be in him a well of living water springing up into everlasting life."
Water is the universal element, and it is the symbol of life. Jesus used it to describe a personal testimony of his divinity. Pure water will also be one of the secrets of the earth's regeneration in preparation for its millennium. The Lord said, "And in the barren... ground shall no longer be a thirsty land." However, the richest treasures do not come from water breaking forth in the wastelands of the desert.
The greatest enrichment comes when we acquire a personal testimony of the divine mission of the Savior of the world and a firm determination to make our lives productive in godliness. Dr. Henry C. Link once said that nothing puts so much order into human life as to live by a good set of sound principles. And the soundest principles are the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Water is also a symbol of cleanliness, and Jesus indicated that after cleansing ourselves with the soap and water of repentance, we should be baptized and have our sins washed away by his atoning sacrifice.
Five days after the Greeks sought their interview, Jesus was crucified. In the following years his apostles were slain, his doctrines were changed, and the long black night of apostasy settled upon the world. In foretelling this event, the Lord again used water as a figure of speech about obtaining the word of the Lord. Through the Prophet Amos he said, "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:
"And shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it." And the Lord added, "In that day shall faint for thirst."
But God always provides the remedy before the plague. On the Tuesday before his crucifixion on Friday, the Lord sat on the Mount of Olives and foretold the wars and troubles that would immediately precede his glorious second coming to the earth. And he himself made a solemn promise, saying, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
In the early spring of 1820 in upper New York State, in fulfillment of this promise, God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ reappeared upon this earth to reestablish among men a belief in the God of Genesis, the God of Calvary, and the God of the latter days. The eternal springs were reopened; divine revelation was again established from heaven. And the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth in a fullness never known before in the world. The universal thirst is now being relieved for all of those who effectively seek their Redeemer. By divine order the world has now been given three great volumes of new scripture, outlining in every detail those simple principles on which the exaltation and eternal happiness of every human life depend. On every fundamental point of doctrine we again have an authoritative "Thus saith the Lord." We also have the testimony of many new witnesses supporting those of old that God lives, that the gospel is true, and that many of the great events spoken of in the scriptures are about to be fulfilled.
In our own day another prophet has known God as Moses did, face to face, and in bearing his certain witness he has said to us, "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: that he lives!
"For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father-
"That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God."
The greatest opportunity of our lives is found in following the spirit of this ancient Grecian request, saying, "Sir, we would see Jesus"; and in consequence of our faithful, righteous search, we may have an inspiring personal testimony of his divinity springing up in our own hearts.
Modern travelers to that ancient city of Shechem near the site of Jacob's well tell us that there are rivers of water flowing beneath the streets. During the daylight hours they cannot be heard. But when evening comes and the clamor dies out of the streets, when kindly sleep rests u the city, then quite audibly in the hush of the night you can hear the music of these buried streams.
God has provided our earth with great underground reservoirs and buried rivers that may be brought to the surface to keep our earth productive and beautiful. Likewise, there are some great unseen spiritual powers that can be used to vitalize our spirits and make our lives beautiful and happy.
And in the quiet obedience of our faith and love of righteousness, God may touch these hidden abilities implanted in the depths of our souls and release great spiritual strength to purify our lives and bring about our eternal exaltation in his presence.
As someone has said, "What cool sparkling pure water is to the welfare of the rose, so is the spirit of Christ to my life." That we may drink freely from those living waters that even now are springing up unto eternal life I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce R. McConkie Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 19-21
We have a volume of sacred scripture known as the Book of Mormon, which contains the mind and will and voice of God to the world today. Like the Bible, with which it is in complete conformity, it contains a record of God's dealings with a people who had the fullness of the everlasting gospel. Thus, both the Book of Mormon and the Bible present a summary of the doctrines of salvation, of the truths men must accept and live by to gain the celestial heaven, and both record the wondrous blessings poured out by Deity upon those in former days who walked in the light of the Lord and who kept his commandments.
The Book of Mormon is a record of God's dealings with his ancient American saints; the Bible is a similar and parallel record of his dealings with the saints in the Old World. Both shed forth a flood of light and knowledge about those truths that must be believed and obeyed to gain salvation, to gain peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come. And none now living can gain that salvation, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God, without conforming to those truths of which both books testify.
But salvation is not found in a book, any book, neither the Book of Mormon nor the Bible. Salvation is in Christ; it comes because of his atoning sacrifice; his is the only name given under heaven whereby man can be saved. Salvation comes by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of his Son. As a Book of Mormon prophet said, "... salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent."
However, salvation is made available to men because the Lord calls prophets and apostles to testify of Christ and to teach the true doctrines of his gospel. Salvation is available only when there are legal administrators who can teach the truth and who have power to perform the ordinances of salvation so they will be binding and will have efficacy, virtue, and force on earth and in heaven.
Now this book, the Book of Mormon, was brought forth in our day by such a legal administrator, one Joseph Smith by name. This man was called of God by his own voice and by angelic ministration. To him was given the ancient record whereon were inscribed the words of prophets and seers who dwelt on the American continent in ages past, holy men who ministered among the land's inhabitants in much the same way that biblical prophets represented the Lord in the lands of their labors.
Having received the ancient record from a heavenly messenger-from an angel named Moroni, who himself was one of the ancient American prophets-Joseph Smith then translated the book by the gift and power of God. The translated account is the Book of Mormon, a volume of holy writ of some 522 pages. Thereafter Joseph Smith, endowed with the spirit of prophecy and acting pursuant to revelation and at the direct command of God, organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes called the Mormon Church because of its acceptance of this Book of Mormon.
With the setting up on earth of the true Church, there came once again a restoration of the fullness of the everlasting gospel, a restoration of the fullness of those truths, keys, powers, and authorities which again enable men to gain a fullness of salvation in the heaven of God our Father.
Thus, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the call of Joseph Smith to represent God as a prophet on earth, the restoration of the gospel of salvation, and the setting up anew of the earthly Church and kingdom of God-all these are tied together; they are all woven into one pattern; either all of them are realities or none of them are.
We testify that Joseph Smith received the Book of Mormon record from a resurrected personage and that he translated it by the power of revelation.
Now if the Book of Mormon is a true account of God's dealings with ancient inhabitants of the American continent, if it contains, as we solemnly affirm, the fullness of the everlasting gospel, then Joseph Smith was a prophet, a legal administrator, who did in fact restore the gospel and set up the true Church again on earth. In other words, if the Book of Mormon is true, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's kingdom on earth, the only true and living Church upon the face of the whole earth, the only place where salvation may be found.
It thus becomes a matter of transcendent import for every truth seeker to learn of the truth and divinity of this volume of sacred scripture-this volume which will open the door to the knowledge of God and his laws; this volume which will introduce the truth seeker to those legal administrators who can, for instance, perform baptisms that will admit penitent persons, not alone to any earthly organization, but to that celestial realm which is God's eternal kingdom.
In all dispensations past the Lord has called prophets and commissioned them to teach and testify to the people, with the provision that all who believed and obeyed the heaven-sent message would be saved, while those who rejected it would be damned. He has done precisely the same thing in this final gospel dispensation. By his own voice he appointed Joseph Smith to be the first and foremost of his latter-day prophets. Those who have since built on the foundation revealed to Joseph Smith have worn the same prophetic mantle and have and do stand as witnesses to the world of the truth of God's great plan of salvation in this day.
But in his manifold grace and goodness, God has given an added witness in this day of the eternal verity of his work. Men in this day are as much obligated as men have been in any age to hearken to the voice of the prophets, to lend a listening ear to their sayings, to open their hearts to the truths of heaven which fall from their lips. But today we also have the Book of Mormon to bear record of the truth of the message that has come from a loving Heavenly Father to us, his erring earthly children.
Joseph Smith said that the Book of Mormon was the keystone of our religion.", meaning that the whole structure of restored truth stands or falls, depending on its truth or falsity.
Joseph Smith also wrote, "by the spirit of prophecy and revelation," that the Book of Mormon carne forth to prove "to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old; Thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever."
In the Book of Mormon is found the Lord's promise to all men that if they will read the record and ponder it in their hearts and then ask the Father in the name of Christ if it is true-asking with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ-he will manifest the truth of it unto them by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Now I am one who knows by the power of the Spirit that this book is true, and as a consequence I also know, both by reason and by revelation from the Spirit, of the truth and divinity of all the great spiritual verities of this dispensation. For instance:
I know that the Father and the Son appeared to Joseph Smith-because the Book of Mormon is true.
I know that the gospel has been restored and that God has established his Church again on earth-because the Book of Mormon is true.
I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet, that he communed with God, entertained angels, received revelations, saw visions, and has gone on to eternal glory-because the Book of Mormon is true.
I know that the Bible is the word of God as far as it is translated correctly-because the Book of Mormon is true.
I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God on earth, the one kingdom with legal administrators who can seal men up unto eternal life-because the Book of Mormon is true.
To my testimony of the Book of Mormon I add that of the Lord God himself, who said Joseph Smith "has translated the book... and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true."
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 21-24
My beloved brethren and sisters: My heart was touched and my soul thrilled by the stirring testimony of the risen Lord given by President McKay this morning. I hope that no man or woman here will ever forget that testimony of our Prophet.
I was grateful the choir sang as an opening number the words of Parley P. Pratt:
"The morning breaks; the shadows flee; Lo, Zion's standard is unfurled! The dawning of a brighter day, Majestic rises on the world."
If the Lord will inspire me, I would like to use that as something of a theme.
I have spoken previously from this pulpit about the war in Vietnam. With your indulgence I should like again to say a few words on this, because I know that it is a subject on the minds and in the hearts of thousands of our people who have sons there. The welfare of their loved ones is the constant burden of their thoughts and prayers. Even for those of other nations, the war is a matter of deep concern.
One cannot have been to Vietnam as I have on a number of occasions, and felt in some small measure the dreadful sorrow of the land, without making a plea for peace a part of his daily prayers. This war, like others, is fraught with terrible evil and unspeakable tragedy. I minimize none of these.
But notwithstanding the evil and the tragedy, I see a silver thread shining through the dark and bloody tapestry of conflict. I see the finger of the Lord plucking some good from the evil designs of the adversary. I see coming out of this conflict, as I have witnessed in other conflicts in Asia, an enlargement of the Lord's program.
Not long ago I was in Saigon. Our tired little taxi took us down the muddy street to the meeting place of the Saigon Branch. It was night, the power had failed in the city, as it frequently does, and the darkness in the heavy rain was oppressive.
The narrow lane leading to our meeting place was a river of running water. Skirting this on ground slightly higher, I noticed a thin little figure with an umbrella coming out to meet us.
When we opened the taxi door, I recognized Brother Minh, an elder in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the first Vietnamese to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood.
We stood under the porch of the building while he pleaded that he be given opportunity to translate the Book of Mormon into his native tongue. I asked how he could find time to do this work. He has a job that requires long hours and tedious labor. He replied that the gospel must someday come to his people and that they will need the testimony of the Book of Mormon. He said that somehow he would find time. He understands English. He had read the Book of Mormon. He had felt of its spirit, and he knew that others would be similarly touched as they read it in their own tongue.
Like Brother Minh, I am convinced that there are many and will be many in that land who someday will respond to the message of the restored gospel. I do not know when that day will come, but I am confident that it will come, and that the efforts of your sons who are there in military service will make that day possible. Without their presence, I would see small prospect short of half a century.
May I share with you something of a sacred and inspiring experience? On Sunday, October 30, 1966, more than 200 members of the Church gathered on the roof of the Caravelle Hotel in the heart of Saigon. We had an inspirational meeting, with talks by Elder Marion D. Hanks, President Keith E. Garner, and others. At the conclusion of that service, while speaking I felt impressed to dedicate the land for the preaching of the gospel under authorization previously given by President McKay.
Since that prayer of dedication was part of a public meeting, I feel it not inappropriate to repeat here some of the words I felt impressed to give on that occasion. I quote:
"O God, our Eternal Father, with humble hearts we meet before thee this day in this land of South Vietnam, a land which presently is torn by war, destruction, and dissension. We meet in the name of thy Son, the Lord, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, to invoke thy special blessing...
"We have seen in other parts of Asia the manner in which thou hast turned the hand and the work of the adversary to the good and the blessing of many of thy children. And now we call upon thee at this time that thou wilt similarly pour out thy spirit upon this land. We plead with thee, our Father and our God, that thou wilt touch the hearts of the leaders of those people who war one against another, with a spirit of understanding, a recognition of the fact that all men are sons of thine and therefore brothers, and implant in each a desire to labor for a settlement of the great conflict which rages over this land, a settlement which will be honorable, and one which will promote the cause of liberty and justice and which will guarantee the agency of those who love freedom...
"Holy Father, many good men holding thy priesthood have come to this land incident to the war. While here they have sought to establish thy divine work in this part of the world. They have shared the gospel of thy Son with their associates, their fellow Americans, and with the Vietnamese people. With gratitude we have witnessed the baptism of a number of these people. And so we feel it expedient at this time, under the authority given us by thy Prophet, he whom thou hast anointed and appointed to stand at the head of thy work in this day, to dedicate this land and invoke thy blessings upon it.
"We accordingly come before thee in the exercise of the holy priesthood, and in the authority of the holy apostleship in us vested we dedicate and consecrate this land of South Vietnam for the preaching of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. May there from this time forward, Father, come upon this land an added measure of thy Holy Spirit to touch the hearts of the people and the rulers thereof. May they open their hearts to the teaching of the truth and be receptive to the gospel of thy Son. May those who have these blessings feel a new urge in their hearts to share with others the great gifts and powers and authority which are theirs, which have come from thee...
"Open the way for the coming of missionaries, and make their labors fruitful of great and everlasting good in the lives of the people.
"To this end we seek thy blessing this holy day as we bow before thee and acknowledge with thankful hearts thy goodness unto us... in the name of our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."
We do not have regular missionaries there yet. I do not know when we shall be able to send them. But I am confident that day will come. In the meantime there are those, both civilian and military, who are sharing the gospel, not in contravention of any official regulations, not through regular proselyting, but they have taught when others have come seeking.
Through their efforts the work of the Church is now established in a number of areas, including legal registration of the Church in Thailand. I doubt that this would have been possible had there not been able and devoted members of the Church there incident to the war. The Lord bless these men for their goodness in the midst of evil. The Lord bless them for their faith in the midst of overwhelming obstacles. The Lord bless them for their desires to share the precious gifts of the gospel.
I have been impressed with the sacrifices of our people to construct houses of worship in many parts of the world, but I think I have never been so deeply touched as in witnessing the response to a suggestion made two years ago by our Vietnam zone president, a military officer. He suggested that our brethren, who were already paying their tithing, contribute their combat pay differential to a building fund. This represents the extra amount given men for battle duty. More than $3,000 was contributed by men of the Saigon Branch on a single Sunday, and more than $18,000 was given throughout Vietnam in 30 days. Where in all the world would you find a better expression of faith than that of these soldiers, airmen, and marines, who have given to the cause of peace that money paid them for the risks of battle?
They gave it for the construction of buildings they will never use or even see, but which will someday bless the people whose liberty they have fought to preserve.
The Lord bless them for their generosity, and may the peace of the Lord comfort the hearts of their worried fathers and anxious mothers, who implanted and cultivated in their sons a faith that today quietly shines in the dark, embattled area in which they find themselves.
I hope that some of you parents who grieve over your sons who could not go on missions because of the demands of the draft will derive some small measure of comfort from the assurance that your sons may perform an effective missionary labor through their examples, and that they may assist in liking the veil in lands of darkness in which the gospel must someday be taught.
I read for the first time this past week an interesting statement by Brigham Young. Said he:
"I shall be very happy when I can know that the people of the East Indian archipelago and the people of every island and continent, both the high and the low, the ignorant and intelligent, have received the words of eternal life, and have had bestowed upon them the power of the eternal Priesthood of the Son of God."
I make no defense of the war from this pulpit. There is no simple answer. The problems are complex almost beyond comprehension. I seek only to call your attention to that silver thread, small but radiant with hope, shining through the dark tapestry of war-namely, the establishment of a bridgehead, small and frail now; but which somehow, under the mysterious ways of God, will be strengthened, and from which someday shall spring forth a great work affecting for good the lives of large numbers of our Father's children who live in that part of the world. Of that I have a certain faith.
I have seen a prototype of what will happen as I have witnessed the development of this work in others of the ancient nations of Asia-in Korea, in Taiwan, in Okinawa, in the Philippines, and in Japan, where altogether we now have more than 25,000 Latter-day Saints.
This marvelous membership is the sweet fruit of seed once planted in dark years of war and in the troubled days immediately following, when good men of the priesthood, both civilian and military, through the example of their lives and the inspiration of their precepts, laid a foundation on which a great work has been established.
May I read from a letter just received from one of our brethren in Vietnam:
"The other day in Phu Bai I saw a young member of the Church reading the paperback of A Marvelous Work and a Wonder. The book was filthy, his hands were filthy, but he didn't see the dirt because he was reading so intently."
As I pictured that young infantryman in dirty battle dress, just returned from a dangerous jungle patrol, studying the gospel, two other pictures came to mind-the first, of the home in which he grew up, where there is constant prayer for his safety; the second, of the day when the clouds of war shall have lifted, when peace shall be in the land, and when there shall be congregations of the Church built upon foundations laid by such of our brethren there now.
That day will come. Of that I am confident.
"God moves in a mysterious way... His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower."
May the Lord bless our faithful brethren in Asia, and may he give us the vision to look beyond this dark day to a time when, because of their great service, his latter-day kingdom shall encompass many souls in that part of the earth, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Delbert L. Stapley
Delbert L. Stapley, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 26-30
Quoting the apostle Paul, "Brethren," and may I add sisters and friends, "my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
"For I hear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."
Many people profess a zeal for God, but their lives do not always harmonize fully with spiritual knowledge. Those who sincerely believe will follow and do the works of Christ; otherwise, in their pursuit of eternal glory, they will fall short of their heavenly goal. In this dispensation of the gospel the Lord gave this admonition: "Hearken, O ye people of my church... ye people from afar; and... listen together.
"For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men, and there is none to escape; and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated.
"And the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow."
Thus we see that the voice of the Lord is to all men everywhere, and none can escape the judgment for violating his laws and commandments.
Perhaps there is no better scripture known and quoted by members of the Church than this: "The glory of God is intelligence."
We should also understand the verse that follows this profound statement: "The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.
"Light and truth forsake that evil one."
The glory of God being intelligence, then the glory of man, the spirit offspring of Deity, must also be intelligence, for man is God's greatest and most important creation. Our Heavenly Father is concerned about the eternal welfare and happiness of his children. He has, however, given them their free agency to choose for themselves.
President George Q. Cannon has said: "I thank God for giving us our agency, because I think this earth will be a furnace to cleanse me and prepare me for a better condition of affairs and a better life, and I believe this of all of us... These bodies of ours are naturally rebellious full of strange appetites. We are here to conquer these desires... bring this earthly substance in subjection to the will of God.
"... It is true that some have greater power of resistance than others, but everyone has the power to close his heart against doubt, against darkness, against unbelief, against depression, against anger, against hatred, against jealousy, against malice, against envy... Whenever darkness fills our minds, we may know that we are not possessed of the Spirit of God, and we must get rid of it. When we are filled with the Spirit of God, we are filled with joy, with peace and with happiness."
When our God defines intelligence as light and truth, he is not contemplating just secular and worldly knowledge, but the spiritual and eternal verities and realities of life.
The Lord has directed parents to bring up their children in light and truth. He accused some of the brethren who failed in this responsibility by admonishing them:
"You have not taught your children light and truth, according to the commandments; and that wicked one hath power, as yet, over you, and this is the cause of your affliction.
"And now a commandment I give unto you-if you will he delivered you shall set in order your own house, for there are many things that are not right in your house."
We cannot afford to permit our sense of eternal values to become distorted and corrupt our lives or those of our loved ones, thus destroying opportunities for eternal glory.
Since the cloak of glory is the mantle of responsibility, it behooves us not only to obtain all the light and truth we can, but to use the intelligence we have to alter our lives to conform more closely to the example so beautifully portrayed in the life of Jesus.
Christ is referred to by John the Beloved as the "Word" and appropriately so, because he was and is the messenger of salvation to all nations and peoples.
He is the light and life of men. No one can come into the eternal presence of God the Father except through his beloved Son, our Savior, who is the light and Redeemer of the world. To define light and truth further, I quote from another revelation wherein the Lord commands his people "to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life, and to live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.
"For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
"And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.
"And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father."
The bondage of sin
The Lord further adds: "For whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin.
"And whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me.
"And by this you may know the righteous from the wicked."
Hearkening unto the voice of the Spirit is the key and the challenge which leads to God's eternal mansions. Hear this warning: "Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning...
"And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men."
It is through disobedience and man's failure to hearken unto the voice of the Spirit and the counsels of God that Satan is able to come and take away from man the light and truth of the gospel. When the light within us begins to dim, Satan moves in. When the light within us goes out, we are in his power and under his control.
When Saul, who failed to follow the instructions of the Lord, tried to justify his disobedience for doing so, the ancient prophet Samuel said: "... Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."
In latter-day scriptures the Lord uses action words in the first sentence to introduce many of his revelations. It is interesting to note that "hearken" was used 23 times. We are admonished by the Lord through the Prophet Joseph Smith to behold, to hearken, to listen, and to hear, in over 60 revelations.
The following scriptural statements represent warnings and counsel that are significant guidelines to our behavior in this mortal existence: "There is a law, 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."
Also: "For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world."
"... unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions.
"All beings who abide not in those conditions are not justified.
"For," said the Lord, "intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own: judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things."
These scriptural quotations teach us the importance of bounds and limitations, and also the conditions we must meet to attain eternal peace and happiness. Only obedience to God's commandments will bring us, his children, the blessings of heaven. If we will but heed the words of eternal life and put our "trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good-yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously," our salvation and glory can be assured.
John the Beloved gave this witness and testimony of the Christ and his teachings: "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
"If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
As a people we must stand firm, steadfast, and immovable in avoiding the evils of the world, and sustain with all the fervor of our being the truths, standards, principles, and ideals of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Satan is a formidable opponent, and it will take extraordinary toughness to subdue him and his agents.
The Lord has never promised that the overcoming of evil would be easy, but everyone can, if he wills, win the battle against the power of Satan.
The gospel of Christ is a lamp in our hands to guide us in righteous paths. Light can always dissipate darkness, but darkness can never replace light. It is only when the light of the Spirit within us is dimmed or goes out that the darkness of temptation and sin enters in, and Satan takes over.
The apostle Paul, in his Epistles to the Ephesians, admonished, "... have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."
Some of the unfruitful works of darkness as enumerated by Paul are:
"... walk not... in the vanity of their mind,
"Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God...
"Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness."
" away lying."
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth...
"... grieve not the holy Spirit of God...
"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you."
"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
"Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient...
"For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."
The counsel of God is clear: avoid these "unfruitful works of darkness"-walk in light and truth.
"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
"... put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
"... speak every man truth with his neighbour.
"... let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Neither give place to the devil."
Thus has the apostle Paul designated some of the things we must avoid as the unfruitful works of darkness and some of the positive things we ought to do to walk in the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are two powerful forces operative in the world today: one is the powerful influence of God; the other emanates from Satan. Even though evil is in constant competition with the good, the noble, and the beautiful in life, we should remember Joshua's declaration: "... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
The opposing forces in life are essential for our growth and development. It is required of us to recognize the powers that lead us away from the Spirit of the Lord, and to choose the path of righteousness, which will lead us back into the presence of God. As we succeed in this "tug-of-war" between the opposing forces of good and evil, we will bring joy into our lives here and earn rewards and exaltation in the life to come.
Perhaps never before in our history has the need been greater for members of the Church to understand the opposing forces confronting them and to muster sufficient strength to resist the forces of evil and embrace the forces of good. An ancient American prophet said: "And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man it must needs be that there was an opposition...
Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other."
Opposition seems to be as extensive and pervasive as the familiar words which signify it. It would be manifest in all other basic ideas that come in contrasting pairs: that is, good and evil, life and death, war and peace, pleasure and pain, necessity and contingency, virtue and vice. There are other terms that stand opposed one to another, such as, chance to fate, liberty to slavery, time to eternity, knowledge to opinion, and matter to form. Still other terms cannot be discussed without reference to their opposites, such as, truth and falsehood, love and hate, justice and injustice, wealth and poverty.
The choice is up to us as we exercise our free agency. Consider the preacher who summed up this matter of opposition when he stated his feelings as follows: "There is an election going on all the time. The Lord votes for you, and the devil votes against you, but you cast the deciding vote."
"Life is made up of choices. There are two ways of doing things, the right way and the wrong way. Every responsible individual stands almost daily at the crossroads and must choose which way he will travel. He can take the road that leads to the heights where the good and great of the earth assemble, or he can take the road that leads to the depths where the victims of remorse and despondency go. Life calls for almost constant decisions and the decisions which we make reflect with accuracy our thinking and our tastes.
"... it is the development of ethical and spiritual standards which will make the right choice clear and easy... What we are and what we achieve is largely a result of what we choose."
King Benjamin, a beloved Book of Mormon prophet, exhorted his people to "open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view."
And then he reminded them of his teachings, saying: "Neither have I suffered... that ye should murder, or plunder, or steal, or commit adultery; nor even have I suffered that ye should commit any manner of wickedness, and have taught you that ye should keep the commandments of the Lord, in all things which he hath commanded you."
King Benjamin's message to his people was given from a tower in contrast with today's worldwide communication system, where many listening ears are tuned in to hear the sermons of this conference.
The purpose of these messages is the same now as it was then: to encourage people to accept and live the gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed by God for the benefit and blessing of his children. The sufferings and sorrows resulting from disobedience are extremely difficult to bear. It is far easier to walk in the paths of righteousness and the light of gospel truths than to fall into the sorrow of disobedience and evil doing. If we walk in the light as Christ is in the light, peace of mind, happiness, and joy will be our lot forever.
I close with another statement of the Nephite prophet, King Benjamin:
"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness."
My brothers and sisters, I bear humble witness to the truth of these teachings. That we will all so live that we may enjoy eternal happiness and peace in our personal lives, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Henry D. Taylor
Henry D. Taylor, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 30-33
As the psalmist contemplated with awe the beauties of the Lord's creation, with man as the crowning achievement, he exclaimed in wonderment: "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
"For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
"Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.
"O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!"
Many have described man in glowing terms. This is Shakespeare's analysis: "What a piece of work is man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals!"
Well might we ask the same question, "What is man?" and well might the answer be: Man is the spiritual offspring of heavenly parents, privileged through righteous living to come to this world, to be born of earthly parents, and to be blessed with a mortal body.
The possession of this wonderful body is a sacred trust. President Joseph Fielding Smith has declared: "The importance of these mortal tabernacles is apparent from the knowledge we have of eternal life. Spirits cannot be made perfect without the body of flesh and bones. This body and its spirit are brought to immortality and blessings of salvation through the resurrection. After the resurrection there can be no separation again, body and spirit become inseparably connected that man may receive a fullness of joy. In no other way, other than birth into this life and the resurrection, can spirits become like our eternal Father."
When Adam was placed here upon the earth, our Heavenly Father indicated that by himself, Adam never could people the earth or subdue it. "It is not good," the Lord said, "that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him" So Eve was created and given to Adam in the bonds of eternal marriage, to continue with him, and to be his loving wife and companion.
This noble couple were given the commandment to perpetuate themselves: "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." These objectives could not be achieved without effort, and so the Father further admonished Adam: "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread." He was to labor and struggle for a living. Then, so that the man and wife would be united in their journey through life, the Lord added: "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." That is, one in unity, purpose, and harmony, to bring to life in mortality the spiritual offspring of Deity, to furnish mortal bodies for others, and to "replenish" or "fill" the earth. No life's purpose such as this could ever be devised by finite mind. It is truly divine.
What a glorious thing it would be if each child born into this world could have the assurance of these things:
1. To be born into a home where parents enjoy a respected and honorable name. In other words, "to be born of goodly parents."
2. To be born into homes where they are wanted: a place in which they are loved; a place where proper examples are manifest. One father said: "I am not trying to be a model father. All I am trying to do is to live so that when someone says to my son, 'You remind me of your father,' he can stick out his chest and not his tongue."
3. A place where the children are encouraged to prepare themselves for life, both here and hereafter, to live up to their full potential; a home where they are instructed to stand on their own feet, to be independent and self-supporting; a home where they are taught to prepare to establish homes of their own through proper training and securing an adequate education.
To "subdue the earth," a person must look mainly to himself and not to others, except as others might offer good counsel or set a good example. Most persons are striving to find what they consider security. It has been pointed out:
"People who look to government for 'security' are seeking that which has never been granted to human kind. Man was promised his living by the sweat of his brow, and where he wastes his substance he will want in spite of all human devices to render it otherwise. Nowhere in her system does nature offer security to anyone or anything. Nature's way is the law of change and succession, or replacement and fulfillment; but never the unalterable, the fixed or the guaranteed. It is defeatism in the individuals to seek security in living, a misunderstanding of the function of life itself. It was not so that the pioneers of this land lived, when there were few governments to do things for them. They met the wilderness on its own terms, and pushed it back. Men and women worked together to found their homes, raise their children, and wrest a competence from what the land had to offer them. They helped one another. They had time for worship, and they knew that over man there was God. Our age is a pioneering one, and to each are offered widening chances of development. It is a neglect of self-improvement to seek security without having earned it, to attempt to reap without having sown. No government can produce what people don't in themselves create."
A prominent American, in contemplating the subject, gave this advice to young people: "Don't dream about security; make it for yourself, out of yourself." He then concluded his thoughts on self-reliance with these words: "Dare to believe in yourself... and act accordingly. If you do, both your present and your future are secure."
While man is struggling to achieve security and independence, he should also realize that happiness and joy can be his. The Prophet Lehi, speaking under the inspiration of the Lord, taught his sons that "men are, that they might have joy." This joy could come from performing unselfish acts for others, a life filled with love for fellowmen, the rewards that come from honest toil, from a home where love and kindness abide, the peace and tranquility that come from observing the commandments of the Lord.
There are many today who are seeking for thrills and so-called pleasure. These things are but momentary and fleeting. Happiness and joy come from more enduring and lasting acts. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that "Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God."
Even though this life is real and earnest, it is possible to receive many rewards and satisfactions. I have noted serene joy in the face of a mother as she gazed with tenderness at her newly born child. I have viewed the pride, happiness, and joy in the expressions of parents as they watched and listened to the report of their son or daughter who had just returned from completing an honorable and successful mission, or other righteous achievements.
It is a humbling and warming experience to be present in the temple with the parents, friends, and families as a young couple is married and sealed for time and for all eternity. Certainly there is joy and happiness there.
I am confident that each of us has personally experienced the warm glow of happiness that comes from performing an unselfish act or rendering a service for someone else.
The Prophet Joseph Smith has said: "If a man gets a fullness of the Priesthood of God he has to get it in the same way that Jesus Christ obtained it, and that was by keeping all the commandments and obeying all the ordinances of the House of the Lord."
While joy and happiness are possible in life here upon the earth, greater rewards and blessings have been promised and will come following the time of the resurrection, after we have left this frail existence. At that time those who have been faithful will not only be reunited with their families and loved ones of mortality, but they will also be privileged to dwell in the glorious celestial world where God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Son, dwell.
Surely, this will be joy supreme. And it is possible to every one of us if we keep the faith and endure in righteousness to the end.
For this I humbly pray, in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Boyd K. Packer
Boyd K. Packer, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 33-36
I feel subdued in spirit this afternoon, my brethren and sisters, in coming from the mission field again to general conference, to hear the testimonies of our beloved Prophet and of the brethren. Particularly was my heart touched by the message of Elder Gordon B. Hinckley as he spoke to our servicemen, for in my life that silver thread of testimony, drawn from the dark tapestry of armed conflict, has been a guiding beacon.
Many young men listening to the conference are serving in the armed forces, or they face a call to military service. To answer the call, one must suspend many things dear and sacred. Military service requires a severance-hopefully a temporary one-from intimate and sacred ties that bind a young man to his family and from those relationships to which young manhood is so very responsive. Interruption comes likewise to schooling, and life's work is delayed. And, as always, it carries with it the threat of jeopardy to life and limb.
It is to you, our brethren in the armed forces, that I speak. Nor is the man who serves the only one concerned. There are wives and there are parents who never, never cease to love their children or fear for them.
A man answering the call now is not left in total comfort that all will sustain him. There have emerged in our society groups composed mostly of restless, unchallenged young people. In the name of peace and love and brotherhood, they criticize those who, obedient to the laws of the land, have answered the call to military duty. It is puzzling to see them renouncing their obligation, repudiating their citizenship responsibilities. They declare on moral grounds, as an act of virtue, that they will not serve. One can be sensitive, even sympathetic, to their feelings, for war is an ugly thing-a heinous, hideous, ugly thing! Strangely, it is a pursuit to which mankind has turned again and again and again. The wicked have generated it, and the innocent have ultimately been provoked by it.
The Lord said: "Therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace." I would that all men would remain at peace.
"We love peace," said President David O. McKay, "but not peace at any price. There is a peace more destructive of the manhood of living man than war is destructive of the body; 'Chains are worse than bayonets.'"
Recently a college student about to graduate, and under notice from the selective service, came to my office. Confused and worried, he told me of the pressure from fellow students and from faculty members to refuse induction, to leave the country, if necessary. When the issues are so confusing-and they are confusing-what can a man do? How can he know which way to turn?
First, the scriptures are not silent on the subject. These are not new issues; 75 years B.C., the Nephites faced such a challenge. There encircled them an ominous threat to liberty, the home, the family, and their rights of worship. While our present dilemma is not quite like theirs, all too soon the very circumstances they faced could come upon us. We would do well at least to ponder the words of their prophets: "Behold," said Moroni, "could ye suppose that ye could sit upon your thrones, and because of the exceeding goodness of God ye could do nothing and he would deliver you? Behold, if ye have supposed this ye have supposed in vain."
The Book of Mormon records that "the Nephites were taught to defend themselves against their enemies, even to the shedding of blood if it were necessary; yea, and they were also taught never to give an offense, yea, and never to raise the sword except it were against an enemy, except it were to preserve their lives.
"And this was their faith... if they were faithful in keeping the commandments of God that he would prosper them in the land; yea, warn them to flee, or to prepare for war, according to their danger;
"And also, that God would make it known unto them whither they should go to defend themselves against their enemies and by so doing, the Lord would deliver them."
These Nephites faced not only the hostility of invading enemies, but also indifference, dissension, and corruption in their own land. But the record confirms that "they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they owed to their God; for the Lord had said unto them and also unto their fathers, that: Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hand of your enemies.
"And again, the Lord had said that: Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed. Therefore for this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion."
More was said anciently, but we turn to modern prophets, for they have spoken and touched on the deeper issues involved. A message of the First Presidency dated April 6, 1942, states: "... the Church is and must be against war... It cannot regard war as a righteous means of settling international disputes; these should and could be settled-the nations agreeing-by peaceful negotiations and adjustments.
"But the Church membership are citizens or subjects of sovereignties over which the Church has no control. The Lord himself has told us to 'befriend that law which is the constitutional law of the land'...
"... When, therefore, constitutional law, obedient to these principles, calls the manhood of the Church into the armed service of any country to which they owe allegiance, their highest civic duty requires that they meet that call. If, harkening to that call and obeying those in command over them, they shall take the lives of those who fight against them, that will not make of them murderers, nor subject them to the penalty that God has prescribed for those who kill..."
Surely no individual will be excused for any wanton act of brutality, wickedness, or destruction. Nevertheless, this statement confirms: "... He will not hold the innocent instrumentalities of the war, our brethren in arms, responsible for the conflict. This is a major crisis in the world-life of man. God is at the helm."
A man does not necessarily have to volunteer. In fact, it would be hoped that young members of the Church would have the strengthening, stabilizing development of missionary service, and perhaps some schooling, before they enter the service, if indeed they are required to do so at all. And sometimes they are required to serve. If so, the brethren have said: "... the members of the Church have always felt under obligation to come to the defense of their country when a call to arms was made."
Though all the issues of the conflict are anything but clear, the matter of citizenship responsibility is perfectly clear. Our brethren, we know something of what you face and sense, something of what you feel.
I have worn the uniform of my native land in the time of total conflict. I have smelled the stench of human dead and wept tears for slaughtered comrades. I have climbed amid the rubble of ravaged cities and contemplated in horror the ashes of a civilization sacrificed to Moloch; yet knowing this, with the issues as they are, were I called again to military service, I could not conscientiously object!
To you who have answered that call, we say: Serve honorably and well. Keep your faith, your character, your virtue.
While war permits stomping out of a man's heart the reverent and tender virtues that exemplify true manhood, military services does not require it. You can serve and yet be exemplars of righteousness.
"It is a disgraceful thought," said President Joseph F. Smith, "that a man to become a soldier should become a rake and abandon himself to crime and wickedness. Let the soldiers that go out... be and remain men of honor. And when they are called, obey the call, and manfully meet the duty, the dangers, or the labor, that may be required of them, or that they may be set to do; but do it with an eye single to the accomplishment of the good that is aimed to be accomplished, and not with the blood-thirsty desire to kill and to destroy."
In armed conflicts there are casualties. Sometimes clean, worthy men, innocent of any desire to kill, devoid of any aggressive will to own that which belongs to someone else, fall victims of the confused, wicked ugliness of war.
"For," the prophet Moroni said, "the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked; therefore, ye need not suppose that the righteous will be lost because they are slain; but behold they do enter into the rest of their God." There are homes among us now where this heartbreak is known.
I read somewhere some simple lines of verse about a mother-and a telegram. Deep within lies a seed of strength and consolation-understood, perhaps, only by those who have faith. I can read but a few lines.
"'Killed in action... in the line of duty.' Blind went her eyes with pain... A moan of mortal agony, Then all became still again.
"'Oh God!... my God!... where were you When my son was being slain?' And the scalding tears of bitterness Drenched her cheeks like the summer rain.
"But a soft voice seemed to whisper In the twilight's afterglow, 'I had a son... at Calvary... Two thousand years ago.'"
God bless you, our brethren. We love you. We sustain you. There is no dishonor in your service.
Stay close to the Church, to the branches and wards near your post, to our chaplains and servicemen's groups, carry your servicemen's kit; read from it. Live worthily.
We pray God that he will protect you-that you will not fall a mortal nor a moral casualty of war. I testify to you that "this is a major crisis in the world-life of man. God is at the helm."
I bear witness that he lives and that he guides the destiny of man and of this Church, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder James A. Cullimore
James A. Cullimore, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 36-40
Since next Sunday is Easter Sunday, I want to direct my remarks to this important day and the circumstances surrounding it.
There are two great festal days in the Christian year: one is Christmas and the other is Easter. The first is in honor of the Lord's coming into the world. It is a glorious occasion. Wherever there are a home and children, in every quarter of the world, there is joy on this great occasion. Old grudges disappear, feuds are forgotten, and love flows from heart to heart at Christmas time.
Yet Christmas is less a day of victory than Easter, for the story that begins then is incomplete until it is crowned by the announcement, "The Lord is risen." Someone has so beautifully said: "If the Savior, having breathed his last on the cross, had never come back to the world in life as he promised, then the Star of Bethlehem might as well never have flamed, the angels as well never have sung 'Glory to God in the Highest' in the midnight sky, and the wise men from the east need not have taken their journey to find the babe in the manger. We might have wept over our crucified king if he had never risen from the dead, but we sound his praises now because he lives and reigns forever and ever."
The story is told of a man walking down a street in Chicago who came to a store window where there was displayed a beautiful picture of the crucifixion. As he stood going spellbound at the vivid picture story, he suddenly became conscious that at his side stood a little boy. The boy too was gazing at the picture, and his tense expression made the man know that the crucifixion had really gripped the eager little soul. Touching the boy on the shoulder, the man said, "Sonny, what does it mean?"
"Don'cha know?" he answered, his face full of the marvel of the man's ignorance. "That there man is Jesus, and them others is Roman soldiers, and the woman crying is his mother, and," he added, "they killed him."
The man was loath to leave the window, but he could not tarry always at the tragic scene, so he turned away and walked down the street. In a few moments he heard pattering footsteps, and there came rushing toward him the little boy.
"Say, mister!" he exclaimed breathlessly. "I forgot to tell you, but he rose again!"
Yes, he rose again. The advent on earth of the Redeemer is of less importance than the conquest of death and the grave, for it was only by rising from the grave that he could redeem the world. Hence, his resurrection signalizes the redemption of mankind and becomes one of the greatest of all occasions for every child of God.
Our author continues: "It required the resurrection to complete the work of redemption. The marvel of the manger birth attracted little attention from an ancient people, accustomed to accept the marvelous. The miracle of Galilee failed to astound a world that treated miracles as a matter of course. The martyrdom of Calvary was not in itself sufficient to prove that Jesus was the Savior of the world; but when the angel of the resurrection showed the weeping followers of Jesus an empty tomb on the morning of the first resurrection, no one who accepted the story with a saving faith could deny that the Nazarene was the world's Savior and the conqueror of death."
Yes, he rose again, for you and me-for all the children of God-that we might not be lost but that we might live again and have immortality and eternal life. Unto every man, woman, and child he brought immortality. Listen to the words of Alma: "Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death.
"The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form.
"Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous."
Paul said: "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."
All this comes without effort on our part through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Unto those who believe on him, repent of their sins, and keep his commandments and prove faithful to the end shall come the greatest gift of all in the atonement, not only immortality, but eternal life also, for the Lord has said, "And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God." In the words of Nephi: "... Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."
Yes, he rose again, for the Father gave him to have "life in himself," because he had strength to suffer, bleed, and die for our sins individually, and for the transgression of Adam, that we might not have to suffer ourselves if we keep his commandments.
The Savior himself said: "For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
"But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
"Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit-and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink-
"Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men."
Amulek understood this as he prophesied of the coming of the Savior: "And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else.
"Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death."
Listen to the story of the resurrection as related by James E. Talmage:
"Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, had passed, and the night preceding the dawn of the most memorable Sunday in history was well nigh spent, while the Roman guard kept watch over the sealed sepulchre wherein lay the body of the Lord Jesus. While it was yet dark, the earth began to quake; an angel of the Lord descended in glory, rolled back the massive stone from the portal of the tomb, and sat upon it. His countenance was brilliant as the lightning, and his raiment was as the driven snow for whiteness. The soldiers, paralyzed with fear, fell to the earth as dead men. When they partially recovered from their fright, they fled from the place in tenor. Even the rigor of Roman discipline, which decreed summary death to every soldier who deserted his post, could not deter them. Moreover, there was nothing left for them to guard; the seal of authority had been broken, the sepulchre was open, and empty." The Lord had risen.
"... Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
"And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
"And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
"And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away...
"And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
"And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
"But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you."
The actuality of the resurrection is attested to by many unto whom the resurrected Lord showed himself.
As some of the disciples went to Emmaus, Jesus walked with them, but their "eyes were holden that they should not know him." After much conversation and visiting, their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
"And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
"And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
"But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
"And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
"Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have."
He then showed them his hands and his feet, and asked them to bring meat, and he took it and did eat it before them.
The miracle of the resurrection is one of the greatest evidences of Christ's divinity. No fact in ancient history is better attested to than that Jesus lived, that he was crucified, and that he was resurrected from the dead and administered in his immortal body to his disciples.
Jesus proclaimed himself "the resurrection, and the life." He declared that he would lay his body down and take it up again, and added, "I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again." And this he did.
More and more, men are doubting that Jesus was resurrected and that he is now the living Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh.
But he proclaimed himself a God, even the Son of God, and that all things were created by him. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
"The same was in the beginning with God.
"All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men."
"Destroy this temple," he said, "and in three days I will raise it up." He spoke of the temple as his body. Pilate also doubted Christ's words, that he would rise again, and he placed guards by the sepulcher. Yet, Jesus came out of the tomb, the conqueror of death, hell, and the grave.
Many of the apostles of the Savior witnessed his crucifixion and were also witnesses of his resurrection. From the testimony of many of them we have some of the strongest assurances of the reality of the resurrection. There was no doubt in the mind of Peter as to the reality of the resurrection when he spoke to the very men who had been witnesses to his death:
"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
"Him, being delivered... by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
"Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death."
Paul is one of the greatest witnesses to the literal resurrection of the Lord:
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
"And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
"And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
"After that, he was seen of about five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
"After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
"And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
"For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God."
The scriptures testify that, as Christ was resurrected, so shall all be resurrected and have immortality.
The Savior said: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
"For as the father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
"And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of Man.
"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
"And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."
Paul reasoned with the unbelievers with sound logic as to the actuality of the resurrection. "But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
"And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith also vain...
"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept."
Yes, he rose again; and as he broke the bands of death, he made it possible for all to be resurrected and, if obedient, to have eternal life. He made it possible for us to have an immortal body by which we could receive a "fulness of joy."
The Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that only as the body and spirit are inseparably connected could we receive a "fulness of joy." He said:
"For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy;
"And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy.
"The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples; and whatsoever temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple."
This inseparable union can only come about through birth into mortality; death of the body, which is separation of body and spirit; and the resurrection, which is the reunion of body and spirit. In the resurrected, glorified, immortalized body we can go on into eternal life with God.
The atonement of the Savior-his death and resurrection-made possible the fulfillment of the purpose of God in the creation of man. Through Moses he declared that purpose: "For behold, this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."
I leave you my witness that this is the work of the Lord, that Jesus lives, that he came to earth and by his atoning sacrifice all shall live again, that he atoned for our individual sins on condition of our repentance. By virtue of our faithfulness we to can have eternal life. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Alma Sonne
Alma Sonne, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 40-42
My brethren and sisters, the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in its fullness. It has no substitute. It is God's plan to save humanity and to bring his children back to him. In modern times it began to function on the 6th day of April 1830, when the Church was organized. Christ's Church will grow and flourish in the future as it has in the past; I quote from modern revelation: "... the glory of the Lord shall be upon her;
"... and there shall come unto her out of every nation under heaven."
These prophetic words, given on September 11, 1831, are being fulfilled. The Church has reached a juncture where it has an opportunity to be heard. Many barriers and much prejudice have been removed, and prominent men in the world are making their own investigations.
The gospel message is before the world. It is being studied and investigated by thinkers and scholars. Books and magazines dealing with the revealed word are being read. Eventually, wise men will come to know that the only formula for peace is contained in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Hatred, malice, and vindictiveness must give way to the love advocated and exemplified by the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other effective way, for in his gospel is the power to save.
Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, realized that the gospel is the covenant which the Lord has made with men for their salvation and exaltation. It embraces all the rights, power, and authority to save and exalt the human family. It is definite in all of its commitments. It must not be perverted or modified to suit the convenience, or to satisfy the whims and the sophistries of false teachers and others who seek to evade its responsibilities.
I quote Paul's words to the Galatians: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."
Jesus was similarly positive when he said: "... strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." He also cautioned his followers to "beware of false prophets," who would come to them in sheep's clothing.
There was to be no deviation from the outlined plan for the redemption of mankind. It is definite and specific in all of its requirements. Obedience is the price of salvation.
The mission of the Church is to establish God's kingdom upon the earth, to safeguard it from error and falsehood, and to promote righteous living among its membership. To carry forward its program, organizations have been perfected, missionary work instituted, and foundations securely laid.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaims a restoration of the gospel with all the gifts, keys, powers, and authority. It functions as it did anciently, with "apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc."
"Ye must be born again," said Jesus to Nicodemus, who had confessed his faith and manifested his desire to investigate the teachings of the Master. In his interview with the Jewish ruler, Jesus referred to the Church as the kingdom of God, an organization through which the work of regeneration should be accomplished.
Nicodemus was impressed but not converted, even though the first principles of the gospel were explained to him by the Master Teacher. "Many are called but few are chosen."
The restored gospel is identical in all respects to the gospel taught by the Savior and his apostles. The requirements, the principles, and the ordinances are the same. There is no deviation in the fundamental teachings, no departure from the high standards demanded, and no modifications in the authorized procedures.
The law of health, for instance, known as the Word of Wisdom, is a part of the gospel plan. Its observance makes for physical fitness, mental proficiency, moral soundness, and spiritual development.
The law of tithing is the Lord's method of providing the necessary revenues for the operation of the Church in its far-reaching ramifications. It too is a part of the restored gospel.
When the Prophet Joseph Smith was asked to point out a distinctive feature of the Church, he replied: "We have the Holy Ghost."
The Holy Ghost, the third personage in the Godhead, is the spirit of revelation upon which the true Church is founded. He is the Comforter and the "abiding witness" referred to by the Lord Jesus, and he is conferred by the laying on of hands.
He testifies to the repentant baptized believers that Jesus is the Christ, and clothes them with conviction that the restored gospel is true and divine. This conviction is a sacred and personal testimony that is the strength of the Church and accounts for its wonderful achievements and the steadfastness and loyalty of its members.
It is the mission of the Holy Ghost to inspire the Latter-day Saints in their efforts to build God's kingdom, to enhance and strengthen the missionary system at home and abroad, and to enlighten the minds of those who are searching for the truth.
The restored gospel declares that man is a child of God, and that he lived before his advent upon the earth. A human being is therefore more than a physical creation; he is also a spiritual being endowed with the attributes of his Heavenly Father. He moves toward perfection as he honors and obeys divine commandments, which is the only way to perfection.
Life is full of purpose. Man's career on earth is an opportunity for growth and development, an opportunity for him to acquire knowledge, power, and experience, and to prepare him for eternal life in God's kingdom.
Teaching the principles of truth is an obligation resting upon the Church. There is no substitute for the plan of life taught by the Savior. This plan did not originate with man. It came from God through holy men, called prophets. They were foreordained to do their work. Their object was to bring sinners to repentance and to provide safeguards against the destructive influences rampant in their day.
Jesus and his apostles assailed the corruption and hypocrisy existing among the scribes and Pharisees, and rebuked sin in high places. His denunciation of the religious hypocrites has no parallel in the world's literature.
God has spoken to the modern world through Joseph Smith, a farmer's son. Through him a new dispensation of revealed knowledge has been ushered in. Prophecies concerning the latter days are being fulfilled, and man's responsibility to God is clearly outlined.
The mission of this modern prophet was to set in order the things which pertain to God's kingdom. He was a humble man and came from the common ranks. He had no worldly background, no scholarly attainments, and no social standing to justify his selection. His mind was free from the traditions, superstitions, and fallacies of the past.
He had little to unlearn, few prejudices to overcome, and no man-made theories to lay aside. He was pliable in the hands of God and impressionable to the Spirit's promptings.
He was chosen before he was born, and came to the earth at the appointed time. He was foreordained to do his work. His capabilities had been determined before his earthly advent.
He was the "chosen of God and the friend of man."
I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Eldred G. Smith
Eldred G. Smith, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 42-45
During this coming week Christians throughout the world will be celebrating the death, crucifixion, and resurrection of the Savior, Jess Christ. We in this Church at this conference also gather in remembrance of his birth.
Might we ask, "Who is he whom we call Jesus the Christ, our Savior?" Let's reflect for a moment on this question, and together call to mind a few known facts.
Moses called upon God and was shown in vision "many lands; and each land was called earth, and there were inhabitants on the face thereof."
The word of God the Father, declared to Moses: "... by the word of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth.
"And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten."
Some astronomers now say that in this galaxy of which we are a part, there are about one million worlds like this one on which we live. President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., put it this way: "... if you think of this galaxy of ours having within it from the beginning perhaps until now, one million worlds, and multiply that by the number of millions of galaxies, one hundred million galaxies, that surround us, you will then get some view of who this Man whom we worship is."
He was no amateur, no novice in the art and skill of a creator. "Worlds without number" he has created.
In that great council in heaven when the creation of this earth was planned, it was he who answered to the call of the Father: "Whom shall I send?"
It was he then who came to this earth, in the meridian of time, born of the virgin Mary. He was the literal Son of God the Father, "the Only Begotten Son."
He declared who he was. Throughout his life on earth, he repeatedly declared that he was the Son of God. At the age of 12, he was found in the temple, conversing with the doctors. In answer to his mother's reproof, he said, "... wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"
At the baptism of Jesus by John, as also at the transfiguration of Jesus, a voice from heaven declared: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Jesus was talking with the Jews about Abraham, and they said to him: "Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
"Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
"Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
"Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
"Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."
When Jesus was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, "Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
"She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world."
Jesus asked a Samaritan woman to draw water for him, and a conversation followed. The Samaritan woman at the well said to Jesus, "I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
"Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he."
"When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
"And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
"He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
"And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
"And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."
On numerous other occasions, he declared that he was the Son of God, the Christ. Is it any wonder then that when the request came for him to provide wine at the wedding feast, he, the great Creator, changed water to wine?
With a few loaves and fishes, he fed five thousand plus women and children on one occasion, and four thousand plus women and children on another. At his suggestion, the nets were cast into the sea where the disciples had had no success, and the nets were filled to overflowing.
In the midst of storm, he commanded the sea to be still, and there was calm.
He cursed the fig tree that did not bear fruit, and it died.
He healed all manner of illness and disease. At his command the evil spirits departed, they too declaring who he was. He made the blind to see, the lame to walk. Yes, he even controlled life itself, for he restored to life Lazarus, who had been declared dead for four days. There were others too.
Yes, "the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof." He had dominion over all the kingdoms of the earth-in the earth, on the earth, and in the heaven above the earth. All he did was for others-a life of service. There was not one selfish act.
Approaching the finish of his mission here, he prayed to the Father: "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
"And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."
He took upon himself the sins of all who shall repent, and gave his life that all might live. He brought about the resurrection for all.
Finally, in preparation for the restoration of his kingdom on the earth in these the last days, he said: "Therefore I command you to repent-repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.
"For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
"But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
"Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit-and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink-
"Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.
"Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I humble you with my almighty power."
Do you so think of him when partaking of the sacrament, and covenant to keep his commandments? To know him is to keep his commandments. Do you know him who is called Jesus?
Yes, this is he whom we worship. He is the Son of God, the Great Creator. He is our Savior and Redeemer. He is our advocate with the Father. It was he who made possible universal resurrection. It was he, with his Father, who appeared to Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove.
I testify that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that it was under his direction that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in this dispensation for the last time, and that President David O. McKay is his living Prophet today. I so testify these truths in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop John H. Vandenberg
John H. Vandenberg, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 45-47
A few years ago I read a story of a mother who was running and playing with her three-year-old daughter. The mother told her daughter that when she was a little girl her mother had played with her in a very similar manner.
Upon hearing this, the little girl looked up with inquisitive eyes and said, "Mother, where was I when you were a little girl?"
From the lips of this small girl comes a question that reaches beyond the understanding of most of mankind. This touches on the questions of "Who are we?" and "What are we doing here?"
William Wordsworth presents to us his inspiration in this excerpt from his poem, "Intimations of Immortality":
"Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting: The soul that rises with us, our life's star, Hath had elsewhere its setting, And cometh from afar: Not in entire forgetfulness, And not in utter nakedness, But trailing clouds of glory do we come From God who is our home: Heaven lies about us in our infancy!"
These thoughts reiterate what the prophets have told us in the scriptures. The Lord told Jeremiah, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."
The testimony of Abraham sheds further light on the questions, "Who are we?" and "What are we doing here?" He said:
"Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;
"And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.
"And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell."
This disclosure by the Lord gives significant meaning and purpose to life. Life, then, is not just a period isolated between birth and death. The Lord further disclosed to Abraham:
"And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
"... and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever."
For those who are not aware of this divine purpose, life may seem to be a mysterious journey with few landmarks and with no real objectives. They may seek only that which their eyes can see. Their only objective may be material wealth and the embracing of worldly pleasures. Moral standards may be applied only when it is convenient. In a sense, they worship and make gods of the physical, whatever it may be.
It is the prophets who are burdened with the charge of turning the hearts of the people from the worship of false gods. In the wisdom of God, he has provided his children with spiritual leadership to keep the true and real purpose of life uppermost in their minds and hearts, without which the people soon dwindle in unbelief and aimless living. "Where there is no vision, the people perish."
The prophet Elijah found his countrymen in just such a state, putting their faith in various idolatrous gods, or Baal. They had their false priests, and each locality had its own particular idol. Such idols were worshiped through burnt offerings, festivals, human sacrifice, and gross sensuality,
Upon finding this condition among the people, Elijah took action. He prevailed upon Ahab to gather all the people, including the priests of Baal, together unto Mount Carmel, and then Elijah said to this assembly: "How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him."
The failure of the priests of Baal, as Elijah caused them to test their gods, stands as a classic example of the futility of following or pursuing false idols. But the charge given by Elijah to the people, "If the Lord be God, follow him," has stood. Not in history has it ever failed mankind. It stands even today.
It might be asked, "If the Lord be God, why should we follow him?" The most striking answer to this query lies in the lives of those who have "followed" him.
Christ the Lord said to Peter: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Peter straightway left nets, and followed him." What happened? From a simple fisherman, Peter was transformed into a courageous leader. On one occasion he was called before Jewish leaders and warned not to "teach in the name of Jesus." With great courage, Peter defied the order, and rebuked the rulers, saying: "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
To the woman whom the scribes and Pharisees had found in sin, Christ opened a whole new life by admonishing her to follow his counsel. To her he said: "Go and sin no more." No longer would her conscience be burdened by her pursuing a life of sin. She could face life anew-with a purpose. Her whole life could now be refocused upon that which is noble and uplifting. All this could be hers by "following him."
Christ said: "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be." Following him is a day-by-day process. It must be the conscious objective of every hour. Even today those who will serve the Master and follow the directions of his Prophet can taste the joy of service.
Just the other day I received a written testimony from a mother expressing appreciation for a servant of the Lord. This servant, a home teacher, was simply following the Lord's assignment to "watch over the Church always, and be with and strengthen them." She writes:
"My husband had taken some Scouts to the Merit Badge Pow-Wow at BYU. It was a two-hundred mile drive so they had left at 4 o'clock in the morning. When I awakened, my main concern was for their safety as it was snowing and blowing. My eight-year-old boy had already awakened and left on his bicycle for the corral, about a mile away, to do the chores. Suddenly there he was in the bedroom with a big tear in each eye.
"'Mama, we've got two little lambs out to the farm and they are wet and shaking, and I tried to call you from the service station but you had to have a dime, so I just wrapped my coat around them and rode home as fast as I could.'
"My husband had acquired a small herd of ewes only last fall as a father-son project, but my son and I were completely inexperienced in the process of 'lambing.' I knew that we had to have help from someone. Whom could we call? I don't recall which one of us thought of it first but suddenly both of us knew it would be our home teacher.
"Within twenty minutes he was at the corral with his eight-year-old boy and mine. He stayed for three hours, working with the lambs every minute. The sheep had not been sheared, as the expected lambing date was still a month away, but he understood and did those things which needed to be done. One lamb looked quite strong, but there was not much hope for the second. Just before dinner he returned to the house with one of the lambs in a box. Would I try to get it warm? He was taking the other one to his home to work with it. He would be back within two hours to take them both back to their mother for nursing.
"I am certain that he spent over six hours that Saturday at our farm working with our sheep and our boy. As a result we now have two healthy lambs and an even more beloved home teacher. I cannot tell you how much our eight-year-old boy thinks of the home teacher who worked side by side with him through one entire day teaching by example the love that is our gospel."
No better example could be given of what it means to follow the Lord, for God has commanded that we shall "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind," and "love thy neighbour as thyself."
William George Jordan said: "Man has two creators, his God and himself. The first creator furnishes him the raw materials for his life-the laws and conformity with which he can make that life what he will. The second creator-himself-has marvelous powers he rarely realizes. It is what a man makes of himself that counts."
To those who ask, "Where was I when?" the answer is, "With God-waiting to come to earth to prove yourself." The Lord is God; let us follow him. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 49-54
We live in a time of crisis. Never since the period of the Civil War has this nation faced such critical days. Americans are destroying America.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-the Mormon Church-believe-
-"that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society."
-"that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life."
-"that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people..."
-"that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly."
No people can maintain freedom unless their political institutions are founded upon faith in God and belief in the existence of moral law. God has endowed, men with certain inalienable rights, and no legislature and no majority, however great, may morally limit or destroy these. The function of government is to protect life, liberty, and property, and anything more or less than this is usurpation and oppression.
The Constitution of the United States was prepared and adopted by courageous men acting under inspiration from the Almighty. It is a solemn contract between the peoples of the states of this nation that all officers of government are under duty to obey. The eternal moral laws expressed therein must be adhered to or individual liberty will perish. It is the responsibility of government to punish crime and provide for the administration of justice and to protect the right and control of property.
But today these basic principles and concepts are being flaunted, disregarded, and challenged, even by men in high places. Through the exercise of political expediency, the government is condoning the breakdown of law and order.
Law enforcement in America is at the point of crisis. A recent Life Line broadcast warned that "in Chicago, 64 men quit the police force in one month. Baltimore has 360 police vacancies. Washington, D.C., is 230 men short of its authorized complement. And cities all over the country are desperately seeking recruits.
"Police aren't striking; they're quitting, and it is understandable. They're being demoralized by the hostile attitudes of the politically minded Supreme Court. They're being demoralized by a weird penal system which frees hardened criminals almost as fast as they're arrested... Policemen are demoralized by slanted news reporting, distorted facts which show police activities from the criminal's side. And they're being demoralized by an avalanche of new laws, which are making it even harder to convict the guilty.
"San Diego Police Chief Wesley B. Sharp warns that: 'If there isn't a change, the increase in crime will lead to anarchy and criminals will control the nation.'"
Edmund Burke, the great English statesman, explained that "men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their own appetites-in proportion as their love of justice is above their rapacity-in proportion as their soundness and sobriety of understanding is above their vanity and presumption-in proportion as they are more disposed to listen to the counsels of the wise and good, in preference to the flattery of knaves. Society cannot exist, unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere; and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without. It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things, that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters."
I do not believe the greatest threat to our future is from bombs or guided missiles. I do not think our civilization will die that way. I think it will die when we no longer care, when the spiritual forces that make us wish to be right and noble die in the hearts of men, when we disregard the importance of law and order.
If American freedom is lost, if America is destroyed, if our blood-bought freedom is surrendered, it will be because of Americans. What's more, it will probably not be only the work of subversive and criminal Americans. The Benedict Arnolds will not be the only ones to forfeit our freedom.
"At what point, then, is the approach of danger to be expected?" asked Abraham Lincoln, and he answered, "If it ever reaches us, it must spring up among us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher; as a nation of freemen, we must live through all time or die by suicide."
If America is destroyed, it may be by Americans who salute the flag, sing the national anthem, march in patriotic parades, cheer Fourth of July speakers-normally good Americans, but Americans who fail to comprehend what is required to keep our country strong and free-Americans who have been lulled away into a false security.
Great nations are never conquered from outside unless they are rotten inside. Our greatest national problem today is erosion, not the erosion of the soil, but erosion of the national morality-erosion of traditional enforcement of law and order.
Theodore Roosevelt said: "The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, and love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life."
In this blessed land we have exalted security, comfort, and ease above freedom. If we dwelled at length on the many things that are disturbing in the life of America today, we might well become discouraged. I mention only a few of the reported startling evidences of our national illness, our moral erosion.
-There is a decline of U.S. morals and moral fiber, a turning to pleasure and away from hard work and high standards of the past.
-There is a growing worry in our universities over cheating in examinations.
-Nationwide juvenile delinquencies show an eight-fold increase since 1950.
-There is a 500-million dollar smut industry in this country causing youngsters to wrestle with standards of value.
-America is the biggest market for narcotics.
-Although we consider ourselves a people who believe in law and order, we have seen much evidence of the passion of the mob.
-Riots have occurred in 137 different cities and towns in 33 months, resulting in 120 deaths, including 12 police officers slain; 3,623 other persons injured; 28,932 arrested; and hundreds of millions of dollars property damage.
-Crime in the United States is up 88 percent in seven years, rising nearly nine times faster than population, up 16 percent per year, according to the FBI. Crime costs some $20 billion a year, and less than 21 percent of reported crimes result in arrests and less than one-third of those in convictions.
-In the midst of a cold war and preparation for a possible shooting war of survival, we have faced 651 strikes at missile bases in six years.
-The United States government has racked up a shameful record of 31 treasury deficits in the past 35 years.
-The sky-rocketing cost of the welfare state increased in 8 years from 6.9 billion to 20.3 billion dollars in 1961 and stood at 87 billion 578 million in 1966.
-There are over 7,700,000 people on relief in federal, state, and local programs.
-During the past 33 years our budget has increased 20 times over, and our national debt has increased from $16 billion to an admitted $324 billion; adding accrued liabilities payable in the future, our real indebtedness exceeds $1 trillion, or an average indebtedness of $5,200 for every man, woman, and child in the United States.
-Our present federal debt is equal to a first mortgage of $10,000 on all owned homes in the country and is reported to exceed the combined debt of all countries of the world. Annual interest on the soaring national debt is over $15 billion-only defense and welfare are higher.
-American currencies are weaker than those of Germany and Japan, who were defeated in World War II.
-Inflation has struck a serious blow to the value of the American dollar.
-We continue to move in the direction of more federal intervention, more concentration of power, more spending, more taxing, more paternalism, more state-ism.
The present shocking situation was summed up succinctly by J. Edgar Hoover in the April 1967 FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin in these words:
"Morality, integrity, law and order and other cherished principles of our great heritage are battling for survival in many communities today. They are under constant attack from degrading and corrupting influences which, if not halted, will sweep away every vestige of decency and order remaining in our society."
A recent issue of the well-known and highly respected Babson's Washington Forecast Letter carried a four-page special supplement, which concluded as follows:
"Who are we to indict for sparking this chaos in America? Are the prime defendants the Stokely Carmichaels, the H. Rap Browns, the hippies, the draftcard burners, the peaceniks, the juvenile delinquents, the rabble-rousers, the Commies who have gained respectability as honest dissenters? Certainly, most of these could be brought before the bar of justice to answer charges of law violations and they should be.
"However, there is a stronger, truer bill of indictment which may be drawn against those who have invited the bloody blackmail of America by permitting, even encouraging, mounting civil disobedience."
And then the article names names of men of national prominence and continues: "These men of power, prestige, and great influence in the political structure of America have permitted the concept of 'freedom of speech' to be expanded to include subversion, intimidation, sedition, and incitement to riot; they have condoned the distortion of 'academic freedom' to encompass the adulteration of young minds with Communist doctrine and the disintegration of a well-disciplined educational system; they have allowed 'freedom of assembly' to mushroom into disruption of peaceful activity, mob rule, riot, and insurrection.
"Unless those in authority in the United States can be influenced to abandon the suicidal course on which they have embarked-or unless they can be replaced by men who will-we cannot hope to restore in our nation the kind of domestic peace and order which has made our many generations proud to be Americans... living in a land of freedom, security, opportunity, and justice under law.
"The crisis we now face is the most serious, the most dangerous, in the history of our country. Each of us must diligently employ our influence and our effort-in speech, letters, and at the ballot box-to help set straight the way."
The facts are clear. Our problem centers in Washington, D.C. And this applies to the administration of both political parties. In the words of James Madison, "Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations."
If America is to withstand these influences and trends, there must be a renewal of the spirit of our forefathers, an appreciation of the American way of life, a strengthening of muscle and sinew and the character of the nation. America needs guts as well as guns. National character is the core of national defense.
Could many of our ills today have resulted from our failure to train a strong citizenry from the only source we have-the boys and girls of each community? Have they grown up to believe in politics without principle, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without effort, wealth without work, business without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice?
In recent months a nationwide survey of high school and college students has been conducted. The U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce reveals that 41 percent believe that freedom of the press should be canceled; 53 percent believe in government ownership of banks, railroads, and steel companies; 62 percent said that the government bad the responsibility to provide jobs; 62 percent thought a worker should not produce all that he can; 61 percent rejected the profit incentive as necessary to the survival of free enterprise; 84 percent denied that patriotism is vital and plays an important part in our lives.
Letters that come to my desk from worried parents deeply concerned by what is being taught to their children in the schools are shocking, to say the least.
We can never survive unless our young people understand and appreciate our American system, which has given more of the good things of life than any other system in the world-unless they have a dedication that exceeds the dedication of the enemy. Character must become important in this country again. The old essentials of honesty, self-respect, loyalty, and support for law and order must be taught the younger generation.
I appeal to people everywhere, young and old, to heed these words of Dean Alfange:
"I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon. I seek opportunity to develop whatever talents God gave me-not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any earthly master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act myself, enjoy the bend fit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say-'This, with God's help, I have done.' All this is what it means to be an American."
Those of us conscious of the seriousness of the situation must act, and act now. It has been said that it takes something spectacular to get folks excited, like a burning house. Nobody notices one that is simply decaying. But in America today we not only have decaying but burning before our very eyes. How much we need hearts today who will respond to the inspiring words of the poet, John Greenleaf Whittier:
"Where's the manly spirit Of the true-hearted and the unshackled gone? Sons of old freemen, do we inherit their name alone?
"Is the old Pilgrim spirit quenched within us? Stoops the proud manhood of our souls so low, That Mammon's lure or Party's wile can win us to silence now?
"Now, when our land to ruin's brink is verging, In God's name let us speak while there is time; Now, when the padlocks for our lips are forging, Silence is crime."
Our priceless heritage is threatened today as never before in our lifetime: from without by the forces of Godless Communism, and at home by our complacency and by the insidious forces of the Socialist-Communist conspiracy, with the help of those who would abandon the ancient landmarks set by our fathers and take us down the road to destruction. It was Alexander Hamilton who warned that "nothing is more common than for a free people, in times of heat and violence, to gratify momentary passions, by letting into the government, principles and precedents which afterwards prove fatal to themselves."
Serious and concerned citizens everywhere are asking, "Can we cope with these threatening realities?" Yes, we can; if we would allow the local police to do their job, they could handle the rioting and looting. Yes, we can, if we have the courage and wisdom to return to basic concepts, to recall the spirit of the founding fathers and accept wholeheartedly these words of Thomas Paine, whose writings helped so much to stir people to action during the days of the American Revolution when he said:
"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; 'tis dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated."
As American citizens who love freedom, we must return to a respect for national morality-respect for law and order. There is no other way of safety for us and our posterity. The hour is late; the time is short. We must begin now, in earnest, and invite God's blessings on our efforts.
The United States should be a bastion of real freedom. We should not support the world's greatest evil, the Godless, Socialist-Communist conspiracy that seeks to destroy all we hold dear as a great Christian nation and to promote insidiously the breakdown of law and order and the erosion of our morality.
With God's help we must return to those basic concepts, those eternal verities, the rule of law and order upon which this nation was established. With an aroused citizenry and the help of Almighty God it can be accomplished. God grant it may be so, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion D. Hanks
Marion D. Hanks, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 54-59
Great emphasis is being given these days to programs designed to preserve and develop physical fitness. This morning my wife read to me a quotation that emphasizes other aspects of fitness even more important: "There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up." I pray for that spirit of uplift in these few moments.
In the writings of a great modern religious figure is the story of a conversation between a persecuted saintly rabbi of the late eighteenth century and his jailer in Petersburg. The jailer asked, "How are we to understand that God, the all-knowing, said to Adam: 'Where art thou?'"
Having obtained from the jailer his assent that "the scriptures are eternal and that every era, every generation and every man is included in them," the rabbi said, "... in every era, God calls to every man: 'Where are you in your world? So many years and days of those allotted to you have passed, and how far have you gotten in your world?... How far along are you?'"
Says Buber: "In so asking, God does not expect to learn something he does not know; what he wants is to produce an effect in man which can only be produced by just such a question, provided that it reaches man's heart-that man allows it to reach his heart."
We know that much that demeans man and keeps him from finding himself and his place, and from developing his great potential, comes from his efforts to hide himself from his Father as Adam did, and from the love, the relationships, the service, and the vicissitudes that the Father has sent him to this earth to experience.
A thoughtful editor has recently written these words: "The human potential is the most magical but also the most elusive fact of life. Men suffer less from hunger or dread than from living under their moral capacity. The atrophy of spirit that most men know and all men fear is tied not so much to deprivation or abuse as it is to their inability to make real the best that lies within them. Defeat begins more with a blur in the vision of what is humanly possible than with the appearance of ogres in the path or a hell beyond the next turning."
We know well that character is an achievement, not a gift, yet all men to some measure, most of us to some considerable measure, and too many of us to a tragic measure live below our moral capacity, are willing to accept a plausible lower view of mankind and of ourselves than we should or need to, and fail to "make real the best that lies within" us.
The Lord wants us to be our best; he wants us to achieve our highest possibilities. This is the purpose of the gospel. He died to give us that opportunity. What principles are involved in our succeeding? What problems keep us from it?
Recently I read a brief newspaper account of a survey made at a great American university among many thousands of students over a period of several years. With access only to the article and not to the study itself, let me briefly paraphrase, to some measure quote, and add some of my own words to the four conclusions that came out of that study, which coincide with what I also have observed and experienced in some years of working with youth. While this study dealt basically with college-age students in our current generation, what it notes is significantly applicable to our culture in general:
1. They are looking for a faith, but are skeptical of all faiths, being disposed and encouraged to question everything and to doubt the established ways.
2. They are looking for a community to which they can belong-for a family, a group, a society-but they are skeptical of all organization. They see institutions as authoritarian, threatening their identity and individuality. Many feel that the family has failed them. Disorganization and resistance give them a chance for preservation as persons, so they sometimes favor chaos over order.
3. They know they need to think beyond themselves and to give service, but they are frightened by the commitment service requires.
4. They want to love and be loved, but their image of self is poor, and they are not sure they are capable of love or worthy of being loved.
In summary, the problems revealed by the survey are in believing, belonging, giving, and loving. These happen to be the basic ingredients essential in the development of the human potential. They are pivotal principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ let me speak of them briefly, primarily in illustration.
What does it matter to our happiness or to the development of our character whether or what we believe?
Before Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, not yet 19 years of age, having saved her country, she was offered her freedom if she would repudiate her vision and her faith. Maxwell Anderson's great play Joan of Lorraine has her answering:
"Every man gives his life for what he believes. Every woman gives her life for what she believes. Sometimes people believe in little or nothing... One life is all we have, and we live it as we believe in living it, and then it's gone. But to surrender what you are, and live without belief-that's more terrible than dying-more terrible than dying young."
The apostle Paul spoke of faith unfeigned." It is not, of course, lip service or eye pleasing of which he spoke. It is not to know everything, or to understand perfectly. Recall the wonderful answer of a loving father who sought the help of the Master for his afflicted son. Jesus asked him if he believed, and the agonized father, his son's life in the balance, was supremely honest: "Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief."
Faith is not rooted in perfect behavior, though it inspires us to desire it, to seek for it. Consider the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. The Pharisee boasted of his righteousness; the publican "would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."
Faith is to know that he will not reject us. From the Book of Mormon: "And now, my beloved brethren, seeing that our merciful God has given us so great knowledge... let us remember him, and lay aside our sins, and not hang down our heads, for we are not cast off." From the Bible: "... therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you."
Faith motivates us to yield our hearts to him, truly yield our hearts. It motivates honesty to acknowledge limitations and vulnerability, willingness to learn, humility to seek help, courage to act, simplicity to trust. It is to have confidence in the presence of God. Faith is, as it has been well said, "... a condition born in a mind that has looked at all of the available evidence and discovered in it a meaning with which the soul can live at peace. It is not appalled by an invitation to think."
Recently in Vietnam I learned again of the need for men to believe. A choice friend was serving as the commander of a helicopter gunship unit. They had suffered many casualties and much damage, but miraculously no deaths in their highly dangerous work. The morning before I talked with him in Da Nang my friend, a wonderful servant of the Lord, was standing by his ship preparing to lead his group on another difficult mission. The blades of the whirlybirds were rotating when the major was approached some what hesitantly by a young enlisted man from one of the aircraft. The commander impatiently asked the boy what he wanted.
"Some of us were wondering, sir," he said earnestly, "whether you've had time to say your prayers this morning."
Humbled by the nature and spirit of the question, the commanding officer replied that he had had time to talk with the Lord.
"Thank you, sir," said the young man, smiling, relieved. "The guys and I didn't want to take off on this mission until you'd had time to pray."
There had been no overt prayers before the group and no sermon or lesson on the subject, but somehow the word was out among the men that their outfit had something special going for them because their commanding officer was a man who prayed.
The most urgent need of our time is to understand spiritual truths and apply them to our lives. It has been said-and I think well said-that "our age has tried sophistication and intellectualism, but these have given no peace. Psychology and sociology, humanism and rationalism, have given us not a fraction of the abiding joy and calm our fathers knew through their faith. For still, there is the devastation of doubt and fear and envy and greed and guilt."
We have learned again in this conference that the most significant confrontation to be experienced in this world is with Jesus Christ, and yet many still turn from him without knowing him or opening their hearts to him.
A marine in Vietnam said it impressively for his generation in a poem published recently in the Era of Youth:
SOUL SURVIVOR
"Last night, on our perimeter, A man fell in the barbed wire coils And, in his delirium, Sobbed these words; 'Oh, dear Christ!'
"I thought with him: the blood was flowing; Far away from homeland, injured, Tired from the all-night guarding, Weary from the sandbag filling; Emptiness walked all around him, Caused by missing many loved ones, Caused by worried fears of dying, Worrying more about worrying them.
"Yet, in his one time of trial, Still, the mighty hope remained- The faith in higher strength, in mercy; Then I thought, 'Just how can I, Even at my most contented, Ever turn my back on Jesus?'"
Importance of belonging
He who believes knows that he belongs. But he also needs to feel himself an important and accepted part of a group. Young people want and deserve parents and a family they can be proud of. Their capacity to become worthwhile persons is strongly affected by the absence or presence of such a family and by their own acceptance of the challenge to be a contributing, responsible member of it. The influence of a good family is well-captured by this account from an unknown source:
"It was a gorgeous October day. My husband Art and I were down at the boat landing helping our friend Don drag his skiff up on the beach. Art remarked wistfully that it would be a long time before next summer, when we could all start sailing again. 'You folks ought to take up skiing like our family and have fun the year round,' Don said.
"'Doesn't that get pretty expensive?' I asked.
"Don straightened up and smiled. 'It's funny,' he said. 'We live in an old-fashioned house-legs on the tub, that sort of thing. For years we've been saving up to have the bathroom done over. But every winter we take the money out of the bank and go on a couple of family skiing trips. Our oldest boy is in the army now, and he often mentions in his letters what a great time we had on those trips. You know, I can't imagine his writing home, "Boy, we really have a swell bathroom, haven't we?"'"
In the love of such a family is the climate most suitable for the growth of quality and character and moral capacity. If there is added to this the strengths of good companionships, commitment in a truly living church, involvement in a community of enlightened and mutually concerned persons, responsible citizenship in a great country, young people will have the ideal atmosphere for growth. When they do not have, or could have but do not choose or appreciate these blessings, they are suitable subjects for small vision, inadequate self-discipline, and a deteriorated sense of responsibility.
The strengths and problems of our youth were illustrated in an experience our teenage daughter had recently. Backing from a driveway onto an unlighted street, she dented the fender of an automobile parked across the narrow road. Flustered and upset by the incident, she yet took time to leave a note on the car identifying herself and accepting responsibility for the damage. She then came home and acquired a parent and the two returned and knocked on the door of the home of the owner of the car and made arrangements with him. She was praised for her direct and uncompromising honesty.
That very night while leaving the public library she and a friend saw a fur-coated lady in an expensive car seriously damage a parked automobile and then speed away without a glance or effort to make the thing right. Feeling at home in a society including this kind of experience is understandably difficult for some young people.
With believing and belonging, we need to learn to give and to serve if we are to live up to our moral capacity.
I have referred before to the development of "breeder reactors"-a variety of machine that will produce vast amounts of power at a low cost, and in the process will actually create more nuclear fuel than it burns. A life patterned on the way of Christ would be like that, and every life should be. It is our blessing to use, thoughtfully and thankfully, all that is provided for us from the past, and to leave behind us more and better materials with which the generations ahead can work. In faith, freedom, wisdom, beauty, in material blessings, we should add to and not consume our heritage
Recently I learned of a meeting at the University of Pittsburgh where 2,500 senior honor students from the high schools of Pennsylvania gathered. At the podium was a man who stood in braces, on crutches. He was a medical researcher who had worked on the polio vaccine project. He left many of those bright shining faces wet with tears when he said to them, "Our generation couldn't find the answers in time to save itself. Thank God we found them in time to save you."
What a significant challenge to youth to make real the best that lies within them! Yet someone has called ours the "age of the shrug." I hope and believe this is not so. Do you recall the words of Marshal Pétain after the fall of France? Sobering words:
"Our spirit of enjoyment was stronger than our spirit of sacrifice. We wanted to have more than we wanted to give. We tried to spare effort and we met disaster."
Contrasting this is the statement of a noble man near the end of a rich life of contribution. Asked how he could account for his wide acquaintance with and memory of the poets, the philosophers, and the prophets, he smiled and said, "Well, I had to work hard to learn it, and then I gave it and gave it and gave it until it was mine."
What of loving and being loved? Perhaps the most serious problem of many young people and of their adult generation is their poor self-image, a conviction that they are worthless. To be able to truly love God and his neighbor, one must esteem himself. Everyone needs to love and to have the assurance that he is worth loving and that he is loved, beyond "demand or reciprocity, praise or blame." No mere tolerance or indulgence can take the place of such love, which does not come from sermons or resolutions, but only from persons who can give it, and from God.
It is written: "You cannot love another person-that is, behave toward him so as to foster his happiness and growth unless you know what he needs. And you cannot know what he needs unless he tells you-and you hear him."
So much that is spurious and counterfeit is spoken and done in the name of love. Hear the word of the Lord:
"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments." That charity which is defined by the prophet as "the pure love of Christ" is described clearly by the Apostle Paul: It "suffereth long, and is kind... envieth not... vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.
"Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
"Rejoiceth not in iniquity... rejoiceth in the truth."
Such love, said the apostle, "never faileth."
The major source of our self-image should be our Heavenly Father, whose children we are, in whose image we are made, whose attributes and qualities we have within us in embryo. He it is who loved us so much that he sent his Only Begotten Son to show us the way and to die for us. We are his children, worthy of love, and we have in us the capacity to love. We must learn to love even as we are loved by him.
Let me conclude with this prayer and earnest hope: God help us, and help us to help younger generations, to make the choices that will qualify us as worthwhile people, to make real the best that lies within us, to live up to our moral capacity, and to accomplish what is humanly possible, through believing, belonging, serving, and loving, even as the Son of God has taught us. God help us to be able to answer in good conscience when he asks: "Where art thou?"
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Mark E. Petersen
Mark E. Petersen, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 59-63
I would like to talk with you today about the United States and its relationship to God.
Most people do not realize it, but this nation is different from all other nations. It has a divine destiny not shared by other countries, and was set up as an independent power by a deliberate act of God to fulfill that destiny.
Because our nation is a creation of heaven, and because it has a divine destiny, we Americans must learn that it can continue to exist only as it aligns itself with the powers of heaven. If we turn our back upon the Almighty, even by ignoring him, we jeopardize our national future. If we deliberately oppose his purposes, we place ourselves in danger of destruction.
These stern facts have been taught to Americans from the beginning of our national history, starting with our first President, George Washington. He realized and he publicly announced that we obtained our independence through an act of Providence, since we were far too weak to gain it by ourselves. Knowing this, he warned that if we are to survive as a free and independent nation, we must obey the Almighty God who brought us into being.
Abraham Lincoln, another inspired President, said virtually the same thing, warning that if we fail to obey the commandments of God, we shall go down to ruin.
We have reached a point in our national history as crucial as the time of the Civil War. Our present dangers are quite as great. Threats to our future seem even greater. And yet, as a people, we have failed to turn to the divine power that created us.
It is true that public surveys indicate an increase in church membership and attendance, but that is no measure of the depth of conversion necessary to bring the principles of Christ into our daily lives.
Because of our love of wealth and prestige and our insatiable passion for ease and pleasure, we fail to take the essential spiritual steps which could and would preserve us.
Everyone-every man on the street-knows that we cannot continue with present conditions as they are, and yet we seem not to have the desire or the courage to alter our course.
Whether we are willing to admit it or not, our one great need is to turn to God. Our human efforts have failed and seem almost to lead us into ever more difficult entanglements. We need more than human wisdom. We need divine help. We need to be saved from war and criminal elements, from anarchy and from riots. We need a shield against the devious schemes of enemies abroad. We need to be saved from corrosion within-from the ravages of immorality, dishonesty, drunkenness, broken homes, delinquent parents, and undisciplined children. We need protection from atheism, for it can destroy our way of life.
Do you doubt that atheism is a threat to America?
Atheism is the cause of most of our ills. If we were realistic about our present plight, we would admit that atheism in its many forms is our greatest enemy, whether it be in abandoning God for pleasure and money, or in yielding to philosophical meanderings, or in surrendering to those forces which break down family life, destroy free government, seduce the masses, and spawn hate and war.
Are we not intelligent enough to perceive that shocking fact?
Are we not sufficiently alert to see our desperate need of an infinite power who can rescue us in this present hour?
Are we forever to be so obtuse that we confine God to a remote past and an uncertain hereafter?
Can we never learn that he is a God of the present day-of the here and now?
In the midst of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln said something that should frighten present-day Americans. He was very realistic when our country was being split asunder by the war between the states. He knew very well that the preservation of the nation could be achieved in only one way. It was not through our frowning battlements nor our bristling seacoasts, as he expressed it.
Lincoln said that if we as a people do not turn to God and serve him, our nation will drift into destruction. He expressed his meaning in these words: "If we do not do right, God will let us go our own way to ruin. If we do right, he will lead us safely out of this wilderness and crown our arms with victory." Thereupon he summoned America to turn to God as the only means of survival.
J. Edgar Hoover, head of the FBI, stated it this way: "What we need in America is a return to the God of our Fathers and a most vigorous defense against the minions of Godlessness and atheism."
Why do we not heed these warnings?
Similar counsel has been given by nearly every President of the United States in his time, and by economists, educators, jurists, and statesmen.
Let us consider a few of their warnings:
As we have indicated, George Washington said that this nation cannot endure apart from the God of heaven.
Woodrow Wilson said: "The sum of the whole matter is this: Our civilization cannot survive materially unless it be redeemed spiritually. It can be saved only by becoming permeated with the Spirit of Christ."
Calvin Coolidge said: "The strength of our country is the strength of its religious convictions."
Franklin D. Roosevelt said: "No greater thing could come to our land than a revival of the spirit of religion-to stir the hearts of men and women of all faiths to a reassertion of their belief in God and their dedication to his will. I doubt if there is any problem-social, political, or economic-that would not melt away before the fire of such a spiritual reawakening."
President Eisenhower constantly reminded us of our spiritual obligation.
Roger W. Babson, great economist of his day, said: "In the last analysis, our national future depends upon whether it is spiritually or materially minded. Only the Golden Rule will save this country-not the rule of gold."
James Rowland Angell, former president of Yale University, said: "It is my considered conviction that there can be no enduring alleviation of the social and political ills which plague us unless and until there is an essential change in the ethical and spiritual attitude of the rank and file of men."
But as mentioned in an editorial in the U. S. News and World Report, "With so many champions of the doctrine, why are there so few ready to practice the preachment?
"Large numbers of people faithfully follow their creeds, and yet in the grim business of everyday life, do we perceive a fundamental change? Do we see men on every side ready to surrender their enormous power or their possessions or even their pride, to the service of God?
"A spiritual revival would waken America and purify her whole national life. It is not, however, to be attained by mere expression of purpose," the editorial continues.
"It requires action throughout our waking hours. Not until each and every one of us feels the impact of spiritual achievement, not until the eagerness to serve God is stronger than the eagerness to serve ourselves, not until we are ready to make sacrifices of time and money and power and pride for the sake of others who need our help and our guidance will we begin to understand the elemental transformation which is prerequisite to the spiritual rebirth of the nation."
Our situation in America is not merely a case of fighting the encroachments of seditious influences. It is not only a matter of legislating against crime. Neither is it one of changing our Constitution because some misguided individuals think it is obsolete; nor is it a case of sending more men to the Orient to fight an enemy who has trapped us into a different kind of war.
We are confronted with the choice of whether or not we as a nation will return to God in spirit and in truth as a means of actual survival. We must choose whether we will become fully converted to him or not. To put it plainly, it is largely a case of obedience versus lip service.
The Almighty is a God of war as well as of peace. The Bible clearly teaches that. And he is a power to be dealt with in this present crisis. He can be our literal Savior here and now. He can protect and preserve our nation. He has done it in the past; he can do it again today. He can end the war in Vietnam and give us an honorable peace. He can save us from criminality and from all the other inhumanities which now impale us on a cross of suicidal selfishness.
It is no imaginary ruin that faces our nation if we reject Jesus Christ, as Lincoln pointed out so dramatically. And it is possible that our greatness can be buried in profound obscurity if we refuse to turn to God, as Daniel Webster expressed it.
Already there is talk of a new civil war and of riots that will totally eclipse those of last summer. Insurrection is now on the lips of thousands of agitators. The basic concepts of our free government are being challenged. Overnight this nation could be paralyzed through the devious efforts of some of our treacherous citizens. And if widespread insurrection comes, do you suppose for one moment that our enemies from without will sit idly by? All our efforts to save ourselves thus far have failed. But God can solve our problems-and he will do so if we turn to him in humility and faith. However, let us not suppose that a few feeble prayers will be sufficient to call down his aid. It will take more than halfhearted supplications to save us.
Prayer is powerful indeed when accompanied by works of righteousness, but prayer alone is but lip service. The Almighty spurns lip service. Empty words are but symptoms of hypocrisy to him. He is a God of action-a God of works as well as of faith. He demands obedience to him if we are to receive help from him. Are we ready to thus obey him? We cannot deal in half-way measures-not with God-and neither can we serve two masters.
I ask you: Is every one of us willing to do unto others as we would be done by? Are we willing to be merciful, kind, and pure in heart; to turn the other cheek; to go the extra mile? Is every one of us willing to be sufficiently Christlike to accept his precept that says: "Blessed are the peace makers: for they shall be called the children of God"?
Our great need of repentance is clearly evident. The solution to our problem is not in violence nor in new legislation. Neither is it in training our police in the latest anti-riot methods. Our answer can be found only in obedience to Christ on the part of everybody.
Jesus said that an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit. A crime-ridden society cannot bring forth a new generation of upright citizens, nor can a nation of drinkers produce sober offspring. Can people who condone immorality provide a chaste and successful beginning for babies born illicitly in a new generation?
Can we escape the diseases so inseparably connected with immorality? Can people who knowingly undermine good character expect to reap anything but the whirlwind?
For every practical reason we must change our course and turn away from the selfishness and corruption now growing among us like a gigantic malignancy. For every practical reason we must turn to the Christ and live his teachings!
Said Lincoln in his first inaugural address: "Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity, and a reliance on him who has never yet forsaken this favored land are still competent to adjust in the best way, all our difficulties."
In ancient times an inspired prophet who lived in this western hemisphere said that God "doth not command us that we shall subject ourselves to our enemies, but that we should put our trust in him, and he will deliver us."
Another ancient prophet spoke directly to modern America, foretelling the assistance God will give us if we serve him. Said he: "... this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ."
And that prophet also said, even as did Lincoln, that if we in America fail to serve Jesus Christ, we will face certain destruction. This is a divine warning, first from the prophet of old and then from the inspired President of Civil War days.
Oh, America, turn to God. But do not give him mere lip service. Obey him with all your hearts, might, mind, and strength.
Let us save ourselves from the present crisis in the only certain way, remembering that "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." And for this I earnestly pray in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Howard W. Hunter
Howard W. Hunter, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 63-66
In the world there are more than three and a half billion people. They are divided into groups, each under the domination of systems whereby they become subject to the supreme power of the land in which they live. In some countries this supreme power is vested in one person, the sovereign. Other countries have republican forms of government in which sovereignty resides in the people, and the supreme peer is usually expressed by the legislative body. Regardless of whether sovereignty is administered by an individual or by the people, citizens become subject to that supreme power. They have the rights and privileges afforded them under the law, and they have the duty to comply with the provisions of the law. This is essential for the good of society, for the protection of life and liberty, and for the promotion and preservation of the happiness of man.
In a republic, the government has the sovereign right as well as the duty to protect the rights of the individual and to settle civil disputes or disorders by peaceful means. Citizens do not have the right to take the law into their own hands or exercise physical force. The sovereign laws of the state must be sustained, and persons living under those laws must obey them for the good of the whole. In this regard The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints takes a strong position. One of the fundamental tenets of its faith is clearly stated in these words: "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."
Those in the world who have a belief in God live under the unusual circumstances of a dual sovereignty. In addition to being subject to the supreme power of the state, they have a fealty to God and a solemn duty to keep the commandments given by him. This idea of divine kingship and a sovereignty runs through all of the Old Testament and all of the New Testament.
In describing the commencement of the ministry of Jesus, Mark uses these words: "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
"And saying, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." Throughout his entire ministry, one of the main subjects of the teachings of the Master was "the kingdom of God is at hand." Some scholars interpret the words "is at hand" as describing something to take place in the near future. It is their contention that the kingdom was not established on earth until the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit was poured out upon the multitude. They label this event as the beginning of the Christian Church. The facts, however, give basis for a different conclusion. There is ample evidence that the kingdom of God was established in the days of Adam, the first man, and has continued to the present day. The peoples of the earth, from the beginning, have had a duty to God as their king.
Is it repugnant to the theory of sovereignty for a person or group of persons to owe fealty to two separate monarchs?-to have an allegiance to two separate and distinct sovereign powers? At first blush dual sovereignty would seem inconsistent, yet this has been the situation throughout man's earthly existence. Such circumstances give rise to this query: If a conflict should arise with respect to allegiance, which should take precedence? A review of the history of mankind answers the further question as to whether or not there is a real conflict.
Bearing on this very point, an interesting occurrence took place during the ministry of the Master. It is recorded in three separate books of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and concerns a controversy over a tax assessment. Judea was under Roman mandate, and the authority of the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish council, had been curtailed under the Roman rule. The council was charged with the levy of taxes, but it did not have the power to decree capital punishment. This power was vested in the Roman procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate. Because the Sanhedrin was without authority as to capital punishment, those who were conspiring against Jesus conceived a plot to entrap him to give an answer that would constitute grounds to deliver him to Pilate on a charge of treason, a capital crime.
A tax had been levied on all persons living under Roman rule. This was probably the Roman capitation tax, or a poll tax as we would know it. The tax was not large, but a question of principle was involved. The Jews considered themselves as living under a theocracy, with Jehovah as king. They refused to recognize the Roman mandate. The question involved, therefore, was this: Can a Jew in good conscience pay the tax to the Romans, or must he fight for independence on the ground that God alone is the King of Israel? It became a question of allegiance to sovereignty.
The Pharisees who conceived the plan were anxious to take Jesus by surprise, so they stayed in the background and sent some of their young disciples and some Herodians to carry out the plot. The Herodians were not a religious sect but a political party. They were the followers of Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, and supporters of the Roman domination. The Pharisees, of course, were resisting the Roman occupation of Judea. The design of these schemers seems to be that they would give the impression that a dispute had arisen between the young Pharisee scholars and the Herodians and they were coming to the Master for his opinion, to settle their differences.
They approached Jesus respectfully and courteously and said to him, "Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men." It would appear that these honeyed words were spoken to disarm his suspicions, so he would give them his confidential opinion for their guidance in a moral issue. Then followed the carefully worded question: "Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?" The question was maliciously framed so as to require an answer of "yes" or "no," either of which would give them the basis to destroy him. If he had said, "Yes, pay the tax," he would have been called a traitor. It would have driven a wedge between him and his followers end created rebellion. If his answer had been, "No, it is not lawful to pay the tax," they would have delivered him into the hands of Rome on the charge of treason
His adversaries intended that Jesus would be gored on whichever horn of dilemma he might choose. The interesting thing about his answer is that he did not evade the question, but he answered it clearly and positively without being caught on either horn. He said, "Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny." What is referred to as a penny was no doubt the current Roman denarius with the image of Tiberius or possibly Augustus. He wanted to point out to them the image of Caesar and the inscription that gave his name and titles. There was a common maxim that the one who causes his image and titles to be stamped on the coin is the owner of the coin and acknowledged as the sovereign. "And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's." They had acknowledged that the coin belonged to the Roman Emperor, and it being the current coin for the payment of tax, it showed the country to be under the rule of Rome. "... Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." In other words, "Don't be unjust: give to Caesar the things that are his; and at the same time don't be impious: give to God the things that belong to God."
The wisdom of this answer defines the limitations of dual sovereigns and defines the jurisdiction of the two empires of heaven and earth. The image of monarchs stamped on coins denotes that temporal things belong to the temporal sovereign. The image of God stamped on the heart and soul of a man denotes that all its facilities and powers belong to God and should be employed in his service.
The lesson taught by the Master is so clear that elaboration is not necessary, nor will I labor the point. The test to be applied in weighing allegiance to sovereignty, where dual sovereigns are involved, is a matter of wisdom. I submit that there is no real conflict which creates a serious question as to allegiance.
In the present day of unrest, the question might appropriately be asked, what do we owe to Caesar? To the country in which we live? We owe allegiance, respect, and honor. Laws enacted to promote the welfare of the whole and suppress evil doing are to be strictly obeyed. We must pay tribute to sustain the government in the necessary expense incurred in the protection of life, liberty, property, and in promoting the welfare of all persons.
In the year 1835, 133 years ago, a declaration of belief of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding governments and laws was drafted and adopted by unanimous vote. It is incorporated as Section 134 of the Doctrine and Covenants of the Church. Although more than a century has passed, no changes or modifications have been made, and the statement stands as applicable today as the day it was written. If you will permit me to do so, I would like to recall a portion of this statement.
"We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.
"We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.
"We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.
"We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.
"We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly; and that all governments have a right to enact such laws as in their own judgments are best calculated to secure the public interest; at the same time, however, holding sacred the freedom of conscience."
The statement continues, but I will not read further. These words point up the solemn obligation of government and the solemn obligation of those who owe allegiance. This is a day when civil disobedience seems to be prevalent and even advocated from some pulpits, but the position of this Church and its teachings is clear.
I know that God lives, that he is the supreme power of heaven and earth. I bear witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ, the Savior of all mankind. My knowledge of these truths moves me to allegiance to divine sovereignty, also to sustain the law of the land. There is no conflict between that which is owed to Caesar and the obligation to God. May the God of heaven give inspiration and guidance to those leaders in the world who formulate the policies of earthly sovereignty, and also to those of us who are governed by those powers. May righteousness be placed in proper perspective for the good of every man. The statement of the Master should be our guide: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." The honest search for righteousness and submission to the sovereignty of God answers the problems of Caesar. May the Lord bless us is my humble prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 73-78
President McKay, my brothers and sisters, and friends: I would like to congratulate Brother Dyer, Brother Hanks, Brother Rector, and Brother Dunn on their new appointments, and pray the Lord to bless them in their new responsibilities.
The Pharisees, ever trying to entangle and trick the Savior, again set their traps:
"... Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar?...
"But Jesus perceived their wickedness...
"... Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."
One day, a friend took me to his ranch. He unlocked the door of a large new automobile, slid under the wheel, and said proudly, "How do you like my new car?" We rode in luxurious comfort into the rural areas to a beautiful new landscaped home, and he said with no little pride, "This is my home."
He drove to a grassy knoll. The sun was retiring behind the distant hills. He surveyed his vast domain. Pointing to the north, he asked, "Do you see that clump of trees yonder?" I could plainly discern them in the fading day.
He pointed to the east. "Do you, see the lake shimmering in the sunset?" It too was visible.
"Now, the bluff that's on the south." We turned about to scan the distance. He identified barns, silos, the ranch house to the west. With a wide sweeping gesture, he boasted, "From the clump of trees, to the lake, to the bluff, and to the ranch buildings and all between-all this is mine. And the dark specks in the, meadow-those cattle also are mine."
And then I asked from whom he obtained it. The chain of title of his abstract went back to land grants from governments. His attorney had assured him he had an unencumbered title.
"From whom did the government get it?" I asked. "What was paid for it?"
There came into my mind the bold statement of Paul: "For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof."
And then the psalmist who declared: "The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."
And then I asked, Did title come from God, Creator of the earth and the owner thereof? Did he get paid? Was it sold or leased or given to you? If gift, from whom? If sale, with what exchange or currency? If lease, do you make proper accounting?"
And then I asked, "What was the price? With what treasures did you buy this farm?"
"Money!"
"Where did you get the money?"
"My toil, my sweat, my labor, and my strength."
And then I asked, "Where did you get your strength to toil, your power to labor, your glands to sweat?"
He spoke of food.
"Where did the food originate?"
"From sun and atmosphere and soil and water."
"And who brought those elements here?"
I quoted the psalmist: "Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary."
"If the land is not yours, then what accounting do you make to your landlord for his bounties? The scripture says: 'Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and to God that which is God's.' What percentage of your increase do you pay Caesar? And what percent to God?
"Do you believe the Bible? Do you accept the command of the Lord through the prophet Malachi? It reads:
"'Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings...
"'Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse... and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.'
"And in the latter days, the Lord said again:
"'And if ye seek the riches which it is the will of the Father to give unto you, ye shall be the richest of all people, for ye shall have the riches of eternity; and it must needs be that the riches of the earth are mine to give.'
"And Moses confirmed to Pharaoh regarding the plagues: '... that thou mayest know now that the earth is the Lord's.'"
I said again: "I seem to find no place in holy writ where God has said, 'I give you title to this land unconditionally. It is not yours to give, to have, to hold, to sell, despoil, exploit as you see fit.'
"I cannot find such scripture, but I do find this from Psalms: '... those that wait upon the Lord... shall inherit the earth.'
"And I remember that our Creator covenanted in the council in heaven with us all: ' We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and ye will make an earth whereon these may dwell.'
"It seems more of a lease on which a rental is exacted than of a fee simple title.
"Modern scripture says that if you live the commandments, 'the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of... field and the fowls of the air...
"'Yea, all things which come of the earth... are made for the benefit and the use of man.'
"This promise does not seem to convey the earth but only the use and contents which are given to men on condition that they live all of the commandments of God."
But my friend continued to mumble, "Mine-mine," as if to convince himself against the surer knowledge that he was at best a recreant renter.
That was long years ago. I saw him lying in his death among luxurious furnishings in a palatial home. His had been a vast estate. And I folded his arms upon his breast, and drew down the little curtains over his eyes. I spoke at his funeral, and I followed the cortege from the good piece of earth he had claimed to his grave, a tiny, oblong area the length of a tall man, the width of a heavy one.
Yesterday I saw that same estate, yellow in grain, green in lucerne, white in cotton, seemingly unmindful of him who had claimed it. Oh, puny man, see the busy ant moving the sands of the sea.
Would you rob God?
I stopped on the highway to buy some fruit. The little vending shop was in the edge of the orchard. And I asked the seller, "Are these trees yours?"
He said, "From the highway to the hill-all these are mine, and all the fruit we pick and sell. All this is mine."
And I asked, "Do you have, no partner who contributes capital?"
"I earned the funds with which to buy. It is mine."
I said: "You bought the land? You bought the seedlings? But who put chemicals into the soil to make them grow? Who sent the living sap a-climbing all the limbs? Who made them bloom and scent the air with sweet perfume? Did you make rain? Can you command the sun? Do you put intelligence in trees to produce buds and blossoms, fruit in ripeness, taste and food value? He who made the land, the trees, the elements has land-lien on it all. Have you settled your lease payment?
"I know you pay to Caesar his full portion, never failing. But do you calculate and pay the part to God?
"Are these trees yours and yours alone? There is no partner's claim upon the fruit?" He winced.
"Have you integrity? Would you rob God, your partner? Remembering that the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof?"
When God had created man and woman he placed them upon the earth to "dress it and to keep it and subdue it." It seems this landlord-tenant relationship is fair-the Lord, the owner, furnishes the land, the air, the water, the sunshine, and all the elements to make it fruitful. The tenant gives his labor.
The Lord promised after the deluge: "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."
And the psalmist sang again: "Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it; thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God...
"Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers...
"The pastures are clothed with flocks... they shout for joy, they also sing."
"... the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord."
A month later, a car accident took the life of this horticulturist. He had not paid his keep, nor did he take his orchard with him. Each spring its trees still bloom; each fall the luscious fruit is picked.
I saw a lovely house upon a beach. The occupant boastfully pointed to it. "This is my house with its impregnable foundation, its solid walls, its luxurious appointments, its surpassing view."
One day a warning came. A tidal wave rushed in to shore. All occupants were saved, but as the great sea hurried to its place, only a concrete floor marked the place where his prized possession had stood. The stones were out at sea; the lumber ground to toothpicks, floating in the water. And I remembered again what the psalmist said:
"The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."
Do you pay tithes?
Another day I accompanied a friend to his bank. He checked the contents of his safety deposit box, and lifting out a handful of papers, he proudly said to me, "All these are mine. These stocks and bonds are mine." It was evident that his holdings represented wealth. There was possessive pride in his voice.
And I pondered: "How you have prospered! How did you do so well? Where did you get your talents, your abilities? Did you make sight and voice and memory and ability to think?" He hesitated to make answer.
I asked him: "Do you pay tithes? I'm sure you pay your taxes. Do you render unto God that which already was his own? I'm sure that Caesar never fails to get his portion. What of God? You accepted your earthly opportunities on condition. You rented his land, his equipment, used his elements, you know.
"Does puny man possess, appropriate, bequeath, and give as though he made the earth and heaven? And this without report or settling accounts?"
I met a man upon the campus of a great university, well-trained and brilliant, holding high degrees. We talked of income. Though very large, he felt his all too small to meet his needs. I asked of him: "Do you pay tithes?"
He looked at me with questions in his eyes. Why should he pay? He earned it-every cent. I told him of the psalmist's theme:
"The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."
And he countered, "I claim no earth-I reside in an apartment. I use no elements-I train the minds of men. I owe no debts to anyone. I earn my income."
And then I asked, "By what great power do you earn?"
"My brains," he said.
And then I asked: "Where did your brains find birth? Did you create them? Build them in a factory, buy them in a store? Did you add element to element, fashioning them so intricately and giving them such power? Where did you get your strength, your vision, power, and health? Where did you get your breath, your continuity? Do you make brains, build bodies, create souls?"
Again, I asked, "Do you pay tithes? You do account to Caesar. Do you pay the Lord for all his bounteous gifts?"
This man was arrogant and proud. He lived no laws, worshiped no God, was selfish and self-centered. He needed the admonition given the rebellious Israelites:
"Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God his commandments... and his statutes...
"And when thy herds... thy flocks... thy silver and thy gold... and all... thou hast is multiplied;
"Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God...
"Who led thee through... drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint...
"And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
"But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth."
For long years he had been misusing funds-appropriating the tenth which belonged to his Creator. What right had he to use without permission the Lord's lease funds? and without accounting and without the commensurate worthiness and faithfulness on which his nine-tenths was promised? He had forgotten Malachi's question: "Will a man rob God?" He had forgotten the covenant we all had made in the council in heaven, when our Lord proffered:
"... We will go down... and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;
"And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them."
"And did you say you made no such rash promise? The answer is: Your very presence on the earth is evidence you accepted this challenge in the preexistent assembly."
I outlived this man too. It was a sad affair when his time came. The strong was weak, the powerful inanimate. His brains still encased in his bone cranium would work no more. He breathed no air, he taught no youth, commanded no more hearers, no more salary, occupied no apartment, but did occupy a little plot of earth on a grassy hillside. But now, I hope he knows: "... the earth's the Lord's, and all that therein is."
He owed not any man. He earned it all, he said.
I asked another man if he paid tithes. He blushed his answer. "We cannot afford to tithe."
"What? Cannot afford integrity? Cannot afford to return to the Great Provider's program that which was already his?"
He said, "My schooling was expensive. Our little ones have cost us much, and there is still another one to come. The doctor and the hospital will take their toll. Our car was wrecked and cost us that much more. Vacation, illness, living costs go up and leave us none to give the Church!"
"Do you believe in God?"
"Of course," he said.
"You do?" I asked. "Would God make promises he would not fulfill? You have no confidence in God, else why do you doubt his glorious promises? Your faith is in yourself. God promised he would open heaven's windows and pour you out rich gifts beyond your comprehension, promised on your faithfulness. Do you not need those blessings? For that one tenth, he'll compensate with blessings-little dreamed-of blessings. He said:
"'... Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.'
"And again:
"... seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all, these things shall be added unto you.'
"You don't believe that God will measure up? No, you do not trust your Lord. You keep all funds you have collected and use them according to your own judgment. You fear he would not make good his promises.
"Your very debts, your many troubles show incompetence to handle your affairs. You've partly failed in your rich stewardship. Can you control your business better than the Lord? Would you do well to use this manager in whom you have no trust? We know he will not fail."
Tithing is not for God. It is we who clip the coupons and collect the dividends.
The salaried man complained: "My neighbor has a farm. His family lives upon it. We buy our living from a store with cash. They kill a beef, a pork, and feed themselves from their deep freeze. Their garden loads the table with vegetables; the field feeds the cows that furnish milk products; their farm grows wheat for the poultry for the table; and the hens furnish meat and eggs. Do you pay tithes on your farm land production?"
The answer is: "Of course, you pay if you are true to your commitments. No honest man would rob his Lord of tithes and offerings."
We ask again: "Do you feel generous when you pay your tithes? Boastful when the amount is large? Has the child been generous to his parents when he washes the car, makes his bed? Are you liberal when you pay your rent, or pay off notes at banks? You are not generous, liberal, but merely honest when you pay your tithes."
"I have made the earth, and created man upon it," says the Lord. "I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded."
Perhaps your attitudes are the product of your misconceptions.
Would you steal a dollar from your friend? a tire from your neighbor's car? Would you borrow a widow's insurance money with no intent to pay? Do you rob banks? You are shocked at such suggestions. Then, would you rob your God, your Lord, who has made such generous arrangements with you?
Do you have a right to appropriate the funds of your employer with which to pay your debts, to buy a car, to clothe your family, to feed your children, to build your home?
Would you take from your neighbor's funds to send your children to college, or on a mission? Would you help relatives or friends with funds not your own? Some people get their standards mixed, their ideals out of line. Would you take tithes to pay your building fund, or ward maintenance? Would you supply gifts to the poor with someone else's money? The Lord's money?
The Lord continues to ask: "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me."
There echo again and again the words of the Master: "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's." And he has said, "Today is a day for the tithing of my people."
Does not the law of tithing apply to all the children of men, regardless of church or creed? All who believe the Bible really must believe that this is a law of God.
There echo again and again the words of the Master, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's."
The Lord will bless all those who love and live his laws. This I know, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Alvin R. Dyer
Alvin R. Dyer, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 78-80
I feel standing by my side this day my dear wife. She, with my family, has been a great support to me in every effort to serve the Lord.
Many years ago a noted lawyer sought out Jesus of Nazareth to inquire of him the requirements that man must adhere to in seeking for the way to eternal life. The answer which the Lord gave, though simple, was not easily understood by this man schooled in the wisdom of men.
The Lord gave him this answer: that man must be "born again" if he is to enter the kingdom of heaven and dwell eternally in the enlightened presence of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ.
Being born again is an essential part of conversion to the gospel, as Jesus instructed Nicodemus. Men, in a similar way, perhaps with less portent, have many rebirths in different ways in the course of a mortal lifetime. Usually these are associated with important events or near tragedies. But being born again is part of regeneration in the changing vicissitudes of life.
I recall now being near unto death upon two occasions, once as a boy of deacon age when I foolishly placed a small-headed hat pin about two and a half inches long into my mouth. I was seated on a couch by the window in our home when a tremendous clap of thunder so startled me that I swallowed the hat pin. When I realized what I had done, I shook all over with fear. I fell to my knees praying that this accident would not take my life. I promised the Lord then and there as a boy that I would serve him all my days. I believe that in that communication with God, I had a new birth.
Upon another occasion, with my wife and two children, I arrived at the beach in Santa Monica, California, after a hot drive over the desert in a car that was not air-conditioned. We were soon in our bathing suits and found our way to the beach. My wife and the children stopped to play in the sand and enjoy the cool breeze. But this was not enough for me. I plunged into the ocean, swimming out farther than I realized, and when I attempted to swim back, I found myself held by a swirling undertow. I struggled with all my strength but to no avail. Then I realized my plight and that I faced drowning and would never see my loved ones again in this life. In a few seconds reflected events in my life raced through my mind. Again I sought by intense supplication that I be rescued from a condition I had thrust myself into by failing to heed the beach warning of a posted red flag.
I shouted at the top of my voice for help, and in spite of the roar of the surf and foggy atmosphere, my cry for help was heard by a lifeguard, who reached me in a rowboat as my strength was nearly exhausted.
We reached shore, and after expressing my gratitude for the alertness of the guard, I sat down on the sand to meditate and give thanks to my Heavenly Father. I believe I had a new birth that day of what it meant to be alive, with a compelling inward feeling to try to live a worthwhile life.
Perhaps to be born again means to have another chance, to renew ones effort to measure up. I have felt this way many times in life as calls have come to serve the Lord. I felt this way when I was called to the apostleship at the October conference of last year. Once again, this day, I feel as though a new birth is in the offing.
I often feel a remorse in the thought that I might not have thought well of men-and also perchance they have not thought well of me. There are some issues that men pursue to which I am opposed, but I try not to have adverse feelings toward the men who pursue them.
If my life should end now, or if I should fail in the regeneration of being born again, I would be grateful for what I have had of it.
I am grateful beyond measure for the understanding heart of President McKay, whom I dearly love. Our affection and relationship go back many years.
As I reflect upon this now, and I know he will be watching and listening, I remember his unsolicited visit to a ward sacrament meeting when I was serving as a bishop many years ago. He said he had come of his own will because he had learned of the success we had had in holding our young people. His visit to those who were there will never be forgotten, and to me it was the real beginning of an appreciation for a great man, truly a prophet of God who is inspired and is still at the helm of this Church.
I recall now with great feeling his telephone calls and letters that came to me while I was presiding over the European Mission, always evidencing a deep interest and always conveying assurances. One such call came to me at two o'clock in the morning in far-off Norway, as I lay sleepless on my bed and when I needed some kind of assurance because of something that had transpired to which I could not reconcile myself in the affairs of the overall mission. The voice of President McKay at that very hour was like a light from heaven.
And more recently, I am deeply grateful for his assignment that he has given to me personally to be a "watchman on the tower" with regard to the consecrated land of Missouri, a destined, consecrated place in the great latter-day work of our Heavenly Father.
I have had a sense of closeness with President McKay many times. Only recently, as he listened to his son, Dr. McKay, relate the experiences of his childhood at the time the manhood award was presented to President McKay at Brigham Young University, I noted that tears were streaming down his face as his son recalled the events of his father's life with his brother Thomas. And I couldn't resist placing my arms about him and placing my cheek against his, which was wet with tears. I am most grateful for his confidence and will never betray it.
I appreciate the confidence of my brethren so manifested to me. I have unbounded respect for their devotion and courage in the administrative affairs of the Church.
This is the Lord's work, my brethren and sisters, and we have no need to fear its triumphant outcome. There is a prophet of God presiding, through whom God is speaking, as I have witnessed upon so many occasions.
I called to mind, as I contemplated what I might say upon this occasion, the words of the Lord unto the Prophet Joseph Smith at a time of frustration. And what was true then is equally true today, for we truly are living in times of frustration. Here are the words of the Lord's counsel:
"The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught.
"For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round.
"Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men."
There is another declaration from the Lord giving assurance that came at a time of great trouble, when the Saints were forced to leave the consecrated land of Jackson County, Missouri, which had been designated by the Lord as a place of refuge where they were to receive their inheritances, and where the Lord in his time so announced that the city of the New Jerusalem will be built. The Prophet Joseph Smith fervently prayed to the lord for the reasons for this setback, and he also sent a letter to the bewildered and grief-stricken Saints, in which he recognized the great suffering of the Saints in Missouri at that time and how the innocent were paying for the sins of the guilty within the ranks of the members.
I quote from that letter:
"... it is with difficulty that I can restrain my feelings when I know that you, my brethren, with whom I have had so many happy hours-sitting, as it were, in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; and also, having the witness which I feel, and ever have felt, of the purity of your motives-are cast out, and are as strangers and pilgrims on the earth, exposed to hunger, cold, nakedness, peril, sword-I say when I contemplate this, it is with difficulty that I can keep from complaining and murmuring against this dispensation; but I am sensible that this is not right, and may God grant that notwithstanding your great afflictions and sufferings, there may not be anything separate us from love of Christ."
It is from the answer that the Lord gave to the Prophet Joseph Smith at that time that I often find words of consolation and assurance that can be used in many sequences, for this is what the Lord said to the Prophet in the midst of these difficulties:
"Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.
"Zion shall not be moved out of her place, notwithstanding her children are scattered.
"They that remain, and are pure in heart, shall return, and come to their inheritances, they and their children, with songs of everlasting joy, to build up the waste places of Zion."
The particular declaration of the Lord here is this: "All flesh is in my hands; be still and know that I am God."
This is God's work, my brethren and sisters. It will not fail. Of this I testify, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Victor L. Brown
Victor L. Brown, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 81-83
In the center section of this historic Tabernacle sits a group of men from many parts of the world. Each one has responsibilities that set him apart from others not of his group. Almost every weekend it is our opportunity to meet the bishops of the Church in their own stakes. Today we are privileged to meet them in general conference. We have the greatest of love and respect for them and are grateful for the great work they are doing.
Before I became a bishop, I knew little about the responsibilities of the office. I have thought perhaps that other members of the Church may be as uninformed as I was. The bishop is, or should be, one of the most important persons in the life of every member of the Church. If he's important to us, then we must be important to him. I pray that I may be able to say something that will draw the bishops closer to their members, but even more so, the members closer to their bishops.
To understand the bishop, we must know something of his responsibilities. They are many. Time is limited, so we will discuss only a few. First, we will review two of his temporal responsibilities-care of the needy and finances.
Frequently we hear the statement, in connection with the Welfare Program, that the Church takes care of its own. The bishop plays the key role in administering the Welfare Program. He, and he alone, determines who will receive assistance, in what form it will be, and, with the help of the Relief Society president, how much.
The bishop approaches this assignment in a spirit of love, kindness, and understanding. One of his prime goals is to help the people maintain their self-respect and duty. He has certain principles upon which he administers the program.
The first principle is that we as members of the Church are expected to be self-reliant and independent. We are taught to have a year's supply in reserve in case of serious difficulty. Should circumstances, such as a serious accident or illness, result in our needing help, we should look to our families. If they cannot help, only then do we look to the bishop.
After a very careful, personal investigation, the bishop decides whether the Church should render assistance. If he decides it should, the assistance will be limited to the necessities of life, and only as long as it takes to get the family back on its feet. The bishop is not elected to bail us out of financial difficulty caused by poor management of our affairs.
If he gives assistance, he will expect us to work for it if we are physically able. His motive here is to help us maintain our self-respect by not accepting a dole. Frankly, many times it would be much easier for him to give a dole. But he recognizes the dole as an evil, and it is his desire to bless us with the program, not weaken us.
There are many other facets of the program, such as fast offering, welfare projects, budgets, and bishops storehouses. As members of the Church we are expected to respond to the call of the bishop and his welfare committee in each phase of the program. In some areas of the world the Welfare Program is conducted on a limited basis. In these cases, we are still expected to support the bishop within the established policies.
Now as to finances: The bishop must look to the members of his ward for the financial support necessary to carry on the affairs of the ward.
One of the worrisome problems some bishops have is collecting funds for the ward budget. These are the funds that are needed to operate the ward organizations and to share in the costs of maintaining the chapel. We, as members of the ward, can offer great assistance to the bishop if we will be responsive to his requests for financial assistance. The Lord said he would open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings that there would hardly be room enough to receive, if we would pay our tithes and offerings.
The bishop realizes that all funds collected by him are sacred, and that they come as a free-will offering. Through our willingness to sustain him in financial matters, we help lighten his load.
So far we have discussed only temporal matters. Now let us review some of his spiritual responsibilities.
The bishop, by revelation from the Lord, is the president of the priests quorum. He and his counselors constitute the presidency of the Aaronic Priesthood in his ward. He is the cornerstone in all matters pertaining to the youth, both boys and girls. He receives help from his counselors, home teachers, general secretaries, advisers, auxiliary officers and teachers; but he is still the keystone in all that is done.
To the young people may I say: the bishop has been called through the inspiration of our Heavenly Father to be your spiritual counselor. He is designated as a common judge by the Lord. He has a special blessing, giving him the power of discernment and understanding. He is the one to whom we should go-to confess our sins. This must be done if we are to fully repent. The bishop recognizes that it is through the blessings of the Lord that he is a judge, and unless he is a righteous judge, he is liable to condemnation, for in the scriptures we read: "That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
"That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man."
The bishop is unalterably opposed to sin in any guise; at the same time, he has great understanding and forgiveness for the sinner. He recognizes many problems of life and is anxious to lend a helping hand, particularly when the going is difficult. He can help you in many ways if you will just let him. Anything you disclose to your bishop is expected to be kept as a sacred trust. May I encourage you to let your bishop bless you with his wisdom. Get close to him. He will never be too busy to help you.
There is another basic spiritual responsibility that may be interpreted as encompassing all others. The bishop is the spiritual father of the ward, the presiding high priest. This responsibility spreads his umbrella wide enough to cover us all.
He has a host of helpers to assist him in this. They are the home teachers. This is a responsibility of the priesthood holder, which, if carried out devotedly, will lift a great load from the bishop's shoulders. The home teacher is in reality an assistant to the bishop. He is the major contact with the family. One bishop made the comment that one of the highest compliments he had been paid was to have a family call their home teacher first in the case of sickness. President McKay has said that if the home teachers do their duty, in the case of a death in the family the home teachers would be called first, not the bishop. May I encourage each home teacher to sense his responsibility and carry out his duty as an assistant to the bishop.
As the father of the ward, the bishop has many other helpers. Each officer and teacher of the ward assists him. We, as ward members, have a responsibility to respond to calls from the bishop. He should be able to depend on us to carry out our assignments. He needs the help of all of us. With that help, not only does the work of the Lord progress, but we individually are also blessed with a kind of happiness that comes from no other source, because we show evidence of our love for our Heavenly Father; for the scriptures say, "... when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."
Who is this bishop we have been talking about? He may be the neighbor next door; he may be the son of your close friends; he may be that noisy boy you had in your Sunday School class just a few years ago-you remember, the one you were ready to send out, never to come back.
He almost always is a husband, generally a father, always a breadwinner. He is faced with all of the problems you and I have. He has his human frailties and weaknesses likes and dislikes, maybe even some idiosyncrasies. Yes, he is a human being-a special human being because of a special calling with a special blessing. Here is what the Lord said he must be: "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
"Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
"One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
"
"Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil."
This man, your bishop, did not ask for this position; he did not even volunteer. He most likely accepted the calling with fear and trembling, yet with the faith and desire to perfect himself so as to measure up to that which the Lord expects of him.
His loyal, loving wife and his children have also agreed to share in his responsibility with him, by not complaining when he is away from home so much of the time, by being cheerful when the telephone always rings at dinner time or three o'clock in the morning, and by being willing to carry some of the responsibility that normally belongs to the husband and father.
May the Lord's choicest blessings be showered upon the heads of these wonderful, devoted bishops, their wives, and their children; and may we, the members of their wards, respond to their leadership, even when some of them seem so young, and though some we would not have chosen ourselves. The Lord will bless us for sustaining the servants he has called to preside over us. I bear you my witness that this is the Church of Jesus Christ, that the bishops of this Church have been called by our Heavenly Father through the inspiration extended to those who preside over us, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder S. Dilworth Young
S. Dilworth Young, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 84-85
Even though time is short, I cannot forbear a brief word concerning Antoine R. Ivins, our deceased senior president. I cannot forget his gentle manners, his courteous and kindly way of directing us, or his constant adherence to the law of leadership just mentioned by Brother Brown concerning persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, love unfeigned by kindness, and pure knowledge. His was an older generation than mine, and he should have been marked by the conservatism that com
We hope the seventies will make it possible for them to hear.
Paul also called to the attention of the Hebrews the great work that had been accomplished by faith by those who had lived in former times. After reviewing these great acts of faith, beginning with righteous Abel and extending throughout Hebrew history, he then said: "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us I aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
Should we as seventies do less? Do we not have a greater cloud of witnesses than did Paul? We have his witnesses, and in addition we also have the witnesses of modern times. We have the witness of Joseph Smith, who saw and talked with God the Father and his exalted Son. We have the witness of Brigham Young, of John Taylor, of Wilford Woodruff, and of the remainder of the Prophets of the Lord unto President David O. McKay in our day. We have the witness of the more than 80 apostles, who have done mighty works since the day of Joseph Smith. We have the witness of those who faced the hostile hosts in Missouri and Illinois; and of those, too, who walked with faith into these mountain valleys, offering up their daily prayers for help and strength and succor. We have the witness of the Church grown strong, and of its hundreds of thousands of happy members.
But most of all we have the witness which enters into the heart of each of us, the living testimony given by the power of the Holy Ghost. Let us not fail to bear that witness. And, too, let us not fail to make it possible for the witness to be borne through the warming love of friendship.
There have been times when we thought that if we approached a man and he, hostile because of stories he had heard about us, or suspicious because we were strangers, rebuffed us, then we had done our duty by shaking off the dust of our feet against him. We have not done that duty until we have given him a fair chance to learn that his prejudices are unfounded. To find families and show them by our love that we are truly followers of Jesus Christ is our manifest duty. Let us not shirk or falter, but let us carry the message to these worthy and good people in our midst.
I bear my witness that the gospel is once again on the earth brought by angels, as John on Patmos declared it would be; that Joseph Smith was its first restoring Prophet; and that President McKay is its present living Prophet. The Lord Jesus Christ lives and is the author of our salvation and our exaltation. We need but to believe and follow his teachings to gain a place in his kingdom. May we do so I pray in his name. Amen.
Elder Richard L. Evans
Richard L. Evans, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 85-88
May I first cite some lines written for a recent purpose:
Young people sometimes seem to decide to go it alone in life. They learn a little and feel they have learned much more, and often fail to seek counsel because they think they already know the answer-or at least the one they want. But none of us-at any age-is ever so old or so young, so knowledgeable or so self-assured, that he doesn't need counsel.
When a person of much experience and much responsibility fails to seek or accept counsel, he has arrived at a precarious place. When a person of inexperience feels he doesn't need to listen, doesn't need to learn, he too has arrived at a precarious place.
"They that will not be counseled," said Benjamin Franklin, "cannot be helped. If you do not hear reason, she will rap you on the knuckles."
No one is knowledgeable enough or has perspective enough to think of everything at once, to see all possible meanings in a clause or contract or commitment, or to be aware of all the hazards, or to see all sides of a subject.
No one should write a letter of serious commitment, put anything into print, or make a decision of consequence-in matters of marriage, money, career-or be enticed to sign or say yes to any plausible proposition, or make any quick or substantial commitment of any kind without considering, reconsidering, and seeking adequate counsel.
Successful people need counsel. Unsuccessful people need counsel.
The hasty impulse, the know-it-all attitude, the pride that keeps us from asking-these are dangerous approaches to any problem. From the youngest in years to the oldest of age, there is no one who can be always sure he is right, no one who has learned so much of life that he doesn't need the counsel of others and a prayerful approach to all problems. "Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings," said Alma, "and he will direct thee for good."
There is safety in counsel, no safety without it. "They that will not be counselled, cannot be helped."
Now to turn to some other facets of the subject:
All of us have decisions to make. All of us need help. All of us would be in trouble if we didn't counsel with others. We need the judgment and experience of others. We need to consult competent counsel when we have an illness. We need counsel when we have a problem-and, sometimes more important, before we have a bigger problem.
We cannot emphasize too much the importance of sincerely seeking counsel, and not trying to go it alone in life.
The First Presidency sit in counsel. We have a Council of the Twelve, the Council of the Seventy. We counsel with each other-continually-long hours each week. We try earnestly, prayerfully, searchingly to consider all sides of the policies, the procedures, the problems that come before us. We counsel with the President, whom we sustain in the weighty obligations and decisions that come with his calling. All, or any one of us, would be in difficulty, and so would the work be, if we were to venture out as individuals with new programs, new policies, in supposed self-sufficiency.
Virtually all presiding positions in all the quorums and organizations of the Church call for counselors. This is not by chance, and it is significant that it should be so. Presidents, bishops, quorum presidents, you who head up all the organizations: Use your counselors. They are there to function, and not merely for form.
You may remember President McKay's counsel at the October conference:
"Let us, too, recognize the local authority," he said. "The bishop may be a humble man. Some of you may think you are superior to him, and you may be, but he is given authority direct from our Father in heaven. Recognize it. Seek his advice and the advice of your stake president. If they cannot answer your difficulties or your problems, they will write to the General Authorities and get the advice needed. Recognition of authority is an important principle."
We ought to seek counsel also from the prophets of the past, and the counsel God has given, by searching the scriptures, thoughtfully, prayerfully. Often the answers we are seeking are already there.
We ought also to counsel with conscience, and listen to the promptings of the Spirit. Our Father has not left us alone, and when we go against the counsel of the still, small voice of conscience, we have reason to regret.
An interesting sentence recently read has lodged in my mind: "What's the use of running when you're on the wrong road?" We had better do our best to be sure we are on the right road before we run in any direction.
The accumulated experience of the ages is a source of counsel and a very precious part of the heritage we have.
We can't go back and begin at the beginning. Trial and error, what others have gone through, history, have told us much. We know what happens when nations and people personally ignore moral standards, virtues, honesty. The counsel of the past is not to be ignored.
To you, beloved and respected young people of the Church, and all others also: The commandments are still in force. Preparation, character, competence are still the source of security. Proceed with your preparation; keep your mental and physical and spiritual faculties in balance and at their best. Don't acquire harmful habits or use things that would distort or dull your senses.
Have faith. Work, study, prepare. Don't let yourself drift into the kind of company where the counsels are evil, or be misled by influences that would downgrade manners and morals. Live so as to have peace and self-respect. Don't give way to the permissive looseness that leads to the quicksand of life.
Now, may I recall some words written as a plea for parents and children to come to common ground:
It is an odd thing, in a way, how each generation seems to feel that each preceding generation is somewhat old-fashioned-how each generation listens impatiently to the lessons of the last. Youth is so sure the rules have changed. Age is sure they haven't. Youth feels it knows how far it can go. Age is deeply aware of the danger. Youth feels it can always apply the brakes in time to save itself. Age knows it isn't always so. And so parents frequently find themselves groping, reaching, pleading, trying to say what should be said, in a way that will not be misunderstood, in a way that will not seem meddlesome. And always there is need for parents and children to come to common ground, and to say to one another what should so much be said. And so we would plead this day with parents and with children to be more understanding with one another.
To you as parents, remember when you were young; remember why you wanted to do some things you wanted to do; remember how eager you were for social acceptance, how sensitive you were to ill-timed criticism, and how easily your hearts could be hurt, and bow some things, which now seem less important, once mattered very much. All this as parents we ask you to remember.
And now to you, our children, to you in your youth: Why should you suppose that the basic rules have really changed in the few short years since your parents were as young as you? The road seems new to you. It isn't new to them. They've been over it. They are still traveling it, and it is still essentially the same. We have more; we move faster; we have acquired some things and lost other but it is still true that causes are always followed by consequences.
And as you ask your parents to remember this of you, will you also remember this of them: that they were young, not very long ago, as you are young today-that they once thought your thoughts; that they once felt they too had found new ways, and felt your longings for flight and freedom-and since have learned the wisdom of restraint.
Remember, too, that parents have hearts that can be hurt; that they, like you, are sensitive to ill-timed criticism and to misunderstanding of their motives. Remember that there is nothing, in righteousness, they would not do for you. They are yours and you are theirs, and you and they together have the privilege, the right, the duty, to sit down and share your thoughts and consider your decisions with one another, that both of you together may be listened to and respected-and work, and pray and plan together for the wholeness of your happiness-always and forever.
Those who have given you life, who have reared you in love, deserve your confidence, your consideration. They deserve to sit with you in counsel-for your own sake and for theirs.
May our Father help us to come together in the spirit of love and understanding, working out the problems and the great possibilities, and to keep close in counsel.
This is God's work. We are his children. He sent his Only Begotten Son to redeem us from death and show us the way to eternal life. His gospel is restored. Its power and purpose are with us, and the way is plain, if we will only seek and accept counsel in love and reverence and respect, and live by the light God has given.
To this end may we seek and accept his help, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 90-94
The Prophet Joseph Smith and President Brigham Young both saw in vision the place in the Rocky Mountains to which the Saints would eventually be driven. I am wondering whether they also saw in vision such a gathering of priesthood as we have here in this Tabernacle and in the more than 400 other buildings tonight. I think the Prophet must have seen it, for he said: "... the Saints become a mighty people."
I am impressed not only with the power that you radiate, but also with the responsibility that each one of you carries. I am reminded of an incident I have related on other occasions. Some years ago, a dinner was given in honor of Mr. Gordon Rentschler, who was then chairman of the board of the National City Bank of New York. When that gentleman expressed his appreciation for the honor bestowed upon him, he said, among other things:
"One of my first experiences-twenty-odd years ago-Orville Wright and I came here one day with four or five others. We went over to the temple grounds. We were taken around by some man-we never learned his name. Here was an extraordinary individual telling the story-I think it was at noontime. Orville Wright and I came back to this hotel, and Orville said: 'You know, that fellow has got something that we are all missing, and that is the reason these fellows are a great people.' We spent one of the most interesting hours I have ever spent in my life."
Now, we do not arrogate to ourselves the thought that we merit these adjectives. I am referring to it only because there was something which impressed those men as being peculiar to our people. Well, if they only could have known it, that something is represented here tonight by this large gathering of the priesthood. That something is the priesthood, the divine authority, the authority given from on high for each one to represent God in the particular field in which that one is assigned to labor.
I tell you, brethren, it is a wonderful thing to have the privilege of being one of this group and being considered worthy to be a representative of the Most High. I said I was conscious of a great responsibility, too. The instance that I related-the remark made by the renowned inventor of the airplane-brings home to us the responsibility of maintaining that something distinctive which has impressed other renowned visitors who have been in our midst, and which in the future should continue to impress them.
We shall be privileged during this meeting to witness a filmstrip on the timely subject "After High School, What?" with a narration by President Brown.
Education, as this presentation will portray, has always been an essential part of the gospel plan. Members of the priesthood, especially, should seek constantly for that upliftment which will qualify them for the good life and service in the cause of the Master. Well might we ask, "After ordination to the priesthood, what?"
Education to be complete must include spiritual growth. In this sense, youth need religion.
I shall offer only three reasons this evening for giving proper religious training to youth.
First: Youth should have religion in order to stabilize society. Goethe has rightly said that "the destiny of any nation at any given time depends on the opinions of its young men under five and twenty."
On this same thought, Roger W. Babson many years ago had the foresight to comment as follows:
"Although the airplane opens up boundless opportunities, it also threatens limitless perils. All depends upon whether we can match this flood of new material powers with an equal gain in spiritual forces. The coming generation can see in a minute more than the former generation could see in a week. The coming generation can out-hear and out-travel the former generation. Horse-power has expanded beyond all dreams. But what about man power? What about spiritual power, and the power of judgment, discretion, and self-control? Unless there is a development of character equal to this enlargement of physical forces, there is sure trouble ahead. Twenty-five years ago, an intoxicated man might tip the buggy over, but commonly the old horse would bring him home. Today, a driver under the influence of liquor, maims and kills. Tomorrow, therefore, is something to ponder over. Without moral progress, in pace with physical progress, the airplane will merely make dissipation more disastrous, immorality more widespread, and crime more efficient. As one result of the automobile has been to put hell on wheels, the airplane will put hell on wings unless righteousness, too, is speeded up. On the development of character depends whether the airplane shall bring prosperity or calamity."
Science, says Millikan, "without religion obviously may become a curse rather than a blessing to mankind. But science dominated by the spirit of religion is the key, to progress and the hope of the future."
Hayden gives a similar warning, as follows: "Today, as seldom if ever before, human society is threatened with disintegration, if not complete chaos." Why? "All the ancient evils of human relationships, injustice, selfishness, abuse of strength, become sinister and terrible when reinforced by the vast increase of material power. The soul of man cowers, starved and fearful, in the midst of a civilization grown too complex for any mind to visualize or to control. Joy and beauty fade from human living. Yet life abundant, beauteous, laughing life has been our age-long labor's end. What other conceivable worth has the mastery of the material world, the exploitation of the resources of nature and the creation of wealth, except as a basis for the release of the life of the spirit?" And then he adds: "We are witnessing either the crumbling of civilization under the weight of its material mechanism, or the birth of a new organization with a spiritual ideal."
So much for the relation of religion to the stabilizing of society.
Second: Youth need religion to satisfy the innate longing of the soul. Man is a spiritual being, and sometime or another every man is possessed with a longing, an irresistible desire, to know his relationship to the Infinite. He realizes that he is not just a physical object to be tossed for just a short time from bank to bank, only to be submerged finally in the ever-flowing stream of life. There is something within him that urges him to rise above himself, to control his environment, to master the body and all things physical, and to live in a higher and more beautiful world.
James Russell Lowell, in his tribute to spring, says:
"Every clod feels a stir of might, An instinct within it that reaches and towers, And groping blindly above it for light, Climbs to a soul in grass and flowers."
So there is in man not only an instinct, but also a divinity that strives to push him onward and upward. The sense is universal, and at some time in his life every man is conscious of possessing it.
Associated with this spiritual urge are three great needs that remain unchanged throughout the centuries: Every normal person yearns to know something of God. What is he like? Is he interested in the human family, or does he disregard it entirely? What is the best life to live in this world in order to be most successful and to get the most happiness? What is that inevitable thing called death? What is beyond it?
If you want your answers to these longings of the human soul, you must come to the Church to get it. Only true religion can satisfy the yearning soul. At this point, we approach the border line between science and religion. The line between the cold facts of science and the revelation of the spirit is so fine that students need to contact a mind that can and will lead them from the real, the practical, into that realm which satisfies the soul.
Third: Youth need religion to comply properly with the purposes of creation. There is a purposeful design permeating all nature, the crowning event of which is man. Here, on this thought, science again leads the student up to a certain point, and sometimes leaves him with his soul unanchored. For example, evolution's theory of the creation of the world offers many perplexing problems to the inquiring mind. Inevitably, a teacher who denies divine agency in creation, who insists that there is no intelligent purpose in it, undoubtedly impresses the student with the thought that all may be chance.
I say that no youth should be left without a counterbalancing thought. Even the skeptical teacher should be fair enough to say that Charles Darwin himself, when he faced the great questions of eventual annihilation, if creation is dominated only by chance, wrote: "It is an intolerable thought that man and all other sentient things are doomed to complete annihilation, after such long-continued, slow progress.
And another good authority, Raymond F. West, lecturing on immortality, said: "Why this vast expenditure of time and pain and blood? Why should man come so far if he is destined to go no farther? A creature which has traveled such distances and fought such battles and won such victories deserves, one is compelled to say, to conquer death and rob the grave of its victory."
The facts are, and the student should so understand, that all the preparation of earth is but an anticipation of the crowning glory of creation. Fosdick says: "The perpetuation of personality is the highest thing in creation." This great thinker has come by reasoning to what Joseph Smith received by revelation, which is one of the most sublime utterances in modern scripture: "For behold, this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." God's plan, God's purpose, is the perfection of humanity. He does care; he does love his children. He is not merely a blind force, not an abstract power, but a living, personal God.
Charles A. Dinsmore, formerly of Yale University, made the following statement concerning God as a personal being:
"It is the eye of faith that sees the broad horizons, the color and the gleam. Religion, standing on the known experience of the race, makes one bold and glorious affirmation. She asserts that this power that makes for truth, for beauty, and for goodness is not less personal than we. This leap of faith is justified because God cannot be less than the greatest of His works; the Cause must be adequate to the effect. When, therefore, we call God personal, we have interpreted Him by the loftiest symbol we have. He may be infinitely more. He cannot be less. When we call God a Spirit, we use the clearest lens we have to look at the Everlasting. As Herbert Spencer has well said, 'The choice is not between a personal God and something lower, but between a personal God and something higher.'"
We of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints take our stand on true education from what has been given to us in the scriptures. In the Doctrine and Covenants it was revealed that: "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."
And also:
"It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance."
Southey tells us that on his walk one stormy day, he met an old woman to whom, by way of greeting, he made the rather obvious remark that it was dreadful weather. She answered philosophically that, in her opinion, "Any weather is better than none!" Likewise, any education is undoubtedly better than none, but a free people, to remain free, must ever strive for the highest and best.
Courses required of all students in our public schools should include the important areas of study that directly or indirectly provide the student with opportunities for spiritual growth and religious inspiration. From such study it is reasonable to expect that our students will better understand how vital has been the role of religion at critical moments in history; how important spiritual insights in religious faith can be in the lives of men and women; how closely related are human greatness and such qualities as honesty, integrity, humility, generosity, and compassion.
We may expect in our students more idealism and less cynicism, more wholesome courage and faith in the future, and less pessimism and foreboding fear. We may hope for increased tolerance of racial and religious differences, increased respect for those of opposite political views or for those of lower social and economic levels; increased awareness of the basic and inviolable dignity of the individual man or woman. We may contribute to the development of a more sensitive social conscience-a greater sense of responsibility for the less fortunate in our society. We may even, perhaps, without knowing it, bring a boy or girl closer to God.
I am repeating what we all know and feel when I say that our country's greatest asset is its manhood and its womanhood. Upon that depends not only the survival of the individual freedom vouchsafed by the Constitution and Bill of Rights and all other ideals for which the founders of the Republic fought and died, but also the survival of the best that we cherish in present-day civilization throughout the world. The preservation of these must come through education.
The Church stands for education. The very purpose of its organization is to promulgate truth among men. Members of the Church are admonished to acquire learning by study, and also by faith and prayer; to seek after everything that is virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy. In this seeking after, they are not confined to narrow limits of dogma or creed, but are free to launch into the realm of the infinite.
But gaining knowledge is one thing, and applying it, quite another. Wisdom is the right application of knowledge, and true education-the education for which the Church stands-is the application of knowledge to the development of a noble and God-like character.
A great and continuing purpose of education has been the development of moral and spiritual values. To fulfill this purpose, society calls upon its institutions. Special claims are made on the home and the school because of the central role of these two institutions in the nurture of the young.
By moral and spiritual values, we mean those values which, when applied in human behavior, exalt and refine life and bring it into accord with the standards of conduct that are approved in our democratic culture.
Youth need religion. The world needs it. It is the world's greatest need
God help us to teach the true religion as revealed in this dispensation by the Lord Jesus Christ to Joseph Smith. God bless you teachers in the Church schools, institutes, and seminaries, that you may have the spirit of this great latter-day work and lead the children to the realm of immortality and peace here as well as happiness throughout eternity.
God bless you brethren. With all my heart I pray God to bless you, that every member of the Church, as well as everyone who holds the priesthood, may sense the responsibility of membership in the Church of Christ. If we can only maintain the standards of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the future of the Church is secure. Truly, men and women will see a light that is not hidden under a bushel, but one that is set upon a hill, and they will be attracted by it, and will be led to seek the truth more by our acts and deeds and by what we radiate in virtue and integrity, rather than by what we say.
I pray God to bless us in this great work in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Lowell L. Bennion
Lowell L. Bennion, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 90-94
Dear brethren and friends: President McKay has asked me to talk to the youth of the Church about education. I am not particularly grateful for this task, but I am thankful for his trust and faith in me. I am also grateful for the example which he has set for us in the field of education. President McKay loves the Lord with all his mind, as well as with his heart and soul. I know this from personal experience.
On several occasions when I have dared to impose upon him with problems that were very critical to me, I have always come away satisfied in my mind as well as in my heart. One thing he taught me when I first began to teach in the Church has been extremely helpful. He said, "Brother Bennion, remember, words do not convey meanings; they call them forth." I speak out of the context of my experience, and you listen out of the context of yours, and that is why communication is difficult. I don't expect to be fully understood tonight nor that you will agree with everything that is said, and I certainly invite President Brown to qualify and correct anything that he feels he should.
It is also inspiring to me that President McKay in his ninety-fifth year should be thinking of the future and putting himself in the place of youth as he planned the theme of this meeting.
If we take a look at Church history, we find that education has played an important, proud role. The process of education began even before the Church was organized. We usually think of the beginning of the Latter-day Saint movement as having taken place in the Sacred Grove in that glorious First Vision of the Father and the Son. To me this is not entirely accurate. The initial beginning of our faith took place, I believe, in the mind of a youth. The boy Joseph in his fifteenth year had questions; he was searching; he was eager to know. You should read again the familiar story, his own story, in the Pearl of Great Price. I was struck this week to notice what an emphasis he placed on learning, on asking. At a time of considerable controversy and great emotional excitement, he said in retrospect, "My mind was called up to serious reflection." And the biblical passage which stirred him the most was that famous verse from James, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God. Never, he wrote, did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine... I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did."
Unknowingly, and unconsciously perhaps, the boy Joseph carried out the admonition of the Savior, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."
There is no finer symbol or characterization of the Mormon movement to me than to think of the boy Joseph going to the woods, in his own words, "on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring," kneeling, offering a prayer, asking questions of the God in heaven. Joseph's search did not end there. The gospel and Church of Christ were not revealed from heaven in their entirety like the blueprints of an architect's building plans. Rather, Joseph continued to ask questions. He had searching questions that he was asking to find solutions to his problems, and he received "line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little." Only in response to hungry minds, to earnest questions of the boy Prophet and of his associates, did the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, it seems to me, reveal their mind.
Very soon after the First Vision, Joseph not only prayed, but he also studied, as has already been indicated in President McKay's remarks.
The first temple built by the Latter-day Saints in Kirtland, Ohio, the most sacred of all buildings in the Church, was also used for the School of the Prophets. There they studied not only scripture and theology, but also Hebrew and German; and they were taught to learn by study and also by faith, and to seek wisdom out of the best books.
It is remarkable to me too, brethren, that when the Saints came to the West, struggling to conquer the desert under the leadership of that very practical leader, Brigham Young, that he, a man without formal education, talked about education a great deal. He was always encouraging the Saints to study science and all things. In fact, he said that Mormonism embraces all truth; even if the infidel has it, it belongs to us.
We have a proud history of education in the Church that includes the development of auxiliary organizations, academies, colleges, Brigham Young University, institutes and seminaries. Generations of Latter-day Saints have been inspired by this philosophy and by the beginnings of our faith to go on in higher education. Our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers have gone east and west in this country, with faith that any knowledge they could gain was consistent and in harmony with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What about our education today in the Church? Are you and I as hungry to know? Are we aware of our lack of wisdom? Are our minds burning and hungering and thirsting for knowledge, as I think Joseph's was, and Brigham Young's, and my father's, and others? We inherit land and money and debts and other things, but education is not inherited any more than character is. The German poet Goethe said, "What from your father's heritage is lent, earn it anew to really possess it." We inherit only the opportunity, the tradition, and I hope the motivation to seek learning and wisdom and education.
I think there are several reasons why you young people should be earnestly engaged in all kinds of education, including secular training. The first reason I would give is that we live in a technological age. Unskilled labor is fast diminishing, going by the boards. Unskilled jobs are decreasing. They are poorly paid. One is expendable if one's only talent is common, untrained physical work. On the other hand, there has never been such a demand for trained people, both technical and professional. Back in depression years engineers came out of the universities and were glad to take a job at a filling station or any other kind of work. Today, anybody who is trained as a teacher, social worker, nurse, doctor, lawyer, dentist-name what you will-is in great demand, is well paid, and I think, generally speaking, his work is more interesting than that of common labor, though not always.
The frontiers which Mormons have known in the past-the desert, the plains, the prairies, rugged mountain passes, "hole in the rock"-are no longer there. Today's frontiers are human and social, spiritual and moral. They were mentioned in this morning's meeting by several of our speakers-air pollution, water pollution, crime, delinquency, family disorganization, war, racial strife. The resolution of these problems calls for training, for understanding, for knowledge, as well as for character and faith.
Secondly, I believe that he should seek education for education's sake. I would not spend my time encouraging young people to get more education simply to make more money, or to live a life of ease, or to gain status in this world. My chief reason for encouraging education is that I believe that the essence of man is his brain, his mind, his spirit; and I think a person who does not cultivate his mind will not fulfill his life. His life will end in frustration and disappointment.
Let me illustrate concretely, if I can. Last summer I was in the mountains with some young boys, and one day they found a nest of robins, just ready to leave their mother's nest. The boys wanted to take these robins and put them in a cage. I suggested that the robins would die if they did but let them do it; and sure enough, the boys put these little robins in a cage, gave them water, grain, and grass, and in two or three days they were dead. The reason they died is that birds do not belong in cages. Birds were made by the Creator to scratch in the earth and to soar in the sky. Birds have wings to fly. Put a bird in a cage and you destroy his nature.
Now you and I also find ourselves sometimes in cages, cages of our own making, and though we don't always die in these cages, we sometimes die a moral and spiritual death; and we find life shallow and meaningless. I haven't time tonight to do any more than mention the kinds of things that get us in these cages, but in my experience alcohol does. In my observation, these mind-expanding drugs do also. I have talked with a number of students and young people who have been caught up in this latest effort to find the meaning of life by running away from it, and what I observe is nothing but tragedy.
You and I don't indulge in alcohol, LSD, or marijuana, but we find ourselves in other cages. One of them is sitting as a spectator of life watching TV day and night. It is wonderful to watch a show occasionally, to refresh oneself and get away from the cares of the day, but to spend hour upon hour watching the trivia that comes across our movie house screens and TV screens sometimes is, I believe, a great disservice to one's life. Another tragic aspect of the life of contemporary man, in my judgment, is our hunger and thirst and lust for material things. We want new clothes, cars, homes, furniture, and drapes, and we spend most of our time, many of us, trying to achieve these material things with which we can identify. I think people who spend most of their life trying to make money and accumulate material goods will wake up with a taste of ashes in their mouths by and by.
Jesus said, "... for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." And he also said, "Be not anxious about the morrow, what ye shall eat and what ye shall drink, and wherewithal ye shall be clothed, but seek ye first the kingdom of God." And I think he meant by that, seek ye first humility and repentance, meekness and integrity, merry and peaceableness, purity of heart and sacrifice for fellowmen, and love-things of the spirit.
Buddha said, "In eating, fearing and sleeping, men and beasts are alike. Man excelleth the beast by engaging in religious practices; so why should a man, if he be without religion, not be equal to the beast."
When I first read this, it struck home. In eating, fearing, and sleeping, men and beasts are alike. Man excelleth the beast by being human, by engaging in things of the spirit, of the mind, of the heart.
Brethren, how often do you contemplate the wonderful qualities and aspects of your mind? Imagination is one of the qualities of a human mind that I cherish deeply; it is the ability to take single images and to put them into a new image that has never existed before. Only a human being can reorganize life around him after his own image. Only the human mind, so far as we know, enjoys memory and can transcend time and space. Only human beings can keep the entire past with them. You and I can live with Jesus, Beethoven, Socrates, and our grandfathers. Animals only live in the present, driven by instinct. Only human beings have language, the power to symbolize feelings and ideas and to communicate. Imagination, memory, language-these are wonderful gifts of the human spirit.
Until a year or two ago I kept a pig. My pig never got his eyes above the trough, except when I came to feed him; and, brethren, when I went out to feed my pig, I thrilled at the color on Mt. Olympus, and I pondered its geology, and I worshiped at the foot of the mountain. I sang "O Ye Mountains High" to myself alone, and "For the Strength of the Hills." I like animals, but believe me, I am grateful for those qualities which are distinctly human and which are divine.
You and I were not only created in the physical image of our Father in heaven; we were also created in his spiritual image. And if the glory of God is intelligence, then the glory of man is also intelligence. If God is Creator, man must be creative to satisfy his soul. If God is love, man must be loving. If God is a person of integrity, then we must also be honest, to be true to our own nature, which we have inherited in part from him.
Another reason why I believe in education is that it is not enough to believe the gospel; it must also be understood, if we wish to live it. Ancient Israel lived their religion after a fashion, but were rejected by God for lack of knowledge. Hear the words of the prophet Hosea: "Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor merry, nor knowledge of God in the land.
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee... seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God...
"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."
Brethren, the gospel is to be understood, as well as believed. The gospel has a beautiful structure about it. It has form. It is something like a beautiful Greek edifice, if you will. The Ten Commandments are related to each other; they hang together beautifully. They strengthen each other. The Beatitudes form, in the words of a scholar, a map of life, each one building on the preceding one. The wonderful attributes of God reinforce one another and give us a marvelous basis for a relationship with him. It seems to me that we need to reflect deeply upon the gospel of Jesus Christ in terms of its great fundamentals, and then we need to relate these fundamentals to the issues of the day.
How many of us apply the Golden Rule in business, in race relations in our country today, in relations between nations? Do we always remember free agency, as we deal with our coworkers, with our children, with our wives?
Just one more thought, brethren. By encouraging its youth to gain an education, to study at universities, the Church is encouraging our young people to think, and to think critically. Parents, church leaders, and even some of our students are afraid that in the process of learning, and of learning to think critically, some of our students will lose their faith. I must confess that some Latter-day Saints, college youth, do lose their religious faith as they encounter secular learning. However, I believe that this is not due primarily to their thinking. Some of our youth who do not go to college also lose their faith.
There are a hundred and one reasons why young people lose faith. Some who do go to college leave their religion behind at a very shallow level while they proceed to work on their PhD's. Some discard religion before they have ever known it, before it has taken root in their lives. Others lose faith because they cease to practice religion and study it and live it. Still others lose faith because we their parents and teachers and leaders have not listened to their questions, have been too quick to condemn, have not respected their free agency and their honest thinking. Some lose faith because they do not distinguish between gospel principles and the actions of men. I recall a girl who lost her faith because a returned missionary asked that his engagement ring be returned. People live lives as a whole, and many factors influence their faith.
I dislike very much to see a wedge driven between faith and reason, between secular learning and religious living. It has been my great privilege to have known thousands of college youth who are bright, eager students in every
field-in philosophy, in the social sciences, and in every other science. Thousands have kept the faith and are truly committed to both God and learning. But these people walk with humility, both in religion and in secular thought.
Last Sunday I was privileged to attend a priesthood meeting and Sunday School in Madison, Wisconsin. In these meetings graduate students, professors, businessmen, and intelligent wives were enriching each other's thinking immeasurably. This is a beautiful thing to behold, and it is happening in many areas of the Church. In the life of every Latter-day Saint faith and morality, born of religion, should be wedded to all the knowledge and learning we can get from every source. It is not an easy marriage-faith and reason-and one will have to treat the other partner with great respect. Like marriages between men and women, there will be ongoing adjustments; mistakes will be made; forgiveness will be required; and some divorces will occur. But much of the conflict between faith and reason lies in the person, just as failures in marriage are usually due to limitations in husband or wife, or both, and not in the institution of marriage.
I repeat, let us not drive a wedge between faith and knowledge. We need both. I love my bishop, who is a businessman, and I have sought his counsel in spiritual and family affairs, but should the need arise, I shall not ask him to remove my appendix. The great problems facing us in the world today are far more intricate than an appendectomy. We need to unite all the faith and idealism the gospel can provide and to combine it with all the wisdom of human experience, no matter who has it.
Not all education is found in textbooks or in university halls. I have time to mention only one illustration in closing. I know a little lady listening in tonight who is nearly 94 years of age. When she was approximately ninety, she began to practice the organ. Last year the power went off in her home, in her apartment where she lives alone, and her daughter phoned and said, "Mother, is the power off?"
"Yes."
"I will come and bring you home to dinner."
And her mother said, "No, thank you."
"What will you do if the power doesn't come on?"
She answered, "I will light a candle and play my guitar."
I had a wonderful father who was an educator, but I have learned, I think, as much from this little woman who is my mother as I have from my father.
My message to you in closing is this: Light a candle. Light the candle that is within you, the candle that is your own eternal intelligence, which has also received the imprint of divinity in the spiritual creation of our Father in heaven.
I pray that we Latter-day Saints living today may learn to love the Lord our God with all our mind, as well as with our hearts and with our souls; I pray that we may hunger and thirst after righteousness, and after truth, and I ask it humbly, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Hugh B. Brown
Hugh B. Brown, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 100-106
Brethren of the priesthood, we are assembled this evening in this famous Tabernacle and in hundreds of chapels and other meeting places throughout the United States and Canada in what undoubtedly is the largest priesthood gathering in this dispensation, augmented by a large audience who have joined us on a TV broadcast.
We meet reverently in the name of the founder and head of the Church, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, of whose divinity we humbly bear witness.
Under the direction of his Prophet, President David O. McKay, the First Presidency of the Church issues an admonition and a charge that is directed to youth and adults alike-in short, to all members of the Church and to our fellowmen everywhere. But our appeal is primarily to you who are in that interesting but difficult period between childhood and adulthood, sometimes called adolescence, when you no longer yield to the strict control of childhood but are not ready to accept the full responsibilities of adulthood.
Keep in mind the challenging fact that your aim is not to get ahead of others but to surpass yourself; to begin today to be the person you want to be; to immortalize today and all the tomorrows that lie ahead, in order that your life may have eternal significance. Cultivate an unquenchable appetite for learning.
Each of you is the heir of the ages. They who have gone ahead of you have partially discovered and revealed a world of wonder with limitless uncharted fields ahead.
Incidentally, we have often urged our young people to carry their laughter over into their mature years. A wholesome sense of humor will be a safety valve that will enable you to apply the lighter touch to heavy problems and to learn some lessons in problem solving that "sweat and tears" often fail to dissolve. A line from Proverbs advises us that "a merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."
We live in a fast-moving and rapidly changing society whose challenges are awesome in scope and baffling in complexity. Ours is an atomic age, when motion, action, and revolutionary change are constants. A new world is bursting upon us with startling suddenness and irresistible force-a world which is at once auspicious and ominous. The times require that we prepare to meet the demands of the future, make the required sacrifices, enjoy its rewards and priceless privileges, and accommodate ourselves to the universal law of change.
To that end, then, our first charge to you is "be prepared." Constantly prepare and continue to prepare for the future-your future-to which you are expected to make significant contributions. Man's flight through life is sustained by the power of his knowledge.
The preparation which we admonish is but another word for education, with its attendant discipline, whether imposed or voluntary.
Each one of you must face and solve the problem of what you are to do after you graduate from high school. This is one of life's pivotal questions that must be answered by you with resolution and enthusiasm. Your answer, if buttressed by courage and stamina, will determine in large measure how you will spend the balance of your lives. It is, therefore, of transcendent importance.
But there will be temptations and down-drag along the way-subtle whisperings intended to induce you to forsake your quest for knowledge and be led into dangerous detours. Beware that you do not yield to the sometimes enticing but always false and soul-destroying temptations to partake of things that God has said are not good for man.
I quote Mr. Ingersoll, who certainly was not prompted by a religious motive, but who used his marvelous rhetoric to strike at this common enemy, alcohol: "I believe, gentlemen, that alcohol... demoralizes those who make it, those who sell it, and those who drink it. I believe that from the time it issues from the coiled and poisonous worm of the distillery until it empties into the hell of crime, death, and dishonor, it demoralizes everybody that touches it. I do not believe that anybody can contemplate the subject without becoming prejudiced against this liquid crime. All you have to do, gentlemen, is to think of the wrecks upon either bank of this stream of death-of the suicides, of the insanity, of the poverty, of the ignorance, of the distress, of the little children tugging at the faded dresses of weeping and despairing wives, asking for bread; of the men of genius it has wrecked, of the millions who have struggled with imaginary serpents produced by this devilish thing. And when you think of the jails, of the almshouses, of the prisons, and of the scaffolds upon either bank-I do not wonder that every thoughtful man is prejudiced against the damned stuff called alcohol."
Let no one persuade you that the improper use of narcotics, which is becoming somewhat common on some campuses, can in any way be beneficial.
Some may tell you that certain drugs expand the soul, but as Al Capp told us in one of his comic strips: "Marijuana and LSD expand the soul in the same way that the atomic bomb expanded Hiroshima." I hope you will remember that whenever you are tempted to partake of narcotics. As Robert M. Hutchins of the University of Chicago said: "I am not worried about the economic future; I am worried about your morals... The most insidious, the most paralyzing danger you will face in life is the danger of corruption."
"For each descent from fair truth's lofty way, For each gross error which delays the soul, By that soul's gloom and loneliness we pay, And by the retarded journey to its goal."
Remember, the law of the harvest is inexorable. "As ye sow, so shall ye reap." The use of any harmful substance will impede your progress toward your goal.
Education has always been recognized by the Church as the number one obligation of each generation to its successor and of each individual to himself. Each one of us is a divinely endowed, eternal, and intelligent being. It is incumbent upon us, therefore, to encourage and keep alive the questing spirit, to learn and continue to learn everything possible about ourselves, our fellowmen, our universe, and our God, who is our Father.
The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "To be saved a man must rise above all his enemies, not the least of which is ignorance." His deep and abiding interest in education is shown by the fact that he founded the first adult education program in America-the School of the Prophets.
Although the refugee Saints were busy erecting a temple and preaching the newly restored gospel, they nevertheless were admonished by the Lord through the Prophet to teach one another "of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms." In short, a general and comprehensive education.
The early Mormon pioneers, despite constant persecution, the continual uprooting of their homes, and the toil of subduing a hostile desert, kept education paramount in their thinking and teaching. They brought books, charts, and textbooks on many subjects across the desert plains with them.
As proof of their devotion to learning, the early colonists, soon after their arrival in Utah, founded the University of Deseret-later to become the University of Utah. Shortly thereafter, they founded Brigham Young Academy, Ricks College, and 30 additional Church-sponsored academies, each guided by Brigham Young's charge to Professor Karl G. Maeser that nothing be taught, not even the alphabet or the multiplication table, without the Spirit of God!
Recently the First Presidency issued a statement on the subject of education. In it they said, among other things, "The Church has long encouraged its members, and especially its youth, either to obtain a college education or to become well-trained in some vocation."
In our fast-growing industrial society, education has become a necessity, for unless our young people are well trained, they will not be able to obtain dignified and profitable employment in the future.
"The positions that do not require education or training are decreasing from year to year and soon will be non-existent. We therefore strongly urge all young people to engage and continue in formal study of some kind beyond high school. Of equal importance is the selection of an educational program that takes into account each individual's interests, talents, and goals."
In choosing the best academic program for the future, you will need help and guidance. First, go to you parents for advice. They have known you longer than anyone else and have a mature insight into what it takes to succeed in life. They are deeply interested in your future; they love you with a self-sacrificing devotion that makes your well-being paramount to their own. Also, most of you are dependent upon them for financial help.
Next, you should turn for help to your Church leaders. Many of them have had experience in various fields. They will be glad to counsel with you and will join with you in seeking divine guidance.
I was very glad this splendid chorus sang tonight "O My Father," and as they sang, I visualized a boy on his knees, calling out to his Maker:
"O my Father, thou that dwellest In the high and glorious place, When shall I regain thy presence, And again behold thy face?"
Your high school counselor will help you with special personal information. He has access to your academic file and can discuss with you your strengths and weaknesses, your interests and aptitudes.
His guidance library will also have information that will prove to be of real assistance in helping you make important decisions.
The seminary and institute teachers also will be able to help you to understand and apply the educational program of the Church. Other teachers with specialized training will be glad to inform you about their own fields of interest.
Also available to you are the services of the Educational Information and Guidance Center. Its mission is to assist all Latter-day Saint students in making their educational decisions. We encourage you to contact the center through any of the educational agencies of the Church. Representatives of the center can give you information and guidance that will help you to see more clearly the challenges and promises facing you.
The final decision, however, is up to you. You may consult with other people, examine your tests and grade-point averages, and get a better understanding of yourself and your possibilities, but you must evaluate all that is available, create an appetite for the best, and then with ambition on fire and with undiscourageable pluck, continue to make the final irrevocable decision. Remember, the most important thing is not what you do but that you qualify to do it with excellence as you progressively find the activity which provides a continuing challenge and inspiration.
You may decide to go to a technical college or training school and prepare for a trade. Here, too, this age of technology demands thorough preparation.
Brigham Young, himself a painter and glazier, said: "I believe in education, but I want to see the boys and girls come out with an education at their finger's ends as well as in their brains."
At a technical college you may receive training in drafting, electronics, farm technology, secretarial and office skills, photography, computer programming, and many other subjects. These courses vary in length from a few months to a few years, with diplomas and certificates offered at their conclusion.
Training in your chosen field while you are in military service is another possibility. The United States Armed Forces Institute and similar military educational agencies make credit courses available in many branches of education.
Many specialized schools offer training in art, music, drama, electronics, business-even heavy equipment operation. Most of this training is bona fide, but the student must be discriminating and selective and be sure that what he chooses will move him toward his goal of an educated person in the field of his interest and aptitude.
Some businesses and firms will accept a person immediately upon graduation from high school and provide on-the-job training with a beginning salary, but this in most cases should be merely a stepping-stone.
We strongly urge all who have the aptitude, ambition, and gumption to continue their education on the college level and beyond. No young person should aim lower than his capacities justify. The world of tomorrow will make way for the specialist who is trained to work mathematical formulas, plead a case in court, discover a cure for a dread disease, develop new and better agricultural techniques, and so forth.
For those of you who decide to pursue a college education, the Church has developed a variety of programs to help in combining high academic training with spiritual growth.
And that to me was the center of the President's remarks tonight: to add religious training to all your other seeking for knowledge, and then on your knees to ask God for guidance.
The Latter-day Saint Student Association has been established to bring into correlated relationship all phases of Church activity. We desire to encourage and assist students in achieving a more significant academic, religious, and social education. We seek to identify and meet the needs of our students on specific campuses. Under the direction of the priesthood, we try to develop Church programs that will help our college students to cope with challenges they meet on college campuses as well as in life generally.
The largest Church-related program is offered through Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. This is the mother institution of the Church School System, with a student enrollment of more than 20,000. Here you are invited to obtain a degree in one of 13 colleges or in the graduate school.
The central concern at Brigham Young University, next to confirming your faith in God, is gaining and imparting knowledge. BYU is receiving wide recognition for achievement in many fields of study and research. This academic excellence is made possible by a professional, dedicated faculty, where serious-minded students will realize that the world today is looking for the educated mind and the skilled hand.
Religious activity is an integral part of all Latter-day Saint education and is available to all students. Many wards and stakes are organized on various campuses, with students assuming nearly all of the leadership positions.
Ricks College, a comprehensive junior college in Rexburg, Idaho, was founded in 1888 and is the oldest educational institution now engaged in higher education in Idaho.
The several thousand students who attend Ricks College may obtain an associate degree for transfer to a four-year institution, or may complete a one or two-year terminal program in technical, business, secretarial, or nursing fields.
The Church College of Hawaii is located on the island of Oahu. Its buildings were erected by Church building missionaries, and are the contribution of dedicated young men from New Zealand, Tonga, and Samoa.
This college is intended for the blessing of the Church members in the Pacific, giving them a fully accredited four-year course of study.
Obviously not all Latter-day Saint students who desire a college education can enroll in one of the Church-related schools. Therefore, a program of religious education in the institutes of religion has been set up near many college campuses throughout the country.
"We strongly urge students to enroll in classes at the institutes so they can augment their secular learning with a religious education and spiritual experience."
We now have 185 institutes of religion where advanced courses, suited to the college environment, are available.
At the institutes, students may participate in well-directed social programs, enjoy many inspiring devotionals, and benefit from a counseling program headed by trained personnel.
At many universities and colleges where there is no institute, Deseret Clubs have been formed. Their major purpose is to bring together the youth of the Church and to provide social and cultural experiences in harmony with the highest ideals and standards.
At the Latter-day Saint Business College, located in Salt Lake City, students may take a variety of business courses leading to a three-month certificate, a one-year diploma, or a two-year associate degree. Here, too, an institute program provides religious training in conjunction with regular classwork.
Another Church-sponsored program of education is that of continuing education courses available to those living away from the university. These courses can be counted toward a degree.
In the many educational programs developed by the Church, there is a place for you. Whether you desire a two-year, four-year, master's, or doctor's degree, whether you desire pre-professional training for any of a variety of careers, technical training, business training, home study, or religious training on campuses not affiliated with the Church, there is a program set up that will help you attain your educational goals.
The key to a wise, happy choice lies in choosing what will be best for you as an individual. In that way you will find the satisfaction of becoming a productive, contributing, and independent member of the Church and of society. The writer of the Proverbs said, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."
President McKay has said, "Character is the aim of true education... True education seeks to make men and women not only good mathematicians, proficient linguists, profound scientists, or brilliant literary lights, but also honest men, with virtue, temperance, and brotherly love. It seeks to make men and women who prize truth, justice, wisdom, benevolence, and self-control as the choicest acquisitions of a successful life."
We urge all members, young and old, to keep in mind always that the true purpose of life, both here and hereafter, is to seek the joy of eternal progression. As the glory of God is intelligence, man can only share that glory through continuing education of the whole man. As the Lord himself told Joseph Smith: "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."
We charge you then, brethren and sisters, to be prepared-physically, mentally, spiritually, morally, aesthetically, and in every other way prepare for what the glorious future holds. The Church is making every possible provision for all of its members to excel.
We commend to you some verses that have inspired some to believe in themselves and to continue the quest for knowledge:
"You may be what you will to be; Let cowards find their false content In that poor word environment, But spirit scorns it and is free.
"It conquers time; it masters space; It cows the boastful trickster chance, And bids the tyrant circumstance Uncrown and fill a servant's place.
"The human will-that force unseen, The offspring of a deathless soul- Can hew its way to any goal, Though walls of granite intervene."
We repeat, you may be what you will to be, if you are willing to pay the price.
May God bless and inspire you to believe that because he is your Father there is inevitably something of him in you, and therefore, just as an acorn may become an oak, so you, each one possessing a divine spark, may develop into something like that from which you came.
Modern technology has eliminated all the barriers of time and space which formerly lay between the citizens of our world. Moscow and Washington, D.C., are closer together today than Salt Lake City and Ogden were 100 years ago. We have become literally one human family, living in the same territory if not in the same house. Former classifications of mankind are no longer valid, for we are neither strangers nor foreigners any more. God grant that Latter-day Saints may strive to be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and will be found in the forefront of those who recognize the inherent dignity and worth of every human being who walks this earth, regardless of his race, color, or creed.
May he bless and inspire you to believe in yourselves and in the availability of divine guidance. As one young man in Vietnam was heard to say as he was going out and not expecting to come back:
"I thank thee, God, that come what may, I may stop along the way At any time of night or day And talk to thee."
The war which began in heaven and has been going on ever since-a war in which the immortal souls of the children of men are at stake-is about to reach a climactic point. This appeal, therefore, is in a very real sense a call to arms.
The call to be prepared is sent to each one of you by and from the President of the Church, the Prophet of God. It is vital and of paramount importance. The preparation must begin at the center of your hearts and extend to the end of your fingers and toes. Each one of you may become the master of his fate, the captain of his soul.
As David Sarnoff, the best-informed man in his field today, said to a class of students: "You face the new powers conferred by science to wreck or rebuild the world, and the degree to which you carry faith in God, in your fellowman and in yourselves, together with a sense of responsibility and continuing self-discipline, by this you will be able to determine whether these tremendous forces, now coming into your hands, will be used to build a better world or be responsible for its destruction... The world needs the upsurge of spiritual vitality to resist the current cynicism and materialism. The gradual elimination of physical hungers will deepen the more elemental hunger for faith and salvation, for age-old values beyond the material and the temporal, they will gnaw at the spirit and the heart of man."
We need stout hearts to meet the future, a future pregnant with unborn events and big with possibilities. We need faith to try, hope to inspire, and courage to endure. "... let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
"The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever."
Return again to that beautiful hymn, "O My Father," and think of that boy on his knees, saying:
"When I leave this frail existence, When I lay this mortal by, Father, Mother, may I meet you In your royal courts on high? Then at length, when I've completed All you sent me forth to do, With your mutual approbation Let me come and dwell with you."
That prayer will be progressively answered upon your heads as you qualify yourselves by getting and continuing an education in all fields to which you may be led; and wherever you may be led, remember that God, your Father, is hovering over you, pleading for you, saying unto you, "Come unto me."
May his peace and blessing be with us all. May we be inspired, each one of us, as we leave this building tonight, to make something of ourselves, to be better than we are, more knowledgeable, more understanding, more sympathetic, more inclined to reach out for the underprivileged, and to those who need help. I pray for his blessing and peace to be with all of us, humbly, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President N. Eldon Tanner
N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 108-113
One hundred thirty-five years ago a prophet of God gave us a revelation that still applies to every man, woman, and child today, and that we should heed. "A Word of Wisdom... Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.
"Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation."
Among other things, he warns against the use of tobacco and strong drinks. And then he gives us this promise: "And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
"And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
"And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
"And I, the lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them."
We, as members of the Church, have considered the Word of Wisdom as a direction from the Lord himself, with a warning and a promise. Today the whole world, with the scientific evidence now available to everyone, should, regardless of religion or race, observe this scientific warning.
We read daily in newspapers and magazines such startling headlines as: "Cigarette Blamed in Apartment Fire and Death," "Youth Drug Craze Rises, Ending in Despair," "300 Pilot Deaths Laid to Alcohol."
These point up clearly the dangers of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol. Because of these great dangers, because of my own experiences and observations, and because of the real concern we have for our youth, who will determine the future of this great country and the world, I have chosen to discuss the evils of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.
Before doing so, however, I should like to make it abundantly clear that throughout my life some of my close business associates have been men who used tobacco and alcohol. Many of them were very able and successful in business; they were community-minded and highly regarded, and I certainly do not wish to criticize or question the character of these or other users of tobacco and alcohol. I do most emphatically register my great concern about the dangers connected with their use. Many men have said: "I wish I had never touched the weed, or drink. They are really a curse."
So much has been said lately about the dangers of tobacco that it might seem redundant for me to spend time reviewing these dangers and statistics regarding smoking. However, I do wish to give a few facts and figures regarding the evils of cigarettes.
The British Royal College of Physicians reported that 400 Britons per week, or 20,000 persons, died last year in Great Britain from lung cancer caused by cigarette smoking. Right here in Utah it is estimated that 20 million dollars were spent in 1966 for cigarettes, or $21.68 for every man, woman, and child in the state, and this is below the national average.
The American Public Health Association has stated that one million school age children today are expected to die of lung cancer before they reach the age of 70. These startling predictions should help us to realize that we must redouble our efforts to educate young people on the evil effects of smoking so that they will be better prepared to cope with this problem.
Having had a very close friend and relative die of lung cancer caused by smoking cigarettes, I feel a strong desire and determination to do what I can to save other youth from this heinous habit. There is a big question as to how effective any such campaign will be when our youth are continually confronted with adults, including many in the teaching and medical professions, as well as their parents, going around with cigarettes in their mouths.
Now, turning our attention to drugs, I wish to share with you just two of my experiences since the October conference. Just before conference, a bishop called me from California to make an appointment to bring in a young man from his ward who was involved with hippies. He felt I might be able to help him. They came in just after conference. His long hair, dress, and general appearance left no doubt that he was a hippie. I asked him to tell me his story. Briefly, this is what he said:
"I am a returned missionary, a married man, and I have a child; and here I am, a hippie, a drug addict, and I am guilty of many misdemeanors and even felonies. I am most unhappy. This is not what I want."
I asked him how it was that a man with his background ever got mixed up with these people He said that one day when he was feeling despondent and discouraged, he decided that he wanted to be free, that he did not want to be bound by any traditions or Church restrictions in any way. He went out with some of these fellows in a spirit of rebellion, and then he said, "Here I am. Instead of being free, I'm a slave. In a way I am a fugitive. I wish you could help me. I just don't know what to do."
Before he left, he assured me that he would cut his hair and clean up and break away from these people, and that he would turn himself over to the law and do all he could to repent and live as he should. The following is from a letter written by him and dated March 22, 1968:
"Dear President Tanner, I pray that you will know the true feelings of my heart at this time. I now live my life inside prison walls. It is my desire that others do not fall into the hands of Satan, as I did. If relating my experiences to other young people like myself can be of some worth in their lives, this is my hope... I'm thankful that I was blessed with a bishop who has been my closest friend through all my trials. I'm grateful for your interest, President Tanner."
The reason I use this young man as an example is that his background should have given him the strength to resist or overcome, and it shows how dangerous it is for a man like him, let alone a youth who has no such ties or responsibilities, to even associate with those who tamper with drugs. His was a very sad case, and it touched my heart.
The next case I wish to share with you is similar to hundreds and hundreds of others. I have talked to the girl involved and to her parents; and though they know that many might recognize them as the ones about whom I am talking, they said if it will help someone they would be glad to have me use their story.
She comes from a very fine family. The father is a successful doctor, and the family has been active in the Church and in the community. They have one son who has filled a mission, and another in the field now. They have an older daughter who is very highly regarded, active in the Church, and who was married in the temple. The girl about whom I am speaking is a fine, bright young girl, but she started chasing around with other girls and boys, some of whom were using cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs; and rather than be considered a "square," she began to indulge, finding it easier than resisting the pressure. In fact, she had no fear that she would ever become an addict.
Through lack of communication and failing to stay close to their daughter, and under the false assumption that all was well, her parents were not aware of her actions until they finally learned, to their great horror and sorrow, that she was using tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. Of course, they were heartbroken, and terribly embarrassed, as they realized there was nothing they could do but place her in an institution where they felt she could best be helped. She is there today; but through determination and a real struggle and with the help of the institution, she has progressed to the point where she can come home weekends and be with her parents.
As I talked to her, her big concern, and the concern of her parents, is what she will do when she is released. Will she be free and feel secure? How will people accept her? She does feel determined and sure, and we hope she is right, that she will be completely cured. When I asked her if she would have the courage and strength to keep free of her former associates, she assured me she could, and sorrowfully said that several of them are either in institutions or prison. She also told me of some very sad cases in the institution-one, a 19-year-old boy, who is entirely helpless. We read also of others threatening and committing suicide.
Such experiences should help parents and youth to understand the problems and great dangers confronting them. Parents, be alert and on guard. One of these could be your own son or daughter.
Now I should like to direct our thinking to the alcohol problem, which is so serious wherever we turn. May I tell you as accurately as I can the story told me by a man whom I knew very well. He used to be one of the most successful oil well drillers in the province of Alberta, a man who was well-respected, highly regarded, and a good citizen, but who, as many others, through social drinking, became an alcoholic. He was one of the fortunate ones who, with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous and, as he said, with the help of the Lord, was able to overcome this dread disease.
One day, as I invited him to speak to a group of young people, his quick response was, "If I can help any youth to understand the evil of alcohol and what it will do to him, I am anxious to do it." This was his story:
"When I was in business, I used to drink with the boys at cocktail parties and at receptions, never thinking it was doing me any harm. In fact, I never worried about it at all. Even when I found myself taking a third or fourth drink, and wanting a drink during the day when I knew I should not be drinking, I had no idea that I was really becoming an alcoholic. I refused to accept the fact until I found myself literally in the gutter.
"The result was that my partner, my business associates, and all who knew me and even my wife and family found that they could not depend on me, and lost respect for me. As a result, I lost my wife. After pleading and working with me, she divorced me, and I found that I was alone. I had lost respect for myself, and had lost my home, family, and everything.
"When I found myself in the gutter, helpless and alone, I was persuaded to go to Alcoholics Anonymous. With their help and my determination I was able to overcome the habit after months and months of severe struggle." Then he pointed out that only about one out of five is able to overcome this pernicious habit.
As he concluded, he said: "No man knows when he takes a single drink whether or not he will become an alcoholic. Therefore, no man, regardless of his wealth or his position, can afford to take one single drink of liquor."
He pled with every one of them not to touch it, and then emphasized that one out of every 15 who drink will become an alcoholic, and often the brightest and most capable one, who least expects it, is the unfortunate one.
Now here is another story I tell with the permission of the parents, who likewise expressed a real desire to do everything they can to help other youth to avert a tragedy such as that which happened to their son.
In a file they handed me was a newspaper clipping, written before his tragedy, showing the picture of a fine-looking young lad, who had just been elected president of the junior class in high school. The article said: "Wherever activity is bubbling or leadership is needed, that's where you'll find Jim. As a leading figure in school plays, student government, and class activities, his leadership abilities have always been outstanding."
Here was a boy with the promise of a happy and successful life. But one night, he did not come home as usual after closing up a service station where he worked. His worried parents started a search, which ended in the early morning hours with the father finding his son's beaten and bruised body in the back seat of a parked car. He had been dead for some time. Just imagine the shock and sorrow of his parents!
At the inquest the brokenhearted parents learned that Jim had joined a couple of the hometown boys and a couple from a neighboring town. After they had purchased and consumed liquor, a fight ensued between the local boys and the out-of-towners. Apparently someone knocked Jim down, ran into him with a car, and then placed his body in the back seat of the car where it was later found. The parents also learned that this was only the third time he had ever been drinking. He never dreamed that taking his first drink would lead to his untimely death.
We could talk on and on and give statistics, facts, and figures to show that experiences similar to those I have related are happening by the hundreds and thousands. It is estimated that 60 percent of our adult population in the United States today consumes some quantity of liquor. There are some outstanding executives, business and professional men, who are very successful and highly regarded, and for whom I have great respect, who indulge in the use of liquor in some degree.
I know too that their using alcohol will influence many of our youth to become social drinkers. It saddens me, however, to know that out of every 15 of them, one will become an alcoholic. One's heart always goes out to a neighbor or friend and his family who have to endure the miseries of alcoholism.
I am convinced that our youth do not want to be bad. They do not set out to be alcoholics, nor to be drug addicts, nor to suffer and die with cancer of the lungs or some other pulmonary disease.
However, they see people drinking all around them-men and women who are leading citizens. They see it in their homes with no evident ill effects. They see it advertised in all the popular magazines, in the daily press, on every television set, in many movies, and on the billboards; and they hear it over radio. Yes, and these advertisements are shown with well-dressed, healthy-looking, successful businessmen, with big cars and fine offices, with young men and women engaged in all kinds of sports, attending socials where people are standing around with a cigarette in one hand and a glass in the other, all seeming to have a good time.
How can our youth resist without our help? These high-power advertising media never show a man or woman nursing a bad headache the morning after, nor do they show the crumpled cars, the mangled bodies, or the broken homes, or men lying in the gutter. Nor do they show a man facing a doctor who has just told him that he has cancer of the throat or lungs, or patients in a hospital being fed with a tube through the nostril because they cannot swallow.
I am sure that many will say, "Why all this gory stuff?" No, I have omitted much of the gory stuff, the many, many really sad and heartbreaking experiences happening to families every day. We must face the facts; we must do our part.
I have read with interest Dr. William Terhune's ten commandments on how to lessen the chance that we will become alcoholics. The last two of them are:
"Never take a drink to escape discomfort, either physical or mental," and "never take a drink in the morning, thinking it will offset a hangover."
I should like to submit one commandment as a substitute for his ten which would be much more effective, and that is: "Never take a drink." Alcoholism is one disease which no one needs to have. The only sure way to be free of it is to never take a drink.
On behalf of the First Presidency, and with their approval, I appeal to every member of the Church to keep the Word of Wisdom strictly, and to all responsible citizens to accept their responsibilities, to guard and protect our youth against the evils and designs of conspiring men who are determined by every available means to lead them to destruction. We cannot stand by and let our youth be destroyed because of our neglect. We must lead them not into temptation, but deliver them from evil.
There are those who argue that in the interests of tourism, liquor should be made more easily available. Surely every mother, father, and worthy citizen can see the folly of this and what it would do to our youth. We must not sell our heritage for a mess of pottage. There are better ways to encourage tourists.
I cannot imagine any father or neighbor wanting to contribute in any way to his or his neighbor's boy's becoming an alcoholic in order to get tourists into our area. Example is the greatest of all teachers. In the interests of our youth, I pray that we may all heed the warning of the Lord that alcohol is not good for man. We must take a stand against liquor by the drink and any and every other move that would make liquor more easily available.
It is the responsibility of every citizen and in the best interests of our youth and our future to see that enforceable restrictive legislation is enacted and enforced to keep our youth from this pernicious practice.
It is my testimony to all that those who heed the words of the Lord spoken through a prophet, and who keep his commandments, "shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint." And the lord has promised "that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them."
With the testimony I have that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of us all, and that they are interested in our welfare, I humbly pray that the Spirit and blessings of the lord will help us to do all in our power to protect our youth against the evils and designs that do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men, that we may lead them not into temptation but deliver them from evil, for his is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Elder Marion G. Romney
Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 113-116
My beloved brothers and sisters and friends, I have chosen to speak a few words this morning about the Lord's way to temporal salvation. I pray that you will join with me in a prayer, particularly you who do not belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, because what I say will not mean anything to you unless you have the Spirit of the Lord or desire it; but heard and obeyed, these words will bring you peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come.
Recently, after reviewing the frustrations encountered in our search for permanent peace, an editorial in the U.S. News and World Report concluded with these words: "Basically, there is only one permanence we can all accept. It is the permanence of a God-governed world. For the power of God is alone permanent. Obedience to His laws is the road to a lasting solution of man's problems."
This is a true and commendable statement as far as it goes. It would be more enlightening, however, if it contained a definitive statement of the specific laws of God which, if obeyed, would bring "a lasting solution of man's problems" and thereby establish permanent peace.
In these remarks I shall identify the first of these laws and consider with you the importance of understanding and obeying them.
I can think of no more important theme, because if men are not speedily brought to understand these basic laws and obey them, our civilization will terminate in ruin. The scriptures, history, and current events all testify to this lamentable conclusion.
I call your attention to the following quotations from the scriptures: Isaiah, envisioning our day, declared: "The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled..." And then, as if in retrospect, he lamented: "Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left."
The resurrected Savior himself said: "... it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that... whosoever will not repent and come unto my Beloved Son, them will I cut off from among my people...
"And I will execute vengeance and fury upon them... such as they have not heard."
As late as 1832, the Lord declared through the Prophet Joseph Smith: "... I, the Almighty, have laid my hands upon the nations, to scourge them for their wickedness.
"And plagues shall go forth, and they shall not be taken from the earth
"... Until all shall know me, who remain, even from the least unto the greatest."
President George Albert Smith, speaking from this stand in 1950, said: "It will not be long until calamities will overtake the human family unless there is speedy repentance. It will not be long before those who are scattered over the face of the earth by millions will die like flies because of what will come."
President McKay, in October conference 1964, added: "Men may yearn for peace, cry for peace, and work for peace, but there will be no peace until they follow the path pointed out by the Living Christ."
As to the teachings of history, Dr. John Lord says: "The world has witnessed many powerful empires, empires which have passed away, and left 'not a rack behind'. What remains of the antediluvian world? not even a spike of Noah's Ark... What remains of Nineveh, of Babylon, of Thebes, of Tyre, of Carthage-those great centers of wealth and power? What remains of Roman greatness... What is the simple story of all the ages?" Then he answers: "... industry, wealth, corruption, decay, and ruin. What conservative power has been strong enough to arrest the ruin of the nations of antiquity?" he concludes.
The answer is obvious. No conservative power, which the nations of antiquity would apply, was strong enough to arrest their ruin.
I am persuaded that today we are treading the path those nations trod. We have been industrious. We have become wealthy. We are going through a period of corruption and decay. Around the corner we shall encounter ruin if we continue our present course.
Admittedly, this is not an inspiring forecast. I make it not because I like it but because I know that it is true, that it is imperative that we face it and do something about it. I make it also for the reason that I know that there is something we can do about it. I further know that for us there is, as there was for the nations of antiquity, but one way in which we can obtain the wisdom to solve our problems and avert the impending ruin. And that way is to learn and implement the laws which the Lord himself has prescribed to guide men through to an inspired solution of their problems, to permanent peace. This way he has revealed.
He revealed it first to Adam. He taught and exemplified it while he was in the flesh. Peter announced the cornerstone of it when to the rulers of the Jews, who demanded of him and John to know "by what power, or by what name" they had healed the lame man, he said:
"... by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth... doth this man stand here before you whole.
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Believers associate this scripture with salvation beyond the grave, and properly so. My message to you today, however, is that it applies with equal force to men's temporal affairs.
The first step in that way is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
"... if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins," he said.
But, it is said, "If belief in Christ is the way, why is peace so elusive in the western world where people profess belief in Christ?" The answer is simple: Professing is not enough. Men must accept him for what he in fact is-the very Son of God, man's Redeemer. They must have sufficient faith in him to take upon themselves his name in the manner he prescribed. Specifically, the believer must repent of his sins-that is, bring his conduct in harmony with Christ's teachings; enter into a covenant with God, that he is willing to take upon himself the name of Jesus Christ and always remember him and keep his commandments at all times and in all things and in all places. This covenant he must solemnize by being baptized.
All who, through faith in Christ, conform with these requirements receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The foregoing-faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost-are the laws of God which men must obey in order to obtain permanent peace.
When men do obey them, they receive two things that enable them to solve their problems: a change of heart, and divine guidance. To receive the Holy Ghost is to be born of the Spirit in the context of Christ's statement to Nicodemus that except a man be born of the spirit as well as of the water, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
The function of the Holy Ghost is to guide men in the way of truth and peace. Jesus referred to him as "the Spirit of truth" when he said to his disciples: "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth... and he will shew you things to come."
The Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit, the third member of the Trinity. His wisdom, like God's, is infinite. To receive his companionship is to be led into all truth." People who walk in the light of his guidance act with an unerring certitude; they do not get into the troubles the world is in today.
The above outlined procedure was well-known and followed in the apostolic church. When the Pentecostal crowd, moved by the apostles' powerful witness, cried out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter's ready answer was, "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."
And when Paul found certain baptized disciples who had not heard about the Holy Ghost, he taught them the true doctrine of Christ, and then he baptized them again, this time "in the name of the Lord Jesus.
"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."
Because men, during the dark ages, strayed from these ordinances and broke their covenants, they lost the gift of the Holy Ghost. In doing so they lost the true understanding of these plain and simple teachings of the gospel of Christ, including the guidance of the Holy Ghost. Since then men have been and now are walking in darkness of their own wisdom.
This they need not do any longer, because the true gospel with all its pristine simplicity and power has been restored.
"... knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth", the Lord, beginning in 1820, again revealed it. In 1830 he organized his Church, which he later named The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He endowed it with his priesthood and charged the bearers thereof to teach his gospel and administer its saving ordinances, including baptizing by immersion for the remission of sins and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
During the restoration, the Lord revealed the principles and procedures which, if implemented, would solve all the problems which so disturb the peoples of the earth today-economic problems, moral problems, social problems, and political problems.
In restoring the gift of the Holy Ghost, he made available the power which so transforms the nature of men that they desire to and do implement these revealed principles and practices.
I testify to you that this power is in the earth, that the authority to confer it upon all who will qualify for it is here.
I plead with you, every one of you, not to dismiss lightly this message. That it be known, understood, and accepted is of such urgency that God himself, with his divine Son, made a visit to this earth in this dispensation, and sent other heavenly beings, to reveal it for our temporal as well as for our spiritual salvation.
And so I repeat and testify to you that the "road to a lasting solution of men's problems is for men to take upon themselves the name of Christ, in the manner prescribed by him. And I further testify that the way one can do this is to have faith in Christ, repent and be baptized by immersion, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost at the hands of a duly authorized member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I am aware that to some this may appear to be a presumptuous statement, but it must be made because it is true, and we who know that it is true are under obligation to declare it.
"The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."
He purposes that the earth shall rest and that its inhabitants shall dwell in peace. Such a glorious day approaches. It is even now at our doors. The righteousness which will bring it in and sustain it shall come in one of two ways: as a result of the predicted destruction of the wicked, or by men's repenting and taking upon themselves in the prescribed manner the name of Jesus Christ, "the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men."
God grant men repentance, and give to us who bear this witness strength to match our responsibility, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Robert L. Simpson
Robert L. Simpson, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 117-119
One evening recently a faithful and wonderful Mutual teacher of high school age girls stood to present a carefully prepared lesson when suddenly she was prompted to forego the regular lesson and discuss the tragedy of immorality. About halfway through the lesson, impatient horn-honking was heard from the church parking lot. Finally it stopped, and the car with its youthful male occupant sped away. Following the inspirational discussion in the classroom, one tearful but grateful young lady lingered after the others had departed to confide in her leader that the honking had been for her. Then she said: "I had decided that tonight was going to be the biggest night of my life, and that horn toot was the signal that all of the arrangements were complete, and he was waiting. What you said and how you said it has saved me from the most serious mistake of my life, and I shall never forget it."
Just six and one-half years ago, Bishop Brown and I listened intently as President McKay issued a most vital challenge to a new Presiding Bishop of the Church. Among other things, Bishop Vandenberg was told about his prime responsibility for thousands of young men throughout the world. Then came a most explicit direction from the lips of a living prophet: "Bishop," he said, "your concern must be just as great for the girls of corresponding ages."
In the spirit of this firm but kindly direction of six and one-half years ago, I choose to talk frankly with the girls-those young women who listen today, with stars in their eyes, great hope in their hearts, but in far too many cases, uncertain minds in a fast-moving, impatient, and ever-changing society. I approach my subject with a fervent prayer in my heart, a prayer that you girls will consider my intrusion into your private world of hopes, dreams, and aspirations in a kindly way, that you will welcome me as a friend, deeply concerned for your happiness, anxious for your well-being. Yes, I also have concern for that eternal but elusive hope of fulfillment that floods the heart of every normal young woman as her thoughts turn to things tender, things loving, and things spiritual; yes, tender thoughts about possible motherhood, loving thoughts about loyal and eternal companionship, spiritual thoughts about a sacred commission given only to the daughters of a kind and loving Heavenly Father. You received this commission personally from Heavenly Father upon leaving his presence not too many years ago.
Once I heard a girl say, "What's the use? What am I good for?" Well, one mighty important point would be that you are here by assignment from your Heavenly Father to prove yourself worthy of his ultimate blessing. In his own words: "... we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them." In this passage of scripture, Heavenly Father talks about passing a test in order to come to this earth. This you have done. You have already demonstrated your ability to excel. Then, in referring to our performance in this life, he makes the wonderful promise that all who prove obedient "shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever."
God's house is a house of order, and you exist by personal and direct commission as part of that order and plan. Is it important to you that you are created in his image? "... God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." How fortunate you are to know and understand this simple truth. Relatively few in the world accept it. Your every thought and action should be on a higher plane just in the knowledge that you are a part of him, that God personally fathered your spirit, that in you is a spark of divinity; and with it comes the power to reason and to think, to achieve dominion and eternal glory, but it can only happen on his terms, on his terms of righteousness.
"What's the use? What am I good for?" Why, young lady, without you and others like you, life would stop, and the very foundation of God's master plan would be frustrated.
Can any young woman remain unmoved in the thought that within her is the potential of creation, of providing earthly bodies for spirits previously created by him? No mortal has honor greater than this. Yours is a possible partnership with Heavenly Father in perpetuating the process of life. The very thought is overwhelming. The decision to participate with him demands the best that is in you. It must be premeditated, planned, never by impulse. This sacred process requires worthiness.
Just the other day our family purchased a new radio. We were all anxious to try it out when a member of the family called attention to the bold print on the attached booklet, which read: "Before playing your radio, read this instruction book carefully." The first thing we found out was that if it had been plugged into an improper power source, costly damages would have resulted. Several other facts were revealed that proved important to the successful operation, preservation, and enjoyment of the instrument.
Vital instructions pertaining to your life have been given through a long line of prophets. These instructions must be understood and carried out if you are to enjoy happiness and success. Is human life less important than a $40.00 radio? You must know the rules if you are going to play the game. If you want a particular blessing, you must be willing to abide the law upon which that blessing is predicated.
It was never intended that we spend our time groping in the dark. The prophets have provided us with the greatest handbook of instructions ever published. In the scriptures we find the guidelines, the rules of life, the answer to every problem. It is recorded that "where there is no vision, the people perish."
How is your vision, girls? Is vision possible without knowledge? Can you really expect to do well in any game without knowing the rules of that game and then following those rules to the best of your ability? May I invite you to know God's will concerning you.
If you are to be faced with the sacred obligation of someday providing bodies for God's spirit children, it seems to me that your personal health habits should be just as perfect as you can make them. Liquor and tobacco have been forbidden by the Lord. President Tanner made that very clear to us this morning. We are all expected to eat proper food, to rest adequately, to work vigorously. Partaking of those barriers to good health and a sound mind just for the sake of social acceptance, while turning your back on an obligation to be physically prepared for a divine partnership, is to my way of thinking inexcusable.
Allow me to share with you just one brief example of how important it is. Did you know, young ladies, that a recent survey revealed that the incident of stillborn children among premature births is 400 percent higher among smoking mothers? That is right, girls-400 percent higher. No wonder God has declared: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
"If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." In reality, it is we who destroy ourselves by ignoring his counsel.
"Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord." This is God's equation for exaltation. It is just as true as 2 + 2 = 4. It is an eternal truth. It is unchangeable.
Everyone talks about the new morality. Any departure from God's moral code is unapproved in his sight. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His plan for our happiness is no different. It too is unchangeable. Of this premise, there may be a new immorality advocated by deceitful men, but there can never be a new morality. Only the adversary has a vacillating, ever-changing program always geared to trap the uninformed, the misled, those who choose to run the risk of questionable company.
Oh, youth of the noble birthright, don't give yourselves to the father of all lies-that deceitful one who would consider your downfall as a major victory. Don't be impatient.
Speaking of impatience, a faithful young lady in Southern California had this perplexing problem just last year. Jim was leaving for Vietnam immediately. He was pushing for marriage before his departure but had to overcome a particular problem before he could offer her the kind of marriage she had always dreamed of. She did love him. She did want to marry him, but her wonderful parents were insistent that the three-month courtship had scarcely been long enough to really know. Finally, the decision was made to wait.
Their correspondence during the ensuing 12 months while he was in Vietnam was on a very high plane. Their love grew. Each discovered an ability to discuss things in letters that had found no place in their lighter conversation during a date. Now he has returned. I am happy to report their love for one another has been sealed in the House of the Lord, and before this year is finished, their first little one will be a reality, and another wonderful family unit is well on its way to exaltation and eternal life.
Young ladies, the highway of disillusionment is teeming with girls who said, "Just this once," or "Everybody else does it." Do these phrases sound familiar? Another favorite trap sounds like this: "You would if you really loved me." Just imagine the irony of giving up all that is good, all that is truth, all that is sacred, including the trust and faith of loved ones and Church leaders, plus your own good name and personal dignity, just on the basis of a smooth talker who feigns love with his lips but wants only to use you for a few minutes of selfish lust and animal gratification. Girls, you stay sweet. If you've made a mistake, correct it. It will be about the best decision that you will ever make. The Lord stands ready to help, for we have his word: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any... hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
But please remember, you must make the first move. It is you who must open the door. He will be there and very likely in the form of a faithful teacher who feels prompted to change her prepared lesson. It could be you who will say in return, "Thanks. What you said and how you said it has saved me from the most serious mistake of my life, and I shall never forget it." God loves you wonderful girls. Don't you let him down. You have a special function to perform with God as your partner. Be worthy of that privilege. And this final thought, girls: the priesthood cannot achieve its ultimate destiny without a faithful female companion. No girl will ever achieve her ultimate destiny without a worthy priesthood companion at the head of her home. May this be your undeviating goal, I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder LeGrand Richards
LeGrand Richards, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 120-123
Brethren and sisters, I rejoice in the privilege of attending this great conference with you and listening to the testimonies of my brethren and hearing the counsel and the advice they have given. I would that all of our Father's children the world over would not only listen in but would also obey their counsel and their advice; this then would be a better world in which to live. In your presence this morning I want to express my love for my Father in heaven and for his Son Jesus Christ, and for his great atoning sacrifice, and for the great honor that is mine to be one of his witnesses in the earth, and I thank you Latter-day Saints for your love and your kindness to me.
The story is told that there was a new minister who moved into the community where Thomas Carlisle lived, and he went to the office of Carlisle and asked this question: "What do the people of this community need more than anything else?" And Carlisle's answer was: "They need a man who knows God other than by hearsay."
You know, I have thought a lot about that. I think what this world needs today more than anything else is to know God other than by hearsay, to know why he created this earth and why we are here, where we are going, and how to get there, so that we will know what life is really for. I have come to feel that one of the greatest necessities even in this Church is that we have a strong testimony, the power of conviction. As I read the holy scriptures, it seems to me they make it very plain that we, his children, through obedience can know God other than by hearsay. Jesus said:
"... My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."
This is a promise to all men, and this promise is just as binding today as when Jesus spoke it: if we will do the will of the Father, we may know other than by hearsay that his message is from God, the Eternal Father.
Then you will remember, he said:
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
This is a promise that we might know him, or at least it infers that we might know him other than by hearsay.
You remember that when Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, he indicated that he knew he was a prophet sent of God, for no man did the things that he did save God was with him. Then after he had explained to Nicodemus, as Brother Romney made plain today, the message of baptism-to take upon him the name of Christ-Nicodemus could not understand him, and Jesus said, after repeating it: "Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?" He said: "We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness." Every true servant of God who is sent in his name to administer the holy ordinances of the gospel speaks that he does know, and testifies that he has seen, as our brethren here in this conference have done during the past two days.
Now, that is the strength of this Church. Years ago, when our missionaries were being severely persecuted in England, the English government sent a representative to Utah to study our people. They wanted to know what it was that caused the Church to keep sending its missionaries there when they were being so persecuted. After that individual had spent some time in our midst, he returned to his native land and told them that the black secret of Mormonism was the fact that each member knew he had the truth. Now, isn't that what we ought to have? Isn't that just what Jesus
promised-that if you will do the will of the Father, you "shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself"?
A few years ago a group of ministers were passing through Salt Lake en route to Los Angeles to attend a ministerial convention. They stopped over in Salt Lake City. They wanted to ask some questions about our teachings, and arrangements were made for them to meet one of the Twelve in the conference room in the Church Office Building. Alter that member had answered their questions, he bore his solemn witness that he knew that Jesus was the Christ, that Joseph Smith was his prophet, that the Book of Mormon was true. He knew it other than by hearsay. Then, when he closed his testimony, he turned to those ministers and said, "Which one of you can testify that you know that you have the truth?" After a brief pause, the leader of the group said, "Well, we hope we are right."
When I was a missionary over in Holland, in the city of Utrecht, there was a seminary where young men were trained for the ministry. They used to come and attend our meetings, and then they would remain afterwards and discuss religious principles with us. I haven't time to go into detail, but one night I proved to one of those young men that they were not teaching the principles of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and he turned to me and said: "Do you think the Lord will hold us responsible for teaching things that we know are not fully in accord with the scriptures?"
I said that I would rather let the apostle Paul answer that question, for Paul said, "... though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Brothers and sisters, we have God's eternal truth, and I thank him for it.
I would just like to remind you now of the experience of the apostle Paul. You will remember how he persecuted the saints, and then on the way to Damascus for the same purpose, a light appeared brighter than the noonday sun, and those who were with him all fell to the earth, and a voice from heaven said, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard... to kick against the pricks." And Saul said, "Who art thou, Lord?" "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." Then we follow Paul's great ministry, as described by the Savior, and he was persecuted as no others of the brethren were. He was flayed and stoned; then he stood before the great governor Festus and King Agrippa, in bonds, and they desired to hear from Paul.
There Paul related his marvelous experience, for he knew other than by hearsay that Jesus was the Christ. When he had finished his testimony, Festus said: "Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad," to which Paul replied: "I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness." And then Agrippa replied: "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." And then you remember that Paul said, "I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds."
There is another great story that all the world ought to know that is comparable to the one I have just related of the apostle Paul, and that is the story of Joseph Smith, who in his youth saw the confusion in his community and knew not which church he should join. Then he read the words of James:
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
Joseph said that he realized that if any man needed wisdom, he did, and he went into the woods to pray. And just like that glorious light that shone over Paul, brighter than the noonday sun, after Joseph had had the powers of darkness fall upon him until he felt like his very life would be crushed from his body, a light appeared to him brighter than the noonday sun. God was repeating in substance an experience such as Paul had to usher in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times. He saw in that light two glorious messengers, the Father and his Son. He was told by Jesus that he should join none of the churches, because they all taught for doctrine the commandments of men. Later he bore his testimony, and he said he felt like Paul of old. He could not understand why people would persecute him for telling the truth. You know, he was in prison some thirty times, and he finally sealed his testimony with his blood. He said he knew that he had seen a vision; he knew that God knew it; and he dared not deny it, because he knew that by so doing he would offend God and come under his condemnation.
I would like to say to all those who are within the sound of my voice this day, and who are not members of this Church and do not know the truth of this testimony other than by hearsay: I promise you, as one of his apostles of this dispensation, that if you will study his message and ask God, the Eternal Father, he will manifest the truth of this unto you, and it will be worth more to you than all else in this world.
I was back in Washington, D.C., holding a conference a few years ago, and we had over 2,000 present in that building. We heard from the stake president, a multi-millionaire. He stood before those people and told them that the greatest thing he had and owned in all this world was his witness that this is the truth and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. The next man we called may be sitting in this audience. He was the head of one of the government organizations in Washington. He bore the same testimony.
Then we called a president of a great university, and he bore the same testimony.
Then we called a new convert, a young mother with two children, and she stood there and told them that when the missionaries came to her home, they read to her the promise in the Book of Mormon that if she would read it and ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ the Lord, he would manifest the truth of that book unto her by the power of the Holy Ghost. She said she got down on her knees and asked God if it were true, and then she read it, and she said her whole soul was illumined.
Then we called on a returned missionary who had just spent three years in the mission field at his own expense or that of his family. I had talked with him before the meeting and said, "Did you feel like the time you spent in the mission field was a waste of time, that you should have been home getting your schooling and getting ready to, marry?" "Oh," he said, "Bishop, if the brethren want to make me happy, just let them load me on a plane in the morning, and send me back to the Argentine."
Then I said to that great audience of over 2,000: "Which one of you, if called upon, could come and occupy this pulpit and testify that you know beyond any shadow of doubt that this work is divine, that it is the work of God, the Eternal Father, that Jesus is the Christ, and that Joseph Smith was his prophet?" As far as I could tell, there wasn't one hand that didn't go up.
If I were to ask that same question here today, there wouldn't be a hand in these 10,000 present that wouldn't go up and bear witness that God has manifest the truth of this work unto them other than by hearsay, just as when Jesus said to his disciples: "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
"And they said, some say that thou art... one of the prophets.
"... But whom say ye that I am?"
And Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
And then Jesus said, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."
By that same power we know other than by hearsay that this work is divine, and that is my witness to you this day in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 123-126
Two thousand years ago the Son of Man was born into a world like ours-asunder. Sixty-three years had passed since Roman legions under Pompey had conquered Palestine and taken Jerusalem. The helmets, broadswords, and eagles of the Roman legionary were everywhere to be seen. The oppressive yoke of the Caesars was universally felt.
Deep in the depths of human hearts there dwelt a longing, even a yearning, for the advent of the promised Messiah. When will he come? This was the unanswered question on the lips of the righteous.
Generations had lived and died since the Prophet Isaiah had declared: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son". "... the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
With such a promise ringing in his ears, can you and I appreciate the supreme joy and overwhelming exultation that coursed through one called Philip when he heard the Savior of the world speak unto him those immortal words, that divine injunction, "Follow me"? The dawn of promise had dispelled the night of despair. The King of kings, the Lord of lords had come.
Such knowledge could not be hidden, nor could Philip of Bethsaida keep to himself such glad tidings. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
"And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see."
Shall we, too, join Nathanael? Come and see.
Can any good come out of Nazareth?
Could Nazareth be so honored? Nazareth, the most disregarded valley in a despised province of a conquered land?
Nazareth, just 80 miles from Jerusalem, was situated on the main trade route that ran from Damascus through the Galilean cities to the Mediterranean coast at Acre. This, however, was not to be the village's claim to fame. Nor was its glory to be found in the beauty of its environs. Nazareth was the scene of more lasting events and profound consequence than routes of trade or landscapes of beauty.
To a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, came the Angel Gabriel, sent from God. To a virgin whose name was Mary, he declared, "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
"And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
"He... shall be called the Son of... God".
After the birth of the Christ Child, and following the flight into Egypt, the sacred record reveals, "And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene."
In Nazareth, the boy Jesus grew "in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."
From Nazareth came he who made blind men see, lame beggars walk-even the dead live. He set before us an example to emulate. He lived the perfect life. He taught the glad tidings which changed the world. Let us examine more closely and individually these epochal events, that we may know for ourselves if any good thing came out of Nazareth.
First let us turn to him of whom Jesus himself spoke: "Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist". John, "the Baptist," stands forth like a colossus from the bleakness and confusion-the "wilderness" of his own age. Knowing that one "mightier than he" was coming, he threw himself with superhuman fervor into the task of "making straight the way." His was the agony, and the distinction, of being both an end and a beginning.
Astride the watershed of time, he could look back on a long line of prophets-his spiritual forebears. Letting his eye range over the fertile plains ahead, he was the first to see that Light to which he would bear witness.
"And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan."
"And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
"... he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
"And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God."
From Nazareth came the perfect one to be baptized-an example for all.
Second, let us turn to Judea and examine the testimony of one who was born blind-him for whom it was always night. No day-just night. But let him provide his own account-how darkness was turned to light. Astonished neighbors, noting his newly acquired vision, asked: "Is not this he that sat and begged?...
"... others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
"Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
"... A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight."
When the disbelievers urged, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner, he rejoined: "Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see."
From Nazareth came sight.
Next, let us journey to Bethesda to inquire of him who now walks, but who for 38 long years walked not. "When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?" The impotent man's reply of frustration, mingled with hope, was met with the gentle, yet divine command, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."
From Nazareth to a withered body came new strength.
Jesus of Nazareth restored sight, removed lameness, but could it be true that he raised the dead to life?
In Capernaum, Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came to the Master, saying, "My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live." Then came the news from the ruler's house, "Thy daughter is dead," to which the Christ replied: "Be not afraid, only believe." He came to the house, passed by the mourners and said to them, "Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth."
And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
"And straightway the damsel arose, and walked... And they were astonished."
From Nazareth came life where once there was death. And with that miracle came the perfect pattern whereby our own lives may be made fruitful: "Be not afraid, only believe."
Out of Nazareth and down through the generations of time come his excellent example, his welcome words, his divine deeds.
They inspire patience to endure affliction, strength to bear grief, courage to face death, and confidence to meet life. In this world of chaos, of trial, of uncertainty, never has our need for such divine guidance been more desperate.
Lessons from Nazareth, Capernaum, Jerusalem, and Galilee transcend the barriers of distance, the passage of time, the limits of understanding, and bring to troubled hearts a light and a way.
With sorrow we read each day of young men and those not so young who bravely die, who give their all upon the altar of freedom.
In a hurried moment, one such took in hand a stubby pencil, a scrap of paper, and wrote to anxious love, "Soon we go into battle. The enemy is well fortified; loss of life will be heavy. Mom, I hope I live, but I'm not afraid to die, for I'm square with God."
Mother received the precious note. On the same day another message arrived. "We regret to inform you that your son has been killed in action."
Friends visited, loved ones comforted, but peace came only from him who called Nazareth his home.
All battles are not fought in far-away places with strange sounding names. Nor do the participants bear arms, hurl grenades, or drop bombs.
A few months past I witnessed such a conflict-not in the steaming jungles of Vietnam, but on the fourth floor of the Los Angeles Orthopedic Hospital. There were no shrill sounds of mortar fire to be heard, no disarray of men and equipment to be seen. Yet a life or death struggle was in progress. Happy, handsome Paul Van Dusen, age 15, had just lost the first skirmish with the dreaded foe called cancer.
Paul loved life. He excelled in sports. He and his parents hoped, then prayed, that the doctors' fears would not be confirmed-that his precious right leg would not be amputated. Shattered and stunned, they accepted the sad news. To save his life, he must lose his leg.
The surgery completed, Paul rested. Entering the room, I was attracted immediately by his cheerful and infectious grin. He breathed hope. He emanated goodness.
The crisp, white sheet lay noticeably flat where once there was a leg. Flowers from friends bedecked his bedside. Parents, grateful for his life, stood close by.
I noticed a cord strung along the exercise bar stretching the length of the bed. Gaily colored cards covered the entire span. Paul invited me to read them. One carried the message: "We love you, Paul. We're praying for you." It was signed by members of his Sunday School class. Another expressed the wish, "May you get well soon. We think you're great." This from his schoolmates at high school. Still another from home teachers had the inscription, "May God bless, you. Tomorrow we'll visit you again."
What did the Carpenter from Nazareth say of such? "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my, brethren, ye have done it unto me."
The spirit of prayer came easy that day. A perfect peace filled the room. Smiles of confidence crept across lips moist with tears. From distant Capernaum we seemed to hear the echo, "Be not afraid, only believe." Then Paul said, "I'll be all right."
Today Paul Van Dusen is in attendance at this session of conference in this historic Tabernacle. Today he walks, runs, hikes, and swims. An artificial limb makes this possible. But behind it all one sees a faith-filled heart and a countenance that reflects gratitude. Faith in whom? Gratitude for what?
"Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King! Triumphant over death, Life thou didst bring. Leaving thy Father's throne, On earth to live, Thy work to do alone, Thy life to give."
Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?
From Nazareth came example. From Nazareth came sight. From Nazareth came strength. From Nazareth came life. From Nazareth came faith. From Nazareth came peace. From Nazareth came courage. From Nazareth came Christ.
To him Nathanael declared, "... thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel." To you I testify, he is Lord of lords, King of kings, Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer-Jesus Christ of Nazareth. There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. May we live his teachings, may we emulate his example, may we follow in his footsteps to life eternal, I pray humbly, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, the Lord.
Elder Harold B. Lee
Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 128-132
For some reason I have had occasion to recall an experience I had in this Tabernacle several years ago when I presided over an afternoon session of the Pioneer Stake conference. Our visitor was President Brigham H. Roberts of the First Council of the Seventy. Brother Roberts had just come out of the hospital, where he had undergone a severe and painful operation that resulted in the amputation of part of his foot. When I asked him if he felt up to speaking in the Tabernacle, which is always an extra pressure, as 40 or more of us here today can testify, he said after some thought, "I understand there is an official Church stenographer to take down the sermons delivered there. I have a feeling that some of our members are following the philosophies of the world and are in danger of slipping from their moorings in the fundamental doctrines as taught by our early leaders. I have felt that there are a few things I would like to speak where they can be recorded, things which might be read after I am gone."
Now you can understand how I felt about that stake conference session, to listen to this message that he was addressing to me and to all of my generation to be read after he had gone. Somehow what he said on that occasion has come back to me again and again recently, and the Lord willing, I should like to introduce a part of what he said and then add to it some of my own reflections.
He began with a recital of the statements of scientists which indicated a marked trend of so-called knowledge away from a belief in God and to deny the continuance of the universe; and with that, of course, would fall all hope of immortality and eternal life, promised in the revelations of God.
He spoke for about half of the session, and his strength was waning. He turned to the Tabernacle Choir members who were there and asked if they would sing while he recovered some of his strength. After a few moments' rest he then addressed himself to the most glorious part of his whole sermon. He spoke of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ as not merely sweeping away the rubbish of past ages, such as disputations as to the mode of baptism, or how one's sins are remitted, or the various forms of church government. But he impressed the fact that a new dispensation of the gospel had been ushered in, built upon a strong "foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself as the chief corner stone."
Those called to the ministry received two significant instructions by revelation as to how they should be prepared for the ministry to which they were called in this restored Church of Jesus Christ. The doctrines of the kingdom and the ordinances of the temple were instituted, the Lord said, that they might be "instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you."
Then President Roberts read that oft-repeated passage which has been mentioned two or three times in this conference, that teachers of the gospel were to interest themselves in secular learning in all fields. After he had said this, he then quoted another profound statement addressed to all others who "hath not faith." Possibly this meant, in its broadest sense, those who had not yet matured in their religious convictions. This is what the Lord said: "And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith."
Now, with that as the introductory part of what I would wish to say, I would like to address myself to that last thought, "seek learning, even by study and also by faith." This was a call to higher wisdom that had been trumpeted through all the ages by the prophets. The apostle Paul asked this soul-searching question: "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?" and then he declared that most profound statement to all those who would drink more deeply of inspired wisdom than merely the teachings of men: "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."
Said he, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
It was a wise prophet who warned his brethren about being content with the teachings of vain men who hearken not unto the counsels of God. "O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish."
Then this great prophet-teacher put the learning of men and the wisdom of God in their proper relationship when he declared, "But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God."
Fortunately there are great men schooled in worldly learning who attest to the need of a kind of learning that comes beyond secular knowledge. May I illustrate a few.
A letter from Colonel Edward H. White, a national hero who eventually gave his life while engaging in an experiment designed for exploration of outer space, was printed in the local press a few years ago. In answer to an inquiry as to his beliefs in law and order in the universe, he answered in this rather unusual way: "I believe that law and order exist in God's creations, and that God has surely given life to others outside our earth. In our vast universe there are no fewer than billions and billions of solar systems comparable to our own-in dimension and magnitude far beyond the ability of the finite mind to comprehend. 'Out there' could be places where life, similar to our own, perhaps superior or perhaps inferior, may be a reality. We would be rather egotistical to believe that ours is the only life among all those possible sources."
How accurately this man's learning by faith has brought him into full accord with what the Lord declared in a great revelation to his prophet Moses: "And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.
"And the first man of all men have I called Adam, which is many."
Moses was not an astronomer. He tells us that he "beheld the earth, yea, even all of it; and there was not a particle of it which he did not behold, discerning it by the spirit of God."
Colonel White concluded with this declaration of his own, personal faith: "As to evidence of Gods presence during our journey in space and during the short period that 'I walked in space,' I did not feel any nearer to him there than here, but I do know that his sure hand guided us all the way during that four-day mission."
Presumably he is telling us that he was guided by faith in God, which transcended his scientific knowledge.
One of our own great scientists, Dr. Henry Eyring, in the field of physical chemistry, a few years ago wrote an article for one of our Church periodicals under the heading "Myriads of Worlds."
He quotes from a professor-emeritus of astronomy at Harvard University, in which the professor declares that out of the millions of suns, at least one sun in a thousand would have acquired planets, and that of those with planets at least one in a thousand has a planet the right distance for life. And then Dr. Eyring wrote: "Thus one concludes that there should be at the very minimum one hundred million planets in space which could support life, and the number is probably many times more. Thus, from the scientific point of view, it is hard to doubt that there are myriads of worlds suitable for human habitation.
"The mysteries of the universe lead most men to worship the Supreme Intelligence who designed it all."
Then mark you this next statement from Dr. Eyring: "However, the great blessing of the Gospel is the additional avenues it opens up for developing this faith into a perfect knowledge. Now, as always, sure knowledge of spiritual matters can only come by faith, by prayer, and by living in such a way as to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost as is promised to all the faithful."
The great volume of American history known as the Book of Mormon, we are told by the Lord, was translated by the Prophet "through the mercy of God, by the power of God", and "the interpretation thereof by the gift of God."
The Prophet Joseph Smith tells us something of the process by which knowledge by faith may come: "A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow unto the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus."
A similar comment will illustrate the working of the Spirit of God or the light which lightens every person who comes into the world, as a man of science not of the Church would define it. Some years ago in a class of seminary teachers at Brigham Young University, Dr. Edwin D. Starbuck, a University of Iowa professor, remarked that "every great scientific discovery came as an intuition to the mind of the discoverer." When he explained what he meant by intuition, his students said they called it inspiration.
The professor said that a careful search of the records and a contact with great living scientific discoverers made by him "explained that the scientist studies his problem, saturates his mind with it, puzzles over it, dreams about it, but seems to find progress impossible, blocked, as it were, by a black impenetrable wall. Then at last and suddenly as if 'out of the nowhere' comes a flash of light, the answer to his quest. His mind is now illumined by a great discovery." The professor was positive that no great discovery had been made by pure reasoning. Reason would lead to the borderland of the unknown, but it could not tell what was within.
Certainly learning by faith is not an easy road or a lazy means to knowledge. For instance, a prophet tells us there are times when no miracles can be found among the people: "And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust."
And then concerning directly the working of miracles, which of course is an evidence of the wisdom of God working through men, the prophet Nephi declared: "And now it came to pass that according to our record, and we know our record to be true, for behold, it was a just man who did keep the record-for he truly did many miracles in the name of Jesus; and there was not any man who could do a miracle in the name of Jesus save he were cleansed every whit from his iniquity."
Thus, you see, such heavenly gifts of the Spirit are only to be enjoyed by those who have learned by faith and living worthily to receive the right to exercise these divine powers. To one who would be so taught, remember the Lord's command: "Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another."
Our own Prophet who gave us the first revelations of this dispensation said, "We would say to the brethren, seek to know God in your closets, call upon him in the fields. Follow the directions of the Book of Mormon, and pray over, and for your families, your cattle, your flocks, your herds, your corn, and all things that you possess; ask the blessings of God upon all your labors, and everything that you engage in. Be virtuous and pure; be men of integrity and truth; keep the commandments of God; and then you will be able more perfectly to understand the difference between right and wrong-between the things of God and the things of men; and your path will be like that of the just, which shineth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day."
Yes, as our great Tabernacle Choir has just sung, God isn't in the earthquake; he isn't in the whirlwind; he isn't in the fire; but he is in the still, small voice. Always we won't have him in sight, but if we are living as we ought to live, we can always be sure he is there. Some of the most severe taskmasters that the world can know are sometimes beating us into a shape so we can pass such tests as necessary to gain that divine privilege.
I bear you my testimony that the Master, as the apostle Paul spoke of him, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him."
I know this through the refining processes of some severity. May I not fail whatever test the Lord may have to qualify me for the place which I am now occupying. With all my soul and conviction, and knowing the seriousness and import of that testimony, I tell you that I know that he lives. I am conscious of his presence much of the time when I have needed him most; I have known it out of the whisperings of the night, the impressions of the daytime when there were things for which I was responsible and on which I could receive guidance. So I testify to you and tell you that he is closer to the leaders of this Church than you have any idea. Listen to the leaders of this Church and follow their footsteps in righteousness, if you would learn not only by study but also by faith, which testimony I bear most humbly and sincerely in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder ElRay L. Christiansen
ElRay L. Christiansen, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 132-134
Seventy-five years ago yesterday, the magnificent Salt Lake Temple, which stands on this block, was dedicated to the Lord. An indispensable part of the Lord's work and purposes is carried on in holy temples.
Today, it seems to me, more and more people are interested in the temples erected by the Latter-day Saints. Invariably, interested persons ask this question: "Why do you people build these temples?" The answer is, "The Lord commanded that they be built."
There is ample evidence that whenever the higher priesthood has been upon the earth, and when his people have proven their allegiance to his laws and commandments, the Lord has required them to build temples. These temples are dedicated to him and are sacred precincts wherein the Lord may reveal important knowledge essential to the full salvation of his children.
In the words of the Lord, temples are built so "that I may reveal mine ordinances therein unto my people."
Even while the children of Israel traveled through the wilderness, they were commanded to build a portable tabernacle. In it sacred ordinances were administered for the benefit and blessing of the people.
While it is true that ancient Israel did not have the fullness of ordinances as we have today, their similarity, nevertheless, is striking. The magnificent structure built by King Solomon about 1000 B.C., and later the temple known as Jerubabal, and the temple built during the reign of King Herod the Great were erected by great numbers of dedicated people. It is said that after the heavy labor and enormous personal sacrifices involved, the people wept and rejoiced at the completion of these structures.
Throughout their history, the Nephites were a temple-building people. The record states:
"And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land".
Following the pattern of biblical times, the Lord has commanded the Saints of the latter days to erect temples to his name. The first to be completed in this dispensation was dedicated in 1836 at Kirtland, Ohio.
Even though money was scarce, members were few, and persecution was unrelenting, in building the Kirtland Temple the people had the courage to match their faith! Seldom has a people shown greater unity and made greater sacrifices for a common cause than was shown in completing that temple.
Edward Tullidge wrote in 1877:
"With very little capital except brains, bone, and sinew combined with unwavering trust in God, men and women and even children worked with their might... all living as abstemiously as possible so every cent might be appropriated to the grand object, while their energies were stimulated by the prospect of participating in the blessing of a house built under the direction of the Most High and accepted by Him."
Evidently the Kirtland Temple was not designed structurally for such ordinances as baptisms or endowments for the dead, but rather as an appropriate place in which certain of those chosen for the work in the ministry were endowed with essential blessings, keys, and power from on high. In it the Savior appeared in person to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, and he accepted it as his house. This glorious vision was followed by personal visitations of Moses, Elias, and Elijah, who appeared in succession, and each one of them committed the keys of this dispensation, which he rightfully held, into the hands of the Prophet Joseph Smith, saying: "Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors."
Can we realize fully the significance of these personal visitations and of having the keys of this dispensation committed into the hands of those chosen men? But think of it: These same keys, all of them, are vested in the prophet of this day-our beloved President David O. McKay!
Less than two years after the temple was completed, the Saints were forced to leave Kirtland, and only three years later the Lord called upon his people to build in Nauvoo a temple for "The Most High to dwell therein," for he said:
"... there is not a place found on earth that he may come to and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away, even the fulness of the priesthood.
"For a baptismal font there is not upon the earth, that they, my saints, may be baptized for those who are dead-
"For this ordinance belongeth to my house, and cannot be acceptable to me, only in the days of your poverty wherein ye are not able to build a house unto me.
"And verily I say unto you, let this house be built unto my name, that I may reveal mine ordinances therein unto my people;
"For I deign to reveal unto my church things which have been kept hid from them before the foundation of the world, things that pertain to the dispensation of the fulness of times."
Since the restoration of the gospel, the Church has erected 15 temples, 13 of which are now in operation days and evenings, with the volume of work done in them constantly increasing. In fact, in endowments and sealings alone, there were in 1967 nearly one-half million more ordinances administered than in the previous year.
As you know, the sites for two new temples have been selected and the plans are nearing completion. Incidentally, I have learned that without any personal contacts being made, the members of one ward in one of these new temple areas provided in one week more than 130 percent of their share of the suggested financial contribution.
The Latter-day Saints do not build temples merely to be admired for their architectural and structural beauty; neither are they built as places for ordinary worship. Temples are erected and specially dedicated for the express purpose of administering the ordinances of the holy priesthood-all for the edification and endowment of the faithful sons and daughters of God.
Many people, even some in the Church, do not realize that these temple ordinances have come to us by revelation from the Lord, who said: "And I will show unto my servant Joseph all things pertaining to this house, and the priesthood thereof, and the place whereon it shall be built."
These ordinances of the priesthood are administered, and their purpose taught, in what might be termed "closed revelation," that is, they are not revealed to the unprepared world in the ordinary way. Those who enter the temple "hungering and thirsting," as it were, have revealed to them knowledge and understanding of their relationship to God, and they learn what they need to do to gain the greatest gift of God-eternal life and exaltation with their loved ones. Thus, one might in reverence refer to the temple as the "university of the Lord." And because God is just, the temple ordinances are administered not only for the living but also by proxy for their deceased relatives.
All who live or who have lived in mortality will, through the power of the Redeemer, be resurrected in due time. All will live forever! All will receive some degree of salvation, if the right to it has not been forfeited. But those who receive the ordinances of the endowment and are properly sealed or married and who keep the covenants they made with the Lord are promised by him that "these are they who shall have part in the first resurrection.
"These are they who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just.
"These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all".
Thus, the temple ordinances give the promise of eternal intellectual growth and development, of endless blessings, and of continued association with those we love.
I testify that the ordinances administered in the temple are divinely given, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder A. Theodore Tuttle
A. Theodore Tuttle, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 134-137
My dear brethren and sisters:
An English teacher at Ricks College returned a composition to a young man with this comment, "This is poetic and lovely-largely because of evident sincerity. Please give it to your dad." While it has more value for young people, its message is helpful to parents as well. May I share his thoughtful reflections with you?
Love Lost
"Thinking back on things I thought I used to hate, I at last realize they were the things I loved: The days I earned my pay at a hundred twenty in the shade, And smelled the diesel of a tractor through rising waves of heat;
"Saving newborn calves Wet and freezing from the January wind of an open country, Then watching them frisk when finally they struggled through for good.
"I wish I could go back to change those things Which robbed me of a parent's pride, To love those things I once despised... I'd love school and church and idle moments. ... But most of all I'd love my dad."
I wanted to share this especially with the youth of the Church-you who are struggling to find yourselves; you who want to love your dad and give expression to this yearning but who do not quite know how; you who are a bit rebellious when counseled or restrained.
Can you learn a lesson from one of your peers in the thoughts just quoted? Ale you missing the opportunity of bringing joy to your parents? Are you robbing yourselves "of a parent's pride"?
Can you who are still at home doing the chores and meeting responsibility and keeping the faith-can you find joy in these experiences and see a little more clearly how fortunate you really are?
The Lord has semaphored from Sinai a great commandment: "Honour thy father and thy mother," and then the Lord included a unique promise, "that thy days may be long upon the land which the lord thy God giveth thee."
Young man, what are your answers to these questions:
1. Is there honor in your home for those who bore you and reared you?
2. Do you show respect and courtesy to your mother by never speaking a disrespectful word?
3. Do you see anything wrong with being obedient to your parents, who are more wise and experienced than you?
4. Are you maintaining the standards of virtue, honesty, and service that you have been taught?
5. Do you willingly accept the necessity of chores you have to do, and realize that by the very nature of chores strength of character and self-discipline develop in you?
6. Do you ever take the initiative to do the obviously necessary jobs around the home?
7. Are you learning to study for yourself and to strive for excellence in your learning?
Young lady, how do you measure up to these questions:
1. Do you carry your share of the household duties?
2. Do you have really good visits with your mother about life and love and things?
3. Do you do something special for your father just to show your love?
4. Do you honor your parents by your modesty of dress and the purity of your life?
5. Are you learning how to manage and care for a home?
6. Are you developing your talents by practice and by sharing?
7. Are you living the laws that will lengthen your days on the land the Lord gave you?
We have been talking about children honoring their parents. I wonder if there is another dimension to this-parents honoring their children. Can you as parents respond to these questions:
1. Can you rise to meet the challenge of teaching and guiding your own?
2. Are you examples of the believers, practicing the virtues of ideal Latter-day Saint parents?
3. Are you overly permissive, and do you allow your children too much freedom for their years?
4. Do you indulge them excessively as to their physical wants and then expect them to be completely circumspect morally? Is there not a great lesson in the wise counsel General Robert E. Lee is said to have given to a mother regarding her son, "Teach him to deny himself"?
5. Do you ask instead of tell your children to do something?
6. When discipline and correction are necessary, do you reaffirm your love by "showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved"?
7. Do you teach your children "to pray and walk uprightly before the Lord," and also to observe "the sabbath day to keep it holy"?
8. Do you read the scriptures in your home and reaffirm the authority of the scriptures in the lives of your children?
9. Do you teach that the foundation of a happy home is laid during pre-marital days in the virtue and purity of youthful lives?
10. Parents, do you know where your children are each night at ten?
11. Do you teach by example and precept that marriage is a sacred and eternal covenant that should be performed in the temple of the Lord?
12. Do you frequently tell your children, individually, that you love them?
Young people, do you know that your parents love you very much? Many of you remember a story told in the first Family Home Evening Manual. It concerned a little girl named Kathy, who asked: "Mother, why am I so stupid? I got lower marks than any of my friends, and I missed more spelling words than anyone else. I am the dumbest girl in the third grade."
When her mother heard this, she put her arm around Kathy, led her to the couch, drew her down beside her, and said, "Kathy, we will help you more at home with your lessons so that you can do better in school. But there are things you can do very well. The fact that you cannot spell means only that you take after your father, but you are not stupid. Remember when you came home and helped me with the children, how they enjoyed having you tend them!"
Kathy said, "Yes, that is because they are my brothers and sisters."
"Yes, but you do it for other children too." And her mother went on to tell Kathy how well she succeeded and helped in the home. Then her mother said, "Kathy, you are very special to us."
"Why am I special, Mother?"
"You are special because you are ours."
As I was relating this story to a group of missionaries, I received an additional insight-I finally understood why God loves us. He loves us because we are his.
He desires that we show the same honor to him that we show to our earthly parents-respect and obedience.
Some years ago I heard an eminent child psychologist speak to a group of parents. She discussed how to establish the proper relationship between parent and child and gave many helpful and practical suggestions. At the close of the lecture she invited questions from the floor. A young mother, evidently bewildered by all she was supposed to do and remember, said, "I have not done many of the things you have suggested, and I am afraid I cannot remember or do all the things that you have said." This master teacher's reply was most comforting. She said, "Do not worry, my dear; if you really love your children, you cannot do anything that will seriously impair their growth and development."
It is one of the salient teachings of this Church that the family is to be perpetuated and perfected in the eternities to come, and that we will enjoy our family relationships there as we do here, if we follow the Lord's plan.
Youth, remember the counsel of the lord. "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the lord thy God giveth thee."
Perhaps we as parents must come to understand and appreciate that the mantle of leadership is not the cloak of comfort but the robe of responsibility. Perhaps we too will come to look back on our entire life as this boy looked on his youthful experiences, and come to know that his composition has meaning for us. I conclude with his words:
"I wish I could go back to change those things Which robbed me of a parent's pride, To love those thing: I once despised... I'd love school and church and idle moments. ... But most of all I'd love my dad."
I bear you my witness that we have a Father in heaven, that he is our Father, that we are his children, and that he loves us very much. I bear you my witness that his Only Begotten Son was sent to this earth to teach us the plan of salvation; that he was to live, to die, to resurrect; that through our repentance and acceptance of the plan of salvation, as taught by this Church, we could come back into the presence of our Father in heaven, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder John Longden
John Longden, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 137-139
In President David O. McKay's key note address at the commencement of this conference, this statement was made: "One supreme wish in my heart is that the spirit of this conference could be felt in every home in this world." I pray for that same influence to permeate the homes of the world.
During this conference, we have again raised our hands to sustain our Prophet, the First Presidency, and other General Authorities of the Church. We have welcomed into this group some new young men, and others have been reassigned, but all for one purpose and with one overriding call-to be personal representatives of Jesus Christ on the earth today.
It's a fair guess to say that throughout the Church today there will be several thousand people, young and old, called to positions of leadership and service in their respective branches, wards, stakes, and missions.
May I suggest that there is a solemn duty upon both groups to bring beautiful, spiritual peace to the earth.
The Lord, speaking to the Prophet Joseph Smith, said: "Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh."
The scriptures are replete with admonitions to "prepare ourselves and our fellowmen for the good life here and hereafter."
"Hearken, and lo, a voice as of one sent down from on high, who is mighty and powerful, whose going forth is unto the ends of the earth, yea, whose voice is unto men-Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."
The preamble to the 65th section to the Doctrine and Covenants states:
"Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet... 1831. The Prophet designates this revelation as a prayer-Commitment of the keys of the kingdom of God unto man-The kingdom of God and the kingdom of Heaven named separately-Supplication that the kingdom of God, already on earth, may go forth that the kingdom of Heaven may come."
This is scripture and is for all inhabitants of the world.
The Lord further states in this same section of the Doctrine and Covenants:
"The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth.
"Yea, a voice crying-Prepare ye the way of the Lord, prepare ye the supper of the Lamb, make ready for the Bridegroom.
"Pray unto the Lord, call upon his holy name, make known his wonderful works among the people.
"Call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth.
"Wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come, that thou, O God, mayest be glorified in heaven so on earth, that thine enemies may be subdued; for thine is the honor, power and glory, forever and ever. Amen."
Former President Eisenhower one evening had a few close friends at the White House in Washington, D. C. They were discussing world problems. For a long while, the President listened; then he said:
"My friends, the biggest, most powerful weapon in the world is not the atomic bomb, or even the fighting ability of men. It is their moral and spiritual strength. Nothing can ever conquer that strength. Remember this, gentlemen, because that is the weapon our enemies really fear."
Our message to the world is that moral and spiritual courage are needed to prepare the way.
Preparedness has many connotations, and perhaps each of us thinks of it differently, at the same time agreeing on its basic principle.
Preparedness means to get ready for a given event; if we are entertaining friends in our homes, we make ready the home and the refreshments, and so forth.
Unexpectedly I visited a home sometime ago. In this home was a young lady afflicted with a dreadful disease. The mother answered the door and said, "Oh, Brother Longden, come in. I wondered why I was cleaning the house so well this morning. I didn't know a servant of God would be calling."
In this home they are already prepared and doing their bit to help others prepare the way. The gospel of Jesus Christ is their way of life, and it is that simple.
If we are holding a meeting, we prepare for that. Planning for a trip or a vacation, we prepare well in advance.
A few months ago I visited a mortuary in respect to a choice lady whom I had known for many years. In visiting with some of her children, one of the daughters said, "Mother was prepared to die, but Mother was prepared to live all her life." Knowing this lady, I concurred in this sincere tribute. Because of this one woman, many lives were better prepared to live.
The Lord, speaking to the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1832, said:
"And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men's hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people.
"And angels shall fly through the midst of heaven, crying with a loud voice, sounding the trump of God, saying: Prepare ye, prepare ye, O inhabitants of the earth; for the judgment of our God is come. Behold, and lo, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him."
We can be prepared to meet him, either if we should be called to leave here, or if we should still be here at his second coming.
Three or four years ago, two young high school students were driving on Wasatch Boulevard in Salt Lake City. It was reported a man under the influence of liquor, driving the car coming in the opposite direction, came over the center line and rammed into their small car. They were killed instantly.
Each of them was a fine young man, not only holding the office of priest in the Aaronic Priesthood but honoring that priesthood by the way he lived. I attended the funeral service of one of them. Never have I attended one like it. The chapel and cultural hall were filled to overflowing, mostly by young people.
The remarks of a young student speaker impressed upon me the need for constant preparation, the need to be constantly prepared.
He said, addressing his remarks to the bereaved parents, "I have never seen your son say or do anything you would be ashamed of."
Thirty-nine years ago, we buried our firstborn. Elder Adam S. Bennion spoke these words at our daughter's service:
"There are out beyond today for this young couple two gates. They will choose to open one of them. The first one swings to the touch of grief. It will open quickly and easily. It leads out into doubt and despair, even to bitterness. The other gate opens more slowly, isn't so promising to look at. It yields to the push of patience. I'm not sure that it doesn't swing better to a pull, but if it may be pulled through patience, it opens to hope and faith and confidence in God, consolation and mutual benediction. I know these two young people well enough to know which gate they will enter."
May I say now, after nearly forty years, this is true: pulling on that gate brings a deep sense of spiritual peace; come what may, it has helped us to ride over several stormy parts of our lives. Someone helped prepare the way for us. What have we done to help others? There may be sorrow, tragedy, commotion, frustration, tension, pressures, strife, troubles, and problems in this fast-moving world. Yet, in the gospel of Jesus Christ is the pattern which will extend comfort, hope, and peace to the world. Living by its tenets, we are prepared to die; but more important, to live eternally.
The parables of Jesus, the scriptures, old and new, are filled with admonitions to prepare ourselves and help to prepare the way for others.
It was my privilege this morning, just before the commencement of this conference, to shake hands with a former missionary companion. Forty-six years ago was our first meeting, as he indoctrinated me into the missionary service. Our paths have crossed many times. To me he is a living example of constantly being prepared. He now holds the high office of patriarch in the Hunter Stake.
I am reminded of a series of talks given from this podium by a prophet of the Lord several years ago; his name: Elder Albert E. Bowen. I would remind each of us of the title of these discourses, "Constancy Amid Change."
In the first prayer opening this conference, this statement was uttered: "May we get a stimulation to great action."
And now in conclusion, may I give you a thought from President David O. McKay: "Most earnestly do I hope that we shall never lose the great conviction that the world is our field of activity. Can you think of anything more potent in moving a people to action?
"But what a responsibility this entails of leading good men and good women all over the world to know God, and to know what their mission is on earth!"
I pray that we will constantly be prepared and know our mission on earth, and pray for his blessings upon us in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1968, pp. 144-146
With all my heart I rejoice with you, my brethren and sisters, for the blessings of the Lord during the inspirational sessions of the past few days. His Spirit has been with us in rich abundance!
During these closing moments of this great conference, I pray that the Lord will guide and direct me in giving you the thoughts that are in my heart.
I am grateful and thankful for the admonitions and specific instructions that have been given by the General Authorities of the Church. As you can testify, they have been guided and inspired by the Holy Spirit in their messages.
With all my soul, I plead with members of the Church, and with people everywhere, to think more about the gospel; more about the developing of the spirit within; to devote more time to the real things in life, and less time to those things which will perish.
I am in hearty accord with the admonitions given during this conference to resist the various temptations in our midst. If members of the Church would adopt these suggestions, that alone would be sufficient to make this people a light upon a hill, a light that could not be hidden. We refer to such teachings sometimes as "little things," but indeed they are the greatest things in this life. If we were to pay more attention to such advice, and devote more study to the modern revelations as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, we would grow in appreciation of the magnitude of the great work that has been established in this dispensation.
It is often said that the Church is the greatest thing in the world, and it is! The more attention we give to it-realizing how well adapted it is to our individual life, to our home life, and to our social life-the more we study it from the standpoint of scientific discoveries, from the standpoint of man's destiny, the more our hearts are made to rejoice for God's goodness to us in giving us the privilege of knowing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What we need today is faith in the living Christ, which is more than a mere feeling, but a power that moves us to action-a faith that will put purpose into life and courage into the heart. We need the gospel of application-a gospel that is preached by noble acts that command the attention and respect even of enemies. A mere belief in Jesus as a great teacher, or even as the greatest man who ever lived, has proved inadequate in combating the ills of society and the world.
Manifestly, the need of the world-and particularly in the light of present conditions that surround us on every side-is more than a mere acceptance of the Man of Galilee as the greatest of all men. What is really essential is faith in him as a divine being-as our Lord and Savior! It is such faith as the apostle Peter experienced when he declared: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Members of the Church are admonished to acquire truth by study, by faith and prayer, and to seek after everything that is "virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy."
Schools and churches should radiate the fact that there are in life certain fundamentals that never change, which are essential to the happiness of every human soul. Parents and officers in the Church must teach more earnestly and diligently the principles of life and salvation to the youth of Zion and to the world in order to help youth keep in proper balance through the formative period of their lives.
I remind you men who bear the Holy Priesthood to study again that divine revelation, so simply but powerfully expressed, with regard to government by the priesthood:
"No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
"By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile-
"Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy."
This is a wonderful admonition and lesson in regard to government, not only in quorums of the priesthood, but also in our home life, and indeed in all phases of association in society.
Brethren and sisters, the gospel is our anchor. We know what it stands for. If we live it and feel it, if we speak well of it, of the priesthood, of our families, of our neighbors, we shall feel happier, and in reality we shall be preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. The responsibility has been given to us to convey the gospel to our fellowmen. Some of us wait until some special opportunity is given to us to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, and yet the duty devolves upon each of us to proclaim that good news every day of our lives. We proclaim it in our acts-in the home, in business, in social circles, in politics; indeed, everywhere that we mingle with men we have the responsibility resting upon us to give the good news to the people of the world.
Let us guard our thoughts and our tongues. One of the best ways of building up our home, be it a domicile, a city, a state, or a nation, is always to speak well of that home, city, state, or nation. Let the tongue be under control at all times.
God bless the members of this Church for their devotion and loyalty, and for their sustaining prayers in behalf of all the General Authorities and officers. You may know, and I wish to assure you, that these prayers are effective.
I testify to you, and to all the world, that the inspiration and protecting care of a kind Father in heaven are real! He is close to the Church, and I know with my whole soul that he is not just an absent, far-away source, as some may think. He is a kind Father, solicitous of the welfare of his children, and ready and willing to hear and answer their call. The answer may be negative, as sometimes a wise parent gives a negative answer to the pleadings of a child, but he is ever ready to hear and to answer at a time when it is best for the one concerned.
God bless our missionaries who are in the 78 worldwide missions of the Church. They are splendid young men and women, with strong testimonies of the gospel, who are rich in faith and who are excellent representatives of the Lord and his Church. We are proud of them. We are grateful to our mission presidents and to these missionaries for their willing and able service. We are grateful also for the fathers and mothers and others who support these missionaries.
Words cannot express the heartache and the sorrow that we feel for the sufferings that have come to some homes because of the casualties of war. Our prayers are ever with our young men who are offering their all for human freedom and other inherent rights of man. My heart is filled with thankfulness and gratitude as I listen to reports that have been brought directly to me of their faith in God, of their loyalty, and of the long distances they travel to attend Church meetings. Think what an assurance in Christ, their Redeemer, means to them while they are enduring the temptations, hardships, and horrors of war! It gives them comfort in the hour of homesickness or discouragement; it makes more effective their determination to keep morally clean and fit for service; it gives them courage in the performance of duty; it awakens hope when they are ill or wounded; and if and when they might face the inevitable, it fills their souls with the peaceful confidence that as Christ lived after death so shall they! May God bless and protect these men in the armed forces.
God bless you Regional Representatives, stake presidents, bishops, and all officers in the Church who are serving and giving of your time and means for the upbuilding of God's kingdom.
May you fathers and mothers be blessed in your homes; may you seek for wisdom and understanding to give to your children health and character, spotless and unstained. The greatest duty that fathers and mothers have to perform is the religious training and development of their child's character.
May God be with each of you and all people everywhere. May we turn to him and seek for the better and more spiritual values of life. He is our Father; he knows our desires and our hopes; and he will help us if we will but seek him and learn of his ways.
My prayerful blessings go with you as you return to your homes. God help us all to discharge our responsibilities by making an environment in home, in school, in Church, and in our communities that will be uplifting, wholesome, and faith-inspiring, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 4-9
My dear brethren and sisters: As I meet with you this morning, my heart is full of thanksgiving and gratitude to the Lord for his blessings. Never before have I felt more appreciative than I do this morning of the great privilege of meeting with the members of the Church in a general conference in this hallowed building.
I extend to all of you-our special visitors, government and education leaders, stake and ward officers representing 465 stakes and 84 missions of the Church from far and near-my personal greetings and welcome to this 138th Semi-Annual Conference of the Church, and pray that the Spirit of the Lord will be with us throughout all the sessions.
As the years come and go, I experience an ever-increasing wonderment for life itself, and a deep sense of appreciation for the opportunities and blessings it affords.
My thoughts turn with grateful appreciation to the blessings that I have enjoyed. I am grateful for the wise, careful guardianship and training of noble parents. Guardianship and training!-two qualities of parenthood wisely and discreetly applied during the extremely active, impressionable days of youth, a guardianship that kept me from turning to paths that would have ended in an entirely different kind of life. Every year increases my appreciation and love for an ever-watchful, precious mother, and a noble father.
I am grateful for nine brothers and sisters, who made up a home environment-now a cherished memory-which, as an influence in character building, was second only to the ever-kind and discreet parental family guidance.
I am grateful for the sacrifices made by our parents to permit us children to enter the field of education. Through that opportunity I met my life's companion, who has ever been an inspiration: the mother and wise guardian of our seven children and the heart and center of a second lovely home.
I am grateful for the opportunity the Church and my parents gave me to enter the mission field, an experience that changed the entire course of my life.
I am grateful to my friends. He is truly blessed who has experienced the peace and richness of soul that spring from true and loyal friendship. I love my friends and true associates as one of the most priceless possessions of life.
I am grateful for citizenship in this great land, where the Constitution guarantees freedom. I denounce any ideology, any attempt of man or organization to change the fundamental principles of this great American republic.
I am grateful that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes with the Prophet Lehi that America is a "land of promise, a land choice above all other lands", a land of liberty unto those who keep the commandments of God. I love the Stars and Stripes and the American way of life. I have faith in the Constitution of the United States. I believe that only through a truly educated citizenry can the ideals that inspired the founding fathers of our nation be preserved and perpetuated.
I was thrilled that a long-cherished dream was fulfilled when, on September 17, 1968, we dedicated a 100-foot-tall flagpole on Temple Square and hoisted the Stars and Stripes along with our state flag on that sacred spot. At the same time panels engraved with scriptural references regarding the sacredness of the Constitution of the United States, the free agency of man, and law and order were also dedicated.
I am grateful most of all for the gospel, the true philosophy of a happy life, which sanctifies and makes operative all other blessings.
I am grateful for the blessings of the Lord to his Church in all the world, and for the assurance of his divine guidance and inspiration. With deep gratitude, I acknowledge his nearness and his goodness.
It is a source of real encouragement to contemplate the loyalty an energetic efforts of the members who contribute their time and their means to the Church. There is a general response on the part of the members of the Church everywhere. The faithfulness of the members of the Church in the payment of their tithes and offerings, as well as the financial support given to the Church building program and to the welfare organization, is a source of great joy to me.
I love life! I think it is a joy to be alive in this age. Every morning as I view from my windows the mountains to the east, and greet the sun as it ushers in these unexcelled autumn days, or even watch the storm clouds as they roll over our skies laden with life-giving moisture, I feel the joy and privilege of life and appreciate God's goodness.
I appreciate and realize the accomplishments, to a certain degree, of this wonderful nuclear age in which we live. Scientific discoveries of today stagger the imagination. Nearly every day we read of almost unbelievable accomplishments. This marvelous age has only now begun, and the youth of today, and many of us, will yet see exciting developments unfold as research continues. It is our prayer that the potential for good of these discoveries will far outweigh their potential for destruction.
Yes, it is a glorious age in which we live, and I have faith in the law-abiding and industrious people of this country, as well as throughout the world, and I trust that only good will be realized from the material strides being made.
However, no thinking man will doubt that this age is fraught with limitless perils, as well as with untold possibilities. As we read and learn of conditions that are developing among the people, we must admit there are real causes for apprehension and alertness. As we note the increase in crime and the disrespect for law and order, we are naturally shocked and alarmed. Just recently J. Edgar Hoover reported that:
"We have on the loose in our country today a predatory monster called Crime. It is growing in size and violence. Its far-reaching forages threaten every city and hamlet in the Nation, and it strikes fear in the hearts and minds of the law-abiding public. It is ripping away the very fiber of our society and our system of government.
"... One appalling aspect is the fact that many people in positions of responsibility continue to deny this truth. They prefer to close their eyes and hope that crime, if ignored, will go away. This wistful approach is doomed to failure.
"... Concerted efforts have been made to minimize the seriousness of the crime problem and to explain away the shocking truths behind crime statistics. It is suggested that our population increase is responsible for a corresponding rise in the rate of crime, and that extensive population growth of the crime-prone young age groups has not been taken into account in crime figures. Under close examination, as has been shown before, these arguments do not measure up.
"For instance, our population increased approximately 10 percent from 1960 throughout 1967. During that period, the volume of serious crimes rose 88 percent. Thus, crime outpaced the population growth by almost 9 to 1. The young age group population, 10 to 17 years, climbed 22 percent from 1960 through 1967. Arrests of persons in this category for all criminal acts increased 72 percent during the same period...
"The answer to our Nation's crime problem will be found in direct, positive action-not by waiting and hoping the, problem will go away. A good beginning would be to let the guilty criminal know that when he is arrested, he will be promptly prosecuted and substantially punished for his misdeeds. A good time to begin would be now."
We cannot, we must not, be insensible to the evil forces around us, and especially the communistic conspiracy, the avowed object of which is to destroy faith in God, to sow discord and contention among men with the view of undermining, weakening, if not entirely destroying, our constitutional form of government, and to weaken and subvert the ideals of our younger generation. When acts and schemes are manifestly contrary to the revealed word of the Lord, I feel, as do my associates, justified in warning our people against them.
It is appalling and shocking to learn that an estimated six million Americans suffer from alcoholism. The Public Health Service ranks alcoholism as the fourth major public health problem in the United States. The impaired morals, ruined health, broken homes, and increased traffic deaths that result from drinking are well known by all of us. Just recently I read a report by a leading columnist who said that the American consumers spend three times as much for beer, wine, and hard liquor each year as they spend to send heir children to private colleges; that they spend nearly four times as much for cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products as they spend each year for health insurance; and spend far more each year on personal care-hairdos, haircuts, cosmetics, etc.-than on all religious and welfare activities.
One of the great influences upon my youth was the memorizing of that important saying: "My spirit will not dwell in an unclean tabernacle". I recall other warnings. One came to me as a boy. I sat on a spring seat by the side of my father as we drove into Ogden. Just before we reached the bridge across the Ogden River, a man came out of a saloon on the north bank of the river. I recognized him. I liked him because I had seen him on the stage. But on that occasion he was under the influence of liquor and had been, I suppose, for several days.
When he saw us, he broke down and cried and asked Father for 50 cents so that he could go back into the saloon for another drink. As we drove across the bridge my father said, "David, that man whom you just saw in that drunken state used to go with me to visit the members of the ward in their homes as a representative of the priesthood." That was all my father said to me about the incident, but it was a very vivid warning to me about the effects of dissipation that I have never forgotten.
A little later, one of our teachers gave us a stop to read about a group of young people sailing down the river toward Niagara Falls. I cannot give you the author, nor the title of this old schoolbook, but I can give you the memory of that lesson that has stayed with me all my life about those young folks who were drinking and carousing and having a good time in the boat sailing down that river.
A man on the shore, realizing the dangers that lay ahead, cried out to them, "Young men, ahoy! The rapids are below you!"
But they ignored his warning, and defied him, saying, "We are all right!" And they continued on their way, laughing and carousing.
As they got closer, the man cried out again to them, "Ahoy, there! The rapids are below you!"
But they heeded not his warning call until suddenly they realized they were in the midst of the rapids. With all the power at their command, they failed to turn their boat upstream, and "So," said the man who had tried to warn them, "shrieking and cursing, over the rapids they went!"
Well, it is a very impressive picture, and as I said, the lesson left an indelible impression upon me.
One man, writing a weekly column in a newspaper, had this warning about the youth of today:
"Never has youth been face to face with more breathtaking opportunities and more deadly influences. Never before has character been so decisive a factor in the survival of the young. Nowadays, a 12-year-old child must be possessed of a strong character in order not to get irrevocably blemished and flawed.
"The road from boyhood to manhood has become sieve-like: those without the right size of character slip into pitfalls and traps. The rate of failure in the present young generation will be astronomical. The supposedly most sheltered generation is actually the most exposed.
The society of the young is at present almost as subject to the laws of sheer survival as any animal society. In the Bay Area you can see the young beset and preyed upon by vultures, wolves, and parasites: dope peddlers... lechers, perverts, thugs, cult mongers and ideological seducers. Everywhere you look you can see human beings rot before they ripen."
It is one thing to stand on the shore and cry: "Young men, ahoy! There is danger ahead!" It is another thing to row into the stream and, if possible, get into the boat with the young men, and by companionship, by persuasion, and by legitimate force, when necessary, turn the boat from the rapids. Too many of us stand on the shore and cry: "Young men, ahoy! There is danger ahead!" Let us get into their lives; let us touch their personalities by our personality, and let them feel that there is something real in this religion, that it is the greatest thing in life, that nothing else can make them so happy and satisfied as the true religious life.
A clean man is a national asset. A pure woman is the incarnation of true national glory. A citizen who loves justice and hates evil is better and stronger than a battleship. The strength of any community consists of and exists in the men who are pure, clean, upright, and straightforward, ready for the right, and sensitive to every approach of evil. Let such ideals be the standard of citizenship.
We have confidence in the majority of the young people, but no matter how firm our confidence in them is, we must not close our eyes to the fact that the number of delinquents and youthful criminals is increasing. In the interest of the moral atmosphere of our communities, the welfare of the state, and the perpetuity of our democratic form of government, we must apply the proper remedies and, if possible, remove the causes of crime.
Another important cause for the increase in delinquency is a letdown in home ideals. A married woman who refuses to assume the responsibilities of motherhood or who, having children, neglects them for pleasure or social prestige is recreant to the highest calling and privilege of womankind. The father who, because of business or political or social responsibilities, fails to share with his wife the responsibilities of rearing his sons and daughters is untrue to his marital obligations, is a negative element in what might be and should be a joyous home atmosphere, and is a possible contributor to discord and delinquency.
Fathers may and should exercise a helpful, restraining influence, where a mother's tenderness and love might lead to indulgence toward the children. In this respect, however, every father should ever keep in mind that he was once a mischievous youngster himself, and deal with his boy sympathetically.
The home is the best place in the world to teach the highest ideal in the social and political life of man, namely, perfect liberty of action so long as you do not trespass upon the rights and privileges of another. The great need in the American home today is more religion. Parents should make it obvious, both by their actions and their conversations, that they are seriously interested in the fruits of true religion. Next to the home, the Church should be a dominant force in safeguarding our youth.
There is a potent power in life that will solve our problems, and that potent power is religion. Spiritual development and moral integrity are fundamental in the lives of all who would build a community that will contribute to the safety and advancement of our republic or of any other nation. President Calvin Coolidge truly said: "The government of a country never gets ahead of the religion of a country. There is no way by which we can substitute authority of law for the virtue of man. Of course, we can help to restrain the vicious and furnish a fair degree of security and protection by legislation and police control, but the real reforms which society in these days is seeking will come as a result of our religious convictions or they will not come at all.
"Peace, justice, humanity, charity-these cannot be legislated into being."
The principles of the gospel are the surest and safest guide to mortal man. Christ is the light to humanity. In that light, man sees his way clearly. When this light is rejected, the soul of man stumbles in darkness. No person, no group, no nation can achieve true success without following him who said: "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life".
I say to the youth of this Church, and to all people everywhere: God exists. He is near. Have faith in him; seek him diligently, and he will reward your efforts. Submit yourselves to him and to his environment, that you may have that testimony that comes from within. Such is your privilege. Such a feeling and testimony you may obtain if you but seek him diligently. Live clean, upright lives, and devote yourselves not to self but to the life and happiness of others.
That you may gain that testimony, which I now bear to you, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder LeGrand Richards
LeGrand Richards, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 9-12
I am sure, my brothers and sisters, that our hearts have been touched with gratitude to the Lord for the presence of our Prophet and for his wonderful message to us. So many of us have enjoyed him through the years. He has been a great leader. With all our hearts we can sing, "We thank thee, O God, for a prophet to guide us in these latter days."
I appreciate the privilege of standing here. I realized that I might have to say a few words in this conference, and so on my bended knees I asked the Savior, whose servant I am, if I might have his inspiration that I might say to you what he would like me to say. I had the thought come to me that if he were standing here at this pulpit this morning, what would he want to say to us? And I began recalling some of his marvelous statements to his people when he tarried among them in his mortal life, such as the one in the song this beautiful mother's chorus sang today, "If Ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments". How could we in any better way prove to him that we love him than to keep his commandments?
Then he said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven". I think that applies to this Church collectively and to us individually. If there is any question in our minds individually as to whether we are contributing to help make the light of truth shine through this entire world through the achievements and the accomplishments of this great Church, then we are failing in our great responsibility.
I think of his words when he said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven". It isn't the words we speak that will bring forth his love. It is the keeping of his commandments and doing the will of our Father in heaven. That ought to apply in every hour of our lives, day and night, and as we come and go, so that we will feel that we can walk and talk with him. I tell you that you can feel a nearness to him through the power of his Spirit that will enrich our lives. Each one of you, as you now, can testify as I do here before you this day.
Then he indicated that "wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat;
"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it".
In other words, as I have thought of the statements of the Master, it seems to me that his whole thought was around the fact that we live in the world, but we must not be of the world; that we can have the power to live his commandments, rather than to follow the ideas and the ways of the world, which, as President McKay has pointed out in his address this morning, can only lead to destruction.
I am grateful that as people come among us, they recognize there is a difference among our people, speaking of us collectively and of many of us individually.
A short time ago we had a great economist here in our midst. One of our banker friends gave a luncheon for him at the Hotel Utah. Twenty-five of us were invited to attend that luncheon. The President of the Church said a few words, the governor of the state said a few words, and then they asked this great leader if he would like to say something. He stood up, and his jaw began to quiver, and the tears began rolling down his cheeks. Then he made a statement like this: "I have never stood in such presence in my life. I have to come out here to these valleys of the mountains to find the kind of Christianity I think can save the world."
Now we knew that, because we knew that we had the Church of Jesus Christ, his only true church upon the face of the earth. But it is delightful to find that thinking men realize that.
We had a Dr. Polian here in our midst just a few years ago. He was sent to the United States by the Iranian government to study the American people, and he told the receptionist in the Church Office Building:
"I have been in the United States 11 months as a representative from my government to study the American people, and I have obtained a more favorable impression of them in the two days I have spent in Salt Lake City than in all the rest of the 11 months."
Brothers and sisters, there is power in this Church. We can't live like the world does. I used to be in the real estate business. I have attended conventions in several of the large cities of this land, and we were all right as long as we were in the conference room; but when it came to the entertainment, we had to step aside, because that kind of entertainment could not he enjoyed by a real Christian. A real Christian is one who shows his love of God by keeping his commandments. I think of the words of the apostle Peter to the members of the Church in his day, when he said:
"... ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people."
Now we are peculiar to the world. Wherever we go they want to give us different kinds of drinks than we are used to, and they wonder what they can do for us peculiar Mormons.
Then Peter adds the reason for all of this:
"... that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light".
Isn't that what Jesus meant when he said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven"?
Just a few years ago we had a prominent woman here from New York. She came to attend our MIA June Conference. I had the privilege of meeting her several times. She was escorted around in the different departments, as many as she could attend. On Sunday morning we had our meeting here directed by the First Presidency. As she went into the little anteroom, I walked up to her, and calling her by name, I said, "Mrs. So and So, someday you will know that the spiritual capital of the world is Salt Lake City."
"Oh," she said, "I know that already."
It is interesting to know that when people come, they are impressed. I think it was at that very same conference that we had national representatives of the Boy Scout organization here. After they had seen what was done at the stadium in our dance festival, one of them made a statement like this: "It can't be done, but you people do it." And why do we do it? Because this is God's work, and there are so many faithful, devoted people giving their time and their attention, and doing it freely without price. "... freely ye have received, freely give".
As I look over this audience and see this vast congregation of priesthood, and as I have sat during the last few days in council with many of you, I thank God for your faith and for your devotion, for your spirit and your leadership are helping to mold the destiny of this Church. And this work shall continue to roll forward until it shall become as a great mountain and fill the whole earth, as the Lord has decreed through his holy prophets.
While I was president of the Southern States Mission, I held a conference in Columbia, Mississippi. At the close of the morning session, a young man came up to me and asked me if he could talk in the afternoon session of the conference. I said, "Certainly, if you would like to."
"But," he said, "I am not a member of your Church."
"Oh," I said, "that doesn't make any difference. You can't hurt our people."
So we let him talk. He stood up and said, "I was raised here in Mississippi to believe that the Mormons were the most undesirable people in all this world. After I finished my college education, I went over to Arizona, and I was thrown in with the Mormons there. When I came back here, I was thrown in with the Mormons again, and I have been attending their Sunday Schools and their other meetings. I no longer think of them as the most undesirable people in this world. I am wondering when I will be good enough to become a member of the Mormon Church."
The Lord has called us out of the world to be a light unto the world, and we can't hide our light under a bushel. The world realizes, and we realize as a people, that we can live in the world and yet not be of the world.
I used to like to check up a little on us when I was a mission president. I was driving along the highway in Alabama one day, and a man was hobbling along the highway. I picked him up, and as we drove along a little way, I said, "I suppose you have no idea whom you are sitting by?"
He looked me over and said, "No."
I said, "Have you ever met a Mormon elder?"
His face lighted up, and he said, "We had two of them in our home last week, and we have one of their bibles." Then he said, "They blessed me for my leg, and when they left I said, 'Ma, when they come back next week, let's join their church.'"
I didn't know what kind of response I would get from him!
I was driving in western Florida and stopped to get some gas for my car; to a man sitting down by one of the pumps I said, "Are there any Mormons living around here?"
He said, "There is a whole colony of them here."
I said, "What kind of people are they?"
"Oh," he said, "they are the most wonderful people. One of them is my nearest neighbor, and I never had neighbors like that family." Then he said, "You don't happen to know Jim Martin up in Magnolia, do you?"
I said, "Oh, yes, I have stayed in his home."
He said, "He's my uncle. What do you think of him?"
"Oh, he is a wonderful man."
When I was going up through the marble quarries in northern Georgia, I walked ahead with the guide. He had a whole group there that he was showing around. I said, "I suppose you have no idea whom you are walking with, have you?"
He turned and looked at me and said, "No."
And I said, "Have you ever met a Mormon missionary?"
And then he stopped and turned to the whole group and said that he had lived out in Idaho, and his nearest neighbor was a Mormon. He said, "He was the most wonderful neighbor I have ever had."
Now I could tell you many stories like that, because I like to know what people think of us when they know us.
So I come back to the words of Jesus: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" . May God help each one of us individually to do that, I humbly pray, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Hartman Rector, Jr.
Hartman Rector, Jr., Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 12-14
My dear brethren and sisters:
This is a traumatic experience for a convert, and I ask for an interest in your faith and prayers in my behalf this morning.
The Lord through the prophet Isaiah required strong reasons of his people for their acts.
"Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.
"Let them bring them forth, and shew us what will happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.
"Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together".
Surely reason or motive is all important in determining guilt or innocence for our acts.
Nephi went to Jerusalem determined to obtain the records of his people. The Lord commanded it. As he proceeded on the errand he recognized the risk. Laban had threatened his life and the lives of his brothers. He found Laban drunk and received the clear command from the Lord to slay Laban, and he obeyed.
Consider now Cain. He was jealous of Abel, a righteous man, whose offering was acceptable to the Lord God. Cain in his jealousy and in his greed listened to Satan; and urged by him, he slew Abel in order to obtain his brother's flocks.
In the one case, one was entirely righteous in his motive. In the other, the motive was entirely evil. Motive is the main difference in these two acts in which men were slain.
The Lord through Peter says that every man should "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you".
If reason or motive is so important and the Lord requires it of all of us, then every man should examine his motives lest they be found wanting at the last day.
I have spent a good bit of my life in the navy. I have loved it. The navy has been very good to me and good for me, some have said. There is a satisfaction that comes to man no other way when he serves his country honorably in the armed forces. This is particularly true when it is the good ol' United States of America that he is serving. It is a privilege to represent this nation, the last great bastion of liberty and freedom before the nations of the world. That is one reason for the concern I feel this day for the erosion I see taking place at the foundation of this noble republic.
In the active duty I have been privileged to render, I have spent some time aboard ships of the aircraft carrier class. On these ships about 3,500 men live together for extended periods of time in a confined space about 1,000 feet long, 150 feet wide, and 200 feet high. Under these conditions you get to know people well in a short period of time.
I have seen instances where young men came aboard ship who were away from home and home influences for the first time in their lives. They had been taught the Word of Wisdom and laws of chastity, and they lived them. They didn't smoke or drink or gamble. They didn't smoke because their father didn't want them to, or they didn't drink because their sweetheart didn't want them to, or they didn't gamble because their mother didn't want them to. Now these are good reasons for not doing these things. They had been good enough to serve these young men adequately for 18 to 20 years.
Since these young men had never been away from home, they had never seen much of what really goes on in the world. And the ways of the world came as a rude shock to them. For instance, they found themselves living with young men their own age who lived none of their standards. Still, their newfound companions could run as fast and jump as high as they, and sometimes exceed them in feats of strength or mental ability. This had a very interesting effect on these young men. They began a serious reevaluation of their standards. The fact that they were encouraged by their new friends to join in their immoral acts didn't help the situation either.
But the most crucial fact was that they were now thousands of miles away from their reasons for living the commandments. All too often influence varies inversely in proportion to the distance from it. I saw some of these young men slip down into doing the things they were sure they would never do because they loved their parents or sweetheart too much.
Now I wouldn't want you to think this was the fate of a great number of my young friends. It wasn't. Many came aboard ship with the same high standards. They lived the same laws, but they did it for a different reason-their motives were different. Instead of keeping the commandments because they loved their mother or father or sweetheart, although it was quite obvious they did love them, they did it because they loved the Lord. They knew him and loved him, and this made a major difference in their conduct. It doesn't make any difference where you are or how many miles from home you happen to be; the Lord is still there. The Psalmist said:
"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
"If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
"If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
"Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
"If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
"Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee".
The Lord is as close and real in the Far East in Vietnam or the middle of the earth as he is in Salt Lake City. He is always there. So my young friends who were true to their covenants because they loved the Lord couldn't get too far away for his influence to reach them. He is always there.
One of the philosophers has said: "The greatest treason is to do the right thing for the wrong reason." Of course, this isn't strictly true. Obviously it is greater treason to do the wrong thing for any reason. But the philosopher, is correct in assessing it treason to do the right thing for the wrong reason because it is an essential betrayal to the security of the soul. The man who performs righteous acts for an erroneous reason lulls himself into a false sense of security. He feels that the acts themselves will save him. But when the rain descends and the flood comes and the wind blows and beats on the house, it falls because it does not have the correct foundation.
The danger in this approach comes from the fact that all too often man ties himself to the wrong moorings. Wonderful as a mother's love is, it is not strong enough to hold her son. Even heaven is not a sufficiently strong anchor to hold against the food tide of temptation. In the words of the Master: "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled".
From this and other scripture it is obvious that everything-the heavens, the earth, and everything that in them is-is going to pass away, and if you have tied your faith to any part of this frail existence-the earth, the heavens, or people on the earth-it is not going to stand. Everything else will go except the word of the Lord, but "my word shall not pass away," saith the Lord.
Then love of the Lord becomes absolutely vital to salvation, because it forms the foundation of our motives for righteousness. No other reason is strong enough to hold us, and therefore is wrong.
It is manifestly impossible to love him whom we do not know. Then to know the Lord becomes the first step to correct action through correct motives. We declare with boldness and yet with humility that the God of this earth, who is Jesus Christ, does live. He has been seen in modern time and has given instruction and authority to establish his Church again upon the earth in all its fullness. I declare to you with soberness that this has been done through the Prophet Joseph Smith and all those who have succeeded him unto this day. I bear to you my witness that David O. McKay is a prophet of the living God-I know it as I know I am alive-and that he presides over this Church under the direction of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whose Church it is; and we invite all men of goodwill who are honest in heart to partake of this truth and blessing with us. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder John Longden
John Longden, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 14-17
One of the privileges of being an elder citizen is to reminisce. He who has good memories is richly blessed. As I have contemplated my message today, there is one phrase that keeps returning: "The tie that binds." Many poems and articles have been written about the tie that binds. I should like to suggest that the tie that really binds is the gospel of Jesus Christ; the way of life it offers mankind, the peace it assures to all who will obey its teachings, the hope and promises for eternal happiness are just exactly what the world needs to bind up its war-weary, confused, tired body-the tie that binds.
May I reminisce? This is an important anniversary today. It was 17 years ago on this very day that a prophet bestowed upon me the greatest honor that could come into the life of any man. Sitting across from me in his home on South Temple, taking my hands in his, he seemed to look clear through me as he said, "Brother Longden, we want you to be one of the Assistants to the Quorum of the Twelve."
How the blessings have been poured out upon us, not only since then, but all of our lives! The windows of heaven have truly been opened unto us.
The privilege of visiting in stakes, wards, branches, of visiting the sick, listening to those who seek counsel for their problems, performing marriages for time and eternity, setting apart missionaries, and the glorious experience of touring missions-all combine to bring rich memories.
Some years ago, I was assigned to tour the South Pacific missions, including Australia and New Zealand. Since then, because of jet transportation, the world has become smaller, but at that time a visitor from Church headquarters was not as regular a thing as it now is. Even so, in every country, there were many fine Saints who were living the gospel, who, because of their obedience to its principles, had improved themselves financially, socially, intellectually, morally, and most important, spiritually. Wherever we went, there was a bond of understanding, regardless of language, customs, or the color of skin.
There is a brand new stake in the South Pacific, Nuku'alofa Stake, which I should like to congratulate and welcome into the fold of stakes. That Tongan stake now joins her sister, Apia Stake, in two relatively remote places of the world. The first time in Tonga, we were on a very tight schedule, so that when we arrived at the beautiful assembly room at the Liahona College, where we were to hold our first meetings, the Saints were already assembled and waiting, all dressed in pure white. They had removed the benches and were sitting on the floor on home-woven mats-this to make more room. As I recall, there were over 1,200 assembled there. We were hurrying down the outside of the building to go in and saw them stand as one-1,200 as one-and immediately there were bell-like tones of gladness and joy ringing out, "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet." They were crying. We cried tears of joy, understanding tears. We joined in singing-we in English, they in Tongan-"We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet." Immediately, through an interpreter, I explained I was not a prophet but knew they were singing to our Prophet David O. McKay, and I would take their message back to him as soon as I returned home.
The next day, we saw the handiwork of the sisters in Relief Society that was being assembled for their annual bazaar. This was Relief Society-not in Salt Lake City, not in California, Arizona, or New York, but Relief Society in Tonga, teaching the same lessons, carrying the same program. Under the MIA, there were athletic events, dance and music festivals participated in by Tongan folk. Returning to Tonga, while we were there, were 69 Saints who had been to the New Zealand Temple for their endowments-a tie that binds forever. I shall never forget the spirit of these great humble folk, many of whom sold their earthly possessions in order to gain eternal possessions-husbands and wives with children united as families for eternity.
Our first visit to Perth, Australia, was at the Christmas season. Perth does not seem so far away today as it did when John Glenn orbited the earth in his space ship. It was Christmas Eve in Perth when, with the mission president, we went to the railroad station to bid good-bye to some Saints who were leaving to go to the New Zealand Temple to receive the same blessings the Tongan Saints had sacrificed to receive. We, who sometimes make so much of Christmas in a financial way, were brought up a little short when we asked the parents of five little children, "What about Father Christmas?" The young mother bent down and picked up a small package and said, "It is enough. Think of the blessings we will have when we get to the temple."
Later that night, after meeting with the missionaries, seven M Men and Gleaners caroled for us at the chapel. It was comforting to know that wherever we went in the world, we could have had the same experience.
Then there were two branches in Perth. Today, Perth is another of our brand new stakes.
Another experience: How many of us have heard our Primary children sing "I Am a Child of God"? I think you may not have really heard it until you are met on the pier on the little island of Rarotonga by 32 beautiful Rarotongan children, with brown eyes dancing, truly singing with their hearts, "I Am a Child of God."
Another of my assignments has been to help promote the work in the intermountain and Indian missions. What a revealing experience it is to get to know our Lamanite brethren-how they are growing in wisdom, experience, and spirituality.
I have seen many fine Indian men honoring the priesthood and holding positions of leadership in branches and districts, who, months before, were yielding to the temptations of Satan. I have seen these marvelous transitions come into the lives of many. Today they live in better homes and receive better educations.
In the past two months, it has been my good fortune to be assigned to work with Elder Spencer W. Kimball in the British Isles, where we have seven great missions. In Ireland, we saw 50 Irish boys and girls participate in a dance and music festival. They were so happy. It was their first. Next year it will be bigger and better, because the young members are beginning to feel the coalescing spirit of membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That night we met a fine young Chinese man who had flown back at his own expense from another country to take part in the festival so as not to disappoint the leaders. He had been working in Ireland and had been transferred by his company, but he had the spirit of a true Latter-day Saint. Shall the youth of Zion falter?
In each of the missions, there were strong testimonies borne by mature members who appreciated the light of the gospel in their lives. I have actually stood by the baptismal font and watched entire families being baptized the same evening and then confirmed members of the Church by authorized servants of the Lord. By the power of the Holy Ghost, they are beginning to feel the tie that binds.
Again in each of the missions, there was a goodly number of missionaries who, tearfully, thankfully, reported in testimony meeting that inactive parents were now active and either looking forward to or going to the temple; or, if one was not a member, he or she was studying with stake missionaries. Some were waiting to be baptized by returning missionary sons, and then whole families were being brought into activity because of having a worthy missionary son or daughter.
At a youth conference testimony meeting, a lovely young British mother told of her children going to the brand new church built in the neighborhood. When she discovered it was the Mormon Primary they were attending, she forbade them to go again. However, as it sometimes happens, they did go again and again, and she could see no real harm. One evening as she went up to tuck them in, she overheard her young son's prayer, "Please help me to teach my mum the gospel." Heavenly Father heard that prayer. Today there is a whole new family feeling the tie.
As we flew over the house tops from country to country, a passage of scripture kept recurring to me, that of God speaking to Moses:
"All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do... that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live".
The same doctrine was taught by the Savior in the meridian of time:
"It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God".
This word of God is contained in the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ as it has been restored to the earth in this day. It is going forth at this very moment in many tongues to many peoples. Obedience to the word of God is the tie that will bind people, cities, communities, states, and nations together. It will tie up the wounds of an ailing world and bring peace on earth.
God bless each of us to make this so. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 17-22
My brethren and sisters: Humbly and gratefully I stand before you.
I am truly thankful that the Church is led by a prophet of God, who, as chief watchman on the towers of Zion, has the courage and inspiration to speak out against current evils as he has done again today. Thank God for David O. McKay, our Prophet-leader!
I am humbly grateful to God for the blessings we all enjoy as citizens of these great United States of America. I am grateful for our Founding Fathers who were raised up with the courage to give their lives, with the unselfishness to give their fortunes and the vision to pledge their sacred honor in order to establish a new kind of government of their own choosing where men might be free. I am additionally grateful that these Founding Fathers had the faith and humility to accept the divine inspiration so necessary in setting forth the Constitution as the foundation for their new republic. The Lord said he raised up these founders and called them "wise men".
Men are often asked to express an opinion on a myriad of government proposals and projects. All too often, answers seem to be based not upon solid principle, but upon the popularity of the specific government program in question. Seldom are men willing to oppose a popular program if they themselves wish to be popular-especially if they seek public office.
Such an approach to vital political questions of the day can only lead to public confusion and legislative chaos. Decisions of this nature should be based upon and measured against certain basic principles regarding the proper role of government. If principles are correct, then they can be applied to any specific proposal with confidence.
Unlike the political opportunist, the true statesman values principle above popularity and works to create popularity for those political principles which are wise and just.
It is generally agreed that the most important single function of government is to secure the rights and freedoms of individual citizens. But, what are those rights? And what is their source? Until these questions are answered, there is little likelihood that we can correctly determine how government can best secure them.
Let us first consider the origin of those freedoms we have come to know as human rights. Rights are either God-given as part of the divine plan or they are granted by government as part of the political plan. Reason, necessity, tradition, and religious convictions all lead me to accept the divine origin of these rights. If we accept the premise that human rights are granted by government, then we must be willing to accept the corollary that they can be denied by government.
I support the doctrine of separation of church and state as traditionally interpreted to prohibit the establishment of an official national religion. But this does not mean that we should divorce government from any formal recognition of God. To do so strikes a potentially fatal blow at the concept of the divine origin of our rights and unlocks the door for an easy entry of future tyranny. If Americans should ever come to believe that their rights and freedoms are instituted among men by politicians and bureaucrats, then they will no longer carry the proud inheritance of their forefathers, but will grovel before their masters seeking favors and dispensations, a throwback to the feudal system of the Dark Ages.
Since God created man with certain inalienable rights, and man, in turn, created government to help secure and safeguard those rights, it follows that man is superior to the creature which he created. Man is superior to government and should remain master over it, not the other way around. Even the nonbeliever can appreciate the logic of this relationship.
A government is nothing more or less than a relatively small group of citizens who have been hired, in a sense, by the rest of us to perform certain functions and discharge certain responsibilities which have been authorized. The government itself has no innate power or privilege to do anything. Its only source of authority and power is from the people who created it.
Keep in mind that the people who have created their government can give to that government only such powers as they themselves have. They cannot give that which they do not possess.
In a primitive state, there is no doubt that each man would be justified in using force, if necessary, to defend himself against physical harm, against theft of the fruits of his labor, and against enslavement by another.
Indeed, the early pioneers found that a great deal of their time and energy was being spent defending themselves, their property, and their liberty. For man to prosper, he cannot afford to spend his time constantly guarding his family, his fields, and his property against attack and theft. When he joins together with his neighbors and hires a sheriff, government is born. The individual citizens delegate to the sheriff their unquestionable right to protect themselves. The sheriff now does for them only that which they had a right to do for themselves-nothing more.
But suppose pioneer "A" wants another horse for his wagon. He doesn't have the money to buy one, but since pioneer "B" has an extra horse, he decides that he is entitled to share in his neighbor's good fortune. Is he entitled to take his neighbor's horse? Obviously not! If his neighbor wishes to give it or lend it, that is another question. But so long as pioneer "B" wishes to keep his property, pioneer "A" has no just claim to it.
If "A" has no proper power to take "B's" property, can he delegate any such power to the sheriff? No. Even if everyone in the community desires that "B" give his extra horse to "A," they have no right individually or collectively to force him to do it. They cannot delegate a power they themselves do not have.
The proper function of government is limited only to those spheres of activity within which the individual citizen has the right to act. By deriving its just powers from the governed, government becomes primarily a mechanism for defense against bodily harm, theft, and involuntary servitude. It cannot claim the power to redistribute the wealth or force reluctant citizens to perform acts of charity against their will. Government is created by man. No man can delegate a power that he does not possess. The creature cannot exceed the creator.
In general terms, therefore, the proper role of government includes such defensive activities as maintaining national military and local police forces for protection against loss of life, loss of property, and loss of liberty at the hands of either foreign despots or domestic criminals.
It also includes those powers necessarily incidental to the protective function.
We should recognize that government is no plaything. It is an instrument of force; and unless our conscience is clear that we would not hesitate to put a man to death, put him in jail, or forcibly deprive him of his property for failing to obey a given law, we should oppose that law.
The Constitution of the United States, an inspired document, is a solemn agreement between the citizens of this nation that every officer of government is under a sacred duty to obey.
The Constitution provides that the great bulk of the legitimate activities of government are to be carried out at the state or local level. This is the only way in which the principle of self-government can be made effective.
The smallest or lowest level that can possibly undertake the task is the one that should do so. The smaller the governmental unit and the closer it is to the people, the easier it is to guide it, to correct it, to keep it solvent, and to keep our freedom.
Remember that the people of the states of this republic created the federal government. The federal government did not create the states.
A category of government activity that not only requires the closest scrutiny but that also poses a grave danger to our continued freedom is the activity not within the proper sphere of government. No one has the authority to grant such powers as welfare programs, schemes for redistributing the wealth, and activities that coerce people into acting in accordance with a prescribed code of social planning. There is one simple test. Do I as an individual have a right to use force upon my neighbor to accomplish this goal? If I do, then I may delegate that power to my government to exercise it in my behalf. If I do not have that right, I cannot delegate it.
If we permit government to manufacture its own authority and to create self-proclaimed powers not delegated to it by the people, then the creature exceeds the creator and becomes master. Who is to say "this far, but no farther"? What clear principle will stay the hand of government from reaching farther and farther into our daily lives? Grover Cleveland said that "though the people support the Government, the Government should not support the people.
Once government steps over this clear line between the protective or negative role into the aggressive role of redistributing the wealth through taxation and providing so-called "benefits" for some of its citizens, it becomes a means for legalized plunder. It becomes a lever of unlimited power that is the sought-after prize of unscrupulous individuals and pressure groups, each seeking to control the machine to fatten his own pockets or to benefit his favorite charity, all with the other fellow's money, of course. Each class or special interest group competes with the others to throw the lever of governmental power in its favor, or at least to immunize itself against the effects of a previous thrust. Labor gets a minimum wage. Agriculture gets a price support. Some consumers demand price controls. In the end, no one is much further ahead, and everyone suffers the burdens of a gigantic bureaucracy and a loss of personal freedom. With each group out to get its share of the spoils, such governments historically have mushroomed into total welfare states. Once the process begins, once the principle of the protective function of government gives way to the aggressive or redistributive function, then forces are set in motion that drive the nation toward totalitarianism.
No government in the history of mankind has ever created any wealth. People who work create wealth.
The free creative energy of this choice nation "created more than 50 percent of all the world's products and possessions in the short span of 160 years. The only imperfection in the system is the imperfection in man himself."
According to Marxist doctrine, a human being is primarily an economic creature. His material well-being is all important; his privacy and his freedom are secondary. The Soviet constitution reflects this philosophy in its emphasis on security: food, clothing, housing, medical care-the same things that might be considered in a jail. The basic concept is that the government has full responsibility for the welfare of the people and, in order to discharge that responsibility, must assume control of all their activities. It is significant that in actuality the Russian people have few of the rights supposedly "guaranteed" to them in their constitution, while the American people have them in abundance even though they are not guaranteed. The reason is that material gain and economic prosperity and security simply cannot be guaranteed by any government. They are the result and reward of hard work and industrious production. Unless the people bake one loaf of bread for each citizen, the government cannot guarantee that each will have one loaf to eat. Constitutions can be written, laws can be passed, and imperial decrees can be issued, but unless the bread is produced, it can never be distributed.
Why, then, do Americans bake more bread, manufacture more shoes, and assemble more TV sets than Russians do? They do so precisely because our government does not guarantee these things. If it did, there would be so many accompanying taxes, controls, regulations, and political manipulations that the productive genius that is America's would soon be reduced to the floundering level of waste and inefficiency now found behind the Iron Curtain.
Any attempt through governmental intervention to redistribute the material rewards of labor can only result in the eventual destruction of the productive base of society, without which real abundance and security for more than the ruling elite is quite impossible.
What happens to a nation that ignores these basic principles? Former FBI agent Dan Smoot succinctly points this out:
"England was killed by an idea; the idea that the weak, indolent, and profligate must be supported by the strong, industrious, and frugal-to the degree that tax consumers will have a living standard comparable to that of taxpayers; the idea that government exists for the purpose of plundering those who work to give the product of their labor to those who do not work.
"The economic and social cannibalism produced by this communist-socialist idea will destroy any society which adopts it and clings to it as a basic principle-any society."
This may sound heartless and insensitive to the needs of those less fortunate individuals who are found in any society, no matter how affluent. "What about the lame, the sick and the destitute?" is an often-voiced question. Most other countries have attempted to use the power of government to meet this need. Yet, in every case, the improvement has been marginal at best and has, in the long run, created more misery, more poverty, and certainly less freedom than when government first stepped in.
"Most of the major ills of the world have been caused by well-meaning people who ignored the principle of individual freedom, except as applied to themselves, and who were obsessed with fanatical zeal to improve the lot of mankind-in-the-mass through some pet formula of their own... The harm done by ordinary criminals, murderers, gangsters, and thieves is negligible in comparison with the agony inflicted upon human beings by the professional 'do-gooders,' who attempt to set themselves up as gods on earth and who would ruthlessly force their views on all others-with the abiding assurance that the end justifies the means."
America has traditionally followed Jefferson's advice of relying on the profit motive, individual action, and charity. The United States has fewer cases of genuine hardship per capita than any other country in the world now or throughout all history. Even during the depression of the 1930's, Americans ate and lived better than most people in other countries do today.
History proves that the growth of the welfare state is difficult to check before it comes to its full flower of dictatorship. But let us hope that this time around, the trend can be reversed. If not, then we will see the inevitability of complete socialism-probably within our lifetime.
Three factors may make a difference: sufficient historical knowledge of the failures of socialism in contrast to the proven success of free enterprise; modern means of rapid communications to transmit this information to a large literate population; a growing number of dedicated men and women actively working to promote a wider appreciation of these basic concepts. The timely joining together of these three factors may make it entirely possible for us to reverse the trend.
How is it possible to cut out the various welfare-state features of our government that have already fastened themselves like cancer cells onto the body politic? Can drastic surgery be performed without endangering the patient? Drastic measures are called for. No compromise actions will suffice. Like all surgery, it will not be without discomfort and perhaps even some scar tissue for a long time to come. But it must be done if the patient is to be saved-and it can be done without undue risk.
Not all welfare-state programs currently in force can be dropped simultaneously without causing tremendous economic and social upheaval. The first step toward restoring the limited concept of government should be to freeze all welfare-state programs at their present levels, making sure that no new ones are added. The next step would be to allow all present programs to run out their term with absolutely no renewal. The third step would involve the gradual phasing-out of those programs which are indefinite in their term. The bulk of the transition could be accomplished, I believe, within a ten-year period and virtually completed within 20 years.
We must return to basic concepts and principles, to eternal verities in this choice land. There is no other way. The storm signals are up. They are clear and ominous.
We are building up a generation of lazy, government-dole-consuming weaklings. If this Communist-planned program of deception is not stopped, it will destroy our nation.
As Americans-citizens of the greatest nation under heaven-we face difficult days. Never since the days of the Civil War-100 years ago-has this choice nation faced such a crisis.
I have faith in the American people. I pray that we will refrain from doing anything further that will jeopardize in any manner, our priceless heritage. This is a choice land. If we live and work so as to enjoy the approbation of a Divine Providence, we cannot fail. Without that help, we cannot long endure.
As Americans, let us put our courage to the test-to be firm in the conviction that our cause is just, to reaffirm our faith in all things for which true Americans have always stood in years past.
Let all Americans arouse themselves and stay aroused. We must stop and then reverse the concessions we have made to socialistic Communism at home and abroad. We should oppose these evil forces from our position of strength, for we are not weak.
There is much work to be done. The time is short. Let us begin in earnest-now-and may God bless our efforts, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Delbert L. Stapley
Delbert L. Stapley, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 26-31
My brothers and sisters and friends, please consider with me the commandment of our Savior, as recorded in the fifty-ninth section of the Doctrine and Covenants:
"... Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him".
This modern revelation is more comprehensive and gives better understanding than the accounts of Matthew and Luke. There are no contradictions, however, in the different scriptural versions of this commandment. I have attempted to bring together scriptural quotations explaining and supporting this important commandment.
To love God with all one's heart implies the presence of sincere, profound inner feelings of the soul, inspired from a divine source. Love should be the most dominant factor in one's life. This thought is supported by John the Beloved, who said: "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love".
In recent years the tendency has developed to, debase the word love. It seems worthwhile to mention some definitions of this beautiful and expressive word that glorify it and put love in its proper context:
1. "Affectionate concern for the well-being of others."
2. "The benevolent affection of God for his children, and the reverent affection due from them to God."
It is in this concept of love that the word is used in the scripture quoted.
By the proper use and expression of love, it can be purified, sanctified, and become a beautiful, radiating quality of goodness and uprightness in one's behavior. What kind of world would we have if the pure love of God and man were not the dominant and motivating force in the lives of the majority of people?
Today we witness situations in which true love does not activate or impel all the political leaders of the world. In some instances freedoms are taken away: the lives of people are dominated or controlled by force. Evil ruling and imperious influences are contrary to the rights of free men as bequeathed to us by our God.
1. Can one truly say he loves God and then break the commandments which are given for the salvation and glory of his children?
2. Can one say he loves the Lord and fail to pray and give thanks for his bounteous blessings?
3. Can a person who is dishonest in his dealings with his fellowmen love the Lord?
4. Does a person love the Lord when he fails to pay an honest tithe?
5. Can one love the Lord and not observe the Word of Wisdom?
6. Can one love the Lord and be morally unclean?
7. Can one love the Lord and be disloyal and unfaithful to his or her family by committing licentious acts, desertion, or willful neglect of loved ones?
8. Can one truly love the Lord and disregard the teachings and counsel of his anointed prophet, seer, and revelator?
Love is a synonym for God, for God is love. Therefore, love is made up of these qualities: moral and ethical honesty, patience, forbearance, kindness, integrity, virtue, purity of soul, free conscience, service to fellowmen, and good works.
Can love be perfect? Yes, if we follow the gospel path which leads to it. In Christ's sermon on the mount, he taught: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect".
By accepting this challenge to become perfect, we avoid the idea that attaining perfection is a bar to further progress. Perfection is overcoming, one by one, every facet of character weakness. We understand that perfection is a goal of excellence toward which we strive. With this understanding, one can attain perfection.
It seems clear that perfection cannot be achieved without love.
Jesus said to the rich, young man: "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me".
Earlier he had challenged the young man: "... if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments".
In striving for the goal of love and perfection, we cannot take opposite positions alternately by mixing evil with good. Throughout our lives we must continually follow a righteous course to secure a full measure of love, which leads to the perfection of the soul.
The word heart is used in scripture as the core of life and strength; hence it includes mind, spirit, and soul, and one's entire emotional nature and understanding. One of the dictionary definitions states: "Heart is the center of the total personality with reference to intuition, feeling, or emotion: the center of emotion, in contrast to the head as the center of the intellect."
In many statements it is regarded as the central source of one's mental faculties or capacities. We read in Proverbs: "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he".
It is also the seat of one's affections, moral life, and character. In addition, heart is defined as having spirit, courage, and enthusiasm. Thus, when we love the Lord with all our heart and soul, we love him in spirit, with courage, enthusiasm, and profound earnestness of purpose.
Bushnell has wisely said, "The life of man is in his heart." On occasion there may be a need for cleansing and renewal in order to obtain a pure heart; for it is only the pure in heart who have the promise of seeing God.
The apostle Paul, writing to Titus, gave us this interesting and challenging thought: "Unto the pure all things are pure".
In the Beatitudes, Christ taught: "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God".
God instructed the prophet Samuel to choose a successor to King Saul because God had rejected King Saul from reigning over Israel. Samuel mistakenly looked favorably upon the handsome Eliab, the eldest son of Jesse, to be the king, but he was not the choice of the God of Israel. Therefore, the Lord instructed Samuel to "look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart".
Jesse's youngest son, David, was the Lord's choice to replace King Saul.
The Lord also gave this counsel to his chosen servant Jeremiah: "I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings".
Those who have held the reins and driven horses know how a slight touch of the reins can direct the horse as desired by the driver. When we understand this scripture, the principle of guided free agency becomes apparent.
Solomon wisely called attention to "the preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord".
This harmonizes with the teachings of Jesus as recorded by Luke, when he said, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good... for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh".
The apostle Paul, writing to the Ephesians, exhorted them to do "the will of God from the heart".
The scriptures are full of choice statements about serving the Lord:
"With all your heart".
"To seek the Lord with all one's heart".
"My heart... crieth out for the living God".
"Lift up your hearts and be glad".
"Purify your hearts".
"Asking in faith with an honest heart".
"Pray vocally as well as in thy heart".
"Treasure up in one's heart the truths of eternal gospel teachings".
Nephi, an early American prophet, admonished his people: "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but win real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism-... then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost... and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel".
And Jacob, the brother of Nephi, forcefully stated "Behold, my soul abhorreth sin, and my heart delighteth in righteousness; and I will praise the holy name of my God".
The great Nephite prophet, King Benjamin, taught his people "to keep the commandments of God, that they might rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men".
Alma asked his son Helaman, "Will ye keep my commandments?" And Helaman answered, "Yea, I will keep thy commandments with all my heart".
We need always to remember this eternal truth stated by our Savior: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also".
Moroni, the last of the Book of Mormon prophets, counseled: "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ... that we may be purified even as he is pure".
The upright and pure in heart are the only persons having the promise of eternal life and endless happiness. We ought to be interested in doing that which would incline our hearts toward our Heavenly Father, trusting, working, and praying for everlasting happiness in his eternal kingdom.
I think of an analogy of the heart to a garden. We can keep the heart perfectly clean from evil or there can be degrees or a fullness of evil, just as one can keep a garden beautiful or allow some weeds to grow that eventually could take over the garden completely. It would be disastrous to our eternal goals to let down in our efforts to cleanse and keep our hearts pure and in all holiness before God.
F. D. Huntington phrased it in these words: "Holiness is religious principles put into action-it is faith gone to work-it is love coined into conduct-devotion helping human suffering, and going up in intercession to the great source of all good."
So far I have only treated two phases of the quotation under discussion; namely, to love God, and with all our hearts. I will now briefly discuss the remaining ingredients of "might, mind, and strength," which all together support and reinforce "love" and "heart" and fully involve the soul of man.
"Might" is important because it is the power to do something constructive and employ its entire use to a task or performance.
Moses taught the children of Israel, "And thou shalt love the Lord the God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might".
King Lamoni addressed his Lamanite subjects and urged them not to take up arms against their brothers, saying: "And the great God has had mercy on us... because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his merry he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations".
Personally, I do not believe the angels of God could refuse to visit a person who fully keeps the first and great commandment.
Nephi again counseled his people: "... I say unto you that the right way is believe in Christ, and deny him not... and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul".
The Lord in this latter day admonished the elders of his Church: "For behold the field is white already to harvest, and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul".
Again, referring to the field being white, "already to harvest," he challenged the laborers in his vineyard: "... wherefore, thrust in your sickles, and reap with all your might, mind, and strength".
The Savior exhorted every member of his Church to "go to with his might... to prepare and accomplish the things which I have commanded".
Another interesting quotation given in this dispensation is as follows: "And we know also, that sanctification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true, to all those who love and serve God with all their mights, minds, and strength".
"Mind" is spirit and intelligence embodied in the soul of man. It comes from God, who is the author of its being. God is the Father of our spirit, and all intelligence comes from that divine source. It is our duty to keep in tune with the Spirit. Doing so with diligence and application enables us to expand the mind with learning and knowledge to meet the measure of our creation here on earth. Certainly this knowledge should inspire in us a love of God and a desire in our hearts to keep his commandments, to walk uprightly before him, to heed and obey the still, small voice within, which also comes from God.
We are cautioned to serve God with a perfect heart, in humility, and with a willingness of mind.
The apostle Paul, arriving in Berea from Thessalonica, contrasted the acceptance of his gospel teachings by each of the two groups in these words: "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so".
In his epistle to the Philippians, he advised, "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ... stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel".
Writing to "my dearly beloved Timothy," Paul said, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind".
Jacob, an early Nephite prophet, appealed to his people, saying, "But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause".
Ammon, a great missionary among the Lamanite people, was asked by the queen to look upon her husband, King Lamoni, who had lain as though dead for two days and two nights. "Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that King Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God".
We can understand from this statement that the mind can be enlightened by the Spirit of God and thus can be expanded and enlarged upon by that power.
"Strength" embraces moral courage and force and intense energy in resisting all evil, living righteously before God, and a willing heart and mind to do good in spiritual and all life's pursuits.
The Psalmist said:
1. "... the Lord is the strength of my life".
2. "... but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever".
3. "Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee".
Ammon made this observation, "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore, I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things".
The apostle Paul made a similar statement when he said, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me".
Alma, the great teacher of righteousness, gave this admonition to his people: "But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering".
The Lord, speaking through Joseph Smith, the latter-day Prophet, admonished the Saints: "But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly before me, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of man; for some are of men, and others of devils".
Again he said to the Prophet: "Hearken ye to these words. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Treasure these things up in your hearts, and let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds".
To love God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength is our first, and most important commitment. Without our eternal God, who is the Father of our spirits, we would not exist. With his love for us and our love for him, everything concerning our eternal welfare and happiness will fit into proper perspective to guide us to that eternal kingdom where God and Christ dwell.
The final words of the commandment, the theme of this presentation, should be etched in our souls forever: "and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him". The service we render to God and his children through his Son, Jesus Christ, with love and with all our heart, might, mind, and strength will bring us the exaltation we hopefully are striving to achieve.
May this commandment-"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength, and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him" -always have primacy in our lives, I pray humbly in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop John H. Vandenberg
John H. Vandenberg, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 31-34
The goodness of our Father in heaven is especially evident at this season as we again witness another great harvest. The planting has been done, the growing season is over, and now the harvest is in process.
Recently, I was in Magic Valley, Idaho. While there I visited three welfare farms that are operated by the wards of the Church in that area. I was impressed by the way in which these farms were being managed. The bounteous crops evidenced the fact that the farms were being cared for properly. It appeared that there would be an excellent harvest.
As we drove away from these farms, however, we noticed a beet field that was overgrown with weeds. It seemed to have had little or no care. Because of the evident neglect, it was clear that the harvest would be minimal, if indeed there would be a harvest at all.
I thought then how much these fields reflect what can happen to us in our own lives.
When we plant seeds of righteousness and daily rid our lives of weeds, we reap a harvest of satisfaction, happiness, and even eternal joy. But when, because of neglect, we allow weeds to grow and canker our lives, we can reap less abundantly and perhaps even harvest sorrow and discontent. Some years ago, I read a homely verse printed in a seed company publication that builds on this analogy:
"When I put on my worn-out tweeds And with my hands pull garden weeds, The likeness always come to mind, 'Tween weeds and sins of human kind.
"For weeds will grow up anywhere In ground that's either foul or fair, And when you pull them you're not through; They'll grow right up again for you.
"Some weeds have roots so great in length That pulling them is test of strength, And they should be removed with care Or they'll kill good plants anywhere.
It makes no difference where you go There's no place that the weeds can't grow; Some folks keep weeding, others won't, Some folks have gardens, others don't.
"So weeds and sin are quite the same In growth and action, not in name; But different is their origin: God makes the weeds, we make the sin."
It is important to realize that we make our "garden" or, in this case, our life just what it is.
It has been said that "man has two creators, his God and himself. The first creator furnishes him the raw materials for his life... The second creator-himself-has marvelous powers he rarely realizes. It is what a man makes of himself that counts."
No factor in, life is more vital to living than the realization that you and I are, in the final analysis, our own creators. This principle is often referred to as the law of the harvest: "... whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap".
This is a law that affects each of our lives. If we plant seeds of righteousness and cultivate them properly, we reap peace, joy, and exaltation; but conversely, if we plant seeds of avarice, hate, and lust, we reap the whirlwind of sorrow and anguish.
Each year as the farmer surveys his land, plants his field, organizes his work, he contemplates having a rich harvest. So should it be in our personal lives and especially so with those who have been called to serve as spiritual leaders. I do not know whether the impact of the wisdom of President David O. McKay's counsel to the stake presidents and bishops has found its mark as yet. He said:
"The spirituality of a ward will be commensurate with the activity of the youth in that ward. The president of the priests quorum is the bishop, by ordination, and it is his duty to have the confidence of those young men and girls of corresponding ages, for they will mold the moral atmosphere of his ward."
A bishop who considers seriously this counsel will have a rich harvest of spirituality and devotion in his ward. As with all programs and directions given by our Church leaders, we can only harvest the benefits by utilizing the various inspired programs. One charted way to involve the youth is through the bishop's youth activity committee, which is outlined in the Aaronic Priesthood-Youth Handbook.
An example of the harvest reaped by a bishop who is taking up the cause and is involving the young men and young women of his ward in the spiritual quest has been reported firsthand to the Presiding Bishopric by a young man and a young woman who are participating in this experience. Under the confidence of the bishop the young people of this ward are saying, "Bishop, this is what we want to do. Under your direction we would like to take a program to the homebound members of our ward. With your permission, we would also like to present the program in sacrament meeting each fifth Sunday; and with your help we'd like to plan the first program around the theme of obedience. For Christmas we'd like to repair toys and make cakes for some of the less fortunate members of our ward. We'd also like to clear the weeds away from the intersections in the neighborhood."
With them it is no longer a program in which they wait for the adults to plan for them. With proper guidance, they are performing above and beyond what is generally expected of them.
A partial reference to youth involvement is alluded to in the September issue of The Improvement Era. The harvest that can be reaped by such activity has also been described by a young man who was called to serve on such a committee. In his testimony to the other young people of his ward, he said, in part:
"The Aaronic Priesthood-Youth committee in the... Church is organized to give the youth responsibility in planning and executing their own activities. With this responsibility will come a growth, a growth that will prepare every young Latter-day Saint boy to hold with dignity, honor, and worthiness the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood.
"There's one difference between us and any other youth organization. We do things the Lord's way and not the way we think is best. Our Savior tells us that our Father's house is a house of order; and the priesthood is the way his house is ordered. With our Father's authority the youth of today will plan and organize our lives to serve our fellowmen and to love the Lord our God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength, and be eternally obedient to the laws and principles that he has given to us, that one day our Father in heaven might say to each of us 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant'."
Another bishop indicated that by implementing the bishop's youth activity committee in his ward, several young people were brought into activity. Perhaps even more significant, under the confidence of the bishop, he said, the youth are assuming the responsibility for their own activities. Certainly for such a bishop there will be not only the harvest of greater spirituality, but also the additional dividend that comes from the development of the youth, since they will usually set their own standards of performance higher for themselves than adults would have done.
For a father, the situation is the same. He will reap joy and happiness if he cultivates and develops his children through family home evenings and other family-centered activities and if he has sufficient confidence in his children to give them responsibility for their activities.
As the youth are involved in meaningful responsibilities, they will rise to meet the challenge. Today's youth need specific guidance because of our complex society, which offers many alternatives for both excellence and mediocrity. They must catch the vision and requirement of an abundant harvest in their own lives.
The law of the harvest is irrevocable in any phase of life. With the simplicity of this law, it is paradoxical that some people have not learned to live their lives accordingly. King Saul offers a tragic example of a man who, in his personal life, failed to learn this simple, yet profound, lesson of life. Unwisely, Saul began to sow pride and hate, feeling be was above the law. Saul could have been a great king; however, he soon began to reap the product of sowing hate and pride. He found from bitter experience that men's "works do follow them".
While the operation of the law of the harvest brought pain and anguish to Saul, it conversely will bring blessings and joy to those who sow and cultivate seeds of righteousness. The Lord has declared that "there is a law, 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".
It is by this law that the bishop I previously referred to reaped the blessing of increased spirituality in his ward through obedience to truth, as directed by our Prophet.
In this world of turmoil, as we look at what the harvest will be for our personal lives, these words of Bernard M. Baruch hold great meaning: "The only freedom man can ever have is the freedom to discipline himself. That is what we are fighting for, to maintain our right to self discipline instead of having the discipline of slavery and tyranny thrust upon us by a conquering enemy."
Scholars often point to the great battles of history and indicate how the fate of the world is shaped by the outcome. Such battles were fought at Waterloo, Concord, Gettysburg, and Normandy. However, after careful analysis one must conclude that the great and determining battles are fought within the soul of man.
No more meaningful battle has been fought than when Christ in Gethsemane placed the will of his Father paramount, in order to bring about the salvation of mankind. The planting of the seeds of his gospel have brought hope, peace, and the opportunity for exaltation.
We can look also to Moses in the plains of Midian, Paul on the road to Damascus, or Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove. Each of these men made decisions that not only altered the course of his own life, but also the course of mankind.
Each day of our own lives we are faced with similar decisions. Though they may not seem as dramatic as a Gethsemane or a Sacred Grove, they nevertheless determine the ultimate course of our lives. It is the culmination of our day-to-day decisions and actions that determines whether we will reap a harvest of peace in this life and life eternal, or unhappiness.
Just as the seemingly little sins of Saul culminated in a life of sorrow and tragedy so the life filled with the day-to-day acts of righteousness will reap a life of peace, joy, and even exaltation. Nowhere is this principle taught more effectively than in these words of the Savior:
"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
"And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
"And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
"For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
"Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
"When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
"Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
"And the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me".
We are, in a very real way, our own creators. We reap that which we have sown, and we receive our wages of "eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one. For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey". In other words, we decide by our day-to-day actions what our harvest will be. As with the farms I saw in the Magic Valley of Idaho, it can be a bounteous harvest or it can be a patch of weeds.
May we sow only righteousness, while continuing to rid our lives of the weeds of evil, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Milton R. Hunter
Milton R. Hunter, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 35-37
The holy scriptures declare that there were many noble and great spirits among God's numerous sons in the grand council in heaven before this world was created. Speaking of their future mortal probation, the Eternal Father proclaimed that he would make these noble and great ones his rulers. Thus they were chosen in heaven and foreordained by God to become prophets, seers, and revelators in mortality.
The greatest of these spirit sons of the Eternal Father was Jehovah, later known as Jesus Christ. The scriptures declare: "And there stood one among them that was like unto God". The Eternal Father selected this one to work with him as co-creator of the world and also later to serve as the Savior of the human family. In explaining to Abraham about these noble and great spirits, Jehovah said: "Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born".
The prophet Jeremiah wrote:
"Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations".
The Prophet Joseph Smith declared:
"Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was. I suppose that I was ordained to this very office in that Grand Council."
It seems to be definite, therefore, that all the prophets, seers, and revelators who headed the various gospel dispensations, such as Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Joseph Smith, were called, sanctified, and foreordained by God before they came into mortality perform the great woe which they performed here.
Approximately 3,500 years before the birth of Joseph Smith, the prophet Joseph of Egyptian fame prophesied that in the latter days God would raise up a great prophet, seer, and revelator. This prophet and seer would perform a great and marvelous work for the salvation of the human family. His name would be Joseph, and his father's name would be Joseph. He would be mighty among the people and would "do much good, both in word and in deed, being an instrument in the hands of God, with exceeding faith, to work mighty wonders, and do that thing which is great in the sight of God" He would be "great like unto Moses".
The Prophet Joseph Smith fits in every detail with the prophecy made anciently by Joseph of Egypt. Joseph Smith was God's holy anointed prophet, seer, and revelator through whom the gospel was revealed from heaven and the true Church of Jesus Christ established in the latter days in fulfillment of the predictions made by many of the ancient prophets. In every respect Joseph Smith was God's prophet, seer, and revelator who was "great like unto Moses." A seer has the power to look through the veil and see visions.
No personal visitation to mortal man of God the Father and his Only Begotten Son has been recorded in any holy scriptures which equals the marvelous experience had by Joseph Smith, the seer. In response to his prayer in the Sacred Grove in the spring of 1820, Joseph Smith was visited by God, the Eternal Father, and his One Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Joseph reported the following:
"When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!".
And then Joseph received instructions from the Only Begotten Son, and throughout the remainder of his life the Prophet continued to receive numerous revelations from that divine Being.
Also, on other occasions during his life, Joseph Smith had the unusual privilege of seeing Jesus Christ. For example, on February 16 1832 regarding Sidney Rigdon and himself, Joseph wrote:
"... the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened...
"And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father...
"And saw the holy angels and them who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God, and the Lamb, who worship him forever and ever.
"And now after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
"For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father-
"That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God".
These personal experiences had by the Prophet Joseph Smith definitely illustrate the fact that he was indeed a seer "great like unto Moses," because Joseph saw God and talked with him face to face as one man talks with another, even as did Moses.
The Prophet Joseph Smith was also visited on numerous occasions by heavenly messengers other than God, such as the Angel Moroni, John the Baptist, Peter, James, and John, Moses, Elias, and Elijah, as well as by Gabriel, Raphael, and Michael.. These heavenly messengers bestowed upon the prophet divine powers, keys, authority, and priesthood, and gave him instructions requisite to establishing the true gospel and Church of Jesus Christ on the earth again. Thus, there was a "restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began".
The principal work of a prophet of God is to be a teacher of religious truths and thereby give to the people the will and the word of the Lord. The Prophet Joseph Smith produced for the world three new volumes of holy scriptures namely, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price, and, in addition, he revised the Bible. No prophet who has ever lived has accomplished such a tremendous feat. There are only 177 pages in the Old Testament attributed to Moses while Joseph Smith either translated through the gift and power of God or received as direct revelation from Jehovah 835 similar-size pages of holy scriptures. Joseph's accomplishments stand superb among prophets as a proclaimer of the will and the word of the Lord.
Prophets, when directed by the Spirit of the Lord, predict future events, or, in other words, prophesy of the prophets in this respect, having Joseph Smith rates among the greatest proclaimed many prophecies. I shall present only one prophecy he made as an illustration. While in Montrose, Iowa, on August 6, 1842, Joseph Smith wrote in his journal:
"... I prophesied that the Saints would continue to suffer much affliction and would be driven to the Rocky Mountains, many would apostatize, others would be put to death by our persecutors or lose their lives in consequence of exposure or disease, and some of you will live to go and assist in making settlements and build cities and see the Saints become a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains."
We all know that this prophecy has been literally and completely fulfilled.
Perhaps paramount to his accomplishments was that "through the gift and power of God and the Urim and Thummim" he translated the Book of Mormon into modern English from an ancient unknown language called Reformed Egyptian.
It is of significance to remember that Jesus Christ restored his true gospel and Church on the earth again through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Lord proclaimed that the gospel and Church would never be taken from the earth again nor given to another people. Because of this divine restoration, the Prophet Joseph was murdered when he was 38 years of age. Thus, he sealed his testimony of that divine restoration with his blood, giving his life for the Savior and his Church, as many of the ancient prophets had done.
The following important statement appears in modern scripture:
"Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it".
I bear my testimony that the Prophet Joseph Smith is one of the greatest of the prophets, seers, and revelators that the world has known. A study and evaluation of the prophecies he made, the visions and revelations he had, the scriptures he produced, and his numerous mighty works and marvelous accomplishments force this conclusion upon the honest investigator. Joseph Smith shall stand always as superior among God's elect the noble and great ones whom he selected to be his rulers. Joseph was indeed a prophet, seer, and revelator "great like unto Moses".
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Bernard P. Brockbank
Bernard p. Brockbank, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 37-40
Brothers and sisters, I have had the great honor and privilege of spending the better part of the past nine years in the mission field. Many choice blessings have resulted from this experience. I have had the privilege of meeting and visiting with thousands of religious people from all parts of the world as they visited our Church pavilions at the New York World's Fair and at the Texas World's Fair.
I asked many of these visitors if they believed that they were literally in the image and likeness of God, and almost everyone answered no.
I would like to mention one fine, clean student who visited the pavilion in Texas. He believed in a trinity of God the Eternal Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, that they were all one and the same God, and that they were incomprehensible. I asked him if he believed that Jesus Christ was ever a separate personage from God the Father. He said that he believed they are one and the same God. He asked about our exhibit of the painting that showed the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove, when he claimed that God the Eternal Father and his Son Jesus Christ visited him in the grove. We talked about the vision of Joseph Smith and the personal appearance of the Father and the Son. We read what Joseph Smith said about this marvelous vision.
Joseph Smith said, "... I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun... When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!".
We further discussed the profound importance of this divine vision to again witness to all men that the trinity composing the Godhead are separate personages, that they have tangible, personal bodies, and that all mankind is literally in the image and likeness of God. We discussed a number of scriptures showing the appearance of God to Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and all of the ancient prophets. We also talked about the personal life and body of Jesus Christ before and after his death, and about his personal, resurrected body.
He then asked about the Book of Mormon and its purpose and value as a record of scripture. I had him read the following two statements on the first page of the Book of Mormon: "The Book of Mormon... is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever-And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations".
He desired to obtain a copy of the Book of Mormon. He was asked to read the book and to pray about it, and we read the following very important promise from the prophet Moroni, who said, "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true, and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost".
He said that he would read the book and pray about it.
I met with him again in a few days. He said, "I have read part of the Book of Mormon and I have prayed about it, but I did not feel that my prayers were answered as promised by the prophet Moroni."
I mentioned that I had received an answer to my prayers when I asked to know about the Book of Mormon and its value and its origin and its divine purpose. "I wonder why God would answer my prayers regarding the divinity of the Book of Mormon and not answer your prayers. I wonder if you prayed to the same God that I prayed to."
You know, there are many religions in the world today and many and varied concepts of God.
Some worship gods of nature. Some worship the sun and other parts of the universe. Some even worship appetites and the pleasure of this earth.
Some worship an uncreated and incomprehensible trinity of gods. Others worship a god without body, parts, or passions.
The Hindus worship and pray to the god of their belief. The Mohammedans worship and pray to the god of their belief.
If we desire to be Christians and followers of Jesus Christ, we must accept his example, his teachings, and his doctrines.
We must pray to the same God that Jesus Christ prayed to. Many of the gods that are worshiped are from the intellect and minds of men. Through the prophet Jeremiah the Lord said, "Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?".
The apostle Paul said, "... when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods". Man-made gods are no gods.
Jesus Christ said, "... this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent".
Jesus said to know the only true God and Jesus Christ-not only to know the only true God, but also to know Jesus Christ, whom God has sent.
Then I said to the boy, "Do you remember telling me that you believed that God the Eternal Father and Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost were all one and the same with no separation, and that they were not personal beings, and that you did not believe that you were literally created in the image and likeness of God?"
If you pray to three gods in one god, that is not the same as praying to God the Eternal Father through Jesus Christ. To pray to a god that you are in the image and likeness of is different from praying to an incomprehensible three gods in one god.
When you believe that Jesus Christ and God the Eternal Father are one and the same god, you are unable to properly use Jesus Christ as your mediator between you and your Heavenly Father.
Remember the vision of Joseph Smith wherein God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ appeared with separate, personal, glorified bodies. The mediator between you and your Heavenly Father is Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "... I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me".
The apostle Peter said, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved".
We again read and analyzed the promise made by the prophet Moroni and what one needs to do to receive the divine answer to prayer. In order to receive an answer, you must closely follow the prophet Moroni's counsel. The steps are very important and help to prepare the one praying to receive the witness from his Heavenly Father. The steps are as follows:
Ask God the Eternal Father.
Ask in the name of Jesus Christ.
Ask the Eternal Father if the teachings in the Book of Mormon are true.
Ask with a sincere heart.
Ask with real intent, with sincere desire to know, having faith in Christ.
The prophet's promise is that if you ask the Eternal Father in the name of Jesus Christ, with a sincere heart, with real intent, with faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost.
All three members of the Godhead are separately and individually involved to give this great promise and answer to prayer.
The young man said that he would prepare himself to again ask God in prayer. When we met again he said he had received his answer.
Again I repeat, it is very important that we know the only true God and his Son Jesus Christ. We should all remember the great goal as given by Jesus Christ, who said: "... this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent".
Brothers and sisters, our great assignment to God's children, to every nation, individual, tongue, and people, is to teach them about the true and living God about God the Eternal Father, and about his Son Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Redeemer.
One of the best ways for every member of this Church to be a missionary and to do as our prophet David O. McKay has asked is to have a copy or copies of the Book of Mormon in the homes of your nonmember friends and neighbors.
Encourage them to read the Book of Mormon and to pray about it. You should read to them the great God-inspired promise by the prophet Moroni of how they can receive the witness to the book of Mormon, and to know of its divine purpose. Be sure they follow the steps given in the promise. This promise needs the testimony and the help of one who has received the witness and the answer promised by the prophet. The Lord said that everyone that asks receives. Everyone that seeks shall find, and to everyone that knocks, it shall be opened unto him.
Brothers and sisters, the world is hungry and looking for a new witness. They need the testimony and they need the strength and they need the counsel of one who has the testimony and the witness. The Lord is at the helm in this great program. It's the Lord's work to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, but the Lord has placed much of the responsibility of teaching and helping his children upon those who have received the witness.
The Lord gives a great promise: "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise".
May we help our Father's children to receive the commitments of the Lord by complying and being obedient to his great plan and his teachings, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Eldred G. Smith
Eldred G. Smith, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 40-41
There should be no doubt in the minds of any of us that the world is not well. It is not dying yet, but it is sick. It does not have an incurable disease, for we have a good physician. The world just needs healing.
This is not new in the world. There have been problems and crises off and on from the very beginning of mortality. The scriptures are replete with references concerning similar conditions. The Lord has, from the very beginning, given man warnings and promises. Should the scriptures fall open at almost any place, they would very likely reveal the remedy for all problems, even present-day conditions.
Adam and Eve were admonished to repent and be obedient to God's command. Yet, by the time of Noah the world was so sick, God had to destroy all except Noah and those with him.
Then in the latter part of Israel's wanderings in the wilderness, Moses, having been told he was not to see the promised land, declared to all Israel the following warning and promise.
"But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
"When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days"-Are these not the latter days? Are we not Israel? Then he is talking to us; yes, to us here in 1968-"if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shall be obedient unto his voice;"-Does not the voice of the Lord come to us from his Prophet?
" he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them".
Open the scriptures to another historical occasion: the dedicatory services of Solomon's temple.
This was a great sacrificial ordinance. Solomon offered a sacrifice of 2,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. This was a seven-day dedicatory service. Then the Lord answered Solomon's prayer. Note here the application to our time:
The Lord said to Solomon:
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land".
Is there any doubt that our land needs healing? Christ in Jerusalem, seeing the iniquity, declared:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!".
Turn to the Book of Mormon. This is a record of continual ups and downs of the people. With righteousness, there was peace and prosperity. When they became wicked and sinful, there was war, destruction, famine.
Following the great destruction of the more wicked on this hemisphere at the time of the crucifixion of Christ, the voice of the Lord was heard to declare:
Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.
"Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.
"Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved".
"... how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart".
Here the Lord says, "Ye ends of the earth." Does that not mean us? This was not just to those who heard his voice. For this purpose it was recorded and preserved down through the centuries and brought forth by the instrumentality of God through his servant, the Prophet Joseph Smith, for us of this day. The promise here is only to those who repent and do his will-yes, the promise of eternal life. This means exaltation. He will save the world in that all will be resurrected, but only those who come unto him and do his will shall receive eternal life.
Do you believe this? I believe it! I know it, just as I know that God lives, and that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. I know that his kingdom has been restored to earth in these the latter days through the Prophet Joseph Smith.
If we will heed the word of the Lord through his servant and Prophet today, President David O. McKay, the Lord shall heal our land; he shall give us eternal life. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Richard L. Evans
Richard L. Evans, Conference Report, October 1968, p. 41-45
Some days ago, on September 17, as referred to by President McKay this morning, we dedicated a new flagpole on Temple Square, with flags flying a hundred feet high and a base and background of panels on liberty and law, including the Ten Commandments and some other reminders of our basic beliefs, among them these:
"We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in maintaining laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.
"We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life".
"We believe in... obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law".
Despite an all too prevalent and all too popular appeal to permissiveness, we still reap what we sow. And I would plead this day, with the young, the old, with the counselors of youth, the teachers of youth-with all of us-to recommit ourselves to living by law.
To those who are pulling away from God-given and long-proved principles, abandoning and protesting, may I offer the very interesting observation of a wise and seasoned president whose stake I was recently privileged to visit, and who said, in substance, with golf course connotation, "When there is all that fairway, why do you play so much in the rough?"
Too many are playing in the rough, frustrated, foolishly dissipating present possibilities, and jeopardizing the limitless opportunities of everlasting life. Too many are protesting, lashing out in anger, without making any constructive contribution to solving the ills and the evils. We ought to be angry about evil and never be complacent, never let it quietly see into our surroundings. But we ought not to be angry and resentful against good advice, against reasonable restraint, against the counsels God has given. Stubborn, blind, brash anger, going ahead against all safeguards and danger signs, as an utterly shortsighted and self-destructive anger.
Let me insert here some comments on irresponsible protest from three or four significant sources, dating back to the last century and coming down to the present scene.
The first is from Phillips Brooks: "If circumstances taunt and persecute you," he said, "if everything you touch is a strain and a temptation, do not stand idly wishing that the world were changed. The change must be in you... Back on the wills of men, where it belongs, falls the responsibility of sin."
The second, from Dr. Fosdick, comes closer to us in time: "Today... I am dealing with a special area of young persons, some of whom, I think, are fooling themselves...," he said. "... they find it easier to become excited over social reform than to deal... with their own characters...
"They are, for example, pacifists in general, but they have such a quality of spirit that they break up the peace of any group they enter... They ardently say that the world needs to be changed but their neighbors know that, however that may be, they certainly need to be changed...
"Suppose that the social reforms... were now successfully achieved. Can any one who... visualizes that redeemed society suppose that... personal character would be called for less? Surely, personal character would be called for more...
"... always in history character and happiness have come to people... when they shouldered their personal responsibility."
The third is a comment from George Kennan as recently reported:
"The revolutionary habit may get ominously out of hand... Violent protest... amounts to 'intimidation and blackmail'; if tolerated, it leads to dictatorship. 'I have seen more harm done in this world by those who tried to storm the bastions of society in the name of utopian beliefs... than by all the humble efforts of those who have tried to create a little order and civility and affection within their own intimate entourage...' The revolutionaries... have not been able to face a 'vitally important truth'; namely, that the 'decisive seat of evil in this world is not in the social and political institutions and not even, as a rule, in the ill will or iniquities of statesmen but simply in the weakness and imperfection of the human soul itself, and by that I mean literally every soul, including my own and that of the student militant at the gate.'
"The disquieting thing about today's revolutionaries is that many of them could not care less about traditional good and evil. Their vision is apocalyptic... 'Ultimately... it will accept nothing save... obliteration of all stabilities.'"
"People yearn for ultimate upheaval," said Earl Rovit, "because they believe it will restore 'innocence and purity' to the world... Yet it may be destruction that really attracts them. Their basic attitude is not that they 'want to break windows in order to let the fresh air in.'... the fact is they are 'hopelessly in love with the sound of smashing glass.'"
Recently, with some much appreciated help, I have had occasion to select some citations on the roads and pathways that people pursue:
"Any road leads to the end of the world," said Edward Fitzgerald.
"Where the road bends abruptly take short steps."
And, of course, there is the classic from Robert Frost on "The Road Not Taken":
"I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."
My beloved young friends, let us not destroy ourselves by taking the wrong road-by refusing counsel, by departing from proved principles, by yielding to appetites, by indulging passions, by straying off the straight way that leads to life and truth and to all the limitless accomplishments of the everlasting future, as well as peace and purpose and happiness here.
Of course, the young-and all of us-are often impatient to see Utopia come sooner, to see everything set right, right now. There may be in the air a little of the feeling of Hamlet:
"The time is out of joint: O cursed spite, That ever I was born to set it right!"
But just plain protest and rebellion and dissipation and destruction will not set things right.
The answer is that we were all born to set right whatever should be set right that is within our reach. We shouldn't dodge or run from duty, but should be engaged in the service of our fellowmen, in the service of the Master, in doing all that should and can be done.
And as to opportunities for action, there is in the Church of Jesus Christ provision for activity and action pertaining to the physical and mental and spiritual health and wholeness of all men everywhere. There is outlet and opportunity for the strength and service of all who wish to help toward the peace and well-being of all people: welfare, serving others, taking care of our own; tithing; teaching; health, hospitals; schools here at home; educating the less privileged in far places; bringing thousands of the children of others into our homes and hospitals; youth programs, athletics, talent development, cultural and recreational activities; rehabilitating people with problems; preserving the integrity of home and marriage and family life; caring for the sick, compassionate service; encouragement to seek knowledge, to develop skills, to acquire competence, to qualify for professional service; encouragement to be active in politics, civic affairs, public service; to foster freedom; to share the gospel, to teach the truth; to move among all peoples-to learn their languages, to become acquainted with customs and cultures; to be anxiously and constructively concerned about the physical, mental, moral, spiritual well-being, the peace and health and happiness of all people-and with the earnest intent and endeavor that all this be done without the use of public funds.
The list could be multiplied to include a completeness of provision for the temporal and eternal salvation of all.
My beloved young friends-and you who are older: There are some things that are "not good for man" and which we are counseled not to do and not to partake of, but basically this is not a gospel of not doing. There is ample opportunity for all for the outlet of all your energy and earnest intent for the blessing and upbuilding of people at home and worldwide.
Of course the world has troubles, uncertainties, problems. Of course we are impatient and puzzled at times, but the means and the reason for improving and repenting and for solving the problems are given us in our Father's plans and purposes.
May I cite two oft-quoted scriptures, and put some added emphasis on them:
"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness".
The emphasis could well be on good and righteousness.
Another: "Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold".
I infer from this that we have an obligation to be active in public issues, in civic problems, and to provide honest and good men and wise men to serve and give leadership in public affairs.
We shouldn't be sideline sitters.
With you, I thank God for a prophet to guide us in these latter days. He has given us counsel at this conference, and through all his faithful years in the great-hearted kindliness and inspiration of his calling.
I hope and pray that we may accept the counsel of President McKay, and the counsel of Him whom he serves.
The Lord hasn't asked of any of us anything that we can't do, nor given us any commandment that we can't keep.
I only know one place to put my trust-in the counsels and commandments of God, which patiently he has repeated over and over through the ages, and again and again given us.
Mothers, fathers: Set before your children a righteous example. Love them; lead them. Take them where they should be. If they follow you, be sure that they follow you in the right habits, to the right places, for the right purposes. Don't lead off in any direction in which you would wish they wouldn't follow.
And you, my beloved young friends: You have more opportunities than any generation ever had. God bless you to choose the right, to use your energies in constructive, righteous ways, in useful, virtuous, productive performance, not in irresponsible protest, not dropping out, but entering in, with the full use of the opportunities and talents God has given you, knowing and keeping his commandments, honoring, obeying, and sustaining and upholding the law, and going forward in faith with peace and accomplishment and quiet conscience.
"Any road leads to the end of the world." "When there is all that fairway, why do you play so much in the rough?" "What is the use of running when you are on the wrong road?"
"I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference."
I leave you my witness of this work, my witness of the living God who is our Father and who made us in his own image-my witness of the divinity of his beloved Son, our Lord and Savior. All he did was for the salvation of men.
May each of us follow his example and seek with all our hearts to save ourselves, our families, and all our Father's family, to the very best of our abilities and energies and opportunities-not negatively protesting, but positively producing; not sitting down, but serving and moving forward; not destroying, but creating; not infecting with doubt, but building with faith; I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our beloved Lord and Savior. Amen.
President N. Eldon Tanner
N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 46-51
At the call of our leader, President David O. McKay, I am privileged this morning to address you who are assembled here in this historic Tabernacle, and also the vast radio and television audience. I do so in all humility and with a prayer in my heart that what I might say will be in harmony with the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We who will occupy this position during this conference have the responsibility to do as Paul charged Timothy:
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
"And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables".
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come".
The last days are here and now, and Paul's prophecy is being fulfilled before our very eyes. Men are refusing sound doctrine, and after their own lusts they are turning their ears from the truth and are listening to those who preach to their own liking. As a result, we are suffering many tribulations throughout the world. We have reached a time in our history which I believe is the most crucial mankind has ever had to face.
Thinking, serious-minded people in all fields of endeavor agree that present circumstances cannot continue very much longer without precipitating one of the most serious crises man has ever known.
As we consider these disturbing conditions in a world of turmoil, I am sure we are asking the simple questions: Why is there so much strife and hate in the world between nations, within nations, within states, in universities, and even in groups of local communities, and with this unrest, distrust, and strife extending even into the home? Why is it so universal? What can and should be done to correct these conditions with which none of us are content or happy?
As I was contemplating these matters, I continued to search the scriptures for an answer. As we all know, the Holy Writ is replete with exhortations, warnings, and prophecies pertaining to the welfare of mankind and conditions in the latter days, or the days in which we now live.
We find the world divided into two great opposing camps. One is made up of individuals and nations whose philosophy of life is fully materialistic, who not only reject, but aggressively repudiate, the true Christian way of life.
In the other camp are those who still retain a nominal recognition of spiritual and moral values. These comprise what we call our Christian civilization. One of the greatest tragedies of this generation, however, is that so much of our so-called Christian civilization does no more than profess Christianity, and, in fact, many today do not even profess.
The only clear and sure solution to our problems is to make our professed Christianity real, to make it personal, apply it in our lives, accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and as the real living Savior of mankind, "for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved".
Jesus Christ not only gave his life for us, but he has also given us clearly the plan of life and of salvation, and he has assured us that to gain eternal life we must live by sound doctrine, which is the word of the Lord, spoken either by God or Jesus Christ or by the prophets of God. This doctrine answers clearly and definitely such vital questions as:
Who are we?
Where did we come from?
Why are we here?
Is there life after death?
Is there a living, personal God?
What is our relationship to God, the Eternal Father?
Is Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, the Son of God?
What must we do to gain exaltation and enjoy eternal life?
For answers to these questions, let us turn to and consider the words of the Lord and of the prophets, both ancient and modern.
While we were all in the spirit world with God the Father, his Only Begotten Son, then with him in the spirit, said:
"We will go down... and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;
"And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them".
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them".
How uplifting and dignifying it is to know that we are truly the spirit children of God, made in his image; that he and Jesus Christ are personal gods, that they are interested in us, and that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, as stated in ancient and modern scripture. On different occasions God introduced him to men on the earth in these words: "This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him!".
Jesus taught that as the spirit children of the Father, with that spark of divinity in us, we can become like him by keeping his commandments. He also said: "Search the scriptures... which testify of me". And Paul told the Romans: "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope".
Then again we have the words of Jesus: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent".
In answer to the question, "If I die shall I live again?" Christ said: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die". He gave his life and was resurrected that man might not remain forever in the grave.
He also assured the multitude: "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also".
Regarding his resurrection, we have also the testimony of Paul, who was once a persecutor of the Saints, and denier of Christ, that the apostles and he himself and hundreds of others had seen Christ after he rose, "the third day according to the scriptures".
How fortunate is the person who looks forward to the resurrection as an important step in eternal progression and prepares now to meet God!
As I attended the funeral of our loyal and devoted colleague and faithful servant of the Lord, William J. Critchlow, Jr., I was greatly impressed by the serenity of his wife, his children, and even his grandchildren. They had been taught and they believed in a literal resurrection, and they knew they would be reunited as a family. I tried to compare their feelings with those who do not have such faith, who will not accept sound doctrine, but who search in vain for hope. I humbly prayed to my Heavenly Father that I would be able to touch the hearts of some and help them to appreciate and understand what great joy and satisfaction and assurance faith in the resurrection gives.
With all the irrefutable testimonies of the prophets regarding the gospel truths, why is it so difficult for man to accept and endure sound doctrine, which is so important to all of us? Some of the reasons are evident.
First, Satan's influence on mankind. In the spirit world, even before the world was, Satan rebelled because his plan was rejected, and God said:
"Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him... I caused that he should be cast down;
"And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice".
Satan then determined to do all in his power to defeat the work of righteousness, and thus he goes up and down, to and fro, in the earth, seeking to destroy the souls of men. He does so by deceit and flattery, and by his emissaries who teach false doctrine to all who will listen; and it seems that they are meeting with great success.
Communists, anti-Christs, and the promoters of the God-is-dead theory, as well as the skeptics and some who style themselves as religious leaders, are actively engaged in teaching false doctrine and in using every hostile means to break down and destroy a belief in God and in the scriptures, thereby fulfilling the prophecy of Jesus Christ when he said:
"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect".
Also, many, as they become learned in the worldly things such as science and philosophy, become self-sufficient and are prepared to lean unto their own understanding, even to the point where they think they are independent of God; and because of their worldly learning they feel that if they cannot prove physically, mathematically, or scientifically that God lives, they can and should feel free to question and even to deny God and Jesus Christ. Then many of our professors begin to teach perverse things, to lead away disciples after them; and our youth whom we send to them for learning accept them as authority, and many are caused to lose their faith in God.
A graduate student who had just received his doctor of philosophy degree was telling me of some of the attacks that are made on Christianity, or a belief in God, and how difficult it is to stand up against them, particularly for those who have not been taught the gospel in their homes and who have not gained a testimony of its truthfulness. He said that one professor taunted him with this statement: "Surely you don't believe in that archaic stuff you find in the Bible and in your Book of Mormon," and then spent some time with him trying to turn him away from the truth.
I cannot understand a scientist or pseudo-intellectual, or anyone who should be searching for the truth, having the temerity to place himself as authority in religion to the point that he would challenge, let alone deny, the teachings of God the Eternal Father, the Creator of the world, and of his Son Jesus Christ because he cannot prove it scientifically.
How much wiser and better it is for man to accept the simple truths of the gospel and to accept as authority God, the Creator of the world, and his Son Jesus Christ, and to accept by faith those things which he cannot disprove and for which he cannot give a better explanation. He must be prepared to acknowledge that there are certain things-many, many things-that he cannot understand.
How can we deny or even disbelieve God when we cannot understand even the simplest things around us-how the leaf functions, what electricity is, what our emotions are, when the spirit enters the body, and what happens to it when it leaves? How can we say that because we do not understand the resurrection, there is not or cannot be a resurrection?
We are admonished to "trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding". And we are warned: "Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!".
How can man believe and know that he can travel in man-made space ships around the earth at thousands and thousands of miles an hour, communicate with man here upon the earth, and be directed in his course, with the knowledge that if he keeps in tune with home base he will be guided back to a safe landing; and that mere man can also construct implements such as the Surveyor, which he has sent to the moon, with which he has communicated in directing its activities, and from which he has received reports-and still say that it is impossible for and, the Creator of the world, to communicate with man, his own creation, who is traveling through space on a space ship created b God and known as the earth, and that by keeping in touch with home base he can be assured of a safe return when he has completed his tour here upon the earth?
In order to return to our Father in heaven, it is most important that we and our children know and understand and apply the teachings of Jesus Christ in our lives. In order to understand, we must be taught. The question is: Where and how are we to be taught? The gospel or the spiritual side of life is not permitted to be taught in the schools. In fact, in so many of our schools, and particularly in the universities, as pointed out before, a belief in God and the teachings of Jesus Christ are derided.
It is the general attitude of people that the teaching of the gospel should be left to the churches, but only a small percentage of either the parents or the children attend church, where they could be taught. And to even that small minority who do attend, many of the churches are failing to teach sound, unadulterated doctrine as given to us by the Savior and the prophets through whom the Lord speaks.
How many churches today teach that God is a personage? And that we were made in his image, as he said we were? Do we realize how difficult it is to have faith in and love a God who has neither body, parts, nor passions, as so many of the sects are teaching today? In any event, as the Lord has said, the truths of the gospel, which are the most important things in our lives, need to be taught in our homes. These are his words:
"And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion... that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands... the sin be upon the heads of the parents.
"And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord".
To assist the parents in their duty, the Lord speaks through his prophets. Even in these latter days the revelation known as the Word of Wisdom has been given to the world through the Prophet Joseph Smith. It advises, among other things, against the use of tobacco and strong drink, and with it is given a promise.
If we would just remember to keep this Word of Wisdom, there would be no drunken drivers causing thousands and thousands of accidents and deaths on the highways; there would be much less poverty, fewer broken homes, no alcoholics, and no crimes committed because of the influence of alcohol. No one would be suffering from or dying with lung cancer and other diseases caused by the use of tobacco. In this revelation we also have this promise:
"And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
"And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
"And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
"And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them".
Parents, we must not become so engrossed with worldly matters that we fail to teach our children the doctrines of salvation, both by example and by precept. We must teach them a belief in God, that his Son Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, who gave his life that we might be resurrected.
How many families today meet in family prayer, or teach their children to pray privately to a personal God who will hear and answer their prayers, or teach them the importance of loving their fellowmen?
What a great world this would be to live in if all parents would hold a weekly family home evening and would teach their children the word of the Lord.
Just accepting and living what he called the "great commandment in the law" would create a heaven on earth wherein all could dwell in peace and happiness. He said:
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
"This is the first and great commandment.
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets".
Then he said: "If ye love me, keep my commandments".
If we loved our fellowmen, we would not steal, we would not kill, we would not commit adultery, we would not bear false witness or do any of those things which would be detrimental to our neighbor.
Blessed is the person who can truthfully say that he believes in God the Eternal Father, and in his Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost; that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel; and that he is prepared to repent and be baptized for the remission of his sins and then accept and live the teachings of Jesus Christ.
I bear testimony that these things are true, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Paul H. Dunn
Paul H. Dunn, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 51-54
President McKay, my beloved brothers and sisters, both seen and unseen, my heart has been greatly touched during this conference. I have felt the Spirit of the Lord, and I too seek an interest in the divine Spirit as I now give some of the thoughts that have been upon my mind these past days. I invite the listening audience to seek that same Spirit in order that we might be touched together in the things that I attempt to say.
About two miles from our former home in California, the framework of a house stood unfinished for several years. It was beautiful. It was in a very lovely location. The plan of the house was interesting, and the material out of which the framework had been built seemed quite satisfactory.
As I continued to drive past the house month after month on my way to work, I noticed that the lumber was gradually changing color-first a faded yellow, then a darker yellow; light brown, then a darker brown; until at the close of the first ear the framework appeared to be a most black.
Not only was the color changing, but with each passing day the skeleton of the unfinished house became more articulate, until one day it actually seemed to speak to me. So challenging was its message, I know I shall never forget it. Like the voice from across the centuries, the blackened structure seemed to ask: "... which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
"Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish".
The message was being hurled directly at me and, I think, at all others who had sworn, regardless of cost, to build a completed life. Have we stood by this promise, whether the houses of our lives were large or small? Are our lives each day completed structures? Or have the tempting challenge of the crowd and the worries of depressing moments caused us to become slack in our work? Do our lives now stand before the world as half-finished skeletons of the beautiful houses we had sworn to build?
The voice continued to speak: "... what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
"Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
"So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
"... He that hath ears to hear, let him hear".
This voice of warning suggests, I feel, one of the most vital teachings of the Savior. If we really want to build well, the first thing we must do is to have faith in God and in his Son Jesus Christ, admit our weaknesses through repentance, and then seek baptism by those having proper authority in order that we might "come unto him."
But we must not stop there. Having admitted our present incompleteness, the next step is to put everything we have into the development of a great life. "And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost". "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you", see also 3 Ne. 13:33). Once again, the principle Jesus advocates is truly as old as the hills. Other things being equal, he intimates that we get exactly what we seek if we seek it diligently enough.
Someone has said, "The longer I live, the more deeply I am convinced that that which makes the difference between one man and another, between the weak and the powerful, the great and the insignificant, is desire, invincible determination, the purpose once formed and then death or victory."
When Sir John Hunt stood at the foot of Mount Everest, he did not expect his team of mountain climbers to reach its summit by some sort of magic or in one leap. He had mapped the climb by stages, one day at a time. Each day the men ascended as far as they had planned for that day. The morning that two members of his party, Hillary and Tenzing, finally stepped upon the summit was the climax of many days' effort. The last step was the crowning one of many arduous steps to the top.
What you set out to do this morning may not seem as difficult or spectacular as climbing Mount Everest, but you must apply the same principle. You must go step by step, with full desire and energy focused on the end you seek. Such is the law of success in every sphere of life. Why should it not be so in the building of a balanced, righteous life? "And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost". This challenging principle becomes ever more vivid when we study the conditions of Palestine and learn of the severe physical hunger and thirst that are experienced in that semidesert land.
It is not uncommon for bath water, for example, to be drained off and used for irrigation purposes. So very scarce was water that biblical writers frequently and effectively mention water in their figures of speech. I call your attention to only a few.
Perhaps the most poetic Old Testament writer, the Psalmist, yearns: "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
"My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God".
Isaiah, searching for words to describe the happy future of Zion, tells his people: "... for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
"And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water".
When Jesus talks to the Samaritan woman at the well, he tells her that if she will accept the water of life which he has to give, she will never thirst again. "... whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life".
John the Revelator even goes so far as to compare heaven to a place containing a crystal spring of water where one may drink as much as he pleases without charge. "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely". "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more...
"For the Lamb... shall lead them unto living fountains of water".
Water, you see, is so hard to find in Palestine and the surrounding desert country that people almost go crazy from thirst. Food is so scarce that men and women are often compelled to live on a daily diet of no more than a few dates and a cup of milk, or even so little as a piece of hard bread. Under such conditions people naturally make the attainment of food and water their chief concern. Jesus contends that only when we are equally serious about attaining a righteous life, when we really hunger and thirst after righteousness, shall we be filled.
An outstanding teacher was once listening to his wife play a beautiful sonata on the piano. "I would give anything in the world to be able to play like that," he said.
"All right," she responded. Let's see if you really mean that. You say that you would give anything in the world to be able to play as I have. I have given several hours a day almost every day for the last 15 years. I have given up picnics and parties and many other kinds of entertainment in order to stay at my task. I have sacrificed the study of many interesting subjects: I have given and worked and worked and given. At times it seemed that I could not work another hour or sacrifice another thing. To play the piano as well as I do, would you really be willing to give that much?"
"You've got me there," he admitted. "I thought I would give almost anything to be a great piano player. I realize now that while I would give up a few things, I do not want this particular ability enough to sacrifice much time or many pleasures for its attainment."
"But you are a great teacher," she reminded him. "You have succeeded in your profession because you have done with your teaching what I have done with my music. You made it the first consideration of your life, sacrificing where others have not been willing to sacrifice, studying, working, and planning where others have not been willing to make the effort. You have sought first the kingdom of teaching, and this you have been able to achieve."
So the Savior would have us realize that in the building of eternal lives, there is nothing mysterious or unusual about the illustration just cited. If we want to build mediocre spiritual houses, let us give a minimum of time and effort. If we want to build beautiful houses of life or to change the design of our present lives, if we wish to reach great heights in our upward climb toward eternal life, let us do away with all of the things and every thought that hinder our progress. A mere public announcement of faith will little hasten our progress. Simply joining a church and regularly attending all of its various meetings is no guarantee. Only when we put faith, repentance, and baptism first, and seek righteousness in our thinking, and without serious regret give up every conflicting desire shall we be able to reach the coveted goal, because the Savior has said, "... strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it".
The reason, I suspect, that we have so many mediocre musicians in the world is that there are only a few people who are willing to follow the narrow road that leads to great musicianship. We have so few great artists, lawyers, doctors, and teachers because only a few are willing to get rid of the excess baggage that prevents them from traveling the straight and narrow road. Herbert Hoover once warned: "We are in danger of developing a cult of the common man," which he went on to interpret to mean a cult of mediocrity. The great human advances have not been brought about by mediocre men and women; they have been achieved by distinctly uncommon people with vital sparks of desire.
In Palestine a person who always looked at others with envy was referred to as one having a "bad eye." One who stole was said to have a "long arm." Jesus, knowing that everyone would understand what he meant, told the people that it would be better for one to pluck out his eye or cut off his hand than to keep these bad habits and ruin the possibility of developing a fully rounded, well-balanced life.
Does honesty always bring material reward? "Be good and you will be wealthy." I suspect that many of us believed that as children. However, some wealthy people are not honest, and some honest people have never had many worldly possessions. We miss the point of the Savior's teaching unless we realize that the reward of righteousness is something bigger, better, and more beautiful than material gain. Envy, dishonesty, and unfairness-all of these are excess baggage and as such are not worth what it costs to carry them with us. Our Heavenly Father knows our need and will bless us accordingly.
This principle, I think, is illustrated by an experience of a young friend of mine. Married, with two children, and living on a very small salary, he found it necessary to budget strictly. He and his wife spent only a few cents occasionally for entertainment. He traveled all over town to find reasonable prices. Often when I asked him to go some place, he would reply, "Sorry, Paul, I can't do it this week. I've used up my budget for gasoline."
One summer I found him a job doing some menial tasks that would be classified as unskilled labor. Since he was a college graduate and a high school teacher, I asked if he really enjoyed doing such work, if he found satisfaction in the bondage of such a restricted budget. He replied, "Of course I don't enjoy it, but I do it because I'm anxious to have a house of my own."
In conclusion, let me say that the house I mentioned earlier was finally completed. It is really a beautiful structure. If I were to take you past it without telling you its history, I am quite certain that you would never guess it had been black and unsightly, standing for months as nothing but the framework of a great purpose. Today it is a most attractive home. And it still talks to me, reminding me each time I see it that even adults who have failed thus far may still build beautiful eternal lives.
Perhaps we spend too much time, my brothers and sisters, worrying about the mistakes of our youth, forgetting that we as adults have the opportunity to continue building as the years go by. I suspect the Lord was thinking of all ages and classes of people when he said "And blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost". "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you".
Today throughout the world there are thousands of young men-we call them missionaries-who have been sent forth with a divine message for you. They are ready to help you "seek" in order that you might find the "strait and narrow path" of which the Savior speaks. May I invite you to open your doors and hearts so that you too might come to know and be filled with that same sweet, holy spirit. I testify to the world that God does live. Jesus is the Christ. There is today a prophet of the Lord in the world, and I am happy to announce that God's kingdom has again been restored in these latter days. I bear this personal witness humbly and simply in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 55-58
My dear brethren and sisters, I seek the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
We have just sung a great hymn-"Come, O thou King of kings! We've waited long for thee, With healing in thy wings, To set thy People free." This hymn was written during those troubled years when our forebears were driven and pressed, when they were winnowed as grain thrown before the wind and tried in the crucible of persecution. They longed for the millennial day when the Lord will come to earth to reign as King of kings.
Theirs was not a hollow dream. The God of heaven has ordained that day. The prophets of all dispensations have spoken of it. We know not when it will come, but its dawning is certain.
We need not wait, however, for that millennia] morning. We can improve today without waiting for tomorrow. We can alter circumstances ourselves, without waiting for others. We can hold back the forces that would debilitate and weaken us. We can strengthen the forces that will improve the world.
Reflecting on this, I have thought of the words of Paul to Agrippa when Paul described his experience on the road to Damascus. He saw a light from heaven and heard a voice speaking unto him, and he fell to the ground. And Jesus said, "... rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee... to make thee a minister and a witness...
"To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God".
This is the business of the Church-to open the vision of men to eternal verities, and to prompt them to take a stand for equity and decency, for virtue and sobriety and goodness.
More than a century ago Alex de Tocqueville, a French philosopher, visited America and out of the impressions of that tour wrote these interesting words:
"I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her fertile fields and boundless prairies, and it was not there; in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."
Where has gone the goodness of America? What happened to her pulpits aflame with righteousness? Why are so many of her youth disillusioned and rebellious?
I am not one who believes that all is wrong with this land. There is so much that is right and so much that is good.
But neither do I believe that all is well. Our problems are legion, but we are not alone in these. Other lands, most lands, are similarly afflicted.
But this need not be a terminal illness. The course can be changed. We can bring about a regression of the dread disease which seems to trouble us.
Too often we think our society is a vast, impersonal establishment, complex almost beyond comprehension. But although both complex and vast, it is made up of individuals. It was to Saul, the individual, that the Lord spoke on the way to Damascus. Saul's life was changed that day, and thereafter Saul changed the world.
Problems of the kind we have today are not new. Ezekiel cataloged the evils of ancient Israel-immorality, dishonesty, oppression of the poor, robbery, and many others. And then the Lord said through Ezekiel: "... I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it." There then follows this tragic conclusion: "but I found none.".
It is better today. There is a man. Yes, there are many men who will build up a wall and stand in the breach against the evils that would erode our society. But there is need for so many more.
The place to begin to reform the world is not Washington or Paris or Tokyo or London. The place to begin is with oneself. A wise man once declared: "Make of yourself an honest man and there will be one fewer rascals in the world."
From self the next step is the family. The Lord through revelation has laid upon parents the mandate to "teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord".
Fathers and mothers are needed who will rise and stand upon their feet to make of their homes sanctuaries in which children will grow in a spirit of obedience, industry, and fidelity to tested standards of conduct. If our society is coming apart at the seams, it is because the tailor and the seamstress in the home are not producing the kind of stitching that will hold under stress. In the name of giving advantages, we have too often bartered away the real opportunities of our children.
I clipped an interesting ad from one of our magazines the other day. It reads as follows:
"I want my boy to have all the advantages I can give him-
"Such as having to earn his own allowance by running errands, cutting lawns.
"Such as getting good grades in school-getting them because he wants to, and because he knows what it would do to me if he didn't.
"Such as being proud to be clean and neat and decent.
"Such as standing up and standing proud when his country's flag goes by.
"Such as addressing elder friends of his parents as 'sir' and 'ma'am.'
"Such as having to earn his own way in the world and knowing he has to prepare for it by hard work, hard study, and sacrificing some of the pleasures and ease his friends may get from too-indulgent parents.
"These are the advantages I want my son to have, because these are the things which will make him self-respecting and self-reliant and successful. And that is the happiness I want him to have."
To which I should like to add-I want my son to have yet other advantages.
I want him to read the great stories of the Old Testament in the very language of the Bible and become acquainted with the great men to whom Jehovah spoke.
I want him to read-along with his science and politics and business-the New Testament, the Gospels with their record of the matchless life of the Son of God, and the writings of the courageous men who testified of him and who sealed their undying witness with their lives.
I want him to read the testament of the New World, the Book of Mormon, as another witness of the divinity and living reality of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of mankind.
I want my son to have the advantage of faith in the living God, a faith that will carry him through the inevitable storms and strains of life, a faith that will discipline him against the temptations that will seductively beckon him.
A young man came into my office the other day. He was dressed in uniform. He was on his way home from Vietnam. For a year he had walked through the furnace of battle in a hotly contested area along the Laotian border.
I had seen him just before he had left for Asia. Now he had come back, alive-miraculously, as he regarded it-thankful, but depressed in spirit.
He had just arrived at the airport and had a little time before his bus left for the small country town where he had grown up and where some of his family still live. We talked about the war. I noticed the campaign ribbons on his chest, including a citation for outstanding service.
I told him the town band would be out to meet him, that he could go home with pride. He looked up and said, "No, I'm ashamed."
"Ashamed of what?" I asked.
"Of what I've done," he replied. "I should have been stronger. I was weak. I gave in, first on little things and then on big ones. Oh, I did nothing that the men all about me were not doing. But I should have done better. My friends back home would have expected better things of me, and had I been stronger I might have helped some of those who, with the right example, would have had the strength to resist."
He lowered his head as we talked, and I saw tears fall from his cheek across the ribbons on his chest.
I tried to reassure him, but he found little comfort. He was a military hero, but he regarded himself as a moral coward.
Not long after that I talked with another young man also recently returned from the war. He too had walked the jungle patrols, his heart pounding with fear. But reluctantly he admitted that the greatest fear he had was the fear of ridicule.
The men of his company laughed at him, taunted him, plastered him with a nickname that troubled him. They told him they were going to force him to do some of the things they reveled in. Then on one occasion when the going was rough, he faced them and quietly said, "Look, I know you think I'm a square. I don't consider myself any better than any of the rest of you. But I grew up in a different way. I grew up in a religious home and a religious town. I went to church on Sundays. We prayed together as a family. I was taught to stay away from these things. It's just that I believe differently. With me it's a matter of religion, and it's kind of a way of respecting my mother and my dad. All of you together might force me toward a compromising situation, but that wouldn't change me, and you wouldn't feel right after you'd done it."
One by one they turned silently away. But during the next few days each came to ask his pardon, and from his example others gained the strength and the will to change their own lives. He taught the gospel to two of them and brought them into the Church.
The difference between these two young men lies in the homes from which they came. The first came out of a home where there was bickering, tyranny, drinking, neglect, abandonment, and finally divorce. When the storm of temptation blew against the young tree, the roots were in shallow soil, and it fell.
The second came from the same kind of town-small, dusty, and unimportant. The home from which he came was likewise modest, but a good man presided in that home as the father. He dealt with his wife with kindness, respect, and courtesy. The mother honored her husband and cast an aura of love about the home. And the son who left that home carried with him a fiber in his soul, a fiber that held firm under the tauntings of his associates, whose eyes he opened when he arose and stood on his feet as a quiet witness of the teachings of his parents.
This is the kind of strength that will come from fathers who quietly stand before their families as ministers and witnesses of the eternal verities which, when nurtured in the home, build character in the citizens of the nation.
I repeat, the first place to take a position for right is with oneself. The second is with the family. The third is with the community and the state. Here again there is a call for men who will rise and stand against plans and programs that will expose our youth to influences that inevitably will trap some. There are many such influences and programs in every community. May I mention one specifically? I do so because it is an issue immediately before us, one we regard as having serious moral consequences, and one on which President McKay has spoken out unequivocally.
No one can honestly doubt that alcohol is a problem in our society. More than 26,000 people die each year on our highways in accidents that are alcohol-related. Drinking is recognized as a factor in a majority of serious crimes. It leaves in its wake a train of evils-broken homes, abandoned children, unemployment, and many other social problems.
This state presently has one of the lowest per capita consumption rates in the nation, less than half the average of those states that permit the sale of liquor by the drink. Under present law no adult who wants to drink is denied that privilege, and yet there is now a proposal, under the guise of better control, to greatly expand the availability of liquor, providing for public bars where people of all ages could be admitted. We are convinced that this would mean a much wider exposure of youth to alcohol, with, as we believe, consequent tragic results. We are not so naive as to think that every young man or woman who happens to be in the vicinity of a public bar would partake of a drink. But we are convinced that the wider the exposure, the more there will be who will partake.
The leadership of a dedicated and concerned handful has grown to an army of many thousands of men and women from all walks of life and from all political parties who have risen and now stand in opposition to this effort. They are volunteers, working entirely without compensation; men and women of many churches, joining hands in a common cause and inviting others to exercise their franchise as witnesses of their stand against a program that would benefit a few at the expense of the many. This is but one example of what can happen when a few men rise and stand for principle. Others follow, a few at first, but the number grows. As in the clays of Saul, so it may be in our time. In so standing, we honor a great heritage and leave a greater inheritance.
May I close with three questions taken from the Jewish Theological Seminary:
"How shall we pass on our heritage? "Will it be diminished or increased? "Will we be the grandfathers, or only the grandsons of great men?"
God bless us with strength to stand for the right, I humbly pray as I leave with you my witness of the divinity of this work, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Harold B. Lee
Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 59-62
My beloved brothers and sisters, you in this vast audience that we can see, and you who may be listening elsewhere to the proceedings of this conference, I am reassured this morning by a revelation in which the Lord has said that if one speaks by the Spirit and others listen by the Spirit, all of us may be edified together. I therefore yield myself to the spirit of this great conference, and I invite this vast audience to listen by that same spirit.
Recently, during a mission tour, I listened to a brilliant young man bear his testimony wherein he quoted a recorded incident in which the Master referred to his disciples as his "friends." Then the young man impressively expressed his most fervent hope that he too could so conduct his life that one day the Master would find him worthy to be called by the Lord "his friend."
Possibly he had read what the apostle James had said about Father Abraham: "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God".
He remembered what the Master had said as he defined the bond of brotherhood existing between him and his disciples. The Master said:
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you:
"Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you".
The apostle James had elsewhere declared: "... a friend of the world is the enemy of God".
The use of the word "world" in this sense is defined in the scriptures when speaking of the "end of the world" as the destruction of the wickedness that is in the world.
The world to which the apostles James and John and the Master make reference is that moral and spiritual system which is hostile to God and which seeks to delude us into thinking that we and mankind generally do not need God. It is a society which in every age has operated and is operating on wrong principles, from selfish desires, from improper motives, unworthy standards, and false values. Those who do not accept God's revelation through his prophets have devised numerous philosophies from their limited human reasoning and seemingly think that they can find happiness and the satisfaction of their souls by ignoring God's plan of salvation.
One of the greatest threats to the work of the Lord today comes from false educational ideas. There is a growing tendency of teachers within and without the church to make academic interpretations of gospel teachings-to read, as a prophet-leader has said, "by the lamp of their own conceit." Unfortunately, much in the sciences, the arts, politics, and the entertainment field, as has been well said by an eminent scholar, is "all dominated by this humanistic approach which ignores God and his word as revealed through the prophets." This kind of worldly system apparently hopes to draw men away from God by making man the "measure of all things," as some worldly philosophers have said.
That this danger would be among us today was foreshadowed by the ancient prophets, who gave us a sure measure by which we might know that which is of God and that which emanates from evil sources.
Here is a prophet speaking: "... for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
"But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work; for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels, neither do they who subject themselves unto him".
You will note that this statement makes no distinction as to whether it be labeled as religion, philosophy, science, or politics, or ugly dress patterns of today, or of the world of so-called entertainment.
True Christians who know the word of God understand that there are invisible forces which are waging war against God and his people who are striving to do his will.
The apostle Paul understood this and clearly depicts the nature of this eternal struggle. He wrote to the Ephesians: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places".
The Master referred to Satan as the "prince of this world" when he warned: "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me".
At the same time our Lord gave them comfort with his words: "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
"Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light... for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth".
If we would be free from the pitfalls of these evil forces, we must understand the Master's words. Satan and his hordes are ever present in the midst of us. We must make certain that when he comes, as the Master warned, he will have nothing on us and will go away and leave us alone. As long as we walk in the light of the revealed truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we need never walk in darkness but may always be sure of our course and know "whither goeth."
One of our pioneer leaders foresaw this battle with invisible forces that would come to us in these supposedly sheltered valleys. It was as though this prophet-leader saw the very conditions existing in 1968, in which some would be relaxing in fancied security, thinking that they were well isolated from the outside world. While his words are directed to those in these mountain valleys, they could just as well be applied to the Church members as well as Christian peoples everywhere.
In this prophetic statement he said: "... we think we are secure here in the chambers of these everlasting hills, where we can close those few doors of the canyons against... the wicked and the vile... but I want to say to you, my brethren, the time is coming when we will be mixed up in these now peaceful valleys to that extent that it will be difficult to tell the face of a Saint from the face of an enemy to the people of God."
Need I say more to this people, in light of present threats to the influence of the kingdom of God in this state and elsewhere? Now is the time for the Saints and righteous people in this and other lands to again revive that old rallying song of our fathers:
"Who's on the Lord's side? Who? Now is the time to show; We ask it fearlessly; Who's on the Lord's side? Who?"
It seems a curious thing that in all dispensations, our worst enemies have been those within-who have betrayed the works of the Lord. There were the sons of Mosiah and the younger Alma before their miraculous conversions. It was so in the days of the Master, who said of his betrayer, Judas, "Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?". Likewise did Joseph Smith have his betrayers.
We may well expect to find our Judases among those professing membership, but, unfortunately for them, they are laboring under some kind of evil influences or have devious motives.
A great thinker and scientist describes most aptly the troubled state of the world today. Said he: "Rarely before has mankind had such an urgent need for the guidance and healing qualities of spiritual insight, because rarely before has man been so confused and frightened.
"The tomorrows ahead of us will be crowded with great challenges and opportunities. But they will be crowded, too, with great dangers.
"Already the human race has at its disposal the power to destroy in a moment what it would take many years to rebuild. And the precious lives that would be extinguished could never be rebuilt."
Over one hundred years ago the Lord spoke to our day as though we were then present. He said: "... in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men's hearts shall fail them, and they shall say that Christ delayeth his coming until the end of the earth.
"And there shall be earthquakes also in divers places, and many desolations; yet men will harden their hearts against me, and they will take up the sword, one against another, and they shall kill one another".
In these days of our generation, many of you are asking: Where is safety?
The word of the Lord is not silent. He has admonished us: "But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse God and die".
The Lord has told us where these "holy places" are: "And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety".
Where is Zion?
During the various periods of time or dispensations, and for specific reasons, the Lord's prophets, his "mouthpieces," as it were, have designated gathering places where the Saints were to gather. After designating certain such places in our dispensation, the Lord then declared: "Until the day cometh when there is found no more room for them; and then I have other places which I will appoint unto them, and they shall be called stakes, for the curtains or the strength of Zion".
Thus, clearly the Lord has placed the responsibility of directing the work of gathering in the hands of his divinely appointed leaders. May I fervently pray that all Saints and truth-seekers everywhere will attune their listening ears to these prophet-leaders instead of to some demagogue who seeks to make capital of social discount and gain political influence.
There are several meanings of the word Zion.
It may have reference to the hill named Mt. Zion or by extension in the land of Jerusalem.
It has sometimes been used, as by the prophet Micah, to refer to the location of "the mountain of the house of the Lord" -as some place apart from Jerusalem.
Zion was so called by Enoch in reference to the "City of Holiness", or the "City of Enoch"; Gen. 14:34 ). The Land of Zion has been used to refer, in some connotations, to the Western Hemisphere.
But there is another most significant use of the term by which the Church of God is called Zion, comprising, according to the Lord's own definition, "the pure in heart".
As one studies the Lord's commandments and attending promises upon compliance therewith, one gets some definite ideas as to how we might "stand in holy places," as the Lord commands-if we will be preserved with such protection as accords with his holy purposes, in order that we might be numbered among the "pure in heart" who constitute Zion, as I have read from the Lord's own words.
Listen to some of the Lord's beacon lights pointing the way to safety. Some have been referred to already in this service.
If you would have the windows of heaven opened and have blessings poured out "that there should not be room enough to receive it," then "bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house," as the Lord commanded through his prophet Malachi.
If you would keep yourself and your own "unspotted from the sins of the world" ), the Lord said you should "go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day".
In other words, keep the Sabbath day holy!
If you would qualify so that in times of trouble you could call and the Lord would answer, that you could cry and the Lord would say, "Here I am," the Lord gave the answer through his prophet Isaiah: You must observe the fast day of the Lord and deal out your "bread to the hungry... and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh".
If you would escape from the devastations when God's judgments descend upon the wicked, as in the days of the children of Israel, you must remember and do what the Lord commands: "... all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings," meaning keep his great law of health, known as the Word of Wisdom to you Latter-day Saints, and in addition thereto "walk in obedience" to the commandments, which would include honesty, moral purity, together with all the laws of the celestial kingdom, then "the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them".
Now, in conclusion may I say with words familiar to many of us and in the language of my young missionary friend to whom I have made reference, in a song that we often sing:
"Hear, O men, the proclamation: Cease from vanity and strife; Hasten to receive the gospel, And obey the words of life.
"Soon the earth will hear the warning. Then the judgments will descend! Oh, before the days of sorrow Make the Lord of hosts your friend!
"Then when dangers are around you And the wicked are distressed, You, with all the Saints of Zion, Shall enjoy eternal rest."
As one studies the commandments of God, it seems to be made crystal clear that the all-important thing is not where we live but whether or not our hearts are pure. "In this dark world of strife," as this wonderful choir has sung, may we pray: "Father in heaven, Guide me to thee!"
God grant that it may be so for all of those whose minds are distressed and who are worried and frightened during these disturbing times: "Stand ye in holy places and be not moved". "Watch, therefore, for you know not at what hour your Lord doth come.". The Lord's promises are sure, and his word will not fail. To that I testify and bear solemn witness that he lives, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion G. Romney
Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 64-68
My beloved brethren and sisters: I sincerely pray and hope that the Spirit referred to by Brother Lee this morning will motivate you and me while I occupy this very important place, for I purpose to make a few remarks about the foundation principle upon which the gospel of Jesus Christ is built, the principle of agency.
In this year of decisions, we shall have opportunity to exercise our voting franchise. There seems to be no end to the advice available as to how we should do this. Out of the din of confusion comes the contention that the way to exercise it and really demonstrate that we have it is to help make Utah a wide-open state by voting for liquor by the drink. With all right-minded people we reject this fallacious contention. By the same token, we join with all right-minded men in defense of every man's right to make his own choice.
Against the background of current events, I have thought it not inappropriate to make a few remarks concerning the making of decisions and the effect of one's decisions upon his own agency.
Our political institutions have been structured upon the premise that man is a free agent by divine endowment. Upon this premise the Magna Charta was wrung from King John in 1215. Contending for this principle, the Pilgrim Fathers were harried out of their native land by King James. After taking temporary refuge in Holland, they came to America, where they founded a new state in which they could implement their ideals of freedom. A century and a half later, the colonists wrote the principle of free agency Into the Declaration of Independence. Following the revolution, the Founding Fathers perpetuated it in the Constitution.
Our national strength has always been in our devotion to freedom. When asked, "What constitutes the bulwark of our liberty and independence?" Abraham Lincoln replied: "It is not in our frowning battlements, or bristling seacoasts, our army and navy... Our reliance is in the law of liberty which God has planted in us."
We Latter-day Saints know that the right of men to make their own decisions is God-given, for to Moses the Lord said: "... I gave unto... their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency".
This the Lord confirmed to Joseph Smith when he said: "... I gave unto that he should be an agent unto himself".
Through an ancient American prophet, the Lord said: "... remember, my brethren... ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free".
Latter-day Saints not only believe that freedom to make one's own choices is an inalienable divine right; they also know that the exercise of it is essential to man's growth and development. Deprived of it, men would be but puppets in the hands of fate.
The preservation of free agency is more important than the preservation of life itself. As a matter of fact, without it, there would be no existence.
"All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence.
"Behold, here is the agency of man".
The foregoing are but samples of the scriptures which set forth the principle of free agency accepted and implemented by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Neither the Church, its officers, nor any of its responsible representatives ever seek to abridge one's freedom to make his own decisions-be it in the voting booth or elsewhere. Representations to the contrary are either ignorantly or maliciously made. Usually such representations are calculated to influence people in the exercise of their agency-the very objective they impute to and so condemn in others. Only Satan and wicked men seek to abridge men's agency. The Lord never does. Neither do his servants. The divine gift of free agency, however, is not a self-perpetuating endowment.
Men themselves can, and most of them do, abridge their own agency by the decisions they themselves voluntarily make.
Every choice one makes either expands or contracts the area in which he can make and implement future decisions. When one makes a choice, he irrevocably binds himself to accept the consequences of that choice.
Jesus, in his Prodigal Son parable, gives a classic illustration of this truth. You will remember that in it a young man, exercising his inherent right of choice, makes a decision to take his portion of his father's estate and go and see the world. This he does, whereupon nature follows its uniform course. When the prodigal's substance is squandered, he makes another choice, which takes him back home where he meets "the ring, and the robe, and the fatted calf." His felicitous father gives him a welcome. But the consequence of his earlier decision "is following him up, for the farm is gone. The 'father' himself cannot undo the effect of the foregone choice."
From the very beginning God has, through his prophets, made it clear that expanded freedom follows wise choices, and that freedom is restricted by unwise decisions.
"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse," said Moses to the children of Israel. "A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God... And a curse, if ye will not obey ".
Lehi said that "men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life... or to choose captivity and death".
There is a great lesson on this point, as it affected a whole nation, in Israel's rejecting judges, which were recommended by the Lord, and choosing to be ruled by kings. Near the end of his administration, as judge of Israel, the people said to Samuel:
"Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations".
Samuel, being grieved by this desire of the people, sought the Lord and was directed by the Lord to say to Israel:
"This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
"And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
"And he will take your daughters to be confectioneries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
"And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
"And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
"And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
"He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
"And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day."
This message Samuel delivered.
"Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
"That we also may be like all the nations".
"And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people... for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them".
The Lord here followed his uniform course. He refused to interfere with Israel's right of choice, even though their choice was to reject him. Israel, having been warned by both their God and his prophet Samuel, exercised their agency, contrary to the advice of both. They got their king, and they suffered the consequences. In due time their kingdom was divided, they were taken captive, and ultimately they became slaves.
Realizing that liberty depends upon the decisions we make ought to inspire in us a desire to make such choices as will preserve and expand our freedom, and I believe it does so inspire us. What people lack and desperately need today-as they have always needed-is a sure guide for making right decisions. How wonderful it would he if all could enjoy the blessing recently pronounced upon the head of a young man, to whom a patriarch said:
"You have the power of discernment, to look forward into the future and discern and understand the results which come from righteous living... You can recognize the effect of evil tendencies even in their beginning... You are, as it were, a watchman upon the tower of Zion, because of this power which the Lord has blessed you with and this understanding which you have and which will grow with you through your years to see and understand the results, which are small in their beginning."
This is indeed a wonderful blessing. And what is equally wonderful is that it is available to us all if we will but qualify for it. All we need to do is follow the pattern prescribed by Mormon as he sought, even as I am now seeking, to emphasize the importance of making right decisions. Brother Lee read it this morning and I am going to read it again, because of its great importance. To his people, Mormon said:
"... take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.
"For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
"For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
"But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
"And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also he judged.
"Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil".
Let us he ever conscious of the fact that our characters are fashioned by the decisions we make. Free agency does not guarantee freedom and liberty. Freedom and liberty and peace are the products of right decisions made in the exercise of free agency.
By the making of proper decisions, Jesus Christ became the Son of God and our Redeemer. By making wrong decisions, Lucifer, "son of the morning," became Satan.
Inherently, they were both endowed with free agency.
"One ship drives east and another drives west With the selfsame winds that blow. 'Tis the set of the sails And not the gales Which tells us the way to go."
James Russell Lowell suggests the consequences and the importance of decisions, in these lines:
"Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide, In the strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the good or evil side; Some great cause, God's new Messiah, offering each the bloom or blight,
Parts the goats upon the left hand and the sheep upon the right, And the choice goes by forever 'twixt that darkness and that light!"
I bear you my solemn witness that these principles are true and that they are ever operating in our lives. I hear further witness to what you and I both know, and that is, that if we would benefit from these principles and be on the way to eternal life, we must put them into practice now in our daily lives. We must be guided by them in our temporal as well as in spiritual affairs, in the voting booth as well as in our churches. On election day a month hence, we shall have opportunity to test our commitment to these principles of the gospel. This is so because at least one of the issues there to he decided, the one raised by "Liquor Initiative Petition No. A," is of a vital, moral nature. No amount of sophistry can make it otherwise. The Lord himself and his living mouthpiece have so declared it. Let no man fault his God or his state by failing to vote upon that issue.
If on that day, in the privacy of the voting booth, we so exercise our franchise as to satisfy ourselves and please our God, we shall have made a decision calculated to preserve our free agency and expand the area in which we can exercise it in the future.
And finally, when the issues are determined, whether we stand with the winners or the losers, of this we may be sure: To make the proper choice on any issue is of far more importance to us personally than is the immediate outcome of the issue upon which we make a decision. The choices we make will affect the scope of our agency in the future. As of now, we have the right of decision. What we will have tomorrow depends upon how we decide today. In conclusion, I put to you the question and the admonition given by Elijah to Israel:
"How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him".
God grant us discernment and the courage to make right decisions, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder S. Dilworth Young
S. Dilworth Young, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 68-71
My dear brethren and sisters: The Prophet Joseph Smith at one time said that he taught people correct principles and they could govern themselves. I would submit to you that of course he meant by that they would be following correct principles when they governed themselves. On that basis I should like to speak to you about one of those principles and its application.
In a time of his own choosing, known prophetically as the latter days, the Lord restored his Church to the earth. He also chose the man through whom he would make the restoration, a man to be known as a prophet, seer, and revelator. He let it be known by a prophetic revelation that the man thus honored should be known by Joseph, after his father's name, and also after his great ancestor who was sold into Egypt. Our common testimony, yours and mine, is that this man was Joseph Smith.
Within five years of the date the Church was organized, the Prophet had surprised Brigham and Joseph Young with the statement that Joseph Young was to be a president of the seventy. No man would have thought of such a group of men as the seventy.
There were to be seventy men in the quorum, and the quorum was to be presided over by seven presidents-not a president with six counselors, but seven presidents, each holding the presidential keys over the quorum.
Until that time the only information about this important body of men was contained in the narrative of Luke. He wrote:
"After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
"Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
"Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
"Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
"And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
"And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
"And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
"And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name".
Until 1835 no one conceived that the word seventy meant a holder of a peculiar office in the Church, with a special calling.
Now, because of the revelations of 1835, we know about the organization of the seventy in the time of the Lord.
The Lord Jesus Christ appointed the seventy and assigned them their work in his day. You have just heard a description of that work. Joseph Smith organized them and appointed them their work in 1835. President Brigham Young made changes in the detail of their organization in 1845 to fit the needs of his day, as did President John Taylor in 1885.
Each President of the Church has used the seventy as he felt inspired for his day. If the principle exhibited by these changes was not true, we would be like the Jews at the time of Christ. They were still vainly trying to fit the organization given to Moses to govern the exodus of the children of Israel to the Palestine of the Roman Empire. We should work in vain if we should try to follow the pattern of work for the one quorum laid down in 1835 or for the ten quorums organized in 1845 or for the sixty-five or so organized in 1885. It is the right of the living prophet to point the way for his generation.
What is that way today? Our quorums are to do the detail of their work of finding the honest in heart in the geographical areas of the wards of the stakes. They are organized into groups with one of the presidents acting as the group leader or with leaders appointed by the quorum presidency.
They cultivate the honest in heart; they serve as home teachers to part-member families; they fellowship new members, acting as their home teachers. The seventies group in the ward is now the fundamental unit to assist the stake missionary program.
In 1845 Elder Parley P. Pratt stated why, in his opinion, the seventies were organized with 70 men and seven presidents. He explained that a given territory could be divided into seven geographical areas, and that ten seventies, including a president to preside, could do the missionary work in each area. These units would be efficient flying columns to convert the people in their areas.
In times past I have tried to imagine how a quorum of seventy could be thus divided in this modern day. Now, lo, the plan is already in action. In each stake the quorum of seventy is divided into groups, one for each ward, each under a president or a group leader. While the exact number is not always ten, the pattern of the organization projected by Elder Pratt is present.
This is the day when the seventies are to find those within the organized wards who can be interested in the gospel. If we do that work well enough, the time may come when the same principle of organization may be applied to the full-time mission areas.
There are some who see no opportunity in this plan of action in the stakes. For these I should like to read a portion of a letter from a seventies quorum president acting as a group leader in his ward:
"We have divided our ward into eight geographical areas. Within each group we have chosen two couples to be 'neighborhood group leaders.' I, as the seventies group leader for the ward, coordinated the work. Each group has about twelve families with about two or three nonmember or part-member families. We don't have a large non-member population. We started by calling all the neighborhood group leaders together, and with the help of the stake missionaries we oriented them to the goals. We then followed up with the group leaders, sending out printed invitations to the 'active' members in their group area to attend a cottage meeting where the missionaries explained how all members could help through fellowshipping, etc.
"A social was planned which was held the next month where every family was invited-inactive, active, non-member and part-member. Seven of the groups have now had successful socials. The group that I live in has four nonmember families, and all were at the social. One traveling salesman even arranged his business affairs in order to come.
"We are now encouraging continued effort with these people. This is the means by which we have endeavored to carry out the program for finding families. The whole ward is excited about it. Our bishop is behind it one hundred percent."
What is described here may not be the way to organize the ward in which you live. However, each group leader, in cooperation with the quorum council, the stake mission president, and his bishop, will be able to find a way that will fit his ward and the non-member population therein.
There are 4,226 wards in the Church. There is a seventies group in almost every one of these wards.
If when we stand at the bar of judgment any person living in these ward areas reports to the Lord that he didn't hear the gospel because of our failure to try to reach him, sorrow will encompass our souls. Let us not be found wanting in this effort to find, to warn, and to convert.
A few brethren have expressed fear that the group approach will tend to impair quorum unity. This could happen if a quorum council of presidents did not meet, did not plan, did not direct the work of the group leaders.
I read from a report to its quorum of an active quorum council of presidents. This quorum is missionary minded and has strong group organization as well as good central support on a quorum basis. I quote:
"On May 25 a youth conference was held for all Aaronic Priesthood-Youth activity committees. Young folks were given training in various phases of missionary work by the full-time missionaries, assisted by such outstanding people as a former full-time mission president, the director of the college LDS institute, a former member of the Church Priesthood Missionary Committee, and a skilled educator in methods of teaching. The young people selected and arranged the entire program, the menu, the movie, and helped plan the Saturday night dance, which was conducted by the stake MIA."
Now this is what is pertinent to us: "Our quorum was represented by our stake mission president. We provided the kitchen help for the dinner and furnished the dessert."
In addition, the quorum held a "Mothers Night Out" banquet, which included an art show from local people. Six nonmembers contributed to this show, which was viewed by more than five hundred people.
This quorum constructed two booths during a public celebration and grossed $1,727 selling hamburgers, and so forth.
The quorum, at a cost of $200, set up an information booth at the state fair. Some 1,713 guests registered-515 of them nonmembers, 396 of whom were good referrals. To help pay for this booth at the fair, the quorum engaged with a vendor for 30 percent of the profit to man another booth that sold knickknacks at the fair.
This not being enough, they also operated an ice cream booth, which grossed $1,900, the profit to be applied to the missionary fund. This fund helps to support not only missionaries from the stake, but also supports missionaries called from the full-time missions in foreign lands, who, when released, will return home as leaders in future wards and future stakes in the far-flung areas of the Church.
The quorum keeps copies of the Book of Mormon in motels. It baptized a convert who first became interested by reading the book placed in a motel 400 miles away by a quorum of seventy of another stake.
And still the quorum found time to hold a midsummer picnic with the families of the quorum members.
The activities of an active seventies quorum today bear little resemblance to those of the quorums organized in 1835, 1845, 1890-but then, a fast-moving automobile or a fast-flying jet bears little resemblance to the ox-drawn wagons of those times, which at best could make 15 miles per day.
Fundamentally, today, as in that day, the calling of a seventy is to prepare the minds of men to receive the gospel and to convert them by whatever means are available or creatable. Perhaps for those of us with like responsibilities, the Savior's injunction on a different occasion might be applied: "Go, and do thou likewise".
All of this detail comes because of the gospel. These men believed it, and do believe it. These men are inspired by their love of Christ to go out and do these things in the hope that what they do will be the very thing they can do to bring more people into the Church.
I accept the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior, as they do, and I bear witness of him that he lives, and that we are his servants. He is the God of this earth and its Creator. President McKay is the prophet, seer, and revelator chosen by the Lord to bear the work and to carry the responsibility at this time. It is our business to assist with that responsibility and to uphold and to sustain him, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Loren C. Dunn
Loren C. Dunn, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 71-73
In this audience today is my mother. My father passed away some four years ago. Mother has been staying with us for the past day or two; and this morning prior to coming to this conference, I asked her if she would offer family prayer for us, the reason being that I wanted her blessing, which I received. This took me back to younger days when we as children would seek the blessing of our parents before we undertook any kind of responsibility or sought to follow a different pursuit in life.
I honor my parents. I am grateful for them. I can remember the time in my life, though, when I had to find out for myself about the things they already knew concerning this Church. But they had made it easy for me because of their faith and because of their understanding. I had a relatively easy time learning how to pray to God, because I thought of him as having the same principles and qualities embodied in my own parents. And it became easy to pray to someone such as that, who not only had those qualities and principles but was perfect.
This has caused me to think of the words of Enos in the Book of Mormon when he said:
"Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just man-for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord-and blessed be the name of my God for it-
"And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.
"Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart.
"And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication...".
Enos had been raised by good parents. According to his own words, he had been taught by his parents in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Yet there was a sort of gap between what his parents knew and what he knew. But one day he went to hunt beasts in the forests. It was then that the words he heard his father speak about eternal life and the joy of the Saints sank deep into his heart. And it was then that he had to know for himself.
Quite often this is the pattern of young people today. You hear the words of your parents and Church teachers. Sometimes these words are not of personal value until you reach the point of wanting to know for yourself, or until such time as these words are challenged, or there is some other experience that prompts you to action.
Enos wanted to know, and because of the teachings of his parents, he knew how to find out-and he did.
But different was the recent experience of a college student who had also heard all the familiar words from his teachers and others as he was growing up. He had not discovered if these things were true prior to the time he engaged in a particular course of study that challenged his faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He subsequently rejected the words without ever finding out if they were true. And, in a sense, he became inactive in the Church without ever having been in the Church-or at least without ever having experienced the spiritual blessings of the Church, a principle of which is a testimony of its truthfulness.
There are those who see this Church from the outside and marvel at its programs and organization. They ask how this is accomplished, expecting that in a few sentences a formula can be given that they can take back and apply to their own organizations.
The success and vitality of the Church, however, lies in something that is unseen. It is the power and spirit that enlightens the person who gains for himself a true knowledge that God and Jesus Christ are actually divine, living beings, and that this is the Church of Jesus Christ revealed from God and not devised by man. To know this is to be free from many doubts and frustrations. To know this is to be able to look ahead with confidence and courage and peace of mind. And to know this is to know that God is actually there and that his love for us is both personal and real. And when the pressures and problems of life become too great, there is always a retreat to this relationship with the Lord for comfort and solace and renewed strength.
I suppose there are many ways to gain this knowledge, but I know of none more sure than these two promises. The first is from the book of John and says:
"My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself".
The second promise has already been heard in this great conference. Let me read it to you again.
"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things".
Chances are, if you are a young member of this Church, you have heard these words many times before. Perhaps now is the time, if you have not already done so, to do as Enos did and establish your own relationship with the Lord, to gain your own testimony that he lives and that he directs the affairs of his Church.
His promise is that if you live the standards which he has set down, and read the Book of Mormon with faith and prayerful intent, he will manifest these things unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost.
I think of the words of President McKay, not only at the beginning of this conference but prior to that, when he said:
"He is our head. This is his Church. Without his divine guidance and constant inspiration, we cannot succeed; with his guidance, with his inspiration, we cannot fail."
To this I humbly add my own witness. I know that God lives, and that Jesus Christ is his Son and Savior of the world; that this Church was restored by a prophet of God and is directed by a prophet of God today; that this Church is directed and led by revelation.
God knows and loves and cares, and he is most anxious that you young people establish your own personal relationship with him, so he can, by the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, arm you with this divine knowledge, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Great Witness From These Conferences
Elder Boyd K. Packer
Boyd K. Packer, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 73-76
I have thrilled with you, my brethren and sisters, at the singing of this great pioneer anthem. I think there is no sound quite like the Saints singing at conference.
This is a year of conventions and conferences. Many of them are held throughout the world. They are of many kinds: governmental, political, business, educational, religious, but of them all this one is unique. Nowhere in the world is there, or could there be, an assembly such as this.
Purposes of general conference
President David O. McKay lists the purposes for holding general conferences as follows:
"... Reference to the Doctrine and Covenants will disclose the fact that there are four principal purposes for holding conferences of the Church:
"First, to transact current Church business.
"Second, to hear reports and general Church statistics.
"Third, to 'approve of those names which I have appointed, or to disapprove of them'.
"Fourth, to worship the Lord in sincerity and reverence, and to give and to receive encouragement, exhortation, and instruction."
The first conference was held on June 9, 1830. I read from the minutes:
"Our numbers were about thirty, besides whom many assembled with us, who were either believers or anxious to learn. Having opened by singing and prayer, we partook together of the emblems of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We then proceeded to confirm several who had lately been baptized, after which we called out and ordained several to the various offices of the Priesthood. Much exhortation and instruction was given, and the Holy Ghost was poured out upon us in a miraculous manner-many of our number prophesied, whilst others had the heavens opened to their view."
This was the first conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Seventeen years later there was held an even more humble conference than the first. It is described by Elder John Young.
"I reached the valley during the sitting of Conference, and some of the brethren said, 'The Conference is sitting; won't you go?' So I walked down to where they were holding Conference, and I found them by the side of a haystack. There was Father John Smith and a little handful of men that might have been covered with a small tent, and they were holding the Semi-Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
Those men who met that October morning by that haystack, which no doubt stood somewhere near this building, had vision enough to know that someday their message would be carried across the world. From that small group of pioneers the influence of these great conferences has grown, and now the message is heard beyond the seas and across the world. There is a great spirit in our conferences.
President Heber J. Grant declared that "God established these conferences. Nothing but the spirit of the living God could bring together such a congregation...
"The General Conferences of the Latter-day Saints are one of the great outstanding testimonies... of the divinity of the work in which we are engaged."
What of those who attend conference? Perhaps we could introduce just one of them. Sometime ago there came to a conference the religious editor of a large newspaper. He came across the country to get the "feel" of the conference.
Before the opening of a session, we came down the aisle of this building. It was filled to capacity. He noticed a middle-aged man, dressed unpretentiously, sitting next to the aisle, and asked to be introduced. We found him to be from the West Coast, a convert to the Church. As I recall, he had once been a member of the same church to which the editor belonged. He was a counselor in a bishopric. The interview proceeded something like this:
"How long have you been a member of the Church?"
"About eight years."
"Did you join the first time the missionaries contacted you?"
"Oh, no. It took me several weeks before I joined the Church." Then he added with a smile, "I don't like to rush into things."
"They tell me," the reporter inquired, "that the President of your Church is a prophet. Is that true?"
"Oh yes! I know him to be a prophet of God, just as much a prophet as any of the biblical prophets."
"Are you paid for your service in the Church?"
"Oh yes!" he said. "Generously paid-in blessings, not money. It seems that the principle of tithing requires that we pay for the privilege."
The editor, satisfied with the interview, turned to leave. Then, as an afterthought, he turned again with another question and said, "Tell me, why-why do you pay tithing?"
I noticed that the good brother's countenance became very serious, and there was a brimming bit of emotion in his eyes as he softly answered in a single word: "Obedience."
These, then, are those who come to conference. From the pulpit here I can see the lumberman from Oregon, the electrician from Maine, the policeman from Tonga, the nurseryman from Auckland, the civil servant from Holland.
I can see those who saved and skimped to come. I can see others who regard it merely as an incidental expense.
And now of the men who speak here-the First Presidency, the twelve apostles, and the other General Authorities. They too come from varied occupations. One was a newspaper editor, another a building contractor, another an engineer. Several are attorneys. One was a bank president, another an air line executive, and two or three are insurance men. Several are teachers. Four of them hold doctorates. A number have held public office-two of them as cabinet members. Several have served in the military. They are all married men with families. Though most of them have known success in their chosen profession, almost to a man they come from humble beginnings.
As it was when he was here, they have been welded together in the ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So it should be, for was not Peter a fisherman, and Andrew and James and John; and was not Matthew a publican?
What do General Authorities talk about in conference? Some people say that they are out of their province when they speak up on temporal or political issues. President John Taylor said of these conferences:
"... as we possess bodies as well as spirits, and have to live by eating, drinking, and wearing, it becomes necessary that temporal matters should be considered and discussed in our Conferences, and that we should deliberate upon all things that are calculated to benefit, bless, and exalt the Saints of God, whether they refer to our spiritual affairs or to our avocations and duties in life as husbands and wives, as parents and children... whether they refer to the policy we should pursue in our commercial relations... or to any other matter affecting us as human beings composing part of the body politic of this nation or as citizens of the world."
Others complain that the brethren are blind to social developments and urge them to be obedient to the "revelation of social progress."
Come the Sabbath day you will find these men scattered across the world holding conferences, bearing witness, and preaching the gospel. One will be in Hong Kong, another perhaps visiting the servicemen in Vietnam, another effecting a new organization in Australia or New Zealand. Others will be in South Africa, England, Germany, Canada, Brazil, or Guatemala.
Yet, when the council meetings come in the middle of the week, we find the brethren here again. They sit in council to prayerfully deliberate over the affairs of the Church and kingdom of God here upon the earth.
Traveling as they do across the earth, it is hardly conceivable that they could miss or would ignore any significant development-social, political, religious, national, or racial-anywhere on the earth. Also, they have lifelong training and achievement in fields of activity so important to mankind.
However, it is not because of travel nor professional success that we ought to pay heed to them. Nor is it because they are nimble of mind or wise in years. These things are incidental only.
We listen to them because they have been "called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands, by those who are in authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof".
They are given divine authority. Not one of them aspired to the office he holds, nor did he call himself, for "in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one takes the place to which one is duly called," said President Clark, "which place one neither seeks or declines."
"Ye have not chosen me," said the Lord, "but I have chosen you, and ordained you".
We don't have to listen to them or pay heed to them-we have our agency. But there is a lesson in scripture to consider.
The children of Israel entered the land of Edom. It was infested with serpents and snakes, the bite of which was so painful and so dangerous that they called them fiery, flying serpents. They cried for deliverance.
"... And Moses prayed for the people.
"And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
"And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived".
"How silly," some must have said. "How can such a thing cure me? I'll not show my stupidity by paying any attention," and some would not look.
In First Nephi we read that "after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished".
The lesson is enlarged in the Gospel of John.
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
"That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".
And today many say, "How silly! How could accepting Christ save me?" They will not turn their heads to look nor incline their ears to hear. They ignore the great witness that comes from these conferences. We ought to, indeed we must, heed the counsel of these men, for the Lord said, "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.
"For behold, and lo, the Lord is God, and the Spirit beareth record, and the record is true, and the truth abideth forever and ever. Amen".
Though it is my privilege to serve among them, I have not forgotten for one moment that these men, the brethren, are the servants of the Lord. And individually, independent of their knowing it, I know and testify that David O. McKay is a prophet of God, that Jesus is the Christ, and that this conference is his voice speaking to his children. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Theodore M. Burton
Theodore M. Burton, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 76-79
My dear brothers and sisters, and all who are watching and listening to these messages: If you were to approach a military installation some dark night, you would be immediately challenged by a sentry with the question, "Who goes there?" If you were to answer that challenge with the word "friend," the sentry would answer, "Advance, friend, and give the password." If you were neither able to give the password nor to identify yourself, you would be placed in an embarrassing and a dangerous position.
Yet millions of those presently living on the earth are totally unprepared for death and to enter through the gates of the celestial kingdom. They know neither the password nor will they be able to identify themselves as a son or a daughter of God. They have never taken upon themselves the name of the Only Begotten Son of God, nor passed the necessary tests of faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Nevertheless, this identification is needed for entry into the kingdom of heaven, which kingdom we can refer to as the family of God, our Eternal Father.
It is not only necessary to have had his ordinance work done on the earth but also to have it properly recorded here by a legal administrator who is authorized to make a record that is binding on earth as well as in heaven. John the Revelator must have been contemplating this very thing when he wrote:
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works".
These books spoken of must be the books which contain the record of their works upon the earth and must refer to the records which are kept upon the earth. The other book spoken of as the "book of life" is the record which is kept in heaven. Joseph Smith explained in a letter preserved as Section 128 of the Doctrine and Covenants that whatever you record on earth shall be recorded in heaven, and whatsoever you do not record on earth shall not be recorded in heaven.
We are presently engaged in a process of simplifying the recording of records both for the living and for the dead. We are coordinating the records of the Genealogical Society, the Church Historian's Office, and the office of the Presiding Bishopric into a master file. Our ward clerks are auditing all records of living members of the Church to make certain that their records are correct and complete. As a result of this survey we have discovered many cases where, through oversight or carelessness in recording names, dates, and places, errors have been entered onto the record. What is really shocking is that sometimes no records are found of baptisms, confirmations, or priesthood ordinations or ordinances.
I have been shocked at the complacency and the indifference of some persons when these errors have been called to their attention. Quite commonly the answer is given: "Well, I know that I was baptized, and that is all I need to know. It must be recorded someplace, and it is up to you to find it."
This is a very wrong and dangerous assumption. It is up to the individual to see that the ordinance is properly recorded. It is my responsibility to see that my works are properly recorded. If I cannot find this record through diligent searching, or if I cannot establish a record through proper witnesses who can testify that the ordinance was performed, then I would go to my bishop, state my problem, and ask that I immediately be permitted to be baptized and to have my ordination to the priesthood and my endowment ratified in order to establish a proper record on the books of the Church.
No mere record alone will assure me my exaltation in the celestial kingdom. That exaltation must be earned by a righteous life on earth, by virtue, love, obedience, and conformance to every law given by God. In fact, the scripture states: "And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God".
It is, however, my responsibility to see that my name is also listed on the records of God's family on earth and that my conformance to the necessary gospel ordinances has been properly recorded on the books of the Church.
My salvation and my exaltation depend upon these two principles of righteous living and conforming to the written requirements of the gospel. This is my blessing that is in danger, not that of someone else. It is my responsibility to live righteously and to establish a proper record for me at once. This is no time to become indignant, to stand on my rights, or to take a chance on future rectification of my records. If my future blessings are in danger because of missing identification, I must humble myself and do whatever is necessary to assure myself that my record and the records of my family are properly recorded and protected.
As I read the scriptures, I tremble for those who do not live righteously and who do not have a record of conforming with God's laws. Even if I were a literal descendant of Aaron, lived a righteous life, and held an inherited right to the office of the bishopric, there are additional standards to be met:
"And a literal descendant of Aaron, also, must be designated by this Presidency, and found worthy, and anointed, and ordained under the hands of this Presidency, otherwise they are not legally authorized to officiate in their priesthood.
"But, by virtue of the decree concerning their right of the priesthood descending from father to son, they may claim their anointing if at any time they can prove their lineage, or do ascertain it by revelation from the Lord under the hands of the above named Presidency".
I emphasize that even the Presiding Bishop in such a case, in addition to a life of righteousness and a claim to be a descendant of Aaron, must prove his lineage, and this must be done from the records.
Let me read a more emphatic statement about the records of priesthood ordinations in general:
"And all they who are not found written in the book of remembrance shall find none inheritance in that day, but they shall be cut asunder, and their portion shall be appointed them among unbelievers, where are wailing and gnashing of teeth.
"These things I say not of myself; therefore, as the Lord speaketh, he will also fulfill.
"And they who are of the High Priesthood, whose names are not found written in the book of the law, or that are found to have apostatized, or to have been cut off from the church, as well as the lesser priesthood, or the members, in that day shall not find an inheritance among the saints of the Most High;
"Therefore, it shall be done unto them as unto the children of the priest, as will be found recorded in the second chapter and sixty-first and second verses of Ezra".
When their genealogy was not found, they were put from the priesthood because they could not prove that they had conformed to the commandments of God and had truly received the priesthood.
I pray that everyone who hears my Voice will make certain that his or her name and that of his or her ancestors through whom he obtains his heritage upon the earth are found properly recorded upon the books of the kingdom of God. Only in this way can one be sure that this portion of his conformance to God's commandments concerning his works upon the earth has been properly recorded. Only when you know the proper password and have a valid identification of yourself and your lineage can you enter through the gates of heaven to claim your eternal exaltation.
I urge all clerks and recorders to realize how very important your work is in the plan of salvation. The proper recording of information is most important, for it will form an important portion of the basis on which we as a people are to be judged. A clerk's calling is as much a spiritual calling as any we have in the Church, and must never be regarded merely as a technicality.
Brothers and sisters, I testify that we will live again, that life after death is real, and that we can only claim an inheritance among the mansions of our Father in heaven when we can prove our claim to it through living righteously and maintaining our names in righteous fellowship upon the records of God's kingdom on the earth as well as in heaven. Of the truth and importance of these principles I testify, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 79-82
Today is actually tomorrow in the Tongan Islands, which lie some 2,700 miles southwest of Hawaii. The Tongan capital, Nuku'alofa, is situated 20 minutes east of the International Date Line, thereby giving Tonga the title "the place where time begins." Tongans take delight in the thought that of all the people whom God has created and placed over the expanse of this marvelous world, they are the first to greet the new day, the first to be upon their knees in morning prayer to thank a loving Heavenly Father for his abundant blessings.
Captain James Cook, one of the early explorers of the Pacific, was greatly impressed with the friendliness of these native people. On his charts he designated Tonga as the Friendly Islands. His designation could not have been more descriptive. Tongans are good-humored, polite, outgoing, and, above all, friendly.
Perhaps the Friendly Islands didn't quite live up to their name in the estimation of those first Mormon missionaries who arrived on the island of Tongatabu July 15, 1891. A full year was to transpire before a frame meetinghouse could be erected, a humble and modest school opened, and the first new member baptized. Frustration followed frustration until progress halted. After a 20-year lull, the work was recommenced with the establishment of the Tongan Mission.
Once again, men of faith, called of God, left behind home and family and sailed for Tonga. Success came more readily, but not without exacting a price. Typhoid fever took its toll. Today, six well-kept graves mark the resting place of those who were willing to give all in the cause of truth. The words of the Lord provide a fitting epitaph to their lives and to the service of these early missionaries: "Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great".
From that small frame school has proceeded the Liahona College and a Church-administered school system, which blesses the lives of the choice youth of the Friendly Islands. Teachers, both Tongan and American, with a common bond of faith, provide not only training for the mind, but also preparation for life.
Well could they say:
"We are building in sorrow or joy A temple the world may not see; Which time cannot mar nor destroy- We build for eternity."
On a recent visit to Tonga, I witnessed such a building project. Entering a typical classroom, I noticed the rapt attention that the children gave their native instructor. His textbook and theirs lay closed upon the desks. In his hand he held a strange-appearing lure fashioned from a round stone and large sea shells. This I learned was a maka-feke or octopus trap.
Tongan fishermen glide over the reef, paddling their outrigger canoes with one hand and dangling the maka-feke over the side. Octopuses dash out from their rocky lairs and seize the lure, mistaking it for an ocean crab. So tenacious is their grasp and so firm is their instinct not to relinquish the precious prize that fishermen can flip them right into the canoe.
It was an easy transition for the teacher to point out to eager and wide-eyed youth that the Evil One, even Satan, often fashions a maka-feke to ensnare unsuspecting persons and to take possession of their destiny.
Before some he dangles the maka-feke of tobacco with the cunning call, "This is the way to social ease." He who grasps, like the octopus, finds it difficult to relinquish the bait.
Before others he presents the maka-feke of alcohol with the chant: "Here is the way to unwind and forget your cares." The unsuspecting victim finds himself not carefree, but held captive.
The new morality is a cleverly designed maka-feke. In a headlong dash for what they envision will be social acceptance, the weak-willed, deceived by a counterfeit bait, discover not social acceptance, but experience social rejection.
What prompted this inspired teacher to close the traditional textbook and for a brief moment teach an unforgettable lesson? Love is the answer-a love for his students and a genuine concern for their welfare.
This same spirit of abiding love and genuine concern has characterized the growth of the Church in Tonga from that humble beginning in 1891, even to the present time.
Today one in seven Tongans is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Beautiful chapels dot the landscape. The full program of the Church is pursued in a vigorous and successful manner. Just last month, together with Elder Howard W. Hunter, I had the privilege to be a part of the creation of a stake of Zion at Nuku'alofa. We found a prepared people. We discovered that from "small things" there had proceeded "that which is great".
In their journey to greatness, the Tongans have not neglected nor forgotten a great source of their strength-this abiding love and genuine concern one for another.
Earlier this year a baby boy was born to the Tongan Mission president and his wife, President and Mrs. John H. Groberg. Little John Enoch was their first son, the beloved brother of five sisters and the delight of the Tongan members. At first the little one did well, but then came illness. Doctors worked their skill, parents exercised their faith, but the baby did not improve.
Late one evening there came a knock at the door. From the Tongan visitor, President Groberg learned that on every island, in every home, and in every heart, fervent prayer and faithful fasting became a united appeal to Almighty God that John Enoch Groberg would live. Visiting Tonga at the time, I witnessed this faith. I testify to the result. The cause of the illness was discovered; the deterioration was arrested. Today the baby is robust in strength. He is a living testimony of the power of prayer and the miracle of love.
During that same visit to Tonga, I accompanied President Groberg to the royal palace, where we were granted an interview with His Royal Majesty King Tupou IV. Our welcome was cordial and most pleasant. At the conclusion of the interview, the prompting of the Holy Spirit guided President Groberg as he bore fervent testimony to the king concerning the truth of the everlasting gospel and the blessings that it provides the faithful. No more eloquent nor moving words have resounded in those royal chambers. No greater courage have I seen displayed.
To my mind came the apostle Paul's inspired defense before another king, even Agrippa. Here in Tonga was one called of God who was "not disobedient unto the heavenly vision." Here was uttered a testimony that "Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles". I could envision King Tupou saying with King Agrippa, "Almost thou persuadest me".
We exchanged greetings, departed the palace; but I did not, nor will I, forget that experience. What prompted such courage, such faith, such conviction in a young mission president? The answer: the miracle of love. John H. Groberg loves the Tongan people-all of them.
As a lad just 20, called to the Tongan Mission, he was assigned to an outer island with a native missionary as his companion. After eight seasick days and sleepless nights on a storm-tossed sea, they reached their destination. Not one soul on the island spoke English. Here he acquired his gift of the language. Then came a devastating hurricane that struck the isolated island with tropical intensity, destroying the food crop and contaminating the water supply. There was no means of communication with the outside world. The supply boat was not due for almost two months. After four weeks the precious store of food, mainly taro, a native vegetable, was severely rationed. Four additional weeks passed. All food was gone. No help arrived. Bodies became emaciated, hope dwindled, confidence waned, some died. In desperation, John Groberg waded into the swampland where insects covered his face, and with a sweep of his hand, many entered his mouth-his only nourishment.
The end drew near. The island's inhabitants sat in an idle stupor. One morning, nine weeks from the time of the hurricane, John Groberg felt a gentle hand upon his shoulder. He turned his head and gazed into the eyes of an elderly Tongan man. Slowly and with meticulous care, the old man unwrapped a precious prize, even his most treasured possession-a small can of berry jam. He spoke: "I am old; I think I may die. You are young; you may live. Accept my gift."
What were the words penned by Charles Dickens? "It is a far, far better thing that I do than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known." Add to them the declaration of the Savior: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me".
Then came that speck on the horizon and a shout of joy as the supply ship came into view. John H. Groberg was no longer a boy. His faith had been tried; his life had been spared; his love for the Tongan people was forever assured.
The Holy Scripture records that in the hushed quiet of the still night, the boy Samuel heard the Lord call and answered, "Here am I". On the bleak hill of Moriah, Abraham demonstrated his willingness to sacrifice all-even his only son. He heard the angel of the Lord call and answered, "Here am I". On the morning of a beautiful spring day in a sacred grove at Palmyra, the boy Joseph Smith beheld a heavenly vision and the appearance of the Father and the Son. He received his call, and his life demonstrated his answer, "Here am I."
On a distant Pacific isle a faithful missionary, John H. Groberg, had answered, "Here am I."
So often the call to serve is not accompanied by the sound of a marching band, the cheering crowd, or the applause of those whose favor is deemed so great. Such distractions were not to be found on Damascus' way, in Palmyra's grove, on Moriah's mount, in Gethsemane's garden, nor atop Golgotha's hill.
With a never-waning confidence in the people of Tonga, John H. Groberg has taught them not to pray for tasks equal to their powers, but rather to pray for powers equal to their tasks. Then the doing of their work shall be no miracle, but they shall be the miracle.
I found it difficult last month to bid good-bye to Tonga and its precious people. Here were men of faith, women of patience, even children of promise.
We boarded the plane. Slowly it taxied to the grass runway, and with a roar gained speed and lifted gently into the blue sky. I looked at the crowd who had bid us farewell. In the distance I saw the great school complex. In my memory I thought of the six graves of those early missionaries. Quietly I repeated a verse from Kipling's "Recessional":
"The tumult and the shouting dies, The captains and the kings depart; Still stands thine ancient sacrifice, An humble and a contrite heart; Lord God of hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget, lest we forget.
From the cabin window I took a last quick glance at Nuku'alofa, which interpreted means "the abode of love." I realized that love is not only the miracle of the Friendly Islands; love is the guide to mortal happiness and a requisite for eternal life.
God so loved the world that he gave his Son. The Redeemer so loved mankind that he gave his life. To you and to me he declared, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you...
"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples".
With all my heart I pray that we will be obedient to such a heavenly vision, for I testify it came from the Son of God who is our Redeemer, our mediator with the Father, even Jesus Christ, the Lord. Of this I bear witness, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Priesthood Holders to Be Examples in Daily Life As Representatives of the Most High
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 84-87
It is an honor, my brethren of the priesthood throughout the entire Church, to be associated with you. I greet all assembled here tonight in this great Tabernacle and all who are listening in over closed circuit in 700 appointed places throughout the United States and Canada. This is a glorious occasion!
Examples to the flock
Two thousand years ago the chief apostle Peter addressed the elders of the Church and said: "... I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
"Feed the flock of God which is among you...
"Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock...
"Be sober, be vigilant; because our adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
"Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world".
Note Peter's statement to be examples to the flock!
I testify to you as I have done before, that you leaders, you priesthood bearers, may so live at you may receive impressions and direct messages through the Holy Ghost. The veil is thin between those who hold the priesthood and those on the other side of the veil. That testimony began in the home in my youth because of the example of my father, who honored the priesthood, and my mother, who sustained him and lived it in the home.
I do not know that Peter had that in mind particularly when he mentioned being an example to the flock, but I know that such a home is a part of that flock. The influence you spread in your home will go throughout the town, will go throughout the county, the wards, and the stakes. No bishop, no counselor, no stake president, no man holding a responsible position in this Church can afford to sidestep to the slightest degree his great responsibility of living the gospel as he preaches it and of being an example to the flock. Any man holding such a position who would lead a young person to doubt the Church by his actions will bring dishonor to the Church and great sorrow to his own soul. The most precious thing in the world is a testimony of the truth. Truth never grows old, and the truth is that God is the source of your priesthood and mine. The truth is that he lives; that Jesus. Christ, the Great High Priest, stands at the head of the Church; and that every man who holds the priesthood, if he lives properly, soberly, industriously, humbly, and prayerfully, is entitled to the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. I know that is true.
Honor priesthood calling
Men who are vessels of the Holy Priesthood, who are charged with words of eternal life to the world, should strive continually in their words and actions and daily deportment to do honor to the great dignity of their calling and office as ministers and representatives of the Most High.
Whenever the priesthood is delegated to man, it is conferred upon him, not as a personal honor-although it becomes such as he honors it-but as authority to represent Deity and an obligation to assist the lord in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
If priesthood meant only personal distinction or individual elevation, there would be no need of groups or quorums. The very existence of such groups, established by divine authorization, proclaims our dependence upon one another, the indispensable need of mutual help and assistance. We are social beings. Edwin Markham said:
"There is a destiny that makes us brothers; None goes his way alone: All that we send into the lives of others Comes back into our own."
This element of service and mutual help is emphasized by the Lord as follows:
"Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees." So says the Lord in the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 81, verse 5.
And again:
"And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also".
One of the responsibilities of the priesthood here assembled, and the vast number in the Church of whom you are representatives, is to perform the labor of home teaching, "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ". And so it is right to have the home teacher carry the responsibility of looking after the welfare of each individual. Assignments can properly be made so that every man who holds authority, which comes by direct revelation, may recognize his ecclesiastical duties by exercising the authority that he holds.
Our priesthood should be honored no matter in what situation or circumstance we find ourselves. Our hearts and thoughts go out to our servicemen throughout the world, and especially to those who are in the active combat zones. Recently, I received a report from Elder Marion D. Hanks telling of the high caliber and behavior of servicemen in Vietnam, which gives assurance of the gospel in their lives and that they are honoring their priesthood. From that report I quote the following:
"Everywhere our men were highly spoken of. Every one of the generals to whom I talked went out of his way to commend the Mormon servicemen with whom he had trooped.
"They were most affirmative and strong in their endorsements.
"One fine Marine major, in the middle of battle daily, expressed his strong testimony and asked that I carry to the missionaries the message that he is happy to be in Vietnam fighting to preserve the right of our missionaries to do their more important work."
We can only hope and pray that hostilities in that grief-stricken area, and all over the world, will soon end.
I am going to tell you boys of the Aaronic Priesthood that a voice has been heard in this dispensation giving assurance that the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the head of this Church and guiding it, as he directed it in ancient days and has guided it since he and his Father appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
I am going to tell you what happened to me as a boy upon the hillside near my home in Huntsville. I was yearning, just as you boys are yearning, to know that the vision given to the Prophet Joseph Smith was true, and that this Church was really founded by revelation, as he claimed. I thought that the only way a person could get to know the truth was by having a revelation or experiencing some miraculous event, just as came to the Prophet Joseph.
One day I was hunting cattle. While climbing a steep hill, I stopped to let my horse rest, and there, once again, an intense desire came over me to receive a manifestation of the truth of the restored gospel. I dismounted, threw my reins over my horse's head, and there, under a serviceberry bush, I prayed that God would declare to me the truth of his revelation to Joseph Smith. I am sure that I prayed fervently and sincerely and with as much faith as a young boy could muster.
At the conclusion of the prayer, I arose from my knees, threw the reins over my faithful pony's head, and got into the saddle. As I started along the trail again, I remember saying to myself: "No spiritual manifestation has come to me. If I am true to myself, I must say I am just the same 'old boy' that I was before I prayed." I prayed again when I crossed Spring Creek, near Huntsville, in the evening to milk our cows.
The Lord did not see fit to give me an answer on that occasion, but in 1899, after I had been appointed president of the Scottish Conference, the spiritual manifestation for which I had prayed as a boy in my teens came as a natural sequence to the performance of duty. For, as the apostle John declared, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself".
Following a series of meetings at the conference held in Glasgow, Scotland, was a most remarkable priesthood meeting. I remember, as if it were yesterday, the intensity of the inspiration of that occasion. Everybody felt the rich outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord. All present were truly of one heart and one mind. Never before had I experienced such an emotion. It was a manifestation for which as a doubting youth I had secretly prayed most earnestly on hillside and in meadow. It was an assurance to me that sincere prayer is answered sometime, somewhere.
During the progress of the meeting, an elder on his own initiative arose and said, "Brethren, there are angels in this room."
Strange as it may seem, the announcement was not startling; indeed, it seemed wholly proper, though it had not occurred to me there were divine beings present. I only knew that I was overflowing with gratitude for the presence of the Holy Spirit.
I was profoundly impressed, however, when President James L. McMurrin, president of the European Mission, arose and confirmed that statement by pointing to one brother sitting just in front of me and saying, "Yes, brethren, there are angels in this room, and one of them is the guardian angel of that young man sitting there," and he designated one who afterward became a patriarch in the Woodruff Stake of the Church, John Young.
Pointing to another elder, he said, "And one is the guardian angel of that young man there," and he singled out one whom I had known from childhood, David Eccles. Tears were rolling down the cheeks of both of these missionaries-not in sorrow or grief, but as an expression of the overflowing Spirit. Indeed, we were all weeping.
Such was the setting in which James L. McMurrin gave what has since proved to be a prophecy. I had learned by intimate association with him that James McMurrin was pure gold. His faith in the gospel was implicit. No truer man, no man more loyal to what he thought was right ever lived. So when he turned to me and gave what I thought then was more of a caution than a promise, his words made an indelible impression upon me. Paraphrasing the words of the Savior to Peter, Brother McMurrin said: "Let me say to you, Brother David, Satan hath desired you that he may sift you as wheat, but God is mindful of you." Then he added, "If you will keep the faith, you will yet sit in the leading councils of the Church."
At that moment there flashed in my mind temptations that had beset my path, and I realized even better than President McMurrin, or any other man, how truly he had spoken when he said, "Satan hath desired thee". With the resolve then and there to keep the faith, there was born a desire to be of service to my fellowmen; and with it came a realization, a glimpse at least, of what I owed to the elder who first carried the message of the restored gospel to my grandfather and grandmother, who had accepted the message years before in the north of Scotland and in South Wales.
I ask God to continue to bless you that you will keep true to the priesthood that you hold, for it comes directly from John the Baptist, who received it from his Lord and Savior. In your youth, do not let temptation lead you astray. Be true to the ideals of your parents.
Now, to conclude, I shall tell you boys a story about a horse I once owned and had great pleasure in training. He had a good disposition, a clean, well-rounded eye, was well-proportioned, and, all in all, a choice equine possession. Under the saddle he was as willing, responsive, and cooperative as a horse could be. He and my dog Scotty were real companions. I liked the way he would go up to something of which he was afraid. He had confidence that if he would do as I bade him, he would not be injured.
But Dandy resented restraint. He was ill-contented when tied and would nibble at the tie-rope until he was free. He would not run away-just wanted to be free. Thinking other horses felt the same, he would proceed to untie their ropes. He hated to be confined in the pasture, and if he could find a place in the fence where there was only smooth wire, he would paw the wire carefully with his feet until he could step over to freedom. More than once my neighbors were kind enough to put him back in the field. He even learned to push open the gate. Though his depredations were provoking and sometimes expensive, I admired his intelligence and ingenuity.
But his curiosity and desire to explore the neighborhood led him and me into trouble. Once on the highway he was hit by an automobile, resulting in a demolished machine, injury to the horse, and slight, though not serious, injury to the driver.
Recovering from that, and still impelled with a feeling of wanderlust, he inspected the fence throughout the entire boundary. He even found the gates wired. So for awhile we thought we had Dandy secure in the pasture.
One day, however, somebody left the gate unwired. Detecting this, Dandy unlatched it, took his companion with him, and together they visited the neighbor's field. They went to an old house used for storage. Dandy's curiosity prompted him to push open the door. Just as he had surmised, there was a sack of grain. What a find! Yes, and what a tragedy! The grain was poison bait for rodents! In a few minutes Dandy and his companion were in spasmodic pain, and shortly both were dead.
How like Dandy are many of our youth! They are not bad; they do not even intend to do wrong; but they are impulsive, full of life, full of curiosity, and they long to do something. They too are restive under restraint, but if they are kept busy, guided carefully and rightly, they prove to be responsive and capable; if left to wander unguided, they all too frequently violate principles of right, which often leads to snares of evil, disaster, and even death.
And so I say, with Edgar A. Guest:
"So keep your faith in God above, And faith in the righteous truth, It shall bring you back to the absent love, And the joys of a vanished youth.
You shall smile once more when your tears are dried, Meet trouble and swiftly rout it, For faith is the strength of the soul inside, And lost is the man without it."
God bless you that you may realize the blessings that are yours through the revelation and restoration in this day and age of the world of the priesthood of God. This priesthood gives you authority to represent him in proclaiming the reality of the existence of the Father and his Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and the restoration of the gospel as given through Christ, through obedience to which peace shall be established on earth and the will of God carried forth to the salvation and exaltation of his children.
With all the power the Lord has given his servants, I bless you and pray that you will go forth with the spirit of service, honoring the priesthood that you hold and his name now and forever, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Russell M. Nelson
Russell M. Nelson, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 89-91
Dear brethren, prayerfully and humbly I respond to this request to speak about the home and the family, for I am constantly aware of the challenging responsibility in my own home to "place it in order". Those who know me best may surely say, "Physician, heal thyself", as I would treat this subject.
The importance of the home has been stressed continually by the Lord. Even the early Church leaders were reproved, as recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants: "And now a commandment I give unto you-... you shall set in order your own house, for there are many things that are not right in your house". In this day, the Prophet of God on earth, President David O. McKay, has proclaimed that "no other success can compensate for failure in the home." Brethren, as bearers of the priesthood, we know we should and we want to become good fathers and leaders in our homes.
The home itself symbolizes the temporal challenges that face us as fathers. We go into debt to acquire one. Financial prudence demands that we budget our expenditures, and our Christian concern for others dictates that we live within our means and pay our bills promptly. Yet, as we build our homes, we must remember that the home exists only to serve our family; the family does not exist to serve the home. We provide a home where our children may play, and welcome their friends as we welcome ours.
I used to worry about the fingerprints and other marks on the furniture until one day when I visited the home of the late Elder and Sister Adam S. Bennion. I remember well how Sister Bennion said, in a reflective mood, how each dent in the woodwork brought back memories of their happy children riding their tricycles through the house. She regarded these identifying marks among the most precious items in the home, and went on to suggest that she now wished she had shellacked the little fingerprints on the mirror, rather than wiping them off.
The home we provide is the most important laboratory of learning, where children must learn to share and to work. Sometimes my efforts haven't been too successful. One Saturday afternoon, a few years ago, I was working in the yard when I heard the bells of the ice cream wagon coming closer. My little black-haired daughter with dark brown eyes came running to her daddy and, in her charming way, asked for a dime.
Sensing this as a golden opportunity to teach her a lesson, I said, "All right, sweetheart, but why don't you work for your money, the same as everyone else does?"
The tears erupted as she cried, "But Daddy-I don't like to work!"
Our home is a home of order when our children have learned to work, and when our storage program is adequate to tide us through the vicissitudes of life against which our prophets have warned us. Our home is in order when we are always ready for a visit from the Lord, our bishop, or our home teacher, and when there is never a word of disloyalty expressed about our Church leaders.
Brethren, our home can never be any better than our selection and care of the one to be the queen in our castle. This sweet and hopefully eternal companion needs particular attention, for she is so tender and so special. "Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shall cleave unto her and none else".
If you really love her, you are more concerned for her welfare than for that of yourself. Do you see that she has opportunity for her self-improvement? She has the same God-given desire for perfection as you do. A regular day of diversion whereby she may pursue this goal is so vital. But do you know what she wants most from you? Your companionship, your courtesies, and your communication. And least? Your selfishness and silence. Each couple must constantly cultivate the art of communication.
In our own busy lives, Sister Nelson and I have found a lot of merit in the regular stroll together, which is good exercise for our bodies as well as for our souls. Exercise has become popular now. It is not uncommon to see a man jogging alone around the neighborhood, as competent medical authorities have suggested that you should "run for your life." How much better it would be for two hearts and their love affair if we could alter the slogan "Run for your life" to "Walk with your wife."
As we honor the queen of our home, we must never underestimate the power, blessing, and authority of the priesthood that we bring to the home. President McKay said, "No man who holds that priesthood should fail to ask the blessing on his food, or to kneel with his wife and children and ask for God's guidance. A home is transformed because a man holds and honors the priesthood."
As a man magnifies his calling in the Church, his wife and children receive special blessings, for the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, as those powers are used in gentleness, love, and righteousness. Family prayer under the direction of the priesthood has been a powerful influence in our home!
Now let us consider the ultimate reason for our marriage and for our home, namely, our children. I'm so grateful that we have been blessed with the nine we have, for I am convinced, as I'm sure you are, that the youth of this generation are the choicest souls, reserved for these latter days. Brethren, we have fathered their bodies, and now we must father their faith. The training of our youth is a divine commandment. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it". We have such a short time for this training, for most of their attitudes and habits are formed by the time they reach 14 years of age. Let's consider four ways in which we may father their faith:
First, we should father faith in themselves and in their family. Parents need to encourage their children and build their confidence, provide them with opportunities to develop, and give them security and love. I speak with real feeling on this because I have that kind of mother and dad. Dad is here tonight, and I want all to know how grateful I am for him, and for Mother. Every son needs a dad he can be proud of and a mother selflessly giving her life to her husband and children.
Family love is nurtured in home evenings and vacations together. The time and money required are well spent, for love and loyalty cannot be commanded-they have to be earned! Will Rogers once said, "You can't force love on anyone because then it isn't love anymore."
Educational opportunities become a prime responsibility for us as fathers. We want our youth to get all the education they can get. Yet we need to stress the balance between temporal and spiritual education, for the Lord has warned us of the foolishness of some men: "When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.
"But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God". With this education and faith in themselves and their family, they will know the joy of attainment as individuals in a competitive and free enterprise system.
Second, we should father faith in the country which has given them their opportunity. We need to show them our patriotism, and then they will be patriots, too. As they practice the principles of righteousness, they will grow to leaven the governments of the world with their leadership.
Third, we should father faith in God, their Creator. Opportunities constantly await our utilization. For example, if our youth manifest an interest in a fine camera, the study of the automatic light meter mechanism may provide basis for a discussion about the human eye, with its automatic mechanism regulating how much light may pass through the lens to reach the retina. Perhaps the gift of a watch may open the discussion to the timing mechanism that God has put in your heart, regulating faithfully its 100,000 beats each day. Or, if you have a 15-watt light globe around, let your children know that with the power output of only one-tenth of that globe, or 1.5 watts, God has enabled your heart to perform work equivalent to lift a 150-pound man to the top of the Empire State Building, or to pump enough fluid to fill a 4,000-gallon-tank car each day!
Fourth, we should father their faith in the gospel and in the future. We live in a changing world full of chaos, upheaval, and unrest. As our youth have been taught light and truth in the eternal verities that never change, they will have an anchor to steady them and a standard of reference against which all new hypotheses may be evaluated. For then each will know that if he will "seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, all things shall be added" unto him. Then will our homes be in order! One day Christ will come again, the millennium will be ushered in, and our youth will know the destiny for which we and they have prepared.
Humbly, I pray that we will place and keep our homes in order, to make them the little bit of heaven on earth that God's Prophet has proclaimed they might be. I testify to the living fatherhood of God, the divine mission of his Son, and the truthfulness of his Church, his gospel, and his prophets. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Robert L. Simpson
Robert L. Simpson, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 96-99
My dear brethren of the priesthood: With you I thrill at the testimonies of these young men of the Aaronic Priesthood. How grateful we are for the testimonies of youth and for the great spirit that they carry. Dennis, Mark, and Jeffery, we thank you. We are grateful for the strength of youth. Oh, that three billion people could be receptive to these testimonies and know what the gospel of Jesus Christ can do for the youth of the world!
You know, brethren, throughout history men have always been looking for the easy way. There have been those who have devoted their lives to finding "the fountain of youth," a miracle water which would bring everlasting life. Today men are still seeking for similar treasures, some magic "fountain" that would bring forth success, fulfillment, and happiness. But most of this searching is in vain, because they are looking for shortcuts. Unless they turn to him who offered the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well a drink of "living water", then their searching will indeed he in vain, for he told her: "... whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life". It is only this "living water," the gospel of Jesus Christ, that can and will bring a happy, a successful, and an everlasting life to the children of men.
The "living water" that the Son of God offers is a set of divine principles. These principles are proven principles-they are priesthood principles which, when applied, can result in the blessings of eternity. How well you and I learn and practice these priesthood principles is not just important, young men; it is everything. Everything worthwhile in your life, everything you hope and dream for, is embraced in priesthood principles.
The scriptures tell of some who have tragically disregarded priesthood principles. In the very beginning we can see Cain, a man whose birth gave his mother a great deal of joy, for she said, "I have gotten a man from the Lord.". However, Cain departed from the principles taught to him by his parents and began to love Satan more than God. "And Cain went into the field, and Cain talked with Abel, his brother. And it came to pass that while they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and slew him.
"And Cain gloried in that which he had done, saying: I am free.".
Cain's observation of a newfound freedom was false doctrine straight from the adversary. In reality he enslaved himself to a life of deceit and a life "shut out from the presence of the Lord.". Cain brought this tragedy to his own life by disregarding priesthood principles. He refused to be his "brother's keeper", and in so doing he sold his soul to the father of lies and murder.
We can also look to Saul, the promising young ruler of Israel who had every requirement of a great leader. Yet Saul disobeyed priesthood principles. He was given specific instructions by a prophet of God to lead the armies of Israel against the city of Amalek. But Saul rationalized and compromised those instructions. He acted on his own volition. He did that which he reasoned should be done rather than that which the prophet Samuel had instructed him to do.
On subsequent occasions Saul further violated priesthood principles, but just as with Cain, these misdeeds brought only tragedy and sorrow. Finally, Saul took his life by falling upon his own sword during a battle with the Philistines.
While the disregarding of priesthood principles has and does bring anguish and sorrow into people's lives, obedience to the principles of righteousness is that "living water" which brings a life of everlasting joy and fulfillment. The scriptures tell of many who have drunk of this living water" and received everlasting joy. One of the prime examples of a man who knew the value of adhering to priesthood principles and had the courage to live accordingly is Noah.
In the face of ridicule and even at the peril of his life, Noah remained steadfast to the principles of the priesthood. The scriptures describe Noah's devotion in these simple, straightforward terms: "Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he".
"And thus Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord; for Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generation; and he walked with God.". Noah tasted of the joy of life because he adhered firmly to the principles of righteousness.
In our time the distinction is just as clear; the "living water" on the one hand, sorrow and tragedy on the other. As the Lamanite prophet Samuel declared, "... for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.
"He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you".
The choice seems clear and obvious, but the sure test of truth must be applied by each of us. We must apply the principles of the priesthood in our own lives. To be taught truth is not enough. We must participate to be sure of the doctrine, to be certain of its truth. Only practice can bring peace of mind and that personal testimony which enables some to stand and declare, "I know that God lives." Young men, if you take just one thought home with you tonight, let it be this: There stands not one man who speaks this kind of assuring testimony who did not have to first earn that right by compliance to priesthood principles.
Young men, no greater security can ever come into your life than the strength and power that comes through personal testimony. Your parents cannot give it to you without your cooperation. Neither can the Lord force it upon you, for that would be a violation of an eternal law called free agency.
Yes, that is the name of the game, free agency, and you are the team captain. You must direct the action in your life; and to do it intelligently, you must decide where the goal line is. You must decide which "plays" will work best to achieve that goal. Each day should mean another point or two scored in your favor. Which direction is the goal you seek? Why don't you think of a few major goals this very moment-can you think of one or two? Now ask yourself this question: "What are the rules in this vital game of life?" There is only one worthwhile direction. There is only one set of rules and we meet here tonight to better understand that direction and those rules, for they are centered in priesthood principles.
What do you young men who hold the priesthood of God really want out of life? What do you see that is really worthwhile on that goal line that you are striving to cross? Would I be right in assuming that you would like a good portion of happiness in your life? Why, of course you would. Of what value is freedom to you, or perhaps peace of mind? I am certain that Heavenly Father would also like to see happiness be your lot, for he has said: "... men are, that they might have joy".
Did you know that the gospel could guarantee freedom, for "the truth shall make you free"? The Savior of the world, I am sure, was talking about peace of mind when he said: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid".
Would you be interested in a guarantee of good health and physical strength to carry you along life's highway? There are some dramatic promises contained in the eighty-ninth section of the Doctrine and Covenants. Those who will observe God's rules of health may have all of those promises fulfilled.
Is knowledge one of your goals? The gospel teaches that man is saved no faster than he gains knowledge, and I am sure the Lord would have you use that knowledge intelligently, for "the glory of God is intelligence.".
Are you interested in a financially sound future? You can be, if you stay out of debt and spend wisely. This has been the counsel of the Church leaders from the beginning.
Most young men of the Aaronic Priesthood would rather be industrious and progressive than lazy. The welfare plan of this great Church tells us to re-enthrone work as a ruling principle in our lives and to abolish the dole, which is a something-for-nothing program. There is no place for it in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Then, of course, you would have as a goal the practicing of pure religion, undefiled, caring for the widows and the fatherless. Heavenly Father has given us the law of the fast, that the unfortunate might be provided for, and also a declaration that inasmuch as we do it unto one of the least of these, we have done it unto him; pure religion, undefiled, all a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ and implemented in the law of the fast.
We are all just human enough to ask the questions: What is in it for me? Is it worth the effort? What will the end result be? If the word of the Lord means anything to us at all, then the reasons for compliance are overwhelming, for in the seventy-sixth section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord tells us explicitly about those who conform to priesthood principles in this life. May I quickly review some of the conditions and rewards that will most certainly be yours as you decide to conform and then do something about it. The seventy-sixth section of the Doctrine and Covenants says your friends and associates hereafter will be just like you:
Those who receive the testimony through compliance.
Those who were baptized in the right way by the proper authority.
Those who kept the commandments and received the Holy Spirit as a constant companion.
Those also who, with you, prepared themselves for entrance into the House of the Lord, there to be "sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise" for all eternity to those who are nearest and dearest, the family unit.
Yes, it is they to whom the Father has promised all things.
It is they who will be anointed priests and kings of the Most High.
It is they who will receive of his fullness and of his glory.
This remarkable revelation further continues that "they are gods, even the sons of God." Does that mean anything to you? Is that worth striving for?
It states that all things are theirs, and "they are Christ's." As though that were not enough, it further states that they "shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever." Indeed, "These are they who are just men made perfect, whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God".
I challenge you Aaronic Priesthood bearers to commit yourselves here and now to such a reward hereafter. How can anything be more important than this? The very next time you are faced with the decision of going along with the crowd in something that seems questionable or standing firm in what you know to be right, just remember that you are a priesthood bearer. Your commitment is to God; you must never defect to the enemy-you must remain above such things. By so doing, you will find new strength. You will be given new power. You will discover the deep-down joy that comes with compliance to priesthood principles.
I testify to you that there is no success, no joy, no true fulfillment for us in this life or in the eternities unless our lives are in compliance with priesthood principles. This is the "living water" which can and should be a "well of water springing up into everlasting life".
I testify of the divinity of Him who offers the "living water" through compliance with the principles of the priesthood, and I do so in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Mark E. Petersen
Mark E. Petersen, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 99-102
I would like to talk with you tonight about the relationship we have to our Father in heaven and the great responsibility we have of living in such a way as to be worthy of that responsibility and that great opportunity.
The sad plight of today's world is but a reflection of the willfulness and selfishness of mankind.
And sad to say, both willfulness and selfishness in the last analysis are born of deep, dark ignorance, which is nothing less than amazing in this enlightened age.
As a race, mankind is drifting aimlessly, with no overall purpose, and the reason most people have no real purpose is that few of them know the basic facts of life-who we are, or even why we exist.
These are unanswered questions for many, and as a result they seek activities which in many respects are harmful to themselves as well as to their fellowmen.
With no understanding of the deeper meaning of existence, some sink into almost brute-like conditions where they almost sadistically destroy other.
That is why we have riots.
That is why we have crime.
It is the basic reason behind immorality, and to a large extent is responsible for much of our drunkenness, with all its sorrow and distress.
It is why man's inhumanity to man continues to make countless thousands mourn.
We are in a world of peculiar contrasts.
We live in what is doubtless the most affluent period of the history of man, and yet in our midst we have poverty and starvation.
Similarly, we live in what is probably the greatest period of intellectual-and certainly the greatest period of technological-advancement the world has ever known.
But in the midst of it all there still remain roots of ignorance that stimulate selfishness and breed crime, violence, war, and every other abuse.
If man understood his true purpose in life as it is revealed in the gospel, and if he knew the secret of his origin, he could begin to free himself from the shackles of this ignorance.
Who are we?
What is the purpose of our existence? Can a man who thinks that life came about by chance on a globe that was made by accident have any overlying purpose to guide him?
Can a man who thinks he evolved from the lowest forms of life have any lofty aspirations?
Does the idea that we are descendants of ape-like ancestors inspire us to any great heights of achievement?
The importance of having purpose in life cannot be overstated.
The discovery of an obvious purpose in creation is what now begins to open the eyes of our greatest scientists to the acts of our existence. They are learning that creation could not possibly exist, nor could it have come into being initially, without a definite purpose. These scientists now say they are convinced that creation came by the act of a supreme Intelligence, that he had a purpose in creation, and since he has purpose he therefore must be a person. Furthermore, they tell us that this Creator also had a definite purpose in creating man to be like himself.
Listen to some of them.
Dr. Arthur H. Compton, Nobel Prize winner, writing in the Los Angeles Times, said:
"Where there is plan, there is intelligence, and an orderly unfolding universe testifies to the truth of the most majestic statement ever uttered-'In the beginning, God.'"
In a volume entitled The Freedom of Man, published by Yale University Press, Sir John Arthur Thomson says:
"We feel compelled-and it is a glad compulsion-to say with the most philosophical of the disciples, 'In the beginning was Mind, and the Mind was with God, and the Mind was God.'"
Alfred G. Fisk, in his book The Search for Life's Meaning, says:
"Just as the ordered structure of the universe implies a creative Intelligence, Architect or Orderer, so a belief in the objectivity or purpose in the universe leads to a belief in a Purposer or Divine Agent who is the source and spring of purpose in the Universe."
Sir Ambrose Flemming, in his Origin of Mankind, wrote: "The ultimate cause of things and events is a self-conscious and personal living Being... Life can only proceed from already living matter. It cannot be derived spontaneously from non-living matter. We can obtain energy only from some source or body already possessing it. It cannot arise spontaneously from nothing... Accordingly we can infer that the Cause which gave rise to our self-consciousness and powers of thought, must have been itself self-conscious and intelligent, or a Thinker. Hence we may infer that the thought of the Intelligent First Cause was not identical with ours, and therefore this separateness constitutes that First Cause a Person."
Dr. Compton, writing for This Week magazine, said:
"Few scientific men today defend the atheistic attitude. Design in the Universe presumes an intelligence. Evidence points to a Beginner, a Creator of the Universe. A physicist's studies lead him to believe this Creator to be an Intelligent Being. The intelligent God has an interest in and relation to man, and it is reasonable to assume that He would be interested in creating a being intelligent like himself."
Albert Einstein, in his book The World as I See It, says on pages 267-68: "The harmony of natural law reveals an Intelligence of such superiority that compared with it, all the scientific thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection."
Now, what is the truth about the origin of man? Paul gave it to us: We are the children of God. We are his offspring. We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.
And what does that mean?
It means that we have a mighty purpose in life, which purpose is that we may become like God!
Jesus commanded us to achieve this purpose, saying: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect".
Then, being children of God, we can see our true destiny. And being thus related to him, as his children, we now see ourselves in an entirely new light-not as the descendants of ape-like creatures living an aimless existence, but as the descendants of Almighty God, with the possibility of becoming like him!
Now we can understand the true place and dignity of man. Now we can see his infinite potential.
As members of the family of God, we can know that he has placed us here on earth in a type of school that will help us to become like him, if we are willing to follow the curriculum.
This is the light the world needs. This is the impetus we require to rise above the worldliness that brings heartbreak and degradation through sin, selfishness, and endless conflict.
God gave us a pattern to live by-his own Son, Jesus the Christ.
Since we can become like him, we should-therefore measure all our acts in terms of whether they are Christlike or not.
That which helps us to become like him we should accept. All which tends to remove us from him we must reject.
Let us take a moment to measure some of the conditions and influences bout us and see whether we become Christlike by indulging in them.
To understand the true dignity of man, we must accept the high estate of woman. Every girl and woman is a daughter of God. She has within her the spark of true divinity. She has been given one of God's own creative powers-the ability to bring forth human life.
Recognizing her as a co-creator with God, will any of us attempt to seduce her, or defile her, or abuse her? Identifying her as a daughter of God, and a co-creator of life with him, do we not see why the Almighty places sex sin next to murder in his category of crime? Is there anything Christlike in any act that would degrade womanhood or cheapen the true concept of motherhood?
Or is it Christlike to be cruel or unkind to any woman, or even discourteous, whether in public or in private? Which of us has the right to belittle his wife in or out of the home, as some habitually do?
Man is no less a child of God than is woman. He too has a divine heritage to be realized through proper living. His standards must be as high as those of any woman. Before God, there is only one standard of good conduct.
Dishonesty is another of the major afflictions of the world today. When we recall that the Savior instructed us to do to others as we would be done by, and to love our neighbors as ourselves, can we find anything Christlike in unfair dealing?
One of the most conspicuous of our indignities comes through the use of alcoholic beverages. Is there anything more pitiable than men and women who have lost their senses in drunkenness?
Observe any intoxicated person; listen to his babbling. Does liquor improve his opportunity of becoming an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ?
Liquor can only lower the dignity and honor and respectability of man. Any effort to make it more available aids and abets the moral breakdown that always accompanies intoxication.
I ask you frankly, is there anything Christlike in it? Would your Savior encourage you to make liquor any more available than it already is?
And what of the use of tobacco? Is there anything sanctifying in it? If you use the weed in any form, look at yourself in a mirror and ask how you enhance the divinity within you as you smoke or chew it.
One of the widespread demoralizing practices of the present day is the telling of obscene stories. It is satanic to place evil thoughts in the minds of others. Truly the Lord taught that what comes out of the mouth reflects what is in the heart, and when corruption issues from the lips, it is but the effervescent bubbling of a wicked heart.
Purity of mind alone can lead us to God. Nothing but corruption is spread by evil stories.
If you gamble, you violate the Sabbath day or put pleasure before God, if you lower your standards to meet the popular demands of the world, ask yourself if Christ is pleased. Ask yourself if such retrogression will bring you any nearer your purpose in life, that of becoming like our Savior.
Since we are the children of God, we should deport ourselves as such. We should maintain the honor and dignity that relationship with the Almighty demands of us.
We should be willing to follow the Christ into that perfection which only consistent righteous living can bring.
I testify to you that God is a reality and that it is equally true that we can become like him.
We are his sons. Let us bear the mantle of sonship and apply ourselves to the work he has given us in all diligence. For this I humbly and earnestly pray in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
President N. Eldon Tanner
N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 102-104
I am happy, my brethren, to be with you this evening, to hear these fine messages from the boys, these Aaronic Priesthood holders, and those who are holding the Melchizedek Priesthood who have been chosen by God to lead, guide, and direct us in these latter days; and to hear the singing of this excellent men's chorus, which is an inspiration to anyone.
As I sat and listened to the things that have been said here tonight, I wondered if any of the young men had the idea that they were being given a hard task. I told the Regional Representatives this week a little experience I had that I hope they won't mind my repeating to this group and to those who are scattered throughout the Church in the different buildings and listening in tonight.
A man came to me and said, "President Tanner, this Church just demands too much of us. It's really hard to live up to the standards of this Church." And I said, "Brother, I can't agree with you on either statement. This Church doesn't demand anything of anybody. All it does is offer them a better way of life. It offers them the things that will bring joy and happiness to them while they are young, as they are growing older, and as they get ready to pass on to meet their Heavenly Father. Not one single thing that this Church offers is a deterrent, or will impede your progress, your joy, your success and happiness in any endeavor that is worthwhile."
He said again, "Well, it's surely hard to live up to it just the same."
I said, "Well now, brother, I don't see why it is. I don't agree with you." "Can you think of one thing that you would like to do that is wrong?" I named several while I was talking to him, like having a cigar or having a drink or robbing a bank, and so on.
And he said, "Now, don't be ridiculous."
I said, "All right, you tell me one thing that is wrong that you would like to do."
He had no answer.
I was telling this to a group where there were six adults and three children. I was talking to the adults and telling them of this experience. I said, "You know, I can't think of a thing that is wrong that anybody would really like to do." And a little girl who is ten years old who I didn't know was listening spoke up and said, "President Tanner, there is something wrong I would like to do." This was Sunday afternoon.
I said, "What is it, my dear?"
She said, "Well, I would like to go horseback riding today."
I said, "Well, why don't you?"
She said, "Well, I don't want to."
Brethren, when we can get ourselves into a position where there might be things that we would like to do that would tempt us if we would let them, then can be so sure we don't want to do them that we won't do them, we will have very little to worry about. I can't see why we would want to do wrong. Everything that has been told you tonight would, if followed, bring joy and happiness, contentment, success, respect, and love into your lives. What more do you want? Besides that, it would assure you a place in the celestial kingdom.
No boy who is breaking the Word of Wisdom enjoys it. It's hard to learn to smoke. It's hard to learn to drink. They tell me nobody likes the first cigarette or the first drink. They have to work at it in order to develop an appetite for it.
I should like to tell you that I love young men. I love young people. I was impressed with the way these young men talked here tonight, and with these boys down here in the audience, sitting and paying attention to what is going on.
I would like to tell you one or two experiences that I have had in my life. You know, when I was a young man my father pointed his finger at me and said, "Young man, I want you to realize that this world is divided into two great groups-you, and the rest of the world." He was serious about it, and he made me feel serious about it before we had finished talking. He said, "Regardless of what the rest of the world does, it cannot save you; and regardless of what the world does, it cannot destroy you. It is what you do yourself that determines what is going to happen, whether you are going to be loved and respected and happy and successful while you are living here, and whether or not you are going to meet your Heavenly Father the way you would like to meet him."
When I was president of the Edmonton Branch we had a young man there who was the only member of the Church on his high school basketball team. That young man and I were pretty close friends, though he was only a 16-year-old boy. He said to me, "You know, I don't know how I am going to hold up."
I said, "Listen, you have something that these boys don't have. They don't know anything about our Word of Wisdom. They don't know several things that we have in the Church. They don't know that they are spirit children of God. If I were you, I would just tell these boys something about the Word of Wisdom, and how these things may destroy your body, and how detrimental they are to you, and how they will impede your playing, and so on."
You know, he set out to do that, and he became more or less a hero with those boys. Before that year was over, there wasn't a single boy who was using tobacco. Now, how easy it would have been for him to follow those boys and be one of them. You know, it is easy for anybody to be a follower, and he doesn't gain much by doing it, unless he is following the righteous.
It is a little difficult to be a leader, to take your stand. We have an individual responsibility. The world is divided into the two great groups, and remember, you are one of them. The individual is one of them, and his success depends upon his individual stand.
I want to tell you of two experiences. One was while I was presiding over the West European Mission. I have told this in several places in the Church. There was a young man who came into the mission field for one purpose only, and that was to learn what he could about the world and to do what he thought would give him a god time. He said to some of the other missionaries, "Why do you want to waste your time trying to teach these people here in France? They don't want to hear the gospel. These Catholics think they know more than anyone else. Why waste your time? Why be a fool? Let's get out and see the night life and see what we can. It may be the only time we will ever be in this country."
He was able to influence three other elders to go along with him. Then another young man came into the mission field, and the four of them got hold of him just as he landed. They said this same kind of thing top him: "Don't be a fool. Don't waste your time. Let's have a good time while we are here. We may never be back here again."
This young man stood up and said, "Fellows, I am here as a missionary for the Church, an ambassador of the Lord. My parents are sacrificing to keep me in the mission field, and I intend to do my missionary work. Now, don't be offended. You do what you want to do." In other words, choose you this day whom you will serve, but as for me, I am going to serve Lord.
Two of those boys stood immediately by his side, and said, "We are with you." And it wasn't many months until the third one began doing missionary work; and before that other boy, the ring leader, had finished his time in the mission field, he too was trying to do missionary work.
Now I wonder what would have happened had this young man gone along with those four fellows. As it was, he saved his soul, and he helped to save the souls of others.
A young girl and her family were being taught the gospel right here in this city by a returned missionary who was serving as a stake missionary. After the family had heard the first two discussions, the father said, "We want nothing more to do with it."
But this girl, who was about 18 years of age, believed what she heard, and she wanted to be baptized. Her father said, "You can't be baptized. If you want to be baptized, you will have to wait until you are of age."
She was telling her boyfriend about the gospel and what it meant to her. He got tired of listening to her. He said one night, "You will have to choose between me and the Church." This hurt her badly. She loved this young man, but as they talked it over and she shed some tears, she said, "I am going to stay with the Church. I know it is true."
She went home and was very much upset. Her father saw she was upset and asked her what was troubling her. She said, "Oh, nothing, Dad."
He said, "My dear, I know there is something wrong. What is it?"
She told him what had happened. He said, "If the Church means that much to you, you may be baptized." Three weeks from then she was baptized.
And who do you think was there to see the baptism? Her father, her mother, and her boyfriend; and three weeks later they were baptized.
I wonder what would have happened to that young girl, I wonder what would have happened to that young man, I wonder what would have happened to the father and mother, if she hadn't had the courage to stand up and be counted, knowing that the gospel was true. As it is, they are all members of the Church, appreciating what the gospel means.
May we as individuals have the determination, the courage, the ability to stand up and do those things which we know are right, realizing that we are the spirit children of God, with the potential to make it possible to be like him if we will follow his teachings and keep his commandments. And while we are doing it we will be happier, more successful, more respected and loved than if we were doing anything else, because this is the work of the Lord. You hold the priesthood, which is the power of God delegated to you to act in his name in the office you hold.
We do not like to deal with people on whom we cannot depend. I sometimes wonder how the Lord feels about us when we make our covenants with him and fail to keep them. I am happy that he has said to us, "If you will repent, I will forgive you." Let us go on together and do those things which will bring eternal life to us. May this be our happy lot, may we be an example to the world, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Alvin R. Dyer
Alvin R. Dyer, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 106-110
My brothers and sisters and friends of our vast television audience, I occupy this position this morning by assignment from our beloved leader, President David O. McKay. We are so grateful he is present with us this morning, and I bear record that he is a prophet of God.
My talk this morning concerns the destiny of America, which directly and indirectly affects all of mankind.
Since the founding of this country, political leaders have spoken of the greatness of America and of its place in the world as the cradle of freedom and democracy, with a destiny to disseminate these principles throughout the world.
We have witnessed America's attempt at this by various methods, but she is learning by hard and costly experience that freedom cannot be taken or given to any people, nor can it be bought. America of today will need to learn the lesson, as did our Founding Fathers, that freedom must be sought after with courage and sacrifice, and that she cannot maintain it at home or convey it unto others unless this type of pursuit is involved.
As to the destiny of America, politically speaking, I am not prepared to say, but I do know that long before the ships of Columbus touched the shores of the New World, long before our independence and our Founding Fathers established a new nation, events had long since transpired to give unto this land, which we now call America, its committed purpose and destiny.
I have a firm conviction that the true destiny of America is religious, not political; it is spiritual, not physical.
Much has been said by many of the purpose of its founding. The Prophet Joseph Smith himself declared its constitution to be heavenly inspired, and because of this we earnestly pray for its purposeful continuity. But noble and great as are the political phases of its establishment, its real significance lies in its spiritual purpose, for which it was truly founded. I have chosen two of these spiritual and therefore God-purposed reasons for reference:
First: America was founded to fulfill a covenant that God made with the patriarchal ancestors of the house of Israel. The Lord, speaking unto a remnant of this house who had inhabited this land, had thus to say:
"For it is wisdom in the Father that they should be established in this land, and be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that these things might come forth from them unto a remnant of your seed, that the covenant of the Father may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people, O house of Israel".
Second: America and its constitution were founded to preserve unto mankind the God-given right of moral agency. I quote from a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith on this subject:
"According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;
"That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.
"Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another,
"And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood".
The people whom Columbus found were the ebbing remnants of those who came to this land by heavenly direction and in fulfillment of the covenants which God had enacted long before their migrations and occupancy of the land, which the Lord announced to them as a land of promise and inheritance.
According to the Book of Mormon, the Jaredites began their migration to this land at the time when the great tower of Babel was under construction. This occurred in about the year 2200 B.C. At this time the language of the people was confused. This tower has been identified in our modern time at a place called Hillah in modern Iraq, southwest of the city of Baghdad, on the east bank of the Euphrates River. Here is found a ruin known as Birs Nimrud, standing like a watchtower on a vast plain. Inscriptions on the pyramid-shaped ruins were found by Professor Rawlinson to bear the name of "The Temple of the Seven Planets." This ruin is supposed to be what is left of the Tower of Babel.
In the course of the travels of the Jaredites, first northward into the valley of Nimrod and then, after crossing many lakes and rivers, eventually reaching the great sea which separated the continents, they established a community named Moriancumer after their great leader, the brother of Jared.
We learn that the Lord gave instructions to the brother of Jared for the building of submersible barges that would enable his colony to cross the great waters to a land of promise, concerning which Mahonri-Moriancumer wrote:
"And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity.
"For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God".
About 1,600 years later, or 600 B.C., a prophet by the name of Lehi with his family left doomed Jerusalem, as the Lord had directed him. Lehi and his colony, as with the Jaredites many centuries before, were to be led to the promised land. Speaking unto Nephi, the son of Lehi, while they were yet in the wilderness prior to their embarkation, the Lord said:
"And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands".
Eventually, after much tribulation and a perilous journey over the great waters in a ship built as directed by the Lord, Lehi and his colony, somewhat enlarged since their departure from Jerusalem, reached the promised land, probably in the year of 589 B.C.
Later, Nephi made this declaration:
"But," said he, "notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord".
While the Reformation and the surge for freedom were gaining momentum in Europe and England, events were transpiring that led to the rediscovery of the land of America, for God touched the heart of a mariner by the name of Christopher Columbus, who eventually pioneered a passageway to the promised land in 1492. But neither Columbus, the Nephites, nor the Jaredites were its original discoverers, nor did they establish the purpose of America's destiny. This had already been established in the infancy of earth's habitation. In these migrations they were but directed to the land of man's beginning upon the earth.
We have learned that following his earth-life ministry among the Jews, visiting the sheep of another fold here in the land of America and establishing his Church among the people, the resurrected Christ tells of the founding of America and the coming forth again of his gospel unto the remnant of the seed of those then occupying this land, and unto all of the children of God. This was to follow a period of spiritual darkness upon the earth. In this declaration the Lord tells of the sacred destiny of the great land of America, and I quote the words of the Savior:
"And verily I say unto you, I give unto you a sign, that ye may know the time when these things shall be about to take place-that I shall gather in, from their long dispersion, my people, O house of Israel, and shall establish again among them my Zion".
The lord in the following declaration designates the land of America as the land of inheritances unto those who are of the house of Israel, who shall be gathered from throughout the earth, for, said he:
"And then shall the remnants, which shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth, be gathered in from the east and from the west, and from the south and from the north; and they shall be brought to the knowledge of the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them.
"And the Father hath commanded me that I should give unto you this land, for your inheritance.
"And behold, this people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a New Jerusalem. And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea, even I will be in the midst of you".
To speak of America, both north and south, as "the choice land," "a land consecrated", we will need to go back to the beginning for an understanding.
From the writings of the prophet Moses, dealing with the placement of man upon the earth, this statement is made:
"And I, the Lord God, planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there I put the man whom I had formed".
Then, as it was not good for man to be alone, a helpmeet, or a woman, was placed beside him, that both man and woman together could occupy the garden thus planted.
As to what and where the Garden of Eden was, it is well to call to mind that in the process of the creation, during the third period, all waters were gathered in one place, and the dry land was in one place. The land was called earth and the waters sea.
The dry land, or earth, is also given other name, that of Eden, and it was eastward in Eden or eastward on the dry land that the garden of our first earth-life parents was placed.
In the course of time from the creation, in the days of Peleg ), or about the year 2200 B.C., Just prior to the confusion of the languages, the single continent of land that had continued from creation was divided to produce the hemispheres as we now know them. But notwithstanding this, the geographic location of the Garden of Eden was made known to the Prophet Joseph Smith by revelation as here in the land of America, in Jackson County, Missouri, with Independence as the center place.
When Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden, they traveled in a northerly direction less than 100 miles to settle in a place that we now have come to know by the revealed word of God as Adam-ondi-Ahman. Here is where mortal family life began, as Adam and Eve begat sons and daughters, all of this here in the land of America.
Adam and Eve, shut out from the presence of God, settled in the place of their earthly abode and called upon God. They were instructed to offer the firstlings of their flocks upon altars as a sacrifice unto the Lord, to which commandment they were obedient even though they did not know the reason. An angel of the Lord then appeared and explained the similitude of the sacrifice of Christ the Lord, who would come to earth at an appointed time. Thereafter the gospel plan of salvation and exaltation, by reconciliation with God the Father, from whose presence they had been banished, was revealed for the first time to man upon the earth.
The Holy Priesthood, after the order of the Son of God, which "administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God", was conferred upon Adam. Hence, unto Adam, the great progenitor of the human family, were given the "keys of salvation". The Lord, or Ahman, thus made known unto Adam and Eve that though they had fallen and were subject to both physical and spiritual deaths, they could be redeemed and reconciled with God the Father.
In conferring the "keys of salvation" upon Adam, the revealing and unlocking of the conditions of salvation were made known to them and through them to mankind. In this we can understand the true meaning of the term "Adam-ondi-Ahman," or simply: from "Ahman," who is the Lord-"ondi," meaning through Adam unto mankind.
In the revelation referred to, but to which more attention is now given, the Lord speaks clearly of the "keys of salvation" having been given to Adam, his premortal name), identifying the purpose for which they were conferred.
"That you may come up unto the crown prepared for you, and be made rulers over many kingdoms, saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Zion, who hath established the foundations of Adam-ondi-Ahman;
"Who hath appointed Michael your prince, and established his feet, and set him upon high, and given unto him the keys of salvation under the counsel and direction of the Holy One, who is without beginning of days or end of life".
"... for it is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the present time".
Thus, from these brief accounts we see the reasons why America, or the continent of America, is the promised and choice land, choice above all other lands, for it was here that the habitation of man began, and here that the covenants of God were first established. And it is from the center of this land that God has started his great latter-day work that will carry to the finish.
It is of compelling interest to learn that in the sequence of the Lord's time, the earth and the waters will return to their original place. On this subject we have this revelation from the Lord:
"And he shall utter his voice out of Zion, and he shall speak from Jerusalem, and his voice shall be heard among all people;
"And it shall be a voice as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder, which shall break down the mountains, and the valleys shall not be found.
"He shall command the great deep, and it shall be driven back into the north countries, and the islands shall become one land;
"And the land of Jerusalem and the land of Zion shall be turned back into their own place, and the earth shall be like as it was in the days before it was divided.
"And the Lord, even the Savior, shall stand in the midst of his people, and shall reign over all flesh".
America as Zion will not fail. Since America is the land choice above all other lands, and it is in the "Center Place" that Zion will be established, it will not fail.
America as Zion will not fail, not simply because it is, the land of our illustrious independence and constitutional fathers, but because it is the land of Joseph, the son of Jacob, and has been so established by God's covenant. It is the land for the gathering of Israel in the culminating period of the last dispensation, which God has established through the Prophet Joseph Smith.
To accomplish his purposes in the destiny of America as Zion, we have these words from the Lord concerning his people:
"But first let my army become very great, and let it be sanctified before me, that it may become fair as the sun, and clear as the moon, and that her banners may be terrible unto all nations".
I bear testimony of the fulfillment and the destiny of the land of America as Zion, and I do it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Franklin D. Richards
Franklin D. Richards, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 111-114
President McKay, my beloved brothers and sisters: I stand before you with a humble heart and seek divine guidance in the things I say.
It is not unusual to hear a religious leader, a philosopher, or a poet refer to man as having a divine spark within him. Such characterizations infer that man possesses great abilities and potentials. We are frequently admonished to develop our capabilities, reach out, and set high goals for ourselves.
What does it mean to have a divine spark within you? Presumably that man has a certain relationship with God.
From time to time throughout the history of the world God has made known to man what this relationship is.
The scriptures teach that God is a personal being in whose image man was created, and that God the Father is the literal Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Father of the spirits of all men. Because of this, we inherit divine attributes. This was beautifully stated when Job of old explained that "there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding".
This simple doctrine as taught by Christ gave way to the theories and dogmas of men through the hundreds of years of apostasy.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaims to the world that the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness and simplicity has been restored through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
We assert that God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and that Christ's Church has been reestablished on the earth.
Thus, through modern revelation, God's relationship to man has again been clarified. I ask you to seriously consider the fact that the life of your earthly body is your spirit and that God the Eternal Father is the Father of your spirit.
The apostle John testified that Jesus "was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world".
And in this dispensation President Joseph F. Smith bore witness to this same truth, that the light of Christ, the Spirit of Truth, lighteth every man who is born into the world.
What a tremendous effect this has in the lives of those who accept this doctrine. Our Father in heaven loves each and every one of us and is interested in our welfare and growth and development. In fact, it is his work and glory "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man".
Again, let me say we know that not only do we have a spark of divinity within us, but that we are actually spirit children of our Heavenly Father and that "every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God".
With this relationship, we are thus blessed with many talents and possess great possibilities. The Savior set our greatest goal for us when he said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect".
To become perfect requires growth and development, and as we contemplate perfection we recognize that growth is the greatest phenomenon of this existence.
This Church teaches the value and necessity of eternal progression. We progressed in the preexistence, and it is our responsibility and opportunity to progress in this estate and throughout all eternity.
During his earthly ministry the Savior gave two parables dealing with the requirement that we develop the talents with which we are endowed. These parables are the parable of the entrusted talents and the parable of the pounds.
The talent was an ancient weight and money unit. The dictionary defines talent as "the abilities, powers and gifts bestowed upon a man; natural endowments; thought of as a divine trust. A natural capacity or gift."
The parable of the entrusted talents was given to his apostles, and in it the Savior told of a man who was about to leave on a long trip and who therefore called his servants together and gave them his goods. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one. To each man he gave according to his ability.
While the master was away, the one that received five talents put them to use and made five more talents. The one that received two talents put them to use and made two more talents, but the one that received the one talent hid it in the ground.
After a period the master returned and asked for an accounting.
Unto the servants that had doubled their talents the master said, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord".
The master called the servant that hid his talent and did not multiply it a slothful servant and said that he would take the one talent from him and give it to the servant that had ten talents.
Whereas the parable of the entrusted talents was given to his apostles, the parable of the pounds was given to a mixed multitude on the Savior's last journey from Jericho to Jerusalem; and although there are some differences in the two parables, in essence they teach the same truths and principles.
From the men endowed with many talents, more was expected than from the men with lesser talents, yet all were expected to multiply such talents as they were given. However, in each parable, although relatively little was expected of the men given one talent, each failed to use his talent. Good use of the talent on the part of the men given one talent was just as important and necessary as on the part of the men given two and five talents.
In this dispensation the Lord has been equally direct in his charge to his children. He has told us that he has given us many things "for the benefit of the church of the living God, that every man may improve upon his talent, that every man may gain other talents, yea, even an hundred fold.".
He has admonished us that "of him unto whom much is given much is required.".
He also says, "But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine anger is kindled against them.
"And it shall come to pass, if they are not more faithful unto me, it shall be taken away, even that which they have".
And then we are charged: "Thou shalt not idle away thy time, neither shalt thou bury thy talent that it may not be known".
The Savior evidenced little regard for the slothful servant. He expects us to work and use our initiative.
These scriptures clearly emphasize our obligations to use and develop the gifts and talents we have been blessed with-shall we say, develop the spark of divinity within us. Human experience confirms the soundness of this doctrine.
All of us then should be concerned about how to best develop our gifts and talents. First, we should recognize our talents and make up our minds to pay the price necessary to develop them. The price to be paid in developing talents includes, among other things, faith, study, and persistence.
In developing faith, we must never overlook the fact that we are spirit children of God the Eternal Father, and that our Father in heaven will assist us in developing our talents as we do our part.
One way in which he will assist us is to open up opportunities for us to use our talents. Some recognize their talents, but we are told they do not use them because of the fear of men.
Fear destroys faith and deprives us of many blessings. This is clearly brought out in a revelation when the Lord said, "Ye endeavored to believe that ye should receive the blessing which was offered unto you; but behold, verily I say unto you there were fears in your hearts, and verily this is the reason that ye did not receive".
We must, therefore, overcome fear. The Lord has told us that if we are prepared, we "shall not fear".
Preparation involves study, and we are also counseled to "seek learning, even by study and also by faith".
Eternal progress involves continual study. Increased learning gives us confidence, and confidence engenders faith, and faith banishes fear. I therefore encourage you to never cease to study, this being an important part of developing your talents.
Likewise, persistence plays a vital part. President Heber J. Grant used to frequently quote from Emerson: "That which we persist in doing becomes easy to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our power to do has increased." President Grant exemplified this throughout his entire life, and his persistence no doubt played a great part in many of his accomplishments.
We should appreciate that talents are developed b use and they will not grow and multiply unless they are used. This principle was clearly taught in the Savior's parables.
As we develop our talents, we should develop the spirit of sharing or giving, not only with those who are closest to us, but with all of God's children. Remember the words of King Benjamin: "... when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God".
The Lord wants us to enjoy our talents, but he also expects us to use them for the enjoyment and benefit of others and to build the kingdom of God.
Today we hear much about the need of challenges for the youth as well as for our senior citizens. Despite the fact that we are living in a troublesome period, we are living in the dispensation of the fullness of times, a most wonderful period in the history of the world. Yes, in a new era of growth and development. Opportunities today, for young and old, exceed those of any other age.
We should be grateful to live at this particular time, when the spirit of the Lord is being poured out upon the people of the earth so abundantly.
One of the important and distinguishing features of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that its affairs are administered by the lay members of the Church rather than by paid clergy.
I have been told by some of my non-member friends that the thing that has impressed them most about the Church is that it gives every person a chance to serve, regardless of his age. How true this is.
The Church in reality is a vehicle for the growth and development of God's children. The priesthood quorums, Primary, Mutuals, Sunday School, Relief Society, and other Church organizations, in their various activities and programs, all contribute to the development of their members' talents and provide opportunities for them to be shared with others.
Thus, as stated, exciting and challenging leadership opportunities are afforded men, women, and children of all ages to become involved in interesting and worthwhile projects. This is not only a great opportunity but likewise a responsibility for Church members, because the future growth of the Church is dependent upon the development of leaders-leaders for the general Church administration as well as missions, stakes, wards, priesthood quorums, auxiliaries, and other Church organizations and activities.
Talents may be developed in many areas of teaching, speaking, missionary work, music, drama, dancing, athletics of many kinds, Scout work, genealogical and temple work, welfare programs, compassionate service, and many other fields that might be mentioned; all contribute to the development of talents and leadership.
Sometimes we may think that we have too many opportunities to serve and develop our talents, and feel it requires too much of a sacrifice. Let me suggest, however, that we not consider it as a sacrifice but as a great blessing.
Never forget the Savior's great challenge to each of us to become perfect, even as our Father which is in heaven.
Each activity that we participate in provides experiences wherein we may improve our talents, thus contributing to our goal of perfection.
As we develop the spirit of giving and sharing, we find great peace, happiness, joy, and contentment, as well as growth and development.
May I encourage you, therefore, to accept every opportunity presented to you to serve with enthusiasm, not as a burden but as a great blessing. Organize your time by putting first things first, and perform each assignment well. By so doing, the divine spark within you will be magnified and your talents will be increased, "yea, even an hundred fold".
As you follow this admonition I can hear, "Well done, god and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord".
I bear you my testimony that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ; that the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness has been restored in this latter day through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and that there is a prophet of God with us today, our beloved President David O. McKay. May the Lord bless and sustain him. I bear this witness in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion D. Hanks
Marion D. Hanks, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 115-118
Last evening several teenage boys spoke from this pulpit to many thousands of young and older men in a great meeting. I should like to take my theme this morning in part from something said by one of them: "If I cannot respect mom and dad, whom I see, how can I respect my Heavenly Father, whom I do not see?"
To briefly establish a foundation, let me refer to a recent magazine article which began with these words: "Infant baptism is under fire." There follow several examples of this significant theological development across the world among Protestant and Catholic thinkers, and then this statement:
"Perhaps the most formidable challenge to infant baptism was made recently by Switzerland's venerable Karl Barth... In his latest book, Barth argues that there is no Biblical basis for infant baptism and that the ritual is not an act of God's grace but a human response to it-which means that the individual must be mature enough to understand the meaning of such a decision. The traditional understanding of the sacrament, he says, is simply 'an old error of the church.'"
With the substance of this we are in complete agreement. When the disciples asked Jesus, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" the Savior "called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven".
"Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
"And he laid his hands on them".
To this may be added the testimony of a Book of Mormon prophet: "... he that saith that little children need baptism denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption... for... all little children are alive in Christ".
In other sacred scripture we are taught that infants are "innocent before God" and then there is added this signal statement: "And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers". But, said the Lord, "I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth" and to "set in order your own house".
It is to the phrase "because of the tradition of their fathers" that I would give special attention in these few moments, and to the injunction to "set in order your own house".
Previously over this pulpit I have expressed my respect for children who have improved upon the ways of negligent parents, and my compassion for choice parents who have earnestly tried to bring up their children in the way they should go, only to have those children use their agency and individuality to follow other ways. The Lord has taught us that in his sight the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father; neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son. Each who is accountable must ultimately account for his own decisions.
But multitudes of us still have our children at home, or have grandchildren, or are influential in the homes or with the children of others. Great numbers of young couples are just starting their families, or soon will be. All of us should be brought to solemn thoughtfulness by the sobering word that although children are "innocent before God, the wicked one is able to take away "light and truth" "through disobedience" and "because of the tradition of their fathers".
The first definition of "tradition" in a modern dictionary is: "The knowledge, doctrines, customs, practices, etc., transmitted from generation to generation."
What is the tradition in your individual home and mine? What "knowledge, doctrines, customs, practices," and so forth are being or will be transmitted from our generation to our children and their children?
God teaches us that children are to honor their parents. What in us, our lives, our character, our behavior, is worthy of their honor? What in us is noble, responsible, faithful, gracious, considerate? What is worthy of their respect and their emulation?
Do we teach honesty by being honest? I love to remember the story of the man who, while his little son was with him, stopped at an isolated cornfield on a remote country road, and after looking before and behind him, to the left and to the right, started to climb the fence to appropriate a few ears of the farmer's corn. Said his son: "Dad, you forgot to look up."
What happens to the boy whose father boasts of the slick deal he has made in which others were outwitted? Years ago the late Joseph Welch said, on the occasion of his being named Father of the Year:
"If it were in my power to bestow on the youth of the land one single quality, I would not choose, I think, wit or wisdom or even that great boon, education. If I could choose but one, I would choose integrity. If one day my children and grandchildren say to one another, 'He taught us to value integrity,' I shall be content.
"How is the quality of integrity passed on to the children in the home? It is passed on by living a life of integrity, of sober honesty, of responsible citizenship. How can one surely fail to pass this priceless quality on to children in the home? By being a little lawless; by being a fixer; by being a cheat and a chiseler. Not so long ago one of my two boys spoke these sobering words to me. He said, 'When the two of us were young, there were times when you and Mom would obviously set out to tell us how to live the good life. We could always recognize those moments and we would close our ears and our minds. Your most influential moments were your most inadvertent ones. We were apt to imitate what you really were not what you said you were or even what you may have believed you were.
"If your children are to have integrity, they must find it in the home and in you. If they live in an atmosphere of complete integrity, they will accept it as an attitude and never waver thereafter. And having integrity, they will themselves find freedom; and having found it, gladly grant it to all others."
Every parent should ask, What ideals and values is my child learning? What is his image of himself? What is the view of others that he is developing in our home? Is his experience with his parents bringing him a rowing consciousness that the "bright light of God" is over everything, and a growing confidence in the presence of his Heavenly Father?
In New Zealand we learned an old Maori proverb: "A bird must have feathers to fly." Parents have the primary responsibility for feathering our children for flight. A child who lives in an atmosphere of disrespect, criticism, or shame will not be inclined to respect or accept himself; and of shame it has been impellingly written: "Holocausts are caused not only by atomic explosions. Holocausts are caused wherever a person is put to shame."
Our treatment of others will certainly condition a child's attitude toward others. Children who see and sense in parents a genuine concern for others, expressed in acts of kindness and compassion and unselfishness, will themselves be inclined to think well of mankind and to do as the scriptures bid: to "succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees".
Young people so blessed may also be less susceptible to the bewilderment that confronts some in our generation's paradoxical stress on man s rights and privileges while at the same time belittling him as a creature of his environment, conditioned by sociological and psychological factors, not possessing the powers and capacities of free agency, of thinking and believing, of choosing and determining, not the unique personality that God has taught us we are. The "conditioned-reflex" version of the behaviorist cannot inspire the mystery and awe and wonder which are the glory of man. To know, instead, that every individual is an eternal person, a potential god or goddess, capable of deep love and graciousness and mercy, more than human, is to prepare us to live with courage and a sense of responsibility, to inspire self-reliance, self-respect, and genuine respect for others.
What is the tradition of discipline in our homes? Is our child pampered, indulged, permitted in a moment of crisis to transfer his guilt to others-his parents, peers, family, the age he lives in, society? How will he handle disappointment and failure if he is not taught to face up to his mistakes honestly? We are not talking of imposing senseless punishment. We are talking of realities, of facts to be faced, of fair rules which are understood and enforced, with sanctions consistently imposed when they are broken. "Self-respect," someone has said, "is the fruit of discipline; the sense of dignity grows with the ability to say NO to one's self."
Other traditions to pass on
What shall we give to the children? Pray for a sense of humor. "Laughter leavens life" and brings a sunny spirit.
Pray also to be able to pass on the will to work, and the urge for excellence; the capacity for moral indignation, and the courage to stand alone; disdain for evil, and love of justice; the ability to love without condition or question. Do you know the story of the eight-year-old girl in an orphanage, unattractive, with annoying mannerisms, disliked by the teachers and administrators? One afternoon it was reported that she had broken a rule that would justify her expulsion from the institution. Against regulations she had been seen depositing a note in a branch of a tree overreaching the fence. The note was retrieved. It read: "To whoever finds this: I love you."
How in our home and mine is the tradition of patriotism?
On the Saturday evening just before Christmas last year, two clean, handsome young men-boys, really-their battle gear stacked nearby, stood before a large group of their comrades at China Beach near DaNang, South Vietnam, and sang "Silent Night." They had no accompaniment, and the sweet, clear ring of their voices will always be remembered, and the emotion we all felt. The next morning, before dawn, one of those young men came to my sleeping quarters to say good-bye and shake hands once more as he joined his outfit to head out into the bush on a search-and-destroy mission. It was not the Sabbath activity he would have chosen-he was disappointed not to be able to worship with fellow servicemen in our scheduled meeting-but he went his way to do his job. There is no question as to the tradition transmitted in this boy's home.
Fathers, mothers, what tradition are we planting in another generation, in our homes, as to self-control-control of our tongues and tempers and appetites? In 1884 Henry Drummond made a statement on this theme that could be read regularly with profit by each of us:
"We are inclined to look upon bad temper as a very harmless weakness. We speak of it as a mere infirmity of nature, a family failing, a matter of temperament, not a thing to take into very serious account in estimating a man's character. And yet... the Bible again and again returns to condemn it as one of the most destructive elements in human nature.
"The peculiarity of ill-temper is that it is the vice of the virtuous. It is often the one blot on an otherwise noble character... This compatibility of ill-temper with the high moral character is one of the strangest and saddest problems of ethics. The truth is, there are two great classes of sins-sins of the Body and sins of the Disposition... No form of vice, not worldliness, not greed of gold, not drunkenness itself, does more to un-Christianize society than evil temper. For embittering life, for breaking up communities, for destroying the most sacred relationships, for devastating homes, for withering up men and women, for taking the bloom off childhood; in short, for sheer gratuitous misery-producing power, this influence stands alone."
What traditions are we passing on for other homes in future times that are worthy of the memories we ourselves have? On occasion through the years I have enjoyed the blessing of asking large groups of adult leaders to meditate for a moment on their conclusion to an unfinished sentence, and then share their thoughts. The sentence reads: "The thing I remember best about my childhood at home with my parents and family is _____________."
I suspect your answers would be about the same as those that I have heard. Never once has anyone mentioned a high standard of living, or material possessions. Always they have spoken, as I would speak, of attention from mom or dad; of family associations, traditions, sacrifices, adventures together; of books read aloud, songs sung, work accomplished; of family prayers and family councils; of small presents lovingly and unselfishly prepared; of homey and wholesome and happy memories. My single question to them has always been, and I ask it today, "What are we giving our own children that they will remember with equal joy and appreciation?"
Since our last conference my wife and I were privileged to visit Samoa and other islands in the far seas. One afternoon in the mountain tops of Upolu, in American Samoa, in the village of Sauniatu, we had a remarkable experience pertinent to this moment. The village was deserted except for a few very young children and one or two who had stayed home with them. The rest were working in the fields or at other tasks. As we walked the single lane of Sauniatu, between the rows of falés, from the monument toward the new chapel and school, we heard children singing. There were perhaps half a dozen of them, none more than four years old, and they were singing with the sweetness of childhood a song we instantly recognized, and stood entranced, in tears, to hear: "I Am a Child of God."
In that high mountain fastness, at the end of a long, tortuous road, on an island of the sea, we found tiny dark-skinned children, none of them having seen more of the world than their small village, singing what they had learned through the tradition of their fathers, the greatest truth in existence, save one: I am a child of God.
That other truth? That there is a God who hears the voices of his children.
God bless us so to live and to teach that we may bring about a restoration of the home, the resurrection of parenthood, that the "wicked one" can never take away "light and truth" from our children "because of the tradition of their fathers". In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 122-125
I am very grateful for the opportunity of meeting with you, my good brethren and sisters, in this session of the conference and, in fact, all of the sessions of the conference.
I rejoice exceedingly in the truth. I thank the Lord every day of my life for his mercy and kindness and loving care and protection that have been extended to all his people, and for the many manifestations of his mercy and blessings unto us throughout all the length and breadth of the land, and through all the years since the organization of the Church, on the sixth day of April 1830.
Our mission is to save, to preserve from evil, to exalt mankind, to bring light and truth into the world, to prevail upon the people of the earth to walk righteously before God and to honor him in their lives and with the first fruits of all their substance and increase.
I desire to say that "Mormonism," as it is called, is still, as always, nothing more nor less than the power of God unto salvation, unto every soul that will receive it honestly and will obey it. I say to you, that all Latter-day Saints, wherever you find them, provided they are true to their name, their calling, and their understanding of the gospel, are people who stand for truth, honor, virtue, purity of life, honesty in business and in religion; people who stand for God and his righteousness, his truth, his work in the earth, and for the salvation of the children of men.
We have been laboring all these years in the Church to bring men to a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ, to bring them to repentance and obedience to the requirements of divine law. We have been striving to save men from error and persuade them to turn away from evil and learn to do good.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation, and it is absolutely necessary for every man and woman in the Church to work righteously, to observe the laws of God, and to keep the commandments that he has given, in order that they may avail themselves of the power of God unto salvation in this life; and the upright, covenanted people of the Church should be magnified and increased, until the world shall bow and acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ and that there is a people preparing for his coming in power and glory.
We carry to the world the olive branch of peace. We present to the world the law of the Lord, the truth, as it has been revealed in the latter days for the redemption of the dead and for the salvation of the living. We bear no malice nor ill will toward the children of men. The spirit of forgiveness pervades the hearts of the Saints, and they do not cherish a desire for or feeling of revenge toward their enemies. They say in their hearts, let the Lord judge between us and our enemies; as for us, we forgive them, and we bear no malice toward any. While it may be said, and it is in a measure true, that we are but a handful in comparison with our fellowmen in the world, yet we may be compared with the leaven of which the Savior spoke, which will eventually leaven the whole world. Men must set aside their prejudices, personal desires, wishes, and preferences, and pay deference to the great cause of truth that is spreading abroad in the world.
The spirit of the gospel leads men to righteousness, to love their fellowmen, and to labor for their salvation and exaltation; it inspires them to do good and not evil, to avoid even the appearance of sin; and the aim and purpose of this work is the eternal happiness of man, both in this life and in the life to come.
The fruits of the Spirit of God-the fruits of true religion-are peace, love, virtue, honesty, integrity, and fidelity to every principle known in the law of the Lord. Read the fifth chapter of Galatians, and there you will discover the difference between the fruits of the Spirit of God and the fruits of the spirit of the world. That is one of the great differences between "Mormonism," so called, and the theology of the world. If we will bow to the gospel's mandates and adopt its principles in our lives, it will make us sons and daughters of God, worthy eventually to dwell in the presence of the Almighty in the heavens.
The kingdom of God and the work of the Lord will spread more and more; it will progress more rapidly in the world in the future than it has done in the past. The Lord has said it, and the Spirit beareth record; and I bear testimony to this, for I do know that it is true. The kingdom of God is here to grow, to spread abroad, to take root in the earth, and to abide where the Lord has planted it by his own power and by his own word, never more to be destroyed, but to continue until the purposes of the Almighty shall be accomplished -every principle that has been spoken of by the prophets since the world began. It is God's work, which he himself, by his own wisdom and not by the wisdom of man, has restored to the earth in the latter days. He has established it upon principles of truth and righteousness, of purity of life, that it can no more be thrown down or left to another people, so long as the majority of the Church will abide in their covenants with the Lord and keep themselves pure and unspotted from the world. No people can ever prosper and flourish very long unless they abide in divine truth. The truth is mighty, and it will prevail.
I want to say to you that there never was a time since the organization of the Church when a man led the Church. It was not so in the days of Joseph Smith nor Brigham Young; it has not been so since. It is the Lord's work, and do not forget that it is the Almighty who is going to do this work, and not man. No man shall have the honor of doing it, nor has any man ever had the power to do it of himself. If it had been the work of man, we would have been like the rest of the world, and it would not have been true of us that God has chosen us out of the world. But God has chosen us out of the world; therefore, we are not of it. Now, don't you forget it, my brothers and sisters and friends, and when you go home, if you have not been in the habit of doing so, or if you have neglected your duty, carry this injunction with you. Go into your secret chambers, go into your prayer rooms, and there by yourselves, or with your family gathered around you, bow your knees before the Lord in praise and in thanksgiving to him for his merciful providence that has been over you and over all his people from the inception of this work down to the present.
Remember that it is the gift of God to man, that it is his power and his guiding influence that have accomplished what we see has been accomplished. It has not been done by the wisdom of men. They are instruments in the Lord's hands in accomplishing his purposes, and we should not deny that they are such; we should honor them. But when we undertake to give them the honor for accomplishing this work, and take the honor from the Lord, who qualified the men to do the work, we are doing injustice to our Heavenly Father. He will cut his work short in righteousness, and will hasten his purposes in his own time. It is only necessary to try with our might to keep pace with the onward progress of the work of the Lord; then he will preserve and protect us and will prepare the way before us.
I feel grateful to my Heavenly Father that I have been permitted to live in this generation and have been permitted to become acquainted somewhat with the principles of the gospel. I am thankful that I have had the privilege of having a testimony of its truth, and that I am permitted to stand here and elsewhere to bear my testimony to the truth that the gospel has been restored to man.
I have traveled among the nations preaching the gospel and have seen something of the conditions of the world; and I am aware that the gospel, as revealed in the Bible, cannot be found in modern Christianity. The ordinances of the gospel are not administered in any church except The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The world will not listen to the testimony of men who tell them that the Lord lives and that he is able to reveal his will to man today. Those of the world cannot advance nor learn the ways of the Lord nor walk in his paths because they do not have the gift of the Holy Ghost. This was the path pointed out by Peter and the apostles when the Spirit of the Lord rested upon them with great power to the convincing of the hearts of the people who cried out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized eve one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost". This was the counsel given them, and inasmuch as they obeyed it, they were entitled to the testimony of the Holy Spirit, which would bring peace and happiness, reveal to them their duties, and enable them to understand their relationship to the Lord.
If we look at the conditions of the world today, we must come to the conclusion that peace is not likely soon to be established on the earth. There is nothing among the nations that tends to peace. The Lord Almighty is the Creator of the earth; he is the Father of all our spirits. He has the right to dictate what we should do, and it is our duty to obey, and to walk according to his requirements.
The gospel has been restored to the earth, and the priesthood again established, and both are enjoyed by this people. The world cannot understand this, and they behold it with wonder. We know that Jesus Christ lives. We know that he is our Savior and Redeemer. We have a testimony of this, independent of any written books, and we testify of these things to the world. We are engaged in the great latter-day work of preaching the gospel to the nations; it is a great and glorious work. We believe it is right to love God with all our hearts, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
These are among the principles of the gospel, and these principles have been taught to us from the commencement of our membership in this Church. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the perfect law of liberty; it will lead man to the highest state of glory and exalt him in the presence of our Heavenly Father if he is willing to listen to the counsels of those whom the Lord has appointed to guide them.
We ask no odds of any man. We bear a fearless testimony that these things are true. We know that the one in whom we trust is God, for it has been revealed to us. We are not in the dark; neither have we obtained our knowledge from any man or collection of men, but through the revelations of Jesus Christ.
There is no harm in forsaking the follies and evils of the world and bowing in humility before the Lord, asking for his Spirit, and in obedience to the words of the Savior, being baptized for the remission of sins and having hands laid upon you for the gift of the Holy Ghost, that you may have a witness for yourselves of the truth of the words we speak to you. Do this humbly and honestly, and as sure as the Lord lives, I promise you that you will receive the testimony of this work for yourselves and will know it as all the Latter-day Saints should know it. This is the promise. It is sure and steadfast, and there are many in this congregation who can bear testimony that they have realized the fulfillment of these promises in this day.
This testimony comes from God; it convinces all to whom it is given in spite of themselves, and it is worth more to men than any sign or gift, because it gives peace, happiness, and contentment to the soul. It assures me that God lives; and if I am faithful, I shall obtain the blessings of the celestial kingdom. The earth will become purified and made a fit abode for heavenly beings and for the Lord our God to come and dwell upon, which he will do during the millennium. The gospel is salvation, and without it there is nothing worth having. This is what we are after. The reason that we are here is that we may overcome every foil and prepare ourselves for eternal life in the future.
Let us be faithful and humble. Let us live the religion of Jesus Christ, put away the weaknesses of the flesh, and cleave to the Lord and his truth with undivided hearts, with full determination to fight the good fight of faith, and continue steadfast to the end. That God may grant us power to so do is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 127-131
President McKay, we have all appreciated and enjoyed your presence at this conference.
Brothers and sisters: I sat one day with an attorney friend, Guy Anderson, across the directors' room table of my office in Arizona.
In his slow, pleasant drawl, he said, "I came to congratulate you on your call to the apostleship and to visit with you before your move to Salt Lake City." We talked about what my call entailed, and then he told me of one of his experiences as a law student at George Washington University.
A number of young members of the Church were students there. Since there were no stakes in the East at that time, they held a Sunday School class in a rented residence, and Congressman Don B. Colton from Utah was their teacher.
This particular Sunday morning, they were considering the 89th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord's law of health.
Brother Colton had made an impressive presentation on the Word of Wisdom, which is "the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days".
He emphasized also the further statement of the Lord:
"In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation".
The Lord is displeased when his earthly children imbibe in "wine or strong drink". He said, "... tobacco is not for the body... and is not good for man ... And again, hot drinks, are not for the body".
Brother Colton emphasized the promise made by the Lord to those who did observe this law of health and other commandments. Hear these rich promises:
"... all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
"And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures,
"And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
"And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them".
Then came a question from one of the students: "Brother Colton, the promise is that if one observes these laws, he shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures. Many of the men in this university use tobacco and liquor and break all commandments, including the law of chastity. Yet in some cases they excel academically. So far as I can tell my obedience to the Word of Wisdom has not made me superior intellectually to them. How do you account for that?"
Since closing time had come, Brother Colton held this difficult question for the next week.
On Friday, as usual, several of the congressmen were eating luncheon at the House of Representatives' restaurant when Brother Colton joined them. The others began to joke in a friendly fashion, "Here comes the 'Mormon' congressman; this man from Utah won't drink nor smoke a cigarette nor even drink a cup of coffee." A congressman from a western state came to the defense, saying, "Gentlemen, you may joke at Mr. Colton and have your fun at the expense of the 'Mormon' Church, but let me tell you an experience."
He told a story something like this:
"I was back in my home state, building political fences, shaking hands with voters, getting acquainted with my people. Sunday overtook me in a country town.
"I sat in the lobby of the hotel, reading the paper, and through the plate glass window I saw many people going in the same direction. My curiosity was stirred. I followed them to a little church and slid unobtrusively into a back seat and listened and observed.
"This church service was different. I had never seen one like it. A man called 'bishop' conducted the meeting. The singing was by the congregation, the prayer by a man from the audience, apparently called without previous notice. Soft music was played. All was silent as one young man knelt and said a prayer over bread, which he and his companion had broken into small pieces, and then several boys, probably 12 or 13 years of age, took plates of broken bread and passed it to the congregation. The same was done with little cups of water. After the choir sang an anthem, to my amazement, the bishop announced something like this: 'Brothers and sisters, today is your monthly fast and testimony service, and you may proceed to speak as you feel led by the Spirit. This time is not for sermons but to speak of your own soul and your inner feelings, and assurances. The time is yours.'"
The western congressman paused and then continued.
"Never before had I experienced anything like this. From the congregation people arose. One man in a dignified voice said how he loved the Church and the gospel and what it meant in the life of his family.
"From another part of the chapel, a woman stood and spoke with deep conviction of a spectacular healing in her family as an answer to prayer and fasting and closed with what the people called a testimony-that the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the Church was true; that it brought great happiness and a deep peace to her.
"Still another woman arose and bore witness of her sureness that Joseph Smith was truly a prophet of God and had been the instrument of the Lord in restoring the true gospel of Christ to the earth.
"A man from the choir, evidently a recent immigrant, seemed sensitive about his language. He was struggling with his v's and his w's and verbs and construction. Two years ago, two young missionaries in far-away Holland had taught him the restored gospel. He told how happy his family had been since embracing it, and what a transformation had come in their lives!
"The old and the middle-aged and the youth responded; some were farmers, laborers; there were teachers and business and professional men. There was no ostentation, no arrogance, but a quiet dignity, a warm friendliness, a sweet spirituality.
"Then came in succession several children. They spoke less of their knowledge of spiritual things but more of their love for their parents and for the Savior, of whom they had learned much in Primary, Sunday School, and family home evenings.
"Finally the bishop stood and in a few appropriate words of commendation expressed his own sureness; then he closed the meeting."
The western congressman noted that all around the table were intently listening. He continued:
"Never had time passed so rapidly. I had been entranced. And as each additional speaker had concluded in the name of Jesus Christ, I was moved-deeply stirred-and I pondered: How sincere! How sweet and spiritual! How sure these people seem to be of their Redeemer! How much at peace! What security they have in their spiritual knowledge, what strength and fortitude, and what purposeful lives!"
The congressman said, "I thought of my own children and grandchildren and their helter-skelter existence, their self-centered activities, their seeming spiritual vacuums, their routine lives in search of wealth and fun and adventure. And I said to myself with an enthusiasm new to me, 'How I wish my own posterity could have this sureness, this faith, this deep conviction. Why, these humble people seem to have a secret that most people do not enjoy-yes, that is it-something worth more than all else, real treasures, hidden treasures.'"
The luncheon ended. The congressmen went back to their offices.
Elder Colton was now again before his Sunday School class of young college men. He retold the Friday afternoon story and said that what the congressman had observed were "hidden treasures of knowledge" promised by the revelation. These mysteries of the kingdom relate to all truths, not merely to scientific accomplishments and legal cases and other secular things. He said that "treasures of knowledge" extended far beyond material things, out into the infinite areas not explored by many otherwise brilliant people. He repeated the Prophet's statements, which are proverbial among members of the Church: Knowledge is power. The glory of God is intelligence.
Knowledge is not merely the equations of algebra, the theorems of geometry, or the miracles of space. It is hidden treasures of knowledge as recorded in Hebrews, by which "the worlds were framed by the word of God"; by which Enoch was translated that he should not see death; by which Noah, with a knowledge no other human had, built an ark on dry land and saved a race by taking seed through the flood.
Knowledge is that power which raises one into new and higher worlds and elevates him into new spiritual realms.
The treasures of both secular and spiritual knowledge are hidden ones-but hidden from those who do not properly search and strive to find them. The knowledge of the spiritual will not come to an individual without effort any more than will the secular knowledge or college degrees. Spiritual knowledge gives the power to live eternally and to rise and overcome and develop and finally to create.
Hidden knowledge is not unfindable. It is available to all who really search. Christ said, "... seek and ye shall find". Spiritual knowledge is not available merely for the asking; even prayers are not enough. It takes persistence and dedication of one's life. The knowledge of things in secular life are of time and are limited; the knowledge of the infinite truths are of time an eternity.
Of all treasures of knowledge, the most vital is the knowledge of God: his existence, powers, love, and promises.
The Christ said: "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him".
He further said: "If a man love me, he will keep my words... and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him".
And the Prophet Joseph Smith explained: "And this means that the coming of the Father and the Son to a person is a reality-a personal appearance-and not merely dwelling in his heart".
This personal witness, then, is the ultimate treasure.
One may acquire knowledge of space and in a limited degree conquer it. He may explore the moon and other planets, but no man can ever really find God in a university campus laboratory, in the physical test tubes of workshops, nor on the testing fields at Cape Kennedy. God and his program will be found only in deep pondering, appropriate reading, much kneeling in devout, humble prayer, and in a sincerity born of need and dependence.
These requirements having been fully met, there is no soul between the poles nor from ocean to ocean who may not positively obtain this knowledge, this hidden treasure of knowledge, this saving and exalting knowledge.
President Joseph Fielding Smith, speaking at Brigham Young University, quoted from latter-day revelation: "It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance", and then asked the question:
"Ignorance of what? By that, do we mean that a man must become proficient in his secular learning-that he must master some branch of education? What does it mean?"
We mean this: "That a man cannot be saved in ignorance of the saving principles of the Gospel. We cannot be saved without faith in God. We cannot be saved in our sins... We must receive the ordinances and the covenants pertaining to the Gospel and be true and faithful to the end. Eventually, if we are faithful and true, we shall gain all knowledge, but this not required of us in this brief, mortal life, for that would be impossible. But here in faith and integrity to the truth, we lay the foundation upon which we build for eternity."
Real intelligence is the creative use of knowledge, not merely an accumulation of facts.
The ultimate and greatest of all knowledge, then, is to know God and his program for our exaltation. We may know him by sight, by sound, by feeling. While relatively few ever do really know him, everyone may know him, not only prophets-ancient and modern-but, as he said:
"... every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am".
If men qualify, they have this unalterable promise from their Redeemer.
Among the numerous people who have had manifestations is Moses, who saw and knew the Lord: "... the glory of God was upon Moses; therefore Moses could endure his presence.".
Moses tells of this transcendent experience: "But now mine own eyes have beheld God; but not my natural, but my spiritual eyes, for my natural eyes could not have beheld; for I should have withered and died in his presence; but his glory was upon me; and I beheld his face, for I was transfigured before him".
And then in his dialogue with Satan, whom he saw also, Moses said: "For behold, I could not look upon God, except his glory should come upon me, and I were strengthened before him. But I can look upon thee in the natural man? Is it not so, surely?".
Again, the Lord spoke of hidden treasures of knowledge when he prayed to his Father to glorify him: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent".
And he promised: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish".
The Savior of the world gave this key: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself".
Nicodemus, a highly trained man, failed to know the hidden spiritual things, being unwilling to perform the works. He could not have the Holy Ghost, since he would not humbly bow in baptism. The Holy Ghost is the testifier. It is he who teaches all things and brings to our remembrance all things the Lord has taught.
Nicodemus asked:
"How can these things be?
"Jesus answered... Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
"... I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness".
In one of his prayers Jesus said: "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes".
Again, the Lord said: "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom, but to them it is not given". Such must be earned.
And then Paul speaks of hidden wisdom:
"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
"Which none of the princes of this world knew".
"For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God".
To have both the secular and spiritual is the ideal. To have only the secular is like Jude said: "... clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth".
Desirable as is secular knowledge, one is not truly educated unless he has the spiritual with the secular. The secular knowledge is to be desired; the spiritual knowledge is an absolute necessity. We shall need all of the accumulated secular knowledge in order to create worlds and to furnish them, but only through the "mysteries of God" and these hidden treasures of knowledge may we arrive at the place and condition where we may use that knowledge in creation and exaltation.
It is my prayer that we learn to master ourselves by obedience to the Lord's commandments by the control of our physical appetites, and by placing first in our lives service to God and our fellowmen, so that the hidden things of the spirit may come to us and that we may attain perfection with the Father and the Son. Many have seen God in the course of history. All of us may do so eventually through our righteousness.
I add my witness to the numerous ones already spoken and written and talked of through this conference of the divinity of Jesus Christ and his work, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Alma Sonne
Alma Sonne, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 131-133
My brethren and sisters: I appreciate the privilege of saying a word this afternoon.
More than a century ago, the excitement about religion in the United States probably reached its highest point. It was during these days of agitation and conflict that the editor of the Chicago Democrat, John Wentworth, asked Joseph Smith, the Prophet, for a statement of his religious beliefs. The Prophet's reply on March 1, 1842, included the now famous Articles of Faith. There are 13, each one expressing a belief of the newly organized Church. They have now become the official expression of Mormon doctrine.
We know little about the immediate influence of the Wentworth letter, but we do know that today thousands have read and pondered these declarations of faith. Many have examined and believed them, for they are in harmony with the Holy Bible. They reach into the heart of sectarianism; they deny the creeds of the mother church; and they strike hard at all established creeds. When the Prophet summarized the claims of the Church, he carefully avoided a dogmatic style. All in all, it is a magnificent and friendly appeal to an honest and conscientious seeker after truth.
In the first article Joseph Smith resurrects the true concept of the Godhead. It was a challenge in his day. It is still a challenge. He left no room for dispute over this important and fundamental doctrine. "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost."
This definition of God is understandable without prolonged and tedious discussion. It reaffirms the teachings of Genesis that man is created in the image of his Maker. The vague and confused notions of Deity during the past centuries have robbed people of God's reality. A new revelation of the Godhead, such as Joseph Smith gave the world, is the only solution to the religious misunderstanding that exists throughout Christendom.
Jesus made this clear when he said: "And this is life eternal, that the might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent".
In the second article, the Prophet states "that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression". It was a revolutionary thought when it was given 126 years ago. Man is not "born in sin", as is taught by many churches in Christendom. Man is a child of God and had an existence before his sojourn in mortality. He came to the earth pure and sinless. To claim otherwise is to attribute the capacity for sin to one who does not know right from wrong.
Man is precious in the sight of God. I quote from Psalms 8:4-5: "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour".
"Man and God are of the same race," said President Bruce R. McConkie. Man's destiny is godlike, for he has the opportunity to reach the heights of a glorious exaltation. The restored Church is the most important thing in the universe, for it points the way to eternal salvation and exaltation in God's kingdom.
I have always regarded the Articles of Faith submitted by the Prophet Joseph Smith as a great document. They cover in a brief way the fundamental beliefs of the Church. They do not antagonize. The style and wording are full of appeal, especially to those who are familiar with Bible teaching. The language is simple and direct and is readily understood by the ordinary reader. The reader is not confused in his investigation, nor led away from the doctrinal teachings of the apostles in the meridian of time. The Articles of Faith bring to light the doctrines and standards set forth so plainly in the holy scriptures. There is a tone of authority and certainty in each one that is most impressive.
I quote article 6: "We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, viz., apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc.". Who can read that declaration without calling to mind the twelve apostles commissioned and sent forth by the Savior? There are no apostles today in any Christian church except those who are serving in the restored Church. It would be exceedingly difficult to present a better introduction to the gospel message than those presented by the Prophet in the Wentworth letter.
The Articles of Faith define salvation and introduce a plan by which mankind maybe saved and brought back into Gods presence. The problem of salvation, as you know, has split Christianity into many sects. Salvation means continuous progress and growth. The Third Article of Faith is a concise explanation of its meaning: "We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel". There is nothing shallow or narrow in universal salvation, through the grace of Christ. Man must progress according to law. He must be obedient under the law and strive step by step to obtain the reward. In this striving, free agency is paramount, and all necessary ordinances must be complied with.
I read article 9: "We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God". Revelation is the rock upon which the true Church is founded. It is the source of Christ's gospel. It is the rock referred to by Jesus Christ when he said to Peter, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it".
The prophets, ancient and modern; drank deeply from the fountainhead. By doing so they were refreshed and satisfied. Ralph Waldo Emerson is reported to have said, "We ought to have a religion of revelation to use, and not the history of one."
In summary may I say: For more than a century the church has strictly followed the Articles of Faith. There has never been a revision of, an amendment to, or a deviation from these declarations of belief. They are true and will stand forever. It is well to remember that the Church has forged ahead for more than 138 years. Regardless of persecution, mobbings, drivings, and the hostility from many sources, the work has moved forward. It has never faced a setback. The gospel of Jesus Christ is consistent and reasonable. Its aim and mission is to give every individual a chance to accept or reject it. The gospel message will be heard by all of God's children, whether living or dead.
I testify, brethren and sisters, that the 13 Articles of Faith are true and that they are an index to the beliefs of the Latter-day Saints. May we believe them, and may we introduce into our lives the saving principles of life and salvation, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce R. McConkie, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 133-135
For a text I take these words, written by Paul, inspired by the Holy Ghost: "... our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.".
Thus, the gospel had by the Saints of old included, first, the word, that is, the doctrines, principles, and laws, the statutes and judgments of the Lord, which if a man obey, he shall surely live everlastingly; and it included, second, the power, the saving grace, the gifts of the Spirit, the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, and that abundant testimony in which true Saints so delight.
Paul also said that these things-the word and the power, which taken together comprise the true gospel-that these things were "the gospel of God... Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord"; that of this "gospel of Christ" he was "not ashamed... for," said he, "it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth".
That is, God himself, the Father of us all, created the gospel; it is his plan of salvation through which all his spirit children, Christ included, have power to progress and become like him; it is the plan announced by the Father in the councils of eternity when he asked whom he should send to be the Redeemer, to put into full force the terms and conditions of his gospel; it is the plan of which Christ became the chief advocate, first in preexistence and then again in mortality, thereby gaining the distinction of having the very "gospel of God" itself named after him, named "the gospel of Christ."
This gospel is thus the plan and system of the Gods whereby believing men may be saved, and its chief characteristic is power: power to do all things necessary for the benefit and blessing of God's children in this life, power to save them in eternal glory in the life to come.
That there is and can be only one gospel, one plan of salvation, is as self-evident as any truth known to man. There may be imitations, many systems or plans purporting to lead men to God, many claims that the gospel is here or there; there may be voices crying, "Lo, here is Christ," or "Lo, there" ; but truth, pure diamond truth, that truth which is the gospel of God concerning his Son, is and can be only one thing; and our interest and concern should center in the truth; in the Father's plan, and in his plan only; in keeping his statutes and judgments, and his statutes and judgments only; in doing his will, and his will only. Jesus said: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven".
When some of his converts departed from the perfect system he had taught them, Paul said, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel." Then lest other plans be dignified by even so much as the use of the term "gospel," he hastened to add, "Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ."
Having thus shown that there is only one gospel with saving power, the ancient apostle issued this inspired decree: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed".
Now let us reason together in the light of these scriptural truths. There are obviously two essential identifying characteristics of the true gospel. It must contain the word of God, the truths of heaven, the doctrines of salvation; and it must also possess power, the power of God, the power to benefit men in this life and to exalt them in the next.
In a purely intellectual sense any church can claim to have the word of the gospel. They can say: "We believe the Bible; we accept Christ as our personal Savior; we believe in his grace and goodness and rely on his promises." They can even say: "We believe the Book of Mormon, which contains the fullness of the everlasting gospel; we accept Joseph Smith as a prophet of God; we are numbered with the Saints of latter-days."
But the issue is not belief only; it is not acceptance of the word alone. Rather it is a matter of having the power of the priesthood and of enjoying the gift of the Holy Ghost. Of course the Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the everlasting gospel, meaning it is a record of God's dealings with a people who had the fullness of saving truth. In the same sense the Bible contains the fullness of the gospel, meaning that it also recounts Deity's dealings with a righteous people who worked out their salvation.
The issue is not what men purport to believe; it is whether, having believed the truth, they also get the power of God into their lives. Salvation does not come by reading about religion, by learning that holy men in former days had spiritual experiences. It is not found through research in musty archives; it does not spring forth as the result of intellectual dialogues about religious matters. Salvation is horn of obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel; salvation comes to those who obey the statutes and judgments of that God who created it and ordained the laws whereby it might be gained.
Salvation comes by getting Christ into our hearts today, by being born again, by becoming new creatures of the Holy Ghost, by receiving personal revelation, by exercising the gifts of the Spirit, by having the power of God manifest in our lives.
Jesus sent his apostles forth to preach the same gospel he had taught them, with this promise: "Signs shall follow them that believe". In other words, when men believe the true word of the gospel, then God begins to manifest his power in their lives. They begin to enjoy the gifts of the Spirit, to work miracles, and to have those spiritual experiences which always and everlastingly attend true believers.
And, we might well ask, if a gospel does not have power to heal the sick, raise the dead, and work miracles in this life, why would anyone suppose it had power to cleanse a sin-laden soul or to raise a man to an inheritance of eternal life in the presence of God?
Now we are bold to proclaim that that God who is no respecter of persons, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, has spoken again in our day-paying his respects to those systems of religion which have "a form of godliness," but "deny the power thereof", and restoring again both the word and the power of his gospel.
We announce that God, according to the promises, has sent his angel to restore the fullness of the ancient gospel, which gospel is now found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The word of that gospel is now written in the new revelations which have come from heaven; and as rapidly as the true believers conform their lives to the new and everlasting truths involved, the power of the gospel is manifest in their lives.
In the final analysis, the gospel of God is written, not in the dead letters of scriptural records, but in the lives of the Saints. It is not written with pen and ink on paper of man's making, but with acts and deeds in the book of life of each believing and obedient person. It is engraved in the flesh and bones and sinews of those who live a celestial law, which is the law of the gospel. It is there to be read by others, first, by those who, seeing the good works of the Saints, shall respond by glorifying our Father in heaven, and finally by the Great Judge to whom every man's life is an open book.
And now, paraphrasing Paul, I say with perfect conviction, and knowing whereof I speak, that the gospel of God concerning his Son, the very gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord, has come to the Latter-day Saints, not in word only but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much testimony.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Sterling W. Sill
Sterling W. Sill, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 136-138
In Austria there is an interesting bridge spanning a beautiful river. As one crosses the bridge, he passes 12 statues of Christ spaced a few paces apart. Each of these likenesses represents the Master in his relationship to some occupational or special-interest group. As herders cross over this bridge with their flocks, they usually tarry for a few moments before that statue picturing Christ as the Good Shepherd. Farmers stop and meditate before the statue depicting him as the sower. Fishermen stand in reverence before the representation of Christ stilling the tempest. And those travelers who are sick, either in body or in spirit, bow before the image of Christ the healer.
A wonderful uplift can come to a worshiper as he rethinks these inspiring thoughts with the knowledge that Christ understands his occupational as well as his personal problems. One of the statues on the Austrian bridge represents the Great Teacher. Jesus was the greatest teacher because he looked with the clearest insight into human lives; and better than anyone else, he understood the effects of those common everyday events on which our success continues to turn. As the Great Teacher, he used the simple experiences of people to illustrate those profound truths which still determine our accomplishment. As George A. Barton says:
"He spake of lilies, vines and corn, The sparrow and the raven, And the words so natural yet so wise Were on men's hearts engraven. "And yeast and bread and flax and cloth And eggs and fish and candles- See how the most familiar world He most divinely handles."
And he presented his lessons with as much confidence to the wise men in the temple as to the unlearned fishermen working at their nets.
Now just suppose that as we cross our own bridge of life, we utilize the various representations of the Master to inspire us in the places of our own greatest need. A few years ago an article was written about the Bible as "The Book That Has Helped Most in Business." Most of the scientific books written 15 years ago are now out of date. While the Bible was written when the camel was our most modern means of communication, yet it is still the most helpful book in creating our business success. And in our meditations we ought to stop before the Master to absorb his honesty, his industry, his fairness, and his faith. What an upsurge our economy would receive if we pruned out all of our unrighteousness and fully devoted ourselves to those goals that he indicated were the most worthwhile.
Beginning in his youth, Jesus was engaged in that greatest of all enterprises which he characterized as "my Father's business". That is the business of building character, integrity, and eternal life into the lives of God's children. As Thomas Carlyle once pointed out, "A man's religion is the most important thing about him. That is what he thinks about and believes in and works at and fights for and lives by." God has invited each of us to have as large a share as we desire in the affairs of this important family concern. And when we feel a little bit discouraged and are tempted to do less than our best, we might listen to this young "businessman of the centuries" as he went around saying to people, "Be of good cheer." "Be not afraid". "Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?". "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad".
The Golden Rule, made up of 17 words, is probably the greatest formula for any business success that has ever been known in the world. And as we pass along our own bridge of accomplishment, we might learn from Jesus about being a more responsible worker, a more effective planner, a wiser judge of our human values, and more dependable in our own self-discipline. One of the greatest of all business lessons is that "man does not live by bread alone". We need a good dose of inspiration occasionally. We need to build up our faith and recharge our love of life. But above all other interests, we need to learn to identify effectively. We must remember that we are the children of God, formed in his image, endowed with his attributes, and heirs to his glory. And we should be constantly reaffirming our destiny through our daily duties.
As we cross this river of life, we need to stop occasionally before the representation of Christ, the Great Physician. Each of us has an important occupational responsibility for his own health, and we can perform some of the greatest cures if we understand the possibilities of his command that says, "Physician, heal thyself".
The world is presently making itself sick by wrong thinking, and yet there is available to us a great power that is capable of making us well physically, mentally, morally, and socially. Jesus gave his greatest success formula in just two words when he said, "Follow me". And if we pause before him long enough and meditate about him effectively enough, we can actually follow him in his faith, in his righteousness, in his doctrines, and in his obedience to God.
Christ has some higher titles than those of physician or shepherd or businessman. He is also the King of kings, and we must not repeat that ancient mistake when nineteen hundred years ago one group announced their own downfall by proclaiming: "We have no king but Caesar".
To serve our own best interests we might erect upon the bridge of life a special representation to be designated as "the Christ of the latter days." The scriptures tell us a great deal about Christ's occupational assignment for the cleansing of the earth, the destruction of the wicked, the universal resurrection, the millennial reign, and the final renewal and glorification of the earth. The scriptures make clear that the miracles and wonders of the latter days will be among the most important events ever to take place.
Many people place a very serious handicap upon themselves when they think of Christ only in his ancient settings of sowing and teaching and suffering. For in describing the Christ of the latter days, the scripture says, "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
"But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap".
On our bridge of life there should be a representation of the Christ who will come to cleanse the earth of its sins. This has more than ordinary interest for us, inasmuch as the sins mentioned will be our own sins. Someone once painted a famous picture entitled "Christ Before Pilate." It represents Jesus being judged and condemned by the people of the world he came to save. But someday another picture may be painted entitled "Pilate Before Christ." This will involve his second coming, when, with his mighty angels in flaming fire, he will return to judge the world and take "vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.".
About this event the apostle Paul said, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep....
"... so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
"For this we say unto you, by the word of the Lord, that...
"... the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord".
What a great day to look forward to, and what a disaster will involve those who are still unprepared. Even nineteen hundred years ago Jesus knew a great deal about our personal and community needs. He looked forward to our day and was greatly concerned for our welfare. He gave a comparative appraisal of our times when he said, "... as the days of were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be".
Then he projected our greatest opportunity when he said, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come". In the latter-day fulfillment of his own promise he has reestablished his Church and has revealed anew a fulness of his original doctrines, including the greatest of all truths, that God lives and that the God of Genesis, the God of Sinai, and the God of Calvary is also the God of the latter days.
As we pass along the bridge of our lives, we ought to understand that our greatest latter-day need is not for bigger industries or more oil wells or greater power plants or a more ample gold supply. Our most critical problems are not our population explosions or our projected food shortages. Our primary concern should be centered in getting a sufficient love of God and truth enshrined in our hearts, that we will obey all of his commandments.
Christ is the Good Shepherd and the Great Teacher, but he is also the Savior of the world. He is the rock of our eternal salvation. He is the Lord of truth, the Prince of Peace, the Son of God, and the giver of all good things. We must not forget that he is also the Christ of the latter days, and as we meditate before him, may we be inspired to make the best and the most of that great life which he has given us to live, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Howard W. Hunter
Howard W. Hunter, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 138-142
During this conference we have sat at the feet of great teachers, men whom we sustain as our leaders, men who have faith in God. My thoughts have been lifted and my testimony has been strengthened. I am thankful to my brethren and I express appreciation to them for the forthright manner in which they have raised their voices to witness that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ and the Savior of all mankind.
I, too, know that God lives. There is ample evidence of this fact, but concrete proof is not necessary to those who have faith. All nature portrays the existence of a supreme being. In this material world, we have learned that every building has a builder and everything that is made has a maker. As we look at this Tabernacle, the great organ that has been played for us, the clock on the wall, the camera that carries the image to the world, the lights, the microphones before me, we realize that each of these had its maker. Outside those things made by man, all of nature whispers to my reasoning that there was a creator. I know this to be God.
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth". There was a divine plan. For every plan there must have been a planner, and for every creation there must have been a creator. Could the perfect universe emerge without a divine plan? Could it have come about by some mechanical chance? Such thoughts are against the stronger reasoning. Such belief could not be supported in view of the tangible evidence which portrays that there is a supreme being, one who had a divine plan, one who was the Creator and the builder of the universe.
Not only did God plan and create the heavens and the earth, but the plan also included the creation of man. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them". Thus we are his creation; we are literally his children, in his image and likeness. This would necessarily include the intellect, which distinguishes man from all other animal life. We are creatures of the flesh as well as the spirit, and the great striving in life is to develop the spirit as well as the physical body. True growth is dependent upon our conscious effort in lifting our awareness above and beyond those things which are physical.
As children of God, we learn in our young years to know our Heavenly Father in a childlike way, and if we follow the right course, the time comes when we understand the larger meaning of this relationship to our Heavenly Parent. We realize that we are made in his spiritual image as well as his physical image. In our more spiritual maturity, a whole new vista of reality opens to as; and we commence to understand the statement of Paul, who said, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God".
Not only do I believe that God lives, but I believe that his Son, Jesus Christ, also lives, and is the Savior of all mankind. Our day is one in which there is a great diversity of belief with regard to many fundamental statements of scripture. Modernists deny the virgin birth of Jesus. They deny his divine power demonstrated by the many miracles he performed during his short ministry.
Modernists dispute that the Master voluntarily offered himself to atone for the sins of mankind, and they deny that there was in fact such an atonement. It is our firm belief that it is a reality, and nothing is more important in the entire divine plan of salvation than the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We believe that salvation comes because of the atonement. In its absence the whole plan of creation would come to naught. Jesus said, "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
"No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father". Without this atoning sacrifice, temporal death would be the end, and there would be no resurrection and no purpose in our spiritual lives. There would be no hope of eternal life.
Those who call themselves modernists deny the fact that Jesus rose from the tomb with the same body that he laid down, and many deny the fact that he was indeed resurrected. Latter-day Saints believe in the literal resurrection of Christ in precisely the same manner described by the writers of the New Testament. From their record we learn that the same body of flesh and bones that was taken from the cross and laid in the tomb did come forth to live again. After this event, those who had been with him during his ministry were discussing what had been said of his resurrection:
"And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
"But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
"And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
"Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have".
Modernists refute the fact of his ascension, but Luke testifies as to what took place on that occasion after the resurrected Savior had given instructions to the apostles:
"When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
"And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight".
God the Father attested to the divinity of the sonship of the Lord Jesus Christ at the very commencement of his ministry:
"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
"And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased".
He was the Creator of the earth, for he said, "Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name".
God the Father also attested to his saviorship when speaking to Moses: "And I have a work for thee, Moses, my son; and thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten; and mine Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior, for he is full of grace and truth".
In the Old Testament the birth of the Master was foretold in the Book of Isaiah: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel". And in the Book of Micah, we are told he would be born in Bethlehem.
Thus the ancient prophets testified of his divine birth and mission, and the New Testament confirms the happenings foretold by these Old Testament prophets and bears witness of that virgin birth and divine mission of the Savior. Peter said, "And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins".
One of the greatest testimonies and witnesses of the divinity of Christ that has ever been penned was written by the apostle John in his gospel, one of the simplest yet most profound books in the New Testament. After Simon Peter and his brother were called by Jesus to follow him, he saw John and his brother James "mending their nets; and he called them.
"And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him".
John was well qualified to attest to the divinity of the Master, because he was with him from this time throughout the remainder of his ministry. He was chosen by Jesus as one of the twelve, and was one of the three apostles who were closest to Jesus. He was present when Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead, when Jesus was transfigured, when Jesus went apart to pray in Gethsemane. He was sent with Peter to prepare the Passover. He was with the twelve at the appearance of the Savior after his resurrection and at the time of his ascension. No one could be more qualified to testify of him.
In writing the prologue to his gospel, John commenced with these words: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
"The same was in the beginning with God".
The phrase "in the beginning" echoes the opening words of the Old Testament. John refers to Jesus as the "Word," a title given to him in many instances in both the New and the Old Testament. He continues: "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." This statement leaves no room for an exception-all things were made by him. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
"And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehendeth it not".
The life mentioned is life eternal, which he revealed to the world, which he promised to his believers, which he died to give them, to which he will raise them up, because he hath the life in himself. He is the resurrection and the life. The darkness mentioned is the state of man's mind, which drags him down, that he does not comprehend.
The evangelist then explains that the mission of John the Baptist is inferior to that of Jesus: "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
"The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
"He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light".
In other words, the immediate purpose of the mission of John the Baptist was to bear witness that Jesus was the true Light, the true teacher of the way of life eternal, and to invite men to believe in him for the remission of their sins and be baptized. John the Baptist was not the Messiah or the leader of a great movement; he was the herald and witness, bearing testimony to the nature and divine titles of Jesus, and the witness through whom God attested the divine sonship of Jesus.
After stating that the mission of the Baptist was to bear witness of the Light, John continues his testimony of Jesus: "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
"He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
"He came unto his own, and his own received him not".
Why was it at that time or why is it now that some will not receive him? No doubt they had expected something entirely different. They were looking for a leader in political and social reform and they had little interest in spiritual things. "The world was made by him, and the world knew him not." There are those today who pass him by without recognizing him.
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God".
Thus, to those who have faith in him is given the right or the authority to become the sons of God. The father hood of God is universal in the sense that we are all his created children, but those who believe in Christ, who accept him as the Son of God and the Savior of the world, have the right to become true sons of God. This is a gift of God dependent upon faith in Christ.
In conclusion, John states his purpose for the writing of this theological message in these words: "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name". This is John's witness, and this apostolic testimony has been preserved and comes down to us as a record of what the first witnesses saw with their own eyes and heard with their own ears.
As John infers, this record sets forth the historic facts, but merely accepting the facts will not produce belief. There is a bigger faith than one which comes from seeing and hearing, a faith that can dispense with tangible proof and visible evidence. It is the faith that comes from reliance upon the word of the Lord. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.
These are the attestations to the divinity of Jesus Christ by God the Father, by the prophets of the Old Testament, by those who were with him in his ministry, by those who, after a study of the facts, are touched by the Spirit and have faith. In addition, there are many other evidences of his divinity in this day. I refer to the marvelous first vision in which the Father and the Son appeared to the boy Prophet, the revelations to the Prophet for the benefit of the Saints, the organization of this Church in these latter-days, the missionary work, the temple work for the living and the dead, the testimony of a present living prophet.
If, after all of the cumulative evidence and all of these testimonies, Christ should be eliminated from our belief, what would be the result? This would not be his Church; the Bible would fall as the word of God; there would be no hope of a literal resurrection; there would be no assurance of eternal life. But Christ is not eliminated from our belief. His divinity is a reality, and to all of the testimonies that have been borne of him, we add our witness.
I have intended these statements to represent my belief, my conviction, my witness that God lives; that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; that this is his Church; that there is a prophet of the Lord on the earth today who speaks the will of the Lord to his children. This is a restatement of our belief, our testimony, and the teachings of this conference by those whom we sustain as our leaders. I pray the Lord to bless us with this abiding faith, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, October 1968, pp. 142-146
And now, my brethren and sisters, just a word in parting. This truly has been a glorious and memorable conference. May our Heavenly Father sanctify the instructions, admonitions, and testimonies that we have heard throughout the various sessions. May he fill our hearts with love for one another in the true brotherhood of Christ.
At this time I should like to express gratitude for the support, blessings, and assistance of my counselors and members of the Council of the Twelve; also, for the help of the Patriarch to the Church, the Assistants to the Twelve, the members of the First Council of the Seventy, and the Presiding Bishopric. You can feel radiating from these men that for which Christ prayed when he offered that great intercessory prayer in which he said, among other things, "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are".
These brethren prove daily, as was particularly evidenced in a sacred pre-conference meeting of all the General Authorities held in the Salt Lake Temple on Thursday, September 26, 1968, that they have that spirit of oneness, and we are united in praying that you presidencies of stakes, bishoprics of wards, presidencies of temples, presidencies of quorums, presidencies and superintendencies of auxiliaries may be so blessed that you too may say, "We strive to be one, as the Father and Son are one." God bless you that this may be true.
I am also most grateful for those unsung workers behind the scenes who give of themselves in rendering service beyond the call of duty to assist in the preparation of the hundreds of details and important matters that are necessary in order that these conferences may be carried on efficiently and smoothly.
You know, I am afraid too many of us are like that Scotsman of whom I have told you before who had lost his wife by death. His neighbor called on him to give comfort to him, saying what a good neighbor his wife had been, how thoughtful of others she had been, and what a good wife she had been to Jock, who was mourning her death. Jock answered: "Aye, Tammas, Janet was a guid woman, a guid neighbor as you say. She was a' you say an mair. She was, aye, a guid true wifey tae me, and I cam' near tellin' her sae aince or twice."
There come to mind some others to whom I wish to express gratitude. We have not heard from them. They are the men and women throughout the entire Church who are contributing of their time and means to the advancement of the truth-not just in teaching, but in genuine service in many ways. Some of these are struggling to make their own living. Some of them are wealthy men and women who have retired and who count their wealth in millions. It means something when a man of means will give to the Church a contribution of a million dollars, and then, in addition, say, "All my time is yours, to serve the Church." It means something to have a man leave his vocation, have his life's work interrupted, and receive a call to go away from the state, sometimes across the ocean to faraway places, to render service to the Church, not knowing for sure when he will return. God bless those who are rendering such service, and bless you all, for I think we can say for the Church, "We are striving to be one, Father, as thou and thy Son are one."
Now a word to you officers and leaders in the stakes and wards, in missions, and in temples. It was the divine character of Jesus that drew the women of Palestine to him, that drew as a magnet the little children to him. It was that divine personality which attracted men, honest men, pure men. It was also that divine personality which antagonized the impure, the evil men and women.
In the realm of personality, and in the kingdom of character, Christ was supreme. By personality, I mean all that may be, included in individuality. Personality is a gift from God; it is indeed a "pearl of great price", an eternal blessing.
Fellow workers, you and I cannot hope to exert even to a small degree the personality of our great teacher, Jesus Christ. Each one's personality may be compared to the Savior's personality only as one little sunbeam to the mighty sun itself; and yet, though infinitely less in degree, each leader's, each teacher's personality should be the same in kind. In the realm of character, each leader and teacher may be superior, and such a magnet as to draw around him or her, in an indescribable way, those whom he or she would lead or teach. It is the radiation of the light that attracts.
However, no matter how attractive the personality may be, that leader or teacher fails in the work assigned if the leader or teacher directs the love of the member only to the personality of the leader or teacher. It is the leader's duty, or the teacher's duty, to teach the member to love-not the leader or teacher, but the truth of the gospel. Always, everywhere, we find Christ losing himself for his Father's will; and so also should our leaders and teachers, so far as their personalities are concerned, lose themselves for the truth he desires to have them teach.
When the people came to Jesus and asked for bread, or the truth, he never turned them away with a stone. He always had truth to give. He understood it. It radiated from his being. He understood how to use illustrations, the natural things around him, to impress that truth upon his hearers. In other words, he was filled with his subject and then was enabled to give that subject to his hearers. It is not always what you say, but what you are that influences children, the young, or that influences your associates. "What you are," said the alleged wisest of Americans, "thunders so loud in, my ears I cannot hear what you say."
Let me give you briefly five things, among many others, that may characterize the successful leader or teacher in the Church:
First: Implicit faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ as the light of the world, and a sincere desire to serve him. This condition of the soul will make for companionship and guidance of the Holy Ghost.
Second: Unfeigned love for the child, or member. Unfeigned-remember how the word is used by the Prophet Joseph Smith in that great revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants: "by love unfeigned". Unfeigned love for the children or members, guided by determination to deal justly and impartially with every member of the Church. Honor the child or member, and the child or member will honor you.
Third: Thorough preparation. The successful leader knows his duties and responsibilities and also the members under his direction. The teacher knows his children, as well as the lessons.
Fourth: Cheerfulness-not forced but natural cheerfulness, springing spontaneously from a hopeful soul.
Fifth: Power to act nobly.
"If you want to be a teacher or leader just watch your acts and walk; If you want to be a teacher or leader, just be careful how you talk."
If you want to radiate the light of the gospel, that radiation must first come from the leader himself. In the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord says, "If you keep not my commandments, the love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness".
That solicitous admonition given by the Savior is as pertinent today as it was when first expressed. Men and nations, having refused to "walk in the light", as Jesus said, stumble in darkness and know not whither they go. Motivated for centuries largely by selfish interests, the human race, judging from present world conditions, is still dangerously near the jungle where primitive passions dominate and govern.
Abraham Lincoln, in his day, declared to the people: "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years, in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God... We have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated by unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to God who made us.
"It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness...
"I still have confidence that the Almighty, the Maker of the Universe, will, through the instrumentality of this great and intelligent people, bring us through this as he has through all other difficulties of our country." And we all know how God did guide Abraham Lincoln.
There are many instances about which I could tell you wherein the hand of the Lord has been manifest in guiding his servants. I know it is real. I know it as I know that you are assembled in this conference. I know one's spirit can be in tune, and hear that sweet, still, small voice. I know he will warn us. I know he will never say anything that is impossible to understand. I know he is our Father in heaven. He is just as real as my earthly father and mother, whom I hope to meet over there. The Savior, the Son of God, is at the head of this Church. I am not the head of this Church-Jesus Christ is our head! I know that the former Presidents of the Church knew that, and declared it. Joseph Smith, the Prophet, knew it. This is Christ's Church, and we are his messengers, his representatives, and it is our duty to keep in touch with him and know what his wishes are. You and I, and all who have repented of their sins and have been baptized into this Church, have had hands laid upon our heads and are entitled to the companionship and inspiration of the Holy Ghost. If we keep in tune with Christ and his teachings, we are entitled to fellowship with him. He does not love sin, he does not love lying, nor stealing, misjudging one another, nor condemning others. We have to keep our hearts pure and clean to be worthy of his fellowship.
God help us so to live that we may be found worthy to hear from him the whisperings of his Spirit, the whisperings of his voice, as he guides us and warns us and tells us what to do in order to come back into his presence.
Man is not living for himself. His selfish desires should be overcome and controlled, and he should render service to others. One of the greatest sayings of Jesus, when he was among the Twelve during his two and one-half years here, was the one that touched upon that same principle: "He that findeth his life shall lose it and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it". A paradoxical statement, but oh, how true! Thousands upon thousands in the Church are willing to lose their lives in service to the building up of the kingdom of God.
I pray that God will give us strength to continue our mission here in life and, by our actions and our words, to teach others so that we shall bring the honest in heart to know the truth. May we show to all that the gospel has been established in this dispensation for happiness and joy and salvation here in this life, as well as in the life to come.
God keep our young people away from the low, from those who seek to follow the scheming plans of he who enthrones passion, who decries self-control, who renounces the sacredness of the family, and who, in the words of Marx himself, would "dethrone God." God inspire our young men and women to sustain and to fight for, and yes, if necessary, die for the light of Christ, that they will come to realize the truth of Christ's saying that if they are willing to lose their lives for his sake, they will find them.
God bless you all in your homes. Husbands, do not be cross when you enter your homes. Let us be kind, courteous. Have the same courtesy in your homes that you have when you are out in society. Thank your wives; thank your children; and say, "If you please," "Excuse me." These little things mean so much and make life so much sweeter.
Let us be courageous in defense of the right. Be not afraid to speak out for the right. Let us be true. Let us defend the weak, be charitable to our brothers, render help to the sick and the afflicted. The gospel is the spirit of kindness. Let us honor and sustain the priesthood in our homes.
I pray God to sanctify to our good, and the good of all who have listened in this day, and to the Church membership everywhere, the blessings and testimonies of this great conference. In this parting, I leave with you, my dear fellow workers, my dear associates, and all members and friends everywhere, my blessings to each one of you, as God has given me power and authority to bless, and I do this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 4-10
My beloved brethren and sisters: My soul is deeply stirred this morning, due, I am sure, to a combination of circumstances and experiences. Never have I been so thankful for the blessings of the Lord, and for the faith and prayers of the membership of the Church. I am thankful for the restoration of the gospel and for the glorious message to all the world that accompanied that restoration: that God lives and that his Beloved Son Jesus Christ is the Redeemer and Savior of the world, that we are his children, and that he has given us a plan by which we may return to his presence as resurrected, immortal beings.
I am grateful for the outstanding progress the Church has made during the past year; for the united and unstinted support given by the General Authorities and general officers of the Church; for the loyalty, faith, and devotion of the general auxiliary boards, of the officers in stakes, quorums, wards, missions, and of the Church membership in general. Most of all, I am grateful for the assurance we have of the Lord's guidance and overruling power.
I extend to all present in this historic Tabernacle-our special visitors, governmental and educational leaders, Regional Representatives, our stake, ward, and auxiliary officers and teachers from far and near-and to friends and members tuned in by radio and television my heartfelt greetings and welcome to this one hundred thirty-ninth conference of the Church.
During the past months I have been most apprehensive of mankind's welfare in a world of tribulation and of false ideals. With the increase in crime, the disrespect for law and order, the ever-increasing divorce rate, resulting in broken homes; the immorality, with all its attendant evils; the precious principles associated with man's freedom threatened with repudiation, if not abandonment, it is time that men and women the world over should become more thoughtful, more prayerful, more earnest than ever before in seeking the causes of this world's disaster, and bravely and heroically choose a better course of life.
This is a time when mankind should turn their thoughts to the teachings of Christ, our Lord and Savior, and in larger numbers than the world has heretofore witnessed conform thereto their attitudes and actions. Unless multitudes of men and women so change their hearts and lives, the world will continue to be in turmoil, and our present civilization be threatened with disintegration.
It is a deplorable but recognizable fact that men's hearts all too generally are turned from and not toward God. Self-promotion, not God's glorification, is the motivating factor in most people's lives. Irreverence is all too manifest.
The world needs more godliness and less godlessness; more self-discipline, less self-indulgence; more power to say with Christ, "Father... not my will, but thine, be done". Christ came to bring peace. Rejection of his way of life has made strife and contention rampant. Man, not the Lord, has brought deadly conflicts and subsequent misery. Wars spring from wickedness of unrighteous leaders. Not until freedom triumphs and a just peace comes may we hope for the end of wars and for goodwill among men.
Today, when these facts are so strikingly manifest, let all sincere men recognize the evil conditions that have caused wars, and resolve with God's help to banish them forever. There must come a victory of right and freedom over iniquity and oppression; I repeat, war will never be vanquished until men change their hearts and establish new ideals.
An essential, fundamental element in the building and in the perpetuity of a great people is the home. The strength of a nation, especially of a republican nation, is in the intelligent and well-ordered homes of the people. In the well-ordered home we may experience on earth a taste of heaven. It is there that the babe in a mother's caress first experiences a sense of security, finds in the mother's kiss the first realization of affection, discovers in mother's sympathy and tenderness the first assurance that there is love in the world.
I remember that during World War II conditions made it necessary that I share a Pullman car with 40 soldier boys. They were gentlemen, and a credit to any nation. In the course of conversation, one of them remarked to me: "My dad's hair is white too." Then he added in a tone that expressed the depth of his feeling, "How I should like to see that old gray head this morning!" He and his companions were en route for an encampment to complete their training before embarking for duty overseas. They had enlisted to defend not only the free agency of man, but the rights and sanctity of home and loved ones. Such an affection for home and loved ones as felt by that soldier boy will make death preferable to surrender to an enemy who would destroy home and all that American soldiers hold dear.
Seeking the pleasure of conjugality without a willingness to assume the responsibilities of rearing a family is one of the onslaughts that now batter at the structure of the American home. Intelligence and mutual consideration should be ever-present factors in determining the coming of children to the home.
It is important for young people to realize that intelligent home building begins with a young man and a young girl in their teens. Often the health of children, if a couple be blessed with such, depends upon the actions of parents before marriage. In the press, from the pulpit, and particularly in the home, there should ring more frequently the message that in their youth boys and girls are laying the foundation for their future happiness or misery. Every young man, particularly, should prepare for the responsibility of fatherhood by keeping himself physically clean, that he might enter into that responsibility not as a coward or deceiver, but as one honorable and fit to found a home. The young man who, in unfitness, takes upon himself the responsibility of fatherhood is worse than a deceiver. The future happiness of his wife and children depends upon his life in youth.
Let us also teach girls that motherhood is divine, for when we touch the creative part of life, we enter into the realm of divinity. It is important, therefore, that young womanhood realize the necessity of keeping their bodies clean and pure, that their children might enter the world unhampered by sin and disease. An unshackled birth and an inheritance of noble character are the greatest blessings of childhood. No mother has the right to shackle a child through life for what seems in youth to be a pleasant pastime or her night to indulge in harmful drugs and other sinful practices. Those who are to be the mothers of the race should at least so live as to bear children who are not burdened from birth by sickness, weakness, or deformity, because the parents, in fiery youth, as Shakespeare said, "with unbashful forehead woo the means of weakness and debility."
A dominant evil of the world today is unchastity. I repeat what appeared over the signature of President Joseph F. Smith while he was living: "No more loathsome cancer disfigures the body and soul of society today than the frightful affliction of sexual sin. It vitiates the very fountains of life, and bequeaths its foul effects to the yet unborn as a legacy of death". He who is unchaste in young manhood is untrue to a trust given him by the parents of the girl; and she who is unchaste in maidenhood is untrue to her future husband and lays the foundation of unhappiness, suspicion, and discord in the home. Do not worry about those teachers who talk about inhibitions. Just keep in mind this eternal truth that chastity is a virtue to be prized as one of life's noblest achievements. It contributes to the virility of manhood. It is the crowning virtue of womanhood, and every red-blooded man knows that is true. It is a chief factor to a happy home. There is no loss of prestige in maintaining in a dignified way the standards of the Church. You can be in this world and not "of the world". Keep your chastity above everything else! God has commanded that we be chaste: "Thou shalt not commit adultery!" said the Lord at Sinai.
Degenerating forces in the world are rampant, but they can be resisted if youth will cherish right thoughts and aspire to high ideals. The age-old conflict between truth and error is being waged with accelerating fury, and at the present hour error seems to be gaining the upper hand. Increasing moral turpitude and widespread disregard for the principles of honor and integrity are undermining influences in social, political, and business life.
The exalted view of marriage as held by the Church is given expressively in five words found in the forty-ninth section of the Doctrine and Covenants: "marriage is ordained of God". That revelation was given in 1831 when Joseph Smith was only 25 years of age. Considering the circumstances under which it was given, we find in it another example among hundreds of others corroborative of the fact that he was inspired of the Lord. Before us are assembled thousands of presiding officers in stakes, wards, quorums, and auxiliaries, to whom we say, it is your duty and mine to uphold the lofty conception of marriage as given in this revelation, and to guard against encroaching dangers that threaten to lower the standard of the ideal home.
It is said that the best and noblest lives are those which are set toward high ideals. Truly no higher ideal regarding marriage can be cherished by young people than to look upon it as a divine institution. In the minds of the young, such a standard is a protection to them in courtship, an ever-present influence inducing them to refrain from doing anything that may prevent their going to the temple to have their love made perfect in an enduring and eternal union. It will lead them to seek divine guidance in the selection of their companions, upon the wise choice of whom their life's happiness here and hereafter is largely dependent. It makes their hearts pure and good; it lifts them up to their Father in heaven. Such joys are within the reach of most men and women if high ideals of marriage and home be properly fostered and cherished.
The signs of the times definitely indicate that the sacredness of the marriage covenant is dangerously threatened. There are places where the marriage ceremony may be performed at any hour of the day or night without any previous arrangement. The license is issued and the ceremony performed while the couple wait. Many couples who have been entrapped by such enticements have had their marriages end in disappointment and sorrow. In some instances these places are nothing more than opportunities for legalized immorality. Oh, how far they fall below the true ideal! As far as lies within our power, we must warn young couples against secret and hasty marriages.
It is vital also to counteract the insidious influences of printed literature that speaks of the "bankruptcy of marriage," that advocates trial marriages, and that places extramarital relations on a par with extramarital friendships.
Parenthood, and particularly motherhood, should be held as a sacred obligation. There is something in the depths of the human soul which revolts against neglectful parenthood. God has implanted deep in the souls of parents the truth that they cannot with impunity shirk the responsibility to protect childhood and youth.
There seems to be a growing tendency to shift this responsibility from the home to outside influences, such as the school and the church. Important as these outward influences are, they never can take the place of the influence of the mother and the father. Constant training, constant vigilance, companionship, being watchmen of our own children are necessary in order to keep our homes intact.
The character of the child is formed largely during the first 12 years of his life. During that period he spends 16 times as many waking hours in the home as in school, and 126 times as many hours in the home as in the church. Children go out with the stamp of these homes upon them, and only as these homes are what they should be will children be what they should be. Luther Burbank, the great plant wizard and scientist, most impressively emphasizes the need for constant attention in the training of a child. He says:
"Teach the child self-respect. Train it in self-respect just as you train a plant in better ways. No self-respecting man was ever a grafter. Above all, bear in mind repetition-the use of an influence over and over again, keeping everlastingly at it. This is what fixes traits in plants, the constant repetition of an influence until at last it is irrevocably fixed and will not change. You cannot afford to get discouraged. You are dealing with something far more precious than any plant-the precious soul of a child!"
There are three fundamental things to which every child is entitled: a respected name, a sense of security, opportunities for development. The family gives to the child his name and standing in the community. A child wants his family to be as good as those families of his friends. He wants to be able to point with pride to his father, and to feel an inspiration always as he thinks of his mother. It is a mother's duty to so live that her children will associate with her everything that is beautiful, sweet, and pure. And the father should so live that the child, emulating his example, will be a good citizen and, in the Church, a true follower of the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
A child has the right to feel that in his home he has a place of refuge, a place of protection from the dangers and evils of the outside world. Family unity and integrity are necessary to supply this need.
He needs parents who are happy in their adjustment to each other, who are working hopefully toward the fulfillment of an ideal of living, who love their children with a sincere and unselfish love-in short, parents who are well-balanced individuals, gifted with a certain amount of insight, who are able to provide the child with a wholesome emotional background that will contribute more to his development than material advantages.
Divorce almost invariably deprives children of these advantages. Just recently I received a heartbreaking letter from a boy nearly eight years of age whose parents are divorced, from which I quote: "Dear David O. McKay: I am having a problem and it is about Mom and Dad. They are divorced and we want to be back together. Can you solve my problem? I love you." What a tragedy for that child, and what unhappiness this separation has caused the children.
The increasing divorce rate in the United States today is a threatening menace to this nation's greatness. The increase throughout the United States, and in our own state, in the percentage of divorces is alarming.
In the light of scripture, ancient and modern, we are justified in concluding that Christ's ideal pertaining to marriage is the unbroken home, and conditions that cause divorce are violations of his divine teachings. Except in cases of infidelity or other extreme conditions, the Church frowns upon divorce, and authorities look with apprehension upon the increasing number of divorces among members of the Church.
A man who has entered into sacred covenants in the house of the Lord to remain true to the marriage vow is a traitor to that covenant if he separates himself from his wife and family just because he has permitted himself to become infatuated with a pretty face and comely form of some young girl who flattered him with a smile. Even though a loose interpretation of the law of the land would grant such a man a bill of divorcement, I think he is unworthy of a recommend to have his second marriage solemnized in the temple. And any woman who will break up her home because of some selfish desire, or who has been untrue to her husband, is also untrue to the covenants she has made in the house of the Lord. When we refer to the breaking of the marriage tie, we touch upon one of the saddest experiences of life. For a couple who have basked in the sunshine of each other's love to stand by and see the clouds of misunderstanding and discord obscure the love-light of their lives is tragedy indeed. In the darkness that follows, the love sparkle in each other's eyes is obscured, and to try to restore it is fruitless.
To look upon marriage as a mere contract that may be entered into at pleasure in response to a romantic whim, or for selfish purposes, and severed at the first difficulty or misunderstanding that may arise, is an evil meriting severe condemnation, especially in cases wherein children are made to suffer because of such separation. Marriage is a sacred relationship entered into for purposes that are well recognized-primarily for the rearing of a family. A flippant attitude toward marriage, the ill-advised suggestion of "companionate marriage," the base, diabolical theory of "free sex experiment," and the ready-made divorce courts are dangerous reefs upon which many a family bark is wrecked.
In order to lessen the breaking up of homes, the present tendency toward a low view of marriage should be substituted by the lofty view of marriage that Jesus the Christ gives it. Let us look upon marriage as a sacred obligation and a covenant that is eternal, or that may be made eternal.
Teach the young of both sexes in the responsibilities and ideals of marriage so that they may realize that marriage involves obligation and is not an arrangement to be terminated at pleasure. Teach them that pure love between the sexes is one of the noblest things on earth, and the bearing and rearing of children the highest of all human duties. In this regard it is the duty of parents to set an example in the home that children may see and absorb, as it were, the sacredness of family life and the responsibilities associated therewith.
The number of broken marriages can be reduced if couples realize even before they approach the altar that marriage is a state of mutual service, a state of giving as well as of receiving, and that each must give of himself or herself to the utmost. Harriet Beecher Stowe wisely writes: "No man or woman can create a true home who is not willing in the outset to embrace life heroically, to encounter labor and sacrifice. Only to such can this divinest power be given to create on earth that which is the nearest image of heaven."
Another condition that contributes to the permanence of the marriage covenant is marriage in the temple. Before such a marriage is performed, it is necessary for the young man and young woman first to obtain a recommend from the bishop. They should go to him in person, and the bishop who does his duty will instruct the couple regarding the sacredness of the obligation that they as young people are going to assume, emphasizing all the safeguards that have been named before. There, in the presence of the priesthood, before taking upon themselves the obligation of marriage, the young people receive instructions upon the sacredness of the duty that is before them; and, furthermore, they determine whether or not they are prepared to go in holiness and purity to the altar of God and there seal their vows and love.
Finally, there is one principle that seems to me to strike right at the base of the happiness of the marriage relation, and that is the standard of purity taught and practiced among true members of the Church. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there is but one standard of morality. No young man has any more right to be unchaste than has a young girl. That young man who asks for a recommend to take a pure girl to the altar is expected to give the same purity that he expects to receive.
For the proper solution of this great problem of the mounting divorce rate, we may turn with safety to Jesus as our guide. He declared that the marriage relation is of divine origin, that "marriage is ordained of God", that only under the most exceptional conditions should it be set aside. In the teaching of the Church of Christ, the family assumes supreme importance in the development of the individual and of the society. "Happy and thrice happy are they who enjoy an uninterrupted union, and whose love, unbroken by any complaint, shall not dissolve." The marriage ceremony when sealed by the authority of the Holy Priesthood endures, as do family relationships, throughout time and all eternity. "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder".
God bless us to look more earnestly, prayerfully, and sincerely upon the sacredness of the home and the marriage covenant, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 10-15
Thank God for that timely and inspiring message from our beloved leader, President David O. McKay.
My remarks today are directed to the humble followers of Christ. I pray that what I have to say will be of help to them.
One of the grand promises which the Lord made when he restored his Church in these latter days was that the Church should never again be taken from the earth nor given to another people. This is reassuring, for no matter how much individual apostasy we may see occur among Church members, the Church itself shall endure and remain intact. Our task, then, is to see that we personally endure to the end in faithful fellowship with the Church.
The Lord distinguishes between the Church and its members. He said he was well pleased with the restored Church, speaking collectively, but not individually. During his ministry on earth, the Lord spoke of the gospel net drawing in fish. The good fish, he said, were gathered into vessels, while the bad were cast away.
It is important to realize that while the Church is made up of mortals, no mortal is the Church. Judas, for a period of time, was a member of the Church-in fact, one of its apostles-but the Church was not Judas.
Sometimes we hear someone refer to a division in the Church. In reality, the Church is not divided. It simply means that there are some who, for the time being at least, are members of the Church but not in harmony with it. These people have a temporary membership and influence in the Church; but unless they repent, they will be missing when the final membership records are recorded.
It is well that our people understand this principle, so they will not be misled by those apostates within the Church who have not yet repented or been cut off. But there is a cleansing coming. The Lord says that his vengeance shall be poured out "upon the inhabitants of the earth... And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord; First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me". I look forward to that cleansing; its need within the Church is becoming increasingly apparent.
The Lord strengthened the faith of the early apostles by pointing out Judas as a traitor, even before this apostle had completed his iniquitous work. So also in our day the Lord has told us of the tares within the wheat that will eventually be hewn down when they are fully ripe. But until they are hewn down, they will be with us, amongst us. The hymn entitled "Though in the Outward Church Below" contains this thought:
"Though in the outward Church below Both wheat and tares together grow, Ere long will Jesus weed the crop And pluck the tares in anger up... We seem alike when here we meet; Strangers may think we are all wheat; But to the Lord's all-searching eyes, Each heart appears without disguise. The tares are spared for various ends, Some for the sake of praying friends, Others the Lord against their will, Employs, his counsels to fulfill. But though they grow so tall and strong, His plan will not require them long; In harvest, when he saves his own, The tares shall into hell be thrown."
Yes, within the Church today there are tares among the wheat and wolves within the flock. As President Clark stated, "The ravening wolves are amongst us, from our own membership, and they, more than... We should be careful of them".
The wolves amongst our flock are more numerous and devious today than when President Clark made this statement.
President McKay has said that "the Church is little, if at all, injured by persecution and calumnies from ignorant, misinformed or malicious enemies. A greater hindrance to its progress comes from faultfinders, shirkers, commandment-breakers, and apostate cliques within its own ecclesiastical and quorum groups"
Not only are there apostates within our midst, but there are also apostate doctrines that are sometimes taught in our classes and from our pulpits and that appear in our publications. And these apostate precepts of men cause our people to stumble. As the Book of Mormon, speaking of our day, states: "... they have all gone astray save it a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men".
Let us consider some of the precepts of men that may and do cause some of the humble followers of Christ to err.
Christ taught that we should be in the world but not of it. Yet there are some in our midst who are not so much concerned about taking the gospel into the world as they are about bringing worldliness into the gospel. They want us to be in the world and of it. They want us to be popular with the worldly even though a prophet has said that this is impossible, for all hell would then want to join us.
Through their own reasoning and a few misapplied scriptures, they try to sell us the precepts and philosophies of men. They do not feel the Church is progressive enough-they say that it should embrace the social and socialist gospel of apostate Christendom.
They are bothered that President McKay believes that "the social side of the Restored Gospel is only an incident of it; it is not the end thereof."
They attack the Church for not being in the forefront of the so-called "civil rights movement." They are embarrassed over some Church doctrine, and as Lehi foretold, the scoffing of the world over this and other matters will cause some of them to be ashamed and they shall fall away.
Unauthorized to receive revelation for the Church, but I fear still anxious to redirect the Church in the way they think it should go, some of them have taken to publishing their differences with the Church, in order to give their heretical views a broader and, they hope, a more respectable platform.
Along this line it would be well for all of us to remember these words of President George Q. Cannon:
"A friend... wished to know whether we... considered an honest difference of opinion between a member of the Church and the Authorities of the Church was apostasy.... We replied that we had not stated that an honest difference of opinion between a member of the Church and the Authorities constituted apostasy, for we could conceive of a man honestly differing in opinion from the Authorities of the Church and yet not be an apostate; but we could not conceive of a man publishing those differences of opinion and seeking by arguments, sophistry and special pleading to enforce them upon the people to produce division and strife and to place the acts and counsels of the Authorities of the Church, if possible, in a wrong light and not be an apostate, for such conduct was apostasy as we understood the term".
The world teaches birth control. Tragically, many of our sisters subscribe to its pills and practices when they could easily provide earthly tabernacles for more of our Father's children. We know that every spirit assigned to this earth will come, whether through us or someone else. There are couples in the Church who think they are getting along just fine with their limited families but who will someday suffer the pains of remorse when they meet the spirits that might have been part of their posterity. The first commandment given to man was to multiply and replenish the earth with children. That commandment has never been altered, modified, or canceled. The Lord did not say to multiply and replenish the earth if it is convenient, or if you are wealthy, or after you have gotten your schooling, or when there is peace on earth, or until you have four children. The Bible says, "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord... Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them". We believe God is glorified by having numerous children and a program of perfection for them. So also will God glorify that husband and wife who have a large posterity and who have tried to raise them up in righteousness.
The precepts of men would have you believe that by limiting the population of the world, we can have peace and plenty. That is the doctrine of the devil. Small numbers do not insure peace; only righteousness does. After all, there were only a handful of men on the earth when Cain interrupted the peace of Adam's household by slaying Abel. On the other hand, the whole city of Enoch was peaceful; and it was taken into heaven because it was made up of righteous people.
And so far as limiting the population in order to provide plenty is concerned, the Lord answered that falsehood in the Doctrine and Covenants when he said:
"For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves".
A major reason why there is famine in some parts of the world is because evil men have used the vehicle of government to abridge the freedom that men need to produce abundantly.
True to form, many of the people who desire to frustrate God's purposes of giving mortal tabernacles to his spirit children through worldwide birth control are the very same people who support the kinds of government that perpetuate famine. They advocate an evil to cure the results of the wickedness they support.
The world worships the learning of man. They trust in the arm of flesh. To them, men's reasoning is greater than God's revelations. The precepts of man have gone so far in subverting our educational system that in many cases a higher degree today, in the so-called social sciences, can be tantamount to a major investment in error. Very few men build firmly enough on the rock of revelation to go through this kind of an indoctrination and come out untainted. Unfortunately, of those who succumb, some use their higher degree to get teaching positions even in our Church educational system, where they spread the falsehoods they have been taught. President Joseph F. Smith was right when he said that false educational ideas would be one of the three threats to the Church within.
Another threat, and he said it is the most serious of the three, would be sexual impurity. Today we have both of these threats combined in the growing and increasingly amoral program of sex education in the schools. At the last general Relief Society conference of the Church, Elder Harold B. Lee quoted President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., in regard to this matter. Let us listen and learn from the following wise words of this seer, President Clark:
"Many influences are seeking to break down chastity with its divinely declared sanctity...
"In schoolrooms the children are taught what is popularly called 'the facts of life.' Instead of bringing about the alleged purpose of the teaching, that is, strengthening of the morals of youth, this teaching seems to have had directly the opposite effect. The teaching seems merely to have whetted curiosity and augmented appetite".
"... A mind engrossed in sex is not good for much else...
"Already the schools have taught sex facts ad nauseam. All their teachings have but torn away the modesty that once clothed sex; their discussions tend to make, and sometimes seem to make, sex animals of our boys and girls. The teachings do little but arouse curiosity for experience...
"A work on chastity can be given in one sentence, two words: Be chaste! That tells everything. You do not need to know all the details of the reproductive process in order to keep clean".
Our Church News editorials have warned us about sex education in the schools. As the April 1, 1967, editorial stated:
"Sex education belongs in the home... Movements to place sex education in nearly all grades of public schools can end only in the same result which came to Sweden."
In answer to inquiries that have been received by the First Presidency about sex education in the schools, they have made the following statement: "We believe that serious hazards are involved in entrusting to the schools the teaching of this vital and important subject to our children. This responsibility cannot wisely be left to society, nor the schools: nor can the responsibility be shifted to the Church. It is the responsibility of parents to see that they fully perform their duty in this respect."
When you make a close study of the Sex Information and Education Council of the United States, which is the major organization pushing sex education in the schools, and read their literature and learn of their amoral leadership, you can better appreciate why the Church is opposed to sex education in the schools, whether it is called family living program or by any other name. I commend the parents who have worked to keep it out of their schools and those who have pushed it out or are attempting to do so. They must love their children.
Let us consider another precept of men: One of the tragedies of the Korean War was the fact that the enemy was able to brainwash some of our men. Those methods, highly refined and deviously developed, have been introduced on a broad scale into our own country by some behavioral scientists through a program commonly called sensitivity training. While claiming otherwise, the overall effect of this training has been to break down personal standards, encourage immorality, reduce respect for parents, and make well minds sick.
As in Korea, the heart of the training involves trying to get each member of a group to self-criticize and confess as much as possible to the group. Now any informed holder of the priesthood knows that this is directly contrary to the word of the Lord as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 42, verses 88-92. Only when a person has sinned against many people is he to make a public confession.
"If any shall offend in secret, he or she shall be rebuked in secret, that he or she may have opportunity to confess in secret to him or her whom he or she has offended, and to God, that the church may not speak reproachfully of him or her".
As President Brigham Young put it, "... if you have sinned against your God, or against your selves, confess to God, and keep the matter to yourselves, for I do not want to know anything about it".
But some sensitivity training doesn't stop there. They usually want each person to tell the group about all of their innermost feelings, their personal secrets, their fears, their repressed desires. They have even conducted nudity sessions as a means of supposedly breaking down their inhibitions. They want the group to know each other's vulgar thoughts and lustful ideas, their hates, envies, jealousies. But this flies in the face of the counsel of the Prophet, who has said, "All such evils you must overcome by suppression. That is where your control comes in. Suppress that anger! Suppress that jealousy, that envy! They are all injurious to the spirit".
In these sensitivity sessions one's standards, religion, family, and friends may be subjected to brutal and prolonged attack by the group. And when it's all over, if you've confessed all and had your values and ideals smashed, you may doubt if there is much worth believing or defending, and your loyalties may now have been realigned away from your family and church toward the group-for on them you may now feel very dependent, and you may be more anxious to get their consensus on a position and their approval than to find out what's right and do it.
When General William F. Dean was released from a Korean Communist prison camp, the young Chinese psychologists who had been trying to break him said: "General, don't feel bad about leaving us. You know, we will soon be with you. We are going to capture your country." Asked how, they replied: "We are going to destroy the moral character of a generation of our young Americans, and when we have finished you will have nothing with which to really defend yourselves against us."
And so the precepts of men are at work on our youth in so many ways. Said President Clark, "... a tremendous amount of the modern art, of the modern literature and music, and the drama that we have today is utterly demoralizing-utterly".
Have you been listening to the music that many young folks are hearing today? Some of it is nerve-jamming in nature and much of it has been deliberately designed to promote revolution, dope, immorality, and a gap between parent and child. And some of this music has invaded our church cultural halls.
Have you noticed some of our Church dances lately? Have they been praiseworthy, lovely, and of good report? "I doubt," said President McKay, "whether it is possible to dance most of the prevalent fad dances in a manner to meet LDS standards." And what about modesty in dress? When was the last time you saw a high school girl wearing a dress that covered her knees? The courageous address of Elder Spencer W. Kimball a few years ago entitled "A Style of Our Own" is certainly applicable today.
I want to congratulate the Tabernacle Choir for their attire. It was noted that in their broadcast at Constitution Hall during the inaugural festivities, all the ladies seated on the front row had dresses that covered their knees.
Now what kind of magazines come into your home? With perhaps one or two exceptions, I would not have any of the major national slick magazines in my home. As President Clark so well put it, "... take up any national magazine, look at the ads and, if you can stand the filth, read some of the stories-they are, in their expressed and suggestive standards of life, destructive of the very foundations of our society".
Now hear this test proposed by President George Q. Cannon: "If the breach is daily widening between ourselves and the world... we may be assured that our progress is certain, however slow. On the opposite hand, if our feelings and affections, our appetites and desires, are in unison with the world around us and freely fraternize with them... we should do well to examine ourselves. Individuals in such a condition might possess a nominal position in the Church but would be lacking the life of the work, and, like the foolish virgins who slumbered while the bridegroom tarried, they would be unprepared for his coming"
To repeat again from the Book of Mormon, "... they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men".
May we cherish God's revelations more than man's reasoning and choose to follow the prophets of the Lord rather than the precepts of men is my humble prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop John H. Vandenberg
John H. Vandenberg, Conference Report, April 1969, p. 15-18
Sometime ago a friend sent me a short story put in verse by Sam Walter Foss. Though it was written several decades ago, the message seems particularly relevant today. It is entitled "The Calf-Path," and reads as follows:
"One day through the primeval wood A calf walked home as good calves should; But made a trail all bent askew, A crooked path as all calves do...
"The trail was taken up next day By a lone dog that passed that way; And then a wise bellwether sheep Pursued the trail o'er vale and steep, And drew the flock behind him, too, As good bellwethers always do. And from that day, o'er hill and glade, Through those old woods a path was made.
"And many men wound in and out, And dodged and turned and bent about, And uttered words of righteous wrath Because 'twas such a crooked path...
"The forest path became a lane That bent and turned and turned again: This crooked lane became a road, Where many a poor horse with his load Toiled on beneath the burning sun, And traveled some three miles in one...
"The years passed on in swiftness fleet, The road became a village street; And this, before men were aware, A city's crowded thoroughfare...
"Each day a hundred thousand rout Followed this zigzag calf about And o'er his crooked journey went The traffic of a continent. A hundred thousand men were led By one calf near three centuries dead. They followed still his crooked way, And lost one hundred years a day; For thus such reverence is lent To well-established precedent.
"... For men are prone to go it blind Along the calf-path of the mind, And work away from sun to sun To do what other men have done. They follow in the beaten track, And out and in, and forth and back, And still their devious course pursue, To keep the path that others do. They keep the path a sacred groove, Along which all their lives they move; But how the wise old wood-gods laugh, Who saw the first primeval calf."
In today's world there are many paths for people to travel. There are some who, like those who followed the calf, are pursuing a course in life for no other reason than that others have preceded them. They follow a path without thinking where it may lead them or even who made the path. They justify their course because it is so well traveled.
With so many ways meandering in so many directions, some may be confused. Careful analysis reveals, however, that the solution is a matter of defining our objectives and then following the path that leads to them. Every person should analyze the ultimate destination of the way he is traveling.
An unkind word spoken by a husband to his wife may start a conflict at home that leads to misery, turmoil, and ultimately divorce.
You can visualize the destination of the journey that begins with the neglect of children in order to pursue worldly goods. Yet many mothers persist in traveling such a course.
What about the path that starts with that first so-called social drink? This could lead to mistrust, immorality, poverty, broken homes, and broken lives.
Has good ever come from walking the path of drug abuse? No. It leads rather to addiction, insanity, immorality, suicide, and a dissipated life.
Exposure to suggestive, obscene literature and entertainment, which provides repeated examples of indiscretion and immorality, leads to a breakdown in one's moral values. A person soon finds that by this subtle means he has been induced to tread the path to the point where immorality becomes a common and accepted practice with him, with personal degradation and misery the end products.
Yet in spite of their destinations, these paths have many travelers. It is of such evil ways the Lord was speaking when he counseled against them and said, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat".
The idea that a person would have to teach of these paths before he could judge whether it be wrong is a cunning plan laid by the adversary to entrap the souls of men. A continual exposure to evil ways develops a lowered resistance to them, a higher degree of tolerance for sin, which eventually leads to the embracing of the evil practices. Do not forget that the very ability which man has to learn from the experiences of others sets him above the animal world.
To avoid the broad way, spoken of by the Master, it is necessary for all persons to periodically evaluate the course of their lives and to envision the ultimate end toward which they are traveling.
In the story "The Mansion," by Henry Van Dyke, one of the characters by the name of John Weightman envisioned the ultimate result of the path of life on which he traveled.
One evening as he prepared to retire, he opened the Bible and read from Matthew, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal;
"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven".
He fell asleep feeling comfortable in that he had been a benefactor, since he had donated generously to charities, foundations, and other worthy causes. As he slept, he dreamed that he visited the life after death and was to receive his mansion. He was dismayed to find that his mansion in the other world was only a hut in a big field of weeds. He complained to the guide, "Surely, sir, there is something wrong."
"There is no mistake," said the guide. "Were not all these endowments carefully recorded on earth where they would add to your credit? Verily you have had your reward, for them. Would you be paid twice?"
Humbled, Weightman asked, "What is it that counts here?"
The guide replied, "Only that which is truly given. Only that good which is done for the love of doing it. Only those plans in which the welfare of others is the master thought. Only those labors in which the sacrifice is greater than the reward. Only those gifts in which the giver forgets himself. These are the things that the King never forgets; and because there were few of them in your life, you have a little place here."
Helaman, the Nephite leader and prophet, counseled his sons that they might be equipped with the discernment to select the proven and eternal path. He said, "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall".
In this day when the adversary is endeavoring to lead mankind "care fully down to hell", it is imperative that parents lead and discipline their children in the teachings of the gospel. Our youth need this guidance and direction, and they themselves want it. They plead within, as did the psalmist, "Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight".
The gospel is described by the Savior in this way: "... strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it". It requires discipline to travel this narrow way.
In our modern world we talk of and use a method to efficiently and effectively accomplish a project. It is known as the "critical path" method. This method is a way of correlating the chain of critical activities necessary for the completion of a given project, calling for high discipline in timing and filing each step in productive order.
The critical path is the narrow way, and in business, education, science, or life we must follow a critical path or narrow way to achieve ultimate success. Thus it becomes a matter for you and me to consider. Someone calls it to our attention in this manner:
"Your greatest problem is yourself. You are also your greatest treasure. If you can get yourself determined upon-find out what you are and what you are for-and if you can discover and develop the elements of value in your nature, your life will take on the beauty of orderliness and your need of the savings bank will be less and less, for you will be your own riches. I say, if you can, for this procedure takes wisdom, and wisdom is the fruit which ripens slowly. Perhaps you are not yet wise; perhaps you are still incapable of self-analysis; perhaps you are confused amid the surfaces and appearances of life; perhaps your code of conduct is based upon the customs of the times and the sayings of the alleged sages; perhaps you are disheartened and discouraged-even in frenzy of retreat before the things in your life which seem to oppose you and beat you back. But even so, this is but a condition or mood which is not final-the condition will right itself, the mood will pass."
Words of a missionary
To this I might add, you will achieve ultimate success if you will align yourself to the discipline required by the narrow way which leads to eternal life. There is great joy and satisfaction in the realization of so embarking, as evidenced by the words of a missionary in the mission field:
"... I have come to an understanding of the meaning of life-why I am here and where I want to go.
"It amazes me how little I knew about the gospel before. Sure, I had a lot of facts down, but I just hadn't caught the vision. I had heard people say that the gospel was and is a message of happiness and good news, yet I didn't understand why. It is here that I have begun to feel the joy that the gospel was established to give to man.
"Here, material and worldly things have taken on a second importance; and because I attach a greater importance to what is important, I am happier than before. Christ promised that if we seek first his kingdom, all other things will be added unto us. I know this is true.
"At home when I didn't like something, I went away from it; here I can't. I have to face it, learn to get along in situations and with people that are hard to get along with. How great it is to find that you have conquered something that you otherwise would run away from!
"Every day is spent trying to be more successful, doing things that are hard, and growing from it."
Many parents and youth of the Church are securing their lives against the forces of evil by following the counsel of the Savior.
No one, it would seem, would knowingly follow a "calf-path" through life, yet carelessly they may do just that.
We must not be deceived. That established by the Savior is the only proven way; it is the only way that can stand the test of the eternities. May we follow him into the joy of eternal life, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Franklin D. Richards
Franklin D. Richards, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 18-21
My dear brothers and sisters, I rejoice to be with you today. I have been inspired and strengthened by the beautiful music and the messages of President McKay and our other leaders.
We are living in a remarkable age, the dispensation of the fullness of times, and I am grateful for the knowledge that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.
I also bear my witness to you that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in its fullness through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and that there is a Prophet of God on the earth today, our beloved President David O. McKay. May the Lord bless and sustain him.
Despite the fact that we are living in a wonderful age, as has been stated, we are living in a troubled world with an abundance of problems. In reality, this is one of the great purposes of life, to meet challenges and obstacles and learn to overcome them. Meeting obstacles and learning to overcome them give us experience, and each experience should be for our good.
Today we hear much about the need to "tell things as they are," the need for honesty and consistency in living, and the need for greater freedoms.
Someone has said, "There are two freedoms; the false freedom where one is free to do what he likes, and the true freedom where one is free to do what he ought to do."
I think it is appropriate and timely to discuss some things as they are and can be, as well as to consider the difference between loyalty and disloyalty as pertains to the true and false freedoms.
First, loyalty to true freedom principles or causes embraces love, dedication, faith, allegiance, willingness to sacrifice, and many other qualities that contribute to achievement and happiness.
Disloyalty to true freedom principles or causes embraces betrayal, unfaithfulness, disaffection, sedition, infidelity, and other qualities that contribute to failure, destruction, and unhappiness.
Loyalty to false freedom principles can only bring delusion, a counterfeit happiness, and eventual destruction. False freedom principles include such things as the abuse of one's body by the use of drugs, liquor, and tobacco, as well as sexual immoralities. False freedom principles likewise include the spread of communistic doctrine and protest by force.
In reality, true freedom can only exist in doing what is right, in being loyal-yes, in doing what we ought to do.
Let me be more specific and identify some things we ought to do to enjoy true freedom.
We should be loyal to ourselves, our family, friends, employers, our God, church, and country.
Insofar as loyalty to oneself is concerned, the great poet Shakespeare gave some sage advice when he said, "This above all: to thine own self be true, And if must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man".
One is true and loyal to himself:
When he develops himself mentally, physically, and spiritually;
When he develops a proper standard by which all decisions are made and unswervingly follows the standard;
When he keeps his self-respect and the respect of others by being noble and consistent in his ideals, acts, words, and thoughts;
When he combines faith with works in serving his God and his fellowmen.
Loyalty to one's family and friends is likewise basic and paramount. It indicates love and affection.
President McKay has said that no other success can compensate for failure in the family.
The Church provides a family home evening program, which gives the family an opportunity to understand the principle of loyalty and how to make it a part of their lives.
President McKay has promised that as family home evenings are held, great blessings will result, in that there will be love at home, and obedience to parents will increase, and faith will develop in the hearts of the youth.
Family loyalty means for each member to support and sustain every other member. Loyalty in the family embraces love and appreciation and is evidenced by a willingness to sacrifice for and serve one another.
Loyalty to friends make it possible for them to rely on you and you on them, and what a wonderful sense of security this brings.
In one's business relations, loyalty to an employer is most vital. Loyalty here means to be faithful and trustworthy and to give the best of your ability, recognizing that your employer's success is reflected in your welfare. Loyalty produces power and effectiveness. An ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness.
What does loyalty to God and church imply?
Simply stated, it would seem to be doing God's will without reservations.
Our Lord and Savior set the pattern of loyalty in Gethsemane when in his prayer to the Father he said, "Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt".
Judas set the pattern of disloyalty as he betrayed his Master, the Christ. He became madly remorseful, but under the influence of Satan, he hanged himself, the final chapter of his disloyalty.
The great dedication of the Prophet Joseph Smith and other mighty men of modern Israel illustrates the meaning of loyalty to God and to church.
And the Lord has told us: "Let no man be afraid to lay down his life for my sake; for whoso layeth down his life for my sake shall find it again.
"And whoso is not willing to lay down his life for my sake is not my disciple".
An interesting experience is told of Brother J. Golden Kimball in speaking to a meeting of Saints on the subject of tithing. He said, "All of you who would be willing to die for the gospel please put up your hands." Nearly every hand in the congregation was raised.
Then he said, "All of you who have been paying an honest tithing please raise your hands." It seems that only a few hands were raised.
Brother Kimball turned to the bishop and said, "See, they would rather die than pay their tithing."
Tithing, of course, is only one of God's commandments that tests our loyalty. Loyalty is truly one of the great and eternal principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now with respect to being loyal to our country:
It is traditional that those elected or appointed to important governmental positions take an oath of allegiance. Public servants must be loyal to the office to which they are elected or appointed. Disloyalty results in impeachment or dismissal.
We know that the Constitution of our country is a divinely established document, and in the words of modern-day scripture we recognize that it "should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles".
The position of the Church in this matter is clearly stated in the Twelfth Article of Faith: "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law".
Now in considering things as they are, in considering the need of honesty and consistency in living, and in considering the need for greater freedoms, never let us forget that we must choose where we place our loyalties.
As Joshua of old declared, "... choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord".
There are many today who have chosen to serve the Lord and are giving much, yes, even their lives, for true freedom principles that bring us real happiness, growth, and development. On the other hand, there are others who are loyal to false freedom principles that would, if they prevailed, destroy us as individuals and as a country.
Always remember that what we do, far more than what we say, shows where our loyalties are.
My counsel to you is to live for true freedom, choose the right, do what you ought to do, and make the choice that Joshua did-to serve the Lord.
Never give your loyalty to a cause that will bring you a false freedom of delusion, counterfeit happiness, failure, and eventual destruction. Your loyalties set the pattern for your life and eventually become a way of life for you.
Be loyal to yourself, your family, your God and church, your country, friends, and employers. This will assure you true freedom and independence and result in peace, great achievement, happiness, and eventually eternal life. It has been said by W. H. Murray that until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. The moment one definitely commits himself, then Providence moves too. I know this is true.
Let us all, as in the words of our glorious hymn, commit ourselves to be "True to the faith that our parents have cherished, True to the truth for which martyrs have perished, To God's command, Soul, heart, and hand, Faithful and true we will ever stand".
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Loren C. Dunn
Loren C. Dunn, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 21-23
By invitation I recently attended a conference on drug abuse that was called by a group of concerned citizens.
Speaking at this gathering were experts in this field from throughout the United States. Their messages were in accordance with that which has been echoed by almost every group investigating this problem, and that is: Drug abuse is on the increase, especially among our youth.
Despite the valiant efforts of law enforcement, the availability of drugs is increasing. In fact, according to youthful offenders, drugs are readily available through what they term as "the underground" in most of our high schools.
It is evident that this is a fast-growing problem within the United States and Canada, and it is also having its effect on many countries throughout the world.
There is a great need for us as Church members to support efforts in our communities to strengthen law enforcement and encourage other programs designed to deal with the drug abuse problem.
In listening to a group of youthful former drug users, they stated that it frightens them to think that possibly as many as 50 per cent of their fellow high school students might at least try marijuana at some time with a smaller number continuing on to other drugs.
These are students who evidently come from all backgrounds and economic levels of life.
Should these young people be correct in their estimates, we would have to face the realization that each of our children sometime is going to be faced with the temptation of drug use.
The reason most youthful offenders start on drugs gives us some idea as to what we might do to prevent this disastrous situation. When one group was asked why they started, they said without exception, "We were alienated from our parents."
Somehow, in the home the love, confidence, and self-assurance that should have been conveyed from parents to children was not conveyed. Parents failed to understand the children, and the children failed to understand the parents; and in frustration and alienation the children sought escape by turning to drugs.
These youthful offenders had been given material gifts by their parents, but these gifts seemed to be in place of love instead of an expression of love.
If there are love and unity at home, and if children feel comfort there, they will know what to do when this problem presents itself. But if there are bitterness and disharmony and mistrust, then it is possible that they will seek escape through any form of vice available.
President McKay has the following to say about the importance of example in our homes:
"I believe that parents generally are teaching their children the gospel, yet I am convinced that there is still much opportunity for improvement in this regard. I am not thinking of the set hours in which you sit down to teach these doctrines to your children, but of the example fathers and mothers give to their children regarding the faith that is dear to your hearts. Your example will teach these principles more effectively than what you say. Out of our homes come the future leaders of the government. If our homes were all they should be, the nation would be safe".
I believe that the example of which President McKay speaks is most important.
It's a simple step for a young person to go from faith and love and confidence in an earthly father to faith and love and confidence in our Heavenly Father, and what better heritage can we give him than the ability to communicate with God.
From Alma we read:
"Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day".
On another occasion President McKay said: "Children deserve to be taught intelligent obedience. Unhappiness in the child's life, as in the adult life, springs largely from nonconformity to natural and social laws. The home is the best place in which to develop obedience, which nature and society will later demand... I do not mean getting control by cruelty, nor by foolish threats, but merely by letting the child know that he is part of a community in the home; and that the other children have their rights and each child must respect those rights.
"There is the beginning of democracy, and it is in the home".
And again the Prophet has said:
"Homes are made permanent through love. Oh, then, let love abound. If you feel that you have not the love of those little boys and girls, study to get it. Though you neglect some of the cattle, though you fail to produce good crops, ever study to hold your children's love".
The responsibility of communication is not alone on the shoulders of parents. The youth also have a responsibility to contribute love and strength to the family organization.
I recall a stage play that recently was made into a movie. It dealt win parents whose only child, a son, returned from military service. The father and son had never been close. It was a situation in which both father and son loved each other but were unable to find ways to express themselves, and therefore hostilities arose because each thought the other did not like him. It was a breakdown of communication. But now the son was home from the army, and things were different. The father and son began to establish a whole new relationship. The high point of the play came when the boy said to his father something like this:
"Dad, I always resented you when I was younger because you never told me that you loved me, but then I realized that I had never told you that I loved you either. Well, Dad, I'm telling you now: I love you."
For one electrifying moment the father and son embraced each other as the pent-up love and appreciation of years came flooding out. This probably would never have happened had the son not realized that he was as guilty of lack of expression as his parents.
So young people can make a difference. They can contribute to the love in their own home by expressing their love for parents and in supporting the family. May the Lord bless us to know that it is not our material heritage that can meet and defeat this problem of drug abuse, but our spiritual heritage as expressed in the sanctity of the home and the strength of the family. May our homes be havens of spiritual strength and may we constantly bear witness to our children in word and deed of those truths that make a difference.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion D. Hanks
Marion D. Hanks, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 23-25
I have two commitments today that I should like to fulfill. One I undertook upon reading a letter yesterday from one of our choice chaplains serving a second tour of duty in Vietnam, once again moving among those engaged in the most serious of the fighting. His letter asks, "Will you ask the brethren specifically to mention the wives and the children of the servicemen over here from time to time. They have it harder than we do."
I pledge, and ask you to join me, that I will remember and seek to put actively into effect my interest in the wives and children and parents of those who are far away, giving what has to be given to preserve the high ideals of this land, and thus to express to all mankind their own concern for the well-being of those who are not able to take care of themselves.
The second commitment I carry out for a young Scotsman who a few days ago in Britain at a meeting of students expressed his love for President McKay, and then said, "President McKay, will you nae come back again?"
If the Lord will bless me in these few moments I would like to talk about the meaning of this day that we celebrate with all Christians everywhere, a day signal and significant, a day pivotal in the whole history of mankind.
Perhaps I can do that best by reading a few words that came to my mind as I stood not long ago in the catacombs outside Rome on the Appian Way, where multitudes of Christians gave their lives rather than relinquish their convictions or their faith. This is one of the things I remembered and was pleased to look up and read again on my return. It is a letter written by Cyprian, a martyr in the third century, to his friend Donatus. He wrote from Carthage:
"This seems a cheerful world, Donatus, when I view it from this fair garden under the shadow of these vines. But if I climbed some great mountain and looked out over the wide lands, you know very well what I would sea brigands on the high roads, pirates on the seas, in the amphitheaters men murdered to please applauding crowds; under all roofs misery and selfishness. It is really a bad world, yet in the midst of it I have found a quiet and holy people. They have discovered a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of this sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are the Christians and I am one of them."
And then in a magazine some years ago I read and was deeply moved by another account. It had come freshly to view after centuries of being hidden.
On May 13, 303 A.D., in the Algerian city of Cirta, one Munatus Felix, high priest of the emperor, personally led a raid on a Christian worship service. He took with him a stenographer, whose report, taken in shorthand, sounds disconcertingly familiar to modern ears.
"Bring out whatever scriptures you have got," commanded Felix, after his men had collected all the evidence they could find. A subdeacon brought only one large book, explaining that the lectors kept the rest. Felix said to them: "Identify the lectors." They said: "We are not informers. Here we stand. Command us to be executed." Felix said, "Put them under arrest."
And the editorialist noted, "No one knows how many thousands were rounded up in such raids and executed. They could easily have saved their skins by staying home and saying their prayers in comfortable privacy. But they insisted on the right to come together."
Easter is a time when those who believe in and accept his name gratefully worship the risen Redeemer. Men of goodwill everywhere join in the solemn celebration. What was so important about him? Why the total commitment of Cyprian and the saints at Cirta? In these few brief moments, in outline form, let me offer an answer.
His was a redemptive story.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".
He was a God, a member of the godly council, the Son delegated by his Father for a holy mission. He was a God who came to earth and walked among men and suffered more than any man could suffer, because this was his mission, and in him was the love which made it possible for him to do what he had to do.
He was a creator, indeed the creator of this world, under the direction of his Father.
"And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell".
"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth".
"God... Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds".
He was the Firstborn in the spirit.
"... I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn".
His mission was prophesied long before he was born into the world.
"... Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel".
He was the Only Begotten in the flesh, on this earth the only one begotten of a divine Father and an earthly mother.
"... I beheld his glory, as the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father".
He was alone without blemish, and yet he learned.
"Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered".
He was tempted, but would not yield. It isn't so hard for us to identify, is it, with one who was tempted, even as we are tempted?
"For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted".
After Christ had fasted for 40 days and nights, he was invited to use his marvelous powers to serve himself, to satisfy himself, to save his own life, to turn stones into bread, and he would not.
The tempter said to him, in effect, "Win the plaudits of the crowd; it will be easy for you Please them, gain their acceptance. Cast yourself down. Then they will listen to our important message." But he would not.
He was offered power and glory in exchange for his soul, and he would not.
We have similar temptations in our own time, and so we can identify.
He was the servant of all. One of his last earthly acts was to wash the feet of his disciples.
He suffered both body and spirit.
"For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent".
He died willingly, alone, for this was how it must be. There had to be a propitiation, by one of his unique qualifications, for the sins of men-our sins-payment for which, through the love of God and the love of his Son, was made on Calvary's hill.
"Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
"But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?".
"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?".
I bear testimony and thank God for this Good Friday, tragic as are the events which it commemorates, and for what it means to me and to all men, for what it lays before men of a future, for this day had to happen in order that Easter and its glorious events could come to pass.
The pure in heart shall see God. Those who become the manner of man he was, who walk in the Spirit, will see him, and will be his.
I pray God to bless us, that all the good and wholesome and sweet feelings of the Christian world at this sacred season may motivate us and all who worship his name and seek to do his will to the kind of commitment spoken by Cyprian, to the kind of courage and devotion known by those who died in the catacombs so long ago-they who loved him well and paid whatever price was necessary to demonstrate that.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 27-31
My beloved brothers and sisters and friends, I hope that all of you were as uplifted as I was this morning by the inspired messages of our Prophet and the other brethren.
This is Easter time, when the minds of many people are centered upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and may we speak again of his glorious resurrection. I join my testimony with that of these fine singers in the theme "I know that my Redeemer lives."
One Christmas time some years ago, we walked the paths that Jesus walked. We spent some precious hours in what is said to be the Garden of Gethsemane and tried to imagine the sufferings though which he moved in anticipation of his crucifixion and resurrection. We were near the places where he prayed, where he was taken prisoner, where he was tried and condemned.
Outside the city walls, we climbed the caliche hill, pockmarked with little caves, making the rounded end look like a skull, and we were told that this was Golgotha, the place where he was crucified. We zigzagged down the backside of the hill around to the sheer cliff-side of it and entered the small window-size aperture into a roughhewn cave in which it is said the body had lain.
Some hours we spent in the little garden outside this tomb and absorbed the gospel story of his burial and of his resurrection, which here had taken place. We read thoughtfully and prayerfully of the coming of the women to the sepulchre, the angel of the Lord rolling away the stone, and the discomfiture of the recreant keepers.
We could almost imagine we saw the two angels in shining garments who spoke to Mary, saying, "Why seek ye the living among the dead?
"He is not here, but is risen..."
The Lord had predicted: "... The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again".
We remembered the dialogue between Mary, the angels, and the Lord:
"... Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him."
She turned and "saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
"Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
"Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
"Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God".
We then walked laboriously up the rather steep Mount of Olives, possibly the approximate path he walked, a prelude to his ascension after having spent 40 days after resurrection on the earth and having, by many infallible proofs, brought sureness to the hundreds of people who had come now to realize his resurrection was real.
And now he was on the top of the Mount of Olives and was saying to these greatly concerned and loved men, "... ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth".
As we sat at the trunk of an ancient olive tree there and read these scriptures, we could easily imagine the Lord standing near this spot in the group of worried, loving, wondering men; and then the fog rolled in, the cloud settled down over the top of the hill, and he was gone. Then we could almost hear the angels in white apparel saying:
"... Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven".
And now we consulted Paul's writings to the Ephesians:
"Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive...
"He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things".
Sometimes our celebrations of notable occurrences seem to take on earthly color, and we do not fully realize the significance of the reason for the celebration. This is true of Easter, when too often we celebrate the holiday rather than the deep significance of the resurrection of the Lord. They must be unhappy indeed who ignore the godship of Christ, the sonship of the Master. We feel sorry indeed for those who call the supreme miracle of the resurrection "but a subjective experience of the disciples, rather than an actual historical event."
We know truly that all this is real. Christ spoke of himself to Nicodemus:
"... We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness".
And then we remember that Peter testified:
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ".
"But ye denied the Holy One and the Just...
"And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses".
Boldly, Peter and John stood before the council and said again:
"Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole...
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved".
When the council chastised the two apostles and commanded them not to speak or teach such things in the name of Jesus, they answered and said: "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard".
"And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all".
We also know the resurrection is real. The living Peter said to the council of persecutors:
"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on the tree...
"And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him".
We stand in awe before the great Peter, who had so completely received his total assurances and who had so graciously donned the robe of leadership and the mantle of authority and the courage of the inspired and assured. What strength he had come to have as he led the saints and faced the world with all its persecutors, unbelievers, and difficulties. And, as he rehearsed over and over his absolute knowledge, we glory in his stamina as he faced mobs and prelates, officials who could take his life, and as he boldly proclaimed the resurrected Lord, the Prince of Peace, the Holy One and the Just, the Prince of Life, the Prince and Savior. Peter certainly now was sure, impregnable, never to falter. We should gain much sureness by his certainty.
It is significant to read the words and the testimony of Stephen, a holy martyr, who gave his life for his faith.
Stephen "looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
"And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God".
Stephen was a martyr and will inherit eternal life. His testimony reveals that Christ was not dead, but was still living, and was in an exalted, glorified condition with his Father.
The testimony of Paul seems most conclusive. He heard the voice of the risen Christ:
"Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" And to be sure of identity, Saul said, "Who art thou, Lord?" and received the assurance, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks".
And now that same Paul, who had recovered his strength, who had been administered to by the priesthood, who had received his lost eyesight, went about in the synagogues confounding the Jews in Damascus, proving "that this is very Christ".
And later, Paul came to the apostles in Jerusalem, and Barnabas, speaking for Paul, "declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus".
Then Paul continues:
"And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.
"But God raised him from the dead:
"And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people...
"God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again...
"And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption" .
Paul's testimony on Mars hill in Athens was a significant one. The Greeks accepted any and all gods that were proposed. They had inscribed one altar "To the Unknown God" and Paul used this text to tell them that with all their gods of wood and stone they did not know the real "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
"... seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
"... and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation...
"... he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead".
Paul told again of his own conversion and bore his testimony and said he heard the voice of Christ saying, "I am Jesus of Nazareth," and he was promised by Ananias: "For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard".
And then came his pertinent question to King Agrippa: "Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?".
And again Paul bore witness:
"Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
"... for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord".
The risen Lord "was seen of above five hundred brethren at once...
"After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
"And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time".
Then Paul launches into the beautiful treatise on the resurrection of the dead, as he spoke to the Corinthians.
I have a great admiration and affection for our brother Paul, our fellow apostle. He was so dedicated, so humble, so straightforward. He was so eager, so interested, so consecrated. He must have been personable in spite of his problems, for the people hung onto him with great affection when he was about to leave them. I love Paul, for he spoke the truth. He leveled with people. He was interested in them. I love Paul for his steadfastness, even unto death and martyrdom. I am always fascinated with his recounting of the perils through which he passed to teach the gospel to member and nonmember.
Perhaps one of the last of Peter's testimonies was borne to all the people, both those who had been converted to the gospel and those who would in the future be influenced by his statement, throughout all time a memorial to be remembered.
As this great prophet faced his death and knew that it would not be long until he would discard this body tabernacle and pass into the other world, he determined to write his testimony message so that coming generations might all have his witness. It has been read and heard by countless millions. He said:
"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
"For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
"And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount".
We are lifted by the witness of the modern prophet, Joseph Smith, when he reassures the people of the resurrection. Elder George A. Smith quotes the last public address of Joseph Smith in June 1844, only days before his cruel assassination:
"... I am ready to be offered a sacrifice for this people; for what can our enemies do? Only kill the body and their power is then at an end. Stand firm my friends. Never flinch. Do not seek to save your lives, for he that is afraid to die for the truth will lose eternal life. Hold out to the end; and we shall be resurrected and become like Gods, and reign in celestial kingdoms, principalities and eternal dominions."
The sureness of the divine resurrection is believed by numerous people in the Christian world. Victor Hugo wrote:
"I feel in myself the future life. The nearer I approach the end, the plainer I hear around me the immortal symphonies of the worlds which invite me. When I go down to the grave I can say like many others: 'I have finished my day's work.' But I cannot say, 'I have finished my life.' My day's work will begin in the next morning. The tomb is not a blind alley, it is a thoroughfare. It closes on the twilight. It opens on the dawn."
And some unknown writer has expressed in verse this natural feeling of and unexplainable longing for immortality.
"Else when this pleasing hope, this fond desire, This longing for immortality, Or whence this secret dread, and inward horror Of falling into naught? Why shrinks the soul Back on herself, and startles at destruction? 'Tis the divinity that stirs within us; 'Tis heaven itself, that points out an hereafter And intimates eternity to man."
The question asked by Job has been asked by millions who have stood at the open bier of a loved one: "If a man die, shall he live again?".
And the question has been answered acceptably to numerous of them as a great, sweet peace settles down upon them like the dews of heaven. And innumerable times hearts that were weary in agonizing suffering have felt the kiss of that peace which knows not understanding. And when a deep tranquility of soul has brought a new warm assurance to minds that were troubled and hearts that were torn, those numerous could repeat with beloved Job:
"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
"And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall see God:
"Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold".
Job had expressed the wish that his testimony could be printed in books and cut into stone for the generations following him to read. His wish was granted, for peace has come into many souls as they have read his strong testimony.
And in conclusion, let me read the vision of John the Revelator:
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works".
And as the living, verdant spring follows the dismal, death-like winter, all nature proclaims the divinity of the risen Lord, that he was Creator, that he is the Savior of the world, that he is the very Son of God. And this I testify, also, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Alma Sonne
Alma Sonne, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 31-33
Someone has said, "The character of Jesus is a picture that stands by itself." There is no one with whom he can be compared. He said and did the right thing at the right time and in the right way. He made no mistakes in his teachings. He was great in action and in moral excellence. His Sermon on the Mount will live forever for it is founded on truth. His message to the world is the gospel of salvation.
His life had been an open book, his public ministry was to the rich and the poor, his miracles were performed before eyewitnesses, and his testimony had been heard throughout Galilee and Judea. He was the Messiah about whom the prophets had spoken, but he was rejected by his own. He is still rejected, even by many of those who claim to be his followers.
The true Christian Church accepts without reservation the leadership of Jesus Christ. Many things have been said and written about him. His memory is everywhere, and his words are quoted by believers and unbelievers. He cannot and will not be expelled from the earth. He made this clear during his ministry among the Jews in the meridian of time.
The Latter-day Saints believe in the divine mission of the Savior. The very first principle of the restored gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the foundation of true worship. Without him there could be no gospel of salvation. He is its author. His gospel is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It originated in the heavens and was restored to the earth in these modern times through Joseph Smith, the Prophet.
At this Easter time we remind ourselves of his resurrection; that he submitted a plan of life, and chose 12 apostles and authorized them to preach his gospel of salvation and to establish his Church upon the earth. He delivered the greatest sermon ever preached, broad and comprehensive enough to reach the heart of humanity. It applies to all classes, for "God is no respecter of persons". No one will escape his loving watchcare. His commandments are guideposts. They are solemn reminders of our relationships to our Heavenly Father. We are his children, his offspring, and are accountable to him. He said to Abraham: "And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them".
We believe in individual salvation. In other words, man must strive for a place in the hereafter if he wishes to obtain the salvation promised to the faithful. It will not come without effort, without prayerful searching and diligent application of those principles and procedures outlined in the holy scriptures.
The other day I talked with a man who was not of us. He was glib and talkative in his ridicule of the Word of Wisdom. "A curtailment," he said, "of our personal liberties." He justified, for instance, the use of tobacco. "Do you know what the Word of Wisdom says about tobacco?" I asked. He was not sure. I quoted from the eighth verse of Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants in which it states that "tobacco... is not good for man".
This is but one of the truths taught by the Church. We teach a gospel of truth. Its very foundation is truth. It is not only necessary to know the truth. It must also be accepted and introduced into the lives of those who aspire to eternal life. To deny the truth, therefore, is to deny God's power in the universe.
We often sing the well-known hymn authored by John Jaques, "O! Say, What Is Truth?"
"Then say, what is truth? 'Tis the last and the first, For the limits of time it steps o'er. Though the heavens depart and the earth's fountains burst, Truth, the sum of existence, will weather the worst, Eternal, unchanged, evermore."
The gospel of Jesus Christ, restored to earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith, is a gospel of truth. It has survived much opposition and criticism, but no compromises have been necessary. It stands like a bulwark against error and falsehood. Jesus knew this when he told Peter that the "gates of hell shall not prevail against it". Also, he said: "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away".
The millennial reign will be ushered in when God's program has reached a certain point, known to him alone. There is much to do, brothers and sisters. The warnings to the nations must continue to go forth, for eventually every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ. God's work will not fail. Truth will triumph even against tremendous odds.
Christ's teachings are sound and soul inspiring; they were confined to no worldly ambitions. His program makes for peace and good will, and he advocated a faith that creates courage and strength. His missionary enterprise was the greatest project ever launched. I quote: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world". Or, as Mark puts it: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature".
Nothing short of the gospel of Jesus Christ can redeem mankind. The Lord Jesus set before us the only pattern of life which will save and exalt his children. His words are always timely and authoritative. The truths he taught and all he did constitute the gospel in its fullness.
The atonement wrought out by the Lord on Calvary is the greatest contribution ever made to the human race. It opened the door to life everlasting. It gave men and women the chance to possess their bodies forever. John, in his testimony to the world, made it clear when he said: "... all that are in their graves shall hear his voice,
"And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation".
May we walk in the light with him I pray humbly in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Victor L. Brown
Victor L. Brown, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 33-36
A letter came to my desk yesterday addressed to me from some wonderful teenagers. I would like to read just one line from that letter: "We wish you the best of luck with your talk in conference, and hope that you will relate your address to us as young people in some way."
I pray that my message may be related to the young people as well as the older people.
The other day I received a telephone call from one of our bishops. He said his clerk had opened a donation envelope containing a cheek of many hundreds of dollars. It was from a young mother who had recently been widowed through an automobile accident. This was the second time she had been widowed, even though she was still a young woman. She had been injured in the accident that took her husband's life, and had not yet completely recovered her health. She had a family of young children. The check represented a tithe on the insurance settlement she had received from her husband's death. The clerk questioned the bishop, suggesting she needed the money more than the Church, and asked if it would be proper to return the check to permit her to use the money for her own needs.
Perhaps many would ask the same question. May I suggest an answer by asking another question: What did this young mother need more than money? She needed a blessing, the kind money cannot buy, a blessing of peace and comfort, of assurance, of faith, of security. She obviously was acquainted with this scripture:
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it".
Yes, she was more than acquainted with this promise. She was converted. She accepted the Lord at his word. Another scripture, I believe, had great meaning to her:
"There is a law, 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".
Tithing is not a new principle. We are told that tithing was practiced as early as Abraham's time. The prophet Alma, in his discourses to his people, told them:
"And it was this same Melchizedek to whom Abraham paid tithes; yea, even our father Abraham paid tithes of one-tenth part of all he possessed".
We read in another sacred scripture what the Lord said to a modern-day prophet:
"Verily, thus saith the Lord, I require all their surplus property to be put into the hands of the bishop of my church in Zion,
"For the building of mine house, and for the laying of the foundation of Zion and for the priesthood, and for the debts of the Presidency of my Church.
"And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people".
This, then, was the beginning of tithing in our day. It is not expected that we now give all of our surplus. The Lord goes on to tell us what is expected of us now:
"And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord".
Many ask what is one tenth of all our interest. Perhaps President Joseph F. Smith can help us understand. He said, among other things, as he delivered his concluding address in the closing session of general conference April 9, 1899, in speaking of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac on the altar:
"He wanted to put His servant to the test; to know whether he was willing to sacrifice himself or not in obedience to the requirements of heaven. That is what God wants in relation to this principle of tithing. He wants to know whether we will do our duty or not, and whether we will be honest or dishonest with Him. Every man is left to be his own judge as to what he calls his tithing, and there is a great variety of opinion as to what a tithing is. A man who works for wages and devotes his whole time to the service of his employer; and receives $1,000 or $2,000 a year for his salary, it is an easy matter for him to tell how much he owes for tithing. If I earned $2,000 a year, I should know that my tithing was just one-tenth of that. And I would not take out what it had cost me to feed and clothe myself and to pay all the expenses necessary to the maintenance of my family before I reckoned with the Lord as to what belonged to Him. Two hundred dollars would be my honest tithing, would it not? That is the way I look at it."
He then goes on to discuss how a farmer might compute his tithing and how some people subtract their living expenses, tithing only their net income. Then, continuing in the words of President Smith:
"Now, you are at liberty to do as you please in regard to this matter. You can choose whichever course you wish. But let me say to you that as we measure out, so will it be measured back unto us again. When we go to dickering with the Lord, probably He will dicker with us, and if He undertakes to do so, we shall get the worst of it".
As President Smith tells us, the burden of responsibility as to whether or not we are full, honest tithepayers rests squarely on our shoulders. If it were not so, how could the Lord really know of our true character and love for him?
Sometime ago a stake president bore his testimony to me regarding tithing. He said that during World War II he had been a prisoner of war in China. He held the Aaronic Priesthood at that time. He promised the Lord he would pay his obligations to him for the rest of his life if only his life were spared. Upon release from the prison camp, he collected his accumulated military pay, reported to his bishop, and paid tithing on all prior earnings. He then said, "I have paid ten percent on everything I have earned since, and I pay ten percent of that for fear I might have missed something."
A few years ago I was a counselor in a stake presidency. The stake president, in reviewing the tithing record of ward and branch officers, noticed what appeared to be an excessively high tithe paid by a man of very humble circumstances. He was a wonderful Spanish-American brother who had a large family. He was sustaining a son on a mission. His only source of income was a small ditch-digging business. Thinking that he might not understand the principle of tithing, we called him in to explain. At the conclusion of our discussion, he said: "Yes, brethren, I understand; but, you see, the Lord has been so good to me and my family that I pay ten percent of the income of my business, not the money I take from it. You wouldn't deny me the blessing of trying to repay the Lord, would you?"
President George Albert Smith teaches a very interesting and basic lesson on tithing in the story of a generous man. He tells us that a boyhood friend whom he had not seen for some time accompanied him to a stake conference. Over the years his friend had achieved success in the financial world. As they were driving home, he turned to President Smith and said:
"'You know, I have heard many things in this conference, but there is only one thing that I do not understand the way you do.'
"I said: 'What is it?'
"'Well,' he said, 'it is about paying tithing.'
"He thought I would ask him how he paid his tithing, but I did not. I thought if he wanted to tell me, he would. He said: 'Would you like me to tell you how I pay my tithing?'
"I said, 'If you want to, you may.'
"'Well,' he said, 'if I make ten thousand dollars in a year, I put a thousand dollars in the bank for tithing. I know why it's there. Then when the bishop comes and wants me to make a contribution for the chapel or give him a check for a missionary who is going away, if I think he needs the money, I give him a check. If a family in the ward is in distress and needs coal or food or clothing or anything else, I write out a check. If I find a boy or a girl who is having difficulty getting through school in the East, I send a check. Little by little I exhaust the thousand dollars, and every dollar of it has gone where I know it has done some good. Now, what do you think of that?'
"'Well,' I said, 'do you want me to tell you what I think of it?'
"He said, 'Yes.'
"I said: 'I think you are a very generous man with someone else's property.' And he nearly tipped the car over.
"He said, 'What do you mean?'
"I said, 'You have an idea that you have paid your tithing?'
"'Yes,' he said.
"I said, 'You have not paid any tithing. You have told me what you have done with the Lord's money, but you have not told me that you have given anyone a penny of your own. He is the best partner you have in the world. He gives you everything you have, even the air you breathe. He has said you should take one-tenth of what comes to you and give it to the Church as directed by the Lord. You haven't done that; you have taken your best partner's money, and given it away.'
"Well, I will tell you there was quiet in the car for some time. We rode on to Salt Lake City and talked about other things.
"About a month after that I met him on the street. He came up, put his arm in mine, and said: 'Brother Smith, I am paying my tithing the same way you do.' I was very happy to hear that.
"Not long before he died, he came into my office to tell me what he was doing with his own money".
The psalmist has said:
"The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein".
All he asks is that we return to him ten percent of that which is already his, adding that he will open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings, that we shall not have room enough to receive them. It is my witness, brethren and sisters, that this is a divine law and that many blessings from on high come through obedience to it, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Henry D. Taylor
Henry D. Taylor, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 36-38
From its beginning, the Church has constantly stressed the importance of the home. Homes can be heaven here on earth. Where love is present in a home, it can and will be a happy home.
When the Savior was here filling his earthly mission, he gave strong emphasis to the principle of love. At one time a learned man, a lawyer, approached him and asked: "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
"Jesus said to him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
"This is the first and great commandment.
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
Then, to give added strength to his words, he added: "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets".
On another occasion the Lord taught that in addition to loving God our Father in heaven and our neighbor, we should also love even our enemies. With our human frailties and prejudices, that becomes a real challenge. Here is the counsel of the Lord: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you".
An American statesman once made this remark: "Destroy your enemies by making friends of them."
Then another has said: "You should be kind to your enemies, because you are the one who made them."
The Lord has given strong counsel to husbands concerning their wives. Here is his command: "Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else".
Consider now another phase of this great virtue-love-and its relationship to charity.
Charity and love, in some respects, seem to be synonymous. The ancient prophet Moroni made this point clear when he quoted his father, Mormon: "... if ye have not charity, ye are nothing... But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him".
Charity can and should mean not only the pure love of Christ, but it should also mean pure love for him and his love for us.
The Savior has demonstrated that his words concerning love are not empty, for he has shown his love for us in his willingness to lay down his life, thus making it possible for us to receive salvation through his atoning sacrifice and to achieve exaltation and eternal life through our obedience to his commandments. His atonement gave meaning to his teaching that "greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends". No man could willingly give his life for a friend without sincerely loving him.
The Lord's unselfish act added great weight to his further words: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another".
A lonely young Persian student was in Munich, Germany, struggling to find a meaning to life. He was deeply disturbed by the materialism and selfishness that seemed to fill the world, and especially postwar Europe. He heard a knock at the door, and two humble Mormon elders stood before him. He was not the least interested in religion. In fact, cynicism and doubt had filled his soul until he was very nearly persuaded that there was no God nor any real meaning to life. The only thing that interested him about these two young men was their English accent. He had mastered four languages, but English was not one of them.
He invited them in, but as they started their discussion, he cautioned: "I don't want to hear about your God, nor do I want to hear about how your religion got started. I only want to know one thing: what do you people do for one another?" He waited, and a look of doubt crossed his dark features, as the elders exchanged glances.
Finally, the spokesman for the two said softly, "We love one another."
Nothing he could have said would have been more electrifying than this simple utterance had upon this young Persian, for the Holy Ghost immediately bore testimony to his soul that these missionaries were true servants of the Lord. Shortly thereafter he was baptized, and he presently is in this country receiving his doctorate degree at a local university-all because a young Mormon missionary declared a simple truth, "We love one another."
Virtually all religions tell us to love one another, but the restored Church tells us how to love one another. The home teaching visits, the inspired Welfare Program, the unselfish service performed in the temples, and the worldwide missionary system demonstrate in a very practical way the teaching of the Savior: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself".
At this Easter time we are mindful of the Redeemer's sacrifice and acknowledge with heartfelt gratitude and appreciation our debt to him.
In granting approval for the Savior's atonement, our Father in heaven has manifested his love for us, his children. A prophet has made this plain in this statement: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".
How do we show our love for our Heavenly Father, and our love and appreciation for the Savior? The Lord has given us the key. Listen to his admonition: "If thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments".
Love is an eternal principle, an everlasting virtue. It operated before this earth life and will continue to do so throughout the eternities. President McKay has made it clear in this magnificent declaration: "Love is the most divine attribute of the human soul, and if you accept the immortality of the soul, that is, if you believe that personality persists after death, then you must believe that love also lives".
However, love is a virtue that can be lost. It may wither up and die as a result of neglect, carelessness, and indifference. So President McKay has beautifully cautioned with the following words: "Love must be fed... love must be nourished; love can be starved to death just as literally as the body can be starved without daily sustenance".
Many of the major ills and disturbances that plague mankind in this unsettled world today and are causing unhappiness and sorrow would disappear if the principle of love were manifested and practiced.
If we would love the Lord our God, and show that love by keeping his commandments, we would be law-abiding citizens, and there would be no need for law officers nor for prisons.
If we would but love one another and our neighbors as ourselves, there would be no need for conventions and gatherings to be held behind barbed wire fences and protected by guards with rifles and bayonets.
If we truly loved those who persecute us, they would no longer be enemies, but friends, and there would be no wars or bloodshed.
If men sincerely loved their wives, wives loved their husbands, parents loved and understood their children, and children loved and respected their parents, there would be no infidelity and unfaithfulness, no quarreling or bickering found among mankind; divorce, juvenile delinquency, broken homes, and frustration of youth would he eliminated; and other social, moral, and economic ills would cease. Peace would abide in the world.
General Eisenhower was a person who not only expressed his love, but also demonstrated it in behalf of others. Among his last words were these: "I have always loved my wife, I have always loved my children, I have always loved my grandchildren, and I have always loved my country."
Some years ago President McKay told the brethren assembled in this building that if the 9,000 or so priesthood bearers present would go forth from here and fully live the teachings of the Master, they would have the power to change the world. This I believe. And I also believe that if those of us who are here and those of you of the vast television and radio audience would live fully the principle of love-and there's no greater principle-we would have the power to change our lives, our homes, our neighborhoods, then this nation, and eventually the world, for in the words of that stirring contemporary song, "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me." We do have the power to change our lives and surroundings by first realizing our own worth and loving and valuing ourselves, and then by loving those with whom we live and labor.
May we have the desire and courage to so act, I humbly pray, in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder ElRay L. Christiansen
ElRay L. Christiansen, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 39-41
My brothers and sisters, I should like to say something that might be helpful to those among us who are weighed down with trials and difficulties and disappointments and tribulations, and to them I say, "Doubt not, fear not".
The gospel of Jesus Christ embraces every principle, every law, and every ordinance necessary for us to meet any condition in life and for the ultimate success of each of us.
The teachings of Jesus warm the human heart. His doctrines enlighten the mind. They designate the proper course.
Foremost among his teachings is the recognition of God as our Father. Jesus prayed to our Father and asked that all men do likewise, and that we live "by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God". He taught that by conformance to the plan of our Father, given through Jesus Christ, each of us can achieve a divine destiny.
It is the only plan by which genuine peace of mind can be found. Indeed, it is the only plan that leads men to salvation and exaltation. This plan was presented to us in our preexistent state, and each of us gladly accepted it. As part of it, we understood that in mortality we would most likely experience sorrow as well as joy, pain as well as comfort, disappointment along with success, sickness as well as health. Because it is necessary for our development, the Lord permits the bitter to be mixed with the sweet. He knows that our individual faith must be tested in adversity as well as in serenity. Otherwise, that faith may not be sufficiently developed when a condition arises that can be met through faith alone.
The Bible says: "If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small". Even in times of trouble and tribulation, the gospel of Christ offers encouragement and gives assurance.
I am always lifted in spirit and given greater hope by the words of the great hymn:
"How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in his excellent word! What more can he say than to you he hath said, You who unto Jesus, for refuge have fled?
"When through the deep waters I call thee to go, The river of sorrow shall not thee o'erflow, For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
"Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am thy God and will still give thee aid; I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand."
Brothers and sisters, you and I are never alone. The Lord will not forsake us. Let us not forsake him!
We are God's children, and he, our Father, has a personal concern for each of us. He has promised that they who are faithful in tribulation and adversities shall be more greatly blessed.
Let us consider for a moment the plight of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, who, with their companions, were incarcerated in Liberty Jail through the winter of 1838 and 1839. They were confined in one room with two small windows. No provision had been made to heat the room; there was no chimney to draw out the smoke. The brethren slept on piles of straw on the floor. Their food was of the coarsest kind. And yet, from that prison came some of the most beautiful and sublime thoughts and writings ever given to the world. They will endure among sacred literature of the Church for all time. Here are some of the words of the Lord to Joseph Smith at that time as they are recorded in Doctrine and Covenants, Section 122:
"If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren...
"If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee...
"... know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
"The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
"Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever".
My, what a lesson! What assurance!
Strength comes by courageously adjusting our lives to our trials, and by so doing we are brought closer to God.
Elder James E. Talmage gave this promise: "No pang that is suffered by man or woman upon the earth, will be without its compensating effect... if it be met with patience."
We cannot afford to meet adversities with impatience or bitterness. President Brigham Young taught that "if the Saints could realize things as they are when they are called to pass through trials, and to suffer what they call sacrifices, they would acknowledge them to be the greatest blessings that could be bestowed upon them...
"... without the opposite and they could not know enjoyment; they could not realize happiness... If they should not taste the bitter, how could they realize the sweet? They could not!".
If our existence terminated with death, adversities might tend to overwhelm us. But with the gospel as a foundation and with faith in a just God who watches over all, each one may receive the comfort and acquire the fortitude to meet the vicissitudes of life.
To you who are discouraged, to you who are sorrowing, to you who doubt, to you who need help, may I say: Doubt not-fear not!
The Lord gives to you and to me assurance in these words:
"Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
"Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you".
But the gospel teaches also that each of us has obligations. Hear also the words of the apostle Paul to the saints in Rome:
"Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another...
"Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer...
"Bless them which persecute you...
"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep".
Yes, indeed, the teachings of the gospel enlighten the mind and warm the heart. They give encouragement to the sorrowing and replace fear with courage. With Helaman, I say:
"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, and when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall".
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder James A. Cullimore
James A. Cullimore, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 41-43
One of our hymns we sing most frequently and with great fervor is;
"We thank thee, O God, for a prophet To guide us in these latter days. We thank thee for sending the gospel To lighten our minds with its rays.
"We thank thee for every blessing Bestowed by thy bounteous hand. We feel it a pleasure to serve thee, And love to obey thy command."
One of the most important features of the last line is, "We love to obey thy command." The members of the Church have listened to the counsel of their leaders and followed it quite implicitly from the very organization of the Church. Those who did not heed the counsel of the brethren and were disobedient to the laws of the gospel usually apostatized and left the Church.
Although there have been periods of great trial among the people in the history of the Church, the revelations of the Lord, through the counsel of his leaders, have guided the people constantly in both their material and spiritual lives.
The guidance for the Church continues to come through the President, the prophet, seer, and revelator, to the present day. The basic principle of the restored gospel is that God reveals his mind and will to his established Prophet on earth for the guidance of the Church. The Church is founded on revelation. On the day of the organization of the Church, the Lord gave a revelation to the Church: "Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;
"For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.
"For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory.
"For thus saith the Lord God: Him have I inspired to move the cause of Zion in mighty power for good, and his diligence I know and his prayers I have heard".
Today, more than ever before, we have need for implicit faith in God and his appointed leaders and their inspired counsel. In this day, when many doubt the very existence of God and the divinity of Christ, as we learn of the "new morality," see a general breakdown in moral standards, witness common use of drugs and disregard for parents and home, see increase in juvenile delinquency and the tendency to break marriage vows, riots, violence, and great disturbances everywhere, there is justification for great concern.
Yet, no matter how sure the dangers and how great the need for counsel and guidance, there can be no coercion in the Church. Man's free agency is held by the Church to be his first right. Every man must be free to act for himself. The Lord has declared: "For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves".
Brigham Young said: "All rational beings have an agency of their own... The volition of the creature is free; this is a law of their existence".
Commenting on this, John A. Widtsoe has said: "Coercion, which is in direct opposition to free agency, must not be applied in any form" in the Church. This is the plan of the adversary.
"... There must be no attempt to force even a needed gift upon another. It is better that one live in darkness than to be forced into light. There is ample place among men for teaching but none for compelling others to accept what is taught. Every person is under obligation to respect the free agency of every other individual."
He states further: "The application of these principles to daily affairs sometimes leads to misunderstandings. Certain Church members may feel that a Church official is invading their personal liberties when he gives counsel... Advice on... matters of conduct by the constituted leadership of the Church may be questioned by those who are affected by the advice.
"The first answer to such a person is that all advice is given for the good of the individual concerned, and that it is wise to follow those who have had experience and are unselfishly giving help to others... The Church which exists for the welfare of man, would be derelict to its divinely imposed obligations did it not exercise its responsibility as a guardian against all evil and for all good.
"The second answer is that under the law of free agency no one is obliged to obey... the counsel given. Man is always free to act for himself. But, to members of the Church, this answer may be misleading. They are under the necessity of acknowledging that consistency requires them to conform to counsel given and regulations set up.
"... Every member of the Church upon terms of faith and repentance, has entered the waters of baptism. By this ordinance he has pledged acceptance of the doctrine and practice of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The divinity of the work of the Church has become his settled conviction. Upon this foundation he henceforth regulates his life. Among the basic principles are the inspiration and authority residing in the living priesthood. When, therefore, the President of the Church speaks, authoritatively, and we disobey, we are repudiating one of the foundation principles of the gospel".
With our freedom of agency in the Church, we need the constant guidance of our leaders to help us in our decisions. It seems to me that no member of the Church can risk becoming involved in any questionable activity or association with extreme, radical groups, whose teachings and actions run counter to the gospel, without seeking advice from his spiritual leader. Your bishop or branch president, stake president or mission president has been duly appointed as your spiritual adviser and has the right of inspiration to give you counsel and guidance you might need.
In a letter to all stake leaders in September of 1966 the First Presidency said: "The Lord has so organized His Church that there is accessible to every member-man, woman, and child-a spiritual advisor, and a temporal counselor as well, who knows them intimately and who knows the circumstances and conditions out of which their problems come, and who, by reason of his ordination, is entitled to an endowment from our Heavenly Father of the necessary discernment and inspiration of the Lord to enable him to give the advice which the one in trouble so much needs. We refer to the bishop or branch president in the first instance and to the stake or mission president if the bishop or branch president, for any reason, feels the need of assistance in giving his counsel."
How should we regard and interpret counsel in the Church? Is there a distinction between the law of the gospel and counsel? Does the counsel of the priesthood differ from that which emanated from secular fields? Do we have a responsibility in following the counsel of the brethren?
President Stephen L Richards answers these questions in this manner:
"... a moment's reflection will convince you of the rather serious regard in which we hold counsel. While it is true that we characterize infractions of the law as sin and we do not apply quite that drastic a terminology to failure to follow counsel, yet in the Church, under the priesthood, counsel always is given for the primary purpose of having the law observed, so that it does occupy a place of standing and importance, almost comparable to that law of the gospel."
As we believe, there is the head of the Church today a living prophet to whom the Lord reveals his mind and will for the guidance of the Church, and we sustain the Council of Twelve as prophets, seers, and revelators who are also divinely chosen and inspired to watch over the Church and keep it in order and to be special witnesses of Christ; when you sustain your stake president and bishop, your mission president and branch president as God's divinely appointed representatives to preside over you in your respective area and then fail to obey their counsel, you deny yourself the blessings of the gospel and personal blessings and direction. The counsel of the leaders of the Church usually is but a repetition of the laws of the gospel, encouragement to follow the teachings of the Church, to keep the covenants we made as we entered the waters of baptism, and in the house of the Lord.
The following of this counsel can only bring eventual happiness. Disobedience to counsel can only accrue to our detriment. It often leads to fault-finding, lack of activity in the Church, breaking the commandments, and even loss of faith.
Some most sincere counsel was given the members of the Church by Oliver Cowdery when he came before the Church at Pottawatamie and requested that he be restored to the Church. He said: "Follow the Twelve: they are the men with whom the Priesthood rests. If you follow the main channel of the stream, you will go right; but if you run into a bayou, you will find yourselves among snags".
I can think of no better counsel for us today than to follow the main channel of the stream, to keep from extremes to the right or the left, through obedience to the continual direction of the Lord for the guidance of the Church.
This testimony I leave with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Delbert L. Stapley
Delbert L. Stapley, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 44-48
My beloved brothers and sisters and friends: In my heart I am fully convinced that more attention must be given to matching gospel principles, standards, and ideals with Christlike examples in our personal lives if truth and righteousness are to prevail in the present decaying moral and spiritual world. We cannot afford to depart from solid spiritual moorings and stumble down an evil course that can only lead to depravity of life.
The world needs more men and women of good moral and spiritual character who will stand firm, steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of God and be living examples of truth and righteousness.
The power of example exhibits its strength when men and women live the gospel. For such persons, the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ shines forth from their countenance as a beacon light to draw others into virtue's path.
Recently, returning home by plane from a stake conference, a young stewardess, off duty, sat down beside me. After introduction, she informed me that one of her roommates is a girl from Salt Lake City. I asked if the roommate belonged to the Mormon Church. She answered, "Yes." I inquired if she lived her religion. Again the answer was a positive yes. She expressed admiration and respect for the faith, behavior, and good example of her newfound Mormon friend.
A wise man, when asked to list three cardinal points that exemplified the lives of the great teachers of all time and that would be a guide to new teachers, said: "First, teach by example. Second, teach by example. Third, teach by example."
Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is the greatest example the world has ever known, and his teachings endure throughout the ages because the precepts he taught were emphasized by the example of his own life.
To be an example from a religious point of view, someone or some group must serve as a model and set a pattern of conduct and moral behavior in life that can safely be imitated and followed by others with benefit and blessing to them. "No period of history has ever been great or ever can be that does not act on some sort of high, idealistic motives, and idealism in our time has been shoved aside, and we are paying the penalty for it."
High-sounding thoughts and words without an appropriate example are as sounding brass and tinkling cymbal, therefore meaningless.
"What you are," said Emerson, "thunders so loudly in my ears, I cannot hear what you say."
"... Behold," said Jesus, "I am the light; I have set an example for you".
This challenging statement by our Redeemer can be taken at face value with safety and assurance.
The apostle Peter emphasized this truth when he declared: "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
"Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
"Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously".
It has been said, "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried."
To the members of the Church today are applicable the words of our Savior: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven".
This scripture stresses the importance and value of good example.
President David O. McKay, in a general conference message, gave this counsel: "If we would face the future, no matter what it may be, with calmness of spirit, with an assurance that God governs in the affairs of men, let us as individuals and as a group live exemplary lives".
This plea from our beloved President is as timely today as it was 21 years ago, and perhaps more so, because of today's increased wickedness and pervasive corruptness.
The Prophet Joseph Smith proclaimed that people should be taught correct principles and then govern themselves. The gospel teaches correct principles, standards, and ideals, but there are so many who disregard these teachings, and thus fail to rightly govern themselves. In keeping with this concept of teaching correct principles, the Lord warned the inhabitants of his kingdom:
"And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself".
Nephi, a Book of Mormon prophet, being grieved by the hardness of the hearts of his older brothers Laman and Lemuel, spake unto them, saying:
"Behold, ye are mine elder brethren, and how is it that ye are so hard in your hearts, and so blind in your minds, that ye have need that I, your younger brother, should speak unto you, yea, and set an example for you?
"How is it that ye have not hearkened unto the word of the Lord?
"... Wherefore, let us be faithful to him".
We learn in the writings of Nephi that Christ "humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.
"And... it showeth unto the children of men the straightness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them.
"And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren," said Nephi, "can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?"
And, challenged the Christ to all mankind, "... follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do".
This admonition was confirmed to Nephi by the voice of God, saying:
"Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.
"And now, my beloved brethren," said Nephi, "I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved".
These teachings constitute a summons to all men to live righteously. It is the only path that leads one back to the presence of God.
Corianton, son of a Nephite prophet, while engaged in missionary service, foolishly, and to the great sorrow of his father, followed after the harlot Isabel. Alma, disappointed by his son's actions, reproved him and said:
"... for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words".
Truly, example is greater than precept.
Billy Martin, the new manager of the Minnesota Twins baseball team, is quoted as saying: "We represent the state of Minnesota, and I want us to look like gentlemen... The youth of America is watching, and I am concerned about that. I want our guys to be a good example." I thought that statement was a very interesting observation.
The writer Thoreau philosophized: "If you would convince a man that he does wrong, do right. Men will believe what they see-let them see."
Dr. Albert Schweitzer expressed this thought: "Example is not the main thing in influencing others-it is the only thing!"
"There is a transcendent power in example. We reform others unconsciously when we walk uprightly."
Jacob, the brother of Nephi, speaking to parents, counseled: "... ye shall remember your children, how that ye have grieved their hearts because of the example that ye have set before them; and also, remember that ye may, because of your filthiness, bring your children unto destruction, and their sins be heaped upon your heads at the last day".
This reminds us of the teachings of our Lord to parents in this latter day: the responsibility we have of teaching our children the principles of the gospel-to see that they are baptized, taught to pray, to walk uprightly before the Lord, and to observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
President McKay declared: "It is as futile to attempt to teach honesty, and to act dishonestly before a child, as to attempt to heat water in a sieve".
How important it is for parents to live clean lives and obey God's laws and commandments. To do so will permit them to use the example of their own lives in the teaching of their children. To fail to do so creates personal inhibitions that prevent parents from discussing intimate and delicate questions and problems about life with which their children are deeply concerned.
Children gain balance, judgment, and wisdom on the foundation and platforms of their exemplary parents. The prophet Jacob again admonished the Nephites:
"... Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your bad examples before them; and the sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you".
In President David O. McKay's message this morning, he gave timely advice to parents regarding their children.
May I share with you President Brigham Young's counsel for parents to teach their children by example. Said President Young: "... if parents will continually set before their children examples worthy of their imitation and the approval of our Father in heaven, they will turn the current, and the tide of feelings of their children, and they, eventually, will desire righteousness more than evil".
"... we should never permit ourselves to do anything that we are not willing to see our children do. We should set them an example that we wish them to imitate... How often we see parents demand obedience, good behavior, kind words, pleasant looks, a sweet voice and a bright eye from a child or children, when they themselves are full of bitterness and scolding! How inconsistent and unreasonable this is!".
"... parents should govern their children by faith rather than by the rod, leading them kindly by good example into all truth and holiness".
"Our children will have the love of the truth, if we but live our religion. Parents should take that course that their children can say, 'I never knew my father to deceive or take advantage of a neighbor; I never knew my father to take to himself that which did not belong to him... but he said... "be honest, true, virtuous, kind, industrious, prudent and full of good works."' Such teachings from parents to their children will abide with them for ever".
Speaking of examples from the scriptures, the apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthian saints, admonished:
"Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
"Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed...
"Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
"Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
"Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition.
"Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall".
Those who teach or lead in God's kingdom must remember that Christ is the great exemplar to them, and rightly so. Therefore, all leaders and teachers called to labor in his vineyard accept a great responsibility when they expect others to live up to gospel principles, standards, and ideals in order to enjoy the privileges and blessings of the gospel, yet fail themselves to maintain these requirements in their own personal lives.
We leaders must be what we ask or require others to be; otherwise, such hypocrisy turns to our condemnation.
The candidate before baptism is required to repent of all his sins. Does it not seem reasonable that the priesthood brethren officiating in this ordinance be equally free from all personal transgressions? This also holds true in the performance of all gospel ordinances.
It is deceitful and dishonorable for one to try to hide his own improper personal conduct and not serve openly and exemplary according to the spirit of his holy calling. We must remember that a heavenly record is kept of our conduct here on earth, and there will come a day of reckoning and judgment. This church is true; it has value and is meaningful to those seeking exaltation and eternal life. If this church is worth anything, it is worth everything! There is no exaltation and eternal glory without it.
Before the second coming of our Lord, he has revealed that the devil is to have power over his own dominion. We are witnessing evidences of it today in many forms. Men are setting aside the accepted eternal teachings and verities of scriptures. Many intellectuals in this present enlightened age think they have outgrown the basic and fundamental principles that the Savior and his holy prophets have stressed throughout the ages of time. Even though in this latter day, "the devil shall have power over his own dominion," the Lord has promised he "shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst, and shall come down in judgment upon the world".
This knowledge is comforting, but for the Savior to fulfill this promise, his people must live as saints. They are the only ones among whom the Lord promises to reign.
Perhaps it would be well to remember the account of Enoch and his people. They were in an abominable state of wickedness. They had all gone astray from the teachings of their fathers. Enoch accepted the challenge of turning the people from their evil ways unto the Lord. He did it so effectively that God translated and received them unto himself.
Following Christ's ministry and resurrection in Judea, he visited the inhabitants of the Americas. After his appearance among them, they completely changed their ways from wickedness to righteousness.
Fourth Nephi records this sublime condition:
"And it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land... and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another.
"And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.
"And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God".
These two examples are before us in the Church today. Our work and purpose is just the same now as it was in earlier times. I wonder if we will so live and do as to measure up to this responsibility. The task seems insurmountable, but if we, as a people, live righteously, seeking earnestly the riches of eternity, the ideal state of righteousness can be achieved.
After this period of Nephite and Lamanite happiness and peace, they gradually fell again into evil ways, and Mormon, in his second epistle to his son Moroni, stressed the wickedness and lack of principle in his people and lamented:
"O the depravity of my people! They are without order and without mercy...
"And they have become strong in their perversion; and they are alike brutal, sparing none... and they delight in everything save that which is good...
"... Behold, thou knowest the wickedness of this people; thou knowest that they are without principle, and past feeling".
Is history beginning to repeat itself in this generation of time? I firmly believe it is. Our position and responsibility are the same now as Mormon expressed to his son Moroni centuries ago:
"And now, my beloved son," said Mormon, "notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God".
Striving to exert the power of good example by living gospel principles, maintaining proper standards, and holding firm to righteous ideals, while not always easy, will reward us in this life and in the eternal worlds to come.
Someone said: "It is no trick to keep one's principles on a high level, but it is hard sometimes to stay up there with them."
"For us, with the rule of right and wrong given us by Christ, there is nothing for which we have no standard".
Honesty, integrity, uprightness, morality, observance of the Word of Wisdom, and all the revelations concerning ideal behavior should be exemplified in our own lives, and we will then become proper examples for others to follow.
Does our pattern of life incorporate these basic qualities that permit us to say with assurance to our loved ones and friends, and those whom we serve, "Come follow me, and do the things you have seen me do"?
Here is our obligation, duty, and challenge.
May God bless us, brothers and sisters, that we may have the strength and the courage under all conditions to live exemplary lives and to walk uprightly before the Lord and set a good example for all mankind to follow, and particularly to our own children and families, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Hugh B. Brown
Hugh B. Brown, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 50-54
The apostle Peter, writing to the saints of his time, said, as recorded in First Peter 2:9, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people".
Whether or not all will agree that these characterizations are applicable to the Saints of this day, I am sure most will at least agree that we are a peculiar people-not in any unkind way, but perhaps most would say we are a different people. My purpose for the next few moments is to examine and discuss some of those differences.
Some of the antagonisms that exist between people and between nations result from the fact that they do not understand one another.
"Not understood," the poet has said. "We gather false impressions And hug them closer as the years go by, Till virtues often seem to us transgressions; And thus men rise and fall, and live and die- Not understood. "O God! that men would see a little clearer, Or judge less harshly where they cannot see; O God, that men would draw a little nearer To one another; they'd be nearer Thee- And understood." -Thomas Bracken
We may discuss our subject under two general headings for a few minutes, namely, the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. The scriptures tell us that it is life eternal to know God and Jesus Christ, whom he has sent.
As to man, we join with David of old and ask, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?". And just here we ask the pertinent question, "What is the relationship that exists between God and man?"
Dr. James E. Talmage summed up this part of our subject as follows:
"What is man in this boundless setting of sublime splendor? I answer you potentially now, actually to be, he is greater and grander, more precious in the arithmetic of God than all the planets and the suns of space. For him they were created. They are the handiwork of God. Man is his son. In this world man is given dominion over a few things. It is his privilege to achieve supremacy over many things. The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Incomprehensibly grand as are the physical creations of the earth and of space, they have been brought into existence as a means to an end, and are necessary to the realization of the supreme purpose which in the words of the Creator is thus declared: For behold, this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man".
May we then discuss our subject briefly with respect to God and examine some of the things that have been believed and taught in connection with that subject.
At the, beginning of the nineteenth century, it was generally believed that God was incorporeal and immaterial, without body, without parts or passions, disregarding the facts that God loves righteousness and he hates iniquity, and that love and hate, of course, are passions.
It has been claimed that God was without form, even though the holy Scriptures teach that God created man in his own image. In fact, we are told by Paul the apostle that Jesus Christ was in the express image of his Father. Are we then created in the image of a formless entity?
For us, God is not an abstraction. He is not an idea, a metaphysical principle, an impersonal force or power. He is a concrete, living person. And though in our human frailty we cannot know the total mystery of his being, we know that he is akin to us, for he is revealed to us in the divine personality of his Son, Jesus Christ, and he is, in fact, our Father.
The Church teaches that when God created man in his own image, he did not divest himself of that image. He is still in human form and is possessed of sanctified and perfected human qualities, which we all admire. All through the holy scriptures, the Father and the Son are seen to be separate and distinct personages. We reaffirm the doctrine of the ancient scripture and of all the prophets that asserts that man was created in the image of God and that God possessed such human qualities as consciousness, will, love, mercy, justice. In other words, he is an exalted, perfected, and glorified Being.
The late President Brigham H. Roberts, in one of his later writings, discussed some of the principles of the gospel that I desire to give wider circulation. I shall quote and paraphrase him.
Under the uninspired teachings of men and creeds as they apply to man-premortal, mortal, and postmortal man-it was taught that while man's body was created by God, his origin was purely an earthly one. We believe that before the creation of the body, all men existed as intelligences. These intelligences were not created or made, neither indeed can they be; the intelligent entity in man which we call spirit or soul is a self-existing entity, uncreated and eternal. Thus man is crowned with the dignity which belongs to his divine and eternal nature.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims to be a bold, prophetic, and inspired Church built upon the rock of revelation. It calls upon man to cooperate with God in his avowed purpose to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. This is a divine partnership and is available to all. It gives added meaning to the term "the brotherhood of man." It is not simply a philosophy of life; it is a divine plan or blueprint of life-preexistent life, mortal life, and postmortal life.
The gospel is a system of continuing education, resulting in eternal progression. Education is, in fact, a part of our religion. We believe the glory of God is intelligence.
The Lord said: "And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom".
Just here, we might ask the question: Is there any communication between God and man, or has there ever been? If there ever was such, why not now?
And this brings us to the question of revelation.
At the beginning of the last century, the idea prevailed among almost all Christian churches that while there was a time when revelations from God were given, when angels visited the earth and imparted divine knowledge to men, when there were living among men certain ones called prophets who were able to declare the mind and will of our Heavenly Father, yet all this was allegedly discontinued.
Though belief in continuous revelation seems to have been quite universally accepted in the past, orthodox Christianity maintains that there can be no current revelation; that no revelation has been given since the crucifixion of Christ and the death of the apostles, and furthermore that none would be given in the future; that the volume of scripture is completed and forever closed-no angels, no opening of the heavens, no man authorized to speak for God. All this was ended.
The scriptures declare that some of the prophets talked with God face to face. For instance, we are told in Exodus that Moses spoke face to face with God as one man speaketh to his friends. In Exodus 3:6, the Lord declared: "I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob". We claim the Church is built upon the foundation of divinely inspired apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the chief cornerstone.
Generally, when we speak of a prophet, we have in mind one who predicts future events, one who foretells things that will come to pass. Indeed, that is, in part, the office of a prophet-in part it is what is expected of him. But a prophet should be primarily a teacher of men, an expounder of the things of God. The inspiration of the Almighty must give him understanding, and when given he must declare it fearlessly to the people of his time and to future generations. He must be a seer who can help others to see, a teacher sent of God to instruct a people, to enlighten an age. This is the primary office of a prophet.
Based upon the teachings of the Holy Bible, we assert that revelation from heaven was common in all dispensations of the gospel from Adam to the time when Christ was upon the earth. We agree that it apparently ceased for a time because of apostasy after the beginning of the first century of the Christian era. The founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asserts that he had a great and overpowering revelation from God-in fact, a visitation in which he beheld the Father and the Son. Later, other heavenly beings appeared.
There is in all men an animated, ruling, characteristic essence, or spirit, which is himself. This spirit, dull or bright, petty or grand, pure or foul, looks out of the eyes, sounds in the voice, and appears in the manners of each individual. This is what we call personality.
As to man's salvation, some have taught that God, of his own volition, had predestined some men and angels to everlasting destruction, while others were ordained to eternal life and glory, not for any good or ill that they had done or could do, but because their fate is fixed by divine decree. Those whom he would save he would move by irresistible grace to their salvation; those whom he had predestined should be damned might not escape, struggle they ever so persistently. No prayers could save them; no act of obedience might mitigate their punishment; no hungering and thirsting after righteousness would bring them any blessedness. They must perish, and that eternally! Those who perish in ignorance of Christ-the heathen nations, for instance-were damned. So said those who expounded this creed.
Others taught that infants dying in infancy without receiving Christian baptisms were damned, and that everlastingly. By some, unbaptized infants were denied burial in sanctified ground. "Hell's Half Acre" was a reality in some graveyards. We humbly but unequivocally proclaim the eternal and revealed truth that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
Let us refer for a moment to the significance of the terms salvation and damnation. It was taught in earlier days and to some extent today that these two terms meant either the attainment of heaven or the assignment to hell-referring to the former, the attainment of heaven, as a mysterious, indefinite state enjoyed somewhere beyond the bounds of time and space, and to the latter, to which many were to be consigned, as a place of everlasting anguish and eternal misery.
It was believed that if one gained heaven by ever so small a margin, he entered upon a complete possession of all the supernal ecstasy enjoyed by the angels and the holiest of saints. If he missed even by ever so narrow a margin, he was doomed to everlasting torment, to be endured with the wickedest of men and the vilest of devils, from which there was to be no deliverance.
Against these dogmas of the attainment of heaven or the assignment to hell with equality of glory in the one and equal severity of punishment in the other, we assert that a just God has provided a graded state of existence for all men in the future life.
Upon this subject the restored Church teaches with the apostle Paul that there are many kingdoms of glory in which men may live, each in a sphere suited to his nature, disposition, and the degree of his intelligence Paul taught that there is one glory of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars, and that men will exist in varying degrees of glory in the hereafter; that as the stars of the heavens differ in infinite degrees of brightness, so also will men, in their future, exist in places and states of infinite variety, corresponding to the variations of their intelligence, knowledge, tastes, acquirements, inclinations, and aspirations.
In Luke 10 we read: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God... with all thy mind". This is but a part of Christ's injunction, but seemingly a part not often stressed either in press or pulpit. We hear often of the necessity of loving God with all our hearts and with all our souls, but there was a purpose in his including mind in his instructions. Any person's conception of Deity must come within his mental horizon, which is determined by the degree of his intelligence. Man, by his reasoning, naturally endows God with his own noblest and highest ideals, which, if he be studious and devout, are ever growing. Intellectual activity produces an ever-changing, because ever-growing, concept of God. Once the mind has grasped the idea of God, it will burn and glow and seek to assimilate and radiate, to adore, and emulate. This love of God by the mind of man, when accompanied by loving him with heart and soul, will light the pathway to salvation. The Master placed love of God and of fellowmen as paramount to all divine commandments.
All Church members, then, are enjoined to understand and accept the principles of the gospel, of which faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is paramount.
We must receive its saving ordinances and then go on unto perfection. Salvation is an eternal quest for knowledge. Man cannot be saved in ignorance. It is more than a philosophy of life: it is a divine plan or blueprint of life-preexistent, mortal, and postmortal life.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is a revealed and challenging religion. It calls upon all men to cooperate with God in an effort to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
We firmly declare that the gospel of Jesus Christ does not belong simply to an antiquated world that has passed away; it is a real and powerful force in our world here and now, a force that invests our individual lives with meaning and purpose.
Yes, we doubtless are in many ways a peculiar people, a different people. We do not claim to be better than any other people. We have our differences; we have our difficulties; we are mortal. But we do claim that we have a mission, and therefore we have a wide-ranging missionary system that enables people throughout the world to hear the message of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. To the truth of that message I humbly bear my own witness in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Alvin R. Dyer
Alvin R. Dyer, Conference Report, April 1969, p. 54-57
Once again, my brothers and sisters, we are feeling the surge and influence of this great conference of the Church. I am grateful with you that President McKay is listening and watching this broadcast.
The prophet Nephi once spoke of the woeful condition of mankind when deceived by the precepts of men. Said he:
"... wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost!".
The Lord has warned his people of the penetration of evil in the last days, "seeking to destroy the souls of men".
We can see the need of these warnings in the evil trends that are deteriorating man's sense of decency and moral standards.
The divine declaration, which gives unto man the right of moral agency as once declared-"Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil" -has come under question, and man is seeking by the concepts of men to destroy moral agency by creating what they have chosen to call the "new morality." If we accept the evil doctrines of slanted educational programs, we will witness a breakdown of morals that could bring about a depraved new social order.
The "new morality" denies distinctions between right or wrong, good or evil, substituting a code that decides the right or wrong of behavior according to human need, regardless of what that need is distorted to be.
If we accept the teachings of this concept, it could lead to a society burdened with mass control based upon principles of unrighteous dominion over the individual. It is well known that a communistic philosophy would like to see this succeed in America and throughout the world.
These deceptive and shadowed objectives of well-propagandized programs are moving at a very rapid clip. The first to which I refer is sex education or family life education, which is placing emphasis on raw sex in the school classroom, creating widespread contention, causing deep concern among parents and leaders.
The programmers of this type of sex education, aware of resistance, are fortified with worked-out methods to deal with parental and community opposition. This matter needs the serious concern of an aroused public to deny the use of such materials and more firmly establish sound moral teachings in the fields of physiology and hygiene, as now provided by public school law.
The National Education Association and American Medical Association's endorsement of a maturation educational program seems to have stepped up the activity of such organizations as the Sex Information and Education Council of the United States and the School Health Education Studies, with others, particularly those that are integrated in family life education courses.
With ominous precision, reputable publishing houses are competing in this untapped market with expertly prepared materials, films, and teaching aids of all sorts. Herein, because of its sensational marketable value, is a formidable danger.
False images in the life of the very young will result from their idea to teach facts of reproduction before youth are emotionally involved. The misguided fostering of sex education in the classroom on the basis that it will lessen sex ignorance and reduce illegitimate pregnancy, venereal disease, and related problems has no basis for sound conclusions. Actual experience has proven the results to be just the opposite.
Based on the slanted experience of foreign countries, whence the idea has come, infiltrations into the classroom have already been made in certain areas. Others have it under study and have launched pilot programs. Legislators throughout the country are being besieged for legislation to make it legal; some, most fortunately, to prevent it.
An article in Look magazine tells of sex education in a foreign country, inferring that America is far behind in the new order. This article contains perverted concepts of morals from those who would fill the school classroom with a complete expose of sex. To accomplish this, the article suggests the need of a welfare state, to take over certain responsibilities of parents, I quote:
"The welfare state has taken over many economic responsibilities of the parents. We are all becoming that kind of society... You can spot trends that may have a chance to become dominant in other countries. In sex education, there are some local programs that are very good but most of the United States has nothing.
"The Contraceptive Society is now here and can be pushed back as little as the industrialized society and the automobile."
The "new morality" requires that young people solve their own sex problems without the help of teachers or parents. What is moral and what is not moral, or whether morality is involved at all, is to be decided by the student. The most surprising and devastating of all is the effort that is being made to isolate sex education as being completely devoid of moral responsibility, fear, inhibitions, and emotional restraints.
Whether used by those who are skilled or unskilled, any teachings that describe and illustrate human reproductive organs and their functions, and any teachings that are directly counter to standards of sexual morality, do not harmonize with the gospel, and the Church is therefore opposed to such. They are void of respect and reverence for the opposite sex, life, birth, and parenthood.
We can measure what will happen in America by the experience and results in other countries that have been saturated with sex education in the school classroom. These statistics apply to one of the countries:
85% of the people believe in sex relations without marriage.
98% have had premarital relations.
50% of the brides who kneel at the altar are pregnant at the time.
The majority of women want free and unrestricted abortions.
Concerning venereal disease, caused no doubt by the impact of sex education in this particular country, one report reveals the fact that "gonorrhea and syphilis are more widespread than in any other civilized country in the world." Another report simply describes it as "catastrophic." Yet the programmers of sex education are trying to tell us that it will curb venereal disease.
Illegitimate births, which, according to SIECUS propaganda, will be reduced by sex education, actually increased by nearly 50% in the country referred to.
To claim any real benefits from such a system would not only need a so-called "brain washing" from the earliest ages up, but would also require individuals to make choices without recognizing moral consequences.
Moving forward under the umbrella of the "new morality" is sensitivity training, which, as a tool to shape human behavior, can be, and is, used to ends that are inconsistent with gospel principles. Certain methods of sensitivity training develop a form of induced hysteria, meant to break down morals, manners, and the traditions of civility. Such approaches can do infinite harm, especially to young people.
As we view sensitivity training and other group psychology designed for interclass communication affecting the character and personal life of the individual, emphasizing mass or consensus decision, well might we ask the question, What has happened to the unfortunate individual?
The greatest gift from God unto his children is that of personal agency. It is the foundation of spiritual culture, the principle upon which our Constitution was founded, and is the underlying obligation of our school system to maintain, yet we see it being jeopardized in the teaching methods of sensitivity training.
There are three main points of the group criticism techniques that show how the rights of the individual may be submerged:
1. An atmosphere is created by the participants to open up their behavior to the examination of others. This plays down self-reliance.
2. Steps are taken to unfreeze or destroy old values, which have been adhered to individually, and substitute mass decisions, which yield to the strongest personality of the group.
3. Gradually members may unlearn moral reactions and then experiment with new responses, adopting what they call the "new morality," which has no morals in it.
We hear the phrase, "If therapy is good for people in trouble, then it is bound to be as good or better for people who function well." As to this, I would say, woe be unto the medical doctor who would prescribe drugs and surgery for the hale and hearty.
Group criticism sessions are suggestive of methods developed by Mao's Red Guards, where participants are exhorted to public confession and are encouraged to denounce one another, all for the purpose of breaking the will. One thinks also of Nazi methods of "strength through joy" fun and games. Sensitivity training is a device used throughout Communist countries.
Sex education and sensitivity training teaching methods, when abusively used, not only break down barriers of privacy, but also provide the techniques for mass, rather than personal, decision. This tends to destroy the agency of man and is therefore evil in concept.
Church behavioral methods such as testimony meetings, priesthood and missionary report meetings, oral evaluations, and self-evaluations and confession emphasize the importance of, and preserve the rights of, the individual.
It will be of interest to know that sensitivity training has been ruled out as a teaching method in our Church institutes and seminaries.
A third deadly movement that is surging forward anew, to become united with other evil forces, is that of greater flexibility in marriage laws, which attempt to liberalize that which is already immorally liberal. A Ministry of Education's medical officer describes unchastity as not in his view unchaste, as associated with out-of-wedlock immoral activity.
A noted judge who has heard some 25,000 divorce cases tells of the immaturity of many early marriages. "If people," said he, "spent as much time contemplating marriage as they do buying a car or a house, they would be better off." In concluding his remarks, however, he suggests a period of "trial marriage," which nullifies his proper advice. Concerning this he said: "And there's much to be said for trial marriage, especially since the pill is in such widespread use."
Can you contemplate with me effects of a trial marriage system upon morals? The very idea of it fits the "new morality" concept and becomes a part of evil principles we must be alert to.
The "youth for alcohol" movement is gaining momentum. The magazine Today's Health, published by the American Medical Association, reports a discussion on the subject, "Should Children Be Taught to Drink?" All members of the panel, in one way or another, favored the introduction of alcohol in the life of youth, even at the age of four years, as a prevention of alcoholism.
One panelist made this comment: "The parent has the responsibility to provide a healthy total atmosphere for the child. This involves a lot of areas, including alcohol."
It must be obvious, even to these noted specialists, that such a program would only intensify the misery that it would erroneously try to correct.
We must not be insensible to evil influences that are being thrust upon us by the perverted principles of sex education, sensitivity training, youth for alcohol, and any flexibilities in the sacredness of marriage, which are challenging moral decency and righteousness. We must unite our efforts, by organized parental councils with fathers taking part, through school boards, textbook committees, and proper legislation, to vigorously oppose such programming.
May we be reminded of the prime role that parents have in teaching children principles of truth and right.
From divine inspiration have come these words to safeguard us individually: "... let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God".
The Lord has told us to live by the pattern of gospel laws. Said he: "And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived; for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations".
Let us be mindful of these prophetic words, speaking of the evil one: "... he shall speak great words against the most high, and shall wear out the saints... and think to change times and laws".
I bear testimony to the fact that if we will keep our place secure in the kingdom of God, if we are to safeguard our children against the evils of the day, we must walk in paths of righteousness and keep close to that way of life found in the pattern of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Of this I testify, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 58-62
My dear brethren and sisters, I am acutely aware of the vast congregation to whom I speak this glorious Easter time. Humbly, I seek the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
With millions of others around the world, I watched last Monday the funeral service of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
I observed the pageantry of it-the solemn pallbearers, young men in military uniform representing their legions of comrades in arms.
I listened to the roar of the guns-a final salute to a dedicated soldier, commander of the mightiest military machine ever assembled.
I noted the heads of state, men who had gathered from the far reaches of the earth to honor a former president of the United States.
All of this was proper, and befitting so great a man. But as I looked into the faces of those who mourned, I saw in my mind's eye, through and above and beyond all of this, the matchless wonder of the Son of God.
Here was a memorial service for one of the leaders of the earth, an honored chief of state and a respected military commander. For those who mourned there was satisfaction in the assurance of a great life, well lived. But comfort-that comfort all seek on such occasions-came only from the quiet words, the example of the simple life, and the testimony of the resurrection of the Man of Peace, he who never lifted the sword of war, who never ruled as head of state, who walked among the poor, who died on the cross and was buried in a borrowed tomb.
We were told that General Eisenhower some years earlier, in approving the plans for his funeral, had requested that the music and sermons be on a triumphant note.
That wish was fulfilled.
The choir in the great cathedral sang the stirring words of Luther's moving hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." They repeated the peaceful assurance of the twenty-third Psalm, "The Lord Is My Shepherd". They gave voice to the battle hymn of the faithful, "Onward, Christian Soldiers." They reverently sang the prayer of John Henry Newman, "Lead, kindly Light, amid th'encircling gloom; Lead thou me on!"
The sermon included the majestic declaration of Jesus: "... I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die".
The prayer, spoken in concert by the congregation, was the prayer of the Lord: "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven".
While watching that service, I reached for a book and read this statement from Bruce Barton:
"I talked one day," said Mr. Barton, "with H. G. Wells after his Outline of History had appeared. I said:
"'You have stood upon a mountain and viewed the whole panorama of human progress. You have seen captains and the kings, the princes and the prophets, the millionaires and the dreamers-all the billions of human atoms that have lived and loved and struggled for their little hour upon the earth. In this vast army what heads arise above the common level? Among all those who have fought for fame, who have actually achieved it? What half dozen men among them all deserve to be called great?'
"He turned the question over in his mind for a day or two, and then gave me a list of six names."
Jesus of Nazareth led that list.
Mr. Barton then goes on to say:
"Think of the thousands of emperors who have battled for fame, who have decreed themselves immortal, and fashioned their immortality into monuments of brick and stone... Think of the hosts who have struggled for wealth, fretting over figures, denying their generous instincts, cheating and grasping and worrying".
And then, I should like to add, think of Jesus, who walked the dusty roads of a conquered, vassal state; whose only army was a following of the sick and the poor and the outcast; who was dishonored and abused by the rulers and the princes; who himself carried the cross to which he was nailed; for whose burial there was no procession, but only a hurrying in the night to a borrowed tomb.
Men are born, they live for an hour of glory, and die. Most throughout their lives are teased by various hopes; and among all the hopes of men in all ages of time, none is so great as the hope of immortality.
The empty tomb that first Easter morning brought the most comforting assurance that can come into man's heart. This was the affirmative answer to the ageless question raised by Job, "If a man die, shall he live again?".
While seated in front of my television screen watching the funeral of General Eisenhower, I reflected on the wonder of the quiet man of Galilee, whose life and teachings have ever-increasing relevance in our time-as great a relevance, I would like to say, as in the day that he walked the earth.
In response to such a statement as this on another occasion, a straggly haired young intellectual asked, "What relevance? Just what relevance has Jesus for us? Why, he's as out-of-date as the Roman legions who occupied Jerusalem when he was there."
"Relevance?" I replied, "Ask my friends who tearfully watched the body of a beloved child lowered into the grave. Ask my neighbor who lost her husband in an accident. Ask the fathers and mothers of the thousands of good young men who have died in the steaming jungles of Vietnam. He-the risen Lord Jesus Christ-is their only comfort. There is nothing more relevant to the cold, stark fact of death than the assurance of eternal life."
I am reminded of the young infantryman we met in Vietnam. He was to return the next day to the battle line along the DMZ. He knew what he would face on that dreaded tomorrow. He said quietly, "I guess it really doesn't matter whether I live or die. Sure, I love life, but I believe the life ahead will be as real and a lot better than the life here." He continued, "I hope and pray that I will live to return home; but if it should be otherwise, I know my father and mother will understand. You see, they know that God lives. They know that Jesus is the Christ. They know that life is eternal, as do I."
Such the testimony of a sensitive young man of faith who walked with death. Such the hope of his comrades in their brooding hours of quiet thought.
I walked one day through the great military cemetery on the outskirts of Manila in the Philippines. There, standing row on row in perfect symmetry, are marble crosses marking the graves of more than 17,000 who gave their lives to the cause of liberty. Surrounding that hallowed ground are two great marble colonnades on which are inscribed the names of more than 35,000 others who were lost in combat and whose remains were never found. I read the words chiseled in stone, "Comrades in arms whose resting place is known only to God."
I walked the quiet corridor and saw among the multitude of names that of a boy who grew up not far from me. He had played ball and laughed and danced and studied. He had gone off to war. His plane was last seen falling in flames somewhere in the vast area of the South Pacific. His mother wept in sorrow. Her hair turned to gray and then to white. But radiant through all her tragedy has been a sublime and quiet faith that she shall meet and know and love her son again.
As I stood before that name engraved in marble, there came into my mind these great words of the Lord:
"Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die.
"... those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them".
This, my brethren and sisters, is the assurance of Easter. This is the promise of the risen Lord. This is the relevance of Jesus to a world in which all must die. But there is further and more immediate relevance. As he is the conqueror of death, so also is he the master of life. His way is the answer to the troubles of the world in which we live.
I return to my reflections while witnessing President Eisenhower's funeral. On that occasion I reached for another book, a book written by the general himself. I read a statement he made in 1953 concerning the future of our troubled world. Said he: "The worst to be feared and the best to be expected can be simply stated:
"The worst is atomic war.
"The best would be this: A life of perpetual fear and tension; a burden of arms draining the wealth and the labor of all people; a wasting of strength that defies... any system to achieve true abundance and happiness for the peoples of this earth...
"It calls upon them to answer the question that stirs the hearts of all sane men: Is there no other way the world may live?".
There is a way, if men will subdue their hearts to seek it.
The simple answer-the only answer-is found in the words and life of the immortal Son of God. I thought of the power of that teaching on a December day in 1956 when tanks were rolling down the streets of Budapest and students were being slaughtered with machine-gun fire. I was in Switzerland at the time. I stood that December day in the railroad station in Bern. At eleven o'clock in the morning every church bell in Switzerland began to ring, and at the conclusion of that ringing every vehicle stopped-every car on the highway, every bus, every railroad train. That great, cavernous station became deathly still. I looked out the door across the plaza. Men working on the hotel on the other side of the street stood on the scaffolding with bared heads. Every bicycle stopped, and every man and woman and child dismounted and stood, hatless and bowed. Then, after three minutes of reverent pause, trucks, great convoys of them, began to roll from Geneva, across Austria to the Hungarian border, laden with supplies-food, clothing, and medicine. The gates of Switzerland were thrown open to refugees. As I stood there that December morning, I could not help marveling at the miraculous contrast-the devilish oppressive power of those who were snuffing out the sparks of freedom on the streets of Budapest, in contrast with the spirit of the Christian people of Switzerland who bowed their heads in reverence and then rolled up their sleeves to provide succor and refuge.
Thanks be to God for the relevance of Jesus to the problems of our time.
It has been said that history is only the story of private lives. If we would improve the world in which we live, we must first improve the lives of the people. Conversion is never a mass process. It is an individual thing. The behavior of the masses is the behavior of individuals.
It was said of old that as a man "thinketh in his heart, so is he". The wonderful miracle of our day, as of all time, is the fact that men, when properly motivated, can and do change their lives.
It is reported that when Clinton T. Duffey became the warden at the San Quentin Prison and initiated reform procedures, he was chided by a radio commentator who said, "Mr. Duffey, you should know that leopards don't change their spots." Duffey replied, "You should know I don't work with leopards. I work with men, and men change every day."
President David O. McKay has said that the purpose of the gospel is to make evil-minded men good and good men better.
One of the complaints of the young pot smokers and drug takers who are seeking escape from reality is that the world has become intolerably impersonal. If this be the problem, the answer is not the kind of escape in which they waste their lives. The solution lies in implementing the transcendent teachings of the Son of God, who more than any other that ever walked the earth gave dignity and worth to the individual. He declared us each to be a child of the living God, endowed with a divine birthright, capable of eternal achievement. Who, I ask, possessed of such conviction, would seek relief in the euphoria of debilitating drugs? There is a better way to improve the world, to ease suffering, to enhance the quality of man's life.
A wise man once declared that every great institution is but the lengthened shadow of a great man or woman.
As an instance, who can discount the tremendous good accomplished by the Red Cross? Behind this vast international organization stands the frail figure of the Christ-inspired English girl, Florence Nightingale, who walked among the death-haunted hospital wards of the Crimea bringing cleanliness, comfort, and hope and cheer to thousands of suffering men?
Is there relevancy in Jesus for our time? The world never needed more urgently the power of his example; the world never needed more desperately the vitality of his teachings.
Our young friends of the psychedelic crowd clamor for love as the solution to the world's problems. Their expression may sound genuine, but their coin is counterfeit. Too often the love of which they speak is at best only hollow mummery; at worst it deteriorates into a lascivious eroticism. On the other hand, the love of Jesus was a thing of courage so much needed in our time. It was the love that embraced all men as the children of God; it was the love that turned the other cheek; it was the love spoken from the cross in undying words, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do".
This is Easter. This is the season when we commemorate the most important event in human history. Millions upon millions through the ages have testified through the goodness of their lives and the strength of their courage of the reality of that event.
To these testimonies we add our witness that we know that he was the Son of God, born in Bethlehem of Judea, who walked the earth as the promised Messiah, who was lifted up upon the cross, who gave his life as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of mankind, our Savior, our Redeemer, the one sure hope of mankind, the Resurrection and the Life.
God bless us with increased faith in these great truths, I humbly pray in his holy name, even the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Mark E. Petersen
Mark E. Petersen, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 62-66
We Latter-day Saints believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us all and was raised the third day afterward, in a physical, bodily resurrection. We believe that he has given us a way of life that will bring joy and happiness to all who truly follow him.
But without obedience to his laws, we cannot hope to receive his blessings.
I wish at this time to refer to one of his divine statutes, which is binding upon all mankind, but which is widely disregarded. It is that pertaining to our moral conduct.
Humanity will rise or fall through its attitude toward the law of chastity. If the world will honor virtue, it can expect to receive God's blessings; but if it persists in the practice of sodomy, adultery, and other perversions, it can expect only destruction, for the wage of sin is death.
It is this awesome fact that should frighten at least the Christian world into a realization that we are being hurled into an abyss of moral degradation.
The so-called sex revolution is destroying us.
In a recent edition of the Sacramento Union, an editorial warned that the stench of moral decay has become intolerable. It called for a reestablishment of the divine code of chastity before everything is lost.
The Chicago Tribune recently reported that venereal infection is now the nation's leading communicable disease, which is another index to the extent of our moral breakdown. Three thousand new cases of this dreadful plague are contracted in America every day, more than half of them among teenagers.
As people change their standards of right and wrong, they begin to suppose that what was sin a generation ago is no longer so, that standards are relative things that may be altered at will through usage and desire, and that old-fashioned goodness now has turned into priggishness.
Many actually seem to think that the popular trend is what determines right or wrong, and that moral values change with public sentiment.
A mother recently wrote to a medical doctor who conducts a newspaper column and asked whether she should provide her daughter with a supply of "the pill" as she left to attend a boarding school. In writing to the doctor, the mother said:
"Personally I don't approve of sexual relations outside of marriage, but I wonder if I should be realistic and supply my daughter with birth control pills, just in case."
Can any mother in her right mind take such a position? Has the writer of this letter never taught her daughter the Lord's law of chastity? Why does she dread pregnancy but apparently have no great aversion to her daughter's loss of virtue?
Was this girl never taught about her bodily functions in the sanctity of a good home?
All children need to be taught the facts of life, but where that teaching is to be given has become a source of great controversy. Should it be provided publicly or in the privacy of the home?
Is it wise to give it openly in such a way as to create a desire for corruption?
Is it to be merged with the so-called sex revolution that already has brought about the greatest moral decline in our age, with a plague of social disease in its wake? Or can it more properly be used to teach a nation chastity and sobriety?
Have you ever asked yourselves why this sudden urge to teach sex in a public way? Is someone afraid that the rising generation will not know how to reproduce itself, and that the race thereby may die out?
How is it that we ourselves were brought into existence? Our parents received none of this kind of teaching when they went to school.
Think of the hundreds of generations that have preceded us on the earth. Is it by some great miracle that they ever saw the light of day, since many of their parents never went to any kind of school, public or otherwise, and certainly had none of the instruction now being proposed?
And what of those people who are concerned about overpopulation? They think we will run out of food if we do not control the birth rate. We may yet need a top-level conference of the advocates of sex education and the proponents of birth control to see whether we shall become extinct because they think too few people know how to reproduce themselves, or whether we shall starve to death because too many people know how to reproduce themselves.
Who is competent to give wholesome sex instruction to our children without creating lust in their minds?
I would like to say, with all the emphasis at my command, that the proper teaching of sex requires also the teaching of complete chastity, whether that instruction is given in the home, the school, or the church. To do otherwise is nothing less than suicidal. To ignore chastity in such instruction can transform it into a course in youthful sex experimentation.
The experience of some European countries clearly confirms the fact that public sex education increases promiscuity, and as promiscuity is multiplied, venereal disease spreads like wildfire.
In all fairness to the children, we must not teach them the mechanics of reproduction without also emphasizing to them the safeguard that the Almighty has placed about it, that is, that the use of sex is to be confined completely and exclusively within the bonds of sacred marriage. No free sex is permitted by him. In his law, promiscuity is adulterous.
The whole point of sex education will be missed unless we teach chastity as a major part of it.
God made sex, but not for entertainment. It was provided for a divinely appointed act of creation in which we, to this extent, become co-creators with him.
If we fail to teach this, we defeat the whole purpose of sex education.
When schools are prevented from teaching anything of a spiritual nature, they are thereby disqualified from teaching sex at all, for in its very nature, sex is spiritual and inseparably connected with the creative work of God.
We are not animals, to dwell only in a physical world. We are the offspring of God, learning in this life to become like him.
He decreed that human beings never shall indulge in sex outside of holy matrimony, which he himself instituted. This is his definition of chastity. This is what he requires of every man and every woman.
That is why, on the fiery slopes of Mt. Sinai, he declared: "Thou shalt not commit adultery".
That is why, in his Sermon on the Mount, the Savior taught that anyone who even looks upon another with lust has committed adultery in his heart.
Sex education belongs in the home, where parents can teach chastity in a spiritual environment as they reveal the facts of life to their children. There, in all plainness, the youngsters can be taught that procreation is part of the creative work of God and that, therefore, the act of replenishing the earth must be kept on the high plane of personal purity that God provides, free from all forms of perversion.
Unskilled parents can learn to teach their children properly. In fact, God commands it, and who are we to disobey? Why do some attempt to supersede the parents instead of teaching them how to fulfill their responsibility?
Another evidence of the effect of our declining morals comes from Vietnam. Each week we count our war casualties. They are listed as killed, wounded, and missing. These reports are most sobering, and wring the hearts of loved ones who had hoped so fervently that such a loss would never come to them,
But there are other casualties that are seldom mentioned, casualties which should stagger this nation and compel every man who enters the service to pause and consider their causes and consequences.
These casualties are not the flower of America, shot down in defense of our flag. They are innocent babies born as the offspring of adulterous relationships between some of our soldiers and the women of the Orient.
Medical men warn of the skyrocketing rise of venereal disease in our armed forces, and it is certainly something to fear. But what of the innocent children born from illicit relationships?
No one knows exactly how many of these children are now living in Vietnam. The figure may run well beyond the 50,000 mark. In Japan there are more than 20,000 mixed-bloods fathered by U.S. servicemen. Other thousands of such illegitimates are in Thailand, Korea, and Taiwan.
Nearly all have been abandoned by their fathers, who sought momentary thrills, as they supposed, by cohabiting with Oriental women, not thinking that their own flesh and blood-born of these illicit unions-would become abandoned orphans, shunned by nearly all who see them. In Vietnam these unfortunates roam the streets, unwanted, uncared for, begging for a living.
It is said that one in every ten American soldiers fathers a child by an Asian woman.
Who has the right to beget illegitimate children?
Who has the right to take the virtue of an Asian or any other girl, or to lose his own?
Which American-at home or abroad-has the right to abandon his own flesh and blood and forget that his illegitimate child ever existed?
Can God bless America?
Can the God of heaven, who holds us all accountable for our sins, overlook this wickedness?
Of what good are national days of prayer if we do not support our prayers by our good works? Will God strengthen the arms of fighting men who desecrate his most holy laws? Will he prosper a nation that apparently condones these illicit practices and does little more than provide prophylactics to men who indulge?
Are these fathers so lacking in natural affection that they are willing to completely forget and ignore their own offspring in a foreign land?
We sing, almost tearfully at times, "God Bless America." But we are almost constrained to ask: How can he?
The venereal disease rate in our war areas is frightening in the extreme. We welcome our boys home as conquering heroes, but some of them bring back a plague of venereal disease, which can destroy them.
Venereal disease is a killer. It also maims, causes heart trouble, insanity, and blindness. It destroys homes, spreads corruption to innocent wives, and blights the lives of helpless children.
Some people justify their immorality by saying that restrictions against it are merely religious rules that have no meaning any longer because there really isn't any God.
Thoughtful people now recognize the existence of Deity more than ever before. Persons of genuine intellect, the true researchers, the great philosophers, and the outstanding educators not only acknowledge him, but they also worship him.
It is the selfish element in the world that no longer accepts Deity. And why? Because they do not want to be interrupted in their ingrown pursuits and are so involved in their personal desires, passions, appetites, and lusts that they have no room left for sacred things. Therefore, in their selfishness they reject or ignore God.
To the true realist, God is a significant presence who guides the ultimate destiny of the world. But let us never forget that one of his most basic laws concerns morality.
That law is irrevocable and inescapable and applies to all, whether we believe in God or not. Everyone is subject to its penalties, no matter how they may try to ignore them, The wage of sin is death -even to the unbeliever!
Immorality is next to murder in God's category of crime, and always brings in its wake both destruction and remorse, even to college students who carry the pill with a mother's consent.
This nation was built upon a foundation of morality and spirituality. It is just possible that a rejection of these basic factors may bring about its fall. It was so with Greece and Rome. It can happen to us unless we repent.
Every one of us would do well to remember that the "mills of the Gods grind slowly, but they grind exceeding small." No one can flout the divine law with impunity.
Every right-thinking person should be willing even to die if necessary in defense of virtue, whether that death be physical or social.
"Thou shalt not commit adultery" will forever stand as an immutable law to all human beings. This generation may rationalize itself into complete intoxication with sin and proclaim to high heaven that it is old-fashioned to be clean, but it will yet wake up to the stem reality that God does not change and that the moral laws are his and not man's to shift with every whim.
Adultery is still next to murder in the Lord's category of crime.
Homosexuality was made a capital crime in the Bible.
It was the Almighty who decreed that men and women must cover their nakedness by wearing proper and modest clothing.
No amount of rationalizing can change God's laws. No amount of fashion designing can turn immodesty into virtue, and no amount of popularity can change sin into righteousness.
Once again we Latter-day Saints affirm the reality of the existence of Jesus Christ. Once again, as his humble servants, we define his law of personal purity, and solemnly declare that sex sin is an abomination in the sight of God.
No one on earth can ever cancel the divine command that says, "Thou shalt not commit adultery".
To this I humbly testify in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Richard L. Evans
Richard L. Evans, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 73-76
The hallowed singing of these children's voices suggests the words of another song:
"I think, when I read that sweet story of old, When Jesus was here among men, How he called little children like lambs to His fold, I should like to have been with Him then.
"I wish that His hands had been placed on my head, That his arms had been thrown around me, That I might have seen His kind look when He said, 'Let the little ones come unto Me.'" -Jemima Luke
With our minds turned to our Savior, one of his most sobering sayings comes to mind:
"And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
"Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!".
The innocence with which children come into the world is one of the awesome responsibilities of all who, in any way, influence their lives. And to see such unstained innocence neglected or abused, or exposed to evil or unwholesome influence, or warped by bad example, or by false teaching-or by failure to teach-is a sobering concern.
There are many who have responsibility for teaching children: parents, teachers, friends, anyone who in any way enters their lives, including the makers and promoters of products, of policies; creators of entertainment, and the whole community, publicly and privately. And children in their innocence have a right to be protected from exploitation and from evil influence.
As to teachers, the following is cited from a significant source: "The personal influence of the teacher, in molding the character of the pupils, is the most important element in their education... In morals, a teacher cannot teach what he is not. If he talks what he is not, it were better not said, for his life talks more forcibly and is sooner believed, both by children and adults".
Always we must remember that the teacher teaches himself. As Henry Adams said it: "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops".
People who speak of their private lives as a thing apart from their professions would well remember this sentence from Stanford University's Dr. David Starr Jordan: "There is no real excellence in all this world," he said, "which can be separated from right living".
Now a comment on another question that concerns the whole community: It would be well if young people, parents, and all others who are concerned with decency would not patronize anything that tends to lower people's lives or lead their minds down to the cheap or trashy or harmful or suggestive side.
Quite apart from the personal effect on the one who partakes of a harmful product, or who witnesses an immoral or suggestive or obscene picture or play, we well would remember that whenever we patronize an immoral or unclean performance, or use a harmful or unwholesome product, we are helping to make evil profitable. Whatever other motives there may be, immoral entertainment or unwholesome products are produced to make money. And as a people, as parents, as citizens of a great, beloved land, we ought to be committed to the principle of not making evil profitable. The more profitable it is, the more evil will be offered.
One might well wonder about the term "adult entertainment." Could it be that something unclean or immoral which is not fit for children is wholesome for adults? Is "adult evil" acceptable? How consistent is it to have a double standard?
Or how would anyone be so shortsighted as to partake of that which would impair his physical or mental or spiritual capacity, and say to himself, "It's not good for children, but it's all right for me"?
If the content of a magazine encourages loose morals and low-mindedness and permissive, degrading attitudes and practices, should we buy it? Should we read it? Should we have it around the home?
If a book is filthy, should we buy it? Should we read it? "... books," said Thomas Carlyle, "are like men's souls".
Should we keep a television or radio presentation exposed to viewing or listening if it is one of crudeness or brutish violence or indecent suggestion-or even if it is simply trashy or trivial?
"Unless virtue guide us," said William Penn, "... our choice must be wrong".
The commandments of God have not been repealed. The laws of cause and consequence are still in force.
The creators of community influence and environment and example-which is all of us-would well remember the words of our Savior concerning whosoever "shall offend one of these little ones" -or older ones-or whosoever devotes his life to the production or promotion or support of mind-corroding, soul-destroying evil in any of its forms.
"Liberty," said Horace Greeley, "cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith."
"... honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold" -and this would seem to suggest that qualified and able and courageous people should prepare themselves and make themselves available for public and civic service, and not be indifferent or complacent or resigned to sitting on the sidelines. Even at personal sacrifice there ought to be a sufficient number who will make themselves available for public service.
Now what of our obligations as parents? We cannot safely leave the teaching and molding of our children to chance. We cannot altogether count on others to teach our children. The first responsibility is ours. We must build our own internal strength.
There is more and more evidence that the basic attitudes and capacity and character of children are molded at a very early age. "No curious scientist," said an eminent authority, "ever had as great curiosity as a youngster from eighteen months to three years of age," all of which confirms the importance of implanting the truths of life early-and always.
"My life is my message," said Mahatma Gandhi. It is so with each of us. The impressions of what we are and do and feel and believe and live and teach are carried over to our children. If we depart from principles, may we reasonably expect our children not to depart?
Many a parent who has criticized sacred things or principles he should support wonders why his children later depart further from principles.
Those who follow bad examples don't always know where to stop, and parents who indulge themselves "in moderation" may have children who indulge themselves to excess.
There should be no double standard. Constantly others are learning from us, feeling from us, reasoning their course of conduct from our course of conduct. And if we get a little over the line, our children, our young people, may get a long way over the line.
Within the week I have read this comment from a neighboring country: "It is not the policeman's responsibility... to substitute for the family. Respect for law... begins with respect for parents... respect for the rights and privacy of brothers and sisters and of playmates."
"Law itself," said Samuel Smiles, "is but the reflex of homes."
This world will be no better than its homes. This country, this community, this Church, will be no better than the strength and effectiveness of our homes and families.
Example and love and sheer goodness of life do more for children than can be calculated.
The integrity and effectiveness and affection of the home and family are first.
In a well-known work, Dostoyevsky had this to say: "The soul is healed by being with children."
Healed, yes-and also searched. Perhaps we are never more open to penetrating scrutiny than when the eyes of a child are upon us. And so often we underestimate their understanding. Children have a way of seeing inside. And our teaching must be more than talking. " know truth from counterfeit as quick as the chemist does," said Emerson. "They detect weakness in your eye and behavior... before you open your mouth"
Don't try to hide your heart from a child. They come here clean and sweet and teachable, from the Father of us all. Innocent they come, and innocent they are, until environment or example is otherwise.
One can scarcely conceive of corruption or cruelty to children.
"The child's grief throbs against its little heart as heavily as the man's sorrow," said Edwin Chapin.
"I love these little people," said Charles Dickens, "and it is not a slight thing, when they, who are so fresh from God, love us."
"Be ever gentle with the children God has given you," pleaded Elihu Burritt. "Watch over them constantly; reprove them earnestly, but not in anger."
"The first duty to children is to make them happy.-If you have not made them so, you have wronged them.-No other good they may get can make up for that."
To quote a sentence from Arnold Glasow: "The best thing to spend on children-is your time."
We need more mothers at home-and fathers. We need more faithful observance of home evenings-more unity and faithfulness in marriage, and devotion to duty, and happiness at home.
We need to feed the minds of our children when they are most receptive.
We need to give them happy, wholesome memories.
Sometimes when you have said something to a child you didn't intend to say, or were more severe than the situation called for, have you ever gone back and looked at that same youngster when he was asleep, and felt terribly humble and terribly small? And, with a little extra moisture in your eyes, have you ever uttered a fervent prayer that you would be the kind of parent you ought to be?
O how sweetly, how often we have heard them sing:
"I am a child of God, And He has sent me here, Has given me an earthly home With parents kind and dear.
"Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, Help me find the way. Teach me all that I must do To live with Him some-day."
-Naomi W. Randall
Parents, learn the gospel; live it. Be a living sermon in the home. Take time for your children. What better can you take time for?
"... I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth".
Let every parent, every teacher-and all of us-teach truly so that no one whom we should have taught can ever, here or hereafter, accusingly say, "Why didn't you teach me? Why didn't you tell me?"
"They are idols of hearts and of households; They are angels of God in disguise; The sunlight still sleeps in their tresses, His glory still gleams in their eyes; These truants from home and from Heaven, They have made me more manly and mild; And I know now how Jesus could liken The kingdom of God to a child." -Charles M. Dickinson, The Children
May heaven help us to help all children, our own and others, worldwide, to be loved, to be fed, to be taught, to be close to our hearts, and to be uncorrupted, unoffended, to have happiness and faith and hope.
In the wonderful words of Alma: "... may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you possess, your women and your children, according to your faith and good works, from this time forth and forever".
I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Elder S. Dilworth Young
S. Dilworth Young, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 77-79
Many years ago in our town we were given by a generous man a four-inch reflector telescope for the boys of our community. The first night we tried it out we managed to focus on the moon. In a sense it was a new revelation to see the moon in three dimensions. But the emotional thrill we experienced as we gazed on the physical features of the satellite was as nothing compared to the effect on us when we were able to focus on Jupiter. There, hanging in the heavens, was the planet about the size of a baseball, and there, too, were four smaller Jupiters about the size of marbles. They resembled the celestial exhibit in our school laboratory, except that they looked real-and they were real. There they were rushing through empty space at immense speed, but always falling in a circle around the sun.
Space? We do not grasp its meaning! Endless? We do not conceive what it means, either.
By the Spirit of Christ, which is available to all men, imaginative men have had inspiration given them to theorize, to measure, to reach out, to prove, to move on, until they have reached so far out into space that it is difficult to describe what has been discovered by words that convey meaning to us. They have found that light from a distant cluster of stars traveling at the rate of 186,000 miles per second takes thousands of light years to reach us. We cannot conceive of that, even though we can understand the mathematical formula it represents on paper. Then, just as we read that the limits may have been reached, it is learned that there are uncountable island universes-not just stars, but whole universes-still farther away, their diameters thousands of millions of miles across, yet so distant that they are but points of light in the telescope.
Anyone who contemplates this mighty spectacle of the skies and realizes its perfect order cannot fail to know that it must be controlled by an intelligence greater than he can imagine.
And this brings one to the worship of the Father of us all and his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not know the means by which the worlds are brought into being, live out their destiny, and are destroyed, although there are theories about it. But that they are created and controlled by the power of faith and priesthood is amply stated by the revealed word of God. Hear the witness of their Creator, for it is God who speaks:
"And by the word of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth.
"And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten".
The Lord Jesus Christ was not only the Redeemer but also the Creator. Paul understood this, for he said:
"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist".
The Lord himself declared it to the ancient Nephites:
"Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name".
With awe we contemplate the perfection of this Firstborn of God, his power, his glory. Ours is more than the simple act of worship as an end. We testify that his purpose and mission are to make it possible for us to come into his presence, be like him, and share his honor and his glory forever. He said, "... this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man".
An earthly father shows his love for his children by giving them all the earthly advantage within his power. How much greater is the love of the Christ, who becomes our Father by our acceptance of his offer to us not only of earthly development but also of salvation, exaltation, and eternal lives. In the gospel of Christ he offers us the opportunity to become not just gazers into the wonders of the heavens, but creators of them. We sing unto heaven paeans of joy for our opportunity. The plan is very simple and very grand:
1. Accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and believe on his holy name and repent of our sins. 2. Accept the ordinance of baptism, at the hands of the priesthood of God, as a covenant with him. Baptism is symbolic of his death and resurrection. 3. Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by those he has authorized to give it. 4. Receive and honor the holy priesthood. 5. Keep his simple commandments.
Most of these commandments are guides to our relationship with our fellowmen. One does not need to look at the stars with mathematical mind to become a son of God and to participate in these great creations; he needs to be kind to his neighbor. He does not need to visit the moon; he needs to tell the truth, be honest, and be honorable. He does not need to fly to Venus in a spacecraft; he needs to visit the widow and orphan in their affliction. He does not need to count the rings of Saturn; he needs to honor his father and his mother, render them obedience in his youth, and respect and succor their old age. He does not need to plumb the Milky Way; he needs to support the organized Church and its priesthood. He does not need to analyze an island universe; he needs to love the Lord his God with all his might, mind, and strength, and seek to learn his ways.
In a word, he needs to repent of his sins, his evil acts, and live as a son of God would live, putting first in his life the first and second commandments, which have to do with loving one's fellows, and especially the Lord.
I listened to President George F. Richards one time as he told of a dream. In the dream he saw the Savior. There came to him at the moment of that seeing such a feeling of love, he could not describe it. It overpowered him, and he said that he made up his mind that if that was the love of Christ, he was going to do all he could to keep it all his life and through all eternity. We need to love the Lord too.
A vital requirement, often overlooked, is that a man be sealed in eternal marriage to a woman who has the same desire as does he to be exalted. They then live together in love, practicing in the home with the children, and with each other, the love, charity, long-suffering, kindness, virtues, and actions of eternal beings who expect to become sons of God. Theirs is not just an earthly paradise, but it is truly the beginning of exalted eternal life.
You and I will not win the mansions of our Father by waiting until after we leave this life, but rather each degree of glory is anchored to our actions on the earth. Eternal life begins when a couple is sealed in marriage by the Lord's authority. In their lives together they are given a taste of eternal life-or, if they ignore righteous principles, a taste of the hell which can await them if they do not strive to practice the principles of eternal life here.
Remarkably, when these acts are accepted as a course of action by anyone, new life comes into him. He has peace in his heart and gladness in his soul, while the sweet whispering of the Spirit gives him a taste of what is in store for him.
When will he reach the goal? Not in this life, although he may have a foretaste of its magnitude in this life. But he lays the foundation of character and love in this life upon which his eternal being is constructed. He is watched by the angels. His record of accomplishment toward the goal is recorded, and his reward is sure.
It is wondrous to know that the most magnificent of God's creations may be duplicated-not by technical knowledge gained here, although this may be of help, but by such simple acts as being kind to and honest with all people. By obeying the first principles and ordinances, one places himself in harmony with eternal teachings that will lead him to the presence of the Creator, and from him he will learn to take part in the acts of creation.
We understand that these wondrous accomplishments will not come without work. We know we must learn all we can of the truth of things in this life, and that we shall have to conquer eternal physics, eternal chemistry, eternal biology, and all eternal arts to give eternal science beauty. But our Lord and Master will guide the teaching, and the truth will be the text.
No wonder that we bow in worshipful praise and adoration! No wonder that the name of Jesus Christ is used only in adoration and love!
All glory to the Lord God. He revealed himself to Joseph Smith and pointed the way, giving to Joseph the keys of the kingdom in this the dispensation of the fulness of times. With those keys operative today, through President David O. McKay, we may enter at the strait gate which leadeth to life eternal, and may become among the few who find it. I bear witness with words of soberness to the truth of our eternal destiny in the kingdom of heaven. I pray we may be alert to and worthy of these blessings, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Eldred G. Smith
Eldred G. Smith, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 79-81
As we celebrate this Easter season, we remember the promise of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: "... I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live".
With the assurance of this great promise, obedience to eternal law should be a joy, not a burden, and give each the incentive to not just be passive members of the Church but to be diligent in trying to further advance his kingdom on the earth.
The Savior, speaking in parable, told the story of the sower: how some seeds fell by the wayside, some upon stony paces, some among thorns. Then he told of the seed that fell into "good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold".
"... his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?".
He answered, saying: "Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower". He then told of the seed that fell by the wayside and in stony places and among the thorns. In each case, all became unproductive.
"But he that received seed into the good ground, said he, is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty".
We frequently refer to this parable in reference to missionary work. The gospel is preached to many, and to each the same is taught. The seed is the same-the same quality, the same strength, same value-yet some persons accept quickly, some more slowly, some not at all. Some fall away and leave the Church, as the parable declares. Some remain steadfast to the truth.
Then the Lord describes those who are as the seed sown in good ground. Speaking of these he said some bear fruit or produce an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
This means, then, that mere membership alone is not enough-no, not even if you have a testimony of the divinity of the gospel-if you are not producing or bearing fruit. Speaking of those who receive the word, which means those who are members of the Church, some produced one hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. In which category are you? Where do you find yourself? Are you producing? To what degree are you producing? What does it mean to produce?
Are you doing anything to teach someone else the gospel, if this is where your abilities and opportunities lie, or are your abilities and opportunities elsewhere? Are you doing your share in family research, temple work, teaching a class, or some other activity? Are you doing something to be of service to someone else? Are you one who is tottering on the fence, staying away from church activities, not growing in spirituality?
Have you become stagnant in priesthood advancement? Are you an adult but have not yet received the Melchizedek Priesthood or temple blessings? Are you working toward that end? What is producing?
Producing means, first, preparing yourself, then helping someone else. You cannot wait until you are perfect before you teach or assist someone else, but should pass on to others all you receive, as you receive it. This is how we fulfill the advice of President David O. McKay when he said, "Every member a missionary." Live so your life reflects the blessings of the gospel. Obedience to eternal law is to produce, to serve, to work.
In another parable, the Savior gives us the answer to how we bear fruit and become productive.
"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
"And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
"And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
"For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
"Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
"When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
"Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me".
Here the Lord has mentioned the necessities of life-food, shelter, and clothing. Then he said to visit the sick or the imprisoned. This means to give comfort and encouragement to those who are less fortunate. He does not necessarily mean to use the dole, but to help others to obtain the benefits of life, help others to enjoy life.
Jesus gave his life for us. He took upon himself the burden of all the sins of all mankind who will accept him and do his will, who will produce, to build up his kingdom upon the earth.
He has asked us to serve each other, to help each other, to do good to each other. As one of our hymns suggests:
"Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped any one in need? Have I cheered up the sad, and made someone feel glad? If not, I have failed indeed. Has any one's burden been lighter today, Because I was willing to share? Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way? When they needed my help was I there?"
There are many unexpected ways to serve, in addition to that of church service.
A young man driving down the street one early morning saw several streetcars lined up one behind the other. The motormen were all gathered together by the front car. He stopped and went over to see what was happening. He saw that one streetcar was off the track, and the motormen were trying to put it on again.
Finally they gave up, and each went to his own car and went back the other direction around the loop, back to town, leaving the one motorman in his car, all alone, just to wait for help.
The young man sized up the situation, then asked the motorman if he might try to put the car back on the track.
"Do you think you can?" asked the motorman.
"I'd like to try," the young man said.
He took the steel bar off the hooks on the side of the car, blocked it against the wheel, gave directions, and in just a minute the wheels dropped into the track with a thud. The young man hung the bar back on the car, and the happy motorman was again on his way.
The poet and song writer Harry Robert Wilson has expressed the thought so beautifully.
"Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is doubt, let me sow faith; Where there is despair, let me sow hope; Where there is darkness, let me sow light; Where there is sadness, let me sow joy! O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console, To be understood as to understand, To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."
May we all receive the word of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and bear fruit one hundredfold, and sow seeds of joy, happiness, and eternal life, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Milton R. Hunter
Milton R. Hunter, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 82-84
The Lord spoke from heaven to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery 140 years ago and said:
"A great and marvelous work is about to come forth unto the children of men...
"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God".
And then he commissioned Oliver Cowdery to assist Joseph Smith in translating the Book of Mormon. This book was designed to play a prominent role in this "great and marvelous work."
Jesus Christ had already chosen Joseph Smith to be his prophet, seer, and revelator, and had announced that his gospel would be restored from heaven through that prophet, and also that he had been selected to establish the true Church of Jesus Christ upon earth once again. Accompanied by God the Father, the Savior had appeared to that prophet in what is known as "The First Vision".
This "great and marvelous work" that Jesus Christ declared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery was about to come forth among, the children of men was the "restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began", with all the gifts, powers, and priesthoods, and gospel ordinances requisite for the exaltation of the human family possessed by any and all former gospel dispensations. This was to be the last dispensation, the dispensation of the fulness of times.
Accordingly, numerous ancient prophets brought to Joseph Smith the priesthoods, keys, and powers of their dispensations. Through direct revelation from the Savior, Joseph Smith established the Church and officially named it the Church of Jesus Christ. This church was endowed with power from God to carry forth the work of the Master and build a kingdom to which the Savior will eventually come to reign.
Jehovah, or Jesus Christ, began making preparations 2,500 years ago for this "great and marvelous work" in the latter days by initiating a project to produce a holy scripture to testify to his divinity. Also, the scripture was destined to play a prominent role in helping to give the gospel of Jesus Christ to the honest in heart and bring them into his Church in the latter days. This holy scripture is known as the Book of Mormon. Therefore, the Book of Mormon is the voice of God to our generation.
No holy scripture in the world is unique in as many ways as is the Book of Mormon.
First, Jesus Christ initiated its writing and through numerous revelations supervised its production, which is unique.
Second, as early as 600 B.C. the Master proclaimed that this record would play a unique role in the latter days in testifying that he was the Christ, the Savior of the world, thereby sustaining the testimony of the Jews, the Holy Bible.
Third, through 1,000 years' time the prophets who wrote the book did so under the divine guidance of our Savior.
Fourth, acting in accordance with revelation from Jesus Christ, the last two Nephite prophets-Mormon and Moroni-abridged the ancient records, making them suitable for use in our day. We know of no other similar occurrence in history; hence, unique.
Fifth, the Book of Mormon is unique in its being translated from records of which an angel was the custodian for 1,400 years before they were brought forth in a book.
Sixth, the Book of Mormon stands alone in being the only book known to have been translated from ancient records delivered to an unlearned young man by an angel.
Seventh, the feat of translating the ancient record was also an unheard of achievement. Joseph Smith, assisted by Oliver Cowdery, translated the entire Book of Mormon of 522 printed pages in approximately sixty days. The writing on the plates was in an ancient script called "reformed Egyptian", a language that no mortal man through his own power could decipher. Then how did Joseph Smith accomplish such a mammoth job in such a short time? He has told us that he translated the Book of Mormon "through the gift and power of God and through the Urim and Thummim."
Eighth, no other book in the world has been testified to as to its truthfulness and divinity by the voice of an angel and by the voice of Jesus Christ other than the Book of Mormon.
Let us now pay particular attention to some remarkable testimonies regarding the truthfulness and divinity of the Book of Mormon. One of the strongest testimonies came directly from the mouth of Jesus Christ himself. In June 1829, the Savior spoke from heaven and declared:
"... as your Lord and your God liveth it is true". I am positive that my Lord and God liveth-and so I am also positive that the Book of Mormon is true.
No other book in the world has ever had a witness borne to it as dynamic and powerful as the one the Master provided to sustain the Book of Mormon in what is known as "The Testimony of Three Witnesses." The ancient American prophets had predicted that through the power of the Lord the plates would be shown to three others besides the prophet to whom the records would be given for the purpose of their bearing witness. Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris asked for that privilege.
In June 1829, Jesus Christ spoke from heaven to the three men through the Prophet Joseph Smith, declaring:
"... you shall have a view of the plates, and also of the breastplate, the sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim". Thereupon the four men went into the woods and kneeled down and prayed. In response, the Angel Moroni came down from heaven and showed these sacred objects to them. He turned the sheets of the gold plates leaf by leaf and let them examine the inscriptions thereon. He described Joseph Smith's work in translating the Book of Mormon records. As he was doing so, the voice of Jesus Christ spoke from heaven and said:
"These plates have been revealed by the power of God, and they have been translated by the power of God. The translation of them which you have seen is correct, and I command you to bear record of what you now see and hear".
After the Angel Moroni left with the gold plates, the three men wrote their testimony, which is known as "The Testimony of Three Witnesses". Their testimony states:
"... we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon... the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it."
In no other time in history has such an astounding event occurred. Never before nor since have three men received their testimonies directly from an angel and from Jesus Christ, as did these three men.
Since the coming forth of the Book of Mormon is so astounding, it has divided all people who have come into contact with it into two definitely separate groups-believers and nonbelievers. Those who believe love it, enthusiastically testify to its divinity, and proclaim its great worth to humanity. Those who disbelieve it hate it. Many brilliant men have written viciously against it. No book has had as many attacks made upon it as has the Book of Mormon.
One may wonder why so many intelligent people have rejected the Book of Mormon. Perhaps it is because there is so much that they would call miraculous connected with its origin, preservation, coming forth, and translation.
Apostle Paul explained that it is only through the operation of the Holy Spirit of God that spiritual things can be understood and received by man. Paul declared that "the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned".
Thus the ordinary man whose heart is not moved upon by the Holy Ghost regards the Book of Mormon and all of the great and marvelous things that Jesus Christ did in its preparation and bringing forth as being fantastic, fabricated, and untrue. On the other hand, when the Holy Ghost bears testimony to the heart and soul of a man of the divine nature of the Book of Mormon, the spiritual-minded man knows the reality of the divine authenticity of that book, and this reality becomes very important in his whole being. He feels impelled continuously to testify.
Any person in the world can know for sure that the Book of Mormon is true, that it is the word of God, if he will in all sincerity, humility, and faith follow the formula laid down in the last chapter of Moroni:
"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things".
I bear my testimony that I know positively that the Book of Mormon is true. It is the word of God. I am as sure of it as I am sure that I am alive, or as I am sure that I am speaking unto you today. The Holy Ghost has borne powerful witness to my heart and mind of the truthfulness of this divine book, and has filled my heart with a powerful love for it and an exceedingly great love for my Savior. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Robert L. Simpson
Robert L. Simpson, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 85-87
My dear brothers and sisters: I feel strength in the presence of this assembly. I feel great humility in the presence of these lovely children who have borne witness to us in song, and I bask in the reflected memory of an inspiring Primary conference that concluded just the day before yesterday. I am sure we all compliment Sister Parmley and the great Primary organization for their tremendous effort. On this sacred square we gain a feeling of peace, we gain a feeling of security, and sometimes we might be inclined to say, "All is well in Zion." I would like to take for my thought today, "All is well in Zion, but..." And I would like to begin by telling you of a disturbing incident that came to my attention a day or two ago as I read a recent letter from the head of one of the state's largest employers, seeking help in curbing dishonest practices among his employees, who incidentally are people who should know better. He stated in the letter that sick-leave privileges were being grossly violated, more so than in other sections of the country. The Lord expects more from this community.
Another company head who recently moved to this community from another section of the United States complains that among his business associates there is a serious lack of integrity, that seemingly good men who are obviously trained to know better are discovered to be unethical in their business dealings.
Recently some variety store managers met with law enforcement officers for the purpose of implementing some sort of control in the midst of a rash of shoplifting, an evil practice that was apparent in all age levels, regardless of sex, and in all sectors of the community.
"And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink and be merry; nevertheless, fear God-he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
"And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well-and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell".
I know a man who used to be an authority on the Book of Mormon. He had the ability of thrilling the people with his speaking and profound knowledge of the truth. The adversary found a weakness ever so small, but a weakness. Finally the grip was secure, and he was gradually led away-ever so gently, but ever so surely, away from all that was good and sacred. This same man who was a leader among the people has now lost his ability to lead, at least for the time being. That great gift of knowledge that was once his has become dim and remote. He seems helplessly engulfed in transgression and has been unable to even recognize the hand of fellowship that would lift him back to firm ground. I suppose this is the same condition described in the seventy-eighth section of the Doctrine and Covenants, verse 10:
"Otherwise Satan seeketh to turn their hearts away from the truth, that they become blinded and understand not the things which are prepared for them".
May I tell you about a man who has a keen mind, but his sweet spirit of testimony has been replaced with criticism of his priesthood leaders. He seems impatient because certain basic doctrines cannot be altered to suit his convenience of social concept based on the meager knowledge and philosophy of men.
Let me tell you about a sister who became literally hypnotized by a deck of playing cards. Eventually, there were not enough hours in the week to fit everything in. Her keen spiritual sensitivity became dulled, and it was easy for the cunning one to help her decide to give up an important Relief Society calling and abandon her wonderful circle of former associates in favor of the nonessential, time-wasting pastime that had captured her fancy. Sisters in the ward continuing their lives of charity and compassionate service are now termed by her as narrow-minded, as hypocritical and do-gooders, but in reality, the only thing that changed was this woman.
I know a man who started taking supplies home from his place of employment. First it was just a few pencils; then it was something more. In the end, it cost him his job, the respect of his family, and the spirit of his calling in the Church. His practices became incompatible with the priesthood that gave him the promise of life eternal.
I know a host of others that time will not permit us to discuss, wonderful people of the kingdom who ventured too close to the edge, all the time saying to themselves, "I know what I am doing. I can turn back the second I choose." Then all of a sudden it happens. The riptide loosens the last foothold, the quicksand starts to sink, the thin ice suddenly cracks, the precipice abruptly gives way. There are physical laws that govern the riptide, the cracking ice, the unstable ground; and there are moral and spiritual laws that are just as real, whose safe boundary is just as clearly defined, but as we take one fatal step, just one step too far, the laws of the universe take over-the consequence is inevitable.
There have been some excellent thoughts on repentance during these conference sessions, but this plea is for each and every member of the Church to stand on holy ground, to avoid the inevitable, to make repentance unnecessary. In terms of eternity, there is no such thing as not getting caught. Eternal judgment is undeviating, for it is founded on truth. Maybe that is why the Lord said what he did on page one of the Doctrine and Covenants, revelation for our day, as he declared:
"For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men, and there is none to escape; and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated.
"And the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow; for their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops, and their secret acts shall be revealed.
"Unto the day when the Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to his work, and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man".
To him who says: "I am lucky, I didn't get caught," I say, how unfortunate; for his other foot is already in motion for the next treacherous step.
"These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
"A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
"An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
"A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren".
Now it seems rather odd that the Lord would speak of a proud look and running to mischief in the same breath with the shedding of innocent blood, but can anything counter to the glory and power of God or the exaltation of man be counted as trivial? "For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance". And then he also says in another place: "He that diggeth a pit shall fail into it".
My dear fellow members of our Heavenly Father's true and everlasting Church, with our families and eternal life on one side of the scales, is it conceivable that we are willing to allow a few bad habits to tip that scale away from all that is good and precious and true? None is exempt from the possibility. Just open the door-just a crack, that's all-and the adversary will lead us quietly away, and we will rationalize as we go that what we are doing is done by so many, and surely this once won't hurt.
The adversary sometimes changes the labels on the bottles, but the contents are still full of poison. Just like the young lad I visited in prison. Upon asking him if the offense was stealing, I received an indignant, "Not on your life. I would never steal. My mother has taught me better than that. I am here for forgery." Shoplifting never, but what is wrong with forging someone else's name on a $500.00 check!
May our judgment be sound and our course straight. The way is clearly marked before us and is to be found in every word of this conference. Just as the insignificant termite takes his annual toll, causing buildings to tumble, and just as rust and erosive forces eat away at the foundations of that which seems so strong and so firm, so it is with those little habits that must be corrected if we are to dwell in His presence.
May we know the truth, may we live the truth, may we sustain the truth. May we do these things, that all may truly be well in Zion, for you know and I know that the truth shall make us free, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder LeGrand Richards
LeGrand Richards, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 87-91
I rejoice with you, my brethren and sisters, in this wonderful conference, and in the inspiring remarks of our worthy president, President David O. McKay.
We have just listened to Bishop Simpson as he quoted the statement of Jesus, when he said: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free". I ask, free from what? The false teachings and philosophies and man-made doctrines.
Jesus said: "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes".
With man's wisdom alone, one cannot know the truth. This is evidenced by a survey taken in New Zealand last year, in which there were 411 different churches listed. Hence the need of divine revelation to interpret the teachings of the prophets, and this church is built upon divine revelation.
I take my text today from the twenty-ninth chapter of Isaiah, where he states: "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
"Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid".
Where do we find these precepts of men to which Isaiah refers? In these 411 different religious professions.
Shouldn't the average son of God want to know if he is worshiping God through the precepts of men? Or, if he is privileged to live until the Lord performs that marvelous work and a wonder, wouldn't he like to have a part in it?
Compare this situation to Paul's statement to the Ephesians when he said there is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism".
How things have changed! Why? Because men, without divine guidance, could not agree in their interpretation of the scriptures. Jesus understood that without divine guidance men could not properly interpret the scriptures, for he said: "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures". Hence the need of the voice of authority to differentiate between the doctrines that are the precepts of men, as Isaiah states, and the truths revealed from heaven in the restoration of the gospel, for we did not get our teachings through man's interpretation of the scriptures, but by the revelations of the Lord to his latter-day prophet.
A whole book could be written on the difference between the man-made doctrines to which Isaiah refers and the truths revealed from heaven which constitute the marvelous work and a wonder that the Lord promised through Isaiah would cause the wisdom of their wise men to perish and the understanding of their prudent men to be hid.
Let me mention a few important corrections the Lord has made in the teachings of men through the restoration of the gospel.
When the Lord gave to Moses the Ten Commandments, the first was: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me".
When Joseph Smith had his glorious vision and the Father and the Son appeared to him in the Sacred Grove in the state of New York in 1820, the Father, pointing to the Son, said: "This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him!".
Thus Joseph saw that Jesus and his Father were glorified persons, as was Jesus following his resurrection, when he appeared unto his disciples and had them feel the prints in his hands and the wound in his side, saying: "... handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have".
Now compare this with the teaching of the entire Christian world at the time that Joseph Smith had this glorious experience. Here is a statement from their creeds:
"There is but one living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts or passions... and in unity of this godhead, there are three persons, of one substance, power and eternity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost."
How could there be three persons in one? How could Joseph Smith or any other prophet have seen God if he has neither body, parts, nor passions, and is invisible? That means he has no eyes, so he cannot see; he has no ears, so he cannot hear; he has no mouth, so he cannot speak; he has no body, so he cannot be seen. This is a fairly good description of nothing. How is it possible that the entire world was worshiping this kind of a god at the time that the Father and Son, two glorified personages, appeared to Joseph Smith?
And yet Moses knew that this condition would exist in the world, for when he led the children of Israel to the promised land, he told them that, in coming generations, they should be scattered among the heathen nations. "And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell".
Then Moses promised them that in the latter days when they were in tribulation, if they would seek after the Lord their God, they would find him if they would seek him with all their hearts and with all their souls.
Joseph Smith as a boy truly sought after him and was rewarded with the glorious vision to which I have referred. And for his testimony that God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, his Son, were two glorified personages, he gave his life. We bear witness to all the world of this great eternal truth. What knowledge could be more wonderful than to know what we might look forward to, as Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God".
How could we see God if he does not exist, has no body, parts, or passions, and is invisible?
To correct this false doctrine should justify the Lord in raising up a prophet in these latter days, and this gives real meaning to Easter, which the Christian world is celebrating at this time.
Through the restoration of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord corrects another false teaching, one of the doctrines of men to which Isaiah refers. The Christian world teaches that children are born into this world with the sin of Adam and Eve resting upon them, thus denying the atonement of Jesus Christ, as stated by the apostle Paul: "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive".
Now here is the word of the Lord with respect to this matter in a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith: "But, behold, I say unto you, that little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world through mine Only Begotten;
"Wherefore, they cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me".
The Prophet Mormon discussed this subject in a letter to his son, Moroni, as recorded in the Book of Mormon in these words:
"And now, my son, I speak unto you concerning that which grieveth me exceedingly; for it grieveth me that there should disputations rise among you.
"For, if I have learned the truth, there have been disputations among you concerning the baptism of your little children.
"And now, my son, I desire that ye should labor diligently, that this gross error should be removed from among you; for, for this intent I have written this epistle.
"For immediately after I had learned these things of you I inquired of the Lord concerning the matter. And the word of the Lord came to me by the power of the Holy Ghost, saying:
"Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them...
"And after this manner did the Holy Ghost manifest the word of God unto me; wherefore, my beloved son, I know that it is solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little children.
"Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy.
"And he that saith that little children need baptism denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of the redemption".
Shouldn't the whole Christian world welcome this great revealed truth to save them from following this man-made doctrine that they have been taught?
Let me briefly mention another man-made and very important doctrine taught by all the so-called Christian churches at the time the Lord restored his true Church to the earth in this last dispensation through the Prophet Joseph Smith.
They have universally taught that marriage is for this life only, hence their marriages are all performed "until death do you part" or "for the period of your mortal lives."
In light of God's restored truth to us, this is a very flimsy and unsatisfactory doctrine. Love is eternal, and where couples live true Christian lives together, their love for each other and their children increases with the years.
I like the words of Anderson M. Baten to his wife, Beulah, entitled "Philosophy of Life":
"I wed thee forever, not for now, Not for the sham of earth's brief years; I wed thee for the life beyond the tears Beyond the heart pain and clouded brow. Love knows no grave and it shall guide us dear When life's spent candles flutter and burn low."
The apostle Paul indicated that we without our loved ones cannot be made perfect. The Lord has revealed the fact that marriage ties are intended to be eternal, hence all marriages in his Church are for time and for all eternity.
The first record we have of marriage was when the Lord told Adam, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him...
"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh".
If it was not good for man to be alone before death came into the world, it will obviously not be good for man to be alone when he is resurrected from the dead.
Jesus also taught this principle, for he said:
"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
"And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
"What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder".
Both God and Jesus Christ indicated that the man and his wife should become one flesh, and Jesus warns: "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."
Where is there any scriptural justification to assume and teach that death should annul the marriage covenant?
The apostle Peter understood that the man and his wife would inherit together the results and the rewards of this life. He said:
"Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered".
The Prophet Isaiah saw the day when we would have a new heaven and a new earth, when we would build houses and inhabit them, and plant vineyards and eat the fruit thereof. Then he adds: "For they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them".
What a comfort to those of us who have buried our little children to know that we will be privileged in the resurrection to raise our little ones unto manhood and womanhood.
The man-made doctrines of the so-called Christian churches give their members no such promises of comfort.
I attended a funeral service for an only young daughter of one of my business associates, and the minister did not hold out one hope to this sorrowing couple that they would ever see or know their precious little daughter again.
After the funeral, I told my friend that the Lord had something better than that for him if he would live for it. He has since joined the Lord's true Church and now looks forward to the privilege of raising that little daughter in the morning of the first resurrection.
In a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord said, referring to the conditions during the millennium:
"And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation.
"For the Lord shall be in their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and their lawgiver".
There are many other man-made interpretations of the scriptures that have brought into existence these 411 different churches referred to in New Zealand. Isaiah prophesied that when men should serve God through the precepts and doctrines of men, the Lord would proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder that would cause the wisdom of their wise men to perish and the understanding of their prudent men to be hid.
I testify that this Church is the marvelous work and a wonder that Isaiah promised when men would be worshiping through the precepts of men.
Recently, a converted minister joined the Church. He sat in my office and made this statement: "When I think of how little I had to offer my people as a minister of the gospel compared with what I now have in the fullness of the gospel as it has been restored, I want to go back and tell all my friends what I have found. Now," he said, "they will not listen to me. I am an apostate from their church." But he gave up his ministry and performed menial work here in the city in order that he might be a member of God's true Church.
We invite all men everywhere to share with us these glorious truths that God has revealed through his prophet of this dispensation. I repeat the Savior's promise: "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled".
I bear witness to all within the sound of my voice that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is in very deed the marvelous work and a wonder the Lord promised through Isaiah the prophet.
May God bless you all, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 93-97
My dear brethren of the priesthood, I welcome you, and appreciate this privilege of once again expressing my feelings to you of our great callings.
As I contemplate the vast audience of priesthood assembled tonight in the various places named at the opening of the meeting, and realize the power of this great body of men, I am overwhelmed.
I felt my feelings swell within my breast as to the possibility of the good that will be done, and can be done, by these many thousands of men of the priesthood who are worshiping tonight.
"There's surely somewhere a lowly place In earth's harvest fields so wide, Where I may labor through life's short day For Jesus, the Crucified; So trusting my all to thy tender care, And knowing thou lovest me, I'll do thy will with a heart sincere, I'll be what you want me to be."
I hope everybody who listened to that verse tonight applied it to himself, and in a way made a sacred vow to do better in the future than in the past. There came to my mind some fundamental virtues that should be associated with that will. I will just name them.
First is faith: faith in God the Father, faith in his Son, faith in our fellowmen.
The second is honesty, a childish sincerity, honesty in dealing with our fellowmen. It is the foundation of all character. If you offer prayer at night and you have dealt dishonestly with your fellows during the day, I rather think that, as the king in Hamlet, your words fly up but your thoughts remain below; but if you have dealt honestly, the Lord will hear and answer your true feelings.
The third is loyalty. It is a wonderful principle. A true friend is loyal. Many acquaintances are not, and may not be. Be loyal to the priesthood. Be loyal to your wives and your families, loyal to your friends.
To the men of the priesthood I give this caution. Your weakest point will be the point at which Satan tries to tempt you, and will try to win you, and if you have made it weak yourself before you have undertaken to serve the Lord, he will add to that weakness. Resist him and you will gain in strength. He will tempt you in another point. Resist him and he becomes weaker and you become stronger, until you can say, no matter what your surroundings may be, "Get thee behind me, Satan: or it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve".
Now, I mention this because there are too many broken hearts in our Church because men, some of whom hold the priesthood and prominent positions, are tempted right where they are weak. They forget that they have made covenants with the Lord, and step aside from the path of virtue and discretion, and will break their wives' hearts because of foolish indulgence and because of their yielding.
We have one of the most sacred covenants in all the world pertaining to the happiness of the home. There are men within the sound of my voice who have forgotten how sacred that covenant is. The brethren of the Twelve, the General Authorities of the Church, the stake authorities are urging youth everywhere to go to the temple to be married. Do not go to that temple unless you are ready to accept the covenants that you make.
Marriage in the temple is one of the most beautiful things in all the world. A couple is led there by love, the most divine attribute of the human soul. A young man looks, rightfully, upon that bride who will be the mother of his children as being as pure as a snowflake, as spotless as a sunbeam, as worthy of motherhood as any virgin. It is a glorious thing for a woman thus to wear the robes and be the pride of a young elder's heart, one who trusts her to be the head of his household.
She trusts him as being as worthy of fatherhood as she is of motherhood, and rightfully, too, because on his shoulders are the robes of the Holy Priesthood, testifying to his young bride, and to all, of his worthiness.
Together they stand in the house of the Lord to testify and covenant before him that they will be true to the covenants they make that day, each keeping himself or herself to the other and no one else. That is the highest ideal of marriage ever given to man. If those covenants are kept as sacred as sacred covenants should be kept, there would be fewer broken hearts among wives and fewer among the husbands. A covenant is a sacred thing. A man who is married in the temple has no right to be looking at young women, whether they are in the choir or in the Relief Society, or a member of a general board, or doing any of the duties of the Church. You have a covenant to be true to that wife. Brethren, keep it true, be true to it.
"It is easy enough to be prudent, When nothing tempts you to stray, When without or within no voice of sin Is luring your soul away; But it's only a negative virtue Until it is tried by fire, And the life that is worth the honor of earth, Is the life that resists desire.
"By the cynic, the sad, the fallen Who had no strength for the strife, The world's highway is cumbered to day; They make up the sum of life. But the virtue that conquers passion And the sorrow that hides in a smile, It is these that are worth the homage of earth For we find them but once in a while." -Ella Wheeler Wilcox, "Worth While"
I plead with the army of the priesthood assembled tonight in this meeting to keep true to the covenants made in the house of God. You have no right to neglect your wives and go and seek the company of others who seem to be more attractive to you because you are thrown with them in daily life, in your business affairs, or in church affairs. This may seem general, but while I speak to you, a wife with her tears and her pleadings comes to me now, asking, "Won't you please just say a prayer, won't you offer a prayer to try to bring my husband back?" Well, she may have been to blame for the trouble-she said that she was partly to blame-but I know that her husband was to blame, for he is a man who holds the priesthood and has no right to break his covenants.
The Spirit of God will not strive with a man who in any way helps to break up another man's family. "The greatest battle of life is fought out within the silent chambers of the soul."
I ask you fellow priesthood bearers to do again what undoubtedly you have done frequently, to sit down and commune with yourself. There is a battle going on within you, and within me, every day. Fight it out with yourself, and decide upon your course of action regarding, first, what your duty is to your family. Avoid conditions and people getting into your life who will cause unhappiness in your home. Second, decide what your duty is to your quorum. Decide whether you owe your quorum anything, and see if have strength enough to do it after you decide. Third, decide in that silent moment what your duty is to your Church. And fourth, decide what you owe to your fellowmen. Decide where your duty is, even remembering that "the greatest battle of life is fought out within the silent chambers of your own soul."
Remember this as a guideline in whatever position you are called to serve: "What e'er thou art, act well thy part." That, of course, applies to moral and lawful endeavors, and not to harmful or villainous actions. That influenced me many years ago when, as I have told some of you before, Peter G. Johnston and I were walking around Stirling Castle in Scotland. I was discouraged; I was just starting my mission. I had been snubbed that day in tracting. I was homesick. We walked around the Stirling Castle, really not doing our duty; and as we reentered the town, I saw a building, half-finished. To my surprise, from the sidewalk I saw an inscription over the lintel of the front door, carved in stone. I said to Brother Johnston, "I want to go over and see what that is,"
I was not more than halfway up the pathway leading to it when that message struck me. Carved there was: "What e'er thou art, act well thy part."
As I rejoined my companion and told him, do you know what man came into my mind first? The custodian at the University of Utah, from which I had just been graduated. I realized that I had as great a respect for that man as I had for any professor in whose class I had sat. He acted well his part. I recalled how he helped us with the football suits, how he helped us with some of our lessons, for he was a university graduate himself. Humble, but to this day I hold respect for him.
What are you? You are men who hold the priesthood of God, who hold divine authority to represent Deity in whatever position to which you have been assigned.
It has always been my nature to enjoy the company of my associates. I love to be with my friends. The older I grow, the more intense becomes my appreciation of fellowship in the brotherhood of Christ. I sense that tonight more deeply, more sincerely than ever before.
May God add his blessings to the instructions and reports that will be given this night; may we depart with greater determination in our hearts to serve the Lord and keep his commandments; may we go forth with greater resolution to defend one another in righteous living, to defend the Church, not to speak against our neighbors, nor against authorities of the Church, local, stake, or general. Let us avoid evil speaking; let us avoid slander and gossip. These are poisons to the soul to those who indulge. Evil speaking injures the reviler more than the reviled.
In the United States of America, the Constitution vouchsafes individual freedom, and let us pray also that the Lord will frustrate the plans of the Communists who would deprive us of freedom.
I desire to refer to some remarks concerning Communism that I made in the general priesthood meeting three years ago. At that priesthood conference, in addition to encouragement to study the Constitution and be alert to communistic inroads that would undermine it, I said the following:
"The Church, out of respect for the rights of all its members to have their political views and loyalties, must maintain the strictest possible neutrality. We have no intention of trying to interfere with the fullest and freest exercise of the political franchise of our members under and within our Constitution, which the Lord declared he established 'by the hands of wise men whom raised up unto this very purpose' and which as to the principles thereof, the Prophet Joseph Smith, dedicating the Kirtland Temple, prayed should be 'established forever'. The Church does not yield any of its devotion to or convictions about safeguarding the American principles and the establishments of government under federal and state constitutions and the civil rights of men safeguarded by these.
"The position of this Church, however, on the subject of Communism has never changed. We consider it the greatest satanical threat to peace, prosperity, and the spread of God's work among men that exists on the face of the earth".
It is suggested that, in educating themselves on the perils of Communism, members should not expect bishops and stake presidents to join with them or through their positions lend support to their efforts, since they are expected to maintain a strict neutrality as referred to. Nor should organized movements to become informed on Communism impose their ideas upon the membership of the Church in any area in a manner that may lead to division among the members. Nor should bishops, stake presidents, and other Church leaders take the lead in support of such efforts of groups in such a way as to impose such movements upon other Church members.
It is the right and obligation of every citizen, and therefore every member of the Church, to be alert and to be informed about social, educational, communistic, and other political influences that would tend to undermine our free society. But it would defeat its own purposes if it were done in a manner that would tend toward division in our own membership.
It must never be forgotten that converts to the Church come from all nations, representing diverse views on controversial issues. Ours must be the responsibility to teach our members from all nations the true doctrines of Christ with such power that they be fortified against all false ideas, regardless of the label under which they may be presented.
The Melchizedek Priesthood course of study for the coming year will include in the lesson material such subjects as liberty and freedom, religion and the state, the dangers of Communism, and other subjects considered of vital importance in the study of the profound truths of the gospel.
The study of these lessons will enable the brethren of the priesthood to become better acquainted with forces that are opposed to righteousness, as well as with the Lord's plan of salvation for all his children.
In these days of great turmoil and social upheaval, it would be well if all our leaders and members of the priesthood would be constantly reminded of the apostle Paul's wise counsel wherein he said: "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
"For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified".
God help us to defend the truth-better than that, to live it, to exemplify it in our homes. What we owe to our parents we cannot express. Are you parents-fathers and mothers-going to have that same influence on your children? God give you power so to have that influence, that your children may be true to the last, to death if necessary, to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which magnifies God, our Father, who, with his Beloved Son Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world, appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith. They revealed themselves in this dispensation and his work was established, never more to be thrown down or given to another people.
Satan is still determined to have his way, and his emissaries have power given them today as they have not had throughout the centuries. Be prepared to meet conditions that may be severe, ideological conditions that may seem reasonable but are evil. In order to meet these forces, we must depend upon the whisperings of the Holy Spirit, to which you are entitled. They are real.
God is guiding this church. Be true to it; be loyal to it. Be true to your families, loyal to them. Protect your children. Guide them, not arbitrarily, but through the kind example of a father, and so contribute to the strength of the Church by exercising your priesthood in your home and in your lives.
As I bring my remarks to a close, I want you to know that I am mindful of the sacrifices being made by those serving in the armed forces. May they have the strength to resist temptation and by their examples be a living testimony to others.
God bless our missionaries who day by day seek out those who will accept their message. May they resist evil influences and thus become true servants in building the kingdom of God.
May his blessings attend you all as you go forward in the work of the Master. May this work continue to expand to fulfill its divine purposes. Be true to your callings, brethren, and the Lord will bless and lift you up.
I bear testimony to the truth of this great work, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Boyd K. Packer
Boyd K. Packer, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 104-107
Brethren, I feel humble in responding to this appointment from the First Presidency, an assignment that comes because of responsibility as managing director of military regions and of priesthood home teaching. The teaming up of these assignments is a demonstration of priesthood activities drawing together in a very close relationship under the priesthood correlation program.
Brethren, we are men of the priesthood! There is an obligation that accompanies manhood, for in his very nature, his body, his mind, his attitude, the man is the protector.
Since ancient time, it has been the duty of the man to protect "his home, his family, his rights, his religion".
Across the world the holders of the priesthood answer the call of the government to which they owe allegiance and serve in military forces. In Germany and Australia, in the Netherlands, here in the United States, in Canada and Latin America-across the world-we find our brethren serving out their obligations, for "we believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law".
Few desire to bear arms. Fortunate, indeed, is the generation which escapes the necessity of so doing; ours is not so blessed.
Our young brethren, more than ever before, and perhaps more than ever again, as they are called into military service need to buckle on the, whole armor of God, with their "loins girt about with truth," having the breastplate of righteousness, and their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, bearing the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation.
But some of our brethren have slipped quietly away and have left the family circle ill-prepared to do battle with the forces of evil. These brethren deserve quite as much and need ever so much more the attention and the same preparation that the missionary receives as he leaves for the mission field.
Many things are now being done to strengthen them. It is my privilege to report a few of them to you.
Recently the servicemen's committee was redesignated as the Military Relations Committee of the Church and given extended responsibility. Elder Harold B. Lee is chairman of the committee, with Elders Mark E. Petersen and Gordon B. Hinckley as members.
Then last October there was organized, in Germany, Servicemen's Stake-Europe. Membership includes men serving in the military and their dependents. This unit joins the family of stakes as a strong, well-ordered organization. This suggests that the day is before us when a young man may leave home and the shelter of a well-organized Church program to find another at the place of his military service.
Some have wondered why this was not done a generation ago, but we were not prepared. The Lord has said: "Behold, I will hasten my work in its time".
We have learned, through the university stakes, what to do when a member frequently moves about.
More important than this, there has been called a new echelon of leadership in the Church, the Regional Representatives of the Twelve, on whom it seems we must now depend.
Brother Kay A. Schwendiman, who gave the opening prayer, was recently called as a Regional Representative of the Twelve, with responsibility for Servicemen's Stake-Europe and other duties relating to servicemen.
These things have come by way of preparation, and we see the guiding hand of the Lord in them. The Lord does hasten his work in its time.
Presently we have 27 chaplains on active duty in the armed forces of the United States. We are drawing closer to these men. Many of them are here this evening. We held a special meeting with them yesterday.
Some of them and some reserve chaplains now serve on special task committees, fitting out, as it were, this "armor" of which we spoke earlier.
Steps have been taken to assure that servicemen will receive Church publications, including new ways of handling The Improvement Era. They are now mailed in individual envelopes. Pre-franked change of address cards are included. Similar attention is being given to the Church News.
The key to our servicemen's program is the home teacher. He visits the home and is accountable for those away in the military. He can assure that Church publications have been provided by the family or by the priesthood quorums.
In order that the home teacher can better do his work, the executive secretary of the ward priesthood executive committee was recently designated as the adviser to the bishopric on military relations. Through the home teachers he will determine who is serving and who may be called up for military service. This he will continually bring to the attention of the bishopric. Perhaps he will nudge the bishopric a bit to see that through the priesthood executive committee and the ward council everything that can be done will be done to secure our men in the military.
A recent letter from the First Presidency instructed stake presidents to call an executive secretary to the stake priesthood executive committee. His major responsibility is home teaching.
He is likewise the adviser to the stake presidency on military relations.
Through home teaching reports he remains constantly alert to the needs of men in the military service and those preparing to go.
He keeps the stake presidency alerted. As their "intelligence officer," he keeps them up against their job. They, through the stake priesthood executive committee and the stake council, may then take action to benefit their servicemen.
Three pilot seminars have been held for men who face call-up or have volunteered for military service. The first was in Oakland, one was in Idaho Falls, and one in Chicago, where some men already in basic training were invited.
With the assistance of the Regional Representatives of the Twelve, our chaplains, and others, these brethren were given intense training. It was as though they were being fitted up with the whole armor of God.
Some assessment of this training may be drawn from two letters. The first comes from a 19-year-old deacon who had attended the Oakland seminar.
"Hello, I finally got time to write after almost three weeks of training. It's just like the chaplains said it would be the seminar actually brought me much closer to the Church and explained my mission in the service. I'm going to try to not miss a single Sunday of church.
"I've been wondering if you could send me some information on what all has to be done in order to go through the temple or be married in the temple, because if it takes time, I'd like to start preparing now, so whenever I decide to get married, in about four years, I'll be a few steps ahead. I don't think there would be anything I'd want more than to be married in the temple.
"I'd be honored to be a missionary in a foreign country someday when I become qualified."
His desire for missionary service may come sooner than he knows. Listen to one of our chaplain's reports:
"I would like to report firsthand results of the pilot seminar for prospective servicemen...
"Four of the... servicemen were eventually assigned here for basic training... They were encouraged, inspired, and given a more full outlook as to what to expect in military service.
"Each has been most willing to assist with the sacrament services held for their areas. Pvt. Michael Paige, for example, was so inspired that he brought 15 friends with him to Church on Sunday, January 12. Since that date 12 have been baptized. All of these contacts have come from the four servicemen who were at the Oakland seminar."
It has now been determined that similar training will be given every member as he leaves his home to enter the military service. This training is not unlike the training given to a missionary. And we repeat, the serviceman deserves it quite as much and needs it infinitely more.
Instructions have already been given to the Regional Representatives of the Twelve. We therefore wish to alert the stake presidents, quorum leaders, bishops, the stake and ward executive secretaries, home teachers, and parents to look forward to the inauguration of the Churchwide program of these training seminars.
We can announce that the next one will be held in Salt Lake City on June 6, 7, and 8 for all men entering the military from Utah during the summer, and we suggest that the bishops in Utah look for their home teachers to supply them with information concerning the men who will be entering the military.
We do care about our men in the military. We return again in conclusion to the words of the Lord. They have much meaning to the young man who faces military service.
"Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up our loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand.
"Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you;
"Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked;
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agree as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also. Amen".
God bless our men in the military service and those who anticipate that call. The Church does love you. The Lord is guiding us in preparing help for you. Of this I bear witness, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion G. Romney
Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 107-111
This subject and this assignment have come to me because of the fact that the home teaching program with which I am connected has been assigned some responsibility with respect to the home evening program.
My objective is twofold: one, to call your attention to what the Lord has said about the responsibility of Church members to teach the gospel in the home, and two, to point out some things that can be done in the home through home teaching to inspire and encourage the members of the Church to hold and conduct home evenings in the home.
To endeavor to so instruct this great audience is indeed an awesome responsibility. Think of it for a moment. As mentioned by President Dyer today, there are perhaps 150,000 listening to this meeting, men and boys, every one of them holding an office in the priesthood of God. Each, by reason of accepting ordination, bears a divine charge to visit the homes of Church members and exhort them to attend to all family duties and to individual duties.
We have all heard of home teaching, and we have all heard of home evenings, but we do not all do home teaching, nor do we all hold home evenings, notwithstanding the fact that both of these activities are divinely instituted to help us teach the gospel in the home.
Because no one can be saved without a knowledge of the gospel, the Lord himself set the pattern as to how it should be taught in order that everyone can be taught. He himself came to his son Adam and taught him the gospel, and directed him to teach his children.
The record says that "Adam and Eve... made all things known unto their sons and their daughters".
They instructed their sons and daughters to follow their example. We know that the faithful ones of them did so, because we read that Jared, the sixth generation from Adam, taught his son "in all the ways of God". We know that the unfaithful did not teach their children, because the Lord said that the blood of those who were drowned in the flood would be required at the hands of their fathers. The basis on which the Lord holds the parents responsible for untaught children he explained to Ezekiel when he told him that when he gave notice and the watchmen did not warn the wicked that they would be destroyed, the blood would be required at the hands of the watchmen.
I have here the scriptures as to how Moses taught the children of Israel to teach their children, of how King Benjamin taught the people of the Book of Mormon days to teach their children, and so on down through the various dispensations. I shall not take time, because of the lateness of the hour, to go through these scriptures. Furthermore, the scriptures that are binding upon us are the ones the Lord has given us in these latter days. He has never required his people of one dispensation to rely solely upon the teachings he gave to former dispensations. But he has revealed his law, given his commandments anew in every dispensation. And in this dispensation the commandments that we are bound by are those in the Doctrine and Covenants.
In 1831, while the Prophet Joseph was "reviewing the commandments" to be sent to Zion, the Lord gave this instruction:
"... inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes... that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.
"For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized".
The Lord's follow-up on this commandment 18 months later must have shaken the presidency and bishop. Explaining that "every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning," but that because of their "disobedience... the tradition of their fathers... that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth." The Lord continued:
"But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth.
"But verily I say unto you, my servant Frederick G. Williams...
"You have not taught your children light and truth, according to the commandments; and that wicked one hath power, as yet, over you, and this is the cause of your affliction."
I wonder how many of us today are suffering afflictions because we fail to teach our children.
"And now a commandment I give unto you-if you will be delivered you shall set in order your own house, for there are many things that are not right in your house.
"Verily, I say unto my servant Sidney Rigdon, that in some things he hath not kept the commandments concerning his children; therefore, first set in order thy house.
"Verily, I say unto my servant Joseph Smith, Jun.,...
"You have not kept the commandments, and must needs stand rebuked before the Lord;
"Your family must needs repent and forsake some things, and give more earnest heed unto your sayings, or be removed out of their place...
"My servant Newel K. Whitney also a bishop of my church, hath need to be chastened, and set in order his family, and see that they are more diligent and concerned at home, and pray always, or they shall be removed out of their place".
The failure of parents to teach their children affects not only them and their children but whole civilizations.
Such failure contributed to the wickedness that brought on the flood; it contributed to the fall of ancient Israel, and to the destruction of the Book of Mormon peoples. I read recently that the renowned author "Edward Gibbon, back in 1788, set forth in his famous book, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,' five basic reasons why that great civilization withered and died," and that the first of these reasons was "the undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis for human society."
All our leaders in this dispensation have counseled parents to teach their children. The First Presidency of the Church, in 1915, advised and urged "the inauguration of a 'Home Evening' throughout the Church, at which time fathers and mothers may gather their boys and girls about them in the home, and teach them the words of the Lord...
"If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase, faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them".
I suppose this statement and the following I will read from President McKay give as good a definition of a home evening as we have in the scriptures. In April 1964, President McKay said: "No other success can compensate for failure in the home".
In 1965, as an aid to parents in teaching their children, the weekly Family Home Evening Program was inaugurated. Introducing the manual, President McKay said:
"These lessons for 'Teaching and Living the Gospel in the Home' are offered as helps for the weekly home evening.
"Earnestly we urge parents to gather their families around them, and to instruct them in truth and righteousness, and in family love and loyalty. The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place nor fulfill its essential functions. The problems of these difficult times cannot better be solved in any other place, by any other agency, by any other means, than by love and righteousness, and precept and example, and devotion to duty in the home".
Pursuant to this counsel, many families have adopted and faithfully pursued the Family Home Evening Program. Others have yet to move into it and qualify for the promised blessings.
Some of the things that can be done through home teaching-and this is really the purpose of this talk tonight to inspire obedience to the commandment to teach the gospel in the home, and particularly to hold the home evening as directed, are as follows:
To the stake presidents:
1. That under the leadership of the stake president, there be in every stake an evening-other than Sunday-designated and exclusively reserved as home evening. I recently heard a former stake president who said the bishops in the stake he had presided over did not even answer the telephone on this evening. When it rang, one of the children would gently say, "We are holding home evening. Are you?"
2. Let each stake president see to it that he himself regularly conducts a weekly home evening with his own family, and that he inspires each of his counselors, clerks, high councilors, and all members of his stake council to do likewise.
I had written in these remarks: It will be in order for Representatives of the Twelve to emphasize this matter in their regions. I was very happy day before yesterday to hear President Tanner tell these Regional Representatives directly to hold their own home evenings and then take it up with the stake presidents.
3. That in their monthly oral evaluations, stake presidents motivate bishops and branch presidents to implement the family home evening program in their own homes and in their wards and branches.
Now to the bishops:
4. Let every bishop and branch president not only conduct a weekly home evening with his own family, but also so teach, exhort, and inspire his counselors, clerks, and ward council members that they follow his example.
5. That in their monthly oral evaluations with their priesthood leaders, bishops and branch presidents accomplish three things: One, inspire these leaders to conduct home evenings with their own families. Two, motivate them to inspire home teachers to hold home evenings with their own families, and to encourage the families they visit to hold home evenings. Three, bishops should, at these interviews, receive a report from each priesthood leader on the status of home teaching in the families for whom he is responsible.
6. Let every home teacher regularly conduct with his own family the kind of a home evening he would be proud to have the families he visits use as an example, and carry into the homes of the families he is assigned to visit such teaching, encouragement, and spirit as will inspire them to observe home evening. The home teacher should also render a complete report on each of his families to his priesthood leader each month in their interviews.
Such is the care we must exercise, brethren, as we watch over the Church, if we are to prevail "against the wiles of the devil.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places".
The world is ripening in iniquity.
"... all flesh is corrupted before ... the powers of darkness prevail upon the earth".
Satan, our enemy, is making an all-out assault upon righteousness. His well-marshaled forces are legion. Our children and youth are the targets of his main thrust. They are everywhere subjected to wicked and vicious propaganda. Every place they turn, they are buffeted with evil, cunningly devised to deceive and to destroy every sacred thing and every righteous principle.
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is scoffed at. God, they are told, is dead. The principle of repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost are ridiculed.
Morality in general and chastity particularly are outmoded. Man-so our children are told-is an animal, the product of biological evolution; his generative powers are not sacred and God-given for the purpose of bringing God's spirit children into mortality, and therefore to be exercised within the limits divinely prescribed, as the gospel teaches, but they are playthings to be exploited and prostituted for the gratification of sensual and lustful desires. Courage, honesty, loyalty, patriotism, law and order-these and other elements of the divine nature are no longer revered as virtues.
If our children are to be sufficiently strengthened to stand against this satanic onslaught, they must be taught and trained in the home, as the Lord has directed.
Let every priesthood bearer, in the majesty and power of his calling, set in order his own house; let him regularly observe home evening and otherwise bring up his "children in light and truth"; let him accept a home teaching assignment and so faithfully visit, exhort, encourage, and inspire his families that they follow his example. Then will the children of Zion be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, and then will the Church begin to "arise and shine forth, that light may be a standard for the nations".
That every priesthood bearer will rise to the challenge given us by the Lord when he said, in the words already quoted by Brother Packer: "... gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand... that where I am ye shall be also", I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Hugh B. Brown
Hugh B. Brown, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 111-114
We have had two days of almost constant meetings. I know you are all rather weary at this hour, so I shall not take much time. I have enjoyed very much the meeting tonight; and realizing the numbers of men who are listening in, I am wondering if I can add a word. I hope we have taken to heart the very worthwhile and important messages that have been given by the brethren throughout the conference. Tonight especially, when President McKay had such an inspiring message for us, and then to hear these young boys respond to the call so well, so efficiently, so humbly, was an inspiration to all of us. To hear Elders Cahoon, Packer, and Romney discuss their special assignments is a challenge to every man who holds the priesthood.
I was especially impressed when Elder Packer mentioned military men. I have had a little experience in that field, and I think I would like to tell you a story with relation to it, a story that may be not so well known here in the United States because it happened in Canada.
First, I think I would like to say to the young men who are listening and who are present that I wish you would cultivate a sense of humor.
In the army while in the first world war, one of our boys who was a pretty good fighter was challenged in England to a fight. This young man, our Mormon boy, had the habit of smiling all the way through a fight. One of the men whom he was pitted against was champion, and during the fight he said to his attendants between rounds, "I can't lick that guy unless I can knock that grin off of his face." He was not able to do it. That smile represented a courage of cold steel, and the Mormon boy won the battle.
Now as to the story: In 1906 the government of Canada passed a law that was known as the Militia Act, comparable to the home guard here. They sent out into all the provinces a call for men to take training preparatory to what Lord Roberts said was sure to come, a world war. A young man was sent to Cardston to recruit some of our men. This young fellow was the son of a prominent military man. He had been raised with a silver spoon in his mouth, evidently. He was one of those fellows who had a jaunty moustache and a little swagger stick, and he wore a monocle, a one-eye glass. He was a most objectionable fellow in the eyes of our young men. In fact, his monocle reminds me of another story.
I was standing one day between Picadilly Circus and Leicester Square talking to an American officer during the first world war. We saw a man coming down the sidewalk with his hat on one side, swinging a swagger stick, a Charlie Chaplin moustache, and a monocle. I said to the officer, "I wonder why those fellows wear a one-eye glass instead of two."
"Well," he said, "I'll tell you. A guy like that can see more with one eye than he can comprehend."
Well, such was the man who came out to recruit the Mormon boys. He spent two weeks in Cardston. He was sent out to organize a squadron of mounted men. He did not get one recruit during that two weeks. A lot of them came in and responded to his call, but did not sign up. He went back to Ottawa and reported the Mormons were disloyal and ought to be expelled from Canada.
The member of parliament from our district at that time was W. A. Buchanan, who knew our people very well. The matter was taken to the floor of the parliament, and considerable agitation was whipped up. Mr. Buchanan arose and said, "If you will allow some of their own men to become officers, you will get all the Mormon boys you want."
The government finally accepted his recommendation, and they sent word out to President Edward J. Wood to appoint some men to go and take training, which he did. I happened to be one who was called in by President Wood and called on a three-year mission, to go to Calgary and take training as a militia officer.
While I was in training, a young Mormon boy came into the camp. He was awkward. He was not educated very well, but he was a young Mormon boy who had been taught to live the gospel. After one parade, when he had gone through everything backwards, he was called by the captain to come into his office. The captain said, "I have noticed you, young fellow. You are from Cardston, aren't you?"
He said, "Yes, sir."
"You are a Mormon, I suppose."
"Yes, sir."
"Well, I just wanted to make friends with you. Will you have a glass of beer?"
"Sir, I do not drink liquor."
The captain said, "The ________ you don't. Maybe you will have a cigar then."
He said, "Thank you, sir, but I do not smoke."
The captain seemed much annoyed by this, and he dismissed the boy from the room.
When the young man went back to his quarters, some of the lesser officers accosted him angrily and said, "You fool, don't you realize the captain was trying to make a friend of you, and you insulted him to his face?"
The young Mormon boy answered, "Gentlemen, if I must be untrue to my ideals and my people and do things that I have been instructed all my life I should not do, I'll quit the army."
When the time came for the final examinations in that camp, the captain sent this young man down to Calgary from Sarcee Camp to do some work for him, and they were having examinations while he was gone. When he returned the captain said, "Now you go in the other room there, and I will give you the list of questions, and you can write your examination."
He went in and returned and said, "Sir, all the books we have studied are there on that desk. Surely you don't want me to write my examination there where I can turn to those books."
The captain said, "That is just what I do want. I know from my knowledge of you that you will not open a one of those books. You will be honorable, you will be honest, and I trust you."
Well, that young man, while overseas later on in the war, was sent for by his captain, who had then become a lieutenant colonel, in response to a call from general headquarters for the best man he had in his battalion. They had a special mission for him to perform. They said, "We don't care anything about his education or his training. We want a man who can't be broken when put under test. We want a man of character." The lieutenant colonel, his former captain, selected and assigned this young man who had the courage to stand before him and say, "I do not smoke. I do not drink."
I cite that as a type of thing that happens sometimes in military life, and because Brother Packer spoke of the military, it reminded me of it.
Well, at the end of the training period we organized a squadron and took them to Calgary in the years 1912-14, when, as you know, the first world war broke out, Canada and England having been in the war for some years before the United States came in. Our Mormon boys made a great name for themselves, both in Canada and overseas.
When is success a failure?
Brethren, there are many things that could be said on an occasion of this kind, but most of them have been said, so I will not detain you. I would like to bring to your attention, though, one or two paragraphs that might be helpful. I hope they will. This is entitled "When Is Success a Failure?"
"When you are doing the lower while the higher is possible, When you are not a cleaner, finer, larger man on account of your work, When you live only to eat and drink, have a good time, and accumulate money, then success is a failure. When you do not carry a higher wealth in your character than in your pocketbook, When the attainment of your ambition has blighted the aspirations and crushed the hopes of others, When hunger for more money, more land, more houses and bonds has grown to be your dominant passion, When your profession has made you a physical wreck-a victim of 'nerves' and moods, When your absorption in your work has made you practically a stranger to your family, When your greed for money has darkened and cramped your wife's life, and deprived her of self-expression, of needed rest and recreation, of amusement of any kind, When all sympathy and fellowship have been crushed out of your life by selfish devotion to your vocation, When you do not overtop your vocation, when you are not greater as a man than as a lawyer, a merchant, a physician or a scientist, When you plead that you have never had time to cultivate your friend- ships, your politeness, or your good manners, When you have lost on your way your self-respect, your courage, your self-control, or any other quality of manhood, then success has been a failure."
Let us take that to heart, brethren, and remember that each of us is being tested, just as the finest cars and planes are tested before they are put into service. They are tested for weaknesses; they are tested for flaws. Can you stand the test? At the bar the Judge will not look us over for medals, degrees, or diplomas, but for scars. Let us resolve that there will be no stains. Let every young man who holds the priesthood stand himself up against the wall and look himself over and ask himself to reply honestly, "What kind of a man are you really? You make a pretty good showing at times, but what is in your heart?" Talk to yourself along that line, brethren, and then put your lives in order.
You young men who are going into the service are going to come up against some terrible temptations and some real tests of courage. God bless you that your priesthood may enable you to measure up to any responsibility that is placed upon you.
We are living in very difficult times. They are ominous times. They are times when men are getting discouraged. Many references have been made to these things during this conference.
I would like to leave with you a poem on what the future portends:
"You that have faith to look with fearless eyes Upon the tragedy of a world at strife, And know that out of death and night Shall rise the dawn of amplier life, Rejoice, whatever anguish rend the heart, That God has given you the priceless dower To live in these great times and have your part In freedom's crowning hour; That you may tell your sons who see the light, High in the heavens, their heritage to take, I saw the powers of darkness take their flight; I saw the morning break."
Then look forward with courage and faith, remembering that unless we have been true, unless we have kept the faith, unless we have kept clean, unless we have done the things that we know we ought to do, then we will fail in this great test.
I must close by drawing your attention to a very familiar section of the Doctrine and Covenants:
"... the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and... the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
"That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
"Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.
"We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion...
"Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
"The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever".
God bless you, my brethren. I leave with you my own testimony as to the divinity of this work. God has been so good to me as to make known to me, in ways that I cannot explain, that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God. I know that he is the Redeemer of this world. I have been close enough to him to get from him a convincing testimony of that fact, which has been sealed upon my soul. I leave you this testimony, and I say, as Peter of old said in answer to the question, "Whom say ye that I am?" "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God". I know it. I know it better than I know anything else, and for that knowledge I am grateful to him. I would like to continue faithful to the end if I can.
God bless you now as you go to your homes. Set your houses in order. Set your lives in order, for you are going to be tested as men heretofore have not been tested, and you will make good in proportion as you build character, as you do the things you know you ought to do, deprive yourself of the things you know you should not have, and yield obedience to the commandments of God.
"If a man is primarily after wealth, the world can whip him. If he is primarily after pleasure, the world can beat him. But if a man is primarily growing character, then he can capitalize on anything that life does to him. How much a man owns depends on the height and breadth and depth of his mind and soul and not on his bank account."
May his peace and blessing be with you all, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President N. Eldon Tanner
N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 116-120
On behalf of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the other General Authorities, I wish to extend a warm welcome to our radio and television audiences to join with us here in this historic Tabernacle on Temple Square this lovely Easter morning.
We are commemorating today the greatest event that has ever taken place in the history of mortal man: the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Creator of the world, who came and gave his life for us and was resurrected. The fact that Christ rose from the dead has made secure the resurrection of all mankind from the grave and offers an opportunity for them to return to their Father in heaven. Yes, all sons and daughters of Adam and Eve are to be resurrected, raised from the dead and each shall enjoy the glory for which he has prepared himself.
The birth, life, death and resurrection, and the message of our Lord and Savior is the central theme of all scripture-the Old Testament, the New Testament, and our latter-day scriptures, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. What would the scriptures be without this message? All other things lose their meaning and purpose and fade into insignificance.
Joseph Smith, the Prophet, said: "The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimonies of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it".
In fact, without this great message of the Redeemer, we are left without a purpose, without an anchor, and without hope.
As the Christian world commemorates the crucifixion and resurrection of our Savior, who is the source of Christianity, I should like to review some of the predictions and events surrounding this most important occasion. Centuries before the crucifixion of the Savior, the psalmist wrote:
"... the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
"They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture".
Also centuries before, Isaiah said:
"... he hath poured out his soul unto death:... and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors".
Long before the birth of Christ, Alma was asked: "What does this mean which Amulek hath spoken concerning the resurrection of the dead, that all shall rise from the dead, both the just and the unjust, and are brought to stand before God to be judged according to their works?".
In his discourse following this question, Alma explained: "... it meaneth the reuniting of the soul with the body".
Jesus also predicted his death and resurrection time and again as he went about his mission. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John record such statements as: "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world".
Again: "... he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
"But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him".
Christ himself, however, clearly understood the purpose of his mission and what would happen; and as the time approached, he was very much concerned. As he felt the time pressing upon him he prayed:
"... Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
"Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again".
Let us try to visualize what took place as Christ was with his apostles at the Passover.
"And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.
"And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I?...
"And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish".
Following this they went out into the Mount of Olives and came to a place called Gethsemane. Leaving his disciples there, he took with him Peter, James, and John, "And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
"And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
"And he said... Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt".
As he returned to Peter, James, and John, who were not fully aware of what was taking place, he found them asleep. He left them a second and third time and prayed the same words, but each time as he returned he found them asleep again. Finding them asleep the third time, he said: "Sleep on now, and take your rest... the hour is come". How alone he must have felt!
Immediately following this we see Judas Iscariot betraying his Master with a kiss. We remember how he was led away to the high priests and how there he was falsely accused, but the witnesses disagreed. When he answered that he was Christ, the Son of God, they ridiculed him, spat upon him, and struck him and told him to prophesy. "... And they all condemned him to be guilty of death".
As the Jews could not impose the death penalty in the Sanhedrin, he was taken to Pilate. Pilate said, after questioning him, "I find no fault in this man". The multitude then renewed their demand for his crucifixion. Pilate, learning he was a Galilean, sent him to Herod, but Herod sent him back, not knowing what judgment to pass. Pilate again began to examine Jesus. At least three times he pleaded with the multitude to release Jesus instead of Barabbas, who was guilty of murder, but each time they said, "... release unto us Barabbas," and when he asked concerning Jesus, they cried, "Crucify him".
It is interesting to note that Pilate finally took water, "and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person see ye to it.
"Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children".
As he was turned over to be crucified, he was scourged, and a wreath of thorns was placed upon his head. In his agony, as he was hanging on the cross, the Savior cried out in his Godlike manner, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do".
Also, while hanging on the cross, he made this very significant statement to one of the thieves who pleaded for mercy: "... To day shalt thou be with me in paradise".
While he lay in the tomb, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate, "Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
"Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
"Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can".
Try to imagine how heavyhearted, discouraged, and gloomy the apostles' and others who had followed Jesus were as they realized their leader had been crucified. They were left alone, in doubt, confused, not knowing what to do. Though they had been with him and had listened to his words, they had not understood him when he said he would rise again. They thought their cause was lost. Peter said, "I go a fishing." Others said, "We also go with thee". They were prepared to go back to their old vocations.
Let us review briefly some of the visual demonstrations that were given in the early days following the resurrection, or the irrefutable evidence of the fact that he was literally resurrected.
In the early morning of the third day Mary Magdalene and others came to the tomb with the idea of preparing the body for a proper burial. How surprised, fearful, and perplexed they were to find the tomb was empty. An angel who was in the tomb said: "Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said".
They were told to go and tell the disciples, and also told that the risen Lord had gone to Galilee, where they would see him. Imagine their fear and great joy! On the way, Jesus appeared to them. They then hurried and reported their experience to the apostles, who doubted what they said. But Peter and John hastened to the sepulchre and found it to be true. Later two of the disciples, traveling to Emmaus, saw and talked to him. That same evening the apostles were sitting together and recounting the happenings of the day when suddenly the Savior stood among them, and said:
"Peace be unto you.
"But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
"And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
"Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
"And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet".
Thomas, who was not present on the first occasion, when told of the appearance refused to believe. A week later Christ appeared again to the eleven, including Thomas. When the Lord spoke, "... Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
"Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed".
Later he appeared to over five hundred persons, most of whom were still living when Paul bore his testimony that he had been visited by Christ and called to his ministry.
Two other very important occasions on which the risen Lord appeared were on this the American continent. We read in the Book of Mormon that, as the Lamanite prophet, Samuel, had predicted concerning the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, there was darkness for the space of three days over the face of the land, and there was great and terrible destruction. Cities were destroyed, many persons were killed, and great was their terror and mourning, as they were heard to say: "O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out; then would our mothers and our fair daughters, and our children have been spared".
Following this great destruction multitudes of the people who were saved gathered together around the temple in the land Bountiful. They heard a voice, as if it came out of heaven, but did not understand until it spoke a third time, saying: "Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name-hear ye him".
And then they saw a man descending out of heaven. He showed them his hands and his feet, and said: "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.
"... I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning."
At his invitation, the multitude went forth... and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come".
Then we have the testimony of our modern-day prophet, Joseph Smith, 1,800 years following the crucifixion and resurrection. He says that as he was kneeling in the grove in prayer, "... I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.
"... When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!".
Here we have the testimony of a young man in this dispensation who actually saw and talked with the risen Lord, and who, as some of the prophets of old, sealed his testimony with his blood. These are the testimonies of only a few of those who knew and followed him.
There are many, many in the world today, however, who find it hard to believe that there was a literal resurrection, and though the testimonies and evidences before them are irrefutable, it is difficult for them to believe because they do not understand just how it could take place. It leaves them as Thomas-doubting, because they have not seen.
We all know that there are many, many things in science which we do not understand, but which we must and do accept. Where would we be if the laws of nature and the laws of God were limited to man's understanding? We have been admonished: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding".
How much wiser we would be to accept the word of the Lord, the Creator of the world, and his teachings, and prepare ourselves for immortality and eternal life through accepting by faith those things we cannot understand. Our faith should be strengthened by the testimonies of all those who saw and talked with Christ, both in Jerusalem and here on the American continent.
How can anyone believe that these stories were concocted or are figments of the imagination, when there were so many predictions and testimonies of the prophets and others, living in different lands and at different times, all testifying and telling the same story about the same individual? The stories have to be true. What comfort and joy and security it gives to those who believe what Christ and his prophets have told us about death and the resurrection.
Christ said of his mission here upon the earth: "... this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man". He further stated:
"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die".
He also said:
"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
"And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation".
The time is fast approaching when death and the resurrection will come to every one of us. What must we do to come forth unto the resurrection of life and not to the resurrection of damnation? How do we take upon us his name? What do we do to come unto the Father by him? His answer was clear and simple: Repent and be baptized and believe the gospel, and "If ye love me, keep my commandments".
What is the gospel? It is the good news which the Savior brought and which he taught during his ministry. His gospel has been restored and is being taught today in his Church by those who have been called, just as he called his disciples, to go throughout the world and proclaim his message of peace and goodwill toward all men.
Every living soul should be earnestly striving to learn the teachings of the gospel and how to live them, thus making it possible to gain immortality and eternal life. May we accept these truths, follow his teachings, and enjoy the blessings of the faithful.
It is my testimony that he lives, and that his Church is upon the earth today, and is being directed through his chosen Prophet; that the prophecies of the scriptures will all be fulfilled, and that, as we are told, "... this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven".
May we prepare ourselves to meet him when he comes again, and prove ourselves worthy to dwell with him forever when we have finished our work upon the earth, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 121-123
My dear brethren and sisters:
Here we are at another general conference. I am sure we are all very happy that we can attend, and we welcome all those who are listening in. I hope and pray that the Lord will bless me in what I may say.
Procrastination, as it may be applied to gospel principles, is the thief of eternal life, which is life in the presence of the Father and the Son. There are many among us, even members of the Church, who feel that there is no need for haste in the observance of gospel principles and the keeping of the commandments.
Nephi wrote of the people of the last days: "Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.
"And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God-he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God".
Do not think that this was said of the world, or even the "stranger... within our gates". It is said of members of the Church. Moreover, Nephi warns us that in the last days there will be many who will follow Satan. I could go on and read more from Second Nephi, but I am going to give you the chapter and verse so when you go home, get out your Book of Mormon and read Second Nephi, Chapter 28, verses 20-29.
We are living in the last days. Have we not heard individuals talk as Nephi said they would? Are there not many who excuse themselves and lull themselves to sleep in "carnal security", thinking that the Lord will overlook their little sins? Are there not those among us who are denying the power of the devil, and who deny that there is a devil? Do they not "spiritualize" the torments of hell and say there is no hell? Have you not heard these things taught? In this manner, Satan is raging in the hearts of the people, and members of the Church do not entirely escape his cunning sophistries!
Bad habits are easily formed, but not so easily broken. Are we yielding to our evil habits, thinking they are only trifles after all, and we will get rid of them in the grave? Do we expect that our bodies will be cleansed in the grave, and we shall come forth with perfect end sanctified bodies in the resurrection? There are some among us who teach such things and excuse themselves for their practices, saying that they will be cleansed in the grave.
Alma taught a very different doctrine. He said to Corianton: "Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.
"For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all".
The Savior also said, "... with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again". Some think that a little punishment will not be so bad, and they are willing to take a chance and suffer for their offenses rather than keep the commandments of the Lord, as we are instructed. If they are able to escape with a "few stripes", they may consider themselves fortunate. But let us remember that sin must be atoned for. Restitution must be made; we will have to pay the price if we refuse to repent and to receive the blessings of the gospel.
Punishment is not easy to bear, especially when the conscience is troubled. Who could be happy in suffering, and all the while be thinking that the suffering had come because of a willful, or persistent, breaking of the commandments of God, when knowledge and counsel had been given to walk in righteousness? What will the sinner think in that day when he has learned repentance for willful rebellion, and realizes that the great suffering of our Lord in love made it unnecessary for him so to suffer if he had accepted Christ and his work?
Our Eternal Father has prepared three great kingdoms into which the souls of men will go. It is not the purpose here to discuss these kingdoms. In passing, it is only necessary to say that in the telestial will go all those who have not been true: those who have professed and who have not performed; the liars, sorcerers, adulterers, and all who refuse to walk in ways of truth. Into the terrestrial will go all those who are honorable, who have been morally clean, but who would not receive the gospel; also those who die without law.
To enter the celestial and obtain exaltation, it is necessary that the whole law be kept. The word of the Lord is as follows:
"Therefore, it must needs be sanctified from all unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for the celestial glory...
"And they who are not sanctified through the law which I have given unto you, even the law of Christ, must inherit another kingdom, even that of a terrestrial kingdom, or that of a telestial kingdom".
To become sanctified, there are certain definite covenants we must keep in faithfulness, living by "every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God". "They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial...
"That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;
"And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true". And they who are not scaled by the Holy Spirit of promise and who are not just and true need not expect these great blessings.
No person can begin too early to serve the Lord. Parents are instructed to teach their children from infancy, with the warning that they will be held accountable if they fail to do so. If a child is taught in righteousness from birth, it will most likely be a follower of righteousness always. They who refuse to seek the Lord early are forsaken in the hour of their trouble. Read the history of Israel, of the Nephites. How often when they rebelled were they punished! How slow was the Lord to hear their cries when trouble came upon them because of their sins!
"They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; therefore, the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble". So spake the Lord to modern Israel.
Do you desire to enter into the celestial kingdom and receive eternal life? Then be willing to keep all of the commandments the Lord may give you. Baptism and confirmation are the ordinances by which we come into the kingdom of God. But these ordinances of themselves will not grant us a place of exaltation.
Each person baptized into the Church is under obligation to keep the commandments of the Lord. He is under covenant, for baptism is a "new and an everlasting covenant". When he has proved himself by a worthy life, having been faithful in all things required of him, then it is his privilege to receive other covenants and to take upon himself other obligations that will make of him an heir, and he will become a member of the "Church of the Firstborn". "They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things." He will receive of the Father's fullness and of his glory. Is this worth having? It cannot be obtained without some effort.
We frequently hear quoted these words of the Lord to Joseph Smith: "It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance". In ignorance of what? The philosophies of the world? No! In ignorance of the gospel truths-the saving principles and ordinances by which salvation comes! These must not only be understood, but they must be lived. Knowledge of them will not in itself save us. Obedience thereto will. And then will come the fullness of knowledge, bringing with it wisdom, power, and dominion. And the fullness of these blessings can only be obtained in the temple of the Lord.
We are told that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
"Also, I give unto you a commandment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth.
"And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom".
Do not let us forget the words of Alma: "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
"And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
"Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world".
The Lord is always merciful and kind. If we draw near unto him, he will draw near unto us. "... seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you".
Our chief trouble is that we do not seek diligently. Our seeking is superficial; we seem to think the Lord is bound to hear us without our putting forth much effort. Let diligence and love be our guides, and we shall find the path of eternal life.
May we all heed these warnings, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen.
Elder A. Theodore Tuttle
A. Theodore Tuttle, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 124-126
My dear brethren and sisters:
You may have experienced traveling through a canyon on a narrow mountain road during a storm. Cloudy, foggy conditions, with rain blowing hard against the windshield, make driving perilous at best. Suddenly the windshield wipers lose their synchronization and begin to fight one another. Only momentarily can they clear the windshield. The person with you is no help. He can likewise see only sideways.
Now, while this is not like losing the motor or a wheel, you are obviously in serious trouble. You have either to stop and wait for the fury of the storm to cease or to proceed on a perilous mountain road in extreme danger-because you cannot see clearly.
The whole world is in such a storm. Dark clouds hover all around. International turmoil, domestic social conditions, and the usual family problems, all seemed solvable before. Now, in the fury of our times, they close in upon us and threaten our safe journey. Present conditions make it impossible to see the way clearly.
However, unlike driving, we have not the alternative to stop living and wait for the storm clouds to lift. We must face life's tempest. Robert Frost spoke a truth when he said, "The only way out is through."
Crime is soaring. Disobedience and lawlessness increase. Modesty is disappearing. Drunkenness and immorality run rampant. The forces of evil with sinister intent strike directly at the very vitals of society-the home and our children. Values are distorted. Debauchery and evil mock virtue. Hardly anything is now sacred. The world lieth in sin.
You may be surprised to learn that even admitting all of this, I have a calm assurance in my soul. All is not, nor will it be, lost. This peace that speaks to my heart has not removed life's problems, but it gives courage to face them.
May I share with you some of the things that I know that give me positive assurance:
I know that Jesus was born of Mary; that he grew to manhood as "the carpenter's son"; that he did his Father's will while he walked the earth.
I know that he taught men the right way to live; and more, that he lived a perfect life, that he was the example of all that he taught.
I know that he took upon himself the sins of all men and wrought an atonement for them that we can claim by obedience to his laws.
He was taken and crucified on Calvary's hill.
He died that we might live.
I know that he broke the bonds of death, rose from the grave the third day, and appeared unto many.
I know that he lives today.
There is other knowledge equally important. I testify that God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, in the year 1820, appeared to a young man, Joseph Smith. Regarding this marvelous manifestation Joseph Smith wrote:
"... I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.
"It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other- This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!".
On another occasion, in 1832, Sidney Rigdon was with the Prophet Joseph. Together they received a heavenly manifestation recorded thus:
"And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
"For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father".
On yet another occasion in 1836, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, after arising from solemn and silent prayer, explained: "... the following vision was opened to both of us".
"The veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened.
"We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber.
"His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:
"I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father".
I know these things are true. The significant thing, however, is that you also can know for yourself! You can know by following the prescribed process-adhere to the gospel principles that the Savior taught.
Let me tell you what this testimony and knowledge means. It brings peace and confidence and calm assurance. It stimulates right conduct. It fosters repentance from sin. This assurance does not mean inactivity; rather, it generates positive action. It motivates Christian acts of kindness. It opens channels to heavenly power.
Do you realize that the power of God is available in this Church today as it was with the apostles of old?
In the midst of the turmoil we presently face, how would you like to have someone take you by the hand as it were and lift you up and guide you? How would you like to hear a prophet's voice give continued heaven-inspired guidance? How would you like to belong to a divinely organized church that provides a family-oriented program to help you teach your family correctly? Where is a family that could not use this kind of assistance today?
It ought to mean something to you that while many other churches are closing their doors for lack of attendance, one of the most pressing problems of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to provide sufficient meeting halls for growth and expansion. This church invites your investigation.
The unique position of being the restored Church appeals to people of wisdom and reason-people who are seeking for the truth. This church has particular appeal to men. If you could see this congregation here this morning, you would know it attracts men-men of capacity and stature in the work of the world. Here are husbands and fathers who receive guidance from this great church to unify and bless their homes.
Here are men who come to listen to a prophet's counsel. They seek direction in these troubled times from a seer. A seer is one who sees. We have not been disappointed. The prophet has said:
1. Strengthen the home.
2. Youth, keep yourselves pure and virtuous. Intelligent home building begins in your teens. It is the chief factor to a happy home.
3. Marriage is ordained of God. Guard the sacredness of your marriage vow.
4. Marriage is a sacred obligation and a covenant that is eternal or that may be made eternal. The bearing and rearing of children is the highest of all human duties.
"Where there is no vision, the people perish". We have been given the vision. We have been instructed.
Preparation dispels fear
Speaking of the great tribulations to come in the latter days, the Lord gave this assurance: "... my people will I preserve".
Later he counseled: "... if ye are prepared ye shall not fear".
And again he has promised: "But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come". I believe in that promise.
I am grateful to be a member of the Church of which the Lord by his own voice has declared: "... the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased".
As a member of this church I have full confidence in "the prophecies and promises which... shall all be fulfilled".
I know that if we will follow the counsel from these brethren, we can be prepared, and we need not fear. We can make our way along the road of life safely.
And I know that by doing the works of righteousness, we can all have peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 126-129
The vast throng assembled in the Tabernacle this Easter morning is a beautiful sight. I recognize among you those who have traveled great distances to be at the conference-even from far-off Australia.
The flight from Brisbane, Australia, to San Francisco is a long one. There is time to read, time to sleep, and time to ponder and think. As a passenger on this flight, I was awakened by the calm, resonant sound of the pilot's voice as he announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, we're now passing over the Coral Sea, scene of the great sea battle of World War II."
Through the cabin window I could see billowy white clouds, and far below, the azure blue of the vast Pacific. My thoughts turned to the events of that fateful eighth day of May in 1942 when the mammoth aircraft carrier Lexington slipped to its final resting place on the ocean floor. Twenty-seven hundred and thirty-five sailors scrambled to safety. Others were not so fortunate. One who went down with his ship was my boyhood friend, Arthur Patton.
May I tell you about Arthur? He had blond, curly hair and a smile as big as all outdoors. Arthur stood taller than any boy in the class. I suppose this is how he was able to fool the recruiting officers and enlist in the Navy at the tender age of 15. To Arthur and most of the boys, the war was a great adventure. I remember how striking he appeared in his navy uniform. How we wished we were older, or at least taller, so we too could enlist.
Youth is a very special time of life. As Longfellow wrote:
"How beautiful is youth! How bright it gleams With its illusions, aspirations, dreams! Book of Beginnings, Story without End, Each maid a heroine, and each man a friend!"
Arthur's mother was so proud of the blue star that graced her living room window. It represented to every passerby that her son wore the uniform of his country. When I would pass the house, she often opened the door and invited me in to read the latest letter from Arthur. Her eyes would fill with tears, and I would then be asked to read aloud. Arthur meant everything to his widowed mother. I can still picture Mrs. Patton's coarse hands a, she would carefully replace the letter in its envelope. These were honest hands that bore the worker's seal. Mrs. Patton was a cleaning woman-a janitress for a downtown office building Each day of her life except Sundays she could be seen walking up the sidewalk, pail and brush in hand, her gray hair combed in a tight bob, her shoulders weary from work and stooped with age.
Then came the Battle of the Coral Sea, the sinking of the Lexington, and the death of Arthur Patton. The blue star was taken from its hallowed spot in the front window. It was replaced by one of gold. A light went out in the life of Mrs. Patton. She groped in utter darkness and deep despair.
With a prayer in my heart, I approached the familiar walkway to the Patton home, wondering what words of comfort could come from the lips of a mere boy.
The door opened, and Mrs. Patton embraced me as she would her own son. Home became a chapel, as a grief-stricken mother and a less-than-adequate boy knelt in prayer.
Arising from our knees, Mrs. Patton gazed into my eyes and spoke: "Tom, I belong to no church, but you do. Tell me, will Arthur live again?"
Time dims the memory of that conversation. The present whereabouts of Mrs. Patton is not known to me; but, Mrs. Patton, wherever you are, from the backdrop of my personal experience, I should like to once more answer your question, "Will Arthur live again?"
I suppose we could say that this is a universal question, for who has not at a time of bereavement pondered the same thought?
Death leaves in its cruel wake shattered dreams, unfulfilled ambitions, crushed hopes. In our helplessness, we turn to others for assurance. Men of letters and leaders of renown can express their beliefs, but they cannot provide definitive answers.
The dim light of belief must yield to the noonday sun of revelation. We turn backward in time, that we might go forward with hope. Back, back beyond the silent generation, the beat generation, the lost generation. Back, back beyond the Space Age, the Computer Age, the Industrial Age. Back, back to him who walked the dusty paths of villages we now reverently call the Holy Land, to him who caused the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, and the dead to live, to him who tenderly and lovingly assured us, "I am the way, the truth, and the life".
The plan of life and an explanation of its eternal course come to us from the Master of heaven and earth, even Jesus Christ the Lord. To understand the meaning of death, we must appreciate the purpose of life.
In this dispensation, the Lord declared: "And now, verify I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father and am the Firstborn". "Man was also in the beginning with God". Jeremiah the prophet recorded, "... the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee... I knew thee; and before thou camest forth I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations".
From that majestic world of spirits we enter the grand stage of life even to prove ourselves obedient to all things commanded of God. During mortality we grow from helpless infancy to inquiring childhood and then to reflective maturity. We experience joy and sorrow, fulfillment and disappointment, success and failure; taste the sweet, yet sample the bitter. This is mortality.
Then to each life comes the experience known as death. None is exempt. All must pass its portals. Death claims the aged, the weary and worn. It visits the youth in the bloom of hope and glory of expectation. Nor are the little children kept beyond its grasp. In the words of the apostle Paul: "... it is, appointed unto men once to die".
To most, there is something sinister and mysterious about this unwelcome visitor called death. Perhaps it is a fear of the unknown that causes many to dread his coming.
Arthur Patton died quickly. Others linger. Not long ago I held the thin hand of a youth as he approached the brink of eternity. "I know I am dying," he said touchingly. "What follows death?"
I turned to the scriptures and read to him:
"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it".
"... there is a time appointed unto men that they shall rise from the dead; and there is a space between the time of death and the resurrection....
"... concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection-Behold... the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body... are taken home to that God who gave them life".
To me, the lad said, "Thank you." To my Heavenly Father I said silently, "Thank thee, oh God, for truth."
Mrs. Patton, do not grieve as you think of your boy in the depths of the Pacific or question how God's purposes can be fulfilled. Remember the words of the psalmist: "If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
"Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me".
God has not forsaken you, Mrs. Patton. He sent his Only Begotten Son into the world to teach us by example the life we should live. His Son died upon the cross to redeem all mankind. His words to the grieving Martha and to his disciples today bring comfort to you: "... I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die".
"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
"... I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also".
Mrs. Patton, the testimonies of John the revelator and Paul the apostle are also significant to you. John recorded: "... I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God...
"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it".
Paul declared: "... as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive".
Until the glorious resurrection morning, we walk by faith. "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face".
Jesus invites you, Mrs. Patton, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls".
Such knowledge will sustain you in your heartache. You will never be in the tragic situation of the disbeliever who, having lost a son, was heard to say, as she watched the casket lowered into mother earth, "Good-bye, my boy. Good-bye forever." Rather, with head erect, courage undaunted, and faith unwavering, you can lift your eyes as you look beyond the gently breaking waves of the blue Pacific and whisper, "Good-bye, Arthur, my precious son. Good-bye-until we meet again."
And the words of Tennyson may come to you as though spoken by your boy:
"Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea...
"Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark;
"For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crossed the bar." -"Crossing the Bar"
Mrs. Patton, Arthur lives!
To the words of the poet I add the testimony of a witness. Mrs. Patton, God our Father is mindful of you. Through sincere prayer you can communicate with him. He, too, had a son who died, even Jesus Christ the Lord. He is our advocate with the Father, the Prince of Peace, our Savior and Divine Redeemer. One day we shall see him face to face.
In his blessed name I declare to you the solemn and sacred truth: Oh, Mrs. Patton, Arthur lives! In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Harold B. Lee
Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 129-133
In the spirit of that beautiful hymn which has been something of a dedication to this glorious session, I seek for the spirit which has actuated this conference thus far.
Today, I would take as something of a text the words of our Savior and Redeemer just prior to his betrayal, as recorded in the Gospel of John.
"These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
"As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent".
Some questions being asked today have recalled these and other scriptures.
One man asked: How can one find God?
To him I gave a hurried answer. One finds God in the same way he finds anything-by searching. The Master had answered to a similar question: "If any man will do his will, he shall know".
Another man wrote: "If a member cannot believe the concept that God himself was once as we are now, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens," is this justification for excommunication from the Church? This, he has quoted, was from a statement made by the Prophet Joseph Smith in a funeral sermon delivered in Nauvoo, Illinois, shortly before his martyrdom, in about 1844.
In answering this man's question, I must hasten to assure him that the question of his Church membership and his worthiness to continue as a member must be left to the determination of local Church authorities charged with the responsibility of making that decision.
I would rather be concerned in an attempt to enlarge his views and his understanding as to the true concept of that glorified being whom all so-called Christians worship as God, our Heavenly Father.
The reasoning of Joseph Smith, in the partial statement from which he has quoted, "that God was once as we are now," is given additional strength if our brother will recall the words of the Master: "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do; for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise".
When we consider the fact that our Lord and Master, Jesus of Nazareth one of the Godhead, came to tabernacle in mortality, then this quoted statement, taken literally, is of great significance.
The scriptures make it plain to the student of these sacred writings that there are three personages in the Godhead: God, the Eternal Father, also known as the Father of our spirits, his Son, Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, even Jehovah, and the Holy Ghost?
We are told in an inspired explanation that "the Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as mans; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit".
Surely one must stop and ponder deeply the biblical account of the creation, where God declared: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness".
And later, after Adam's act of transgression, the Lord God said to one other who was with him: "Behold, the man is become as one of us".
If man, then, was created after the image and likeness of his glorified Creator, and afterward man became as one with those who had created him, then the doubts in my friend's mind must begin to be resolved, and he can then come to see the grandeur of this greater concept of the living God whom we worship.
Commenting on this same teaching, President Brigham Young had this to say: "... it must be that God knows something about temporal things, and has had a body and been on an earth; were it not so He would not know how to judge men righteously, according to the temptations and sins they have had to contend with".
The sacred writings of the prophets speak of an exalted state to which man may attain, which is called eternal life, or life in the presence of God and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Those who can attain to this highest degree of glory are spoken of in a revelation we know as Doctrine and Covenants 131:1-4:
"In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
"And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood;
"And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.
"He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase".
President Young again expands upon the meaning of this quotation:
"... The kingdoms he possesses and rules over are his own progeny. Every man who is faithful and gets a salvation and glory, and becomes a king of kings and Lord of Lords, or a father of fathers, it will be by the increase of his own progeny. Our Father and God rules over his own children. Wherever there is a God in all the eternities possessing a kingdom and glory and power it is by means of his progeny".
There are those who would think to go beyond that which God has revealed. It was to such as these, who would seek to penetrate that curtain of revealed truth, that inspired writers of our early leaders posed a profound question that was later given a musical setting in one of our most beloved hymns:
"If you could hie to Kolob In the twinkling of an eye, And then continue onward With that same speed to fly, D'ye think that you could ever, Through all eternity, Find out the generation Where Gods began to be?
"Or see the grand beginning, Where space did not extend? Or view the last creation, Where Gods and matter end? Me-thinks the Spirit whispers, No man has found "pure space," Nor seen the outside curtains, Where nothing has a place.
"The works of God continue, And worlds and lives abound; Improvement and progression Have one eternal round. There is no end to matter; There is no end to space; There is no end to spirit; There is no end to race."
A prophet-leader of our dispensation then extends this great wisdom to all truth seekers:
"Many have tried to penetrate to the First Cause of all things; but it would be as easy for an ant to number the grains of sand on the earth. It is not for man, with his limited intelligence, to grasp eternity in his comprehension... What, then, should be the calling and duty of the children of men? Instead of inquiring after the origin of the Gods-instead of trying to explore the depths of eternities that have been, that are, and that will be-instead of endeavoring to discover the boundaries of boundless space, let them seek to know the object of their present existence, and how to apply, in the most profitable manner for their mutual good and salvation, the intelligence they possess".
Then, finally, this most timely admonition:
"Let them seek to know and thoroughly understand things within their reach, and to make themselves well acquainted with the object of their being here, by diligently seeking unto a superior Power for information, and by the careful study of the best books".
The ancient prophet was not speaking idly when he declared in exaltation, "O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it".
Neither was the profound injunction to his disciples meaningless. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect".
The Master was speaking of a state of ultimate perfection to which all might attain through their faithfulness.
About this fullness of knowledge, and power, and glory, the Prophet Joseph Smith said this:
"When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the gospel-you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave".
A few weeks ago we met in Chicago with 165 young men who are going into military service, or who are in their basic training in nearby military training stations.
In a discussion period of the seminar being conducted to give them a perspective of their opportunities in the Church while they were in military service, they began asking questions about deep theological problems with which they said they were confronted by their inquiring friends: about conditions in the premortal world, about the creation, about eternal marriage and temple work, about the hereafter.
The wise and able teacher drew a diagram on the blackboard to resemble ascending steps and then asked a simple, logical question: To reach the topmost step on a ladder, where must you begin? The answer was obvious: with the bottom step first.
Then, to teach one to understand the highest principles and ordinances, where should one begin?
"With the first principles of the gospel," came the answer. The discussion brought out that these first principles of the gospel are: faith, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and the receiving of the gift of the Holy Ghost, by which one could come to know the truth of all things, the greatest of which revealed knowledge would he the true knowledge of God.
This lesson, of course, was merely another way to impress what the Master meant when he answered a question I have previously quoted: "If any man would know of his doctrine", they must do his will and keep his commandments.
The apostle Paul had said that one of the prime purposes of the organization of the Church was "for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man", which knowledge, the apostle Paul explained, no man could have except by the revelations of the Holy Ghost.
The wisdom of the teacher's reply to the young men in Chicago is impressed by another statement from a modern prophet:
"These are incomprehensible ideas to some, but they are simple. It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God, and to know that we may converse with Him as one man converses with another".
Time does not permit a further exposition of these most vital truths relative to our personal relationship to our Heavenly Father and to our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.
This relationship is nowhere more aptly expounded than in the apostle Paul's sermon on Mars hill, in Athens, where he found an inscription: "To the Unknown God," whom these devout Grecians were "ignorantly" worshiping.
This is his clear and forceful testimony of the true God, who to them, at that time, was unknown:
" hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the hounds of their habitation;
"That they should seek the Lord... and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
"For in him we live, and move, and have our being... For we are also his offspring.
"Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent".
In this dispensation, as has been the case in all previous dispensations of the gospel upon the earth, there was given through the modern prophet, Joseph Smith, the true knowledge of God and his Son, our Savior, when, as glorified personal beings who could tall: with and he seen of men, they conversed with him, as though to demonstrate their tangible reality, as the dispensation of the fulness of times was ushered in, in preparation for the second coming of the Lord to reign as Lord of lords and King of kings at the commencement of the millennium.
His Church, bearing his name, is upon the earth. To his Church, through a living prophet, "he has revealed... does now reveal, and... will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God".
With all this knowledge that, through revelation, is available to us and, through diligent efforts on our part, can be made available to all the world, if we yet stand in ignorance of the true God and Jesus Christ, his Son, we might one day be among those to whom our Master may ask again a searching question-which will imply a stern rebuke-as he did to his disciples of a former dispensation.
Jesus asked his disciples, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me...? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father".
The fundamental and soul-satisfying step in our eternal quest is to come in a day when each does know, for himself, that God answers his prayers.
This will come only after "our soul hungers," and after mighty prayer and supplication, and after, as one who, as a faithful defender of the faith, in past generations has testified: "Into my heart, purified of all sin, there entered a light that came from on high, and then suddenly and in a marvelous manner I saw certainty succeed doubt."
May the Lord put within each of us the determination to put our lives in order, to the end that we too may know with a "certainty that succeeds doubt" that God does live, and that through the glorious mission of our Lord and Savior, we too can live again in that realm where God and Christ dwell-to obtain which is to attain eternal life.
To all of this, I add my humble testimony as to this true knowledge of God, even as the Master answered: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself".
In this dispensation, when the fullness of the gospel is upon the earth, I sincerely pray that truth seekers everywhere may not "walk in the darkness at noon-day". In unison with all of those who have this witness, I too know that my Redeemer lives, to which I bear solemn testimony in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Howard W. Hunter
Howard W. Hunter, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 135-139
Nearly two thousand years ago, Corinth was one of the most celebrated cities of Greece, founded 1,500 years before the Christian era, supposedly by the grandfather of Ulysses. Because of its strategic position, it commanded the commerce and navigation of the Mediterranean Sea from the Straits of Gibraltar on the west to the great seaport of Alexandria on the east. With the decline of the Greek political power and civilization, the Roman power was expanded over the Mediterranean world by a series of successful wars.
It was in one of these wars, 146 years before Christ, that Corinth was destroyed by the Romans but afterward rebuilt under Julius Caesar as a Roman colony. The city and harbors which it controlled are about 50 miles west of Athens. It was not the philosophical center that Athens was acclaimed to be, but it was the capital of the Roman province and ranked with Ephesus and Antioch as great commercial centers. According to the historical records, it was known as the wealthiest city of Greece.
It is said that the city of Corinth exceeded all the cities of the world at that time for the splendor and magnificence of its public buildings. The temples, palaces, theaters, and other edifices were ornamented with the columns, capitals, and bases which have become patterns for the Corinthian style of architecture all over the world. The statues of Jupiter, Venus, Neptune, Diana, Apollo, and other Roman gods and goddesses that adorned the city are known today as some of the finest art objects of this period. In the center of the city was the great marketplace surrounding the bronze statue of Athena and the temple of Apollo, the most prominent ruin from antiquity.
Riches produced luxury, and luxury a total corruption of morals. On the Acrocorinthus rising abruptly above the city was the famous Temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of carnal love, symbolic of the domination of the city by licentious impulses. There were many other temples dedicated to immoral practices, but in this one temple alone there were a thousand virgins engaged as slaves to the godless in temple prostitution. The inhabitants of the city were as lascivious as they were learned.
It was to this city, notorious even in the world of that time for drunkenness and sensuality, that Paul came as a missionary in the spring of the year 50 A.D. He was the first missionary to carry the gospel of Christ to Greece. Some of the regions through which he had passed on the way to Corinth were receptive to his teaching; others were not. In Athens there were a few converts, but there is no record of a branch of the church being established there. The success at Corinth was a contrast. Paul got a strong foothold, and the branch which was established became one of the most important of the early church.
The record tells us that he stayed 18 months in Corinth, longer than in any other city except Ephesus, but we have little information concerning the missionary work of these months. Several epistles were written to the saints in other branches of the church during this stay, and his labors were successful, as demonstrated by the large branch which was established by the many converts.
At the conclusion of his labors, Paul sailed from Corinth, stopping at Ephesus and Caesarea, then traveled to Jerusalem and returned to Antioch. After a rest, he commenced another missionary journey. While again in Ephesus, word came to him from several sources of a crisis developing in the branch of the church in Corinth. One of the fascinating subjects in the life of the apostle is the exchange of communications and news between him and his converts in Corinth. The communications revealed that there were factions forming in the branch with different views regarding moral conduct and doctrine. Some of the converts were assuming a libertine or freethinking attitude with respect to the doctrines which had been taught to them by Paul and the missionaries who worked with him. Some were defending loose sexual standards that were rampant in the notorious city. These problems came into being because of the background of the new converts and the conditions of the time and place in which they were living. They were reactions to the new faith which had been taught to them against the old background which had been part of their former conduct and thinking.
It was his concern over these disappointing happenings and also the questions that had been asked of him in the communications that caused Paul to write a letter to the saints at Corinth at Easter time, the anniversary of the resurrection of Jesus. The letter was not intended to be an organized doctrinal presentation of faith, but an admonition to the saints and an answer to their questions. It portrays the simple, unphilosophical character of the gospel of the crucified Christ. This letter, which has been preserved as part of scripture, casts light on the many aspects of the writer's thoughts and also the problems which arose in the early branches of the church. In this letter, which we know as First Corinthians, Paul pleads with them to abstain from dissensions, to be of one mind, and to be unified. He reprimands them for their fornications, immorality, and loose sex mores. The letter admonishes the women not to follow the modernistic tendencies which they were embracing, and it teaches the saints how to properly observe the Lord's Supper.
The last subject of the letter is an extensive discussion of the resurrection. It is not clear whether there was a division of the saints on this subject, whether the question had been asked in the communications, or whether it was the Easter season that caused Paul to dwell so heavily upon the subject of the resurrection. In any event, this letter to the saints gives the earliest and most important witness to the resurrection of the Savior.
Paul commences by saying:
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
"And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures".
This statement indicates the source of his knowledge of the resurrection. The story of the crucifixion has been related in scripture from the visible facts of what was seen and what was actually heard during those dark hours, but the account of the resurrection was a proclamation or a declaration of what had happened when the crucified Lord took up his body from the dead and arose from the tomb. Paul indicates in these opening words that his knowledge came to him by revelation from God, not from man. Then he adds:
"And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
"After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
"After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles".
These appearances to other persons, many of whom were then yet living and who had actually seen him, were cited as additional proof of the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead.
Paul was saying that he accepted the testimony of those who had seen him, and if there was doubt in the minds of the saints of Corinth, they could verify these facts from living persons. Then follows this significant statement:
"And last of all he was seen of me also, as one born out of due time".
Thus Paul adds his personal witness, referring to his experience on the way to Damascus when he was suddenly changed from a persecutor to one of the greatest exponents. He refers to himself as "one born out of due time," that is, after the time that Jesus conversed in person with his followers. His dramatic change and conversion is used in his argument as the final point to prove the actual resurrection of Jesus. Paul was anxious that the saints would not only believe, but should never have the least doubt as to this basic fact upon which eternal life hinges. The writer of the letter then asks this question:
"Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?".
This is a challenging question. Why are you performing vicarious baptisms for those who are dead if there is no resurrection? History bears out the facts of the practice of baptizing for those who had died without the benefit of this ordinance. It would seem certain, from the question that was asked by Paul, that this vicarious practice was followed in the branch of the church in Corinth. His query is well taken. There would be no sense in such ordinances except there be a resurrection. Nothing matters if there is not a resurrection; everything would end in the darkness of death. Paul then quotes Isaiah: "... let us eat, and drink; for to morrow we die". Only a person of atheistic beliefs could sink to such depths of irreverence, but the reality of a resurrection gives hope; it is uplifting, a joy to the righteous.
Paul now turns to an explanation of the nature of the resurrected body: "But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?". After asking that question, he proceeds to explain the change of the body in its resurrected state by using the analogy of the seed that is placed in the ground, giving birth to the new plant. These are his words:
"Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
"And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: "But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body".
Paul then explains in his letter the differences existing in various bodies:
"All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
"There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
"There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory".
Now follows one of the most misunderstood and controversial statements made by Paul:
"So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
"It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
"It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body".
Because Paul distinguishes between a natural body and a spiritual body, and had previously referred to the seed planted in the ground, a false conclusion is reached from the analogy. It is argued that the seed itself is not harvested-it dies in the ground and there comes forth a new plant; therefore, this is so with the body which is buried in the ground-it comes forth a spiritual body, something new and different. This appears to be strengthened by the fact that Paul adds: "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God".
Now let me point up the fallacy of this reasoning by this statement from scripture:
"And the spirit and the body are the soul of man.
"And the resurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul".
There is a separation of the spirit and the body at the time of death. The resurrection will again unite the spirit with the body, and the body becomes a spiritual body, one of flesh and bones but quickened by the spirit instead of blood. Thus, our bodies after the resurrection, quickened by the spirit, shall become immortal and never die. This is the meaning of the statements of Paul that "there is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body" and "that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God." The natural body is flesh and blood, but quickened by the spirit instead of blood, it can and will enter the kingdom.
The best example of the validity of this position-and which portrays the truth of the resurrection-is the happening which we commemorate at this Easter season, when Jesus came forth from the tomb, the first fruits of the resurrection. The record tells us he appeared to many and they recognized him, the most specific example occurring that first Easter day when ten of the Twelve were together, and "Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
"But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
"And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
"Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
"And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet".
Not a spirit, but a body reunited with the spirit-a spiritual body as defined by Paul.
"We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel".
We also believe in the literal resurrection of the body, reunited with the spirit, becoming the spiritual body or the soul as defined by scripture. If we should eliminate from our religious beliefs the doctrine of the atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of mankind, there would be nothing left but a code of ethics. The propositions of ethics may be noble, but they lack those elements of the gospel that lead men to eternal exaltation. Philosophy and theology may be interesting and give us lofty concepts, and we may become inspired by profound thinking, but Christian faith is based upon the simplicity of the gospel, the example, the life, and the teachings of Jesus Christ. This was the witness of Paul to the saints at Corinth, and the message applies to us in this day, living as we do in a world that can be compared in many ways to Corinth of old. In a society of turmoil, immorality, freethinking, and questioning of the reality of God, we reach out for the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ-the gospel which gives to us comfort, hope, a desire for righteousness, and peace in one's heart.
I have a conviction that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ. As Paul bore testimony to the saints of Corinth by his letter at that Easter season many years ago, I add my witness that we shall rise from mortal death to have life everlasting, because of the atoning sacrifice and resurrection of the Savior. In my mind I picture him with arms outstretched to all who will hear:
"... I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die".
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Theodore M. Burton
Theodore M. Burton, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 139-142
My brothers and sisters, many people have asked me about the new GIANT system of genealogy announced by the First Presidency in the last general conference. Where did this idea come from, and what is the reason for this change?
The answer is that it developed naturally out of our present system. As problems arose in the system we were using, we began to study them out in our own minds. We consulted earlier revelations and directions from former Church leaders and then prayed earnestly for wisdom and sought counsel to know the mind of the Lord for our day. We met frequently with our present leaders and presented questions directly to the First Presidency for answers.
As we received greater light and knowledge, we had to revise some of our new ideas and concepts until, by listening to the whisperings of the Spirit, a system finally evolved that could be approved for presentation to the people. May I discuss for a few moments in general terms how we obtain knowledge, for an understanding of how this principle applies particularly to the GIANT system.
We live in a world so complex and involved that sometimes life becomes a frustrating experience. There are many kinds of voices in the world, and as Paul explained to the Corinthians:
"So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
"There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
"Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me".
Among the many voices we hear, which voice should we believe? With so many duties and responsibilities, which ones should have priority? With various paths stretching out before us, which path should we follow? With so much work to be done, what work should we do first?
It is evident from this multiplicity of choices that we need to make decisions. But if we make a decision based solely on our limited experience with out consulting experts, the likelihood of making a correct choice becomes a matter of pure chance. In order to know what to do, it might be well to reflect on how the Lord prepares us to make decisions.
In the beginning God gave Adam a choice of whether to be obedient and trust in the Lord or to seek knowledge on his own.
Adam chose to make his own decisions. He disobeyed the Lord, ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge, and was therefore left to his own resources. This meant eviction from the Garden of Eden and from the presence of the Lord:
"And I, the Lord God, said unto mine Only Begotten: Behold, the man is become as one of us to know good and evil; and now lest he put forth his hand and partake also of the tree of life, and eat and live forever,
"Therefore I, the Lord God, will send him forth from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken;
"For as I, the Lord God, liveth, even so my words cannot return void, for as they go forth out of my mouth they must be fulfilled".
Undoubtedly the Lord gave Adam counsel so that he could protect himself against evil and know how to recognize and avoid it. Note that the Lord didn't say that Adam should be able to know good from evil, but that he should know good and evil. In a like manner we are to know both good and evil and learn to prefer the good above the evil. Through our experiences in life we eventually learn to choose the good simply because it is the better way, the easier way, and the simpler way in the long run.
Experience, however, can be a very dear teacher. If we live life without direction and without someone to guide us, it is as dangerous as playing with dynamite. A slight mistake made innocently through lack of knowledge and life blows up in our face. Mistakes can be so serious that sometimes we can never fully repair the dam age done. Some mistakes may even result in loss of life itself. Simply stated, we need guidance and help.
Adam and Eve, after being driven from the Garden of Eden, needed guidance and did what all wise men and women should do. They asked the Lord for direction. In response, "... he gave them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord".
Adam had already learned his lesson well. Because he hadn't done what the Lord asked him to do, he lost the privileges he formerly had. Now that Adam was on his own, he had to fight weeds, illness, cold, hunger, and all the other problems that beset mankind. Adam had already learned the value of obedience, and he obeyed this new counsel religiously. How long this obedient sacrifice continued we don't know, but it must have been a long period as we reckon time. At least it was long enough for the Lord to make sure that Adam had learned his lesson well before he was given the reason for this commandment. But as a result of his obedience, he now obtained further knowledge. The scripture continues:
"And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.
"And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
"Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore".
This then becomes the pattern by which we gain knowledge in this life. If we seek the Lord and ask for counsel, it is given. The Lord is a very wise teacher. He knows that one can't teach a student until that student is ready to listen. I think failure to understand this principle is the cause of many of our present-day ills. We too often give when the recipient doesn't want to receive. We preach when people refuse to listen. Young people complain they can't communicate with their elders when really that obligation rests upon youth. Youth doesn't ask for counsel, but seeks to give advice of what should be done, based on limited experience. Youth doesn't seek for information, and we unwisely give youth advice that youth doesn't want in the first place. If the youth want to communicate with the older generation, let them first take the initiative themselves and ask for and seek further light and knowledge.
Likewise parents claim they can't communicate with the younger generation when really that obligation rests upon the parents. Parents too often go their own way, doing things as they've always done them. They don't ask for information to determine youth's needs in our modern world, but seek to give counsel without that guidance. Parents don't understand the pressures on modern youth and unwisely give youth advice that youth isn't ready to accept. If parents want to communicate with the younger generation, let them first take the initiative and ask youth what youth wants to know, thus learning to understand youth's problems.
This concept of asking for information and help is a fundamental method of obtaining knowledge. Although the Lord warns us of impending dangers, he doesn't give information to us until we ask for it.
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me".
It is expressed even more clearly in Matthew:
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you;
"For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened".
This whole dispensation of the fulness of times began when a youth asked a question of the Lord as a result of reading this scripture:
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed".
The book of Doctrine and Covenants may be regarded as a prime example of this principle. Revelations were given as a result of questions asked. When the Lord saw the willingness of the Prophet Joseph and his associates to receive instruction, he gave them additional principles and revelations much beyond the original questions asked.
Just as Adam was not given further knowledge until he had learned and practiced the law of sacrifice, so the Israelites were not qualified to have the Melchizedek Priesthood until they first learned how to use and practice the laws of the Aaronic Priesthood. The gospel of love was not given until Israel learned and practiced the preliminary law of carnal commandments, which, Paul explained to the Galatians, was a schoolmaster to bring them to Christ. In our day we must learn and practice the law of tithing before we can receive the law of consecration. We must learn and practice the laws which pertain to baptism and confirmation before we are permitted to make higher moral and ethical covenants in the temple. As Alma expressed this thought he said:
"For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true".
In this dispensation God has given us great responsibilities in regard to one of his higher laws, that of salvation for the dead. At first the law was only introduced to us. Temples had to be built and a people had to be gathered. The people thus gathered had to be lifted up to be worthy to enter the temples. Vital information concerning the dead had to be gathered as best it could.
We thus learned by doing, and from this experience sought better and more efficient ways to do this work.
Now in our day we find ourselves closer to the end than ever before. God has provided for our use a greater knowledge of how to gather records of the dead. He has provided rapid methods of copying information by using microfilm. We have jet planes to speed the gathering of these records, and modern tools, such as coding, card punch, and sorting machines, optical scanners, electronic computers, and other types of modern business machines, that can be used to compile and index these records into usable form. Temples are being erected in ever-increasing numbers, and Church membership is growing to provide worthy people who can serve in those temples.
It is no wonder that the present slow and cumbersome methods of preparing names for temple ordinance work are giving way to the faster, more accurate GIANT system.
Yet with all these changes, the basic principles of salvation for the dead haven't changed. We are still responsible for gathering and submitting names for our kindred dead. We still have to do the temple ordinance work for those we identify as our progenitors. We still have to maintain our own family book of remembrance with pedigree charts and family group sheets of our direct ancestors to make sure that the temple ordinance work has been done for all our loved ones.
I regard this new method as a higher system, simpler, more rapid, and more accurate than any we have had heretofore. As I see it, this progress is a natural growth of that truth which God gives us as we seek for answers in further prayer:
"And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God.
"For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith".
Thus we have sought for further light and knowledge, having been obedient to the preliminary concepts. God has given us additional truth and new precepts to apply in our work of salvation for the dead. This is a clear voice telling us what to do. It is a well-defined path for future work. An improved way has been prepared to aid us in completing the work leading to the organization of the family of God.
May God grant that we will respond to this new concept and devote a part of our time to this important work. This new procedure has been approved by the Prophet of the Lord and has the blessing of the First Presidency. I have a personal testimony that it is approved of God, for as I pray for knowledge of this truth I have a good, warm feeling in my heart. I give you this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce R. McConkie, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 142-144
We have received from the Lord a divine commission to carry his message of salvation to the nations and peoples of the earth.
We announce that God has restored to us in this day the fullness of his everlasting gospel.
We have received anew the same priesthood, the same keys, the same doctrines, the same organization, the same plan of salvation that Jesus gave the saints in his day. And we are now commanded to offer this restored religion to all men everywhere as rapidly as our strength and ability permit.
Our Lord's beloved disciple John saw in vision the restoration of the gospel in our day and recorded in the Bible this testimony: "... I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth."
Then, as guided by the spirit of inspiration, he recorded that this restored gospel was to be preached "to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" before the hour of God's judgment, before the second coming of the Son of Man.
The restoration of gospel knowledge commenced in modern times in the spring of 1820. The promised angel began the process of revealing gospel truths and powers in September of 1823. By November of 1831 the restoration was sufficiently advanced for the Lord to say to the world through Joseph Smith: "O inhabitants of the earth, I have sent forth mine angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel, who hath appeared unto some and hath committed it unto man, who shall appear unto many that dwell on the earth.
"And this gospel shall be preached unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people".
We are this commanded to preach the restored gospel in all the world.
We are to carry its saving truths to very nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.
We are to raise the warning voice and testify of the mighty things which God hath wrought in our day.
We are to gather the lost sheep of Israel into the fold of their true Shepherd.
We are to take the message of salvation to the ends of the earth.
Now what have we done to fulfill the divine decree, and what must we yet do?
From the day of the organization of the Church in April 1830 to the present moment, faithful members of the Church have taught the gospel and testified of its divinity. With unwearying diligence we have offered the saving truths to as many of our Father's children as our strength and circumstances have permitted.
The restored gospel was preached in the United States and Canada, in Great Britain, western Europe, and Scandinavia. Soon missionaries were in the islands of the Pacific, in Mexico and South America, and in a host of nations.
Ten times ten thousand missionaries and more have left farm and factory, shop and store, and the halls of higher earning-voluntarily and at their own expense-to devote three hundred thousand man years of service in preaching the gospel.
Ten times a hundred thousand and more have believed their message.
Ten times ten million and more have heard the warning voice.
But with it all, we have scarce commenced the assigned labor. We have yet to preach the gospel to the ten times two hundred million people in Russia, China, India, Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and so on.
But this we shall assuredly do, for we are on the Lord's errand; we are engaged in his work; he has decreed its overall success and triumph; and none can stay his hand.
We have done as much, or nearly so, in days past and present, as our numbers and means allowed. At our present rate of growth, the Church is doubling in membership every 20 or 25 years. Will it be long, at this rate, before we have 25,000 missionaries serving at one time? Or 50,000? Or 100,000? Or as many as the needs of the ministry require to fulfill the divine command to the uttermost?
Furthermore, our means of travel and teaching are improving. Today we have jet planes and radio and television. Who knows what we shall have tomorrow? Whatever the scientific advances may be, they shall be used for the furtherance of the Lord's work and for the spread of truth in the earth.
With it all, however, the face-to-face and voice-to-ear testimony of the elders of Israel will always be required in teaching the gospel. One elder will always have to stand with one believing soul in the waters of baptism to perform that ordinance without which no accountable man can be saved.
What then of the future growth of the Church? Eventually, in a millennial day, the knowledge of God shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea, meaning that every living soul on earth shall be converted to the truth, for truth shall prevail.
In the meantime, we shall go forward according to the divine timetable, a timetable under which the Lord will prepare the way for us to teach the gospel in one nation after another as rapidly as our strength and means are sufficient for us to do the work.
Nephi foresaw that we shall establish congregations of the Saints in all nations and among all peoples and kindreds before the promised unity of the faith. Speaking of this dispensation, he said:
"... I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw".
And John the Revelator recorded that the faithful in latter days would praise the Lord by saying: "Thou art worthy... for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
"And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth".
That is, before the millennial era, before the time when Christ shall reign personally upon the earth, the elect of God among every kindred, the Saints who speak every tongue, the converts among all peoples and nations, having first believed the restored gospel, will go to the temples of God and receive the ordinances of exaltation whereby they qualify to become kings and priests.
Truly did the Lord Jesus say of our day: "... this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come".
And truly did Joseph Smith prophecy: "... the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done".
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder John Longden
John Longden, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 145-146
As we approach the end of this sacred, spiritual feast we have attended, including, of course, the Primary and Sunday School conferences, I am sure we are all of one heart; we now await anxiously the blessing of our revered Prophet, President David O. McKay, so I should like to suggest as my thought that all of us must be better, more dedicated, more knowledgeable, more tolerant, more truly spiritual leaders of men. As we have listened to our great leaders during this conference, I venture to say we have all made resolutions to be more valiant in the service of our Master.
Those who know me best have heard me say before that each of us has our own zone of influence. How am I using my influence? How are you? Are we leading our fellowmen up the path to higher, greater achievements? Or are we despoiling our leadership qualities by helping others in the paths of folly, unbelief, bitterness, and unhappiness? We lead by example.
In a tribute paid to a great statesman who is no longer with us, one of his fellows who knew him best said of him: "He was a great leader of men. He stood boldly by the things he believed to be right." I'm certain this is true of this man.
Always, when I hear tributes like this, I find myself applying them to the great men I sustain as prophets of God. Today, and in past years, this same tribute and much more can be said of the men who are prophets in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Each of these great men has given us, in the past days, so much food for thought. Each, in his own right, is a great leader. How are we at following leadership?
May I share a rich experience with you? Not too long ago, when I was on the campus of one of our Church schools, a professor called my attention to a man close by. He said he was a custodian there. He didn't have a college degree, but he and his wife had been blessed with seven children; each of them had earned a college degree. Each had found a companion of his choice, and had married in the temple. The sons had all filled honorable missions for the Church.
As the professor left, I introduced myself to this gentleman. In the course of the conversation, he related this story to me:
A few days before, he found a wallet. In order to find some identification, he opened it and discovered some pornographic pictures. Rather than turn it over to the lost and found department, he personally called the young man who owned the wallet, and when he came to claim it, the custodian showed his own wallet to the young lad. It contained a picture of his wife, their children, and grandchildren; he said, "This is the kind of wallet I would like to see you accumulate."
The young man, quite ashamed, removed the pictures from his wallet, tore them up, and threw them in the waste basket. A good leader, this caretaker? "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also".
A young lad with some problems came to my office to seek advice. I discovered that in his home, his school, and even in his church, he had not been really touched by a good leader. He complained that some of his peers had not acted as they had spoken, yet here was a precious soul, a spirit child of God, who instinctively wanted better things of life.
I believe young people generally are basically endowed with a desire to please their peers, to believe in a supreme being, and it is most simple for the real young to pray to him and express heartfelt wishes, thoughts, and desires. It is when their peers give them false concepts of life, when adults disappoint them by their actions, when the lack of our own integrity shows through, that the very young begin to form wrong opinions and start wrong practices, thus ending up on wrong paths.
I quote from a discourse given by President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., in the general priesthood meeting of October 1954. To me, it is an enthralling thought that the priesthood of the Church of Jesus Christ is the army of the Lord, "the Army to which the Lord looks to carry on his great warfare with evil...
"We are to fight... the foes of righteousness, we are to fight a life and death struggle for ourselves, not only, but for those who are associated with us, for the membership of the Church".
President David O. McKay, one of the greatest leaders of men of all time, our living Prophet, said:
"The greatest power in the world today, and the power that is needed to thwart the schemes of the adversary, is the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
"That man is greatest who is Christlike, and what you think of Christ is largely what you will be."
In the opening remarks of this conference read by Brother Robert McKay, President McKay challenged us to "bravely and heroically choose a better course of life." So, whoever we are, wherever we may be, whether young or old, may we determine to be better parents, better citizens, better members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, better leaders of men.
With deep emotion and thanksgiving, may I add my testimony of the divinity of this great work to those already expressed, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Paul H. Dunn
Paul H. Dunn, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 146-150
President McKay, my beloved brothers and sisters: This is always a very humbling experience. I too seek the faith of your prayers in my behalf. I have been most uplifted, as I have sensed you have, by the great messages of this conference, the sweet testimonies that have been borne, the great truths that have been emphasized again.
These experiences and messages have brought to my attention, as it relates to our responsibility, an experience I had a few years ago while serving as a religion teacher on the University of Southern California campus.
Because of my particular position in directing the institute program, I was invited by that great institution to participate in what was known as a PTA convention discussing the problems concerning our youth. I suppose I was invited as a member because of the great work that this Church does for its young people.
I remember that the president of the university himself was sponsoring a little luncheon to be held before the conference. As I entered the cafeteria, there assembled around the table were those who would participate in the meeting that was to ensue. I had not met my colleagues who were to discuss the problems of youth with me, and this was a chance for us to get acquainted. I noticed when I went in to take my seat that there were appropriate name cards identifying each one of us and that I was to be seated next to a full navy commander.
As we sat down, the navy commander leaned over and said to me, "You're the Latter-day Saint, aren't you?" And I wondered what I had done to tip him off.
I said, "Yes, sir, I am, how did you know?"
"Well," he said, pointing to the cup that I had turned over as I took my chair, "I noticed you weren't going to partake of that liquid."
I said, "Yes, sir, but I happen to know a lot of people who aren't members of my faith that don't use that liquid. How would you know?
He said, "Well, it is the way you turned your cup over." He said, "You have that Mormon twist in your wrist."
I immediately started to exercise my own faith as a missionary and attempted to teach him a little about the Word of Wisdom. He interrupted me and said, "Young man, I didn't invite this conversation to get a dissertation from you at this time. But I would like to take this opportunity, if I may, to salute you. May I do that?"
Well, now, to a former PFC, that is great tribute. I said, "Please, sir, go right ahead."
"Well," he said, "I don't mean you personally." I must confess that hurt my ego a little.
He said, "I would like to take this opportunity to salute your church and that great body you represent here today. As you know, I am directing one of the navy testing programs educationally throughout the United States, and wherever I go I watch you people with great interest, and I suppose I have seen many of you without your knowing it, and I would like you to know, Mr. Dunn, that I feel secure in the presence of the Latter-day Saint people."
He said, "You have something, I don't know what it is, but," he added, "I feel that one day this country-in fact the world-will look to you for direction. Thank you, sir, for being what you are and for the great influence of your church."
Can you appreciate in some small measure the thrill that was mine as a representative of God's true Church? You have had like experiences, and I thought about that again today and these past days as we have been reminded of our great responsibilities, as parents, as teachers, and as leaders.
I would like to pay a tribute to you wonderful parents who have trained up your children in the way that they should go, that you might send into the mission field the choice spirits that you have. My, what a leaven in the worldly loaf they are. And I testify to you that they are great men and women, testifying to the divinity of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
I am located in an area where there is a great cultural and traditional influence, where intellectualism abounds. I would just like to share a few thoughts that I might direct to those people, particularly as they relate to this time of year.
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we with many others of the Christian world have anticipated the coming of Easter and its celebration in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Anticipating Easter in an era that has been described as "post-Christian"; in an age when modern science and technology have given rise to the "secular city," as they prefer to call it; when an analytical philosophy has described as meaningless all propositions that go beyond certain defined limits of sense experience; when biblical scholarship has mythologized the New Testament, and a new radical theology has proclaimed the death of God, I think we need to raise anew the question of the meaning of Jesus Christ for our time. Of course, for many of our contemporaries, caught up in the cross currents of a predominantly secular culture, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ can have little or no meaning.
I raise the question-What is the meaning of Jesus Christ for our times?-not as preliminary to the presentation of a legal brief in defense of the fact of the resurrection, nor to afford an opportunity to argue in support for our belief in the resurrection. This is not the occasion for religious argument. This is an occasion to bear witness to the hope, the joy, and the faith that we have in the divine message that Christ lives. Our presence here today is evidence of that faith, and what I hope to say is intended as an added witness to that faith.
Jesus Christ has meant many things to many people, but there can be no mistake about what he meant to the early Christians. New Testament faith was based upon the belief that in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God, our Father, in a decisive manner, had prepared the way for man to enter the world, live the complete life, and again regain his presence. Motivated by this belief, early Christians went forth to proclaim the gospel, or the "good news." It was the overwhelming impact of the "good news," centering in the resurrection, that caused Christians to face the threat of the dungeon, the sword, and the cross. Early Christianity moved forward under the compelling faith that the resurrected Jesus was Christ, the Lord.
That the resurrection was central to the early Christian message cannot be doubted. Writing to the Corinthians, Paul said, "if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain". Read in its context, it is clear that Paul is not trying to prove the resurrection of Christ in this statement. He is here appealing to the one thing that all Christians accepted in order to prove another point, namely, that because of his resurrection Jesus was the Messiah, the Savior; and through the redemptive mission of Jesus, as the Christ, as the Savior, man's own immortality and eternal life were assured. This was the gospel. This was the "good news." This was the faith of early Christianity.
Now, after almost two thousand years, in the passing time of a century characterized by a decline in religious faith, the restored gospel joyfully proclaims anew, with as much enthusiasm and vigor as did the first century Christians, that Christ is risen. Our confidence in man's salvation through the atonement of Christ is a matter of faith, not completely understood, yet the central meaning of Jesus Christ for our time, as for all time, is to be found in that faith-faith in man's salvation through the resurrection.
Salvation in this sense is a gift to a man through the grace of God. But those who are familiar with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints know that it is also a religion of merit. Our concern is not only with the future but also with the past, and especially with the present. Mormonism touches every phase of life; it is a gospel of work, of play, of service, of prayer, of hope. And belief in immortality looms large in this picture.
Eternal life, however, does not merely embrace the future; it also embraces the past and the present. This means that the present is determinative of what the future holds for man, both as an individual and as society. This world, therefore, is not regarded as some condemned region in space where man awaits transportation to heaven or hell.
Man and the world share a common destiny-man and the world are to be saved together. Man's purpose in the world is to progressively know and to live the revelations of God reflected in his own soul and the creations about him. Man will never be worthy of or capable of appreciating a more glorious state of existence until he has in some measure learned to appreciate the meaning, beauty, and problems of the one in which he now finds himself. This means that while the past and future are important, the present is the greatest of all time, because it holds the promise of all that is to come.
With this view in mind, I raise again the question of the meaning of Jesus Christ for today. Within this dimension of the gospel we find the meaning of Christ in the very urgent and serious problems that we face as individuals and as a nation. Some of these problems come from the past and continue to haunt us; other problems are of modern making and are peculiar to our age-peculiar at least in the sense that they are in a new setting. It is in the imaginative and creative solution of old problems and in the struggle with novel problems against the gospel of Jesus Christ that he takes on new meaning for us today.
Jesus taught in terms of universal, divine principles, and men were left with the responsibility, and their free agency, to implement those principles. When he was asked how often another should be forgiven, he answered with a statement that urged a limitless spending of forgiveness. When asked what acts were legal on the Sabbath, he answered with a statement that made it plain that people should be considered over institutions. When asked, "Who is my neighbor?" he answered with a parable in which a neighbor was described as "a certain man" who was in need of help.
If Jesus had merely given moral rules in terms of the culture of his times, his teaching would have long since been out of date. But his teachings are bound to no single culture, nor to any age. Each succeeding age is left to discover a way of making the gospel principles of Jesus Christ live in terms of its own conception of society. When this is done, we are compelled to recognize that his ideal goes far beyond not only what man has put into practice but also what most men have thought possible.
To speak of our age, therefore, as the "post-Christian" age is a mistake for age, in any real sense, has not yet the simple reason that the Christian been fully achieved. If the fault is said to be in Jesus because he was too idealistic for this hardheaded, practical world, our witness is that Jesus was as much of a realist as an idealist-the real and ideal merge in his life and teachings. It is the world that has not been realistic and has not been able to take him at his word. He said that mankind is a brotherhood. The world has said that mankind ought to be a brotherhood. We have failed to take his realism seriously, and our problems multiply and grow in complexity.
In regard to the frustration, futility, and meaninglessness in which an increasing number of individual lives are submerged, our witness is that the passing years continue to establish the validity of Jesus Christ's estimate of human personality as the supreme value in the universe. To the disturbed, wandering youth of our time, we testify that personality, that people, that human beings are precious, and that life is worth living.
As to the solution of many of the personal problems with which contemporary man is plagued, our witness is that modernity as well as antiquity give support to Jesus' view that personality is fulfilled not in the self-centeredness of either the occidental or oriental variety, but rather in service to humanity. Human experience today, as always, confirms that whosoever would save his life will lose it, and whosoever shall lose his life in the interest and service of others shall save it.
I have said that the meaning of Jesus Christ for our time is to be found in his death and resurrection, which assures man's immortality. We have also said that the application of his ideal to the central and crucial problems of our day gives us further insight into his meaning for us. He stands as an eternal symbol of our Heavenly Father's interest in and suffering for the needs of humanity. As we see God's will revealed through him for the solution of our personal and social problems, so our faith is made sure that he will be forever meaningful in the lives of men.
We believe that the best and most effective efforts being made today to ward the elimination of ignorance and human suffering are in accordance with the Savior's inspiration and revelation. In him and his gospel are to be found the faith and hope of the future. So it is with a deep sense of its permanent and universal meaning that we read his statement as he departed from his disciples: "... lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world".
May the experience of this Easter season make us more responsive to his inspiration and more conscious of our responsibilities, I pray, as I give you my solemn witness that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, in the name of our beloved Savior, even Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 150-153
My dear brethren and sisters: As we approach the conclusion of this outstanding annual conference of the Church, my soul is filled with appreciation and thanksgiving for the privilege we have had of partaking of the wonderful spirit and feeling of brotherhood that have permeated the meetings held during the past three days.
I am impressed with the thought that everyone who has attended, either in person or by listening in, no matter where he or she may be, could not help but leave this conference with a greater desire and determination to be a better man or a better woman, a better citizen of his own city, county, or nation, than he or she has ever been before.
However, we cannot go from this conference without an added responsibility to contribute to a better life around us. As individuals, we must think nobler thoughts. We must not encourage base thoughts nor low aspirations. If we do, we shall radiate them to others. If we think noble thoughts, if we encourage and cherish noble aspirations, there will be that radiation when we meet people, especially when we associate with them.
Every man, every person radiates what he or she is. Every person is a recipient of radiation. The Savior was conscious of this fact. Whenever he came into the presence of an individual, he sensed that radiation, whether it was the woman of Samaria with her past life; whether it was the woman who was to be stoned, or the men who were to stone her; whether it was the statesman, Nicodemus, or one of the lepers. Christ was ever conscious of the radiation from the individual, and, to a degree, so are you, and so am I. It is what we are and what we radiate that affects the people around us.
As it is true of the individual, so it is true of the home. Our homes radiate what we are, and that radiation comes from what we say and how we act in the home. No member of this Church, no husband or father, has the right to utter an oath in his home, or ever to express a cross word to his wife or to his children. By your ordination and your responsibility, you cannot do it as a man who holds the priesthood and be true to the spirit within you. You contribute to an ideal home by your character, controlling your passion, your temper, guarding your speech, because those things will make your home what it is, and what it will radiate to the neighborhood. You do what you can to produce peace and harmony, no matter what you may suffer.
The man who is true to his manhood will not lie against the truth. There is within every man that which is divine.
The man who will be true to the divine within him is true to his Lord and to his fellowmen. The man who is untrue to that which he knows to be right is wavering and weakening. He may go so far that he will step out of the light, out of that divine presence, and woe be unto him when he does.
We have declared to the world that we have the gospel of Jesus Christ; that we are going to stand against vice and sin. Shall we forsake this cause in order to please men, or because we desire to give lip service rather than heart service? No! We shall stand true to ourselves, true to the divine within us, true to that truth which we have received. We need to know that it is not good to have evil surrounding us to draw away our young men and women and lead them into the darkness of misery and despair. When we are thrown into the company of men who try to tempt us, let us be true unto the death.
We know that man is a dual being. He is physical; he has his appetites, passions, desires, just as any animal has; but he is also a spiritual being, and he knows that to subdue the animal instincts is to achieve advancement in the spiritual realm. A man who is subject to his physical appetites and passions only, who denies any reality of a spirit, is truly of the animal world. Man is a spiritual being, and his real life is the spirit that inhabits his body. He is a son of God, and he has within him that which will cause him to yearn and to aspire to become dignified, as a son of God should be dignified. The dignity of man, not the degradation of man, has been emphasized throughout this conference.
All men who have moved the world have been men who will stand true to their conscience-such men as Peter, James, and Paul, and their brethren of the ancient apostles, and also others. When the religious leaders of Palmyra, New York, turned against the youthful Joseph Smith for what he had seen and heard in the Sacred Grove, he said, having a testimony of the Lord Jesus in his bosom: "I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it".
Joseph Smith was true to his testimony to the last. When he approached his martyrdom at Carthage, Illinois, he said to those who were with him: "I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am calm as a summer's morning. I have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward all men ". He was true to his testimony and to his manhood. He was a man who possessed divine manhood.
That is the manhood a true member of this Church should possess in defending the truth. That is the manhood we all need, as we labor in our callings to inspire our young people with that same truth. It is that truth that we need in combating the error and evil which exist in this critical period in the history of our own country and that of the world!
Courage to maintain our ideals is an area in which we can manifest manhood and activity and merit the approval of God. These are times when men should keep their heads, and not be swept from their moorings by every will-o'-the-wisp theory that is offered as a panacea for our present ills. The times call for courageous youth to hold aloft the moral standard. In that field we may find the truest courage.
Our greatest heroes are not always found on the battlefield, although we read of such men daily. We find them also among our youth at home young men and young women who will stand up fearlessly and denounce those things which they know will sap the character, the very life-giving energy, of youth.
What a message the Church has for this distracted world: Its appeal is to all, to the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak, the learned and the unlearned. It proclaims God to be not only the one supreme ruler of the universe, but the Father of each individual-a God of justice, yet a God of love, constantly watching over and guiding even the humblest of his children. With its complete organization, the Church offers service and inspiration to all. It is preeminently a social religion. Instead of taking men out of the world, through its priesthood quorums and auxiliary organizations it seeks to develop perfect, God-like men in the midst of society, and through them to solve the problems of society.
There is not a principle that is taught by the Savior of men that is not also applicable to the growth, development, and happiness of mankind. Every one of his teachings touches the true philosophy of living. I accept them wholeheartedly, and it is a joy to study and teach them. Every phase of the restored Church is applicable to the welfare of the human family.
I appeal to the youth to be courageous in maintaining the moral and spiritual values of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The world needs moral heroes! The most important thing in life is not the discoveries being made in our secular world, but a belief in the reality of moral and spiritual values. After all, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and love his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?".
We cannot truly believe that we are the children of God, and that God exists, without believing in the final inevitable triumph of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we believe that, we shall have less worry about the destruction of the world and the present civilization, because God has established his Church never to be thrown down nor given to another people. And as God lives, and his people are true to him and to one another, we need not worry about the ultimate triumph of truth.
And, young men and women, if you have that testimony on your side, you can pass through the dark valley of slander, misrepresentation, and abuse, undaunted as though you wore a magic suit of armor that no bullet could enter, no arrow could pierce. You can hold your head high, toss it fearlessly and defiantly, and look every man calmly and unflinchingly in the eye. You can feel the great expansive world of more health surging through you as the quickened blood courses through the body of him who is gladly, gloriously proud of physical health. You will know that all will come out right in the end; that it must come; that all must flee before the great white light of truth, as the darkness slinks away into nothingness in the presence of the sunburst.
So, with truth as our guide, our companion, our ally, our inspiration, we may tingle with the consciousness of our kinship with the Infinite, and all the petty trials, sorrows, and sufferings of this life will fade away as temporary, harmless visions seen in a dream.
Today as we commemorate the coming forth from the tomb of the crucified Lord, I bear my testimony to you and to all the world that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints accepts the resurrection not only as being real, but as the consummation of Christ's divine mission on earth.
I know with my whole soul that as Christ lives after death, so shall all men, each taking his place in the next world for which he has best fitted himself.
I have cherished from childhood the truth that God is a personal being, and is, indeed, our Father whom we can approach in prayer and receive answers thereto. I cherish as one of the dearest experiences of life the knowledge that God hears the prayer of faith. It is true that the answers to our prayers may not always come as direct and at the time, nor in the manner, we anticipate; but they do come, and at a time and in a manner best for the interests of him who offers the supplication.
There have been occasions, however, when I have received direct and immediate assurance that my petition was granted. At one time, particularly, the answer came as distinctly as though my Heavenly Father stood by my side and spoke the words. These experiences are part of my very being and must remain so long as memory and intelligence last. Just as real and just as close to me seems the Savior of the world. I feel as I have never felt before that God is my Father. He is not just an intangible power, a moral force in the world, but a personal God with creative power, the governor of the world, the director of our souls. I would have all men, and especially the young people of the Church, feel so close to our Father in heaven that they will approach him daily-not in public alone, but in private. If our people will have this faith, great blessings will come to them. Their souls will be filled with thanksgiving for what God has done for them; they will find themselves rich in favors bestowed. It is not imagination that we can approach God and receive light and guidance from him, and that our minds will be enlightened and our souls thrilled by his Spirit.
God bless these General Authorities of the Church for the inspirational messages they have given us throughout this conference. They have testified as to the truth of the restored gospel, and have borne their testimonies that God, the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ have appeared in these latter days to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and that the gospel in its fullness has been restored to the earth.
We send greetings and blessings to our missionaries and the mission presidencies in their respective fields of duty throughout the world. We deeply appreciate the unselfish service they are rendering.
God bless our young men in the service of our country, wherever they may be. To each of you I send my greetings and a message of confidence and trust, and say to you: Keep yourselves morally clean. Being soldiers or sailors is no justification for indulgence in vulgarity, intemperance, or immorality. Others may be impelled to do these things because of the beastliness of war, but you who are members of the Church and hold the priesthood of God cannot so indulge with impunity. For your own sweet lives, and for others who trust you, keep yourselves unpolluted. We pray that God's protecting care and divine guidance will be with each of you.
And now, my dear brethren and sisters, my fellow workers, with all the power that the Lord has given me I bless each of you and pray that from s hour you may go forth with renewed determination to discharge your duties more faithfully, more successfully under the inspiration of God than ever before.
My heart is full of appreciation for your service and your presence here, and for the privilege of being associated with you in this great cause. I am grateful to you all for your loyal support and your prayers in my behalf. This gospel gives us a chance to live above this old world and its temptations and, through self-control and self-mastery, to live in the spirit, and that is the real life here and hereafter. God bless you in your individual lives, in your home life, in your Church activities, and give you the comfort that comes to every soul who loses himself for Christ's sake, I pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 5-9
My beloved brethren and sisters:
It is a glorious but humbling experience to have the privilege of participating in another general conference with you. My gratitude and thanksgiving to you for your prayers and loyal support know no bounds. To partake of the spirit of faith and activity in the Church is inspiring. Membership therein is at once a privilege and a blessing.
Looking around us, we are convinced that we are living in an era of great progress, embracing wonderful inventions and scientific discoveries. Man's search for the unknown has led him out of the world literally into the realm of space. Many of the theories and even the imaginations of Jules Verne are now commonplace realities. Walking on the moon is an achievement that was witnessed with great interest and excitement by most of the inhabitants of this earth. One-fourth of the peoples of the world, however, were denied that privilege by their governments.
The solar system and our ventures into space always have been of great interest. In June 1965, we watched with fascination the launching of Gemini 4 with Astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White. I was especially interested in the space walk of Edward White, who had personally visited me on July 18, 1963. At that time I quoted to Astronaut White the lines of our hymn "If You Could Hie to Kolob," which tells of the grandeur and eternity of God's creations in space. Major White was so interested in the poem that he asked for a copy of it so that he could read and study it when he reached his home.
On Christmas Eve, December 24, 1968, we were all again thrilled when Colonel Frank Borman, Major William A. Anders, and Captain James A. Lovell, Jr., who were encircling the moon in the Apollo 8, beamed the following message to the earth: "For all the people back on earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you." And these three astronauts, gazing down on the earth from the vastness of outer space, read to the world from the Bible these simple but majestic words regarding the creation of the heaven and the earth: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
"And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
"... and God saw that it was good".
For the first time in history man viewed the earth from outer space, and he saw that it was a bright, beautiful earth where he was privileged to dwell with his brothers. Man knows that our solar system is merely one tiny part of our Milky Way galaxy, and that our sun is but an average star among a spiral of one hundred billion other stars of varying sizes-all are in our galaxy, which is only one of billions in the universe.
On July 20, 1969, we witnessed on television one of the greatest dramas in the history of man-Apollo 11 Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., actually walking on the moon while Astronaut Michael Collins hovered over the moon in readiness to rendezvous the spaceship Columbia so that he could pick up his fellow astronauts when they had achieved their assignments on the lunar surface.
Men all over the world were hushed with awe, and world-renowned television commentators were speechless as they watched and tried to explain the activities and easy strides of the astronauts on the lunar surface. Millions said, "I cannot believe it!" "Fantastic!" "Impossible!" One commentator on television said, "How can young people withdraw from a world of this kind!" Others exclaimed, "This is the biggest day in history since man learned to talk!" "It is the greatest drama in the history of man!" Then we heard the first words from Astronaut Armstrong: "Tranquility Base here: The 'Eagle' has just landed." And as he stepped down on the moon's surface, he said: "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind," and immortalized a great moment in history.
Then as the Apollo 11 and its crew were returning to the good earth on Tuesday, July 22, 1969, Astronaut Aldrin beamed back the words of David as recorded in the Bible: "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
"For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour".
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints always have known through revelation of the numberless creations of God. They are taught that somewhere out in that great expanse of space is the great star Kolob that we sing about in the hymn "If You Could Hie to Kolob." Abraham of old was shown in vision these kingdoms, and he said: "And I saw the stars, that they were very great, and that one of them was nearest unto the throne of God; and there were many great ones which were near unto it;
"And the Lord said unto me: These are the governing ones; and the name of the great one is Kolob, because it is near unto me, for I am the Lord thy God: I have set this one to govern all those which belong to the same order as that upon which thou standest".
The following verses tell us further of Moses' great vision: "And... Moses cast his eyes and beheld the earth, yea, even all of it; and there was not a particle of it which he did not behold, discerning it by the spirit of God". And Moses heard the voice of God continuing: "And worlds without number have I created.
"But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them...
"... The heavens, they are many, and they cannot be numbered unto man but they are numbered unto me, for they are mine.
"And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come; and there is no end to my works, neither to my words".
After seeing only a portion of the numberless creations of God, Moses cried out in awe and complete humility, "Tell me... why these things are so, and by what thou madest them?". After witnessing the recent accomplishments by our astronauts in walking on the moon, we feel as Moses did and marvel at God's creations; and ask again, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him?".
We find the answer to our question, as Moses did to his, when the Lord said, "For mine own purpose have I made these things... And by the word of my power, have I created them... For behold, this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man".
Therefore, although God has created the universe and all therein, "man is the jewel of God". This is just another way of saying that the earth was created for man and not man for the earth. God gave to man part of his divinity. He gave man the power of choice, and no other creature in the world has it. So he placed upon the individual the obligation of conducting himself as an eternal being. You cannot think of any greater gift that could come to a man or woman than the freedom of choice. You alone are responsible, and by wielding and exercising that freedom of choice, you grow in character, you grow in intelligence, you approach divinity, and eventually you may achieve that high exaltation. That is a great obligation. Very few people appreciate it. The roads are clearly marked-one offering animal existence, the other life abundant. Yet, God's greatest creation-man-often is content to grovel on the animal plane.
We cannot close our eyes to the fact that the world is ripening in iniquity. The present-day turmoil and bitter strivings threaten to undermine the basic foundations of Christian relationship. Liberty, freedom of speech, self-government, faith in God, and, particularly, faith in the efficacy of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ are facing a bombardment from the ranks of error such as the world has seldom if ever witnessed. This is evident when we take into account the following information.
A recent Gallup survey on American morals gives the following from a study among college students. To the question "Is premarital sex wrong?" 66 percent of all students answered "No." Seventy-two percent of the male students answered that it was not wrong, and 55 percent of the girl students said it was not wrong. In private colleges, an unbelievable 74 percent of all students questioned saw no evil in this practice.
The most vicious enemy to home life is immorality. Social workers are greatly concerned over the number of young girls between 14 and 19 who seem to have lost all sense of decency and shamelessly sacrifice themselves on the altar of lust. This corroding evil is just as demoralizing to the young man as to the young woman. Chastity, not indulgence, during the premarital years is the source of harmony and happiness in the home, and is the chief contributing factor to the health and perpetuity of the race. All the virtues that make up a beautiful character-loyalty, dependability, confidence, trust, love of God, and fidelity to man-are associated with this diadem in the crown of virtuous womanhood and of virile manhood. The word of the Lord to his church is "Keep yourself unspotted from the world". One of the Ten Commandments from God is "Thou shalt not commit adultery".
"The Gallup survey also showed that 57 percent of all students contacted used drugs and liquor. It was of more than ordinary interest in this study to note that 67 percent of the college demonstrators use narcotics".
President Richard Nixon told Congress on Monday, July 14, 1969, that the drug abuse problem was "a serious national threat to the personal health and safety of millions of Americans." He cited an increase of almost 800 percent in seven years in juvenile arrests involving use of drugs, and that New York City alone has some 40,000 heroin addicts, with the number rising between 7,000 to 9,000 a year. "These official statistics," said the President, "are only the tip of an iceberg whose dimensions we can only surmise".
The Church urges men to have self-mastery to control their appetites, their tempers, and their speech. A man is not at his best when he is a slave to some habit. A man is not his best who lives merely to gratify his passions. That is one reason why the Lord has given the Church the revelation of the Word of Wisdom so that, even from boyhood and girlhood, young men and young women may learn to control themselves. That is not always easy. The youth today face enemies-false ideologies and immoral practices "glossed over" and "seasoned with a text." Sound preparation is necessary to meet and conquer these enemies. Keep in mind that man's earthly existence is but a test as to whether he will concentrate his efforts, his mind, his soul upon things which contribute to the comfort and gratification of his physical nature, or whether he will make as his life's purpose the acquisition of spiritual qualities.
The spiritual road has Christ as its ideal-not the gratification of the physical-for he that will save his life, yielding to that first gratification of a seeming need, will lose his life, lose his happiness, the pleasure of living at this present time. If he would seek the read purpose of life, the individual must live for something higher than self. He hears the Savior's voice saying, "I am the way, the truth, and the life".
Following that light, man soon learns that there is no one great thing that he can do to attain happiness or eternal life. He learns that life is made up, not of great sacrifices and duties, but of little things, in which smiles and kindness and small obligations given habitually are what win and preserve the heart and secure comfort.
Spirituality, our true aim, is the consciousness of victory over self and of communion with the Infinite. Spirituality impels one to conquer difficulties and acquire more and more strength. To feel one's faculties unfolding and truth expanding in the soul is one of life's sublimest experiences.
The man who sets his heart upon the things of this world, who does not hesitate to cheat his brother, who will lie for gain, who will steal from his neighbor, or who by slander will rob another of his reputation, lives on a low animal plane of existence and either stifles his spirituality or permits it to lie dormant. To be thus carnally minded is to be spiritually dead.
We are truly living in an age of changing opinions, of swiftly shifting human relations. Man's wisdom seems baffled. In all our readjustments, plans, and policies, we cannot do better than keep in mind the divine admonition that "the worth of souls is great in the sight of God". The saved individual is the supreme end of the divine will.
Jesus sought the welfare of the individual, and individuals grouped and laboring for the general welfare of the whole in conformity with the principles of the gospel constitute the kingdom of God. Many of the choicest truths of the gospel were given in conversations with individuals. It was while Jesus talked with Nicodemus that he gave us the message relative to baptism and being born again. From the conversation with the woman of Samaria is disclosed the truth that they who worship God must worship in spirit and in truth. From that with Mary and Martha, we get the divine declaration: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live". Jesus regard for personality was supreme. When the Pharisees dragged into his presence the woman taken in adultery, Christ saw through the soul that had been stained with sin the personality that still contained the spark of hope, which he kindled into a light that warmed and guided a personality back to confidence and perhaps to righteousness.
To members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the worth of the individual has a special meaning. Quorums, auxiliaries, wards, stakes, even the Church itself are all organized to further the welfare of man. All are but means to an end, and that end is the happiness and eternal welfare of every child of God. I therefore appeal to all members of the Church, and particularly to presidents of quorums and to officers of all auxiliaries, to put forth a unified effort to make sweeter the lives of men.
Supplant the thought that dominates the selfish world as expressed in the words "The world owes me a living," by the nobler prayer, "God, give me power to lend a helping hand to others." There is a sound philosophy in the paradoxical saying: "... Whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it".
Keep as a guiding principle the consciousness that the ultimate purpose of life is the perfecting of the individual. This implies an intelligence directing creation, and to me it implies a divine personality, a beneficent Father.
I love the young people, and my heart goes out to them. May God keep them true to the faith and bless them that they will be able to withstand the temptations that constantly beset their paths. To the youth of the Church I say, go to your Father in heaven in prayer; seek the advice of your parents, your bishops, and your stake presidents.
To the members of the Church everywhere I say, live honest, sincere lives! Be honest with yourselves, honest with your brethren, honest with your families, honest with those with whom you deal-always honest. The very foundation of all character rests upon the principles of honesty and sincerity.
Be true to the Church. Be true to your families-loyal to them! Protect your children and guide them, not arbitrarily, but by example.
I bear you my witness that the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ contain the true philosophy of living. I make no exception. I love them. There are men who say that they are not applicable to this day, but I say they are as applicable today as they were when he spoke them; and, because they contain eternal truths, they will be applicable through all time.
God help us to understand these eternal truths; and may he give us power to live them, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Robert L. Simpson
Robert L. Simpson, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 9-12
My dear brethren and sisters: I feel great spiritual strength in the presence of these wonderful patriarchs who attend our conference here this morning. We love you, we appreciate you, and we feel confidence in your wonderful calling.
These few thoughts that I share with you this morning are directed primarily to a large group of men who are perhaps beyond the range of my voice. Nevertheless, I speak to them with all the sincerity and fervor of my soul, hoping that somehow perhaps a few may be reached.
As we visit the stake conferences each week, few experiences are more satisfying than that little nudge on the arm from the stake president as he points out some good brother just taking his place on the third row, and then he whispers a few choice comments about some recent changes in that man's life. Sometimes it is about response to a faithful and patient home teacher; frequently, about the faith and prayers of a patient wife being answered in a glorious way. Too often the change has come about following adversity. Some are adversities that might have been avoided, but most important of all, he is back. He is on course again. He is feeling the joy of service to others, perhaps to some other wonderful men who need the same kind of helping hand that was extended toward him at that right moment. There are far too many who trod the futile path that leads to nowhere.
An air traffic control tower recently established radio contact with a plane that was streaking across the radar scope, obviously not on proper course. The pilot was asked to report his situation. The controller's voice seemed urgent. The pilot responded to the tower with this classic observation: "We are making wonderful time, but we are hopelessly lost."
I wonder how many men there might be in the world who are making wonderful time but without direction. Of what value is speed if the direction is without purpose? Someone has written: "A destination is a fine thing to have. If a man does not know to what port he is steering, no wind is favorable to him; and if he doesn't know where he is now, he cannot very well set a course. How hard he rows, or how good his engine is: these do not count in his favor unless he has a good definition of his objective. Hard work is often robbed of its reward by poor planning."
I was touched by the story of one highly successful business executive who recently responded graciously and humbly to a call to serve in his elders quorum presidency. Upon being asked the direct question: "What brought you back?" he responded, "Well, I have never told anyone before, but this is what happened:
"One morning while shaving, I overheard my six-year-old son singing from the next room. He was singing a little song I had heard him sing dozens of times before, 'I Am a Child of God'; but somehow that morning when he came to the part that says, 'Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, Help me find the way,' I had the feeling that he was singing directly to me. I just stood there and listened. Within seconds, my whole life seemed to pass in review; and it really came home with full force that some changes had to be made, especially when he came to the part, 'Teach me all that I must do, To live with him some day.'"
This good man confesses today that these simple words from the lips of his own child reached his heart as a personal plea. The plea was from a child of God who had been placed in his custody to be delivered back some day into Heavenly Father's presence. He concluded his answer to this question by stating that he decided then and there that he had something important to do, something more important than anything else in the world for a little fellow who still loved his daddy in spite of many personal failings.
While on the subject of church songs, let me tell you briefly about a man who was attending a patio party one Sunday afternoon at the home of a business associate who happened to live next door to an LDS meetinghouse. As the sacrament meeting got underway, the strains of the organ could be clearly heard over the back fence and seemed to be somewhat incongruous to the tinkle of ice being placed in the cocktail glasses. There were some uncomplimentary jokes and the usual snide remarks about religious fanatics, when all of a sudden the strains of the opening song broke the warm summer afternoon air. It was "Come, Come Ye Saints." The party tempo was warming up, and by now, the church music was all but unnoticed-unnoticed by all but one, a man whose grandmother had walked across the plains pulling a handcart. His mind withdrew from the party. For the first time in many years, he spent some minutes in sincere reflection concerning his birthright.
About ten minutes later, the sacrament song came drifting across the back fence. Unknowingly, a chorister, inspired in her calling, I am sure, had selected, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives." And way down deep, he knew it, too, but it had been a long, long time. From that moment on, he was attending a patio party in body, but mentally and spiritually he was far above and beyond his environment of the moment.
It was almost an hour later, just about the time that he had lapsed back into the party mood, when the closing song, "We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet," reached his ear and mellowed his heart to the point of submission. Isn't it odd that a man should start his way back while attending a cocktail party? "The Lord moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform." Incidentally, that man is probably here in this meeting today, a fine leader in the church, doing what the Lord would have him do.
The road back has been described by some as long and tedious and hard, but this is only as you stand at the starting end of that road. Those who have made the journey find that after the first difficult step, the road is sweet and pleasant to travel; the end rewards are beyond description.
God bless the home teacher who goes the extra mile, who confirms his love for the families he teaches with genuine interest and follow-up. May I tell you about a pair of home teachers who felt impressed to discuss some recently published findings on lung cancer with a brother who had been plagued with the cigarette habit all of his adult life. As the home teachers said goodnight, the brother expressed appreciation for their message and concluded with, "I will try to quit again, starting right now. I hope I can make it this time."
These home teachers could have been like most of us and waited until next month's visit to see if he succeeded, but they did not. They came by the very next morning at 6:45 a.m., unannounced and unexpected. They expressed keen interest in their visit the night before and especially in his expressed desire to stop smoking. They went on to tell this brother that they had decided to fast and pray for him that day. "We will be thinking about you all day today, and not only that, we will meet you here at your bus stop tonight to see how you made out."
This man could not help but succeed. "These two wonderful home teachers are going to be fasting and praying for me. They are going to be thinking about me all day. Tonight they are going to meet me at the bus stop." He wanted to have a right answer for them. He did. With help, he succeeded. He came back.
Just within the past few weeks a 73-year-old man took that glorious road back after 50 long years of indifference. There were many tears on that occasion, tears of joy-yes, his and especially those of a loving companion who had waited those 50 long years for this most glorious moment. The tenderness of that occasion was mute evidence to the sanctification of that moment by a kind and loving Heavenly Father who stands always prepared to say, "Welcome back, my son."
Oh, that thousands might put aside their stubborn pride! Oh, that thousands might find the courage for that first giant step back! Oh, that thousands of fine upstanding men with great potential might place themselves in the hands of the Lord, for as he has said: "... my yoke is easy, and my burden is light". We testify to you that it is! Oh, that thousands might give way to their real, deep-down inner feelings, for as President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., has said: "... God has placed in every man's heart a divine spark, which never wholly goes out; it may grow dim, it may become hidden, almost smothered by the ashes of transgression; but the spark still lives and glows and can be fanned into flame by faith, if the heart is touched."
Those of you who sit reluctantly in the wings, find your patriarchal blessing, dust it off, and read it again; contemplate deeply the Lord's personal message given to you alone by these wonderful men who are attending this conference, the patriarchs of the Lord. There is yet time. It's never too late to pick up the pieces.
I feel confident that one of the Lord's favorite greetings is "Welcome back, my son." May we find the way back where we belong is my humble prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world. Amen.
Elder Loren C. Dunn
Loren C. Dunn, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 12-14
I knew an athlete some years ago who had tremendous talent. He had almost perfect physical coordination. In fact, he was so good he would not train, yet his talents still exceeded the talents and abilities of those around him.
It was demoralizing sometimes for those who had to follow every training rule in order to bring themselves to speak of physical performance, only to have him exceed them because of his natural abilities.
But I happened to be at the stadium one afternoon a few years later when this athlete, who had progressed rather rapidly in a very promising sports career, had what some might call his moment of truth. He was playing with people who had talents as great as he did, and as the pace of the game picked up, the pressures began to mount.
He reached inside himself for that great second effort that he always had, but it became obvious that this time he could not marshal all that he needed. That afternoon marked the beginning of a gradual decline, which finally found him retiring from the game years before he should have retired. His original decision to disregard the rules of preparation had, in the end, cost him many years of performance.
Many times we see people around us who violate the patterns of living and the rules that we have been taught to live by, and they seem to do it without any ill effects. On the surface it would seem that it may not make any difference whether we live these rules or not, because those who violate them appear to suffer no consequences. In all ages, it seems, there have been challenges to those who believe in virtue, honesty, and high moral standards-challenges to those who accept these standards as God-given and that they ultimately will carry their own reward.
"We are always in the forge, or on the anvil," said Beecher; "by trials God is shaping us for higher things."
These challenges come from many different directions. For instance, there are those who expound the so-called new morality and say that it matters not if a person participates in free love, nor does the marriage contract mean that husband and wife should be faithful to each other. But those who believe this are wrong, and time, which is running out on them if they don't change, will prove them wrong.
"There are some things which never grow old-fashioned," says President McKay. "The sweetness of a baby is one. The virtue and chastity of manhood is another. Youth is the time to lay the foundation for our homes. I know there are those who tell you that suppression is wrong," he continues, "but I assure you that self-mastery, not indulgence, is the virtue that contributes to the virility of manhood and to the beauty of womanhood".
There are also those who sanction the use of drugs, using such reasoning as the fact that the use of marijuana is so widespread that it should be accepted and even condoned, for, they say, it creates no more problems than does alcohol. Those who use this reasoning fail to point out, however, that alcohol disables over six and one-half million people each year and that one-half of the fatal traffic accidents in the United States alone are related to excessive drinking. To recommend the use of marijuana by linking it to alcohol is like approving of a hepatitis epidemic on the basis that it probably won't be any more damaging than tuberculosis.
There has been sharp divergence of opinion in the United States over the use of marijuana, so much so that it prompted the organization of a presidential task force to try to ferret out the facts. This task force has recently made its initial report, which states, according to an international newspaper, that the widespread use of marijuana represents a significant mental health problem. Depending on the dose, it may have substantial detrimental effects on both the mental and the physical well-being of the user.
Because of these perils, it continues, every effort should be made by the federal government to curb the import and distribution of marijuana as well as of strong drugs.
To you who are challenged by others because you believe in the law of chastity, because you believe that drugs are not the answer, because you believe in such God-given axioms as "Thou shalt not steal" and "Thou shalt not lie", or because you have a simple and basic faith in God the Father and in his Son Jesus Christ and in your own eternal worth, just remember that time is on your side. Be patient, and the same people who challenge you, if they do not change, will ultimately prove to you, by their lives, that they don't have the answers-either for you or for themselves.
This is not to say that it will be easy. Sometimes the desire to be accepted by an individual or a group causes a person to do things that he really doesn't want to do; but if you can maintain your integrity, you'll come to understand what Lehi meant when he taught that men are that they might have joy -not fleeting pleasure but real joy.
Beware also of the temptation to violate the laws of God with the thought in mind that one can always repent but not really anticipate any remorse as a result of the wrongdoing. Repentance is a great principle, probably the greatest in the gospel of Jesus Christ; and thank heaven the Lord holds the opportunity of repentance out to all.
Yet perhaps it would do no damage to occasionally dwell on the awful nature of sin rather than relying continually on the redeeming qualities of repentance. We have a three-year-old daughter whom we love very dearly. Not long ago I was doing some studying at my desk at home, and she was in the room playing with a glass of water that was on the desk. As she picked up that large glass with her little fingers, I repeatedly warned her that she must be careful or she would drop the glass, which, of course, she finally did. It shattered as it hit the floor, and splinters went in every direction.
Showing the patience of a wise parent, I immediately spanked her, explaining to her that the spanking was the consequence of her insisting on not listening to me by picking up the glass until it dropped and was broken. She shed some tears and gave me a hug, which she usually does when she knows she is in trouble, and the event was quickly forgotten.
Since she often plays in her bare feet, I took her out of the room and made every effort to sweep up all the glass particles. But the thought came to me that perhaps I hadn't gotten all the splinters of glass, and at some future time when she is playing in that room, those little feet might find the splinters which went undetected, and she would have to suffer anew for that which she did.
For a young person to violate the law of chastity or some other commandment and then to later put his or her life in order, such action, I am sure, will mean the forgiveness of an understanding and loving God. Yet as that person progresses in life and reaches a point where he or she enters into a marriage contract and as they have children of their own, it just might be that a splinter of a previous wrongdoing somewhere on the floor of his or her life might prick the conscience.
This is not to say that the Lord hasn't forgiven them, but as they begin to understand the full meaning, the full significance of that which they once did, they may find it unfortunately difficult to forgive themselves. And perhaps this is ultimately the hardest part of repentance, being able to forgive one's self in light of the seriousness of the transgression. Certainly in this, as in all other things, we need the help of the Lord.
Alma told the truth when he taught his son, Corianton, that "wickedness never was happiness".
It is my testimony that the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ are for the purpose of saving all mankind from the remorse of wrongdoing; that time is on the side of those who hold to these principles and is working against those who do otherwise.
May the Lord help us to appreciate the eternal nature of the laws which he has given us and their purpose, which is to bring joy, happiness, and peace of mind to man. And to this may I add my witness of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that God lives and that Jesus Christ is his Son. I know this. I know that this is the Church of Jesus Christ and that it is led by revelation, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Alma Sonne
Alma Sonne, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 14-15
My brethren and sisters: The Latter-day Saints are a chosen people. Their mission is to teach the restored gospel to the world. They feel that responsibility keenly. Their missionary endeavor is evidence of their sincerity and determination to make known truth.
They realize that the souls of men are precious in the sight of God. They know their relationship to God, and they are rightfully called the children of God. He is their Father and is vitally concerned about their welfare. He will hear and answer their prayers. He will come to their rescue in times of need and he will sustain them when they put their trust in him.
The Latter-day Saints believe in the prophets, each one of whom has left a vital message to the world. Joseph Smith, called the founder of Mormonism, is the prophet of the last dispensation. Like Moses, the lawgiver of Israel, he spoke with God face to face and received from him revelations concerning man's destiny and his possibilities. He taught that God is a person, and that he rules in the affairs of men and nations, and that he is the Father of his children who live and have lived upon the earth.
Our country was founded in a religious atmosphere. The original colonists who came to America laid their foundations in that background. They came with deep religious convictions. They built churches and schools and worshiped God in their own way. Their quest was religious freedom, and although unknown to them, they prepared the way for the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which, according to James, is the perfect law of liberty.
I have found in most people a deep religious sentiment. Many of them go to church to satisfy their religious longings. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is building churches and chapels at a rapid rate. Most of them are crowded with worshipers on Sunday, where the gospel is being taught and righteous living encouraged.
Joseph Smith, the Prophet, was the man selected to open a new dispensation of the gospel. He announced to the world a restoration of divine truth. There are many incidents in his life supported by eyewitnesses who testify of his prophetic calling. These eye-witnesses responded to his greatness and his leadership in a way to prove their loyalty. Strong men like Brigham Young, John Taylor, and Wilford Woodruff followed him with a devotion seldom seen in human affairs. They were men who were not easily deceived or led astray.
Men of renown saw in the Prophet a force to be reckoned with on the pages of history.
A knowledge of Mormonism is necessary to understand this prophet of the latter days. He cannot be ignored by the conscientious investigator; neither can he be disposed of by the old-fashioned methods of ridicule and abuse. His name is secure in the history books already written. Speaking of himself, he said: "You don't know me; you never knew my heart. No man knows my history".
Who, for instance, knows Jesus Christ? No one except those who understand his gospel of salvation. Joseph Smith came to prepare the world for the reign of Christ. The Church teaches the second coming of the Savior, at which time he will appear in glory and splendor.
The Prophet did not write his autobiography, but the history of the early days of the Church is well preserved. The Prophet, wise and farseeing, kept records. "For the last three years," he said on one occasion, "I have a record of all my acts and proceedings, for I have kept several good, faithful, and efficient clerks in constant employ; they have accompanied me everywhere, and carefully kept my history, and they have written down what I have done, where I have been, and what I have said... and my enemies cannot prove anything against me". The Prophet believed he was a man of destiny, that this work was an important event in history, and that it should be preserved for future generations. He had been told by an angel that his "name should be had for good and evil among all nations". That prophecy has been fulfilled.
We are grateful today for the fragmentary history of the early Christian church, for the records from which the four gospels were assembled, and for the teachings and testimonies of its early leaders. They have been a source of inspiration and guidance to the generations that followed. Without those precious records, darkness would have prevailed. The Church has kept and is keeping a faithful record and a reliable history of its growth, its development, and its expansion since it was organized on the sixth day of April 1830; and it will move forward in the future as it has in the past. I so testify sincerely, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
Elder Sterling W. Sill
Sterling W. Sill, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 16-18
If we were looking for some program to cure all of the problems that presently beset our world, we might well find it by properly observing the Sabbath day. The importance of the Sabbath is prefigured in the account of creation. In programming the seven creative periods, God set aside the seventh day as his Sabbath. And then in our interests he especially blessed and hallowed this one day out of each week, which he ordained to be our Sabbath day. And what a magnificent day it is when it is used as he intended.
It is probable that our civilization would never have survived for half a century if it had not been for this one day in seven that we call Sunday. This is the day when we put on our best clothes and think our best thoughts and read our best books. This is the day when we associate with the people that we like the most. This is the day for which we usually reserve the best meal of the week. This is the day when we lay aside the cares that usually concern us during the other six days and go to the house of prayer and let our minds reach upward and try to understand the real purpose for which this day was set apart.
Some people have performed miracles of accomplishment when over a period of a few years they have set apart even 15 minutes a day for regular study and special self-improvement. And we can bring eternal exaltation upon ourselves by using the Sabbath day as the Creator intended. Some 3,460 years ago God came down onto the top of Mount Sinai in fire, and to the accompaniment of lightning and thunder said, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy".
Then in the meridian of time, the Son of God established his church upon the earth with the expectation that we should belong to it. Just suppose that we should each make up a thoughtful list of those things that we could do to really make this a holy day. The church of which we should be an important part was given the responsibility for proclaiming the principles of eternal truth, and within the framework of the Church we are supposed to individually sponsor those laws on which the blessings of mankind are predicated. William James has said, "That which holds our attention, determines our action." And if we don't pay attention, we lose the blessing.
The Sabbath day gives us a time to study the scriptures and to think about life's eternal purposes. "The mind is made up by what it feeds upon." And the Sabbath day is a time for spiritual feasting, mental stimulation, righteous activities, ennobling worship, and pleasant Christian fellowship. Anciently the followers of Christ assembled themselves together on the first day of the week to hear the gospel discussed, partake of the emblems of his atonement, and renew their covenants of faithfulness. And in our own day the Lord has said, "And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
"For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High".
That is one of our greatest commands of opportunity. And we bring all sorts of serious problems upon ourselves when we use this day for pleasure, worldliness, and evil. We sometimes make the Sabbath our least important day by putting on our most unsightly clothes and doing our most ordinary jobs. As a consequence of what we do, many of our churches remain empty and the holy scriptures remain on the shelf unopened. When we lose the Sabbath day spirit, we are likely to build bars in our homes instead of altars. And sometimes we can get more interested in horse races and baseball games than in the celestial kingdom.
Someone has said that the mind like the dyer's hand is colored by what it holds. If I hold in my hand a sponge full of purple dye, my hand becomes purple. And if I hold in my mind and heart great ideas of faith and ambitions of righteousness, my whole person is colored accordingly.
The apostle Paul saw our day and indicated that we were holding in our minds many of the wrong kind of ideas. He said, "... in the last days perilous times shall come.
"For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
"Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
"Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof".
And he indicated the change that we should make when he said, "... be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind". Our whole lives can be transformed by having a holy experience on the Sabbath day.
The other day while walking down the street I met a good friend of mine. We shook hands and engaged in a little pleasant small talk. We laughed, visited, joked, and had a pleasant few minutes together. Then as I went on my way I thought how much better I felt than I had previously done. One of the best ways to feel the faith and enjoy the friendliness of our fellow human beings is in church. In church the talk is very important, and we can shake hands, feel the Spirit of God, and be uplifted by each other as we listen, pray, and sing together out of the depths of worshiping hearts.
The Lord is pleased when we honor him and bring this benefit upon ourselves by keeping the Sabbath day holy. He has said, "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads".
It is also in the house of the Lord that we partake of the sacrament and renew our personal covenants to serve him.
On that memorable last evening of the Lord's life, the scripture recalls that "he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you". And, "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come".
This is not only a way to have a vitalizing spiritual experience with our Redeemer, but it is also a way that we can have a rewarding association with our fellowmen. Next to God, the most inspiring creation in the universe is a great human being formed in God's image. And one of the reasons that we have been endowed with his great attributes is that with them we might inspire each other. It has been pointed out that when the veils of our mortality are drawn aside, the most ordinary individual that we know may be the kind of person that we would feel like falling down and worshiping before. If we could have visited with Abraham as he herded his sheep on the deserts of Palestine, we may not have been greatly impressed. But if we could have been at his side as he stood among the noble and great in the antemortal councils of God, or if we could be with him now as he serves in God's heavenly kingdom, the experience would likely be a much more memorable one. And what wonderful people we might discover each Sabbath day if we could see our brothers and sisters in the light of their real identity as children of God. The Prophet Joseph Smith said that "if we could look into heaven for five minutes we would learn more than by reading all of the books that have ever been written on that subject". But all of our brothers and sisters were themselves in heaven just a few years ago, and we may shortly see them there again.
It is helpful for us to remember that God, angels, spirits, and men are all of the same species in different stages of development and in various degrees of righteousness. And the apostle Paul says that we should not be "forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares".
But who are these with whom we worship? King David asks a helpful question where he exclaims, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
"For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
"Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet".
One Bible translation says, "Thou hast made him for a little while lower than the angels." In some ways even Jesus was made lower than the angels temporarily. And what a thrill it ought to be for us each week to properly honor God and our fellow human beings as he has directed. And we are sure that someday when we come to stand before God, we will find that those who have effectively kept his commandments will be different kind of people than those who have ignored or disobeyed him. And so in imagination we might go again to stand before the fires of Mount Sinai and hear the thrilling command wherein God said, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy". And may he help us so to do, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 18-23
President McKay, brethren, brothers and sisters, and friends:
You have heard the impressive message of the Prophet of the Lord. May I express the hope that you will give heed to his admonitions and follow him on the safe and sure way to eternal life.
When I was a youngster, a Stirring challenge came to me that moved me not a little. I cannot remember who issued the challenge nor under what circumstances it came. I remember only that it struck me like a "bolt out of the blue heavens." The unknown voice postulated:
"The 'Mormon Church' has stood its ground for the first two generations-but wait till the third and fourth and succeeding generations come along! The first generation fired with a new religion developed a great enthusiasm for it. Surrounded with bitterness, calumny of a hostile world, persecuted 'from pillar to post,' they were forced to huddle together for survival. There was good reason to expect they would live and die faithful to their espoused cause.
"The second generation came along born to enthusiasts, zealots, devotees. They were born to men and women who had developed great faith, were inured to hardships and sacrifices for their faith. They inherited from their parents and soaked up from religious homes the stuff of which the faithful are made. They had full reservoirs of strength and faith upon which to draw.
"But wait till the third and fourth generations come along," said the cynical voice. "The fire will have gone out-the devotion will have been diluted-the sacrifice will have been nullified-the world will have hovered over them and surrounded them and eroded them-the faith will have been expended and the religious fervor leaked out."
That day I realized that I was a member of the third generation. That day I clenched my growing fists. I gritted my teeth and made a firm commitment to myself that here was one "third generation" who would not fulfill that dire prediction.
And now, we are in the sixth and seventh generations from the original Church convert, and we still find stalwarts in most branches of the family, hundreds in the mission fields, numerous others in Church positions of responsibility. And I have come to realize that it is not the generation number which makes the difference but the care and exactness with which parents teach and train and fortify their offspring.
I grew up in a dry country. It seemed to me that hardly ever was there enough rain spread over the crop-growing period to carry us through the season-not enough water in the river to distribute between the many hungry canals and the tens of thousands of thirsty acres, not enough to irrigate all the crops.
We learned to pray for rain-we always prayed for rain.
When I was still very small, I knew that plants could not survive in a dry country more than about two or three weeks without water. I knew how to harness up the old mare to a lizard-a forked log on which a barrel was placed-and I drove the animal to the "big ditch," the Union Canal, which was a block below our home. With a bucket, I scooped up water from the small stream or the puddles and filled the barrel, and the horse dragged it back so I could pour bucketsful of the precious liquid on the roses, the violets, and other flowers and the small shrubs and hedges and new trees. Water was like liquid gold, so reservoirs became the warp and woof of the fabric of my life. Around the table, we talked of water, irrigation, crops, floods, hot, dry weeks, and cloudless skies.
We used to look for clouds somewhat as did Elijah and his people after the three-year drought.
After the dramatic experience with the prophets of Baal, Elijah had gone to the top of Mt. Carmel and had said to King Ahab, "... there is a sound of abundance of rain." Elijah's servant had gone to a high spot and looked for promising clouds. The first six times he looked, returned, and reported, "There is nothing," but the seventh time he reported that there was arising out of the sea a little cloud like a man's hand. Soon, the heavens were black with heavy pregnant clouds and "there was a great rain".
Through the warm dry summers, we always seemed to be looking for dark, heavy clouds. And every year, the clouds did amass, and the thunderstorms did come, and the dry washes did run for a few hours, and the river roared down its channel.
But the canals were still empty, and the brush and rock dams were washed down the river by the first raging torrent. Then came the call for the able-bodied men to rush to the heads of the canals to build new dams, to get the canals full before the river water had all run down to the sea. And when working in the flood, hauling brush and trees, rocks and dirt, horses floundered and were sometimes drowned and men had narrow escapes.
Years later we built aprons of concrete that were protected by rock and wire sausages.
Later I learned that even dependable diversion dams were not enough. A reservoir was needed-a high dam that would impound the fall, winter, and spring rains and keep them stored for the later need.
And as I pondered, I came to realize that there were reservoirs of many kinds-reservoirs to store water, some to store food, as we do in our family welfare program, some like the barns and bins set up by Joseph in the land of Egypt in which to store the seven years of plenty to carry them over the seven years of drought and famine.
I realized that there should be reservoirs of knowledge to meet the future needs; reservoirs of courage to overcome the floods of fear that put uncertainty in lives; storage of physical strength to help us meet the frequent contaminations and contagions; reservoirs of goodness; reservoirs of stamina; reservoirs of faith. Yes, reservoirs of faith so that when the world presses in upon us, we stand firm and strong; when the temptations of a decaying world about us draw on our energies, sap our spiritual vitality, and seek to pull us down to the level of the worldly world, we need a storage of faith that can carry youth through the tantalizing teens and through the problems of later years. Faith to carry us over the dull, the difficult, the terrifying moments, disappointments, disillusionments, and years of adversity, want, confusion, and frustration.
And who are to build these reservoirs? Is this not the reason that God gave to every child two parents?
Who else but the forebears would clear the forests, plow the land, carve out the futures? Who else would set up the businesses, dig the canals, survey the territory? Who else would plant the orchards, start the vineyards, erect the homes?
In his omniscience, our God gave to every child a father and mother to pioneer the way. And so it is those parents who sired them and bore them who are expected to lay foundations and to hold the hands through the tender years to build the barns and tanks and bins and reservoirs.
Did not the Lord, speaking of parents, say, "And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord"?
Is it not the work of the parents to build so their children can inhabit houses they did not build; eat the fruit from trees they did not plant and grapes from vines they did not start? Parents should be soberly about their life's work of building reservoirs and helping to fill them for the children who are yet too small to hoe, or dig, or plow.
I am grateful to my parents, for they made reservoirs for my brothers, my sisters, and myself. They filled them with prayer habits, study, activities, positive services, and truth and righteousness. Every morning and every night, we knelt at our chairs with backs to the table and prayed, taking turns. When I was married, the habit persisted, and our new family continued the practice.
Some parents are casual or careless or fail to do their duty. These constitute leaks in the dams. The story of Peter with his thumb in the dike may be a myth, but the moral is not a myth.
Lehi and Sariah built and filled reservoirs for their children. One said:
"I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father... having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings".
Though two of the brothers ignored those teachings, using their own free agency, yet Nephi and others of his brothers were strongly fortified and all their lives could draw heavily on the reservoir built and filled by worthy parents.
Abraham built such a reservoir for his son Isaac, and it seemed never to have leaked dry, for we find his son one of the patriarchs and always linked with the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And he seems to fit the words of Jeremiah:
"For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit".
Jacob, another of the sons of Lehi, drew heavily from the storage inherited from his father, and he passed the same to his son Enos, who bore testimony of it:
"... I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just man-for he taught me in the nurture and admonition of the Lord-and blessed be the name of my God for it.
"... I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart".
Enos asked how such a miracle as forgiveness could possibly come, and the answer came from the Lord: "Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard, nor seen thy faith hath made thee whole". Enos was able to draw heavily on the reservoir of faith his parents had set up for their children.
One day I met a delightful couple-faithful Latter-day Saints with a splendid family and a successful life. They told me of their family history. The husband was one of seven children of a family of active people, where the Lord was center in their lives. All but one of the seven had remained faithful, filled honorable missions, married in the temple, and had successful, happy families, as had their parents before them. The one had strayed and had marital and other serious problems.
On the other hand, the wife was one of seven children in a contemporary family where the Church meant little in their lives, and they had bypassed tithing, prayers, and all church activities, and had ignored the spiritual part of their lives. All seven of the children had been reared in the same household, subject to the same conditions, and all seven of them but this one ignored their spiritual obligations, as their parents had done before them.
The first parents had built and filled a high, strong reservoir of habits and qualities of faith for their children. Both families had the same community backgrounds.
The second family built no reservoir of spiritual strength but depended on the runoff. The uncertain little dams, like our brush and rock ones, had washed away when the torrents flooded. There were cracks in the dam and leaks in the reservoir. In the one family, six of the seven remained righteous; in the other, six of the seven followed the careless ways of the parents in unrighteousness and only one of the seven remained faithful.
The Lord had commanded that "he that observeth not his prayers before the Lord in the season thereof, let him be had in remembrance before the judge of my people". And the Lord had also expressed concern and disapproval of his people in Zion who were idlers, "and their children are also growing up in wickedness; they also seek not earnestly the riches of eternity, but their eyes are full of greediness".
Again, as I remembered the so-called doomed third and fourth generations, there were two brothers of the second generation. Both had large families now in the sixth and seventh generations, running into many hundreds each. The one brother became disgruntled and the other remained faithful. The children of the one in their third generation began to fall away, as did their father. Activity reduced, there were only occasional temple marriages, and few went on missions. Then in the fourth generation, there were no temple marriages, no missions, few baptisms, and very little activity in spiritual things. The fifth generation deteriorated to rank apostasy. In the sixth generation, with just an occasional exception, the whole tribe was estranged from the Church.
The ancestor had failed to keep his reservoir intact and full for his posterity to draw upon.
On the other hand, the second brother remained faithful all his life and finally "died in the harness." His third and fourth and fifth generations have also remained true and faithful with a few exceptions. The majority of the posterity of the one was out of the faith like the parents, and the majority of the other followed the parents into activity and faith. Spiritual reservoirs!
An editorial from the Church Section of the Deseret News reads:
"Good homes must rate high in companionship between children and parents, in having a well ordered household, with love between parents and between children and parents.
"They must build righteous loyalties, good character, a willingness to work, a spirit of humility, and an absence of unjust pride, and they must teach a deep and abiding faith in God."
To this end, the Lord has inspired his church to place a great new and increased emphasis on that building process.
Every family is urged to engage in regular night and morning family prayers and to devote at least one evening a week at home in the sweet family togetherness undisturbed by the world or any of its allurements. They will plan to turn off the TV and radio, leave the telephone unanswered, cancel all calls or appointments, and spend a warm, homey evening together.
While one objective is reached by merely being together, yet the additional and greater value can come from the lessons of life. The father will teach the children. Here they can learn integrity, honor, dependableness, sacrifice, and faith in God. Life's experiences and the scriptures are the basis of the teaching and this, wrapped up in filial and parental love, makes an impact nothing else can make. Thus, reservoirs of righteousness are filled to carry children through the dark days of temptation and desire, of drought and skepticism. As they grow up, the children cooperate in building this storage for themselves and the family. And so we have the home evening and the family prayers and the simple things that have been taught to us all our days.
One day, long ago, we crossed a boundary into a distant city where walls and curtains separated people; and behind the walls, strange ideologies were taught and "pernicious doctrines" promulgated every day in the schools and otherwise.
Every day the children listened to schoolteachers with foreign and strange doctrines, philosophies, and ideals.
Someone said that "constant dripping will wear away the hardest stone." This I knew, so I asked about the children: "Do they retain their faith? Are they not overcome by the constant pressure of their teachers? How can you be sure they will not leave you and the simple faith in God?"
The answer was unmistakable. "We mend the damaged reservoir every night," they said. "We teach our children positive righteousness so that the false philosophies do not take hold, and should any have taken lodgment in the day, we dislodge them at night. Our children are growing up in faith and righteousness in spite of the overwhelming pressures from outside."
Generally, cracked dams can be mended and saved, and sand bags can hold back the flood; and reiterated truth, renewed prayer, gospel teachings, a flood of love, and parental interest can save the child and keep him on the right path.
I like to compare the home evening, family prayer, and other associated activities of the Church for the saving of the family, when they are conscientiously carried out, with an umbrella. If the umbrella is not opened up, it is little more than a cane and can give little protection from the storms of nature. Likewise, God-given plans are of little value unless they are used.
The umbrella spread out makes the silken material taut. When the rain falls, it runs off; when the snow falls, it slides off; when the hail comes, it bounces off; when the wind blows, it is diverted around the umbrella. And in like manner, this spiritual umbrella wards off the foes of ignorance, superstition, skepticism, apostasy, immorality, and other forms of godlessness.
It is my prayer that we shall all spread our spiritual umbrellas for protection of our families and keep our reservoirs full of faith and integrity; and we can promise that the third and fourth generations and indeed the tenth and the fiftieth will still be faithful, worthy, and God-fearing.
May this be our happy blessing, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
Marvin J. Ashton, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 28-29
Six months ago, by appointment from the First Presidency, we attended a mission-wide conference in South Africa. After four glorious days with the wonderful people of that nation, and as we were leaving, many of the members said: "When you return, please give our best regards and love to our friends all over the world." Little did they realize, and little did I realize at that time, that I would have this kind of an opportunity of extending their love to their friends worldwide.
Since this responsibility has come to me, I have thought a great deal about friends in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am reminded in the 84th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, that great revelation on priesthood, of how the Savior reported through the Prophet Joseph Smith, in verse 63, "... you are mine apostles, even God's high priests; ye are they whom my Father hath given me; ye are my friends", indicating the importance and blessing of being recognized as a friend of the Savior.
May I leave this thought with you as we think of friends and the part they should play in our lives as Latter-day Saints. Perhaps this simple illustration will help us to realize the need of being friends in the home, friends in the neighborhood, and friends in the community.
Some months ago my wife and I were in the front of our yard when the newspaper boy came down the street on his bicycle. His bicycle was loaded with papers. About twenty or thirty yards in back of him, there was another boy following him on a bicycle. I was not sure at that time what their relationship was, but I did notice they were coming down the street at a pretty good clip.
When the newspaper boy came to our sidewalk entry, he was traveling too fast to make the approach to our home, and, as a result, he went one way, the bicycle went another way, and the papers went everywhere. Noticing the boy had fallen on the lawn and was not hurt, but realizing that he would undoubtedly be embarrassed from the fall in front of his friend, we moved toward him.
At the sight of this perfect three-point landing, if we may refer to it as that, his companion shouted his pleasure and laughed heartily with complete and full enjoyment at the misfortune of his associate.
Trying to relieve the embarrassment of the paper boy, knowing he didn't want help but he wanted to have his pride repaired a little, I took a few more steps toward him and said: "It's kind of a low blow to have your friend laugh when you've had a bad spill, isn't it?"
He went on picking up his papers without even looking up. Finally, he had the papers back in place and got on his bicycle; and as he started out away from our home, he made the remark: "He isn't my friend-he's my brother."
His words have been ringing through my ears with a great deal of significance ever since then. Brothers and sisters, I sincerely feel that one of the great purposes of family evenings and home teaching is to have family members realize that a brother can be a friend, and that a sister can be a friend, and that a father and a mother can be more than parents, they can be friends.
I would hope and pray that we may catch the wisdom and the inspiration of building a home so that our members in that sacred unit can look upon a father and say, "He is my best friend," or "My mother is more than a mother, she is my friend." When we realize that parents and family members can be more than blood relations and are in very deed friends, then we will have a glimpse of how our Heavenly Father wants us to live, not only as brothers and sisters but as very close friends.
I humbly bear testimony to you this day that this is our Heavenly Father's work, and that I approach this new assignment in all humility, aware of the fact that I need your blessings to carry on and to function as our Master would have me serve. May I express to President David O. McKay my gratitude and appreciation for his confidence in calling me to serve with him and these brethren, my friends, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder LeGrand Richards
LeGrand Richards, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 29-33
I should first like to extend my congratulations to Elder Ashton on his call. He can't help it, but I'm his uncle by marriage and I am proud of him. Furthermore, he is a son of my first counselor when I served as the Presiding Bishop of the Church, and of all the men who have been General Authorities in this church, I think his father was one of the most beloved throughout the entire Church.
Now I greet all of you brothers and Sisters here today and express my love for you and my appreciation for your kindness to me as I travel throughout the Church, and my congratulations for your great contributions in helping to build our Father's kingdom. In your presence I would like to express my love for my Father in heaven and for his Son Jesus Christ and for the holy scriptures, for without them what would we know about the love of our Father in heaven, who gave us his Only Begotten Son, "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life"? And what would we know about the life and the labors, the teachings, the example, and the great atoning sacrifice of the Redeemer of the world? No wonder we love him and are proud to be his representatives!
I love the scriptures. I love the words of the prophets, for the Lord has permitted many of them to look down through the stream of time and behold coming events of great importance in this world.
I think of the words of Jesus as he walked with two of his disciples as they were on their way to Emmaus following his resurrection, and we are told that "their eyes were holden that they should not know him". When he heard what they had to say, he realized that notwithstanding the time he had spent with them, they did not comprehend the magnitude of his ministry, and he said: "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken". Commencing with Moses and the prophets, he showed them how in all things the prophets had testified of him.
To me there are two great events recorded in the holy scriptures that are outstanding above all others, and one is the announcement by the holy prophets of the coming of the Redeemer of the world in the meridian of time. Those prophets were permitted to describe his life and his ministry in such minute detail that they even told how lots would be cast for his clothing at the time of his crucifixion. Then the next important event outlined by the holy prophets, in my estimation, is what the prophets had to say about his second coming and the preparation for that coming, and that is the mission of this great church.
I think of the words of the apostle Peter. He said:
"We have also a more sure word prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost".
I like the words of the prophets who have declared this day. I think of the words of the apostle Peter following the day of Pentecost, when he said the heavens must receive the Christ "until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began". We have that restitution. There isn't time today to go into the details of the ministration of heavenly messengers that have been sent to this earth in order to restore the gospel and prepare the way for his coming, which is the restitution of all things.
I like the statement by John the Revelator when he was banished upon the Isle of Patmos and the angel of the Lord said, "Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter". He was shown the great power that would be given to Satan to make war with the saints -the saints were the followers of the meek and lowly Master-and that Satan would be given power over every nation and every kindred and every tongue and every people, but after he saw that great day of darkness he also saw a day of light. He saw "another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people". That doesn't leave out anybody! We have that everlasting gospel that the Lord promised to send to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord.
I like the statement of Isaiah. He said the Lord had declared the end from the beginning. It is all there in the holy scriptures if we know how to read them and understand them in the spirit in which they were written, namely, the spirit of the Holy Ghost. He said: "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever",
I like the statement of Isaiah, who, when he saw the conditions when men would worship God by the precepts of men, said: "Wherefore the Lord said... behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid".
We have that marvelous work and a wonder, and I know that as you do, and we have a great responsibility to share that with our fellowmen throughout the world. I trust that those who are listening to this conference will be impressed with the fact that this Church has more to offer than any other church in all this world.
I like the words of Malachi the prophet, when he saw the latter days and said: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse".
What would the consequences really have been, had it not been for the coming of Elijah the prophet, and how could the kingdom be prepared for the coming of the Master without all these things finding their fulfillment? All of this constitutes what Paul said when he said the Lord had revealed unto him the mystery of his will, "that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth".
We have that responsibility, and we are the only church in the world that knows anything about that marvelous mystery that God revealed to Paul of this great work of uniting that which is in heaven with that which is here upon this earth.
I like the statement of Isaiah, which was quoted by Moroni to the Prophet Joseph when he visited him three times in the night, and again the next morning when Joseph was only a lad 17 years old. He quoted the words of Isaiah where the Lord said that he would set his hand again the second time to gather scattered Israel. He has been doing that. Many of you are descendants of those who have been gathered from all over this earth in fulfillment of that prediction. He said he would bring in the dispersed of Judah, and after 2,000 years of their wanderings and their persecutions, they have been led back to their own land, for God gave them that land as an eternal inheritance.
And that isn't all. He said he would set up an ensign for the nations. Now I don't know what you think about an ensign. It seems to me that means he would do something better than he had ever done before or that could be found anywhere else in all this world. That is what this Church really is. Now if I should make reference to a few comments made by people who have come among us and have been sufficiently without prejudice that they could recognize what this Church is doing, I hope nobody will think that I am boasting.
We had here in our midst just a few years ago a great economist, not only of the United States but of the world. One of our banker friends gave a banquet for him at the Hotel Utah. There were 25 of us invited there, and after the governor and the President of the Church had said a few words, they asked this man if he would like to say something. He stood there and his jaw began to quiver and the tears began to roll down his cheeks, and he made this statement: "I have never stood in such presence in my life. I have to come out here to these valleys of the mountains to find the kind of Christianity I think can save the world". Now we are happy that he could recognize that.
We had a man here in our midst a short time ago, a Dr. Polian of Iran. He was sent to the United States by his government to study the American people. After spending three days here in Salt Lake City, he made this statement: "I have been in the United States eleven months as a representative from my government to study the American people, and I have obtained a more favorable impression of them in the two days I have spent in Salt Lake City than in all the rest of the eleven months". Now there must be something that provokes that kind of a statement.
I want to read you a statement that impressed me very much, and I apologize to Brother Hanks for doing it. During President Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration, a youth conference was held in Washington. There were 7,000 representatives there from all over the United States and probably from other countries. Brother Hanks was asked to give the keynote address-not just to be one of the speakers at the convention, but to deliver the keynote address. After he had concluded, the man who had conducted the meeting made this statement:
"As I sat here I reflected that Mr. Hanks comes from people that were driven from our region of the country because of the things they believed, and suffered bitter persecution for their ideals, who went finally to the far reaches of this country where they thought themselves away from all this. Now we have invited a leader of that people to come here to talk to us of the same ideals and principles for which we drove them away".
It takes truth a long while to travel, but she finally gets her boots on. I am reminded of the fable about Truth and Error: they went out into the river to bathe, and Error came out first and dressed herself in Truth's clothing and has been traveling in it ever since. But because Truth wouldn't dress herself in Error's clothing, we always speak of the naked Truth!
Just a few years ago we had the president of a college down in California teach at the summer school of Brigham Young University. At the close of the summer, in an interview with one of our reporters, he made this significant statement: "It may well be that the Mormon people have the key that will eventually save this country." There must be something back of a people and a program that would call for such compliments from a president of a college. Incidentally, he was so impressed that he has since joined the Church!
Now we have people come here by the millions to our Visitors Center. Some of them go away feeling like they have been in heaven, because the things they see there are so wonderful. Then they are taken to Welfare Square, and we have a book down there where they can write their impressions of what they see. I'd like to read you a few statements. The book is full of them, but this is just typical of the impressions. This is from a representative from England: "This has been an extraordinary experience, and it seems to me to be one of the best examples of practical Christianity in the modern world."
This one is from a Baptist: "It is a pattern for our federal government to attempt to follow." A non-Church member: "This is the most wonderful thing I have ever seen, and I hope to come back again." A Hebrew: "This in my way of thinking is a real religion." A non-Church member: "We believe your church and its members are doing the great deeds that may some day achieve a true brotherhood of man." We knew that. This is the greatest brotherhood in all this world anywhere. And then from a Catholic: "A wonderful project and something other faiths might well copy." A Methodist: "I'm flabbergasted"-whatever that means! An Episcopalian: "Beyond belief."
Now I want to read you just a few words from people who attended the New York Fair, and they had a book there where these impressions could be written after they had seen our display. First, a Catholic priest: "I think I will leave my priesthood and join you." A Lutheran from New York: "It is very difficult and words cannot express the true feeling of goodness one gets while touring your pavilion." A Catholic from New York: "There is hope for the world with people like you." A Protestant: "I love it-sounds great. Please send me someone." There are a lot more just like that, but I wanted you to hear a few.
Now there must be something to this institution. Isn't that what Isaiah meant when he said that he would set an ensign to the nations? People see that we are doing things differently than they have been done before. We had a man on the campus at Brigham Young University in June 1968. He said that he had been at that university in Provo, Utah, year after year since 1940, and then he added this: "I am becoming convinced that the only salvation for the United States is for all Christians converting to Mormonism." They will be converted just as fast as our great army of Mormon missionaries can reach them; and if, the words of Jesus, they hunger and thirst after righteousness, they shall be filled.
God bless you all, brothers and sisters. We have the greatest thing to offer in all this world. It is the restored gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not a reformation. It came from heaven, from holy messengers, and I bear you that witness because I know it as I know that I stand here. May God help us to share it with our neighbors and our friends and the whole world, I pray, and ask God to bless you all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Theodore M. Burton
Theodore M. Burton, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 33-35
My brothers and sisters: One of the most beautiful prayers ever offered is found recorded in the Gospel of John. It was given as Jesus opened his heart in prayer to God the Eternal Father, pleading for unity not only among the apostles, but also asking that those who follow their words might reach a state of unity such as that found in the Godhead. They were to preach a gospel of peace and love, and so he said:
"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
"That they all might be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me".
Our present world is torn by argument, dissension, violence, war, and rumors of war, and because of the turmoil on every side, men's hearts are beginning to fail them. If men are to retain their sanity and hope, they must have an assurance of a peaceful solution for the ills of mankind. This assurance can be given if we who claim to be true followers of Jesus Christ demonstrate that unity spoken of in that great prayer from which I have quoted Christ's plea for unity.
I feel impressed to stress the necessity for unity as one of the greatest needs of our present-day world. Not only does it apply to the world in general, but it is particularly important within the Church if we are to take our rightful place in leading mankind toward peace.
In our generation the Savior gave us a statement so often used by the late President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.: "... I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine".
This doctrine is built upon true love, even the love of Christ, and is a most important principle of the gospel. Without the love of one man for another, how can justice and real freedom ever be achieved? Unless every man esteems his brother as himself and practices virtue and holiness before the Lord, how can that person hope to live in the presence of God, where unity, love, virtue, and truth abound? No unrighteousness can exist in the presence of God, and unless we learn to overcome disunity and unrighteousness here upon the earth, we cannot hope to be restored to live in the presence of God the Eternal Father in the resurrection to come.
What causes disunity and friction? There are many reasons for disunity, but one of the principal reasons is the ego of man himself. I define this ego as the desire to be acknowledged as a person different from others. This desire is not evil in itself. In fact, properly directed, it can be a great virtue. There is a certain amount of faith or pride in one's self that every successful and happy person must have. Only when the ego develops into egotism must we beware. Ego becomes evil when a person becomes obtrusive and makes excessive reference to himself as to his own importance. Beware when a man or woman monopolizes conversations and shows a disregard for the opinions of others. When a man is not humble and seeks to excel and outdo others, he is in a very dangerous position. I feel such a spirit is born of selfishness and a lack of the true spirit of Jesus Christ.
An example of such a spirit is evident in the case of William Phelps. Brother Phelps was a good man and a capable man, but he became too ambitious, letting pride move him to seek honors to which he was not entitled. The Prophet Joseph loved that good man, as did the Lord also. As a result, he was given a warning against this fault in his character. The Lord warned him:
"And also let my servant William W. Phelps stand in the office to which I have appointed him, and receive his inheritance in the land;
"And also he hath need to repent, for I, the Lord, am not well pleased with him, for he seeketh to excel, and he is not sufficiently meek before me".
Elder Phelps failed to heed the warning, and one thing led to another until he actually rebelled against the Prophet Joseph. When he found himself kicking against the pricks of conscience, he repented, humbled himself, and apologized for his conduct. He was forgiven and brought back into full church fellowship. In my opinion he was a great man of courage who was not ashamed to acknowledge a fault and had the strength to overcome it. Not all men have the greatness of character that William W. Phelps had. Too many who seek to excel lack humility, and if they do not curb this fault they will lose their inheritance in the Lord's kingdom.
I suppose disunity in the Church begins when each of us becomes so wrapped up in our own interests and assignments that we lose the full perspective of the gospel of Jesus Christ as a united whole. We become so involved with our own particular interests that we forget that the gospel involves the whole of life. Sunday School, missionary work, priesthood, genealogy, temple work, welfare, home teaching, education, or whatever interest we have or church position we occupy at present is only part of the gospel whole. It is true that we are expected to push our own particular assignment, but not at the expense of others. It is most unwise to try to advance the field in which we are presently interested by downgrading the activities of others. We should never push one organization at the expense of another. An appreciation of diversification is the basis of unity. Though I strive to push priesthood, genealogy, and temple work with all my power, I should never resent any other gospel organization or principle within the Church structure, or sow discord among my brethren.
Unity can come when I learn to appreciate each person in the Church and the value of every aspect of church organization. This is true of a deacons quorum, and it is true of the highest quorum of the Church, that of the First Presidency. Loyalty among the men of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is no more necessary for them than loyalty within a teachers or an elders quorum. When discussions arise among strong-minded men and women, anger must never be evident. Men and women should be free to state their opinions without fear, but they should do so without rancor or envy or belittling the character or abilities of other persons who hold differing opinions from their own. Only when we understand one another and appreciate one another can the Spirit of God enter our hearts, draw us one to another, and bring about unity.
Nowhere is this principle of consideration and love of one another more needed than in a discussion of gospel principles. The Lord has warned us not to preach tenets or opinions:
"And of tenets thou shalt not talk, but thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism, and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost".
Tenets are the dogmas or principles generally accepted by a majority as true, whether those principles are factual or not. Thus we should not dispute with others about such matters, nor pursue discussions among ourselves about such matters that can cause feelings to be hurt or cause disputations to arise.
We should rather preach the first principles of the gospel, which are so necessary for our full growth and development. When we understand the basics or true fundamental principles of the gospel, we will not be buffeted by the doctrines and beliefs of men that so often lead to quarrels and misunderstandings. That is why the Lord went on to advise us:
"Behold, this is a great and the last commandment which I shall give you concerning this matter; for this shall suffice for thy daily walk, even unto the end of thy life.
"And misery thou shalt receive if thou wilt slight these counsels, yea, even the destruction of thyself and property".
We live in a world full of discord and disunity. We need not and must not become a party to that worldly way of living. Our role is that of peacemakers. As the Latter-day Saints of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, we must "therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children".
The need within the Church for a spirit of unity and loyalty and love is reflected in these words of the Savior from the Book of Mormon:
"... And there shall be no disputations among you, as there have hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto been.
"For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.
"Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away".
When we hear our voices rise in speaking with one another, when we feel our faces getting flushed and red, when our muscles tense and we get warm under the collar, these are danger signals. It is time to repent and change whatever we are saying or doing. I plead for unity and consideration among us who claim to be sons and daughters of God. I pray for that love and affection which characterizes the true disciples of Jesus Christ. May God bless us all to know with such a surety of heart that this is the true church and kingdom of Jesus Christ, that we will have character enough to practice those principles which we espouse.
I pray for this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Boyd K. Packer
Boyd K. Packer, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 36-38
Recently two unusual gatherings of young people have caught the attention of the world. At White Lake, New York, nearly half a million young people gathered.
Later a similar gathering was held on the Isle of Wight. They came from all countries, from all levels of society.
These meetings were billed as music festivals. Certainly they did not come to hear the music-they came to be there.
These gatherings, so appealing to our youth, are unique in history, and they mean something.
Some suppose that the youth responded to political or philosophical motivation. It is not so. It would be a mistake to so conclude, even though they are deeply entangled in the political and social issues of today.
Frantically youth clings to whatever social issue is foremost at the moment, not realizing perhaps that it is not so much the cause that ignites them; it is rather having a cause that satisfies their need. Neither is it an intellectual movement, although it has many of the attributes. Nor is it a cultural one, though they have developed their own style of music, a vocabulary, art forms, and poetry. It is spiritual motivation that brings these young people together.
They may not know it, but a whole generation of youth is athirst with an unquenched spiritual desire. As has been foretold:
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:
"And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.
"In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst".
Youth suffers from a lingering thirst that has become a drive. Though it gnaws within them, it is not physical. They want to know what it all means-they are seeking the true meaning of life. There is something missing from their lives, some vital substance that they have not tasted.
Many of them unfortunately seek it in physical satisfaction. They smash down the boundaries of morality and wantonly indulge themselves in every manner conceivable to the limit of physical experience, seeking in physical gratification some taste of life. They come away less satisfied than before, the thirst and the craving more acute.
Then many of them turn elsewhere, seeking to escape the futility in life. They turn to drugs and find for a moment the escape they seek. At last their spirits soar. They reach beyond themselves, erase all limitations, and taste for a moment, as they suppose, that which they have been seeking. But it is a synthetic, a wicked counterfeit, for they return to a depression worse than the one they left.
Then they become players in the saddest of human tragedies. For, as they turn again to this release, they are not seeking what they sought before, but indulge to escape the consequences of each previous adventure with drugs. This is addiction! This is tragedy! This is slavery! When a remedy becomes worse than the disease, then we have found futility itself.
If one of these young people would listen for a moment-listen seriously enough that I could speak from the depths of my soul-there are some things I would tell him.
Why, he may first ask, do you appeal to me, the most criticized and uncomfortable of all in society? That is easy to answer.
First, you are right, you know, when you assess that most of society is interested only in immediate material success, too comfortable to really care, too preoccupied to listen to any significant message.
Because you are trying to change things, perhaps you will at least listen.
We are trying to change things too. We have many thousands of young people, something like yourself, assigned across the world to change people. But they must sift through literally thousands to find one who will listen-really listen.
We appeal to you because you are young. Our message requires a change so monumental that few but youth have the courage for it.
In your rebellion, so called, you have cut yourself loose from your moorings, perhaps even from family ties, and set adrift on the sea of life. Now you may be drifting on the right sea, you may even be in the right boat, but you might try fishing on the other side. Some others were fishing on the wrong side of the ship.
"And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes".
When we mention that there is a spiritual answer to your need, I hope you don't dismiss it or ridicule the possibility. "Don't knock it till you've tried it" is sound counsel. If you haven't tried it yet, you are as yet no witness on the matter. Surely you have that much honesty.
You may say you've been to church, that you've tried religion and not been satisfied. That is little wonder. It isn't in them all, you know, only a flavoring of it. The substance of it, the fullness of it can be found in only one place. Perhaps you have looked for it here, in that one place, and have not found it. And so I repeat, you might try fishing on the right side.
No one can compel you to taste of this living water. It can come only when you consent. There are no conscripts, only volunteers.
If you are to find it, you must pay more, by a thousandfold, than ever you paid before, reach farther than you have ever reached, use more courage and self-discipline than you ever knew you had. But at the end of all that comes the promise:
"Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am;
"And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world".
I must be plain also to say to you, my young friend, that when you come to know, it will be on his terms-not on yours.
"Therefore," he has said, "sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will".
The fact-the positive, irrefutable truth-is that what you seek, my young friend, exists. And when you find it, it will not take you out of the world. You will find a greater need to be in the mainstream of life facing the same issues that are so disturbing to you now, but you'll face them with a different light.
It will not require that you give up anything essential or fulfilling in life, whether it be physical, emotional, spiritual, or intellectual. You will be the same height, the same weight, you'll be under the necessity of eating to live and being sheltered. You'll have dislikes and likes, passions and desires. At first glance nothing will change at all, and yet positively everything will change.
We bid you-our restless, drifting, seeking youth-to come, quench that spiritual thirst.
The Lord has said: "Whosoever drinketh of... water shall thirst again:
"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life".
Oh, how we pray that as you drift, seeking everywhere, trying everything, that one day you will cast your net on the right side of the ship.
I bear to you my witness, as one among those authorized to bear that witness, that God does live, Jesus is the Christ, this is his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He directs his church and ministers in the midst of his Saints. There is a prophet of God directing this work. Youth is needed to carry it on. We bid you to come, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Eldred G. Smith
Eldred G. Smith, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 38-40
We of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been accused of being peculiar in many ways, one of them being that we build temples and restrict entrance to them to members of special standards. We are asked, "Why do you build temples? Why is a temple different from other Church edifices? Why cannot anyone enter into the temple, like other Church buildings?"
In the time allotted to me I may not answer all these questions, but I want to show that temples are absolutely essential in the Church of Jesus Christ.
Temples are more than just a gathering place for the Saints, or who might call themselves Saints. They are holy edifices where the Lord God can talk to his people through the leaders, the prophets of God, and make his will known concerning them. Also, temples are holy edifices wherein sacred saving ordinances may be performed in such manner, and by proper authority, as to be acceptable to God our Father in heaven.
The Ark of the Covenant was so sacred that even the unauthorized were smitten with death who touched it, even to save it, as they thought, from falling to the ground.
Today, such severe penalty seems unnecessary. If you will note from published pictures of the temple interiors, the rooms are filled with chairs for large groups. If the room is full of people performing a sacred ordinance, it stands to reason there just isn't room for the onlooker.
The Lord said to Nicodemus, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God".
He instructed his apostles: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost". He also said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned".
Jesus Christ himself was baptized by John the Baptist. When John seemed reluctant to baptize Jesus, who was a sinless man, Jesus said, "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness".
If it was necessary for Jesus, a sinless man, to be baptized, how much more important and necessary for all other mortals on this earth to be baptized. Jesus went to him to whom the authority to baptize had been given.
Now what about all those who have not heard the teaching of Jesus, either in his day or since? Are they to be damned if they are not given the opportunity of hearing of baptism?
If God is just-and we know he is-then would not God be obligated to provide a way where all his children may hear the gospel plan and partake of his ordinances, regardless of when they lived upon the earth?
Peter tells us that between the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus, he "went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah". Peter also declared: "For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit".
The Savior established his organization on the earth during his ministry. He preached to the disembodied spirits after his crucifixion. He established his organization on this continent among the Nephites after his resurrection. I think we can reasonably assume he also established his organization in the spirit world so the teaching of his gospel can be made known to all mankind after death, if not during this lifetime.
The ordinances of the gospel, however, must be performed on the earth. Hence, there must needs be a vicarious work done on the earth for those who have departed this life without such opportunities.
The entire life, crucifixion, and resurrection was a vicarious mission of our Savior. Then is it not right that he should ask us to be Saviors to our fellowmen, to perform, vicariously, saving ordinances for our ancestors?
The apostle Paul clinched his point to the Corinthians to prove to them the reality of the resurrection by asking them: "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all?".
There is only one answer to this passage of scripture-a vicarious work of baptism for the dead was performed in those days.
In this dispensation the Lord revealed the following to the Prophet Joseph Smith:
"For there is not a place found on earth that he may come to and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away, even the fulness of the priesthood.
"For a baptismal font there is not upon the earth, that they, my saints, may be baptized for those who are dead-
"For this ordinance belongeth to my house, and cannot be acceptable to me, only in the days of your poverty, wherein ye are not able to build a house unto me".
Then the Lord gave a commandment to build a temple, or a house of the Lord, and added:
"For it is ordained that in Zion, and in her stakes, and in Jerusalem, those places which I have appointed for refuge, shall be the places for your baptisms for your dead.
"And again, verily I say unto you, how shall your washings be acceptable unto me, except ye perform them in a house which you have built to my name?
"For, for this cause I commanded Moses that he should build a tabernacle, that they should bear it with them in the wilderness, and to build a house in the land of promise, that those ordinances might be revealed which had been hid from before the world was.
"Therefore, verily I say unto you, that your anointings, and your washings, and your baptisms for the dead... and for the glory, honor, and endowment of all her municipals, are ordained by the ordinance of my holy house, which my people are always commanded to build unto my holy name".
In accordance with commandment, the temple in Kirtland was built in which the keys to the sealing blessings were revealed. The keys of the gathering of Israel were restored. The promise made by Malachi was fulfilled, that Elijah the Prophet would come "before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse".
I would like to here thank the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for taking good care of that building. It has fulfilled its original purpose, and the last time I saw it I was pleased with its good condition.
Land in Independence, Missouri, has been dedicated for a temple to be built sometime in the future, and I would like to thank those who are taking good care of that property. The Lord bless them for so doing.
Then the temple in Nauvoo was built with a baptismal font and special rooms for endowments and sealings, for both the living and the dead. This building was destroyed, but since then there have been 13 temples built, all active at present, with three more now getting started in construction. Many more will follow.
In addition to the baptisms for the dead, the sealing ordinances of celestial marriage for the living and the dead are performed in these temples.
I wish some of our men could see how readily the tears well up in the eyes of some of the women when I ask about their husbands. Some say, "He's not a member." Some say, "He isn't active" or "doesn't hold the Melchizedek Priesthood." Some say, "He's an elder, but just hasn't felt he is ready yet."
Many men spend large sums of money, even buy a special home or a car, just to make their wives happy; but the greatest happiness that could come to either or both of them would be to so live as to be worthy to be sealed together as husband and wife for all eternity.
There is no exaltation without the celestial sealing of marriage. This must be done in the temple of God, either while living or vicariously after death. The home is the only eternal organization. These are the saving ordinances that can be performed only in a temple, built and dedicated unto the Lord. Thus it is absolutely essential to build temples.
I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder S. Dilworth Young
S. Dilworth Young, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 40-42
Fifty years ago my father was approached by our bishop as to the prospect of one of his sons going on a mission. After a dignified period of conversation, my father agreed to the proposition, and I was duly called.
I remember that I wondered how my father could support a missionary. We were poor, income from his business was spotty and inadequate to meet the ordinary expenses, yet he did not hesitate to tell the bishop that he would support me.
The first seven months went smoothly enough. I was working without purse or scrip for the first four months and required no more than $5.00 per month for incidentals. The next three months cost me about $40.00 per month. And then Father, caught in the inflation of 1920, was unable further to meet the cost of the mission. The fact that I stayed on the mission for 26 more months without help from home has been miraculous to me-not that I found money from miraculous sources or, like my maternal great-grandfather, opened my purse and there it was as needed-none of that. The way opened by perfectly natural means, and there was barely sufficient to meet the needs of the moment.
During that time, none of my family expected nor received any help or encouragement from the ward officials, stake officials, or from the Church.
I was ordained a seventy just before departing, but I didn't receive even a Christmas card from my new quorum for the 33 months I was away. The elders quorum to which I had belonged showed no interest in me either, although I had been quite active in the quorum. I didn't expect any attention from either quorum, and I suspect the quorum did not expect to do anything for me. My quorum in those days did not seem to recognize the importance of being of help to its members. To them it was not what can the quorum do for you, but what can you do for the quorum. We lived for the organization and not for the members.
Not so today. Every quorum of the priesthood is alert to the needs of its members. Children of these members may go on missions. They know that they will be supported. No worthy member in the stakes of North America when ready for a mission will be refused. In their prosperity the quorums can easily take up the slack for those unable to bear the complete cost of the mission. They will be helped by their united brethren, and the burden is light.
It has not been so in the full-time missions outside of the United States. There, general economic depressions and the ravages of two great wars have taken an immense toll on the economic life of the people. Men and women of the Church in those nations have been unable to earn sufficient to send their children, with but few exceptions. The result has been that the young men and women of these nations, while worthy and anxious to go, have been unable to do so.
This has caused a good deal of envy of their more affluent American missionaries, and it has caused some discouragement among them. To many of them it has appeared that the choice fruits of the gospel are not to be enjoyed, because of where they live. More serious has been the fact that these young people are the best possible missionary prospects for their countries. They know the language, the traditions, the mores of the people. They are the potential leaders of the Church in their lands.
There is a tendency on the part of people of other nations to think of us as an American church. When the missionaries are native born, people can better understand the universal nature of the Church. Our members then see that the responsibility becomes theirs as much as ours, and this will result in greater effort on their part.
Several years ago, the body of seventies of the Church undertook to assist the young men and women in foreign lands. From among the seventies was raised a sum of money to assist these prospective missionaries. On the basis of the missionary and his family's doing all they are able to do, the seventies give assistance for the remainder.
I am happy to report to the seventies this afternoon that to date the number of missionaries assisted has been more than 600 in number. Currently the number in the field is 275. In no mission has a worthy applicant been refused. We have had assistance from elders quorums, high priests quorums, and from individuals not attached to any quorum. One of the large contributions comes from a man not a Church member. We should like to let all these people know that their contributions are of material assistance in the project.
It is difficult for many seventies to personally go on full-time missions. They are rearing families and must support them. By supporting these young men and women in the missions, they in a sense project themselves into the mission field and thus discharge a part of their responsibility.
Now in lands all over the earth our young men and women look forward to being able to become missionaries. On their return home they become the leaders in branches and districts. They are our future investment in stake presidents and bishops for stakes yet unborn.
The quorums of seventy with a comparatively small membership of 23,000 may know that they are not laboring in vain. They are building a house to the Lord, and the fruits of their effort will continue to rain down blessings on their heads.
We constantly remember, as charged in the Doctrine and Covenants, that "the Seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world-thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling".
Therefore, to further missionary work is what we should be doing. We must enlarge our efforts to the end that the whole world will hear the gospel and that those who are to come out of the world into the fold of the Lord Jesus Christ will come.
We realize too that the "whole world" is here as well as in the remote corners of the land mass of Eurasia. The stake missions are our most fertile sources of converts. Where our people are gathered, where we have wards and stakes, where we have buildings and facilities, is our best opportunity-there also is the world. By our merely living the principles of the gospel, people cannot help seeing the light shining on the hilltop, and seeing will want to partake of the good fruit of the gospel that it illuminates. For those whose heads are down, if we live as we should, all we need to do is to say to them, "Look up, see! The light shines for you." Earnest effort to this end will bring greater results.
The seventies quorums are aware that the field to be harvested is very large and that the work must be pursued with great vigor while the day lasts. Our constant prayer is to be anxiously engaged in carrying forth the missionary work and to stand true to the First Presidency and the Twelve as they direct us and point the way we should go.
This great work is under the divine guidance of God the Eternal Father, who is a living, exalted being of flesh and bone-not the flesh and bone that you and I know, but resurrected, glorified flesh and bone filled with light. Indescribable is his person. There are not words to picture that glory; it is not earthly-it is heavenly.
His Son is like him. Through the Son of God, Jesus Christ, we have hope that eventually we can become like them. We must learn to know them, and knowing them we may share the truth announced by the Lord himself that to know them is to have eternal life. This church is their earthly kingdom, and President David O. McKay is the prophet through whom they speak in our day. This I witness in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Delbert L. Stapley
Delbert L. Stapley, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 43-46
My brothers and sisters, when considering the history of the various organizations of the Church, I am reminded of the statement by David Everett:
"Large streams from little fountains flow, Tall oaks from little acorns grow."
No one society or no one organization has sprung at once into full, perfect maturity. Most good and great thoughts and things are a growth, not a sudden perfection, and so it was with the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association. This being their centennial year, it seems appropriate at this conference to recognize this important young women's organization and program.
Visualize the setting existing when President Brigham Young established the beginning organization, called in those days the Retrenchment Society. He was disturbed about his daughters' somewhat worldly interests and actions. He worried about their spiritual and intellectual development and was concerned over the growing trend toward materialism, commercialism, and sophistication among the younger Church members. His daughters seemed to reflect the general trend he had observed among the young women in Zion, whose main interests were young men, socials, theater, ice skating, sleigh and hay rides, picnics, and clothes.
As President of the Church and a former governor of the Territory of Deseret, Brigham Young felt personally responsible for the moral and social welfare of all the residents of the territory.
The young men did not seem to be such an immediate problem, as many were pursuing higher education and becoming well versed in the scriptures and preparing for missions. Others were kept busy in agricultural and industrial pursuits-building homes, stores, ward houses, roads, and working on the construction of the temple.
The family home required help from the young women, with miscellaneous household tasks and caring for the sick.
President Young's thoughts turned to his own daughters, knowing their needs for improved womanly virtues and their qualifications for a more complete and abundant life.
He asked Sister Eliza R. Snow to notify all his family to assemble in the Lion House, as he had important matters to present to them. The scene in the quaint parlor was a memorable one. Following the evening family prayer, President Young dismissed his sons and younger daughters, looked around at the lovely faces of his older daughters, and said: "All Israel are looking to my family and watching the example set by my... children. For this reason I desire to organize my own family first into a society for the promotion of habits of order, thrift, industry, and charity: and, above all things, I desire them to retrench from their extravagance in dress... in your speech... wherein you have been guilty of silly speeches and light-mindedness of thought. Retrench in everything that is bad and worthless, and improve in everything that is good and beautiful".
The word retrench may to this generation sound rather archaic and outmoded. The dictionary defines retrench: to cut down, reduce or diminish, curtail, to economize.
The last sentence of the quotation is thus made more meaningful. "Retrench in everything that is bad and worthless, and improve in everything that is good and beautiful."
With mixed emotions, the daughters of Brigham Young accepted the challenge he had given them. Eliza Snow recorded his words and wrote the subsequent resolutions to guide the organization. She knew that as a prophet of God he had organized the Retrenchment Society through divine inspiration, not just for his own family, but for the benefit and blessing of all young ladies of the Church.
Soon they caught the spirit and became involved in striving to be "worthy of imitation." Before a year had gone by, young ladies all over the valley were holding meetings in parlors, schools, and ward houses.
As Brigham Young watched the Retrenchment Society bless every Mormon community, he became concerned about the general welfare of the young men of the Church, especially during the winter months when time hung more heavily on their hands. In those early days the social structure was simple. There was very little in the way of sports or commercial amusement, and he felt the young men also needed a program of involvement. Junius Wells was given the assignment to organize societies among the young men of the Church for their mutual improvement. This led to the organization of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association. The Retrenchment Society thereafter, and until recent years, became known as the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association.
Brigham Young explained: "Ours is a religion of improvement; it is not contracted and confined, but is calculated to expand the minds of the children of men and lead them up into the state of intelligence that will be an honor to our being".
What he said a century ago is so applicable to the young people of the Church today. With this in mind, I would like to direct some thoughts to our youth.
As children of promise, do not choose to be common; rather, choose to excel. There is no prominent place in the society of men and women today for the mediocre. Strive for perfection and you will attain perfection in many areas and approach it in others. You have a rich heritage. Be unafraid to think and act in accordance with gospel principles, and enjoy the benefits and blessings of it as you fulfill on earth the full measure of your creation as a child of God.
Set goals in life and achieve them.
Don't be quitters or failures; I believe the current word is "losers." Rather, be steadfast in attaining righteous, soul-satisfying goals.
Failure weakens one's incentive, purpose, and character, just as success strengthens these desirable attributes. The adage "Nothing succeeds like success" is true. Keep the aura of success and achievement with you.
Opportunities come to those who are better prepared by knowledge, training, desire, and are firm in determining what they want to do and become.
The Lord Jesus Christ is directing his church here on earth; therefore, the high standards for Mormon youth will never change. The world may lower its standards, but the Church can never do so, because God has revealed the way all faithful members should live.
Do not place man's science, his philosophies or sophistries above or on an equal plane with the truths revealed of God. The philosophy of man can rise no higher than the mind of man who created it. True philosophy is found only in the gospel of Christ. It is the Lord's way of life for mankind. The apostle Paul counseled: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap".
H. S. Johnson expressed it in these words: "Great thoughts alone change men and women. By the great thoughts of Jesus, men and women, for some two thousand years, have been changed from folly to the ways of wisdom, from baseness to wholesomeness, from cruelty to mercifulness, from sin to righteousness."
My young brothers and sisters, seek for the knowledge and faith that saves. Choose your companions well, and be a person sought out by others as a proper companion. Hold high the standards and ideals of the gospel. Do not follow the crowd; they can be wrong and often are. Do not waver or settle for anything less than you are worthy and entitled to receive. To compromise is to give up something-and to give up something is to lose.
Grow spiritually, mentally, and physically into the full stature of intelligent youth; cultivate desires for beneficial service to mankind in whatever life's activities you choose to follow.
You are living in a modern world. You should learn how to live in the presence of these modern conditions and still express a wholesome, righteous response to them.
President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., warned the membership of the Church: "If there was a time in our history when we must be on guard against the insidious influences and propaganda of the churches of the world, and the atheists of the world, that time is today."
"... a standard for the nations."
The eyes of the world are more and more upon the Church. We are becoming better known, and because of our high standards, more is expected of us. We should live as people expect us as Church members to live. This does not mean giving up our initiative and living only to be seen of men, but to live as we know we should live and as our Heavenly Father wants us to live. Here is his admonition: "Verily, I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations".
Cultivating a strong testimony of the gospel will develop a feeling of self-worth that will cause one to be humble and meek and yet not subject to the domination of evil, designing persons or institutions.
Resist temptation and keep yourselves free from sin and its sorrows. Third Nephi records Jesus' admonition to his followers: "Behold, verily... I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat".
But the Lord promises: "Be faithful unto the end, and lo, I am with you. These words are not of man nor of men, but of me, even Jesus Christ, your redeemer, by the will of the Father".
I have seen the heartaches and sorrows of persons who have sinned and lost membership in the Church. The Lord, however, is merciful and forgiving and rejoices in the truly repentant soul. I plead with you young people of the Church to avoid the snares and pitfalls of sin that lead to one's unhappiness and so often to the destruction of everything that is pure, noble, and good in life.
It is incumbent upon each of us to see the full picture of God's complete plan for his children-one's pre-existence, mortality, and immortality and eternal life. Each should chart his life's course according to gospel principles and standards.
It is the beginning of the second century of the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association. One hundred years ago it was organized in one family, one community, one territory, and one country. Today it has a membership of approximately 360,000 young women and is organized on nearly every continent in the world.
Many teachers and leaders are involved in initiating and directing the best possible programs for the youth of the Church. Times have changed, the programs have changed, but the original purposes and principles have not, nor will they ever change until a higher order is revealed.
The Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association supports and enhances the beautiful ideal of family life. It provides for young women abundant and wholesome social and recreational experiences. It fosters friendships. It directs toward worthwhile goals. It promotes the mastery of good habits. It develops talents and intelligence. It provides the opportunity for members to increase their knowledge of and appreciation for the beauties and wonders of the world around them. It teaches the satisfaction of service to others. It deepens testimonies that God is their Father, that Jesus Christ is his Son, and that the Presidents of the Church are prophets of God.
And now to you dedicated parents, teachers, and leaders: Continue your interest and service to youth. Go the extra mile-go beyond the class-go beyond the scheduled activities. Listen to them and learn to know their problems. Let them know you love them and will do all in your power to strengthen them. They are the elect of God's children.
The family home evening stressed by Church leaders today is an important time and place to teach these noble concepts to youth.
Remember, MIA leaders, youth come to you at a most critical period of their lives. They are wavering between childhood ideals and a maturity that comes with adulthood.
There are movies and television programs with poor standards that stress violence and place improper emphasis on sex. Perhaps these things are difficult to abolish; therefore, you must succeed in teaching chastity as a way of life, despite the existence of these and other temptations to which youth are subjected. Modern styles and immodesty of dress certainly are contributing factors to evil.
Develop within youth a desire to obtain the blessings promised to the faithful.
Alma, a Book of Mormon prophet, counseled:
"Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil...
"Teach them to never be weary of good works... for such shall find rest to their souls".
Tryon Edwards hit a key note when he said, "People never improve unless they look to some standard of example higher and better than themselves."
Exemplary parents and leaders become a stabilizing influence for good and righteousness in the lives of youth.
The Young Women's and Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations have blessed every boy and girl, every leader, every family, every community touched by their influence; and all their accomplishments glorify our Father in heaven, for this is his plan that his children might also be glorified.
I pray the good Lord will bless these two splendid youth organizations and bless us leaders that we will be interested in the organizations and the welfare of youth and do all within our power to strengthen their faith and their testimonies so that their lives will be in harmony with the divine will. This I pray humbly in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President N. Eldon Tanner
N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 48-53
Last month we mourned the passing of our beloved friend, colleague, and brother, John Longden, who had spent many years of his life in the service of his Maker and his fellowmen. He contributed greatly to the community, the Church, and industry. He was a good friend and neighbor. At his funeral we heard one of his favorite songs, which he had sung so well and so often:
"I know that my Redeemer lives; What comfort this sweet sentence gives!... He lives, he lives, who once was dead. He lives, my ever-living head... O sweet the joy this sentence gives: 'I know that my Redeemer lives!'" -Hymns, No. 95
The passing of loved ones has always caused us to stop and ponder such questions as:
"Who am I?" "Where did I come from?" "Why am I here?" "When I die will I live again?" "Where am I going?" "How can I best prepare myself?"
I am sure that thousands and thousands have said, "If I knew the answers to these questions, I would know better how to govern my life." It is impossible for any of us, including philosophers, astrologers, astronomers, and scientists in any field, with our finite minds, to answer these questions pertaining to the infinite without referring to the word of God as contained in the scriptures.
We mortals have never experienced death and the resurrection, nor do we remember our preexistence. Therefore, it is not commonly believed or understood that we had a premortal existence, that we are the spirit children of God, the Eternal Father, and that when we have finished our life here upon the earth we will enjoy a literal resurrection and may continue on in eternal progression. In fact, many who question this say that if someone would return from the dead as a witness of these things, they would believe. This is not so.
Let us remember the parable of the rich man who prayed that Lazarus be sent from the dead to his father's house to testify to his brethren, saying that if one went to them from the dead, they would repent. Abraham said unto him: "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead".
How fortunate we are that the Lord God, from the time of Adam, down through the ages to the present time, has given us the answers to these very important questions, and we have them recorded in Holy Writ. Yes, God has seen fit to talk to his people through his chosen prophets, and those who have heard and believed and followed have been blessed.
It is sad but true that many, many people are not acquainted with the words of the prophets, and many refuse to believe, and others often scoff and ridicule the teachings of the Savior. It is extremely sad that many, through their own learning and their sensuous knowledge, become self-satisfied and think that they are sufficient unto themselves and need not heed the word of God; and often, because they have not heard, seen, touched, or talked to God, they deny even his very existence, and use their influence to dissuade others.
But all of this ignorance, derision, scoffing, and ridicule does not destroy the truth, which finally will triumph. We must learn to live by faith and believe in the words of the Lord, especially in those things which we mortals do not and cannot fully comprehend. Probably the greatest evidence of the fact that God speaks to his prophets is the fulfillment of the prophecies made by them. Many of these prophecies and their fulfillment are a matter of historical and scriptural record.
As I was pondering the questions to which I have referred, and their answers, and in turning to the scriptures I read again this significant and most important statement:
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent".
Many ask: "How can a man know God and Jesus Christ, whom he has sent?" The answer must be clear that it is through prayer and faith and study of the words of God as given through his prophets and by Jesus Christ, whom he has sent. Let us refer to some revelations received and prophecies made by both ancient and modern prophets that tell us about God and our relationship to him, and that will help us to know and understand the purpose of our mission here on earth.
Probably the very earliest scriptural account we have of man and his relationship to God, and which shows beyond doubt that we had a premortal existence in the spirit world with God, is the record of the council in heaven as revealed to Moses and Abraham.
"Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was...
"And God... stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits... and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.
"And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;
"And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
"And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever".
And the Lord told Moses:
"And I, God, said unto mine Only Begotten, which was with me from the beginning: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and it was so...
"And I, God, created man in mine own image, in the image of mine Only Begotten created I him; male and female created I them".
God told Moses that Christ was chosen as the Savior of the world and that Satan rebelled, and God said:
"Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power... I caused that he should be cast down;
"And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice".
We, as spirit children of God, were all present at that council and voted to sustain Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. In Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews, in Ecclesiastes, in Jeremiah, and in many other accounts in both the Old and the New Testaments, and in modern scripture, we have further evidence that we are the spirit children of God and dwelt with him in the spirit world.
There is also further indisputable evidence that Jesus was with God before he came here. Just before his crucifixion, he went into Gethsemane, and in his agony he prayed unto the Father in these words:
"Father, the hour is come;
"I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
"And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was".
How comforting and encouraging it is for us to know that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".
The coming of the Savior was foretold to Adam right after he and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden. They were told by the Lord to offer sacrifice, and they were obedient. After many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam and explained:
"This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
"Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore".
Then we have the writings of many Old Testament prophets, including Isaiah, Micah, Zechariah, and Malachi, as well as Nephi and other American prophets, as recorded in the Book of Mormon, who foretold of the birth, teachings, persecution, crucifixion, and resurrection of the Savior. We all know that these prophecies have been fulfilled.
It is most reassuring to know that the prophets in different climes and in different dispensations were in complete harmony, and that their prophecies have been fulfilled to the letter. And always they gave us this assurance, as did Nephi, that "all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God".
Though we should need no further evidence of the Savior's divinity and of the importance of his mission as it pertains to us, let us recall the strong and stirring testimony of Paul, who was a great persecutor of the saints. He records that as he was going to Damascus to bring saints unto Jerusalem to be punished, "suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"
When he asked who was speaking, the voice said, "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest."
Then Saul said: "What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do".
You will remember that he was blinded by the glory of the light, so he had to be led to Damascus and to Ananias, who said, "Brother Saul, receive thy sight", and he could see. From that time Saul, who was also called Paul, became one of the most valiant and strong of the Christian preachers and defenders.
Then we find him falsely accused and forced to defend himself before the governor and other officials, and finally before King Agrippa. Think of his boldness and courage as he stood in chains before the king and recounted the story of his conversion, after which he said:
"Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
"But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
"For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
"Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
"That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
"And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
"But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
"For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
"King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
"Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
"And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds".
The strength of his deep conviction had been previously manifest when he said to his friends who were trying to protect him and persuade him not to go to Jerusalem: "What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus".
I would that we, as Paul, could all feel and show our deep love and devotion to Jesus Christ, who, because of his great love for us, was prepared to suffer and give his life to redeem us from the grave. All through the scriptures we have the words of the prophets, bearing witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he came and gave his life for us. He also gave us the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, and the whole plan of life and salvation-the blueprint of life-which if lived will not only bring joy to us here on earth but will prepare us for immortality and eternal life, where we can dwell with God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ and our loved ones who have gone there before us.
Our Heavenly Father, knowing our weaknesses and our need for constant direction, sends us prophets to continually teach us and keep us reminded of this plan of life and salvation. Just yesterday we sustained David O. McKay as Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our salvation and that of our loved ones depends on our listening to and heeding the words of the prophets, realizing that we must believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
To those who question these things, I should like to emphasize this one fact: Everything that was taught by the prophets and by Jesus Christ himself, as recorded in Holy Writ, is for the benefit of mankind, and if accepted and lived will make for better individuals, better communities, a better world where we can live in love and peace with one another.
Man by his own formula has failed to accomplish these things. He has no effective plan, and any failure is not because the gospel has failed, but because man has failed to live its teachings. To those who doubt or question, but have no answers, and who look for hope out of the midst of their despair, I urge that they accept the word of God the Eternal Father and believe in the gospel, which is uplifting and beautiful and will bring peace and contentment to their souls. How much better to hope than despair, and the words of hope and everlasting life with the Father and the Son are to be found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
He summed it all up and gave a simple formula when he answered the lawyer who asked, tempting him:
"Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
"This is the first and great commandment.
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets".
The Lord also said that if we love him, we will keep his commandments. These are the teachings of all the apostles and prophets. Let us heed the words of Peter as he was speaking to and answered the multitude:
"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren what shall we do?
"Then Peter said unto them, 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".
It is important to understand that we are here to prove ourselves, to prepare ourselves to go back into the presence of our Heavenly Father, and the choices we make will determine our future happiness. Hear the words of the American prophet Lehi to his sons, which message has been given repeatedly to the children of men through the ages:
"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great mediation of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
"And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;
"And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom".
Jacob, Lehi's son, taught: "Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves-to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life".
To summarize, we read from Ecclesiastes: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man". I bear testimony that these things are true, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Alvin R. Dyer
Alvin R. Dyer, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 53-56
My dear brothers and sisters and friends, both here and those of the television and radio audience, I call your particular attention this day to the divine direction given to Joseph Smith, the latter-day prophet, who gave utterance to this direction concerning the ills of the people of the world. Plans and programs are being offered here and there as a means of correcting dangerous behavioral trends that are creating changes in our way of living, that are threatening moral and spiritual values.
The statements are often heard, "Where will it all end?" and "Why isn't something being done to check these dangerous trends?"
The panacea to all this, as declared by the Prophet Joseph Smith, must go right to the heart of the individual; mass control in the final analysis cannot succeed without individual control.
Commandments were given to Joseph Smith by revelation which, if obeyed, could divert and frustrate the dangerous trends of behavior among the people this very day. The first of these to which I refer concerns the principle of virtue. Here are the words of the Lord:
"... let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
"The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion... and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever".
Think of what the effects of having a virtuous mind would have upon the spreading of immorality, with all of its carnal aspects.
Reference is made to a second harmful thing, that of harmful indulgence, concerning which the Lord has warned us against with this commandment: "Strong drinks... and tobacco are not for the body".
No one today needs to be misinformed of the ravaging and deathly effects that the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other narcotics have upon the human body, as well as the indirect effects on the spiritual and moral character of the individual, which often are more detrimental even than the physical effects.
And again, the Lord has spoken of the need of understanding the principles of freedom and agency in human relationships, for, said he:
"... when we ... to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man".
And amen to the influence of the Holy Ghost, which will lead us into truth. But when we undertake to exercise by cunning means any leverage against people to compel them, we lose the growth and uplifting of correct communication and relationship with other human beings.
Added to these timely divine warnings to mankind given by the Prophet Joseph Smith is the principle of repentance, to which I shall direct the remainder of my remarks.
The importance of this divine principle is readily been by the emphasis that the Lord has given to it in all of his dealings with man. It was established in the beginning and has continued down through the centuries of time, either to enlighten and uplift the individual by obedience thereto or to bring about a condition of decay and demoralization by disobedience.
Adam and Eve, cut off from the presence of God, were given instruction concerning the necessity of repentance as a means to regain their place in God's presence, there to continue in the way of light and intelligence to the attainment of ultimate perfection. Adam, seeking earnestly to know the will of God, asked this question of the Lord: "Why is it that men must repent and be baptized in water?".
The Lord's answer was clear and distinct, for unto Adam and Eve, upon whom darkness had come, having fallen from God, came this vital instruction of the need of repentance: "Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God".
Centuries later, when all living beings upon the earth were threatened with destruction, when corruption filled the earth, caused by a lack of repentance, the prophet Noah labored valiantly in crying repentance unto the people, but to no avail. All living upon the earth, except Noah and his family, were destroyed by a flood of waters. For verification of this, the Old Testament account of the great flood, though written by Hebrew or "Shemitic" historians, is substantiated by the historical writings of many other nations and peoples.
In the meridian dispensation, John the Baptist, the forerunner and herald of the Christ, preached on the outskirts of the province of Judea, saying, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand... Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance".
The Lord himself referred to the principle of repentance upon many occasions with such declarations, for Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
"And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel".
Jesus, in sending his apostles out, told them to teach men everywhere to repent:
"And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
"And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem".
The need of adherence to the principle of repentance has been reiterated many, many times in the history of mankind, and when man has earnestly and sincerely sought the will of God, he has responded to this principle of personal salvation.
It has been revealed with ever-expanded meaning in our modern period of time through the prophets of God. It constitutes a law, the knowledge and application of which is perhaps the most important single principle of redemption. Repentance is as the Lord proclaimed it to be "of the greatest worth to the individual".
As early as 1829, in the present dispensation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as the marvelous work of restoration began to unfold, the principle of repentance was stressed again and again, even to the extent of being the most important of all things to transpire among the people, not only to safeguard them individually from the evils and deceptions of our day and time, but also to prepare them for the part they will take in the things to happen in the destiny of God's work associated with mortal existence.
Here is an excerpt from a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph for his brother Hyrum, who sought earnestly to know the will of God concerning what he was to do to assist in bringing forth the great latter-day work; it indicates how strongly this principle is in the mind of the Lord, for, said he:
"Say nothing but repentance unto this generation. Keep my commandments, and assist to bring forth my work, according to my commandments, and you shall be blessed".
The following admonition was given to David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery, even as it had been given to the apostle Paul of old, and it likewise is a divine instruction unto all who would seek to further God's work in saving his people, as summarized in this statement:
"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;
"For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.
"And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance.
"And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!
"Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people.
"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
"And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!".
Repentance is a principle of eternal growth for the individual and is, therefore, a basic principle of our Christian faith, as declared in the Fourth Article of Faith.
If a man has a desire in his heart to know the truth, the normal and positive reaction, as his faith expands, causes him to know that he has participated in volitional acts that are wrong and therefore sinful. In this respect, all are in need of repentance, which leads us to the covenant of baptism. Only Jesus of Nazareth, the Only Begotten Son of God, of all men upon the earth, is sinless. He kept every law, yielded personally to every principle of righteousness, and thus was unblemished in mortal experience.
It can be a crucial misfortune to any man who fails to recognize the difference between right and wrong. But when he does recognize this difference and brings his own life into harmony with that knowledge through repentance, he attains conviction and power in many ways. For example, repentance is inseparably associated with forgiveness; and when forgiveness, as a personal possession working two ways, flows through the thought and action of man, he experiences a feeling of great joy, a release of tension and frustration caused by the committing of sin. Thus, there is produced personal security and assurance. Here is power that prepares for further life corrections.
Repentance, as an eternal law, is not confined to conversion. Its use and application is broader than that. It is a principle of eternal progression. After faith, repentance, and baptism, which are first principles, repentance leads the way to many regenerations, without which the soul shall never reach perfection.
Those who deal with the souls of men are repeatedly recognizing the wisdom of the divine counsel that has been given concerning repentance. Marriage counselors, judges, scientists of the mind are stressing more and more the need of repentance for the correction of every evil in life, whether it be large or small, based upon a recognition and confession of that wrong and fortified with a deliberate, stubborn forsaking of it to reform one's character and in so doing gain freedom from emotional stress, ever associated with sin and wrong doing.
The principal element of forsaking is seen in the human desire to make restitution for wrongs that are admitted, to change one's life to that of the better way.
It is probably true that sin is never forgotten when once committed. But the laws governing repentance provide a release of emotional stress caused by the sin, when that sin is acknowledged and forsaken. Through repentance and forsaking will come the peace of mind, a form of regeneration, that enables one to go on in life in pursuit of true happiness. This fits, it seems to me, the ennobling challenge of the Christ to become like unto him.
I recall the comment from this stand of Stephen L Richards, who said, in essence: "Men may wonder why they are retarded in the Church and in life. Such should be invited to look into their lives, and if they are frank and honest with themselves, they will find the answer."
As sin is looked upon, we are led to conclude that not until man is humbled, not until the heart throbs with genuine sorrow for repeated violations of God's holy laws, not until the citadel of sin is surrendered, can man hope for forgiveness or expect exaltation.
Repentance is something between each one of us and our God, something that produces the power, through the processes of change, that causes truth and right, a power for good, to spring from within us.
Thus, the exercise of repentance is factor in the challenges we face today. Obedience to this divine principle, together with an obedience to the other commandments of God, which I have referred to, concerning harmful indulgences, the virtuous heart and mind, and the practice of exercising righteous dominion under all circumstances in behavioral associations, can provide a panacea for our present dilemma of frustration and misdirection that confronts us as individuals and as a people. As the Lord has declared, our obedience to these commandments will enable us to avoid the calamities which are upon us.
Generally speaking, there is nothing wrong with an individual that faith and repentance will not cure. For that matter, there is nothing wrong with America or the world that faith and repentance will not correct, for as the Lord has said, "... the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people".
I pray that the Lord will help us to understand that the thing that shall be of the greatest worth to us is repentance.
I testify of this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion G. Romney
Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 57-60
President McKay, other members of the General Authorities, brothers and sisters, and listeners throughout the world:
I have selected as the subject of my remarks today "The Crucible of Adversity and Affliction," something with which we are all well acquainted. My purpose is to give comfort and courage to the weary and heavy-laden, among whom we all, at times, find place.
Latter-day Saints know that much of pain and suffering would be avoided if the people would accept and follow the Savior. Our mission, as a church, is to bring people to a knowledge of Christ and thus avoid all unnecessary suffering. We are aware, however, that should all men accept and live his teachings, adversity and affliction would still abound because, in the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, "Men have to suffer that they may come upon Mount Zion and be exalted above the heavens".
This does not mean that we crave suffering. We avoid all we can. However, we now know, and we all knew when we elected to come into mortality, that we would here be proved in the crucible of adversity and affliction.
As our Heavenly Father, in that great pre-earth council referred to here this morning by President Tanner, "stood in the midst of" us, his spirit children, and announced his plan for bringing "to pass" our "immortality and eternal life", he said, "... We will go down... and... make an earth whereon these may dwell;
"And we will prove them... to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them".
The Prophet Joseph Smith said that "the organization of the spiritual and heavenly worlds, and of spiritual and heavenly beings... were... voluntarily subscribed to in their heavenly estate by themselves".
The Father's plan for proving his children did not exempt the Savior himself. The suffering he undertook to endure, and which he did endure, equaled the combined suffering of all men. Eighteen hundred years after he had endured it, he spoke of it as being so intense that it "caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit-and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink-
"Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men".
President Brigham Young pointed out that the intensity of Christ's suffering was induced by the withdrawal from him of the Father's Spirit. And I quote from Brother Young:
"... at the very moment... when the crisis came... the Father withdrew... His Spirit, and cast a veil over him. That is what made him sweat blood... he then plead with the Father not to forsake him. 'No,' says the Father 'you must have your trials, as well as others'".
The severity of the suffering incident to the withdrawal of the Fathers Spirit is intimated in the Lord's statement, through the Prophet, to Martin Harris, in which he said:
"... repent... lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken, of which in the smallest, yea, even in the least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit".
Fortunately, we need not endure such suffering because Jesus endured it for us, provided, of course, that we bring ourselves, through righteous living, within the reach of his atoning sacrifice.
However, just as Jesus had to endure affliction to prove himself, so must all men endure affliction to prove themselves.
"Abel was slain for his righteousness ... Abraham... was laid upon the iron bedstead for slaughter; and cast into the fire... Moses... was driven from his country and kindred. Elijah had to flee his country ... Daniel was cast into a den of lions: Micah was fed on the bread of affliction; and Jeremiah was cast into the filthy hole under the Temple ...
"... all the Saints... prophets and apostles, have had to come up through great tribulation".
From his own experiences, the Prophet Joseph was eminently qualified to talk about affliction, and this he most eloquently did.
Writing from Liberty Jail in March 1839, he revealed something concerning the tribulations then being endured by him and his associates.
"... we have been taken prisoners, charged falsely with every kind of evil, and thrown into prison, enclosed with strong walls, surrounded with a strong guard, who continually watch day and night as indefatigable as the devil...
"... we are compelled to hear nothing but blasphemous oaths, and witness a scene of blasphemy, and drunkenness and hypocrisy, and debaucheries of every description".
But even as he protested these atrocities, his soul expanded as he endured them. To the Saints-who themselves were being ravished and plundered, robbed and driven from their homes, in the dead of winter-he said: "... our circumstances are calculated to awaken our spirits to a sacred remembrance of everything, and we think that yours are also, and that nothing... can separate us from the love of God and fellowship one with another; and that every species of wickedness and cruelty practiced upon us will only tend to bind our hearts together and seal them together in love".
A little later on in his letter he added this:
And now, beloved brethren, we say unto you, that inasmuch as God hath said that He would have a tried people, that He would purge them as gold, now we think that this time He has chosen His own crucible, wherein we have been tried; and we think if we get through with any degree of safety, and shall have kept the faith, that it will be a sign to this generation, altogether sufficient to leave them without excuse; and we think also, it will be a trial of our faith equal to that of Abraham, and that the ancients will not have whereof to boast over us in the day of judgment, as being called to pass through heavier afflictions.
And then, speaking for himself and his fellow prisoners, he said: "... in His Almighty name we are determined to endure tribulation as good soldiers unto the end". And counseling the Saints to do likewise, he said: "... let thy bowels... be full of charity towards all men ".
This admonition, considered in light of the circumstances under which it was given, seems to me to almost equal the Master's statement from the cross: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do".
The Prophet's soul never could have reached these heights without enduring well the tribulations and afflictions heaped upon him.
President Brigham Young is quoted as observing that the Prophet was more perfect in 38 years, with the severe tribulation through which he passed, than he would have been in a thousand years without it.
The Prophet's appreciation and gratitude for the kindness of a friend, the "pure love of Christ" which filled his soul, and the assurance given him by the Lord, he expressed in the following passage.
"... those who have not been enclosed in the walls of prison without cause or provocation, can have but little idea how sweet the voice of a friend is; one token of friendship from any source whatever awakens and calls into action every sympathetic feeling; it brings up in an instant everything that is passed; it seizes the present with the avidity of lightning; it grasps after the future with the fierceness of a tiger; it moves the mind backward and forward, from one thing to another, until finally all enmity, malice and hatred, and past differences, misunderstandings and mismanagements are slain victorious at the feet of hope; and when the heart is sufficiently contrite, then the voice of inspiration steals along and whispers, ".
No wonder the Lord could say to him, as he did, "... I seal upon you your exaltation, and prepare a throne for you in the kingdom of my Father, with Abraham your father.
"Behold, I have seen your sacrifices, and will forgive all your sins; I have seen your sacrifices in obedience to that which I have told you".
Now, as I noted in the beginning, my desire is to comfort and encourage and inspire all you faithful, humble people who are enduring, with patience and loneliness, pain, sorrow, and at times almost despair; you who languish in hospitals and nursing homes, and all you other shut-ins; you who mourn the loss of loved ones by death or transgression; you who are experiencing diminution of strength in mind and body. In sympathy and love I say to you and all the rest of us who are being tried in the crucible of adversity and affliction: Take courage; revive your spirits and strengthen your faith. In these lessons so impressively taught in precept and example by our great exemplar, Jesus Christ, and his Prophet of the restoration, Joseph Smith, we have ample inspiration for comfort and for hope.
If we can bear our afflictions with the understanding, faith, and courage, and in the spirit in which they bore theirs, we shall be strengthened and comforted in many ways. We shall be spared the torment which accompanies the mistaken idea that all suffering comes as chastisement for transgression. We shall be comforted by the knowledge that we are not enduring, nor will we be required to endure, the suffering of the wicked who are to "be cast out into outer darkness there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth".
We can draw assurance from the Lord's promise that "he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.
"Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow much tribulation.
"For after much tribulation come the blessings".
We can experience what Paul was expressing in his epistle to the Romans, when he said:
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
"By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
"And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us".
In conclusion, I testify to the truthfulness of these things. They are part and parcel of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I know they are true. I have read and been impressed by the testimony of others. Paul, for example, having thrice sought the Lord to remove "a thorn in the flesh", was answered: "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Then Paul answered: "Most gladly therefore will I gather in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong".
Not only have I been impressed by the testimonies of others; I have been eyewitness to the operation of these principles in the lives of my own acquaintances. I have seen the remorse and despair in the lives of men who, in the hour of trial, have cursed God and died spiritually. And I have seen people rise to great heights from what seemed to be unbearable burdens.
Finally, I have sought the Lord in my own extremities and learned for myself that my soul has made its greatest growth as I have been driven to my knees by adversity and affliction.
To these things I bear solemn witness in the name of Jesus Christ, our beloved Savior, and in his name I invoke a comforting and sustaining blessing upon each of you. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 60-64
My brethren and sisters, seen and unseen, godless forces threaten us of the free world. My text is from Paul's timely admonition:
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye maybe able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places".
A modern-day prophet has said, "... when acts and schemes are manifestly contrary to the revealed word of the Lord, we feel justified in warning people against them. We may be charitable and forbearing to the sinner, but must condemn the sin"
Correspondence and the printed word, crossing my desk daily, proclaim the deep concern and agonizing fear of alert people, especially concerned parents, in my own and other Christian nations, fear for the future of America and the free world, fear we may lose all we hold dear, and soon.
While most Americans continue to enjoy their comfortable complacency, the fact remains that the American way of life, with its spiritual foundation, is under powerful attack.
The godless worldwide Communist conspiracy expects one day soon to take over the United States. With the active support of some 150 known or suspected Communist fronts and infiltrated groups identified by the FBI; with almost half the student bodies of colleges and universities of America reported to have elected presidents who support the revolution; with acts of treason against the United States committed daily throughout the nation, and laws on treason and sedition shattered by decisions of the Supreme Court; with riots in 125 cities within five days' time, 2,600 buildings burned and 713 of them in the nation's capital; with revolutions interrupting operations of 200 colleges and universities since Christmas; with the Reds ordering the New Left to "close down 100 universities in 1970"; and with the constant aid of leftists, dupes, fellow travelers, and complacent citizens, the conspiracy is now moving into what they claim is the final stages for a nationwide "revolutionary take over".
Some of the most prominent targets now under withering fire in this war against us are the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, the Constitution of the United States, the institution of private property, and the basic concepts of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Surely this is a time when consideration might well be given by the people of America, and the entire free world, to the important matter of citizenship responsibility and, more importantly, membership in the churches of the free world.
Today we face insidious, devastating evils that are widespread. Aimed especially at the destruction of America-the last great bastion of freedom-with emphasis on our youth, the evils are everywhere, sponsored, promoted, and directed by the Communist conspiracy, fellow travelers, and dupes. Never has evil been presented in such an array of appealing forms. We face a most dangerous revolution in America, and it is now in progress. According to the FBI, "It is well-planned, well-financed, and well-armed." As citizens of the greatest nation of the world, we face a deadly serious crisis. We must do battle with these evil forces on every front, now. Any delay will be disastrous. "We must begin aggression against evil. The time for procrastination and permissiveness is long past."
These atrocious, destructive evils are now revealed in our music, in our art, in sex perversion and so-called sex education in the schools, in destructive sensitivity training-a powerful form of Pavlovian brainwashing, as used by Communists on captured American servicemen in Korea and by Hitler in Nazi Germany.
These evils are prominent in the promotion of drugs-LSD, marijuana, and a host of others-in leading magazines and underground publications for youth; in TV, movie, and radio programs, in pornographic literature, in morally destructive paperback books available to all on newsstands, and in Communist-oriented anti-American organizations, such as SDS.
These devilish forces "led generally by dirty minds in dirty bodies," seem to be everywhere. They are spreading into every segment of our social, economic, and religious life-all aimed at the destruction of one whole generation of our choice youth in preparation for the Communist takeover.
The godless Communists have declared, "We are going to destroy the moral character of a generation of young Americans, and when we have finished you will have nothing with which to really defend yourself against us."
We may, as adults, close our eyes to them and keep our heads in the sand, hoping they will go away; but these evils are here, close by, working insidiously and destructively day by day, hour by hour, without ceasing. Will parents who have abandoned their responsibilities for the training and guidance of their children awaken and act before it is too late?
We may cry, "peaceful coexistence," but there is no such thing with the devil and his emissaries. We are at war-not a cold war, but a burning, searing hot war, the most serious war in the memory of man. We must win this war now. Will parents bestir themselves before it is too late? Will our political leaders really awaken to the danger? Will courageous action come before destruction falls? Will we as citizens rally prayerfully and actively to courageous leadership?
The Christian world-the real Christian world-knows that there are certain eternal verities, principles, that never change. Jesus Christ is in very deed "the way, the truth, and the life". The Ten Commandments are verily true. They form a permanently binding code of conduct that man cannot violate without drastic damage to both his material and his spiritual welfare. We know that God is not dead-that he is watching us even though one of the Russian astronauts cracked: "We've been all over 'heaven' and we didn't see any sign of God."
Yes, godless forces do threaten our great civilization. These godless forces are forging a union of state and atheism. I quote in substance from the well-known constitutional lawyer, Dean Clarence E. Manion:
Can you name the three kings who came out of the East bearing gifts for the Infant Jesus? St. Matthew called them the Three Wise Men of the Year One A.D. A few months ago a national magazine called the Apollo 8 Astronauts the Three Men of the Year 1968. But by whatever name they are called, these six famous men are now forever joined across the centuries by their colorful execution of the same high purpose. All of them followed their stars from the end of their earth to praise and glorify God.
The miracle for St. Matthew's men was the unerring accuracy of the Star of Bethlehem, which guided them to their divine destination. The wonder of the world for 1968 was the apparent common faith, wisdom, humility, and, last but not least, the moral courage of Colonel Borman, Captain Lovell, and Major Anders, who, on Christmas Day, at the apex of history's then longest and most perilous voyage, gave praise and thanks to God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and implored his blessing upon all of the three billion listening people of this world.
When all of the facts, figures, and findings of the first incredible journey to the moon are finally evaluated and computerized, this unscheduled, unprecedented public act of religious faith and worship will be found, like the name of Abou Ben Adhem, to lead all the rest for all the years to come. Without the blessings of the Lord, all this would be quite impossible.
Those professed atheists, who have confidently relied upon science to dethrone and eclipse Almighty God, are already doing their manful best, of course, to rub out all reference to the prayer in their recapitulation and evaluation of Apollo 8. The monitoring Communists in Moscow decided wisely to ignore it. But some others are unable to restrain their indignation and have probably been back to the United States Supreme Court seeking the same kind of prohibition against the public glorification of God in the heavens that they have so successfully maintained here on earth.
The justices may or may not welcome this new opportunity to reinforce their strange new doctrine of neutrality in the weird war that is being fronted against God and religion. Undoubtedly, the Court's ultimate decision will be influenced by what happens to the attitude of the American people in the meantime. For the real question now is this: How much longer will the American people-the whole Christian world-continue to tolerate the sadistic beating that religion has been taking in this country and elsewhere for the past 25 years?
Frankly recognizing that godless forces in this country have always been overwhelmingly outnumbered by the faithful, the first working principle of the anti-God strategists has been to move insidiously and always carefully to avoid anything that resembles a direct attack or a frontal confrontation with their opponents.
So in launching their campaign against God, the attackers proceeded first to ignore him in the secular press; second, to humanize him in the churches; third, to clobber him with ridicule on the campus; and, finally, to induce the courts to enforce official governmental neutrality in all litigated controversies about God and religion.
From a practical standpoint, of course, these decisions establish a union of state and atheism. The accomplishment of this last objective has taken prayer out of the public schools; and if and when the judicial conclusion is extended to its logical limits, it will abolish tax exemption for church property, eliminate chaplains from the armed services, remove our motto "In God we trust" from our coins, and require major surgery upon our official salute to the flag.
We must realize that the anti-prayer decisions are simply a beguiling climax in the wide-ranging campaign against God and religion that has been sustained here in this country, and in many other nations, for more than three decades.
It was boldly begun here in 1933, when the United States announced our diplomatic recognition of atheistic Soviet Russia. For 15 years the United States had refused to recognize the godless Moscow Communists, for the reasons published at length in 1920 by Bainbridge Colby, Secretary of State in the administration of President Woodrow Wilson. In concluding his long letter of documentation and explanation, Colby had said this: "There cannot be any common ground upon which the Government of the United States can stand with a power whose conceptions are so entirely alien to our own, so utterly repugnant to our moral sense."
This recognition, together with the abandonment of the inspired Monroe Doctrine, gave the Red atheists a big diplomatic sanctuary for the coordination and direction of their propagandist spies and saboteurs. These promptly infiltrated every branch of our federal government and later every segment of our economy, and more recently have established a godless base 90 miles from our shores. Our recognition broke the ice of American resistance to the acceptance of the Kremlin gangsters into the international community as a legitimate government and so strengthened their iron grip upon the tortured people of Russia and her satellites.
Judging by its demoralized works, atheism has now quit advancing in this country simply because it has arrived. Not just rhetorically but actually-our country is in an ungodly mess. City streets are terrorized by crime; our biggest and most expensive campuses are paralyzed by nihilism and anarchy; with special license from the Supreme Court, theaters are boldly featuring sex perversion and the newsstands are loaded with hard-core pornography. Big-name investigating commissions have told us all about riots, crime, progress, and poverty, but always in materialistic terms of money, housing, social service jobs, and birth control-without a word about the possibilities for personal moral self-restraint.
What about our churches? You have heard the startling story of what scientific atheism has done to institutional religion in the United States and elsewhere.
But if atheism has taken over, then who and where are the atheists? It was sheer coincidence, of course, that the day after the 1968 astronauts gave us their inspiring prayer from the moon, the Gallup Poll reported that 98 percent of the American people believe in God. Fantastic? Not at all. How many avowed atheists do you know personally?
Gallup also found that 65 percent of us believe in hell and 60 percent of all Americans believe in the devil. Now just a word to this big majority who believe in the devil. Who, in your opinion, has masterminded this tragic transformation of the official, controlling American mind? The devil? Through Satan's communistic counterfeit to the gospel? Then, why don't we all say so?
Now to the 98 percent of us who believe in God: Well, the astronauts did something big about it. Now will you please do a little something about it when you get your next captive audience, however small it is?
Organized atheism, representing just two percent of our population, has contaminated-is still contaminating-the whole course of American life, of Christian life everywhere. In this country today a two percent tail is wagging the big 98 percent dog. Never in all history have so many been hornswoggled by so few.
For years we have all been obsessed with the iniquities of the Supreme Court. The way to do something about the Supreme Court is for the 98 percent of us to become obsessed with the omnipotent goodness of the Supreme Being. What do you suppose would happen in all branches of our government if the 98 percent of us would stop complaining and start working and praying?
We Americans have come almost a year with a new national administration in the United States. The world is watching. Perhaps now is the time to return to basic eternal concepts, to praise the Lord while we continue to work hard on the Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court.
Other nations might well follow a similar pattern of concern.
As Americans-as members of the worldwide Christian community-we can defeat the godless, atheistic forces that threaten us. Yes, with the help of Almighty God we can-we must-win the war against the evil forces which seem almost to overwhelm us. The eternal verities revealed from God, through his inspired prophets, have not and will not change.
Let us "put on the whole armour of God, that may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil". There is no other way of safety.
God is not dead. He lives, for he has appeared-together with his Beloved Son Jesus Christ-in our day. This I know, as I know that I live, and I bear this humble witness in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Richard L. Evans
Richard L. Evans, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 66-69
President McKay, and my beloved brethren and sisters:
My heart has been touched, as I am sure yours have been, by the beautiful singing of this MIA girls' centennial chorus. I am sure that for them, in their loveliness at this time of life, it is wonderful "to discover that they are being discovered!"
Now, with their presence and their participation, it would seem appropriate to turn to this year's MIA theme: "For the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled". This, my beloved young friends, whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever you're thinking, wherever you're going-this, I promise you, you can count on.
We come to you today-to you, our beloved young people everywhere with an awareness that you face a complexity of choices such as we at your age had never heard of, and yet with an awareness that the principles are as clear-cut as they ever were, as they always were.
And in the few moments I have, I'd like to touch quickly upon a number of subjects:
First, I know of no more complete or important commitment, in time or in eternity, than marriage. In marriage we choose the closest companion of our life. In marriage we choose the parents of our children and the heritage they have. Don't let this choice ever be made except with earnest, searching, prayerful consideration, confiding in parents, in faithful, mature, trustworthy friends, making sure the person you marry shares your ideals, your convictions; a person with ambition, integrity, and intelligence; a person of cleanliness, of faith, of reverence and respect, to whom you would be willing to trust your children, and your own happiness, forever. Oh, be sure you choose a mate of character and kindness. And don't be stampeded by the music and the moonlight.
May I share a quotation from President Tanner that is much worth remembering: "The parents that you should honor more than any others are the parents of your children-to-be. Those children are entitled to the best parents that it is possible for you to give them-clean parents."
And now on the matter of morality: May I cite two significant sources: "The finest piece of mechanism in all the universe," said Dr. David Starr Jordan, of Stanford University, "is the brain man and the mind which is its manifestation... The sober man is the one who protects his brain from all that would do harm... The Twentieth Century... will be strenuous, complex... will ask for men of instant decision, men whose mental equipment is all in order... No one can afford to look downward for his enjoyments... The pleasures of vice are mere illusions, tricks of the nervous system, and each time these tricks are played it is more and more difficult for the mind to tell the truth. Such deceptions come through drunkenness and narcoticism. In greater or less degree all nerve-affecting drugs produce it: nicotine, caffeine, opium, cocaine, and the rest, strong or weak. Habitual use of any of these is a physical vice. A physical vice becomes a moral vice, and... to cultivate vice is to render our mind incapable of normal action... One and all, these various drugs... tend to give the impression of a power or a pleasure... which we do not possess... One and all their function is to force the nervous system to lie. One and all the result of their habitual use is to render the nervous system incapable of ever telling the truth... Indulgence... destroys wisdom and virtue; it destroys faith and hope and love... Whatever you do, count all the cost."
Thus spoke the eminent educator, Dr. Jordan. And this he added: "To be clean is to be strong... To say no at the right time, and then stand by it, is the first element of success... He is the wise man who, for all his life, can keep mind and soul and body clean".
And now, for the second source: Dr. Frank Crane said: "Nature keeps books pitilessly. Your credit with her is good, but she collects... She never forgets; she sees to it that you pay her every cent you owe, with interest... Every generation a new crop of fools comes on. They think they can beat the orderly universe. They conceive themselves to be more clever than the eternal laws. They snatch goods from Nature's store and run... And one by one they all come back to Nature's counter and pay-pay in tears, in agony, in despair; pay as fools before them have paid".
There isn't any way to cheat nature, to bypass law, to run away from life. The commandments haven't been repealed; the laws of morality, the spiritual laws, the laws of life are still in force and effect.
Oh, don't let others drag you down, and don't drag yourself down. No matter what cynical or immoral or even honestly mistaken people may say, don't let them destroy your faith or your virtue, or lead you to a lower way of life.
And when they try to tell you what you're missing, you tell them what they're missing: peace and self-respect and a quiet conscience-happiness-and the assurance of the highest opportunities of everlasting life.
Now to turn to the question of love: There are tests to which love should be put. Don't trust the love of anyone who would propose to you what is improper. Don't trust the love of anyone who would hurt or embarrass you or tempt you to evil, or endeavor to induce you to do that which would lead you to shame or sorrow.
The test of love is in how we live. If we do really love someone, we would do for them, or induce them to do, only what would be for their happiness and peace and protection, for their benefit and blessing.
If we truly love our parents, we will prove our love by living honorable lives and by respecting them, caring for them, taking them into our confidence.
If we love the Church, we will prove that love by how we serve and honor our membership in it.
Sometimes we say we love the Lord, but he has told us how to prove that love: "If ye love me, keep my commandments".
Don't be deceived by false or selfish or counterfeit love from any source.
Now, as to faith: Believe me, you can count on all that God has said. More than a hundred thirty-six years ago, to a young prophet he said simply, "... tobacco is not... good for man". It has taken medical science more than a century to prove that the Lord knew what he was talking about. When he tells us something, he expects us to believe it. It doesn't take faith to believe the Word of Wisdom any more. It just takes a little common sense.
I have been privileged to know some of the most brilliant men of the earth, in many countries, worldwide. I have a great respect for research and scholarship and for the skills and talents and minds of competent men. But I have never known a man who knew enough so that I was willing to trust him with my everlasting life. I only know one place to put such trust. Oh, I plead with you to go all the way with your Father in heaven, for you will see all of us shall-in time and in eternity the promises of God fulfilled. This you can count on.
Now a word about repentance: It seems significant that repentance is given as the second great principle of the gospel: "Faith, repentance...".
We all make mistakes. If our repentance is sincere, we have the right to approach him for forgiveness, but remember we are not entitled to any quota of mistakes. It is always better that we don't make them. And surely we shouldn't go on stupidly or stubbornly repeating the same old mistakes over and over again. We ought to have learned our lessons. It isn't enough to be just as good today as we were yesterday. We should be better. The Lord doesn't deal in theories. When he says perfection is possible, we'd better be improving. But one of the most devilish doctrines that anyone could advocate would be to say that because someone had made a mistake, it wouldn't matter if he made one more, or many more. The best time to repent is now, before the next time.
But don't let anyone tell you ever that you are beyond repenting, or that there is no point in repenting, or that it is all right to postpone repentance.
I think it was our beloved Brother Harold B. Lee who said that the heaviest burden in the world is the burden of sin. Don't carry it around with you. Don't tamper with evil. Don't flirt with temptation. Don't live with a quarreling conscience. Confide in those who love you, who can help you-your parents, your bishops, your stake presidents. Clean out the clutter of the past and live to have peace and a quiet conscience.
Many centuries ago Mencius said, "Let men decide firmly what they will not do, then they will be free vigorously to do what they ought to do". All of us ought to decide firmly what we will not do. We shouldn't have to argue with ourselves at each time of temptation. Taught as we are, our decisions against evil ought to be more or less automatic.
In the words of Marcus Aurelius, "If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it".
And now, as to law: We have seen men walk on the moon and we have marveled at the minds of men. But remember this: It was possible to go to and from the moon because there are laws that can be counted on, because the Creator keeps creation in its course.
I witness to you, my beloved young friends, that the moral and spiritual laws are as much in force and effect as are the physical laws.
Study, learn. Don't drop out. Seek wholesome knowledge. Develop your talents. Increase in competence. Take counsel. There is safety in counsel. Don't stubbornly and rebelliously decide to go it alone in life. Keep your sense of humor. Keep your standards. Love and respect your parents. Keep close to the Church. Be active in it. Love and serve your country, your community. Love and enjoy life. Choose the right. Keep the heritage you have. Seek the guidance of your Father in prayer. Be happy. Have faith: "For the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled".
This I witness to you as I witness that God lives; that you are his children; that he sent his divine Son to show us the way of life and redeem us from death; that the gospel has been restored to earth. This you can count on-and your life can be as happy and wonderful as anyone would ever want-"not for just an hour, not for just a day, not for just a year, but always".
God bless you and be with you, my beloved young friends, this day-and always-I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Bernard P. Brockbank
Bernard P. Brockbank, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 69-71
My dear brothers and sisters: It is a joy to be in the atmosphere of peace and love, and that is what seems to be radiated here today. I would like to give a few general thoughts in the few moments that I occupy. I would like to quote a few statements from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me".
"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved".
Brothers and sisters, our assignment is not to condemn the world, but to help save the world.
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep".
"... I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me".
"... I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life".
In Jesus Christ and his teachings and example we have God's truth; we have God's way and God's example for full and abundant life.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Savior of the world, the Messiah and Redeemer of all mankind, and the only mediator between God and mortal man.
Jesus said, "... no man cometh unto the Father, but by me".
The apostle Peter said, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved".
Jesus is the only mortal man who proved his divine godliness by the many miracles that he performed. "He rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was calm:
"And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him".
Jesus multiplied five loaves of bread and two fishes and fed five thousand hungry people. He "commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
"And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
"And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children".
Before witnesses Jesus raised the dead maid and Lazarus. He took the dead maid by the hand and called, saying, "Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway".
The people who were with Jesus when he called Lazarus out of his grave and raised him from the dead bear their records.
Jesus healed the blind, the crippled, and the sick.
The scriptures say Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world.
Jesus was the first to be resurrected from the dead.
The glorious resurrection was announced. "He is not here, for he is risen".
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept".
Jesus appeared to his disciples. "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have".
Paul said, "After that, he was seen of about five hundred brethren at once".
Many other miracles were performed by him. His teachings, his life, his death, his resurrection, and his ascension to the kingdom of God are evidence of his divinity.
Jesus is the God of love, the God of peace, the God of light.
The apostle John said, "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
"If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin".
"He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
"He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
"But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes".
Today there is spiritual darkness in the world in many places and in the lives of many of the Lord's children. Much has been said in this conference relative to this.
Today there is widespread disrespect for God, disrespect for Jesus Christ and his teachings and commandments, disrespect for self and neighbor, disrespect for marriage and family, disrespect for the holy scriptures.
Many love themselves and pleasure more than they love God. Men love the creatures and the creations of God more than they love the Creator. Alcohol, tobacco, stimulants, and drugs are consumed abundantly. In many, the appetites are controlling their brains and minds, rather than the God-given human mind controlling the appetites. Love is often turned into lust. Love is from God and lust is from Satan.
Young people and many others are concerned and are asking about today and the future. I am often asked, "What does today and the future offer me?"
Young people, all that your God and your Savior have ever offered to mortal man is available to you today. Knowledge of the living God and the living Jesus Christ is available to you now.
You can seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and he has promised you his care and blessings. The God-inspired scriptures, the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon, with God's plan of life, are available today. You can pray to a living God that created you in his image and likeness and have your prayers heard and answered. You can love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. You can love neighbor and self. You can be honest. You can love your parents and honor them.
There is a prophet of God and apostles on the earth today to assist and help you; you can follow their example and counsel.
You can be baptized for the remission of sins and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by those holding the priesthood of God.
You can repent and be forgiven and be free of sin. Jesus Christ said, "Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more". Repentance is the God-given principle to perfect your life. When used, it cleanses away sin, weakness, imperfection, and brings progress, peace, love, righteousness, and eternal life.
Jesus said, "... Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand".
Repentance will lift you from darkness and cloudiness to the light of godliness. Preparation for the kingdom of heaven through repentance is available to you today.
Young people, you can be married for time and eternity in a temple of God by one holding the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood. You can live the God-revealed Word of Wisdom and have the destroying angel pass you by. You can pay your tithing and offerings and have the Lord open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. You can do the will of God and help build his church and kingdom on this earth.
All of the accumulated knowledge of man is also available to you today. It is estimated that we have twice the knowledge available today that we had a few years ago. As young people, all of the evils of the world are also available to you.
Our Prophet opened this conference with these words in his message: "God gave to man part of his divinity. He gave man the power of choice, and no other creature in the world has it, so he placed upon the individual the obligation of conducting himself as an eternal being."
Young people, when you pray, pray for wisdom, pray for faith, pray for love, pray for strength and forgiveness. Ask to be helped through the temptations of this life and be sure you ask to be delivered from evil.
I testify that Jesus Christ lives today, that he is the way, the truth, and the life, and that you can come unto the fullness of life by following him, and so pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder James A. Cullimore
James A. Cullimore, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 71-74
My beloved brethren and sisters: This is a choice experience to be with you here today.
The passing of Brother John Longden has been referred to at least twice during this conference. I would also like to refer to this and let you know how very much we miss our fellow worker and associate, and how he is missed in the Church because of his untimely death. It has saddened us all. We miss him greatly, and I am sure you will agree with me that he will be missed all over the Church. Brother John has earned a great reward, and I am sure that in the kingdom of our Father he will receive this reward.
I was greatly impressed by the peace and understanding with which Sister Longden accepted the passing of John. Only she will know, of course, of the real sorrow, the pangs of loneliness, that he will not return in this life. But the understanding of the gospel and the plan of salvation can greatly ease the sting of death.
Knowing the beauty of God's plan for the salvation of his children sometimes makes even death beautiful. We understand that death is a very necessary part of the great plan of salvation and that it is the means of the separation of the body and the spirit, in which the spirit returns to God and the body returns to the earth. As the scripture says: "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it".
Death is just as necessary as birth in this great plan. Birth into this life is the means by which the spirit and the body are joined together for their great mission on this earth. Resurrection is the process whereby the spirit, which separated from the body in death, is again reunited with the body, which has been purified, glorified, and immortalized, never to be separated again.
Yes, even death can be beautiful as we understand the plan of the Lord and know that in life we have lived well. Even the pangs of sorrow, because of separation and the many memories, are momentarily overshadowed by this understanding.
I shall never forget one such beautiful occasion. My parents had lived a good life. They had celebrated their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary. To them had been born 12 children; six boys filled missions; all the family is active in the Church. Father filled a three-year mission. He was a bishop for nearly thirty years. Mother had completely sustained my father in all his Church activities and had held many responsible positions in the ward herself. When father left on his mission, they had one child and were expecting another. In her eighty-fourth year, mother broke her hip and was quite ill in the hospital. My father, at 86, was still very active and drove to work each day. He came from work that day, visited with mother in the hospital for a while, then went on to the house. That evening he passed away peacefully. Mother never knew of his passing, for the next day she passed away also. A double funeral was held. As we all visited during the evening of the viewing, realizing the beautiful, full lives both had lived, and knowing the kindness of the Lord in sparing either of them the loneliness of being alone, there could be no real sorrow-yes, momentary grief in separation, but otherwise beautiful peace in knowing they were together.
Not long ago a noted scholar wrote a book entitled The Meaning of Death. The contents of his work were taken from several case histories of individuals who were suffering from terminal cancer. These people were faced with the immediate problem of dying.
"The object of the study was to assess the feelings of those who were about to die. Almost universally the patients agreed that the inevitability of death was not the issue. The real issue was how to live a full life. They all seemed to agree that the problem of dying is the regret of not having lived."
The concern of living a good life and keeping the commandments in preparation to meet our Maker has been the concern of mankind from the beginning. Unto Cain the Lord said, "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door".
Unto Moses the Lord gave a code of living that was reaffirmed in the meridian dispensation by the Savior and again in this dispensation in which he said:
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
"Honour thy father and thy mother.
"Thou shalt not kill.
"Thou shalt not commit adultery.
"Thou shalt not steal.
"Thou shalt not bear false witness.
"Thou shalt not covet".
The Lord exhorted the children of Israel to obedience when he said, "Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
"A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day:
"And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God".
The Savior promised, "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works".
Possibly one of the most direct answers as to proper conformity in life was given by Peter on the day of Pentecost. Filled with the Holy Ghost, he delivered a powerful sermon and bore witness to the divinity of Jesus Christ. Many were pricked in their hearts and wanted to know what they should do to be saved. He said, "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".
Paul, who found the Galatian saints believing false doctrine, called them to repentance, saying, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting".
In this dispensation the Lord has said: "If thou wilt do good, yea, and hold out faithful to the end, thou shalt be saved in the kingdom of God, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God; for there is no gift greater than the gift of salvation".
But the Lord has not left us alone. In every dispensation of the gospel, he has administered unto his children-instructing them as to how they can regain his presence. He walked and talked with the ancient prophets. The prophet Alma tells how the Lord sent angels to converse with men in his time and reveal the plan of redemption. "... he saw that it was expedient that man should know concerning the things whereof he had appointed unto them;
"Therefore he sent angels to converse with them, who caused men to behold of his glory.
"And they began from that time forth to call on his name; therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation of the world; and this he made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works".
Possibly one's concern about not having lived well is really in not knowing what his real purpose in life is. Real peace of mind comes from a firm conviction of the plan of salvation as revealed to us of the Lord; that we are the children of God, created in his image; that he is the Father of our spirits; that we lived with him in a glorious spiritual existence before this temporal existence; that this mortal state is probationary; that through death and the resurrection, having lived a worthy life, having complied with the ordinances of the gospel, we might enter again into the presence of God. Peace comes as we know the gospel and live it, as we develop a strong testimony of its divinity, as we are vindicated by the Holy Spirit in our good works.
In this dispensation God has also visited the earth and sent his messengers to reveal unto us his plan of redemption, that we may know of his will and feel his sustaining spirit as we do his bidding. He has said, Repent, repent, and prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand;
"Yea, repent and be baptized, every one of you, for a remission of your sins; yea, be baptized even by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost".
It is our witness to the world that the gospel of Jesus Christ, as revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith, contains the direction and understanding of eternal life, that by abiding by its principles and teachings and by complying with its ordinances, one might have peace and satisfaction by the vindication of the spirit, and whether in life or death they will know all is well-death will have no sting.
I leave you this witness, my brothers and sisters, and witness unto you that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, and that this is his church, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Hartman Rector, Jr.
Hartman Rector, Jr. Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 74-77
It is intended that man is to be like God. The scriptures declare that man was made in the beginning in the image and likeness of God.
Paul, speaking of Jesus Christ, said that he, "being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God". He further declared that he was "the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person".
God, the Father of the spirits of all men, is in all respects like his Son Jesus Christ, whom we, at least to some extent, know; for he has revealed himself to us, and although we may not understand all things about Jesus Christ, we know what manner of man he was from records that were kept of his exemplary life. What is more, in the words of John we understand "that when he shall appear, we shall be like him".
From these and other scriptures, it becomes clear that it is intended that man is to be like God. In fact, the Master made this a central part of his teachings when he walked in mortality among men. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect". This was his commission to us. Then, the question of questions becomes: What is God like?
I have often felt the reason we don't understand God is because we are so unlike him. By that, I mean that even though man is like God physically, spiritually man is far from God. Fortunately, the Lord has given us specific direction and guidance to get us into condition so we grow closer to him spiritually also.
However, regretfully, though men draweth nigh unto God with their mouths, and honoreth him with their lips, their hearts are far from him. This is true primarily because we are concerned with what we want to do rather than with what God wants us to do.
If we face facts, we will realize we are all afflicted with the same malady. It is the root cause of all the problems and suffering in the world, both collectively and individually, and has always been. What is this cause? It is a very simple, one-word answer-selfishness. I use this word in its broadest sense, which includes greed and covetousness. We are selfish, and selfishness is not like God.
We endlessly do what we want to do instead of doing what the Lord wants us to do. It isn't that we don't know what the Lord wants us to do. He has made it abundantly clear through revelation to his prophets, but we are too concerned with our own wants.
How does it happen that we are this way? What makes us so selfish? I don't believe we are born this way. The spirit comes to this earth essentially free of selfish desire, but it appears it is made selfish at a very early age.
The human infant comes into this world in a completely helpless condition. It cannot support itself. Therefore, the Lord has placed in the heart of the adult male and female great love for infants.
This love is frequently expressed by supplying every wish of this infant to the point where, after about five to six years of this kind of treatment, the child begins to feel that the whole world revolves around it. "Me first" and "I want the biggest" form some of his first phrases. Parents suddenly come to the startling realization that they have a spoiled child on their hands. They then embark on a long, drawn-out program that will only take 50 to 70 years to talk Junior out of being selfish. Sometimes they never succeed.
On the success of this endeavor, the happiness of the individual depends. The selfish man suffers eternally from his selfishness, for never can a selfish man become like God. Instead, he has erected himself as his idol. Of course, this is not necessarily the only way that we become selfish. Man is by nature fallen, therefore self-centered.
Someone has said, "Most men, born into this world, creep selfishly into nameless graves; while every now and then one man forgets himself into immortality."
The Lord saw fit to give instruction on this subject to his children early in this dispensation. In February 1829, he set forth the qualifications for the labors of the ministry. He said, "And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work".
Now, the faith, hope, charity, and love are of vital importance, but the eye single to the glory of God is crucial. This means that all decisions must be made on the side of the Lord. Instead of forever doing what we want to do, we must do what the Lord wants done.
The Lord says our eye must be single to his glory, and in the scripture it is spelled EYE. Of course, this is figuratively speaking. I believe he means the capital I, or you-WE. We must be single to the glory of God. When we act, we must always have in mind what the Lord has said. Of course, the ideal would be to harmonize our desires with the will of the Lord; then we can always do what we want and still have the approval of the Lord, but this is seldom the case.
The Lord continued this revelation on the qualification for the labors of the ministry by saying, "Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence".
Surely the Lord feels these attributes are vitally important to our success in his work, for he admonishes us to remember them.
We are, to some extent, familiar with most of these attributes, but what does he mean by godliness? We think instantly he must mean that we must become like God, but how do we do that?
Perhaps it means to become perfect in all these qualifications he has listed. No-if that were the case, he would have needed only one qualification: godliness.
Godliness must mean something special. Perhaps it has to do with the distinguishing characteristic of God.
What is the distinguishing characteristic of our Heavenly Father? John gave us a clue when he said: "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God.
"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love".
This was so very difficult for me to understand before the missionaries knocked on my door, for, from this scripture and others quite similar, it appeared that God and love were one and the same. Is God, then, just an emotion? You can't see love. You may see the effect of love or the lack of it, but love is not a corporate entity. When I learned the truth-that God is an exalted man of flesh and bone and spirit-then I understood what John was saying: that love is God's distinguishing characteristic.
God loves us. We know it. The scriptures declare it, and from the experiences of each one of us, we know it to be true. Almost no one doubts this fact. God loves us, but why? Why does God love us when we often do not deserve his love?
One might say, "Oh, because we are his children." It is true, we are his children, but is that the reason he loves us? Does he only love what belongs to him? If we are not careful, we will ascribe to God our own selfishness.
Another might say, "He loves us because he knows us and knows potential." It is true he does know our potential, but this would imply he would love those with greater potential more than those of less potential. What if you had little or no potential? Would he not love you? There must be some other reason why our Heavenly Father loves us. Does he love us because we are good? I hope not. I'm afraid many of us would be unloved.
I don't know why God loves us, but I believe the scriptures give us a clue. God doesn't love us because we are good. God loves us because he is good. God is good and so he loves us, and those who are the best love the best. It appears that only if you are good do you receive a reward for loving. The Lord requires us to love those who don't deserve it.
"For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye?" saith the Master, "for sinners also love those that love them".
It is easy to love people who love us. It is much more difficult to love people who not only don't love us, but don't even like us. But if we are to be like our Father in heaven who "maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust", then we must love these people who don't like us, and we'll have to be good to do that.
I have seen this godlike quality of unselfish love in all the best men I have known or read about. Jesus wept over those who rejected him and prayed for those who crucified him.
Joseph Smith's heart was filled with love and compassion for all men, even for his persecutors. All the prophets have had this great quality. I never had the privilege of knowing President George Albert Smith, but from the testimony of those who knew him, love radiated from his countenance for all men. I know this to be a quality of President David O. McKay. I have seen and personally experienced the all-encompassing love of our present, beloved prophet. Those who are the best love the best.
If we are good, we will look for and find the good in others. It is there. There is good in every man. In fact, I believe every man is superior to every other man in some thing. If you look for it, you will find it. But you can see only what you have eyes to see. It depends solely on how good you are as to whether you see good or not.
All of the commandments given us by the Lord are calculated to make us good. This is to help us become like him.
Only as we live in obedience to these commandments will we be able to know real love for others and real joy ourselves.
I bear witness that God, our Heavenly Father, does live and that he loves us, and as we have love one for another and for all men, we will become more like him and find the great joy and happiness that is the object and design of our existence. I bear this witness to you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Milton R. Hunter
Milton R. Hunter, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 77-79
The age-old question "Where do we go when we die?" has been asked by old people and young people among all nations from time immemorial. Many disbelievers, cynics, and atheists today maintain that nothing exists for man beyond the grave-that death is the end.
The greatest of all teachers, Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, proclaimed an entirely different doctrine. He taught that there is a glorious life beyond the grave in the presence of the Eternal Father, and that by compliance with certain laws we may go there and enjoy it. For example, Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, came unto Jesus at night and in course of their conversion, Jesus declared:
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God".
The Savior revealed to Joseph Smith, a modern prophet:
"Take upon you the name of Christ...
"And as many as repent and are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and endure to the end, the same shall be saved.
"Behold, Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved".
On a certain occasion, a dear friend of the Master in Palestine was very ill. His sisters, Martha and Mary, sent for Jesus to come and heal their brother. The Savior did not come for a few days, and when he did come Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days. Martha was told that Jesus was approaching, and so she hurried out to meet him. She said: "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died...
"Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
"Martha saith unto him, I know he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
Jesus replied: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?".
The night before his crucifixion, Jesus gave his apostles additional information regarding his Father's kingdom. He said to them:
"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go now to prepare a place for you.
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also".
What is death? It is nothing more than the separation of the spiritual body from the physical body. The physical tabernacle becomes diseased, worn, and aged, and, therefore, no longer a fit home for the spirit. Thus the spirit-the real person, in which all the good deeds committed, also the bad deeds committed, the personality-goes on alive as a spirit personage in the spirit world. Some departed spirits go to paradise, a place of peace and happiness where they can continue to work and progress. Others go to a spirit prison. Certain prophets have termed it a hell. The apostle Peter proclaimed that Christ who suffered death for our sins "went and preached unto the spirits in prison" who had been there from the time they were drowned in the flood in Noah's day.
Thus they were in the spirit prison for nearly twenty-five hundred years, because they had rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ and had lived wicked lives.
John the Revelator saw in vision the resurrection and judgment of the human family. He described it as follows:
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works".
The ancient American prophets taught that there would be a universal resurrection. Amulek stated: "... the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and stand before God, and be judged according to their works".
Jacob, the brother of Nephi, described the judgment day: "Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness".
The most profound and marvelous revelations that exist on life after earth and the final destiny of man were received by the Prophet Joseph Smith. They are recorded in Sections 76, 88, 131, and 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants. In addition, other visions he had on the immortality of man are not recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants.
God revealed to the Prophet that there are three degrees of glory-the celestial, the terrestrial, and the telestial. If a person's body at the resurrection is "quickened by a portion of the celestial glory", he shall later receive a fullness of that glory. The same holds true for the other two degrees of glory. On February 16, 1832, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were translating the Bible at Hiram, Ohio, when they had a marvelous vision.
"And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about.
"And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fulness;
"And saw the holy angels, and them who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God, and the Lamb, who worship him forever and ever.
"And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
"For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father-
"That by him, and through him... the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God".
Who will go to the celestial degree of glory and live with the Father and the Son?
From another vision of celestial glory had by Joseph Smith, we receive the following information:
"And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability, are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven ".
By revelation the Lord set the age eight as the age of accountability for little children..
In addition to little children, others who go to the celestial glory are those who receive a testimony of Jesus, in other words, the gospel of Jesus Christ. They must be baptized by immersion in water and receive the Holy Ghost by one having authority. Also, they must keep the commandments, and be those who are "overcome by faith and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true".
Certainly many of the people in celestial glory will be holders of the holy Melchizedek Priesthood.
"In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
"And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood;
"If he does not, he cannot obtain it.
"He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase".
The Lord has declared that the honorable people of the earth who do not accept the true gospel of Jesus Christ will go to the terrestrial glory.
The wicked people of the earth who have not denied the Holy Ghost-"they who are thrust down to hell... until the last resurrection "-will be assigned to the telestial glory.
The people who commit the unpardonable sins of denying the Holy Ghost or shedding innocent blood shall be cast off with the devil and die the second death.
Where do we go when we die? It depends on how we live while here in mortality, and how much light and truth we receive, and how much opportunity we have had. Also, for those who have not had a chance to hear the gospel while here in mortality, they will have an opportunity in the spirit world and temple work will be done for them. The Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith:
"All who have died without a knowledge of this Gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs to the celestial kingdom of God: also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of the kingdom for I, the Lord, will judge all men... according to the desires of their hearts ".
I bear testimony that the true gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to earth again. It is found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce R. McConkie, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 79-84
I am grateful beyond any power of expression that I have for the knowledge that is in my heart of the truth and divinity of this great work. I am thankful for the testimony of Jesus, for the whisperings of the Spirit that have come to my soul certifying that this kingdom, the Church, is God's kingdom on earth; and I desire to bear that witness, not in words only but also by my acts, to be in word and in deed a witness to the world of the truth and divinity of the gospel cause-all in harmony with the instructions we have received in our revelations.
Will you join with me in considering these eternal truths:
True religion comes by revelation; there is no other source.
Where there is true religion, there is revelation; and where there is no revelation, there is no true religion.
God reveals himself or he remains forever unknown.
He is our Father in heaven; we are his spirit children, and he ordained the laws whereby we can advance and progress and become like him.
He is the author of the plan of salvation, which his servant Paul designates as "the gospel of God... Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord".
He has revealed this plan of salvation in successive gospel dispensations, and he is revealing his mind and his will today, thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever, and that a soul is just as precious in his sight in this day as in any age.
Thus true religion comes from God, and from no other source.
It is his priesthood that administers the gospel. It is his power that governs his church.
It is at his direction that the gospel is preached and that the gifts of the Spirit are poured out upon the faithful.
His is the power by which miracles are wrought, by which the sick are healed and the dead raised.
He seals men up unto eternal life.
He makes men joint heirs with his Son.
He gives them the fullness of his glory and kingdom.
He is the source of all things of every true principle, of every saving truth, of revealed religion, and without revelation from him there is no true church, no true religion, and no personal salvation.
God sends apostles and prophets, wise and holy men who have the spiritual talent to commune with him, to receive in their hearts his mind and will, and then to communicate these eternal truths to their fellowmen. Joseph Smith was one of the greatest of these, and we have living apostles and prophets today who make the truths of salvation available to us as a people and to all who will come and join with us.
But people are not saved en masse. Salvation is personal and individual. Religion must come to one man standing alone, independent of all others.
If I am to be saved, I personally must believe and obey the true religion.
I must get religion into my own heart and soul. What the Prophet Joseph Smith saw and believed and knew will not suffice. True, his revelations make salvation available to me; they open the door. But I must see and believe and know for myself.
I must know God. I must learn the truths of salvation. I must feel the power of his priesthood. I must receive the gifts of his Spirit. I must be born again. I must receive revelation.
No man can be saved unless and until he receives revelation. Revelation is the rock foundation upon which true religion and personal salvation rest. Peter learned by personal revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Holy Messiah, through whose atoning sacrifice salvation is offered to men. Then the Lord told him that upon this rock of revelation he would build his church.
If I do not build upon this rock, if I do not receive the same testimony of our Lord's divine Sonship that Peter gained, if I do not know by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Lord, if I do not have the testimony of Jesus, that is, if I do not receive revelation, I have not received true religion, and I shall have no abiding inheritance in that church and kingdom which is founded upon the rock of revelation.
In our day, in this final gospel dispensation, the revealed knowledge of the truth and divinity of the work includes the heaven-sent assurance that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, that he is the revealer of the knowledge of Christ and of salvation to the world today.
The first great revelation which men must receive if they are to gain salvation is the revelation of the divine Sonship of Christ, which knowledge is coupled with the Spirit-born assurance that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. This revelation is called a testimony of the gospel.
But a testimony is only the beginning of revelation. The recipient has just begun to drink at the fountain of revealed truth. He has but opened the door to an immeasurably great storehouse of spiritual knowledge.
The great things that set the Lord's saints apart from the world are, first, that they know by revelation that the work in which they are engaged is true, that they have testimonies of its divinity, and, second, that they then receive added personal revelation concerning many things.
At their baptism, God's saints have the hands of legal administrators placed upon their heads, and they receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, an endowment from on high. This endowment, this gift, is the right to the constant companionship of this member of the Godhead based on faithfulness.
Joseph Smith said: "No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations. The Holy Ghost is a revelator".
Accordingly, those who are saints indeed, those who have been born again, those who are so living as to be in tune with the Spirit-they are they who receive revelation, personal revelation, revelation which is the mind and will of God to them as individuals. They know there are apostles and prophets directing the kingdom who receive revelation for the Church and the world. But they as individuals receive personal revelation in their own affairs.
And there are no restrictions placed upon them; there are no limitations as to what they may see and know and comprehend. No eternal truths will be withheld, if they obey the laws entitling them to receive such truths.
Joseph Smith and the prophets had revelation. They saw God, viewed the visions of eternity, entertained angels, came upon Mount Zion, stood in heavenly places, and had communion with the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn.
Of these very experiences Joseph Smith said: "... God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what He will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them".
Now let me read the words of a revelation, the words of the Lord God himself, the very words of Deity. These words, spoken to Joseph Smith, announce that revelation is for all men, that every faithful member of the Church can commune with his Maker, without limit and without restraint.
They are: "For thus saith the Lord-I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.
"Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.
"And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.
"Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations.
"And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven; and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught.
"For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will-yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man".
Thus we learn that any man who obeys the law entitling him to receive revelation shall see and hear and know for himself. Revelation for the Church comes through those who are prophets, seers, and revelators to the Church, but personal revelation, revelation for the guidance of the individual, revelation which says to a man and a woman, "Son, daughter, thou shalt be exalted; thou shalt have part and lot in my kingdom," this revelation comes to them as individuals, alone and apart from all others.
Joseph Smith received this revelation: "Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am".
Among those who complied with the law of righteousness here revealed was the brother of Jared, a prophet who lived some 2,000 years before our Lord's birth into mortality. Of thee vision which he saw, Moroni says: "... because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from beholding within the veil; and he saw... the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting.
"Wherefore, having this perfect knowledge of God, he could not be kept from within the veil; therefore he saw Jesus; and he did minister unto him".
From these revelations we learn that there are no limitations placed upon any of us. Revelations are not reserved for a limited few or for those called to positions of importance in the Church. It is not position in the Church that confers spiritual gifts. It is not being a bishop, a stake president, or an apostle that makes revelation and salvation available. These are high and holy callings which open the door to the privilege of great service among men. But it is not a call to a special office that opens the windows of revelation to a truth seeker. Rather it is personal righteousness; it is keeping the commandments; it is seeking the Lord while he may be found.
God is no respecter of persons. He will give revelation to me and to you on the same terms and conditions. I can see what Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon saw in the vision of the degrees of glory-and so can you. I can entertain angels and see God, I can receive an outpouring of the gifts of the Spirit-and so can you.
There are goals to gain, summits to climb, revelations to receive. In the eternal scope of things we have scarcely started out on the course to glory and exaltation. The Lord wants his saints to receive line upon line, precept upon precept, truth upon truth, revelation upon revelation, until we know all things and have become like him.
Let us press forward in making our callings and elections sure, until, as Joseph Smith said, we shall have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend us, or to appear to us from time to time, and until even he will manifest the Father unto us.
I know man can commune with his Maker, can petition the throne of grace and receive answers to his prayers, because I have done so.
I know man can receive revelations, because I have received them. God has spoken to me, not for the guidance of the Church, not for your benefit, but for mine. The same thing has or can or should happen in the life of every member of his kingdom.
God be praised that, unworthy though we are, he stands ready to and does in fact reveal himself to those of us who are sons and daughters in his kingdom.
Now in this day in which we live we have been appointed to stand as witnesses of the truth. Our elders go forth proclaiming the message of the restoration to the world. They go out to teach and to testify. When the Lord sends them forth, it is with this commission: "... ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God".
And since God stands revealed or remains forever unknown, there is no way on earth or in heaven for anyone to come to a knowledge of him unless he receives a personal revelation of God or unless he hearkens to the voice of witnesses who have received revelation. Man can and will receive revelation from the Holy Ghost if he heeds the testimony that is borne by the living witnesses who are sent forth to raise their voices and to proclaim the everlasting gospel.
As elders in Israel we are expected to be witnesses. We become witnesses because of personal revelation. When a man receives the surety in his heart that this work is true, when he gains a testimony by the power of the Holy Ghost, then he knows what the world does not know, and he can go forth and bear record of it to them.
We are not concerned particularly or especially with the matter of intellectuality. Everything pertaining to the gospel is rational and reasonable. It is intellectual in the sense that we can sustain it by sense and reason and wisdom, but religion is something far more than intellectuality. Religion is a matter of revelation, of spirituality. Religion comes from God, and those who receive it become living witnesses of its truth and divinity.
And so there rests upon me and upon you, and upon all the elders of Israel, the obligation to testify of the truth and divinity of the work, and we can do it because we have received the revelations of the Holy Spirit to our souls certifying that the work is true.
Now I as one elder in Israel can stand alone, independent of all others-but there are thousands in a like category-and I can bear testimony of the truth and the divinity of this work because the Holy Spirit has spoken to the spirit within me. The whisperings of the still small voice have come to my soul, and have told me that there is a God in heaven who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting. They have told me that he chose his Only Begotten Son, the Firstborn in the spirit, Jesus our Lord, to be the Savior and the Redeemer of the world; that he sent his Son into the world-born of Mary and born of him, thus inheriting the power of mortality and the power of immortality-so that he could work out the infinite and eternal atoning sacrifice, so that he could bring to pass immortality for all men, and make eternal life available for those who believe and obey.
And not alone has the Spirit whispered to me that these great eternal verities, which come by the grace of God, are true; it has certified to my soul that the heavens have been opened in this day; that God has spoken anew; that Joseph Smith was called of him, anointed and empowered and endowed with power from on high, and commissioned to begin the rolling forth of this final, great, glorious dispensation.
Now a testimony of the gospel to be effective, to be in force, to have power and efficacy and validity, has to be brought up to date. It is not enough for someone to know that Jesus is the Lord and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. A testimony has to be a current, living thing. And so I certify that I know, as do thousands of you, that those who preside over this church at this time-with President David O. McKay at the head, his counselors in the Presidency, and these great brethren who comprise the Council of the Twelve and the Patriarch to the Church-are prophets, seers, and revelators. They hold the keys of the kingdom. The power is in their hands to have the message of salvation presented in all the world.
I have sufficient background and understanding that I could reason these things out from the revelations. I could read the scriptures and ascertain that all this is accurate and sensible, that it is logical and rational, but what I am now saying is something that is in addition to that. It is very helpful to have a knowledge of the gospel and be able to reason on the principles of eternal truth; it is helpful in that it leads to a testimony of the divinity of the work. But what I am now saying is that I am a witness of the truth and the divinity of the work because the Holy Spirit has revealed to the spirit that is in me that this is God's work, that this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth.
Now we have a revelation that says, in effect, that in order to be saved in the kingdom of God, we must be valiant in testimony. It is not enough to have a testimony, a knowledge of the divinity of the work, but it is a glorious thing to start there. In order to gain an inheritance in the celestial world, we have to be valiant in testimony, and we have to manifest that valiance by keeping the commandments of God. God grant us the fortitude and courage and wisdom to seek him while he may be found, to learn for ourselves that he is the Lord and that this is his work, and then give us the determination to press forward in steadfastness and devotion, until in fact and in reality we do make our callings and elections sure.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 86-90
My beloved brethren, it has always been my nature to enjoy the company of my associates. I love to be with my friends.
The older I grow the more intense becomes my appreciation of fellowship in the brotherhood of Christ. I sense that tonight more deeply more sincerely than ever before, as I can be with you only in spirit; but still I feel that it is one of the most inspirational experiences in life to associate, even in spirit, with men who hold the Holy Priesthood.
Recently, as I have read the reports of the brethren who have returned from touring the missions, my heart has been thrilled at the great latter-day work that is being accomplished-especially the great missionary cause in which we are engaged. And I say this not only to our over twelve thousand missionaries serving in the 88 missions of the Church, but also to this great body of priesthood. Ours is the responsibility-greater than ever before:
1. To proclaim that the Church was divinely established by the appearance of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and that divine authority through the priesthood is given to represent Deity in establishing Christ's Church upon the earth.
2. To proclaim that its assigned responsibility is to fulfill the admonition of Jesus to his apostles: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen".
3. To proclaim peace and goodwill unto all mankind.
4. To exert every effort and all means within our reach to make evil-thinking men good, and good men better, and all people happier.
5. To proclaim the truth that each individual is a child of God and important in his sight; that he is entitled to freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly; that he has the right to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience. In this positive declaration, we imply that organizations or churches that deprive the individual of these inherent rights are not in harmony with God's will and with his revealed word.
There is no teaching of morality without personality, and the best means of preaching the gospel is by your personal contact. Personal contact is what will influence those investigators. That personal contact-the nature of it, its effect-depends upon you. That is the thing I wish to emphasize. Each one should remember that somewhere there is an honest soul waiting to hear the truth, and it may be that you are the only one who can reach that inquiring soul.
Members of the Church are or can be effective missionaries. We saw that exemplified in Great Britain in 1923. Before that time the elders were using the newspapers, and the British newspapers were very antagonistic. They refused to publish the truth about the Church. After we had won the favor of the press, we decided to put this challenge to the members of the Church: "This year we should like every member in the British Mission to bring into the Church at least one member. It may be your mother, it may be your father, it may be a child, it may be a neighbor, it may be one of your associates in business, but these and others know you, and so prejudice is largely removed from their hearts-that is, if your personality radiates the principles of the gospel so as to bring confidence to the hearts of the individual." And if you look at the records in Great Britain for 1923, you will find that there were three times the number of converts we had in any other previous year for many years.
Now I challenge you holders of the priesthood, as I have done before, and as I did to the Saints in Great Britain in 1923, to take the responsibility, each of you, of bringing one member into the Church each year. Think of the growth of the kingdom of God if just you holders of the priesthood within the sound of my voice accept that challenge.
We are all missionaries. We may drop a word here, bear our testimony, be an exemplar by what we do; and, as we accept this call and discharge our duties in the stakes, wards, quorums, and the mission field, our acts will "roll from soul to soul and go forever and forever."
I have said that personality is a very important factor in removing prejudice and in bringing investigators. However, that personality must be such that we radiate confidence; and unless our actions are in harmony with our pretensions, our personality will produce a disappointment instead of confidence. This means, therefore, that you brethren carry the responsibility of preaching the gospel by your actions even more than by your words.
There is one responsibility that no man can evade. That is the responsibility of personal influence. The effect of your words and acts is tremendous in this world. Every moment of life you are changing to a degree the life of the whole world. Every man has an atmosphere or a radiation that is affecting every person in the world. You cannot escape it. Into the hands of every individual is given a marvelous power for good or for evil. It is simply the constant radiation of what a man really is. Every man by his mere living is radiating positive or negative qualities. Life is a state of radiation. To exist is to be the radiation of our feelings, natures, doubts, schemes, or to be the recipient of those things from somebody else. You cannot escape it. Man cannot escape for one moment the radiation of his character. You will select the qualities that you will permit to be radiated. That reminds me of the following poem, the author of which is unknown.
"You tell on yourself by the friends you seek, By the very manner in which you speak, By the way you employ your leisure time, By the use you make of dollar and dime. You tell what you are by the things you wear, And even by the way you wear your hair, By the kind of things at which you laugh, By the records you play on your phonograph. You tell what you are by the way you walk, By the things of which you delight to talk, By the manner in which you bury deceit, By so simple a thing as how you eat. By the books you choose from the well-filled shelf. In these ways and more you tell on yourself."
Men and brethren of the priesthood, so live your lives that you set the proper example to those about you. You are a light, and it is your duty not to have that light hidden under a bushel, but set upon a hill that all men may be guided thereby.
You brethren of the priesthood should radiate what our twelve thousand missionaries should also radiate to the nations of the world:
First, worthiness. This means that every man is a Christian gentleman; that he has integrity, is honest and trustworthy; that every husband is true to the ideals of chastity; that every young man refrains from indulgence in tobacco, in strong drink or drugs, and keeps himself free from the sins of the world; that every man is worthy to represent our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Second, testimony. Every member of the Church should be converted and have a knowledge of the gospel, including a knowledge of the scriptures. How wonderful it would be if every member of the Church could, as Peter of old, "sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you". A man must know what he teaches before he can effectively teach it to others!
Third, service. Are you willing to serve? Do you have the vision King Benjamin had when he said, "... when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God"? True Christianity is love in action. There is no better way to manifest love for God than to show an unselfish love for one's fellowmen. That is the spirit of missionary work!
And fourth, inspiration-the seeking of divine guidance through prayer. When one senses the glory of the gospel, when one realizes how comprehensive it is and what a great guide it is to a true philosophy of living, he senses his own need for help and guidance. That is the fourth help in the performance of missionary work-guidance through prayer!
Especially to you young men in the Aaronic Priesthood as you begin from the time you are deacons to prepare to serve full-time missions for our Father in heaven, may I relate this story:
There once was an ancient king who called a young man to him and said, "Youth, I have a precious gift that I must ask you to carry to the nations of the world, to all the people of the uttermost parts."
"O king," said the youth, "I am young. The world today says youth is not worthy; youth is frivolous with no aim. Can you trust youth with your precious gift?"
The king answered, "The world is wrong in misjudging youth. Youth has always met with a high courage whatever life brings. Youth is filled with hope; youth is joyous and happy."
"Then," said the youth, "I will try, and I shall succeed."
"That is well," said the king. "My gift is very precious. You must bear it to all the people, and they can keep it only as they give it away."
"I do not understand," replied the youth.
The king said, "My son, my gift can neither be bought, nor weighed, nor measured. The young and the old, the rich and the poor, all have need of this gift."
"I implore you, O king, give it to me."
Then the king spoke more firmly: "Underneath all new things are the things that never change. They are: the beauty of honor, the joy of service, the sublimity of integrity and sacrifice. O youth, the hope of the world rests in these three things and the changeless things that I am naming for you. Remember, skies grow dark, birds sleep, winds moan, yet you must go on far afield in the spirit of those changeless things. You will grow weary, you will not understand, you will climb the steep heights and be carried down to the depths, you will visit palaces and hovels, you will go to workers, you will go to loungers, to those who weep and to those who laugh."
And the youth said, "O king, how shall I find my way?"
And the king answered, "I will give you two things: first, a lantern of tolerance to light your way, and second, a magic cloud to bear the burdens that beset you."
The youth said, "I am ready. Give me the gift."
And the king said, "The precious gift is peace, my son. Peace through tolerance and peace through helpfulness-one hand clasped in mine and the other outstretched to all humanity."
That king might well have been the King of the world, Jesus Christ, and the young man I have been you, my young fellow workers in the Church of Christ. The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will ask you to go to all the world and preach the gospel. You will be given higher authority than you now have to represent the Savior, just as the king gave that young man a commandment to take a message of peace.
In order to bring peace to the hearts of men in the world, take this message, my brethren. The people you teach must have these great truths in mind.
First, teach faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and accepting him as the Only Begotten Son of the Father, who came and redeemed all men from death, all men, and who established the principles of the gospel, by obedience to which men may gain salvation in his kingdom. And as Peter said before the judges in the Sanhedrin, "... there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved". Young men, take that message and instill faith in the hearts of the people of the world in God our Father and his Son Jesus Christ-faith that Christ's Church has been established in this age, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, as he established it in the former days when Peter, James, and John lived as leaders.
The second plan that you are to teach, young men, is kindness toward all men. You cannot have enmity in your hearts toward any one man. Some men may try to deprive you of your privileges, but you keep kindness in your heart and prove to the world that you have the spirit of the lowly Nazarene who preached to the poor on the Sea of Galilee. With faith, with kindness, let your heart be filled with the desire to serve all mankind. The spirit of the gospel comes from service in the good of others. Listen to that paradoxical saying of the Son of Man: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it".
My dear young brethren of the Aaronic Priesthood, prepare for that day when you will go out into the world to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ; and, as you prepare, you will so radiate that you will truly be missionaries here at home, here and now.
The responsibility of the Church is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ as restored to the Prophet Joseph Smith, not only to preach it and proclaim it by word, by distribution of literature, but more than anything else by living the gospel in our homes and in our business dealings, having faith and testimony in our hearts, and radiating it wherever we go.
Brethren, there is nothing that can stop the progress of truth excepting only our weaknesses or failure to do our duty.
In conclusion, let me urge more diligence in living and radiating the principles of the gospel. The older I grow the more thrilled and more grateful I am for the Church of Jesus Christ, and the more impressed I am with the importance of declaring this truth to the world.
God bless the missionary cause, not merely to increase our membership-that will follow inevitably-but to declare the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the divinity of the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior. Upon you, my fellow workers, and the two-and-one-half million members of the Church, rests the responsibility of declaring to the world the divine Sonship of Jesus Christ.
Now, there are many who believe it is true. There are millions of honest souls who believe it, but they need men and women who will declare it, and declare that they have a testimony of that truth.
I bear you that testimony tonight. I know our Lord and Savior is at the head of this church, that he is guiding it. I know it as I know I live. I know that he with his Father restored this gospel as it was given in the meridian of time in its simplicity, in its beauty, in its divinity. I know that these brethren, constituting the General Authorities, are true servants of the Lord. I know that there are thousands-hundreds of thousands-of men and women in the Church who have that testimony. I pray that we may use the means that have been put into our hands to harvest the rich group of souls waiting to hear this message.
Paul said he heard a voice calling him over into Macedonia, and he went into Europe and found honest souls waiting. We hear the voice calling, not only in Europe and Macedonia, but here at home and in the uttermost ends of the earth, "Come and give us the gospel."
God help us to heed that call-answer it, that we may harvest the crop of honest souls to the glory of the Lord, who said, "... this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man", I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 92-97
Twice each year this historic tabernacle seems to say to us, with its persuasive voice: "Come all ye sons of God who have received the priesthood." There is a characteristic spirit that pervades the general priesthood meeting of the Church. This spirit emanates from the Tabernacle and enters every building where the sons of God assemble.
Some 13,000 of our number are absent tonight, but they are not beyond our love nor our prayers. In response to a call from God's prophet, they have left behind home, family, friends, and school, and gone forward to serve in his harvest fields so wide. Men of the world ask the question: "Why do they respond so readily and willingly give so much?" Our missionaries, your sons, your brothers could well answer in the words of Paul, that peerless missionary of an earlier day: "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!".
"... teach all nations."
The holy scriptures contain no proclamation more relevant, no responsibility more binding, no instruction more direct than the injunction given by the resurrected Lord as he appeared in Galilee to the 11 disciples. Said he: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world".
This divine command, coupled with its glorious promise, is our watchword today as in the meridian of time. Missionary work is an identifying feature of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has always been so it shall ever be. As the prophet Joseph Smith declared: "After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel".
Within two short years, all 13,000 missionaries in this royal army of God will conclude their full-time labors and return to their homes and loved ones. Their replacements are found tonight in the ranks of the Aaronic Priesthood of the Church. Young men, are you ready to respond? Are you willing to work? Are you prepared to serve? Mediocrity is not in fashion. Excellence is the order of the day.
President John Taylor summed up the requirements: "The kind of men we want as bearers of this gospel message are men who have faith in God; men who have faith in their religion; men who honor their priesthood; men in whom the people who know them have faith, and in whom God has confidence.... We want men full of the Holy Ghost and the power of God... Men who bear the words of life among the nations ought to be men of honor, integrity, virtue and purity; and this being the command of God to us, we shall try to carry it out."
Now that is quite a demanding description. Especially is it so when I reflect upon several of the young and inexperienced missionaries who came to the mission where I had the privilege to preside. I shall ever remember the bewilderment of one boy from down on the farm when he first gazed at the skyscrapers of Toronto. He inquired of me: "President, how many people in this here town?" I answered: "Oh, about a million and a half." To which he responded, "Goll-ee! There are only eighty in my home town."
That evening in our traditional get-acquainted testimony meeting, some of the veteran missionaries expressed themselves regarding the difficulty of the work. "Doors will slam in your face, abusive language will be hurled toward you, you'll get discouraged and downhearted; but when it's all over, you will say, 'These have been the happiest two years of my life.'"
My missionary from the small town was more hesitant than ever as he spoke falteringly: "I'll be glad when the happiest two years of my life are over."
At best, missionary work necessitates drastic adjustment to one's pattern of living. No other labor requires longer hours or greater devotion, nor such sacrifice and fervent prayer. As a result, dedicated missionary service returns a dividend of eternal joy that extends throughout life and into eternity.
Today our challenge is to be more profitable servants in the Lord's vineyard.
May I suggest, particularly to you bearers of the Aaronic Priesthood, a formula that will insure your success:
First: Search the scriptures with diligence! Second: Plan your life with purpose! Third: Teach the truth with testimony! Fourth: Serve the Lord with love!
Let us consider each of the four parts of this formula.
1. Search the scriptures with diligence.
The scriptures testify of God and contain the words of eternal life. They become the burden of your message even the tools of your trade. Your confidence will be directly related to your knowledge of God's word. Oh, I am sure you have heard of some missionaries who were lazy, less than effective, and anxious for their missions to conclude. A careful examination of such instances will reveal that the actual culprit is not laziness, nor disinterest, but is the foe known as fear. Our Father chastised such: "... with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man".
Had not this same loving Heavenly Father provided a prescription to overcome this malady, his words perhaps would appear overly harsh. In a revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, January 2, 1831, the Lord declared: "... if ye are prepared ye shall not fear". This is the key. Will you use it?
How grateful am I that the Family Home Evening Manual places emphasis upon the scriptures. The seminary and institute curricula likewise stress the scriptures and help the student to internalize their vibrancy and meaning. The same holds true of the courses of study now used by the priesthood quorums and the auxiliary organizations, all programmed and coordinated through the correlation effort of the Church.
Let me provide but one reference that has immediate application lives. In the Book of Mormon, the seventeenth chapter of Alma, we read the account of Alma's joy as he once more saw the sons of Mosiah and noted their steadfastness in the cause of truth. The record describes these "missionaries":
"... they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for the men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.
"But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God". Brethren, search the scriptures with diligence.
2. Plan your life with purpose.
Perhaps no generation of youth has faced such far-reaching decisions as the youth of today. Provision must be made for school, mission, military, and marriage. With this thought in mind, the First Presidency recently made standard throughout the world a two-year length of service for each mission. This policy permits a young man to plan more adequately the time of his departure and of his return, that a mission might mesh with his educational pursuits.
Preparation for a mission begins early. It is a wise parent who encourages young Jimmy to commence even in boyhood his personal missionary fund. As the fund grows, so does Jimmy's desire to serve. He may well be encouraged as the years go by to study a foreign language, that if necessary his language skills could be utilized. Didn't the Lord say, "Teach all nations"?
Then comes that glorious day when the bishop invites Jim into his office. Worthiness is ascertained; a missionary recommendation is completed. There follow those anxious moments of wonderment and the unspoken question, "I wonder where I will be called?"
During no other crisis does the entire family so anxiously watch and wait for the mailman and the letter which contains the return address: 47 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. The letter arrives, the suspense is over-whelming, the call is read. Often the assigned field of labor is a far-away place with a strange sounding name Tonga, the Philippines, Japan-Okinawa, to name but a few. More frequently, the assignment may be closer to home. The response of the prepared missionary is the same: "I will serve."
The experience at the mission home is enjoyable, hectic, and helpful. Never have you had newer clothing, cleaner shirts, nor more uncomfortable shoes. You occupy the limelight. It is a touching scene to witness parents of modest means give so freely to outfit their sons. Young men, I hope you appreciate the sacrifice which they so willingly make for you. Their labors will sustain you, their faith encourage you, their prayers uphold you. A mission is a family affair. Though the expanse of oceans may separate, hearts are as one, as evidenced by this letter from a missionary son to his father:
"Dear Dad:
"This is my first Christmas away from my home and family. I wish that I could be home to share the joy, good cheer, and the love that come with this season; but I am grateful to be here in Sweden as a missionary.
"I'm grateful for my father; I do so love, admire, and respect him. His life has always been a wonderful example to me and has helped countless times to make the right decisions.
"I'm grateful for his wisdom, which has counseled me; his love, which has disciplined me; and his testimony, which has inspired me.
"How can a son show his love for his father? How can he fully express what he feels? How can he demonstrate his gratitude? I wish I could answer these questions. There is, however, one way that I know I can show my gratitude, and that is by patterning my life after that of my father.
"This, then, is my task-to live a life equal to that of my father's, that I may spend eternity together with him.
"Merry Christmas and God bless you, Paul"
As you plan with purpose your lives, remember that your missionary opportunities are not restricted to the period of a formal call. The time you spend in military service can and should be profitable. Each year, our young men in uniform bring thousands of souls into the kingdom of God. How do they accomplish this marvelous feat? They themselves honor their priesthood, live the commandments of God, and teach to others his divine word. Many returned missionaries have testified that their missionary experiences in the military were equally as bountiful and richly rewarding as in the mission field itself.
And while pursuing your formal education, do not overlook your privilege to be missionaries. Your example as a Latter-day Saint is being observed, weighed, and ofttimes will be emulated.
Make time in your lives and provide room in your hearts for school, a mission, the military, and, of course, temple marriage. Plan your life with purpose.
3. Teach the truth with testimony.
Obey the counsel of the apostle Peter, who urged: "... be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you". Lift up your voices and testify to the true nature of the Godhead. Declare your witness concerning the Book of Mormon. Convey the glorious and beautiful truths contained in the plan of salvation. Regarding your testimony, remember, that which you willingly share you keep, while that which you selfishly keep you lose. Have the courage and the kindness, as did Jesus, to teach the Nicodemuses whom you may meet that baptism is essential to salvation. Teach and testify. There is no better combination.
Remember our boy from the rural community who marveled at the size of Toronto? He was short in stature, but tall in testimony. Together with his companion, he called at the home of Elmer Pollard in Oshawa, Canada. Feeling sorry for the young men who, during a blinding blizzard, were going from house to house, Mr. Pollard invited the missionaries into his home. They presented to him their message. He did not catch the spirit. In due time he asked that they leave and not return. His last words to the elders as they departed his front porch were spoken in derision: "You can't tell me you actually believe Joseph Smith was a prophet of God!"
The door was shut. The elders walked down the path. Our country boy spoke to his companion: "Elder, we didn't answer Mr. Pollard's question. He said we didn't believe Joseph Smith was a true prophet. Let's return and bear our testimonies to him." At first the more experienced missionary hesitated, but finally he agreed to accompany his companion. Fear struck their hearts as they approached the door from which they had been turned away. A knock, the confrontation with Mr. Pollard, an agonizing moment, then with power, a testimony borne by the Spirit: "Mr. Pollard, you said we didn't really believe Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. Mr. Pollard, I testify that Joseph was a prophet. He did translate the Book of Mormon. He saw God the Father and Jesus the Son. I know it."
Mr. Pollard, now Brother Pollard, stood in a priesthood meeting some time later and declared: "That night I could not sleep. Resounding in my ears I heard the words: 'Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I know it. I know it. I know it.' The next day I telephoned the missionaries. Their message, coupled with their testimonies, changed my life and the lives of my family." Teach the truth with testimony.
4. Serve the Lord with love.
There is no substitute for love. Successful missionaries love their companions, their mission leaders, and the precious persons whom they teach. Often this love was kindled in youth by a mother, nurtured by a father, and kept vibrant through service to God.
In the fourth section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord established the qualifications for the labors of the ministry. Let us consider but a few verses: "... O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.
"And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.
"Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility diligence".
Well might each of us assembled here tonight ask himself: Today, have I increased in faith, in virtue, in knowledge, in godliness, in love?
When our lives comply with God's own standard, those within our sphere of influence will never speak the lament: "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved".
Through your dedicated devotion at home or abroad, those souls whom you help to save may well be those whom you love the most.
Several years ago, while touring the California Mission, I interviewed a missionary who appeared rather dejected and downcast. I asked him if he had been sending a letter home to his parents each week. He replied: "Yes, Brother Monson, each week for the last five months."
I responded: "And do you enjoy the letters you receive from home?"
Came his unexpected answer: I haven't had a letter from home since I came on my mission. You see, my Dad is inactive and Mother is a non-member. She didn't favor my accepting a mission call and said that if I went into the mission field she would never write nor send a dime." With a half smile that didn't really disguise the heartache, he said: "And she has kept her word. What can I do, Brother Monson?"
I prayed for inspiration. The answer came. Keep writing, son, every week. Bear your testimony to Mother and to Dad. Let them know you love them. Tell them how much the gospel means to you. And serve the Lord with all your heart."
Six months later when I attended a stake conference in that area, this same elder ran up to me and asked: "Do you remember me? I'm the missionary whose parents didn't write."
I remembered only too well and cautiously asked if he had received a letter from home.
He reached into his pocket and held out to my view a large handful of envelopes. With tears streaming down his cheeks he declared proudly, "Not one letter, Brother Monson, but a letter every week. Listen to the latest one: 'Son, we so much appreciate the work you are doing. Since you left for your mission our lives have changed. Dad attends priesthood meeting and will soon be an elder. I have been meeting with the missionaries and next month will be baptized. Let's make an appointment to all be together in the Los Angeles Temple one year from now as you conclude your mission. Sincerely, Mother.'"
Love had won its victory. Serve the Lord with love.
Brethren, may each one of us search the scriptures with diligence; plan his life with purpose; teach the truth with testimony; and serve the Lord with love. The elements of this formula then become our ideals. Ideals are like the stars: we cannot touch them with our hands, but by following them, we reach our destination.
Great joy promised The perfect Shepherd of souls, the missionary who redeemed mankind, gave us his divine assurance: "... If it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
"And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!".
Of him who spoke these words, I declare my witness. He is the Son of God, our Redeemer, and our Savior.
I pray that we will respond to his gentle invitation, "Follow thou me", in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion D. Hanks
Marion D. Hanks, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 97-102
I have been thinking about the story of a man who was seen running full speed toward a river, a broad river. As he approached the dock he increased his speed and then flung himself with all his might into the water maybe ten feet, turned around and swam back, got out, and was asked by a startled onlooker why he had jumped into the river. He answered that a friend of his had bet him a thousand dollars to one that he couldn't jump across the river, and after a while he just couldn't stand thinking about those odds without at least trying.
It is going to be quite a thing for me to talk about something else besides missionary work after this great meeting tonight, but I will try because it is my responsibility this evening, under assignment, to discuss the Latter-day Saints Student Association.
Under the direction of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve and operating with the guidance of the Correlation Committee and the direct supervision and support of the Youth Correlation Committee of the Church, the Latter-day Saints Student Association functions as a correlating agency to serve Latter-day Saint students on college and university campuses across the world. The Student Association presently reaches about 285 campuses. Its work is important to all college-level students and to all those who one day will be; and, of course, parents and interested adults, bishops, executive secretaries, stake presidents, and other Church leaders will be deeply concerned, as should all Church members. It is our earnest hope that all of you who have the Student Association in your area will discover that and will cooperate fully and strengthen its work.
Underlying principles I would like to talk tonight for a few minutes, in order to put this program in perspective, about some principles and problems and challenges that underlie it. Brother Monson has just repeated what may be the most significant fundamental principle underlying the work we do. If a few words could be thought to reveal the heart of the gospel, distill its essence, those words might be the ones: "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God". Of so much worth to God are the souls of men that he sent his Holy Son as his agent of redemption and of mercy and of happiness. Of so much worth are the souls of men to that Son that he gave his life on a cross that we all might enjoy the blessings of eternal life and lasting relationships with loved ones in the progressive, creative future with our Eternal Father that we envision and believe in.
In his lifetime Jesus witnessed majestically in his teachings his continuing interest in and his high valuation of the individual souls of men. Those three great parables in one chapter of scripture, in answer to a question from a critic about why he companied with sinners, teach us everlastingly how we ought to feel about the lost sheep, or the individual child of God, because the enfolded 99 and the wandering one all were important to him, and must be to us. And when in the parable of the Good Samaritan he taught us how we should behave toward each other, he gave us the objective and ideal we ought to be thinking about.
It is this great principle, the worth of souls in the sight of God, that causes the Church, the Lord's instrument, to be so very concerned with each age level of individual.
When we think about some of the problems that exist in this world today, and we think about what happens when one honest soul undertakes to learn and live the life the Lord wants him to, and how he frequently multiplies himself in so many ways in the lives of others, then we know that this is in truth the Lord's kingdom, because it believes in the worth of souls.
Let me tell you then about an additional effort the Church is making to reach and assist its college and university students to find spiritual strength and balance while they grow in the academic and social worlds of university life.
You are all conscious, to some measure, of the situation on the college campuses, and President McKay's words relating to a survey about that as this conference began yesterday. He talked about some of the more significant moral problems in the attitudes of some young people toward pre-marital sex, drugs, and other difficult pressures and unrest situations on the campus these days.
Many adults are pessimistic about the generation involved, and certainly some of their acts indicate that some of them are not only radicals but that some are psychotics, disciplined Communists, or criminals. With them, however, are many genuine idealists who in the spirit of the times seek change toward a better and more lofty ethical and moral climate.
In some measure, I believe, unfortunately, the cynical words of William Butler Yeats written in 1921 seem to fit the situation. I repeat only the last two lines of a well-known poem:
"The best lack all conviction, While the worst are full of passionate intensity."
But this is true only in a measure. Some of those who are not optimistic about this generation describe the "worst" as wanting to "teach before they learn, retire before they work, rot before they ripen."
Others, and I am one of them, testify that the solid majority of this younger generation want to do well, and are doing well, but they need help to keep from becoming captivated by the temptations of this world and by the sterile lives of those misguided imitation men who spend their energies fomenting furor and chaos, with no expression of their own that I have ever heard to improve anything. One wonders what their children will have to thank them for.
It is an established principle through the ages that when adult authority ceases to function effectively, the young are victimized by each other. A commentator has said it this way: "As adult authority disintegrates, the young are more and more the captives of each other... The problem when adult control disappears is that the young's control of each other intensifies."
Where do young Latter-day Saints stand in the midst of all of this? I would like to bear testimony that they are special; they have special challenges, but they also have special dreams and capacity and preparation, and the courage to undertake to bring them into reality. I believe that potentially they are the greatest generation in every way, but they need help. They need the Church and its great principles, its leadership, and its program; and the Church reaches to help them in many important ways.
All of us know, and have tonight and several times in this conference had reiterated for us, that from the college-age group, generally speaking, there are at this moment about 13,000 clean, decent, committed young Christians seeking to teach the gospel and bear their witness across the earth. Brother Smith did a great job in reminding us of how important that is and how wonderfully precious they are.
At the same hour of which we speak, this hour, about twice that many are in the military services of the land, young Latter-day Saints committed to a patriotic sense of responsibility to serve their country, and having been called to serve are abroad in the world doing what they have been asked to do. We salute them and thank God that the Church with an ever-expanding interest and a program to express it is reaching out to help them, to bring them companionship and leadership opportunities, to get to them regularly through the mail with letters and with the literature that will buoy them up and strengthen them. Again, I am tempted to tell what I know about them because I have seen them across the earth, in the camps and the far places of a terribly difficult land; and I testify that they really are, many of them, and I would wish all of them, devoted, dedicated missionaries and servants of the Lord. And the Church is seeking to serve them.
The Church is interested also in scores of thousands who aren't in any of these categories or in college but who work for a living or are otherwise involved. However, I am going to talk for-just a few minutes tonight about a number that may surprise you. Remember, there are 13,000 or so of our wonderful young people in the mission field, 26,000 or so in the military, and about 125,000 on college and university campuses. Those now at school have the usual pressures of current university study, plus the special challenge of continuing to mature spiritually while they grow academically and of attempting to maintain the close relationship with the Church that they should have while they are giving appropriate attention to their school programs.
We believe, of course, that the Church and the gospel and the priesthood have the answers to help these young people. The Church has established colleges and a great university, involving about 30,000 of them. Institutes of religion are available on campuses where about 55,000 go. This leaves a remainder, but every year institutes grow in number and so do the people who attend them. Student stakes have been formed in various parts of the land, and student wards and branches in many places. In these great organizations the young lead each other in righteous ways. They serve and they take part. The auxiliary organizations are helping in their instructional and activity programs.
Then three years ago, with the inspiration of Brother Lee and led by Brother Paul Dunn, with the approval of the Brethren, a pilot program of the Latter-day Saints Student Association was invoked. Its purpose was to support and strengthen the great work of the institutes, the student stakes, the auxiliaries, and other church elements. The product of the labors of these great youth-serving institutions may not be well enough known. Could I give you one example. Among all the marriages performed for members of student stakes last year, 95 percent were in the temple. Among institute graduates, 95 percent were in the temple. Among those attending Church colleges and the great university, 93 percent were in the temple. Of those attending institutes but not graduating, 84 percent of the marriages were in the temple. Among those attending college but not institutes of religion, about 50 percent were in the temple. The general Church average is a little below that.
Obviously we want to do everything we can to get our wonderful young students into the institutes of religion and to do everything we can to support the student wards and stakes and to multiply them as conditions permit in their great service to students. And that is why the Latter-day Saints Student Association was organized. It a offers a sheltering wing for all Latter-day Saint students, active or inactive, and we might add, whether they like it or not we take them in. It reaches out to freshmen and new students, to returned missionaries and returned servicemen, to the boy and the girl from the little town, and the one from the big city, to LDS men and women in campus fraternities and sororities, to Latter-day Saint social groups, to representatives of the institutes and student wards, branches, or stakes, to the MIA, to the Relief Society, where applicable to married students, and so forth. It reaches out to converts, and this association has had a mighty and wonderful influence in bringing people into the Church.
The Student Association forms committees to serve various of these groups and then it brings their representatives together in counsel in what is called the Latter-day Saints student council on a campus. Four student leaders are selected, interviewed, called, and set apart. They preside in the student council to which come these other representatives. The student council addresses itself to three basic questions: What are the needs of the students on this campus or in this area? How can those needs best be satisfied? Which Church agency or institution or influence can best undertake to solve the problem-which can best lead out?
Of very great importance, the Student Association brings to the campus setting to help in this process priesthood leadership in the form of a stake president. On a campus where there is a student stake, the stake president of the student stake is generally the priesthood leader. Where there is no student stake, another great local stake president would be assigned that campus or the area. This stake president is the chairman of what is called the executive committee. He presides with an educational adviser from the institute, with MIA representation, perhaps a bishop of a student ward or a branch president of a student branch, and they meet with the students, hear their recommendations and their findings, and then give answers. The student voice is heard, and alert, seasoned priesthood leaders consider what they have to say. Decisions are made some yes, some no-and then all the Church elements on campus get together and go to work. The representatives go back to the student council and report the decisions made in conference with their priesthood leader and his associates, and they resolve any problems and go to work.
Now, brethren, correlation is more than coordination. Actually, an intense, devoted student could have a calendar coordinated so that he was going to an event every night with no conflict, but correlation will see to it that that doesn't happen. The need the students have may be for a week sequestered for study and preparation for exams. They will tell that to the priesthood leader, and the priesthood leader is in a position to see that no events are scheduled for that week except the regular Sabbath day meetings. The student need may be for tutoring or service or a social. All the Church elements are in the student council; they talk about it, they go then to the executive committee, and it is discussed and decisions are made.
The Student Association has no jurisdiction or appointment over the non-student, but this simple thought can be important, very important. While the Student Association is not chartered to reach out to the non-student, his brother of the same general age group, this priesthood leader has authority and responsibility to care about all young people, and so he can call representatives of the two groups together and real correlation begins to take place; no one is imposed upon and the right results occur. The results, I want to tell you, have been wonderful.
Let me repeat that the Student Association purposes to strengthen and support the Church organizations which serve the student. Ordinarily one of them is selected to take the lead in whatever undertaking has been decided upon, but occasionally there is a situation where no one of the fragmented groups, say the student stake, the institute, the MIA, can take the job-it is too big. Then the whole Student Association influence and effectiveness goes into action. Let me give you just one example, and I would like to give you a hundred.
At one major university the non-Mormon president of that school recently asked that the LDS Student Association take over a major church-related campus event, noting that no single group of the Mormon students could likely handle it but all of them together could. He said this verbatim: "The Latter-day Saints Student Association is the most important factor for high idealism and stability on this campus. It is what I have prayed for on every campus I have worked on."
How do the students feel? The University of Utah campus is the nearest to this building. Let me mention just a word about it. It is a great school from which I graduated and which I love. It has problems. It has many wonderful students. It has about 15,000 Latter-day Saint students, among them many thousands of returned missionaries. At this great university the students have the normal problems that bother students at the normal university these days. The Student Association has been accepted and given status on this campus. Among many Latter-day Saint students, some of whom are not seeking the Church, to be honest about it, but may be trying to hide from it, there are many diverse elements.
We have taped just about three minutes of the testimony of one young returned missionary, a choice young man who couldn't spend much time or didn't choose to at the institute before his mission, but who finds a difference there since. I am going to ask that it be played right now, if you will listen attentively to Randy Harmsen, and then we will finish.
"'Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life'.
"Recently there has occurred on the college campuses much dissent and unrest, which in some instances has led to militant and destructive action. Organizations like SDS, the Black Student Union, Maoists, etc., attract nearly all the attention, which leads some to think that other students have no argument. This in my opinion is not so. A great percentage of responsible students feel estranged from a system that has little room for student participation. The student wants a voice in the decision process. He needs a piece of the action.
"We realize that if we do not act responsibly while trying to obtain this goal of meaningful involvement, we will never receive it. In this quest for personal and/or student representation in the decision process, the Latter-day Saints Student Association provides opportunities and means whereby this goal can be accomplished. I am grateful for an organization that meets the needs of students through their involvement and leadership under the direction of the priesthood. The association would not remain vital without priesthood inspiration, experience, and support. We need it and we want it. A generation bond, not a gap, between students and priesthood exists.
"As I examine the impact of LDSSA on my life, I can only reflect on my experiences and observations at the University of Utah. As a freshman I soon realized that I was just one of thousands, a number on an IBM card. I had spiritual needs, not so much doctrinal as of identity, that were not being met. I had a desire to serve others within the university environment. My fraternity experiences were sometimes hollow and empty. The institute was not a place to go, and if I went I wanted few to know. I noticed a void of LDS student unity and support.
"We were so anxious not to offend the non-LDS students that little was said or done. We had needs but there didn't exist an organization or a place where we could meet mutually and discuss our problems and their possible solutions, so consequently religious experience to me was a Sunday affair, while during the week I wanted to appear as broad and as open as anyone.
"After my mission there was a marked change. The institute was and is respected, if not becoming the place to be. There exists a force, a union, a common bond between LDS students that I never felt before; a vibrancy of spirit, mutual concern, a desire to serve others is evident. It was like coming from the Andes Mission to a mission on the campus. LDSSA is an organization that encourages students to use their ideas, talents, and abilities to act responsibly.
I have a testimony of the value of the LDS Student Association, mainly because of its spirit. It is a spirit that prevails over the campus. There is a spirit that inspires the students to live their religion, to grasp the relevancy of the gospel principles and standards. In the words of our Savior, 'Labor not for meat which perisheth, but that meat which endureth unto everlasting life'. The Latter-day Saints Student Association provides those opportunities and student experiences through involvement that we can have a decisive voice in our eternal lives."
The point, brethren: We care about these individual, wonderful young people. Will you bishops, branch presidents, and executive secretaries care about their pink membership cards, or in some other way let us know where they are when they leave home for campuses? Will you wonderful young people accept our expression of love and interest? Will you go to an institute if you are on a campus and haven't done so? Will you be involved in being, not seeming? I close with these great words of Moroni written long ago and printed in the ninth chapter of Mormon. I offer them to the young as earnestly as I know how, changing only two words to include all of you and me with the writer: "Condemn not because of imperfection... but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been".
I testify to you that I believe they will be, and pray God to help them in the undertaking, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Hugh B. Brown
Hugh B. Brown, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 104-107
My dear brethren and sisters, it is a real honor to be included as one of the speakers of this great conference, an honor, however, that I would gladly exchange with anyone at this moment; an honor that carries with it some responsibilities. I should like to be in harmony with what has been said or may be said, and to that end seek divine guidance.
I should like to briefly discuss with members of the Church, as well as with nonmembers, a subject of universal interest and import, a subject that is the moving cause of action-the power of faith.
We understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God through this principle, "so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear".
The predominating sense in which this subject is used throughout the scriptures is that of full confidence and trust in the being, purposes, and words of God. Such trust, if implicit, will remove all doubt concerning the things accomplished or promised of God, even though such things be not apparent to or explicable by the ordinary senses.
Some think religious people are impractical and live in the clouds of unjustified hope. The notion that science is all fact and religion all faith is fiction. Science, as well as religion, is based upon faith, for faith is ever "the evidence of things not seen".
We do not teach the principle of faith merely for what it will do for one in the next world. We believe that there is real practical value in mental concepts which increase one's self-respect and effectiveness here and now. To believe that there is an all-wise Father in charge of the universe and that we are related to him, that we are in fact children of God with the "hallmark" of divinity upon us, is to live in a different world from those who believe that man is a mere animal concerned only with requirements for creature existence, which must end at death. Because of low aim, the lives of such people lack trajectory and vision and fall short of their spiritual capacity.
If you convince a young man to think of life, here and hereafter, as being of one piece, continuing through from premortal to postmortal without any break in the endless chain, if he can realize that each of the various stages of his development helps to condition him for the next, if you convince him that he can take nothing but himself into the next world-his intelligence, his experience, his character-if this conviction becomes really dynamic faith, it will have definite and lasting effect on the quality of his life, both here and hereafter.
Eternal life means more than merely continuing to exist. Its qualitative value will be determined by what we believe and do while in mortality and by our conformity to eternal law in the life to come. Eternal existence would be most undesirable if that existence became fixed and static upon arrival there. "It is hope and expectation and desire and something ever more about to be" that gives lilt and verve to mortal life. We cannot imagine nor would we desire an eternity without opportunity for growth and development. We believe in eternal progression.
Faith in God and in the ultimate triumph of right contributes to mental and spiritual poise in the face of difficulties. It is a sustaining power when a confining or antagonistic environment challenges one's courage.
And so we recommend faith as a present, living power for good here and now as well as for what it will do for us in achieving salvation hereafter.
If one has a vivid sense of his own divinity, he will not easily be persuaded to deprave his mind, debauch his body, or sell his freedom for temporary gain. Goethe is right when he makes Mephistopheles, his devil, say, "I am the spirit of negation." Negation always bedevils life.
Wherever in life great spiritual values await man's appropriation, only faith can appropriate them. Man cannot live without faith, because in life's adventure the central problem is character-building-which is not a product of logic, but of faith in ideals and sacrificial devotion to them. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews saw the intimate relationship between the quality of faith and the quality of life and called upon his readers to judge the Christian life by its consequences in character.
We cannot avoid looking ahead and to some degree basing our activities upon things we cannot see. But bit by bit we gain assurance. We have some knowledge of what is and of what has been. But it is necessary that we have faith in what is yet to come.
In this universal venture of life, its full meaning can be understood only by the application of faith, wherein the best treasures of the spirit are obtainable only through courageous open-heartedness and the kind of character which is possible to all men of deep conviction.
Every discussion of faith must distinguish it from its caricatures. Faith is not credulity. It is not believing things you know aren't so. It is not a formula to get the universe to do your bidding. It is not a set of beliefs to be swallowed in one gulp. Faith is not knowledge; it is mixed with uncertainty or it would not be faith. Faith does not dwindle as wisdom grows.
Above all, faith is to be contrasted with pessimism and cynicism. Those who say they have become disillusioned with life are lost without faith. Faith is confidence in the worthwhileness of life. It is assurance and trust. Perhaps the greatest contrast to faith is fear. Jesus often said to his followers, "Be not afraid".
The stern, appealing love of God behind life, his good purposes through it, his victory ahead of it, and man, a fellow worker, called into an unfinished world to bear a hand with God in its completion-here is a game to challenge all stouthearted men.
To believe that we do not stand alone, that we are fellow laborers with God, our human purposes comprehended in his purpose-God behind us, within us, ahead of us: this is the solid rock upon which all rational religion rests.
Man tears his spiritual heritage to shreds in licentiousness and drink. He wallows in vice, wins by cruelty, violates love, is treacherous to trust. His sins clothe the world in lamentation. Yet within him is a trust that he cannot stifle. He is the only creature we know of whose nature is divided against himself. Man hates his sill even while he commits it. He repents, tries again, falls, rises, stumbles on-and in all his best hours man cries out for help.
No message short of religion has ever met man's need in this estate. Faith that God himself is pledged to the victory of righteousness in men in the world, that he cares, forgives, enters into man's struggle with transforming power, and crowns the long endeavor with triumphant character-such faith alone has been great enough to meet the needs of men.
When faith in God goes, man loses his securest refuge and must suffer. Strong men, broken in health, or men who have lost the fortunes of a life-time, families with long illness, mothers who have wept at children's graves-these and other staggering blows test the faith of good and bad alike. Nothing but religious faith has been able to save men from despair. As Jesus said, the rains descend, and the floods come, and the winds, whether man's house be built on rock or sand. It is faith that makes the difference.
And here I should like to introduce a story coming out of the first world war. I had a companion, a fellow officer, who was a very rich man, highly educated. He was a lawyer, had great power, was self-sufficient, and he said to me as we often talked of religion, "There is nothing in life that I would like to have that I cannot buy with my money."
Shortly thereafter he and I with two other officers were assigned to go to the city of Arras, France, which was under siege. It had been evacuated, and upon arrival there we thought there was no one in the city. We noted that the fire of the enemy was concentrated on the cathedral. We made our way to that cathedral and went in. There we found a little woman kneeling at an altar. We paused, respecting her devotion. Then shortly she arose, wrapped her little shawl around her frail shoulders, and came tottering down the aisle. The man among us who could speak better French said, "Are you in trouble?"
She straightened her shoulders, pulled in her chin, and said, "No, I'm not in trouble. I was in trouble when I came here, but I've left it there at the altar."
"And what was your trouble?"
She said, "I received word this morning that my fifth son has given his life for France. Their father went first, and then one by one all of them have gone. But," straightening again, "I have no trouble; I've left it there because I believe in the immortality of the soul. I believe that men will live after death. I know that I shall meet my loved ones again."
When the little soul went out, there were tears in the eyes of the men who were there, and the one who had said to me that he could purchase anything with money turned to me and said, "You and I have seen men in battle display courage and valor that is admirable, but in all my life I have never seen anything to compare with the faith, the fortitude, and the courage of that little woman."
Then he said, "I would give all the money I have if I could have something of what she has."
I tell that story for two reasons. One is that today many parents are getting word that their sons have been lost. We ourselves went through that experience. I tell it for the reason that I hope every parent who has a son in danger in Vietnam will have faith in the hereafter, faith in God, faith in themselves, faith in the immortality of the soul. I tell it secondly because my own beloved companion, and you will excuse this personal reference, is lying after long illness listening to this service. I greet her, for she had exactly that kind of courage and faith when our son was taken from us.
God help us to arise to a point where we can retain faith in the future, whatever it may hold. We need most of all, when suffering, to remember there is an explanation, though we may not know exactly what it is.
Religious faith gives confidence that human tragedy is not a meaningless sport of physical forces. Life is not what Voltaire called it, "a bad joke"; it is really a school of discipline whose author and teacher is God.
Faith is a road to truth, without which some truths can never be reached at all. The reason for its inevitableness in life is not our lack of knowledge, but rather that faith is as indispensable as logical demonstration in any real knowing in the world. Faith is not a substitute for truth, but a pathway to truth.
However undecided men may appear, they cannot altogether avoid decision on the main matter of religion. Life will not let them. For a while the mind may hold itself suspended between alternatives. The adventure of life goes on, and men inevitably tend to live either as though the Christian God were real or as though he were not. This, then, is the summary of the matter. Life is a great adventure in which faith is indispensable. In this adventure, faith in God presents the issues of transcendent import. And on these issues life itself continually compels decisions.
My brethren and sisters, my friends, humbly I bear witness to you that there is a God in heaven and that he knows that we are his. He knows who and where we are, and he stands ready to help us at any time.
God help us that we may live in such a manner that he can help us. May we have the faith to endure to the end, as we are told that only they who endure to the end can be saved. I leave with you this testimony and my blessing on this occasion, that whatever the vicissitudes of life may be, you may have the faith, the fortitude, and the courage to meet them triumphantly, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 108-110
Dear brethren and sisters: I have been asked to speak this morning, and I have chosen for my subject "The Purpose of Mortal Man's Existence." I hope and pray that the Lord will bless me that I may give you good people the things that are essential in the world today.
The object of our being here is to do the will of the Father as it is done in heaven, to work righteousness in the earth, to subdue wickedness and put it under our feet, to conquer sin and the adversary of our souls, to rise above the imperfections and weaknesses of poor fallen humanity, by the inspiration of the Lord and his power made manifest, and thus become the saints and servants of the Lord in the earth.
We are dealing with our faith and conscience; you are dealing not with me, not with the Presidency of the Church, but with the Lord. I am not dealing with men respecting my tithing-my dealings are with the Lord; that is, with reference to my own conduct in the Church and with reference to my observance of the other laws and rules of the Church. If I fail to observe the laws of the Church, I am responsible to the Lord and will have to answer to him, by and by, for my neglect of duty, and I may have to answer to the Church for my fellowship. If I do my duty, according to my understanding of the requirements that the Lord has made of me, then I ought to have a conscience void of offense. I ought to have satisfaction in my soul that I have simply done my duty as I understand it, and I will accept the consequences. With me, it is a matter between me and the Lord; so it is with every one of us.
He who sent his Only Begotten Son into the world, to accomplish the mission that he did, also sent every soul within the sound of my voice, and indeed every man and woman in the world, to accomplish a mission, and that mission cannot be accomplished by neglect, nor by indifference, nor can it be accomplished by ignorance.
We should learn the obligation that we are under to the Lord and to each other; these things are essential, and we cannot prosper in spiritual things, we cannot grow in knowledge of the Lord or in wisdom, without devoting our thoughts and our efforts toward our own betterment, toward the increase of our own wisdom and knowledge in the things of the Lord.
It is therefore proper, and indeed it becomes the duty of those who are placed upon the towers as watchmen in Zion, to exhort the people to diligence, to prayerfulness, to humility, to a love of the truth that has been revealed to them, and to earnest devotion to the work of the Lord, which is intended for their individual salvation; not that I can save any man, nor that any man can save any other man or fit him for exaltation in the kingdom of God. This is not given to me to do for others, nor is it given to any man to be a savior in this sense or in this way to his fellowmen. But men can set an example. Men can proclaim the truth to others and can point out the way to them in which to walk. Men can only be saved and exalted in the kingdom of God in righteousness; therefore, we must repent of our sins and walk in the light as Christ is in the light, that his blood may cleanse us from all sins and that we may have fellowship with the Lord and receive of his glory and exaltation.
Though the Lord should try me by withholding his blessings from me, that should make no difference to me. The point is, what is the law of the Lord? And if I know that law, it is my duty to obey it, though I suffer death in consequence. Many a man has gone to the stake in obedience, as he believed, to the commandments of the Lord. Not one of the ancient disciples who were chosen by Jesus Christ escaped martyrdom, except Judas and John. Judas betrayed the Lord and sacrificed his own life, and John received the promise of the Lord that he should live until He came again to the earth. All the others were put to death-some crucified, some dragged in the streets of Rome, some thrown from pinnacles, and some stoned to death. For what? For obeying the law of the Lord and bearing testimony to that which they knew to be true.
The Lord will honor those who honor him, and will remember those who remember him. He will uphold and sustain all those who sustain truth and are faithful to it. The Lord help us, therefore, to be faithful to the truth, now and forever.
We hope and pray that you will go from this conference to your homes feeling in your hearts and from the depths of your souls to forgive one another, and never from this time forth to bear malice toward another fellow creature. We ought to say in our hearts, let the Lord judge between me and thee, but as for me, I will forgive. Go home and dismiss envy and hatred from your hearts; dismiss the feeling of unforgiveness; and cultivate in your souls that spirit of Christ that cried out upon the cross, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do". This is the spirit that the Latter-day Saints ought to possess all the day long. It is a good thing to be at peace with the Lord.
I will say now to all of the Latter-day Saints, let us live our religion. Let us do all in our power to plant in the hearts of the people the glorious truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer of the world, and that Joseph Smith is a prophet of the living God, whom the Lord raised up in these last days to restore the everlasting gospel and power of the Holy Priesthood. We should set an example; we should be true to the faith; we should be true to our covenants, true to the Lord, and true to one another. I can tell you that the man who is not true to the interests of the people will be the man who will be found, by and by, left out and in a pitiable spiritual condition. The man who stays with the kingdom of God, who is true to this people, who keeps himself pure and unspotted from the world is the man that the Lord will accept, uphold, and sustain.
I believe it is good to seek knowledge out of the best books, to be able to comprehend the purpose of the Lord with reference to the nations of the earth; and I believe that one of the most important things, and perhaps more important to us than studying the history of the world, is studying the principles of the gospel, that they may be established in our hearts and souls above all other things, to qualify us to go out into the world to preach and teach the people the first principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I would like to say right here that it delights my heart to see our people everywhere improving their talents as good singers. Everywhere we go among our people we find sweet voices and talent for music. I believe that this is a manifestation to us of the purpose of the Lord in this direction toward our people, that they will excel in these things, as they should excel in every other good thing. I can remember, when I was a young boy, hearing my father sing. I do not know how much of a singer he was, for at that time I was not capable of judging as to the quality of his singing, but the hymns he sang became familiar to me in the days of my childhood.
When we listen to this choir, we listen to music, and music is truth. Good music is gracious praise of the Lord. It is delightsome to the ear, and it is one of our most acceptable methods of worshiping. And those who sing in the choir and in all the choirs of the Saints should sing with the Spirit and with understanding. They should not sing merely because it is a profession, or because they have a good voice; but they should sing also because they have the spirit of it, and can enter into the spirit of prayer and praise the Lord who gave them their sweet voices. My soul is always lifted up, and my spirit cheered and comforted, when I hear good music. I rejoice in it very much indeed.
Then let the Saints unite; let them hearken to the voices of the servants of the Lord that are sounded in their ears; let them seek their own salvation, for, so far as I am concerned, I am so selfish that I am seeking after my salvation, and I know that I can find it only in obedience to the laws of the Lord in keeping the commandments, in performing works of righteousness, following in the footsteps of our file leader, Jesus, the exemplar and the head of all. He is the way of life; he is the light of the world; he is the door by which we must enter in order that we may have a place with him in the celestial kingdom.
How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude. I believe that one of the greatest sins of which the inhabitants of the earth are guilty today is the sin of ingratitude, the want of acknowledgment, on their part, of the Lord and his right to govern and control.
We see a man with extraordinary gifts, or with great intelligence, and he is instrumental in developing some great principle. He and the world ascribe his great genius and wisdom to himself. He attributes his success to his own energies, labor, and mental capacity. He does not acknowledge the hand of the Lord in anything connected with his success, but ignores him altogether and takes the honor to himself. This will apply to almost all the world. In all the great modern discoveries in science, in the arts, in mechanics, and in all the material advancement of the age, the world says, "We have done it." The individual says, "I have done it," and he gives no honor or credit to the Lord.
Now, I read in the revelations through Joseph Smith, the Prophet, that because of this, the Lord is not pleased with the inhabitants of the earth; he is angry with them because they will not acknowledge his hand in all things.
Brethren and sisters, let us not forget to be grateful to our Father in heaven and thank him for all his kindness to us and-the watch-care he has over us; and may he bless us with every righteous desire of our hearts, I humbly pray, in the name of our Redeemer. Amen.
Elder Howard W. Hunter
Howard W. Hunter, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 111-113
Not long ago one of our national publications reported an extensive study of some conditions plaguing our modern society, conditions which give us great concern. Crimes of violence are increasing at an alarming rate. There is disrespect for law and order, civil disobedience, expanded use of drugs and barbiturates, increase in venereal diseases, and an accelerating divorce rate. The upward trend in petty thefts, burglary, gambling, riots on school campuses, and protests against standards which have long prevailed as acceptable is alarming.
Can we say that because news media are filled with such accounts, there is a universal and basic social change in thinking and conduct? Can we believe that because there are some who have no regard for the law or the rights of others, or who advocate a new morality, this represents a new concept of right and wrong? Although we cannot hide our heads in the sand and disregard present-day problems, I for one have not lost faith in my fellowmen.
Among our modern campus youth are some who take great delight in attracting attention by pursuing a course against the conventional. By a misguided sense of direction, this vocal minority often campaigns for a new freedom disassociated from any sense of responsibility. For every one of these there are thousands of young people who want to live right and do right. They have the desire to take their place in a responsible society and to live under a code of high morality. We are proud of them. These are the great hope of the future. I only wish their good works and their aspirations could receive the same "equal time" as is allotted to those of opposing political philosophies.
What makes the difference? What causes persons to travel divergent courses on moral issues? Is it because of a difference in belief as to whether or not a thing is right or wrong, or is it a total disregard for the right?
We teach little children the difference between right and wrong, and a conscience awakens in them. There seems to be in each of God's children this monitoring device we call a conscience, which tracks our thoughts and actions and raises a caution when there is contemplation of the improper, unconventional, or immoral. Merely living with other people teaches us the difference between right and wrong. There is something lacking in the experience of an adult who must be taken into custody and punished or restrained for violating the rights of others. But again, these people are a small minority. I think we would agree that most people have a real sense of right and wrong and a sincere desire to follow the right. They have an understanding of moral responsibility. Sometimes we refer to this as ethics, the science of moral duty or ideal human character.
I believe most persons follow a strict code of ethics. They are governed by this great ethical rule: So live as to invoke the best in others and therefore in yourself. Surely this is commendable and would enhance relationships in our complex society if everyone had a sincere feeling of such moral responsibility.
Ethical theory is the basis for righteous government and for the formulation of fair and equitable jurisprudence. It is the basis for all moral, social, and economic systems.
We would agree that to follow a strict code of moral ethics, society would reach a high state of perfection and many of the present-day problems would be solved, but is ethics alone sufficient to attain our goals in life? To those who have no belief in life after mortality, ethics may be sufficient to fulfill the requirements of conduct and responsibility. There may be some who believe in a life hereafter, yet feel that ethics is sufficient for salvation. Can this be true without also living the other commandments of God?
There is a great difference between ethics and religion. There is a distinction between one whose life is based on mere ethics and one who lives a truly religious life. We have a need for ethics, but true religion includes the truths of ethics and goes far beyond. True religion has its roots in the belief in a supreme being. Christian religion is based upon a belief in God the Eternal Father and in his Son Jesus Christ and in the word of the Lord as contained in scripture. Religion also goes beyond theology. It is more than just a belief in Deity; it is the practice of the belief. James E. Talmage said, "One may be deeply versed in theological lore, and yet be lacking in religious and even moral character. If theology be theory then religion is practice; if theology be precept, religion is example".
True religion to the Christian is demonstrated by a real belief in God and the realization that we are responsible to him for our acts and conduct. A person who lives such religion is willing to live the principles of the gospel of Christ and walk uprightly before the Lord in all things according to his revealed law. This brings to a man or a woman a sense of peace and freedom from confusion in life and gives an assurance of eternal life hereafter. The Lord said, "... Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God". A code of morals is not wholly sufficient. For the same reason man cannot be saved by bread alone, he cannot be saved by a code of ethics.
In order to be effective in one's life, religion must be a vibrant influence. It must be an influence that becomes a part of one's thinking and conduct. There is purpose in man's sojourn in mortality. He is placed here for a definite reason, in accordance with God's great plan. We read in Genesis the story of the creation: "And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil".
To learn the difference between good and evil is one of the great purposes for man to have mortal life, yet he is given his freedom of choice with the promise of eternal blessings if he obeys the laws of God.
A true religious faith teaches us that there are certain principles that must be accepted and obeyed. We must have faith in God the Eternal Father and in his Son Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice. This must be followed by repentance from all sin, then baptism by immersion after the example of the Savior by one having authority, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Other things are necessary, including a contrite spirit, a humble heart, obedience to the ordinances and principles of the gospel, and faithfulness to the end. This encompasses the choosing of right over wrong, following good, and abstaining from evil.
Ethics alone will not accomplish all these things for us, but an active religion will add to ethics the principles and ordinances of the gospel, which, if obeyed, will open the doors of eternal salvation, provided such religion is ordained of God and not of man's creation. I bear witness to you that the Church established by Christ and taken from the earth because of the apostasy of men has been restored in these latter days in the same manner as foretold by the prophets of old and by the other statements of scripture; that God has spoken to his servants in our day and is now speaking. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invites all persons to listen to the story of the restoration of the gospel, the story of a religion vibrant and vital in the lives of thousands of persons of faith, testimony, and devotion to the principles of the gospel taught by the Church of Christ.
The troubles of the world often expressed in screaming headlines should remind us to seek for the peace that comes from living the simple principles of the gospel of Christ. The vociferous minorities will not unsettle our peace of soul if we love our fellowmen and have faith in the atoning sacrifice of the Savior and the quiet assurance he gives of life everlasting. Where do we find such faith in a troubled world? The Lord said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
"For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened".
It is my humble and sincere testimony to you that God does truly live a kind, loving Father. I know that his Son Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, and that through belief in him and keeping his commandments we will have life everlasting. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 113-116
I supposed you have heard the story of the absent-minded professor who went shopping and lost his umbrella. Discovering his loss, he retraced his steps. At the first three stores on which he called, the clerks denied having found his umbrella. At the fourth store the clerk handed him the missing umbrella. He grumbled, "Thank goodness for an honest man. The other three told me they didn't have it."
I am inclined to think that notwithstanding the gains we see in the work of the Lord, notwithstanding the reformation we see in the lives of many people, we are prone to emphasize the problems and disregard the progress.
I stand here today as an optimist concerning the work of the Lord. I cannot believe that God has established his work in the earth to have it fail. I cannot believe that it is getting weaker. I know that it is getting stronger. I realize, of course, that we are beset with many tragic problems. I am a newspaper reader, and I have seen a good deal of this earth. I have seen its rot and smelled its filth. I have been in areas where war rages and hate smolders in the hearts of people. I have seen the appalling poverty that hovers over many lands. I have seen the oppression of those in bondage and the brutality of their overlords. I know something of the misguided youth whose appearance is repugnant, whose hygiene is repulsive, whose manners are disgusting. I have watched with alarm the crumbling morals of our society.
And yet I am an optimist. I have a simple and solemn faith that right will triumph and that truth will prevail. I am not so naive as to believe there will not be setbacks, but I believe that "truth crushed to earth will rise again."
When I left for a mission some 36 years ago, my good father handed me a card on which were written five words. They were the words of the Lord to the ruler of the synagogue who had received news of his daughter's death: "Be not afraid, only believe". If the Lord will inspire me, I should like to express a few thoughts on that theme.
I believe in the triumph of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the triumph of the Church and kingdom of God on the earth. If ever your faith is inclined to weaken as you see the onward march of evil and oppression, read again the story of Daniel who, putting his trust in the "God in heaven that revealeth secrets", interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream. He said concerning our day that the God of heaven shall "set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever".
I believe, my friends, that the cause we have the honor to represent is that kingdom which shall stand forever.
I am not engaging in unrealistic dreams when I think of its future, for every day I see the miracle of its strength and of its growing influence in the lives of thousands across the earth. It is not a great impersonal juggernaut of power. It finds its best expression in the quiet of the lives of those who have embraced it.
I do not want to boast. Heaven knows we have problems among us. We are far from perfection. And yet I have seen so much of good that my faith constantly strengthens.
I believe in our youth. I believe in their goodness and decency. I believe in their virtue. I have interviewed thousands of them on a personal and individual basis. Yes, there are some who have succumbed to evil, but they are a minority.
On a visit to South Vietnam three years ago, I talked individually with two or three hundred men-men who had waded through the blood and heat of battle, but men who were virtuous in their lives. I remember one of them, a boy who had just come down from the Rock Pile near the DMZ, who said in response to a question on morality: "Not on your life-I couldn't do that. I want to be worthy of a great girl some day."
I believe in their sense of service. I have just been down in South America, where we have some 1,500 of the 13,000 missionaries of this church. Like their associates over the world, they are there entirely at their own expense and at the expense of their families. They give to the Lord two years of their lives. Their days are long, their weeks crowded and arduous. They speak with a persuasive conviction. They bear testimony of the living Christ and of the virtues of his marvelous work.
May I read from a letter received from one of them: "The most effective technique we have found in our work is fasting and prayer. We saw how this worked a few weeks ago with an investigator of the Church. He had a number of questions and problems to overcome, and we just didn't seem to get anywhere when we met with him to discuss them. So we would go home to our apartment and ask the Lord to bless him and help him understand what we had explained to him. We felt it was very important that he be baptized, so we asked the Lord to bless him with a desire for baptism. Even up through the sixth lesson he was wavering, so we fasted the day before his baptism, and he has been a faithful member ever since."
One thinks of the words of the Lord to his disciples who complained they could not perform miracles. Said he: "... this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting".
Is it not a miracle in itself that in this day of doubt and disbelief young men, thousands of them, with lives to live and careers to build, spend two years in the service of the Lord, laboring constantly and even willing to fast and pray in behalf of those to whom they seek to teach a better life? I know of no experience more refreshing than to be with them and feel of their spirit. If any of you who are listening this day should have two of them come to your door, I hope that you will welcome them and hear them. They will restore your faith in youth. They will quicken your faith in the Lord. They will lead you to a joy you have never previously known.
I believe they are the best generation that ever lived. In Montevideo the other day I interviewed 154 of them. I asked them about their parents and about their homes. I discovered that 58 of them, or more than one-third, came from homes where parents did not belong to the Church or did nothing in the Church. While the sample may be too small from which to draw a reliable conclusion, my observation and experience would indicate that the youth I know and love are better than their parents.
And I believe in something else that is a barometer of their goodness. Paul warned that in the last days men would be unthankful, unholy, disobedient to parents, without natural affection. One need not look far in the homes of the people to see that prophecy being fulfilled. And yet I have recently witnessed a repudiation of that insofar as many are concerned. In my visit to South America I heard hundreds of our young men and women stand on their feet and express their feelings. Almost without exception they spoke words of appreciation, of thankfulness for their parents. What a remarkably refreshing thing it is to hear young men and women, 19, 20, 21, and 22 years of age, stand before one another and, in the quiet confidences of such a meeting, say, "I really appreciate my dad." "I love my mother." They are not maudlin; they are manly, athletic, able young men and womanly girls of charm and education. Their words come from the heart. Those sentiments in this day are as a cool and refreshing breeze on a hot and humid night.
One hears much these days about the slow death of the churches, and yet the Lord declared that "this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come". Can it possibly be accomplished? I recently had an insight into that possibility.
When I was in South America I met a woman. She had just joined the Church. She was introduced as a new convert to the Church. Fired by a great love for that which she had found, she has gone about enthusiastically telling others. During a period of only seven months since her baptism, she has referred 300 acquaintances to the missionaries so that they might explain the gospel to them. Of these, 60 have come into the Church and are solid members, and more will yet come. In Sao Paulo, Brazil, I recently met the young missionary who first had taught her the gospel. He too had been a convert, had gone on a mission to represent the Church at considerable financial sacrifice; and the woman of whom I speak was one of 43 he had brought into the Church, so this young man of Brazil had expanded himself more than 100 times-43 converts of his own and 60 through one of those he converted, with perhaps more from others of his converts yet to come.
Yes, this work requires sacrifice, it requires effort, it means courage to speak out and faith to try. This cause does not need critics; it does not need doubters. It needs men and women of solemn purpose. As Paul wrote to Timothy: "... God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord".
I would that every member of this church, and every good man throughout the world, would put those words where he might see them every morning as he begins his day. They would give him the courage to speak up, they would give him the faith to try, they would strengthen his conviction of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I believe that miracles would begin to happen over the earth.
I recall the occasion on which Jesus fed the multitude with the loaves and fishes. They were satisfied physically and were curious. He then taught them the doctrines of the kingdom and many fell away. "Then said Jesus unto the Twelve, will ye also go away?
"Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
"And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God".
I echo that testimony, my brethren. I know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that this is their holy work, and I plead with you and with the God of heaven that we shall have the power and the faith and the devotion to roll it forward to its great destiny, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Mark E. Petersen
Mark E. Petersen, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 116-119
Earnestly I pray for the direction of the eternal Spirit of God as I stand before you and bear you my testimony that I know that the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is true.
From its beginning, true Christianity has been a religion that has been hard to believe and hard for most people to live.
When the Savior was on earth and taught his pure doctrine, many refused to listen to him. Some were offended by what he said and became so angry that they sought his life, and eventually him.
Following his ascension into heaven, his disciples endeavored to carry on his work, but they also were misunderstood, disbelieved by most, and severely persecuted.
As the scriptures indicate, they were everywhere spoken against. It was largely because their teachings were so hard to believe.
The doctrine which first challenged the credulity of the people was the teaching that Christ was the Son of the living God. This led his critics to call him a blasphemer.
When he exhibited his divine power in healing the sick and giving sight to the blind, they called him Beelzebub and said he was of the devil.
These reactions to his labors were quite understandable, and in a way the people generally were hardly to blame. Jesus himself prayed at the crucifixion, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do".
The doctrines of Christ were quite different from what they had been taught all their lives, and therefore, under the influence of their time-honored tradition, they felt that what Jesus said was false.
And yet, the scriptures that they professed to love and read had foretold his coming. They even described his person and predicted his eventual sacrifice. But the scriptures were misconstrued by the elders and the scribes, who so confused the people that when Jesus held his pure truth before them, they not only misunderstood but they became angry and bitter.
As his teachings challenged their longstanding traditions, their resentment rose to the point where thoughts of revenge filled their minds.
When the apostles proclaimed his resurrection, again there was disbelief. Had anyone ever come back from the dead? Who in all his life had seen a dead man rise from his grave in physical reality and walk and talk and eat?
The idea of a resurrection seemed completely incredible and was much too hard for most people to believe, so they turned away.
But time favored credulity. That which is old always seems easier to believe, so when the immediacy of Christ's sacrifice was past, greater numbers of people began to accept him.
But a new difficulty arose. They did not all believe alike. Certain of them had one interpretation of the sacred word while others had contrary views. For example, differences arose among the believers pertaining to the nature of God. What is God like? That was the question. Is he a person? Is he a shapeless, indescribable spirit, or is he a mere influence for good, filling the universe? The believers could not agree among themselves.
Even on such a simple thing as baptism, conflicts arose among them. Some could not believe this ordinance was even necessary. Those who did believe in it disagreed as to the method by which it should be administered.
So further divisions arose in Christianity.
Well-meaning men began to alter Christ's doctrines to suit their own notions, making them seem easier to accept in a revised form than in the way they were given originally by the Master.
And then among the believers themselves, divisions also began to arise over the resurrection, which had been an earlier stumbling block. Some at that time could not, and many Christians even today still cannot, accept that doctrine. Certain of them convinced themselves that the spirit or soul could survive death, but not a decaying body. A physical resurrection of flesh and bone was beyond their ability to accept. Therefore, many professed followers of Jesus rejected this Christian teaching as being too hard to believe.
And yet it was in the scripture. To reject the resurrection really meant also to reject certain portions of holy writ. What were the followers of Christ to do? Could they believe some of the scripture and not the remainder?
This is exactly what many did, with still further division as a result. And yet the apostle Paul had said that Christ is not divided!
It became obvious that the original gospel was too hard to believe, even for many professed Christians.
Today Christianity is still divided. But the many denominations, with their varied versions of Christian doctrine, now see the need for a better understand in.
Ecumenical movements have begun, arising largely in the wake of the courageous steps of the late Pope John, who called together the great ecumenical councils of Rome. He saw the need for a change in world Christianity and so did most of his associates.
His Eminence Julius, Cardinal Dopfner of Munich, Germany, was one of the four prelates chosen by Pope John to moderate the council meetings in Rome. As quoted in Time magazine, following his return to Munich, the distinguished cardinal said that many of the faithful have been lost because the Christianity of today appears "as a superannuated souvenir of a past age," and he called for reforms that would bring Christianity back to Christ and the Bible. Ponder, if you will, the deep significance of that declaration.
But if Christianity does take this giant step, and does return to the pure doctrines of Christ, will modern Christians find the original teachings of Jesus any easier to believe than did their ancient predecessors?
To unite the various Christian churches under a single banner is one thing, but to accept the original hard-to-believe doctrines of Christ is quite another, particularly if they upset long-standing creeds and traditions as they very definitely did when Jesus walked the plains of Palestine.
Philip Scharper, writing his defense of the changing Catholicism of today, in his book Meet the American Catholic, makes some remarks that are well worth serious consideration.
He calls for Christians to rediscover Christ.
We Latter-day Saints make the same appeal.
Speaking for his fellow Catholics and describing important changes recently made in his church, he adds:
"Now the stereotypes are being smashed, and we are forced to search out the authentic features of our Protestant brothers."
And then he further says:
"Every Catholic who would take seriously the high ecumenical mandate of the Council must come to a knowledge of and respect for the beliefs and practices of the major Protestant churches."
Then he calls for an exploration of the riches of divine revelation! What a blessing this would be!
But to explore the riches of divine revelation can only mean a genuine study of the original doctrines of Christ, no matter how hard to believe they may seem to be, for God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
If we are to accept Christ, then we must accept what he taught. Pretenses accomplish nothing. He himself said that we cannot serve two masters.
Then if we are to discover him, we must discover the kind of Christianity that he established and be willing to accept it as it is, whether or not it upsets old traditions that have become dear to our hearts.
Tradition is by no means infallible. Often it has no basis in fact. And quite as often it is at variance with the original gospel.
We Latter-day Saints have long been concerned about the divisions in Christianity. The question "Which church is right?" is often on our lips.
In all sincerity and in deep solemnity before God, we declare that we Latter-day Saints have an important message for all mankind that is most pertinent to this point.
In the spirit of Mr. Scharper's ecumenical book, we ask both Catholics and Protestants to listen to the authentic features of Mormonism.
Being heard amidst the echoes of longstanding creeds and dogmas, our teachings may be as hard to believe as the gospel was originally. But they are nevertheless true and scriptural.
Mormonism, so called, proclaims that God does live and that he has been seen and heard by mortal men in these modern times.
Mormonism further declares that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Son of Almighty God; that he is divine; that he is the Savior of the Christians, the Messiah of the Jews, and the Redeemer of mankind.
We affirm the fact of his death on the cross and the physical reality of his resurrection, in flesh and bone.
We teach the authenticity of the Holy Bible and the truthfulness of the prophetic writings therein.
Hard to believe though it is, the scriptures themselves foretold the sad division in Christianity, leading to the formation of the many denominations of today. They refer to it as a falling away, an apostasy from the original gospel.
But those same scriptures declare that the gospel truth would be restored in all its purity and simplicity in these latter days.
Is that hard to believe? It should bring joy to all.
The sacred word further explains the manner in which this restoration would be accomplished and teaches the almost incredible fact that before the hour of God's judgment, holy angels would fly through the midst of heaven, bringing back to mankind the one and only true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as it was originally taught by the Master himself.
Is that hard to believe? It is nevertheless a fact.
Such an event, of course, would mean a new and modern revelation from God. Dare you believe that? Dare you accept the scriptures?
The ancient prophets, speaking of our day, also foretold that a new and sacred book would be given to modern man, a book written anciently but reserved for publication in our times. It was to be a record that had been buried in the ground for ages, but, as Isaiah said, it would come out of the earth in the latter days to tell the story of a fallen people who had lived anciently.
Is that hard to believe? It is scripture!
The book necessarily would be in an ancient tongue, but it would be published in modern languages and would be done-not by some great scholar-but by an unlearned man, says the prophet Isaiah.
What a paradox! A sacred volume of ancient scriptures produced in our day by an unlearned man! And yet it is foretold in the scripture. Is that hard for you to believe?
Through this great modern revelation, God would restore his church to the earth with modern apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelists, and teachers, such as were in Christ's ancient church.
This restoration would make ecumenical councils unnecessary and would avoid further debates over differing creeds and dogmas.
Man no longer would need to grope through the darkness of his own wisdom seeking religious truth, for the light of modern revelation would be there to guide him.
Revelation would take the place of conjecture. Prophets would guide mankind in this day as Moses and Isaiah led their people anciently. All of this would be part of a modern restoration of the gospel.
Is this hard for you to believe? Yet it is scripture. It is Bible doctrine. Is the Bible too hard to accept?
The glad news of the Latter-day Saints, then, is this: Hard to believe or not, God lives, and he is our Father.
Hard to believe or not, Jesus Christ is his divine Son, the Savior of the Christians, the Messiah of the Jews, and the Redeemer of all mankind.
Difficult as it may be to admit, the many denominations of today, by their very existence, evidence a departure from the original truth as described by the apostle Paul.
And hard to believe as it may seem, a modern revelation from God has now come, just as Peter and John said it would.
New prophets have been raised up in our day. Once again apostles traverse the earth. Once again the ancient cry is heard: "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand". The gospel now has been restored in its purity.
So to all mankind we extend our hand in fellowship and love and say:
"Come, listen to a prophet's voice, And hear the word of God, And in the way of truth rejoice, And sing for joy aloud. We've found the way the prophets went Who lived in days of yore; Another prophet now is sent This knowledge to restore." -Hymns, No. 46
And this is our humble testimony in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Franklin D. Richards
Franklin D. Richards, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 121-124
My dear brothers and sisters, I rejoice with you in the wonderful spirit of this conference and the inspirational messages that have been given.
A wise man has said, "Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come, but today is here." This same impressive theme is woven into our beautiful hymn entitled "Today, While the Sun Shines":
"Today, while the sun shines, work with a will; Today all your duties with patience fulfil... There is no tomorrow, but only today."
-Hymns, No. 215
What a marvelous philosophy-the gospel of work, combined with the challenge to perform willingly today's work today.
President McKay has said, "Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, that love of work is success."
How true this is! Yet today as in earlier times many misguided individuals embrace the philosophy of idleness, feeling that the world owes them a living. Many have a desire to destroy the establishment that has been built upon productive effort.
In this dispensation the Lord has many times confirmed the eternal principle of work. We have been told that there is no place in the Church for the idler "except he repent and mend his ways", and "he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer".
Ever since its organization the Church has encouraged its members to establish and maintain their economic independence; it has encouraged thrift and fostered the establishment of employment-creating industries.
At the time the present Welfare Program of the Church was established, the First Presidency explained that the primary purpose "was to set up a system under which the curse of idleness would be done away with, the evils of a dole abolished, and independence, industry, thrift and self-respect be once more established amongst our people. The aim of the Church is to help the people help themselves. Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle of the lives of our Church membership".
These are eternal principles and are as applicable to us today as they were when given. This does not mean that eve do not recognize the need for change. Nothing is static; all things change. We accept the law of change-this is the law of progression. The gospel of work brings change and progression.
I encourage all to accept whole-heartedly the principle of effective work and make it a vital part of our lives.
As President McKay said, "Love of work is success." I am sure that you know many people who truly love their work. Are they happy and successful? You and I know they are both happy and successful. Such being the case, we might ask, "How can we develop a love of work?"
To develop love of work, I suggest two guidelines: set worthwhile objectives, and be satisfied only with superior achievement.
Insofar as setting worthwhile objectives is concerned, let us consider that each day is a success in which we accomplish a worthwhile objective, and any day is a failure if it passes without some worthwhile achievement.
A proper appreciation of life's purpose is a great help in developing worthwhile objectives. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ answers the questions, "Where did we come from?" "Why are we here?" and "Where do we go after this life?" With this knowledge, we are in a preferred position to set worthwhile objectives and goals, both short range and long range.
I am grateful for my knowledge and testimony that God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and through him restored the gospel in its fullness; and I am grateful for the Prophet who stands at the head of the Church of Jesus Christ today, our beloved President David O. McKay-may the Lord bless and sustain him.
The Lord has indicated that it is his work and his glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. What a great work!
Thus, we need not hesitate to establish our long-term objective as exaltation in the celestial kingdom, or eternal life.
Each of us is entitled to immortality through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, but in order to enjoy eternal life or exaltation in the celestial kingdom-we must work out our own salvation day by day.
Working out our salvation requires that we commit ourselves to keep the Lord's commandments and to work and serve effectively in all phases of life's activities.
Our day-to-day, month-to-month, and year-to-year goals should contribute to our long-term objective-eternal life.
In selecting our day-to-day work, we should not overlook the fact that our success will be in proportion to our love of the work that we are engaged in.
The Savior continually emphasized the doctrine of unselfishness and sacrifice, and it is apparent that there is no real success or happiness in being self-centered and selfish. Let me suggest, therefore, the advisability of engaging in some work that involves service to our fellowmen and some sacrifice of our time, talents, and means. It is this type of work that one can easily develop a love of, as well as a love of people.
Success in these areas almost always manifests itself in growth and change in the lives of all the persons involved.
Coupled with worthwhile objectives, we must learn to work compatibly with people. Some seem to be born with this talent while others have to acquire it, but fortunately this love of people and work can be developed.
Another essential factor to consider at this point is loyalty. Loyalty to employer or a cause one is working for is a key step in developing a love of work and success.
The great merchandiser, F. W. Woolworth, once said: "We would rather have one man or woman working with us than three merely working for us."
Objectives and goals should not only be worthwhile but also realistic. They should be an incentive to work effectively. Thus the setting of realistic objectives and achieving them becomes an important part of the great process of eternal progression.
Now with respect to the goal of superior achievement:
Helen Keller, whose life was an inspiration to millions, expressed these sentiments:
"My share in the work of the world may be limited but the fact that it is work makes it precious. I long to accomplish a great and noble task but it is my chief duty and joy to accomplish my humble tasks as though they were great and noble."
The desire for superior achievement comes from our Father in heaven. However, too many people are imbued with the spirit of "just getting by." This spirit comes from the evil one. Let us avoid the habit of "just getting by," as it will rob us of the choicest rewards.
Whether our work is mainly mental or physical or is a combination of both, we should learn to do it well, cultivate the proper attitude, and develop work habits that will produce superior results. These habits will become a part of us.
Superior achievement comes when one makes up his mind to be successful and is willing to pay the price or to magnify his calling.
This involves the development of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and faith in ourselves, always remembering that we are spirit children of God. It involves study and training, coupled with planning, discipline, and hard work-yes, going the extra mile.
Paying the price also involves living the gospel principles. Let me emphasize the need for humility and prayer as well as hard work to keep in tune with the Holy Spirit, which will guide and direct us in time of need.
This is brought out in an interesting letter received from a lady missionary in which she stated:
"'With hard work, deep humility, and sincere prayer, you will succeed.' As I read this sentence on my first day in the mission field, I thought, I want to be a successful missionary.
"I found that to me hard work has meant going the extra mile, in doing more than is required. One experience I shall never forget is the day my companion and I found three really golden families because we asked the golden questions 20 times instead of 15 times. If we had not asked more than the required 15, we would not have been blessed in finding them, because they were the 16th, 18th, and 19th families that we asked. My companion and I were given the blessings of teaching two of these families. Satan was really working hard on these choice families, and then I again learned the importance of sincere prayer. Sincere prayer, fasting, and our testimonies of the true gospel were really the only weapons we had to fight Satan. But the Lord does answer our prayers.
"I was truly humbled as my companion and I watched these lovely people baptized by the true authority. Tears of happiness came into my eyes as I realized the blessings that the Lord had given to those coming into the Church and to my companion and me through hard work."
Someone has said that genius is ten percent talent and 90 percent work. This I believe, and it is clearly brought out in this missionary's experience.
It is our responsibility to teach young and old the value of work and the wisdom of superior achievement.
The Church furnishes many opportunities for work and service, regardless of age. One of the happiest persons I have seen recently was an 86-year-old woman, busily engaged in doing temple work in the Salt Lake Temple. It was evident that she loved her work. To her, work itself, with a sense of accomplishment, was the way to avoid getting old.
I will be eternally grateful to the stake president of the stake in which I was raised as a young man. His motto was "Be there." "Be there" meant to work effectively, to magnify your calling. This teaching as a young man has had a great effect in my life.
Teach children the importance of work and assist them in preparing for superior achievements; don't deprive them of the blessings that come from proper work habits.
Eleanor Roosevelt once remarked that "the surest way to make it hard for children is to make it easy for them."
Teach children to recognize their obligations. Teach them to be loyal to their families, to their employers, to the Church; to their country, and to any worthy cause they espouse.
How can you find time to teach these things to your children, and what is the best way to do it? you ask. You will find the time and a most effective way as you hold your weekly family home evening, as you have been counseled to do.
In searching for ways to develop a love of work, we must not overlook the matter of relaxation. Although work is absolutely essential to achievement, relaxation and proper rest are likewise necessary. The power to pace one's self is an important factor in developing a love of work. The Lord expects each of us to work out a proper balance between work and relaxation as well as the physical and spiritual aspects of life.
It will be to our eternal advantage to recognize that work is the secret of growth, progress, and happiness in both temporal and spiritual fields.
I encourage you to set worthwhile and realistic objectives and be satisfied with only superior achievement.
The philosophy of work and the extra mile is a sound philosophy; it is a vital part of the gospel of Jesus Christ that will lead us to eternal life.
Accept every opportunity to serve in building the kingdom of God, and I bear you my witness that as you do your part, the Lord will make you equal to every task that you are called upon to perform.
Let me conclude, as I commenced, by quoting the inspiring words of President McKay: "Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, that the love of work is success."
May the Lord's choice blessings be with you, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Henry D. Taylor
Henry D. Taylor, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 125-127
The month was July; the year, 1959. My family and I were on a vacation trip in western Canada. On Thursday, July 2, we were visiting with friends in Lethbridge when the telephone rang. The long distance operator had inquired for me. Upon picking up the receiver, I became aware of a familiar voice that said something like this: "Henry, this is Marion G. Romney. Congratulations."
I was greatly startled and replied: "Thanks very much, Brother Romney, but for what?"
He continued: "I have just come from a meeting of the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve. You were named to be the managing director of the General Church Welfare Program to succeed Elder Harold B. Lee. I have been selected to be chairman of the committee to succeed Elder Henry D. Moyle, who, as you are aware, is now a member of the First Presidency." He went on to say: "I have been authorized by the Brethren to advise you of this appointment before you read it in the newspapers. I will talk with you further when you return to Salt Lake."
It has been a wonderful ten years since this calling came to me. While I have had a constant and continuing appreciation for the Welfare Program ever since its inception, this appreciation has increased and deepened as I have become more intimately acquainted with its operations, with its many ramifications, its' lofty purposes and objectives.
It is pleasing to the Lord that the poor and needy be provided for. Running like a golden thread through the scriptures, which contain the word of the Lord, comes a message loud and clear: "Thou shalt remember the poor and the needy".
The Lord has affirmed and reaffirmed that it is his purpose to see that they are cared for, but he has made it equally plain and clear that it must be done in the way and manner that he will indicate or prescribe.
In spite of the Lord's concern for the well-being of the needy, he has pointed out and proclaimed emphatically that they themselves have a responsibility, and if they find it necessary to seek assistance from the Church, they are under obligation to work to the extent of their physical ability for that assistance. Idleness has been designated by the Lord as being a curse, and to receive without giving is contrary to his desires. The beautiful and vital principle of work removes the Welfare Program from the category of a dole, which has been denounced as an evil. To re-enthrone work and make it a ruling principle in the lives of the Church members is one of the primary purposes of the Welfare Program.
A man over 30 years of age had never been able to work, due to cerebral palsy, from which he had suffered since birth. He was brought by his bishop to a Deseret Industries plant, where someone with love and kindness patiently taught him to cut the buttons from old clothes that were brought daily into the Deseret Industries plant. This became something he could do, and fairly skillfully, too. For the first time in his life this man felt he was a useful member of society. With joy and pride he turned each day to his humble task. And then came the day that he received his first pay check. With trembling, uncontrolled movements he took the check, read the amount eagerly, and proudly placed it in his wallet as he had seen others do, but which he had never been able to do in all his 30 years until this great moment. What a blessed privilege is the rewarding principle of work!
The Lord expects each individual to care for himself. Faithful Latter-day Saints have traditionally taken pride in maintaining their own independence. The aim of the Church is to help the people to help themselves. Each individual will strive to live within his income. He will avoid debt as he would a plague. When times are good he will lay a little aside each month in storage of commodities and cash, to provide for the "rainy days." Then, in the event of ill health, unemployment, or other justifiable conditions, he will have the satisfaction of knowing that he has done all possible to provide for himself. But after he has exhausted his own resources, his family then has not only the responsibility and obligation, but also the privilege of helping him. When the individual and his family have done all within their power to provide for his needs, he may then look to the Church for assistance.
It would seem that the care of the needy has always had a preferential claim on the funds of the Church. President Heber J. Grant, as he instructed a stake presidency, gave the comforting assurance that "before the Church would allow its members to suffer want, it would close every Church School, every Seminary and every Temple".
The bishop is the key figure in the Welfare Program, and its success depends upon him. The Lord by revelation has placed upon him the responsibility for determining those who are to receive Church assistance and to what extent.
In this way the Lord has outlined his way of caring for the poor and needy.
Although we are presently living in prosperous times and all seems well in Zion, the situation could change and change rapidly. In our lifetime we have seen the nations of the world in death struggles, have seen a devastating depression and several economic recessions. The Lord's way-the noble Welfare Plan of the Church-gives to each of us, especially the fathers, who are usually the breadwinners, and the widows, a solid sense of security. For we know that the Church stands ready, in the background, to assist in a crisis or emergency.
As we view the operation of the many types of welfare projects-the farms, the cattle ranches, fruit orchards, citrus groves and poultry flocks, the canneries, the coal mine and flour mill, the cheese and soap factories, the Deseret Industries plants-we get the impression that all these are physical and temporal in nature. But President McKay has reminded us that to the Lord nothing is temporal; to him all things are spiritual, and the Welfare Program must do more than just feed the hungry and clothe the naked if it is to achieve its intended purposes. It must uplift, build, and bless the people spiritually. There are undoubtedly more persons in the world today who are spiritually hungry than who are physically starving.
It has been a rich and rewarding experience to associate during these many years in the welfare cause with President McKay, President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., and President Moyle; with Elder Lee and Elder Romney, our advisers; with the First Presidency; and with Bishop Vandenberg and his counselors.
I am deeply grateful for my association with the personnel in the welfare office. These, my colleagues, are faithful, devoted, loyal, and dedicated workers in the program.
The Welfare Program is an inspired program because it is of the Lord and not of man. Brethren who are in a position to know have borne testimony that as a result of inspiration and revelation through the Holy Ghost to President Grant, the Welfare Program was introduced back in 1936. It is truly the gospel in action.
In the early days of the program, President McKay made this prophetic promise: "The Church Security Plan has not come up as a mushroom overnight. It is the result of inspiration, and that inspiration has come from the Lord... Those who have selfishness in their heart would like to see it fail, but it is not going to fail."
And to these testimonies I would add mine: that this unselfish, wonderful program is an inspired plan, and I bear witness that I know it is the Lord's way for providing for the poor and needy in this, our day, to which I testify in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Paul H. Dunn
Paul H. Dunn, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 127-130
President McKay, my beloved brothers and sisters, and friends everywhere:
This is always a most humbling experience, and I too seek an interest in your prayers in my behalf as I attempt to share some of the feelings of my heart. I was so edified last evening, as I have been throughout this conference, with the missionary zeal and spirit that has been evident. Last night we of the priesthood were able to recommit ourselves to building the kingdom of our Heavenly Father in a missionary cause.
I am thankful for you parents who sacrifice so much in so many ways to send into the mission field the young people you do in a way that we might work together. They are tremendous, and you can be very proud.
I have been uplifted today and the previous days by the optimistic sermons of those who have preceded me. I am grateful for a happy church, a church that brings security and understanding and faith in the lives of its people. This is a church that is not only optimistic but also has a firm foundation. It has been reiterated many times already.
The optimism of this conference brought to my mind the little experience of two Vermont farmers. It seems that in Vermont we get a great deal of rain, and the hills are green as a result. One day a farmer was walking down a back road, and it was very muddy, and suddenly he came upon a large puddle, and in the middle of the puddle he saw a straw hat. He thought he recognized it. He tiptoed over and lifted it up, and lo and behold under it was his friend Zeb, and he was right up to his neck in the mud.
He said, "Zeb, it looks like you have a problem. Do you need some help?"
Zeb said, "No thanks, Zeke, I'll be all right. I have got a good horse under me."
Well, I have felt that kind of optimism throughout this conference. Spiritually speaking, we have some great horses under us, and I am grateful for that kind of faith and testimony.
Just the other day Sister Dunn and I had a sweet experience in the mission home in Cambridge. A very wonderful couple sat before us investigating the Church, seeking answers to searching questions. In the course of our conversation the question was raised, Has God really spoken to man today?
I would like in these moments allotted to me to answer that question again for other honest seeking people.
It was Tuesday-three days before the crucifixion. Standing in the courtyard of the Savior looked down upon the dark faces of those who were plotting to take his life. Said he:
"Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness".
And while he was on the subject of dead men, Jesus pointed out to these people that they had no capacity to honor God's prophets, until they were dead. He said again:
"... ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
"And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets."
But then Jesus added: "Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets".
A moment later from the heights of the temple Jesus looked down upon the city and poured forth the sorrow of his soul:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered the children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not".
Here is an amazing paradox. Jesus was emphasizing one of the lessons of history, that the majority of the people have never been able to recognize a living prophet. In each generation they idolized the prophets of the past, while they stoned the living prophets of the present.
Can you believe with me that God could speak to men who were the common clay of our generation? If you do, you are unusual, because the rest of the people follow the human tendency to look back and honor only the prophets who are dead. And look at the way they usually honor them:
They place these prophets of the past on imaginary pedestals.
They make a selection from their teachings that suit their own particular fancy.
And while honoring a few popular phrases that identify them with these great servants of God, they smugly go along their own wad.
But you cannot do this with living prophets. Why? Because living prophets will denounce those who profess allegiance to God, but follow the rashness of their own selfish lives. They will not allow men to pick their teachings to pieces and construct a crazy-quilt pattern of personal interpretation that suits fashion and private folly.
Perhaps that is why prophets are never very popular while they are alive to defend the teachings that God has given to them.
Do you know what your task and mine is? It is to discover whether or not God has raised up living prophets for our generation.
The Bible teaches that whenever prophets are raised up, things will begin to happen. Doctrines will be made clear. New truths will be revealed. Prophecies will be pronounced. The kingdom of God will be revitalized-and every honest seeker after truth will be able to see the power with which the prophets of the past and of the present carry out their missions.
You see, that is what convinced Israel, when Moses came down to them. This is what aroused Judah when Jeremiah appeared in their midst Even in the days of the Savior, the antagonistic teachers of the law were "astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority". And those who followed Jesus observed great power in his ministry.
This is also the way to find out whether or not there are living prophets of God on the earth today. If there are, things will be in to happen. There will be new revelation, the power of prophecy, the authority of the priesthood, and the capacity to revitalize the faith of every honest soul who hungers for a message from God for our generation.
Do you think it is difficult to be a prophet? As you read the scriptures, you cannot help but be impressed with the fact that the calling of a prophet is a most difficult assignment. In fact, you will be astonished to find that when some of the prophets first received their callings they pleaded with the Lord not to send them forth. This was the case with Moses, who said, "... they will not believe me... I am not eloquent".This was the case with Moses, who said, "... all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?". And this was also the case with Jeremiah, who said, "... behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child".
These men felt incapable. They felt there were others who would be more readily accepted. But in spite of their own feelings to the contrary, they went forth and delivered their messages because God had called them.
The same principle applied when Jesus selected his twelve apostles. He said to them, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you".
And here's the clue to the way prophets are raised up!
In the holy writ you will not find a single instance where God ever selected a professional holy man to be one of his prophets. In every case, the came like a bolt out of the blue, often to men who considered themselves weak and incapable, and were amazed that God should honor them with revelation and a prophetic calling.
So now we come to the crucial questions: Have prophets of God been raised up in modern times? Have any revelations been recorded? Has any new light come back to the earth to solve the problems of our day?
I suppose time would not permit in this conference to mention the many revelations that are contained in modern scripture declaring this very thing. Perhaps no headlines in any newspaper could do justice to the thrilling announcement that came during the past century to reaffirm the word of God to the children of men. Beginning in the spring of 1820, the restoration of the gospel began. And notice how it came forth:
God bypassed all the professional proponents of religion throughout the world and spoke to a humble, 14-year-old boy. Jewish tradition has it that this was exactly the age of Jeremiah when he received his first call. And, like Jeremiah, the young prophet was overwhelmed by his assignment. He was a youth. His education was limited, his means were very modest. And he had a most ordinary name-Joseph Smith.
But within three years, important things began to happen. Others were raised up to assist. New knowledge began to pour forth. Doctrines began to be clarified. Revelations were recorded.
The original organization of the Church of Jesus Christ, which was lost sometime after the first century, was soon restored. The gospel came back into the earth in great power, just as Jesus had promised it would when his disciples asked him concerning the last days.
At first, the work progressed slowly. People said God would not speak to a mere boy. They held aloft their scriptures containing the writings of prophets from the past and said that was all the revelation they wanted. They said the new young prophet was making up revelations-that they were not from God.
But this could have been expected. These people could not recognize a living prophet any more than the people at the time of Christ. Nevertheless, Joseph Smith recorded the prophecies and revelations that were given him.
Ever since the gospel was restored, there have been living prophets of God upon the earth. They are with us today, and, of course, President McKay is listening with us. What is their calling? To strengthen our faith, to record the will of God for our generation, to place peace in troubled hearts, and to prepare us to meet the challenge of evil among men in the world today.
The same God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has a message for the nations of the earth in this modern, jet-propelled era in which we live. It is as thrilling and vital as the message that came to Judah from Jeremiah, or to Israel from Moses.
Recently I reread of an American boy-one of the several thousand who died in the battle of Iwo Jima, a place he probably had never heard of before the war took him there-who wrote in a little ten-cent notebook his last words, his survey of the world situation, as follows:
"This is the time for new revelation. People don't think much about religion nowadays, but we need a voice from on high, brother, and I don't mean maybe.
"This thing has got out of human ability to run. I'm no religious fanatic, but we are in a situation where something better than human brains has got to give us advice."
This was the last will and testament of a 20-year-old boy who died with the thought that mankind's predicament was one that only divine help might solve. That boy cried for new revelation, for a voice of spiritual authority from on high.
More and more thoughtful people, each year, conclude that mankind needs new authority and revelation from God. My friends, it has come!
I am honored today in this pulpit to declare to you and all who would be my listeners that God speaks to his children. He lives; he cares; and to those of you who have not yet had that special witness in your hearts, if you will be in tune with me now, as I declare to you with all the fervor of my soul that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that there is a living prophet in the world today who reveals his mind and will, and that seated before you are the living oracles of that same divine Father, you will know that I speak the truth. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder A. Theodore Tuttle
A. Theodore Tuttle, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 130-132
This has been a glorious conference. Brothers and sisters, I have thrilled as I have listened to the counsel of inspired men. I have made many resolutions to do and be better.
I am grateful beyond expression for having been reared in a home of faith where testimony was nurtured early and continually. Today I bear you my testimony that I know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that President David O. McKay is a living prophet today.
Frequently we perform marriages in the temple. These marriages are properly called celestial marriages, temple sealings, or eternal marriages. The thing that we really do is to organize the most basic unit in the Church-the family. The family is the most important relationship in this life. In reality, the bride and groom are called to assignments in the family from which they are fever released, except by transgression. This is the one eternal unit which can exist in the presence of God.
A man's home is his most important consideration; not his business nor farm nor political office, not even his church or civic service. It is his family. These other things only provide the means to become a provident husband and exemplary father. The most noble achievement of God or man is the glorified family unit. "No other success," President McKay has emphasized, "can compensate for failure in the home".
The family is a divine institution. The first family unit was organized by our Heavenly Father: "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh".
The Lord has instructed his children in the basic family relationships.
"Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else".
"Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them".
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord".
"Thou shalt live together in love".
"Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged".
"Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord".
The home is the source of happiness, serenity, and peace. Only in a home filled with unity and love can man or woman find the pure, undiluted heavenly joys. There is no substitute, though Lucifer would tell men otherwise.
The home is the teaching unit of the Church. The parents are the teachers. The course is more extensive than a university curriculum. Always parents are venturing through it for the first time. The classes start at birth and never terminate. There are some graduations, but the schooling continues.
Some mistakenly suppose that while children are young, they do not need their mother. Hence, she seeks employment outside the home. Few things could be more detrimental to the family at any time. Bloom's study of a thousand children reveals that "it is especially noteworthy that for a number of the most significant human characteristics the most rapid period of development appears to be in the first five years of life...
"The child enters first grade after having gone through perhaps the most rapid period of development which will take place throughout his life... Much of the variation of children at the beginning of the first grade can be attributed to variations in the home environments as well as to hereditary influence".
Someone is to teach children to pray, to walk uprightly before the Lord, to seek earnestly the riches of eternity, to teach faith, repentance, baptism, and the Holy Ghost, and to observe the Sabbath day. Children are to be taught to observe the Word of Wisdom -to abstain from the use of alcohol, tobacco, tea, and coffee. Children are to be taught obedience to parents and the law.
Somewhere they are to learn to be honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and to do good to all men. They are to be taught to honor their parents. They are to learn the meaning of integrity and work and service.
The responsibility to teach all these things rests in the home.
Children are not born with testimonies of the divinity of this work. Testimony must be inculcated into their lives early and continually. The scriptures must be studied if we are to develop a generation of believers.
Recently I was in the home of a fine stake president and participated in their daily scripture class.
For the past year, he and his family have been reading the scriptures together for 15 minutes each morning. In that time, they have completed their study of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and half the Book of Mormon. What a joy. What an example. A wise father. A sustaining mother. Fortunate children.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is organized to help the family. No other organization provides more help. The whole program of the Church is correlated to supplement the teachings of the home. The Church speaks out boldly against the common evil of this day-the deliberate limiting of families by birth control. It teaches, rather, the sacred obligation resting upon husband and wife to bring children into the world.
"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
"As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
"Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them".
The Church counsels members to set aside one night each week to meet in a home night, to study and have fun and regulate the home affairs. Those who follow this wise counsel know how eagerly youngsters respond to such an occasion.
The Church sends home teachers to visit families at least monthly. They carry a message of encouragement. They are a second witness in the home.
To assist families, the Church has organized a wide range of activities where young people can find wholesome companionship and personal development for all ages.
It is a cardinal teaching of the Church that the man is the head of the family. He is to be the bread-winner. It teaches him how to preside in that home through his priesthood power. It teaches that the wife is to be a companion to her husband and stand by his side. There is to be no confusion as to the roles of husband and wife. Children are to identify with a strong, manly father. They identify with a lovely mother who sustains and supports but does not usurp the leadership of the father. The mother is queen of the home. The Church teaches that womanhood is glorified by motherhood. President McKay has said, "Wherever a woman is, or whatever a woman does, she is at her best, her divinest best, at home! There is the center of her power."
The family as an institution is under tremendous pressure. It is important to know, therefore, that the family is a problem-solving unit. The husband and wife cannot generate more problems than they can solve if they will follow the counsel the Lord has given. The solution to family problems is not separation, but repentance.
Couples are to continue to court, to pray, to be one. They are to keep alive the magic and thrill of romance and learn how to express love. Couples young and old must learn to communicate with one another. This one thing alone can solve most marital problems.
The challenge to the family is great. We are here to practice successful family living. Proper family living makes heaven on earth and develops Gods in embryo. Success in the home leads to the abundant life with our Eternal Father. May we all seek, ever more earnestly, for the eternal riches of a wholesome, honorable home, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Victor L. Brown
Victor L. Brown, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 132-134
My brethren and sisters, I am grateful to be with you today and to have been taught by these wonderful brethren. I pray for an interest in your faith and prayers that I might say something that will have meaning.
A few weeks ago while I was traveling abroad, a headline caught my eye. It was a report of a gathering of many thousands of young people in the state of New York. It was not a report that most Americans would be proud of. A reporter describing some other like gatherings pictured them in these words:
"En masse, the gaily bedecked faithful presented an unsettling aspect, a ragtag mosaic of humanity suggesting anything from the Children's Crusade to the Vandals sacking Rome."
As I read the report and contemplated the deplorable exhibition, I could not help but recall a conversation I had had with my 15-year-old son, a junior high school student. He said to me, "I am a different person now than I was at the beginning of school." I asked in what way, to which he replied, "I have a testimony that the gospel is true, which I did not have before." This had been his first year in seminary. I asked what the highlight of the year had been. He replied without hesitation, "The lesson on eternal life." He said the only thing wrong was the time had been too short-they had only spent two weeks studying the subject.
I must admit I was surprised that a 15-year-old teenager would show such interest in this profound subject. Being curious as to the reaction of other young people of this same age, I arranged a visit with a group of them. They were of the same opinion. The plan of life and salvation had affected them and many of the other students in a similar manner. It was interesting to note that these young people were thrilled with the knowledge that they had existed as intelligences and then as spirit children of their Heavenly Father before they were born into this life. They expressed a great relief to know that there were rewards and blessings resulting from righteous living that would last far beyond this life into the eternities. To them this gave real meaning and purpose to the establishment of personal goals in life. This knowledge seemed to startle them into a realization that their individual conduct would have a significant effect on what happened to them not only in this life but in the life after death.
It seems that the lesson taught by Jacob, the brother of Nephi, as recorded in the Book of Mormon became more meaningful to them:
"But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever".
Even at this young age, I believe they understood this life to be just a moment in eternal life and that this is a probationary period during which each person proves himself. It seemed very encouraging to them to know that they were free agents with respect to choices in life-the kind of free agents spoken of by Lehi:
"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great mediation of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself".
And Jacob said: "Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves-to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life".
The contrast between these two groups of young people is obvious. One is trying to escape from life; the other is anxious to be involved in life. I do not wish to delve into the reasons why one group has chosen captivity and the other liberty, but rather pray-that I may be directed to say something that will cause those who have chosen captivity, as well as those who are now at the crossroads of making their choices, to consider carefully their eternal future.
It is my testimony that every person born into this world is a spirit child of God, that we did in very deed live with our Heavenly Father before taking a mortal body. This same knowledge is available to all, young and old, if they have a sincere desire to obtain it. A proper understanding of where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going should give each of us an inner feeling of security and personal worth.
As my young friends have learned in their seminary class, this is a life during which we prove ourselves. It is a period of probation during which we earn our place in the eternities. The Lord said of this: "And thus did I, the Lord God, appoint unto man the days of his probation".
His whole purpose in coming to earth and submitting himself to be crucified on the cross was to loose the bands of death for all men-the righteous and the unrighteous-for he said: "... this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man". Beyond this, however, he taught us that there are many mansions in his Father's house and that he would prepare the way for us. He describes these mansions or degrees of glory by referring to the universe-the brightness of the sun representing the highest degree of glory; the brightness of the moon, the next degree; and the stars, the lowest degree. Eternal life means achieving the highest degree, which is the celestial kingdom, or in other words, returning to the presence of our Father in heaven. This lesson deeply touched the hearts of the young seminary students with whom I visited.
Of all the blessings the Lord has given us, this is the greatest. In the Doctrine and Covenants we read: "And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God". This being true, it would behoove all men to so order their lives as to be worthy of exaltation.
We further learn from sacred scripture what must be done to attain eternal life:
"... For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
"And then are ye in this straight and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received... the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.
"And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this straight and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life".
These lessons-where we came from, why we are here, where we are going-have touched the hearts of many young people. They have provided a stability, a feeling of security, a feeling of humility and yet personal worth, that give purpose and direction to their lives. This knowledge helps them to rise above the confusion, strife, and evil that are so prevalent in the world today.
I pray that the Lord will bless young and old alike that they too may come to the knowledge that these things are true, which I testify to you as being true, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President David O. McKay
David O. McKay, Conference Report, October 1969, pp. 135-137
My dear brethren and sisters:
This has been in a remarkable manner an outstanding, spiritual conference. We have experienced the spiritual, the divine in man; the supreme crowning gift that makes him king of all created beings. Spirituality is the consciousness of victory over self, the consciousness of being above the passions, whether in anger or jealousy, or envy, or hatred. To feel that you can be above those animal-like feelings is to experience spirituality, and every man and woman whose heart burned when he or she heard the testimonies of these brethren during the sessions of this conference experienced that spirituality. It is the realization of communion with Deity. No higher attainment can be reached than that.
We have met during a critical time in the history of our own great country and in the history of the world. I have been impressed with the answers that have been given through the brethren to some of the false ideologies and teachings that are rampant in the world. One of these false teachings is that man is not a spiritual being, but that he is just as any other animal, subject to his passions, subject to his yearnings, desires, and justified in his ambitions, no matter how many others may suffer in that achievement.
We have heard during the sessions of this conference that man is a dual being: He is physical, and has his appetites, passions, desires, just as any animal has. But he is also a spiritual being; and he knows that to subdue the animal instincts is to achieve advancement in his spiritual realm; that a man who is subjected to his physical appetites and passions only, who denies any reality of a spirit, is truly of the animal world; and that man is a spiritual being, and his real life is the spirit that inhabits his body.
President John Quincy Adams gave a good illustration of this when he was accosted on the streets of Boston one day and was asked, "How is John Quincy Adams today?"
He answered, as he tottered along with his cane, "John Quincy Adams is well, thank you, quite well. But the house in which he lives is tottering on its foundations, the windows are shaking, the roof is leaking, the doors are not hanging straight; and I think John Quincy Adams will have to move out of it soon. But John Quincy Adams himself, sir, is quite well, I thank you, quite well!" He sensed that the real John Quincy Adams was an immortal being, a son of a Father in heaven.
That is one great truth to which testimony has been borne in this conference-that man is spirit, the son of his Father, and has within him that which will cause him to yearn and to aspire to become dignified as a son of God should be dignified. The dignity of man, not the degradation of man, has been emphasized throughout this conference.
Another false ideal that has been mentioned as rampant among people in this country and especially among millions in atheistic countries in the world is the denial of the existence of God. Every man who has spoken at this conference, I think without exception, has borne witness and testified that God lives. There has also been quoted the evidence of men who have lived through the ages who have borne that same testimony. Many scientists today, honorable, honest men, who are giving their all to help their fellow beings, testify that there is a God. I received a visit in my apartment just a year ago from one of our own eminent scientists-Philo T. Farnsworth-who testified to me that he knows that he was directed by a higher source in gaining his scientific knowledge, and that he knows that God lives.
Thank heaven there are hundreds of thousands of people who believe that testimony and repudiate the claims of the Communists, who boast that man is his own god, and who have already poisoned the minds of their people for the past forty or fifty years with the thought that God does not exist and that Jesus Christ is a myth. I wish to emphasize the fact that this great conference has testified to the hundreds of thousands listening in from all over the world that God lives, and furthermore that Jesus is his Beloved Son, the Savior of the world.
We have also testified to the world that man is not living for himself, that his selfish desires should be overcome and controlled, and that he should render service to others. One of the greatest sayings of Jesus when he was among the Twelve was the one that touched upon that same principle: "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it". A paradoxical statement, but oh, how true!
I am grateful for membership in a church whose religion fits men for the struggle with the forces of the world and enables them to survive in this struggle. One of these acting forces is the responsibility of teaching and the opportunity afforded in this church for our local officers-stake presidencies, bishoprics, priesthood quorums, and others-to share in this responsibility. The obligation of teaching is placed by the Church first upon the parents, and the responsibility thereof has been placed upon them by divine command. But besides parents, there are tens of thousands of men and women who have accepted the responsibility of leading and teaching the young and the adults. In the priesthood quorums alone the number runs into many thousands. And if we add mothers and fathers, general officers, and young men and women in the Sunday School, the Mutual Improvement Associations, the Primary, the seminaries, and women in the Relief Society, we have an army of teachers who have the privilege and responsibility of exercising what Martin Luther calls "one of the highest virtues upon earth."
Think what the Church is doing to help this army of leaders and teachers as individuals to become strong in the battle against the forces of the world!
First, it places upon them the obligation of teaching their fellowmen by example, and there is no better safeguard placed upon an honest man or a sincere woman.
Second, it develops the divine attribute of love for others. Jesus asked one of his apostles, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?... Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee." And Jesus answered, "Feed my lambs". Love should precede the responsibility of feeding those lambs. And these tens of thousands of teachers must have in their hearts the love of teaching, the love of their fellowmen, and a willingness to accept this responsibility with the divine attribute of love.
The third requirement is purity of life. I cannot imagine an impure person teaching purity to young boys and girls. I cannot imagine one who has doubt in his mind about the existence of God impressively teaching the existence of Deity to young boys and girls. He cannot do it! If a leader or a teacher acts the hypocrite and attempts so to lead and teach, what he is will speak louder than what he says; and that is the danger of having doubting men as leaders and teachers of our children. The poison sinks in, and unconsciously they become sick in spirit because of the poison that the person in whom they had confidence has insidiously instilled into their souls. So the third qualification is purity of life and faith in the gospel.
Finally, it gives these leaders and teachers an opportunity to serve their fellowmen and thereby magnify the calling that has come to them and, indeed, to prove that they are real disciples of Christ. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me". Thus the divine principle of service is instilled in their hearts.
With all my heart I say, God bless and guide you leaders and teachers of our stakes, wards, and missions, you parents, you men of the priesthood, you temple presidencies, and our missionaries all over the world. God bless and protect our valiant young men who are in the armed forces of our country; God bless their loved ones.
I am grateful for and pray that God will continue to direct and bless our General Authorities who have inspired us with their messages during the sessions of this great conference.
I bear you my testimony that the head of this Church is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the Redeemer of the world. I know of the reality of his existence, of his willingness to guide and direct all who serve him. I know that in this dispensation he restored with his Father, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness. I know that one of the glorious messages given by Christ, our Redeemer, is that the spirit of man passes triumphantly through the portals of death into everlasting life. To him, this earthly career is but a day and its closing but the setting of life's sun; death but a sleep, followed by a glorious awakening in the morning of an eternal realm.
May God bless you all, and may he guide and help you that righteousness, harmony, and love for one another may dwell in each home, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 4-6
My beloved brethren and sisters: I am grateful beyond any measure of expression for the blessings the Lord has given to me, and to the faithful members of his church in the various nations of the earth, and to all his children everywhere.
I thank him every day of my life that he has restored in these last days his everlasting gospel for the salvation of all who will believe and obey its laws.
I thank him for the life and ministry of each of the good and great men whom he has called to govern and direct the affairs of his latter-day kingdom.
May I say in particular how much we miss President David O. McKay. As we all know, he was a man of great spiritual strength, a natural-born leader of men, and a man beloved by his people and honored by the world. For all time to come men shall rise up and call his name blessed.
President McKay reminded us often that our mission is to all the world-for the peace, and hope, and happiness, and temporal and eternal salvation of all of our Father's children.
He extended educational opportunities to many peoples in many countries-to Hawaii, the South Pacific, Latin America, and widely among the American Indians. In his remarkable and wide-ranging administration, he sought to bless the people of all the world, so far as possible.
And I say to you, my beloved brethren and sisters, that I know the Lord was pleased with the broad, far-seeing administration of President McKay, and with all my powers of persuasion I urge this people to continue to reach out and bless the lives of all our Father's children everywhere.
May I say how pleased we are as a people for the increased understanding and for the kindly relationship which we enjoy with other faiths, and I trust and pray that this wholesome relationship of goodwill and Christian fellowship will increase and will bless the lives of all who are touched by it.
I think if all men knew and understood who they are, and were aware of the divine source from whence they came, and of the infinite potential that is part of their inheritance, they would have feelings of kindness and kinship for each other that would change their whole way of living and bring peace on earth.
We believe in the dignity and divine origin of man. Our faith is founded on the fact that God is our Father, and that we are his children, and that all men are brothers and sisters in the same eternal family.
As members of his family, we dwelt with him before the foundations of this earth were laid, and he ordained and established the plan of salvation whereby we gained the privilege of advancing and progressing as we are endeavoring to do.
The God we worship is a glorified Being in whom all power and perfection dwell, and he has created man in his own image and likeness, with those characteristics and attributes which he himself possesses.
And so our belief in the dignity and destiny of man is an essential part both of our theology and of our way of life. It is the very basis of our Lord's teaching that "the first and great commandment" is: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind"; and that the second great commandment is: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself".
Because God is our Father, we have a natural desire to love and serve him and to be worthy members of his family. We feel an obligation to do what he would have us do, to keep his commandments and live in harmony with the standards of his gospel-all of which are essential parts of true worship.
And because all men are our brothers, we have a desire to love and bless and fellowship them-and this too we accept as an essential part of true worship.
Thus everything we do in the Church centers around the divine law that we are to love and worship God and serve our fellowmen.
It is no wonder, then, that as a church and as a people we have deep and abiding concern for the welfare of all our Father's children. We seek their temporal and spiritual well-being along with our own. We pray for them as we do for ourselves, and we try to live so that they, seeing our good works, may be led to glorify our Father who is in heaven.
As a church, we are pleased to commend and encourage every civic and cultural project or undertaking that is edifying and wholesome and that is for the blessing and betterment of mankind.
One of our Articles of Faith declares: "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men... If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things".
And one of the revelations the Lord has given counsels that "men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness".
We look with firm disfavor upon some of the social and cultural trends that have existed and do exist in our society, and firmly believe that all decisions on moral issues should be in harmony with the standards found in the Holy Scriptures, beginning with the Old Testament and including the other volumes of revealed writ that God has given in succeeding dispensations.
One of these divine standards states: "And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness". As a people we seek for ourselves and for all mankind only those things which are edifying, enlightening, uplifting, and ennobling.
We believe it is essential that our young people gain sufficient education to care for themselves in this highly specialized age, and also to serve their fellowmen, and we have in the past and shall continue in the future to support education at all levels.
We have little sympathy, however, with the spirit of disruption and dissidence that is sometimes found on the campuses of the land. We urge our youth to avoid these displays of intemperate conduct and rather to be found on the side of law and order and circumspect action.
It is our hope and prayer that in all nations men may live in peace, respecting each other's beliefs and forms of worship, and that the spirit of unity and brotherhood may abound on every side.
We know there are many people who seek to live upright lives and who desire to maintain substantially the same standards to which we adhere We welcome their encouragement and hope they will feel to accept the hand of Christian fellowship from us, as all of us seek those great goals so basic to true worship and unity.
We have great concern for the spiritual and moral welfare of all youth everywhere. Morality, chastity, virtue, freedom from sin-these are and must be basic to our way of life, if we are to realize its full purpose.
We plead with fathers and mothers to teach personal purity by precept and example and to counsel with their children in all such things.
We ask parents to set an example of righteousness in their own lives and to gather their children around them and teach them the gospel, in their home evenings and at other times.
We have confidence in the young and rising generation in the Church and plead with them not to follow the fashions and customs of the world, not to partake of a spirit of rebellion, not to forsake the paths of truth and virtue. We believe in their fundamental goodness and expect them to become pillars of righteousness and to carry on the work of the Church with increasing faith and effectiveness.
Our young people are among the most blessed and favored of our Father's children. They are the nobility of heaven, a choice and chosen generation who have a divine destiny. Their spirits have been reserved to come forth in this day when the gospel is on earth, and when the Lord needs valiant servants to carry on his great latter-day work.
May the Lord bless you, the youth of Zion, and keep you true to every covenant and obligation, cause you to walk in paths of light and truth, and preserve you for the great labors ahead.
There has never been a time, in this age of the earth's history, at least, when the blessings of a gracious and loving Father were as much needed by all men as they are now.
And so now I pray that God our Heavenly Father will open the windows of heaven and pour out upon his children in all the earth those great and eternal blessings which will better their lot temporally and spiritually.
O that men might forsake the ways of the world and turn to that God who made them!
O that they might open their hearts and receive the words of truth and light found in the gospel of his Son!
O that there might be peace on earth, brotherhood among nations, and love in the hearts of men!
I pray that God our Eternal Father will look down in love and mercy upon his people everywhere, and upon all those who have chosen him as their God and who seek to serve him in the name of his Son.
I pray that parents everywhere may be a light unto their children; that they may guide them in paths of truth and righteousness; and that children may respond to parental teaching and be preserved from the evils of the world.
I pray for the weak and the weary, for those who are burdened with cares and sorrows, for those who need comfort and assurance amid the storms of life.
May the Lord grant unto them peace according to the promise of his Son, who said to the saints in olden times: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid".
May the Lord grant unto us and to all men the fullness of those blessings which we are able to receive in this life and then accept us into his kingdom in the eternities that lie ahead-all of which I pray in humility and in thanksgiving and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Howard W. Hunter
Howard W. Hunter, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 7-10
What a glorious thing is life, surrounded by the beauties of the world in which we live. There is beauty in the mountains, the woods, and the lakes. There is beauty in the sea with its never-ceasing tides; beauty in the skies filled with fleecy clouds, in the sunshine and in the rain; beauty in the morning, the day, and the night. As the seasons come and go, we find beauty in the freshness of spring bringing new life to all nature, and beauty in the glory of the summer. Autumn ushers in an array of color before the silent winter brings its blanket of white. There is beauty everywhere if we look for the beautiful.
There is an exactness of order in the universe of which we become conscious. The days come and the nights follow. The tides rise and fall with regularity, the recurring lunar cycle of the moon is exact; the seasons come and go in the sequence of nature. The stars in the sky follow exact repeated orders; the planets and their satellites perform precisely in their relation to their suns. The biologist sees the wonders and the beauty of plant and animal life, and the chemist discovers the mysteries of the elements of the earth; but with or without scientific training, every person becomes aware of a vast universe in which there is intricate exactness in all nature.
When we observe the phenomena of the heavens and the earth, we can come to only one conclusion: these are the effects of some great cause. There can be no design without a designer and nothing built without a builder. For every effect there is a cause. There must be a guiding hand to regulate the universe in its precise order. Are we compelled to admit the reality of a Supreme Being? Millions of people in the world have this deep and abiding conviction.
Is God a creation of man's mind, or is man a creation of God? Men struggle with many fundamental questions, but the question as to whether or not God is a reality should take precedence. The approach to the solution of this query differs from that given to scientific research. We are not dealing with a subject of the material realm, but rather of the spiritual.
In order to find God as a reality, we must follow the course which he pointed out for the quest. The path is one that leads upward; it takes faith and effort, and is not the easy course. For this reason many men will not devote themselves to the arduous task of proving to themselves the reality of God. On the contrary, some take the easy path and deny his existence or merely follow the doubter's course of uncertainty. These are the atheists, infidels, free thinkers, skeptics, and agnostics.
The approach to the study of most subjects consists of the research of its history and all of the known facts. If we start with history and turn to the commencement of the best known of the ancient records, we read these words: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." This statement forms the basis of the Hebrew belief in the creation, that earth did not come about by chance; neither was it created by accident. It is the intentional creation of a Supreme Being for a definite and meaningful purpose.
Must we accept blindly this statement of creation? The writer of these words in the Pentateuch did not witness the Creator at work but had the same conviction of faith as expressed at a later time by the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews in these words: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Sometimes faith means believing a thing to be true where the evidence is not sufficient to establish knowledge. We must continue the probe and follow the admonition: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
"For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
After announcing that God created the heaven and the earth, the Old Testament relates that God conversed with our first parents, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden. He gave them commandments and he conversed with them. No doubt Adam instructed his descendants, through eight generations to the father of Noah, in the things he had received from God by direct manifestations. Noah had direct communication with God and taught ten generations of his descendants. God appeared personally to Abraham, who followed, as well as to Isaac and Jacob. Moses became the leader of their descendants, and we remember the direct communion between God and Moses, the record of which has been preserved for all following generations.
The New Testament also has recorded appearances of God. At the baptism of Jesus by John, there was a manifestation; "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." And again at the transfiguration on the high mountain: "... a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
"And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid."
These are only a few instances of the many appearances of God to his children as recorded in the Old and the New Testament. The scriptures of the western hemisphere also record communications of God. History amply documents the reality of God by his personal dealings with men from generation to generation from the beginning.
We need not rely upon history alone for evidence of the existence of a Supreme Being; reasoning will also give us such evidence. One of the ancient arguments of the marketplace, put in syllogistic form, is this: Everything that is created has a creator. The earth was created; therefore, the earth has a creator. Referring again to the Epistle to the Hebrews, the writer states in these words that God is the creator of the earth: "For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God." The moving universe and all of its beauties and wonders are trying to teach us of the existence of God as the great creator.
A scholar has said, "... though science has done all these things for man it cannot do for him what he only can do for himself. Science can teach but the individual only can learn, that is, learning is an individual process that a person must apply to himself, no one can do it for him. No person can learn for another. Science generally teaches there is a God, does it not? but to discover him is a problem for the individual to solve. The declaration of the atheist that there is no God proves nothing. He may sincerely believe we have no Father in Heaven, but certainly cannot prove there is none. Yes, we know that he does not know because there are individuals who positively testify they do know."
It has been said that God cannot be found with the instruments of science or in modern-day electronics. The truth-seeker, however, cannot overlook an underlying power so overwhelming to the conscience that the existence of a Supreme Being becomes evident if he seeks for the cause of the effect.
Man has an innate urge to worship. In early times God spoke to Israel: "I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me." There is profound truth in the doctrine that runs all the way through sacred history that no man can worship more than one God. To worship one God is to have one supreme loyalty in one's life. If we had a consciousness of one God, the Eternal Father, we would have a consciousness of one world and one mankind under God, all being brothers.
What causes people to have the urge to worship? There seems to be something inborn into the soul of man that causes him to seek communion with God. In the Book of Job it is put this way: "But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding." This statement appears to be an allusion to man's creation. By this spirit he becomes capable of understanding and reason, and consequently of discerning divine truth. By this spirit he comes to know God.
In addition to the historical evidences of God and the human reasoning of his existence, the surest knowledge of him comes through his revelations. From the beginning and throughout Old Testament and New Testament times, God manifested himself to men: first to Adam, then the patriarchs of his posterity to Noah, with whom he spoke and conversed. After Noah, he revealed himself to those who followed: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and the prophets down to the ministry of Christ. He spoke at the time of the baptism of Jesus and also at his transfiguration.
God revealed himself to the leader of the group of people who left the old world at the time of the Tower of Babel and came to the western hemisphere. Six hundred years before Christ, he spoke to Lehi, directing him and his family to journey to the American continent. God has revealed himself in the present dispensation to the youth, Joseph Smith, who was privileged to behold God the Eternal Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.
Thus there have been revealed to man through the ages the personages comprising the Godhead: God the Eternal Father, Jesus Christ, his Son, and the Holy Ghost. These three are referred to in Christendom as the Trinity, yet they are three distinct personages, as demonstrated on the occasion of the baptism of Jesus, when the voice of the Father was heard and the Holy Ghost descended.
It is the general rule that we do not get things of value unless we are willing to pay a price. The scholar does not become learned unless he puts forth the work and effort to succeed. If he is not willing to do so, can he say there is no such thing as scholarship? Musicians, mathematicians, scientists, athletes, and skilled people in many fields spend years in study, practice, and hard work to acquire their ability. Can others who are not willing to make the effort say there are no such things as music, mathematics, science, or athletics? It is just as foolish for man to say there is no God simply because he has not had the inclination to seek him.
History tells us there is a God. Science confirms the fact there is a Supreme Being. Human reasoning persuades us that there is a God. His own revelations to man leave no doubt as to his existence. In order for an individual to obtain unwavering knowledge of the reality of God, he must live the commandments and the doctrines announced by the Savior during his personal ministry. "Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." In other words, those who are willing to make the search, apply themselves, and do God's will, will have the knowledge come to them of the reality of God.
When a man has found God and understands his ways, he learns that nothing in the universe came by chance, but all things resulted from a divinely prearranged plan. What a rich meaning comes into his life! Understanding which surpasses worldly learning is his, the beauties of the world become more beautiful, the order of the universe becomes more meaningful, and all of God's creations are more understandable as he witnesses God's days come and go and the seasons follow each in their order. If all men could find God and follow his ways, the hearts of men would be turned in love toward their brothers, and nations would be at peace.
I bear my witness that God lives, that he is our eternal Heavenly Father. I know that Jesus is the Christ, his Son, and Savior of the world. I know too that God reveals his will to his prophets today as he did in the dispensations of the past. May we seek God with a true desire to know him, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Franklin D. Richards
Franklin D. Richards, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 10-14
My dear brothers and sisters, I appreciate the opportunity of speaking to you and approach the responsibility with a humble heart, praying that the Lord will direct me in the things that I say.
I rejoice with you in the wonderful spirit of this conference and the inspirational music and messages to which we have been listening.
We are living in a remarkable age-the dispensation of the fulness of times, When the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in its fullness.
We are living in a new era of growth and development-an era when the Spirit of the Lord is working in the minds and hearts of men.
We are living in an age then prophecy is being fulfilled.
Despite the fact that we are living in a marvelous age, we are living in a troubled world. The powers of evil are visible in false doctrines, corrupt morals, strife, contention, and persecution. Fear abounds in the hearts of many.
However, one of the great purposes of life is to overcome fear and learn to successfully meet challenges and obstacles of every kind. Meeting obstacles and overcoming them give us experience, and each experience should build our faith and confidence and be for our good.
As we study history, we find peculiar situations, obstacles, and problems in each era.
I am certain that those who lived in these various periods felt that the problems of their time were most difficult, and I have no doubt that they were.
Each period had its own tests, and as they were successfully met, a broad and solid foundation was laid for us to build upon.
We are living in a period of social adjustments and constant changes and a time of unprecedented growth and development: the age of the jet airplane, the computer, and the communications satellite.
As we look at the world situation today, I feel that a large percentage of the people are seeking a plan of life that will bring them peace, relief from inner tensions, happiness, and growth and development.
Our message is that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in its fullness, that the principles of the gospel are eternal, and that as we apply them in our lives, they bring us peace, happiness, and eternal life.
I would like to refer to three of these gospel principles that I feel are particularly applicable today: justice, mercy, and humility.
In the beautiful Sermon on the Mount, the Savior referred to the principle of mercy when he said: "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."
And, a great Nephite prophet asked: "... do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so God would cease to be God."
In the scriptures justice and mercy are frequently mentioned together and the thought arises: Can one be just and merciful at the same time, and can justice and mercy be merged? If so, how can we incorporate these principles in our lives to enrich them and qualify ourselves to better meet today's challenges?
The prophet Micah wisely asked: "... what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"
Let us examine the prophet Micah's words regarding justice, mercy, and walking humbly before God, as it should make it easier for us to determine if the principles of justice and mercy can be merged and used effectively in our lives.
In order to do justly, honesty, fairness, and patience must characterize one's dealings with others. Jesus expressed it this way:
"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets."
The Golden Rule is in reality the basic principle of dealing justly with your fellowmen.
To do justly becomes a matter of attitude, a desire to go beyond tolerating others and making an effort to love and appreciate people by serving them. Justice is deeply affected by the principle of love.
Jesus also taught:
"Judge not, that ye be not judged.
"For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure we mete, it shall be measured to you again.
"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
"Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."
In being just, one will not condemn, find fault, or gossip, as there is no salvation in being critical of another.
We should recognize that generally we cannot judge the motives that prompt others' actions, and usually the more we understand their motives, the less we are prone to condemn.
The Savior has urged us to desist from evil; he has also told us to aggressively go forward and do good.
Today there are many frustrated, confused, and discouraged people in the world. To do justly, we are challenged to give them courage, hope, and strength; praise them and help them to understand that God loves them and has provided a way for them to be happy and successful; share with them the things we are blessed with in order to make their loads lighter.
Too often fear rules over the lives of many people, depriving them of blessings. Fear must be overcome, for the Lord has said: "... if ye are prepared ye shall not fear."
I bear you my witness that as we live the gospel principles, we will build faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, confidence in ourselves, and overcome fear.
Now, let us consider the second thing the Lord requires of us, according to the prophet Micah-namely, that we have mercy.
Again recalling the words of the Savior: "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."
We should also be aware that the reverse is true-that if we are not merciful, we shall not obtain mercy.
Here we should recognize another great eternal principle, that of forgiveness. Many times true mercy incorporates forgiveness. Mercy and forgiveness, to be effective, require great patience and understanding on the part of the one forgiving.
The apostle Peter asked Jesus how many times should he forgive one who would sin against him. The Savior's reply was to forgive an indefinite number of times. Then Jesus clarified the matter by giving the parable of the unmerciful servant, in which a certain king forgave a debt one of his servants owed him, amounting to 10,000 talents, because the servant asked for patience in the payment of the debt.
Then the same servant found one who owed him a hundred pence, and took him by the throat, saying, "Pay me that thou owest."
Although the servant's debtor asked for leniency, the servant cast him into prison.
When the king heard of this, he recalled the unmerciful servant and said to him:
"O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
"Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
"And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
"So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."
Thus, the great truth is taught that anyone receiving mercy is under obligation to the one extending it, whether it be man or God-the obligation of living the Golden Rule.
And we cannot reserve our mercy only for those who we think are worthy of it. Remember: "Judge not, that ye be not judged."
The Prophet Joseph Smith, in discussing this matter on one occasion, stated:
"God does not look on sin with allowance, but when men have sinned, there must be allowance made for them....
"The nearer we get to our heavenly Father, the more we are disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls... if you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another."
There can be no license for sin, but we are told that mercy, justice, and love should go hand in hand with reproof. The Lord's words are these:
"Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;
"That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death."
This is especially important for us to remember as we reprove our children when the necessity arises.
The third requirement of the Lord, as explained by the prophet Micah, is to "walk humbly with thy God." This requires a strong faith that God is a just and merciful God.
The prophet Alma, addressing himself to this subject, said:
"... the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also."
To walk humbly with God, one must love God, be humble, meek, and obedient. Another important ingredient is to hunger and thirst after righteousness.
By walking humbly with God, by identifying himself with the building of the kingdom, one obtains inner strength and peace from his Heavenly Father, is happy and successful, and enjoys personal growth and development.
As an example, Peter, James, and John were humble fishermen until they became active in building the kingdom of God; then they became a powerful influence in the lives of men.
Sincere prayer and service in the Church help one to develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and confidence in himself.
After considering the prophet Micah's words regarding justice, mercy, and walking humbly before God, is it easier to see how justice can be merged with mercy and how these principles can be beneficially incorporated in our lives to qualify ourselves to better meet today's challenges?
We have seen how justice and mercy were merged in the story of the unmerciful servant, and we have learned that it is God's way to reprove "betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love."
Probably the greatest example we have is that described in the parable of the prodigal son, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful stories ever written. Here we are told of the return home of a wayward son, of the father's great joy, and of the feast that celebrated his return.
We must never forget, however, that although the wayward son was received back into his family with rejoicing and love, it was to the faithful son that the father said, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine."
Here we have an excellent example of how a wise, humble father merged the great principles of mercy and justice to the benefit of his family. Here we see that all persons are precious in the sight of God. In merging the eternal principles of justice and mercy, an equitable decision or result occurs, as was evidenced in this beautiful parable.
I bear you my witness that God the Father and the Son live, and that they are just and merciful beings. Their justice and mercy was shown through the atonement of Jesus Christ and in restoring the gospel in its fullness through the Prophet Joseph Smith. And we should be grateful for God's mercy in providing a prophet to lead us today-President Joseph Fielding Smith. May the Lord bless and sustain him.
Those who are seeking a plan of life that will bring them peace, relief from inner tensions, happiness, and growth and development will find it in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We invite your sincere and prayerful consideration.
The strength of the Church lies in the testimony of its members that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, and that God is a just and merciful God.
To acquire eternal life requires devotion to the gospel principles. May we appreciate the blessings of the gospel and dedicate ourselves to the upbuilding of God's kingdom, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Richard L. Evans
Richard L. Evans, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 14-17
May I make two citations from the words of a discerning editorial writer, not one of my faith, but one of much faith: "If we neglect the divine... and give ourselves over wholly to the human," he said, "we may certainly count upon nothing but the triumph of pessimism... True optimism must rest upon a calm, unshakable faith in eternal life and in the unlimited goodness of him who gives it."
"We rest on no new reason for believing in the immortality of the soul," he continued. "The old reasons... are quite sufficient... all religious faith and all hope of immortality begins with God, and rests on him. We came from him; we go to him. He lives, we live... why should not a Father reveal himself to his children? Why should he not send prophets and teachers, and why not a supreme Teacher, a Son of God and a Son of Man?... We rest on the fact of One who died and rose from the dead, whose name we give to our faith, and whose triumph over death is our triumph also."
This brings us to a declaration of the literal personal reality of God and the divinity of his Son, our Savior, and the reality of revelation, of prophets, and of the opportunities and purposes of everlasting life.
"We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost" -not in theory, not as an indefinable essence, but a God of life and of love, who lives, and in whose image men were made.
"We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God."
Surely there is ample evidence of the counsel and divine calling of the prophets of the past. And surely there is ample evidence of the need all men have for divine guidance in this day.
In recent weeks we have lost by death a dearly beloved prophet, President David O. McKay. Our love and blessings reach out to his family, and to the beloved companion who was come sixty-nine years by his side.
And today we have heard from his beloved successor, President Joseph Fielding Smith, who will be presented for our sustaining vote in the days of this conference to come. God bless him and be with him and strengthen him, and give him peace, and all that pertains to the goodness of life, with his loved ones.
Through prayer, impressions, inspiration, revelation, God does communicate with his children. The need for continuous revelation would seem to be obvious. There is infinitely much our Father hasn't yet told us. There is infinitely much that no man knows.
Who knows of a textbook that won't be revised or set aside? Who knows of a theory that won't be modified or abandoned? Who knows of a process that won't be improved? Who knows when the last findings of research will be found, or when the last revelation of the mind and will of God will be given? Humility before the unknown is always in order. Conceit of learning never is.
Who has any idea that we need divine guidance less today than did those in far places in the past? Prophets, prophecy, scripture, counsel, commandments are part of the precious heritage we have.
Now, what of life, its purpose, its problems, its possibilities? All of us have our unanswered questions, our discouragement, our mistakes, our good and poor performances, our sorrows, our searching.
It's a searching world. But many are looking for the right things in the wrong way. Some give themselves to protest, to tearing down, to destruction-but most tragically to destruction of themselves, their minds, their peace, their happiness, their future possibilities. And, as to all of this, on a recent Sunday broadcast we used a sentence that has some earnest implications in it, which we submit for your consideration:
If we don't change direction, we will arrive at where we're going.
Home, of course, is the place to begin. "When one puts business or pleasure above his home," said President McKay, "he that moment starts on the downgrade to soul-weakness." And in the last talk we were privileged to have from him, he said: "The most vicious enemy to home life is immorality."
I heard a few days ago a report of how a parent had criticized a school principal for not teaching her children better behavior. But surely the home is the place to begin. Parents, teach your children, and live and be what you teach. I remember gratefully, soberly within my soul, saying prayers at the knees of a beloved widowed mother. I remember her saying to us, and living what she said: "Do your duty. Say your prayers. Pay your tithing; pay your debts. Be honest. Work. Be clean. Don't quarrel. Don't gossip. Have faith."
Oh, beloved young people, listen to such teachings, and so live your lives. Don't gamble the peace and happiness and opportunities of eternity against the cheap and shoddy enticements of time.
You can't experiment with everything-there isn't enough time. There are thousands of things that could kill you, but you have only one life to lose. There are thousands of things that could destroy you mentally, morally, physically, spiritually. And not one of them is worth it. And so, profit by what has already been proved, by the trial and error and anguish of others over the ages. If everyone tried to go back to the beginning to repeat all the mistakes that other men have made, we wouldn't live long enough to learn very much. Part of the precious heritage we have is what has been proved, discovered, and revealed in the past. And so accept it, and go on from here, and learn and repent and improve, and become all you can become, not destroying body and mind, peace and self-respect, but seeking counsel, confiding in loved ones, living by law. Anyone who thinks he doesn't need counsel and stubbornly decides to go his own way has trouble and tragedy ahead.
Counsel with parents, your bishops, competent and trustworthy people. President Smith counsels with his counselors. The Council of the Twelve counsel with each other and with their brethren. "There is no such thing in human existence as being so high you're not responsible to anybody." No man is smart enough to know all the answers. No man is so wise that he cannot benefit by talking things out with others. And don't forget to talk things out with the Lord. And then listen. As President Harold B. Lee said within the week, "We pray for guidance-but do we listen?" The communication of prayer is very real, and all of us need guidance in our decisions.
Temptation is everywhere. The opportunities to do evil and to do good are everywhere, but we shouldn't tempt temptation. As one whimsical observer said, "When some people flee from temptation, they leave a forwarding address." If we don't want to do wrong, we shouldn't even entertain the idea. If we don't want temptation to follow us, we shouldn't act as if we are interested. No one ever fell over a precipice who never went near one.
And let it be said here that our Father in heaven is not a theorist. Creation isn't kept in its course by theory. Spring doesn't return by theory. Seeds don't grow by theory. The physical and moral and spiritual laws are still in force. The commandments are still in force. No one had repealed them. No one has a right to-except God, who gave them. And when our Father gives us counsel or commandments, we can be sure they are vitally essential. When he tells us something, we'd better believe it. If we live one way we get one result; if we live another way we get another result.
Many of you would be familiar with President Spencer Kimball's wonderful work on the miracle of forgiveness. I witness to you that God is a loving Father who will forgive and help us find peace and self-respect as we repent and show our sincerity by the lives we live. And there is nothing he asks of us that we cannot do; there is no requirement we cannot keep-if we are willing, if we want to. Repentance is a miracle, if it is sincere.
Some historians have said there have been 19 civilizations before this that have risen and flourished and fallen, mostly because of moral decay. And perhaps most of them didn't really know what was happening, until it was too late. We are not immune to the consequences of our own acts, or of what we permit to become possible.
You would remember the words spoken on the occasion of that first awesome step man took on the moon: "One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind," to which another added:
"We've reached so far that we've touched the moon; Now we must reach out to our neighbor... There isn't a thing that man cannot do If he takes one small step at a time"
-if he lives within law, keeps the commandments and follows the purposes of Divine Providence.
God bless you, my beloved young friends. Don't live by rumor. Don't run aimlessly to and fro looking for what has already been found. Don't live by the sophistries and temptations of these times. Live by the counsel and commandments God has given, and find the peace and happiness that come to one through thoughtful, prayerful living and cleanliness of life. The times are troubled. The problems are many. And men do run to and fro, and the hearts of many do fail them, and fear has come upon many people-but there is a God in heaven whose purposes and promises and power are over all, and if we will commit ourselves to keeping his counsels, his commandments, doing it his way, we can have peace and happiness here, and limitless, everlasting opportunities with our loved ones forever.
Who would be so foolishly, stupidly shortsighted as to settle for less than this, here or hereafter?
The mission, the message of the Church is to all mankind, and will bless and lift the lives of all who will be partakers of it. And we come to you with concern for the temporal and eternal salvation of every soul-to the weary, the wandering, the lost and the lonely, the sick and the sorrowing; those discouraged and despondent, those who have lost loved ones, those looking for something to hold to in life. Oh, it is there. May our Father help you find it.
I leave you my witness that God does live, that he has reestablished his work among men, that Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer. And I thank God for a prophet in the present, and for all the prophets of the past.
If we don't change direction, we'll arrive at where we're going-but wherever we are, and wherever we've been, if we take one small step at a time, in the right direction, and repent and do better each day, we can arrive everlastingly with our loved ones, with the highest possibilities that God can give, and with assurance within our souls, this day-and always, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 19-23
I express thanks and wonder for the marvelous growth of the Church. A few days ago I participated with Brother Benson in the organization of the Tokyo Stake of Zion. Three weeks before that Brother Tuttle and I organized the Lima Stake of Zion. A week or two ago Brother Romney organized a stake in Johannesburg. Think of it, within a period of a few weeks, strong and vigorous stakes have been organized in such far-away places as Japan, Peru, and South Africa.
The days of which our forebears spoke are upon us. These are days of prophecy fulfilled; and I, with you, am grateful to be alive and a part of this vibrant, marvelous work which is affecting for good so many people in so many parts of the world.
This growth is not a victory of men; it is a manifestation of the power of God. I hope we shall never be proud or boastful concerning it. I pray that we shall ever be humble and grateful.
Last evening there was presented in this Tabernacle, with word and music, a stirring tribute to the Prophet Joseph Smith, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the First Vision. I am thankful that we paused to remember this most remarkable manifestation when the Father and the Son appeared to the boy Joseph on a spring morning n the year 1820. All of the good we see in the Church today is the fruit of that remarkable visitation, a testimony of which has touched the hearts of millions in many lands. I add my own witness, given me by the Spirit, that the Prophet's description of that marvelous event is true, that God the Eternal Father and the risen Lord Jesus Christ spoke with him on that occasion in a conversation as real and personal and intimate as is my conversation with you this day. I raise my voice in testimony that Joseph was a prophet, and that the work brought forth through his instrumentality is the work of God.
I read again the other evening a summary of Joseph's work and a statement of our obligation to advance it. These words, poetic in their beauty, were written by Parley P. Pratt in 1845, less than a year following Joseph's death. I quote:
"He has organized the kingdom of God.-We will extend its dominion.
"He has restored the fulness of the Gospel.-We will spread it abroad...
"He has kindled up the dawn of a day of glory.-We will bring it to its meridian splendor.
"He was a 'little one,' and became a thousand.-We are a small one, and will become a strong nation.
"In short, he quarried the stone... We will cause it to become a great mountain and fill the whole earth."
We are seeing the unfolding of that dream. I hope we shall be true and faithful to the sacred trust given us to build this kingdom. Our effort will not be without sorrow and setbacks. We may expect opposition, both determined and sophisticated.
As the work grows, we may expect a strengthening of the efforts of the adversary against it. Our best defense is the quiet offense of allegiance to the teachings which have come to us from those whom we have sustained as prophets of God.
Joseph Smith gave us instruction pertinent to the situation in which we find ourselves. Said he, "Go in all meekness, in sobriety, and teach Jesus Christ and him crucified; not to contend with others on account of their faith, or systems of religion, but pursue a steady course. This I delivered by way of commandment, and all who observe it not, will pull down persecution on their heads, while those who do shall always be filled with the Holy Ghost; this I pronounced as a prophecy."
I should like to take a few of the words of that statement as a theme for something I should like to say, if the Lord will inspire me.
"Contend not with others, but pursue a steady course."
We live in a day of shifting values, of changing standards, of will-o'-the-wisp programs that blossom in the morning and die in the evening. We see this in government, we see it in public and private morality, we see it in the homes of the people; we see it in the churches, and we even see it among some of our own members who are led away by the sophistry of men.
Men everywhere seem to be groping as men in darkness, casting aside the traditions that were the strength of our society, yet unable to find a new star to guide them.
We recently participated in a dedication of the Church pavilion at the Expo '70 world's fair in Japan. One of the speakers was a Japanese government official who warmly complimented the Church on its participation in this exposition, which is devoted almost entirely to man's technical achievements. He deplored the waning influence of religion in the lives of the people of his own nation, with a consequent deterioration of standards and ideals.
It appears to be so everywhere. Some months ago I read a provocative article by Barbara Tuchman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian. Said she:
"When it comes to leaders we have, if anything, a super abundance-hundreds of Pied Piper-ready and anxious to lead the population They are scurrying around, collecting consensus, gathering as wide an acceptance as possible. But what they are not doing very notably is standing still and saying, 'This is what I believe. This I will do and that I will not do. This is my code of behavior and that is outside it. This is excellent and that is trash.' There is an absence of moral leadership in the sense of a general unwillingness to state standards."
She continues, "Of all the ills that our poor... society is heir to, the focal one, it seems to me, from which so much of our uneasiness and confusion derive, is the absence of standards. We are too unsure of ourselves to assert them, to stick by them, if necessary in the cases of persons who occupy positions of authority, to impose them. We seem to be afflicted by a widespread and eroding reluctance to take any stand on any values, moral, behavioral or aesthetic."
While standards generally may totter, we of the Church are without excuse if we drift in the same manner. We have standards-sure, tested, and effective. To the extent that we observe them, we shall go forward. To the extent that we neglect them, we shall hinder our own progress and bring embarrassment to the work of the Lord. These standards have come from him. Some of them may appear a little out of date in our society, but this does not detract from their validity nor diminish the virtue of their application. The subtle reasoning of men, no matter how clever, no matter how plausible it may sound, cannot abridge the declared wisdom of God.
I recently heard the patriarch serving in the Milwaukee Stake, who sits in this hall today, speak a few words that I have not forgotten. Said he: "God is not a celestial politician seeking our vote. Rather, God is to be found, and God is to be obeyed."
The satisfying thing is that obedience brings happiness. It brings peace; it brings growth-all of these to the individual, and his good example brings respect for the institution of which he is a part.
Our adherence to these divinely given standards need never be an offensive thing to those about us. We need not contend with them. But if we will pursue a steady course, our very example will become the most effective argument we could ever advance for the virtues of the cause with which we are associated.
The Lord has given us counsel and commandment on so many things that no member of this church need ever equivocate. He has established our guidelines concerning personal virtue, neighborliness, obedience to law, loyalty to government, observance of the Sabbath day, sobriety and abstinence from liquor and tobacco, the payment of tithes and offerings, the care of the poor, the cultivation of home and family, the sharing of the gospel, to mention only a few.
There need be nothing of argument or contention in any of them. If we will pursue a steady course in the implementation of our religion in our own lives, we shall advance the cause more effectively than by any other means.
There may be those who will seek to tempt us away. There may be those who will try to bait us. We may be disparaged. We may be belittled. We may be inveighed against. We may be caricatured before the world.
There are those, both in the Church and out, who would compel us to change our position on some matters, as if it were our prerogative to usurp authority which belongs alone to God.
We have no desire to quarrel with others. We teach the gospel of peace. But we cannot forsake the word of the Lord as it has come to us through men whom we have sustained as prophets. We must stand and say, to quote again the words of Miss Tuchman: "This is what I believe. This I will do and that I will not do. This is my code of behavior and that is outside it."
There may be times of discouragement and deep concern. There certainly will be days of decision in the lives of each of us. It was ever thus.
Every man and woman in this church knows something of the price paid by our forebears for their faith. I was again reminded of this when I recently read the narrative of my wife's grandmother. I think I would like to share a few words from that story of a 13-year-old girl. She tells of her childhood in Brighton, that delightful city on the south coast of England, where the soft, green hills of Sussex roll down to the sea.
It was there that her family were baptized. Their conversion came naturally because the Spirit whispered in their hearts that it was true. But there were critical relatives and neighbors and even mobs to deride and inflame others against them. It took courage, that rare quality described as moral courage, to stand up and be counted, to he baptized and recognized as a Mormon.
The family traveled to Liverpool, where with some 900 others they boarded the sailing vessel Horizon.
As the wind caught the sails, they sang, "Farewell, My Native Land, Farewell." After six weeks at sea-to cover the distance covered today by a jet plane in six hours-they landed at Boston and then traveled by steam train to Iowa City, for fitting out.
There they purchased two yoke of oxen, one yoke of cows, a wagon, and a tent. They were assigned to travel with and assist one of the handcart companies.
Here at Iowa City also occurred their first tragedy. Their youngest child, less than two years of age, suffering from exposure, died and was buried in a grave never again visited by a member of the family.
Now let me give you the very words of this 13-year-old girl as I read a few lines from her story:
"We traveled from 15 to 25 miles a day... till we got to the Platte River... We caught up with the handcart companies that day. We watched them cross the river. There were great lumps of ice floating down the river. It was bitter cold. The next morning there were fourteen dead... We went back to camp and had our prayers, ... sang 'Come, Come Ye Saints, No Toil Nor Labor Fear.' I wondered what made my mother cry ... The next morning my little sister was born. It was the 23rd of September. We named her Edith. She lived six weeks and died...
" My feet and legs were frozen... The men rubbed me with snow. They put my feet in a bucket of water. The pain was terrible...
"When we arrived at Devils Gate it was bitter cold. We left many of our things there... My brother James... was as well as he ever was when he went to bed. In the morning he was dead...
"My feet were frozen; also my brother's and my sister's. It was nothing but snow. We could not drive the pegs in our tents... We did not know what would become of us. one night a man came to our camp and told us... Brigham Young had sent men and teams to help us... We sang songs, some danced and some cried...
"My mother had never got well. She died between the Little and Big Mountains... She was 43 years of age...
"We arrived in Salt Lake City nine o'clock at night the 11th of December 1856. Three out of the four that were living were frozen. My mother was dead in the wagon...
"Early next morning Brigham Young came... When he saw our condition, our feet frozen and our mother dead, tears rolled down his cheeks...
"The doctor amputated my toes... the sisters were dressing mother for her grave... When my feet were fixed they ... us in to see our mother for the last time. Oh, how did we stand it? That afternoon she was buried.
"I have thought often of my mother's words before we left England. 'Polly, I want to go to Zion while my children are small, so they can be raised in the Gospel of Christ, for I know this is the true church.'"
Thus conclude portions of the narrative of a 13-year-old girl.
I conclude with this question: Should we be surprised if we are called upon to endure a little criticism, to make some small sacrifice for our faith, when our forebears paid so great a price for theirs?
Without contention, without argument, without offense, let us pursue a steady course, moving forward to build the kingdom of God. If there is trouble, let us face it calmly. Let us overcome evil with good. This is God's work. It will continue to strengthen over the earth, touching for good the lives of countless thousands whose hearts will respond to the message of truth. No power under heaven can stop it.
This is my faith and this is my testimony.
God help us to be worthy of the great and sacred commission that is ours, thus to build his kingdom, I humbly pray, as I leave with you my witness and testimony of its divinity, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
Marvin J. Ashton, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 23-25
A few days ago we had another stimulating experience as we visited with some of our young friends. Time was taken not only for group discussions and opinions, but for some private talks as well. We learned again that our choice youth want answers. They want direction. They want acceptance. One young lady impressed us with her very sincere, "Why can't I be the same every day? Some days I feel like I'm on top of the world; other times I'm discouraged and am low, especially on myself."
Brothers and sisters, we are living in a day when there has never been a greater need for moral courage: the courage to continue in righteousness, courage to communicate, courage to have patience, and courage to have childlike faith. May I briefly review with you these important areas where courageous reinforcement is essential.
As we think together of the scope of faithfully continuing in righteousness, important parts must be: courage not to be diverted, courage not to be misled, courage not to stray, and courage to be anxiously engaged in good work. From the eighth chapter of John, verses 31 and 32, we are reminded of the promised blessings in store for those who have the courage to continue. "If you continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." What a joy it is to be associated with members of the Church, young and old, who are continuing in the paths of righteousness. It is a thrill to see our youth in far-off stakes and missions, as well as those nearby, preparing valiantly for temple marriages. Other thousands inspire us as we see them valiantly continuing in their missionary and military services. God will help us continue in his ways if we humbly seek his guidance. Directing our energies in his pathways will bring blessings of genuine joy and happiness. His way is the right way; the right way is the happy way.
We need the courage to communicate through word and deed the great truth, "... I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth." Joseph Smith's prayer in the grove was answered because he had the courage to communicate with unwavering faith. Channels of communication between parents and youth are being effectively opened and used today. Mothers and fathers are getting to know their children better because wise leaders have encouraged the strengthening of the family circle. Where necessary, we challenge our youth to take the lead to see that family home evenings are scheduled and held so that they might learn not only to communicate with family members, but also more purposefully with their Heavenly Father. Many of our youth have done this in the past, and today their parents love them for it. Family home evenings, properly held, will open the channels of communication not only for family members but for God's Spirit as well.
In our work in the Unified Social Services Program of the Church, nothing gives us more satisfaction than to help parents and youth become better acquainted or reacquainted and unitedly start down the paths of safety again together. What a pleasure it was the other day to have a beautiful young 17-year-old high school girl say, "Dad and I no longer have a communication hang-up. Thanks to family home evenings, we are back on the same wave length and are now pretty well tuned in."
One of the greatest blessings that can come to any child is the benefit of being raised in a home where the mother and father love each other. A husband's and wife's love should be warm and sincere. An obvious and sincere love will provide a priceless environment for our children. Children will learn love as they experience it. Earnest communication with others develops a feeling of belonging. It will let others know we care.
Love and compassion are not obsolete or old-fashioned. They are virtues that build understanding and happiness. It is difficult for young people to keep the commandments of God without sharing a feeling of close relationship with their parents and leaders in the Church. Let us look for the best in our children and associates. It is the Lord's will that we build up-not tear down. Our responsibility is to communicate the positive, emphasize the positive, and not be parties to promoting the negative.
We need the courage to have patience, understanding, and compassion. From some of our troubled youth in today's complex society, may I humbly make this request for them to their parents and leaders: "Don't give up on us, don't condemn us, don't resent us. Don't try to get us to conform through sympathy, embarrassment, or ridicule. Instead, give us reasons; give us examples; give us your best you." Let us as parents and leaders so live and lead to merit the gratitude of a grateful teenager's "Thank you for helping me find my way back," or "Thank you for helping me to remain steady." We must learn through patience and understanding to lead our friends. Say the encouraging word at the right time and the right place.
What a thrill it was the other day to be visiting with one of our handsome full-time Navajo Indian missionaries when he said, "The main reason I'm on a mission today is because when I was a small boy, President Spencer W. Kimball came into our home, patted me on the head, placed a silver dollar in my hand, and said, `Take this and start saving for a mission.'" Wrapped up in that example of leadership are all of the important parts: recognition, encouragement, challenge, and example. To bring groups back, we must learn to lead the individual back through patience and love. Good leaders don't give up. Good parents don't give up. Good youth don't give up.
We need the courage to be as a child. "Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God." We need childlike love, childlike repentance, childlike prayers, and childlike faith.
What a warm experience it was a few weeks ago to kneel with a Latter-day Saint family in far-away Uruguay, South America, as we shared the thoughts of an 11-year-old girl who led us in family prayer. Her spirit touched us as she communed with her Heavenly Father in her native Spanish language. At the conclusion of her lovely prayer, we said to her father, "What was it she said in her prayer about the temple?"
He responded with, "She said, 'Help me, Heavenly Father, to be good enough in the way I live so that some day I can marry in the temple.'"
With this childlike faith and daily, sincere preparation, her heart's desire will be possible.
"Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am." What a crowning promise to the faithful! What a blessing for those who will continue! What could be a more effective, humble prayer for us in this troubled day than to ask our Father in heaven to bless us with courage-the courage to so live that we won't be the same every day, but with the Lord's help a little better each day, step by step. It is my hope for us this day that we may show our love and courage by keeping his commandments.
I bear witness to you that this is in very deed the Church of Jesus Christ. I humbly pray that we may courageously continue in his work, walking purposefully in his path, which insures the abundant life, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce R. McConkie, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 26-28
We are all members of the family of God the Eternal Father. We are his spirit children. We lived with him in the family unit before the foundations of this world were laid.
In one of our great doctrinal hymns we sing:
"In the heavens are parents single? No; the thought makes reason stare! Truth is reason, truth eternal Tells me I've a mother there.
"When I leave this frail existence, When I lay this mortal by, Father, Mother, may I meet you In your royal courts on high? Then, at length, when I've completed All you sent me forth to do, With your mutual approbation Let me come and dwell with you." -Hymns, No. 138
While we yet dwelt in his presence, our exalted and eternal Father ordained the plan of salvation, which would enable us to advance and progress and become like him.
This gospel plan offered to all of God's children the privilege of a mortal probation and the hope of eternal life. We were all promised that through the atonement of Christ we would be raised in immortality, and that if we obeyed the laws and ordinances of the gospel we would have eternal life.
Now eternal life is the name of the kind of life which God our Eternal Father lives. Eternal life is God's life, and God's life is eternal life. Thus, if we gain eternal life it will be because we advance and progress and become like him.
President Lorenzo Snow penned these words relative to this glorious hope of gaining eternal life:
"The boy, like to his father grown, Has but attained unto his own; To grow to sire from state of son, Is not 'gainst Nature's course to run.
"A son of God, like God to be, Would not be robbing Deity." -"Man's Destiny," Improvement Era, Vol. 22, p. 661.
Manifestly if we are to become like our Eternal Father, we must become immortal as he is immortal; we must gain the character, perfections, and attributes which he possesses; we must attain the power, glory, and dominion which he enjoys; and we must create for ourselves eternal family units patterned after his eternal family.
Now that gospel which he has restored in this dispensation is a gospel of eternal life. It is the same system of salvation possessed by all the prophets and all the saints in all dispensations. It consists of those laws and powers whereby we may become perfect, even as our Father in heaven is perfect; whereby we can create, perfect, and perpetuate our own eternal family units.
The great work of God our Father was creation. He brought us into being; we were born as members of his family; and by his power the earth and all things thereon came into existence. And God has done his work perfectly.
The great work of Christ was redemption. Through his atoning sacrifice all men are raised in immortality, while those who believe and obey the whole law of the whole gospel are raised unto eternal life. And Christ has done his work perfectly.
The great work of every man is to believe the gospel, to keep the commandments, and to create and perfect an eternal family unit. And the Latter-day Saints are seeking to do their work as near to perfection as they can.
It follows that everything we have in the Church centers around celestial marriage, and that salvation is a family affair.
From the moment of birth into mortality to the time we are married in the temple, everything we have in the whole gospel system is to prepare and qualify us to enter that holy order of matrimony which makes us husband and wife in this life and in the world to come.
Then from the moment we are sealed together by the power and authority of the holy priesthood-the power to bind on earth and have it sealed eternally in the heavens-from that moment everything connected with revealed religion is designed to help us keep the terms and conditions of our marriage covenant, so that this covenant will have efficacy, virtue, and force in the life to come.
Thus celestial marriage is the crowning ordinance of the gospel, the crowning ordinance of the house of the Lord. Thus the family unit is the most important organization in time or in eternity.
And thus we should have more interest in and concern for our families than for anything else in life.
Every major decision should be made on the basis of the effect it will have on the family unit. Our courtship, schooling, and choice of friends; our employment, hobbies, and place of residence; our social life, the organizations we join, and the service we render mankind; and above all, our obedience or the lack of it to the standards of revealed truth-all these things should be decided on the basis of their effect on the family unit.
There is nothing in this world as important as the creation and perfection of family units of the kind contemplated in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
And so, when the Lord speaks to husbands, he says: "Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else".
When his voice is heard by wives, it imposes a similar obligation upon them with reference to their husbands.
To both of them he commands: "Thou shalt not commit adultery or anything like unto it".
When he speaks to parents, he directs them to bring up their children in light and in truth, to teach them the gospel, to set them examples of godly conduct.
When he speaks to children, his decrees are: "Obey your parents in the Lord", and "Honour thy father and thy mother".
When he speaks to families his counsel is: "Love, sustain, and support each other;
"Obey the full gospel law; keep the commandments;
"Strive to perfect the lives of each of your members; strengthen the weak; reclaim your straying loved ones, and rejoice in their renewed spiritual strength;
"Seek your kindred who have not yet received the gospel, and invite them to come unto Christ and partake of his goodness; and
"Reach out to your dead kindred in the world of spirits and make the blessings of the gospel available to them through temple ordinances."
It is written that neither is the man without the woman nor the woman without the man in the Lord. In the perfected church family it might also be said that neither are the parents without the children nor the children without the parents in the Lord's type of family.
The true gospel is family centered. Full salvation consists of the continuation of the family unit in celestial glory. Those for whom the family unit continues have eternal life; those for whom it does not continue do not have eternal life, for heaven itself is but the projection of a Latter-day Saint family into eternity.
That power by which salvation comes is so great that it can make of earth a heaven, and of man, a god.
The noblest concept that can enter the heart of man is the concept that the family unit continues in eternity, and that salvation is a family affair.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Sterling W. Sill
Sterling W. Sill, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 28-30
In Charles Dickens' great book The Tale of Two Cities, he talks about the French revolutionary period of 200 years ago, almost as though he were describing our own day. In establishing the setting for his story, he said: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way."
In our world of contrasts, the hazards frequently become greater as the benefits are increased, and it seems that difficulty is one of the prices that we pay for our blessings. The 12 months lying immediately before us will probably be the greatest period that our world has ever seen. In this coming year more babies will be born than in any other comparable period. More new inventions will be made than ever before. We will learn more new things and have greater material comforts. In the next 12 months more people will go to college, and more people will join the Church of Christ than in any other year. On the other hand, there will probably be more people die than ever before. We may have more troubles, commit more crimes, use more dope, drink more liquor, indulge in more sins, foster more soul-destroying violence, and send a greater number of ourselves to hell, than ever before.
The apostle Paul spotlighted the greatness of our day when he referred to it as the dispensation of the fulness of times, when God would gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are upon the earth. The ancient prophets eagerly looked forward to our time, and many of them almost lived in our day. They knew about our great knowledge explosion and the unheard-of miracles, wonders, and wealth that it would produce. Jesus himself looked beyond the black night of the dark ages, caused by the apostasy from God in the meridian of time, and he saw our day, when the gospel would be restored in a fulness never before known in the world. And as one of the signs preceding his own glorious second coming to the earth, he said, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
Our generation is living on the approaches of the final cleansing that will prepare the earth for its great millennium of peace, when Christ shall reign personally upon the earth for a thousand years. The prophet Malachi describes this part of our future when all corruptible things will he consumed. He says, "... and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple... But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap."
The apostle Paul fills in some of the details by saying, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
These great latter-day events are now well on their way toward fulfillment. The gospel is already going forth under divine command. We are now in the midst of the greatest and the last of all of the dispensations. From many points of view we are presently living in the very best of times. The priesthood is again upon the earth. God has given us three great volumes of new scripture, outlining in every detail the simple principles of the gospel of Christ. The pathway to exaltation is now perfectly marked and brilliantly lighted, so that no one need get off that straight and narrow way except by his own choice. For every point of Christian doctrine, there is now an authoritative statement saying, "Thus saith the Lord." The stone that Daniel envisioned being cut out of the mountain without hands is now rolling toward its divine destiny of filling the whole earth.
But the best of times is also the worst of times. As Jesus looked forward to our day and contemplated our doings, he made a very uncomplimentary comparison to us by saying, "... as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." By their wickedness the antediluvians brought about their own destruction, and many evidences indicate that we are now trembling upon the very brink of a comparable disaster. And yet our day of wonders and enlightenment offers us so much more than any other period since creation. We now have our greatest opportunity to make Christian converts. Now is the best time ever known to make money. And no people have ever had a greater chance to be faithful to God or loyal to the government, nor has anyone ever had a better opportunity to uphold law and order than we now have.
However, simultaneously with these advantages, we are now making our greatest indulgences in idleness, disloyalty, confusion, uncleanness, irresponsibility, and indifference to God. The new morality gives us more freedom to indulge our sins, and it also makes our atheism seem more respectable to us.
Our age is noted for the increased number variety, and intensity of our temptations. Almost everything that we read, hear, or think is likely to have some lurking temptation to draw us downward. But the dictionary says that to tempt is to arouse a desire for, and a desire can go in either direction. However, we frequently forget the temptations upward, while we overindulge ourselves in the temptations or evil. The temptations downward are the temptations of ignorance, the temptations of crime, the temptations of misery, the temptations of eternal damnation. We are filling our minds with delusions. We picture to ourselves how attractive evil is and how difficult it is to live the religion of being honest, fair, decent, and obedient to God. But no temptation is a temptation, unless we are entertaining it.
In denying our own responsibility, we frequently blame Satan for much of the misery that we are bringing upon ourselves. Satan has no power over us except as we give it to him. And temptations without imply desires within; and rather than say, "How powerfully the devil tempts," we might say, "How strongly I am inclined." God never forces us to do right, and Satan has no power to force us to do wrong. As someone has said, "God always votes for us and Satan always votes against us, and then we are asked to vote to break the tie." It is how we vote that gives our lives their significance.
Someone has said:
"All the water in the world, However hard it tried, Could never sink the smallest ship Unless it got inside. And all the evil in the world, The blackest kind of sin, Can never hurt you the least bit Unless you let it in."
The Pacific Ocean may contain more water than the Atlantic Ocean, but it can't sink any ship a bit more easily. And our tremendously increased present-day evils have no more power over us than the ancient temptations had over our fathers, except as we provide them with a more enticing entertainment.
Actually, the greatest of all our opportunities is provided by our exciting present-day temptations upward. And inasmuch as we seem to be temptation prone, we might give more thought to the thrilling temptations to culture, the temptations to happiness, the temptations to honor, the temptations to be like God. The temptations up are far more pleasant and much more profitable than the temptations down. We need to take greater advantage of those challenging temptations to be friends with God.
Because of God's new revelations, it is now no longer necessary to repeat the dark ages' mistakes in Christian doctrines. And in living by every one of God's commandments, we may now more effectively help to bring about our own eternal life. The beast goes down on all fours and thus his vision is cast upon the ground, but man stands upright in the image of his Maker that he may look up to God our Eternal Father. And among the greatest of all our human concepts are the immortality of the human personality and the eternal glory of the human soul. Each of us is a child of God, created in his image and endowed with his attributes and potentialities.
Each of us should cling to our inheritance. There is everything in knowing our inheritance and constantly reaffirming it in our lives. And certainly we should not claim to be children of God and then go about the world acting as though we are orphans or weaklings or cowards or sinners. By an abundance of our good works, we can have our own finest year this year and make for our world the very best of times. We can also help to usher in the age of belief in God, the age of light, the age of reason, and the age of righteousness, as well as to help bring about a millennium of peace on earth and goodwill toward men. And may God grant that it may be so, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Victor L. Brown
Victor L. Brown, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 31-33
In Proverbs we read, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Josh Billings paraphrases this truth: "To bring up a child in the way he should go, travel that way yourself." Travel that way yourself. How many of us are traveling that way ourselves?
I listened to a nationally recognized educator speaking on television. Her subject was marijuana. She said that the use of marijuana was no worse than some other social habits, implying that there was really nothing wrong with young people's smoking marijuana. Recently a national figure holding a responsible position in the government, a position of great influence over what comes into our homes on radio and television, had this to say: "The language I use when I am at a cocktail party is different from that which I use at home, or at church, and I don't see this as being hypocritical." The other day in one of our own communities, some fathers, apparently worked up over some issue, let the air out of the tires of some of the police cars in order to interfere with enforcement of the law, and then the same fathers had great fun telling about it in front of their own sons.
When criticism is leveled at the type of movies shown on the screens today, the movie producers reply that they only produce what the public will buy. Of 21 movies showing locally recently, I could find only three that indicated no restrictions on those attending because of material that might be offensive or objectionable, and these ratings were by the movie industry itself. A scene in one of those admitting all ages, subject only to parental supervision, brought peals of laughter from the audience when the drunk tore the blouse from a woman in an exhibition of abject lust. If this is the kind of entertainment we adults enjoy, how in the world can we teach our children morality?
In my teens I was told a dirty story by an active church leader. Although my memory for stories is notoriously poor, that particular one is still with me, and I remember the name of the man who told it. What kind of example are we as adults? Does our character change with circumstances as the chameleon changes its colors? Does the language we use change to fit the environment? Do we go to movies that appeal to our base animal instincts and cause us to grovel in filth with the authors and actors? Do we break the law because that is the thing the crowd wants to do at the moment, or are we strong enough to stand on our own principles, no matter what the social pressure? These are some of the questions we must ask ourselves if we are to train a child up in the way he should go and travel that way ourselves.
Throughout the Church I hear the comment from stake presidents and bishops, "If we did not have problems with parents, we would not have them with the young people." As a people, we accept today standards of conduct that would have been totally unacceptable yesterday. For example, the filthy, obscene language that is read and heard under the guise of freedom of speech is becoming more and more acceptable in so-called respectable society. Pornography has become a major industry in many parts of the world. The chief psychotherapist at one of Washington's largest hospitals says, "A normal 12- or 13-year-old boy or girl exposed to pornographic literature could develop into a homosexual. You can take healthy boys or girls and by exposing them to abnormalities virtually crystallize and settle their habits for the rest of their lives."
Some are even saying, "What is wrong with becoming a homosexual?" In one church, a leader recently performed a marriage between two male homosexuals. As a matter of fact, some of the world news media made quite a story of it. And yet who is responsible for this moral decay? The children? Hardly. It is we adults, those of us who permit the sale of filth on our newsstands and also permit the broadcasting of it over airways.
Sometime ago, while waiting for my wife to finish her shopping, I looked over the magazine rack in a new supermarket. With one or two exceptions, the covers of the magazines and captions of feature articles dealt with sex in one form or another. This was in a family store in a residential neighborhood. How long do you think these publications would last if we, the adults, did not buy them? What is happening to us that we permit our standards to erode to such a degree? It hasn't happened overnight. No, it has happened so gradually and so subtly that most of us have not even been aware that it has happened at all.
I agree with David Klein that this moral erosion started when "western man began to lose his belief in God as a personal force, as decider of his fate, as ultimate judge of his actions. The idea that God created man became old fashioned; we evolved... Life began to be seen as more or less accidental; sin became a relative, sociological matter, and to many a pure fiction. He still believed in right and wrong, and he still knew when he was doing wrong... but he no longer believed he had offended God by it or incurred His punishment."
Quoting further from Mr. Klein:
"The difference between living this way, and trying to live righteously because God commands it is profound.
"What used to be an offense against God became 'anti-social'; a sin became a crime... Stealing was bad because honesty was the best policy. You tried to avoid being unfaithful to your mate because it might harm your relationship. If you attended religious services, it was to respect a tradition. Virtue became its own inexplicable reward, for there was no other."
There is no stability to this kind of philosophy. It changes with the shifting sands of time, place, and circumstance. It is subject to the whims and habits and philosophies of men. No, there is nothing man can hold onto with the assurance that each principle will withstand the erosion of society. Permissiveness has become so acceptable in the society in which we live that many of us are afraid to establish solid, sound guidelines for ourselves as well as for the youth. How important it is that there be rules and standards by which we live and that these standards be based on solid foundations. There must be meaning to standards. As Mr. Klein said, "If a parent must tell a youngster that his life has no meaning, how can he tell him that he should not take drugs?"
Unless these trends are reversed, nothing but tragedy lies ahead. Great empires have fallen because their people have lost their way. What to do about it? Each adult who touches the life of a young person affects that individual in one way or another. However, the adults who affect the lives of the youth most profoundly for good or ill are parents. If we are to bring up our children in the way they should go and travel that way ourselves, we must turn to the basic, simple, sound, unchanging truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ and make them live in our lives. What we need today are parents who are converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ; who are willing to apply it, believe it, and use it; who pay an honest tithing; who are honest with their neighbors and debtors; who actually sustain the authorities of the Church; and who teach the gospel to their children in such a way that the children will love the Lord.
We need parents with courage, who will stand up and speak up for the right, who are actively involved in government of all levels; parents who are modest in dress, speech, and conduct; parents who are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ; parents who teach their children that we do have a Father in heaven, that we are his spirit children, that he has placed us here on earth for a great and glorious purpose, that he loves us, that he has given us commandments along with our free agency, that we will receive rewards and judgments based on our own actions; parents who accept all of the commandments as having come from God, to be obeyed for that reason if for no other; parents who have no other gods before the Lord, who do not commit adultery, who do not steal, who do not covet their neighbor's wife or husband, who do not bear false witness against their neighbor; parents who love the Lord their God with all their heart, and with all their soul, and with all their mind, and who love their neighbor as themselves.
It is my conviction, and I bear my witness, that this is the only pathway to the salvation of mankind, in this life as well as the life to come, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Loren C. Dunn
Loren C. Dunn, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 33-35
You were born on the 23rd of December, 1805, in the town of Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont.
Your father was a farmer, a respectable farmer but of somewhat humble circumstances.
You spent the early years of your life on your father's farm, which was nestled in the rolling, green hills of the state of Vermont. When you were nearly ten years old, your family moved to what is now called Wayne County in upstate New York, where your family again pursued the occupation of farming; and to help supplement the family income, you worked for other farmers in the nearby area.
Some five years after you moved to New York, there commenced a great religious revival in your area; and great multitudes united themselves to different religious parties as a result of this religious fervor.
At first there was unity between the different sects, but as time went on they contended against each other in hopes of winning additional converts.
You are in your fifteenth year now, and your father's family, along with all of the families in the area, is proselyted by the religious faiths.
The confusion it creates leads you to say, "Who of all these parties is right?"
While seeking an answer, you come across a passage of scripture in the Bible that says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to yours.
In compliance with the biblical admonition, you retire to the woods not far from your home on the morning of a beautiful, clear spring day in 1820; and you pour out your heart to your Father in heaven in prayer.
To your astonishment, you see a pillar of light exactly over your head above the brightness of the sun, and it descends gradually until it falls upon you. When the light is rested upon you, you see two personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above you in the air.
One of them speaks, calling you by name, saying, "This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" You are in the presence of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ.
As you gain your composure, you ask the question as to which of all the sects you should join.
You are instructed to join none of them. You are given other instructions before the great vision closes.
A few days later you recount this vision to a minister, and to your surprise, he treats the whole thing not only lightly but with great contempt. Word of the vision spreads, and you undergo great persecution.
A few who know you, such as the farmer for whom you work, stand by you and refer to your experience as "the sweet dream of a pure-minded boy."
But for the most part you undergo great persecution and are astonished that an obscure boy like you between 14 and 15 years of age could be the object of such bitter persecution and especially from men of high standing. This causes you to say in your heart, Why persecute me for telling the truth?
For you had seen a vision, you knew it, and you knew that God knew it, and you could not deny it, neither dared you deny it without coming under the condemnation of God. Nonetheless, the persecution continued.
It is on the evening of the 21st of September, 1823, that you are given further divine instructions as an answer to your prayers. An angel appears, identifying himself as the Angel Moroni.
He tells you the Lord has a work for you to do, and he proceeds to describe the location of gold plates that are buried in a nearby hill. You are told these plates contain a record of God's dealings with a generation that once lived and flourished on the American continent. These gold plates are ultimately entrusted to you, and by the gift and power of God you translate them into a volume that becomes known as the Book of Mormon.
You discover that this book verifies the truths of the Bible. It establishes the reality of the death, burial, resurrection, and teachings of Jesus Christ. It spells out in detail what a man must do to gain salvation, and it offers all men a simple test to determine whether or not the volume is true-even a test of faith and prayer and reading.
The sacred record speaks of baptism, and it becomes evident that divine authority is necessary to carry out divine ordinances. In order to fulfill this part of the restoration, you are visited by a personage who identifies himself as John the Baptist, who bestows upon you this authority to baptize and perform other ordinances of the priesthood of Aaron.
It is shortly after this that Peter, James, and John, angelic beings sent from God, confer upon you the priesthood of Melchizedek in order that the full and complete authority to act in the name of God might be restored to the earth.
It is on April 6, 1830, at Fayette, Seneca County, State of New York, that you organize The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under divine direction.
In 1830 you count six original members of the Church. One year later over 2,000 members attend the second annual conference.
As the Church grows, persecution grows. You organize in New York, but persecution soon causes you to remove the headquarters of the Church to Kirtland, Ohio. Finally, as persecution still follows your beleaguered Saints, you push further toward the frontiers of the growing country, and the Church is moved to Missouri.
Ultimately you direct the Saints to drain a swamp on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River and build a city, which at the time is to become larger than the city of Chicago-Nauvoo is its name.
You enjoy peace for a time, and the worldwide missionary work goes on; yet the storms of persecution begin to gather again. Charges and counter-charges are made. Through the evil designs of men, you have already been arrested 37 times and acquitted each time.
You are asked to come to Carthage to stand trial but are fearful because of the ruthless, unlawful nature of the mobs. Nevertheless, on June 24, 1844, you and several associates set out for Carthage. You mention that you are going like a lamb to the slaughter, but you are calm as a summer's morning.
You arrive in Carthage, and you are immediately arrested. The governor of the state promises you protection, but this does not materialize.
And now, it is a hot, sultry, summer afternoon, June 27, 1844. A mob assembles and storms the jail, bursting past the jailer, firing shots through the door and through the window.
Your brother Hyrum is shot dead in your sight, and one other person is wounded. You spring to the window and are struck immediately by three shots. You utter your last mortal words, "Oh Lord, my God," and fall dead.
Yes, your name is Joseph Smith, Jr., Prophet of the living God, and though you seal your testimony with your blood, the Church of Jesus Christ goes on. Today nearly three million revere you as a prophet, seer, revelator; and thousands each year are added to that number. You restored the Church and kingdom of God under the direction of Jesus Christ.
Your message concerning the Savior can be summarized best in your own words: "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
"For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father-
"That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God."
I bear my witness to you that Joseph Smith is a prophet of the living God. I bear sacred witness that the power and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ remain in this church. I bear sacred witness that Joseph Fielding Smith is a prophet of God today. The Lord has spoken, and we have a new prophet, seer, and revelator. I bear witness that the Church of Jesus Christ is led by Jesus Christ. I bear sacred witness that God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ live. I know they live. I know God lives, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Alvin R. Dyer
Alvin R. Dyer, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 36-38
According to the reckoning of man, we are living in the year of 1970 in the twentieth century. According to the prophets who have been given revelation from God on the subject, we are living in that period of time designated as the last dispensation, also referred to as the "dispensation of the fulness of times."
The importance of this period of time, which will be the "finishing or end thereof," can be judged by the words of the Lord unto the Prophet Joseph Smith on the subject, part of which I shall quote:
"... for it is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the present time. And not only this, but those things which never have been revealed from the foundation of the world."
Some who are not of our conviction ask the question, "If, as you say, we are living in the last dispensation, what has transpired to bring this period of time upon us?"
The answer primarily concerns a restoration of the truths of salvation. It is now 150 years since the initial event connected with the unfolding of this period transpired.
In the spring of 1820, God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ appeared in a grove of trees near the home of Joseph Smith at Palmyra, New York. This sacred interview revealed the following:
1. The truth about the nature, character, personality, and identity of God the Father and of his Son Jesus Christ.
2. That he, Joseph Smith, had been chosen and foreordained to be the instrument of God to establish the last dispensation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
3. That the professed Christian churches then upon the earth did not have the truths in them that were about to be restored.
4. That the professors, or ministers thereof, were not in possession of the divine truths of redemption and therefore could not teach them.
5. That the people, though claiming membership in Christ's church, drew near to the Lord with their lips but their hearts were far from him, meaning that the sealing ordinances were not known of.
6. That the so-called Christian churches taught for doctrine the commandments of men.
7. That they had a form of godliness but denied the power thereof.
Each of the declarations which the Lord made to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove has far-reaching meaning and is to have full effect upon the plan of salvation in this final dispensation of the gospel. The answers which the Lord gave were not a disparagement of the existing Christian bodies who had departed from the truth, though, as announced by him, they were all wrong in teachings and practices intended to redeem mankind. There was no vindictive reprisal announced by the Lord against Christian societies who were using his name, some no doubt sincerely, but who were fully unaware of the truth of his person and real mission pertaining to the plan of salvation as contained in his gospel.
Truly, among these very societies of Christian believers were many noble spirits who, upon hearing the truths of the restoration, were to accept them and abide by the commandments and teachings related to this important period of the restitution of all things. Many of them would themselves become leaders and promulgators of the cause of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
As this sacred interview unfolded on that beautiful spring morning of 1820, the glory of the last dispensation of mortal time was inaugurated. The truth about the personage of God and his Son Jesus Christ and their glorious plan of redemption was once again placed upon the threshold of human understanding. Like unto other great prophets of ages past, in the pattern of God's way, there awaited this earnest young prophet, as also upon subsequent divinely appointed occasions, the revelation of eternal truths from God necessary for man's salvation and exaltation.
The appearance of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ to Joseph Smith, while giving answer to his simple faith and prayer, proved to be of far greater significance than that which he could possibly have anticipated, for the time had come to usher in the final period of preparation in the culmination of God's work for his children here upon the earth. Joseph Smith was chosen and had been foreordained to be a prophet and instrument through whom God would establish his kingdom here upon the earth as it had been in former intermittent dispensations. But this final one was to be characterized by even greater truth, for it is the dispensation of the fulness of times. It is the depository period when all truths, all laws, all covenants, all promises made by God our Heavenly Father in the premortal period of earth-life preparation, and revealed in part to man at various times in mortality for the redemption and glorification of his spirit children, are now to be fully revealed and made available to mankind. The Lord had thus spoken unto the Prophet Joseph Smith.
At the end of a ten-year period of instruction, commandment, and revelation, together with the conferment of all necessary keys and powers for the establishment of Christ's church upon the earth, the Lord proclaimed the following revelation to Joseph Smith as preparations were made for the organization of the Church on April 6, 1830, at Fayette, Seneca County, New York: "And gave unto him commandments which inspired him;
"And gave him power from on high, by the means which were before prepared, to translate the Book of Mormon;
"Which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also;
"Which was given by inspiration, and is confirmed to others by the ministering of angels, and is declared unto the world by them-
"Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old;
"Thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever. Amen.
"Therefore, having so great witnesses, by them shall the world be judged, even as many as shall hereafter come to a knowledge of this work.
"And those who receive it in faith, and work righteousness, shall receive a crown of eternal life;
"But those who harden their hearts in unbelief, and reject it, it shall turn to their own condemnation."
As the holy scriptures have so abundantly attested to, the period of time in which we now live is beset with influences and movements intended by the forces of evil to frustrate and to interfere with the forces of good and enlightenment that are associated with a dispensation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and especially this one since it is the last one.
It is not difficult to detect these evil forces at work and to observe their centralization in the human behavioral areas, such activities which destroy moral and spiritual values. Human behavior can be noble and lofty, following the patterns which God has given us, but when these patterns are mutated by perspectives of evil that are aimed at the destruction of the fundamental right of agency and spiritual freedom, the result will be as it ever has been, that of decay and retrogression.
The conditions of worldwide turbulence and the unrest of today are but preliminary to the time of devastation which the Master, whose glorious resurrection we particularly recall at this time of year, himself declared will transpire in the sequence of the Lord's time, and according to the density of men's wickedness upon the earth.
We are to be assured that even in the midst of turmoil and strife, the loss of faith and hope by many, the acceleration of evil among the masses, the plan of God moves relentlessly forward. The plan of redemption for those who will accept and live by it is operative today upon the earth. The way remains open for the repentant and seekers of truth; the gospel plan with all its persuasive power can save and redeem.
The work of God in this crucial period is going forward in seeking out the righteous and honest in heart throughout the world. Concerning its ultimate victory, the Lord directed this compelling statement to the Prophet Joseph Smith, with the quoting of which I shall conclude my remarks.
"The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught.
"For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round.
"Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men."
I bear testimony of the power of the priesthood that is upon the earth, of the prophet of God who is upon the earth who sits upon this stand, and of the work that is going forth in this the last dispensation of time, and I do it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Boyd K. Packer
Boyd K. Packer, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 40-43
Brethren: Tonight I wish to speak to the boys and to the young men of the Aaronic Priesthood. Before you lies the path to manhood. It is an uphill course-uphill all the way. But as you climb, you become ever stronger and rise ever higher.
There are some foothills of life that almost every young man will climb. They are the hills of missionary service, of military service, of education, and the highest of them all is the mountain of eternal marriage. It will take a lifetime and more to climb, but it will lead you literally to celestial heights.
There are steep and dangerous places along the way, but somehow the paths that go around these hills, the easy roads, lead downward. All seem to end in the stagnant swamps of failure.
I've been across the hills of military service and would like to relate an experience to you young men. During the winter of 1943, World War II was raging in full intensity. I had enlisted in the air force and was assigned to Thunderbird Field, near Scottsdale, Arizona. We were training in open-cockpit steerman trainers.
One day there was a crash, and one of our classmates lost his life. Flight schedules were immediately intensified. This was war and no time to let anyone get jittery.
The cadets in our class had all soloed, and that afternoon found us practicing landings at an auxiliary field. At the close of the day it was my assignment to take one of the planes across the valley to the main field.
Out of curiosity, I decided to fly over the crash site. It was plainly visible from the air. One could see the spot where the plane had hit, burst into flames, and skidded across the desert floor, burning the chaparral in a long, sooty smear. My curiosity satisfied, I then headed for the main base.
We had been taught the various maneuvers: stalls, loops, spins. In order to lose altitude to enter the landing pattern, I decided to put the plane into a practice spin. That is the quickest way, of course, to lose altitude.
In attempting a recovery from the spin, I was clumsy and over-corrected. Instead of a recovery, the plane shuddered violently, stalled, and then flipped over into a secondary spin. Never have I known such panic. I found myself clawing at the controls.
I really don't know what happened. I think probably I let go of the controls. The plane was used heavily as a trainer because it had the capacity almost to fly itself if you'd leave it alone. Finally the plane pulled out in a long, sweeping skid, just feet above the desert floor.
I quickly recovered my composure and made a normal landing, with the hope that no one had seen the circus performance!
No doubt you have had a frightening experience where shock set in afterwards. Long into the night I experienced almost the same panic as I had in the plane.
My buddy, a member of the Church from southern Utah, was sleeping in the lower bunk and was awakened by my restlessness. I told him what had happened and asked, "What did I do wrong?"
He then told me that his instructor, early in their flight training, had warned them against just such a happening. He had pointed out to them the singular danger of a secondary spin. He had taken each of his students up and demonstrated how to recover should it happen. This training, this warning, had insured him against mortal danger.
There arose in me an intense resentment for my instructor. Why hadn't he told us? Another second or two in that spin, and-well, you would have been spared listening to me. His negligence as an instructor had come that close to costing me my life.
Great responsibility rests upon those of us who are leaders and teachers and instructors in the Church. Against the possibility that one of you, if unwarned, may, as you enter military service, spiritually falter, or stall, or spiritually "spin-in," a wonderful program has been prepared. It will see you safely through the adventure of military service.
We regard you as the finest generation of young men the Church has ever known. I have heard the Brethren comment on experiences of exceptional inspiration with our teenagers and college-age youth.
We have great confidence in you. Will you help us take care of you and assist us with your buddies? We'll do all we can to meet you at every crossroad with guidance and help. If you will volunteer before you leave home to be active and to help with the less active, much of the battle will have been won.
We ask that you subscribe for The Improvement Era and Church News yourself. Pay for it yourself before you leave for military service. Take the responsibility for changing the address when you move.
We are asking you to find the Church-look for it-it isn't difficult to find. But many have failed because they have waited and waited to be found-and no one knew they were there.
There's an old Chinese proverb that says: Man who sits with open mouth waiting for roast duck to fly in has long hunger!
Yesterday we delivered to each of the Regional Representatives of the Twelve a kit of materials with all of the necessary instructions to hold a pre-service Church orientation for every member of the Church entering military service. He was given a recorder, tapes, instructional manuals, and supplies.
We're happy to announce to you that within the next few weeks in every area of the Church where there is a need, this pre-service orientation will be held regularly, so that a young man going into military service will receive about three hours of important instruction.
Your home teacher plays a vital role in this program. Be sure you keep him informed of your plans. He in turn can advise you when this orientation session will be held. He can even assist in arranging transportation for you.
To help the home teacher, there is a series of brochures printed on a number of subjects. Among nearly a dozen titles in print is this brochure: Suggestions to Priesthood Home Teachers-'What Can I Do to Help a Boy Entering or Serving in the Military Service.' On the front cover is the statement: "One of my families has a boy in the service and another boy who is about to be drafted. I'd like to help these boys."
As the home teacher opens the cover, there are important suggestions for him. Every home teacher in the Church should have one of these brochures, and for that matter, the other brochures also. The bishop or his executive secretary can order them from Church Distribution. Pretty expensive, though-they cost 2¢ apiece.
Did you know that the executive secretary in the ward and stake, whose major assignment is home teaching, has been appointed adviser to the bishopric and stake presidency on military relations? You can see the correlation in operation there. It's his job to see that the bishop or stake president knows of every man leaving for military service-even if it is just to summer camp.
Another major phase of the program begins as soon as you enter the service. When you are at basic training, there will be a special course of instruction, teaching you how to find the Church in the military service; the wise use of leisure time; how to conduct meetings; your missionary opportunities; and a number of other things. Perhaps you'll be fortunate enough to be stationed where we have a Latter-day Saint chaplain. Presently we have 30 on active duty.
We have young men serving in military service from many countries in the world. This program is prepared so that it may be adapted to meet the circumstances in every country.
Some of you will have served full-time missions prior to entering military service. In that case, this service can be like a second mission.
Many of the mission fields of the Church have been opened by servicemen-in fact, all of them in Asia. These have been the result of Latter-day Saint servicemen living exemplary lives.
Before you go into military service, each of you will be invited to speak in a sacrament meeting. In fact, your bishops have been instructed to regard you much the same as they would a man departing for the mission field.
The home teachers must be alert and notify the bishop in order that every young man leaving for military service, though it be for six months' national guard training, can be invited to speak in a sacrament meeting.
Some of you who have served missions have had your temple endowments. There will be a question in your minds on the wearing of the temple garment while serving in the military service. The bishop of your ward, or the president of your branch, has a letter of instruction for you. In the interview that he has with every man leaving for military service, you will be invited to read the letter. It will answer your questions concerning this important matter.
The First Presidency has declared our determination "in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law" and had stated, "We believe our young men should hold themselves in readiness to respond to the call of their government to serve in the armed forces."
Great effort is being put forth so that if you are called to serve in the military, you may have the blessings of advancement in the Church similar to the blessings you would have in civilian life.
In conclusion I return again to the experience mentioned in the beginning. I resented my instructor because he had failed in his duty to warn me of a mortal danger. The next few days I wasn't very good at flying. I was tense and tied up and frightened. After a particularly bad flight, my instructor said, "What's the matter with you, Packer? You're no good at this. Why can't you loosen up? You keep this up and we're going to wash you right out of the program." I was afraid to tell him what was the matter. And then he said, "I have a special assignment for you this weekend. I want you to go into Phoenix and get right good and drunk. You go get loosened up and relax, and we can maybe make a pilot of you."
You'd have to know how much I wanted those silver wings to know what a trial that became. I could see the thing that I then wanted more than any other thing on earth slipping away from me. There was a great temptation to follow his advice. To imbibe in those spirits would loosen me up, he thought, and restore the confidence I had lost. But those spirits are counterfeit spirits. They lift you, to drop you all the lower.
We did go to Phoenix that weekend, but we sought the other kind of spirit in association with brethren in the priesthood and with members of the Church in worship service. There came an inspiration and a restoration of confidence. There came an assurance that has sustained me ever since.
It was in the military service that I came to know for sure that Jesus is the Christ that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, that there stands at the head of the Church a prophet of God, and that our Father in heaven will hear and answer prayers and sustain us as we answer the call to enter military service. Of this I bear testimony in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President S. Dilworth Young
S. Dilworth Young, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 43-44
I shall begin by quoting a scripture that you all know very well:
"Therefore, let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling; and let not the head say unto the feet it hath no need of the feet; for without the feet how shall the body be able to stand?"
The scriptures declaring the prime importance and necessity of the seventies being in the missionary service are clear and to the point. I shall give you but one example:
"The Seventy are to act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Twelve or the traveling high council, in building up the church and regulating all the affairs of the same in all nations, first unto the Gentiles and then to the Jews."
However, the application of the missionary program of the Church changes as generations and conditions change. For example, we stressed the doctrine of gathering in a previous generation, so it did not matter much where converts were made, rural or urban. They gathered to Zion. Today we do not gather. Converts are encouraged to build the Church in their home districts; and so we stress proselyting in ever-widening concentric circles with the meetinghouse as a center. Where once the missionaries had no help from the ward or branch, its auxiliaries or its people, now the whole stake missionary system is organized around the wards and branches, their buildings and their people, to work within the framework of priesthood correlation.
Where once members helped missionaries by giving them meals, now members are the best sources of finding people to whom the missionaries might teach the gospel. Because of the growth of the Church, we can correlate the vast missionary system with the wards and stakes and use these units to accelerate and implement our proselyting purposes.
There have been great changes in the organization of our units. Where once the bishop had inadequate help and felt no responsibility for missionary work, now the whole missionary program centers in the bishop and his helpers in the highly functional meetinghouse and well-organized auxiliary programs. How, then, can the proselyting purposes of the Lord be best served in our present situation, keeping in mind the special calling of the seventies? Here are some suggestions:
1. Have seventies presidents serve as group leaders. The presidents of the quorums of seventy should be so selected that, as nearly as possible, they can serve as group leaders in their wards. Remember that all the missionary work in a stake is done in its wards. Certainly the seventy presidents should direct the missionary work of their own quorum members in the wards in cooperation, of course, with the bishops.
2. Implement effective methods for finding investigator families. The effort to find prospective converts usually takes up to 80 percent of a missionary's time in any mission. Fifty years ago it took from 90 to 100 percent. I as a missionary spent a hundred percent of my time finding people. The seventies in the quorum are living in the various wards and should be the backbone of the finding program in each ward. At all times each seventy and his family should be making friends with and warming up two or more families of nonmembers.
Furthermore, because of the every-member-a-missionary program of the Church, each home teacher should be urging the families under his care to find and make friends with non-member families also. He should also teach his families the techniques to help them cultivate these nonmember families. The group leader of the seventy who is the ward missionary representative should be alert to this need in the whole ward and keep the bishop not only informed, but help him to acquaint the other ward priesthood groups with methods whereby they also can assist in this great finding program.
3. Use correlation principles in quorum organization. To make missionary correlation effective in the wards of the stake, it follows that the stake mission presidency should be included among the presidents of the quorum of the seventy. It would be expected that this mission presidency would be chosen from the best available seventies or elders. If elders, they would be ordained seventies and placed in the quorum presidency. In those stakes where the nonmember population is so large that the members of the stake mission presidency would have their time fully taken with the work of proselyting, they should be excused from group leadership. The quorum presidents should then recommend group leaders from among the members of the group, and after approval of the stake presidency, should install them. These group leaders should meet with the quorum council on a regular basis to correlate the work of the quorum in all wards.
4. Enlist aid of auxiliary organizations. The seventy group leader would be expected to lead out with suggestions to the ward auxiliary leaders about correlating their programs to assist in finding prospective members. These programs may also be of great help in preparing people for baptisms if they are used with wisdom. I do not have time to give an illustration of that particular point.
5. Understand functions of missionary work in a stake. Missionary work is divided into three main functions:
a. Finding. The objective of "every member a missionary" makes every member responsible for finding investigators and for preparing them to receive the missionary lessons. To prepare the members for this important function is the duty of the home teachers serving those members, who should, themselves, be prepared with helps and guides by the seventies group leader.
b. Teaching. The stake and full-time missionaries are responsible for teaching the gospel to those whom the finders have made ready. This centers in the presentation of the lessons with such additional or preliminary discussions as circumstances may warrant.
C. Fellowshipping. This is the responsibility of the home teachers. It might be well to assign seventies to these new families to help orient them, preferably the same seventies who helped to convert them.
One of the great responsibilities of home teachers is to convert the non-members in the part-member families. These teachers should be seventies where available. With these families, the seventies can use their missionary finding techniques to good advantage.
Missionary work may be done by priesthood holders other than seventies and by women, but the chief responsibility rests on the seventies.
The stake president has the basic responsibility for the successful operation of the missionary work in the stake. This missionary work is administered through the stake priesthood executive committee and the stake correlation council, with the high counselor assigned to work with the seventies and the stake mission serving as adviser to the stake president on missionary matters.
The bishop has the responsibility for successful operation of missionary work in the ward, including the fellowshipping of new converts. Missionary work in the ward is administered through the ward priesthood executive committee and the ward council, with the seventies group leader as adviser to the bishop on missionary matters.
In wards where full-time missionaries are working, the seventies group leader should hold a ward missionary correlation meeting. It might well be attended by all stake and full-time missionaries working in the ward area.
In every ward it should be determined how many possible investigators are available to be taught, and then a program should be set up which will cause, so far as possible, an even flow of investigators for the stake and full-time missionaries. Families who are cultivating nonmembers under the inspiration of their home teachers, and seventies who are engaged in the program for finding families, should correlate their efforts through the ward executive committee to bring this about.
On the stake level, the quorum council should invite the attendance of full-time mission district and zone leaders when correlating missionary work in the stake.
Do you not see, my brethren of the seventies, that when the great majority of all missionary work is devoted to finding people and persuading them to listen-and you are charged with that finding-you are for all practical purposes the stake mission. The other smaller percentage, and the very important percentage-the teaching-is yours as soon as you will qualify yourselves for that part. Some of you are now qualified. The members of the mission presidency are your leaders.
Many years ago I worked for a period of time on a cow ranch, at the art of working with cattle. I was a cow-puncher. In a corral set to one side was a fine-looking, pureblood horse with a well-cared-for coat, pared hoofs, and combed mane and tail. He was the pride of the boss, who rode him when he went on fence inspection or in rodeo parades in town. There came a day, however, when there was an emergency. He had to ride after cattle, and he had to use this horse. For an hour and a half the horse led the roundup and then, all lather, sweat, and foam, gave out and could not be pushed another step. The rattail cayuses of the other punchers, hardened and toughened from daily, hard driving, easily passed the pureblood horse.
The sad thing is that the pureblood had more real quality than the range horses, but by nonuse was soft muscled and had no endurance. Had he been used, learned to dodge gopher holes, rushed pell-mell downhill, over and through brush, been skinned and bumped, fallen down, gotten up, been toughened by adversity and some failures, he would have outworked and outdistanced the other horses.
The moral is clear, I suppose. Don't leave your cow horses in the corral or hitch them to wagons doing other things if you want them to find and round up the cattle.
I testify that the Lord has spoken in this day and has given us the precious charge of preaching the gospel to the world under the direction of the First Presidency and the Twelve. I sustain them with all my heart, and the First Council sustains them with all its heart. I bear my witness that President Joseph Fielding Smith is the chosen successor to President McKay, and that his counselors are also called of God. They have not only my support, but also they have my deep and abiding love. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop John H. Vandenberg
John H. Vandenberg, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 46-49
My heart, along with your hearts, I am sure, has been softened tonight by hearing these wonderful boys, their sweet, mellow voices. And I want to tell them that they may consider themselves to be successful. I think back on something I read a few years ago. It was published in Washington, D. C. They had had a spelling bee, and a young man had won the spelling bee. Immediately thereafter a reporter went up to him and said, "Now, young man, to what do you attribute your success?" And he came right back and he said, "To my wonderful, overbearing mother."
I wonder tonight how many mothers have been associated with these boys in having them come to their practices. A boy and a mother can reach every goal they try for. Perhaps that is the key to success. But what happens when a boy is left alone? I believe we might get the sad story from the words of Benjamin Disraeli, who at 22 wrote these words:
"The disappointment of manhood succeeds to the delusion of youth. Let us hope that the heritage of old age is not despair." Thus he seemed to recognize that when one's life is built upon delusion, or false belief, it will only bring grief. Eighteen years later, at age 40, he recorded: "Youth is a blunder; manhood a struggle; old age a regret." These sad words were written over a hundred years ago, but delusions are still with us. Webster defines delusion as "something accepted as true or real that is actually false or unreal."
Abraham Lincoln gave an example of delusion when he asked on one occasion: "How many legs would a sheep have if we called the tail a leg?" When the answer, "Five," was given, he corrected it by explaining that just calling the tail a leg didn't make it one.
The dean of students of a western university prepared a list of what he calls the ten delusions of youth. At the top of his list is the delusion that "there is no eternal truth." The dean claims that many youth today have been misled into believing that there is no eternal truth, because they are deceived. They assume everything changes, including the nature of man and the Ten Commandments. This delusion may come from seeing a world moving so fast that it seems impossible to find stability.
There are many kinds of eternal truth, and all are important. When God releases truth to the earth, it is available to all, and discovery is almost simultaneous in many advanced scientific nations. Evidences of such physical truths are all about us, probably one of the most obvious being the electric light, discovered by Thomas A. Edison by going through certain physical processes. Edison was acclaimed a genius at incorporating true scientific principles in practical devices. An excerpt from the New York Times in September 1882 describes the early use of "Edison's Electric Lamp" as follows:
"It was not until about 7 o'clock, when it began to grow dark, that the electric light really made itself known and showed how bright and steady it is. Then the 27 electric lamps in the editorial rooms and the 25 lamps in the counting-rooms made those departments as bright as day, but without any unpleasant glare. It was a light that a man could sit down under and write for hours without the consciousness of having any artificial light about him... the light was soft, mellow, and grateful to the eye... without a particle of flicker and with scarcely any heat to make the head ache."
What a marvelous invention! What a great light this was, compared to the gas lights of earlier days. And yet this artificial light, or any other of the millions of physical scientific advancements, cannot compare to the living light of eternal, spiritual truth.
Said one man: "It matters nothing that the Greeks counted the stars in the thousands, we the galaxies in the millions. The human heart, its needs and longings, have always been the same." To know the truth. Changes will come through discovery and research of temporal things, but let us not confuse such temporal changes with the consistency of eternal truth.
Truth is eternal, since God is the source of truth. In his answer to Thomas' inquiry-"Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?"-Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life."
You see, Jesus is the authority on truth and life, and he wants each of us to make inquiry. He wants youth to know how things really are, how they came to be as they are, how they will be in the future. This is no different from the youth of yesteryear. God has planted in the heart of every man the longing to inquire and to know.
"... seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."
The late John A. Widtsoe said: "A Sunday wish will not suffice. It must be an all-consuming, consistent desire." God has been very generous in calling on youth when revealing his truths. Consider Samuel, who, as a youngster, when God called him, answered, "Speak,; for thy servant heareth". This was his introduction to a knowledge that God lives and was the beginning of his noble, prophetic life.
Consider Nephi, who, in his young years, said to his father, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded." Nephi gained a knowledge far greater than most men achieve. His whole life was that of a prophet.
Consider Jesus, at the age of 12, discussing truth with the learned men in the temple, astounding them. When approached by his parents, he said, "... wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"
Consider Saul of Tarsus, a young man who was misled and erroneously convinced that the Christians should be destroyed. He took up the chase but was interrupted by Jesus' appearing to him in a vision on the road to Damascus, that he might know the truth. Then, knowing the truth, he lost no time in preparing himself for the ministry. Standing in the midst of Mars Hill, he said, "Ye men of Athens I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
"For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you."
Paul, formerly Saul, continued his ministry for about 28 years, and in his letter to Timothy he wrote: "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."
Consider Joseph Smith, who at 14 found the source of all knowledge when he read from James, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God."
It was in search of truth that Joseph, 150 years ago, knelt in a grove of trees to pray. Joseph came from a religious family and had studied the Bible, but the several denominations of churches interpreted the scripture so differently that he found it impossible to determine which was right.
What Joseph expected and hoped to learn in answer to his sincere prayer for knowledge was that either the Baptist, the Methodist, the Presbyterian, or some other religion he was acquainted with was true. The revelation that he received was totally unexpected and overpowering. But he could not deny it, for it came directly from God and his Son Jesus Christ. As a result of that humble inquiry, God reestablished his kingdom on earth with the attendant authority to administer its affairs, beginning with the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood by John the Baptist as he spoke these words to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery: "Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness."
And now let us consider youth today. There is a body of young men, 186,000 plus, who have been ordained and who now bear the Aaronic Priesthood. Many of these young men are within this vast audience tonight. God has confidence in you and has called you to his ministry. He has faith in you. He trusts you not only to do your duty, but also to set the right example to the young ladies with whom you associate. He has given you his power on earth, the same power by which this earth and other worlds were created; the same power by which the waters of the Red Sea were parted; the same power by which Elijah sealed the heavens so that no rain fell upon the earth; the same power by which Jesus gave sight to the blind, legs to the lame, and new life to the dead. This is the truth that you should seek after-to know God and his plan of eternal life.
Remember-people cannot change truth, but truth can change people. You will experience this as you continue in your ministry.
Prepare yourselves to declare the gospel to the nations of the earth. You will witness the change that takes place in the lives of those who listen to your testimonies. Missionaries live with these experiences and love them. Many young people, and particularly those who bear the priesthood, are missionaries at home, among their associates, mainly by the way they live Jesus said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Latter-day Saints are not misled. We have the Bible. We have the Book of Mormon. We have the book of modern revelations known as the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Each of us has the privilege and responsibility of communicating directly with our Father in heaven through prayer. We have a living prophet who receives revelation from God in this day to guide us in this fast-moving world. Always follow the leadership of the First Presidency and the Brethren, and you need not fear the decisions of today.
Some young people are carried away by another delusion and cry: "My life is my own!" Your life is not really your own. It was given to you by your earthly parents, as well as by your heavenly parents. And when you act contrary to the wishes of your earthly and heavenly parents, there is sorrow.
Hearts of parents everywhere were touched by the anguished cry of a governor of one of our states whose son was arrested for stealing. This man said, in speaking at a PTA meeting, that there is no greater blessing that parents can have than to have all their children living good lives. "If you have that great blessing," he said, "you should thank God every day of your lives." All good parents feel this way about their children. David Klein, in an article entitled "Is There a Substitute for God?" printed in the Reader's Digest, says: "And yet the questions remain. Anyone who can contemplate the eye of a housefly, the mechanics of human finger movement, the camouflage of a moth, or the building of every kind of matter from variations in arrangement of proton and electron, and then maintain that all this design happened without a designer, happened by sheer, blind accident-such a person believes in a miracle far more astounding than any in the Bible. To regard man, with his arts and aspirations, his awareness of himself and of his universe, his emotions and his morals, his very ability to conceive an idea so grand as that of God, to regard this creature as merely a form of life somewhat higher on the evolutionary ladder than the others, is to create questions more profound than those answered."
Be not deluded, brethren; know that truth is eternal. Believe in God. And be eternally grateful that God believes in you. To this truth I testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Henry D. Taylor
Henry D. Taylor, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 49-51
My beloved brethren, bearers of the Holy Priesthood:
I appreciate the opportunity of speaking to you concerning the Welfare Plan of the Church. I would like to present what I consider to be some of the fundamental principles of this program.
In announcing the plan, the First Presidency explained the reason for its establishment, stating that it was their desire to set up a system whereby undesirable practices and procedures would be eliminated. Idleness, which they branded as a curse, would be done away with; a dole, which they classified evil, would be not only abolished, but virtues such as independence, thrift, industry, and self-respect would also be established among the people once again. They pointed out that it was the aim of the Church not only to take care of the people, when and if necessary, but also to help the people "to help themselves." And finally, they expressed hope that the principle of work would be so emphasized as to assure its re-enthronement as a ruling principle in the lives of the church membership.
It will be observed that idleness is denounced and work is glorified in this announcement. The Lord intended that man should work and not be idle. To our forefather, Adam, he said: "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground." Later the Lord said to the Church on February 9, 1831: "Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer."
It is a basic principle of Church welfare that the responsibility for one's own economic maintenance rests upon himself, for the world does not owe him a living, upon his family, and upon the Church, if he is a faithful member thereof.
The Welfare Program stands ready to help those who cannot help themselves or who cannot obtain sufficient aid from family members, but no Latter-day Saint should anticipate that anyone, other than himself, will provide for his own needs.
Each of us might profitably ask ourselves the question: "What can I do to make preparation to care for my own needs?" Among other things we could do are these:
1. Secure an adequate education. Learn a trade or profession that will enable us to obtain steady, remunerative employment sufficient to care for ourselves and our families.
2. Live strictly within our income, and save something for "a rainy day."
3. Avoid excessive debt. Necessary debt should be incurred only after careful thought, prayer, and getting all the best advice possible. We would keep well within our ability to repay. Wisely, we have been, counseled to "avoid debt as a plague."
4. Acquire and store a reserve of food that will sustain life; acquire clothing; and build a savings account on a sensible, well-planned basis that could serve us well in times of emergency.
Church members should be self-sustaining to the extent of their own powers. No true Latter-day Saint will, while physically able, voluntarily shift from himself to others the burden of his own support. So long as he can, under the inspiration of the Almighty and with his own strength and labor, he will supply himself with the necessities of life.
A Church member who is unable to provide for himself should then look to his family for assistance. No person should become a charge upon the public welfare or the Church as long as his relatives are able to care for him. All Church members should accept the responsibility, insofar as they are able, to care for the needy among their own kin. The apostle Paul understood and taught this doctrine in these words: "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." A member of the First Presidency once aptly declared: "I think my food would choke me if I knew that while I could procure bread, my aged father and mother or near kin were on public relief."
When a person is unable to provide for himself, and his family, likewise, is unable to assist him, he may then turn to his bishop, who represents the Church; and if he meets the necessary requirements, he may receive assistance. The bishop, father of the ward, is responsible for the spiritual and temporal well-being of every member of his ward. He is the key figure in the Welfare Plan. It is his duty, and his only, to determine who shall receive Church assistance and to what extent. The Lord has given him this mandate.
The bishop has at his disposal two major resources from which to draw in his responsibility of caring for the poor:
1. Commodities that are placed in the bishops storehouses. These commodities generally are produced on agricultural projects and processed in canneries owned by the members of wards and stakes. The agricultural projects and canneries are referred to as "permanent welfare projects."
2. The other major resource at the disposal of the bishop is the fast-offering funds. These contributions come from members of the Church who abstain from two meals each month and pay to the bishop the equivalent cost of these meals or a generous contribution in cash. The bishop uses these funds to provide for the cash needs of welfare recipients and to pay rent, utilities, hospital, and medical bills.
One of the features that distinguishes the Church Welfare Plan from all other relief programs is the requirement that those physically able are urged and expected to work within the limits of their ability for the Church assistance they may receive. The Church is strongly opposed to a dole of any kind, which is interpreted to mean receiving something and giving nothing in return. We shun handouts or gratuities.
There are many ways that we as holders of the priesthood can assist the bishop in his welfare
It is the privilege and duty of you deacons to visit the homes of the members of the ward each month and receive their fast-offering contributions, which are turned over to the bishop.
As you home teachers visit your assigned families, you can be alert to discover any illness, unemployment, or emergency that might result in need for Church assistance.
The members of priesthood quorums or groups should assist the bishop in the production of materials for the use of the bishop in carrying out their storehouse program. In meeting this responsibility, the bishop has the right to call all members of his ward, including high priests, seventies, elders, priests, teachers, and deacons. None is exempt.
From the very beginning the Lord has constantly shown deep concern for the poor; and in the instructions regarding the Law of Consecration, he expressed again his concern for the needy when he said: "I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine.
"And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine.
"But it must needs be done in mine own way."
It is my testimony, brethren, and I bear it to you, that the Welfare Program is the Lord's way of providing for his needy Saints in this our day. It is an inspired plan that has come as revelation through the Holy Ghost to our Prophet, the Lord's mouthpiece, here upon the earth. To this I testify, in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
President N. Eldon Tanner
N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 52-54
President Smith, who is presiding at this meeting and all through the conference, has asked me to conduct, and he has now asked me to say a few words to you this evening.
I am always thrilled and inspired when I meet with the priesthood of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is the priesthood of God; and to hear the lovely singing we have had this evening, and the fine talks to which we have listened, thrills me and inspires me more and more.
The priesthood is the power by which all things were created and the power by which God has done those things about which Bishop Vandenberg spoke this evening; but for us as individuals, it is the power of God that has been delegated to us to act in his name in the office which we hold. And it is a great privilege, a great blessing, and a great responsibility to have that priesthood bestowed upon us.
Sometimes our young men feel they should have the priesthood when they I reach the respective ages for ordination as deacons, teachers, and priests, regardless of their situation as to their activity or how they are living. They should realize what a great privilege it is to hold that priesthood. When a person receives it, he takes upon himself a very heavy responsibility.
I should like to read just a few words to you, taken from the Doctrine and Covenants:
"Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
"Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson-
"That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
"That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood
"Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God."
I interpret that as referring to those who fail to magnify their priesthood, or who use it as it should not be used. I know of many cases where a man has gradually failed to magnify his priesthood and moved away from activity in the Church. As a result, a man who has been very active loses his testimony and the Spirit of the Lord withdraws from him, and he begins to criticize those in authority, and to persecute the saints, apostatize, and fight against God.
We also find these words of the Lord in the Doctrine and Covenants: "The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever" -that is, if we magnify our priesthood.
I am sure all of you have read the oath and covenant of the priesthood, and have heard it many times. To me it is very important.
"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 Abraham, 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."
I should like to emphasize that these blessings are promised to those who magnify their priesthood every day in every way.
"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 altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins."
The Lord says here that he cannot break his covenant, but if we break ours, there is no promise.
"Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence.
"He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand. Even so. Amen."
"Therefore, blessed are ye if ye continue in my goodness, a light unto the Gentiles, and through this priesthood, a savior unto my people Israel. The Lord hath said it."
We are living in a troubled world, as has been pointed out several times this day; and the world has reason to and every right to expect some leadership somewhere to give direction and understanding of where to go and what to do. People need to understand that there is a purpose in life and what that purpose is, and they have every reason to look to the priesthood of God, which is what you brethren have.
You cannot realize and appreciate the influence the priesthood in this Church could have on the whole world if every man would magnify his priesthood. Brethren, the priesthood, if magnified, is a stabilizing influence and strength. It should be. Every wife and mother has a perfect right and responsibility to look to her husband who holds the priesthood for guidance, for strength, and for direction. And he has the responsibility of magnifying his priesthood so he might be able to give this direction, this security, this strength that is needed in the home. And he can do this. If he will magnify his priesthood, he will be magnified by the Lord in the eyes of his family, and his influence will be felt for good.
We have a responsibility to our sisters, boys. Every sister should look to a brother who holds the priesthood, whether he is 12 years of age or older, and she has a right to expect in him a living example of what the priesthood should be, and to look to him for strength and counsel and direction and to feel safe with him. Every sweetheart should be able to depend entirely on a young man holding the priesthood who is going out with her. She should be able to feel he would do anything, even to the giving of his life, to protect her womanhood and her virtue, and would never think of depriving her of it, if he is magnifying his priesthood; and he will not be tempted if he is thinking of the priesthood that he holds and the responsibility that he has.
I should like to read to you just a paragraph from a letter that I received yesterday to show the importance of living the principles of the gospel and magnifying our priesthood. So many of our men believe, but haven't the courage or the strength to act. If we could all realize the effect we have on our associates when we live the gospel teachings, I am sure we would all do better. This letter comes from a successful lawyer in Los Angeles whom I know fairly well, and he wrote just to give me this message:
"As weeks tumble into months and I become engrossed in the fascinating practice of law, occasionally there comes across the spectrum of this activity a person who is noticeably exceptional. I have just completed a case in which my adversary was a young man who exemplified the finest qualities of technical craftsmanship wedded to moral and spiritual integrity. It didn't come as any great surprise to me when I inadvertently discovered that he is a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
Now this man who writes the letter is not a member of the Church, and the man about whom he writes is his adversary in court. I know the young man very well. The writer of the letter doesn't know that I know him, but it shows me, my brethren, that if we magnify our priesthood, if we live as we should, we will influence the world, and the Lord will magnify us. This is my testimony to you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Harold B. Lee
Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 54-57
I have only one or two matters about which I would like to speak tonight. The first may I introduce by relating a dream or a parable taken from one of the prophets of the Old Testament, in which was depicted a watchman on a high tower overlooking the countryside, watching for enemies at might be coming to destroy, enemies that were in evidence by clouds of dust of approaching camels or horses, or whatever they had. The watchman was reporting hour by hour down to his lord in the courtyard. "All is well, All is well," or he reported if he saw any dangers.
But in the dream or the parable the lord asked: "But watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?" suggesting that more to be feared than the enemies that come in the daytime that you can see are the enemies that come in the night.
Now it is about the enemies that come in the night I want just to make one reference.
The term "elder," which is applied to all holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood, means a defender of the faith. That is our prime responsibility and calling. Every holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood is to be a defender of the faith.
There are insidious forces among us that are constantly trying to knock at our doors and trying to lay traps for our young men and women, particularly those who are unwary and unsophisticated in the ways of the world. I speak of the battle against liquor by the drink, gambling, prostitution, pornography, and our efforts to aid Christian people who desire to have one day dedicated to keeping the Sabbath day holy. All we have to do is to remember what the Lord said in order to impress the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy: "And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day." Defenders of the faith should be alert, then, to see to it with all their influence that there is an opportunity given to the working man, the boy and the girl, the husband and the wife to have one day in the week when they can be with their families and have one day consecrated as a day of rest. Watchmen, be alert to the "dangers of the night"!
The next matter I would like to speak of, for just a moment, is set forth in a letter from the First Presidency, which was sent out in August 1913 as a warning to the members of the Church and which was repeated by some of the leaders nearer our time and could well be repeated today. I read this letter from the First Presidency in 1913. It has been entitled "A Warning Voice."
"To the Officers and Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
"From the days of Hiram Page, at different periods there have been manifestations from delusive spirits to members of the Church. Sometimes these have come to men and women who because of transgression become easy prey to the Arch-Deceiver. At other times people who pride themselves on their strict observance of the rules and ordinances and ceremonies of the Church are led astray by false spirits, who exercise an influence so imitative of that which proceeds from a Divine source that even these persons, who think they are 'the very elect', find it difficult to discern the essential difference. Satan himself has transformed himself to be apparently 'an angel of light.'
"When visions, dreams, tongues, prophecy, impressions or any extraordinary gift or inspiration conveys something out of harmony with the accepted revelations of the Church or contrary to the decisions of its constituted authorities, Latter-day Saints may know that it is not of God, no matter how plausible it may appear. Also, they should understand that directions for the guidance of the Church will come, by revelation, through the head. All faithful members are entitled to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit for themselves, their families, and for those over whom they are appointed and ordained to preside. But anything at discord with that which comes from God through the head of the Church is not to be received as authoritative or reliable. In secular as well as spiritual affairs, Saints may receive Divine guidance and revelation affecting themselves, but this does not convey authority to direct others, and is not to be accepted when contrary to Church covenants, doctrine or discipline, or to known facts, demonstrated truths, or good common sense. No person has the right to induce his fellow members of the Church to engage in speculations or take stock in ventures of any kind on the specious claim of Divine revelation or vision or dream, especially when it is in opposition to the voice of recognized authority, local or general. The Lord's Church 'is a house of order.' It is not governed by individual gifts or manifestations, but by the order and power of the Holy Priesthood as sustained by the voice and vote of the Church in its appointed conferences.
"The history of the Church records many pretended revelations by impostors or zealots who believed in the manifestations they sought to lead other persons to accept, and in every instance, disappointment, sorrow and disaster have resulted therefrom. Financial loss and sometimes utter ruin have followed. We feel it our duty to warn the Latter-day Saints against fake mining schemes which have no warrant for success beyond the professed spiritual manifestations of their projectors and the influence gained over the excited minds of their victims. We caution the Saints against investing money or property in shares of stock which bring no profit to anyone but those who issue and trade in them. Financial schemes to make money for the alleged purpose of 'redeeming Zion' or providing means for the 'salvation of the dead' or other seemingly worthy objects, should not deceive anyone acquainted with the order of the Church, and will result only in waste of time and labor, which might be devoted now to doing something tangible and worthy and of record on earth and in heaven."
It never ceases to amaze me how gullible some of our Church members are in broadcasting sensational stories, or dreams, or visions, or purported patriarchal blessings, or quotations, or supposedly from some person's private diary.
For instance, there is one vicious story to the effect that one of our General Authorities is allegedly being urged to present himself to lead the Church contrary to the Lord's revelation and to make people think there is some division among the authorities of the Church. Investigations have indicated that the named writer of these forged letters is fictitious and does not exist-can't be found in the records of the Church or anywhere. Addresses given are spurious, and yet the amazing thing is that we find that these spurious writings and some of these purported revelations, which we found upon investigation are absolutely false, are finding their way into our Relief Society meetings, into priesthood quorums, firesides, institutes, and seminaries.
Brethren of the priesthood, you defenders of the faith, we would wish that you would plead with our Saints to cease promoting the works of the devil. Spend your time promoting the works of the Lord, and don't allow these things to be found among those under your charge, for they are the works of Satan, and we are playing his game whenever we permit such things to be heralded about and repeated and passed about on every side.
One of our brethren is supposed to have had a patriarchal blessing saying that he would preside over the Church when the Savior came. This is, of course, false. Another one among us has been said to have declared that there are some living today who will see the Savior when he comes. This again is fictitious. Well, the Master said that the time of his coming would be as a thief in the night, that of the time of his coming not even the angels of heaven would know. If we would stop to think of it, nobody with any authority would ever say that such a declaration could be authentic.
So we could go on and on. One of our brethren was reported to have said that the people of California should move up to the tops of the Rocky Mountains, that only there would be safety. Contrary to that, we are constantly saying to our people that safety is where the pure in heart are, and that there is just as much safety wherever you are, if you are living and keeping the commandments of God.
Brethren, I repeat, don't allow the works of the devil to be paraded in our midst and become the subject of discourses or lesson materials. Speak of the works of righteousness, and the power of the devil will begin to cease among you.
One more subject of which I should like to speak. This comes from President Joseph F. Smith. It is entitled "Persecution Follows Revelation":
"I do not believe there ever was a people who were guided by revelation, or acknowledged of the Lord as his people, who were not hated and persecuted by the wicked and the corrupt, and perhaps no people were ever more persecuted by the wicked and the corrupt, and perhaps no people were ever more persecuted than this people would be if it were in the power of the enemy today to persecute us as it was in the power of Nero and the Romans to persecute the Saints in their day. There never was a time when it was more fixed and determined in the heart of the wicked to fight against and destroy the kingdom from the earth than now, and their failure will be due only to the impossibility of the task they have undertaken. And this is an evidence to every one... that priesthood is here, that the Saints, or many of them, are magnifying their calling and honoring the priesthood, and also the Lord, both with their lives and with their substance, which are his."
You brethren of the priesthood should be well advised that the principle of revelation through proper channels has been at issue in every persecution of the Latter-day Saints in this dispensation, whether it be on the subject of priesthood, marriage, the gathering of Zion, or succession of the priesthood. Maybe this persecution, too, is as a thorn in our flesh, as was said by the apostle Paul, to be as the messenger of Satan, lest we be exalted above measure 2 Cor. 12:7, because of the revelations the Lord has given through his prophets to this people.
The Prophet Joseph Smith was persecuted and hated; his life was threatened, so much so that he said, "Why persecute me for telling the truth?... For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation."
A few years ago a man came here in our midst and said to one of our brethren, "If you people would do away with one principle in your belief, I could join the Church tomorrow." And our brother asked, "What is that principle?"
He replied, "If you would do away with your belief in present-day revelation, I could join your church."
Then an amazing statement was made to me by our brother, the man who was the Church member: "You know, I think we ought to do something about that."
Why, bless your hearts, whenever we come to a time where we begin to deny that there is revelation to this church, it is tantamount to saying that we believe that the power of God does not exist in our midst today. We must believe and know for a certainty and have a sure testimony that God does reveal, and is now revealing, all things pertaining to his kingdom today, as in every other dispensation of the Church.
I wish that we would understand these matters. And you brethren who are to safeguard the Church, I would wish that you would rise up in the power and dignity of your callings and put to flight some of these spurious things that are threatening to destroy the unity among our people. The greatest danger among us today is fear. Fear doesn't come of the Lord. Faith and peace are the fruits of the Spirit. May we teach our people where to look to for peace-not peace that can be legislated in the halls of Congress or be maintained by armies and navies and tanks and guns and airplanes, but peace that can come as the Master said it would come, by overcoming the things of the world. God help us so to understand and do and to live as Latter-day Saints are expected to live in this day of trial and difficulty, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 58-60
My beloved brethren: My feelings are to bless those, both young and old, who are magnifying their callings in the priesthood, and to ask the Lord to pour out upon them the good things of his Spirit in this life and assure them of the riches of eternity in the life to come.
With all my heart I say to those who are keeping the commandments, who are serving faithfully in the Church, and who are working for the good and betterment of mankind generally, with all my heart I say: The Lord bless you; and you may rest assured that if you continue in the paths of truth and righteousness, he will welcome you into his eternal kingdom and give you an inheritance with the prophets and saints of all ages.
What a glorious thing it is to know that the Lord has offered to each of us the fulness of the priesthood, and has promised us that if we will receive this priesthood and magnify our callings, we shall gain an everlasting inheritance with him in his kingdom!
This priesthood which we have received is the power and authority of God delegated to man on earth to act in all things for the salvation of men. It has come to us in this day through the ministry of heavenly messengers sent to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.
When Moroni came to Joseph Smith in September 1823, he quoted to him these words which the Lord had given to Malachi: "Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord."
To prepare the way for the coming of Elijah and the restoration of the sealing power, because of which men may receive the fulness of the priesthood, John the Baptist came in May of 1829 and conferred upon Joseph and Oliver the Aaronic Priesthood. A short time later Peter, James, and John came and gave them the Melchizedek Priesthood.
Then on April 3, 1836, in the Kirtland Temple, Elijah the prophet returned and bestowed upon them the sealing power, the power to use the priesthood to bind on earth and seal in heaven.
Then in 1841 the Lord revealed to the Prophet that "the fulness of the priesthood" was available to men only in the temple, in "a house" built to his name. And in 1843 the Prophet said: "If a man gets a fulness of the priesthood of God, he has to get it in the same way that Jesus Christ obtained it, and that was by keeping all the commandments and obeying all the ordinances of the house of the Lord."
Let me put this in a little different way. I do not care what office you hold in the Church-you may be an apostle, you may be a patriarch, a high priest, or anything else-but you cannot receive the fulness of the priesthood and the fulness of eternal reward unless you receive the ordinances of the house of the Lord; and when you receive these ordinances, the door is then open so you can obtain all the blessings which any man can gain.
Do not think because someone has a higher office in the Church than you have that you are barred from receiving the fulness of the Lord's blessings. You can have them sealed upon you as an elder, if you are faithful; and when you receive them, and live faithfully and keep these covenants, you then have all that any man can get.
There is no exaltation in the kingdom of God without the fulness of the priesthood, and every man who receives the Melchizedek Priesthood does so with an oath and a covenant that he shall be exalted.
The covenant on man's part is that he will magnify his calling in the priesthood, and that he will live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God, and that he will keep the commandments.
The covenant on the Lord's part is that if man does as he promises, then all that the Father hath shall be given unto him; and this is such a solemn and important promise that the Lord swears with an oath that it shall come to pass.
Those of you who hold the Aaronic Priesthood have not yet received this oath and covenant which belongs to the Higher Priesthood, but you do have great power and authority given you from the Lord. The Aaronic Priesthood is a preparatory priesthood that schools and trains us to be worthy of these other great blessings that come later.
If you serve faithfully as a deacon, as a teacher, and as a priest, you gain the experience and acquire the abilities and capacities which enable you to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and to magnify your calling in it.
The Aaronic Priesthood holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of preaching the gospel of repentance, and of performing baptism for the remission of sins. These are very great blessings and are necessary to prepare the way for the even greater blessings of the house of the Lord, those blessings out of which exaltation comes.
I think we all know that the blessings of the priesthood are not confined to men alone. These blessings are also poured out upon our wives and daughters and upon all the faithful women of the Church. These good sisters can prepare themselves, by keeping the commandments and by serving in the Church, for the blessings of the house of the Lord. The Lord offers to his daughters every spiritual gift and blessing that can be obtained by his sons, for neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man in the Lord.
Now may the blessings of heaven rest upon those who hold the holy priesthood, and upon all our Father's children. Brethren, you possess the power and authority of Almighty God, and you hold in your hands the power to save and exalt yourselves and your loved ones.
There is nothing in all this world as important to each of us as putting first in our lives the things of God's kingdom, as keeping the commandments, as magnifying our callings in the priesthood, as going to the house of the Lord and being offered the fulness of the blessings of our Father's kingdom.
Now, my brethren of the priesthood, I commend you for your faith and labors in the cause of righteousness. I commend you for your zeal and devotion in doing the work of the Lord and in using your priesthood to bless mankind.
Your able service does not go unnoticed by that God whom you serve and in whose work you are engaged. He has blessed you and he will continue to bless you with the good things of the earth, and he will hold in reserve for you the riches of eternity.
And so I pray that you may be blessed and prospered, both temporally and spiritually, and that you may be built up in faith and testimony, and have the desires of your hearts in righteousness.
I pray that the spirit of love and peace may be in your homes, that fathers and sons may work together in love in the priesthood, and that a perfect spirit of unity and oneness may prevail among all the Latter-day Saints.
I pray that our Father may help our Aaronic Priesthood brethren as they prepare for life and safeguard them in times of trouble and temptation, and that above all they-and all of us-may keep the commandments and be worthy, of the companionship of the Holy Spirit.
And I pray that all of us may have peace and joy and satisfaction in the work of the Lord while in this mortal probation, and that we may inherit eternal life in the realms ahead, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President N. Eldon Tanner
N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 61-65
On this beautiful Sabbath morning it is a privilege and pleasure for me to bring greetings on behalf of the First Presidency and my colleagues to all who are here assembled and to all who are listening in.
Last week we commemorated the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, which brings hope and promise to all who accept him and are prepared to keep his commandments. He said:
"... I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
And then he gave us great assurance in these words:
"... this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."
He gave his life for us, and the plan which, if followed, will make it possible for us to enjoy every blessing promised to those who will keep his commandments. In these latter days he explained in these words:
"There is a law, 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."
We are all concerned about conditions in the world today, and are searching for answers to the many problems that are affecting our personal lives, our communities, and countries throughout the world. Though it is true that the trend in the world today is toward lawlessness, rioting, and rebellion, we are sick and tired of having it played up so much both in conversation and in news media. We, with a positive approach, need to center our efforts on living and teaching the gospel, thereby eliminating the cause and improving conditions. Every man, including the rebellious, who is honest with himself must admit that what he is ultimately seeking is happiness and a better way of life.
With this in mind, I wish to address my remarks to the subject: The Blessings of Obedience. While I speak, I pray that the Spirit of the Lord will attend and guide us. Let us remember the words of Samuel to Saul: "... to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." And let us also remember that "through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel."
Just the other day I was talking to young man who said, in effect, "I am fed up and tired of being told, 'You have to do this,' or 'You have to do that.' I want to be free to decide for myself what I want to do."
My response was: "You are free to choose exactly what you want to do, as long as it does not restrict or impose on the rights or liberties of others, but you must be responsible for your acts, and prepared to take the consequences."
I explained that the Lord's greatest gift to mortal man is threefold: first, the right to immortality and eternal life; second, the plan by which he can gain it; third, his free agency to choose what he will do. The Lord gave us the plan which will bring us the greatest joy and happiness while on this earth, and which will prepare us for eternal life. All we have to do to enjoy this is to obey the law and keep his commandments.
I suggested to this young man that he consider with me the physical or natural laws, which are fixed and immutable, and which apply to all, regardless of their station or learning or intention. If a person, whether knowingly, ignorantly, intentionally, or accidentally, touches a hot stove or a bare high-voltage wire, he will be burned to the extent of the exposure. If for any reason he steps in front of a rapidly moving vehicle, even to save another life, he will be injured and possibly killed. Numerous examples could be given to show that we are subject to these laws regardless of who we are or what our intention might be. We cannot change the laws of nature.
As we understand natural laws and respect them, we can apply them to our good. If we violate law, we suffer; and if we obey it, we are blessed. How fortunate we are to know that we can depend on these natural laws: that the sun will rise at a certain time every morning; that electricity, though we don't know exactly what it is, will respond always the same under the same conditions; that the sun will be eclipsed by the moon at a certain time on a certain day in a certain year, all because the laws of nature never vary. Imagine an engineer, doctor, or scientist in any field not being able to depend on the laws of nature, or disregarding them. Man can never ignore the natural laws affecting his operations and be successful. In fact, to ignore them could be disastrous.
All the laws of God and the laws of nature and the laws of the land are made for the benefit of man, for his comfort, enjoyment, safety, and well-being; and it is up to the individual to learn these laws and to determine whether or not he will enjoy these benefits by obeying the law and by keeping the commandments. My whole purpose today is to show that laws exist for our benefit and that to be happy and successful we must obey the laws and regulations pertaining to our activities; and these laws will function either to our joy and well-being or to our detriment and sorrow, according to our actions.
To accomplish the great flight of Apollo 11, which resulted in the landing on the moon, every law of nature affecting this endeavor had to be kept in the most minute detail: the law of physics, the law of chemistry, the law of gravity, and every other law pertaining to the flight had to be understood and applied by those who were concerned and engaged in the preparations. They did not think of these laws as being a restriction or impediment to them in any way, but rather as a means by which they could carry out their program; and they were determined to learn all they could about the laws on which their success was dependent, and to obey or apply them so they might be successful in their mission.
This is so true in life. To be a musician, to be an athlete, to get a degree, to accomplish anything worthwhile, we must set our goals, determine what we want to do and wish to accomplish, and set about to find out which laws if obeyed will make this possible, and then discipline ourselves in order to accomplish it. When we do this, we are on our way to success, while those who continually fight the laws and refuse to obey, and complain about things that are required, become frustrated, begin to rebel, and fail to accomplish.
As someone has said, you do not break the law, but actually break yourself by refusing to respect it as it applies to your condition. The law applies, and our actions determine the result. Too often we are not prepared to discipline ourselves and do that which is necessary to accomplish the things which we desire most.
It is a fact that the laws of the land are made by the governing body in the interest of the safety and well-being of the citizens. Consider, for example, the laws pertaining to drunken driving and other regulations pertaining to highway traffic control, health, zoning restrictions, building codes, etc. Even taxes make it possible for us to have better roads, better schools, and other public services, all of which are for our comfort and convenience and self-improvement.
If all people were to recognize law as a benefit to man and then honor and obey it, it would contribute greatly to our health, well-being, and happiness. Laws are essential. Imagine a city, community, state, or country without law and regulations. To the extent we disregard, disobey, and flaunt the law, we are losing our freedom, depriving others of theirs, and leading to anarchy. If a bad law exists, then the people should take proper legal measures through their governing bodies to improve or change the law but while it is law, it should be obeyed.
In life generally we have to determine the kind of life or environment of which we want to be a part. We still have in the human race today people in the jungles who practice cannibalism, where the animal instincts in man rule, and where the laws of the jungle apply. If that is the kind of life we wish, it is available to us. Part of the purpose of our existence, however, is to rise above these animal instincts, and to reach the highest plane of human behavior in our social relations.
In order that we may accomplish this, God, our Father and our Creator, and his Son Jesus Christ, who want us to be happy and successful, have given us the laws which, if applied in our lives, will improve our social conditions and our relationship to one another. Yes, if all of us would obey these laws, we would have none of the disturbing conditions so prevalent today, and our young people would have no reason, need, nor desire to demonstrate against a society that today does not practice what it preaches.
Let us refer to some of the Ten Commandments, which are as applicable today as they were in the time of Moses, and which later were taught by Christ. If everyone would obey the commandments, "Thou shalt not steal, kill, covet, commit adultery, or bear false witness," we could leave our homes or properties unattended, walk down the street any place at any time, or feel secure in our homes, without fear of thieves or robbers, or that someone might be trying to take our lives.
Imagine too the joy of living in a community in which there were no covetousness, backbiting, or adultery; where everyone was living according to the law. In addition to the peaceful and happy existence we would lead, and the strength and help we could be to one another, just think of the money we would save on law enforcement and the effects of crime, all of which money could be diverted to fighting poverty, or improving health and educational facilities, and for other worthwhile purposes. We cannot begin to number the temporal blessings we would receive from obedience to these commandments.
Another commandment that is so important in the lives of all of us is the Lord's law of health, which is called the Word of Wisdom, and which should be taught in every home by example and by precept. In this Word of Wisdom we are warned against the use of tobacco and alcohol and other things that are harmful to the body. I am sure we can include the use of drugs.
Though this law of health was given to us by the Lord over a hundred years ago, it was generally ignored until scientists and experience proved beyond doubt that these things are not only harmful to the body, but are a menace to society. Many still ignore and defy this law, and are prepared to take the risks. The use of these things results in broken homes, diseased and broken bodies and spirits, destruction of property, misery, and death on the highway, and many other tragedies too numerous to mention, all of which are now causing society, lawmakers, law enforcement officers, and all of us serious concern. In just one evening I gleaned the following information from reading the newspaper:
One-car fatal accidents doubled in '69. Twenty-six percent of all fatal accidents occurred after the driver had been drinking.
A well-known television personality died of lung cancer at age 45. He had publicly stated he would rather smoke and take a chance than be a "fat neurotic." He quit when he learned he had cancer.
A hotel fire caused by a cigarette claimed 14 lives, and a burning cigarette in another building caused ten thousand dollars worth of damage.
Marijuana harm is very real, and drugs put blinders on youth.
We owe it to ourselves, to our youth, and to the future of our country to restrict and if possible do away entirely with the use of these devilish and deleterious things that are causing so much tragedy in the world today. Listen to the great and glorious promise given by the Lord to all those who will keep this and other commandments:
"And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
"And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
"And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
"And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them".
Can you think of a greater promise?
Let me refer to another very important commandment, which is: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
"Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
"But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work."
And the Lord has told us:
"And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day."
In spite of what so many say to the contrary, this is a law of God, a religious and therefore a moral law. If observed, it will bring many blessings not otherwise enjoyed; and, like any other law, if not obeyed it will bring condemnation to the soul.
Keeping the Sabbath day holy gives us an opportunity to learn and understand the teachings of the gospel through worship and study, and to learn to know God, which is essential to our eternal destiny.
The Lord has said:
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
Surely for one day in seven we can and need to turn our thoughts to our Maker and feed our spiritual selves, to learn obedience to God, and to teach reverence and obedience to our children. One of the greatest lessons we can learn in life is that "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
Someone has wisely said: "Woe unto those who consider the laws of God only as forces of convenience, to be ignored or employed at will. Woe unto those individuals, classes, and nations that believe in the might of their wealth, in the strength of their armor, in the invincibility of their positions."
No culture can last, no nation or union of nations can survive if they ignore God's laws. The Lord has admonished:
"... seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you", meaning everything that is for our good.
We cannot keep the Sabbath day holy, nor enjoy the blessings thereof, by seeking to satisfy our material wants and pleasures. It is truthfully said that "material things have no power to raise the sunken spirit. The wealth of the world cannot heal a broken heart, and the wisdom of all the universities cannot turn into righteousness a wayward soul."
As important as it is that we attend the house of prayer and keep the Sabbath day holy, teaching spirituality cannot he left to the churches alone. Parents have the first and great and important responsibility to teach the laws of God in the home. The Lord has told us:
"And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.
"And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord." This means to keep his commandment-to love, honor, and obey him.
Parents, if we are to teach our children to keep the commandments and walk uprightly before God, we must be their living example. We cannot break any law with impunity and expect our children to honor and obey us or the law. We cannot question the teachings and commandments of the Lord without causing great doubts in the minds of our children as to why they should keep the commandments. We cannot be hypocrites. We cannot teach or profess a belief in one thing and live another, and expect our children to obey the commandment: "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."
Children who are taught obedience, to honor and obey the law, to have faith in God and to keep his commandments, will, as they grow up, honor their parents and be a credit to them; and they will be able to meet and solve their problems, find greater success and joy in life, and contribute greatly to the solution of the problems now causing the world such great concern. It is up to the parents to see to it that their children are prepared through obedience to law for the positions of leadership they will occupy in the future, where their responsibility will be to bring peace and righteousness to the world.
The Lord's message may be summed up in his statement:
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
"This is the first and great commandment.
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
Surely if we love the Lord we will keep his commandments, and if we will love our fellowmen we will enjoy utopia here on earth.
As the Lord further has promised:
"... he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come."
I bear witness to you this day that as we accept God as our Father, and his Son Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, and keep the commandments, we will have greater joy here on earth and eternal life in the world to come. May this be the blessing of all of us, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion G. Romney
Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 66-69
Last fall, near the conclusion of a three-mission tour in which I had interviewed personally about 400 missionaries, I was abruptly cut down to size by a missionary who, in answer to my inquiry as to whether he had anything further he would like to comment on or ask, said: "What is so great about an interview with a General Authority?"
Sparring for time, I responded, "What do you mean?"
To this he replied, "Well, most of the missionaries look forward in anticipation to an interview with a General Authority, and then they talk about it for a long time after. I don't see anything so great about it."
Having recovered my composure, I then said, "Maybe you can answer this question. Why is it that two men can sit side by side in a conference and then when they leave, one of them says to the other: 'Wasn't that the most glorious meeting we ever attended? It thrilled me.' The other responds: 'Oh, I didn't think it was so wonderful. It just sounded like the same old stuff to me.'"
This morning when I awoke about 5 a. m., these words kept going through my mind:
"... now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men."
My message for today is not at all complicated. It is plain and simple. It is well known to most of us. I have titled it "The Key to Peace." Its importance is of the first magnitude. I realize, however, that it will be just the same old stuff unless I speak and you hear by the power of the Holy Ghost. I have fasted and prayed that we can all enjoy that spirit and power. I ask you now to join with me in silent prayer to this effect: O God, our Heavenly Father, let us now speak and listen by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
I shall introduce what I have to say by quoting from a recent convert:
"I have tried nearly all the churches," she wrote, "only to feel empty, and yet I had this feeling of something important in religion.... After trying to find the answer for years and years, I let my church-going drop for three years, not attending any church at all. I prayed, though, and I still had this yearning for this unknown something.
"Then one Thursday lunch-time a knock came on my door and there stood two happy young men. They said they were missionaries from 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' and had a message of importance to give... I knew after the second visit, this was what I had been searching for all my life...
"What really impressed me most," she continues, "was the new and wonderful knowledge that ours was a living God. Now I knew what our God was like. Joseph Smith had seen him, and He had flesh and bones as we do. This was wonderful to me, for before I imagined something spiritual floating about all over the place. Nothing to fasten on to. Now our God became real to me; someone, no longer something. This was the answer to all my muddled thinking."
In her new-found knowledge of the true and living God, this humble woman had found what all right-minded people seek: the key to peace-peace in one's own heart and soul, and peace and goodwill among men and nations.
Our convert's experience is an illustration of how such knowledge brings peace to the individual. Peace among men and nations will be the natural sequence when enough individuals have peace in their hearts.
How a knowledge of the true and living God inspires men to walk in the ways of peace is so impressively stated by Josephus in his introduction to Antiquities of the Jews, which I take the liberty to quote. He says:
"Moses deemed it exceeding necessary, that he who would conduct his own life well, and give laws to others, in the first place should consider the Divine nature... and... endeavor to follow after it; neither could himself have a right mind without such a contemplation; nor would anything he should write tend to the promotion of virtue in his readers... unless they be taught first of all, that God is the Father and Lord of all things, and that thence he bestows a happy life upon those that follow him, but plunges such as do not walk in the paths of virtue into inevitable miseries. Now when Moses was desirous to teach this lesson to his countrymen, he did not begin the establishment of his laws after the same manner that other legislators did; I mean, upon contracts and other rites between one man and another, but by raising their minds upward to regard God, and his creation of the world; and by persuading them, that we men are the most excellent of the creatures of God upon earth. Now when once he had brought them to submit to religion, he easily persuaded them to submit to all other things... when he had once demonstrated that God was possessed of perfect virtue, he supposed that men also ought to strive after."
Now this is exactly what happens. When men correctly understand and have faith in the true and living God, they strive to develop within themselves his virtues. He becomes the lodestar of their lives. To emulate him is their highest aspiration. As they strive to "be... perfect, even as Father which is in heaven is perfect", they actually become partakers of his divine nature. In doing so, they add to their faith and knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, love, and charity, virtues that are perfected in the true and living God. These virtues drive out of their hearts selfishness, greed, lust, hate, contentions, and war. Happiness, contentment, joy, and peace naturally follow.
The almost universal prescript for peace today is "return to God." "We must turn to God to find peace" is the cry of right-minded people throughout all the land. It is not because we do not know the remedy that peace escapes us. It is because we do not know the God to whom we must return.
Turning to false gods will not bring peace. Turning to the gods of mythology, heathen gods, graven images, ethereal gods created in the minds of the worldly wise has only increased selfishness, greed, and lust, and has intensified contention, conflict, and strife. What men must do to find peace is discover and emulate the true and living God -the God discovered by our recent convert.
To find and follow him is the greatest need of this generation, as it has been of all generations.
A knowledge of God is the key to peace in the hearts of men and nations on this earth, as much as it is the key to eternal life in the world beyond the grave. Because the knowledge of God is of such great importance, he has revealed himself time and again through the ages past. Men are, therefore, not justified in their continued ignorance of him.
In the very first chapter of Genesis, Moses clearly explains the form and nature of God in this simple statement:
"God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
Any man of faith can understand this unambiguous statement. Moses was not speculating when he thus put God and men in the same mold. He spoke from a personal knowledge. By the power of the Almighty he had been "caught up into an exceedingly high mountain." There "he saw God face to face, and he talked with him.
"And God spake unto Moses, saying: Behold, I am the Lord God Almighty...
"And, behold, thou art my son...
"And I have a work for thee, Moses, my son; and thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten; and mine Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior."
This clear and certain knowledge of God the Eternal Father and his Only Begotten Son and man's likeness and relationship to them was given to Moses at the time he led Israel from Egypt. The revelation was then necessary, because during their bondage Israel's knowledge of God had been corrupted.
It was not, however, the first such revelation. Following his expulsion from the garden, and in answer to his prayers, Adam, at the beginning of the world, "heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden" commanding him to offer sacrifices. This he did, whereupon he was visited and instructed by an angel. "And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon" him and bore record of both the Father and the Son.
Adam was taught as clearly and specifically as was Moses about the true and living God. To him the Lord said, "... thou art one in me, a son of God."
Adam and Eve made all these things known to their children. But "... Satan came among them, saying... Believe it not... and they loved Satan more than God."
As God's revelation of himself to Moses was not the first, neither was it the last. In the meridian of time Jesus Christ, the Firstborn Son of God in the spirit, came to earth as God's Only Begotten Son in the flesh. One of the purposes of his coming was to reveal himself and his Father. This he did in no uncertain manner. Paul understood and declared this when he said that Jesus was "the express image of his person."
To those who, at the time of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, inquired, saying: "... who is this Son of man?... Jesus... said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me."
In the upper chamber, in response to the request of Philip, "Lord, shew us the Father... Jesus saith unto him... he that hath seen me hath seen the Father."
These teachings were plain enough to convince men in the apostolic church that Jesus was a true revelation of the same true and living God who had revealed himself to Adam and to Moses.
But men in the meridian of time were little different than they are now or than they were in the days of Adam and Moses. They loved Satan more than they loved God, and when Satan came among them and, through his pagan philosophies and other sophistries, taught them "believe it not," they believed it not. By 325 A.D. an apostate church had sunk, in its understanding of the true and living God, to the confusion evidenced by the Nicene Creed. In this awful darkness men strayed until the nineteenth century.
Then, in his infinite mercy, "knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth" if they did not come to an understanding of and faith in the true and living God, which would induce them to "seek... the Lord to establish his righteousness," God revealed himself anew.
As in times past he had chosen to reveal himself to Adam, Moses, Jesus, and others, so now in this last dispensation he selected Joseph Smith. When God took him in hand, Joseph was to the world but an obscure youth. But to God he was no stranger. In the heavens he had been chosen by the Lord and foreordained to be the mighty prophet of the latter-day restoration.
When this boy prophet came out of the Sacred Grove in the spring of 1820, he had a sure knowledge of the true and living God, for he had seen and conversed with him and his Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
He knew with the same certainty as did Adam and Moses that these heavenly beings were personages of flesh and bone as tangible as man's; that God did indeed create men in his own image.
Twenty-four years later, Joseph Smith sealed with his life's blood his testimony of the true and living God.
During this short period, having been endowed from heaven with God's priesthood, he had, under divine direction, established The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which church through him had received anew the divine commission to declare the true and living God in all the world to every creature. This is the mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and this it is doing with all its might.
And now, my beloved brethren and sisters, in and out of the Church, all you who are within the sound of my voice, as one whose obligation and honor it is to bear witness of the true and living God, I testify to you that I do know that these manifestations which God has given of himself, to which I have called your attention, are true. I also bear witness that to every soul who will accept him, and seek to establish his righteousness, will come the peace spoken of by our convert, and that if enough people will come to know him, their knowledge and faith will work in them a transformation that will bring peace not only to themselves but also to this troubled world. For the key to peace, for individual men and for nations, is the knowledge of and faith in the true and living God. The only alternative to peace obtained in this manner is more contention and strife, which will eventually culminate in the destruction foretold by the prophets. God grant that we may choose peace, by seeking and finding the true and living God, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Paul H. Dunn
Paul H. Dunn, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 70-73
My brothers and sisters, both seen and unseen throughout the world, this is a wonderful occasion.
Sister Dunn and I are currently residing in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is steeped in American tradition. It was the dwelling place for the Washingtons, the Franklins, the Reveres, the Hancocks. The story is told there of a dialogue that was supposed to have occurred between Mrs. Paul Revere and her husband. It is reported that she said: "I don't care who's coming tonight. It's my turn to have the horse."
I am grateful, my brothers and sisters, for my turn here, to bear solemn witness to things that are very close to my heart, and which I believe completely.
One hundred thirty miles north of Boston is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Nestled in the rolling green hills of Windsor County, Vermont, is the birthplace of a prophet of the Lord-Joseph Smith. On the grounds of the original homesite stand two buildings housing a bureau of information and a religious display center.
Recently on one of our trips to the memorial we had our young daughter Kellie with us. She has been there many times and is always noticeably affected by the inner peace and spirit that prevails. She never leaves that building without signing her name in the guest book provided for visitors and giving her evaluation in the column provided for comments.
On this particular day she wrote: "The Church is the greatest thing in my life." My wife and I were obviously filled with joyful emotion. Why? Because the Church and the gospel with its ordinances is a "way of life," and by following its teachings we as a family are finding the true joy and happiness we all seek.
It was just 150 years ago this spring that a young lad with simple faith asked a very important question: "Which church is right?" That beautiful spring morning in 1820, God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ revealed themselves to a young boy whose name will never perish. That boy was Joseph Smith, the first prophet of this dispensation.
For the past two years we have been living in New England and have spent a great deal of time at the birthplace of the Prophet. The Lord has hallowed that spot, and each time we gaze upon the granite shaft that pierces the sky over the place where he was born, our hearts fill with joy and the Spirit whispers to us, "He was indeed a prophet."
One of the best gifts I could give you this morning is an opportunity to know the Prophet Joseph Smith a little better. I shall not undertake to explain to you the accomplishments of Joseph Smith, but I want to tell you about the man, the Seer, and the Prophet. I think it is important that we know the how and why of his life, for to do so is to increase our understanding and appreciation of this "prince of our present dispensation," even Joseph Smith, the man of whom Brigham Young said: "Jesus Christ excepted, no better man ever lived."
A life that has become a candle of the Lord is a life that all would wish to see more clearly. Such a life was Joseph Smith's-a life given in the service of others and a life of love. We declare that he was, without a doubt, one of the most noble sons of our eternal Heavenly Father.
He was a tall, well-built man, over six feet in height and about 210 pounds. He had a light skin, light hair, and blue eyes that could gaze into the heart of any man. He was as quick as a squirrel, strong as a lion, and mild as a lamb. One young man said of him that "he wore no whiskers, and that altogether, he presented a very formidable appearance, being a man of gentlemanly bearing." A young lady said that there were no pictures of him in existence that can compare with the majesty of his presence. His wife said no one could capture his true countenance because his expression and countenance changed with his moods.
As one looks more deeply into his personality, experiences, and character, one can see a remarkable blend of Christ-like qualities. His peers spoke of his solemnity in sacred moments, yet are much pleased at his prophetic wit, his love of music, poetry, drama, and, very notably, his hearty laughter. They were continually amazed at his versatility in changing pace. He could move from studying the scriptures or any of his four foreign languages to playing ball, wrestling, jumping at a mark, and back again to studying. All people could recognize his easy jovial appearance when he was engaged in activities of fun, but they were quick to note his dislike of anything that was degrading or vulgar.
He could reprove betimes with sharpness and always showed forth afterwards an increase of love. "I am determined," he said, "while I lead this church to lead it right."
Joseph Smith was a rugged and free outdoor man. He delighted in physical work and taught that it was a God-given principle to keep our bodies strong. During the building of the Nauvoo Temple, he would often work in the rock quarry. Many people learned of the restoration of the gospel while working at his side in quarry, in the forest, or the hayfield.
Joseph Smith had a strong and abiding testimony of Jesus the Christ and never let an opportunity pass in which he could tell others of the knowledge he had. When he spoke, he seemed to shake the very earth, and the people said that he had the appearance of one that was heaven borne while preaching. Not only did he speak with the Spirit, but the records show that at one time or another in his life he possessed every spiritual gift, and one of his most profound teachings was uttered in these words when he said, "I have made this my rule: When God commands, do it."
In carrying out God's commandments, Joseph possessed the rare Christ-like combination of what Carl Sandburg called "velvet and steel," which can move people with gentleness, meekness, and love unfeigned, without threat or force. If the world would only learn God's commandments and live like Joseph Smith, what a wonderful world this would be.
President McKay often told us that we become like what we love. Joseph loved Christ and became like him. He said, "I want to become a smooth shaft in the quiver of the Almighty," "My voice is always for peace," and "Jesus Christ is my great counselor."
He was a man, like any of us, but unlike us today, he endured unspeakable suffering and persecution. He was driven from four states, lost six children in birth, was tarred and feathered, was poisoned; yet he led his people with great courage and said, "I cannot deny what I know to be true."
Brigham Young said that he lived one thousand years in 38, and although he was mobbed and beaten, Lydia Bailey said, "His face shown with the mellow radiance of an astral lamp."
He led like Moses, spoke like Peter, and wrote like Paul. Wilford Woodruff said, "His mind, like Enoch's, expands as eternity, and God alone can comprehend his soul."
In knowledge and understanding of the gospel, he was unsurpassed. Joseph Smith left on record fifteen hundred statements that spoke of the future. Many hundreds of these have already come to pass, and in our own lifetime we will see the fulfillment of many more. You may pick at random any of his writings and find more about the last days than in the entire Bible. His writings, letters, and, spoken words are so extensive that it seems almost impossible that one man could do so much in so little time. The Book of Mormon, the books of Moses and Abraham, and the Doctrine and Covenants, all of which he recorded under revelation, total 830 pages, and his own history, speeches, and minutes total over 3,200 pages.
We have been called the happiest people on earth, and much of our happiness comes from living the truths revealed to us by Joseph Smith.
If any man was taught by God and angels, Joseph Smith was that man. He was a spiritual amphibian, with one foot on earth and one foot in heaven. Edward Stevenson says, "He possessed an infinity of knowledge." And Wilford Woodruff said, "He seemed a fountain of knowledge from whose mouth streams of eternal wisdom flowed." Parley P. Pratt said, "He could gaze into eternity, penetrate the heavens, and comprehend all worlds."
Joseph Smith taught that this great nation of America was a choice land that came into being under the Lord's direction, and he bore a strong testimony of the divine importance of the work done by the founding fathers of this great country. He said, "The Constitution of the United States is a glorious standard; it is founded in the wisdom of God. It is a heavenly banner; it is to all those who are privileged with the sweets of its liberty, like the cooling shades and refreshing waters of a great rock in a thirsty and weary land. It is like a great tree under whose branches men from every clime can be shielded from the burning rays of the sun."
He never asked for a light load, but rather he prayed for a strong back; and he was indeed a prophet, for his constant plea was: "Oh Lord, what shall I do?" Those who listened to his prayers marveled at the spirit he presented and learned in their own lives that the heavens could literally be opened. They understood what he meant when he taught: "It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God, and to know that we may converse with Him as one man converses with another."
Someone has said that the greatest of all discoveries is when a man discovers God. Joseph Smith made available to the world, with no exceptions, the true nature and knowledge of God, a personal and loving Father. He taught that God is our Father and that Christ is not only his Son, but also our elder brother. The Christian churches of the day said, "We believe in God," but Joseph Smith said, "I saw God and Christ and they did in reality speak to me." He was persecuted for saying that he had seen a vision, yet it was true. Not only has he made known to us that God exists, but also that he is ever willing to answer our prayers.
Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, says a great hymn, and if Joseph Smith gave us nothing else, he set the example whereby we could have our desires fulfilled and our hearts made clean and pure. Thus, on his way to Carthage before he was martyred, he said, "My conscience is void of offense." "I am not afraid to die." He spoke as a man whose life could stand inspection before the Master.
On that fateful day in 1844, he was killed by a mob of about 150 men with painted faces. At the time of his death it was written, "The blow that subdued Joseph Smith has palsied the arm of Mormonism. They will now scatter in the four winds and gradually merge in the great mass of society." This congregation today and the millions in our listening audience refute those words.
The enemies of God were sure that by killing the Prophet, they had destroyed the truth; yet it lives, greater and stronger with each passing year. It is indestructible, for it is the work of God, and knowing that it is the work of God, we know that Joseph Smith, who was God's chosen servant, is a prophet, holy and true, for he said, "I obtained power or the principles of truth and virtue, which will last when I am dead and gone."
It is my personal witness that he was and is a prophet. His mantle fell upon succeeding prophets and rests upon the shoulders of Joseph Fielding Smith today. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Delbert L. Stapley
Delbert L. Stapley, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 73-77
My dear brethren and sisters and friends: I am grateful for the introduction to my theme by our beloved Brother Dunn, who has just spoken. The following scripture from the writings of the apostle James will serve as the theme for my discourse. He said:
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
"For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
Joseph Smith, a modern prophet, had his faith tested as a boy when he watched the members of his family become influenced by the conflicting doctrines the revivalists of his day were preaching.
The promise of this scripture prompted him to "ask of God." His earnest prayer led to the restoration of Christ's church in this last dispensation of his providence to man. The application of this quote is not restricted. God is no respecter of persons. This promise is open to everyone earnestly seeking light and truth.
President David O. McKay has said: "Faith is manifested in works; and that his what wisdom is, the application of knowledge to daily life and the performance of good deeds... wisdom never comes by chance; it requires effort and its source is God. If I were to ask you to name the soul's greatest achievement, I would have you answer wisdom, not knowledge. You may get all the knowledge in the world, but if you lack wisdom, you might be as high powered engine without balance."
Wisdom, then, is putting knowledge to proper use.
In these latter days God has admonished his people to seek wisdom:
"And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith."
How can meaningful wisdom be acquired except by prayer and an unwavering faith? If we find it necessary to analyze, evaluate, and question our faith without end, do we really have faith? Is it steadfast and unwavering? Do we observe the laws of God without measuring their pros and cons? Having an unwavering faith is applying a specific principle to daily living. Let me illustrate:
Each person who commits himself agrees, if he has the habit, to give up the use of tobacco. He sees others around him using it and has to be strong in his desire to overcome the habit. So he applies himself to that resolve by sheer determination of will.
Later he thinks about the temptation but he can live next to it and not yield to the temptation. He gains a satisfaction in keeping his pledge, and it isn't a problem anymore. The principle is there; he recognizes it and is able to live it.
Finally, with assurance, he says, "What principle?" He no longer has to reevaluate. It is just the way to live.
There are many references in the scriptures to those having unwavering faith. One is Abraham, whom God commanded to offer up his only son Isaac as a sacrifice to the Lord. Abraham made the preparations, took Isaac to the land of Moriah, built an altar upon a mountain, and was ready to sacrifice him, but an angel forbade him, saying:
"Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."
Another example is the prophet Noah, who lived in the days when the wickedness of men caused the Lord to "repent" for having created man. The scriptures record: "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord."
Through his faithful, unwavering adherence to the counsels of God, and despite the scoffing and ridicule from the people to his warnings of their approaching destruction, Noah and his family won God's protecting power and were the only ones saved from the flood.
The apostle Peter wavered in faith when, at the Lord's bidding, he walked toward him on the water.
"But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried... Lord, save me.
"And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"
Darkness cannot be taken into a lighted room any more than doubt can he created in a heart where true faith exists.
The comparison the Lord makes between the wavering soul and the wave of the sea driven with the winds and tossed has touched the lives of many. Most of us have seen the calm seas, and at other times the damage caused when the winds become intense and the waves rise and become powerful, destructive forces. A parallel can be drawn to the buffetings of Satan. When we are serene and on the Lord's side, Satan's influence is not felt; but when we cross over and are deceived by the winds of false doctrine, by the waves of man-made philosophies and sophistries, we can be drenched, submerged, and even drowned in the depths of disbelief, and the Spirit of the Lord driven completely from our lives. These deceived and wavering souls cannot, because of their incontinence, expect to receive anything of the Lord.
Those who have knowingly sinned against God's commandments are tormented by the buffetings of Satan until, through sincere repentance, a forsaking of sin, and the reordering of their lives to the divine will, there is a cleansing of soul and a feeling of forgiveness for their transgressions. Those renewed in faith testify that the period of their sinning was the unhappiest time of their lives. Paying the penalty for their mistakes has strengthened them to resolve with an unwavering faith to follow an undeviating path of righteousness.
The trends today are away from gospel teachings. If these trends continue, destruction will result, because God will not be mocked. His judgments are sure to fall upon the wicked-he has so decreed through his ancient and modern prophets.
In the midst of unrest, frustration, and increasing powers of evil to violate the principles and standards of the gospel, parents, teachers, and leaders need wisdom and judgment to cope with the disturbing problems that confront the youth of today.
An unwavering faith should be developed early in life. Solomon counseled: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
This faith was built into the Prophet Joseph Smith in his youth. With all his heart he believed the Lord would fulfill the promise if he possessed an unfaltering faith and was honest and sincere in his desire to know the truth and find the right way to God.
Too many young people are being taught concepts in school and elsewhere that do not harmonize with the teachings of the gospel of Christ. They are encouraged to find out for themselves, to try this and try that. This deviating approach permits looseness and uncontrolled appetites. The Lord has said: "... seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."
This is different from following the whims of those influenced by Satan and experimenting with injurious substances or engaging in immoral practices.
Driven off course
Those souls who waver in faith are driven off course by listening to every doctrine dictated by the agents of evil. They lose the Spirit and drift into darkness of mind and often end up as apostates to truth and righteousness. All of us should strive to follow the counsel of Paul: "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering."
Our duty is to prepare our hearts in righteousness, forsake iniquity, cleanse our souls of evil, not become beguiled by enticing and flattering words or the vain deceits of designing men who would lead us down the paths of misery to destruction.
Is man so wise, so vain, and so self-centered that he does not require divine aid? The wisdom of the world is foolishness with God. Yet man, in his own considered importance and self-sufficiency, thinks he can successfully get along in life without God's help. We must remember that a man can do nothing for himself unless God directs him in the right way, and the priesthood is for that purpose.
The self-sufficiency that comes from man s personal development, advancement, and accomplishments in all fields of learning often causes him to forget the source from which all this knowledge is released to his understanding. Mankind cannot forget God and survive. To forget God is to forsake him, and to forsake him brings his judgments upon an unrighteous people.
For any person, young or old, the only way to learn what is right and to determine the proper course to follow is to "ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not."
God does not upbraid anyone who earnestly and humbly seeks him in faith and prayer for wisdom and guidance. He welcomes it. He is our Heavenly Father. He wants to help us if we will only ask and listen to him; but in asking, one's spirit and attitude must be right to obtain an answer. Faith in God brings peace to the soul and an assurance that he is our Eternal Father into whose presence by prayer we can go for comfort and guidance.
The final verse in the topic quotation gives us the description of the person who is likely to waver. "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." To avoid being a double-minded, unstable person, the Lord has designated the path to follow.
"No man," he said, "can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
If we lack wisdom and ask with an unwavering faith and with an eye single to the glory of God, we will have a body filled with light that comprehends all things. Anything less than this pales into insignificance.
God has not left us alone to face the powers of evil. He has prescribed the way to free us from the stratagems of Satan.
Don't we all, through the Savior's sacrifice, require his intervention with our Eternal Father and his help to achieve salvation, exaltation, and glory?
He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
I testify there is no other way into the kingdom of God, for the Savior said, "... seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
The apostle Peter wisely admonished:
"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
"Whom resist stedfast in the faith."
Living the gospel of Christ is man's only path of safety in this turbulent and sinful world. We do have a discordant wavering multitude to whom nothing seems right. There are too many voices attempting to steady the ark of the covenant.
The Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum sealed their testimonies to the truthfulness of God's latter-day work with their life's blood, which act fulfills a statement of the apostle Paul to the Hebrew saints:
"For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
"For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth."
I humbly encourage all listening who earnestly and sincerely desire to know God's will to study the gospel plan of his Son, Jesus Christ. Pray about it and put this promise of James to the test. I assure you that God will not fail to give you an answer. The warmth of the Spirit will enter your soul and peace and contentment into your heart.
I repeat again the statement by the apostle James:
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall he given him.
"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
"For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
I humbly pray, my brothers and sisters, that we will be faithful and true to our trusts, walking always in obedience to the commandments. I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I know the gospel is true. I know that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. I know that we are divinely led today and that the Church invites sincere, faithful children of God of all ages and nationalities to come unto Christ and prepare themselves worthily to enter his kingdom. May we all have a desire to do so, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Hugh B. Brown
Hugh B. Brown, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 77-80
My brethren and sisters, it is a joy to be home again. After a globe-encircling journey, which results often in a better understanding of the peoples of other lands and cultures, I return with an increased appreciation of our own beloved America, its freedoms, and its opportunities.
It is my impression also that people of all lands and cultures have an increasing hunger for truth and an open-minded attitude toward new truths. Thinking men everywhere are seeking for light. There is, in fact, a worldwide quest for truth.
Leaders in both religious and scientific fields are asking for a revival of learning and a broad-minded attitude toward truth-wherever it may be found. Let me remind you, however, that broad-mindedness too often is nothing but a flattening out of high-mindedness!
The good life is a life that is pursued intelligently, toward the cultivation of genuine spirituality that is grounded in faith and knowledge, that is dedicated to truth.
Faith is the ground of all religion, but there is no special virtue in blind faith. Only faith that is grounded in a courageous search for truth is worthy of the student. We should reject every temptation to irrationality, overcome every inclination to disregard or distort the facts, avoid the extremes of fanaticism, and above all else, demand the truth. Here is the firm foundation for our religion-a religion that describes the glory of God as intelligence and proclaims that man is saved no faster than he gains knowledge.
Just as the truths of science must be tested and verified by reason and factual investigation, so the moral and spiritual truths which the world is seeking from its prophets must be proved and validated in the experience of men. In his search for truth, every man must be true to himself. He must answer to his own reason and to his own moral conscience. Anything less than this would betray his dignity as a human being and a child of God. True dignity is never won by place, and it is never lost when honors are withdrawn.
Especially in the realms of spiritual and religious endeavor where faith ventures into untried fields, truth must meet the test of unbelief and endure the fires of persecution, opposition, rejection, and hatred. Truth crushed to earth shall rise again.
Perhaps it was this thought of the permanence and eternal endurance of truth which prompted Oliver Wendell Holmes to write his illuminating poetic essay on "The Battle for Survival of Newborn Truths." He said:
"The time is wracked with birth pangs, Every hour brings forth some gasping truth, And truth, newborn, looks a misshapen, and untimely growth, The terror of the household, and its shame, A monster coiling in its nurse's lap That some would strangle, some would only starve, But still it breathes, and passed from hand to hand, And suckled at a hundred half-clad breasts, Comes slowly to its stature and its form, Calms the rough ridges of its dragon scales, Changes to shining locks its snaky hair, And moves transfigured into angel guise, Welcomed by all who cursed its hour of birth And folded in the same encircling arms That cast it like a serpent from their hold."
Let us discuss some newly revealed truth-truth that has had just such a reception and experience as the poet mentions, for it was thought to be "a misshapen and an untimely growth." Yet it is coming to its stature and its form, and its truth will move transfigured yet into angel guise.
The somewhat melancholy history of the past seems to have been a necessary forerunner to those great events which we now proclaim. The passing of the sun of time beyond the meridian, after the crucifixion of Christ, was followed by the twilight and the sunset, and then centuries of darkness, after which the signs of dawn appear. The morning breaks, the shadows flee.
How gloriously the Lord has kept his promise that in the latter days he would pour out his Spirit upon all flesh!
What a marvelous age is this in which we live! What tremendous advancement has been made within the last 150 years!
In the fields of communication and transportation alone, we have made such strides as would cause our ancestors, if they could come and see us, to say that we were gods. They would be stunned by radio and television and the marvelous achievements of science, the harnessing of electricity and other powers by which we bring to servitude the great forces of nature which in their day men feared and were wont to worship.
But lest we be given to boasting of these great events and achievements, we should be reminded of how they are being used, and of what is happening in this world of ours by the very things which our civilization has produced. Hunger and want, misery and woe seem to be spreading through the world, threatening the very civilization that has made these things possible. It seems that God's great plan included work for a wrecking crew, to tear down the old structure and make room for that which is to come. But let not those who are responsible for these things be comforted in this thought, for God has said: "It is impossible but that offenses will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!"
But are we to look for great advancement in these fields of human thought and activity alone, where material things seemingly are glorified and the spiritual things forgotten? Or may we expect in fields of moral growth and spiritual enlightenment to find new truth and revelation from God? When he said he would pour out his Spirit upon all flesh, I think he did not intend to limit his inspiration to those who are working with material things alone, for in the spiritual realm, too, there is need for something new.
You will remember when Peter and John went up to the temple at Jerusalem and came to the gate called beautiful; the man who was lame, sitting there, asked alms of them; and Peter, turning to him, said: "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have, give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
The scriptures tell us he was healed, and he leaped and he shouted for joy at his deliverance. Then a crowd gathered in wonder and amazement, and Peter told them that what was done was not of their own power or holiness, but it was done in the name of Jesus Christ. Then he said to the multitude:
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
"And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
"Whom the heaven must receive until the times of the restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."
The apostle Paul said that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he would gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are in the earth, even in him.
You will remember, too, as the eleven stood with the Master out near Bethany where they saw a cloud envelope him and take him into heaven, two angels stood by in white apparel and said to those who were assembled: "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."
We refer again to that marvelous prediction of John, who, while banished on the Isle of Patmos, had a vision and said: "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.
"Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia...
"And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
"And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about... with a golden girdle.
"His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
"And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
"And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
"And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
"I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen...
"Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter."
Thus spake the Son of God to John the apostle.
In the spring of 1820, concerning which you have heard something this morning already, just 150 years ago, God, our Father, revealed himself to man. He considered the occasion and the message of such great importance that he came personally from the heavens and brought with him his Only Begotten Son, and together they spoke to this young man and to all of us. Since that time others have come, other revelations have been given. The Angel Moroni and Moses and Elias came. Peter, James, and John, John the Baptist, Elijah, and others. They have spoken to men and commissioned them, and men are again communing with God.
Now, I am not unmindful of the fact that such a declaration as this is met not only with incredulity and disbelief, but also with antagonism and anger. Men have employed against this truth the self-same weapons as the adversary has always used in his battle against the truth.
Here again was truth looked upon as a misshapen and untimely growth. And yet, I ask all Christians who believe the Bible, do you doubt the words of Saul of Tarsus, who said that on his way to Damascus to persecute the saints, he saw a light which blinded him, and he heard a voice? He asked, "Who art thou, Lord?" And the voice replied: "I am Jesus Christ whom thou persecutest."
I say Christians believe that record, and yet they say God cannot speak to men. They who believe the Bible accept the record which tells us of the appearance of Moses and Elias on the Mount of Transfiguration and that Peter, James, and John were there and saw them in the presence of the Master. Moses and Elias, mind you, had lived hundreds of years before that time, and yet men say: "Yes, we believe the Bible where it tells of that. It was done once, but it can't be done again."
I repeat: Why should men think it a thing incredible that God should speak to men? Has not that been his method throughout the ages? Do we not need him? Have our civilization, our science, and our boasted learning made us independent of him?
Our declaration to you today is but introductory, and though he came, and with him God the Father, and following them these others whom I have briefly mentioned-all of this is but an introduction to what is yet to come.
In the afterglow of Easter, listen to the Lord's promise: "For I will reveal myself from heaven with power and glory, with all the hosts thereof, and dwell in righteousness with men on earth a thousand years, and the wicked shall not stand."
And again from Matthew: "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works."
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first."
This declaration that the Savior will come again is made to you, my brothers and sisters and friends, in the spirit and by the power which gave these truths to man, and in his name I declare to you that I know, as I know I live, that this is true. It is the most hopeful and the most glorious announcement and promise that has been made in all the history of the world, save only that which was made by the angels to the shepherds on the hills of Galilee when Christ was born.
Let us continue to search for truth in all fields of human interest and endeavor-"Till the war drums throb no longer and the battle flags are furled in the parliament of man, the federation of the world"; till the Prince of Peace shall come and assume his rightful place as King of kings, and there will be universal peace for 1,000 years.
I pray that we may be individually preparing ourselves to meet him when he comes, for come he will, and that much sooner than we think. Of this truth I testify to you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Mark E. Petersen
Mark E. Petersen, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 82-85
It is a great privilege to worship with you here, my brothers and sisters and friends, on this the Lord's Sabbath day.
The conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that we now are holding is the most unusual one in 19 years.
The illustrious administration of our beloved President David O. McKay has now come to a close, marking the greatest period of growth the Church has ever experienced in its 140 years of history.
Now we open a new administration under President Joseph Fielding Smith, also beloved and revered through his many years of devotion to the cause of Christ. He will be sustained formally by the vote of the people tomorrow, as the tenth President of the Church.
The President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is more than a president. To us he also is chosen to be a prophet of God in the same sense in which Moses, Isaiah, and Ezekiel were called. These ancient prophets were revelators. By current revelation they received up-to-date, divine guidance for the people.
In this same sense we accept the President of our Church. He too is a revelator. Through him modern revelation is made available to help us meet the many serious problems of life.
Most people of today, whether Jewish or Christian, regard it as strange that we make such claims for the President of our church.
"A prophet?" they ask with an inquiring look. "A prophet? And what is a prophet? Can any modern man be a prophet? Were not prophets confined to Bible times?"
These indeed are proper questions. They should be asked and they should be answered.
Our best explanation may be given by reviewing what the Bible itself says about prophets. Such servants of God were most important in ancient times. In fact, the whole program of the Lord's dealings with his people centered about them. So well established was this procedure that one of them said, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."
The entire pattern of the Bible, as shown in both Old and New Testaments, reflects this important fact.
Whenever God had a people on earth whom he recognized as his own, he provided constant guidance for them, and this guidance was by divine revelation given through living prophets.
These revelations were compiled, and together with the history of the times, they became scripture. This is how we obtained our Bible. The volume of scripture grew with each new prophet. In this way we obtained the books of Moses, Joshua, Samuel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Malachi, and all the others making up our Old Testament.
It was the same in New Testament times. Here again are sacred writings, those of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the Acts, the Epistles, and the book of Revelation, all originating according to the Lord's pattern, even as in Old Testament times.
But was this actually characteristic of the Christian church? Is it true that there were Christian prophets as there were Old Testament prophets?
The apostle Paul taught that Jesus placed in his church both Christian apostles and Christian prophets for the guidance of the members and for the work of the ministry.
But where are the Christian prophets today? Has God altered his pattern? Has the Almighty changed? Or is he still the same yesterday, today, and forever? And if he does not change, can we say that his procedures change?
Remembering that his pattern is the same, we of today should ponder carefully the sacred words given so long ago and ask ourselves why they should not apply today. Recall those words if you will:
"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."
Some of the great Christian reformers recognized this principle. They knew that God dealt with his people through prophets in ancient times and acknowledged their own lack of divine guidance.
Martin Luther, for example, said that the spiritual powers of early Christianity had been completely destroyed or lost and that Christianity as it was given by the Savior was no longer on the earth.
John Wesley taught that revelation and other spiritual gifts ceased to exist from what he called that "fatal period when Constantine called himself a Christian."
Roger Williams was equally outspoken and said:
"There is no person on earth qualified to administer any Church ordinances; nor can there be until new apostles are sent by the great head of the Church, for whose coming I am seeking."
Thomas Jefferson, though not a cleric in the usual sense, was a great student of Christianity. Even he acknowledged the loss of the original gospel and said that he looked forward to "the prospect of a restoration of primitive Christianity."
Many other thoughtful students of scripture have reached the same conclusion. They have sensed an absence of revelations and other spiritual gifts known so well to ancient Christianity. They also look forward to a restoration of those gifts.
But what encouraged them to believe there would be such a restoration? Was it foretold in Holy Writ?
The Bible teaches that Christ will come again and says that a great new revelation from God is to precede that event, even a restoration of the original gospel, which then is to be preached to the entire modern world.
That new revelation from God would include a modern visitation of angels, the Bible says, a thing regarded as something very strange indeed by most people of today. Yet it is God's way, not man's, that should concern us.
But to whom is this new revelation to come? Will it be given to those who do not believe in modern prophets and revelation and who deny the modern visitation of angels? Would it come to people so unbelieving and so sophisticated that they would refuse to accept the principle of divine intervention?
In the past, when there were no prophets to receive his word, God raised up new ones to bring about his purposes.
By the time the Lord was ready to bring Israel out of Egypt, the people had been without prophets for 400 years and had turned away from the truth. Therefore, when God prepared to bring them back to the holy land, it became necessary for him to raise up a new prophet in the person of Moses, for none of the Israelitish leaders of that day could qualify.
When a forerunner was to be chosen for the mortal ministry of Christ, God did not choose him from among the members of the Sanhedrin. They were unbelieving also and therefore not worthy to receive new revelation. Therefore, he raised up John the Baptist, a new prophet, who could prepare the way for the Lord.
In our day, when the predicted new revelation was to come as forecast in the scripture, again there was no prophet on the earth to receive it. No one believed in modern prophets. So what could God do? He raised up a new prophet in the person of Joseph Smith, who received the great new revelation. As part of it, he was visited by holy angels, as the Bible foretold. And why did angels come to Joseph Smith? Certainly not to satisfy his curiosity! Those angels came to him to ordain him and confer upon him divine authority and thereby qualify him to serve. In this way the restoration of the gospel was accomplished.
Legal successors
But this was more than a century ago, and Joseph Smith has passed to the great beyond. Others have taken his place. Each of his legal successors, however, was likewise appointed by the Lord as a prophet, a seer, and a revelator to carry on the work.
Joseph Fielding Smith, who is our President today, and who will be formally sustained during this conference, is likewise a divinely appointed prophet of Almighty God, and we so sustain him.
When the Lord reestablished this ancient pattern in our day, he gave a commandment to the members of the Church with respect to their President. Said he: "... thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me.
"For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith."
In other words, the modern prophet became a mouthpiece for God, even as was Moses.
And then the Lord added one more thing. He said that if any receive his word with a doubtful heart and keepeth it with slothfulness, they shall have no reward. But to those who gladly follow the teachings of the modern prophet, the Almighty said:
"... his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.
"For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disburse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory."
This is why we Latter-day Saints have prophets. And this is why we sustain Joseph Fielding Smith as a prophet and a seer to our people, which we do joyfully and with all our hearts.
This procedure should not seem strange to those who know the scriptures. It is merely a reestablishment and a continuation of the unchanged but long-forgotten Bible pattern.
And so we say:
"Come, listen to a prophet's voice And hear the word of God, And in the way of truth rejoice, And sing for joy aloud." -Hymns, No. 46
What we say here is no fantasy. It is stern and solemn reality. The heavens have been reopened. God once again converses with man.
As Moses saw God and talked with him face to face, so Joseph Smith saw God and talked with him face to face.
As Isaiah guided his people under the light of heaven, so David O. McKay guided his people under the light of heaven. As Peter, James, and John directed the work of the early Christian church, doing so as Christian prophets and Christian apostles, so Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, and Nathan Eldon Tanner direct the work of the restored Church of Jesus Christ, doing it also as Christian prophets and Christian apostles.
It is all a great reality. The gospel has been restored in our day, and it is now offered freely and without price to all mankind; and it is given through the instrumentality of prophets of God, prophets who have received the revelation of God and who walk under his guidance and inspiration.
We invite all men to partake of this great gospel. We declare it to be God's truth. We realize what Paul said about preaching false doctrine, and we declare our message in all soberness. What we say is true.
God has spoken again from the heavens. He has raised up new prophets in the earth, and we meet together here in the presence of his latest chosen prophet, seer, and revelator. May we follow his direction and sustain him with our hearts and our hands, I earnestly pray, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
President A. Theodore Tuttle
A. Theodore Tuttle, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 85-87
Brothers and sisters: President Lee has said we don't need more prophets to speak-we need more ears to listen.
We are about ready to listen, aren't we? I think we have come to this conference a little more attentive. Isn't it interesting what a difference even six months can make in our willingness to listen. Our situation is somewhat similar to that in the Book of Mormon, when the people had reached a state of "awful wickedness." Nephi then records:
"Now this great iniquity had come upon the Nephites, in the space of not many years".
With the challenges we face today, it ought to be very comforting to read again what the Lord said to Enoch about our day.
"And the Lord said unto Enoch: As I live, even so will I come in the last days, in the days of wickedness and vengeance...
"... but before that day... the heavens shall shake, and also the earth; and great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve."
Likewise, in Section 38, after warning the Saints of tumultuous days, the Lord said:
"... but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear."
In the world there will be no peace. Among faithful Latter-day Saints things will be better. The spirit of fear is not of God. Let us turn to the principles and promises of the prophets, and prepare so we need not fear. How? Strengthen the home! I make several suggestions.
Observe your family home evening. Freedom from fear follows obedience to this promise. The First Presidency has said:
"... If the obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them."
Parents, would you develop faith in the hearts of your children? Then, pay your tithing. Rely on the promise the Lord has made.
I think it is not well known in the Church that payment of tithing has very little to do with money. Tithing has to do with faith. People do not pay tithing because they have money. They pay tithing because they have faith. When we learn that principle, then we are in a better position to understand and to obey what the Lord has said. The Lord is measuring our faith. He is not measuring the amount of money we have. Tithing will be a measure of our preparedness in times to come.
Listen to his promise:
"Behold, now it is... a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming.
"For after today cometh the burning-this is speaking after the manner of the Lord-for verily I say, tomorrow all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, for I am the Lord of Hosts; and I will not spare any that remain in Babylon.
"Wherefore, if ye believe me, ye will labor while it is called today."
Against this burning, it would seem the better part of wisdom to take out some "fire insurance." For those who say "We're not going to burn," it would be prudent to remember that it wasn't raining when Noah built the ark!
Let us prepare then by being tithed.
Parents, would you have your children gain power to combat evil influences? Live and teach the Word of Wisdom. The Lord revealed this principle in 1833. It was accepted as a commandment by the Church in general conference on September 9, 1851.
The Word of Wisdom, like tithing, is a principle with a promise.
You know the law, its prohibitions and its recommendations. There are, moreover, four promises of great significance in it: the promise of health, knowledge, strength, and life.
"And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
"And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
"And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
"And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen."
Youth, compliance with this commandment not only helps to free you from fear, but also strengthens you further to resist the use of drugs, with their hideous mind-and soul-destroying properties. Obedience to this commandment develops self-control, clarity of mind, and spiritual power. Remember, the Lord has promised and the Lord will fulfill. Keep this commandment then and ye need not fear.
Parents, would you draw near to each member of your family? Learn to communicate with God and with one another. Hold family prayer each morning and evening; have individual prayer. Teach your children to "listen" when they pray. Learn to listen to your children. It is often true that 90 percent of our help comes from listening only. Learn to ponder. Take time to meditate.
Eliminate more of the worldly commercial entertainment now channeled into your home. In its place, learn the simple arts and develop individual skills. There is great virtue in training your boys to use building tools and your girls to use homemaking tools. This develops creativity, talent, and initiative. It gives expression to individual talents and encourages thrift and industry.
Train your children to work. I believe in the gospel of work. Train them to assume responsibility. Provide opportunity for service to one another and to their parents. Chores are blessings in overalls. Their value remains long after the duty is done.
Organize activities that bring parents and children together. Working together is more fun than working alone. Learn also to play. Play together as families. Make your family a strong, united unit of the Church.
We had better be organized as families. We had better be able to meet trouble. There will no doubt be plenty of it ahead of us. We had better be prepared-so that we need not fear!
All of this prepares us against the days foretold in the scriptures.
When I was a little boy, I used to go from our house up to Halls' to get milk each morning. I had heard about the burning predicted in the scriptures. I once wondered how we could be burned. I could understand how New York City or even Salt Lake City could burn up-with its buildings close together. But, I was sure that fire would never touch us. Fire couldn't possibly jump from Halls' barn across our garden to our house-not even the biggest fire I had ever seen. I felt safe in Manti.
These were a little boy's thoughts. Since then, I've learned about things that can burn without having to have buildings close together.
The Lord has said: "My people will I preserve". And, "... if ye are prepared, ye need not fear".
I testify that he lives to fulfill his promise. Jesus is the Christ. He will come one day. President Joseph Fielding Smith is a living prophet, and I love him and sustain him and his counselors with all my heart, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Robert L. Simpson
Robert L. Simpson, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 87-89
My dear brethren and sisters: I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for this opportunity. I want each of you to know the strength that we feel in your presence. I am sure you come to conference to receive, but I want to promise you that you also give as you come to general conference, because we are the recipients of that giving. As we look at you and as we feel your unity and your strength and your combined faith, we feel built up, and we are better able to carry out our assignments. Without that feeling, we couldn't do it, I promise you.
May I bear you my witness that I know that God lives. I know it just as surely as I stand here, and I know that Jesus is the Christ, and that Joseph Fielding Smith is a prophet of God. And because he is a prophet, those things that he says are true. Just yesterday he gave two great discourses, and one of the things that he said I shall ever remember, for it was something that was taught me even as a child at the knee of my mother. He said, "God is our Father, and we are his children." O that the world, three billion people, could listen to a prophet of God and have this firm thought, this basic and fundamental concept, as an anchor to their lives.
Not too long ago a schoolteacher, anxious to extract some participation from her class of third graders on the subject of modern-day progress, asked her little ones a simple question:
"Can anyone here name one important thing in this world that was not here ten years ago?" After a few moments of thinking, an eager and confident eight-year-old boy near the back raised his hand. His answer: "Yes-me." As humorous as this incident might sound on the surface, I am certain that Heavenly Father smiled approvingly at the boy's response, a response that was made in all seriousness.
This lad, in my mind, is a modern-day David, for it was he who declared centuries ago:
"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
"For thou has made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
"Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet."
If the world could but learn and have feelings about this one basic concept of God to man, of father-to-son relationship, many of our mortal frustrations and contentions could be greatly diminished.
Just a couple of days ago in Primary conference, we were reminded once again by the little children: "I am a child of God, and he has sent me here." This is a basic doctrine, and all mankind needs to believe it.
We seem so inclined to forget that there are certain basic and fundamental relationships within the human family that do not alter as the scene changes from one side of the veil to the other. One of those concepts, in my opinion, is the right that every child hat to communicate with and obtain assistance from his father, mortal and heavenly. Each of us has two fathers-a spiritual father and an earthly father. Not only that, but I have also been taught that every parent has the right and the capacity to know and be concerned about the welfare of his children. It is an eternal commission and right shared by the father of your physical body and the father of your spirit.
Why must we continually limit God, our Eternal Father, and his abilities by our own mortal incapabilities, immaturities, and our earthbound, physical restrictions? Should he who has the ability to create worlds and father billions of children be denied the right to know his offspring? Of course not. Every father has that privilege. To think otherwise is inconsistent with all that we hold as basic and fundamental in life-life here, life before, and life hereafter.
May I be bold enough to suggest that your Heavenly Father knows you personally and can call you by name-yes, you plus three billion other children who share this world with you. And you can add to that family circle the billions upon billions who have lived and died since Father Adam. This thought itself is admittedly almost beyond the comprehension of mortal understanding, but please, let us not limit the Creator of heaven and earth in any way, for his powers are limitless, and the basic concept must hold that a father knows his children.
As a child of God kneels to pray, that individual must believe implicitly that his prayer is being heard by him to whom the prayer is addressed. The thought that our Heavenly Father is too busy or that our message is being recorded by celestial computers for possible future consideration is unthinkable and inconsistent with all we have been taught by his holy prophets.
It was thrilling to listen to a father relate this story about his three-year-old youngster recently, as they knelt by the crib in the usual manner for the little fellow to say his simple bedtime prayer. Eyes closed-heads bowed-seconds passed, and there were no words spoken by the child. Just about the time Dad was going to open his eyes to check the lengthy delay, little Tommy was on his feet and climbing into bed. "How about your prayers?" asked Dad. "I said my prayers," came the reply. "But son, Daddy didn't hear you." Then followed the child's classic statement: "But Daddy, I wasn't talking to you."
Even three-year-olds have personal, private matters to discuss with Heavenly Father from time to time. But most important of all is the implicit faith that the communication is not in vain. Each word is finding its way to a Father who is not too busy, a Father who has the ability to hear, to judge, and to act for our benefit. This must be the personal faith of us all regardless of our age, regardless of our station in life, regardless of how long it has been, regardless of how grievous the confidence might be.
"... this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." His total purpose and plan is involved in our success. It's natural for a father to want success for his offspring. A son or daughter should want to please his parents and to help guarantee an eternal relationship with them.
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him?" A loving Father in heaven, concerned for the welfare of his child, might well answer: "Why, you are my son, you are my daughter. I love you very much. I listen carefully each day, hoping to hear from you. I want so to one day have you back where you belong. Please share with me your innermost thoughts, your hopes, yes, and particularly your problems. I know I can help, but listen carefully, child-don't close the door when I give you the answer. I need you very much, just as you need me." And I suppose that a fitting climax to such comments that a loving Heavenly Father might conceivably utter to any one of his children could well be couched in the same language that the Savior used as he spoke tenderly through John:
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." What a promise]
We are children of God. He is our Father in very deed. May we revere that relationship. Without this lofty concept as the foundation of our lives, our chances for temporal happiness and true success are extremely limited; our possibility for eternal joy and exaltation is nonexistent. But with it in sharp focus and meaningful on a daily basis, we will best be able to comprehend and realize the great statement that "men are, that they might have joy." I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Theodore M. Burton
Theodore M. Burton, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 90-92
It used to be said of a Mormon that his word was as good as his bond. Once a Mormon gave his word, you could rely on it. Even if it meant a personal sacrifice of money, time, or effort, once he gave his word you could depend on him to do as he promised. Is the same thing true today?
Honesty can take many forms, such as giving a full day's work for a full day's pay. Can one be considered honest who loafs on his job; who does not take pains with his work; who wastes time in the rest room, around the water fountain, or who stretches his lunch hour an extra 15 minutes? It is easy to compile a list of dishonest business practices that take money from an employer. We can name such things as making unnecessary personal telephone calls, coming late to work, taking home paper, pencils, postage stamps, or mailing personal letters through the company postage meter. Such practices once frowned on are almost universally accepted today with the excuse that "everyone does it." The fact of the matter is that everyone doesn't do it. There are still many honest people in this world.
Honesty includes more than material things. There must be honesty within the family. A man must be honest with his wife and a wife honest with her husband. Children must be honest with parents and parents honest with their children. Honesty involves loyalty to family, friends, neighbors, the community, and the nation. Honesty is a host of little things that make a person trustworthy. Honesty is a fundamental principle in the true worship of a kind, loving Father in heaven. One of the reasons the Father loved the Son so much was because he was trustworthy. Jesus said:
"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
"No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. This commandment have I received of my Father".
Jesus used the power God gave him to help others. How wonderful if that same testimony could apply to us in our dealings with others. How wonderful if we could likewise say: Therefore doth my Father love me, because I do what he asks me to do.
I devoutly wish that all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints could be numbered among the honest, trustworthy people of this world. Some members of the Church succumb to the world in which they live. They wear their religion on Sunday, but forget it when they enter the business world. There they become as sharp and untrustworthy in business dealings as some of their associates. You can be both successful and honest-in fact, you can be more successful as an honest man than you ever can as a self-seeking, dishonest person.
No one is born honest. No one is born dishonest. We have to be taught to be honest. We have to experience the pain, worry, and discomfort of dishonesty to know that truly, "honesty is the best policy." The prophet Alma told his son Corianton, "Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness". Dishonest persons soon discover this. Not only does dishonesty ruin their lives, but it also brings shame and dishonor to their families. Dishonesty also brings shame and suffering to the people of the church to which they belong. Like it or not, we are all soon tarred with the same brush.
It is easy to be dishonest in little things. Few people think it dishonest to take a pencil home. The Church has about 3,500 employees. Figuring five cents per pencil, if each person were to take one pencil, such a loss would amount to $175.00. A person who would think twice about stealing $175.00 may never lose a moment's sleep about taking a pencil. Yet what limits dare one set for dishonesty? Little things soon amount to big things. Before we are aware, we graduate to greater sin.
The telling of a lie may appear to be a little thing, but one lie leads to another until a person's reputation is lost. Once a person is branded a liar, a cheat, or a thief, it takes a long period of repentance and restoration to bring back a reputation so easily tarnished by a careless and thoughtless act. As long as we have to learn to be honest or dishonest, why not learn to be honest?
I wish all boys could have had a mother such as I had. One day I came home eating an apple. Mother asked me where I got it. I told her I found it. She soon discovered that I had found it in Mr. Goddard's grocery store, and mother insisted I take it back. I protested that it was partly eaten, but at her urging I took the partly eaten apple back to Mr. Goddard and shamefully told him I had robbed his store. He phoned mother to tell her I had brought it back and said he had seen me take it, but it was such a little thing he hadn't bothered to say anything about it. It wasn't a little thing to mother. She loved us too much to have a thief in the family.
There is a phenomenon that accompanies dishonest persons. Before long they become very critical and tend to find fault with leaders who call their attention to their unrighteousness. Instead of repenting and changing their lives for the better, they tend to justify their own misdeeds by finding fault with their leaders. The Prophet Joseph Smith said:
"I will give you one of the Keys of the mysteries of the Kingdom. It is an eternal principle, that has existed with God from all eternity: That man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way, while he himself is righteous, then know assuredly, that that man is in the high road to apostasy; and if he does not repent, will apostatize, as God lives".
Another truism is that God does bless the righteous. Often in that moment when God showers blessings upon us most abundantly, we forget him because we no longer need his sustaining hand. I hope with our present prosperity we are not forgetting our Maker nor forgetting those practices of honesty and integrity that have made us what we are today. Helaman, a great Book of Mormon prophet, wrote:
"... behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him.
"Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people... then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One-yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.
"Yea, how quick to be lifted up in pride... and how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to walk in wisdom's paths!".
Would it not be wise to examine our practices to see which road we are walking? Is our word as good as our bond? Are we honest in our dealings with others, even in little things?
Just because we Latter-day Saints live in a current world characterized by sharp and dishonest practices is no excuse for us to be untrustworthy. Because others lie is no excuse for us to be dishonest. On the contrary, we must be leaders of righteousness so that others may know the paths of honesty and righteousness that lead back into the presence of God the Eternal Father. The power of the priesthood is given us to lead. Those who bear that priesthood must be pillars of honesty and virtue in every sense of the word. The apostle Peter spoke to priesthood leaders in this way:
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shed forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
"Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation".
As the children of God, our lives must be filled with good works, honest practices, and honest virtues that are characteristic of the children of God. When we take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, we bear the responsibility of guarding that great name with our very lives.
To fail to honor that royal name we bear as Christians is to hold the very God we espouse to open ridicule and shame. In effect, we crucify him anew before the world.
Now we know these things are true. Like Amulek of old we know better, but often we won't listen. As Amulek said:
"... I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart".
You know as I know that the ways of God will not fail. His purposes will be accomplished and he will save us from our sins if only we will not harden our hearts.
This is God's work. We are God's children and must not fail him. Let us all then obey those teachings which we know deep down in our hearts are true. It is time to remember that Jesus truly is the Christ, the living Son of the living God. He is the Redeemer and Savior of this world. Of the divinity of his teachings and the rightness of his cause I bear my personal witness in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Alma Sonne
Alma Sonne, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 92-94
My brethren and sisters:
A few years ago I boarded an ocean liner in Liverpool, England. On board was a group of missionaries, returning home after serving two years or more in the missions of Europe. I noticed one of these men standing on the upper deck, looking to the eastward. He seemed a bit crestfallen. As I approached him, I said, "Are you homesick for the mission field?" "Well, not exactly," he said, "but it has suddenly occurred to me that I may never see those people again."
He had spent two and one-half years in Norway. He had made many friends, and many of them had befriended and cared for him during his period of missionary service. To leave them was an ordeal that he had not contemplated. "I may never see them again, and today my heart is over there," he said.
It is a common experience with missionaries who invariably have strong attachments to the people among whom they have labored.
The Church has moved ahead since its organization in 1830. Its program has been constructive and far-reaching. The missionary spirit is still strong in its members. Most young men and many young women look forward to a missionary opportunity. They know the benefits derived from such service.
The greatest project ever launched by the Savior was when he sent his chosen apostles into the world with the injunction, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel of the kingdom to every creature.
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
It was a gigantic task, requiring faith, courage, and conviction.
I need not tell you that their labors were effective. What they said and did revolutionized the world. Before many centuries had passed, the name of Jesus Christ was known all over the civilized world. Churches, cathedrals, and monuments were erected to preserve and honor his memory. A confusion, however, had arisen in these Christian churches. There were many sects, each one claiming to have the right way to salvation. There was a lack of unity and purpose.
In the blaze of the nineteenth century, Joseph Smith appeared. He claimed that the churches called Christian had broken the laws and changed the everlasting gospel. This was in fulfillment of prophecy. The obligation resting upon the Latter-day Saints is to teach the restored gospel. I feel I can conscientiously and truthfully say that the restored Church is discharging this great responsibility. Within a year after its organization missionaries were in the field, often without purse or scrip, announcing the restoration of divine truth. Their success was phenomenal. The Church grew and prospered through a missionary system that has no parallel in religious history.
Foreign countries were visited. Opposition mounted. In some cases mobs assembled. Newspapers carried on tirades of abuse. Persecution raged; even churches were hostile. But the young church, organized under God's direction, grew and prospered and finally moved to the Rocky Mountains, as prophesied by the Prophet Joseph Smith; and the work of regeneration was on its way.
The Church is well organized and equipped to carry on its mission to the world. Generally speaking, it has been successful, and the gospel of the kingdom is going forth in preparation for Christ's coming in these the last days. Many barriers have been removed since those hard times when it was first introduced under the leadership of Joseph Smith, a young prophet.
When God has a message for his children on the earth, a prophet is chosen and authorized to deliver that message. In the eyes of God he is a great man, a true servant, but before men, he is often an outcast, persecuted, maligned, and misunderstood. He is often a victim of abuse and falsehood, but he is unconquerable as he faces the forces of opposition.
The modern prophet, Joseph Smith, was no exception. The powers of evil were arrayed against him. He withstood them and did the work assigned him.
He could not fail, for the hour had come when the God of heaven and earth would establish his work to redeem humanity. That work is moving forward, brethren and sisters, and will continue its onward march until it has filled the earth, and nothing can stay its progress.
I so testify in great humility, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord. Amen.
Elder James A. Cullimore
James A. Cullimore, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 94-96
My beloved brethren and sisters: How wonderful it is to be assembled here with you in this great worldwide general conference of the Church. As I note the various representatives of stakes from all over the world, I sense more than ever how completely this is a worldwide church. I am grateful to be here and to represent you in whatever way I might, and to be of service in this great church.
Some of the facts that come to our attention in the line of our duty make me wonder if we take as seriously as we should the covenants we have made as members of the Church:
-The covenants made in baptism-wherein we "witness before the church that have truly repented of all... sins, and are willing to take upon the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by works that have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of... sins."
-Promises made to our spouse and unto the Lord as we enter into the marriage covenant.
-All covenants made in the temple.
-Promises made to our bishop and stake president, branch president or mission president as we accept assignments to offices in the Church.
-The oath and covenant of the priesthood. The obligations we accept as we are ordained to the priesthood and act in its offices.
The Lord expects us to be obedient to our covenants. Great blessings are promised us as we are obedient, both temporal and spiritual, the greatest of which is eternal life. Likewise, condemnation follows disobedience. The Lord expects us to be strong and conquering as we exercise our agency.
President McKay said, in reference to our responsibilities as members of the Church: "Membership in the Church carries with it the responsibility to overcome temptation, to battle error, to improve the mind, and to develop one's spirit until it comes to the 'measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.' Habits of intemperance and sensual pleasures should have been buried in the waters of baptism. What folly to permit them to return when one realizes that not happiness but misery is allied with indulgence in sin!"
As we entered the waters of baptism, we covenanted with the Lord to be obedient and keep his commandments. The Savior set the pattern in this; Nephi told his people the following: "... he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.
"Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove.
"And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straightness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them.
"And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?"
It is the plan of the Lord that men will have their agency and are free to do as they so desire. President McKay said on another occasion: "The mission of the Church is to assist mankind to overcome evil and to cherish the good. It teaches that repentance is an eternal principle of salvation."
One of our great responsibilities is not only to live the gospel ourselves but also to stimulate in the lives of every other member of the Church a great desire to serve the Lord. Alma was most fervent in his approach to this great responsibility when he said: "O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!
"Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with a voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth."
And then, as if he realized it would not be the will of the Lord to be too forceful, as all must have their agency, he said: "But behold, I am a man and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.
"I ought not to harrow up in my desires, the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction."
It is of utmost importance that we stimulate proper desires in our lives, by study, by teaching, by constant activity. John A. Widtsoe wisely said: "Righteous desire, backed by a ready will and honest prayer, works wonders in human lives. It reveals truth. It trains the will for righteousness. It leads to increasing accomplishment. It is protection amidst the temptations and storms of life...
"When such desire is coupled with obedience to law, the gates of heaven are thrown open to our high eternal destiny. As our desires are, so are we...
"A man's desire should be his first concern, for no person can rise above his real desires. Neither can a nation rise above the assembled desires of the people...
"Of course, desires are of value only when they drive us to action. Will must accompany desire. Then high resolve is born. Desire is the design; will the execution of the design... When desire and will move together, in the right direction, we become strong and conquering."
He said further: "Too many of us spend our hours wishing for heaven, when an active desire for simple earthly blessings might form rounds in the ladder to celestial glory."
In the selection of the first Quorum of Twelve Apostles in this dispensation the Lord said: "... by their desires and their works you shall know them."
Some good counsel was given to Hyrum Smith through revelation that could well be applied in our own lives as we build faith.
According to your desires, yea, even according to your faith shall it be done unto you.
"Keep my commandments; hold your peace; appeal unto my Spirit;
"Yea, cleave unto me with all your heart."
As we strive to keep the commandments, it is wonderful to know that the Lord has provided means whereby we might receive strength. Through the influence of the Holy Spirit, the understanding of the Father is conveyed to every creature. It is the means of man's constant access to the Father. Modern revelation states: "... the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit."
The Lord has said plainly: "I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.
"Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.
"And to them will I reveal all mysteries... of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasures of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.
"Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations.
"And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven; and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught.
"For... by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will."
The degree to which we receive help from the Lord for the guidance of our lives depends upon ourselves. We must be in tune with the Spirit to receive and understand its message. We must be worthy.
The guidance that we seek from our Heavenly Father greatly depends upon our obedience to every truth known to us. By our good works we demonstrate to the Lord our obedience.
The greatest assurance we may receive as to eternal life, and following President McKay's direction, comes in "doing the will of the Father." The Savior said, "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
"If any man will do his will, he will know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."
"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
"He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
"But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; hereby know we that we are in him."
Yes, membership in the Church carries with it the responsibility to live the gospel and overcome temptations. May we always have a strong desire to serve the Lord, remembering that the surest way to keep the faith is by being actively engaged in the work of the gospel. I leave you my witness that this is his work in which we are engaged, and that he will bless us as we keep faithful and live the gospel, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Elder Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 97-100
Often we hear the expression, "Times have changed." And perhaps they have. Our generation has witnessed enormous strides in the fields of medicine, transportation, communication, and exploration, to name but a few. However, there are those isolated islands of constancy midst the vast sea of change. For instance, boys are still boys. And they continue to make the same boyish boasts.
Some time ago I overheard what I am confident is an oft-repeated conversation. Three very young boys were discussing the relative virtues of their fathers. One spoke out: "My dad is bigger than your dad," to which another replied, "Well, my dad is smarter than your dad." The third boy countered: "My dad is a doctor"; then turning to one boy, he taunted in derision, "and your dad is only a teacher."
The call of a mother terminated the conversation, but the words continued to echo in my ears. Only a teacher. Only a teacher. Only a teacher. One day, each of those small boys will come to appreciate the true worth of inspired teachers and will acknowledge with sincere gratitude the indelible imprint which such teachers will leave on their personal lives.
"A teacher," as Henry Brook Adam's observed, "affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." This truth pertains to each of our teachers: first, the teacher in the home; second, the teacher in the school; third, the teacher in the Church.
Perhaps the teacher you and I remember best is the one who influenced us most. She may have used no chalkboard nor possessed a college degree, but her lessons were everlasting and her concern genuine. Yes, I speak of mother. And in the same breath, also include father. In reality, every parent is a teacher.
The pupil in such a teacher's divinely commissioned classroom-indeed, the baby who comes to your home or to mine-is a sweet new blossom of humanity, fresh fallen from God's own home to flower on earth.
Such a thought may have prompted the poet to pen the words:
"I took a piece of plastic clay And idly fashioned it one day- And as my fingers pressed it, still It moved and yielded to my will.
"I came again when days were past; The bit of clay was hard at last. The form I gave it, still it bore, And I could change that form no more!
"I took a piece of living clay, And gently pressed it day by day, And moulded with my power and art A young child's soft and yielding heart.
"I came again when years were gone: It was a man I looked upon. He still that early impress bore, And I could fashion it never more." -Author Unknown
Prime time for teaching is fleeting. Opportunities are perishable. The parent who procrastinates the pursuit of his responsibility as a teacher may in years to come gain bitter insight to Whittier's expression: "... of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: 'It might have been.'"
Should a parent need added inspiration to commence his God-given teaching task, let him remember that the most powerful combination of emotions in the world is not called out by any grand cosmic event nor found in novels or history books-but merely by a parent gazing down upon a sleeping child. "Created in the image of God," that glorious biblical passage, acquires new and vibrant meaning as a parent repeats this experience. Home becomes a haven called heaven, and loving parents teach their children "to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord." Never does such an inspired parent fit the description, "only a teacher."
Next, let us consider the teacher in the school. Inevitably, there dawns that tearful morning when home yields to the classroom part of its teaching time. Johnny and Nancy join the happy throng which each day wends its way from the portals of home to the classrooms of school. There a new world is discovered. Our children meet their teachers.
The teacher not only shapes the expectations and ambitions of her pupils, but she also influences their attitudes toward their future and themselves. If she is unskilled, she leaves scars on the lives of youth, cuts deeply into their self-esteem, and distorts their image of themselves as human beings. But if she loves her students and has high expectations of them, their self-confidence will grow, their capabilities will develop, and their future will be assured.
Unfortunately, there are those few teachers who delight to destroy faith, rather than build bridges to the good life. Ever must we remember that the power to lead is also the power to mislead, and the power to mislead is the power to destroy.
In the words of President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.: "He wounds, maims, and cripples a soul who raises doubts about or destroys faith in the ultimate truths. God will hold such a one strictly accountable; and who can measure the depths to which one shall fall who willfully shatters in another the opportunity for celestial glory?"
Since we cannot control the classroom, we can at least prepare the pupil. You ask: "How?" I answer: "Provide a guide to the glory of the celestial kingdom of God; even a barometer to distinguish between the truths of God and the theories of men."
Several years ago I held in my hand much a guide. It was a volume of scripture we commonly call the Triple Combination, containing the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. The book was a gift from a loving father to a beautiful, blossoming daughter who followed carefully his advice. On the flyleaf page her father had written these inspired words:
"April 9, 1944 " To My Dear Maurine:
"That you may have a constant measure by which to judge between truth and the errors of man's philosophies, and thus grow in spirituality as you increase in knowledge, I give you this sacred book to read frequently and cherish throughout your life.
"Lovingly your father, Harold B. Lee"
I ask the question: "Only a teacher?"
Finally, let us turn to the teacher we usually meet on Sunday-the teacher in the Church. In such a setting, the history of the past, the hope of the present, and the promise of the future all meet. Here especially, the teacher learns it is easy to be a Pharisee, difficult to be a disciple. The teacher is judged by his students-not alone by what and how he teaches, but also by how he lives.
The apostle Paul counseled the Romans:
"Thou... which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery?"
Paul, that inspired and dynamic teacher, provides us a good example. Perhaps his success secret is revealed through his experience in the dreary dungeon that held him prisoner. Paul knew the tramp, tramp of the soldiers' feet and the clank, clank of the chains which bound him captive. When the prison warden, who seemed to be favorably inclined toward Paul, asked him whether he needed advice as to how to conduct himself before the emperor, Paul said he had an adviser-the Holy Spirit.
This same Spirit guided Paul as he stood in the midst at Mars' hill, read the inscription "To The Unknown God," and declared: "... Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
"God that made the world and all things therein... dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
"... he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
For in him we live, and move, and have our beings... For we are also his offspring."
Again the question, "Only a teacher?"
In the home, the school, or the house of God, there is one teacher whose life overshadows all others. He taught of life and death, of duty and destiny. He lived not to be served, but to serve; not to receive, but to give; not to save his life, but to sacrifice it for others. He described a love more beautiful than lust, a poverty richer than treasure. It was said of this teacher that he taught with authority and not as do the scribes. In today's world, when many men are greedy for gold and for glory, and dominated by a teaching philosophy of "publish or perish," let us remember that this teacher never wrote-once only he wrote on the sand, and the wind destroyed forever his handwriting. His laws were not inscribed upon stone, but upon human hearts. I speak of the master teacher, even Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind.
When dedicated teachers respond to his gentle invitation, "Come learn of me," they learn, but they also become partakers of his divine power. It was my experience as a small boy to come under the influence of such a teacher. In our Sunday School class, she taught us concerning the creation of the world, the fall of Adam, the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. She brought to her classroom as honored guests Moses, Joshua, Peter, Thomas, Paul, and Jesus the Christ. Though we did not see them, we learned to love, honor, and emulate them.
Never was her teaching so dynamic nor its impact more everlasting as one Sunday morning when she sadly announced to us the passing of a classmate's mother. We had missed Billy that morning, but knew not the reason for his absence. The lesson featured the theme, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Midway through the lesson, our teacher closed the manual and opened our eyes and our ears and our hearts to the glory of God. She asked, "How much money do we have in our class party fund?"
Depression days prompted a proud answer: "Four dollars and seventy-five cents."
Then ever so gently she suggested: "Billy's family is hard-pressed and grief-stricken. What would you think of the possibility of visiting the family members this morning and giving to them your fund?"
Ever shall I remember the tiny band walking those three city blocks, entering Billy's home, greeting him, his brother, sisters, and father. Noticeably absent was his mother. Always I shall treasure the tears which glistened in the eyes of all as the white envelope containing our precious party fund passed from the delicate hand of our teacher to the needy hand of a heartbroken father. We fairly skipped our way back to the chapel. Our hearts were lighter than they had ever been; our joy more full; our understanding more profound. A God-inspired teacher had taught her boys and girls an eternal lesson of divine truth. "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Well could we have echoed the words of the disciples on the way to Emmaus: "Did not our hearts burn within us... while opened to us the scriptures?"
I return to the dialogue mentioned earlier. When the boy heard the taunts: "My dad is bigger than yours," "My dad is smarter than yours," "My dad is a doctor," well could he have replied: "Your dad may be bigger than mine; your dad may be smarter than mine; your dad may be a pilot, an engineer or a doctor; but my dad, my dad is a teacher."
May each of us ever merit such a sincere and worthy compliment, I pray humbly, in the name of the master teacher, even the Son of God, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 113-114
My beloved brethren and sisters:
I stand before you today in humility and in thanksgiving, grateful for the blessings which the Lord has poured out upon me, upon my family, upon you, and upon all his people.
I know we are engaged in the work of the Lord and that he raises up men to do his work in every time and age of the earth's history.
As a church and as a people, we have been greatly blessed for many years by the inspired leadership, the great spiritual insight, and the firm hand of President David O. McKay. Now that his valiant work here is finished and he has been called home to serve in other ways, the Lord has given the reigns of responsibility and leadership in his earthly kingdom to others of us who remain.
And since we know the Lord "giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them", we are most humbly confident that under his guidance and direction this work will continue to prosper.
I desire to say that no man of himself can lead this church. It is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ; he is at the head. The Church bears his name, has his priesthood, administers his gospel, preaches his doctrine, and does his work.
He chooses men and calls them to be instruments in his hands to accomplish his purposes, and he guides and directs them in their labors. But men are only instruments in the Lord's hands, and the honor and glory for all that his servants accomplish is and should be ascribed unto him forever.
If this were the work of man, it would fail, but it is the work of the Lord, and he does not fail. And we have the assurance that if we keep the commandments and are valiant in the testimony of Jesus and are true to every trust, the Lord will guide and direct us and his church in the paths of righteousness, for the accomplishment of all his purposes.
Our faith is centered in the Lord Jesus Christ, and through him in the Father. We believe in Christ, accept him as the Son of God, and have taken his name upon us in the waters of baptism, and are his sons and his daughters by adoption.
I rejoice in the work of the Lord and glory in the sure knowledge I have in my soul of its truth and divinity!
With all my heart I bear witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God; that he called the Prophet Joseph Smith to stand at the head of this dispensation and to organize again on earth the Church and kingdom of God; and that the work in which we are engaged is true.
When my father, President Joseph F. Smith, was called to serve as the sixth President of the Church, he expressed gratitude for his devoted counselors and declared his intention to counsel with them in all matters pertaining to the Church, that there might be a oneness and unity among the brethren and before the Lord.
Now may I say that I have complete confidence in my counselors. They are men of God who are guided by the inspiration of heaven. They enjoy the gift and power of the Holy Ghost and have no desires other than to further the interests of the Church and to bless all our Father's children, and perfect the work of the Lord on earth.
President Harold B. Lee is a pillar of truth and righteousness, a true seer who has great spiritual strength and insight and wisdom, and whose knowledge and understanding of the Church and its needs is not surpassed by any man.
President N. Eldon Tanner is a man of like caliber, of perfect integrity, of devotion to the truth, who is endowed with that administrative ability and spiritual capacity which enables him to lead and counsel and direct aright.
And what I say about President Lee and President Tanner applies also to the Quorum of the Twelve and the other General Authorities. They are men of God. I am grateful that the Lord raises up men with the strength and power these brethren possess, and he calls and prepares them to stand in places of leadership in his Church.
There is no work on earth as important as the work of the Lord, and there are no positions of service and responsibility as far-reaching in their effect upon our Father's children; and it is my prayer that all of us, working together as true brothers and sisters in the Lord's kingdom, may so labor as to accomplish the great work that lies ahead.
We live in a time when the spirit of love and harmony is increasing among people of many faiths, and we join with men of good will in all churches in expressing love and concern for the temporal and spiritual well-being of all our Father's children.
We are pleased to cooperate with sincere and good men and women everywhere in all matters for the advancement and betterment of our fellowmen, for we acknowledge all men as children of God and as brothers and sisters in the family of mankind.
May our Eternal Father pour out his blessings upon all the works of his hands;
And bless parents with insight and inspiration in teaching their children;
And bless our children, and young people, to seek and accept counsel and keep the commandments;
And bless all the officers and teachers and members of our Father's church so they may serve him in righteousness, faithfully, and effectively;
And bless the world and all men everywhere that they may turn to him in righteousness, and find peace, happiness, and purpose in life-all of which I ask, humbly and gratefully, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 117-122
The proceedings of this day have been most impressive and awesome. May I extend to Elder Boyd K. Packer a warm welcome personally and for the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. We have watched him grow since his first days as an Assistant to this day of highest call. Here he will find true fraternity in its highest reach.
We welcome also to the ranks of the General Authorities Elder Joseph Anderson, whom we have loved and appreciated these many years, and Elder David B. Haight and Elder William H. Bennett, men of power and dedication and long service.
This is a notable year in this world's life. It is January. History swings on its hinges. Another page is turned and a new era comes to the front.
It is Sunday morning, January 18, 1970. A great heart stops beating and an aged body relaxes and slumbers. Like an earthquake sends a tidal wave around the earth, communications now cover the earth and millions of serious-minded people in even faraway places stop to pay saddened tribute to a mighty man of God who has passed from mortality.
For days, long lines of loving followers inch their way along the street, even in the rain, to see once more the visage of their departed leader.
The Tabernacle is crowded with those who loved him, and sweet tributes are paid.
The earthly body of the prophet, David O. McKay, is laid to rest in dignified reverence.
Our heads are bowed, our hearts are hurting, but there will be a happy reunion when this inspired prophet joins the hosts of his peers-the Josephs, the Brighams, and the Wilfords.
In our feeling of emptiness, it hardly seems that we could go on without him; but as one star sinks behind the horizon, another comes into the picture, and death spawns life.
The work of the Lord is endless. Even when a powerful leader dies, not for a single instant is the Church without leadership, thanks to the kind Providence who gave his kingdom continuity and perpetuity. As it already has happened eight times before in this dispensation, a people reverently close a grave, dry their tears, and turn their faces to the future.
The moment life passes from a President of the Church, a body of men become the composite leader-these men already seasoned with experience and training. The appointments have long been made, the authority given, the keys delivered. For five days, the kingdom moves forward under this already authorized council. No "running" for position, no electioneering, no stump speeches. What a divine plan! How wise our Lord, to organize so perfectly beyond the weakness of frail, grasping humans.
Then dawns the notable day, and 14 serious men walk reverently into the temple of God-this, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, several of whom have experienced this solemn change before.
When these 14 men emerge from the holy edifice later in the morning, a transcendently vital event has occurred-a short interregnum ends, and the government of the kingdom shifts back again from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to a new prophet, an individual leader, the Lord's earthly representative, who has unostentatiously been moving toward this lofty calling for 60 years. He now presides over the Church.
Not because of his name, however, did he accede to this high place, but because when he was a very young man, he was called of the Lord, through the then living prophet, to be an apostle-member of the Quorum-and was given the precious, vital keys to hold in suspension pending a time when he might become the senior apostle and the President.
In that eventful temple meeting, when he has been "ordained and set apart" as the President of the Church by his brethren, the Twelve, he chooses his counselors-two mighty men of valor: Elder Harold B. Lee and Elder Nathan Eldon Tanner, with their rich background as teachers, businessmen, public officials, and especially Church leaders.
And a presidency of three and a newly constituted Council of Twelve walk humbly to their offices without fanfare or ostentation, and a new administration moves into a new period with promise of great development and unprecedented growth.
It was a very young man who introduced the restored program to this new world. Joseph Smith was but 24 years of age when the Church was organized.
When he was martyred at 38, the second President, Brigham Young became senior apostle and the President of the Church at 46 years of age and presided 30 years. The other Presidents, each in his turn, became President at ages ranging from 62 to 84, and died at ages 79 to 96.
John Taylor was 71 when he became President of the Church and died at 78, and upon his death, Wilford Woodruff became the senior apostle. Two years later, he was sustained President of the Church at 82 years of age. He died at 91, whereupon President Lorenzo Snow became the senior apostle. He was 84 years of age when he became the President of the Church. His presidency was short-lived. He served about three years.
President Joseph F. Smith was senior apostle seven days; he became the President of the Church October 17, 1901, at 62 years of age; he died at 80.
President Heber J. Grant was senior apostle less than a week, when he became the President of the Church at 62; he died at 88.
President George Albert Smith was the senior apostle for seven days and became President of the Church at 75; he died at the age of 81. Last Saturday was his one hundredth birthday.
President David O. McKay, the ninth President was senior apostle five days and was sustained as President of the Church at 77; he died at the age of 96.
President Joseph Fielding Smith, whose birthdate is July 19, 1876, became the senior apostle January 18, and President of the Church January 23, 1970, at the age of 93.
The Presidents from John Taylor to David O. McKay, inclusive, became President at ages ranging from 62 to 84 and died at ages from 79 to 96.
It is interesting to note that these eight Church Presidents assumed their presiding responsibility at an average age of 73 years, and relinquished it by death at 85 years. They served an average of a little less than 12 years; consequently, the average age of the living President of the Church has been about 79 years.
We may expect the Church President will always be an older man; young men have action, vigor, initiative; older men, stability and strength and wisdom through experience and long communion with God.
In President McKay's declining days, speculation ran high among the curious and the concerned and the less knowledgeable and continued as a major topic of discussion through the interregnum.
More than a million members had never known any other President than David O. McKay; consequently, it was natural for some to be confused.
They talked about age. The old patriarchs were not young. Adam was very old as he presided over his posterity, which spread over many generations. Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, and Moses presided over the people, dying at 175, 180, 110, and 120 years. They were old in years, but from their accumulated experience came massive wisdom and security.
People talk about precedent. If it is precedent, it has become such by the repetition of the revealed order since the beginning. Brigham Young was the senior apostle, holding all the keys and authorities, and in the present case, President Smith was the senior apostle. This is the way of the Lord, and he retains the leadership in his divine hands.
When the first succession took place, the restored church was an infant only 14 years old. There had been no prophet nor "open vision" for numerous centuries. Little wonder, then, that the people should be full of questions when the bullets at Carthage terminated the life of the one in whom all these priceless blessings-the church, revelation, prophets-seemed to be centered. When the apostles returned from their missions, had buried their dead prophet, and considered the future, all doubt was dissipated when the senior apostle, already holding all the keys, stood forth like Moses and led the way.
The editorial of September 2, 1844, on the succession said:
"Great excitement prevails throughout to know 'who shall be the successor of Joseph Smith!'
"In reply we say, be patient, be patient a little till the proper time comes, and we will tell you all. 'Great wheels move slow.' At present, we can say that a special conference of the church was held in Nauvoo on the 8th, ult., and it was carried without a dissenting voice, that the 'Twelve' should preside over the whole church, and when any alteration in the presidency shall be required, seasonable notice will be given; and the elders abroad, will best exhibit their wisdom to all men, by remaining silent on those things they are ignorant of."
This eventful 140 years has seen ten Presidents preside over the Church and 78 apostles serve in the Quorum of the Twelve.
As we tighten our tugs and strain our weight against the collar, we move forward on a new journey with a strong will under our inspired leaders, led by our prophet, Joseph Fielding Smith.
He is venerable and worthy of respect by reason of his character, dignity, age, position. He is one of whom his beloved wife sang this morning, one who has "clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." He is a son of his Maker and a clean and holy man of God. He takes his high place as the appointee of the Lord. He has carried for 60 years the keys of the kingdom, gradually moving toward this day. For six decades he has been sustained by the Church as a prophet. Today he is sustained as the Prophet, the one who alone holds the keys in total use under the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the chief cornerstone, and the head of his church.
To be a prophet of the Lord, one does not need to "be everything to all men." He does not need to be youthful and athletic, an industrialist, a financier, nor an agriculturist; he does not need to be a musician, a poet, an entertainer, nor a banker, a physician, nor a college president, a military general, nor a scientist.
He does not need to be a linguist to speak French and Japanese, German and Spanish, but he must understand the divine language and be able to receive messages from heaven.
He need not be an orator, for God can make his own. The Lord can present his divine messages through weak men made strong. He substituted a strong voice for the quiet, timid one of Moses, and gave to the young man Enoch power which made men tremble in his presence, for Enoch walked with God as Moses walked with God.
The Lord said: "... whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."
What the world needs is a prophet-leader who gives example-clean, full of faith, godlike in his attitudes with an untarnished name, a beloved husband, a true father.
A prophet needs to be more than a priest or a minister or an elder. His voice becomes the voice of God to reveal new programs, new truths, new solutions. I make no claim of infallibility for him, but he does need to be recognized of God, an authoritative person. He is no pretender as numerous are who presumptuously assume position without appointment and authority that is not given. He must speak like his Lord: "... as one having authority, and not as the scribes."
He must be bold enough to speak truth even against popular clamor for lessening restrictions. He must be certain of his divine appointment, of his celestial ordination, and his authority to call to service, to ordain, to pass keys which fit eternal locks.
He must have commanding power like prophets of old: "... to seal both on earth and in heaven, the unbelieving and rebellious... unto the day when the wrath of God shall be poured out upon the wicked without measure", and rare powers: "... that whatsoever you seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever you bind on earth, in my name and by my word, saith the Lord, it shall be eternally bound in the heavens; and whosesoever sins you remit on earth shall be remitted eternally in the heavens; and whosesoever sins you retain on earth shall be retained in heaven".
What is needed is more a Moses than a Pharaoh; an Elijah then a Belshazzar; a Paul than a Pontius Pilate.
He needs not be an architect to construct houses and schools and high-rise buildings, but he will be one who builds structures to span time and eternity and to bridge the gap between man and his Maker.
When the world has followed prophets, it has moved forward; when it has ignored them, the results have been stagnation, servitude, death.
Every moment of every day, there are numerous programs on the air. We hear very few, relatively, for we are engrossed in our day's duties, but with powerful beaming broadcasting stations, we could hear any of the programs if we are tuned in.
For thousands of years there have been constant broadcasts from heaven of vital messages of guidance and timely warnings, and there has been a certain constancy in the broadcasts from the most powerful station. Throughout all those centuries there have been times when there were prophets who tuned in and rebroadcasted to the people. The messages have never ceased.
One such message came to Daniel in the presence of others, and he who was on the proper frequency said: "And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision."
On the road to Damascus, a company of men traveled together. A spectacular event came from the heavens, but only one man was in tune to receive it. That which was but static to all the other ears was an awesome call to duty to Saul of Tarsus, and changed his life, and contributed toward the transformation of millions of lives, but he was the only one who was attuned.
It is said that certain Russian fliers reported that as they penetrated the far outer space, they saw no God nor angels. Our prediction to any unbelieving, godless spacemen is that though they could go a thousand times farther and a thousand times higher, that they will be still farther from God and eternal things, for the spiritual is not understood by the finite.
Abraham found God on a tower in Mesopotamia, on a mount in Palestine, and in royal quarters in Egypt. Moses found him on a backside desert; at a red sea; on a mount called Sinai; and in a "burning bush". Joseph Smith found him in the cool freshness of a primeval forest and on a hill called Cumorah. Peter found him at the Sea of Galilee and on the Mount of Transfiguration.
May the Lord, our God, sustain this newly appointed prophet, Joseph Fielding Smith, who will from this time "be about his Father's business," who will continue to serve the Lord's "bread of life" and "living water," who will now begin "to light the lamps of Israel" and verily become the mouthpiece of God; and our prayer is that the Lord will speak to him as he did to Joshua:
"This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee."
And may the Lord bless us, his servants, who have raised our hands this day, and all others without that opportunity, that from this time forth we may, like the children of Israel, uphold his hands and shout as did the children of Israel in one voice:
"All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
"According as we have hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses."
"To your tents, O Israel," stand firm and loyal and immovable.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Harold B. Lee
Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 122-126
I echo the sentiments of my beloved colleague, President Kimball, in welcoming into our circle of General Authorities our beloved associates, Brother Boyd K. Packer, Brother Joseph Anderson, Brother David B. Haight and Brother William H. Bennett. As you brethren and sisters come to know them as we know them, you will feel a great strength in their leadership.
We cannot pass this moment without remembering our beloved President McKay, and likewise to you, Sister McKay, if you are listening in, and to the remarkable family that President McKay has, we extend our love and blessings as we pass now to another era in the history of the Church.
Today The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opens a new chapter in its 140 years' history since its organization in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times, as it is spoken of in the scriptures.
Another prophet, our noble President David O. McKay, has been called home to make a report of his stewardship as the earthly head of the Church. Always with the passing of a prophet-leader, there have been great happenings following thereafter, both in the Church and in the world. I have wondered if it could be that the report of the prophet to our Maker has had great significance in the affairs of men here on the earth.
The transition, in making the change of administration of the Church, is by a procedure unique and by an ordained plan that avoids, as Elder Kimball has said, the possibility of using political devices or revolutionary methods that could cause much confusion and frustration in the work of the Lord.
President David O. McKay and all of his predecessors as Presidents of the Church have bequeathed to us rich treasures of wisdom and knowledge. In the passing of each President, the hearts of a grateful people were in a figurative sense taken up with each of them. The records of their lives and their works, their words, and their ministries are fortunately lesson books, documented in the written history of the Church and in the memories of those who have followed after them. May God bless that legacy to the faithful everywhere. After all, their greatest records will be written in the hearts of those whom they sought diligently to serve.
It may be instructive and enlightening to many of the Church members and others who may be listening to these services to say something as it pertains to the reorganization of the Church following the death of the President.
To those who ask the question: How is the President of the Church chosen or elected? the correct and simple answer should be a quotation of the Fifth Article of Faith: "We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands, by those who are in authority to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof".
The beginning of the call of one to be President of the Church actually begins then he is called, ordained, and set apart to become a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Such a call by prophecy, or in other words, by the inspiration of the Lord to the one holding the keys of presidency, and the subsequent ordination and setting apart by the laying on of hands by that same authority, places each apostle in a priesthood quorum of twelve men holding the apostleship.
Each apostle so ordained under the hands of the President of the Church, who holds the keys of the kingdom of God in concert with all other ordained apostles, has given to him the priesthood authority necessary to hold every position in the Church, even to a position of presidency over the Church if he were called by the presiding authority and sustained by a vote of a constituent assembly of the membership of the Church.
The Prophet Joseph Smith declared that "where the president is not, there is no First Presidency." Immediately following the death of a President, the next ranking body, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, becomes the presiding authority, with the President of the Twelve automatically becoming the acting President of the Church until a President of the Church is officially ordained and sustained in his office.
Early in this dispensation, because of certain conditions, the Council of Twelve continued to preside as a body for as long as three years before the reorganization was effected. As conditions in the Church became more stabilized, the reorganization was effected promptly following the passing of the President of the Church.
All members of the First Presidency and the Twelve are regularly sustained as "prophets, seers, and revelators," as you have done today. This means that any one of the apostles, so chosen and ordained, could preside over the Church if he were "chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church," to quote from a revelation on this subject, on one condition, and that being that he was the senior member, or the president, of that body.
Occasionally the question is asked as to whether or not one other than the senior member of the Twelve could become President. Some thought on this matter would suggest that any other than the senior member could become President of the Church only if the Lord reveals to that President of the Twelve that someone other than himself could be selected.
The Lord revealed to the first prophet of this dispensation the orderly plan for the Church leadership by predetermined organization of the earthly kingdom of God. He gave these specific guidelines, as we might speak of them:
"Of the Melchizedek Priesthood three Presiding High Priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church, form a quorum of the Presidency of the Church.
"The twelve traveling councilors are called to be the Twelve Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world-thus differing from other officers in the Church in the duties of their calling.
"And they form a quorum, equal in authority and power to the three presidents previously mentioned".
With reference to this subject, the fourth President of the Church, Wilford Woodruff, made a few observations in a letter to President Heber J. Grant, then a member of the Twelve, under date of March 28, 1887. I quote from that letter: "... when the President of the Church dies, who then is the Presiding Authority of the Church? It is the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Then while these Twelve Apostles preside over the Church, who is the President of the Church It is the President of the Twelve Apostles. And he is virtually as much the President of the Church while presiding over Twelve men as he is when organized as the Presidency of the Church, and presiding over two men." And this principle has been carried out now for 140 years-ever since the organization of the Church. Then President Woodruff continued:
"As far as I am concerned it would require... a revelation from the same God who had organized the church and guided it by inspiration in the channel in which it has travelled for 57 years, before I could give my vote or influence to depart from the paths followed by the Apostles since the organization of the Church and followed by the inspiration of Almighty God, for the past 57 years, by the apostles, as recorded in the history of the Church."
This calling of Joseph Fielding Smith to become President of the Church has a special significance: In a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith in reference to Hyrum Smith, the grandfather of Joseph Fielding Smith, the Lord said this:
"And again, verily I say unto you... that my servant Hyrum may take the office of Priesthood and Patriarch, which was appointed unto him by his father, by blessing and also by right;
"That from henceforth he shall hold the keys of the patriarchal blessings upon the heads of all my people.
"That whoever he blesses shall be blessed, and whoever he curses shall be cursed; that whatsoever he shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever he shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven".
But in addition to this office, he was given another endowment which has never been given to any other patriarch to the Church who has succeeded him in this additional calling:
"And from this time forth I appoint unto him that he may be a prophet, and a seer, and a revelator unto my church, as well as my servant Joseph;
"That he may act in concert also with my servant Joseph; and that he shall receive counsel from my servant Joseph, who shall show unto him the keys whereby he may ask and receive, and be crowned with the same blessing, and glory, and honor, and priesthood, and gifts of the priesthood, that once were put upon him that was my servant Oliver Cowdery;
"That my servant Hyrum may bear record of the things which I shall show unto him, that his name may be had in honorable remembrance from generation to generation, forever and ever".
His son Joseph F. Smith served as the sixth President of the Church from 1901 to 1918. President Joseph F. Smith, as a child, passed through the trying scenes of Missouri and Illinois. After his father, Hyrum Smith, was martyred by a mob at Carthage along with his uncle, Joseph Smith the Prophet, young Joseph F., although but a boy of nine years of age, drove an ox team across the plains from the Missouri River, arriving in Salt Lake Valley in 1848. In 1852 his mother died, and two years thereafter he left for a mission to the Hawaiian Islands when but 15 years of age.
This is the fiber of the Hyrum Smith ancestry from which our President Joseph Fielding Smith has come. I am confident that heaven is pleased today, and I doubt not but during the ministry of this noble son and grandson, those who have gone on before will be permitted to draw near to their descendant, whom the Lord has now honored with this challenging responsibility, despite his great age. I would not at all be surprised if they were with us on this occasion.
I have said to members of Hyrum Smith's posterity, after I have quoted the prophecy to which I have made reference, that it is for them to strive with all their souls to be loyal to the royal blood of the prophets of this dispensation that flows through their veins.
Today's happenings have brought to me some of the most sobering reflections of my whole life. During the last ten weeks that have elapsed since the momentous spiritual experience, in company with 13 of my brethren holding the holy apostleship, in an upper room of the temple, where members of the new Presidency of the Church were chosen and ordained, I have lived my whole life in retrospect and the days ahead in prospect, to some extent.
Throughout these weeks, I have recognized my limitations and have realized more than ever before my utter dependence upon Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, for strength beyond my natural strength and wisdom beyond man's wisdom and spiritual insight into problems that might be my responsibilities now. Only with God's help can I begin to fill the position to which I have been chosen by the President of the Church and the Quorum of the Twelve, and now sustained by the vast body of the priesthood of the Church and by the membership of the Church in this Tabernacle and by the many faithful beyond our sight, who have participated in the proceedings of this solemn assembly.
I find myself almost trembling with a sense of my own inadequacy when I recall the great leaders of this dispensation who have preceded us in leadership positions. As I have thought of this, through long hours of meditation and prayer, I sense the reality of the fact that one, such as I, does not take the place of those who have gone on before.
We who are called to occupy these positions merely fill the vacancies created by the passing of time. Those who have gone on before still hold their places in the eternal worlds and in the hearts of the hundreds of thousands whom they have served.
More than ever before, I understand what the ancient prophet Nephi felt when he had been given the seemingly insurmountable task by his father, Lehi, to gain possession of the brass plates in which were contained the scriptures of the prophets of the Old Testament, as we now know them.
Nephi had written of this experience: "... I, Nephi, crept into the city and went forth towards the house of Laban.
"And I was led by the Spirit; not knowing beforehand the things which I should do".
I understand now more than ever before the poignant prayer of the suppliant:
"Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom; Lead thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home; Lead thou me on! Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene-one step enough for me." -Hymns, No. 119
I must go on many occasions, as did Nephi of old, being "led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do". Yes, though the night be dark, "I do not ask to see the distant scene-one step enough for me."
With all my soul I pledge to you faithful saints all my strength of body and mind and spirit, realizing full well, as the faithful King Benjamin taught, that though I spend my days in your service, "I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God".
I pray fervently that I too may learn that when I am in the service of you, my faithful brothers and sisters, saints of the most high God, I am "only in the service of your God," and my God.
I bear you my witness, as the Spirit has before, and does now bear witness to my soul, that there has been entrusted to this, the true Church of Jesus Christ in these latter days the true doctrines of salvation by which mankind may be redeemed, through the atonement of our Lord and Master, the Savior of the world. The Lord Jesus Christ does live and presides from his holy dwelling place, over this, his kingdom of God on this earth, through him who has been sustained this day as your President, a prophet, seer, and revelator.
I bear this testimony humbly and beseech of you your faith, your loyal support to put to flight all the conditions in the Church that could cause disturbance. May we continue to have the support of your faith and your prayers. And we pledge ourselves, anew, to sustain you as faithful saints to the most high God. This I do humbly, and bear solemn witness this day, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 127-132
My brethren and sisters, I presume as we come to the end of a three-day conference, and the seventh session, those who are present represent the survival of the fittest.
With all my heart I love, support, and sustain President Joseph Fielding Smith as prophet, seer, and revelator and President of the Church, and the two noble men who stand at his side in the First Presidency. I know they are great men of God who will lead the Church forward and upward under the inspiration of heaven.
I talk to the subject "A World Message."
Missionary work-the preaching of the gospel-has been the major activity of the true Church of Christ whenever the gospel has been upon the earth. Prophets of God and numerous other ambassadors of truth have preached the word "in season, out of season."
The resurrected Lord in his final instructions to his apostles, before his ascension, emphasized the great importance of missionary work. Matthew, in the last two verses of his Gospel, summarizes these important instructions in these words:
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen".
Mark, in his record, states:
"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall he damned".
And so it has been in every gospel dispensation. Preaching the saving principles of the gospel has ever been a great responsibility of first importance.
It is true in this gospel dispensation. Following the glorious appearance of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ to Joseph Smith, it appears that the first great responsibility placed upon the restored Church was to carry the gospel to the world-to all our Father's children.
It has truly been a great drama of transcendent importance-a drama of sacrifice, joy, hardship, courage, and above all, love of fellowmen. Nowhere upon the face of the earth will you find a human drama to equal it. Yes, it has cost blood, sweat, and tears to carry forth this labor of love. And why have we done it? Because the God of heaven has commanded it; because he loves his children, and it is his will that the teeming millions of the earth shall have opportunity to hear and, of their own free will, accept and live the glorious saving and exalting principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
To the Prophet Joseph Smith he, even Jesus Christ whose name the Church bears, proclaimed:
"And this gospel shall be preached unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people."
"Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear may hear!"
"And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days."
"That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers."
These are direct commands of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose second coming is near. In response to these commands and with a knowledge of the blessings of the gospel, we, as members of his church, will continue to respond.
This is why hundreds of thousands of missionaries have gone forth to the nations of the earth at the expenditure of millions of dollars from their modest means. This is why the First Presidency of the Church even during the last world war declared, "No act of ours or of the Church must ever interfere with this God-given mandate."
It is in very deed a mandate to his church. It will be carried out. No power on earth or in hell can stop this work or thwart the purposes of the Lord to have his soul-satisfying gospel message go to his children. It may take war, commotion, disasters in many forms to bring it about. But the purposes of God will be achieved. His children will hear the gospel of salvation in his own due time.
The time must surely come when the Iron Curtain will be melted down and the Bamboo Curtain shattered. What the Lord has decreed will he fulfilled. To members of the Church and honest-hearted people everywhere, we remind you that God is at the helm-he is not dead-and he has said, "Be still, and know that I am God." To us in this day he has declared:
"Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand."
To the thousands throughout the world who are accepting the gospel; to faithful missionaries everywhere and devoted families who support them: go forward with faith and courage. You are engaged in the greatest work in all the world-the saving of the souls of the children of men. In this great work we cannot fail.
Our Father's children need the gospel. They long for, and want, the security and inner peace that only the gospel can bring. Our Father's children are essentially good. I have visited with them in some sixty nations on both sides of the Iron Curtain. True, some are in bondage under despotic, Godless leaders, but they want to live in peace, to be good neighbors. They love their homes and their families. They want to improve their standard of living. In their hearts they want to do what is right. I know the Lord loves them, and as his humble servant I have a love in my heart for the teeming millions of this world.
I have sensed this feeling anew and more strongly than ever, as I have mingled with the humble, sweet-spirited people of Asia during the past two years. I have seen, at close range, the manner in which the Lord has turned disasters-war, occupation, and revolution-into blessings. Prophecies of the Lord are being fulfilled. The gospel is reaching peoples who a few years ago seemed unreachable. In spite of powerful traditions, religious dogmas, and ancient national policies, great changes have come over entire nations. Miracles are happening before our very eyes. The Lord is working great wonders, and his children are rejoicing as the blessings of the gospel touch their lives. It is marvelous to behold. Let me illustrate.
In the prophetic revelation referred to by the Lord as "my preface unto the book of my commandments, which I have given them to publish unto you, O inhabitants of the earth", the Lord called out in these words: "Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the voice of him who dwells on high, and whose eyes are upon all men; yea, verily I say: Hearken ye people from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together".
These significant words fit the Asian countries remarkably. "Hearken ye people from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together."
Many times reference has been made to these prophetic words in the past two years as I have made five visits to these Asian lands as a church leader and two earlier visits as a cabinet official. I thought of the words "ye people from afar" as we visited Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, India, and so on, and was told by our travel agent we could return to Salt Lake City by traveling either east or west-"the distance is about the same." I thought of this as I presented the King of Thailand with a copy of Joseph Smith's testimony-off the press the day before-the first Church publication in the Thai language.
"... and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together." How these words-and similar words from the Book of Mormon -have come to mind in the past two years, in the island nation of Japan at a youth conference before 800 youth, as we listened to 125 personal testimonies in a four-hour testimony meeting, which closed in order to permit a scheduled public meeting to start, leaving 85 young people wanting to add their testimonies.
We were reminded of the words "islands of the sea" as I dedicated the land of Singapore last April, where we already have two congregations and a new church building underway.
Again we thought of the words of the Lord, "islands of the sea," as we visited Taiwan and attended a district conference with over two thousand in attendance in Manila in the Philippines-some forty million people on seven thousand islands. Again the words "islands of the sea" crowded in upon us as we were welcomed by friendly leaders to dedicate the land of fourteen thousand islands in Indonesia-a land that has recently passed through a blood bath to try to rid this freedom-loving people of godless Communism.
A visit with the leader of Free China on the island of Taiwan and the increasing membership of the Church in Hong Kong, Korea, and elsewhere show these friendly, humble, courageous people are heeding the call of the Lord and are "listen together."
There has never been a time until now when the Church has had the strength and means to reach out effectively to the Asian nations. In the timetable of the Lord, the door is now open, and this is apparently the day for work in Asia. Each visit has been more encouraging and inspirational than the last. The work is expanding, and further expansion is in the offing. In each of the countries the tremendous truth is an inspiration. This is where tie people are-by the hundreds of millions-one-third of the population of the world. Of course, from the total standpoint of population, we are just getting started.
My wife and I have just returned from three inspirational but busy weeks in the Asian missions. The five missions were increased to six four months ago and have just increased to eight, with the expectation of at least one more within a year. This indicates the growth that is taking place in these areas.
While in Japan I was joined by three General Authorities and three other leaders who made up the invited official Church representation appointed by the First Presidency to attend the grand opening March 14 of the world's fair known as Expo '70-the first world's fair in Asia and said to be the largest world's fair ever.
The day before, March 13, the seven of us, members of our families, distinguished fair officials, mayors of cities, representatives of the press, and as many members and friends of the Church as space permitted-some 600-attended the dedication of the Mormon-Pavilion. Because of its location, architecture-with a figure of the Angel Moroni atop a high spire-and our challenging theme, "Man's Search For Happiness," it will, no doubt, be a popular fair attraction. Some 20,000 visited our pavilion the first day, and over 43,000 the first Saturday. Our great concern is to be able to take care of the great numbers-estimated at five to eight million-who are expected to want to enter our building. Already the film Man's Search for Happiness-filmed with Japanese characters-is being shown in cultural halls and elsewhere in an effort to partially satisfy those who may not be able to gain admission. We confidently expect the referrals and requests for missionaries to reach into hundreds of thousands.
As we enjoyed the inspiring dedicatory services, I recalled the several contacts with fair officials in luncheons, dinners, etc., and their gracious cooperation-the Osaka, Japan, press conference the night before the ground-breaking service, when 29 representatives of the press and mass media kept us for an hour and a half, asking intelligent questions about the Church and our people and especially our pavilion theme. Later that evening many of the press met us as we dedicated the new Okainachi Mormon chapel. Again they were with us the next day at the official ground-breaking service. Here six high Expo '70, government, and civic officials made speeches and paid tribute to the Church. They told of man's eternal search for happiness and emphasized they were pleased "the Mormons are coming to Expo '70 to tell us all how to find happiness." And as the missionaries commented, "We will in very deed show them how to find happiness."
With one half million copies of the Book of Mormon pledged and ready, millions of pamphlets and tracts on hand, and scores of dedicated guides and hundreds of missionaries who will follow up on referrals, truly the "people from afar" on "the islands of the sea" will "listen together" and be welcomed to membership in the Church.
In Japan the Church has been well-established in two missions and several districts. A few days ago two more missions were organized. Four missions on the islands of Japan and Okinawa will permit more intensive work in response to the increasing interest. There are nearly fourteen million people in the immediate vicinity of Tokyo and Yokohama, where we have good leadership and a stable organization. A new stake was organized in Tokyo, Sunday, March 15. The leaders of that stake are here at this conference-as they said, literally walking on air, they are so happy. A second Asian stake has been authorized in Manila in the Philippines, where we baptized some fourteen hundred new converts in 1969. Other stakes to carry on the full, rich program of the Church will be created in other Asian countries. Anticipating the creation of a separate mission in Free China, construction of a new mission home has been approved for Taipei.
Japan now has over twelve thousand members of the Church. There are four thousand in Korea, nearly six thousand in the Philippines, some four thousand in Hong Kong, and more than that in Taiwan. A beginning has been made in Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia. We have strong congregations on Okinawa, and a nucleus of Vietnamese have come into the Church. Our servicemen in Korea laid the foundation for the Church there; and when peace comes to Vietnam, we shall find the way prepared for the spreading of truth among that people.
Mormon servicemen, God bless them, throughout these nations are laying the foundation for effective proselyting as they help to construct chapels and make friends and converts for the Church. On a recent tour, visits were made to six installations in Thailand. We have three well-operating districts of servicemen in Vietnam. Some one thousand are registered for the Asian Servicemen's Conference to be held at Mt. Fuji, Japan, April 9-12, next weekend.
The missions of Asia are getting high-type, devoted, and, in some cases, prominent converts. One little branch of 50 members in Korea has five college professors. The land of Indonesia, with 130 million people, was dedicated October 26, 1969, for the preaching of the gospel. The work has started with a few missionaries in Djakarta. More missionaries are needed. A new mission has been established with headquarters in Singapore.
We are building up substantial congregations, and the foundation is being laid for a tremendous expansion of the work in the Asian area. Baptisms for 1969 were over 100 percent ahead of a year ago, and the trend continues upward.
One of our great needs, in addition to more missionaries, is buildings. In the entire Philippine Mission, we have only one building. But building sites are being purchased, and plans are going forward for the building of additional chapels in various parts of these areas. A large six-floor building is being planned by the First Presidency for central Tokyo. This could house stake and ward facilities, distribution center, mission offices, construction offices, and other facilities.
In our lifetime we shall see stakes and chapels, converts in great number, local leadership with power and ability, and perhaps even a temple erected among the good people of Asia. That is their hope and their prayer.
The outlook is most encouraging. The Lord is blessing the new converts, the missionaries, the mission presidents. There is a spirit of optimism everywhere among these humble people, as men of prominence extend the hand of fellowship and cooperation.
May God bless richly these teeming millions in the Asian countries-these choice "people from afar and ye that are upon the islands of the sea" as they "listen together" to the message of salvation from the humble servants of God-local members and missionaries, all. Our message is a world message. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a world organization.
For the Lord has declared through the Prophet Joseph Smith, "And the voice of warning shall he unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days.
"And they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them."
To this I bear humble witness, in deep gratitude for the Lord's blessing on our work in Asia and throughout the world, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion D. Hanks
Marion D. Hanks, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 132-136
It is a very pleasant and humbling and uplifting experience to look at your faces in this congregation and to remember with gratitude and affection the gracious kindness with which you accept our humble efforts in your stakes and missions as we go on assignment there. I know that many of the problems you deal with, many of the most difficult ones, involve homes and families, and it is of this that I would like to speak this afternoon. Few other subjects seem to me so urgently important in our time or to have such eternal relevance.
I speak to those who have children at home, and to those who have influence in homes where there are children, as well as to the great generation, represented by this marvelous chorus, who are making decisions now that will effectively influence their future homes and families.
In offering my witness about the home and family, I renew my expression of deep respect for children who wisely choose the better way, often in improvement upon their parents, and my deep compassion for good parents who strive earnestly to bring up their children in the way they should go, only to have those children use their individuality and agency to follow other ways. The Lord has forcefully taught us that in his eyes "the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son." Each accountable person must ultimately answer for his own decisions.
It is our individual responsibility, parent or child or parent-to-be, to make decisions that will improve upon the quality of our homes and our relationships within them, and each of us should be anxious and honest in his efforts to do that-each of us.
It has been written: "As are families, so is society. If well ordered, well instructed, and well governed, they are the springs from which go forth the streams of national greatness and prosperity-of civil order and public happiness."
In the early days of the restoration, the leaders of the Church were instructed to "set in order your houses." The Lord gave clear and explicit instructions to the brethren and certainly to all the members of the Church that they be "more diligent and concerned at home, and pray always".
The wise men of the world have added their witness to the importance of doing this. Let me quote one, Martin Buber:
"If we had power over the ends of the earth it would not give us that fulfillment of existence which a quiet, devoted relationship to nearby life can give us. If we knew the secrets of the upper worlds, they would not allow us so much actual participation in true existence as we can achieve by performing with holy intent a task belonging to our daily duties. Our treasure is hidden beneath the hearth of our own home."
It is on this strong affirmation, which I believe with all my heart, that I offer five specific suggestions as to how we may find and multiply the treasures hidden beneath the hearth of our own home.
First let me mention family associations.
What other families does your family know well? What other fathers and mothers do they see in action? Do your children ever sit at the table or in family home evening, or kneel in prayer with another family?
Parents should be deeply concerned to build friendships with other families who have wholesome ideals, whose family life is constructive and strong. Children can greatly profit through exposure to other homes, parents, and families where there is good disposition, pleasant attitude, good fun, good humor, good literature, respect and discipline, and cleanliness and prayer; where there is devotion to serving the Lord; where the gospel is lived.
With children, as all of us know, life is often a matter of following the leader, and wise parents will want their children to enjoy the influence of other families whose convictions and example will offer them strong incentives to build happy relationships in their own homes.
As parents we have been very grateful for the wonderful neighborhoods in which we have been privileged to live, and for the strong families in whose homes our children have visited as friends or baby tenders. Many religions and viewpoints are represented among our neighbors, and our children have profited greatly and have been greatly strengthened in their gratitude for their own home and faith from seeing the quality of the homes and families of the good people among whom we are privileged to live.
Across the street, for instance, is a wonderful Latter-day Saint family into whose home I have always been grateful to have my youngsters go. The mother is a warm, gracious friend and homemaker whose surroundings reflect her own character. Her husband is a special kind of man who has inspired our children and others in the neighborhood with his creative efforts to encourage patriotism and learning and appreciation of our historical heritage. There have been contests and essays and quizzes, serious celebrations along with the parties and fun on special holidays.
That leads me to the second suggestion. Families thrive on traditions and the special rituals of family life. Celebrating special days and seasons in special ways, working together, enjoying family home evenings and family councils and conversations, deciding upon and preparing for and enjoying holidays together, family meals and prayers-there are so many significant ways to build family traditions that will be remembered.
With all else that is sacred about Christmas, for instance, it can mean a beloved white star on the chimney that symbolizes the season. It may also mean that special time together on Christmas Eve, carols sung at each home in the neighborhood, up and down the block, fun and music, and the involvement of others from outside the home. Everyone participates, but especially the guests who share the experience, who take part, who read and contribute some special thought of Christmas. The Bible teaches us that we must not be forgetful to entertain strangers, for in so doing many have entertained angels unaware. The custom of having honored guests with us in our home has given us that experience every year for many years at Christmas and other times.
Let me be personal enough to mention that the choicest memories of recent years, as we talk of ritual or celebration at our home, are the times we prepared as a family to bid a precious child farewell on her way to school. We celebrated the sad/happy event and joined our hearts together as the head of the home gave her a father's blessing and invoked the Spirit of the Lord upon her. Twice we have had that glorious privilege, and pray God that we may enjoy it with each child.
It is of such simple but significant things that family traditions are built, and unified families with them.
All of us turn reflectively to the sweet memories of our childhood at home, and each of us, now blessed with families or looking forward to that privilege, should he thinking about the memories we will provide for their future.
Third, let me mention family values. What gets major attention in our homes? What do we really care about, take time for? What is worthy of our consideration, our attention, our money, our efforts? What of books and reading them? What of thoughtful acts of kindness, of sharing, involving the whole family within and without the home? What of prayer, conversation genuine concern with each other?
In 1926 The Improvement Era carried a memorable statement by a college senior concerning thoughts of home and relationships there. Let me read what he wrote about his good home:
"1. I wish I could remember one Fourth of July, or one circus day, or one canyon trip, in which my father had joined us boys, instead of giving us the money and equipment to go, while he and mother stayed home, and made us feel guilty by working while we played.
"2. I wish I could remember one evening when he had joined us in singing, or reading, or tussling, instead of always sitting so quietly with his newspaper by the reading lamp.
"3. I wish I could remember one month, or week, or day even, when he had made purposeful work out of drudgery by planning the farm work with us, instead of merely announcing each morning what that day's work would be.
"4. I wish I could remember one Sunday when he had bundled us all into the buggy and taken all to church together, instead of staying home while we went in the morning, and leaving us home while he and mother went in the afternoon.
"5. I wish that I could remember just one talk in which we had discussed together the problems and facts that trouble every growing boy, on which his clear and vigorous viewpoint might have shed such light and comfort, instead of leaving me to pick up the facts haphazardly as I might and to solve the problems as best I could.
"And yet, my conscience would cry shame were I to blame him, for no man could ever be more devoted to his family, more anxious for their welfare, I more proud of their successes. His example has been a beacon to us. He just didn't know-and there is the pity of it to me-he just didn't know that we needed him. He didn't know that ye would rather have his companionship than the land he could leave us-that some day, maybe we might make money for ourselves, but that never can we make for ourselves the memories that might have enriched and mellowed and molded our lives. I can't see a Fathers and Sons' outing without a lump in my throat."
Fourth, I speak of discipline-discipline in the home; and of course I am not talking about harsh punishments but of fair rules, understood and enforced, with sanctions consistently imposed when they are broken. I am thinking of realities, of facts to be faced, of a future of attitudes toward law and rules and personal responsibility being learned. Samuel Johnson, the great British literary genius, said that he would never permit his children to "deny him"-that is, to deny to callers that he was at home when he was, busy as he was. He said, "If I teach my children to lie for me, I may be sure that they will soon conceive the notion of lying to me."
Discipline involves adult solutions to the problems that arise in living together. Wise parents do not subject each other or their children to emotional poisoning. Disagreements are handled maturely and constructively and not destructively.
Discipline begins with concern and commitment and example, like that other word that comes from the same root: disciple.
Children need standards, need guidelines of behavior, and limits. They need models who care, who are firm and fair and sensitive and consistent. Wholesome discipline can he gentle and sensitive, but often it isn't.
A daughter and I were recently discussing her return home at an hour that seemed questionable to me. I shared with her an experience with my wonderful mother. I had spent some years away at schools and missions and wars, and the two of us were now alone at home. I returned from an appointment one evening at midnight to find the light still on in Mother's little bedroom. As I had always done, I reported in to Mom, sat on her bed, and kidded with her a little. I asked her why she was still awake. "I am waiting for you," she said.
I said, "Did you wait for me while I was on a mission, Mom, or at sea, or in battle?"
Her answer was calm and sweet. She gave me that little pat on the knee that reflects the mature compassion of the wise for the ignorant, and said: "No, that would have been foolish. I just knelt down here by my bed and talked to the Lord about my boy. I told him what kind of man I believed you to be and wanted you to be, and prayed for his watchful care of you, and then left you in his hands and went to sleep. But now you are home," she said, "and you can count on it that I will be interested in you as long as I live."
She is gone now, and it is remarkable how often I get the feeling that she is interested still, and forever will be.
Finally I mention family love, expressed in so many wonderful ways. Someone once said-it's been often quoted-that the best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. I believe this, and that the strongest and surest base for loving others is to love the Lord and to bring the binding and blessing balm of that love into all relationships of the home.
Children have the right to learn that love is the foundation of a good family, and that love cannot exist apart from such qualities as respect, consideration, responsibility, and loyalty. Love is not self-centered and is not self-serving, but is concerned with the well-being and happiness of others. It is providing for our loved ones an atmosphere of warmth and kindness that accepts and preserves the uniqueness of each as an individual person while building the unity of the home.
Love means friendship and companionship and partnership and unity. It expresses itself in modesty, in generosity, in sensitivity, in courtesy, in counsel, in appropriate compromise. It inspires affection and confidence and trust and self-control. Love, mature love, provides a climate of wholesome, repentant, forgiving consideration. It listens. It hears and senses the needs of another. It can never be separated from character, from unselfishness, from good humor, and from every tender virtue.
It must be strongly said of each of these avenues to family felicity that it does not just happen-it must be brought about by people who think and care and make the effort.
God help us to be more concerned with a high standard of life than with a high standard of living. God help us, while there is time, to take time to do everything we can to bring about now, or in the family we will one day have, by making wise choices now, the unity and strength and sweetness that a home is meant to have. I believe we can do that, or materially move toward bringing it about, through thoughtful family associations, memorable traditions, correct values, wise discipline and great love.
What will we give our children to remember?
It is likely that what they will remember best is the treasure we unearth from beneath the hearth of our own home.
I know the gospel is true, and that it has been restored, and that it centers in the home. God bless us to strengthen the home, in Jesus' name. Amen.
President Milton R. Hunter
Milton R. Hunter, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 136-138
Shortly before the Prophet Joseph Smith had completed translating the Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ and the Angel Moroni bore witness that the translation was correct and the book was true. Never in the history of the world had such astounding events occurred in relation to a book.
A few years ago an apostle said to me: "It would be a discovery of great significance if one were to find an Indian book which sustained the Book of Mormon."
Such a book exists; in fact, I shall present quotations from four such Indian books produced during the American colonial period that contain materials similar to those found in the Book of Mormon. The Indian writers add their witness to the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Ixtlilxochitl, an Indian prince who lived in the valley of Mexico, wrote a book containing the history of his ancestors from the time of their arrival in America until the coming of the Spaniards.
He wrote his book from documents inherited from his ancestors. Thus, the Works of Ixtlilxochitl constitutes a Lamanite version of the history of the ancient Americans, while the Book of Mormon represents the Nephite version.
The two books have numerous things in common; each verifies the other. For example, the Book of Mormon claims that ancient America was settled first by a group of colonizers called Jaredites, who came from the Tower of Babel.
Ixtlilxochitl also claims that the first settlers to come to America following the flood came from "a very high tower or the Tower of Babel. Observe how similar the accounts are as I quote from them.
"... Jared came forth with his brother and their families, with some others and their families, from the great tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, and swore in his wrath that they should be scattered upon all the face of the earth; and according to the word of the Lord the people were scattered."
Ixtlilxochitl, the Indian writer, puts it this way:
"And... men, multiplying made a... very high tower, in order to shelter themselves in it when the second world should be destroyed.
"When things were at their best, their language was changed and, not understanding each other, they went to different parts of the world."
In order that we might make additional comparison of the Book of Mormon and the Works of Ixtlilxochitl, we quote the Jaredite record:
"... the Lord had compassion upon Jared; therefore he did not confound the language of ".
Then the Lord guided Jared's colonists over the land to the seashore and, in barges brought them to America, "into a land which is choice above all the lands of the earth."
The comparable story in Ixtlilxochitl states:
"... and the Tultecas, who were as many as seven companions and their wives, who understood their language among themselves, came to these parts, having first crossed lands and seas, living in caves and undergoing great hardships, until they came to this land, which they found good and fertile for their habitation."
Both the Book of Mormon and the Works of Ixtlilxochitl claim that two other groups of colonists migrated from the Old World to America. The first of these groups came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C. They split into two groups, called Nephites and Lamanites. The latter group became dark or bronze colored, such as the American Indians. The third group, the Mulekites, left Jerusalem in 586 B.C. and later merged with the Nephites.
The Book of Mormon speaks of the Nephites as "a white and delightsome people."
Ixtlilxochitl, speaking of this second group of colonists, whom he called Toltecs, said:
"These kings were high of stature, and white, and bearded like the Spaniards".
Shortly after Don Pedro Pizarro and his conquistadors conquered Guatemala, or about 1550 A.D., the Indians of that land wrote four books. They were: The Annals of the Cakchiquels, Title of the Lords of Totonicatpan, Popol Vuh, and the Anales de los Xahil. These books all give added testimony to the Book of Mormon.
Each of these four books agrees with the Works of Ixtlilxochitl, and they all verify the Book of Mormon, which claims that the ancient Americans came from the other side of the sea. A ship was built at a place called Bountiful under the direction of Nephi, the youngest of four brothers who left Jerusalem with their father, Lehi. Under Nephi's direction, the colonists came to America in that ship.
In the Anales de los Xahil, we read:
"'How shall we cross the sea, oh our younger brother?' they said. And we answered: 'We shall cross in the ships...' Then we entered the ships... then we traveled eastward and arrived there."
The Quiche Indians who wrote Totonicapan declared that they were "descendants of Israel, of the same language and the same customs... They were, the sons of Abraham and Jacob".
The Book of Mormon made a similar claim. The Nephites, Lamanites, and Mulekites came from Jerusalem, and so they were descendants of Israel or sons of Abraham and Jacob.
The claim is made in the Totonicapan that the Lord gave the ancient leader of this group a "present called Giron-Galgal," which guided the ancestors of the Indians across the ocean to their new land. This gift is comparable to the Liahona, which was given to Father Lehi by the Lord to serve as a compass to guide his people from Jerusalem to America.
It is of significance to note that Ixtlilxochitl describes the terrible storm that occurred in America at the time of the crucifixion of Christ, which confirms the Book of Mormon account. To quote Ixtlilxochitl:
"... the sun and the moon eclipsed, and the earth trembled, and the rocks broke, and many other things and signs took place... This happened in the year of ce Calli, which, adjusting the count to ours, comes to be at the same time when Christ our Lord suffered, and they say it happened during the first days of the year."
It is important to note that the Book of Mormon account also places the great storm exactly at the time Jesus Christ was on the cross and during the first days of the year.
Following this terrible storm and three days of darkness, the Nephites gathered together around the temple in Bountiful. They heard a voice speak three times from heaven. The third time they perceived that it said:
"Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name-hear ye him."
They all looked up toward heaven and saw a "man descending out of heaven... clothed in a white robe." He came down and stood in their midst and said: "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world."
During the following month or more he appeared to the Nephites many times, gave them the priesthood, and taught them the gospel of Jesus Christ.
So impressive was the influence of the resurrected Lord on the ancient Americans that when the Spaniards came, they found all the Indian tribes throughout the western hemisphere ardently worshiping his memory. During the American colonial period everywhere, traditions were found that told of a white and bearded God who visited the ancestors of the Indians in ancient America. All of these Indian traditions and writings bear witness to the visits made by the resurrected Savior to America, as recorded in the Book of Mormon.
I bear my testimony, as a result of reading the Book of Mormon, that the Holy Ghost has born witness to me that it is true. I testify that it contains the word of God, that it is a true history of the ancient Americans. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Hartman Rector, Jr.
Hartman Rector, Jr., Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 139-141
"Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble," and as disposed to evil "as the sparks fly upward".
These words of the prophet Job are not particularly flattering to man, but they are truthful. They represent only too vividly what the natural man is like. King Benjamin added his testimony to this when he said:
"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord."
This is strong testimony borne against man, but a perusal of the pages of history leaves little doubt as to its truthfulness. Man's inhumanity to man has always been and is now everywhere in evidence.
How can fallen human nature be changed from evil to good? Basically, this must be the most important question confronting mankind. All other questions seem to pale into insignificance when compared to this one, because man cannot be saved in his sins. And yet there are those who say, "You can't change human nature." This claim is very frequently and flippantly made. Of course it is false. President David O. McKay taught something completely different from this in 1945 when he said: "Human nature will have to be changed on an enormous scale in the future or the world will be drowned in its own blood."
On the one hand, man wants to keep the commandments of God and serve his fellowman; on the other, he can't forget what he wants to do for himself. He wants to pay his tithing, but he keeps thinking about what he could buy himself with the money. If he stops considering what he could buy with the Lord's money, the temptations will cease to exist. When he stops feeding the evil desire, it dies. But of course, what usually happens is that we feed the evil desire just enough to keep it alive and so we keep ourselves in constant turmoil.
I presume that each one of us has certain weaknesses that keep us from being as spiritually in tune as we would like to be. You are no doubt familiar with the way we kneel each day and ask the Lord to forgive us of our "weaknesses and imperfections." We call them weaknesses-I don't know why we don't call them what they really are. Of course, we are really asking the Lord to forgive us of our sins. But somehow we don't like to associate ourselves with sin, so we call them weaknesses. As a matter of fact, we do have weaknesses. Every one of us has them, things that cause us to desire that which is not good for us.
Where do you suppose we get these weaknesses? If you pose this question to a group of Saints, it will astound you how many different answers you get to this particular question. Some will say that they are responsible for their own weaknesses; well, if you keep your weaknesses, that's true, but that is not where they came from. Another will say weaknesses come from heredity or environment; in either instance, we are passing the responsibility to someone else, either our parents or our neighborhood. Both of these sources have great influence upon us, but they do not give us our weaknesses. Still another may blame Lucifer, the devil, for their weaknesses; surely he is always on the job, but this is not where we get our weaknesses, either. Where do they really come from?
The Lord tells us the answer to this question very plainly in the Book of Mormon. He says:
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
So where do we get our weaknesses? We get them from the Lord; the Lord gives us weaknesses so we will be humble. This makes us teachable. Now don't misunderstand me-the Lord is not responsible for the sin; he is only responsible for the weakness. It seems that all men have weaknesses in one form or another, character traits that make one more subject to a particular temptation than another. Lehi states that God "hath created all things, both the heaven and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon.
"And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man, after he had created our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter.
"Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other."
Therefore, what you do with the weakness is up to you.
The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "There are three independent principles; the Spirit of God, the spirit of man, and the spirit of the devil. All men have power to resist the devil." But when our weaknesses are exposed to Satan, he is quick to take advantage of us by tempting us in our selfishness.
Giving us weakness, however, is one of the Lord's ways of getting our attention. He says this is the means he uses to make us humble, but he also says that if we will come unto him and have faith in him, he will make us strong wherein we were weak. I know this is the truth. There are numerous examples in the scriptures that vividly illustrate this principle-Alma and the sons of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon, Peter and Paul in the Bible, to name just a few. Alma was going about tearing down the church until he met an angel who turned him around and made him one of the greatest missionaries we have any record of in the book of Mormon. Paul was out persecuting the saints when he met the Lord on the road to Damascus. After this experience, Paul became one of the greatest missionaries we have record of in the Bible. In his own words, he declared: "I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me."
I have witnessed this same truth in force today. While I was serving as a stake mission president at one time, the missionaries were meeting with a very good man who was not a member of the Church but who was married to a fine Latter-day Saint sister. This good brother wanted to join the Church, but he was addicted to tobacco. He had tried to quit many times but he said he couldn't; he was just too weak.
There were six stake missionaries who had met with him over a considerable period of time but who were unable to help him develop the strength to quit smoking. Finally, under the influence of the Spirit, we asked him if we could fast with him that he might overcome this weakness. He considered the offer and agreed to our proposal. We asked him then if he would carry out the fast for two days. He agreed, so the fast went forth. Six stake missionaries, the smoking brother, and his wife fasted.
At the completion of the fast, we all met in his home and knelt with him in his living room, each praying in turn. The prayers were essentially the same; they were, that the Lord would take from this brother his desire to smoke. He was the last to pray and then he arose and announced, "I have no desire to smoke." He hasn't smoked unto this day. Since that time he has served in the bishopric of his ward and even now is serving in a stake MIA superintendency. He is today a stalwart in the faith, a real servant of the Lord. The Lord literally took from him his weakness and made him a tower of strength instead.
So, if we have a weakness, we should not despair; we shouldn't neglect it, but we shouldn't worry about it. Rightly understood, it merely points out where the Lord expects us to excel. And we will excel, too, because the Lord will make us strong; our weakness will become the strongest part of our personality when we come unto the Lord in humility and exercise faith in him. He not only forgives us, but he doth immediately bless us. There is new confidence, new vision, new horizons-a new birth.
The prophet Mormon stated very plainly what I like to call the qualification for the performance of miracles. It is recorded in 3 Nephi, the eighth chapter, and the fifth verse: "And now it came to pass that according to our record, and we know our record to be true, for behold, it was a just man who did keep the record-for he truly did many miracles in the name of Jesus; and there was not any man who could do a miracle in the name of Jesus save he were cleansed every whit from his iniquity."
So this is the qualification: we must be cleansed every whit from our iniquity. When I first read this passage of scripture, I felt to say "Hurray for repentance!" for if it were not for repentance, there would be no miracles performed.
But repentance is granted unto man by the Lord. I am convinced that repentance is about 90 percent from the Lord and about 10 percent from man. Nephi goes still further and says, "... for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." However, man's part is the most urgent and vital part because it must be first, and full, and sincere. An ancient Hebrew writing declares, "There must be a stirring below before there is a stirring above." This means that repentance must begin with us, with mortals. Many times we say we are waiting on the Lord, when as a matter of fact, the Lord is waiting on us.
"By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins-behold, he will confess them and forsake them."
When this happens, the Lord forgives and doth immediately bless him. How gracious and kind he is. I bear testimony to you, my brothers and sisters, that God, our Heavenly Father, does live, and that he hears and answers our prayers. I bear testimony that Jesus is the Christ and that he lives. I know he lives, and that he has made possible the forgiveness of sins to those who come unto him through repentance, that through repentance and obedience he turns our weaknesses into strengths, and the time is now.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Eldred G. Smith
Eldred G. Smith, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 142-143
I wish to express my deep gratitude for that sustaining vote in my behalf this morning. I pray I will be given the help to fully fulfill this responsibility. I wish to personally express my sustaining vote in favor of President Joseph Fielding Smith and all the other General Authorities, including the new ones added this day. The Lord has always given his people prophets and leaders to guide us and give us counsel.
Speaking to Enoch, who was only the sixth generation of mortality on this earth, the Lord said, "Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you."
It has been necessary for the prophets of God to cry repentance since the very beginning, and will continue throughout the rest of mortality, even until the Savior comes to reign on the earth for a thousand years.
Many of us think it would be easy to serve the Lord and keep his commandments if we were permitted to live during that great millennial reign which is to come when Christ will be here on earth and Satan will be bound.
John wrote: "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
"And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
"And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled."
Many other scriptures refer to the thousand years of wonderful, glorious conditions on the earth, because Lucifer, Satan, the devil, will be bound.
The scriptures say he will be "bound with a chain" and "put into a bottomless pit." To me, these are symbolical terms. I cannot quite conceive of steel chains or pits that could hold Satan. The only power I know of that will bind Satan, or render him powerless, is righteous living.
The war that started in heaven has not ended yet and shall not end until everyone has proved the extent of his ability to resist Satan. Even Jesus Christ had to bind Satan when he was tempted in the wilderness. Satan had no power over him, because Jesus resisted his temptations. Then the record says, "... he departed from him for a season."
When you have resisted a temptation until it no longer becomes a temptation, then to that extent, Satan has lost his power over you, and as long as you do not yield to him, to that degree he is bound.
For instance, if you have learned to pay tithing until it is no burden or no real temptation anymore, then to that extent you have bound Satan. The same is true in keeping the Word of Wisdom or living the laws of chastity, or the other laws of the gospel. Satan becomes powerless to you in that field.
Then step by step, you may bind Satan now; you don't have to wait for the millennial reign.
This has to start first on an individual basis, each person individually; then a group, then several groups, and so on until the whole earth is full of righteousness.
This is how I believe the conditions described during the millennial reign will be developed.
Today is the time to prepare for the ushering in of that glorious time on the earth. This is why the gospel has been restored, with the plan, the keys, and the authority to administer therein.
Then by each individual binding Satan through his righteous living, we can bring about the glorious conditions like those spoken of which will exist during the millennial reign.
We have had such conditions on the earth to prove to us that it can be done. When the Lord told Enoch, "Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you," he did just that. He walked and talked with God. He preached repentance and many followed him, and in his days, the record says, "... he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even ZION."
"And all the days of Zion, in the days of Enoch, were three hundred and sixty-five years.
"And Enoch and all his people walked with God, and he dwelt in the midst of Zion; and it came to pass that Zion was not, for God received it up into his own bosom; and from thence went forth the saying, ZION IS FLED."
In the Book of Mormon another similar occasion is recorded. After Christ's resurrection he visited the inhabitants of this continent. He established his church and kingdom among them, and the record in the Book of Mormon tells us they lived righteously for some two hundred years. Surely Satan was bound then, by their righteous living.
Down through the ages the Lord has continually told us what we must do to bind Satan and receive the blessings he has in store for us. Every speaker at this conference has told us how we can bind Satan, and I recommend to you these talks, that you read them and reread them and study them and literally make them a part of your lives.
Enoch's message, then, is just as fitting and appropriate today as then, if not more so.
He said: "Behold Satan hath come among the children of men, and tempteth them to worship him; and men have become carnal, sensual, and devilish, and are shut out from the presence of God.
"But God hath made known unto our fathers that all men must repent.
"And he called upon our father Adam by his own voice, saying: I am God; I made the world, and men before they were in the flesh.
"And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you."
This is how the way must be prepared for the coming of the Savior. His kingdom must be established on earth to prepare for his coming.
He has given us the parable of the ten virgins, symbolic of his coming-the five wise virgins who were prepared and the five who were foolish; the ten virgins refer to those who have accepted him in baptism-only 50 percent of whom were really ready.
If he were to come today, would you be counted among the 50 percent of the members of his kingdom who will be prepared, or among the 50 percent of his kingdom who will only be partly prepared, or will you not be counted in his kingdom at all, waiting for a time when Satan will he bound for you instead of binding him yourself?
Choose ye this day to serve the Lord God who made you.
I testify that his kingdom has been established upon the earth in these, the latter days, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder LeGrand Richards
LeGrand Richards, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 144-148
Brothers and sisters, we are about to come to the end of a most inspirational and historic conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; historic because today we have voted to sustain the man whom God has chosen to stand at the head of his work here upon this earth under the direction of his Son Jesus Christ, because this church, as Paul of old said, is built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets, with Christ our Lord as the chief cornerstone. I am sure that those of us who know President Joseph Fielding Smith and the men whom he has selected to be his counselors feel grateful to the Lord for them. We feel secure in our hearts to know that this work will continue to roll forth in the earth, building upon the foundation that has been laid by their predecessors, until it shall become as a great mountain and fill the whole earth.
During this conference, eulogy and compliments have been paid to the Prophet Joseph Smith and his successors. I think of what the Prophet Lehi said to his son Joseph in the wilderness-that the Lord promised Joseph who was sold into Egypt that in the latter days he would raise up from his loins a prophet whose name would be Joseph, and that his father's name would be Joseph. He said he would bring forth his word. He brought us the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and many other writings. As far as the records indicate, there has never been a prophet upon the face of the earth who has given as much revealed truth as we have obtained through this prophet whom God raised up in our day. And he said he would not only bring forth his word but would also bring men to a conviction of his word that had already gone forth among them.
Now when you talk to men as I have in my missionary work, who have been taught for years, some even in the ministry, you find that you can talk to them for hours and they have no questions to ask. You tell them things they have never heard of, and prove these things to them out of their own scriptures. That I can tell you from my own experience. One man was brought into the Church who had been a minister for 30 years, and he sat in my office and said, "Brother Richards, when I think of how little I had to offer my people as a minister of the gospel compared with what I now have in the fullness of the gospel as it has been restored, I want to go back and tell all my friends what I have found. Now," he said, "they won't listen to me."
The Lord said in his promise to Joseph regarding this prophet of our day that he shall bring men unto salvation. Why? Because he would be endowed with that same authority that Jesus gave to his twelve when he said, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you". "... and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven". Without that authority, there can be no Church of Jesus Christ upon the earth that he will recognize.
The Lord adds in that promise concerning the Prophet Joseph, "And I will make him great in mine eyes". Whatever the world may think of this prophet of this dispensation, there is the promise and the statement of the Lord that he will be great in his eyes. The Lord had him in waiting, three thousand years before he was even born, for the great mission to which he was called, just as the Savior was called to his mission-not the same kind of mission but of equal importance in that it was a part of the Lord's great eternal plan for the salvation of his children.
We could refer to each of the successors of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Take Brigham Young, for instance. I think history records no colonizer like Brigham Young. Just look at what we enjoy right here in these valleys of the mountains, this tabernacle, that holy temple. The city itself is part of his work as he led the pioneers to this desert place and built this great commonwealth.
You could consider each of the other prophets who have succeeded him. My father used to bring us boys here, travel 40 miles by team, so that we could become acquainted with the leaders of the Church. I remember as a boy sitting in this tabernacle when Wilford Woodruff gave his last talk when he told how marvelously the Spirit of the Lord had guided and directed him. He was a man who really lived near the Lord. Now you've heard his story of how he was inspired to get up in the middle of the night and move his team that was tied to an oak that had stood on that spot for over a hundred years. Then along came a twister and picked up that oak and threw it right where his team and wagon in which he and his wife were sleeping had been standing. If he hadn't listened to the promptings of the Spirit, this might have cost him his life.
He told about bringing a company of pioneers and Saints from Great Britain. When they landed in New Orleans, he was about to enter a boat, making arrangements, and something seemed to say, "Don't go on that boat, either you or your company." So he thanked the captain and decided to wait. Then he said the boat had no more than sailed up the river when it caught fire and not a soul was saved. He said, "If I hadn't listened to the promptings of the Spirit of the Lord, we wouldn't have had Brother So-and-So and Brother So-and-So," and he began naming men who were in that company.
Now I could go on with the other prophets it has been my privilege to know. How I loved President Heber J. Grant! He called me to be the Presiding Bishop of the Church. How I loved President Joseph F. Smith, the father of our new President! He was one of the greatest prophets I have ever known. I have heard him speak in this tabernacle and bless the people, and I don't think there was a dry eye here because of the spiritual power that man had. When I had filled two missions and went in his office to report, he took me in his arms and said, "LeGrand, we love you." That paid or all the missionary work I had done up to that time.
Then I think of President David O. McKay. For years, everywhere we have gone in the Church, the Saints have said, "Take our love back to President McKay." Even little children would write their messages and ask us to hand them to the President. What a leader he really was!
I was told the story of a businessman who came here from the East a few years ago, and in talking to the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, he said, "Do you know what I'd rather do than anything else while I'm here?" The secretary said, "What's that?" He said, "I would like to meet that man, David O. McKay, the President of the Mormon Church." "Well," the secretary said, "I think I can arrange it." And he did, and President McKay talked to him for about an hour. As he walked down the front steps of the Church Office Building, he turned to the secretary and said, "If I were asked to name the one man whom I have met in all my life that comes the nearest in approximating my appraisal of the Redeemer of the world, I'd name that man." He was beloved in and out of the Church.
And now, brothers and sisters, we have a man who has come to us from the loins of the holy prophets, who has devoted his life to the Church, and who has probably written more in explanation of the truths of the gospel than any other man since the days of the Prophet Joseph. I am sure that it was pleasing to the Lord to see how we sustained him here in our vote today.
I think the theme that has distinguished this conference in my thinking has been "Why a Prophet?" Why should we have a prophet? And then I think of the passage Brother Petersen quoted yesterday, where the Lord said through the prophet Amos, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets". What does that mean? It means that no honest person believing in the holy scriptures could look to find God's eternal truth upon the earth without a prophet at its head, because we have no record that he has ever had a church or a movement without a prophet.
Then I think of the words of the Savior as he stood overlooking Jerusalem and said:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
"For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord".
And when one comes in the name of the Lord, that person can be none other than a prophet of God.
The Savior testified of John, who was sent to prepare the way for his coming in the meridian of time. He said there was no greater prophet born of woman than John the Baptist. Then I think of the words of the Lord to the prophet Malachi, wherein he said:
"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple...
"But who may abide the day of his coming?... for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap".
Obviously that had no reference to his first coming, as he did not come swiftly to his temple, and all men could abide the day of his coming. He didn't come cleansing and purifying as refiner's fire and fullers' soap; but we are told in the holy scriptures that when he shall come in the latter days, the wicked will cry out, " fall upon us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne". From my way of thinking, that prophet was the Prophet Joseph Smith, sent to prepare the way for his coming by being the instrument in the hands of the Lord to bring forth his great latter-day work.
Now as I read the scriptures, I just can't comprehend how the marvelous things that the ancient prophets declared that God would accomplish in our day and time could be accomplished without a prophet. The apostle Paul said the Lord had revealed the mystery of his will unto him. That is important. "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth. We are the only church in the world that has a program to complete and fulfill that declaration revealed by the Lord to the apostle Paul, and we couldn't do it except for the prophets whom he has raised up in our day.
I think of the time when Peter talked to those who had put to death the Christ, and he told them, "And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began". How could there be a restitution of all things unless there was a prophet to receive what the holy prophets would bring? We testify that that has been fulfilled through the restoration of the gospel.
I think of the words of Malachi when he said:
"... I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse".
What consequences, were it not for the coming of Elijah? And to whom would he come save there was a prophet here at the head of the Lord's work? We testify that Elijah has come and delivered the keys of his dispensation.
I think of the words of the Lord through Isaiah. He said:
"Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.
"Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid".
I think this church is the marvelous work and a wonder that Isaiah saw, and how could it be unless there was a prophet unto whom the Lord could reveal his will? "Surely," as Amos said, "the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets".
I think of the experience when Daniel was called to interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream; you remember how Nebuchadnezzar had forgotten the dream, and he called in the soothsayers and the wise men and the astrologers, and none of them could give him the dream. He sent for the man Daniel. And Daniel came and he said, there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are thes.". Then he told them about the rise and fall of the kingdoms of this world until the latter days, when the God of heaven would set up a kingdom that should never be destroyed nor given to another people, but instead it would be like a stone cut out of the mountain without hands and would roll forth until it would become as a great mountain and fill the whole earth.
I ask you-why a prophet? How could the God of heaven set up a work like that without a prophet through whom he could work and reveal his mind and will?
Incidentally, when I was president of the Southern States Mission, one of our missionaries down in Florida preached on that particular passage of scripture one night. At the close of the meeting I stood at the door, and a man came up and introduced himself as a minister of the gospel. He said, "You don't expect us to believe that the Mormon church is that kingdom, do you?" And I said, "Yes, sir. Why not?" He said, "It couldn't be." I said, "Why couldn't it?" "Well," he said, "we can't have a kingdom without a king, and we don't have a king, so we haven't a kingdom." "Oh," I said, "my friend, you didn't read quite far enough. You just read the seventh chapter of Daniel and you will see where Daniel saw one like the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven, and unto him was given the kingdom that all other kingdoms, powers, and dominions under the whole heavens should serve him".
Then I said to this minister, "My friend, tell me, how can the kingdom be given to him when he comes in the clouds of heaven, if there is no kingdom prepared for him? That is what this church is, the preparation, the restitution of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets". Then I said, "Probably you would like to know what is going to become of that kingdom, and if you will read just a little further in that seventh chapter, you will see where Daniel said, 'But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever'". And as if that were not quite long enough, Daniel adds, "even for ever and ever."
Now the saints of the most high God have been attending this conference, and to you there is the promise that this kingdom will be given to you if you make yourselves worthy of it. Therefore, I say to you that there is no other thing you can do in this world that will bring you greater eternal happiness than to help to roll this majestic work on, this marvelous work and a wonder, until it shall fill the whole earth.
Now I could go on for an hour telling you other things that the God of heaven has decreed that he would do in our day, and he couldn't do them without a prophet of God, and so I stand here to bear you my witness that this church is led and has been led by living prophets. I sustain with all my heart our new prophet, seer, and revelator, and his counselors; I pray God to bless them, and to bless the saints of Zion the world over, that they may he worthy of their great heritage to be a part of this great latter-day movement, with God at its head and his prophets to direct it. I ask this prayer, and pray God to bless you all, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 148-149
Brethren and sisters, I think this has been a wonderful day, and we have heard a great deal that is of profit to us if we will only treasure it.
We come now to the closing moments of another great general conference of the Church.
We came together to sustain a new First Presidency and to receive counsel and direction from the Lord through his servants the prophets.
We assembled to partake of the good things of the Spirit, to feel that influence which comes only from the Lord, and to be built up in faith and in testimony.
We came to worship the Lord, to affirm our love for him and our devotion to his cause, and we came desiring in our hearts to keep the commandment which says: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him."
I feel that the purposes of the conference have been fulfilled. We are now ready to go our several ways with a renewed dedication to the upbuilding of our Father's work, and with a determination to use our strength and influence to bless all his children.
Let us now heed the counsel of him who said: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
I leave my blessing with you and my assurance that God is with his people, and the work in which we are engaged shall triumph and roll forth until the eternal purposes of the Lord are fulfilled. And I pray that the blessings of heaven may be and abide with us and all men.
O that the heavens might pour down righteousness and truth upon all the world!
O that all men everywhere might have a listening ear, and that they might heed the words of truth and light which come from the Lord's servants!
O that the Lord's purposes among all people in every nation might speedily be fulfilled!
I pray for the members of the Church, who are the saints of the Most High, that they may be strengthened in their faith, and that desires for righteousness may increase in their hearts, and that they may work out their salvation with fear and trembling before the Lord.
I pray for the good and the upright among all people, that they may be led to seek truth, to sustain every true principle, and to further the cause of freedom and justice.
In these troublesome and difficult times, I pray that all men may be guided by that light which lighteth every man who cometh into the world, and that they may gain thereby the wisdom to solve the problems which beset mankind.
I beseech a gracious Father to pour out his blessings upon all men, upon the young and old, upon those who have cause to mourn, upon the hungry and needy, upon those who are entrapped in unfortunate circumstances and unwholesome environments, and upon all who need aid, and help, and succor, and wisdom, and all those good and great things that only he can give.
Along with all of you, I have love and concern and compassion for our Father's children in all the earth, and pray that their conditions may be bettered both temporally and spiritually; I pray that they may come unto Christ, and learn of him, and take his yoke upon them, that they may find rest to their souls, for his yoke is easy and his burden is light.
I pray that the Latter-day Saints and all who will join with them in keeping the commandments of the Father of us all may so live as to gain peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come -all of which I ask in humility and in thanksgiving, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 5-8
My beloved brethren and sisters, we bid you welcome at the commencement of this the 140th Semiannual Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We are grateful that the Lord has given us this privilege of coming together again to worship him in spirit and in truth, and we pray that there may be a great outpouring of his Spirit in the sessions of this conference.
We extend a special welcome to our Father's other children, devout and good people of many faiths who join with us by listening to the radio and television broadcasts.
I hope that I may now have the sustaining power of your faith and prayers as I speak to you. I rejoice in the privilege of raising my voice in doctrine, in testimony, and in thanksgiving.
For more than sixty years I have preached the gospel in the stakes and missions of the Church-pleading with the Saints to keep the commandments, inviting our Father's other children to accept the truth of salvation which has come to us by revelation in this present dispensation.
All my days I have studied the scriptures and have sought the guidance of the Spirit of the Lord in coming to an understanding of their true meaning. The Lord has been good to me, and I rejoice in the knowledge he has given me and in the privilege that has been and is mine to teach his saving principles.
As I ponder the principles of the gospel, I am struck forcibly by the uniform manner in which I and all the Brethren have taught them over the years. The truths of the gospel are everlastingly the same. Like God himself, they are the same yesterday, today, and forever. What I have taught and written in the past I would teach and write again under the same circumstances.
And what I say of myself should be true for all the Brethren and for all the elders of the Church. We are all called to preach the gospel, to be ministers of Christ, to raise the warning voice, and to "teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom."
In the early days of this dispensation, the Lord said to those called in his ministry, "that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world... That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers."
To those called "to go forth to preach" his gospel and to all "the elders, priests and teachers" of his church, he said: They "shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon," and the other scriptures, "as they shall be directed by the Spirit."
As agents of the Lord we are not called or authorized to teach the philosophies of the world or the speculative theories of our scientific age. Our mission is to preach the doctrines of salvation in plainness and simplicity as they are revealed and recorded in the scriptures.
After directing us to teach the principles of the gospel found in the standard works, as guided by the Spirit, the Lord then made that great pronouncement which governs all the teaching of his gospel by anyone in the Church: "And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach."
In harmony with the spirit of these revelations, and with a heart full of love for all men, I ask the members of the Church to learn and live the gospel and to use their strength, energy, and means in proclaiming it to the world. We have received a commission from the Lord. He has given a divine mandate. He has commanded us to go forth with unwearying diligence and offer to his other children those saving truths revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
God our Eternal Father is the author of the plan of salvation. This plan is the gospel of Jesus Christ; it is that "through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel."
In every age when the gospel is on earth, it must be revealed to the Lord's prophets, and they must be called to stand as legal administrators to perform and to direct the performance of the ordinances of salvation for their fellowmen.
Joseph Smith is the prophet whom the Lord called in this day to restore the truths of salvation and to receive the keys and powers to administer these saving truths.
To him the Lord said: "... this generation shall have my word through you." And then, referring to the gospel restored through Joseph Smith, the Lord said: "This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come, or the destruction of the wicked."
Thus we link the names of Jesus Christ and of Joseph Smith. Christ is the Lord; he worked out the atoning sacrifice; he is the resurrection and the life; through him all men are raised in immortality, while those who believe and obey his laws shall also gain eternal life.
Joseph Smith was a prophet, called in these last days to receive by revelation the saving truths of the gospel and to stand as a legal administrator, having power from on high, to administer the ordinances of the gospel.
Since these truths revealed through him are the ones which shall go forth to every nation before the Second Coming, it is little wonder that we find Moroni saying to Joseph Smith that his "name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people."
Nor is it any wonder when we later find the Lord saying to the Prophet: "The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools shall have thee in derision, and hell shall rage against thee;
"While the pure in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek counsel, and authority, and blessings constantly from under thy hand."
The ends of the earth are now beginning to inquire after the name of Joseph Smith, and many people in many nations are rejoicing in the gospel restored through his instrumentality.
Since the beginning of this dispensation, the testimony of Jesus, as revealed to Joseph Smith, has been preached in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, most of Europe, and the islands of the Pacific.
In recent years there has been an almost unbelievable expansion of the work in Mexico, in the Central American countries, and in South America.
And Asia is now being opened to the message of the gospel in a way that surpasses anything of the past. The Church is becoming established in Japan and Korea, in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and we are getting started in Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia.
And the day will come, in the providence of the Lord, when other nations, now closed to the message of truth, shall have their doors opened to us, and the elders of Israel will go in to tell the honest in heart in those nations about Christ and the gospel of his kingdom that has come upon the earth in this day through the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Indeed, there are more doors opened to us now than we can enter with the number of missionaries who are available. We hope to see the day when every worthy and qualified young Latter-day Saint man will have the privilege of going forth on the Lord's errand to stand as a witness of the truth in the nations of the earth.
We now have many and can use many more stable and mature couples in this great missionary cause, and we hope that those who are worthy and qualified will set their affairs in order and respond to calls to preach the gospel and will perform their obligations acceptably.
We also have and can use many young sisters in this work, although the same responsibility does not rest upon them that rests upon the brethren, and our greater concern with reference to young sisters is that they enter proper marital unions in the temples of the Lord.
We invite members of the Church to assist financially in sustaining the missionary cause and to contribute liberally of their means for the spread of the gospel.
We commend those who are serving so valiantly in the great missionary cause. Joseph Smith said: "After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the gospel."
We invite our Father's children everywhere to give heed to the words of the missionaries who are reaching the nations of the earth.
We plead with them to accept the Lord as their God and to come and worship him in spirit and in truth and in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
We invite all men to believe in Christ, to accept him without reservation as the Son of God, as the Only Begotten of the Father, to have faith in his holy name, and to signify their love for him by keeping his commandments and receiving those whom he has sent in his name to preach his gospel.
We know that if men will have faith in Christ, repent of their sins, covenant in the waters of baptism to keep his commandments, and then receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands by those who are called and ordained unto this power-and if they will then keep the commandments-they shall have peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come.
Now may I say to all those who forsake the world and join the Church, and to all the members of the Church, that Church membership alone will not assure us of the full blessings of the gospel or guarantee us an entrance into the celestial kingdom. After baptism we must keep the commandments and endure to the end.
Speaking to members of the church, Nephi said: "... after ye have gotten into this straight and narrow path, I would ask if all is done?"
Then he answered: "Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."
There is no more important thing that anyone in the world can do than to receive the gospel and inherit its glorious blessings.
And there is no more important counsel that can be given to any member of the Church than to keep the commandments after baptism. The Lord offers us salvation on condition of repentance and faithfulness to his laws.
I plead with the world to repent and believe the truth, to let the light of Christ shine in their lives, to keep every good and true principle they have, and to add to these the further light and knowledge that has come by revelation in this day. I plead with them to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and reap the blessings of the gospel.
I plead with the members of the Church to do the works of righteousness to keep the commandments, to seek the Spirit, to love the Lord, to put first in their lives the things of God's kingdom, and thereby work out their salvation with fear and trembling before the Lord.
And now to all men-in and out of the Church-I bear my testimony to the truth and divinity of this great latter-day work.
I know that God lives and that Jesus Christ is his Son. I have a perfect knowledge that the Father and the Son appeared to Joseph Smith in the spring of 1820 and gave him commandments to usher in the dispensation of the fulness of times.
I know that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God, and that it has come forth "to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations."
I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God on earth, and that as now constituted and officered it has the Lord's approval and is moving in the course so directed.
Let all men know assuredly that this is the Lord's Church and he is directing its affairs. What a privilege it is to have membership in such a divine institution!
And I pray that the gospel cause shall spread, and that the honest in heart in every nation shall be brought to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I pray for the preservation and success of the missionaries and new converts, and ask God our Father to look down upon them in love and in mercy and give them the desires of their hearts in righteousness.
I pray for the youth of the Church and of the world in these perilous times, times when gospel standards are needed as much as has been the case in any age of the earth's history.
And I thank the Lord for his goodness and grace and for all the blessings he has so abundantly poured out upon the world, upon his church, and upon us as individuals. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop John H. Vandenberg
John H. Vandenberg, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 8-12
My dear brothers and sisters: I hope that what I might say will be in keeping with the spirit of this conference.
Recently I was perusing a newspaper and observed a column entitled "Lost and Found." Some of the lost items seemed particularly valuable, and undoubtedly those of less monetary value would have sentimental significance to the owner. One notice read as follows: "Lost-in local department store, folder containing photos of a little boy and girl. Cannot be replaced. Reward."
"Cannot be replaced." It might have been that the little boy and girl had grown up and left home, and these photos were precious memories of their childhood. To the owner they are priceless. It occurred to me that many people would be made very happy if all the items listed as "lost" could be transferred to the "found" list.
In a very real way there are not only valuable items lost, but, of far greater value, lives that become lost-men and women and young people whose lives have been caught in the current maze of political economics and social strife that is causing crosscurrents of confusion, neglect, apathy, permissiveness, and wrongdoing.
In our office, we frequently receive letters from bishops and parents in various parts of the country asking for help in locating a teenager who has left home. These letters tear at our emotions as we share the feelings of parents in their great concern for the welfare of their son or daughter.
Notices are sent to all the wards, containing pictures and descriptions of these young people, with the hope that they may be located and persuaded to return home. We usually hear nothing more, and we wonder if these "lost" young people are ever found, for we know they "cannot be replaced."
We hope that in all cases they "come to themselves" or "find" themselves and return home, as did the prodigal son who took his inheritance and went to a far country and spent it in riotous living.
And we hope also that when and if they do return, they will receive the kind of welcome described in the parable Jesus taught. For this father, ever praying and ever watching, saw his son from a great way off and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. It is hoped also that those who return are as penitent as was the son when he said to his father, "I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son," and that parents are as loving and as forgiving as the father who said to his servants, "Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
"And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and be merry:
"For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found."
I imagine this son was a sorry sight after what he had been through, having just left a job as a swineherd, but his father did not treat him like the vagrant he appeared to be. He put the best robe upon him and treated him like a prince. Do you suppose this made any difference in the way the son reacted? Do you believe the statement of the German dramatist Goethe when he said: "If you treat a man as he is he will stay as he is, but if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be, and could be, he will be that bigger and better man."
From the teachings of the Savior we know that he was greatly concerned with those who were lost.
You will remember the story of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha. When Jesus received the message, "Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick," he stated, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."
Nevertheless, Lazarus died, and Jesus knew he was dead; yet he tarried for two days where he was before saying to his apostles, "Let us go into Judea again." Apparently astonished, they tried to dissuade the Master, saying, "... the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?" Then, in his teaching wisdom, Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
"But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him."
Having taught his disciples that he was the "light and life" of the world, is it possible that he was teaching them again that, regardless of whatever obstacles might present themselves, the real purpose of his gospel and of their mission was to bring light into the lives of those who are in darkness, that they might not stumble? Was he saying that reclaiming men from sin and darkness was one of the prime purposes of his gospel?
After this lesson, Jesus then stated to his disciples: "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep." The disciples remarked that if the man was sleeping it would be well with him. Jesus made it plain by saying, "Lazarus is dead."
When Jesus arrived on the outskirts of the town, Martha met him, saying, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." And when Jesus told her, "Thy brother shall rise again," Martha, understanding the meaning of the resurrection, answered, "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Then Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
Having asked to be taken to the tomb, Jesus directed that it be opened, answering the objection that the body had lain in the tomb four days by saying, "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?"
The stone was removed, and Jesus, standing before the open portal, after praying to his Father in heaven, cried, "Lazarus, come forth." The dead man heard this voice of command, and Lazarus, restored to life, came forth. He came forth to life and light-to the light of this world, Jesus Christ-that light to which all of us are entitled. If we walk in that light we will not stumble. Without it we will stumble in darkness.
A number of years ago a group of Americans stood on a hilltop in northern France looking down on one of the old cities that had been partially destroyed during the war. As they watched, they saw the French lamplighter begin to light the lamps of the city, moving from one to another. Some lamps he found easy to light; others needed to be cleaned or adjusted before the light came forth. The old lamplighter moved from one side of the street to the other, performing his duty, and finally his faithfulness was rewarded as the highway was lighted and made safe for the traveler.
So does Christ light the way for all of us, that we may not stumble in darkness on the path to eternal life. And so it is our responsibility to light the way for others.
Some of these young people about whom the bishops write may be like the sheep that wandered off in ignorance, bewildered in the darkness, as the rest of the flock returned to the fold. But the good shepherd left the ninety and nine who were safe and went in search of the one that was lost until he found it. This parable shows the great love of the Master for all of his children, for Jesus gave it in answer to the criticism of the Pharisees who felt that he should not associate with the publicans and sinners.
Jesus knew the status of these so-called "outcasts." They had come to him as he supped. They knew that in him they had a friend who would give them courage to live a good life.
Someone has said, "Some men die at thirty but are not buried until they are seventy," having observed that when a person ceases to grow in knowledge, ceases to grow in spirit, and fails to live up to his responsibilities, he withers and dies, even though he still walks upon the earth. People bring this premature death upon themselves by their own attitudes, as a self-inflicted punishment for turning away from the light of truth. Jesus may have had reference to these, hoping that they might change, when he said: "... he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
The Master knows that even men in such a dormant status, more dead than alive, can be changed, and so he pursues them in his ever-loving, ever-caring, ever-forgiving way.
Just as he organized his church in his day, conferring his authority upon his brethren, commanding them to pursue the salvation of mankind, so has he in these latter days restored his church and revealed his priesthood and commissioned those who receive the priesthood to warn, expound, exhort, teach, and invite all to come unto Christ. Then, as members do come into his church, he also commissions his priesthood to visit the house of each member, exhorting them to pray vocally and in secret and to attend to all family duties. For this is the only way to keep his kingdom strong. His charge to us is to be with and strengthen our brethren.
To those who diligently pursue such a course, miracles come to pass, evidenced by testimonies that declare: "He was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found."
Letter on home teaching
So wrote one sister: She, having been born and raised in another church, states that she and her Mormon husband lived the first years of their marriage without any religious activity. One evening two pleasant fellows appeared at their door and introduced themselves as home teachers. With little encouragement, they kept coming, month after month. Then the husband began, for the first time, to read such Church books as he had.
The sister said that when they moved to another town she packed the books away where she hoped her husband would never find them again. Sure enough, the couple again forgot about religion until other home teachers arrived at their new home.
After the first visit of these new teachers, her husband searched for his books until he found them. The sister states that the one teacher was so friendly that they couldn't help liking him, and when he began inviting them to church affairs, they accepted because he seemed to really want them there, and they didn't want to disappoint him.
"Finally," said the sister, "after calling for many months, he asked if he could offer a prayer in our home, and we didn't know how to refuse. So the first prayer ever offered in our home was by this home teacher.
"About this time our teenage son began to complain at being sent to my church while neither his father nor I was attending church ourselves. So we compromised by attending the Mormon Church and my church on alternate Sundays.
"Our home teachers had been calling on us for about two years when they asked if the missionaries might call. This time I agreed to hear the missionaries but failed to make any effort to listen or understand and refused to read any of the material that was given to me. After the fourth call, the missionaries handed me more pamphlets and suggested that I read fifty more pages in the Book of Mormon; then one of them said good-naturedly, 'Now you can get further behind.'
"Suddenly I was ashamed of my attitude and determined to read the entire Book of Mormon before his next visit. I carried out this promise, and when the missionaries returned I told them I wanted to be baptized." As a result of these efforts by the priesthood brethren, the family was unified and is now enjoying the true purpose of life in harmony with the principles and teachings of the gospel.
Certainly we do not lack for opportunities to help those who have turned away and become dormant. Nor do we need to lack courage in our pursuit as we listen to the words of the Lord:
"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
"For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward."
No obstacle can keep a faithful servant from his blessing as he brings light into the life of his brother or sister, for the blessing is this:
"And if it so be that you should labor all your days... and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!"
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Paul H. Dunn
Paul H. Dunn, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 12-15
I am grateful this morning, my brothers and sisters, both seen and unseen, for the message of our great President, for his challenge to us to return to the fundamentals. I thought, if only the world would heed his words and get down to the things that matter most.
It reminded me of a little experience I had recently in Vermont. I was attempting to find a shortcut to the little town of Rutland, and I took one of those exciting back-road routes and soon became hopelessly lost. I came to a fork in the road. I noticed a farmer standing in the field, so I wound down the window and I asked, "Say, fella, does it matter which road I take to Rutland?" He said, "It doesn't matter to me at all." I think sometimes the world has that problem.
In the upper part of New England we sometimes get snowbound, and once after a rather heavy storm I followed a snowplow into Saint Johnsbury. The town had been isolated some eight days. Again, I was lost. In seeking help I went into a little country store, and sitting there on the typical cracker barrel was another Vermonter. I asked, "Tell me, sir, what do you do all winter when you get snowbound?"
He said, "We just sit and think, mostly sit."
I think that might be a major problem in the world: we are sitting rather than thinking and acting.
I am grateful for the opportunity to greet you once again and to bring special greetings from America's birthplace, New England. It is wonderful to see the mountains of the West and the beauty of fall as it unfolds before us. I love this great country.
Fall also brings the crisp days and chilly nights that signal the start of the football season. Those of you who take an active interest in sports, and know of football's importance in turning boys into men, were saddened recently as I was in learning of the passing of that great football coach and builder of men, Vince Lombardi. Here was a man who came to a last-place team comprised of men who had forgotten what winning was-a team with no spirit, no confidence, and no respect -and in three short years he turned them into a team of world champions. But being a champion once didn't satisfy Vince Lombardi. He and his team went on to win again and again, game after game, title after title. The Green Bay packers soon became the winningest team in professional football. Here was a man who could be as mean as a lion, yet gentle as a lamb. A man who said God and family should come first. A man who taught that not only physical toughness is important, but spiritual and mental toughness are also essential to success, and a man who said to all those who have problems and sometimes get discouraged, that "winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is."
I submit to you that we as a people, member and nonmember alike, can learn some meaningful and timely lessons from the life of that great man.
One of the great attributes of the Church is that we too are building men. I have under my direction in New England some 175 of the finest young men and women anywhere in the world. I have great faith and confidence in them and the things they do. We appreciate you fine parents who sacrifice so that your sons and daughters can fulfill missions. You are doing them a great service, and you in turn are being blessed. In private interview and in testimony meetings, they often express love for you and for their families. You may rest assured they are very happy.
I might just say here parenthetically that one of the challenges of a mission president is to keep a physical balance in missionaries as well as the spiritual and mental. I saw two of my assistants on my return home, and I noticed they had taken off about thirty pounds which was needed. The Saints are good to them in the field. These same two assistants, in trying to help a little 97-pound weakling put on a little weight, on one occasion approached him and said, "Elder, it looks like you've been through a famine." And this sharp little elder came right back and said, "And you two look like you caused it."
Since the days of Joseph Smith, over seven hundred million dollars have been spent by parents to send their children on missions. One mother recently said to me, "I agree with you, Brother Dunn, that the accent is on the youth, but the stress is still on the parents."
Visit with Harvard professor
Sister Dunn and I recently visited with a Harvard professor and his wife who had had some contact with the Church and the missionaries. This learned man, holder of many degrees, and his charming wife had noted something special in these two young men who had borne their testimonies of the reality of God, the divinity of Christ, and of the restoration of the Church in these latter days. As we spoke, this professor said, "Mr. Dunn, what is it that gives these young men such a strong conviction? What is this missionary work really doing for people? What motivates them to give up two years of their lives? Why do you go to those who are already Christian? Wouldn't two years of college be of more value?"
To answer these questions, we turn, as do all missionaries, to the scriptures, both ancient and modern. We read, for example, in Isaiah and Ephesians of the restoration of all things. We turned to Mark and read the words of Jesus, "Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men", and "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature".
As the evening progressed, Sister Dunn and I were able to explain to this couple the very purpose and the fruits of missionary work. We told them that a mission helps a young man to find out who he really is. It helps him to set patterns, attitudes, and habits that will carry into his adult life. I just personally believe it is easier to build a boy than to mend a man. We told them that for our young people a mission is life in miniature; it's a journey, not a camp.
We answered their inquiry when we explained to them the visitation of the Father and the Son to the Prophet Joseph in 1820. Although we realize the great good that other churches are doing in the world, the Lord said, and I remind you: "... they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof."
A mission most of all provides the chance for people to accept the gospel and to take upon them the name of Christ through faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. The reason we go to those who are already of a Christian faith is because we believe that the was in Christianity still is. We believe that Paul on the road to Damascus is no different from Joseph Smith in the grove-now called sacred. God speaks today!
About knowledge: We read from Moses that "the glory of God is intelligence." This great educator was much impressed with the Mormon philosophy of education that includes the whole man. College and money are important, and I don't want to minimize them, but in making a living don't forget to make a life. The words of the Savior, filled with truth and wisdom, sounded again as we read, "... what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" A mission teaches that spirituality is important.
I related to this educator and his fine wife how acceptance of the gospel way of life can provide the opportunity for people to change attitudes, and thus their lives.
During the past year I have watched one of society's outcasts, an ex-convict, rise from the depths of a prison cell to become a responsible citizen, a worthy Latter-day Saint. This man's life was changed because two of our missionaries brought him a message of hope and of salvation. He had thought because of his past all was lost and his chance had passed. But these two young elders brought him the gospel and a new way of life.
Unfortunately there are some in this world who continue to ignore or invalidate the principle of true repentance and say, "Once a thief, always a thief," or "Leopards don't change their spots." Need I remind you who say such things that we don't work with leopards; we work with men, and men change every day.
Our missionaries knock on each door knowing and believing that a basic premise of this church is that when men and women are motivated by the proper spirit, they can and do change their lives.
Only a few short years ago President McKay stood at this very pulpit and said that the purpose of the gospel was to make bad men good and good men better. This same young man whose life was once tattered and scarred with sin sat in our living room just a few days ago and said, "Brother Dunn, I thank God every day for the elders who brought me the gospel and had the patience to teach me. I know the gospel is true for I have lived it; and although I'm not what I ought to be, and I'm not what I'm going to be, I am not what I was."
Such are the fruits of missionary work. Again the words of the Savior ring through the ages to the convert, to the missionaries, to the college professor, to you, and to me. It was Jesus who said that when we lose ourselves in the service of others, then, and only then, can we find ourselves and possess true joy and happiness. Gratitude is the memory of the heart, and if a missionary did no more than to help one convert like this catch the vision of the gospel, his two years would be well spent.
The Lord told us that if we labor all our days and bring save it be one soul to him, great shall be our joy with him in the kingdom of our Father. As the evening passed, Sister Dunn and I gave this couple from Cambridge a brief history of the missionary system of the Church. We told them of the day when Parley P. Pratt stood in a river for six hours, baptizing people one after the other. We told them how Wilford Woodruff converted 1800 people in eight months. We reviewed the proselyting program of the Church from Samuel Smith in 1831 up to 1970, and we noted that close to one thousand of their New England neighbors would join the Church this year.
The visit ended. We closed with our personal testimony and extended an invitation to this couple to come join with us. What a spiritual thrill to see distinguished, capable, academic giants humble themselves before the Master and accept his simple gospel teachings. Yes, missionary work is a calling in which one may find many rewards, for true joy comes in giving and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The first prophet of this dispensation, Joseph Smith, who lived and died a missionary, gave us his summary of the importance of this work when he penned the following to John Wentworth: "Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, and in Germany, Palestine, New Holland, Australia, the East Indies, and other places, the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done." To this I testify as I bear my solemn witness to the work, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Eldred G. Smith
Eldred G. Smith, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 15-18
If you want to get the most out of this life-or as a result of this life-you need to know first the purpose for which this earth was created and why we are here.
The Lord revealed to Abraham, in vision, the council of the Gods contemplating the creation of this earth, and God said:
"We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;
"And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
"And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever."
This is a concise statement of the primary purpose for this earth.
To "prove them herewith": That means to test us, to see if we will do all things whatsoever the Lord our God shall command us.
No wonder the law of obedience is called the first law of heaven. In 1 Samuel 15:22, we read, obedience is better than sacrifice. All the blessings and benefits of sacrifice come as a result of obedience.
The first law taught to Adam and Eve was the law of obedience. After they were driven from the Garden of Eden, Adam built an altar and offered sacrifice. An angel of the Lord appeared to him and asked why he was offering sacrifice, and he answered, "I know not, save the Lord commanded me."
Then the angel taught him why, saying that "this thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth."
Often commandments are given without our knowing why; then the reasons come later.
We are too often afraid of what is called blind obedience, but obedience to God is always right-blind or otherwise. To Abraham the Lord said:
"And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice."
In Deuteronomy the Lord said:
"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
"A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God...
"And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments."
Paul declared to the Hebrews, speaking of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered."
If it was necessary for Jesus, the Son of God, to learn obedience, then how much more is it necessary for us?
The Prophet Joseph Smith has said:
"There is a law, 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."
We have several laws given to us today that are opportunities for us to express in outward evidences that we desire to be obedient to the laws of God. To name a few:
We have tithes and offerings and the Sabbath day. I don't know why we should need legislation to force us to keep the Sabbath day holy.
Also, we are commanded to attend sacrament meetings, and there are other outward evidences.
The Lord has also said:
"And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments."
This means all the commandments, including tithes and offerings, Sabbath day, sacrament meetings, etc. Then he adds the promise of the blessings of health, then adds this promise: "And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures."
What is a more "hidden treasure" than a testimony of the divinity of the gospel of Jesus Christ? This comes as a result of obedience to the laws of God, not just because we have good health. I have heard many converts tell how they learned to live the Word of Wisdom to join the Church. Good health is not a requirement to join the Church. Obedience is. Each one has said if that's what the Lord wanted, he would do it.
The next step is natural: If you want to do what the Lord wants, then you must pray to him for help. It is not easy to change these habits; one needs the help of the Lord. After praying for help, it becomes much easier.
Two things naturally follow: One loses the taste or desire for the tobacco, or coffee or other habits. Also, he gets a testimony of the divinity of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
A classic and typical example is found in the current September issue of The Instructor. Marion Proctor and his wife, as investigators, had just been shocked with the law of the tithe and the Word of Wisdom.
"... I hope you can appreciate what a shock this was, especially to a Scotsman. At first we said, 'No, we can't pay ten percent of our income.' The elders then promised us that we would be blessed by the Lord if we would do so. I thought this over for a couple of minutes, and told them we would pay tithing.
"My wife slept well that night, but I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned, thinking about my telling the missionaries I couldn't stop smoking right there and then, but would have to wait until the next night. I got up and went into the living room and knelt in prayer, and I talked to my Father in heaven. I asked him to give me help, to give me strength, to take away my craving for cigarettes, so that I could be baptized and enter His kingdom. I had tried to give up smoking on several previous occasions-even to the point of sending away for a smoker's cure-but had not been successful. As I knelt in prayer that night, however, I felt with all my heart that my Father in heaven would help me. I heard a voice say to me, 'Do not wait until tomorrow, but give up the smoking habit now. I will help you in every way, and you will be successful in giving up tobacco.' I felt joy and peace in my heart as I arose from my knees.
"The next morning before I went to work, I looked at my tobacco and told myself I would leave it there and not smoke. When I came home I threw it in the fire. And since that time I have not had any desire to use tobacco."
Then his wife tells a similar story of her experiences. I have heard hundreds of similar stories.
I'll never forget the two elderly sisters from down in the southern states-both widows. The older sister told me that when the missionaries told them of the Word of Wisdom, they gave it some serious thought. She asked some of her friends what they thought about her quitting. She had used tobacco all her life. They told her it was foolish at her age-in the mid-80s. She then asked her doctor. He warned her that she couldn't stand the shock-it might even be the end of her.
Then she said she started to reason: "I am over 80-I don't know how much longer I can live anyway. I need to prepare to meet my Maker. If I try, and I die in the attempt, I can say to my Maker, 'I was trying to do what I thought you wanted me to do.'"
Any way she looked at it she was doing what she thought "He" would want her to do, literally putting her life in the balance.
She quit and waited for something to happen-which didn't. Instead of its hurting her, she noticed that she was feeling better all the time.
She told her sister what had happened to her, and her sister said, "If you can do it, I can. You wait for me and we'll both join this church."
A year later they came to my office and told me their story. Each had been to the temple and been sealed to her husband.
Though they were in their upper 80s, they had not only gained the blessings of health promised, but had gained the blessings of eternal sealings for ever find ever.
Do you think the blessings for living the Word of Wisdom are just health blessings? If you keep the Word of Wisdom you will be obedient to all the laws, including tithing, keeping the Sabbath day holy, and loving your fellowmen. The Savior has said: "You shall have glory added upon your head for ever and ever."
When Jesus was asked by the lawyer, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
"This is the first and great commandment.
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
What a different world this would be, if we all heeded this counsel.
I like this statement by President George Albert Smith. He said:
"... When I was a child I recognized, or thought I did, that the commandments of the Lord were His laws and regulations for my guidance. I thought I recognized in the disobedience to those laws that punishment would follow, and as a child, I presume I may have felt that the Lord had so arranged affairs and so ordained matters in this life that I must obey certain laws or swift retribution would follow. But as I grew older I have learned the lesson from another viewpoint, and now to me the laws of the Lord, so called, the counsels contained in the Holy Scriptures, the revelations of the Lord to us in this day and age of the world, are but the sweet music of the voice of our Father in heaven, in His mercy to us. They are but the advice and counsel of a loving parent, who is more concerned in our welfare than earthly parents can be, and consequently that which at one time seemed to bear the harsh name of law to me is now the loving and tender advice of an all-wise heavenly Father."
The Savior said, on another occasion, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." May we all, with all our efforts, be obedient to his commandments, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Henry D. Taylor
Henry D. Taylor, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 18-20
We are privileged to live in a beautiful world. As we admire its majesties and beauties, with man as its final and crowning creation, we are filled with wonderment and awe. Surely these developments did not come about by mere chance, but must be the result of the handiwork of a divine and inspired architect and creator.
An illustrious biologist, after many years of study and meditation, concluded that "the probability of life originating from accident is comparable to the probability of the Unabridged Dictionary resulting from an explosion in a printing office."
We are torn on every hand by man-made intellectual theories and doctrines. And among us we have "doubting Thomases," who lack faith and who do not recognize a Heavenly Being as the creator of all these wonders. They cry out, "There is no God," or "God is dead."
Faithful Latter-day Saints heartily disagree with these extreme, false, untrue statements. We declare to the world that God is not dead, but rather that he is "the beginning and the end, the same which looked upon the wide expanse of eternity, and all the seraphic hosts of heaven, before the world was made." We bear solemn witness that God does live and that the first principle of the gospel is to have faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and in God, our Heavenly Father. We further declare to the world and bear witness that we are the spiritual offspring of heavenly parents.
Our true genesis, we declare, is that we did not come here by chance or by a whim of nature, but we came here by divine right, which we earned because of our faithfulness in a previous estate. Our eternal spirits are clothed in mortal bodies made in the image of our Father. We do not remember what happened in that former estate, as a veil has been drawn that obscures our memory. We don't have all the answers here.
The Lord has made it plain that we must be prepared to grope and see as "through a glass darkly," but we have been given the assurance that one bright day we shall see clearly and our vision will be undimmed.
In the meantime we must be content to accept many things on faith. Some have referred to this as blind faith or blind obedience. But I have never been persuaded that faith or obedience was blind when the request to perform some duty or task came from one in whom I had complete confidence and trust. Rather than term it blind obedience, I prefer to call it trusting or implicit faith.
I like the beautiful lesson taught and the impressive example set by our first parent, Father Adam. He was commanded by the Lord to offer the firstlings of his flocks as a sacrifice. He did not know the reason for the request, but without hesitation he was obedient to the commandment: "And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord?" Adam responded with this magnificent, trusting reply: "I know not, save the Lord commanded me." To Adam it was not a matter of blind obedience, but rather it displayed his complete and unwavering confidence and faith in the word and instruction from the Lord.
During our lifetime there will undoubtedly come times when we may be asked by our Church leaders to carry out an assignment or perform some duty. We may not be aware of the reason for the request at the time nor after. But I am confident that if we have faith in our leaders and render obedience to them, the Lord will bless and reward us for our faithfulness.
The Lord has endowed some individuals with a gift and capacity for possessing and exercising great powers of faith. Such a man was Henry A. Dixon. Although married and with a family of many children, when called by the First Presidency to fill a mission to Great Britain, he readily accepted the call without hesitation. With three missionary traveling companions, he embarked from St. John Island at Newfoundland on the steamship Arizona.
En route a furious storm arose. As the missionaries were preparing to have their evening prayers prior to retiring, they felt a shocking jolt that caused the entire ship to quiver. As they rushed to the deck they discovered that the ship, traveling at full speed, had rammed a gigantic iceberg. A huge, gaping hole had been torn in the prow of the vessel, which extended even below the water line. The captain advised that only in a calm sea could he and the crew bring the ship to the nearest port, which was some 250 miles away.
The wind and the storm continued unabated. Many hours later and unable to sleep, Elder Dixon arose, dressed, and walked to the deck. Standing there alone in the dark, with deep humility and great faith, by the power of the Holy Priesthood, he rebuked the waves and commanded them to be still.
Thirty-six hours later the ship was able to return and dock at Port St. John. In accordance with Elder Dixon's promise, not a single life had been lost.
When the ship's owner, a Mr. Guion, learned of the accident, and knowing that Mormon missionaries were aboard, he was quoted as saying: "There is nothing to worry about. My line has transported Mormon missionaries for forty years and has never lost a boat with Mormon missionaries aboard!"
Not only was faith a powerful force in this instance, but it is also a strong and motivating factor in the lives of numerous individuals, bringing to them comfort and peace of mind.
During the winter of 1834-1835 a theological school was established in Kirtland. It was the custom at the school to call upon a certain member to speak for the edification of the others. Heber C. Kimball, on one occasion, was invited to address them on the subject of faith. He began by relating an incident that had occurred but recently in his own family. "My wife, one day," commenced Brother Kimball, "when going out on a visit, gave our daughter Helen Mar charge not to touch the dishes," as they were very scarce, expensive, and hard to replace. She advised her that if she broke any during her absence, she would punish her when she returned. "While my wife was absent," continued Brother Kimball, "my daughter broke a number of the dishes by letting the table leaf fall...."
The little girl was greatly frightened and "went out under an apple tree and prayed that her mother's heart might be softened, that when she returned she would not spank her. Her mother was very punctual," said Brother Kimball, "when she made a promise to her children, to fulfill it, and when she returned, she undertook, as a duty, to carry this promise into effect. She retired with into her room, but found herself powerless to chastise her; her heart was so softened that it was impossible for her to raise her hand against the child. Afterwards, Helen told her mother she had prayed to the Lord that she might not whip her."
Brother Heber paused in his simple narrative. Tears glistened in the eyes of his listeners; the Prophet Joseph, who was a warm and tender-hearted man, was also weeping. He told the brethren that that was the kind of faith they needed: "the faith of a little child, going in humility to its Parents, and asking for the desire of its heart." He complimented Brother Kimball and said "the anecdote was well-timed."
At the general conference held last April, at a solemn assembly here in the Tabernacle, the names of a new First Presidency were presented and sustained. These brethren, whom the Lord has chosen and designated to be the three presiding high priests, did not seek the high and holy callings that came to them; but throughout their lives they lived and worked so that when the positions sought them, they were prepared to humbly accept those callings. I have faith in them and earnestly pray that they may be blessed, magnified, and sustained, and that we as members of the Church may have the faith and good judgment to follow their inspired leadership, as we go forward in this, the Lord's work; for this I pray, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
Elder Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 21-25
As a people, we have three great loyalties: loyalty to God, loyalty to family, loyalty to country.
I come to you today with a plea to strengthen our families.
It has been truly stated that "salvation is a family affair... and that the family unit is the most important organization in time or in eternity."
The Church was created in large measure to help the family, and long after the Church has performed its mission, the celestial patriarchal order will still be functioning. This is why President Joseph F. Smith said: "To be a successful father or a successful mother is greater than to be a successful general or a successful statesman...," and President McKay added: "When one puts business or pleasure above his home, he, that moment, starts on the downgrade to soul weakness."
And this is why President Harold B. Lee said only yesterday, "The Church must do more to help the home carry out its divine mission."
President Joseph Fielding Smith has stated that never "in the history of the Church have there been so many temptations, so many pitfalls, so many dangers, to lure away the members of the Church from the path of duty and from righteousness as we find today." And he has also said: "This world is not growing better... wickedness is increasing."
Never has the devil been so well organized, and never in our day has he had so many powerful emissaries working for him. We must do everything in our power to strengthen and safeguard the home and family.
The adversary knows "that the home is the first and most effective place for children to learn the lessons of life: truth, honor, virtue, self-control; the value of education, honest work, and the purpose and privilege of life. Nothing can take the place of home in rearing and teaching children, and no other success can compensate for failure in the home."
And so today, the undermining of the home and family is on the increase, with the devil anxiously working to displace the father as the head of the home and create rebellion among the children. The Book of Mormon describes this condition when it states, "And my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them." And then these words follow-and consider these words seriously when you think of those political leaders who are promoting birth control and abortion: "O my people, they who lead thee cause thee to err and destroy the way of thy paths." And let me warn the sisters in all seriousness that you who submit yourselves to an abortion or to an operation that precludes you from safely having additional healthy children are jeopardizing your exaltation and your future membership in the kingdom of God.
Parents are directly responsible for the righteous rearing of their children, and this responsibility cannot be safely delegated to relatives, friends, neighbors, the school, the church, or the state.
"I appeal to you parents, take nothing for granted about your children," said President J. Reuben Clark, Jr. "The great bulk of them, of course, are good, but some of us do not know when they begin to go away from the path of truth and righteousness. Be watchful every day and hour. Never relax your care, your solicitude. Rule kindly in the spirit of the Gospel and the spirit of the priesthood, but rule, if you wish your children to follow the right path." Permissive parents are part of the problem.
As a watchman on the tower, I feel to warn you that one of the chief means of misleading our youth and destroying the family unit is our educational institutions. President Joseph F. Smith referred to false educational ideas as one of the three threatening dangers among our Church members. There is more than one reason why the Church is advising our youth to attend colleges close to their homes where institutes of religion are available. It gives the parents the opportunity to stay close to their children; and if they have become alert and informed as President McKay admonished us last year, these parents can help expose some of the deceptions of men like Sigmund Freud, Charles Darwin, John Dewey, Karl Marx, John Keynes, and others.
Today there are much worse things that can happen to a child than not getting a full college education. In fact, some of the worst things have happened to our children while attending colleges led by administrators who wink at subversion and amorality.
Said Karl G. Maeser, "I would rather have my child exposed to smallpox, typhus fever, cholera, or other malignant and deadly diseases than to the degrading influence of a corrupt teacher. It is infinitely better to take chances with an ignorant, but pure-minded teacher than with the greatest philosopher who is impure."
Vocational education, correspondence courses, establishment in a family business are being considered for their children by an increasing number of parents.
The tenth plank in Karl Marx's Manifesto for destroying our kind of civilization advocated the establishment of "free education for all children in public schools." There were several reasons why Marx wanted government to run the schools. Dr. A. A. Hodge pointed out one of them when he said, "It is capable of exact demonstration that if every party in the State has the right of excluding from public schools whatever he does not believe to be true, then he that believes most must give way to him that believes least, and then he that believes least must give way to him that believes absolutely nothing, no matter in how small a minority the atheists or agnostics may be. It is self-evident that on this scheme, if it is consistently and persistently carried out in all parts of the country, the United States system of national popular education will be the most efficient and widespread instrument for the propagation of atheism which the world has ever seen."
After the tragic prayer decision was made by the Court, President David O. McKay stated, "The Supreme Court of the United States severs the connecting cord between the public schools of the United States and the source of divine intelligence, the Creator, himself."
Does that make any difference to you? Can't you see why the demand of conscientious parents is increasing the number of private Christian and Americanist oriented schools?
Today, Brigham Young University is the largest private school in the United States. Parents from far and near are looking to Brigham Young University as never before.
Now, whether your child attends this type of school or not, it is important that you stay close to your children, daily review, if possible, what they have learned in school, and go over their textbooks.
President Joseph Fielding Smith has stated that in public schools you cannot get a textbook, anywhere that he knows of, on the "ologies" that doesn't contain nonsense.
I know one noble father who reviews with his children regularly what they have been taught; and if they have been taught any falsehoods, then the children and the father together research out the truth. If your children are required to put down on exams the falsehoods that have been taught, then perhaps they can follow President Joseph Fielding Smith's counsel of prefacing their answer with the words "teacher says," or they might say "you taught" or "the textbook states."
If your children are taught untruths on evolution in the public schools or even in our Church schools, provide them with a copy of President Joseph Fielding Smith's excellent rebuttal in his book Man, His Origin and Destiny.
Recently some parents paid for space in a newspaper to run an open letter to the school principal of their son. The letter in part stated:
"You are hereby notified that our son,........................, is not allowed by his undersigned parents to participate in, or be subject to instruction in, any training or education in sex, human biological development, attitude development, self-understanding, personal and family life, or group therapy, or sensitivity training, or self-criticism, or any combination or degree thereof, without the consent of the undersigned by express written permission...
"We intend to retain and exercise our parental rights to guide our child in the areas of morality and sexual behavior without any interference or contradiction imposed by school personnel.
" has been taught to recognize the format of sensitivity training, group therapy, self-criticism, etc., as it is being broadly applied, lowering the standards of morality and replacing American individual responsibility with the dependency on, and conformity to, the 'herd consensus' concept of collectivism.
"He has been instructed to promptly remove himself from any class in which he is exposed to the aforementioned indoctrination and to report to us any such disregard of this letter."
The Lord knew that in the last days Satan would try to destroy the family unit. He knew that by court edict, pornography would be allowed to prosper.
How grateful we should be that God inspired his prophet over half a century ago to institute the weekly home evening program. This is the vanguard for getting parents to assume the responsibility of instructing their children. An increasing number of faithful Saints are holding more than one home evening a week and are adding to or deleting from the home evening manual as the Spirit dictates.
Designed to strengthen and safeguard the family, the Church home evening program is to be set apart for fathers and mothers to gather their sons and daughters around them in the home. Prayer is offered, hymns and other songs are sung, scripture is read, family topics are discussed, talent is displayed, principles of the gospel are taught, and often games are played and homemade refreshments served.
Now here are the promised blessings for those who will hold a weekly home evening:
"If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them."
Now what of the entertainment that is available to our young people today? Are you being undermined right in your home through your TV, radio, slick magazines, rock records? Much of the rock music is purposely designed to push immorality, narcotics, revolution, atheism, and nihilism, through language that often has a double meaning and with which many parents are not familiar.
Parents who are informed can warn their children of the demoralizing, loud, raucous beat of rock music, which deadens the senses and dulls the sensibilities-the jungle rhythm which inflames the savagery within.
Said President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.:
"I would have you reflect for a moment upon the fact that a tremendous amount of the modern art, of the modern literature and music, and the drama that we have today is utterly demoralizing-utterly... Your music-well, I do not know how far above the tom-tom of the jungle it is, but it is not too far...
"These things you must watch. They all have their effects on the children. Make your homelife as near heaven-like as you can."
Youth leaders, are you holding aloft our standards or have you compromised them for the lowest common denominator in order to appease the deceived or vile within the Church? Are the dances and music in your cultural halls virtuous, lovely, praiseworthy, and of good report, or do they represent a modern Sodom with short skirts, loud beat, strobe lights, and darkness?
Will our youth leaders accept the standards set for young John Wesley by his mother? Hear her sound counsel:
"Would you judge of the lawfulness or unlawfulness of pleasure? Take this rule: Now note whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, takes off your relish for spiritual things, whatever increases the authority of the body over the mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may seem in itself."
Have we, as Moroni warned, "polluted the holy church of God?" The auxiliaries of the Church are to be a help, not a hindrance, to parents and the priesthood as they strive to lead their families back to God. Do any of us wear or display the broken cross, anti-Christ sign, that is the adversary's symbol of the so-called "peace movement"?
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge," lamented Hosea. Today, because some parents have refused to become informed and then stand up and inform their children, they are witnessing the gradual physical and spiritual destruction of their posterity. If we would become like God, knowing good and evil, then we had best find out what is undermining us, how to avoid it, and what we can do about it.
It is time that the hearts of us fathers be turned to our children and the hearts of the children be turned to us fathers, or we shall both be cursed. The seeds of divorce are often sown and the blessings of children delayed by wives working outside the home. Working mothers should remember that their children usually need more of mother than of money.
As conditions in the world get progressively worse, it is crucial that the family draw closer together in righteousness and that family solidarity be established. As one has said, "There are too many pulls away from the home today. We should seriously consider whether or not too many activities and other interests take too much time and attention from our families, from our children, from those whom the Lord God gave us to love, to nourish, to teach, and to help through life."
The stick-together families are happier by far Than the brothers and the sisters who take separate highways are. The gladdest people living are the wholesome folks who make A circle at the fireside that no power on earth can break. And the finest of conventions ever held beneath the sun Are the little family gatherings when the busy day is done. There are rich folk, there are poor folk, who imagine they are wise. And they're very quick to shatter all the little family ties. Each goes searching after pleasure in his own selected way. Each with strangers likes to wander, and with strangers likes to play. But it's bitterness they harvest, and it's empty joy they find, For the children that are wisest are the stick-together kind. There are some who seem to fancy that for gladness they must roam, That for smiles that are the brightest they must wander far from home. That the strange friend is the true friend, and they travel far astray And they waste their lives in striving for a joy that's far away, But the gladdest sort of people, when the busy day is done, Are the brothers and the sisters, who together share their fun. It's the stick-together family that wins the joys of earth, That hears the sweetest music and that finds the finest mirth; It's the old home roof that shelters all the charm that life can give; There you find the gladdest playground, there the happiest spot to live. And, O weary, wandering brother, if contentment you would win, Come you back unto the fireside and be comrade with your kin. Strengthening the family And so let's strengthen the family. Family and individual prayer, morning and evening, can invite the blessings of the Lord on your household. Mealtime provides a wonderful time to review the activities of the day and to not only feed the body, but to feed the spirit as well, with members of the family taking turns reading the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon. Nighttime is a great time for the busy father to go to each child's bedside, to talk with him, answer his questions, and tell him how much he is loved. In such homes there is no "generation gap." This deceptive phrase is another tool of the devil to weaken the home and family. Children who honor their parents and parents who love their children can make a home a haven of safety and a little bit of heaven. Does this poem describe your family gatherings? We are all here: Father, mother, Sister, brother, All who hold each other dear. Each chair is filled, we are all at home. Tonight, let no cold stranger come; It must be often thus around Our old familiar hearth we're found. Bless, then, the meeting and the spot, For once be every care forgot; Let gentle peace assert her power, And kind affection rule the hour. We're all-all here. God bless us to strengthen our families by avoiding the crafty designs of the adversary and following the noble ways of the Lord, so that in due time we can report to our Heavenly Father in his celestial home that we are all there, father, mother, sister, brother, all who hold each other dear. Each chair is filled, we are all back home. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
And so let's strengthen the family. Family and individual prayer, morning and evening, can invite the blessings of the Lord on your household. Mealtime provides a wonderful time to review the activities of the day and to not only feed the body, but to feed the spirit as well, with members of the family taking turns reading the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon. Nighttime is a great time for the busy father to go to each child's bedside, to talk with him, answer his questions, and tell him how much he is loved.
In such homes there is no "generation gap." This deceptive phrase is another tool of the devil to weaken the home and family. Children who honor their parents and parents who love their children can make a home a haven of safety and a little bit of heaven.
Does this poem describe your family gatherings?
We are all here: Father, mother, Sister, brother, All who hold each other dear. Each chair is filled, we are all at home. Tonight, let no cold stranger come; It must be often thus around Our old familiar hearth we're found. Bless, then, the meeting and the spot, For once be every care forgot; Let gentle peace assert her power, And kind affection rule the hour. We're all-all here.
God bless us to strengthen our families by avoiding the crafty designs of the adversary and following the noble ways of the Lord, so that in due time we can report to our Heavenly Father in his celestial home that we are all there, father, mother, sister, brother, all who hold each other dear. Each chair is filled, we are all back home.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion G. Romney
Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 27-30
Brethren and sisters: I have taken for my theme this afternoon, "The Keystone of Our Religion."
The Prophet Joseph Smith wrote in his diary for November 28, 1841:
"I spent the day in the council with the Twelve Apostles at the house of President Young, conversing with them upon a variety of subjects... I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book."
The authenticity of the Book of Mormon and the restoration of the gospel rest upon the same two fundamentals: first, the reality of modern revelation, and second, the fact that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. These two verities are inseparably connected in their relationship to the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel. To accept one of them is to accept the other.
When Joseph Smith retired to bed on the night of September 21, 1823, he had no thought about the Book of Mormon. The matter that concerned him at that moment was his standing with the Lord. This, in prayer and supplication, he sought to determine. While praying, he was visited by Moroni, a personage sent from the presence of God, who told him that "there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the sources from whence they sprang. He also said that the fullness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants; also that there were two stones in silver bows... deposited with the plates... and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book."
In this interview, the Prophet received his first concept of the Book of Mormon. From that night until the book was published, Joseph was constantly guided from heaven in obtaining, caring for, and translating the sacred record. One of the most remarkable things concerning the Book of Mormon is the frequency and the finality with which the Lord himself testified to its truth and divinity.
Confirming his own participation in bringing forth the Book of Mormon, the Lord, in August 1830, said to the Prophet: "I... sent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel."
In the preface to the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord said that he called upon "Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments" that he might "have power to translate through the mercy of God, by the power of God, the Book of Mormon." The Lord also told the Three Witnesses that the Prophet had "translated the book," and then he added, "as your Lord and your God liveth it is true."
As the Prophet proceeded with the translation, he learned many great and marvelous truths. He learned that the concept of the Book of Mormon originated in the mind of the Lord Jesus himself-that both the source material for the record and the engravings that he was translating were prepared by righteous men directed by God.
He learned that, under the guidance of the Lord, the gathering of source material for the book began as early as 2200 B.C., when the Lord commanded the brother of Jared "to go down out of the mount from the presence of the Lord, and write the things which he had seen." He learned that the record thus begun was continued by commandment of the Lord until the end of the Jaredite era; that the complete Jaredite record miraculously came into the hands of Moroni, who, about A.D. 400, abridged it into the short record we know as the book of Ether. He learned that the things in this short abridgment were written by Moroni upon the plates he, Joseph, was translating, because, according to Moroni's own words, "the Lord hath commanded me to write them"; and Moroni continues: "... I have written upon these plates the very things which the brother of Jared saw" and the Lord "commanded me that I should seal them up; and he also hath commanded that I should seal up the interpretation thereof; wherefore I have sealed up the interpreters, according to the commandment of the Lord."
Similar direction was given concerning the Nephite records:
"The Lord commanded me, wherefore I did make plates of ore that I might engraven upon them the record of my people...
"And this have I done, and commanded my people what they should do after I was gone."
Thus, pursuant to divine command and direction, the comprehensive record on the large plates of Nephi, from which Mormon made his abridgment, was kept for nearly a thousand years.
Jesus himself edited part of that record. During his post-resurrection ministry among the Nephites, he instructed them to write the things which he had taught them. He also reminded them that they had not made record of the prophecy of his servant Samuel the Lamanite, to the effect that at the time of his resurrection "many saints" should arise from the dead. When he drew this to their attention, his disciples remembered the prophecies and their fulfillment.
From the title page of the Book of Mormon, the Prophet learned that one of the two purposes of the book was "the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ".
For the accomplishment of this purpose, the book is from beginning to end a witness for Christ. Its first chapter contains an account of a vision in which Lehi beheld Jesus "descending out of the midst of heaven" in luster above the noonday sun. Its last chapter concludes with Moroni's great exhortation to come unto Christ and be perfected in him, with this assurance: "... and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be... sanctified."
Numerous and great are the stirring testimonies that illuminate the five hundred pages between these two chapters.
I bear you my witness that I have obtained for myself a personal knowledge that the Book of Mormon is all the Prophet Joseph said it is; that from it radiates the spirit of prophecy and revelation; that it teaches in plain simplicity the great doctrines of salvation and the principles of righteous conduct calculated to bring men to Christ; that familiarity with its spirit and obedience to its teachings will move every contrite soul to fervently pray with David, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."
One's soul is lifted above the sordid things of this world and soars in the realm of the divine, as in spirit he stands with the brother of Jared on Mount Shelem in the presence of the premortal Redeemer and hears him say: "Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ... In me shall all mankind have light, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name...
"... Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image.
"Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh."
One's soul is likewise lifted as in spirit he mingles with the multitude "round about the temple... in the land of Bountiful," who, as Mormon said, "were marveling and wondering one with another, and were showing one to another the great and marvelous change which had taken place.
"And... also conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the sign had been given concerning his death.
"And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven... and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.
"... and it said unto them:
"Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name-hear ye him.
"... and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.
"And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:
"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.
"And behold, I am the light and the life of the world."
No one can read Alma's resumé of the experiences of his father with the saints who joined the church at the waters of Mormon; of the Lord's mercy and long-suffering in bringing them out of their spiritual and temporal captivity; of how by the power of the Holy Spirit, they were awakened from their deep sleep of death to experience a mighty change wrought in their hearts-no one, I say, can contemplate this marvelous transformation without yearning to have a like change wrought in his own heart.
And no one can answer for himself these questions, which Alma put to his brethren:
"... have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?
" Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?
"I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?
" Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time... that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ?"
I say, no one with the spirit of the Book of Mormon upon him can honestly answer to himself these soul-searching questions without resolving to so live that he can answer them in the affirmative on that great day to which each of us shall come.
I leave my humble testimony that the Prophet knew whereof he spoke and uttered divine truth, when he declared:
"I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than any other book."
As do all the works of God, the Book of Mormon bears within itself the evidence of its own authenticity.
I urge you, my brethren and sisters and friends, all of you who hear my voice, to become familiar with the teachings and spirit of the Book of Mormon-"the keystone of our religion." Its teachings and its spirit will lead us to Christ and eternal life. To this I bear solemn witness, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Joseph Anderson
Joseph Anderson, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 30-32
I stand here in a great presence, surrounded by the First Presidency and the other General Authorities of the Church. Sitting before me are those who are appointed to administer the affairs of the Church in the stakes, missions, temples, wards, priesthood, and other organizations of the Church. In addition are faithful, devoted Latter-day Saints and other good people who are in this great assembly and those listening in on the air. It is a weighty responsibility and a humbling experience. I am dependent upon the Lord, in whose presence I also stand, as his Spirit is most certainly here. I depend also upon your faith and prayers.
Someone has said that memory is the library of the mind and recollection is the librarian. There are stored in that library things we have read and information that has come to us in many other ways. Sometimes when we call upon the librarian for help, he is slow to bring to us the things we would like to have. And sometimes he brings to us material that would better be forgotten.
As I stand before you today, the librarian brings from the library of the mind some wonderful, impressive, and enduring experiences. I recall many years of close and intimate acquaintance and association with great men of the past and present. Twenty-three years of unforgettable experience with President Heber J. Grant, one of the sweetest associations that man could have, and with that memory comes the recollection of a wonderful association with his counselors during those years.
From the memory of the past comes to mind an association with President George Albert Smith and his counselors. President David O. McKay completed in January of this year an administration of nearly 19 years, and the association with him and the counselors he has had during that period has been a glorious experience and privilege. I have known their hearts and their innermost desires; they have been and are good and righteous men.
While not knowing them personally, I have become acquainted, through a perusal of the records they have left, with the Presidents of the Church and their counselors and brethren of the Twelve who have preceded those whom I have named; and I bear testimony that they too were inspired men, prophets of God, whose actions and teachings were in harmony with the lives of those with whom I have had personal acquaintance over the years.
And now we are blessed with the administration of President Joseph Fielding Smith and his counselors, Presidents Harold B. Lee and Nathan Eldon Tanner. I testify to you that they too are men whom the Lord loves, men called of God to preside over his church here upon the earth, prophets, seers, and revelators; and that great strides are being made in the work of proclaiming the gospel to the nations of the world and carrying out the Lord's program for his church in these the latter days.
In addition, I think of the brethren of the Twelve Apostles whom I have known intimately over these many years, many of whom have passed to the great beyond, and those who are with us today. I think too of all the other General Authorities of the Church. It has been a unique experience, a beloved experience, one that I truly treasure more than my weak words can express. I have loved them all, each and every one, and I have gained great benefit, blessing, and inspiration from each.
One of the sweetest and most profitable experiences in life is the association with great and good people. I can testify to you in all sincerity and soberness that these men are and have been men of God, God's noblemen, men raised up in this, the last dispensation, the dispensation of the fulness of times, to carry out the Lord's mandate as set forth in the first section of the Doctrine and Covenants, which is a marvelous revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith and "constitutes the Lord's Preface to the doctrines, covenants, and commandments given in this dispensation":
"Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments;
"And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets-
"The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh-
"But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world;
"That faith also might increase in the earth;
"That mine everlasting covenant might be established;
"That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.
"For I am no respecter of persons, and will that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion.
"And also the Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst, and shall come down in judgment upon Idumea, or the world."
I thank the Lord for faith-faith in our Heavenly Father and in his Son Jesus Christ. I thank him for inspired leadership.
I thank the Lord for faith in and knowledge of the truth of the restored gospel. As the Prophet Joseph Smith said: "I can taste the principles of eternal life, and so can you. They are given to me by the revelation of Jesus Christ... You say that honey is sweet, and so do I. I can taste the spirit of eternal life. I know it is good."
I am enjoying visiting the members of the Church and their leaders in the stakes of the Church. To me there is no experience sweeter than that which comes from mingling with good people, faithful and devoted people, who love the Lord and whose hearts have been and are touched with the fire of the Holy Ghost, whose souls are filled with gratitude for the knowledge and understanding that have come to them through the operation of the Holy Spirit, which has borne witness to them that this is the truth, revealed from heaven in answer to sincere and earnest prayer. As stated by President Brigham Young on one occasion, in answer to the question as to what is the difference between our church and other churches, "We have the truth, the Gospel includes all truth, wherever found, in all the works of God and man, visible or invisible to the naked eye."
I want to express appreciation for my wife, my family, and my loved ones, who have blessed me by their love and confidence. As the song says, "No man is an island." We are all, in part at least, the product of our environment, the result of the influence upon us by our friends and associates, and of course the inheritance we obtained from our progenitors.
I am thankful for the library of the mind and the rich treasures that are stored therein, the treasured memory of association with prophets called of the Lord in this dispensation, and the words of eternal life that are inspiring and cause me to rejoice more and more each day.
I am highly honored and yet greatly subdued in my feelings that I should be considered worthy of the love and confidence of the Lord and of his living prophets to receive the call that has come to me to serve as one of the chosen servants of the Lord. I am humbled by my inadequacy, and my constant prayer is and will be that the Lord will qualify me to do my part in assisting in the rolling forth of this great work in which we are engaged. I love the Lord, I love the gospel, and I love the Brethren.
I bear witness that God lives; that Jesus is his Beloved Son, the Redeemer and Savior of the world; that as proclaimed by Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify it from all unrighteousness; that through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him.
I testify that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God raised up in this dispensation, the dispensation of the fulness of times, to lay the foundation for this great work upon the earth preparatory to the coming of the Son of Man, our Lord and Savior, to reign upon the earth in peace and righteousness; and that these men of whom I have spoken have been called of God to represent our Savior in building up the Church and kingdom of God upon the earth. Of these things I testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Theodore M. Burton
Theodore M. Burton, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 33-36
My brethren, sisters, friends: the focal point of all our activity in this church centers around Jesus Christ. The Church bears his name. All ordinance work done in the Church is done in the name of Jesus Christ by those who bear the priesthood, i.e., who hold this power of Jesus Christ.
This devout worship of Jesus Christ is in accord with the instruction given in the Book of Mormon, where King Benjamin taught his people: "And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh."
The Book of Mormon then explains why this scripture was written: "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."
It is for this reason that the Book of Mormon is known as a second witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
"... we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."
I turn then to Jesus Christ for my subject for this sermon. Jesus taught the following doctrine one Sabbath day as he stood up in the synagogue to teach the people who called themselves the children of God.
"And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
"To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
"And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
"And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears."
Such a statement filled his listeners with many doubts and apprehensions, yet the doctrine is so important that I would like to quote this passage again as it is now written in Isaiah:
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
"To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God."
It is amazing to see what happened in the minds of his listeners when Jesus Christ proclaimed this marvelous doctrine and told the people that this work of salvation was his assigned task.
"And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
"And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
"But he passing through the midst of them went his way."
Thus Jesus Christ was rejected by the people because he told them what saving work he would do for the captives then confined to a spiritual prison and for those who had been bruised in their souls through iniquity. Instead of rejoicing in this liberation, the people hated Jesus for being so presumptuous as to tell them that he had been anointed to open the prison doors. Even his very life was threatened. Nevertheless, he continued to preach this doctrine even more clearly, in the hopes that people would understand him and the importance of the work he had been called to do. Thus he explained:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
"Verily, verily I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
"For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself."
It was for this concept of his saving grace that Jesus gave his life. Peter informs us that the gospel actually was preached to those who were dead, just as Jesus prophesied he would do. Jesus actually did open the gates of the spiritual prison, that those confined therein might live and even be exalted if they would accept his doctrine.
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
"By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
"Which sometimes were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water."
Peter also explained why Jesus did this work for the dead:
"For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit."
Now, how does all this affect us? Perhaps I can state it in this way. If Jesus Christ made such a point of stressing this doctrine in his day, it must be just as important for us in our day also. Jesus taught that it was important that his gospel be preached to those who lived before he was born as well as to those then living. It must be just as important for that gospel to be preached since his day to those who have died without hearing these glad tidings, as well as to those now living on the earth.
Where, however, in the so-called Christian churches of our day do you find that deep concern for those good men and women who died without a knowledge of the gospel? Far from being considered, they are ignored by some and even damned by others. Why are such persons condemned to everlasting damnation, as many church leaders have done in the past and still do today, simply because such people were born at a time and in a place where they could never hear of Jesus Christ, let alone learn of the message of the resurrection and eternal life?
How can the physically dead who nevertheless still live in the spirit be prepared for that resurrection which Paul proclaimed applied to every person born upon this earth? This preaching of the word of God can only be done in the way in which Jesus taught that it has to be done. We who are living today must assist in this work as was prophesied by Obadiah when he said of the last days:
"And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's."
Thus, those living today must perform the physical ordinance work on the earth that will qualify persons in the spirit world to receive that proxy work done for them, even as we living today receive the proxy work done for us by Jesus Christ. In other words, we work in partnership here on the earth with those missionaries in the spirit world who preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to those persons living in the spirit world, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh. This combination effort can free them from their spiritual prison and heal their bruised souls through Jesus Christ. This is why the members of the Church who can qualify through righteous living must go to the temple in ever-increasing numbers and why they must attend the temple more frequently than they have ever done in the past.
The full understanding in our day of the importance of Christ's work for the dead as well as for the living came slowly. Although not understood fully at the time, when the angel Moroni came to teach Joseph Smith at the opening of this gospel dispensation, he quoted Malachi as follows:
"Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
"And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.
"If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming."
Thus it was the power of the priesthood that was to make this uniting of all generations possible, both those dead and those living. The power to do this work was subject to the restoration of the keys controlling the sealing power that Elijah was to give again to the earth when so requested by Jesus Christ.
Before the Church was officially established, when the so-called "constitution" of the Church was laid down by revelation in Section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants, a statement of the universality of the mission of Jesus Christ was given which included the dead as well as the living:
"Not only those who believed after he came in the meridian of time, in the flesh, but all those from the beginning, even as many as were before he came... should have eternal life."
Much of the work we do in the Church is preparatory work for us to qualify ourselves so that we can be of service not only to our fellowmen now living on the earth, but to those who lived before us. These good men and women are our ancestors, our fathers and our mothers through whose blood we receive our bodies and our life. What a debt we owe them to see that they too receive eternal life in Jesus Christ through the work and sacrifices we make in their behalf.
This work of salvation for the dead is so important that Paul stated that they who are dead cannot be made perfect without our help. Joseph Smith added that neither can we be made perfect without doing proxy ordinance work for our deceased ancestors. The power of the priesthood was restored so that this perfection in uniting all the family of God who lived in all ages could be accomplished. This priesthood power was given when Elijah restored the sealing power to Joseph Smith in these latter days so that the work of perfection could be continued. As Joseph Smith said:
"Then what you seal on earth, by the keys of Elijah, is sealed in heaven; and this is the power of Elijah, and this is the difference between the spirit and power of Elias and Elijah; for while the spirit of Elias is a forerunner, the power of Elijah is sufficient to make our calling and election sure; and the same doctrine, where we are exhorted to go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, &c.;
"We cannot be perfect without our fathers, &c.; We must have revelation from them, and we can see that the doctrine of revelation far transcends the doctrine of no revelation; for one truth revealed from heaven is worth all the sectarian notions in existence."
I testify of the need to understand the importance of this work of Elijah-this work of salvation for the dead as well as for the living. I testify of the divinity of this doctrine of Jesus Christ, which applies to both those living and those dead. I testify of the power of the priesthood by which revelation is received and say that Elias has already come and so has Elijah. The keys they revealed are being used today in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to do the total work of salvation for which Jesus Christ gave his life to accomplish. Thus through this doctrine and through this priesthood power we can unite the whole family of God into everlasting life.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
Marvin J. Ashton, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 36-38
Years ago while walking with a wise friend of mine, we passed one of his neighbors as he stood in the front yard of his home. My friend greeted the man with, "How are you, Bill? It's good to see you." To this greeting, Bill didn't even look up. He didn't even respond.
"He is an old grouch today, isn't he?" I snapped.
"Oh, he is always that way," my friend responded.
"Then why are you so friendly to him?" I asked.
"Why not?" responded my mature friend. "Why should I let him decide how I am going to act?"
I hope I will never forget the lesson of that evening. The important word was "act." My friend acted toward people. Most of us react. At the time it was a strange attitude to me, because I was in grade school and following the practice of "If you speak to an acquaintance and he does not respond, that is the last time you have to bother," or "if someone shoves you on the school playground, you shove him back."
I have thought many times since this experience that many of us are perpetual reactors. We let other people determine our actions and attitudes.
We let other people determine whether we will be rude or gracious, depressed or elated, critical or loyal, passive or dedicated.
Do you know people who are cool toward an acquaintance because last time they met she wasn't warm in her greeting? Do you know people who have quit praying to the Lord because he hasn't answered their prayers of last month or last year? Do you know people who give up on others because they don't respond in the ways we think they should? Do you know people who fail to realize that Christlike behavior patterns encourage us to be the same yesterday and forever?
The perpetual reactor is an unhappy person. His center of personal conduct is not rooted within himself, where it belongs, but in the world about him. Some of us on occasion seem to be standing on the sidelines waiting for someone to hurt, ignore, or offend us. We are perpetual reactors. What a happy day it will be when we can replace hasty reaction with patience and purposeful action.
I am acquainted with a man who has a brother serving time in a state penitentiary. On several occasions I have asked this friend of mine to accompany me to visit his confined family member. When asked most recently, he responded with an emphatic, "No, I don't want to go. It's no use. He won't talk. He won't listen. He's no good. He will never change." His last statement, "He will never change," prompted me to think, "and apparently neither will you."
This man is allowing his confined brother to control his actions; in fact, he has created a negative attitude in his relationship. The free man has not maintained a positive drive to do what he feels is right; instead, his brother has set the pace for both of them-no communication, no visits, no change in either life.
What a pleasure it is today to be part of a great action program in the Church that makes it possible for us to take a prisoner or others with social problems from the level we find them and help them move forward. Our concern must be to impress our associates with the fact there is a better tomorrow, and it belongs to those who live for it! Forgiveness and repentance are action principles. What a blessing it is in our lives when we come to realize there is hope and help for all of us in the days ahead, regardless of where we find ourselves at this hour.
When Jim Lovell of Apollo 13 radioed across almost a quarter of a million miles of space to Houston, Texas, a few months ago that something had gone wrong in their spacecraft, he taught the world a mighty lesson with his statement: "We've got a problem." Here were three brave men on a voyage to the moon faced with the staggering realization they might never see the earth again. Something had gone wrong. What do they do now? Act or react? Instead of demanding, "Who's responsible for this error?" his statement, "We've got a problem," rallied our best to their support. When Jim Lovell and his crewmates were later asked if they had fears of not reaching earth again, they responded that they just concentrated on the jobs they had to do. They did everything in their power to get back to earth. A terrifying problem was theirs, but they were determined to handle it a step at a time, and hoped and prayed their efforts would succeed. Through action they overcame fear; through action and teamwork they triumphed. What happened is history, but the lesson of action is for our use today.
Shakespeare had a glimpse of the importance of man's personal action when he wrote the following lines in Hamlet: "This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man."
Being true to ourselves can mean knowing where we are, where we are going and why, and assisting our associates in traveling the right paths with us.
Scriptures such as "be ye doers of the word.", and "But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved." take on new significance as we realize our responsibility to act and not react.
Our Prophet Joseph Smith was a man of action. Torture, belittlement, and all manner of inhumane affliction, including a pending martyr's death, did not halt nor even slow down his life of purposeful action. He acted as one totally committed to "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation." He didn't just think about the gospel or react to it; he lived it. He was true to himself and to those principles he valued more than life itself.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is purposeful action. "Ask," "Seek," "Knock," and "Judge not" and "Love" are words of action, not reaction. Jesus led his fellowmen as a mighty master because "he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." Jesus was true to himself and to his Father; and so important to all of us, he was true to us.
How weak the following reaction philosophies are: "See if your neighbor loves you first before you manifest love toward him." "See if your acquaintance is friendly before you offer your friendship." How powerful the action commandment of "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
I humbly pray that we may be men and women of action, and not let anyone else lead us from his paths. If we follow the teachings of this great gospel of Jesus Christ to the fullest of our ability, it can truthfully be said of us, through our actions also, that we "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."
We start to fail in our homes when we give up on a family member. We fail in our positions of leadership when we react by saying, "It's no use, they won't come." "It's no use, they won't respond." Let us thrust in our sickles with all of our might in the fields in which we have been called, and not spend our time reacting to the location or type of crop we have been called to harvest.
I bear witness to you that the gospel of Jesus Christ is an action way of life, and that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. May our Heavenly Father help us to actively be about his business I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder James A. Cullimore
James A. Cullimore, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 38-41
My brethren and sisters: How delightful it is to be here today. Sometime ago Brother Guy B. Rose, who is usually present on the front row of these meetings, told me of an interesting experience in his work. He had been a superintendent of schools in the East. One day as he visited one of the classes in a school, the teacher had the students drawing on the board something that would be representative of Thanksgiving. All were busy completing their sketches, but one child was obviously concerned about what she was to do in completing what she had started. As Brother Rose approached her, he asked if she was having trouble. She said, "Yes. How do you draw God?" She had ably portrayed the mountains, the trees, and the boy kneeling under the trees in an attitude of prayer but was confused as to how to draw God. Brother Rose quickly assured her that God was a man, that he looked much like men on earth, that men are created in the image of God.
Men everywhere seem to be confused as to what God is like. Strange, incomprehensible concepts of God have been taught apparently to enlighten men, but in their uncertainness they only tend to further confuse men.
The Reverend Harold O. J. Brown, in his book The Protest of a Troubled Protestant, expresses his concern over the fact that in many of the pulpits today, ministers are getting away from the strict concepts of the Bible. He said, "People are being converted to the most fanciful cults from the very parishes in which the clergy are unwilling to preach historic Christian doctrine. They fear being thought out-of-date and therefore incredible."
As Paul came to the Athenian saints, he found them worshiping false gods and called them to repentance. He said: "... I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
"For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
"... as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
"For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
"Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent."
The Savior indicated the great importance of knowing God, as he prayed unto the Father before his crucifixion: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, "It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God, and to know that we may converse with him as one man converses with another, and that he was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did."
The scriptures are clear as they teach us of God. In the story of the creation as recorded in Genesis, it states: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
Jesus spoke of God as a just and loving Father, dwelling in the heavens. His teachings were explicit as to the nature and character of God the Father. Unto Thomas he said: "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him."
Philip said unto the Lord: ".., shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
"Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?"
Paul plainly told the Hebrew saints that Christ was in the image of God. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
"Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."
I believe sincerely that our faith in God, our works of righteousness, and our sincerity of purpose are greatly determined by our concept and understanding of God. If, like the young lady trying to draw God, I can't visualize him, if I don't really know him, how can my faith in him be strong? How can I really pray to someone I don't know?
It is really "life eternal" to know God; that he is a personal being; that he is the Father of our spirits; that we are his children; that he has concern for us; that there is a meaningful plan in which we might regain his presence and have eternal life with him.
The understanding of the nature of God and his Son Jesus Christ was impressed upon the Prophet Joseph Smith in the first vision, in the opening of this dispensation, in which he saw the Father and the Son. Whatever his concept of God might have been, there was now no doubt in his mind as to God and Christ. This understanding was his because he saw them and heard and conversed with them. The Father spoke to him and introduced the Son. Listen to the words of the Prophet Joseph as he describes his vision: "... When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"
In a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1843, it is declared: "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us."
It is necessary to believe in God as a personal, corporeal being in order to understand that he can reveal himself to man as he did to the Prophet Joseph Smith in open vision. One who doesn't believe in a personal God may also believe in revelation, but it would be the kind of revelation that would be compatible with his concept of God. Brother William E. Berrett made an interesting observation as to the importance of our concept of the nature of God in reference to revelation. He said: "Any discussion of revelation revolves basically around our concept of the nature of God. Unless we conceive God in the same light we never arrive at the same conclusions in regard to revelation."
Brother Berrett illustrates this thought by referring to the viewpoint of a great contemporary thinker in the field of religion, Dr. Henry Wieman, of the University of Chicago.
"Both Dr. Wieman and I," he said, "believe in God, but our concepts are wholly different, for I conceive God as a perfected corporeal personality, while Dr. Wieman would think the idea of a personal God as juvenile, and for himself conceives Him as the sum total of all that is good and progressive in the Universe. To quote his words:
"'God is not a personality, but God is more worthful than any personality could be. God is not nature and He is not the universe; He is the growth of living connections of value in the universe. If one wishes he can say, this is not God but it is the work of God. Practically it comes to the same thing.'"
Elder Berrett continues, "Having divergent views as to the personality of God it follows that we must have divergent views upon the matter of revelation from Him. Both Dr. Wieman and I believe in revelation as a continuous principle of life but when we use that term we are thinking of entirely different things. Dr. Wieman would not accept such a vision as that to Joseph Smith in the grove because it does violence to his concept of God. He would reject the reality of heavenly messengers, and the reality of any direct words from God to man...
"This then is the real nature and place of revelation. It is not a miraculous giving of knowledge. But it is that change in personality which, in one way or another, is required before man can get any knowledge of anything that lies outside the range of his established organization of interest. It is a reorganization of his interests which enables him to know a new kind of reality,"
Not only is it important in our understanding of revelation to know God, but our understanding of all the principles of the gospel are greatly influenced by our concept of him as a personal, loving Father and of the great plan of salvation that he has provided for all his children. The kind of a God as described by the Prophet Joseph Smith makes me understand him as my literal Father in heaven. He said:
"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret. If the veil were rent today, and the great God, who holds this world in its orbit, and who holds all worlds and all things by His power, was to make himself visible-I say, if you were to see him today, you would see him like a man in form-like yourselves in all the person, image, and very form as a man; for Adam was created in the very fashion, image and likeness of God, and received instruction from, and walked, talked and conversed with Him, as one man talks and communes with another."
In the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior gave us the key as to the need of really knowing the Father when he said: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
It is man's purpose in life to learn to know God, to know the nature and kind of being God is, and then to conform to his laws and ordinances; to progress, to be exalted to that high state wherein man becomes perfect as the Father is perfect.
May we be able to do this, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Loren C. Dunn
Loren C. Dunn, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 41-44
I remember a story told by a forest ranger about a tourist coming to a national park to take pictures of wildlife. Not far from the campground he found what he was looking for-twin bear cubs rummaging around in a garbage dump, half playing, half looking for dinner. Grabbing his camera, he proceeded to take a series of pictures from a number of different angles. In his haste, he failed to realize that when you find bear cubs in the forest, the mother bear is never very far away.
As he moved to get a close-up shot of the playful cubs, he inadvertently came between the cubs and the mother bear, who was in the trees a short distance off. The bear struck out immediately for her cubs, and a near disaster was averted when a passerby, noticing the scene, alerted the tourist, who demonstrated unusual athletic ability as he vacated the garbage pit.
We often hear of the ferocity with which animals protect their young, and usually these stories are associated with incidents about parents who for some unexplainable reason abandon their children. While these actions can and should be condemned, nonetheless, we seem to live in a day and age where there is another kind of abandonment, which is almost worse than a mother leaving an unwanted baby on a doorstep.
What I am talking about is the temptation of parents to give up on their children, especially when those children seem to flaunt and disregard the laws of morality and conduct, which the parents hold dear and which govern the home, and when the children seem to rebel against every effort parents make to correct their behavior or show them a better way.
At least a baby who has been left on a doorstep will be looked after by the appropriate agencies, and usually placed in a home where parents who want it will adopt it and love it and raise it as their own.
A boy or a girl who has been given up by his or her parents because they are off on the wrong foot and possibly even surly and rebellious to any parental effort is in a much more serious predicament. When the hard times come-and they will-who is going to care if the parents don't?
The tragedy of our times as we look around us is that we see too many young people cut adrift-some of them in trouble and some of them causing trouble for society. Perhaps it is hard to realize that our Eternal Father also refers to these as son or daughter; and if we are to understand the parable of the lost sheep, perhaps they are even a little more important to him in that they are not safely in the fold.
Society has given us a thousand reasons why some begin to rebel and wander. Yet, I can't help but feel that in many cases it all must come back to those who gave them life and those who somewhere along the line gave up on them, either by deserting them or ignoring them or simply not caring enough to build their children into their lives.
I had a young girl come in to see me the other day, a beautiful girl, neat and clean, giving a good appearance. But the story she told was anything but clean, and far from beautiful.
From her early teenage years, she had become involved in drugs. It became so bad that at one time in her life she had moved away from her family and was more or less drifting from one pot party to another. She had taken up the so-called hippie culture and was high on drugs most of the time.
"Strangely enough," she says, "during all this time my father never gave up on me, and although I knew I was breaking my parents' hearts, I could always go home to my father and know that he loved me, and that he wouldn't condemn me as an individual, although he condemned everything that I did."
This girl went on to say that one night she had what she called a bad trip; I believe she referred to it as "freaking out." She said it was such a terrifying experience that she went home to her parents and spent the rest of the night in bed with them, just as she must have done as a child when she had a nightmare. She had no real rest until her father finally gave her a blessing, which seemed to ease her mental and physical torture.
This happened to be the turning point in this girl's life. She said she always knew it was wrong but was just determined to rebel. Bit by bit she has now put her life back together again, and although she still has a way to go, she is going to make it now.
She had a father, you see, who never gave up on her.
Another experience comes to mind about a mother and her 18-year-old son, not of our faith. Let me quote her story.
"Three years ago my son made a new friend-his first link with 'the drug scene.' I tried very hard to let him know what this boy was and to say, 'You don't need drugs in your life.' But he ignored me. Aside from moving away, there seemed to be nothing I could do.
"As my noes became more numerous, his rejections became unbearable... One night at the dinner table he announced, 'I won't obey the rules in this house any longer.' He said that as soon as he saved enough money, in about three months, he was going to move out. 'Until then,' he said, 'I'm going to say what I want to say, smoke what I want to smoke.'"
The mother said she got up from the table, walked down the hall, and then came back and said, "I've got news for you, son. Either you abide by the rules or you can find a room elsewhere in three days, not three months."
He was shocked. But the next day he did get a job, and he soon moved out. Leaving home, however, did not mean giving up membership in the family. "I let him know that the door was always open," she said. "I went to see his new apartment, took an interest in his new job, invited him for a snack when he finished moving his things out. And he knew that coming home would never be interpreted as a defeat for him, but as a new decision.
"He had several jobs," said the mother; "one in a restaurant. But while he was working out problems for himself, he also was ready to put himself out to help others. Eventually he became a full-time staff member at Project Place, a center for runaways and people with drug problems.
"From time to time, he would come to see me," continued the mother, "and I would ask him, 'Where are you at? Are you ready to come home?' One day he decided he was, and he moved back in. He had lost his preoccupation with drugs."
Then the mother made a very significant point. She said, "My son has made some mistakes, experienced some pain he probably didn't have to, but I think he has come out rejecting what's wrong in the world and taking upon himself what is real and beautiful... I think a child has a right to be right and a right to be wrong, and to know that his parents will stay with him through it all."
Perhaps you remember a story that took place a few months ago. It appeared in most of the newspapers. A little girl was found clinging to a fence that divides a super freeway in one of the world's largest cities. The police were summoned, and as they brought the girl to safety, she unfolded this pathetic story.
It was her parents, you see, who put her there. They had said, "Now hang on to the fence and don't let go for any reason." Then the parents drove off, planning to desert her. The newspaper account was graphic. You could picture the little girl, a tear in her eye, lower lip quivering, but holding fast to the rail as cars and huge trucks went roaring by on each side, not daring to let go because daddy had told her to hold on-standing there determined, waiting patiently, for a mother and father who never intended to return.
Oh, parents, no matter what the difficulty, may we never desert our children in some dark and dangerous thoroughfare of life, no matter what prompted them to get there. When they reach the point-and for some it may be a painfully long time-when they reach the point that they need us, I pray that we might not let them down.
"... But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
"And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
"But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
"For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found."
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Delbert L. Stapley
Delbert L. Stapley, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 44-47
My brothers and sisters and friends: The scriptures teach us that our God is a God of love. It is the greatest thing God can give us and the greatest thing we can give him. The true measure of loving God is to love him without measure. His love toward us was manifested when he sent his Only Begotten Son into the world that we might live through him.
A degree of the love between the Eternal Father and his Only Begotten Son has existed between other fathers and sons. We should not feel that such love is beyond our ability to receive and to give. We may not be able to match the perfect love shown to us by the Savior, because Christ is the epitome of this God-given quality, but it is a goal toward which all of us should strive.
The most important need of the world today to remedy its follies and problems is for man to return to God in love and obedience to his will. Without love, the world will continue in turmoil with worsening conditions until it is steeped in wickedness and sin, at which time the judgments of God will fall upon the unrighteous of the earth. The cures for all the ills and wrongs, the cares, the sorrows, and the crimes of humanity lie in one word-love.
Love, if used in its proper context, will hold the peoples of the world together in understanding and peace. Today the most trampled-upon ingredient for a happy and joyous life is the word love.
If the tender, profound, and sympathizing love practiced and recommended by Jesus were paramount in every heart, the loftiest and most glorious ideals of human society would be realized and little would be wanting to make this world a kingdom of heaven. Love is indeed heaven upon the earth, since heaven above would not be heaven without it.
The apostle Paul calls love the bond of perfection and peace. It is the old, the new, and the great commandment, for love is the fulfilling of the law.
Love is manifest in charity of the soul. It is made up of many things, all of which lead to a high idealism in standards of living, personal behavior, and purpose. It is expressed in Christ-like example, in words, in actions, in thoughtful attentions and kindly deeds.
Love is not real when one demands attentions and fancied needs, then is not appreciative of them and gives nothing in return for the favors received. That attitude is one of pure selfishness and reflects a lack of gratitude, decency, and respect. Such a person is self-centered and cares not for his failure to acknowledge courtesy or express thanks and appreciation.
Love is the purification of the heart. It strengthens character and gives a higher motive and a positive aim to every action of life. The power to love truly and devotedly is the noblest gift with which a human being can be endowed. True love is eternal and infinite. It is equal and pure without violent actions and demonstrations, which are so much in evidence today.
Love begins in the home by congenial parents bestowing affection and loving care upon their children. They deal in kindness and understanding, seeking the love and confidence of their sons and daughters. They also show concern about the welfare and happiness of their children.
The apostle Paul gave this wise counsel: "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."
Physical and temporal needs for children do not fulfill their most pressing wants. Parents' righteous teachings and good example are so important. The family should be unified by a close-knit relationship, doing things together, loving each other, and enjoying each other's companionship.
The first emotion a child learns and needs is love. The first emotion he expresses is love. A child reacts to love-or to the lack of it. What is sweeter than having a child put his arms around your neck and saying, "I love you." Love is the real basis of life.
If parents are immature and cannot settle their differences without anger, fighting, and name-calling, a child becomes most insecure, and as he grows older he is apt to take up with the wrong type of friends just to get away from an unhappy home environment.
Let us look at some undesirable things that can happen when a growing child feels unloved and neglected at home. He is often found with questionable companions-persons with lower standards than his own-simply to feel that he is somebody. Unfortunately, that person rarely brings others up to his standards of living, but usually lowers himself to the level of his so-called friends.
Girls particularly who feel unloved are more willing to give of themselves to the smooth-talking boy. They will sacrifice chastity just to get love. Where does the real blame of this tragedy belong-with the girl who so desperately needs to be loved or with the parents who failed in their responsibility to make their love known to her?
And what about the boy? What kind of teaching and love has he received in his home? How will he treat and protect the girls he dates, as a result of his home life?
When children are left to fend for themselves, it often destroys the spiritual and orderly environment of the home. If children feel that their parents really care, they will respond to their wishes. When there is mutual love and respect in the home, there is a desire to please. Girls and boys would probably dress in a more modest way if they felt their parents cared about how they look.
Recently in Australia I noticed most of the girls were wearing extremely short miniskirts that left nothing to the imagination. The appearance was most immodest and scandalous, but the girls seemed unashamed, unembarrassed, and at perfect ease. Obviously these girls have no one interested enough to guide them in their mode of dress. Perhaps it is because their mothers also are clad in miniskirts and fail to set a personal example of modesty. These same conditions prevail also in our own country.
Shortly after the miniskirt came into vogue, a woman dress designer was asked in a radio interview if the mini-skirt was contributing to the moral delinquency of young girls. She answered with a positive yes. The statistics of unwed mothers has proved this statement to be true. Will mothers and daughters continue to wear immodest clothing, or is it time to get out the sewing machine and attire themselves in respectable standards of dress?
A family discussion of dress standards in a weekly family home evening could change these improper dress styles to those of modesty-and this applies to boys as well as girls. In the spirit of love and wise parental teaching, many of the problems of today's youth can be corrected.
Former President Joseph F. Smith gave this warning: "... parents in Zion will be held responsible for the acts of their children, not only until they become eight years old, but, perhaps, throughout all the lives of their children, provided they have neglected their duty while they were under their guidance."
Often the duty parents neglect is failure to correct and discipline their children. Permissiveness does not show love-nor can you buy a child's love. You cannot ignore his misdeeds and let them go unnoticed. When a child does wrong, he should expect to be punished accordingly. However, this should not be done in anger. Often a parent can better communicate with his child following the punishment. A loving arm about the child manifests the love the parent feels, and often opens the door of communication between them. When children are ready to talk, that is the time for parents to listen, regardless of the hour.
Solomon counseled: "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:
"For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth".
When parents think only of their own pleasures and friends, where does this leave the child? When they endeavor to keep their "social standing," the child is left alone while parents participate in other activities away from home. They give the child full use of the home with all kinds of refreshments and feel that if the child has some of his friends in, it can compensate for their not being with him.
Then what happens? Children are alone for an evening-often until the wee hours of the morning. What do they do when they get bored? The answer may shock and upset many neglectful parents.
Our beloved late President David O. McKay has said: "Another element which makes for a happy home life is mutual service, each member of the home working for the other." That home is most beautiful in which you find each person striving to serve the other. A child has the right to feel that in his home he has a place of refuge, a place of protection from the dangers and evils of the outside world. Family unity and integrity are necessary to supply this need. He needs parents who are happy in their adjustment to each other, who are working happily toward the fulfillment of an ideal of living, who love their children with a sincere and unselfish love; in short, who are well-balanced individuals, gifted with a certain amount of insight, who are able to provide the child with a wholesome emotional background which will contribute more to his development than material advantages.
One of the soundest and safest bulwarks of society that is being undermined today is the family. Modern life is disintegrating the very foundation of the home. In the well-ordered home, where confidence and love abide, you will find life at its best. There is no real home without love. Homes are made permanent through love.
"Love, it has been said, flows downward. The love of parents for their children has always been far more powerful than that of children for their parents; and who among the sons of men ever loved God with a thousandth part of the love which God has manifested to us?"
Parents and youth are forgetting what pure love really means. The meaning has not changed; but, like so many other virtues accepted as essential to proper standards of behavior, it is being chipped away until the real meaning is so adulterated that hate is becoming more and more a substitute.
How can a man or woman say they love each other and become sexually involved with someone else? How is it that by our actions we hurt those whom we should love the most?
What about parents who break up their homes? Who suffers most, the parents or the children? The selfishness of some people is appalling. The breaking of marriage vows and covenants does not seem to be significant or meaningful.
It is most important that parents remain together and hold their family in an ideal relationship. Parents, do not fail to hold the weekly family home evening. It will draw your children closer to you and you to them. Pray with your family. Establish the traditions of righteousness in your home. Develop love, companionship, and unity. Watch trends-are they up or down? Remember, where family ends, delinquency begins.
How blessed is the family where love abides. How blessed are the children whose fondest memories are those of a happy childhood and youth. Parents, take time to give your children these happy years and happy memories. The world is moving fast. The pressure upon one's time is consuming. Many fathers neglect families. Working mothers with children at home do likewise. Find the time to do things together as a family.
I wish to share with you, in part, a testimony of Sister Davidina Bailey, a devoted mother, looking into the future for the care, welfare, direction, and happiness of her children. This was written 16 years before her death this past July. It is a most beautiful tribute from a mother who truly loved her children.
"I have lain awake tonight and cannot sleep, which is unusual for me as I am a good sleeper. I wish to leave this message to you, my children... If you love me... keep the commandments of God, for my sake, if not for your own, as I would want you to be with me unto whatsoever glory your father and I attain to.
"I charge you... do not stray from this gospel if I am not here to look after you in this life. Do not be jealous of one another, as I have loved you all the same. I have tried to be fair to all of you... Do not reprove each other... Do not look for worldly pleasures. Be alert to the powers of Satan and his angels, for his power is mighty and not to be forgotten.
"Always remember, I love you all. You are the spirit children of God. Your father and I have been entrusted in this mortal life to be your parents, so live that we can once again be a family throughout the eternities."
May God grant us parents the love, wisdom, and good judgment to plan effectively for the care, welfare, and happiness of our children. May we help them to live righteously, to love truth, and to do good.
May God bless youth to follow the wise teachings of loving and exemplary parents and all live together in understanding, harmony, and peace.
I humbly pray, my brothers and sisters, that we shall teach the gospel, its principles, its standards, its ideals to our children, and set the kind of example that we can say to them, "Come, follow me and do the things you have seen me do." (John 14:12
I love the Church. I know it is true. I know the gospel is the plan of life the Lord has given to guide and direct us as we meet all the conditions present in the world today. May he keep us firm and steadfast and true in the path of righteousness, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President N. Eldon Tanner
N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 49-53
This great audience assembled here in this historic Tabernacle is an inspiring sight indeed. I wish to welcome you and all those who are listening in this morning, and invite you to participate with us in our discussions. It is our purpose to disseminate the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and by so doing to strengthen the faith and testimony of all who will believe on his name, for his is the only name under heaven whereby we may be saved, and following his teachings is the only way for us to enjoy peace on earth and eternal life hereafter.
Just the other day I was talking to someone who said, "There goes a man in whom you can place full confidence. You always know where he stands. He never pretends, but is always sincere and just his best self."
The same day, someone, referring to another man, said, "Isn't it too bad that you never know just where he stands? You are never sure you can depend on what he says. I think the Lord would have called him a hypocrite." I felt to agree with him.
It is about hypocrisy that I wish to address my remarks today, especially to the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, wherever they may be. We have approximately three million members, made up of all kinds of people, ranging from those who are fully dedicated and prepared to give all that they have in the service of the Lord and their fellowmen, to those who have not yet been fully converted and who do not see the importance of living the teachings of Jesus Christ or of being active and prepared to give service wherever possible.
If we are to enjoy the blessings of the Lord and the confidence of the people with whom we associate, we must be prepared to live the gospel and to be honestly and actively engaged in practicing and teaching its concepts, never pretending to be what we are not. The gospel of Jesus Christ tells us how we should live. Let us refer to some of its great truths.
The Lord has said: "... this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."
"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
And then in answer to the lawyer who asked, tempting him, "... which is the great commandment in the law?" he replied: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
"This is the first and great commandment.
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
We are told that "pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
The Ten Commandments are given to us in very clear language, and needing no enlargement, and leaving no question. The Sermon on the Mount leaves no doubt as to Christ's message to the human race and what our responsibilities are if we wish to enjoy his blessings and his Spirit to guide us. We also have our Articles of Faith, which outline the high code by which we should govern our lives.
Jesus said: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
In these, the latter days, he said: "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."
And he gave us this glorious promise: "All saints who... in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
"And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
"And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
"And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them."
We are admonished to be true to the faith, and warned against evil and hypocrisy. In fact, the Savior placed great emphasis on the evils of hypocrisy. He was very severe in his condemnation of those who professed one thing and practiced another. He said: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!... Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?".
"Woe," according to the dictionary, means miserable or sorrowful state, a condition of deep suffering, misfortune, affliction, grief. "Hypocrite" is one who pretends to have beliefs or principles which he does not have, or to be what he is not, especially a false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion.
As recorded in the Gospels, the Savior refers to different examples of hypocrisy, and in each case he says: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!".
I should like to refer to these and other charges of hypocrisy. As I do so, we might well look at ourselves to see how these apply to us. As we look at the conditions in the world today, I am sure we will find that hypocrisy and the violation of the principles of righteousness and decency have brought our national and individual affairs to the sorry state in which they are now.
The Lord said: "... they bind heavy burdens... on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
"But all their works they do for to be seen of men...
"And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues.
"... ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
"... ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
"Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
"... ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
"... ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
"Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
"... ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
"And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets".
We might well ask ourselves if such fallacies are present in our own alleged Christianity. In those days, as is so common today, they had brotherhoods in which the law was strictly kept, but they ignored those on the outside by regarding all others with contempt and condemnation, thereby avoiding the heresy of form but committing the heresy of the spirit.
How many of us are guilty of keeping the letter of the law and forgetting the spirit of the law in that we fail to show mercy and faith in our fellow-men? Do we place more stress on an external act to be seen of men than on a change of heart? The only way to cleanse the inside of the cup is to be pure in heart by being humble and turning from our evil ways and by living the gospel of Jesus Christ to the best of our ability. We may be able to deceive men, but we cannot deceive God.
Is there danger that our whole civilization is like whitewashed tombs? We have marvelous machines, towering buildings, and thousands of signs of what we call progress; but within we have unrest, strife between men and nations, and unrelieved burden of the poor, and the dead men's bones of wholesale wars. Someone has said: "Still we try to safeguard ourselves by calcimining the tomb."
With all the crime, changing of population from rural to urban, loosened morals, pornographic movies and literature, etc., we must stand firm in the cause of right. How can persons for selfish reasons be hypocrites enough to urge the opening or widening of the liquor laws when they know that where consumption of liquor is greatly increased, there is a similar increase in multitudes of social problems?
How can a newspaper which records the highway accidents, the deaths, the health problems, and broken homes as a result of drinking advocate making liquor more easily available in order to attract more tourists and industry? The cost to communities and individuals far outweighs any benefits.
The American Council on Alcohol Problems passed a resolution which states: "While we share the concern of a majority of our citizens about the dangers in the use of marijuana, we are firmly convinced that alcohol remains the number one drug problem in America and that its damage to life, limb and the welfare of our people is vastly greater."
We must be equally concerned about the use of drugs that destroy lives and bring crushing misery, not only to users but to those around them. But hypocrisy in the lives of adults has a serious influence on our young people who are turning to this form of protest. What we are trying to say is that the kids are affected by the hypocrisy of those who accept the cocktail hour and other evil practices and yet get hysterical because the kids have found other ways to imitate their parents' behavior. The kids will pay attention only when the adults set the proper example.
As great as our responsibility is through legislation or other means to prevent our young citizens from falling prey to those intent on their becoming victims of these evil habits, we cannot minimize our responsibility to help rehabilitate those who have succumbed. How can we call ourselves Christians and say we love our neighbor-who is anyone in need of help-and fail to work with others who are endeavoring to set up facilities to assist alcoholics, drug-users, or parolees from our prisons? Yet there are those who would actually hamper such efforts because they object to having such facilities in their midst. These unfortunate people need our help. Surely we must be prepared to be the good Samaritan and help wherever possible.
How many of us keep the Word of Wisdom strictly, but are most intemperate in our prejudices and condemnations of others? Are there any of us who, as businessmen, are meticulously polite and most regular in church attendance and yet accept glaring inequalities in the social structure, and who may be unfair or dishonest in dealing with our neighbor?
Are we truly interested in and concerned with the well-being of our neighbors? Do we visit the widows and fatherless, and feed, clothe, and comfort the poor and needy? The prophet Alma in his day "saw great inequality among the people, some lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others, turning their backs upon the needy and the naked and those who were hungry, and those who were athirst, and those who were sick and afflicted."
We read: "Now this was a great cause for lamentations among the people, while others were... succoring those who stood in need of their succor, such as imparting their substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry."
Recent changes in their structure and program will now enable our Relief Society sisters to devote more of their time and energy to the main purposes for which they were organized-namely, to look after the spiritual, mental, and moral welfare of the mothers and daughters in Zion. They should be teaching the gospel, preparing our women of all ages to be better homemakers, and giving compassionate service to those in need.
The sisters of this great organization give thousands of hours weekly in compassionate service, yet there are still many who are sick or lonely or in need of comfort who are not reached. We all should be seeking for opportunities to give aid and comfort to the needy among us. We should not neglect this duty and opportunity in order to engage ourselves in seeking only after our own selfish worldly pleasures and material gain.
Too often we excuse ourselves from religious activity, which includes both showing love for our neighbors and regular church attendance, by comparing our activities with those of others, and by saying we are doing just as much as they, or we are no worse than they. Some say: "I don't go to church because I don't want to be a hypocrite, as he is. I can be religious without going to church. I can worship God on the lake or in the mountains, communing with nature."
"And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
"For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;
"Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times."
We cannot choose which part of the gospel we think is true or which part we should live. We cannot compartmentalize our lives. As the Savior said: "... these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." We must be Christians in very deed, and by our lives show our love for the Lord, our God, and show love for and be interested in one another. We, you and I, must put our personal houses in order. We must not be hypocrites.
Harry Emerson Fosdick observed that there are two kinds of hypocrisy: when we try to appear better than we are, and when we let ourselves appear worse than we are. We have been speaking of the kind of hypocrisy where people pretend to be more or better than they are. Too often, however, we see members of the Church who in their hearts know and believe, but through fear of public opinion fail to stand up and be counted. This kind of hypocrisy is as serious as the other; it makes it difficult for others to respect us, and often adversely affects or influences the lives of other members of the Church who expect us to stand by our commitments to the Church and not hesitate to manifest our faith.
Only when we are seriously striving to live the teachings of Christ can we make any real spiritual progress. We must not fear, wherever we are, to live up to our convictions and to the standards of the Church. People, though they may criticize and ridicule, expect us to and respect us if we do. Living high standards cannot offend conscientious, fair-minded people.
Not long ago I was talking to a father and mother and their little boy who were converts of not many months. During our conversation the father said they had become inactive and were not attending church, and I asked them why. He explained that the missionaries were such fine examples of good and clean-living, righteous people; but when they came to the ward they found so many people who were not living what the Church teaches, or what they professed to be, and as a result they became discouraged and lost faith in the Church. I think this gives us two very important lessons: First, it is our responsibility to live so that we will influence the lives of people for good and that we will never cause doubt in their minds because of hypocrisy in our own lives.
The other lesson is that we should always guard against letting hypocrisy in the lives of others influence our lives or cause us to doubt and fail to live according to the teachings of the gospel.
It is most important that we as members of the Church stand firmly and unitedly in the cause of truth and righteousness. We have declared to the world that we have the gospel of Christ, that we are going to stand against vice. Shall we stand firm, or shall we waver and be driven by the wind and tossed? Shall we forsake the cause of righteousness in order to please men, because we desire to give lip service rather than heart service, or because of some political power that is brought to bear upon us?
We must not be like those to whom John referred when he said: "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him...
"For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."
Imagine the great influence the Church, with its approximately three million members, could have upon the world if each of us would be what we profess to be; if everyone were a real, truly dedicated Christian, living every day and not pretending; if we were honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, doing good to all men, and always seeking for things virtuous, lovely, or of good report and praiseworthy.
Let us listen to the prophets and live by their words. Let us not be guilty, as were the scribes and Pharisees of old, of increasing the agony of our Savior by rejecting him and his teachings, which he gave to us, together with his life, that we might have happiness here and eternal life hereafter. Let us not find ourselves in the condition which he describes as he concludes his chastisement of the hypocrites:
"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
"For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."
I bear testimony that God lives; that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; that the gospel has been restored; and that by living its teachings we will gain eternal life, for which I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Marion D. Hanks
Marion D. Hanks, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 54-58
There was a tear at our house this morning when the incident President Lee referred to was discussed, and also as we read in another less prominent place in the paper of the loss of a comparable number of lives in a crash overseas among service people. We join in compassion. This is an emphasis again on the ephemeral nature of mortal life and the importance of enduring principles. Thank God for that straightforward address by President Tanner.
Three recent experiences form the core of my message this morning. I would like to relate them briefly.
In the northwestern area of the United States an alert young adult, who is actively involved in his own church, attended an open house at a new Mormon Church structure with a friend. He was respectfully responsive as he viewed the lovely chapel where our people worship and then became increasingly interested as he was conducted through the rest of the building. He saw the cultural hall where drama and music and recreational dancing and sports activities are enjoyed; he saw the Scout room and the Junior Sunday School room, the classrooms where we learn and teach. He was shown photographs of missionaries at their work across the world, of a baptism, of a family home evening where parents and children were pictured in counsel, at prayer, and at play. He listened to the principles of temple marriage, this uniting of a couple and a family for time and eternity. He heard about the priesthood and its importance as a man presides in love as the head of his home, and teaches and blesses his family.
Finally, he stopped at the lovely Relief Society room, where he heard the story of the honored role of women in their homes and in the Church and where he heard one of the ladies who was explaining the program that evening refer to another as "sister." He inquired about this and was told that in the Church a woman is often called "sister" as a man is called "brother."
The visitor shook his head in wonderment and said, "Every woman a sister, every man a priest, and every home a parish in itself."
Last week a wonderful young lady just beginning her university training talked with me about her experience as a youth representative on governmental agencies studying problems of young people who have been involved with drugs. Earnestly and often tearfully she related the feelings she had had as she learned about the breadth of this problem in various cities across America, and as she had discussed it not only in the council room with experts from various disciplines, but on the streets, in the communes, in custodial and treatment centers, and in many personal conversations with disaffected young people. She repeated some of what she had heard from these alienated and confused and fearful youngsters, of heartbreaking scenes and troubles.
"And what about you," I asked her. "What has this done to you? What did you have to say to them?"
Through the tears and the sweet compassion and concern came answers I can only abstract this morning: "I've never been so grateful," she said. "I found myself talking about the things I've been learning all my life-the importance of faith in God, of genuine concern for others, of commitment to Christ; the need for goals, for work, for prayer; the significance of a self-image based on self-discipline, responsible relationships, worthwhile accomplishments, rather than on the temporary, the trivial, the tainted."
Many of them, she said, were critical of their parents and the older generation, and "I found myself wondering what their descendants would have to thank some of them for."
The third incident involved two young men, one a young American born in Mexico who had started ninth grade at the age of 19, while still a migrant farm worker, the other a part-Indian, born in a small village near the reservation where many of his relatives lived. Both of them were handsome, articulate, exuding strength and sincerity and a sense of urgency. Each is pursuing advanced university training; each is working to serve the special needs of those with whom he shares proud heritage.
The two were interviewed separately by a civic committee seeking help from them in understanding the problems of their people and offering possible solutions. Each answered searching questions knowledgeably, effectively, earnestly. When asked what could be done to help, each responded repeatedly and firmly that what his people need is not handouts but opportunities, equal opportunities in order that through their own efforts they can reach the goal. They will do the rest themselves. Both pointed to faith in God and a religious commitment as basic needs of their people, and each explained that active involvement in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the key to his own growth and development. How had this blessing come about?
To the young Mexican-American, it was through a school administrator in a small LDS community in Nevada where the verbal answers concerning salvation and redemption through Christ had been personalized in the experience of kindness and concern and contagious love. There the young man had found not only the answers which gave meaning to life, but direction and inspiration and purpose in living it. The love he found came not chiefly from books or sermons or lessons, but from persons in a community of saints who were able and willing to give it.
For the part-Indian it had been a man living next door, a Mormon bishop whose interest and kindness had opened his heart and his home to this youngster. There he found acceptance and affection and unconditional love. Theological answers the little boy was not prepared to understand; loving concern he could readily comprehend. Through the life of a good man he learned to care about and to know Christ.
To summarize these three incidents, then, the man who visited the church building in the Northwest only dimly understood on first contact much of what he saw, but he had caught a glimpse of what can be.
The lovely girl to whom I listened had found many who had no consciousness at all of being children of God, who were frantically trying to arrange, in the words of a wise observer, "some acceptable horizontal relationship with their social environment," instead of seeking to establish a "supremely important vertical relationship with God." She learned again the importance of the principles of Christ.
The two young men had seen those principles applied and had accepted them.
There are many strong efforts in the Church to bring the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the full impact of his church into the lives of its members and all who will participate. A number of these have gained wide attention and respect: the youth and welfare programs, the family home evening, military relations activities, Indian placement. In educational effort, missionary work, genealogical undertakings, home teaching, student wards and stakes, and other correlated efforts, the Church is effectively serving the Lord's children.
All of these are praiseworthy endeavors, but we are clearly aware that it is not the programs of the Church themselves that save; yet it is often through the programs that the love and graciousness of God are expressed and communicated.
As I think of the wide efforts of our people in these various ways, three other related words come to mind of which, with their meanings, we must continually remind ourselves. If we had a giant chalkboard upon which I could write, I would like to print in large letters three words: OBJECTIVES, PRINCIPLES, SPIRIT. May I comment briefly about them?
Recently we have been discussing throughout the stakes of the Church the great effort currently being made to keep closely in touch with our young men in the military forces, to prepare them for the experiences they face in military service away from home. Always as we discuss the operation and mechanics of this important activity we are asking ourselves the meaning of it, the purpose and goal for which it has been established.
The answer is in the boy sitting against the bulkhead of the Navy ship reading a letter from his bishop or from his quorum at home. It is in the young man wading through the red dust of Takhli or Nakhon Phanom or the heat or rain of the Delta to get to his group meeting with three or four or a dozen other members of the Church to partake of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper and to participate in the worship service that will strengthen him against envelopment by the hollow world around him.
In the Church's educational effort the objective is the young man or woman surrounded by issues and pressures and voices of unwisdom, needing the stabilizing strength of the Lord and the companionship of others who know the way.
In the priesthood quorums the objective is those who are accounted for, and the prodigal; in the auxiliaries, every available individual. What was quoted this morning? The work and the glory of God is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
In every effort of the Church the purpose is to tie in God's children to his community and kingdom, to bless the individual with a knowledge of his origins and heritage, a sense of his purpose and a plan to fulfill it, and a vision of his eternal potential. It is to strengthen and qualify God's children in the application of the eternal principles we have been discussing here; to learn and to serve, to grow and to give. It is to help him face the burning, urgent problems of the moment, grateful for his relationship with God and for the great marvel of being alive to the richness of life; to revere God, who demands and expects something important of him.
The objective of it all, then, is not counting the sheep but feeding them, not the proliferation of buildings or units or organizations or statistics, but the blessing of the individual child of God.
Christ, we know, had a great interest in human beings of every description, and great love for them. He companied with little children, sought out the sinner; he summoned men to follow him from the fishing boat and the counting table. So conscious was he of individuals that in the midst of the multitude he felt the woman's touch of his robe. He memorialized in a magnificent parable the selfless consideration of a despised Samaritan toward another human being in need. He enfolded the ninety and nine and went seeking the lost one. Our purpose is to follow him.
And what of principles?
What are the principles through which we can help God's children to realize his purpose for them? We can start-and almost end-with love. God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Christ so loved God and God's other children that he willingly undertook his pivotal part in the great plan of salvation, knowing what it meant, what it was going to cost.
Another special son, brilliant-the scriptures call him "an authority in the presence of God "-but lacking love except for self, disdained the Father's plan and rebelled against it. He had strong opinions of his own; he contrived some rules of his own, seemed to feel his Father's way inefficient and imperfect. He rebelled, and misled and led away a multitude of his Father's children.
Christ loved his Father and desired to do his will. He used his agency to willingly accept the responsibility to open the door to salvation and to eternal life to every individual child of God who would manifest his acceptance of the gift and his love of the giver by obeying his commandments.
Tillich has spoken of God's love as "ultimate concern"-that is, that God cares about us as much as can be. We are here to learn to care that much about each other.
I often think of the young bishop who, against pressures and problems and at considerable inconvenience, traveled to another city to visit a bereaved widow on the eve of her husband's funeral. The couple had long since moved from the bishop's area, but he had made the effort to be with his good, wonderful old friends at this tender time. He found the elderly lady standing alone beside the body of her beloved of more than half a century. As he comforted her she said through her tears, "Oh bishop, I knew you would come."
I think, too, of an admired friend who has written of the night he took his little boys to an outing. They had the whole package of games and goodies. On the way home one little boy went to sleep on the back seat of the automobile, and his daddy took off his coat and covered the lad. The other youngster cuddled up by dad as they drove home, discussing the exciting events of the evening. The little boy dutifully answered his father's questions about the things he'd enjoyed most, and then, in a moment of pause, asked the thing that was really on his mind. "Daddy," he said, "if I got cold would you cover me with your coat?"
Every child of God needs and wants love.
The principle of agency must be mentioned too, of course, for not even through love can one against his will be conveyed to useful, constructive living or to eternal, creative life. Each must individually choose that destination and qualify for it.
The third word is spirit. In what spirit must we act to help our brother achieve God's purposes for him? Paul, who knew remorse as perhaps few men have, said to the Galatians: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
"For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."
Alma, who also knew error and remorse, prayed for the apostate Zoramites: "Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee."
The programs of the Church are important, but they are not ends in themselves. They permit organized efforts to be made to reach and bless the individual. They are designed to help God's children to achieve the purposes of the Lord for them, to operate in the principle of real love, to be implemented in the spirit of compassion and contrition. They are to help us bear one another's burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ.
The basic problem of our time is loneliness-the insecurity and anxiety that come with separation from God, and from one's fellowmen, and from a sense of alienation from self that is almost always present. The source of reconciliation and wholeness is Jesus Christ.
The function of the true Church of Christ is to provide for the individual that concerned, loving, accepting, forgiving community, animated by the spirit of Christ, in which the individual can find a place, establish true friendships, and gain confidence in God's presence.
Through it every woman will have opportunity ultimately to become what the most fortunate of women are blessed to be in this world-the heart of a loving home. Every man may be a true priest of God in his own home. And every home may be a true sanctuary where the love of God may dwell and where the spirit of God is.
It is important to learn to apply the programs of the Church-they are great and wonderful and inspired and effective-but the only way this can truly be achieved is with a constant understanding of the objectives for which a program exists, of the principles that apply, and of the spirit that must be present in those who are called to serve and lead.
In our Father's house are many mansions, and a place for each of his children who will qualify. Our assignment is to accept God's gift and know that we are accepted, and to seek to share the warmth of his love and the power of his example with all who will heed his call.
So bless us, O God, to understand and to do, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder LeGrand Richards
LeGrand Richards, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 59-62
Brothers and sisters, it is wonderful to be gathered here with you again in one of these great conferences of our church. Led by the Tabernacle Choir, we have just sung a song that finds an echo in my heart: "God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform."
Having done as much missionary work as I have, I have always considered the great wonders the Lord has done in our day in connection with the restoration of his gospel to the earth in this dispensation. This is a day of wonders, a day when so many things are happening in the world. If I were to ask what you consider the most wonderful thing that has happened in this world in the last 150 years, I imagine that most people would say the landing of the astronauts on the moon. That truly was a miracle, and how it happened only those who worked it out can tell you.
Then I think of how we were able to sit in our homes and watch on television as those men got down from the capsule to walk on that land without the power of gravity to pull them back. Then I think of what has been the result.
Then I think of another event that transpired within the last 150 years that from my way of appraisal far exceeds that in its majesty and magnitude and in its good for humanity, and for me and my family and for all other people in this world who really love the Lord and want to serve him. That was when the boy Joseph Smith went out in the woods to pray, having read the words of the apostle James: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Then he went out into the woods to pray, believing in that promise, and a pillar of light descended from heaven, as it did to Saul of Tarsus on the way to Damascus, and in the midst of that pillar of light were God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ.
When that boy asked which of all the churches he should join, the Father, pointing to the Son, said: "This is My Beloved Son, Hear Him!". The answer came that he was to join none of them, for they all taught for doctrines the precepts of men, and then he was told of the work that was about to come forth.
If that story is true, and I know that it is, is there anything like it in all this world? For when the heavens opened, heavenly messengers appeared, the Father and the Son who created this earth; we are told in the holy scriptures that God created the earth by the power of his Only Begotten, and could anything that has happened in this world in the last 150 years compare with the visit of the Father and the Son to this earth? We bear solemn testimony, all of us gathered here in this conference this day, and millions throughout the earth who have put this message to the test, that this is the truth. As Jesus said to Nicodemus: "We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness." And so we are testifying to all the world that this glorious event transpired.
After Jesus had spent some forty days with his disciples and ascended to heaven in the presence of 500 of the brethren, as they stood gazing into heaven, two men in white apparel stood by their side and said: "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Why then should it be so difficult to believe that he would appear when two angels stood there to say that he would come again? And we are looking forward to his coming. When I think of all of the things the prophets have foretold that should precede his second coming, then I say truly that God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform.
I like the statement in the third chapter of Malachi, where the Lord, speaking through the prophet Malachi, said: "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple...
"But who may abide the day of his coming?... for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap."
Now that obviously had no reference to his first coming, because he didn't come suddenly to his temple. All men were able to abide the day of his coming. He did not come cleansing and purifying as refiner's fire and fuller's soap, but we are told that when he shall come in the latter days the wicked shall cry out to the rocks, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb." And so when God sends a messenger to prepare the way before him, that messenger could be none other than a prophet.
You remember what Jesus said of John the Baptist, who was sent to prepare the way for his coming in the meridian of time. He said that there was no greater prophet in Israel than John the Baptist. And so we bear solemn testimony to the world that this prophet whom God raised up in this dispensation was the Prophet Joseph Smith. He was the messenger that was sent to prepare the way for these wonderful things that the Lord promised to send to this world to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord.
He was the prophet of this dispensation whom, according to our scriptures, the Lord had in waiting over 3,000 years after he declared his coming, waiting for his day and time just as did the prophets of old, such as Jeremiah, when he was called to be a prophet. He could not understand this, and the Lord said, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." The prophet of this dispensation was ordained to be a prophet unto the nations before he ever came here, and we have the word of the Lord that he should be great in his eyes.
Then I think of the statement of Peter following the day of Pentecost, when he talked to those who put to death the Christ, and he told them that the heavens would receive the Christ "until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." Is it difficult to believe this prophecy of Peter's that there should be a restitution of all things spoken by the mouths of all the holy prophets since the world began? No other church in this world, as far as I know, claims such a restitution, and that includes the visit of many holy prophets of the dispensations past.
Following the coming of the Father and the Son to the Prophet Joseph, a few years later Moroni, a prophet who had lived here upon this earth in the land of America 400 years after the Christ, came back to tell the prophet about the former inhabitants of this land and the record that had been prepared, which is the Book of Mormon.
Brother Romney gave us an inspiring talk yesterday about the teachings of that book. It was preserved for the convincing of the Jew and the Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the very eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations. It was preserved by the hand of Almighty God; and it was written by the command of the Lord to Ezekiel the prophet that two records should be kept, one of Judah and his followers, the House of Israel, and one of Joseph and his followers. The Lord promised he would take the record of Joseph that was in the hands of Ephraim and put it with the record of Judah and make them one in his hands. Can't we believe that God would do that which he said he would do? If the Book of Mormon isn't that record, where is it?
In order to fully appreciate what that book is, we need to go back a little further to the promises made to the twelve sons of Jacob, and Joseph's promise, if you will read it, far exceeds that of his other brethren. He was promised through Jacob many blessings. "The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills."
In describing the new land that should be given to Joseph, who would be separated from his brethren, Moses used the word "precious" five times in just four verses as recorded in the Bible describing that new land. That new land was none other than this land of America. The Lord had it preserved, waiting for the day of the restoration of the gospel in this latter day.
What does the world know about that record of Joseph? And why should they hesitate to accept it? And with its acceptance, even the Jewish people have no occasion to question who their Messiah is because that record so definitely tells of the signs of the birth of the Savior of the world, of his crucifixion, and then of his visit to this land of America when he visited his people, as Brother Romney told us yesterday.
It has been said that if that book had been found by a man plowing in his field, it would have been considered the greatest event of the nineteenth century. We have testimonies from many who are not members of the Church. The book contains a promise that if we would read it, the Lord would manifest the truth of it unto us by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Some years ago Brother Nicholas G. Smith, speaking from this pulpit, told us of an experience he had while presiding over the California Mission. The dean of religion at the University of Southern California asked him for a copy of the Book of Mormon, and Brother Smith gave him one that had been marked by the missionaries, with the important passages underlined; then the dean invited Brother Smith and the missionaries to attend his meeting. He took that Book of Mormon and he would read passage after passage to his congregation and would say: "This isn't a dead book, it's a live book." He said, "We have here a volume of scripture that has been in our midst for a hundred years, and we haven't known anything about it." And then he would say to his congregation: "Aren't these beautiful teachings? Why can't we fellowship a people who believe in such beautiful things as I have been reading to you here today?" Well, that is just another testimony of the divinity of this work, but the Lord preserved it to fulfill his promises to Joseph in this land, choice above all other lands.
There isn't time today to go into these other wonderful things that the Lord has created in a way that is mysterious to the world. You just take this temple standing here on this block. Isaiah and Micah were both permitted to look down through the stream of time to the latter days, and they named the latter days when the mountain of the Lord's house would be established in the top of the mountains and all nations would flow unto it; and they would say, "Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths."
As far as I know there is no building in the history of this world that has gathered people from all nations like this temple, and many of you who are here today are no doubt descendants of some of those who have been gathered to this land.
When I was doing missionary work over in Holland, I had a very earnest investigator, a businessman. He said, "I will never join your church." I said, "Why?" He said, "I don't want to go to America." I said, "Good for you." I then added, "You just stay right here and help strengthen these branches." He had been a member of the Church only a few months when he came rushing into my office one day and said, "Brother Richards, I have a chance to sell my business." I said, "What do you want to sell your business for?" "Oh, I want to go to Zion," he said. I wish you could see the accounts we had on the mission books, when I was secretary of the mission, of the good Dutch people saving their nickels and their dimes to come here before we had any temples in Europe.
I heard President Joseph F. Smith say in Rotterdam in 1906 that the day would come when temples of the Lord would dot that whole land of Europe, and I have lived long enough to see two of them built. Well, that is just another of these wonders that are mysterious to the world that the Lord has given us. If we would take time to study the prophecies of the gathering, we would know that the Lord kept this land away from the eyes of the world to make it the gathering place of his people.
Brothers and sisters, we have so much to be grateful for. Yesterday Brother Burton talked to us about the coming of Elijah the prophet. Just think of that promise of Malachi, that before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, the Lord said he would send Elijah the prophet, "And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." How could anybody believe the holy scriptures and not pray for the day to come when Elijah would come? And then we bear solemn witness to the world that he has come.
I was in Israel a year ago last July, and we went into three of the synagogues on a tour, and in one of them there was hanging on the wall an arm chair. I asked the rabbi what it was there for. He said, "So we could let it down for Elijah to sit in when he comes." And of course I couldn't tell him that Elijah had already been, and that his coming has given us this assurance that has been mentioned in this conference of the eternal duration of the marriage covenant. Not only that, but God has also prepared a thousand years under the leadership of Jesus until every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ, which means that this message has got to go into the eternal worlds.
I bear you my solemn witness that this is God's work, and I know it in every fiber of my being, and I know that it is what Isaiah saw when he said: "Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precepts of men:
"Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid."
That is the message we have to all the world, and I bear you my witness that there isn't an honest man or an honest woman in this world who really loves the Lord who wouldn't join this church if they would take time to find out what it really is. I bear you that witness and pray God to bless you all, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 63-66
I should like to speak out across the land to the youth who are the future of the Church and the hope of the nations.
I found my theme in a conversation with a young man in a South American airport, where we were both delayed by late planes. His hair was long and his face bearded, his glasses large and round. Sandals were on his feet, and his clothing such as to give the appearance of total indifference to any generally accepted standard of style.
I did not mind this. He was earnest and evidently sincere. He was educated and thoughtful, a graduate of a great North American university. Without employment and sustained by his father, he was traveling through South America.
What was he after in life? I asked. "Peace-and freedom" was his immediate response. Did he use drugs? Yes, they were one of his means to obtain the peace and freedom he sought. Discussion of drugs led to discussions of morals. He talked matter-of-factly about the new morality that gave so much more freedom than any previous generation had ever known.
He had learned in our opening introductions that I was a churchman; and he let me know, in something of a condescending way, that the morality of my generation was a joke. Then with earnestness he asked how I could honestly defend personal virtue and moral chastity. I shocked him a little when I declared that his freedom was a delusion, that his peace was a fraud, and that I would tell him why.
Our flights were called shortly after that, and we had to separate. Since then I have thought much of our discussion. I would hope that he might be listening somewhere today. He is part of a challenging generation numbered in the millions who, in a search for freedom from moral restraint and peace from submerged conscience, have opened a floodgate of practices that enslave and debauch, and which, if left unchecked, will not only destroy individuals but also the nations of which they are a part.
I thought of this freedom and this peace when I recently faced a young man and a young woman across the desk of my office. He was handsome, tall, and manly. She was a beautiful girl, an excellent student, sensitive and perceptive.
The girl sobbed, and tears fell from the eyes of the young man. They were freshmen in the university. They were to be married the next week, but not in the kind of wedding of which they had dreamed. They had planned that would come three years from now, following graduation.
Now they found themselves in a situation both regretted and for which neither was prepared. Shattered were their dreams of schooling, the years of preparation they knew each needed for the competitive world that lay ahead. Rather, they would now have to establish a home, he to become the breadwinner at the best figure his meager skills could command.
The young man looked up through his tears. "We were sold short," he said.
"We've cheated one another," she responded. "We've cheated one another and the parents who love us-and we've cheated ourselves. We were betrayed. We fell for the rubbish that virtue is hypocrisy; and we've found that the new morality, the idea that sin is only in one's mind, is a booby trap that's destroyed us."
They spoke of a thousand thoughts that had crossed their minds in the fearful days and the anxious nights of the past few weeks. Should she seek an abortion? The temptation was there in the frightening contemplation of the ordeal that lay ahead. No, never, she had concluded. Life is sacred under any circumstance. How could she ever live with herself if she took measures to destroy the gift of life even under these conditions?
Perhaps she could go to some place where she was not known, and he could go on with his schooling. The child could be placed for adoption. There were excellent organizations that could assist in such a program, and there were good families anxious for children. But they had dismissed that thought.
He would never leave her to face her trial alone. He was responsible, and he would meet that responsibility even though it blighted the future of which he had dreamed.
I admired his courage, his determination to make the best of a difficult situation; but my heart ached as I watched them, bereft and sobbing. Here was tragedy. Here was heartbreak. Here was entrapment. Here was bondage.
They had been told of freedom, that evil was only a thing of the mind. But they found they had lost their freedom. Nor did they know peace. They had bartered their peace and their freedom-the freedom to marry when they chose to marry, the freedom to secure the education of which they had dreamed, and, more importantly, the peace of self-respect.
My young friend in the airport might have countered my story by saying that they were not smart. Had they been wise to the things available to them, they would not have found themselves in this sorry situation.
I should have replied that their situation is far from unique and that it is daily growing more acute. In 1968 there were 165,700 births to unwed schoolgirls in the United States alone, with an average annual increase of 12,000.
Can there be peace in the heart of any man, can there be freedom in the life of one who has left only misery as the bitter fruit of his indulgence?
Can anything be more false or dishonest than gratification of passion without acceptance of responsibility?
I have seen in Korea the tragic aftermath of war in the thousands of orphans born of Korean mothers and soldier fathers. They have been abandoned, creatures of sorrow, unwanted, the flotsam of a miserable tide of immorality.
It is so in Vietnam. Tens of thousands of such, according to reports. Peace and freedom? There can be neither for him who has wantonly indulged nor for those left as the innocent and tragic victims of his lust.
Men are prone to gloat over their immoral conquests. What a cheap and sullied victory. There is no conquest in such. It is only self-deception and a miserable fraud. The only conquest that brings satisfaction is the conquest of self. It was said of old that "he that governeth himself is greater than he that taketh a city."
Are not the words of Tennyson still appropriate: "My strength is as the strength of ten, Because my heart is pure."
You expect me to speak in this fashion. But listen to the conclusion of renowned historians Will and Ariel Durrant. Their language may sound a little indelicate for an occasion like this, but my young friends will understand it. Out of the vast experience of writing a thousand years of history, Dr. and Mrs. Durrant say:
"No one man, however brilliant or well informed can come in one lifetime to such fullness of understanding as to safely judge and dismiss the customs or institutions of his society, for these are the wisdom of generations after centuries of experiment in the laboratory of history. A youth boiling with hormones will wonder why he should not give full freedom to his sexual desires; and if he is unchecked by custom, morals, or laws, he may ruin his life before he matures sufficiently to understand that sex is a river of fire that must be banked and cooled by a hundred restraints if it is not to consume in chaos both the individual and the group."
Self-discipline was never easy. I do not doubt that it is more difficult today. We live in a sex-saturated world. Notwithstanding the conclusions of a government commission, which I am happy to say has been widely repudiated, I am convinced that many of our youth, and many older but no less gullible, are victims of the persuasive elements with which they are surrounded-the pornographic literature which has become a $500 million a year business in this country alone, seductive movies that excite and give sanction to promiscuity, dress standards that invite familiarity, judicial decisions that destroy legal restraint, parents who often unwittingly push the children they love toward situations they later regret.
A wise writer has observed that "a new religion is emerging throughout the world, a religion in which the body is the supreme object of worship to the exclusion of all other aspects of existence.
"The pursuit of its pleasures has grown into a cult... for its ritual no efforts are spared.
"We have bartered holiness for convenience... wisdom for information, joy for pleasure, tradition for fashion."
Nakedness has become the hallmark of much public entertainment. It reaches beyond this into the realm of sadistic perversion. As one seasoned New York critic remarked, "It's not only the nudity; it's the crudity."
Can there be any reasonable doubt that in sowing the wind of pornography, we are reaping the whirlwind of decay?
We need to read more history. Nations and civilizations have flowered, then died, poisoned by their own moral sickness. As one commentator has remarked, Rome perished when the Goths poured over its walls. But it was "not that the walls were low. It was that Rome itself was low."
No nation, no civilization can long endure without strength in the homes of its people. That strength derives from the integrity of those who establish those homes.
No family can have peace, no home can be free from storms of adversity unless that family and that home are built on foundations of morality, fidelity, and mutual respect. There cannot be peace where there is not trust; there cannot be freedom where there is not loyalty. The warm sunlight of love will not rise out of a swamp of immorality.
As with the bud, so with the blossom. Youth is the seedtime for the future flowering of family life. To hope for peace and love and gladness out of promiscuity is to hope for that which will never come. To wish for freedom out of immorality is to wish for something that cannot be. Said the Savior, "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin."
Is there a valid case for virtue? It is the only way to freedom from regret. The peace of conscience which flows therefrom is the only personal peace that is not counterfeit.
And beyond all of this is the unfailing promise of God to those who walk in virtue. Declared Jesus of Nazareth, speaking on the mountain, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." That is a covenant, made by him who has the power to fulfill.
And again, the voice of modern revelation speaks a promise-an unmatched promise that follows a simple commandment:
Here is the commandment: "... let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly." And here is the promise: "... Then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God...
"The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion... and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever."
Just a word or two concerning this marvelous promise-
It has been my privilege on various occasions to converse with Presidents of the United States and important men in other governments. At the close of each such occasion I have reflected on the rewarding experience of standing with confidence in the presence of an acknowledged leader. And then I have thought, what a wonderful thing, what a marvelous thing it would be to stand with confidence-unafraid and unashamed and unembarrassed- in the presence of God. This is the promise held out to every virtuous man and woman.
I know of no greater promise made by God to man than this promise made to those who let virtue garnish their thoughts unceasingly.
Channing Pollock once remarked: "A world in which everyone believed in the purity of women and the nobility of men, and acted accordingly, would be a very different world, but a grand place to live in."
I assure you, my young friends, that it would be a world of freedom in which the spirit of man might grow to undreamed-of glory, a world of peace, the peace of clear conscience, of unsullied love, of fidelity, of unfailing trust and loyalty.
This may appear an unattainable dream for the world. But for each of you it can be a reality, and the world will become so much the richer and the stronger for the virtue of your individual lives.
God bless you to realize this freedom, to know this peace, to gain this blessing, I humbly pray, as I leave with you my witness of the truth of these things; and as a servant of the Lord, I promise you that if you will sow in virtue, you will reap in gladness now and in all years yet to come, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 68-72
My brothers and sisters and friends, and especially our good folks from overseas and of a different tongue: It is a joy to be with you in this great conference.
To the right of us a hundred yards is a beautiful granite monument crowned with a stone globe, and on it, two bronze seagulls. Before this monument have stood millions of tourists, as they heard the absorbing story of the "Mercy of God to the Mormon Pioneers."
The bronze wings of the birds are spread wide, as are the great arms of the Church, to envelop all the peoples of the world; and the granite globe is prophetic of the worldwide Church and reminiscent of Daniel's envisioned stone cut out of the mountain without hands, to roll forth and fill the whole earth.
On the tablets is told the story of the virgin desert lands, of ox teams, of plowmen and wide-flung arms sowing grain. It pictures the invasion of the merciless insects, and the hopeless battle represented by the man sinking to the earth, listless, with his hanging hands and bowed head. Despair has engulfed him. The woman is also toil-worn, with something pathetic in her body-weariness, her head raised to the pitiless skies. They see the gulls overhead. Are they coming to complete the devastation? The conquest of the gulls and the harvesting of the grain that was saved is pictured. Total famine would now be averted.
The Egyptian scourge was not the first, nor was the Mormon disaster the last of the invasion by the crickets, the grasshoppers, the locusts. Years ago, when we visited Australia, we frequently heard that a man had "dropped his bundle." We came to know that it had a similar meaning there to the phrase we often use here: "He didn't make the grade" or "He missed the boat." As I read the old scriptures, I find that the ancients characterized such a situation with the phrase "The years that the locust hath eaten."
We are told that the locust is a species of a large family of insects with blunt antennae, long hind legs, thick thighs that make the familiar sound when scraped on the fore wings. They breed in river bottoms and sunny depressions and multiply at an alarming rate and fill the air, obliterating the daylight. Hordes of these insects have plagued western United States as well as many other parts of the world and caused billions of dollars of damage and ruin. They have caused numerous famines and the deaths of great numbers of people.
These insects, as with the cricket war in Utah, were heavily involved in the Egyptian story:
Moses and Aaron pleaded, and threatened Pharaoh to release his army of slaves. The monarch was obdurate, deceptive, and stubborn. During the suffering of each plague he made the promise, but when relief came, he ignored his promise.
Moses warned: "Thus saith the Lord God... How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself?... let my people go, that they may serve me."
In succession came the plagues: when "all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood"; and when "the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt"; and when "there came a grievous swarm of flies"; when "the dust of the earth... became lice"; when ashes sprinkled by Moses "became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast."
There came "thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground... And the hail smote... all that was in the field... every herb... and brake every tree of the field." "And the flax and the barley was smitten; for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was boiled."
Upon Pharaoh's repeated rejection, Moses quoted the Lord:
"... let my people go... Else, if thou refuse... behold, tomorrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast."
"Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shall gather very little in; for the locust shall consume it."
"... and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.
"... so that the land was darkened; and... there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt."
What the palmerworm left, the locust ate, and what the locust left, the caterpillar ate. And another crop was gone.
And as I remembered the "years that the locust hath eaten," I reflected on the lost weekends and wasted years of many people.
From a distant state a letter came from a man who had been baptized a year before. I quote from his letter:
"I will appreciate it if you will remove my name from the roster of the Church. I find the... requirements of the Church too great. I was... led... by the missionaries to the receiving of instructions. The next thing I knew, my baptism was planned. I do not regret this completely, for it was educational.
"Finally, I came to realize what I had gotten myself involved in.
"I was unable to forgo the four No's-tobacco, liquor, coffee and tea... It causes me more anxiety than I am able to cope with. And my personality requires acceptance... and I feel unaccepted when unable to partake of the pleasures of my companions.
"Also, I find that I cannot give from three to five hours on Sunday and one tenth of my earnings. This is against my basic nature...
"I am very sorry that I have caused you this trouble. No one should consider himself at fault... It is mine alone. I hope that you can forgive me... my decision is final."
His final decision was sad indeed. His years follow each other and are figuratively eaten by the locusts, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, while he returns to the world.
Contrary to this, generally, our people are not disturbed about four or five hours of devotion on the Sabbath and giving one tenth of their income and the four no's.
Marden says: "... the mill can never grind with the water which has passed."
Some days ago, a family of new members were beaming as they shook my hand. I asked them how long they had been members of the Church and the answer was "Two months." Then, with enthusiasm and regret, they said, "Think of all these years we could have been so happy in the Church!" The locusts had eaten their years.
Someone said, "'O, that I had!' or 'O, that I had not!' is the silent cry of many a man who would give life itself for the opportunity to go back and retrieve some long lost error."
In 1834, a high council was being organized by the Prophet Joseph Smith. This account comes from L. D. Young:
"... I committed a grave error, and desire to leave a record of it, for a lesson to others. The prophet requested me to take a seat with the brethren who had been selected for this council. Instead of doing so, I arose and pled my inability to fill so responsible a position, manifesting, I think, considerable earnestness in the matter.
"The prophet then said he merely desired I should take the place; but as I still excused myself, he appointed another to fill it. I think this was the reason that he never again called me to fill any important position in the priesthood. I have since learned to go where I am called, and not set up my judgment against that of those who are called to guide in this kingdom."
The locust went to work. Think of the years of opportunity this good man lost.
Harriet Winslow said of opportunity:
I know one man who was greatly concerned when his stake president invited him to be the bishop of the ward. His face became ashen. He stammered a rejection. He declined the great privilege of being a judge in Israel, a father of a people, a leader of men. The stake president, feeling that it was mere timidity and a feeling of inadequacy, attempted to persuade, but the decision was made.
Since that day there have been many years that "the locusts hath eaten."
In this connection, I also think of the Sidney Rigdons, the Oliver Cowderys, the Martin Harrises, and the many others who closed the doors upon their opportunities.
"Remember the four things come not back: the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life, and the neglected opportunity."
Another young man who was a faithful member of the Church became infatuated with a beautiful girl not a member of the Church, and when their courtship reached the marriage state, it was set to be a civil one, "till death do you part." He weakly remonstrated, but she with greater strength prevailed. Temple and eternal marriage had no meaning for her.
He would hope someday to bring her into the Church, but the years moved on at a rapid pace, and the children came and grew up without the gospel. The opportunities passed; years were lost-years never to be recovered, for time flies on wings of lightning, and you cannot call it back. Were these locust years?
Shakespeare wrote:
The locust has always been abroad. Civilization is cankered by the cankerworm.
Benjamin Franklin said: "Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of."
And another said: "Eternity itself cannot restore the loss struck from the minute."
"I wasted time, and now doth time waste me."
When I was a little boy, I was much impressed by a young couple just being married in a civil marriage. He was a handsome swain, with a sleek horse and rubber-tired buggy and with money to spend. She was the "belle of the ball," coming from a well-to-do family so that her clothes and her popularity made other girls envy her.
Their marriage was what might be called an extravaganza.
There had been many children in both families, but their first determination was that "they would have no kids."
There was some sort of surgery-no children ever came to that home. Their fun continued-dancing, riding, parties. Through the years, I saw them grow old and lonely. He died first. On a main street in the little town, she lived on and walked daily to the post office and to the grocery store. The years sped on and brought a bent back and a slow walk with a cane added. Loneliness surrounded her. Her brothers and sisters were occupied with their families. Visits to her were less often and for shorter periods. There was no radio or television that long ago. Reading was reduced as eyes grew dim. People saw her less often and missed her less.
One day someone found her. She had been dead for days. Alone in death as she had been alone in life. No loving, dutiful children to bury her-no tear shed-no lament. They had been wasted years. Were they years that the locust hath eaten?
Someone said:
"Destiny is not about thee, but within- Thyself must make thyself."
Failure to plan brings barrenness and sterility. Fate brushes man with its wings, but we make our own fate largely. Karl G. Maeser gives us this thought:
"And the books will be opened and my guardian angel will stand by me and as he opens the book he will say, 'Look,' and I will look and say: 'How beautiful.' And the angel will say, 'That is what you could have been,' and then he will turn the leaf and say, 'This is what you have been.'"
And Ingalls gives us this:
"Master of human destinies am I, Fame, love, and fortune on my footsteps wait. Cities and fields I walk, I penetrate Deserts and seas remote, and, passing by Hovel, and mart, and palace, soon or late I knock unbidden, once at every gate!
"If sleeping, wake-if feasting, rise before I turn away. It is the hour of fate, And they who follow me reach every state Mortals desire, and conquer every foe Save death; but those who doubt or hesitate Condemned to failure, penury and woe, Seek me in vain and uselessly implore- I answer not and I return no more." -John James Ingalls, "Opportunities"
-John James Ingalls, "Opportunities"
The world is full of opportunities missed. Many of the impressive talks of this conference have told of people who failed to accept the gospel when presented; of dropouts from high school, college, and employment; of waste through drugs and immoralities; of failures to accept Church and community service; of bypassing a proselyting mission; of a temporary civil marriage substituted for a permanent eternal one; of the use of the pill, abortion, and other means of damaging or destroying the family and home life so strongly urged as vital to our continued civilization. All this reminds us that though we must be in the world, we need not be of the world.
May we grasp our opportunities, live the gospel fully, and prepare ourselves for the eternity of glory which is our possible destiny, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Hartman Rector, Jr.
Hartman Rector, Jr., Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 73-75
Man is a spirit living in a house of clay called a physical body. This combination of spirit and body is called a living soul.
Physical bodies are made of flesh and bone and, therefore, have tangible form and shape and are easy to see and feel and recognize. The spirit also has a definite form and shape but does not have flesh and bone and, therefore, is not easy for mortals to see, feel, and recognize.
The scriptures tell us that the spirit and the body in which it lives look very, very much alike-and are, in fact, made in the image and likeness of God.
The word life means that the spirit is at home in the physical body. Death, on the other hand, means that the spirit has departed the physical body. When death occurs or when the spirit leaves the physical body, the physical body decays and returns to the dust whence it came. However, the spirit continues to exist in another realm called "the spirit world" and still maintains its form and shape and identity.
Resurrection is a process whereby after death the spirit returns and reunites with the body and they become again a living, immortal soul, immortal meaning not subject to death or separation. I believe it is primarily the spirit that sees, hears, feels, knows passion and desire; it is the spirit that becomes addicted to drugs, bad habits, and evil desires. It is not just the physical body that is addicted, but the spirit also, which, of course, is the real you and me. We are spirits just as God is a spirit.
Sometimes we make excuses for ourselves, when we do what we should not do or fall short of what we should have done. We use such expressions as, "Oh! the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." With such rationalizations we insinuate that it is completely our physical body's fault that we sin. In my opinion, this is not true. I believe the physical body is a very strong part of us and is of great benefit to us. Among other reasons, it was given to us to help us overcome our addictions, bad habits, and evil desires. The body is very obedient; generally speaking, it will do exactly what the spirit tells it to do. So it is not the physical body that we are struggling with; it is the spirit we must bring into subjection.
Sometimes we seem to get the idea that in the spirit world, we will be completely different individuals; we will suddenly undergo a miraculous change in our character when we die. But nothing could be further from the truth. "We," our spirits, do not change at death; we are still the same. Amulek, a great Book of Mormon prophet, tells us plainly what the conditions in the spirit world will be.
"And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
"Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world."
Thus we see that we are here upon the earth to "prepare for eternity," or more simply said, we are here to get in condition to leave. And everybody is going to leave. Nobody gets out of this life alive. Someone has said that everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die to do it. But as a matter of fact, we have to die to do it.
Amulek plainly states that the "same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world." So, we do not change just because we die. If we are addicted to drugs, bad habits, or evil desires here upon the earth, we shall be addicted to the same things in the spirit world; if we are a "pill" or a "crank" or a liar here, we will still be a "pill" or a "crank" or a liar there.
The scriptures speak of the spirit world as being two different places-as paradise at one time, and as spirit prison at another time. But as a matter of fact, the spirit world is really just one place; it merely depends on the condition we are in when we go there as to what it will be for us. If we go there addicted to drugs, bad habits, or evil desires, it will be a prison.
Our Heavenly Father wants us to be free; he doesn't want us to be in bondage to our appetites and passions. Therefore, he has given us commandments that are only calculated to make us free. And he tells us that all of his commandments are spiritual. Never at any time has he given a commandment that is not spiritual. Even the Word of Wisdom is a spiritual commandment in that it primarily affects our spirits, and certainly it does.
To illustrate, I knew a man who was a member of the Church but had returned to his habit of smoking cigarettes. He said he didn't want to smoke but just couldn't help it. Of course, he could have overcome the habit if he had really wanted to while he had his body to help him. If the spirit tells the body not to pick up the cigarette, the body won't pick it up, and abstinence over time allows the spirit to overcome the desire. This man finally suffered a stroke. His body was paralyzed with the exception of his right arm and his eyes. As his son-in-law picked him up from the porch of his house, where he had fallen, with the only arm this man could move, he reached for the cigarette in his son-in-law's mouth, but he could not hold onto it. His son-in-law held the lighted cigarette to the stricken man's lips, but in his condition he could not hold it in his mouth.
For nine months this man lay on his bed. He actually wore out the pocket of his pajamas reaching into it for a cigarette that was not there. Then he died and went into the spirit world. Do you suppose he still wants a cigarette? On the basis of Amulek's statement, he does. But there is just one catch-there are no cigarettes in the spirit world. Would you suppose he is in paradise or in spirit prison? The answer seems only too obvious.
Oh yes, it is possible to repent in the spirit world, although we are given to understand that it is much more difficult to repent there because we will not have our physical bodies to help us. Also an integral part of repentance is that we must make restitution. This means that if you have stolen five dollars, you have to return five dollars to the person whom you have robbed. This may be very difficult to do in the spirit world. You can also understand then why murder and adultery or fornication are such grievous sins; how can you make restitution? Virtue once gone cannot be replaced. Neither can a life be restored.
It may be very difficult to gain forgiveness for these kinds of sins. President Brigham Young said it is a hundred times easier to repent here on the earth than it is in the spirit world. By the same token, if we go there in the right condition, it is a hundred times easier to learn in the spirit world than it is here in this life. So we should do what we can do best where we are. Now is the best time to repent; then will be the best time to learn.
The resurrection is a reality made possible by our Lord Jesus Christ, who, in the words of Paul, was "the firstfruits of them that slept." And because he was resurrected, everyone who has lived or will live upon the earth will also be resurrected. Whether they wish to be or not really makes no difference-they are going to live again anyway and be judged according to their works; and the condition they are in at the time of their resurrection will to a great extent determine their reward. Then they who are filthy shall be filthy still, and they who are righteous shall be righteous still. And each one will get what he has prepared himself to receive.
As much as our Heavenly Father loves us and wants to help us to avoid heartache and unhappiness, still there is nothing much he can do for his children unless they desire it done. It is a startling fact to most Christian people when Mormon elders tell them that God cannot save his children in their sins. But this is the word of God through his prophets. The prophet Alma, in a conversation with a man professing to be religious but not believing in God, said, "And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins."
If the Lord cannot save a man in his sins, neither can he force a man to repent. Repentance is required for exaltation, but repentance is a voluntary matter and, in the words of Paul, a gift of God -not a gift in the usual sense of an object presented but nevertheless a gift in a real sense, presented to each of us by the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who has paid the price for our sins on condition of our accepting his sacrifice for us through repentance. The Lord has given us a key, a sign of repentance. "By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins behold, he will confess them and forsake them."
I bear witness that Jesus is the Christ and that he lives and has made repentance possible and necessary and required of all; that the commandments of God are given by a loving Father to make us free here on earth and in the spirit world, that we may enter the spirit world as uninhibited spirits, ready to receive the new knowledge that will be there for us, and to get us into condition to receive a far greater and eternal weight of glory through the resurrection of the just.. I bear this witness in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Sterling W. Sill
Sterling W. Sill, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 75-79
During the last six months of this year, the Saturday night leadership meetings of our stake conferences are being used to promote the double objectives of the military relations program of the Church. It is of primary importance that every person in the world should understand that the Church of Jesus Christ has been reestablished upon the earth. It is also important to know that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man and that he holds us accountable for our acts in relation to them.
We have a direct revelation from the Lord that he raised up wise men to establish the Constitution of this land, and he requires that it be maintained for the protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles, that everyone may act according to his God-given moral agency. It is a divine decree that this land should serve as the citadel of liberty. And it is the American mission to keep freedom, righteousness, and human dignity alive in the world.
How grateful we ought to be that God raised up such men as our founding fathers to stand in the forefront of our civilization and give our nation its start toward its destiny. The history of our world would have been vastly different if the kind of men who use Stalin blood purges, Hitler gas ovens, Castro indignities, and Communist deceptions as instruments of government had laid our national foundations or were presently manipulating the controls of American wealth and power.
It seems to me that above most other things we need to learn to be good soldiers. Whether we are in or out of uniform, we should develop those sure and steady qualities of always being faithful, of always being loyal, of always living at our best, and of always being successful.
In 1835 a French visitor, by the name of Alexis de Tocqueville, made a detailed study of our national operations. Later he wrote in his book: "America is great because she is good. And if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great." This is a divine law that applies to all nations and to all individuals. But it applies particularly to us, because our extraordinary power and our extraordinary mission give us extraordinary responsibilities.
When we sing "God Bless America," what kind of an America should we have in mind? Certainly not a drunken America, nor a criminal America, nor an irresponsible America. We must not build an atheistic America, nor a disloyal America, nor a weak America, nor an immoral America. And to effectively serve God and our country, every good church member and every good citizen should be constantly waging war-not a war against anybody, but a war for everybody, a war for God and for freedom and for truth and for righteousness and for success.
Sometime ago a 43-year-old man reenlisted in the army. A friend said to him, "Don't you think that you have already done enough for your country?" He replied, "Can anyone ever do enough for his country?" And President John F. Kennedy pointed the American way to success in his inaugural address when he said, "Fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Then, in the tradition of the prophets, he sealed his testimony with his blood.
Every God-fearing, freedom-loving, truth-seeking person in the world, regardless of nation, creed, color, or race, should constantly be praying and continually be working for a strong, enduring, righteous United States of America. For if any communistic combination of nations should ever reach their announced goal of world domination, then none of our other problems would ever again seem of very great consequence. As Emerson, the spokesman for an earlier America, said: "For what avail the plow or sail, Or land or life, if freedom fail?"
Too often we accept the blessings of religion and the advantages of government and then ignore our duties and deny our responsibilities. We pledge allegiance to the flag, but we allow ourselves to be divided by foreign troublemakers, despoiled by irresponsible vandals, weakened by criminal race-rioters, and sickened by traitors conducting senseless demonstrations against the government and our duly elected leaders.
That fundamental principle is still in effect that says, "United we stand, divided we fall." And the Master himself has said, "If ye are not one, ye are not mine." It is significant that many of the greatest men that God has ever raised up out of the dust of this earth have been military men.
We have national holidays to commemorate the birthdays of George Washington, the father of his country, and Abraham Lincoln, who saved it from dissolution. Both were our commanders-in-chief during important wars. Some of our more recent war heroes were John J. Pershing, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and our present great commander-in-chief, Richard M. Nixon. We should also keep in mind that the greatest of all military men was the Son of God himself. In the war in heaven, he led the forces of righteousness against the rebellion of Lucifer. We can also draw great significance from the fact that before the Savior of the world was the Prince of Peace, he was Jehovah the warrior.
The Bible says that the Lord is a man of war. And the Lord is his name. It should be very helpful for each soldier, as he enters military service, to receive a Book of Mormon from the Church. This important book of scripture was written by ancient prophets who occupied our continent before us. And it was compiled by Mormon, that great pre-Columbus American general whose name it bears. This is significant, as he was one of the greatest authorities about those very principles on which our present success depends.
When he was only ten years of age, Mormon received the divine call to his life's work of compiling this book for our benefit. Then, like young Samuel at Shiloh, he received a personal visitation from the Lord at age 15. At age 16 he was appointed to lead the armies of the Nephite republic against its adversaries, the Lamanites, and his commission extended over 58 years, until his death at age 74. No weakling or coward survives a test like that. Mormon was a prophet, an author, a historian, and he had the most extended military career on record.
He taught his soldiers the arts and strategies of war. But he also taught them that the most important qualification for being a good soldier is to be a good man. Through Mormon, God offered the Nephite army victory at any time that they would obey those laws of righteousness on which all military as well as all other success finally depends. The greatest nations of the past have fallen because they have disobeyed God's laws of success. And if we desire to be good soldiers, we must avoid their mistakes. A roadside billboard for an oil company says "A Clean Engine Produces Power"-and so do a clean mind and a loyal heart.
It is extremely unfortunate that so many, while officially representing "this nation under God," should use the army as an excuse to throw off their moral restraints and do those things to which the Ruler of the Universe so seriously objects. Anyone who lays aside his religion when he enters military service is like the one who removes his armor under fire. And from any point of view, no drunken, immoral, irreverent, cowardly, disobedient army is entitled to win victories. Washington was at his best when on his knees at Valley Forge. Lincoln said that he was not so much concerned about whether or not God was on his side, but it was very important for him to be on God's side. How inspiring it ought to be for our present-day soldiers to carry with them into battle the inspired teachings of this great prophet-general, who, over a long period, had the closest kind of association with the God of success. He failed only, as the Savior failed, because his soldiers refused to follow, but he tried magnificently. Mormon said, "I speak it boldly; God hath commanded me." And he carried out every command.
With prophetic vision, Mormon looked down to our time. And he was greatly concerned about what he saw. He tried to stimulate our responsibility by recalling the divine decree that says that we must obey the God of this land or we shall be swept off when the fullness of his wrath shall come upon us. Mormon said:
"Behold, I speak unto you as though I spake from the dead; for I know that ye shall hear my words." "Listen unto them and give heed, or they will stand against you at the judgment-seat of Christ."
And I imagine that when that great tribunal sits and we shall stand before it, how grateful we shall feel if we have been wise enough to follow his inspired leadership.
Instead of getting all we can out of the government, we should generate more of the spirit of Nathan Hale, who said, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." The Redeemer himself has said: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." And then in this, he also set us a personal example. This stimulating idea has been condensed into verse, wherein the poet said:
"To every man upon this earth Death cometh soon or late; But every man may give his life To something good and great.
"And how can man die better Than in facing fearful odds, For the ashes of his fathers And the temples of his gods."
And so again we might ask ourselves, Can anyone ever do enough for his country or for God or for the people of our planet with whom we live? Before signing the Declaration of Independence, our founding fathers wrote above their signatures their own determination to live by their convictions. They said: "And in support of this declaration, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." That was about all that any of them had to give. And they offered it freely, without any reservation. We have much more at stake, and certainly we should not do less.
Major Martin Treptow, who fought in World War I, was a good soldier. Before he gave his life in the battle of Chateau-Thierry, he wrote in his diary, "I will work, I will save, I will sacrifice, I will endure. I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost as though the entire conflict depended upon me alone." And whether we are engaged on a moral or a military battlefield, even one man can, if he will, change the morale of a whole community.
Our lives and our civilization itself depend upon our being good soldiers. This great truth was stated by Daniel Webster, in prophetic language before the New York Historical Society on February 22, 1852, just before his death. Even then he saw some of those dangers which are now gathering about us. He was trying to help us to be good soldiers when he said:
"If we and our posterity shall be true to the Christian religion; if we and they shall live always in the fear of God and shall respect his commandments... we may have the highest hopes of the future fortunes of our country, and we may be sure of one thing: Our country will go on prospering. But if we and our posterity reject religious instruction and authority, violate the rules of eternal justice, trifle with the injunctions of morality, and recklessly destroy the political constitution which holds us together, no one can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us, that shall bury all our glory in profound obscurity.
"Should that catastrophe happen let it have no history. Let the horrible narrative never be written. Let its fate be that of the lost books of Livy which no human eye shall ever read, or the missing Pleiad of which no man can ever know more than that it is lost, and lost forever."
But this catastrophe must not happen and it will not happen if we but follow the directions that have already been given by the greatest of all military authorities. God offered to save Sodom and Gomorrah if only ten righteous people could be found therein, and God will prosper us if we will faithfully carry forward our double assignment of so serving God and our country that many hundreds of millions of truth-seeking, freedom-loving, God-fearing men and women may be entitled to the everlasting blessings of our eternal Heavenly Father. For this I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Franklin D. Richards
Franklin D. Richards, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 79-82
My dear brothers and sisters, I am happy to participate with you in the wonderful spirit of this conference and in the beautiful music and inspirational messages we have listened to. I feel that these messages are particularly applicable at this time.
Frequently we hear that our nation is at the crossroads of advancement or fall, and this could well be a correct analysis of the present situation.
Many have twisted moral values to suit themselves, have scoffed at integrity, and have become victims of a feverish tension, lacking the one thing they want most-inner peace. To a considerable extent this nation has behaved like great civilizations of the past when they have become self-indulgent and pleasure ridden, just before they crumbled.
But where do we go from here? Do we have a new frontier or goal?
It seems to me that we should seek the success of the inner man, now that our affluent society has furbished the outer man so extensively.
We could search for paths to family harmony, more and better relatedness to God and our fellowmen, and inner ease instead of tension.
Our new frontier and goal might well be that of making a rich and rewarding life.
Let me suggest that we reexamine our standards of right and wrong and determine what standards are best for ourselves and for the common good of our fellowmen.
I am convinced that neither science nor philosophy can satisfactorily answer these questions but that the gospel of Jesus Christ can.
We bear witness to the world that God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ have appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith in this dispensation and restored the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness and that there is a prophet of God on the earth today, our beloved President Joseph Fielding Smith.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan of life and teaches that all men are children of God. The gospel clearly sets out standards of right and wrong.
As an example, in this dispensation the Lord has counseled, "Thou shalt not steal," and "Thou shalt not lie."
These standards require a person to be honest and truthful and respect the property rights of others, and are for the common good of all.
The apostle Paul, in facing a situation somewhat similar to our time, wrote the Roman saints and enumerated several standards, saying, "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light.
"Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying."
Many times the apostle Paul emphasized the importance of being honest, and his life, in every way, exemplified this great eternal principle.
As we incorporate the gospel principles or standards into our lives, we have the confidence and respect of our fellowmen, enjoy love and harmony in our family relationships, and are blessed with peace of mind. We are indeed living the good life.
The English author Charles Dickens wrote, "We wear the chains we forge in life." How true this is, and how important it is to forge a chain that will bring a rich and rewarding life-and remember that the diminutive chains of habit are generally too small to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.
In forging a strong chain of life, the habit of honesty can well become one of the brightest and strongest links.
There is great power in centering one's attention upon an ideal or principle such as honesty. But in the minds of many the real meaning of honesty, as a moral value, has been terribly twisted.
Honest thinking and honest acting are desperately needed in today's society.
The dictionary defines honesty as the quality of being truthful, incorruptible, and free from deceit and fraud.
In thinking of honesty, we may first think of our relations with others, but in many respects it is more important to be honest with ourselves.
In the play Hamlet, Shakespeare has his character Polonius saying to his son Laertes, "This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man."
When one accepts the standard of being honest with himself and commits himself to this end, he has made a tremendous step toward happiness and success.
Each of us is endowed with the right to choose good or evil, and we should recognize that men do not succeed, neither are they destroyed by other people or conditions, but rather by their own decisions.
Honesty to one's own self embraces good health habits, good work and study habits, a determination to be of some useful service to others, and, as the apostle Paul says, an avoidance of rioting, drunkenness, chambering, wantonness, strife and envying.
We recognize that our body is the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in us, and with such knowledge we should do everything possible to strengthen our bodies. This necessarily means the avoidance of tobacco, liquor, tea, and coffee, the use of drugs and anything that harms or defiles the body.
Likewise, good thoughts that assist one to grow and develop and to be of use and service to his fellowmen stimulate mental and physical health, whereas degrading thoughts built around obscenity, immorality, strife, stealing, cheating, and lying result in ultimate destruction.
To be honest with ourselves, we must adopt good mental and physical health habits as our standards; we know that good health of body and mind contribute to a rich and rewarding life, a clear conscience, and inner peace.
Again, good work and study habits are of major importance in living a rich and rewarding life.
There are some who contend that hard work isn't necessary today in order to be successful and happy, but this is not true.
The gospel plan requires each of us to work out our own salvation, our happiness, growth, and development.
Let me quote a part of a letter written by an anxious father to his son to emphasize this matter:
"My son, remember you have to work. Whether you handle a pick or wheelbarrow, or a set of books, editing a newspaper or writing a funny story, you must work.
"Work gives you appetite for your meals, it lends solidity to your slumber, it gives you an appreciation of a holiday.
"There are young men who do not work but the country is not proud of them. It does not even know their names. So find out what you want to be and do. Take off your coat and make the dust fly. The busier you are the less harm you are apt to get into, the sweeter will be your sleep, the brighter your holidays and the better satisfied the whole world will be with you."
Good work habits include such qualities as dependability, loyalty to employer, willingness to go the extra mile, and finding happiness and purpose in your work.
Now, concerning good study habits, let us consider why we read and study: to be informed, to gain wisdom and knowledge that will be of value to us, to grow and develop. Yes, reading can become a most pleasant and profitable way to regularly spend a portion of our time.
The Lord has told us that "the glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth", and that "it is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance", and "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."
Mr. Alfred C. Fuller, the founder of the Fuller Brush Company, had this to say about his study of the Bible: "What most impresses me as I look backward, is the immense application I have made of Bible truths in my family life. From lack of education, I relied on the Bible as my text book, in every conceivable problem that arose. Only when I deviated from this teaching did I fail.
"He who does not live daily in its guidance is foolish for he is rejecting the greatest source of personal profit that exists in the world. The Bible is the best 'how-to-do-it' book ever compiled and it covers every fundamental that anyone really needs to know."
Let us be honest with ourselves and get into the habit of reading and studying the Bible and the other standard works of the Church as a guide to a rich and rewarding life.
One of the greatest blessings the Church affords its members is an opportunity for each to serve his fellows in many different ways. We receive great joy, happiness, and individual growth and development by being active in church service.
Let us be honest with ourselves and never turn down an opportunity to serve in building and serving the kingdom of God.
When one is honest with himself, he cannot be unfaithful to his family, unfair to his employer, or disloyal to his God and country.
We should exert our best efforts to accomplish our righteous objectives, utilizing every legitimate means but not permitting ourselves to commit a wrong in our quest for the right. It is better to lose than to win an unjust or dishonest cause.
What better, then, can a person learn than honesty? What better can he learn than to use the principle of honesty in doing his best? in learning the best things in life? in reading the best books? in mingling with the best people? in doing the best things?
In so doing we are seeking the success of the inner man and will find family harmony, more and better relatedness to God and our fellowmen, and inner ease instead of inner tension. Thus we will achieve our new frontier and goal of a rich and rewarding life.
May we commit ourselves to this end, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder A. Theodore Tuttle
A. Theodore Tuttle, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 82-84
When the Savior walked the earth, he chose twelve men and placed them in charge of his Church. These men were the Twelve Apostles. They were also designated especial witnesses. They testified that Jesus was the Christ. They directed all the work of the Church.
Luke tells us, in a sketchy account, of another body of men likewise called to a special calling. No doubt these men were to assist the Twelve.
"After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
"Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest."
It is recorded later in this same chapter:
"And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."
During the subsequent apostasy that followed the establishment of the Church, an understanding of this priesthood office and the duties of the seventy was lost to the world. Without revelation men could know neither the duties nor power of the seventy.
When the gospel was restored in our day, a knowledge of the proper place and function of priesthood offices was revealed. Apostles and prophets were again placed at the head of the Church, with power to administer all the affairs of the kingdom.
Two weeks after the calling of the Twelve, another body of men was called and organized. This body was the First Quorum of the Seventy. Their duties, and the duties of seventies in general, were unfolded in revelations to the modern prophet. Several things were made clear:
First, that the presiding officers of this quorum were constituted different from those of any other quorum:
"And it is according to the vision showing the order of the Seventy, that they should have seven presidents to preside over them, chosen out of the number of the seventy;
"And the seventh president of these presidents is to preside over the six."
Second, that these brethren were to act under the direction of the Twelve:
"The Seventy are to act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Twelve or the traveling high council, in building up the church and regulating all the affairs of the same in all nations, first unto the Gentiles and then to the Jews." The third thing made clear was that other seventy also were to be called: "And these seven presidents are to choose other seventy besides the first seventy to whom they belong, and are to preside over them; "And also other seventy, until seven times seventy, if the labor in the vineyard of necessity requires it. "And these seventy are to be traveling ministers, unto the Gentiles first and also unto the Jews." Special duties designated Their special duties were designated: "The Seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world-thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling." And so it is today. The first seven presidents of the First Quorum of the Seventy act under the direction of the Twelve. We consider it an honor to serve under the inspired leadership of these great men. We wholeheartedly sustain the leadership they give to the great missionary program of the Church, in both the full-time and the stake missionary work. Worldwide missionary work Worldwide missionary work actually began when the Savior introduced an apostolic dispensation in the meridian of time. His commission to his Twelve was: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." With the restoration of the gospel, that same commission was announced. "Verily, verily, I stay unto you, they who believe not on your words, and are not baptized in water in my name, for the remission of their sins, that they may receive the Holy Ghost, shall be damned, and shall not come into my Father's kingdom... "And this revelation unto you, and commandment, is in force from this very hour upon all the world, and the gospel is unto all who have not received it. "But, verily I say unto all those to whom the kingdom has been given-from you it must be preached unto them." A divine commission Our mandate is clear. We have a divine commission. We have been counseled by modern prophets that every member has a missionary obligation. Today, in the new Priesthood Missionary Handbook, a program is outlined that can make that great concept become a reality. The program rests on the members of the priesthood. Since the seventies have a special missionary calling, the Brethren have placed the primary responsibility upon the seventies quorums in the Church. As the First Council of the Seventy, we are determined to accomplish the mission the Twelve have given us. We now call upon all seventies everywhere to learn their duty and to be anxiously engaged in doing it. We propose to have this great work go forward in a better, more effective way than ever before. Some presidents of the seventies will remember a meeting held in the Assembly Hall in 1965. At that meeting President Harold B. Lee said: "The door is opening for you as leaders to bring your seventies and walk through that open door. You must see to it that with all the strength you possess from training, from an understanding of the gospel, to support the leadership of the First Council of the Seventy, acting under the direction of the Twelve and the First Presidency... walk through that open door and demonstrate now that never again so far as you have strength will you lose your grasp upon the opportunity that is now being offered to you." Program for seventies We have been heartened, brethren, by the response which you have given to the various projects which we have administered in the past. In reality, they have been training exercises to strengthen us for this great task which the Twelve have now laid upon our shoulders. I quote excerpts from the new Priesthood Missionary Handbook: "Seventies serve as stake missionaries by virtue of their priesthood office without being set apart..." "... the stake mission presidency are... serve... as presidents in the seventies quorum..." "... Seventies and stake and full-time missionaries... are to coordinate with home teachers, under the direction of the bishop and quorum leaders..." -thereby helping families to discharge their missionary responsibility. "... missionary work should be done on a ward basis." "The seventies group leader... serves as the ward mission leader." "... the ward mission leader should conduct among the Seventies the program for finding families, and may be invited to train High Priests and others to assist in this program and in various other ways of finding the investigator." As you can see, the work is to go forward in an orderly and systematic way. The Regional Representatives of the Twelve will soon come to stake leaders with a full explanation of this program. Stake mission presidents will be invited to attend these regional meetings during the first six months of 1971. Time to magnify assignment This is the decade of the seventies! This is the time to step forward, to honor the confidence placed in us by the Twelve. This is the time to magnify the priesthood assignment given to us through revelation today. We are confident, brethren of the seventies, that you will accept and accomplish this work. "Therefore, let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling... that the system may be kept perfect." There is reason for this great emphasis upon missionary work in the world today. The Lord gave that reason in the eighteenth section of the Doctrine and Covenants: "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; "And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" Some may wonder how one soul could be worth the labor of a lifetime. We live in a world of temporal and transitory things. Many fail to understand the nature of man-that his soul is eternal! Man's soul is indeed worth a lifetime of effort to save. One other thing-the saver of souls, together with him who is saved, shall be found in the kingdom of our Father. Pledge of effort To you brethren of the Twelve, we of the First Council pledge our greatest effort to bring many souls into the kingdom. We will move forward in faith in this ministry of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. We feel humble as we view the magnitude of the task you have assigned us. We nevertheless have courage and confidence that because this is the work of the Lord, and because you and we are his servants, there will be a plenteous harvest. As for myself, I really want to help save a soul. I would like to have some one person stand in the congregation of the righteous at that great day and say, "He it was who brought me into the kingdom." In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The third thing made clear was that other seventy also were to be called: "And these seven presidents are to choose other seventy besides the first seventy to whom they belong, and are to preside over them; "And also other seventy, until seven times seventy, if the labor in the vineyard of necessity requires it. "And these seventy are to be traveling ministers, unto the Gentiles first and also unto the Jews." Special duties designated Their special duties were designated: "The Seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world-thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling." And so it is today. The first seven presidents of the First Quorum of the Seventy act under the direction of the Twelve. We consider it an honor to serve under the inspired leadership of these great men. We wholeheartedly sustain the leadership they give to the great missionary program of the Church, in both the full-time and the stake missionary work. Worldwide missionary work Worldwide missionary work actually began when the Savior introduced an apostolic dispensation in the meridian of time. His commission to his Twelve was: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." With the restoration of the gospel, that same commission was announced. "Verily, verily, I stay unto you, they who believe not on your words, and are not baptized in water in my name, for the remission of their sins, that they may receive the Holy Ghost, shall be damned, and shall not come into my Father's kingdom... "And this revelation unto you, and commandment, is in force from this very hour upon all the world, and the gospel is unto all who have not received it. "But, verily I say unto all those to whom the kingdom has been given-from you it must be preached unto them." A divine commission Our mandate is clear. We have a divine commission. We have been counseled by modern prophets that every member has a missionary obligation. Today, in the new Priesthood Missionary Handbook, a program is outlined that can make that great concept become a reality. The program rests on the members of the priesthood. Since the seventies have a special missionary calling, the Brethren have placed the primary responsibility upon the seventies quorums in the Church. As the First Council of the Seventy, we are determined to accomplish the mission the Twelve have given us. We now call upon all seventies everywhere to learn their duty and to be anxiously engaged in doing it. We propose to have this great work go forward in a better, more effective way than ever before. Some presidents of the seventies will remember a meeting held in the Assembly Hall in 1965. At that meeting President Harold B. Lee said: "The door is opening for you as leaders to bring your seventies and walk through that open door. You must see to it that with all the strength you possess from training, from an understanding of the gospel, to support the leadership of the First Council of the Seventy, acting under the direction of the Twelve and the First Presidency... walk through that open door and demonstrate now that never again so far as you have strength will you lose your grasp upon the opportunity that is now being offered to you." Program for seventies We have been heartened, brethren, by the response which you have given to the various projects which we have administered in the past. In reality, they have been training exercises to strengthen us for this great task which the Twelve have now laid upon our shoulders. I quote excerpts from the new Priesthood Missionary Handbook: "Seventies serve as stake missionaries by virtue of their priesthood office without being set apart..." "... the stake mission presidency are... serve... as presidents in the seventies quorum..." "... Seventies and stake and full-time missionaries... are to coordinate with home teachers, under the direction of the bishop and quorum leaders..." -thereby helping families to discharge their missionary responsibility. "... missionary work should be done on a ward basis." "The seventies group leader... serves as the ward mission leader." "... the ward mission leader should conduct among the Seventies the program for finding families, and may be invited to train High Priests and others to assist in this program and in various other ways of finding the investigator." As you can see, the work is to go forward in an orderly and systematic way. The Regional Representatives of the Twelve will soon come to stake leaders with a full explanation of this program. Stake mission presidents will be invited to attend these regional meetings during the first six months of 1971. Time to magnify assignment This is the decade of the seventies! This is the time to step forward, to honor the confidence placed in us by the Twelve. This is the time to magnify the priesthood assignment given to us through revelation today. We are confident, brethren of the seventies, that you will accept and accomplish this work. "Therefore, let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling... that the system may be kept perfect." There is reason for this great emphasis upon missionary work in the world today. The Lord gave that reason in the eighteenth section of the Doctrine and Covenants: "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; "And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" Some may wonder how one soul could be worth the labor of a lifetime. We live in a world of temporal and transitory things. Many fail to understand the nature of man-that his soul is eternal! Man's soul is indeed worth a lifetime of effort to save. One other thing-the saver of souls, together with him who is saved, shall be found in the kingdom of our Father. Pledge of effort To you brethren of the Twelve, we of the First Council pledge our greatest effort to bring many souls into the kingdom. We will move forward in faith in this ministry of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. We feel humble as we view the magnitude of the task you have assigned us. We nevertheless have courage and confidence that because this is the work of the Lord, and because you and we are his servants, there will be a plenteous harvest. As for myself, I really want to help save a soul. I would like to have some one person stand in the congregation of the righteous at that great day and say, "He it was who brought me into the kingdom." In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The third thing made clear was that other seventy also were to be called:
"And these seven presidents are to choose other seventy besides the first seventy to whom they belong, and are to preside over them;
"And also other seventy, until seven times seventy, if the labor in the vineyard of necessity requires it.
"And these seventy are to be traveling ministers, unto the Gentiles first and also unto the Jews."
Their special duties were designated:
"The Seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world-thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling."
And so it is today. The first seven presidents of the First Quorum of the Seventy act under the direction of the Twelve. We consider it an honor to serve under the inspired leadership of these great men. We wholeheartedly sustain the leadership they give to the great missionary program of the Church, in both the full-time and the stake missionary work.
Worldwide missionary work actually began when the Savior introduced an apostolic dispensation in the meridian of time. His commission to his Twelve was:
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."
With the restoration of the gospel, that same commission was announced.
"Verily, verily, I stay unto you, they who believe not on your words, and are not baptized in water in my name, for the remission of their sins, that they may receive the Holy Ghost, shall be damned, and shall not come into my Father's kingdom...
"And this revelation unto you, and commandment, is in force from this very hour upon all the world, and the gospel is unto all who have not received it.
"But, verily I say unto all those to whom the kingdom has been given-from you it must be preached unto them."
Our mandate is clear. We have a divine commission. We have been counseled by modern prophets that every member has a missionary obligation. Today, in the new Priesthood Missionary Handbook, a program is outlined that can make that great concept become a reality. The program rests on the members of the priesthood. Since the seventies have a special missionary calling, the Brethren have placed the primary responsibility upon the seventies quorums in the Church. As the First Council of the Seventy, we are determined to accomplish the mission the Twelve have given us. We now call upon all seventies everywhere to learn their duty and to be anxiously engaged in doing it. We propose to have this great work go forward in a better, more effective way than ever before.
Some presidents of the seventies will remember a meeting held in the Assembly Hall in 1965. At that meeting President Harold B. Lee said:
"The door is opening for you as leaders to bring your seventies and walk through that open door. You must see to it that with all the strength you possess from training, from an understanding of the gospel, to support the leadership of the First Council of the Seventy, acting under the direction of the Twelve and the First Presidency... walk through that open door and demonstrate now that never again so far as you have strength will you lose your grasp upon the opportunity that is now being offered to you."
We have been heartened, brethren, by the response which you have given to the various projects which we have administered in the past. In reality, they have been training exercises to strengthen us for this great task which the Twelve have now laid upon our shoulders. I quote excerpts from the new Priesthood Missionary Handbook:
"Seventies serve as stake missionaries by virtue of their priesthood office without being set apart..."
"... the stake mission presidency are... serve... as presidents in the seventies quorum..."
"... Seventies and stake and full-time missionaries... are to coordinate with home teachers, under the direction of the bishop and quorum leaders..." -thereby helping families to discharge their missionary responsibility.
"... missionary work should be done on a ward basis."
"The seventies group leader... serves as the ward mission leader."
"... the ward mission leader should conduct among the Seventies the program for finding families, and may be invited to train High Priests and others to assist in this program and in various other ways of finding the investigator."
As you can see, the work is to go forward in an orderly and systematic way.
The Regional Representatives of the Twelve will soon come to stake leaders with a full explanation of this program. Stake mission presidents will be invited to attend these regional meetings during the first six months of 1971.
This is the decade of the seventies!
This is the time to step forward, to honor the confidence placed in us by the Twelve. This is the time to magnify the priesthood assignment given to us through revelation today. We are confident, brethren of the seventies, that you will accept and accomplish this work.
"Therefore, let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling... that the system may be kept perfect."
There is reason for this great emphasis upon missionary work in the world today. The Lord gave that reason in the eighteenth section of the Doctrine and Covenants:
"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;
"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!"
Some may wonder how one soul could be worth the labor of a lifetime. We live in a world of temporal and transitory things. Many fail to understand the nature of man-that his soul is eternal! Man's soul is indeed worth a lifetime of effort to save.
One other thing-the saver of souls, together with him who is saved, shall be found in the kingdom of our Father.
To you brethren of the Twelve, we of the First Council pledge our greatest effort to bring many souls into the kingdom. We will move forward in faith in this ministry of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. We feel humble as we view the magnitude of the task you have assigned us. We nevertheless have courage and confidence that because this is the work of the Lord, and because you and we are his servants, there will be a plenteous harvest.
As for myself, I really want to help save a soul. I would like to have some one person stand in the congregation of the righteous at that great day and say, "He it was who brought me into the kingdom."
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder David B. Haight
David B. Haight, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 85-86
I stand before you, my beloved fellow Saints, in deep humility. As I view this vast audience of Church leaders and many friends for the first time as a General Authority, the feelings in my soul on this day have been expressed by Alfred, Lord Tennyson as he wrote, "There are times which are too full for sound or foam." Some events and incidents happen in our lives that somehow are so overwhelming, and yet seem to be tied so closely to Divine Power-and influence-and yet we feel so inadequate and unprepared.
Six months ago, as President Tanner directed me by the arm down the long corridor to the First Presidency's office, there to look into the faces of our living prophet and President Lee and President Tanner, I knew in my soul that I was in the presence of the Lord's anointed. I knew not what may lie ahead, but one thing was certain: I was already committed in my heart to serve the Master, wherever and whenever called.
We have been taught, and we believe, that we all are children of God and fellow citizens in the body of saints. We are sincere believers, thus enabling us to know him better, to trust him absolutely, to serve him faithfully, and to proclaim to all the world, as did Andrew to his brother Simon, "We have found the Messiah." I know he lives, that he is real, that he stands at the head of this, his church, the only true church on the face of the earth.
These first few weeks of my new calling have been most eventful with deep, rich spiritual experiences. I have participated in some of your stake conferences, stayed in your homes, and felt your humble spirit of service and true dedication to the task of "strengthening thy brethren."
I have had the privilege of going to some of the overseas missions and visiting individually with your sons and daughters-many future leaders of this church-and I have borne testimony with them to those out in the world who seem to say, "Is there any word from the Lord?" "Where shall we turn?" "Is there something true and real to believe?" And I have been able to proclaim with your sons and daughters to them that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored with all the authority, keys, and blessings necessary for the individual salvation of all who will repent and be baptized and keep his commandments.
The testimony of the truthfulness of this work that burns in my soul has been assisted and encouraged in its nurturing by the lives of many people, some of whom I must humbly acknowledge on this particular day. Someone has compared our lives to that of the mighty Mississippi. As it flows into the ocean, it is the end product of many sources: streamlets-some large, some small-melting snow from the Rockies, and tiny springs; but they have all had an influence and effect. So it has been with me. Many of those great influences have passed on, but many of them are here today.
It has been said that to develop good thoughts and acts, we must live and associate with good people. The Lord blessed me with my lovely companion-my, how he blessed me-one who has stood by my side through trial and joy, disappointment and triumph, and has contributed inspiration and strength to our family as a loving wife, mother, and counselor. Our sons and daughter and their loved ones are strong, sturdy, and dependable and committed to the building of the kingdom of God as a result of her great influence.
I can also appreciate and understand Nephi's acknowledging good parents. My own mother, left a widow far too early in her life, never shirked her duty to her children's spiritual training. Many a lesson was taught me at her bedside during her long illness. Her testimony never wavered; I understood and felt it early in life.
My father has always been my ideal. Ever since I was a small boy, I've wanted to be like my father-to serve people, to assist them whenever possible, to be concerned and to assist the Church and community. My father, as did his father, responded to calls from the leadership of the Church and followed their direction. I hope and pray that it will ever be thus with my posterity. When my father died, the local newspaper editorialized:
"We have lost our greatest and beloved citizen. He was ever foremost in every movement to better the community. As bishop of the First Ward, he was the very father of it. His loss is felt throughout the state of Idaho... He was ever on the side of morality and good government."
My grandfather set the tone for his sons. Starting at age 17 he made seven trips across the plains, assisting immigrant trains requiring help. He served with Lot Smith, scouting Johnston's army in the interest of the Saints. With his wife and family he responded to the request to leave his green acres in Farmington and help colonize and organize a stake in southern Idaho. They were a close-knit family.
My grandmother was the first counselor to Aurelia Rogers in the original Primary organization. Her eight children helped swell the first class.
On this day I honor the memory of some who have helped mold my life and character. Someone has written, "No better heritage can a father bequeath to his children than a good name; nor is there in a family any richer heirloom than the memory of a noble ancestor."
I prayerfully and humbly request the help that only the Lord can furnish. Perhaps I need it to a greater degree than anyone else, as I embark on this calling in the ministry. I take comfort from the Lord's promise in the Doctrine and Covenants when he said, "The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones... and all this that it might be fulfilled." May my weaknesses be made strong enough to fulfill my obligation and desire.
I pledge my love and support to the First Presidency, the Council of the Twelve, and to my other fellow associates of the General Authorities; and to them, and to all of you, I testify that I will labor diligently and, I hope, effectively in using the talents that the Lord has given me to help prepare for his coming and to assist in the building and strengthening of his kingdom here on earth now. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Richard L. Evans
Richard L. Evans, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 86-89
President Smith; my beloved brothers and sisters-all our Father's children everywhere: These choice young people here, whose music we have heard, bring to mind all the unnumbered others who, worldwide, are looking for a way of life. If what follows shall reach their hearts and yours, it will be so because of your faith and prayers, and I pray that it may be so.
There comes to mind a mother who was concerned with what her daughter was, or wasn't, doing with her talents and opportunities, and the mother one day shook her daughter impatiently and said: "I've given you life. Now you do something with it!"
We could conceive of the Father of us all saying about the same: "I've given you life. Now you do something with it! Now make the most of it! I've given you time, intelligence, the good earth and all it offers-now use it."
One of the most wasteful wastes in the world is the waste of time, of opportunity, of creative effort, with indifference to learning, indifference to work-the don't-care, drop-out, what's-the-use attitude. And one of the steadying factors in life-one that could reduce restlessness, protest, and discontent-would be for all of us to use in more useful ways the best of our abilities, with some awareness that the Father of us all might somehow, sometime shake us and say: "I have given you life. Now you make the most of it!"
When our Father sent our first parents out from Eden, he pronounced, as I read it, the principle of work: "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread." "... cursed is the ground for thy sake," he said.
For thy sake. Work is a principle, a privilege, a blessing-not a curse-but an absolute essential, a physical and spiritual necessity.
Much restlessness and difficulty on the part of young people comes because they have often been overly insulated from challenging and meaningful assignments, with an overemphasis on leisure and on working less and less. Even if a person has all the wealth he wants, he still needs to work for the sake of his soul-and the same is true of those who have learned to live on very little. Work is a physical and spiritual necessity.
Anyone, young or old, would be restless if he didn't have a useful part in helping to bring good things about; a rewarding and meaningful work to do.
Some don't know where things come from as well as they once did. It's so easy to go to the shop or the market without being aware of the toil of plowing and planting, of making and producing, or what it takes to bring things about. Someone has to do everything-not only the easy and glamorous things, but every routine and tedious task. Someone has to do everything.
We need to give our young people the economic facts of life-as well as the moral and spiritual facts: what it means to produce; what it means to meet a payroll; what it means to provide for a family; what it means to save-what it means to stay solvent. I think those who provide productive, wholesome work for other people are in a way heroic. Thank God for them.
Now to touch a moment or two on some other subjects:
We have the laws of life. We have God-given standards, and we realize the results of the way we live life-and rationalizing won't change the outcome. Virtue is still virtue. Evil is still evil.
And I come to you today with a simple assertion that God does not deal in theories. "I know this world is ruled by Infinite Intelligence," said Thomas A. Edison. "It required Infinite Intelligence to create it and it requires Infinite Intelligence to keep it on its course... It is mathematical in its precision."
The seasons, the sunshine, the growing of seeds; heat and cold; the life of a child; the harvest we have-these are not theory, and the same authority that runs the universe on such precision also gave us commandments to keep, commandments that are still in force. And I wouldn't know anywhere to turn for a purposeful way to live life, except the way prescribed by the Administrator of heaven and earth. After all, whose little wisdom would we turn to? He has given us no commandment that is not necessary-and I witness to you that the spiritual and moral laws are as much in force as are the physical laws, and each person is going to be what he lives like.
There is a statement from William James that President McKay occasionally used to quote: "Rip Van Winkle, in Jefferson's Play, excuses himself for every fresh dereliction by saying, 'I won't count this time!' Well, he may not count it; and a kind heaven may not count it, but it is being counted nonetheless. Down among his nerve cells and fibres, the molecules are counting it, registering and scoring it up to be used against him."
Since this is so, thank God for the principle of repentance-a principle he gave us because he knew we'd need it. But our repentance must be sincere and not the kind that keeps repeating the same foolish, stupid mistakes. We must move from weak or willful misdoing to an honest, resolute repentance, if we are to have the peace and happiness of life.
Evil is raw, lewd, bold, and unabashed-and greedy-but there is no gain in this world's goods that is worth compromising the life or morals of one young person. We should never patronize evil in any degree, but should dedicate ourselves to create a clean and wholesome environment in our homes, our communities, our country. In many ways we can have a better moral and physical environment if we really want it-we can have in many ways what we are willing to uphold, to support, to pay for. But we can't do it in indifference. And each one will realize the results of what he does and thinks-the results of how he lives his life.
And to you, beloved young people everywhere, to you who are searching for answers, you who have made mistakes, to you who have been mistaught or carelessly or adversely influenced: Don't let pride, or wrong habits, or appetites, or stubbornness get in the way of your realizing the highest possibilities of life.
Youth passes quickly. The waning years come sooner than you suppose, and then there comes the leaving of this life, and the everlasting future that follows.
Live so as to be at peace. Be clean, beloved young friends. Clean is one of the most wonderful of words. Be comfortable. No one will ever be comfortable without being clean. Life can be wholesome, with inner peace and solid hope as you live the law, keep the commandments, and humble yourselves before our Father.
Live so that you can face yourself, your Father in heaven, and all men everywhere.
Each one of you is precious, priceless. Each one of you is all he has. Life is all you have. Be kind, be virtuous. Respect and cherish parents. Make prayerful choices. Love and serve sincerely. Live in dignity and honesty and honor. Respect facts. Test them by the standards God has given. Live by the law, and the gospel of our Lord and Savior will lead you to peace and happiness and the highest possibilities of everlasting life.
Remember, O remember, my beloved young friends, that our Lord and Savior hasn't deceived us. He hasn't said that it was a broad way, an easy way, or that it could be reached by indifference or indulgence. He has said to us fairly and forthrightly: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life."
There aren't any careless, easy shortcuts that go anywhere that anyone who knew what he was doing would really want to go.
I leave you my witness that God lives, and that this is his work, his church, his plan and purpose for his children, restored for all who will sincerely seek, and sincerely accept, and he will enter into your lives as fully as you let him. And to you-to all of us-to all his children everywhere, he is saying: "I have given you life. Now make the most of it!"
It takes a long time to make a beautiful world. It takes a long time to build a beautiful life, but the process of tearing down can quickly do much damage. O my beloved young friends, your Father in heaven doesn't deal in theory. What he has said is so. Trust him. Trust him who gave you life to tell you the truth. Whom else would you trust? Where else would you turn?
Respect yourselves. Respect others. Respect life. Respect law. Be faithful. Be fair. Be productive. Live to be clean and comfortable. Life is all you have. O make the most of it in cleanliness, in honor and honesty. Don't run your life against the light.
"My message to you," said Thomas Edison, in his last public address-"My message to you is: Be courageous! I have lived a long time. I have seen history repeat itself again and again... Be as brave as your fathers before you. Have faith! Go forward!"
God bless you, and peace be with you, this day-and always, I pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 90-92
My dear brethren of the priesthood: I welcome this opportunity to speak to the priesthood holders who are gathered in many places throughout the Church.
I desire to call your attention to the oath and covenant of the Melchizedek Priesthood. I think if we have a clear understanding of the covenant we make when we receive offices in the priesthood, and of the promise the Lord gives if we magnify our callings, then we shall have a greater incentive to do all the things we must do to gain eternal life.
May I say further that everything connected with this higher priesthood is designed and intended to prepare us to gain eternal life in the kingdom of God.
In the revelation on priesthood, given to Joseph Smith in September 1832, the Lord says that the Melchizedek Priesthood is everlasting; that it administers the gospel, is found in the true church in all generations, and holds the keys of the knowledge of God. He says that it enables the Lord's people to be sanctified, to see the face of God, and to enter into the rest of the Lord, "which rest is the fulness of his glory."
Then, speaking of both the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods, the Lord says: "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 Abraham, 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."
The penalty for breaking the covenant and altogether turning therefrom is then given, together with this commandment: "... beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life.
"For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God".
As all of us know, a covenant is a contract and an agreement between at least two parties. In the case of gospel covenants, the parties are the Lord in heaven and men on earth. Men agree to keep the commandments and the Lord promises to reward them accordingly. The gospel itself is the new and everlasting covenant and embraces all of the agreements, promises, and rewards which the Lord offers to his people.
And so when we receive the Melchizedek Priesthood we do so by covenant. We solemnly promise to receive the priesthood, to magnify our callings in it, and to live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. The Lord on his part promises us that if we keep the covenant, we shall receive all that the Father hath, which is life eternal. Can any of us conceive of a greater or more glorious agreement than this?
Sometimes we speak loosely of magnifying our priesthood, but what the revelations speak of is magnifying our callings in the priesthood, as elders, seventies, high priests, patriarchs, and apostles.
The priesthood held by man is the power and authority of God delegated to man on earth to act in all things for the salvation of mankind. Priesthood offices or callings are ministerial assignments to perform specially assigned service in the priesthood. And the way to magnify these callings is to do the work designed to be performed by those who hold the particular office involved.
It does not matter what office we hold as long as we are true and faithful to our obligations. One office is not greater than another, although for administrative reasons one priesthood holder may be called to preside over and direct the labors of another.
My father, President Joseph F. Smith, said: "There is no office growing out of this priesthood that is or can be greater than the priesthood itself. It is from the priesthood that the office derives its authority and power. No office gives authority to the priesthood. No office adds to the power of the priesthood. But all offices in the Church derive their power, their virtue, their authority, from the priesthood."
We are called upon to magnify our callings in the priesthood and to do the work which goes with the office we receive. And so the Lord says, in the revelation on priesthood: "Therefore, let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling... that the system may be kept perfect".
This is one of the great goals toward which we are working in the priesthood program of the Church, to have elders do the work of elders, seventies the work of seventies, high priests the work of high priests, and so on, so that all priesthood holders may magnify their own callings and reap the rich blessings promised from such a course.
Now may I say a few words about the oath which accompanies the reception of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
To swear with an oath is the most solemn and binding form of speech known to the human tongue; and it was this type of language which the Father chose to have used in the great Messianic prophecy about Christ and the priesthood. Of him it says: "The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek".
In explaining this Messianic prophecy, Paul says that Jesus had "an unchangeable priesthood," and that through it came "the power of an endless life". Joseph Smith said that "all those who are ordained unto this priesthood are made like unto the Son of God, abiding a priest continually," that is, if they are faithful and true.
And so Christ is the great prototype where priesthood is concerned, as he is with reference to baptism and all other things. And so, even as the Father swears with an oath that his Son shall inherit all things through the priesthood, so he swears with an oath that all of us who magnify our callings in that same priesthood shall receive all that the Father hath.
This is the promise of exaltation offered to every man who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood, but it is a conditional promise, a promise conditioned upon our magnifying our callings in the priesthood and living by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.
It is perfectly clear that there are no more glorious promises that have or could be made than those that came to us when we accepted the privilege and assumed the responsibility of holding the holy priesthood and of standing as ministers of Christ.
The Aaronic Priesthood is a preparatory priesthood to qualify us to make the covenant and receive the oath that attends this higher priesthood.
It is my prayer that all of us who have been called to represent the Lord and hold his authority may remember who we are and act accordingly.
May I conclude by saying how grateful I am that I hold the holy priesthood. I have sought all my days to magnify my calling in that priesthood and hope to endure to the end in this life and to enjoy the fellowship of the faithful saints in the life to come.
I bear my testimony that we do in fact have the holy priesthood, that it is God's power, and that through it we may inherit the fullness of our Father's kingdom hereafter, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President N. Eldon Tanner
N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 93-94
President Smith has asked me to speak to you briefly. It is always a privilege to me and an inspiration to stand before the priesthood and speak to them. It is also a great responsibility.
President Smith has directed his remarks almost entirely to the members of the Melchizedek Priesthood. I should like to address mine to a group of the finest young men in all the world, the holders of the Aaronic or Lesser Priesthood.
I should like to address my remarks to my grandsons. We have in our family five sons-in-law who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, four grandsons who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, six grandsons who hold the Aaronic Priesthood, and eight grandsons who are preparing themselves to hold the priesthood. I should like to address my remarks to them tonight.
No greater responsibility can be given to a young man than to hold the priesthood of God, which is the power of God delegated to him to act in his name in the office which he holds, and to prepare himself for the Melchizedek Priesthood, and to enjoy the blessings of one who is faithful in the priesthood.
The Aaronic Priesthood is so important that the Lord saw fit to send John the Baptist to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to bestow it upon them, and in these words was it done:
"Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness."
What a tremendous privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to hold the priesthood! It is just as binding on us as the covenant which President Smith read to the Melchizedek Priesthood, because the covenant applies to both priesthoods to the extent that we hold those priesthoods, and it will determine our status.
If we will prove ourselves as we are tried and tested, we will be given the opportunity to hold this Melchizedek Priesthood. It is somewhat like going from elementary school to high school and from high school to college; also going from mortal life to eternal life. We will be blessed according to the way we live. And may it be said of us, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
How fortunate we are to hold the priesthood. If you would stop and think today that of every 1,000 young men of your age in the world, one man holds the priesthood; with this hall full of young men of Aaronic Priesthood age tonight, there would be only eight holding the Aaronic Priesthood. What a tremendous privilege, opportunity, blessing, and responsibility.
How important it is to live to enjoy the Spirit and blessings of the Lord, and the respect and confidence of parents, friends, and church leaders, and the Lord himself, particularly so you can look them in the face with a clear conscience, and also yourself in the mirror, and know that you have been living as you should.
The Lord, speaking of Satan when he was cast out, said:
"And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice."
He tries to tempt every one of us, every one from a deacon to Christ himself. You remember how he tried to tempt Christ. He chooses emissaries, those who follow him and those who are too weak to do what is right. These emissaries will try to point out the weaknesses in an individual, in the leaders of the Church, in the organizations, and every place they can find any weakness at any time, and they will be saying, "Don't be a coward; don't be a sissy; come on."
I should like to say to you young men tonight that not one young man who is living according to the teachings of the gospel and honoring his priesthood would ever say that to you.
Thank the Lord that he was strong enough to say to Satan, "Get thee behind me, Satan," and I hope we will be able never to be afraid, as one in one thousand in this world, to honor our priesthood. Those who succumb to temptation are always defeated and miserable, unless they repent.
Vice-President Spiro Agnew, when he was speaking to us the other day as he visited with the First Presidency of the Church, said that one thing that appealed to him about our youth, as he was on the BYU campus, is that they are well self-disciplined; and they seemed to be doing their own thing, which was doing what they should be doing, and were happy in doing it.
I would like you young men to know that those who are frustrated, who are complaining, who are not living as they should, are not happy. They are frustrated. There is no happiness in wrongdoing. They have their problems, and they are not trying to accomplish. Of course I feel sorry for them because they do not know as you know that all of us are spirit children of God. They do not know that God really lives, that Jesus is the Christ; that through his birth, death, and resurrection we may all be resurrected; and that this life is not the end but just the beginning of eternal life.
May we all appreciate this and do our best wherever we are to live worthy of it so that we can look into the mirror and see ourselves and say, "Thank the Lord I was strong enough to overcome, to resist." To you who have weakened in any way, who have taken a cigarette, or anything of the kind, just quit it tonight and be happy. You will be happy. The Lord will bless you. People will respect you, and you will be successful, and you will be doing your duty in helping to bring about the immortality and eternal life of man.
May we do this, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
Neal A. Maxwell, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 94-98
President Smith, President Lee, and President Tanner, it is an anxiety-producing privilege for one to respond to your invitation to communicate with the priesthood about the Church Educational System, but it is proper to give time and attention to the needs of our youth engaged in education. We have, for instance, 12,000 full-time missionaries, who matter very much; 26,000 men and women in the service, who matter very much, also; but there are around 200,000 LDS students enrolled in hundreds of colleges and universities around the world.
Sixteen percent, or approximately 32,000, of those 200,000 are enrolled in the four post-high school institutions in our own Church Educational System, and this is a very important "fold." But there are 168,000 other LDS students, "which are not of that fold," and they, too, need to hear the "voice" of the Master through our institute program.
The scope and variety of the Church Educational System is impressive: in addition to the students already mentioned, there are 13,000 LDS children and youth in dozens of Church elementary and secondary schools in Mexico, Chile, and in the Pacific; there are also over 175,000 students in our institutes and seminaries.
The basic guidelines for our Church Educational System have been well laid down by our Church leaders over the years and need not be repeated here. A new but basic document, however, is the letter of the First Presidency dated January 30, 1970, which urges Church members to have their sons and daughters attend post-high school institutions of learning near their home, so that our young can benefit from the influence of the home, especially during their first two years of post-high school education. That document also urges leaders and parents to make full use of our seminary and institute programs to supplement the home. In addition, the letter indicates that the Presidency, in their wisdom, believe the enrollment at BYU should not exceed 25,000. There are numerous considerations which, I believe, underlie the wisdom of the points in that presidential letter:
1. The density of Church membership occurs in America where states have highly developed and accessible public post-high school systems of education.
2. Members of the Church are taxpayers to local, state, and federal governments in America and their equivalents in Canada, and are fully entitled to send their sons and daughters to tax-supported institutions. The influence of Church members on our public institutions is needed now-more than ever.
3. The increased effectiveness of correlated Church priesthood programs, such as home teaching, family home evenings, of student stakes and wards, MIA, and the Student Associations now permits the priesthood leaders, in some instances, to cross the traditional geographical boundaries governing some Church programs, in order to support and to involve the young members of the Church.
4. Those of us who live in areas where there are highly developed public systems of post-high school education, in the spirit of brotherhood, should defer to the needs of our brothers and sisters in other lands where, often, even an elementary education is not possible unless the Church assists in the process.
One of the great challenges the priesthood faces in our time is the internationalization of the Church. This is not an American church-it is the Church of Jesus Christ, who is the God of all people on this planet, and we must, as the scriptures urge, be as independent as possible so that the kingdom is not too much at the mercy of men and circumstances, or the tides of nationalism, or the mercurial moods abroad about America.
We have, for instance, more members of the Church now in Brazil than in all of the Scandinavian countries combined, plus Holland. We have as many members in Uruguay as in the state of New York, where the Church was founded. We have as many in Peru as we do in Missouri, where so much Church history was made. We have as many in Tonga and Samoa combined as in Nevada, and more in these two island clusters than in the state of Wyoming. We have more in French Polynesia than in Switzerland, and more in the Philippine Islands than Nebraska, through which our pioneer caravans passed. We have more in Honduras than in Norway.
These comparisons are sobering and challenging not only for the Church Educational System, but for the entire Church. Thus, the transculturalization of curricular materials represents one of our greatest challenges. The scriptures urge the Church to speak to men "after the manner of their language," taking their various weaknesses into account that all "might come to understanding."
We want our Church Educational System to respond as much as we can to the special conditions in which our members live. Our seminary home study program, for instance, was organized especially for the benefit of young members who are isolated from their Church counterparts, and the response of over 7,000 to this program has been excellent!
There are several specific things priesthood leaders and parents can do. First, priesthood leaders need much closer identification with our institute and seminary programs so that two-way communication can exist concerning the needs of the young, the quality of teaching they receive, and, importantly, the need for priesthood support in recruiting top-flight men for careers in our diverse Church Educational System; men, some of whom we now have, such as the spartan seminary teachers who live with their families in small trailers on remote reservations in heat, wind, sand, in places with names like Many Farms, Arizona, or in blizzard country like Pine Ridge, South Dakota, in order to serve and to teach hundreds of the children of Father Lehi. One expression of appreciation from an Indian boy included these moving words: "Before I took LDS seminary I didn't have very much to live for... I had always felt that Indians could not do things as well as white people. Now I know that I am a child of God. I know that my people are of the house of Israel... The Church has given me a reason and purpose for living. There is more to living now than just worrying about what I will have to eat or what I will wear."
Elsewhere, in hundreds of homes and chapels every weekday, early-morning seminary students and teachers rub sleep from eyes that often shine an hour later with appreciation.
Thousands of miles away in lush, tropical islands, our young members learn to read and write, and elsewhere many of our Mexican brothers and sisters are rapidly preparing themselves as schoolteachers to instruct their own.
Truly, careers in the Church Educational System offer full scope for all the idealism of the world, but companied with the saving gospel message.
Seminary and institute classrooms represent some of the golden teaching moments for our youth in preparing them for crowning gospel ordinances. Where our young are committed enough, and fortunate enough, to be able to take institute classes and persist through graduation, their rate of temple marriage is 95 percent, which is a higher percentage than for our returned missionaries. Of course, the mere act of attending an institute represents self-selection, just as attending a Church school involves some self- selection. But if we are trying to identify paths that our youth can pursue that will give them a better chance of succeeding spiritually, attendance at seminaries and institutes is clearly a major tributary to the stream of spirituality.
A second matter that priesthood leaders and parents should consider is the need to counsel all of our young more consistently and helpfully about the planning of their vocations and careers. This will be a continuing task; it is not something we can talk about once in a stake priesthood meeting and forget. One of the basic reasons for the pursuit of education is to equip oneself with marketable skills. The less advantaged national economies within which many of our members outside America live, and the shifting prospects with regard to where the career and job opportunities will be even in America-both suggest that some additional emphasis is needed in the direction of technical education, which bears on a middle group of skills. For some of our young, earning power, job opportunities, and satisfaction will be greater if they pursue the path of technical education in their post-high school years, including paramedical careers. Professional education in medicine, law, nursing, etc., is going to be needed even more than ever, but all of our youth need not be neurosurgeons, and the youth who becomes a craftsman should feel just as "approved" as his friend who is a microbiologist. Parents, bishops, and educational counselors will do well to approach career counseling, bearing in mind that the selection of a career is usually a matter of preference and not principle.
A third suggestion: Education, when joined with service to others is clearly related to the development of deserved self-esteem, which controls our capacity to love God, to love others, and to love life.
We can pursue learning without fear, for the gospel of Jesus Christ incorporates all truth, but it distinguishes between mere fact and saving truths. We can be patient with the imponderables, especially in view of the relevancy of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the social and political problems of our time, but we must do much more to help our young to see the preventive and prescriptive powers of the gospel for those very problems about which our young are rightfully concerned. For the gospel tells us that we have a real brotherhood that will last beyond the grave: it is not merely a biological brotherhood.
The gospel tells us that unchastity can cause inner spiritual "concussions" and "bleeding." Jacob described people in a time of gross unchastity as being in a circumstance in which "many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds." The gospel is relevant in its preachment of love at home, which is a solution to many problems ranging from aid to dependent children to alienation. And orthodoxy is vital because it increases human happiness, whether in preventing the misery that grows out of alcoholism or in treating the guilt.
A fourth observation: We will also do our young a great favor if our efforts to teach the gospel to them include not only teaching by exhortation and explanation, which are vital, but also by the eloquence of example and the confirmation of experience, for the latter two methods weigh very heavily on the scales of today's youth.
Fifth: The home will always be our most vital teaching institution. When the home fails, it will be difficult for the other institutions of any culture or society-political, economic, and even educational-to compensate for the failures in the home. If we poison the headwaters of humanity-the home-it is exceedingly difficult to depollute downstream. If we wish to make our efforts count in meeting the vexing challenges of our time, the ecology of effectiveness suggests of the home that truly, "This is the place!"
Within the basic correlation concepts, which stress the primacy of priesthood and home, I see a new spirit of cooperation moving in the Church. Those charged with programs that support the home-Elder Marion D. Hanks, who manages the Student Association; Elder Marvin J. Ashton, who manages Social Services; Brother James Mason, Commissioner of Health Services; and the staff of the Church Educational System-are approaching common, overlapping problems in the spirit of serving Church members, rather than letting organizational lines become immovable, bureaucratic walls, for, especially in saving souls, "something there is that doesn't love a wall."
Finally, let us assure our young that the cadence of the divine commitment to education and the quest for truth echo, like a drum roll, through the corridors of dispensational history-Abraham, a man of God and a brilliant astronomer, who pondered the planets and considered the cosmos in the loneliness of the desert; Jesus, the Master, who while yet a youth taught his elders in the seat of learning, having prepared himself intellectually and spiritually; Joseph Smith's School of the Prophets, where the enthusiasm for education overrode the discouraging circumstances of the moment; the schools and university that were started in this valley so soon after the wheels on pioneer wagons and handcarts had ceased turning.
Those who possess absolute truths need fear no ancillary truth but should pursue learning vigorously, since learning is good so long as we "hearken unto the counsels of God." When education is thus pursued by our young today, they should be assured by all of us that they are "about" their "Father's business," and be witnessed to; that when man has reached the small "periphery of the spider web of his own reason and logic," he will find the ropes of revelation on which he can climb upward, forever! May we help our youth, I pray in the name of the Master Teacher, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Robert L. Simpson
Robert L. Simpson, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 98-101
My dear brethren of the priesthood, I feel great strength in your presence, and I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for the great discourse of our prophet, President Joseph Fielding Smith.
One of the great bits of advice that I have received in my life came during my teenage years when a great bishop, just before the President of the Church was going to visit our area, told a group of us "when a prophet of God speaks, you listen well." I have tried to do that all of my life. I am grateful for that advice.
I have been thrilled with the meetings of this conference, especially this morning when I realized that that session was going to be telecast throughout the Midwest and the eastern states. And my prayer tonight when I retire will be "Heavenly Father, in that potential audience of millions, I pray that many will be led to their television sets to hear what I heard this morning." I know that many will be led to the truth as they so do.
Speaking of television, last Monday night my high-school-age son persuaded me to sit down and watch the second half of a football game. I have always made it a policy that no sacrifice is too great for my boy. So we sat down and watched football. While watching this game, some facts became very apparent. In fact, it had gospel application and priesthood application.
I noticed, for example, that there were no shortcuts to the goal line. It was a hundred yards in both directions. I also noticed that the team that seemed to have had the most practice, that did the best planning, that executed their plays the best, and that had the best team attitude was the team that made the most points.
I also noticed that when team members cooperated and helped one another, the team made the most yardage.
It was also obvious that when someone broke the rules, there was always a penalty imposed. It sounds a lot like life, doesn't it? In talking about this to my boy, he said, "Fifteen yards is nothing; but, Dad, when you ground me for three days, that is too much."
We also noticed that no one was allowed to make up his own rules as the game progressed. They all lost their free agency to do that when they agreed to join the team and play according to the established rules.
And last but not least, I noticed when it was all over, the winning team was a lot happier than the team that lost.
Now brethren, we believe that "men are, that they might have joy"; and joy can best come as we obtain victory in the game of life, played according to the only acceptable rules-those set down by our Heavenly Father.
Speaking of happiness, achieving victory, and finding the right tools for reentering the presence of our Heavenly Father, may I use as a springboard for my remarks four or five of the most frequently asked questions and comments from youth as they come to members of the Presiding Bishopric.
Comment No. 1 from a deacon right here in Salt Lake City: "This new achievement program is OK, but why not let us do our own thing about church? Some of us don't like to be tied down to specific goals and commitments."
May I say first of all, you young men of the Aaronic Priesthood are not ordinary young men. Each of you has made a sacred covenant in the waters of baptism. Each of you has been given that rare privilege of the Holy Ghost as a constant companion. Each of you has received the sacred covenant of his holy priesthood about which President Smith spoke so eloquently here tonight. Each of you has access to the truth. Yes, each of you is a member of the world's greatest brotherhood, the priesthood, with God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ at the head.
With all of these advantages, what are we going to do about it? The scriptures tell us that where much is given, much is expected. Sometimes an eternal goal can seem rather remote in the mind of a teenage boy. To travel from where you are to where you would like to be seems overwhelming and almost impossible. The secret is to live the best you know how just one day at a time, and if the day seems too long, we should break it down into hours or even minutes. This is exactly what a kind and loving Heavenly Father had in mind as he planted in the minds of the brethren the new personal achievement program for the Aaronic Priesthood.
Each of you is now being introduced to an achievement journal that, in my opinion, is one of the greatest tools ever developed to prepare a young man for the Melchizedek Priesthood. The Aaronic Priesthood is a preparatory priesthood, preparatory for only one thing, the Melchizedek Priesthood. It is the Melchizedek Priesthood that will show us the way to temple blessings and to other great horizons that are not visible nor understood by many who are starting out.
No longer will the bishop spend two or three minutes asking a few routine questions pertaining to personal worthiness. Each of you young men will have as much time as may be required with the bishop to talk just about you and about your personal problems, about your hopes and about your ambitions, and about your goals for the coming year. All this is made possible by starting your achievement year on or near your birthday. By this process, not more than one or two young men a week will be on the bishop's agenda, thus giving ample opportunity and time to get to know one another better and to set goals for the next year that will be meaningful. Your goals will perhaps be unlike any other set of goals in the entire Church. They will be customized just for you according to your needs, not just on meeting attendance alone but other Church-related goals such as mission preparation, missionary activity, seminary and institute training, perhaps even welfare and genealogical work in terms of your interest and understanding.
There will be personal goals that might well touch on your day-to-day and week-to-week planning, your financial program, personal prayer habits, a program for keeping your body well and strong, plus other ideas for self-improvement, including goals on being a better neighbor, a better member of your community; yes, even some academic or vocational goals.
Let's hear another question. A priest in Idaho wants to know, "What does the length of my hair have to do with passing or blessing the sacrament?" Lately, this has been the most popular question.
For good reason, the First Presidency have not stipulated the number of inches. I would feel bad if the good Navajo brother could not administer at the sacrament table because his hair is long enough to be braided. Long hair is the custom of his people. He is not out of place where he serves.
Would you young men here tonight believe skirts as a dress standard for deacons? I have seen them in Samoa as our young men pass the sacrament. The accepted attire of their community is the lavalava. I am sure our Samoan brethren hope we never have a rule against deacons wearing skirts.
Our objective should be grooming appropriate to the area, and in all cases cleanliness.
Anything that symbolizes either rebellion or nonconformity to the local community standard will likely be a distraction to those partaking of the Lord's Supper. Conservative dress and manner have always been the keynote of priesthood service. If there is a probability that the members you serve are thinking more about your non-standard appearance than about the atoning sacrifice of the Savior, then you had better take a long, hard look at yourself before next Sunday. As we consider these matters, I speak not only to the Aaronic Priesthood but also to those who preside in the Melchizedek Priesthood.
Here is an interesting comment from a priest: "If I could just know for sure-by some special manifestation-then I would devote my life to the work."
A miracle in the heavens tonight could be simply performed by our Heavenly Father, who created heaven and earth, but I am grateful that such is not part of his plan. Firm and lasting testimonies are not created in such a manner. As the Lord has said, "... line upon line, precept upon precept." He further stated: "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."
Many of us had similar thoughts as we became impatient along the way, particularly during our teenage years. Even President David O. McKay has told us about kneeling by a serviceberry bush as a boy in Huntsville to find out once and for all about the truth of the work. May I quote President McKay as he tells of that occasion: "I knelt down and with all the fervor of my heart poured out my soul to God and asked him for a testimony of this gospel. I had in mind that there would be some manifestation; that I should receive some transformation that would leave me absolutely without doubt.
"I got up, mounted my horse, and as he started over the trail, I remember rather introspectively searching myself and involuntarily shaking my head, saying to myself, 'No, sir, there is no change; I am just the same boy I was before I knelt down.' The anticipated manifestation had not come...
"However, it did come, but not in the way I had anticipated. Even the manifestation of God's power and the presence of his angels came; but when it did come, it was simply a confirmation, it was not a testimony."
Young men, you, too, will have many remarkable revelations and manifestations as a confirmation of the testimony that you earn.
Do you have this problem, young men? This is a problem stated by a young man who contemplates military call-up. This is what he says: "Didn't the Savior teach peace? To me, peace means no fighting. I am not sure about our present military involvements." I say to this young man, the following facts helped me and they may be helpful to you:
Where the Book of Mormon talks about a land choice above all others, I believe it.
When we are taught that our founding forefathers prayed for and received inspiration as they framed our Constitution, I believe it.
When a prophet suggests that the gospel could best be restored in a land of freedom and democracy, I believe it.
When the standard works of the Church instruct me about obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law, I want to do it. I even believe that our elected national leaders are basically honest men and base their decisions upon what they believe to be for the good of the people as they see it.
Last but not least, I also believe that a prophet of God will let me know about any change of policy in the foregoing line of reasoning. Young men, to whatever country your citizenship commitment might be, you honor it, you obey it, you sustain it. To do otherwise would be contrary to law and order; and law and order is the basis of the priesthood, wherever it is established.
Just one more: Some young people feel the same as this member of a teachers quorum from California. "We like what our ward and stake leaders teach us. The gospel plan is perfect, but they too often fall short of that perfection in their personal living." Young man in California, I hope you are listening tonight.
Without qualification, I can say that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only person to remain perfect through mortality. Stevenson has said something like this: The saints are just the sinners who are trying a little harder. I want to promise you young men of the Aaronic Priesthood that no one in all this world is trying harder to achieve perfection than your fine leaders in the priesthood: your bishopric, your stake presidency, your high council, and your advisers. But we are all in this mortal stream together, all of us, you and your leaders, and me. We are all in together and, I hope, trying to do better each day. Let us all try to help one another with shortcomings. To criticize and run down is to aid the adversary in his plan of destruction. Young men, we, your leaders, will continue to encourage you in kindness and sincerity. Will you help us, your priesthood leaders, in the same way? That is what true brotherhood in the priesthood means.
O my wonderful young brethren, this work is true. Priesthood is the center core of it all. You can't win any game without a plan. Look sharp. Be clean. Be proud to represent your priesthood. The only real peace in this world is peace of mind. You listen to the voice of a prophet and let your priesthood leaders show you the way, and I will promise you that life will be sweet. Your priesthood will be meaningful, and yours will be victory. There will be no greater day in your life than to enter the presence of your Heavenly Father and hear him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant," and I pray it in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 104-108
President Smith, when I am in your presence I think of the principle of courage, for it was 15 years ago in the building to the south of us, the Assembly Hall, when you presided at a conference where I was called as a member of the stake presidency. I remember the day well. I was singing in an Aaronic Priesthood chorus. I was a bishop, and bishopric members always sing when the Aaronic Priesthood participates.
As President Smith stepped to the pulpit, he read my name as a member of the stake presidency. It was the first notification I had had of my appointment. He then used these words to introduce me: "If Brother Monson would now like to accept this calling, we would be pleased to hear from him."
May I quote to you the last line of the hymn we had just concluded singing: "Have courage, my boy; have courage, my boy, to say no." I used as my theme that bright June day: "Have courage, my boy, to say yes," and it requires courage every time I stand at this pulpit.
My brethren, tonight we have heard stimulating messages relating to a magazine for our small children and another magazine for our youth. Speaking as an adult, your thought and concern could well be, "What about Mother and me?" To this question I would reply: "Let not your heart be troubled. You, too, will have your magazine."
The new adult magazine will replace three well-known publications: the Improvement Era, the Relief Society Magazine, and the Instructor. However, the most outstanding and useful features of each of these excellent publications will be retained and become a vital part of the new magazine. The readership audience will be the adult membership of the Church.
Just as a new city or child receives a name, so must the new adult magazine. The selection has not been made without thorough study and much prayer. You will recognize the name. The prophet Isaiah particularly stressed its significance. He declared that the Lord will lift up "an ensign to the nations"; ye shall "be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill." And in this dispensation, the Lord spoke: "... Zion shall flourish, and the glory of the Lord shall be upon her; And she shall be an ensign unto the people." The name of the new adult magazine will be The Ensign of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its contents will be as a beacon upon the top of a mountain and as an ensign on a hill, that the adults of the Church might be more adequately prepared to be examples to their children and to the world.
Several significant questions have accompanied the announcement in the Church News relative to the new adult publication. Perhaps a review of them would be helpful:
Question #1: Who should subscribe to the Ensign?
Answer: The First Presidency is encouraging every English-speaking family in the Church to be a subscriber. Month-for-month subscription credit on the new adult magazine will be given present subscribers to the Era, Instructor, and Relief Society Magazine. For instance, when the Instructor ceases publication December 31, those subscribers who have perhaps three issues due them on their present Instructor subscription will receive, without charge, three issues of the Ensign. The same applies to the Era and Relief Society Magazine as they conclude their publication at the end of the year.
Question #2: What will be the annual subscription price of the Ensign?
Answer: In the past we have rather expected our families to subscribe to all three adult publications, which at present rates amounts to $10.50. Families will now pay just $4.00 for the Ensign-a savings to families of $6.50.
Question #3: Will lessons for Relief Society appear in the Ensign?
Answer: No. These will be published in lesson manual style as is presently the practice in other auxiliary organizations and in priesthood quorums. The sisters should note, however, that the Relief Society lessons for the period January 1, 1971, through August 30, 1971, will already have been published in the Relief Society Magazine, concluding with the December issue.
Question #4: What will be the anticipated beginning circulation for the Ensign?
Answer: The Ensign will be the largest in circulation of the three new magazines, with an initial print order or press run of over 325,000 copies.
Question #5: Who will have the responsibility of publishing the Ensign?
Answer: The magazine will be published under the supervision of the First Presidency. Members of the Council of the Twelve and other General Authorities who have supervisory responsibility for Church programs for adults will have special assignments with the magazine, as will the presidencies and superintendencies of auxiliary organizations at the level of the general boards. The correlation program secretaries also will play a vital part in producing the publication. The Ensign will have a talented and experienced staff, headed by Doyle L. Green as managing editor, with M. Dallas Burnett as associate editor.
Question #6: What will the magazine contain?
Answer: The Ensign will be written in such a way as to enhance its use. There will be articles on home teaching, family home evenings, missionary, welfare, and genealogical work. Leadership and teacher development will also be vital features. Material from the Ensign will be used widely in every teaching classroom of the Church, including that special classroom called home. In addition, there will be fiction, poetry, and those feature articles which have been so popular in the present adult publications.
This, then, will be The Ensign of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-your adult publication. Subscribe to it. Read its contents. Apply in your lives its lessons. You, too, will then be as an ensign, even the light of the world, a city of righteousness set on a hill that cannot be hid.
As mentioned, information about the new teacher development program will be one of the features contained in the Ensign. The First Presidency has asked that I now introduce to you this inspired new program, which has the potential to improve the quality of teaching throughout the Church.
Brethren, have you as a father ever asked your son this question: "Dick, how did the Sunday School class go today?" Young men, on occasion have you answered: "Not so good, Dad. My teacher didn't show up"? Perhaps your reply was: "My teacher, Brother Campbell, tries hard, but he just doesn't communicate."
If we are honest with ourselves, some version of this same dialogue has been heard in every Latter-day Saint home. Nor is it restricted to Sunday School, but it also extends to Primary, MIA, Relief Society, and the quorums of the priesthood.
John Milton described this plight in these words: "The hungry sheep look up but are not fed." The Lord himself said to Ezekiel the prophet, "Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that... feed not the flock."
Are wise shepherds, even skilled and righteous teachers, needed today? Our fast-moving jet-propelled world harbors pressures and temptations not previously known.
More than $500 million a year are spent on pornographic literature by which evil men try to "dig gold out of dirt." Magazines, movies, TV programs, and other mass media are frequently utilized to lower moral standards and induce improper behavior. Crime and delinquency are rampant. Spiritual values are questioned. The effective teacher is desperately needed to help us understand what is genuine and important in this life and develop the strength to choose the paths that will keep us safely on the way to eternal life.
Knowing this situation and sensing the need for effective action, the First Presidency in October 1968 called a committee to work to improve the quality of teaching throughout the Church. They counseled that the program should:
1. Be priesthood sponsored and Churchwide;
2. Help teachers and leaders to improve;
3. Assist prospective teachers to begin their assignments with the training and spiritual understanding necessary to be effective.
In January of this year, in an interview published in the Deseret News, President Joseph Fielding Smith and his counselors stressed anew the importance of the teaching role. I quote:
"Teaching members of the Church to keep the commandments of God was described by the new First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as its greatest challenge."
The goal of gospel teaching today, as emphasized in the teacher development program, is not to "pour information" into the minds of class members. It is not to show how much the teacher knows, nor is it merely to increase knowledge about the Church. The basic goal of teaching in the Church is to help bring about worthwhile changes in the lives of boys and girls, men and women. The aim is to inspire the individual to think about, feel about, and then do something about living gospel principles.
To help achieve this goal and meet this aim, we now introduce to you, the priesthood, the new teacher development program of the Church.
On Thursday, October 1, 1970, in a special seminar for Regional Representatives of the Twelve, the teacher development program was presented in detail. These devoted and capable brethren will, in the next six weeks, outline the program to stake presidencies; and then, January 1, 1971, it will commence. During the first six months of 1971, when the General Authorities visit each stake quarterly conference, they will emphasize this program and will report on its implementation.
A cardinal principle of industrial management teaches: "When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates." I think the visit to your stakes by the General Authorities will bring the desired acceleration.
Time dictates that my introduction of the program itself be presented in headline form:
1. The new Churchwide program is priesthood sponsored and supersedes any other teacher training program now in use.
2. The stake president has responsibility for teacher development in his stake. He will call a member of the high council to be stake teacher development director. This high councilor should be an outstanding teacher who has the ability to motivate and inspire.
3. The bishop has responsibility for the teacher development program in his ward. He will call a capable bearer of the Melchizedek Priesthood to be the ward teacher development director.
4. Similar responsibility will rest with mission presidents, district and branch presidents in the missions of the Church.
5. The new teacher development program consists of three parts: the basic course; inservice program; supervision.
6. The basic course is designed to help prospective and current teachers to acquire knowledge and develop skills, that they might become more effective. It will be conducted over an 11-week period, usually during the Sunday School hour, and involve perhaps eight persons interviewed and called, by the bishop, to the course. The instructor of the basic course will be the ward teacher development director.
7. The inservice program will be an outgrowth of the basic course and will encompass both spiritual principles and teaching skills. The inservice lessons will be offered ten times per year for instructors in all priesthood quorums and auxiliaries.
8. The manuals for the basic course and the inservice program are now ready for distribution. The administrative manual will be sent to appropriate stake and ward leaders at no cost to them. A special order form will be sent to each bishop, that he may order the necessary materials to implement the program. Funds for same may appropriately come from ward and stake budgets. Individuals may then make payment to the ward or stake for their personal binders and materials. Quantity purchasing has provided minimum unit costs.
9. The program allows for considerable flexibility. In most areas of the Church, the program should operate on a ward level. However, options are available for the basic course and in-service lessons to be conducted on a multi-ward or stake level where necessary.
10. The program uses the strengths and resources of small group participation, with emphasis on doing and participating in real learning experiences.
This, then, is the new teacher development program. It has been pre-tested on a carefully supervised and controlled pilot basis in the Monument Park, Walnut Creek, and Gunnison stakes and the Victoria District of the Alaska-British Columbia Mission. Will it bring forth in your ward or stake the hoped-for results? Listen to the testimonies of but two who have completed the course:
"For the first time in my life I have an idea of how to teach."
"Like all blessings in the gospel, this program will be only as helpful as those who use it will make it. There will be those who will say, 'I am a master teacher. I don't need this.' They will gain nothing. There are those who will say, 'I'm too busy for this. The Church has too many meetings.' They will gain nothing. There will be those who will say, 'Here is an opportunity to learn.' They will gain much, and the Lord's work will move ahead."
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, each member, each priesthood bearer, will likely have an opportunity to become a teacher. There is no privilege more noble, no task so rewarding. May I extend to you, my brethren of the priesthood, a sincere invitation to become participants in the teacher development endeavor. May I challenge you in the words from the epistle of James to be "doers of the word, and not hearers only", remembering:
I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I learn.
Others then will follow your example. Teaching will improve. Commandments will be lived. Lives will be blessed.
In Galilee there taught a master teacher, even Jesus Christ the Lord. He left his footprints in the sands of the seashore, but he left his teaching principles in the hearts and in the lives of all whom he taught. He instructed his disciples of that day, and to us he speaks the same words, "Follow thou me." Then, as now, foolish, unwise persons will stop their ears, close their eyes, and turn away their hearts. Let us remember, there is no deafness so permanent as the deafness which will not hear. There is no blindness so incurable as the blindness which will not see. There is no ignorance so deep as the ignorance that will not know.
May we, like Thomas of old, not doubting but believing, respond, "Let us go." Yes, may we go forward in the introduction and implementation of this new program for teacher development. As we do so, in this spirit of obedient response, it may be said of each teacher as it was spoken of the Redeemer, "... thou art a teacher come from God." May this be so, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Harold B. Lee
Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 109-112
Someone has said, "An event is an idea whose time has come."
For over thirty years-it will be next April-since I became a member of the Council of the Twelve, there has been talk of unifying the magazines of the Church. It has always been thought that it was right, but the time was not yet. The event now has become so because the time has arrived.
You will note that we have said these magazines are to be available to all English-speaking countries where we have members of the Church. You will be asking, what about the other of the 19 languages in which we are now teaching the gospel-11 into which we have translated the lessons of the Church. May I explain that we have a unified magazine printed in many of the languages of these foreign-speaking peoples. The materials for these magazines are edited through our editorial department, with a few pages left for each mission, to be used for that particular area. All the material that would go into these magazines will be the same, but printed in the language of those peoples, so that the entire Church, in every language where we have the translations, will have a magazine that will be a direct communication from the priesthood of the Church.
Much thought has gone into this. On the first Thursday of every month a very important meeting is held in an upper room of the temple where all the General Authorities come fasting. The first part of the meeting is a business meeting, at which time all the proposals for new ideas or new methods or new undertakings are brought forward, after having been processed through the month preceding, for the perusal and consideration of all the General Authorities of the Church. At that meeting, then, action is taken, and by that action it then becomes the official action of the General Authorities of the Church-which must be considered to be the constitution of the Church and kingdom of God upon the earth.
That is the process by which these new magazines might be said to have become an "event." That is the process by which the future development has come. That is the process by which a bishops' training program will now be inaugurated throughout the entire Church. That is the process by which a Churchwide budget system will be inaugurated, and so will every other program that will be launched, as it comes now from the General Authorities of the Church, out to all the membership of the Church.
You will understand why we are so concerned. As President Tanner and I first considered the excitement at the June Conference when they knew that there was to be a youth magazine, President Tanner said to me, "Because of the loyalty of our people, we must be sure that we are right." And that becomes a great concern. To be as certain as we know how, these things are subjected to prayer and fasting and careful, mature consideration, in order that we might have "the will of the Lord... the mind of the Lord... the voice of the Lord... and the power of God unto salvation." You may understand, then, that these things that have been announced to you have come with the official approval. We ask the loyalty of the membership of the priesthood now to get behind these magazines and see to it that they become the greatest magazines printed for each group of our people that may be available throughout the world.
One more thought: If you had to sit facing these blazing lights for these hours, as we do here on the stand, you would have seen beads of perspiration on Elder Monson's brow as he talked to you, and as you will see on my brow, and on others who will speak. We understand that the temperature here is about fifteen degrees higher than where you brethren sit. I say that so that you will be a little more comfortable.
I was up in Preston, Idaho, sometime ago, dedicating a meetinghouse, and I thought as I sat there in that lovely place, My, isn't it wonderful that we have these air-conditioned buildings today, such as we didn't have in my younger years. In the course of the meeting, the bishop announced that their air-conditioning system was not working. Suddenly I became very uncomfortably warm. That is what happens to us when our minds take precedence over matter.
I said to Brother Evans one day, "These punishing lights-they are devastating." And he said something to me that caused me some thought. He said, "If you want to be seen, you must be lighted."
Now I want to translate that into something for you to think about. If you want to have the power of the priesthood to be of any benefit to you or before the world, you must keep it lighted. You must exercise it.
The Master said, "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house." Then he added, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
If you want to be seen as holders of the priesthood, you have to keep your lamp lighted.
The Lord said in a great revelation, "... if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you."
I want now to make one more comment. The kingdom of God must be a continuing revolution against the norms of the society that fall below the standards that are set for us in the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the field of public life, it must be a continuing revolution against proposals that contradict the fundamental principles as laid down in the Constitution of the United States, which was written by men whom God raised up for this very purpose. If we remember that, we will be in the forefront of every battle against the things that are tearing down our society.
I am sure we were all impressed when Brother Eldred G. Smith said in his address that it shouldn't be necessary to make laws to persuade the Latter-day Saints to keep the Sabbath day holy. If the body of the priesthood-if you 150,000 members of the priesthood who are in these various gathering places-would resolve here and now that neither you nor your families will hereafter patronize any business that is open on Sunday, it wouldn't be long until they would close their businesses on Sunday. You would wield such a force and power that you would dry up the businesses that are making their Sunday opening profitable. They are only catering to the needs of the people who are demanding Sunday service. You think about it, you brethren.
Pornographic literature! It has been a shock, I am sure, to all of us to read the report of the commission that has been studying obscenity reports, and the recommendation that there should be a repeal of all laws prohibiting the distribution of explicit, sexual materials to consenting adults. Shocking! Now brethren, this is a thing that we must, as a priesthood, take a firm stand against, and do everything within our communities to see to it that by every means within our power we are going to play down the showing of or the distribution of any kind of pornographic literature, films, or advertisements. It has been a delight to us to have our Deseret News announce that, shortly, there will be no advertising of "R" and "X" rated films. We would wish it would be so in every community. If you brethren, in all of your communities, would now take a firm stand, I think there would be a time shortly when somebody would wake up to the fact that we are no longer going to tolerate these kinds of things that are placed before our people to tear down their morals.
One more thought and then I shall be through. President Smith talked about the oath and covenant that belongs to the priesthood. This is but another way of saying what the Lord has said in revelations when he spoke of those who would be heirs to the celestial kingdom. He said, "They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized... and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands... and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise."
In another revelation, he said that a man and wife who are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise shall pass by the angels and gods that are set there to their exaltation and glory in all things, as has been sealed upon their heads.
In an explanation of what it means to be sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, one of our brethren said this: "While we receive eternal blessings at the hands of the priesthood which has the right to seal on earth and it shall be sealed in the heavens, this revelation clearly states that it must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise also. A man and woman may by fraud and deception obtain admittance to the House of the Lord and may receive the pronouncement of the holy priesthood, giving to them so far as lies in their power these blessings. We may deceive men but we cannot deceive the Holy Ghost, and our blessings will not be eternal unless they are also sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. The Holy Ghost is one who reads the thoughts and hearts of men, and gives his sealing approval to the blessings pronounced upon their heads. Then it is binding, efficacious, and of full force."
Remembering that then, brethren, we are prepared to understand what the brethren meant when they spoke at the dedication of the Idaho Falls Temple about the stand we could take now in such matters as politics. We are approaching another election. Let us hear again what the brethren prayed for in that dedicatory prayer:
"We pray that kings and rulers and the peoples of all nations under heaven may be persuaded of the blessings enjoyed by the people of this land by reason of their freedom under thy guidance, and be constrained to adopt similar governmental systems, thus to fulfill the ancient prophecy of Isaiah, that out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
Brethren of the priesthood, if we will be united and let our light shine, and not hide our light under a bushel but exercise it righteously, and let our priesthood callings be an eternal revolution against the norms of society or against any proposals that fall below the standards as set forth in the gospel of Jesus Christ or as laid down by the Constitution of the United States written by inspired men, then we will be a force in the world that will be "the marvelous work and wonder" which the Lord said the kingdom of God was to be.
I pray that it might be so, brethren, and we would thus magnify, as President Smith has said, our callings in the priesthood, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Harold B. Lee
Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 113-118
This morning in my remarks I desire to direct your attention to some principles of vital importance to every human soul, by relating an incident with which almost everyone will be familiar, which may serve as something of an introduction to what I would say to you in this great conference, on this the Lord's day, in this historic Tabernacle, which has been the forum for some of the greatest discourses given in our generation.
Humbled by this realization, I seek for divine guidance, that I might be in harmony with the spirit of this wonderful occasion.
To introduce my text I want to use, as an illustration, a well-remembered incident to which other speakers at this conference have already made reference.
Some months ago, millions of watchers and listeners over the world waited breathlessly and anxiously the precarious flight of Apollo 13. The whole world, it seemed, prayed for one significant result: the safe return to earth of three brave men.
When one of them with restrained anxiety announced the startling information, "We have had an explosion!" the mission control in Houston immediately mobilized all the technically trained scientists who had, over the years, planned every conceivable detail pertaining to that flight.
The safety of those three now depended on two vital qualifications: on the reliability of the skills and the knowledge of those technicians in the mission control center at Houston, and upon the implicit obedience of the men in the Aquarius to every instruction from the technicians, who, because of their understanding of the problems of the astronauts, were better qualified to find the essential solutions. The decisions of the technicians had to be perfect or the Aquarius could have missed the earth by thousands of miles.
This dramatic event is somewhat analogous to these troublous times in which we live. The headlines in the public press only this week made another startling announcement by a presidential commission to the President of the United States. "U.S. Society Is in Peril." Many are frightened when they see and hear of unbelievable happenings the world over-political intrigues, wars and contention everywhere, frustrations of parents, endeavoring to cope with social problems that threaten to break down the sanctity of the home, the frustrations of children and youth as they face challenges to their faith and their morals.
Only if you are willing to listen and obey, as did the astronauts on the Aquarius, can you and all your households be guided to ultimate safety and security in the Lord's own way.
There are, in these troubled times, agonizing cries of distress among the peoples of the earth. There are intense feelings of a need for some way to find a solution to overwhelming problems and to ease this distress from all that affects mankind.
To one who is acquainted with and well versed in the prophetic teachings of the past generations, there should be little question as to the meaning of all that is going on among us today, when it seems as though everything is in turmoil.
Prophecy may well be defined as history in reverse. Before our very eyes we are witnessing the fulfillment of prophecies made by inspired prophets in ages past. In the very beginning of this dispensation we were plainly told in a revelation from the Lord that the time was nigh at hand when peace would be taken from the earth and the devil would have power over his own dominion. The prophets of our day also foretold that there should be wars and rumors of wars, and "the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men's hearts shall fail them, and they shall say that Christ delayeth his coming until the end of the earth. And the love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound."
When the disciples asked the Master, prior to his crucifixion, as to signs that should immediately precede his coming again to the earth, as he foretold, he answered by saying that "in those days, shall be great tribulations on the Jews, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem;
"... and except those days should be shortened, there should none of their flesh be saved.
"But for the elect's sake, according to the covenant, those days shall be shortened.
"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be famine and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places"; JS-M 1:18-20,29).
The Master undoubtedly spoke of times such as these when he foretold that a man would be "at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
"And a man's foes shall be they of his own household."
With all of this in mind, one may ask: To whom may those in distress and in great anxiety look for the answer and for "refuge from this storm" raging all about them?
Almighty God, through his Son, our Lord, has pointed the way and has given to all mankind a sure guide to safety, when he declared that the Lord shall have power over his saints and would reign in their midst, when his mighty judgments would descend upon the world.
He said to all men: "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh."
He has counseled that his "disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse God and die."
From the incident of the Apollo 13 as I have related, and having in mind the promises of the Lord to which I have made reference, I will now, in a few moments, undertake to outline briefly the wondrously conceived plan upon obedience to which the salvation of every soul depends in his journey through mortality to his ultimate destiny-a return to that God who gave him life. This is that way by which the Lord will keep his promise "to have power over his saints and to reign in their midst."
This plan is identified by name, and the overarching purpose is clearly set forth in an announcement to the Church in the beginning of this gospel dispensation.
More than a century ago the Lord declared:
"And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me."
This plan, then, was to be as a covenant, which implied a contract to be participated in by more than one person. It was to be a standard for the Lord's elect and for all the world to benefit by it. Its purpose was to serve the needs of all men and to prepare the world for the second coming of the Lord.
The participants in the formulation of this plan in the premortal world were all the spirit children of our Heavenly Father. Our oldest scriptures, from the writings of the ancient prophets Abraham and Jeremiah, affirm also that God, or Eloheim, was there; his Firstborn Son, Jehovah, Abraham, Jeremiah, and many others of great stature were there.
All the organized intelligences before the earth was formed, who had become spirits, were there, including many great and noble ones whose performance and conduct in that premortal sphere qualified them to become rulers and leaders in carrying out this eternal plan.
The apostle Paul in his writings to the Corinthians taught that "there be gods many, and lords many," and then he added, "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him".
I would have you note particularly the use of the preposition "of," in reference to the Father, and the preposition "by," in reference to our Lord, Jesus Christ. In this statement is clearly defined the role of each, the Lord to do the bidding of the Father, in the execution of the whole plan of salvation for all mankind.
Understanding this principle in the plan of the government of God, we are given a glimpse of the council meeting of Gods, as briefly recorded in revelations to ancient prophets.
Under the Father's instruction and by Jehovah's direction, the earth and all pertaining thereto was organized and formed. They "ordered," they "watched over" and "prepared" the earth. They took "counsel among themselves" as to the bringing of all manner of life to the earth and all things, including man, and prepared it for the carrying out of the plan, which we could well liken to a blueprint, by which the children of God could be tutored and trained in all that was necessary for the divine purpose of bringing to pass, "to the glory of God," the opportunity of every soul to gain "immortality and eternal life." Eternal life means to have everlasting life in that celestial sphere where God and Christ dwell, by doing all things we are commanded.
The plan embodied three distinctive principles:
First, the privilege to be given to every soul to choose for himself "liberty and eternal life" through obedience to the laws of God, or "captivity and death" as to spiritual things because of disobedience.
Next to life itself, free agency is God's greatest gift to mankind, providing thereby the greatest opportunity for the children of God to advance in this second estate of mortality. A prophet-leader on this continent explained this to his son as recorded in an ancient scripture: that to bring about these, the Lord's eternal purposes, there must be opposites, an enticement by the good on the one hand and by the evil on the other, or to say it in the language of the scriptures, "... the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other being bitter." This father further explained, "Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other."
The second distinctive principle in this divine plan involved the necessity of providing a savior by whose atonement the most favored Son of God became our Savior, as a "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world", as revealed to John on the Isle of Patmos. Another prophet-teacher explained that the mission of the Son of God was to "make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved."
We hear much from some of limited understanding about the possibility of one's being saved by grace alone. But it requires the explanation of another prophet to understand the true doctrine of grace as he explained in these meaningful words:
"For," said this prophet, "we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." Truly we are redeemed by the atoning blood of the Savior of the world, but only after each has done all he can to work out his own salvation.
The third great distinctive principle in the plan of salvation was the provision that "all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel." These fundamental laws and ordinances by which salvation comes are clearly set forth:
Second, repentance from sin, meaning the turning away from the sins of disobedience to God's laws and never returning again thereto. The Lord spoke plainly on this point. Said he: "... go your ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God."
Third, baptism by water and of the Spirit, by which ordinances only, as the Master taught Nicodemus, could one see or enter into the kingdom of God.
This same teaching was forcibly impressed by the resurrected Savior to the saints on this continent, in what it appears likely was his final message to his disciples. The Master taught his faithful saints that "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.
"Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel."
If the children of the Lord, which includes all who are upon this earth, regardless of nationality, color, or creed, will heed the call of the true messenger of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as did the three astronauts on the Aquarius to the trained technicians at Mission Control in the hour of their peril, each may in time see the Lord and know that he is, as the Lord has promised, then their calling and election will be made sure. They will "become the sons of Moses and of Aaron, and the seed of Abraham... and the elect of God."
This promise of the glory which awaits those who are faithful to the end was plainly portrayed in the Master's parable of the Prodigal Son. To the son who was faithful and did not squander his birthright, the father, who in the Master's lesson would be our Father and our God, promised this faithful son: "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine."
In a revelation through a modern prophet, the Lord promises to the faithful and obedient today: "... all that my Father hath shall be given unto him."
Or will we be like those foolhardy ones on the river above the Niagara Falls who were approaching the dangerous rapids? Despite warnings of the river guards to go toward safety before it was too late, and in complete disregard of the warnings, they laughed, they danced, they drank, they mocked, and they perished.
So would have been the fate of the three astronauts on the Aquarius if they had refused to give heed to the minutest instruction from Houston Control. Their very lives depended upon obedience to the basic laws which govern and control the forces of the universe.
Jesus wept as he witnessed the world about him in his day which had seemingly gone mad, and continually mocked his pleading that they come unto him along "the strait and narrow way," so plainly marked out in God's eternal plan of salvation.
O that we could hear again his pleadings today as he then cried out: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
O that the world would see in another parable to John the Revelator the sacred figure of the Master calling to us today as he did to those of Jerusalem:
Said the Master, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."
Here, then, is the plan of salvation as taught by the true church, which is founded upon apostles and prophets, with Christ, the Lord, as the chief cornerstone, by which only can peace come, not as the world giveth, but as only the Lord can give to those who overcome the things of the world, as did the Master.
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
To all of this I bear my sincere witness in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In a recent meeting I listened to a young girl's heartwarming testimony. Her father was afflicted with what the doctors had pronounced was an incurable malady. To his wife one morning, this stricken father, after a night of pain and suffering, had said with great feeling, "I am so thankful today." "For what?" she asked. He replied, "For God's giving me the privilege of one more day with you."
Today I could desire with all my heart that all within the sound of this broadcast would likewise thank God for one more day! For what? For the opportunity to take care of some unfinished business. To repent; to right some wrongs; to influence for good some wayward child; to reach out to someone who cries for help-in short, to thank God for one more day to prepare to meet God.
Don't try to live too many days ahead. Seek for strength to attend to the problems of today. In his Sermon on the Mount, the Master admonished: "Take therefore no thought of the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
Do all that you can do and leave the rest to God, the Father of us all. It is not enough to say I will do my best, but rather, I will do everything which is within my power; I will do all that is necessary.
In a plaque on the walls of the Radio City Music Hall in New York City are these profound words of wisdom:
"Man's ultimate destiny depends, not upon whether he can learn new lessons, or make new discoveries, and conquests, but upon his acceptance of the lessons taught."
My prayer is that the message of those words of wisdom may be translated into a determination on the part of all of us listening here this day, to the end that our eyes will be so single to God, that our whole bodies shall be so filled with light, that there shall be no darkness in us, to the end that we may be able to comprehend all things.
God grant that it might be so, I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Boyd K. Packer
Boyd K. Packer, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 118-122
I come to this pulpit this Sabbath morning with a new obligation, anxious perhaps as never before for the sustaining influence of the Spirit of the Lord, for an interest in your faith and prayers for us here and for those who shall be listening, as I speak to the parents of wayward and lost children.
Sometime ago, a father, worried about a serious problem with his son, was heard to remark, "When he leaves and we don't know where he is, there's pain in our hearts, but when he's here there are times when he's a pain in the neck." It's about that pain in the heart that I want to speak. I speak to a very large audience, I fear.
Hardly is there a neighborhood without at least one mother whose last waking, anxious thoughts and prayers are for a son or a daughter wandering who knows where. Nor is there much distance between homes where an anxious father can hardly put in a day's work without being drawn within himself time after time, to wonder, "What have we done wrong? What can we do to get our child back?"
Even parents with the best intentions-some who have really tried-now know that heartache. Many parents have tried in every way to protect their children-only now to find they are losing one. For the home and the family are under attack. Ponder these words, if you will:
Profanity Nudity Immorality Divorce Pornography Addiction Violence Perversion
These words have taken on a new meaning in the last few years, haven't they?
You are within walking distance, at least within a few minutes' drive, of a theater in your own neighborhood. There will be shown, within the week, a film open to young and old alike that as recently as ten years ago would have been banned, the film confiscated, and the theater owner placed under indictment. But now it's there, and soon it will be seen at home on your television screens.
The apostle Paul prophesied to Timothy:
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
"For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents."
There is more to that scripture, but we stop on that phrase "disobedient to parents."
We have no desire to touch the subject that causes you so much pain, nor to condemn you as a failure. But you are failing, and that's what makes it hurt. If failure is to end, one must face squarely problems like this, however much it hurts.
A few years ago I was called in the wee hours of the morning to the side of my ailing mother, who was hospitalized for a series of tests.
"I'm going home," she said. "I'll not continue with these tests. I want you to take me home right now. I won't go through another day of this."
"But mother," I said, "you must go through with this. They have reason to believe that you have cancer, and if it is as they suppose, you have the worst kind."
There! It had been said. After all the evading, all the whispered conversations. After all the care never to say that word when she was around. It was out!
She sat quietly on her bed for a long time and then said, "Well, if that's what it is, that's what it is, and I'll fight it." Her Danish dander was up. And fight it she did, and winner she was.
Some may suppose she lost her battle to that disease, but she came away a glorious, successful winner. Her victory was assured when she faced the painful truth. Her courage began then.
Parents, can we first consider the most painful part of your problem? If you want to reclaim your son or daughter, why don't you leave off trying to alter your child just for a little while and concentrate on yourself. The changes must begin with you, not with your children.
You can't continue to do what you have been doing and expect to unproduce some behavior in your child, when your conduct was one of the things that produced it.
There! It's been said! After all the evading, all the concern for wayward children. After all the blaming of others, the care to be gentle with parents. It's out!
It's you, not the child, that needs immediate attention.
Now parents, there is substantial help for you if you will accept it. I add with emphasis that the help we propose is not easy, for the measures are equal to the seriousness of your problem. There is no patent medicine to effect an immediate cure.
And parents, if you seek for a cure that ignores faith and religious doctrine, you look for a cure where it never will be found. When we talk of religious principles and doctrines and quote scripture, interesting, isn't it, how many don't feel comfortable with talk like that. But when we talk about your problems with your family and offer a solution, then your interest is intense.
Know that you can't talk about one without talking about the other, and expect to solve your problems. Once parents know that there is a God and that we are his children, they can face problems like this and win.
If you are helpless, he is not. If you are lost, he is not.
If you don't know what to do next, he knows.
It would take a miracle, you say? Well, if it takes a miracle, why not.
We urge you to move first on a course of prevention.
There is a poem entitled "The Fence or the Ambulance." It tells of efforts to provide an ambulance at the bottom of a cliff and concludes with these two verses:
"Then an old sage remarked: It's a marvel to me That people give far more attention To repairing results than to stopping the cause When they'd much better aim at prevention. Let us stop at its source all this mischief, cried he, Come neighbors and friends, let us rally; If the cliff we will fence, we might almost dispense With the ambulance down in the valley.
"Better guide well the young than reclaim them when old, For the voice of true wisdom is calling: 'To rescue the fallen is good, but 'tis best To prevent other people from falling.' Better close up the source of temptation and crime, Than deliver from dungeon or galley; Better put a strong fence round the top of the cliff, Than an ambulance down in the valley." -Joseph Malins
-Joseph Malins
We prevent physical disease by immunization. This heart pain you are suffering perhaps might likewise have been prevented with very simple measures at one time. Fortunately the very steps necessary for prevention are the ones that will produce the healing. In other words, prevention is the best cure, even in advanced cases.
Now I would like to show you a very practical and a very powerful place to begin, both to protect your children and, in the case of one you are losing, to redeem him.
I have in my hands the publication Family Home Evenings. It is the seventh in a series and is available across the world in 17 languages. If you would go through it with me, you would find that this one is based on the New Testament. The theme is free agency. While it draws lessons from New Testament days, it does not content itself with them back then and there. It leaps across the centuries and concerns itself with you, and here and now.
It is well illustrated, much of it in full color, and has many meaningful activities for families with children of any age.
Here, for instance, is a crossword puzzle. And here on this colorful page is a game. Cut it out and make a spinner of cardboard, and the whole family can play. You'll find yourselves, depending on the moves you make, somewhere between "Heavenly Treasures" and "Earthly Pleasures."
Here is a lesson entitled "How Our Family Came to Be". "... tell your children," it suggests, "how you met, fell in love, and married. Be sure both parents participate, and illustrate your story with pictures and mementoes you have saved-the wedding dress, the announcements; wedding pictures. It might be a good idea to tape your narrative and keep it for your children to play to their children some day."
Let me list some of the other titles: "Our Family Government," "Learning to Worship," "Speaking Words of Purity," "Family Finances," "Parenthood, a Sacred Opportunity," "Respect for Authority," "The Value of Humor," "So You're Going to Move," "When the Unexpected Happens," "The Birth and Infancy of the Savior."
Here is one entitled "A Call to Be Free." That's the siren call your child is following, you know. This lesson includes a page of very official-looking colored certificates with instructions to "choose for each family member some activity he has not learned to do; then give each member a certificate... signed by the father: 'This certificate gives the owner permission to play a tune on the piano as a part of family home evening.'"
Other certificates may include "walking on one's hands, speaking in a foreign language, or painting an oil portrait." Then as each member says he cannot do the thing permitted, talk about why he is not free to do the thing he is permitted to do. The discussion will reveal that "each person must learn the laws that govern the development of an ability and then learn to obey those laws. Thus obedience leads to freedom."
Here, under special helps for families with small children, it suggests they put toy cars on the table top and feel free to run them anywhere they want and in any manner they like. Even little minds can see the results of this.
There is much more to this lesson and to all of these special lessons-subtle, powerful magnets that help to draw your child closer to the family circle.
This program is designed for a family meeting to be held once a week. In the Church, Monday night has been designated and set aside, Churchwide, for families to be at home together. Instruction has recently gone out, from which I quote:
"Those responsible for priesthood and auxiliary programs, including temple activities, youth athletic activities, student activities, etc., should take notice of this decision in order that Monday night will be uniformly observed throughout the Church and the families be left free from Church activities so that they can meet together in the family home evening."
With this program comes the promise from the prophets, the living prophets, that if parents will gather their children about them once a week and teach the gospel, those children in such families will not go astray.
Some of you outside the Church, and unfortunately many within, hope that you could take a manual like this without accepting fully the gospel of Jesus Christ, the responsibilities of Church membership, and the scriptures upon which it is based. You are permitted to do that. You still would not be free to do so without obeying the laws. To take a program like this without the gospel would have you act as one who obtained a needle to immunize a child against a fatal disease but rejected the serum to go in it that could save him.
Parents, it is past time for you to assume spiritual leadership of your family. If there is no substance to your present belief, then have the courage to seek the truth.
There is, living now, the finest generation of youth that ever walked the earth. You have seen some of them serving on missions. Perhaps you have turned them away. You ought to seek them out. If they are nothing else, they are adequate evidence that youth can live in honor. And there are tens of thousands of them who are literal saints-Latter-day Saints.
Now parents, I desire to inspire you with hope. You who have heartache, you must never give up. No matter how dark it gets or no matter how far away or how far down your son or daughter has fallen, you must never give up. Never, never, never.
I desire to inspire you with hope.
"Soft as the voice of an angel, whispering a message unheard, Hope with a gentle persuasion whispers her comforting word. Wait till the darkness is over, wait till the coming of dawn, Hope for the sunshine tomorrow, after the shower is gone. Whispering hope, Oh how welcome thy voice..."
God bless you heartbroken parents. There is no pain so piercing as that caused by the loss of a child, nor joy so exquisite as the joy at his redemption.
I come to you now as one of the Twelve, each ordained as a special witness. I affirm to you that I have that witness. I know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ. I know that though the world "seeth him not, neither knoweth him," that he lives.
Heartbroken parents, lay claim upon his promise: "I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you." In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Victor L. Brown
Victor L. Brown, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 122-126
My dear brothers and sisters, I seek an interest in your faith and prayers, that I might say something this morning that will have lodging in the hearts of boys and parents and leaders.
"Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness." This historic event took place on May 15, 1829. It was an answer to the prayer of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery respecting baptism for the remission of sins, which was mentioned in the Book of Mormon. The heavenly being who performed this ordinance introduced himself as John, the same who is called John the Baptist in the New Testament. It was he who, in the River Jordan over 1,800 years before, baptized the Savior, the Son of God.
He further stated to Joseph and Oliver that he acted under the direction of Peter, James, and John, who held the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood. John the Baptist held the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood, which is known also as the lesser priesthood, being an appendage or preparatory priesthood to the higher or Melchizedek Priesthood.
Today in the Church approximately 360,000 boys and men bear the Aaronic Priesthood. They outnumber by several thousand those who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood. An analysis of these figures, which I shall not go into here, points up the urgency of the proper training and preparation of boys and men of the Church to assume the responsibility of leadership that will fall upon their shoulders as they mature in the gospel. The Lord has made it very clear that this preparation for leadership is the responsibility of the Aaronic Priesthood.
This, then, my brothers and sisters, is the subject about which I wish to speak today-the Aaronic Priesthood. John the Baptist, in conferring this priesthood on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, told in part what it is: "I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins."
The priesthood is the authority and power to act in the name of God in accomplishing his work in righteousness. The Aaronic Priesthood has power in administering outward ordinances. Someone said, "It is the power to make things happen."
The power of the priesthood makes it possible for a young man to fulfill the commitment he made with the Savior before coming to this earth, which commitment was to help build the kingdom of God on the earth in a most significant and authoritative way.
Many of our young men understand in great depth their responsibilities as holders of the priesthood and are living lives that bring honor to it. Of course, there are those who do not take advantage of these blessings. I am convinced the reason for this lack of interest, or casual attitude, is largely due to a lack of understanding. Perhaps the experience of the late Elder James E. Talmage, one of the great men of the Church, who was recognized by the world for his keen intellect, will shed some light on what the Aaronic Priesthood can mean in the life of a boy.
"I was called and ordained one Sunday morning, without any previous notice; and that afternoon was placed as a sentinel at the door of the house in which the Saints had met for worship. As soon as I had been ordained, a feeling came to me such as I have never been able to fully describe. It seemed scarcely possible, that I, a little boy, could be so honored of God to be called to the priesthood. I had read of the sons of Aaron and of Levi who were chosen for the sacred labors of the Lesser Priesthood, but that I should be called to do part of the service that had been required of them was more than my little mind could grasp. I was both frightened and happy. Then, when I was placed on duty at the door, I forgot that I was but an eleven-year-old lad; I felt strong in the thought that I belonged to the Lord, and that he would assist me in whatever was required of me. I could not resist the conviction that other sentinels, stronger by far than I, stood by me though invisible to human eyes.
"The effect of my ordination to the deaconship entered into all the affairs of my boyish life. I am afraid that sometimes I forgot what I was, but I have ever been thankful that oft-times I did remember, and the recollection always served to make me better. When at play on the school grounds, and perhaps tempted to take unfair advantage in the game, when in the midst of a dispute with a playmate, I would remember, and the thought would be as effective as though spoken aloud-'I am a deacon; and it is not right that a deacon should act in this way.' On examination days, when it seemed easy for me to copy some other boy's work or to 'crib' from the book, I would remember again-'I am a deacon, and must be honest and true.' When I saw other boys cheating in play or in school, I would say in my mind, 'It would be more wicked for me to do that than it is for them, because I am a deacon.'
"Nothing that was required of me in the duties of my office was irksome; the sense of the great honor of my ordination made all service welcome. I was the only deacon in the branch, and had abundant opportunity to work.
"The impression made upon my mind when I was made a deacon has never faded. The feeling that I was called to the special service of the Lord, as a bearer of the priesthood, has been a source of strength to me through the years. When later I was ordained to higher offices in the Church, the same assurance has come to me, on every such occasion-that I was in truth endowed with power from heaven, and that the Lord demanded of me that I honor his authority. I have been ordained in turn a teacher, an elder, a high priest, and lastly an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, and with every ordination there has come to me a new and soul-thrilling feeling which first I knew when I was called to be a deacon in the service of the Lord."
Brother Talmage was a boy in England at the time of his ordination. The reason he was placed as a sentinel at the door was to warn the members of the approach of their enemies, for there was much persecution of the Church in that area. Imagine, a newly ordained deacon being given this responsibility!
There are two observations I would like to make from Brother Talmage's account of this experience. First, he was given something worthwhile to do by his leaders. They exhibited faith in him. He immediately became involved. Second, and even more important, he recognized that even though still a young boy, he had the authority and power to perform the task given him because he held the priesthood. This recognition replaced fear with courage. I believe he actually experienced the ministering of angels.
There is every reason that our young men today can have the same spiritual experience, giving them a feeling of worth and destiny, as felt by Elder Talmage.
The society in which we live has many divergent viewpoints about life; and because we have been given our free agency to choose for ourselves, it is vitally important that we carefully evaluate all aspects of life before making our choices. In this process of evaluation, it is not uncommon for us, particularly in our younger years, to look to someone we admire as our ideal or our hero. It might be a parent, an athlete, a leader in the community, etc. I suggest to the young men of the Aaronic Priesthood, yes, to all young men everywhere, that the greatest hero, if you will, who has ever lived is the Savior of mankind, Jesus Christ. I also suggest that his life and teachings are just as relevant today as at any time in history.
It is particularly important that young men holding his priesthood become intimately acquainted with him in order to know and to understand him. Unfortunately, artists and others have pictured him as effeminate, soft, and sad. If we analyze his life at all, we see a person who was masculine, strong, vigorous, interested in all that was going on about him, surely loving and kind, but at the same time one who could exhibit righteous anger. If this were not true, how could he have caused rough fishermen to follow him with just one sentence: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men"? He spent his youth and young adulthood as a carpenter, a trade requiring strength and skill. Would he have dared drive the money changers from the temple had he not been a man of great strength and courage? It takes a man of unusual warmth to attract throngs of little children as the Savior did. No other man has lived whose influence has been so profound in directing the course of human behavior.
As the young men of the Aaronic Priesthood become better acquainted with the life and teachings of the Savior, and as they emulate these teachings, new purpose and direction will come into their lives. They will find that the Savior was concerned with many of the same complex problems that exist today; for example, hypocrisy, one of today's most serious problems. Of all the weaknesses of men, this one was most strongly denounced by the Savior. He said: "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."
It took a man of great courage and vitality to speak and act as Jesus did. At the same time, all that he said and did was tempered by love, compassion, and charity.
As he hung on the cross suffering the agony of cruel torture, he said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
In today's world of confusion and conflict, the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth stand alone as the certain solution to man's problems. No greater opportunity or blessing can come into the life of a young man than to be called and ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood, thus being authorized to act for him who gave his life on Calvary.
The Aaronic Priesthood is not a make-work activity designed to keep young men busy and out of trouble. It is a segment of the government of the kingdom of God on the earth. Those holding it are empowered to perform the duties that will aid the Lord in accomplishing his work and his glory, which he said was "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."
No greater nor more important assignment can come to a boy or a man than this. President Wilford Woodruff, a prophet of God, supports this assessment of the Aaronic Priesthood: "... I went out as a Priest, and my companion as an Elder, and we traveled thousands of miles, and had many things manifested to us. I desire to impress upon you the fact that it does not make any difference whether a man is a Priest or an Apostle, if he magnifies his calling. A Priest holds the keys of the ministering of angels. Never in my life, as an Apostle, as a Seventy, or as an Elder, have I ever had more of the protection of the Lord than while holding the office of Priest."
I bear my humble witness to all who hear my voice this day, that John the Baptist actually and literally did appear to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and conferred upon them the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood. If parents, leaders, and holders of this priesthood will recognize it for what it truly is, and if our young men will make themselves acquainted with him who stands at the head and emulate his life, a mighty and great generation of leaders will come forth. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce R. McConkie, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 126-129
I desire very much to be directed by the Spirit, because I know that when a man speaks by the power of the Holy Ghost, that holy being carries the word of truth into the heart of every receptive soul.
We are servants of the Lord, and he has sent us into the world to say to every creature: "God has a message for you," and then to deliver that message in his name.
The message he has given us to proclaim in the ears of all who dwell upon the earth is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the plan of salvation. It is that Christ hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. It is a message of peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come.
This message comprises the most sobering and glorious truths of which the human mind can conceive. It is a voice of joy and gladness and thanksgiving; of glory and honor; of immortality and eternal life. And it is destined to make of this earth, a heaven; and of man, a god.
Known to the apostles and prophets of old, this glorious message was first revealed in modern times to the Prophet Joseph Smith and has since been planted in the hearts of all the true servants of the Lord by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
And so now, obedient to the divine command, we proclaim the saving truths of the gospel, not in the spirit of contention or debate, but by way of announcement, of exhortation, and of testimony.
We are bold to say that there is a God in heaven, an infinite and holy being who is our Eternal Father and whose offspring we are in the spirit; that he ordained the plan of salvation whereby we, his spirit children, might advance and progress and become like him; that he chose his First-born in the spirit to be the Savior and Redeemer in his great plan of salvation; and that ever thereafter, to honor its chief advocate and exponent, this plan of salvation has been known as the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We testify that according to the terms and conditions of God's eternal plan, salvation is in Christ. He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world whose blood atoneth for the sins of all those who believe in his name.
In the words of a holy angel who ministered to a Book of Mormon prophet: "... there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent."
Also: "... salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent."
In pleading with men to believe in Christ and be reconciled to God so as to gain a remission of their sins, Nephi said: "... we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ... the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out."
Thus we are bold to extol his holy name, to proclaim that he is the Lord Jehovah, the Great I Am, the Creator of heaven and earth and all things which in them are. And thus we testify that he is the God of Israel, the promised Messiah, the Only Begotten, the Son of God.
Our proclamation is that he came into the world to ransom men from the temporal and spiritual death brought upon them through the fall of Adam; that he was born of Mary, inheriting from her the power of mortality, which is the power to die; that he is literally the Son of God, in the same sense in which all men are the offspring of mortal fathers; and that he inherited from his Father the power of immortality, which is the power to live.
We know that because he is the Only Begotten in the flesh, he was able to work out the infinite and eternal atonement, whereby all men are raised in immortality, which is redemption from the temporal fall, while those who believe and obey his laws are raised also unto eternal life, which is redemption from the spiritual fall.
Now we join with Peter and Paul and his servants of old in announcing that he is risen; that he broke the bands of death and gained the victory over the grave-which thing they knew because they saw him after the resurrection, ate with him, felt the nail marks in his hands and feet, and thrust their hands into the spear wound in his side; and which thing we know because he has returned to earth in our day, manifesting himself anew to modern prophets, and because the Holy Spirit of God bears witness to us that he is the risen Lord.
We accept without reservation the testimony of the ancient prophets that after their day there would be a falling away from the faith once delivered to the saints; as also their prophecies that God, by angelic ministration, would restore the everlasting gospel in the last days and gather scattered Israel to its standard.
And we now add to their testimony our witness that God has in these last days restored those truths by obedience to which salvation may be won.
We are one with the ancients in our belief in Christ. We accept him as the Son of God, as the Savior and Redeemer of the world. We are grateful that he has seen fit to add to the canon of holy scripture, revealing anew, with a plainness and perfection which surpass the record of old, those things which men must do to be justified through faith in him and to work out their salvation with fear and trembling before him.
We believe the witness born by the Lord's servants of old and gain great satisfaction from studying and pondering in our hearts the doctrines they taught and the testimonies they bore as these are recorded in the Bible.
But the fire of testimony which burns in our hearts was not lighted at ancient altars, nor is the knowledge we have of the doctrines of salvation based solely upon the partial and fragmentary accounts of what God revealed to men in ancient days.
The ancient saints had the gospel, which is the power that saves men, and they recorded many of its truths in their scriptures. The world today has the record of part of what the saints of old possessed.
But thanks be to God, we have the gospel, with all its saving power, restored again. God has given us the same doctrines, the same keys, and also the same powers possessed by those of old. All these things have been dispensed anew in this final, glorious gospel dispensation.
I shall call your attention to three heavenly visions which are part of this restoration of the gospel:
First: In the spring of 1820, Joseph Smith sought wisdom from God. In the providences of the Lord, he then received one of the most marvelous visions of all time, which he recorded in these words:
"... I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.
"... I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"
Second: Nearly twelve years later, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon "beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father," together with a great concourse of "holy angels," and recorded their testimony in these words:
"And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
"For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father."
Third: In April 1836, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery saw the Lord of heaven, of which this is the scriptural account:
"The veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened.
"We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber.
"His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:
"I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father."
Now, as servants of the Lord, we announce and testify that these three visions were as real and true as any ever received by any prophet in any age.
There is no room for contention or debate. We are not quoting the Bible to prove what happened any more than Peter turned to the writings of Isaiah to prove he had felt the nail marks in the hands and feet of the risen Lord. We are saying with words of soberness that men in our day have heard the voice of God and seen the visions of eternity, and that the power of God whereby salvation comes is once more held by living apostles and prophets.
And all men everywhere have exactly the same obligation to heed and believe our testimony as men had in former days to accept the witness of the prophets of old.
The issue in Peter's day was: Did Christ rise from the dead? If so, he was the Son of God, and the religion of the ancient saints had saving power. To prove their message, the Lord's ancient servants reasoned out of the scriptures and bore testimony of what they knew by personal revelation.
The issue today is: Was Joseph Smith called of God? If so, the religion of the Latter-day Saints has saving power. And to prove our message, like our brethren of old, we reason out of the scriptures and bear testimony of what we know by personal revelation.
And so we testify that the Holy Ghost certifies to us that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God; that Joseph Smith is the great latter-day prophet through whom the knowledge of Christ and of salvation was restored; and that this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is in very deed the kingdom of God on earth, the one place where men may come to find peace in this life and become inheritors of eternal glory in the life to come.
We are servants of the Lord, and he has commanded us to proclaim his gospel message to all men. And of that message we now testify that as our Lord and our God liveth, it is true. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Howard W. Hunter
Howard W. Hunter, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 129-132
We live in an interesting period of the history of mankind. The slow pace of man's progress from the beginning gradually commenced to accelerate and gain speed. Today we find advancement moving at such increased momentum that we are often frightened by the thoughts of the future. Man takes pride in the rapid strides of science that have created conveniences for his everyday living. His health has been improved by the progress of medicine, and his life-span has been extended. Sweeping reforms in many areas of society have enhanced his well-being. Business and industry are moving forward at a pace never before known, and this generation has the highest standard of living ever enjoyed by man. We are proud to be living in a modern world of achievement.
Will all of this spiraling progress be good for man in the years that lie ahead? Will it be beneficial in every respect to our children and grandchildren? We would agree, no doubt, that many things give us concern. What of the future of the family and home life, which in past generations have been great stabilizing forces in society? What of the solidarity of community and national life? What of the future of our economy, as the consequence of inflation and increased debt? What of the modern course of deterioration of morality and its effect upon individuals, families, nations, and the world? We are forced to admit that what we term as progress brings with it many consequences of serious concern.
We are entering into, or going through, a period of history in which so-called modern thought is taking precedence in the minds of many persons who classify themselves as advocates of a modern generation. The more extreme of these lean toward free thinking and free action without assuming the responsibility men owe to fellowmen. Where will we be led if we follow those who advocate freedom of use of drugs and freedom of morality? What will be the result of universal free love, abortions at will, homosexuality, or legalized pornography?
What of spiritual values and the religious ideals of past generations, which have been the great stabilizing influence on society? Modern thinkers claim these have been the great deterrents to man in the freedoms he now seeks. There is a great effort on the part of so-called modernists to change religious beliefs and teachings of the past to conform to modern thought and critical research. They de-emphasize the teachings of the Bible by modern critical methods and deny that scripture is inspired. The modernist teaches that Christ is not the Son of God. He denies the doctrine of the atoning sacrifice by which all men may be saved. He denies the fact of the resurrection of the Savior of the world and relegates him to the status of a teacher of ethics. Where, then, is hope? What has become of faith?
The Old Testament unfolds the story of the creation of the earth and man by God. Should we now disregard this account and modernize the creation according to the theories of the modernists? Can we say there was no Garden of Eden or an Adam and Eve? Because modernists now declare the story of the flood is unreasonable and impossible, should we disbelieve the account of Noah and the flood as related in the Old Testament?
Let us examine what the Master said when the disciples came to him as he sat on the Mount of Olives. They asked him to tell them of the time of his coming and of the end of the world. Jesus answered: "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
"But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
"For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
"And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
In this statement the Master confirmed the story of the flood without modernizing it. Can we accept some of the statements of the Lord as being true and at the same time reject others as being false?
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him and they discussed the matter of the death of her brother and the resurrection. "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."
Both of these statements, the one regarding Noah and the fact of the flood and the one in which he declared himself to be the resurrection and the life, were made by the Lord. How can we believe one and not the other? How can we modernize the story of the flood or refer to it as a myth and yet cling to the truth of the other? How can we modernize the Bible and have it be a guiding light to us and a vital influence in our beliefs?
There are those who declare it is old-fashioned to believe in the Bible. Is it old-fashioned to believe in God, in Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God? Is it old-fashioned to believe in his atoning sacrifice and the resurrection? If it is, I declare myself to be old-fashioned and the Church is old-fashioned. In great simplicity the Master taught the principles of life eternal and lessons that bring happiness to those with the faith to believe. It doesn't seem reasonable to assume the necessity of modernizing these teachings of the Master. His message concerned principles that are eternal. Following these principles, millions of persons have found rich religious experiences in their lives. People of today's world are seeking a meaningful purpose in life, and thousands are seeking a religious experience that is meaningful. Can such an experience be found in meditation only, or by a seance? Can a meaningful experience be found in trips with drugs or in love-ins? Such an attempt is to go through the back, the side door, or over the wall, not through the way pointed out by the Lord.
When the Lord spoke to the Pharisees at the Feast of the Tabernacles, he used these words: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
"Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep."
A meaningful religious experience can come in no other way than by that door, through the Lord Jesus Christ.
There have always been those who wanted a sign before they would believe. During his ministry the Master was asked on many occasions for a sign.
"The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
"He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
"And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
"A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign."
Perhaps it was with them, as with many today, truth is not recognized as truth unless accompanied by the sensational. What would have been accomplished had the Lord called down thunder and lightning, or plucked a star from the sky, or divided the water to satisfy the curiosity of men? They would probably have said it was the work of the devil, or their eyes deceived them.
Signs are evident to the faithful. Sick persons are healed; prayers are answered; changes are wrought in the lives of those who believe, accept, and live the commandments. We prove Christ by living the principles of his gospel. He made great promises of blessings to those who live the commandments: "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." Many of the commandments are restrictive, but reason dictates they are for man's good. In addition to the restrictive commandments are the positive admonitions. The two great imperatives are to love God and love one's fellowmen.
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
"This is the first and great commandment.
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
What greater laws could be given to bring peace, prosperity, and progress to man if he will faithfully live the commandments to love?
In this time of rapid change, we can maintain an equilibrium if we preserve a belief in God and a love for him, but we cannot love God unless we love his children also. These are our neighbors, and true love of them knows no class or culture, race, color, or creed.
The members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints open their arms to neighbors everywhere. The restored Church of Christ assumes its charge and responsibility to take the gospel of Jesus Christ in love to its neighbors over the world and endeavors to help those who receive the gospel to live the teachings of the Master.
In this world of confusion and rushing, temporal progress, we need to return to the simplicity of Christ. We need to love, honor, and worship him. To acquire spirituality and have its influence in our lives, we cannot become confused and misdirected by the twisted teachings of the modernist. We need to study the simple fundamentals of the truths taught by the Master and eliminate the controversial. Our faith in God needs to be real and not speculative. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ can be a dynamic, moving influence, and true acceptance gives us a meaningful, religious experience. One of the great strengths of the Mormon religion is this translation of belief into daily thinking and conduct. This replaces turmoil and confusion with peace and tranquility.
The Church stands firmly against relaxation or change in moral issues and opposes the so-called new morality. Spiritual values cannot be set aside, notwithstanding modernists who would tear them down. We can be modern without giving way to the influence of the modernist. If it is old-fashioned to believe in the Bible, we should thank God for the privilege of being old-fashioned.
Permit me to conclude with my personal conviction and testimony. I know God lives, the same God described in the Old and the New Testaments. I know Jesus Christ is his Son. He gave his life in the great atoning sacrifice whereby he became my Savior, your Savior, and the Savior of all mankind. I also know there is a prophet of God on the earth today who speaks the mind and will of the Lord to his children in the same manner that prophets have spoken to God's children in all ages of the past. May the Lord give us the capacity to understand his teachings and the strength to follow with conviction and steadfastness, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Mark E. Petersen
Mark E. Petersen, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 138-142
In recent months the plight of the American Indians has been brought to public attention in a most impressive manner.
As a result, further steps will be taken to improve the lot of these people, who are among the most neglected of all the minorities on this continent.
We are thankful that the Latter-day Saints have taken an active part over the years in providing extensive aid to them. Particularly have we given assistance in the educational field. This year daily seminary classes are being provided for more than 15,000 Indian students, and through the efforts of the Church an additional 5,000 are receiving full-time elementary and high school education at no cost to themselves.
We also provide a college program for many of our Indians, of whom 475 are enrolled this year at Brigham Young University; 426 took college work there last year.
Brigham Young University has conferred B.A. degrees upon 85 Indian students recently, and 20 have received masters or doctors degrees. More than a score are now enrolled in graduate school there.
Brigham Young University also has an Institute of American Indian Research and Services, and through it supervises more than thirty agricultural projects for Indians in the Western America.
Ecclesiastical training is likewise being provided for more than 35,000 Indians who are members of our church.
They are bright and adaptable and are proud of their ancestral heritage, for they know they are descended from a great people.
Recently we attended a gathering of Mexican residents of Salt Lake City and heard them express great pride in their Indian ancestry, and well they may, for the more we learn about the early inhabitants of Mexico, the more we realize that indeed they were truly a great race.
This conclusion was reached also by Dr. Alfred V. Kidder, one of the leading authorities on Mayan culture. In his book A Guide to Quirigua, this eminent scholar said:
"The great cities of the old Mayan Empire were built during the first part of the Christian era. For nearly 600 years these gifted people were leaders in art and architecture, mathematics and astronomy. They evolved a calendar in some ways more accurate than ours... The growth of the Indian civilizations, although differing in detail, was strikingly like that of our own, which originated in Egypt and Mesopotamia... Social and economic systems were organized, cities grew, religion developed, and temples were built for worship."
Writing in a similar vein, in his book The Marvels of Copan, the historian Munoz wrote: "Architecture, astronomy, mathematics, painting, weaving and all the arts that embellish life, once flourished here."
He emphasized that the forefathers of the Indians were not savages in any sense, for no savage, he said, ever conceived of the wonders which were commonly known among the Mayans.
Dr. Wissler, on page 147 of his book on Mayan civilization, explains that the Mayans manufactured paper through a process similar to that of the Egyptians in making writing materials from papyrus.
The American Heritage Book of Indians, on page 19, says:
"The Mayans attained the highest civilization known in ancient America and one of the highest known any place in the early world."
These people had a well-developed irrigation system. They built dams and aqueducts. They terraced hillsides, turning them into productive farm lands by the use of irrigation. These water systems were in general use 2,000 years before the Spaniards came, and some of them still exist.
The early Americans were a numerous people. About the time of the conquest there were 25 million in Central Mexico alone.
But more impressive than any of these facts about the early Americans is their account of a visitation among their ancestors nearly 2,000 years ago, of a divine personage who remained among them for many days, teaching and blessing them.
These highly intelligent and skillful early Americans affirmed that this personage taught them a divine religion, healed their sick, raised some of the dead, taught new and more productive agricultural methods, and established a government of equity and peace.
Their accounts say that he came among them suddenly and left equally so, in a supernatural manner. The ancients regarded him as the Creator, come to earth in bodily form.
That he was a Christian divinity none can successfully deny.
That his teachings were akin to the Bible is now readily admitted.
And that he promised to return in a second coming is also an acknowledged fact.
The account of his appearance was preserved through generations of Indians from Chile to Alaska, and interestingly enough, it is likewise well known among the Polynesians from Hawaii to New Zealand, giving one more evidence of the close relationship between the Polynesians and the early inhabitants of the Americas.
In the main all such accounts agree. They differ in name and minor details from island to island and from country to country, but the overall conclusion is the same-there was a visitation by a heavenly being among those people nearly 2,000 years ago.
Of such veracity is the information now available concerning him that Paul Herrmann was induced to say in his book The Conquest of Man:
"Carefully considered this leaves no conclusion open than that the Light God Quetzalcoatl was a real person, that he was neither the invention of Spanish propaganda nor a legendary figment of Indian imagination."
Keep in mind that this comes from the highly intelligent early Americans who knew astronomy, mathematics, irrigation, and architecture. It was not the dream of an ignorant or superstitious people. It was history from one of the highest civilizations known among ancient men.
This great being was known as Quetzalcoatl in parts of Mexico, primarily in the Cholula area. He was Votan in Chiapas and Wixepechocha in Oaxaca; Gucumatz in Guatemala; Virachocha and Hyustus in Peru; Sume in Brazil, and Bochica in Colombia.
To the Peruvians he was also known as Con-tici or Illa-tici, tici meaning both creator and light. To the Mayans he was principally known as Kukulcan.
In the Polynesian islands he was known as Lono, Kana, Kane, or Kon, and sometimes as Kanaloa, meaning the great light or great brightness. He was also known among some Polynesians as Kane-Akea, the great progenitor, or as Tonga-roa, the god of the ocean sun.
What did he look like, this divine personage?
He was described by the ancients as a tall white man, bearded, and having blue eyes. He wore loose, flowing robes. He seemed to be a person of great authority and unmeasured kindness. He had power to make hills into plains and plains into high mountains. He could bring fountains of water from the solid rock.
One of the remarkable things about his coming was that he appeared after several days of dense darkness during which the people had prayed constantly for a return of the sun. While the darkness yet prevailed-and I refer to the book The Incas, by Pedro de Leon-the people suffered great hardships and offered earnest prayers to God, seeking a return of the light that had failed.
When at last the sun did shine, this divinity appeared. Says Pedro de Leon: He was a "white man of large stature whose air and Person aroused great respect and veneration... And when they saw his power they called him the Maker of all things; their Beginner; the Father of the sun."
This personage, as he taught his religion, urged the people to build temples for worship, and his followers became very devout. As he left them, he promised to come again, which caused the natives for many generations to look for his return even as the Jews look for their promised Messiah.
This faith led to disaster on two occasions, however, when the Spaniards came to America and when Captain Cook sailed to the Hawaiian Islands. But these tragedies served only to reinforce the truth of the tradition.
When Cortez came to Mexico and the coastal natives saw him, they observed that he was a large white man. They hurried to their king, Montezuma, and announced that the Great White God had finally returned.
This had a striking effect upon Montezuma. He remembered that when he was crowned as emperor, the priests of the native religion reminded him: "This is not your throne; it is only lent to you and will one day be returned to the Great One to whom it is due."
The Spanish author Duran, in his book The Aztecs, says that when Montezuma sent his faithful servant to greet Cortez and lead him to the palace, the servant addressed Cortez as "O Lord and True God," and added, "welcome to this your country and kingdom." Duran further says that the Indians considered Cortez' companions as divine beings also.
This Spanish author then continues:
"There is no doubt that Montezuma was greatly preoccupied with the return of Quetzalcoatl who had left the Vera Cruz coast and had promised to return.
"Montezuma and the other dignitaries of his kingdom were totally convinced that Cortez and Quetzalcoatl were one and the same, as can be seen in the chronicles...
"As late as 1864 when the blond bearded Emperor Maximilian arrived in Vera Cruz, reminiscences lingered in the minds of the Indians which reminded them of the promise of the return of Quetzalcoatl."
Montezuma accepted Cortez as though he were Deity, but the treachery of the Spaniards and his men soon changed that, and warfare resulted. Poor, trusting Montezuma lost both his throne and his life, but the tradition remained.
A similar situation occurred when Captain James Cook, the British explorer, came to Hawaii. Peculiarly enough, he landed there when the natives were celebrating their Makahiki Festival, which kept alive the tradition of the White God among the Polynesians. Cook also was received as Deity and taken to the sacred temple of Lono. But his men were far less than angelic, and their depredations brought down the wrath of the natives upon the entire landing party. In the battle which ensued, Cook lost his life.
But in reality, who was the Great White God? It was not Captain Cook, and certainly it was not Cortez. Who was he?
When Jesus Christ ministered in Palestine, he told the people there, as is recorded in the tenth chapter of the Gospel of John, that he had other sheep, not of the fold of Palestine, but elsewhere. "... them also I must bring," he said, "and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."
Jesus of Nazareth was this White God! After his resurrection in the Holy Land he did in reality visit the early Americans. How do we know?
In the western hemisphere, as in ancient Palestine, prophets ministered among the people, giving them inspired direction. As did the prophets in the Holy Land, they also compiled records of all important events.
They had predicted the coming of Christ among them, and the people fully expected him.
After the three days of darkness which had afflicted them, the people were gathered about their temple when they heard a voice from heaven which said:
"Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name-hear ye him."
This caused them to look into the skies, and there they saw, descending to the earth, a glorious Personage who came and stood before them. And as the ancient volume records it:
"... he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another...
"And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:
"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.
"And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world."
Then the Savior said to them:
"Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.
"And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.
"And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:
"Hosannah! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him."
He taught them his true religion, healed their sick, blessed their children, and organized his church on the western hemisphere as he had done in Palestine.
This is what gave rise to the tradition of the Indians and Polynesians. And it has lived until now, being transmitted from generation to generation.
But how may we be sure that it was the Christ?
As we mention, the many prophets who lived in ancient America wrote their histories and revelations as did the prophets in Palestine. They made many volumes. Finally these records were abridged and compiled into one by a prophet named Mormon, who lived about 400 years after Christ, here in America.
Because he was the compiler, the book was called after him-the Book of Mormon. It was brought forth in a miraculous manner in our day and identifies the Christ as the White God of ancient times. That book is a volume of scripture as is the Bible. In the twenty-ninth chapter of his writings, Isaiah predicted that in the latter days this new volume of scripture would appear, and he describes its coming forth in the manner in which the Book of Mormon actually was given to the world. This is not mere coincidence. It is a modern fulfillment of Bible prophecy.
Isaiah said it would be a sealed book, and it was.
He said the words of the book would be delivered to a learned man who would reject the record, and this was true. Peculiarly enough, and this most certainly helps to identify the book, he said it would pass through the hands of an unlearned man as it came to world attention, and this is exactly what happened.
By way of pointing to the time of its publication, he said the book would appear in the latter days as Palestine became a fruitful field, and this was so.
He predicted that even the deaf would hear the words of the book, and that through it the blind would see out of darkness and the meek among men would increase their joy in the Lord. All of this came to pass.
And while this was taking place he said the Almighty would perform a marvelous work and a wonder during a period of unbelief in the world, and this too has been accomplished.
The Book of Mormon is the volume to which Isaiah refers. It is scripture, the holy writ of ancient America, published now for the enlightenment of modern men.
It is a new witness to the divinity of Christ and bears testimony that he is truly and in fact the Son of God, the Savior of the Christians, the Messiah of the Jews, the White God of ancient America, and the Redeemer of all mankind. And this too is our own testimony, and we bear it to you in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Bernard P. Brockbank
Bernard P. Brockbank, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 142-145
My dear brethren and sisters: As I have reflected on many of the profound messages given at this conference, a passage of scripture kept reflecting in my mind. The Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith, "... the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion; And also the Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst, and shall come down in judgment upon... the world." We may be in that time. It's a great day to be a saint, with the Lord at the head. There seems to be room on this earth for both saints and for those who choose another course. When the Savior closed his ministry on this earth, he left a message in closing that it would be unto the ends of the earth: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
We have just returned from Japan, a marvelous experience there, helping supervise and direct the work of the Mormon Pavilion at the World's Fair. We have a great body of Japanese people here at this conference. They are an interesting people. They are a great people. Many of them are going to have patriarchal blessings while they are here. Those who have had patriarchal blessings that I have spoken with come from the tribe of Joseph, a fruitful bough.
Expo '70 was the first world's fair to be staged in Asia and has been acclaimed by many to be the most successful world's fair ever to be held.
Seventy-seven countries and 42 domestic organizations sponsored pavilions at the fair. There were only two religious pavilions represented-the Christian ecumenical pavilion, sponsored by the Catholic and Protestant churches of Japan, and the Mormon Pavilion, representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Mormon Pavilion was very popular and crowded each day from the time the fair was opened until it closed.
During the six months that the fair was running, almost 65 million people attended the fair, and over ten percent of that 65 million visited the Mormon Pavilion. Our attendance was 6,658,532-almost a miracle for the small pavilion we had to even come close to accommodating them.
Many of this number were not able to see all of the exhibits because of the crowds or to hear the dialogue and testimonies of the missionaries. But out of those who were able to follow the missionaries and receive the full presentation, 780,000 signed the guest register referral books, and many of them asked to know more about the doctrines and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The main objectives of our exhibit were to make friends with these people, teach them about a living God and a living Jesus Christ, and to explain with visual aids the Lord's plan and purpose of life.
Our most impressive exhibit was the spirit of the dedicated, loving, inspired missionaries. The missionaries radiated a great love for the Oriental people and the Oriental people had great respect for the missionaries. One Japanese gentleman said to me, "I can hardly believe that such fine, clean young people would leave their homes, pay their own way, and learn a new language. They must truly love us."
All the missionaries serving in the four missions in Japan will have many additional opportunities to reach and teach the people as a result of the fair.
Convert baptisms have doubled in Japan in the past few months and are still increasing. The Japanese members of the Church are very dedicated, sincere, loving people.
The country of Japan covers an area about the size of the state of California and has a population of over 101 million people and room for many more. It is a land filled with religion. There are 106,000 Buddhist temples and over 100,000 Shinto shrines. Less than one percent of the Japanese people are members of a Christian church. There are about 350,000 who belong to the Catholic Church, and 400,000 belong to the various Protestant churches, and approximately 12,000 are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Japanese people are seeking and looking for better ways and seem to be looking for a living God and for a greater purpose in both life and death, and many seem to be receptive and interested in the doctrines and teachings of Jesus Christ.
I would like to read from a letter we received from Dr. Lorin F. Wheelwright, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University. He sent this letter after his visit to Expo '70 and the Mormon Pavilion:
"May I share with you the feelings that sweep over me as I contemplate my visit with you and as I witnessed the manner in which our missionaries used Expo '70 to bring the gospel to the Japanese people. Never have I seen such crowds of people, curious and eager to witness the 'Progress of Mankind.' Each day I was there more than 700,000 thronged the fairgrounds. They fascinated me more than the spectacular electronic, space, and motion-picture extravaganzas that awaited them. These patient people would queue up for two to three hours at each of the major pavilions. I was impressed by their orderliness and quiet determination to see what obviously they had saved their yen to see.
"Our pavilion stood as a landmark of spirituality in a sea of materialism. It is true that many pavilions showed the historical and present concern of nations and industries for man and his strivings for a better life. But ours had the unique contribution of inviting all men and women to 'the peace that passeth all understanding.' With the terrific crowds surging upon you, I marveled at the calmness of our missionaries, the almost stark simplicity of our exhibit, the opportunity to sit down and see a film without distraction, which told in understandable language and appealing picture that the quest for happiness must be a spiritual quest if ever man is to find it.
"Your kind invitation for me to meet two groups of missionaries gave me insight regarding the real reason our pavilion was different from all others. These young men and women were obviously serving beyond the call of duty. They radiated the fire of St. Paul and the persistence of Moses. Their friendly smiles and patient explanations must have been a joy to the Japanese who personify these characteristics so beautifully. They treated people with courtesy and let the spirit of their callings reach out to touch the spirits of those who came to look and inquire. When I learned that after each long day they put on their work clothes and cleaned the building, I knew that they personified the bended knee of reverence and work-both of which the Savior said were essential to man's salvation.
"After talking with you, I realized anew that our message to the world is not expressed in the slickness of our exhibit. Our appeal is in the sincerity and truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is this power that brings men of all faiths to ask, t who is right, but what is right?' It is this testimony which invites the devout Protestant, Catholic, Buddhist, or atheist to ponder his ultimate values and open his heart to the greater truth that we bear to the world. Although our exhibit showed pictures of Mormonism at work in the lives of our members, I am convinced that it was the heart of the message that touched people and the honesty of the messengers who opened their eyes and hearts to see and feel.
"I was thrilled that you called these missionaries together at the beginning and closing of each shift to share in the spirit of devotion. Their prayers and testimonies touched me deeply."
I would like to read a few of the many thousands of comments that were written by visitors to the Mormon Pavilion:
One employee at the fair said, "This pavilion is our oasis at Expo '70. The theme of Expo is 'Progress and Harmony for Mankind' and that is 'man's search for happiness.' I pay my respects to your pavilion for giving us the living God."
Another: "I think this pavilion gives me a good opportunity to change my life. Thanks for the missionaries."
"The movie helped me to know about my life and that death is not the end."
"The film made birth, living and death part of 'man's search for happiness.'"
"I am not a Christian, but now I want to know about Christianity."
"The Mormon Pavilion is my best memory of Expo. I want to know more."
"This pavilion moved me to think about God. I felt his spirit here."
"The moving picture made me reconsider my life and my happiness."
"I found love and truth in this pavilion."
"I think your religion is true."
"I want to know about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon."
"This is the second time I have visited the Mormon Pavilion. I want to know more about Jesus Christ and true happiness."
"I do not have a religion. I have found something here to help direct my life. I want to come again."
"My religion has not taught me about a living God. I am looking for God and happiness."
"I have thought that God existed far from us, but today I felt God near me. Thanks for this pavilion."
"I am glad to learn that man is a child of God. I pray for the success of this pavilion."
"I had no interest in religion when I came to the fair, but I was moved by the spirit of the missionaries."
"I felt comfortable without any resistance. I want to know more about your religion."
"I have always believed that there was a God, and today I felt deeply his power."
We had literally thousands and thousands of comments comparable to these.
A young lady, Miss Reimi Yomamota, who served as secretary at the pavilion and was not a member when she started but later joined the Church, made this statement as we were leaving the station: "I received the greatest blessing of all the people who came to Expo. I received a testimony of Jesus Christ and of his gospel. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that the Book of Mormon is from God."
A young man who worked at the Russian pavilion came as we were closing and said, "I feel bad that this building is closing. I have felt more happiness and more religion and more love here than at any other place I have been in my life."
Brothers and sisters, I must close. You who have a testimony of the Lord's work, you who are saints, you have the answers the world is looking for, the world would like to know about a living God. The world would like to know that the scriptures of God are true. You have these answers.
Probably the greatest message that has come to this earth since the resurrection and the ascension of Jesus Christ is the Joseph Smith testimony. This was distributed extensively at Expo.
As the Japanese people come into the Church, they make great saints when they are converted.
I bear witness that Jesus Christ is the God of all mankind, the God of the yellow race, the red, the black, and the white races. I bear witness that Joseph Fielding Smith is the prophet of all mankind on this earth, to all races, kindreds, tongues, and people; and that the only way mankind can receive celestial glory is by following the prophet of God and by accepting the program of Jesus Christ. I so bear witness in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder William H. Bennett
William H. Bennett, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 146-148
My brothers and sisters: It is a choice and wonderful experience to be called to be an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve, but it is also a very humbling experience. I feel especially humble this afternoon as I stand before you for the first time as a General Authority and contemplate the sacredness and the importance of this great call. I ask for an interest in your faith and prayers, not just here today but on a continuous basis, that I might be able to serve in the way the Lord would like me to serve.
I am grateful for this call because I love the Lord, and I have found great joy and satisfaction in being in his service, in helping to build the kingdom of God here upon the earth, and in trying to serve my fellowmen.
I know that God lives; that Jesus Christ is his Son, the Redeemer of the world; that Joseph Smith was indeed a true prophet of God, through whom the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored in these the last days and through whom the Church of Jesus Christ was re-established. I know that President Joseph Fielding Smith is a true prophet of God, and I sustain him and all the other brethren with all my heart.
How grateful I am for this testimony, and how grateful I am to those who helped me gain it early in life, and who have helped me strengthen it with the passage of time.
I should like to pay tribute today to my ancestors who accepted the gospel, joined the Church, and gave me a rich heritage, and to my parents and brothers and sisters, all of whom taught me the gospel by example. My mother was one of the sweetest women who ever lived, and my father was truly a noble man. It has been said that an honest man is the noblest work of God. That's the kind of man my father was. Those of you who knew him and had dealings with him know that I speak the truth.
I married rather late in life. The Lord went the extra mile with me and gave me a wonderful person to be my wife and blessed our home with six lovely children. I love them dearly, and they are all supporting me wholeheartedly, without reservations, in this new assignment.
Let me take a moment to share a choice experience we had together on Father's Day. It happened in a Sunday School service. I didn't know anything about what was planned. At the appropriate time the chorister asked my family members to come forward. Then my wife and five daughters sang "We Ever Pray for Thee, Our Father Dear." They substituted the word Father, in place of the word prophet, in the song for this occasion and sang it that way. Then my only son recited the poem "I Follow a Noble Father." My heart was touched and so were the hearts of all others who were there. I am grateful for my wonderful family.
I should like to say thanks to all you wonderful people in Alberta, Canada, who taught me in my early youth, in Sunday School, Primary, and MIA; to my colleagues and students at Utah State University; to people throughout the state of Utah with whom I have worked over the years; and to President Glen Taggart, president of Utah State University, who has been very helpful and understanding during the transition period between my assignment at Utah State University and my assignment with the Church.
Four others to whom I am deeply indebted are President Hugh B. Brown, who was my stake president in the Lethbridge Stake when I was a boy; Asael E. Palmer, a counselor to President Brown at that time, who later became president of the Lethbridge Stake, where he served for many years; my uncle, Archibald F. Bennett, one of the great teachers of the Church, who lived about as close to his Father in heaven as any man I know; and my Scoutmaster, Vernon Bigelow. These men had the ability to reach me when I lacked confidence in myself as a boy. They helped me set worthwhile goals and objectives and to gain a vision of the importance of the gospel in my life and in the scheme of things. I just want to say I will be eternally grateful to these men for what they did for me and are still doing.
Let me take a moment to share a choice experience that I had with President Brown. I have always been interested in athletics. One day when I was about 15 years of age, I was taking part in the high jump in a tri-stake MIA track meet. We had reached the height where most of the jumpers were eliminated; there were just two of us still in there. I knocked the bar off twice and had one jump remaining. President Brown, who was watching the event, came over, put his arm on my shoulder, and said, "Young man, you can clear that bar; I know you can. I have been watching you. You are not over the bar when you are at the highest point. If you adjust your takeoff just a bit, you will clear that bar, young man. I know you will!"
Something happened to me inside. It seemed as though new strength had come into my body from President Brown. I went up to that bar with complete assurance that I could clear it and I did. I shall never forget that experience.
In the days of my youth the Lord saw fit to bless me with an inferiority complex. I say "blessed" because in wrestling with this problem I learned the meaning of humility. I learned what it meant to get close to my Father in heaven through prayer on an almost continuous basis. I learned that in problems we find our challenges. In those challenges lie opportunities. If we can just identify those opportunities and capitalize on them, growth, progress, and success will result. I learned that strength comes from facing up to problems squarely and realistically, not from disregarding them or avoiding them.
The world today is beset by many problems, and mention has been made of this in various ways during this conference. When man unaided tries to solve these problems, he frequently finds that new problems arise, and there is confusion, more confusion, contradictions, strife, and contention. Finally, man may resort to war to try to solve his difficulties. But war does not solve difficulties. This was brought forcibly to my mind recently when I was in Europe participating in a seminar for mission presidents and their wives. The seminar was held in Brussels, Belgium, just a few miles from Waterloo, where the forces of the Duke of Wellington engaged the forces of Napoleon in a great battle, back in about 1815. And it was just a few miles from Flanders Field and not very far from Dunkirk, where other battles and fighting took place at different times in the history of the world.
And now war is with us again, and many people are deeply troubled and confused. But I should like to say that the great battles of the world are not fought on the battlefields. They are fought in the hearts and in the minds of men and women everywhere, as they wrestle with their problems, try to meet the difficulties and issues that confront them, exercise their free agency, and make choices. The forces of evil and the forces of righteousness are both trying to influence the decisions, and there is conflict in the hearts and minds of men everywhere. If the forces of righteousness triumph universally, there will be love, harmony, and peace on earth. If the forces of evil dominate, there will be outward expressions that lead to war and destruction.
The gospel of Jesus Christ can resolve those inner conflicts and bring inner peace and outer peace as well. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most valuable, the most needed message in the world today. It is the answer to the problems that grow out of man's selfishness and greed, where such a high percentage of the problems arise. The gospel teaches us to build rather than to destroy, to help people to give of themselves in unselfish service to others rather than being on the receiving end of things most of the time.
Over the years men and women have learned to appreciate the importance of free agency. But all too frequently they overlook the fact that along with free agency there must be responsibility and accountability. One has his free agency to determine what he will do and what he will not do, but he does not have his free agency to determine the consequences, because laws operate.
The gospel teaches the importance of obedience to law. President Lee referred to that so beautifully this morning when he talked about the astronauts. Let me make a further application. You will remember that the astronauts on one of the missions had an outward trip and a return trip. On the outward trip their goal was the moon. On the return trip their goal was the earth, their home base. They reached their goals both going and coming because they themselves, the engines and the instruments under their control, and those at mission control at home base were able to operate in accordance with law.
Do you remember what happened on the Apollo 13 mission that Brother Lee referred to? As they made their return trip they were almost home when they found out that they were off course a bit. They had to make a correction.
To do so, they had to fire their engine. If that engine hadn't fired, the correction could not have been made; they would have missed the earth by eighty miles, and we wouldn't have been able to bring them back. But the engine did fire, the correction was made, and they returned to earth safe and sound.
Is there not an important lesson there for us? Is it not true that we, too, had an outward trip when we left our Father in heaven in the spirit world and came to earth? Are we not now walking around on our earth, which might be likened to the astronaut's moon? And is it not true that whether or not we will be able sometime in the future to return to our Father in heaven, our home base, will be dependent on our willingness and our ability to observe the laws and keep the commandments that pertain thereto? And is it not true that the Lord has provided us with a way through repentance for making a correction to put us back on course when we have strayed because of sin?
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer to all problems. However, men and women everywhere must be doers of the word, and not hearers only, if they would have peace within themselves and peace in the world and would find joy and happiness in this life and in the life to come. This is our great and important test. May we be equal to it, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Alvin R. Dyer
Alvin R. Dyer, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 149-152
I know now, my brethren and sisters, what it is to dig the last fence-post hole. Being one of the last speakers at this conference has prompted my mind in the reflection of some other last things, and I thought of my grandparents who were convert immigrants from England. They were on one of the last wagon trains to Utah before the coming of the railroad. That officially makes them pioneers.
My father, with long, curly, black hair, was a member of this pioneer family. While they were on the trail camped for the night, well-meaning Indians came into the camp in search of food. The chief of the Indian band later that night stole back with seven Indian ponies and tied them to the wagon wheel and took my father. This held up the wagon train for several days until the scouts could find the Indian camp. They waited for the braves to go on a hunting expedition. Then they rescued my father from a wickiup and left in payment, in Indian fashion, the same seven ponies, but they placed on the back of each pony a pioneer blanket. This is a true Indian trading principle, and I believe it is a good principle, because it is always better to give more than we receive.
Two of my aunts, Valentina and Annie Etta, died on that entourage; Valentina was buried on the plains. This black-haired boy grew to manhood and became a part of the Old West. For a number of years as a young man he used to light the gas lamps on Main Street. There were 36 of them. I have often heard him tell that they chose him because he was tall and he could reach and turn them off in the morning and on at night.
There is another story that I remembered of him, as Victor Brown was speaking about the deacons. My father had a great influence with young people. There in the area where he lived, one of the deacons had been seriously reprimanded by the bishop or someone who was teaching the class of deacons, and he became belligerent and vowed that he would never go back to church again. This young man was so influential that he influenced 11 other deacons to stay away from church, and these 12 boys bound themselves together and called themselves the twelve apostles. They built a hut that was partially submerged under the ground, and this is where they held their private meetings. Their sole purpose was to bother any boy who would try to go to priesthood meeting, and many of them were beaten up on their way and intimidated to try to prevent them from going to church.
My father was given the assignment to try to get these boys back into activity in the Church, and he did this by going to their hut and visiting with them for long periods of time, until one by one he got them to come back. This is a success story, for every one of those boys except one went into the mission field. I have often thought of this experience accomplished by the boy who was taken by the Indians, who left seven ponies to pay for him. I am glad, of course, that they didn't keep him.
I rejoice with you, my brothers and sisters, in the faith-promoting inspiration of what we have heard and felt at this great conference, which will soon come to a close.
Such gatherings in ancient times are scripturally referred to as feasts, and I suppose that description is appropriate today, for surely we have had a feast of the gospel. As always, when the saints of God meet in conference, there is an outpouring of the Spirit, causing a renewal of faith and a reassurance of our convictions, that we might continue steadfast through gratitude and sacrifice in meeting the challenge of righteousness in the progressive journey of life.
Perhaps if a central motif or master theme could be deducted from this conference, it would emphasize the need of testimony, of a contriteness of spirit, a greater meekness in serving the Lord and in working out our salvation. I think it was Pogo who said, "We have met the enemy and he is us."
In a revelation especially applicable to the Saints in Zion, who at that particular time were assembled in Jackson County, Missouri, the Lord gave this commandment, among others that were stressed at the time, and which I think finds application among us today as it did then:
"Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.
"Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit."
This divine commandment is related, I believe, to other utterances of the Lord and is characteristic of his person.
In one of his never-to-be-forgotten sermons unto the multitudes that followed him, he uttered the sayings which have become known as the Beatitudes. Herein is described the moral character required in those who are to constitute his kingdom. These are familiar to all of us. May I repeat them.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
To seemingly emphasize the importance of these characteristics, and that they were displayed in the Master himself, we have his utterances upon another occasion.
"At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
"Even so, Father: for so it seemeth good in thy sight.
"All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Concerning the inheriting of the earth by the meek, this no doubt has reference to its condition after it has received its regenerated glory unto that of a celestial glory. Of this the Lord has plainly spoken in this dispensation.
"Therefore, it must needs be sanctified from all unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for the celestial glory;
"For after it hath filled the measure of its creation, it shall be crowned with glory, even with the presence of God the Father;
"That bodies who are of the celestial kingdom may possess it forever and ever; for, for this intent was it made and created, and for this intent are they sanctified."
I believe there is perhaps a distinction between humility and meekness. It may be said that meekness is a condition of voluntary humility. The prophet Alma seemed to recognize a distinction, as we may gather from these words:
"And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?
"Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed-yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble because of their exceeding poverty.
"Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe."
The beatitude said, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
While speaking unto the weary and oppressed of the Saints, who had participated in laying the foundation in Zion, the Lord proclaimed that only those with the obedience and willingness of the pure in heart and mind were of the house of Ephraim. Here is his important counsel given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, which is applicable today as preparations go forward in the destiny of God's people.
"Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.
"Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.
"And the rebellious shall be cut off out of the land of Zion, and shall be sent away, and shall not inherit the land.
"For, verily I say that the rebellious are not of the blood of Ephraim, wherefore they shall be plucked out."
It is the good and honest of heart among the people of the world who most readily respond to the message of the Restoration as declared by the missionaries who bring it to them. And these who are truly spiritually converted become and are the more faithful of the Latter-day Saints. For the Lord himself declared that only those who "doeth good" are ready to receive a fullness of the gospel.
Perhaps the impact of meekness and honesty of heart can be more fully appreciated by the characteristics that are opposite. These are appropriately spoken of by Paul the apostle in relation to the very day and age in which we live, wherein he has said:
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
"For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
"Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
"Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
"For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
"Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
I bear testimony of the fact that we have the truth. The course of the true Latter-day Saint is to nurture and live by that truth which we accept, casting aside the extraneous things that can only mar and distort the simple effectiveness of the gospel. For truly the everlasting gospel is the glad tidings of great joy.
In closing, I quote these words from the apostle Peter, which I think make a good code for our protection:
"Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king."
I bear my testimony to you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Harold B. Lee
Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 152-153
Before we announce President Smith as the next and concluding speaker of the conference, it seems appropriate to say one or two things.
When the Church was first organized, in fact, the day on which it was organized, the Lord was speaking to the Church. He didn't mean just the six members that were then the constituted number of the Church: he was speaking about the President of the Church, who was the Prophet Joseph Smith at that time. And this is what he said:
"Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;
"For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.
"For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory."
We have some tight places to go before the Lord is through with this church and the world in this dispensation, which is the last dispensation, which shall usher in the coming of the Lord. The gospel was restored to prepare a people ready to receive him. The power of Satan will increase; we see it in evidence on every hand. There will be inroads within the Church. There will be, as President Tanner has said, "Hypocrites, those professing, but secretly are full of dead men's bones." We will see those who profess membership but secretly are plotting and trying to lead people not to follow the leadership that the Lord has set up to preside in this church.
Now the only safety we have as members of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organized. We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet, "as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me-as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith." There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory."
Now we have a President of the Church who has grown to great years.
Since he was installed as President six months ago, he has been down in Mexico with Sister Smith. He has been to the Arizona Temple, where he gave the sealing keys to a new temple presidency. He has been in the Hawaiian Islands, where he participated in an anniversary of the Church College of Hawaii, and some of the early events in the history of that place.
In connection with this conference, there has been an intense assignment to the President of the Church.
A week ago Thursday, all the General Authorities met in an upper room of the temple fasting and praying, trying to prepare themselves spiritually for this conference. I believe we witnessed the outpouring of the Spirit, which is an evidence of the Lord's answer to the prayers that were offered at that time. President Smith addressed the General Authorities. He participated in the Relief Society conference and spoke to the sisters. He spoke at the Sunday School conference. He addressed this conference in the first session. He addressed the priesthood session, and he will address this session.
As I thought of the role of President Tanner and myself as his counselors, I thought of a circumstance in the life of Moses, when the enemies of the church in that day were just as they are in this day. They were threatening to overcome and tear down and to stop the work of the church. As Moses sat upon a hill and raised the rod of his authority, or the keys of his priesthood, Israel prevailed over their enemies; but as the day wore on, his hands became heavy and began to droop at his side.
And so they held up his hands so they would not be weakened and the rod would not be lowered. He would be sustained so that the enemies of the church would not prevail over the saints of the Most High God.
I think that is the role that President Tanner and I have to fulfill. The hands of President Smith may grow weary. They may tend to droop at times because of his heavy responsibilities; but as we uphold his hands, and as we lead under his direction, by his side, the gates of hell will not prevail against you and against Israel. Your safety and ours depends upon whether or not we follow the ones whom the Lord has placed to preside over his church. He knows whom he wants to preside over this church, and he will make no mistake. The Lord doesn't do things by accident. He has never done anything accidentally. And I think the scientists and all the philosophers in the world have never discovered or learned anything that God didn't already know. His revelations are more powerful, more meaningful, and have more substance than all the secular learning in the world.
Let's keep our eye on the President of the Church and uphold his hands as President Tanner and I will continue to do.
President Smith, we honor and sustain you in that high place because the Lord has put you there. It will now be our delight, our beloved President, to give you an opportunity to leave us your blessing as we conclude this great conference.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, October 1970, pp. 153-154
My dear brethren and sisters: As we conclude another great conference of the Church, I desire to leave my blessings upon you.
The priesthood is the power to bless mankind, and all of those who hold the priesthood are expected to use it within the sphere of their assignment to bless their fellowmen. When any of us use this authority in righteousness, and as directed by the Holy Spirit, our acts are binding and will be recognized by the Lord both in time and in eternity.
And so I feel to bless the saints, all those who love the Lord and who signify their devotion to his cause by keeping his commandments. I wish to bless them temporally and spiritually and pray God our Father to pour out his bounties upon them so they may be prospered in all their righteous endeavors.
I speak for myself and for all of you and pour out my soul in thanksgiving to the Lord for all he has so bounteously bestowed upon us.
We have been set up as a free people by the power of our Eternal Father. The beauties and bounties of nature are ours, and we have these truths by obedience to which we can live lives that will be pleasing in his sight, that will give us peace and joy in this life, and assure us of an eternal and abundant life with him in his everlasting kingdom.
I feel to say, O our Eternal Father, pour out thy Spirit more abundantly upon these thy saints, upon this remnant of scattered Israel which has gathered to thy gospel in these last days.
Thou knowest that as a people we desire to serve thee, to keep the commandments, and to carry thy message of truth and righteousness to thy people everywhere. For this reason we send our missionaries to every part of the world. I have had my sons in the mission field constantly for many years. One is in the mission field at this present time in a foreign country, where he has been for several years.
We thank thee, our Father, for the great outpouring of truth and light that has come from the lips of thy servants at this conference, and which has been carried into the hearts of honest men everywhere by the power of thy Holy Spirit.
We thank thee that we have been fed the bread of life, that we have been strengthened spiritually and are now renewed and refreshed and ready to go forth on thy errand, doing to the best of our abilities those things which thou wouldst have us do.
Our Father in heaven, we are grateful for all thou hast given us; we acknowledge thy hand in all things, and we pray for the success and triumph of thy purposes in all the earth.
We know that thou hast spoken in this day as thou didst in days of old, and we are pleased to be instruments in thy hands of carrying thy message to the world, and of standing as lights to the world so that they, seeing our good works, may be led to glorify thee.
And unto thy holy name we ascribe the honor and glory in all things both now and forever.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.