Heber J. Grant President Heber J. Grant. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.22 It is ever and always a very great pleasure to me to meet with the Latter-day Saints in any of their assemblies, and I am particularly pleased to be present at our general conferences. It was a custom with me as a child to attend our general conferences regularly, and for thirty-six years, before this month expires, it has been my privilege to attend these conferences as one of the general authorities of the Church, and I have never yet attended a conference in this building but what I have been fed the bread of life by those who have spoken to the people. I rejoice with you in the very splendid meeting which we held here this morning, in the inspiration that came to each and all of the presidency of the Church as they addressed us. I desire to echo the sentiments expressed of gratitude and thanksgiving to our heavenly Father that our beloved President was able, to be with us at our session this morning; and I hope and pray that the exertion necessary on his part to attend may not have been so great but what he can be with us again before our conference shall close. REGARDING FALSE TEACHING Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.23 I desire on behalf of the council that I have the honor to preside over to say that we endorse the references, which were made here this morning by President Penrose, and so forcibly reaffirmed by the President of the Church, regarding this question of plural marriage and the fact that some men are today teaching it in secret, pretending that they are married or are entering into what they call plural marriage. Such men are indeed rebels, and traitors to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, because they are branding it in the eyes of people who are not of us as being a dishonest organization. Personally, and I also speak for each member of the council of the Twelve Apostles, because I know their sentiments and I know that they are behind me, I endorse with all my heart these remarks. I want to say to the Latter-day Saints that in my opinion when any rebel or traitor to the work of God comes into their homes and tells them something false about the Church that there is a lack of patriotism on the part of all such individuals for not giving the traitor away. I would like you to get this into your minds. These people go around and lie, to put it in good, plain English, and they tell people, "Don't you say anything, don't you tell who told you that it was right." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.23 You don't have to keep the confidence of those who are crooked, you don't have to keep the confidence of somebody who is telling you that which is false, and such people ought to be exposed, and exposed upon the house tops; they go around posing as superior to honest, straight-forward, upright people, branding the Church and the leaders of the Church with infamy by pretending we preach one thing in public and do another thing in private. I do not care to say any more on this subject. I seldom, if ever, speak on it that it doesn't arouse almost every particle of anger in my nature. Some of them say the Lord has directed them to take more wives. Well, I think he directed them just like he directed the negro (not that I am saying this to reflect upon negroes), but there was a negro who prayed: "Oh Lawd, oh Lawd, oh Lawd; send dis heah niggah a turkey." He prayed for a whole week, and he didn't get any turkey, and at the end of a week he said: "Dis heah niggah don' know how to pray," so that night the negro prayed, "Oh Lawd, oh Lawd, oh Lawd, send dis heah niggah to a turkey," and he said, "Dis heah niggah had turkey dinner the next night." A REMARKABLE MANIFESTATION Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.23 I indorse the remarks made by President Penrose regarding the peace and the joy and the happiness that comes into the human heart in testifying of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ which has again been revealed to the earth. From October when I was called to be one of the council of the Twelve, until the following February, I had but little joy and happiness in my labors. There was a spirit following me that told me that I lacked the experience, that I lacked the inspiration, that I lacked the testimony to be worthy of the position of an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. My dear mother had inspired me with such a love of the gospel and with such a reverence and admiration for the men who stood at the head of this Church, that when I was called to be one of them I was overpowered; I felt my unworthiness and the adversary taking advantage of that feeling in my heart, day and night, the spirit pursued me, suggesting that I resign, and when I testified of the divinity of the work we are engaged in, the words would come back, "You haven't seen the Savior; you have no right to bear such a testimony," and I was very unhappy. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.23 But in February, 1883, while riding along on the Navajo Indian Reservation with Elder Brigham Young, Jr., and fifteen or twenty other brethren, including the late president, Lot Smith, of one of the Arizona stakes, on our way to visit the Navajos and Moquis--as we were traveling that day, going through a part of the Navajo Reservation to get to the Moqui Reservation--as we were traveling to the southeast, suddenly the road turned and veered almost to the northeast, but there was a path, a trail, leading on in the direction in which we had been traveling. There were perhaps eight or ten of us on horseback and the rest in wagons. Brother Smith and I were at the rear of our company. When we came to the trail I said, "Wait a minute, Lot; where does this trail lead to?" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.24 He said, "Oh, it leads back in the road three or four miles over here, but we have to make a detour of eight or nine miles to avoid a large gully that no wagons can cross." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.24 I asked: "Can a horseman get over that gully?" He answered, "Yes." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.24 I said, "Any danger from Indians, by being out there alone?" He answered, "No." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.24 I said, "I want to be alone, so you go on with the company and I will meet you over there where the trail and road join." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.24 One reason that I asked if there was any danger was because a few days before our company had visited the spot where George A. Smith, Jr., had been killed by the Navajo Indians, and I had that event in my mind at the time I was speaking. I had perhaps gone one mile when in the kind providences of the Lord it was manifested to me perfectly so far as my intelligence is concerned--I did not see heaven, I did not see a council held there, but like Lehi of old, I seemed to see, and my very being was so saturated with the information that I received, as I stopped my animal and sat there and communed with heaven, that I am as absolutely convinced of the information that came to me upon that occasion as though the voice of God had spoken the words to me. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.24 It was manifested to me there and then as I sat there and wept for joy that it was not because of any particular intelligence that I possessed, that it was not because of any knowledge that I possessed more than a testimony of the gospel, that it was not because of my wisdom, that I had been called to be one of the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ in this last dispensation, but it was because the prophet of God, the man who was the chosen instrument in the hands of the living God of establishing again upon the earth the plan of life and salvation, Joseph Smith, desired that I be called, and that my father, Jedediah M. Grant, who gave his life for the gospel, while one of the presidency of the Church, a counselor to President Brigham Young, and who had been dead for nearly twenty-six years, desired that his son should be a member of the Council of the Twelve. It was manifested to hie that the prophet and my father were able to bestow upon me the apostleship because of their faithfulness, inasmuch as I had lived a clean life, that now it remained for me to make a success or a failure of that calling. GREAT JOY IN THE TESTIMONY OBTAINED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.25 I can bear witness to you here today that I do not believe that any man on earth from that day, February, 1883, until now, thirty-five years ago, has had sweeter joy, more perfect and exquisite happiness than I have had in lifting up my voice and testifying of the gospel at home and abroad in every land and in every clime where it has fallen to my lot to go. And I have gone to Japan, I have been in the Hawaiian Islands, I have been from Canada to Mexico. I have been in nearly every state in the Union of the United States; I have been in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Denmark and I have had joy beyond my ability to express, in lifting up my voice, in bearing witness to those with whom I have come in contact that I know that God lives, that I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world, the Redeemer of mankind; that I know that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of the true and living God, that I have the abiding testimony in my heart that Brigham Young was a chosen instrument of the living God, that John Taylor, that Wilford Woodruff, that Lorenzo Snow were, and that today Joseph F. Smith is the representative of the living God, and the mouthpiece of God here upon the earth. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.25 I do not have the language at my command to express the gratitude to God for this knowledge that I possess; and time and time again my heart has been melted, my eyes have wept tears of gratitude for the knowledge that he lives and that this gospel called "Mormonism" is in very deed the plan of life and salvation, that it is the only true gospel upon the face of the earth, that it is in very deed the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. That God may help you and me and everyone to live it is my constant and earnest prayer. HOW THE POWER OF THE PRIESTHOOD HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE AUTHORITIES OF THE CHURCH Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.25 I will read from Section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.25 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. Hence many are called, but few are chosen. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.25 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; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.25 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.25 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; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.25 That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.25 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.25 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy sceptre an unchanging sceptre of righteousness and truth, and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shaft flow unto thee for ever and ever. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.25 I want to bear witness to you here today that during the thirty-six years this month that I have been a member of the Council of the Twelve, that no power or influence has ever been exercised by the prophet of God who has presided over this Church during this time except exactly as taught in the Doctrine and Covenants; and that no one of all the men I have been associated with as presidents of the Church has had more charity, more love, and has exercised the priesthood by the power of the living God in meekness and mercy and kindness, than the man who stands at the head of the Church today, Joseph F. Smith. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1918, p.26 That God may preserve his life for many, many years yet to come is the earnest prayer of my heart, and that of every Latter-day Saint in all the land. May God guide us to his praise continually and forever, is my prayer, and I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.3 We regret that all of the Saints cannot be present in one building to hear the remarks that may be made upon this occasion. We also regret that the men who stand at the head of this great body of Seventies could not remain here to partake of the spirit of this occasion. But we feel that those who have met in the Assembly Hall are entitled to hear some of the general authorities of the Church speak upon the life and labors, and bear witness of their love and reverence for, and their faith in, our beloved prophet, the late President Joseph F. Smith, who has departed this life since we last met in general conference. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.3 THE SPIRIT GIVETH LIFE. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.3 Inasmuch as all that is said here today will be reported, and as our brethren of the Seventy can read what is said, they will miss only the spirit of this occasion, which I feel in my heart --if the Lord will only bless us abundantly --will be considerable of a loss; because, after all is said and done, in all the labors of the Latter-day Saints, it is the spirit that counts, for the spirit giveth life, and the dead letter killeth; but we shall hope and pray that the spirit of this occasion will find echo in the hearts of our brethren who have just left us, when they read today's proceedings. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.4 A PLEDGE OF FAITHFUL SERVICE. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.4 I feel humble, beyond any language with which God has endowed me to express it, in standing before you here this morning, occupying the position in which you have just voted to sustain me. I recall standing before an audience in Tooele, after having been sustained as president of that stake, when I was a young man twenty-three years of age, pledging to that audience the best that was in me. I stand here today in all humility, acknowledging my own weakness, my own lack of wisdom and information, and my lack of the ability to occupy the exalted position in which you have voted to sustain me. But as I said as a boy in Tooele, I say here today: that by and with the help of the Lord, I shall do the best that I can to fulfil every obligation that shall rest upon me as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to the full extent of my ability. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.4 I will ask no man to be more liberal with his means, than I am with mine, in proportion to what he possesses, for the advancement of God's Kingdom. I will ask no man to observe the Word of Wisdom any more closely than I will observe it. I will ask no man to be more conscientious and prompt in the payment of his tithes and his offerings than I will be. I will ask no man to be more ready and willing to come early and to go late, and to labor with full power of mind and body, than I will labor, always in humility. I hope and pray for the blessings of the Lord, acknowledging freely and frankly, that without the Lord's blessings it will be an impossibility for me to make a success of the high calling whereunto I have been called. But, like Nephi of old, I know that the Lord makes no requirements of the children of men, save he will prepare a way for them, whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has required. With this knowledge in my heart, I accept the great responsibility, without fear of the consequences, knowing that God will sustain me as he has sustained all of my predecessors who have occupied this position, provided always, that I shall labor in humility and in diligence, ever seeking for the guidance of his Holy Spirit: and this I shall endeavor to do. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.4 THE STANDARD OF ACTION. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.4 I shall not occupy your time by reading Section 121 of the D&C. I will leave that for each and every one of those before me, and those to the right and the left, holding the priesthood', and as many of the audience' as may feel so disposed, to read it when they go home. With the help of the Lord, I shall endeavor, standing at the head of the Priesthood of God upon the earth, to exercise the authority that has come to me in keeping with that wonderful revelation: "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." God being my helper, the priesthood that I hold, the position that I occupy, shall be exercised in accordance with these words that I have quoted to you. We can do nothing, as recorded in that revelation, only as we exercise love and charity and kindness --love unfeigned. With the help of the Lord that is exactly how I shall administer, to the best of my ability, the priesthood of God that has come to me. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.5 I could stand here and occupy all of the remaining time, with the hundred and one thoughts that have come into my mind, in connection with the duties that devolve upon me; but I am anxious that my counselors should speak to you here this morning, and I am anxious to pay my tribute of respect to those men who have preceded me. I take no credit to myself for occupying the position that has come to me. I realize that failure will be the result if I do not give the Lord the credit for calling me to this position, and seek for the light of his Spirit to guide me in all that I shall do. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.5 PRESIDENT SNOW'S TESTIMONY CONCERNING THE PROPHET JOSEPH. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.5 I desire to read to you a testimony regarding the first man who occupied the position as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints --the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. This testimony was given a short time before the death of the late beloved President of the Church, Lorenzo Snow, and will be found in the current June number of the Improvement Era, in an article written by his son, Elder LeRoi C. Snow. He said, referring to his father Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.5 "His work on earth was nearly done, his mission was almost finished; he was about to return to his Maker, and with all the remaining strength of his soul he testified concerning the divinity of the work in which he and the Prophet Joseph Smith commenced their life's work when young men: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.5 "'A word or two about Joseph Smith. Perhaps there are very few men now living who were so well acquainted with Joseph Smith, the Prophet as I was. I was with him often-times. I visited him in his family, ate at his table, associated with him under various circumstances, and had private interviews with him for counsel. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God; I know that he was an honorable man, a moral man, and that he had the respect of those who were acquainted with him. The Lord has shown me most clearly and completely that he was a Prophet of God, and that he held the holy priesthood and the authority to baptize people for the remission of their sins, and to lay hands upon them for the reception of the Holy Ghost, that they might receive a knowledge themselves in relation to these things. I am one, who has received from the Lord the strongest revelation concerning the truth of this work. That manifestation was with me powerfully, for hours and hours, and whatever circumstance may occur in my life, as long as memory lasts this perfect knowledge will remain with me. . . .'" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.5 As to the testimony that Lorenzo Snow, the Prophet of the Lord, in later years had, in this same article his testimony is recorded. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.5 "About three weeks after his baptism, Lorenzo Snow received a wonderful vision which he tells in his own language, in his journal, as follows: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.5 " 'I had no sooner opened my lips in an effort to pray than I heard a sound, just above my head, like the rustling of silken robes, and immediately the Spirit of God descended upon me, completely. enveloping my whole person, filling me, from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, and O, the joy and happiness I felt! No language can describe the almost instantaneous transition from a dense cloud of mental and spiritual darkness into a refulgence of light and knowledge, as it was at that time imparted to my understanding. I then received a perfect knowledge that God lives, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and of the restoration of the Holy Priesthood, and the fulness of the Gospel. It was a complete baptism --a tangible immersion in the heavenly principle or element (the gift of) the Holy Ghost; and even more real and physical in its effects upon every part of my system than the immersion by water; dispelling forever, so long as reason and memory lasts, all possibility of doubt or fear in relation to the fact handed down to us historically, that the 'Babe of Bethlehem' is truly the Son of God: also the fact that he is now being revealed to the children of men. and communicating knowledge, the same as in the apostolic times. I was perfectly satisfied. as well as I might be. for my expectations were more than realized. I think I may safely say in an infinite degree. . . . That night as I retired to rest the same wonderful manifestations were repeated, and continued to be for several successive nights. The sweet remembrance of those glorious experiences from that time to the present, bring them fresh before me. imparting an inspiring influence which pervades my whole being, and I trust will to the close of my earthly existence.' " Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.6 CONFIRMING TESTIMONY OF MANY OTHERS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.6 I have listened to the testimony of all of the apostles who have lived in these valleys of the mountains from Brigham Young to Joseph F. Smith. and have heard them tell of their personal acquaintance with the Prophet Joseph Smith. The testimony of Joseph F. Smith was the testimony of one who as a child knew the Prophet and loved him. The testimony of Brigham Young, Jr., was in the same class; but all the other testimonies were those of men of experience. men of power, men of individual determination. men who had wills and minds of their own. men who could not be led by a man who did not teach the truth. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.6 The testimony of Brigham Young, of John Taylor, of Lorenzo Snow, Wilford Woodruff, Erastus Snow, George A. Smith, Heber C. Kimball. and of others who have held the apostleship, who have held the priesthood of God and who knew the Prophet Joseph Smith intimately; of every true Latter-day Saint, man and woman. including the testimony of my own dear departed mother. than whom no sweeter, purer, nobler soul ever lived: the testimony of Eliza R. Snow, Zina D. H. Young, Bathsheba W. Smith, "Aunt Em." Wells, and others too numerous to mention, --was of their individual knowledge regarding the uprightness of the life of Joseph Smith. regarding the integrity of the man. regarding the inspiration of the living God that attended him in all of his labors. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.6 THE TRANSFIGURATION OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.6 I have the testimonies from George Romney, from my mother, from other relatives of mine and from scores of people, that, upon the day when Sidney Rigdon endeavored to steal the Church of Christ and to become the leader, God manifested to the people upon that occasion. by the transfiguration of Brigham Young --so that he appeared as Joseph Smith, so that he spoke as Joseph Smith --and thereby the testimony came to the Saints that Brigham Young was the man to succeed Joseph Smith the Prophet of God. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.7 PERSONAL TESTIMONY CONCERNING PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.7 I became acquainted with Brigham Young when I was a little child six years of age; from that time until the day of his death I was intimate with him. I was as intimate with one of his boys --the late Feramorz L. Young --from the time that we were little children until he left to go to Mexico --as any two boys ever could be. Perhaps no three young men were ever more intimate than Heber J. Grant, Feramorz L. Young and General Richard W. Young. We grew up together. We slept together. We played together. We attended Sunday school together. We attended day school together. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.7 I was almost as familiar in the homes of President Brigham Young as I was in the home of my own mother. In one home that of Aunt Emily Partridge Young, if I was hungry I felt as free to go in and ask for something to eat there as in my own home. I have spent hours and hours, as a child, in the rooms of Eliza R. Snow, listening to her counsel and advice, and hearing her relate incidents in the life of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and bearing witness of the wonderful blessings of God to Brigham Young. As I say, I was familiar with the Prophet Brigham Young. I knelt down time and time again in his home in the Lion House at family prayers, as a child and as a young man; and I bear witness that as a little child, upon more than one occasion, because of the inspiration of the Lord to Brigham Young while he was supplicating God for guidance, I have lifted my head, turned and looked at the place where Brigham Young was praying, to see if the Lord was not there. It seemed to me that he talked to the Lord as one man would talk to another. I can bear witness of his kindness. of his love to me as an individual, of his love of God and of the inspiration of the Lord that came to him as he stood where I am standing, when I bad the privilege of being in the audience and listening to his inspiring words. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.7 REVELATION TO PRESIDENT JOHN TAYLOR. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.7 I was called into the Council of the Twelve Apostles by a revelation of the Lord to President John Taylor, and from the time that I entered the Council of the Twelve, two years after John Taylor was made President of the Church, until the day of his death. I met with him, week after week, in the Endowment house, and I know that he was a servant of the living God; I know that the inspiration of the Lord came to him; and I know that upon all occasions, whenever he said: "This is what the Lord desires," and his associates in the council of the apostles sustained his position, that upon every occasion he was vindicated and the inspiration of the Lord to him showed that his wisdom by the power of God, had been superior to the wisdom of other men. Several times I have gone to meetings in the old Endowment house, knowing that a certain matter was to be discussed and my mind was as perfectly set upon a certain position on that question as it is possible for a man to have his mind set. I believe I am as decided in my opinions as the majority of people. I have heard it said that there is nobody as stubborn as a Scotchman except a Dutchman; and I am Scotch on my father's side and Dutch on my mother's (laughter). While I have gone to meetings in the old Endowment house determined in favor of a certain line of policy, I have willingly and freely voted for the exact opposite of that policy, because of the inspiration of the Lord that came to John Taylor. Upon every such occasion the servant of the Lord, President Taylor, was vindicated, and his superior judgment, by the inspiration of the Lord, asserted itself in favor of those things that were for the best good of the people. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.8 I could relate circumstance after circumstance when the apostles have been sent out to accomplish certain labors under the inspiration of the Lord to John Taylor, when they thought they could not accomplish the labors, they have returned and been able to bear testimony that by and with the help of the Lord they had been able to accomplish the labor placed upon them by President Taylor, the Prophet of the Lord. If time would permit, I would like to relate some of these incidents, because they are faith-promoting, but I have not the time. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.8 PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF A TRUE PROPHET OF GOD. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.8 I can bear witness that Wilford Woodruff was in very deed a servant of the living God and a true Prophet of God. Wilford Woodruff, a humble man, converted and baptized hundreds of people in a few months in Herefordshire, England. In eight months, as I now remember it, he baptized between fifteen hundred and two thousand souls. I believe that no other man who ever walked the face of the earth was a greater converter of souls to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was a man of the most wonderful and marvelous humility; a man who had never been engaged in any great business affairs; a man who had devoted himself to farming, who had been engaged in raising fruits and cultivating the soil; a humble man, of whom I had heard many people say that he lacked the ability to preside over the Church of Christ. But I want to bear witness to you that, under the inspiration of the Lord, and because of the humility of the man, because of his godlike life and because God loved him, he was blessed upon more than one occasion with wisdom that was superior to all the wisdom of the bright financial minds in the Church. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.8 BEGINNING OF THE SUGAR INDUSTRY IN UTAH. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.8 President Woodruff announced that the Lord would like the great business of manufacturing sugar established in our midst, and a committee was appointed from the directorate of two of the largest Church institutions, two of the most substantial in all Israel, to look into the matter. They investigated the advisability of establishing the beet sugar industry in this State and unanimously reported adversely. President Woodruff was not satisfied. Another committee was appointed. I was on the first committee and he appointed me on the second committee. I begged to be excused, because I had already formed my opinion, had already signed my name to a report, but he would not listen to my request to be excused. We went into the matter again, thoroughly and carefully, and the second committee reported adversely. President Woodruff said: "Never mind the report. The inspiration to me is to establish the sugar industry." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.8 I was called upon a mission, and a letter was given to me in connection with other members of the Council of the Apostles, and we were sent out to ask men to subscribe for stock in the Utah Sugar Company. I took individual letters to different men asking them to subscribe. I delivered a letter to the late David Eccles, than whom I never met a clearer-headed business man in my life, and I have met men who draw their hundred thousand dollars and more every year in salary. He had a comprehensive grasp on business affairs which to me was superior to that of any man I ever met. David smiled when the letter was presented to him, signed by President Woodruff and his counselors, asking him to invest five thousand dollars, or seven thousand five hundred dollars. He said: "Well, I would like to get off at the lowest figure. You can put me down for five thousand dollars." Then he added: "I hope they will buy lumber from me, so I may make a profit on a part of the five thousand dollars; and after I get the stock, if you can find someone who would like to buy it for twenty-five hundred dollars, I will be much obliged to you if you will come and get the stock." Years later, when he put hundreds of thousands of dollars into the sugar business, I don't know whether or not he felt to give credit to that humble man, Wilford Woodruff, for the inspiration of the Lord, whereby this great industry was established. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.9 But for the inspiration of the Lord to Wilford Woodruff I doubt if we would have any sugar business in this state or in Idaho, today, that would amount to very much. I am inclined to think that the Great Western or some other company would have established the business in Utah and Idaho, and that the people of these states would simply have been working for them instead of owning the majority of the stock in our great inter-mountain factories. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.9 After we had let the contract for the building of the sugar factory at Lehi, the panic of 1891 came on. There was a provision in the contract that before the machinery was shipped by the Dyer Company, if we would pay a forfeit of fifty thousand dollars the contract could be cancelled. I had been sent to New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and other places, by the Presidency, to try to raise the money necessary to build this factory, but it looked like an impossibility to get the money. It was the opinion of business men and others that we should pay the fifty thousand dollars forfeit and abandon the enterprise; but when the recommendation was presented, Wilford Woodruff's answer was this: "From the day I received a knowledge of the divinity of the gospel of Jesus Christ revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith, from the day that I went out as a humble priest to proclaim that gospel, although it looked like death in front of me, if the path of duty that the gospel required me to tread called me to face death, I have never turned to the right nor turned to the left; and now the inspiration of the Lord to me is to build this factory. Every time I think of abandoning it, there is darkness; and every time I think of building it, there is light. We will build the factory if it bursts the Church." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.9 We did built it and it did not burst the Church (laughter); and it and subsequent factories have made for our people and for the Church millions of dollars. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.9 PRESIDENT SNOW'S WORK OF THREE YEARS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.10 I know that Lorenzo Snow was a Prophet of God. By his testimony, which I have read to you, and by the testimony of my mother and hundreds of others who knew the Prophet Joseph, as well as by the revelations of the Spirit Of God to me, I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. I know of my own knowledge that Brigham Young, and John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff were Prophets of God. It is stated that men do not amount to much after they pass fifty, and that when they are sixty you ought to get some kind of a drug and put them to sleep, and that when they are seventy they are simply useless. But Lorenzo Snow came to the presidency of the Church when he was eighty-five years of age, and what he accomplished during the next three years of his life is simply marvelous to contemplate. He lifted the Church from the financial slough of despond, so to speak, from almost financial bankruptcy --when its credit was hardly good for a thousand dollars without security, when it was paying ten per cent for money --he lifted the Church out of that condition and made its credit A No. 1, so that people solicited and asked for the privilege of buying the bonds of this Church at six per cent. Ten per cent is sixty-six and two-thirds per cent more than six per cent, and in three short years this man, beyond the age of ability in the estimation of the world, this man who had not been engaged in financial affairs, who had been devoting his life for years to laboring in the Temple, took hold of the finances of the Church of Christ, under the inspiration of the living God, and in those three years changed everything, financially, from darkness to light. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.10 I know that Lorenzo Snow was God's mouthpiece upon the earth, that he was the representative of the Lord and that he was in very deed a Prophet of God. Read the wonderful testimony that he received a few weeks after his baptism, as recorded in the Improvement Era, concerning the knowledge that he received that God lived, that Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer of the world, and that the priesthood of the living God has been restored to the earth. I know that that knowledge guided his life from that day to the day that he became God's representative upon the earth. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.10 THE COURAGE OF PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.10 Lorenzo Snow was drowned in the harbor of Honolulu, in the Hawaiian Islands, and it took some hours to bring him to life again. At that particular time the Lord revealed to him the fact that the young man Joseph F. Smith, who had refused to get off the vessel that had carried them from San Francisco to Honolulu, and get into a small boat, would some day be the Prophet of God. Answering Lorenzo Snow who was in charge of the company, he said: "If you by the authority of the Priesthood of God, which you hold, tell me to get into that boat and attempt to land, I will do so, but unless you command me in the authority of the Priesthood, I will not do so, because it is not safe to attempt to land in a small boat while this typhoon is raging." They laughed at the young man Joseph F. Smith, but he said, "The boat will capsize." The others got into the boat, and it did capsize; and but for the blessings of the Lord in resuscitating Lorenzo Snow he would not have lived, because he was drowned upon that occasion. It was revealed to him, then and there, that the boy, with the courage of his convictions, with the iron will to be laughed at and scorned as lacking courage to go in that boat, and who stayed on that vessel, would yet be the Prophet of God. Lorenzo Snow told me this upon more than one occasion, long years before Joseph F. Smith came to the presidency of the Church. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.11 EULOGY AND LETTER OF SYMPATHY IN MEMORY OF PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.11 I said I wanted my counselors to say something, but I am afraid they are not going to have the chance. I now come to Joseph F. Smith. I apologize to his family for reading a personal letter of sympathy. had no idea as I sat down and picked up my pen and poured out my heart in love and sympathy to the family, that I would ever read in public that letter; but I had failed to get my mind upon anything that I particularly desired to say upon this occasion, and last night I borrowed from one of his sons a copy of the letter; and although it may not be good ethics, I wish to read it, because therein are the sentiments of my heart, poured out in love to his family. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.11 At Home, November 20, 1918. To the family of President Joseph F. Smith. My dearly beloved friends: Language fails me to express to you my love for your dear departed father and husband. In dear Aunt Eliza R Snow's words I can truthfully say, "He was beloved, beloved by all." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.11 For thirty-six years I have labored under his Presidency, while he was counselor to or the President of the Church. During all this time no man could possibly have inspired one over whom he presided with more love or confidence for him than President Smith did me. I have said many times that no man who ever lived, with whom I have been associated, had been beloved by me as much as your dear departed husband and father. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.11 I could not and did not in my heart bring myself to feel that he was going to leave us until the afternoon of the 18th, when I called and David said he wanted to see me. The President took my hand and pressed it with a power and strength that was far from what one could expect from a dying man, and he blessed me with power and the Spirit of the living God, and there was love in his eyes and a strong pressure of his hand, and with nearly every word he spoke his pressure of my hand thrilled my being, and tears of gratitude to God and love for His mouthpiece upon the earth filled my heart. His blessing was all that I could ask or expect had he been my own dear father. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.11 Sister Bowman entered and kissed and wept over her father, and I walked into the little front office and wept, feeling that the last words I would ever hear from his beloved lips had been spoken when he said to me, "The Lord bless you, my boy, the Lord bless you, you have a great responsibility. Always remember this is the Lord's work and not man's. The Lord is greater than any man. He knows whom He wants to lead His Church and never makes any mistakes. The Lord bless you." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.11 I returned to my office, but I did not even have the heart to mail some letters which I had written earlier in the day. I went home and after eating supper I again visited the President, whom I found in great pain, and he asked President Lund who was there to bless him and supplicate the Lord to release him, and call him home. We placed our hands upon his head and President Lund told the Lord how much we loved our President and of our gratitude for the joy and happiness we had had in laboring with him, but asked that he be called home if his life could not be spared to us. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.12 The next morning I awoke at one o'clock and was not able to get to sleep until after six-thirty, as my mind was with the President. I got the November Era and reread the President's talk at the October conference, and after doing so I wrote in my Era at the close of his talk: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.12 "Nov. 19/18. Re-read twice and wept as I think of how near death's door the President is. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.12 "It is 3:45 and I have been awake since one a. m." --Heber J. Grant. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.12 The President lived but one hour and five minutes after I had written that he was near death's door. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.12 The Lord has been very good to me in times of sorrow, and I hope and pray with all my heart that He will bless and comfort your sorrowing hearts, as you read of his goodness to me. I am enclosing a copy of a letter telling of the blessings given to me in times of affliction. There are two poems among those published with my letter to Brother and Sister Winters which have comforted and blessed me. "The Changed Cross," and "Providence is Over All."1 Especially have I been blessed while reading Sister Woodmansee's inspiring words. I knew her from my earliest recollection until the day of her death, and my love of her poem was no doubt increased from the fact that she lived in perfect harmony with its teachings. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.12 I was once talking of the favorite poems of our Church leaders and I turned to President Smith and asked him which of our hymns was his favorite and he said he hardly knew, but he thought that perhaps his favorite was the splendid hymn, "Uphold the Right, Though Fierce the Fight, by that heroic little soul, Sister Emily Hill Woodmansee."2 I enclose a copy of this hymn with this letter. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.12 I have never known the joy and comfort of a father's love, but Presidents Joseph F. Smith, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, and others of my near and dear associates have given me a father's love and filled the place in my affections as completely as men not one's father could possibly do. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.12 Never in my life have I listened to more inspiring words than those at the funeral of my dear departed mother and at the funeral of my dear brother, Joseph Hyrum, which were spoken by President Smith. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.12 I am thankful beyond any power to tell for the inspiration to do my full duty in the battle of life which has come to me from the example and loving teachings of your beloved father and husband. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.12 Flowers fade in a day, and so I shall send each of you for Gusta and myself in loving remembrance of your dear departed husband and father the book "Their Yesterdays."3 I send this book for the reason that when I read it, March 20th, 1914, I marked one of the passages which seemed to me at the time I read the book to be inspirational. It is on pages 228-9. I wrote in my book the sentiments of my heart at the time regarding President Smith in connection with the words on those pages. What I wrote was as follows: "More than any man I have ever known, President Joseph F. Smith has done this. God bless him forever, and his posterity after him. The fact that he is the Prophet of God today is a great testimony to me of the divinity of 'Mormonism' so called." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.13 Little did I think when I wrote these words that he would have departed this life by now. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.13 One of the most sincere and earnest prayers of my heart has been that President Smith should live to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of the Church. I prayed for this some months ago at the close of a Temple fast meeting, and the Lord so abundantly blessed me that I felt my prayer would be answered, and I sat down weeping for joy. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.13 I could go on writing for hours, but I will close by sending my assurance and that of Sister Grant of our profound sympathy, and our most earnest prayer for God to comfort and bless your sorrowing hearts. President Smith sealed us as husband and wife for time and all eternity, and Gusta shares in all the expressions of love for him and admiration of his character in this letter. Again, may God bless you and your loved ones now and forever. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.13 Your affectionate brother, (Signed) HEBER J. GRANT. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.13 At the grave of President Joseph F. Smith I read a poem entitled "A Real Man"1 and I expressed there the hope that I might live to be like Joseph F. Smith. I read at the grave the poem by Eliza R. Snow, written for the Prophet Joseph Smith. "He was beloved, beloved by all."2 The prayer that I had in my heart, the desire that I had to follow in the footsteps of this man of God, who presided over us with so much inspiration, with so much devotion, with so much integrity to God and to his fellow-men, the desire that I might be like him, is still in my heart. I pray God to bless his memory. I pray God to bless his wives and his children, that they may emulate his most wonderful and splendid example. I bear witness to you that from my early childhood days, when I could not thoroughly understand and comprehend the teachings of the gospel, that I have had my very being thrilled, and tears have rolled down my cheeks, under the inspiration of the living God, as I have listened to Joseph F. Smith when preaching the gospel. I believe that Joseph F. Smith and his son Hyrum M. Smith. more than any other men to whom I have listened, who were born in the Church of Christ in our day, were the greatest preachers of righteousness. I know that whenever I heard that Joseph F. Smith was going to speak in one Of the wards. that time and time again as a young man I have left my own ward and gone to listen to him, because he always filled my being and lifted me up as I listened to him proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. I bear witness that he was one of the greatest prophets of God that has ever lived; that God was with him from the day that he went forth as a little boy of fifteen years of age, to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Hawaiian Islands, until the day when, after giving sixty-five years of his life to the work of God, he closed his earthly career. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.14 May God bless each and all of us who have a knowledge of the divinity of the work in which we are engaged, and may we be faithful to the end as our prophet was, our beloved leader who has left us, Joseph F. Smith, is my prayer, and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.14 PROVIDENCE IS OVER ALL. When dark and drear the skies appear, And doubt and dread would thee enthrall, Look up, nor fear, the day is near, And providence is over all. From heaven above, His light and love, God giveth freely when we call. Our utmost need is oft decreed, And Providence is over all. With jealous zeal God guards our weal, And lifts our wayward thoughts above; When storms assail life's bark so frail, We seek the haven of His love. And when our eyes transcend the skies His gracious purpose is complete, No more the night distracts our sight-- The clouds are all beneath our feet. The direst woe that mortals know Can ne'er the honest heart appall Who holds the trust--that God is just, And providence is over all. Should foes increase to mar our peace, Frustrated all their plans shall fall. Our utmost need is oft decreed, And Providence is over all. --Emily Hill Woodmansee. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.14 UPHOLD THE RIGHT Uphold the right, though fierce the fight, And powerful the foe. And freedom's friend, her cause defend, Nor fear nor favor show. No coward can be called a man, No friend will friends betray; Who will be free, alert must be; Indifference will not pay. Note how they toil whose aim is spoil, Who plundering plots devise: Yet time will teach that fools o'erreach The mark and lose the prize. Can justice deign to wrong maintain, Whoever wills it so? Can honor mate with treacherous hate? Can figs on thistles grow? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.15 Dare to be true, and hopeful, too; Be watchful, brave and shrewd. Weigh every act; be wise, in fact, To serve the general good. Nor basely yield, nor quit the field-- Important is the fray; Scorn to recede, there is no need To give our rights away. Left-handed fraud let those applaud Who would by fraud prevail: In freedom's name, contest their claim, Use no such word as fail; Honor we must each sacred trust, And rightful zeal display; Our part fulfill, then come what will, High heaven will clear the way. --Emily Hill Woodmansee. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.15 FROM "THEIR YESTERDAYS." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.15 "If the men of a race will perfect the manhood strength of the race; if they will exalt their manhood power; if they will fulfill the mission of life by perfecting and producing ever more perfect lives; if they will endeavor to contribute to the ages to come stronger, better, men than themselves; why, the work of the world will be done even as the plant produces its flowers and fruit, the work of the world will be done. In the exaltation of Life is the remedy for the evils that threaten the race. The reformations that men are always attempting in the social, religious, political, and industrial world are but attempts to change the flavor or quality of the fruit when it is ripening on the tree. The true remedy lies in the life of the tree; in the soil from which it springs; in the source from which the fruit derives its quality and flavor. In the appreciation of Life, in the passion of Life, in the production of Life, in the perfection of Life, in the exaltation of Life, is the salvation of human kind. For this, and this alone, man has right to live --has right to his place and part in Life." --Harold Bell Wright. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.15 A REAL MAN. Men are of two kinds, and he Was of the kind I'd like to be. Some preach their virtues, and a few Express their lives by what they do. That sort was he. No flowery phrase Or glibly spoken words of praise Won friends for him. He wasn't cheap Or shallow, but his course ran deep, And it was pure. You know the kind. Not many in a life you find, Whose deeds outrun their words so far That more than what they seem they are. There are two kinds of lies as well: The kind you live, the ones you tell. Back through his years from age to youth He never acted one untruth. Out in the open light he fought And didn't care what others thought Nor what they said about his fight If he believed that he was right. The only deeds he ever hid Were acts of kindness that he did. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.16 What speech he had was plain and blunt. His was an unembellished front. Yet children loved him; babe and boy Played with the strength he could employ, Without one fear, and they are fleet To sense injustice and deceit. No back door gossip linked his name With any shady tale of shame. He did not have to compromise With evil-doers. shrewd and wise, And let them ply their vicious trade Because of some past escapade. Men are of two kinds, and he Was of the kind I'd like to be. No door at which he ever knocked Against his manly form was locked; If ever man on earth was free And independent, it was he. No broken pledge lost him respect, He met all men with head erect; And when he passed I think there went A soul to yonder firmament So white, so splendid and so fine It came complete to God's design. Edgar A. Guest. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.16 HYMN NO. 303. Thou dost not weep to weep alone; The broad bereavement seems to fall Unheeded and unfelt by none, He was beloved, beloved by all. But lo! what joy salutes our grief! Bright rainbows crown the tearful gloom, Hope, hope eternal, brings relief; Faith sounds a triumph o'er the tomb. It soothes our sorrow, says to thee, The Lord in chastening comes to bless: God is thy God, and He will be A father to the fatherless. 'Tis well with the departed one; His heaven-lit lamp was shining bright, And when his mortal day went down, His spirit fled where reigns no night. 'Tis meet to die as he has died, He smiled amid death's conquered gloom, While angels waited by his side, To bear a kindred spirit home. Vain are the trophies wealth can give! His memory needs no sculptor's art; He's left a name --his virtues live, 'Graved on the tablets of the heart. --Eliza R. Snow. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.74 From the annual reports for the year 1918, we have compiled some information that I believe will be of interest to the Latter-day Saints: STATISTICS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.74 During the year 1918, there were 14,761 baptisms and 15,963 children were blessed. There were 5,752 deaths, which is the largest number on record for any year. Of this number, 1,054 died of influenza and 862 died of pneumonia. MILITARY. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.74 Over 20,000 members of the Church were in the military service of the United States and its allies at the close of the year 1918. Of this number, 383 died in the service. We should have been allowed not less than twenty chaplains and we made application for permission to furnish our quota, but for some reason, unknown to us, we were only allowed to furnish three chaplains, two of whom saw active service at the front in France. PRIESTHOOD. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.74 There has been a better attendance of the priesthood at the ward weekly meetings but there are still 9,078 persons who hold the priesthood whom the Bishops report are willing to labor but have not been assigned to any duties in the stake or ward. TITHES. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.74 There has been a considerable increase in the amount of tithes paid for the year 1918. The tithing has been well handled by the Bishops. Very little loss has been incurred, except through the failure to find a market for the large potato crop of the year 1917. TEMPLES. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.74 There were 175,525 baptisms for the dead performed in the temples, and there were 78,001 endowments for the living and the dead. The Hawaiian Temple is now practically completed at a cost of about $200,000.00. The Cardston Temple is nearing completion and will cost, when finished, about $600,000.00. SACRAMENT MEETINGS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.74 In consequence of the quarantine and conditions prevailing during the epidemic of influenza in the latter part of the year 1918, the attendance at Sacrament meetings has fallen off and the visits of the ward teachers have not been as regular as in other years. FINANCES. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.75 The following are some of the expenditures paid out of the tithes and other Church funds during the year 1918: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.75 There has been expended for assisting the worthy poor -- $ 279,244.30 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.75 For missionary work, and building of meeting houses in the missions, mission houses and return fare of Elders. -- 345,761.51 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.75 For the maintenance and operation of the Church school system, including the erection of new Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.75 school buildings -- 605,561.70 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.75 For the maintenance and operation of the St. George, Logan, Manti and Salt Lake Temples-- 170,000.00 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.75 For the construction and equipment of the Hawaiian and Cardston Temples -- 340,036.17 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.75 For the erection of meeting houses (This does not include donations for the same purpose by Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.75 members of the respective wards) -- 288,766.76 For the maintenance of stakes and wards in all their various departments -- 526,002.91 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.75 Total expenditures -- $2,645,373.35 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.75 Attention has been called to the fact that the work which the Pioneers did in planting trees and in beautifying homes, farms, ward meeting houses, schools and other buildings, is being sadly neglected in the Latter-day Saint communities. Our advice and counsel to the Latter-day Saints is to plant more trees, to get the best kinds adapted to each locality and grow them wherever they can be grown. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.75 In my remarks here yesterday I referred to the comments of a gentleman from St. Louis, who makes a specialty of parking and beautifying cities, and who stated that we are not living up to the very splendid record made in this particular by the early pioneers. A gentleman remarked to Brother McMurrin, on one occasion, that our whole city is a park, and it would be indeed a park if we carried out the advice given in early days, by President Brigham Young and others, that we should plant trees in the vacant spaces in front of our homes. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.75 As stated yesterday, I had the privilege of attending the Semi-centennial Celebration of the completion of the Union and Central Pacific Railroads at Ogden, and regretted that a report was not taken and published of the speeches of four officials of the Southern Pacific Railroad. I have just received a letter from one of the speakers, Mr. J. M. Fulton, enclosing a short extract from his address, on which I had personally complimented him. I desire to read this extract, in order that it may become part of our proceedings: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.76 But we all do, and must, remember that before either survey or construction of the Central or Union Pacific Railroads had commenced, a hardy, thrifty, industrious, God-loving people had shown that the desert, from the Missouri river to Utah, could be conquered. They were the pioneers who blazed the trail to where we now are, and it is they who have made of Utah what it is today, but in my judgment, they did not then, do not now, conceive of the great future that lies before them. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.76 We find in this Valley, a vast production of sugar-beets, grains, fruit, livestock, and everything that man needs, and the blessing is that there is a home market for all that is produced. You have vast sugar factories, flour mills, canning plants, and your splendid meat packing establishment, all standing ready to take from the farmer for cash all that he produces. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.76 This cooperation will surely make of Utah a great and rich land. Nowhere else in the world do I know of such helpful cooperation between the producer and the manufacturer as shown in Utah, nor have I ever known a more hospitable people. It is the blood of those brave men, whom we all revere, who, for their love of God, dared the desert and sought a new land, who are now building and will soon make of Utah one of the greatest states of the Union. Even now, Utah manufactured commodities are finding a market in nearly every state, and in many foreign lands. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.76 And now, in conclusion, I want to say to you that on this day you are driving a Spike of Gold into our hearts that will stay put, and we hope so worthy a people as you have a similar feeling for us. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.76 The chief engineer of the Southern Pacific Railroad, Mr. Wm. Hood, delivered a magnificent speech upon that occasion, paying one of the finest tributes to the pioneers that I have ever heard. I regret exceedingly that the enterprise of our newspapers was such that we only had pictures of the procession, page after page, but nothing of the very splendid remarks that were made. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 We have been listening to truth, so we will ask the congregation to arise anti join in singing John Jaques's inspired hymn -- "O, Say, What is Truth:" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 O, say, what is truth? 'Tis the fairest gem Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 That the riches of worlds can produce; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 And priceless the value of truth will be when Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 The proud monarch's costliest diadem Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 Is counted but dross and refuse. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 Yes, say, what is truth? 'Tis the brightest prize Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 To which mortals or Gods can aspire: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 Go search in the depths where it glittering lies, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 Or ascend in pursuit to the loftiest skies, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 'Tis an aim for the noblest desire. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 The sceptre may fall from the despot's grasp, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 When with winds of stern justice he copes, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 But the pillar of truth will endure to the last, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 And its firm-rooted bulwarks outstand the rude blast, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 And the wreck of the fell tyrant's hopes. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 Then, say, what is truth? 'Tis the last and the first, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 For the limits of time it steps o'er: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 Though the heavens depart, and the earth's fountains burst, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 Truth, the sum of existence, will weather the worst, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 Eternal, unchanged, evermore. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 J. Jaques. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 Following the singing of the hymn, President Grant said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 Usually, in our conference proceedings, the hymn is mentioned and the first line recorded, but I would request Brother Edward H. Anderson, our clerk, to see that in publishing the proceedings of this conference, this inspired hymn shall appear in full. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.85 Since our last meeting the vacancy caused by the death of our beloved President has been filled by my being taken from the Council of the Twelve, creating a vacancy in that Council, and Brother Melvin J. Ballard has been sustained by you here, yesterday, to fill the vacancy in the Council of the Twelve. We will now ask Brother Ballard to occupy the balance of the time in this meeting. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.109 I am sure that all the presidents of our missions have had the perfect love, confidence and respect, and the daily faith and prayers of all the Church leaders, as they have had mine, morning and night, for their success in the mission field, each and all of them. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.109 CONCERNING THE MISSION PRESIDENTS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.109 I regret to learn that in some sections there is a feeling that there must be something wrong or releases would not be given to the men who have labored so long, so faithfully, with such energy and zeal and with the inspiration of the Lord in the mission field. I desire to correct any such impression on the part of any of the Latter-day Saints. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.109 Some years ago it was the unanimous opinion of the Council of the Twelve that it would be fair to the men who had been many years in the mission field, to be released and to have the opportunity of returning to their homes. The Council so unanimously recommended, but further action on the matter was deferred. Soon after the death of President Smith the Twelve Apostles again recommended to the presidency the honorable release of some of the men who had spent long years in the mission field. It so happened that this recommendation was made at a meeting where President Anthon H. Lund presided, and it so happened that Brother Heber J. Grant and Brother Charles W. Penrose were members of the quorum when the original recommendation was made. So you can plainly see that it happened to be strictly unanimous with the First Presidency and all of the Twelve that we should honorably release some of our mission presidents. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.110 I want to say that they have labored with untiring zeal and energy: that they have gained not only the love, the confidence and respect of line general authorities of the Church, but I am sure from my experience in traveling in all of their missions that they have gained the love and confidence of the people with whom they have labored; and because of that intense love, which has grown up in the hearts of the people for those who preside over them in the mission field, some of the Saints have been broken-hearted over the releases that have been made. I felt that it was only fair to say this. I want to say that all of these brethren will always have a seat here and be counted as mission presidents. They have our love and our confidence. When I called for one of the brethren yesterday, be had to come from the gallery. He perhaps felt that, as his successor had been installed, this was not his place. But we expect those men always to come here. We expect to look upon them as faithful. diligent mission presidents. Whenever an announcement is made from this stand that there will be a special priesthood meeting to which presidents of missions are invited, it will include all of those who have presided and who are now released. We want them to feel that they belong with the mission presidents and are invited. I wanted to say this much. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.110 OUR CHAPLAINS IN THE ARMY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.110 As was read here yesterday in the statistical report, we were entitled to twenty chaplains and we only have had three. Two of these chaplains -- Calvin S. Smith and Herbert Maw saw active service on the firing line. I understand that Brother Smith was wounded three times, and has been decorated for bravery. He is a son of President Joseph F. Smith. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.110 In that wonderful charge of the marines, at Chateau-Thierry. which will go down in history, where six thousand, two hundred out of eight thousand men were killed or wounded, one of President Francis M. Lyman's sons, named after your humble servant, lost his life. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.110 I wish to say here that the general authorities of the Church are very grateful to General Richard W. Young who volunteered, although beyond the age limit, to accept the position of colonel in the army. He had a very excellent oversight and care of the boys fromthe state of Utah, and was subsequently advanced to the rank of brigadier general. Our hearts go out in gratitude to him for again offering his services to his country, as he did in the Spanish American war, when he served in the Philippines. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.110 We are grateful to Brother B. H. Roberts, who also volunteered, notwithstanding be was beyond the age limit, and did splendid service in looking after our boys, as chaplain. He gained their love and their confidence and had an excellent influence over them for good. I desire to say this much with reference to the patriotic service of these men. President Heber J. Grant. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.138 I have in my hand a little book entitled Abraham Lincoln's Don'ts. I wish to read just two or three selections: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.138 SAYINGS FROM PRESIDENT LINCOLN. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.138 "I feel that I cannot succeed without the Divine blessing, and on the Almighty Being I place my reliance for support." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.138 "Two principles have stood face to face from the beginning of time and will ever continue to struggle. The one is the common right of humanity: the other is the divine right of kings." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.138 The common right of humanity has come very near achieving a complete and perfect triumph in the great war that is now closed. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.138 "Teach men that what they cannot take by an election they cannot take by war." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.138 "Take all the Bible upon reason that you can, and the balance on faith, and you will live and die a better man." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.138 "Never send a wrathful letter -- burn it, and write another." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.138 WORK FOR A SUNDAY LAW AT THE NEXT LEGISLATURE. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.138 I wish that I could impress this sentiment which I am about to read, upon the heart of every Latter-day Saint who shall hear it: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.138 "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 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 gay of all sexes and tongues and colors and conditions sacrifice unceasingly upon its altars." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.139 And remember that God Almighty has told us to reverence the Sabbath day and to keep it holy. We have tried for years to get a Sunday law, but up to date, we have failed. The good representatives from the outside counties have said: "If you want a Sunday law, you Salt Lake people enact it." We cannot get the men in the legislature to give it to us. We appeal to the good sisters who have the vote, to try and see that no one shall be sent to the legislature from this county or any other county, at its next session, who is not in favor of a Sunday law. (Applause.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.139 MORE SELECTIONS FROM LINCOLN. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.139 "What's the matter with my two boys? Just what's the matter with the whole world. I've got three walnuts and each wants two." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.139 "The prudent, penniless beginner in the world labors for wages for a while, saves a surplus with which to buy land or tools for himself, then labors for himself another while, and at length hires another new beginner, to help him. This is the just and generous and prosperous system which opens the way to all, gives hope to all, and consequent energy and progress and improvement of condition to all." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.139 I wish to the Lord that this could be burned into the very heart of the I. W. W. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.139 ANONYMOUS LETTERS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.139 I have received a lot of anonymous letters, since I became President of the Church, telling me a great many things that people would like me to announce here, positions they would like me to take, etc., to all of which I shall pay no attention. Any person who wishes to write me a letter and give me pointers should not be afraid to sign his name: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.139 KIND WORDS FOR THE GERMANS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.139 I did, however, receive one letter from a good sister who signed her name, asking me to say some kind words, if I could do so, regarding the German people. She said it was generally understood, among many of the German Latter-day Saints, that I had hatred in my heart for the German people. I suppose that came from the fact that a year ago last April I spoke of infamous German conceptions, and paid my respects to the Kaiser, with all the force and ability with which God has endowed me. I quoted from that same inspired poet, Goethe, to whom Brother Nibley has referred here today. I did not quote from Goethe's very wonderful play "Faust," but from a simple little poem of four verses which I will read again: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.139 "There are three lessons I would write, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.139 Three words as with a burning pen, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.139 In tracings of eternal light Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.139 Upon the hearts of men. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.139 Have faith, though clouds environ round Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.139 And gladness hides her face in scorn, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.139 Put off the darkness from thy brow; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.139 No night but hath its morn. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.139 Have hope, where'er thy bark is driven, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.139 The calm distorts the tempest's mirth. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.139 Know this, God rules the Hosts of Heaven, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.139 The inhabitants of earth." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.140 I said last year, that I hoped Kaiser William will live to have these words burned into his very brain. I guess he has learned that lesson, by this time, over in Holland: "Know this, God rules the Hosts of Heaven, the inhabitants of earth." I hope he has learned that simple truth. But there was a time when he thought he had so much power that he was going to rule the earth. Goethe closes his poem with this supreme declaration of love -- a declaration in keeping with the teachings of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.140 "Have love -- not love alone for one, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.140 But man as man thy brother call, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.140 And scatter as a circling sun Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.140 Thy charities on all." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.140 Every German who believes in these inspired teachings of Goethe has my love and confidence, but the Germans who believe in force, and who sustained the Kaiser, do not have my love and my support. My remarks were concluded in such a way that I am astonished any good German would imagine I had any ill will toward the German people. I will read what I said a year ago last April: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.140 "In my anxiety to get through with as many items as possible in twenty-five minutes I came near neglecting to say one thing which I desire to say:" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.140 Those of you who were here will remember that I sat down and afterwards asked permission, of President Smith, to add a few remarks, and this is what I said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.140 "I have never traveled with a man who impressed me more as loving God, and more determined to give to this work of our Redeemer his life's labor, than did the late Karl G. Maeser. I believe that the men and women whom the gospel found in Germany, and who in all honor embraced it, are as loyal, as true, and as patriotic as any other people who have joined the Church of Christ. The night following my call for a mission to Japan I lay awake until after three o'clock in the morning, and in thinking of those who were aged, and whom I hoped and prayed might live until I returned, I thought of my own dear mother, of John R. Winder, of George Romney, of Karl G. Maeser, and of others whom I loved with all my heart. I feel that the Germans who have embraced the Truth and who have the love of God and the love of our Redeemer in their hearts are as willing to go forth to battle against wrong and error as the people of any other nation who have embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.140 "May the Lord help us who know the Truth to go on proclaiming it, and bringing people to a knowledge of the Redeemer, and teaching them to love their fellow men instead of robbing and killing them, is my prayer and desire, and I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 Now that is exactly how I felt a little over a year ago, and I have not changed my opinion. God bless the German Latter-day Saints. I love them. I love the honest, the world over. I expect a bountiful harvest of souls in Germany. I believe that there are millions of people in Germany who have never sustained, in their hearts, the course that was taken by the ruling classes; but it would have been as much as their lives were worth for them to have dared to assert themselves in opposition to the men who were in power. I hope the time is near at hand when liberty will prevail, when there will be peace, as far as we can get it -- and efforts to that end will be put forth by a League of Nations, and the people will strive to the best of their ability to bring about that condition. When that time comes, I expect a reign of liberty in Germany, and there will be a great harvest of souls in that land. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.141 FATHER AND SONF--TRAINING CHILDREN. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 When Brother E. Wesley Smith was speaking here this morning about the necessity of parents being one with their children, giving them proper teachings and knowing where they are, holding up to us the example of his father, I thought of two splendid poems in a little book entitled A Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 Heap o' Livin'. As they contain some excellent thoughts on father and son, I decided to read them to you today. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.141 ANSWERING HIM. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 "When shall I be a man?" he said, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 As I was putting him to bed. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 "How many years will have to be Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 Before Time makes a man of me? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 And will I be a man when I Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 Am grown up big?" I heaved a sigh, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 Because it called for careful thought Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 To give the answer that he sought. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 And so I sat him on my knee, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 And said to him: "A man you'll be Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 When you have learned that honor brings Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 More joy than all the crowns of kings; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 That it is better to be true Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 To all who know and trust in you Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 Than all the gold of earth to gain, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 If winning it shall leave a stain. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 "When you can fight for victory sweet, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 Yet bravely swallow down defeat, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 And cling to hope and keep the right, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 Nor use deceit instead of might; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 When you are kind and brave and clean, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 And fair to all and never mean; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 When there is good in all you plan, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 That day, my boy, you'll be a man. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 "Some of us learn this truth too late; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 That years alone can't make us great; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 That many who are three-score ten Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 Have fallen short of being men, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 Because in selfishness they fought Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 And toiled without refining thought; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 And whether wrong or whether right Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 They lived but for their own delight. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 "When you have learned that you must hold Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 Your honor dearer far than gold; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 That no ill-gotten wealth or fame Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 Can pay you for your tarnished name; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 And when in all you say or do Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 Of others you're considerate, too, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 Content to do the best you can Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 By such a creed, you'll be a man." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.141 Edgar A. Guest. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.142 FATHER AND SON. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Be more than his dad, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Be a chum to the lad; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Be a part of his life Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Every hour of the day; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Find time to talk with him, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Take time to walk with him, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Share in his studies Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 And share in his play; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Take him to places, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 To ball games and races, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Teach him the things Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 That you want him to know; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Don't live apart from him, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Don't keep your heart from him, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Be his best comrade, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 He's needing you so! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Never neglect him, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Though young, still respect him, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Hear his opinions Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 With patience and pride; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Show him his error, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 But be not a terror, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Grim-visaged and fearful, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 When he's at your side. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Know what his thoughts are, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Know what his sports are, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Know all his playmates, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 It's easy to learn to; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Be such a father Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 That when troubles gather Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 You'll be the first one Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 For counsel, he'll turn to. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 You can inspire him Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 With courage and fire him Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Hot with ambition Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 For deeds that are good; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 He'll not betray you Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Nor illy repay you Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 If you have taught him Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 The things that you should. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Father and son Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Must in all things be one-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Partners in trouble Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 And comrades in joy. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 More than a dad Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Was the best pal you had; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Be such a chum Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 As you knew, to your boy. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.142 Edgar A. Guest. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.142 MISCONSTRUCTION AND MISAPPLICATION OF PUBLIC UTTERANCES. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.143 Some years ago I preached a sermon in this Tabernacle. At the close of the service, on my way home, between here and the Eagle Gate, six or seven men complimented me for "spanking in public" Brother Abraham H. Cannon who had spoken just before I did. Two or three days later some seven or eight men were in the President's office, and I was summoned before them and taken to task for "spanking" Brother Cannon. They were very angry. They were all Republicans, and all those who had complimented me were Democrats. Brother Abraham and I were there at this meeting, and I asked him if he knew that he was spanked. He said, no, he did not; and I remarked, "If I spanked you in public, I must have done it in my sleep. I quite frequently sleep when other people are talking; but, up to date, I have not learned to sleep while I am talking. I am not aware of saying one single, solitary word that reflected on what you said." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.143 I requested that those two sermons be published in the Deseret News, one following the other; that neither Abraham nor I be permitted to read them before publication. When they were published I was to appear at the President's office and I would make any apology that was necessary for spanking Brother Abraham in public. Brother Cannon and I read them to ourselves and then read them aloud, and we could not find one single, solitary word, wherein I had found any fault with what he had said, neither could the Presidency. So I did not have to apologize. Do you know, it is a very easy matter for us to misconstrue what people say, and make such an application that it may appear partisan or as if it were intended for personal advantage, in some way, shape or manner. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.143 ENDORSEMENT OF THE SPEECHES OF THIS CONFERENCE. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.143 I believe, as I believe the gospel, that all the speakers in this conference have spoken the honest sentiments of their hearts. I feet sure that the same may be said of those who spoke in the Assembly Hall and in the other overflow meetings, although I did not hear their remarks. I am confident all that has been said was intended for your good and my good, and for the advancement of God's kingdom here on earth. I endorse all that has been said here, by every speaker. I thank every man to whom I have listened, for the inspiration of the Spirit of the Lord that has come to him. I thank the Saints from the bottom of my heart for their vote of confidence. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, June 1919, p.143 A PLEDGE AND DECLARATION. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.143 I can pledge to you the best that is in me to fulfil the high and holy calling that has come to me, to exercise in righteousness the power of the Priesthood of the living God, which centers in me, and to administer my office as the Trustee-in-Trust, holding your property, to expend it and use it to the very best of the ability with which God shall endow me. I expect to counsel with my counselors, with the Twelve Apostles and with the Presiding Bishopric of the Church -- the men to whom the Lord refers in revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, naming the men who are to expend the funds of this Church; although I realize and know that legally and technically, I have the right to handle your funds personally, because of your vote, just as my predecessors have had that right. Yet I know that in a multitude of counsel there is safety, and I expect to have multitude of counsel. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.144 Again I pray God to bless all Israel, and to bless all men and all women, the world over, who are honest in heart, who are prayerful, who are virtuous and who desire to do good. I pray God to have mercy on the sinners and to inspire them to repent. God bless you all, I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.144 The choir and congregation sang: "Up, awake, ye defenders of Zion." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.144 PRESIDENT HEBER J. GRANT Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, p.144 In announcing the hymn President Grant said: President Charles W. Penrose wrote this hymn at the time Johnston's army was coming to Utah to destroy the "Mormons." Apparently the army did not make a very good job of it, because we are here. This hymn, by President Penrose, was sung in many places in England, creating considerable enthusiasm. In the London conference alone over $3,000 were raised to pay return fares of elders who were in England, that they might return Zion and be among those who were to be "destroyed." President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.3 I rejoice again at having the opportunity of meeting with the Saints in general conference. It was a source of great regret to all of us that we could not hold our April conference because of health conditions throughout the state. I am gratified, seeing that our postponed conference was only last June, that we have as large an attendance as we have here today. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.3 DEPENDENCE UPON THE LORD Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.3 In standing before you today I feel my weakness and my dependence upon the Lord, and I pray for the faith, sympathy and good will of all who are here assembled, that what I may say shall be for their benefit as well as for my own. I can hardly realize that I am standing here as your representative, at the head of the Church. When I think of the men who have occupied this position, from President Brigham Young to President Joseph F. Smith, I indeed feel weak, but my faith and my knowledge regarding the divinity of the work in which we are engaged are so perfect that I have no doubt whatever that the Lord will give to me, with the aid of my counselors and the Council of the Twelve, with whom I meet in council every week, the inspiration to guide and direct the affairs of this Church in a way and manner which will be pleasing and acceptable to him. I have the same faith as that expressed by Nephi of old: namely, that the Lord requires no labor or work at the hands of man but what he will prepare a way whereby that labor can be accomplished. If I know my own heart, it is set absolutely upon seeking for the mind and the will of the Lord, and then laboring, to the full extent of the ability with which I am endowed, to accomplish his purposes. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.3 THE HYMN, "COME, COME, YE SAINTS" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.3 Yesterday, or the day before, when I received a list of the songs that would be sung during this conference, I read them over without any particular thought as to their meaning or inspiration, but this morning while lying in bed thinking of this conference, I remembered that the first hymn that we were to sing here today was, "Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear." I concluded to make that my text for my opening remarks, and then speak as I might be led during the remainder of the time I should occupy. To me this is a wonderful hymn, and the circumstances under which it was written, as I have been informed, give it an additional interest to me. I understand that when the pioneers were about to start across the trackless wilderness, to go a thousand miles to a place they knew not where, a place that President Brigham Young had seen in vision, he said to Elder William Clayton, "William, go and write a hymn that the Saints may sing at their camp fires, that shall be an inspiration and an encouragement to them in their journey across the plains," and Brother Clayton withdrew and returned in a couple of hours with this great pioneer hymn that we have just sung. I was asked in Liverpool, by President Lyman, the day I arrived there to preside over the European mission, which of all the hymns was my favorite, and he said, "We will sing it tonight!" I told him I had none, that there were many of the hymns I loved dearly, but I had never selected any one as my special favorite. He said, "My favorite is 'School thy feelings, oh, my brother, Train thy warm, impulsive soul;' President Snow's favorite was, 'Zion stands with hills surrounded; * * * All her foes shall be confounded;' John Henry Smith's was, 'Up, awake, ye defenders of Zion;' President Wilford Woodruff's was,'God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform;' and President Lyman said that President Brigham Young's was, "Oh, ye mountains high;" but I have since been told by one of his daughters that this is a mistake, that his favorite was Brother William Clayton's hymn, "When first the glorious light of truth, burst forth in this last age, How few there were with heart and soul, to obey it did engage." President Daniel H. Wells' favorite was, "Oh, ye mountains high." I said, "Brother Lyman, you don't need to go any further; I will pick mine inside of a minute. I will take, "Come, come, ye Saints," as my favorite." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.4 I believe that William Clayton was inspired of the Lord when he wrote this hymn, and also the other hymn that was President Young's favorite. It was a wonderful trip the Pioneers were about to make. I can never think of it but I have admiration for the courage, the faith, and the will power of our fathers and our mothers who started out in the wilderness, not knowing where they were going, but singing: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.4 Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear, But with joy wend your way. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.4 I have talked with hundreds of those who crossed the plains and they had real joy and happiness in wending their way to this country. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.4 Though hard to you this journey may appear, Grace shall be as your day. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.4 Certainly God did give them grace as their day. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.4 'Tis better far for us to strive, Our useless cares from us to drive, Do this, and joy your hearts will swell -- All is well! all is well! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.4 And not only was that good advice to people traveling across the plains, but it is good advice to each and to all of us every day of our lives. A cheerful, happy spirit of serenity is pleasing to our heavenly Father. The capacity and the ability to believe and accept the scripture that teaches us to acknowledge the hand of God in all things is pleasing to our heavenly Father. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.5 Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard? 'Tis not so; all is right! Why should we think to earn a great reward, If we now shun the fight? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.5 The trouble with a great many people is, they are not willing to pay the price; they are not willing to make the fight for success in the battle of life. They are much like the people of whom I read in Brother N. L. Nelson's book on preaching -- which I happened to open one day, and I read about people taking literally the instructions to take no thought of what one should say; and Brother Nelson wrote that many of those who took no thought at all never said much, as they were going contrary to the teaching, that we were to prepare ourselves; and he says, regarding the people who take no thought, that when they speak they ought to say, "Oh, Lord, here I am. I have a mouth and a pair of lungs that I will loan thee for a brief season; fill me with wisdom that I may edify the people," which he seldom does. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.5 Why should we think to earn a great reward, If we now shun the fight? Gird up your loins, fresh courage take, Our God will never us forsake; And soon we'll have this tale to tell -- All is well! all is well! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.5 This magnificent audience here, our beautiful temple, our Church office building, and the temples from Canada to Southern Utah, and the Hawaiian Islands, bear witness to all the world that God has never forsaken his people. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.5 We'll find the place which God for us prepared, Far away in the West; Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid; There the Saints will be blest. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.5 I believe there is no true Latter-day Saint who does not believe that God did prepare this land for his people. Brigham Young stood on the hill, beyond Fort Douglas, and, looking over this valley, said: "This is the place." God had shown him this place in vision, before he ever came here. Men tried to persuade him to go to California to that rich country, but this was the place which God had prepared, and we stopped here, and no mistake was made. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.5 We'll make the air with music ring, Shout praises to our God and King: Above the rest these words we'll tell -- All is well! All is well! And should we die before our journey's through, Happy day! All is well! We then are free from toil and sorrow too, With the just we shall dwell. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.6 What sublime faith -- that all is well! even should you die in the wilderness, and be buried in an unknown grave, so to speak; and yet that was their faith; and they could sing these words, night after night, with their hearts in what they sang. They were verily praying to the Lord. They had full faith in the revelations given to the wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith, wherein it is written: "The song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads." Also: "My soul delighteth in the song of the heart." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.6 And should we die before our journey's through, Happy day! All is well! We then are free from toil and sorrow too, With the just we shall dwell. But if our lives are spared again To see the Saints their rest obtain, O how we'll make this chorus swell -- All is well, all is well! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.6 I remember upon one occasion, and I have often spoken of it, -- I may have mentioned it here, -- that my father-in-law, the late Oscar Winters, said: "Heber, I believe that the young people of Zion do not thoroughly appreciate what Brother Clayton's hymn meant to us, as we sang it, night after night, crossing the plains; and I believe that choir leaders do not appreciate it, or they would not stop after singing only three verses. I have listened in vain," as I remember it, he said. "for between twenty-five and thirty years, to hear the last verse of that song sung by a choir, and I have never heard it." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.6 We are beginning to sing it now, because in almost every stake of Zion I have asked the people and the leaders of choirs, that if they only wished to sing three verses, please not to do it when I was present --but to sing the other verse also." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.6 A TOUCHING INCIDENT OF THE PLAINS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.6 Brother Winters further said. "I want to tell you an incident that happened as I was coming to the valley. One of our company was delayed in coming to camp. We got some volunteers, and were about to go back and see if anything had happened, -- if he had had trouble with Indians, or what was the matter, -- when we saw him coming in the distance. When he arrived, we unyoked his cattle and helped him to get his supper. He had been quite sick and had to lie down by the road, a time or two. After supper he sat down on a large rock, by the camp fire, and sang the hymn, "Come, come, ye Saints." It was the rule in the camp that whenever anybody started to sing that hymn, we would all join with him; but for some reason, no one joined with this brother. His voice was quite weak and feeble; and when he had finished. I glanced around, and I don't believe there were any of the people sitting there whose eyes were tearless. He sang the hymn very beautifully, but with a weak and plaintive voice. and yet with the spirit and inspiration of the hymn. The next morning we discovered that he was not hitching up his oxen; we went to his wagon, and we found that he had died during the night! We dug a shallow grave and laid his body in it. We then thought of the stone on which he had been sitting the night before when he sang: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.7 "And should we die before our journey's through, Happy day! All is well! We then are free from toil and sorrow too, With the just we shall dwell. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.7 "We then rolled that stone over in place as a headstone for his grave." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.7 I noticed tears in Brother Winters' eyes. He started, as if he was about to tell me something more, but he hesitated and did not. I subsequently learned that after he had been in the valley for some time he came from his home in the country to Salt Lake to meet his mother, only to learn that she, too, had died before her journey was through. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.7 ALONG THE "MORMON" TRAIL. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.7 Some years ago, as the Burlington Railroad was building through Nebraska and Wyoming, the engineers found a piece of wagon tire sticking in the ground, on which was chiseled the word, "Winters." They wrote to Salt Lake City, telling of this discovery, and they returned several miles and kindly changed the line, of the road so as to miss that spot, knowing that it was the grave of some Utah pioneer. We have since erected, there, a little monument to the memory of Grandma Winters; and, on one side of that little monument, built of temple granite, we have had chiseled the words in the last verse of, "Come, come, ye Saints." Never can I hear this song, never can I read it, but my heart goes out in gratitude to my father and to my mother, and to thousands of those noble men and women who journeyed over the plains. Many of them, time and time again, crossed the plains to help others, enduring the hardships cheerfully, carrying out, in very deed, the teachings of this inspired hymn! I can never think of them but I am full of admiration and gratitude, and utter a prayer to the Lord to help me, as one of the descendants of that noble band, to be loyal, to be true, to be faithful as they were! In very deed, they were a band of men and women who, as the years come and go, will command greater and greater admiration and respect from the people of the world. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.7 REASONS FOR THE PEOPLE'S COMING. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.7 They came here, for what? Because of the burning and living testimony in their souls regarding the divine mission of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. They came here because they had an abiding knowledge that God lives, that he hears and answers prayers, that Jesus is the Redeemer of the world, and that Joseph Smith is his prophet. God had given them that knowledge! When I think of this land today, and of the prosperity and peace that reign here, from Canada on the north to Arizona on the south, I indeed marvel and thank God. When I think that there is, perhaps, no other part of the United States more peaceful, more free from mob violence, and from those evils which disturb the serenity of people and cause them great unrest and anxiety, I am indeed grateful, and feel to bear witness to the inspiration of William Clayton, under a direct appointment from Brigham Young, the prophet of the Lord, to write a hymn that should so cheer the Saints. I acknowledge the inspiration expressed in the words that they would find the place that God had prepared far away in the West! When I think of the awful devastation that swept over the country, from which the Latter-day Saints were driven in Missouri and Illinois and other places during the Rebellion I am grateful that the Latter-day Saints escaped that awful state of affairs, and I feel to acknowledge the hand of the Lord. They came here for what? For the express purpose to serve God, to do right, as stated in the next hymn that we sang. I think this other hymn is worthy to be counted as a battle hymn: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.8 Do what is right; the day-dawn is breaking, Hailing a future of freedom and light; Angels above us are silent notes taking Of every action; do what is right! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.8 Do what is right; the shackles are falling; Chains of the bondsmen no longer are bright; Lighten'd by hope, soon they'll cease to be galling; Truth goeth onward: do what is right! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.8 Do what is right; be faithful and fearless, Onward, press onward, the goal is in sight; Eyes that are wet now, ere long will be tearless; Blessings await you; do what is right. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.8 Do what is right, let the consequence follow; Battle for freedom in spirit and might. And with stout hearts look ye forth till tomorrow; God will protect you; do what is right! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.8 That is what our fathers and mothers came here for. Our late beloved President, Joseph F. Smith, from the time he was a child, ten years of age, when he crossed the plains, driving the team for his beloved mother, until the day of his death, labored seventy long years, in season and out of season, doing what was right, on all occasions and under all circumstances. I asked him, one day, which was his favorite hymn, and he said he did not have any. I said, "Well, Brother Lyman told me I ought to have one. I wish you would select one." "Well," he said, "I think I would hardly care to, but perhaps I am partial to the hymn by that heroic little soul. Sister Emily Hill Woodmansee, entitled, "Uphold the Right:" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.9 Uphold the right, tho' fierce the fight, And pow'rful is the foe; As freedom's friend, her cause defend, Nor fear nor favor show. No coward can be called a man -- No friend will friends betray; Who would be free, alert must be; Indifference will not pay. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.9 Note how they toil, whose aim is spoil, Who plundering plots devise; Yet time will teach, that fools o'erreach The mark, and lose the prize. Can justice deign to wrong maintain, Whoever wills it so? Can honor mate with treach'rous hate? Can figs on thistles grow? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.9 Dare to be true, and hopeful too; Be watchful, brave and shrewd; Weigh every act; be wise, in fact, To serve the general good. Nor basely yield, nor quit the field -- Important is the fray; Scorn to recede, there is no need To give our rights away. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.9 Left-handed fraud let those applaud Who would by fraud prevail; In freedom's name contest their claim, Use no such word as fail; Honor we must each sacred trust, And rightful zeal display; Our part fulfil, then, come what will, High heaven will clear the way. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.9 WHY WE ARE UNDER OBLIGATIONS TO SERVE GOD. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.9 Certainly President Smith's life was an example of courage and willingness to do the right, without fear to announce himself on any proposition for the good of mankind. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.9 As I think of the wonderful prosperity. of the Latter-day Saints, of what they have accomplished, of what they are accomplishing, and of the respect that is being shown them today, in comparison with the contempt that was shown to them years ago, I certainly feel to thank the Lord for all of his mercies and blessings to us, and to beg, entreat, and implore every Latter-day Saint to so order his or her life that they will in very deed do that which is right, let the consequence follow. With all the power that I possess, I would urge upon the Latter-day Saints the keeping of the commandments of the Lord. There is nothing truer than the statement that obedience is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. The man and the woman who obeys the commandments of the Lord grows and increases in light, in knowledge, in intelligence; and above all, they grow in the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. When I think of all that we have accomplished and of our being here in fulfilment of the prediction of Joseph Smith that the Latter-day Saints should come to these Rocky Mountains and become a great and a mighty people, I am reminded of the sufferings, the hardships, and the trials that the people underwent in their drivings and expulsions from Missouri and Illinois, and I feel to say, truly God has preserved and blessed us in this land, and we are under obligations to him to serve him, so that those who know not the truth, may see the honesty, the integrity, the devotion of our lives, that these may inspire them to investigate the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.10 We are told in revelation from the Lord that we should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and that we should bring to pass much righteousness of our own free will and choice, for we are agents unto ourselves; and wherein we do good, we shall in no wise lose our reward. I am always thankful when I read in the D&C that there is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of the world, upon which all blessings are predicated, and that when we obtain any blessing it is by obedience to the law upon which it is predicated. When I go into a house to administer to those who are afflicted, if I know that they have observed what is known as the Word of Wisdom; if I know they have fulfilled the law whereby they are entitled to the blessings of the Lord, I can administer to people of that kind with faith, knowing that if it is not the will of the Lord for them to pass away, he will hear and answer the prayer of faith, and they will be restored. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.10 GOD'S ANSWER TO A PRAYER OF JOSEPH, THE PROPHET. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.10 When I stop to think of the condition our people was in years ago and that some of the great and important revelations that have come to this Church, came to us from prison cells -- today, I say, what a wonderful contrast! Certainly God has been good to this people. I think one of the greatest of all the revelations that we have is the one that came to us in answer to a prayer from the Prophet Joseph Smith when he was in Liberty Jail, in Clay county, Missouri, on the 20th day of March, 1839. He prayed to the Lord: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.10 O God! where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold, from the eternal heavens, the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries? etc. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.10 In answer to this, the Lord states, among other important items: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.10 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.10 "Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.11 "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 -- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.11 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.11 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.11 "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. "Hence many are called, but few are chosen. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.11 "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. "That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.11 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.11 "The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy sceptre an unchanging sceptre of righteousness and truth, and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee for ever and ever." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.11 Placing the Prophet in a jail did not stop communication between God, our heavenly Father, and his chosen instrument here upon the earth. One of the greatest of all the great lessons that has come to us who hold the Priesthood, was given while he was in jail, -- "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 so on. The Lord being my helper, standing at the head of this great Church, I shall endeavor to exercise the Priesthood that I hold in conformity with this revelation from the living God to the Prophet of the Lord, who was used as his instrument in founding the Church of Christ again upon the earth. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.11 GRATITUDE TO GOD. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.11 I thank the Lord for all his manifold blessings to us as a people. Saints are prosperous, they are in good health now. We are meeting with blessings on all hands. I rejoice in this and feel grateful to the Lord. I pray that, while we are together, we may be abundantly blessed by those that shall speak to us. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.12 POSITION ON THE QUESTION OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.12 I did think of making some remarks similar to those I made here two weeks ago today, but I believe that I will do as the congressmen do. Instead of referring to my position upon the League of Nations and other matters, as I did two weeks ago, I will simply have printed in the conference proceedings the sermon that I then delivered, and you can read it at your leisure. It was printed in the Deseret News, I believe, a week ago last Tuesday. I will not take the time to repeat what I said. I read there a manifesto sent to the Senate of the United States begging them to pass the Peace Treaty, and I will simply have my sermon incorporated in our conference proceedings so that any of the Saints who want to read it can do so, and I will ask Brother Edward H. Anderson, the editor of the Era also to print my sermon in the Era, so that those of you who take that magazine will have the privilege of reading it. If there is any home in all the Church that does not have the Era, it simply shows that the people there are lacking in faith, that they think more of two dollars than they do of getting communications from the authorities of the Church, and important sermons, things which are of more value than the things of this world. You know there are a great many people who hold up copper cents in front of their eyes and hide dollars, and there are a great many who keep two dollars in their pockets and hide hundreds of dollars of inspiration and knowledge of great value to them through all time, and which will be of value to them in the great eternity to come. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.12 UPHOLD THE LAW. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.12 As Latter-day Saints we have what is known as The Articles of Faith, and one of them reads: "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law," and no Latter-day Saint can in very deed be a Latter-day Saint if he does not honor and sustain and uphold the law. Nearly all over the world, at the present time there is a spirit of lawlessness, a spirit of ridicule, and one lacking respect for the men who hold positions. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.12 One of the most terrible crimes that I have read of in years was enacted in Omaha, a few days ago, where a mob of citizens, because the policemen were trying to fulfil their duty as sworn servants of the law -- had the officers in a building that was burning and said: "Let them burn," Let them burn -- why? Because they would not deliver a prisoner to the mob, but kept that prisoner so that he could have a fair trial under the law. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.12 When I was in Los Angeles a short time ago, they were selling whisky all over the city, and I was told that the officials of the city said, "You can sell it if you want to, we do not object, but you will have to take your chances with Uncle Sam." What kind of public servants are they? Elected to enforce laws, they defy the laws of their own country, and allow people to sell whisky and to break the law! No wonder mob violence comes, when some of the leaders themselves break the law. No wonder they had this great war in Europe when the leaders of nations broke treaties and treated them as scraps of paper! No man can do that which is dishonest, or break laws of his country and be a true Latter-day Saint. No nation and no leaders of nations can do wrong, and break their obligations, but what they are just as much under condemnation before God and man as the other individual who does wrong. Truth will prevail. "Uphold the right, though fierce the fight," should be the motto of every Latter-day Saint, as it was the motto of our beloved leader who recently passed away. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.13 ON LABOR UNIONS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.13 I want to say that I am perfectly willing that men shall join labor unions, that they shall band together for the purpose of protecting their rights, provided they do not interfere with the rights of other people. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness belong to all people in the United States, according to the laws of our country, and should, upon all the face of the earth; and I say that, to my mind, a provision in a labor union is all wrong that favors boycotting and the laying down of tools or the quitting of employment because a nonunion man obtains employment while exercising his God-given right to stay out of a union. Men who have that kind of a rule have a rule that is in direct opposition to the laws of God. There was a battle fought in heaven -- for what? To give to man his individual liberty. An attempt to take the agency of man away is made when he does not see fit to join a union, when men in that union, without any complaint, or grievance, strike, because a non-union man is employed. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.13 Now I'd better not say any more, perhaps, on this question, or I may offend somebody. I may hurt somebody's feelings: but it is the God-given right of men to earn their livelihood. The Savior said it was the first great law or commandment to love the Lord with all our hearts, and that the second was like unto it, to love thy neighbor as thyself. That is the doctrine for every true Latter-day Saint. How much love is there in starving your neighbor because he will not surrender his manhood and his individuality, and allow a labor union to direct his labor? Mighty little love, mighty little of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in any such a rule! I hope to see the day when no Latter-day Saint will join a union unless the union eliminate that clause from its rules. I am not going to ask them to leave their union. I am not going to lay it down that they must, that it is the mind and the will of the Lord for them to leave a union. I want, as I said here two weeks ago, to give every man his free agency, to give every man the right to act as he thinks proper, but I cannot see how a Latter-day Saint who is a member of such a union can get down on his knees and pray for God to inspire and bless him, to bless the Saints and to protect them, and then be a party to allowing one of his own brethren to go, year after year, without employment, because that brother will not surrender his manhood and join a union with him. There is none of the Spirit of the Lord in that, to my mind. That is exactly the way I see it. I will quote again what I quoted here two weeks ago: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.14 Should you feel inclined to censure Faults you may in others view, Ask your own heart, ere you venture, If that has not failings too. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.14 Let not friendly vows be broken; Rather strive a friend to gain; Many a word in anger spoken., Finds its passage home again. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.14 Do not then in idle pleasure Trifle with a brother's fame, Guard it as a valued treasure, Sacred as your own good name. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.14 Do not form opinions blindly; Hastiness to trouble tends. Those of whom we thought unkindly Oft become our warmest friends. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.14 Also this poem: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.14 Let each man learn to know himself: To gain that knowledge, let him labor, Improve those failings in himself, Which he condemned so in his neighbor. How lenient our own faults we view, And conscience' voice adeptly smother; But oh! how harshly we review The self-same errors in another. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.14 And if you meet an erring one, Whose deeds are blameable or thoughtless, Consider, ere you cast the stone, If you yourself be pure and faultless. Oh! list to that small voice within. Whose whisperings oft make men confounded, And trumpet not another's sin, You'd blush deep if your own were sounded. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.14 And in self-judgment, if you find Your deeds to others are superior; To you has Providence been kind, As you should be to those inferior; Example sheds a genial ray Of light, which men are apt to borrow; So first, improve yourself today, And then improve your friends tomorrow. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.15 CLOSING TESTIMONY. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.15 I thank the Lord that I am able to bear witness to you here today that I know that God lives, that he hears and answers our prayers; that I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer of the world, the Savior of mankind. I bear my witness to you here today that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and the living God, that he was the instrument in the hands of God of establishing again upon the earth the plan of life and salvation, not only for the living but for the dead, and that this gospel, commonly called "Mormonism," by the people of the world, is in very deed the plan of life and salvation, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, that the little stone has been cut out of the mountain, and that it shall roll forth until it fills the whole earth. We believe in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; we believe in the literal gathering of Israel, and we believe that Zion shall be built upon this, the American continent, and that Christ shall reign personally upon the earth. May God help us who have a testimony of the gospel to so live that if we are upon the earth when he comes to reign, we will be worthy to be welcomed by him; and if we go beyond before he comes to reign, that we shall receive the plaudit, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of the Lord," is my prayer, and I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.15 DISCOURSE OF PRESIDENT HEBER J. GRANT Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.15 In Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, September 21, 1919, in the afternoon of Salt Lake stake conference -- Defines attitude on Treaty of Peace -- "Standard Works of the Church are not not opposed to the League of Nations -- United States should stand by her allies -- Change in Change in treaty terms making resubmission to Germany necessary, would be a calamity" Allusions to great event in Church History occurring ninety-six years ago -- Visits of Angel Moroni and other heavenly beings to Joseph Smith -- Analysis of Articles of Faith -- Personal experiences -- Powerful testimony of restoration of the gospel. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.15 I am grateful for the opportunity of again meeting with the Latter-day Saints in public worship. It is ever a pleasure to me to meet with the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and also, when opportunity presents, to meet with those not of our faith, to explain our faith to those who are not familiar with it, and to bear witness of the divinity of the work in which we are engaged. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.15 Before speaking today on matters pertaining to our faith, I desire to make a brief statement. I have been requested, by word of mouth and by letter, on more than one occasion, to state my opinion regarding the league of nations. I received a telegram asking me to join ex-President Taft, ex-Attorney General Wickersham, President Lowell of Harvard, and other leading Americans, in signing the following manifesto: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.16 In the senate at Washington, now that the committee on foreign relations has reported the treaty, the lines are sharply drawn between the immediate ratification of the treaty of peace with Germany, and its amendment with a reassembling of the conference and a reopening of negotiations that would bring great delay and prolonged uncertainty in settling the great issues of the peace. No partisan plea can be made. Party lines are already broken. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.16 Standing at a distance from the conflict in the senate chamber, we plead for immediate ratification without delay. Our land requires it. A state of nervous strain, tension, and unrest exists, manifesting itself in disturbances, which in some cases have no self-evident connection with the war, but which are in fact its aftermath. The world is put in imminent peril of new wars by the lapse of each day. Dissensions between us and our former allies are being sown. We firmly believe and solemnly declare that the states and cities in which we dwell desire immediate peace. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.16 The waging of war steadied and united the American people. Peace will bring prosperity, and prosperity content. Delay in the senate postponing ratification in this uncertain period of neither peace nor war has resulted in indecision and doubt, bred strife, and quickened the cupidity of those who sell the daily necessities of life and the fears of those whose daily wage no longer fills the daily market basket. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.16 We beseech the senate to give the land peace and certainty by a ratification which will not keep us longer in the shadows of possible wars, but give the whole world the light of peace. Reservations m the nature of clarifications in the meaning of the treaty, not inconsistent with its terms. will not require the reopening of the negotiations with Germany and with our associates in the war, which we all and each united to win. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.16 But there is no possibility of doubt that amendment of the treaty, as is now proposed by the senate committee on foreign relations, would require negotiation and a reopening of all the questions decided at Paris. Months of delay would follow. The perils of the present would become the deadly dangers of the near future. All the doubt engendered would aid the plots for violent revolution in this and other lands. The issues here and elsewhere between capital and labor, the conspiracy of speculator and profiteer, would all grow, and become more perilous. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.16 This cannot be. The American people cannot, after a victorious war, permit its government to petition Germany, which has accepted the treaty, for its consent to changes in the treaty. Yet, if the United States should amend the treaty for its own purpose and policy, Germany would have full right to ask for concessions. Germany has agreed to make no claim in regard to enemy property seized in this country to an amount of seven hundred million dollars. Our recent foe could ask for a reopening of this issue and of the Lusitania claims. It could raise every question open before hostilities in regard to submarine warfare and the treatment of its nationals in this country. All the provisions for our trade in Germany raised by the economic clauses of the treaty, many of them vital to our industries and our farms, as in dye patents, dye supplies and fertilizers, the working of the reparation commission which superintends the trade of all with Germany could all be brought up by Berlin for readjustment by our negotiators, acting for the United States alone and no longer associated with other victorious powers or supported by a victorious American army on the German border. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.16 Peace is delayed until ratification comes. And any amendment postpones peace. Germany and England alone of the principal powers have ratified. The other principals necessarily await our action, influential and powerful as we are today, in the world's affairs. The ravages of war on more than a score of fighting fronts are continued by our needless delay. Let the senate give the world peace by ratification without amendment. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.16 Even the amendment for which most can be said, the provision in regard to Shantung, will secure nothing which cannot be gained if China, backed by the powerful advocacy of the United States, addresses itself to the machinery for righting international wrongs and meeting just claims created by the league between nations, China after eighty years of oppressive treaties and despoiled rights, by which all the great powers have profiled directly or indirectly, has for the first time, in this covenant and treaty, the means and method to secure justice and the removal of the oppressive economic interference of stronger nations whose citizens are within her gates, protected by a long succession of international agreements. Moreover, it should be remembered that the clause regarding Shantung was made upon the statement by Japan that she will return the territory to China and, therefore, upon that condition; compliance with which promise the league can require. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.17 The peace of the present and the righteousness of the future can be best secured by the ratification of the covenant and treaty without amendment. Let the senate take no action that will give any party to the treaty, and especially Germany, ground for maintaining that the ratification of the United States is not complete and that changes requiring a resumption of conference and negotiations have been made in it. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.17 I replied as follows: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.17 I have pleasure in joining ex-President Taft and other leading Americans in signing manifesto as outlined in your telegram of yesterday. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.17 The sentiments contained in the above manifesto express my personal position with regard to the league of nations; and since signing the telegram I have neither heard nor read anything that has in any degree changed my position on this important question. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.17 I regret exceedingly that the standard works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been brought into this controversy. which has now become practically a partisan controversy. It is my opinion that this important question should have been kept absolutely out of politics. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.17 On one important matter I desire to place the position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fairly before the people. An illustrated hand-bill has been circulated and has been widely republished in newspapers under the heading: "Mormon Bible Prophecies Become Issue in Opposition to the League of Nations." The position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that the standard works of the Church are not opposed to the league of nations. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.17 As stated in what I have read to you, I regret exceedingly that this great and important question has become a political issue, and I desire to ask each and all of the members of the Church, over which I have the honor to preside, that in all their controversy in connection with this great issue, they express themselves as to their views with due deference to the opinions of others. During the controversy I would like them to read, occasionally, the very wonderful and inspired hymn "O say, what is truth?" written by John Jaques, to be found on page 71 of our hymn book: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.17 O, say what is truth? 'Tis the fairest gem That the riches of worlds can produce; And priceless the value of truth will be when The proud monarch's costliest diadem Is counted but dross and refuse. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.18 Yes, say what is truth? 'Tis the brightest prize To which mortals or Gods can aspire; Go, search in the depths where it glittering lies, Or ascend in pursuit to the loftiest skies; 'Tis an aim for the noblest desire. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.18 The sceptre may fall from the despot's grasp, When with winds of stern justice he copes But the pillar of truth will endure to the last, And its firm-rooted bulwarks outstand the rude blast, And the wreck of the fell tyrant's hopes, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.18 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.18 On page 66 of our hymn book we find the following: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.18 Should you feel inclined to censure Faults you may in others view, Ask your own heart, ere you venture, If that has not failings too. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.18 Let not friendly vows be broken; Rather strive a friend to gain; Many a word in anger spoken Finds its passage home again. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.18 Do not then, in idle pleasure, Trifle with a brother's fame, Guard it as a valued treasure, Sacred as your own good name. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.18 Do not form opinions blindly; Hastiness to trouble tends. Those of whom we thought unkindly, Oft become our warmest friends. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.18 Seeing that I have gotten into the habit of quoting poetry, another poem has just come to mind, which I will repeat, as I think it will be of value to us in teaching us to have respect for the opinions of other people: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.18 LET EACH MAN LEARN TO KNOW HIMSELF. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.18 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' voice adeptly smother; But oh! how harshly we review The self-same errors in another! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.18 And if you meet an erring one Whose deeds are blamable or thoughtless, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.19 Consider, ere you cast the stone, If you yourself be pure and faultless. Oh! list to that small voice within, Whose whisperings oft make men confounded, And trumpet not another's sin, You'd blush deep if your own were sounded. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.19 And in self-judgment, if you find Your deeds to others are superior; To you has Providence been kind, As you should be to those inferior; Example sheds a genial ray Of light, which men are apt to borrow; So first, improve yourself today, And then improve your friends tomorrow. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.19 Philip De La Mere. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.19 I regret exceedingly that in political controversies men seem to lack that courtesy and that respect for their opponents that I believe all Latter-day Saints ought to have. I have never yet heard a Democrat make a political speech that I felt was fair to the Republicans. Being a Democrat, I shall not say anything about what I think of the speeches of Republicans regarding Democrats. It is a strange thing -- but they say that "Love is blind," and some people have added, "and can't smell." I have sometimes thought that both statements were true. From my own personal contact with dear and near friends, Republicans and Democrats, I have not been able to discover the exercise of what you might call charity, if you like, for the opinions of others who oppose them politically at least not as much charity as should exist among our people. I am a thorough convert myself to the idea that it is not possible for all men to see alike. You know the remark made by a man once: "It is a splendid thing that we do not all see alike, because if we did, everybody would want to marry my Sally Ann;" and the other man remarked, "Yes, thank the Lord. If everybody saw your Sally Ann as I see her, nobody on earth would have her, and she would die an old maid." (Laughter.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.19 I am convinced in my own feelings that Great Britain, France, and the United States have common aims, common desires, common objects, and that a league in which those three nations are combined will mean peace as far as the acts of nations can bring peace to mankind. The three thousand miles of border between the United States and Canada, maintained for over a hundred years without the slightest trouble, without any great forts, such as they have felt obliged to have between Germany and France, and other European countries, gives me the absolute assurance in my heart that Great Britain and her subjects have the same desires for the welfare of mankind, and for the liberty of mankind, that we have here in the United States. Confidence begets confidence; good will begets good will; and I believe that having fought -- for what? For our own existence, because I believe that but for the fact of our joining with the Allies in the great war, Germany would have conquered France and Great Britain, and that immediately thereafter she would have picked a quarrel with the United States, in the hope that this country, too, might be conquered. That Germany could not have conquered the United States I have no doubt. While representing you, as chairman of the Liberty loan committee of the State of Utah, I attended a banquet in San Francisco, and in the course of a little speech of ten minutes -- the limit given to me -- I announced that we were sure to sure to win the war; that there was no doubt of it in my mind, absolutely none, because I accepted the statement of an inspired prophet of the living God, who resided on this continent hundreds of years ago, who said that this is a choice land above all other lands, and that no king should rule on this land. Therefore I have no fear of Germany or any other country conquering these United States of America -- none whatever. But if Germany had conquered France and England -- which I believe she would have done but for our help -- there would have been been slain, instead of less than 100,000 of our boys, hundreds of thousands before we would have won the victory. I believe in my heart that it is our duty to stand by those nations that stood the brunt of the battle, and that saved us the loss of perhaps millions of our boys in the great struggle. I am not saying that I would not be delighted if this league of nations, or the terms of this covenant of peace, could be changed in some particulars, but they cannot be changed without submitting the treaty again to Germany. To my mind, that would be a calamity. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.20 Now, I did not intend to say this much regarding the league of nations, but rather to preach a little on the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.20 AN IMPORTANT ANNIVERSARY. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.20 Today is the ninety-sixth anniversary of that wonderful manifestation from God, the visitation of an angel from heaven to the boy Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith testified to all the world that Moroni, an ancient prophet of God who resided upon this continent, appeared to him in answer to his prayer to the living God for light and knowledge. He states that his room started to become light, until it was as light as the noonday sun, and then a personage appeared before him, conversed with him, delivered a most important message, and quoted many important passages of scripture, as you will find recorded here in a brief account of this wonderful event, given by the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Pearl of Great Price. I marked a number of passages that I thought I would read, but I will not take the time to do so. This angel delivered a message to Joseph Smith, and told him that in the Hill Cumorah there were buried golden plates containing a record of the forefathers of the American Indians. After delivering his message and quoting a lot of scripture to the boy, the messenger disappeared. He returned and repeated all that he had said before, and added a little additional scripture, then disappeared. He returned once more and repeated all that he had said upon the previous visits -- and by this time it was morning. The boy dressed himself and went to the field to work, but his father, seeing that something was the matter with him, as he had been awake all night and was feeble, told him to go home. On his way home, while trying to climb over a fence, he fell and was awakened by the voice of the messenger, and for the fourth time these messages were delivered to the boy Joseph Smith, after which he told the boy to go to his father in the field and tell him all that he had heard from the messenger. Joseph went to his father and repeated the message that had been delivered to him by an angel of God, a former prophet who lived upon this earth, and his father said: "This message is from God," and told him to follow the instructions of the angel. Joseph Smith went to the place where the plates containing the Book of Mormon record were buried, and when he was about to remove them, the angel told him the time had not yet come when the plates were to be delivered into his hands, but that he was to return to that spot once a year for four years, and then the plates were to be given to him. He did return once a year for four years, and upon each of those visits the angel of the Lord instructed this young man in the things of God, and prepared him to be the chosen instrument in the hands of the living God to restore again to the earth the plan of life and salvation, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Subsequently, John the Baptist, the man who baptized the Lord Jesus Christ, came and laid his hands upon the heads of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, and ordained those men to the Aaronic Priesthood, giving them the authority to baptize. After this ordination they went down into the waters of baptism and baptized each other. Subsequently, Peter, James, and John, the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, who had ministered in the days of the Savior and after his crucifixion, came to the earth, and they laid their hands upon the heads of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, and ordained the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving them all the keys, the powers, the rights and the authority to establish again the gospel plan and the Church of Jesus Christ upon the earth. "Oh," says the unbeliever, "we do not believe that any messenger ever appeared to Joseph Smith; we do not believe that John the Baptist laid his hands upon the heads of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery; we do not believe that Peter, James, and John ordained these men apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ." The unbelief of all the world cannot change those facts, if they are facts; and we proclaim to the world that by the witness of the Holy Spirit we know that they are facts, and that they shall stand forever, for they can never be overthrown. The angel Moroni told the boy Joseph Smith that the day should come when an ancient prophet should appear and bestow the authority to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers. This promise was made years before the organization of this Church, and before the Book of Mormon was ever revealed, and a number of years later that promise was fulfilled, when that authority was given to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in a wonderful vision and manifestation in the Kirtland temple, April 3, 1836 (Section 110, Doctrine and Covenants): Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.22 The vail was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.22 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.22 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: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.22 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.22 Behold, your sins are forgiven you, you are clean before me, therefore lift up your heads and rejoice. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.22 Let the hearts of your brethren rejoice, and let the hearts of all my people rejoice, who have, with their might, built this house to my name. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.22 For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here, and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.22 Yea, I will appear unto my servants, and speak unto them with mine own voice, if my people will keep my commandments, and do not pollute this holy house. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.22 Yea, the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands shall greatly rejoice in consequence of the blessings which shall be poured out, and the endowment with which my servants have been endowed in this house; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.22 And the fame of this house shall spread to foreign lands, and this is the beginning of the blessing which shall be poured out upon the heads of my people. Even so. Amen. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.22 After this vision closed, the heavens were again opened unto us, and Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.22 After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying, that in us, and our seed, all generations after us should be blessed. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.22 After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us. Elijah the prophet who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.22 Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi, testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.22 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.22 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.22 WHY WE BUILD TEMPLES. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.22 Millions of dollars have been invested in the Salt Lake temple. Month after month, as a boy, I contributed $1 a month. As my wages increased I contributed $2 a month, and later $3, $4, $5 and finally gave several thousands of dollars, towards the completion of that temple. Why? Because the Lord God Almighty had given me a knowledge that the hearts of the children have been turned to their fathers; that the keys held by Elijah the prophet were in very deed delivered to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. The very granite bears witness to the faith, the knowledge and the testimony that God has given to the Latter-day Saints -- not only this temple, but in Logan, in Manti, in St. George, temples have been erected to the same effect. In Canada there is another temple, not yet completed, and one recently completed in the Hawaiian Islands, wherein ordinances for the dead can be performed. The temple still stands in Kirtland, Ohio, where these wonderful manifestations from God were given to the Latter-day Saints. By the revelations of the Spirit of God to them, they testify that these things did occur. There was also a temple at Nauvoo, Illinois, which was built under great stress -- which our people built with the rifle in one hand, so to speak, and the trowel or the instruments used in building in the other. These temples, erected by the Saints in the days of their poverty, bear witness to all the world of the inspiration of God to those men and to the truthfulness of the visions in the Kirtland temple. No men and women would spend their money by the millions of dollars for the erection of temples, and spend their time, year after year, laboring for the salvation of their dead, if they did not have the witness of the Holy Spirit that in very deed the promise has been fulfilled that was made to the boy Joseph Smith ninety-six years ago today, that Elijah should come and restore these keys. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.23 Almost simultaneously with this wonderful manifestation to the boy, this visitation of an angel of the living God, delivering a message and making promises regarding the organization of the Church and of many wonderful things, all of which have since been fulfilled, came a widespread impulse among men to acquire information concerning their dead progenitors. No person can deny, who will stop to reason upon it, that from the time of Elijah's visit, restoring the keys that he held, turning the hearts of the children to their fathers, there has come into the hearts of people all over the world a desire to know something about their ancestors: No truthful person can deny that this is the case. People will not believe, perhaps, that the turning of their hearts to the fathers, causing them to seek for information regarding their progenitors, is due to the fact that the keys had been turned in the temple at Kirtland; but we know that is the case. I have met men and have conversed with them, who have spent years and years of their lives gathering the genealogy of their forefathers, and compiling books containing that information. When I have asked them why they did it, they would say that they did not know, but that they were seized with a strong, irresistible desire to find out the names of their ancestors and to compile them. Now that they have finished the record, they Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.23 have lost all interest in it. To a Latter-day Saint a book of this size [holding up the Book of Mormon], containing the names of his ancestors, is worth many, many times, hundreds of times more than its weight in gold, because to the Latter-day Saint has come a knowledge that he can in very deed be "a savior upon Mount Zion" of his kindred who have died without a knowledge of the truth. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.23 A VISITOR'S CONVERSION. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.23 I am reminded of the wonderful testimony that comes into the of men regarding the divinity of this work in which we are engaged, by the labors that were performed by a gentleman named R. M. Bryce-Thomas, a retired colonel in the British army. Colonel Thomas came to Salt Lake City and stopped at the Templeton hotel, a small hotel in the Zion's Bank building at that time. His wife was taken sick, and as he sat there in his room and looked across the street to the old two-story adobe building that stood where the Hotel Utah now is, he saw a sign, "Mormon Publications." He read this sign "Mormon Publications," day after day, until it got on his nerves, and so he went over and bought some "Mormon Publications." When his wife recovered, he returned to his home in London, and he read these publications. He afterwards attended "Mormon" meetings and became convinced of the truth of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, as again revealed to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. He traveled all the way from the great city of London to Salt Lake City upon two separate and distinct occasions, for the privilege of going into the temple of the Lord, that stands on this block, and becoming a savior of his progenitors. As he was an educated man, and a man of importance, his friends thought that he had practically gone crazy, or he would not have joined the "miserable 'Mormons'." He received so many letters of inquiry, asking why he had joined the "Mormons," that he decided to write out his reasons for leaving the Church of England and joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He did so, and sent those reasons to the Liverpool office to Brother Rulon S. Wells, who was then president of the. European mission, asking him to have a few hundred copies printed so that he could distribute them among his friends. Brother Wells asked permission to utilize, in the shape of a tract, the arguments and reasons that he gave for leaving the Church of England. This request was granted. Tens of thousands of copies of "My Reasons for Leaving the Church of England and joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" have been distributed in this country and in Europe, and I commend that very scholarly and splendid pamphlet to all Latter-day Saints who have not read it. I am sure I have, at least a half dozen times; I have given away thousands of copies of this tract, and I want to bear witness here today, regarding this man -- for I have met him and conversed with him -- that he has the spirit of the gospel; that gospel; that he has in his heart a testimony of the divinity of the work in which you and I are engaged; and it is the spirit that giveth life, that giveth understanding, that testifies of the things of God. This man is converted to the gospel. He is not only converted to the gospel, but he can give his reasons, scriptural reasons, in addition to the witness of the Spirit that he has received from the Lord as to the divinity of this work. Furthermore, he lives the gospel, and that is one of the great evidences of its divinity. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.24 DEMANDS UPON THE POCKET. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.24 It has been said that the tenderest part of the human anatomy, of the male variety of the species, is the pocket; and I think there is little doubt of it, from my experience with mankind. The laws of the gospel of Jesus Christ are most exacting on the pockets of men, and our Church expects more from its members in this regard than any church upon the face of the earth. I remember reading of an incident where a man away up in northern Scandinavia, in that cold, hard country, where it is difficult to make a living, heard an elder proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ again restored to the earth -- 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, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and the living God. He received the witness in his heart to the truthfulness of this message, and he went down into the waters of baptism. He soon received the spirit of gathering, and he gathered from Scandinavia to Utah. After he had been here a little while the bishop called on him and said: "You do not pay any tithing." "Why, I never heard about tithing." And the bishop taught him the law of tithing, that one-tenth of all that he made belonged to the Church for the spread of the gospel and the building up of the work at home and abroad. This man was shocked at the outrageous "tax," of the Church, as he termed it, but he said: "The gospel is true, and I guess I ought to live all the laws." After a great struggle he finally decided to comply with this law, and he honestly paid his tithing. The bishop later came to him and said: "You do not pay any fast-day donation to take care of the poor:" and the man said, "For the love of heaven, isn't ten per cent of all you make enough to take care of the poor?" "No," the bishop said; "but we do not ask you to give a dollar. All we ask is that you fast, that you fail to partake of food for two meals once a month -- you are not asked for any money, but simply to give to us the equivalent of what you save. You can consult your doctor, and you will find that this is beneficial to your health to fast for a couple of meals once a month." Well, he said, he did not know about that, but he finally concluded he ought to do his share for the poor, so he fasted, and in fasting he partook of the Spirit of the Lord that is given to us when we fast and pray to God; and he rejoiced in paying his fast-day donation. Pretty soon the bishop came to him and said, "We need a new ward meetinghouse." "Well, let the Church build it -- the tithing ought to be enough for that." The bishop said, "No, the Church will not build it, but the Church will give one dollar for each two dollars that we give. You know we need a new meetinghouse, in which to worship the Lord." He kicked and kicked hard, to use a slang phrase, but finally concluded that they needed a new meetinghouse, and he wanted to do his share. Next the bishop came around and said, "We need a Church academy, so our children may not only be educated in the things of the world -- the sciences, arts, literature and so on -- but in the things of God;" and he finally persuaded him to donate for an academy. Then he came and said to this man: "We need a stake meetinghouse." He complained again, but finally donated for a stake house. Then the bishop came around and said: "Here, brother, we are making an extra effort to complete the Salt Lake temple, and we want a very large and splendid donation from you. You have been very prosperous; the Lord has blessed you since you came to this land." He hemmed and hawed and complained, but he finally gave the donation, because in the meantime he had learned this glorious principle of vicarious labor for the dead. Some people ridicule that principle; they say it is absurd, it is ridiculous that we, the living, can do work for the dead. People may ridicule this principle, but the very foundation of all Christianity is based upon the vicarious labor and the death of our Lord Jesus Christ for us. So this man finally contributed for the temple. The academy was soon completed, and his boy attended and in due time graduated with honor. Then the bishop called on him and said: "That boy of yours has graduated; he has made a fine record, and we would like him to go on a mission to his father's native land. It will cost you about $25 a month to send him and take care of him." To this the man replied: "Bishop, that is the straw that breaks the camel's back. I paid tithing; I paid fast-day donations; I paid for a ward house; I paid for a stake house; I paid for an academy; I paid for the completion of the temple; but if the Church wants my boy, whom I had expected to bring me in at least seventy-five dollars a month now that he has graduated, they will have to pay his expenses or he will not go on a mission." "Well," the bishop said, "that will be all right, he will not go, because the Church is not paying the expenses. All they will do for him is to bring him home free of charge when his mission is completed. They will do that, they will bring him home again. That will be the limit." "Well, then," he said, "he will never go." The bishop said, "All right. Let us dismiss the subject and talk on something else." They talked on for about an hour. The bishop went around and around, and finally he came to the native land of this man, the country from which he had come, as well as his relatives and friends. Then he said: "By the way, whom do you love more than anybody else on the earth, except your own flesh and blood, your own family?" "Why," he said, "Bishop, more than any other person that draws the breath of life I love the man who came to me, away up in the midnight-sun country of Scandinavia, and brought to me the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the man who came there with the Spirit of the living God, who touched my heart, and melted my very soul, and implanted in my being a knowledge that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and the living God; I love him beyond my power to tell." The bishop then said, "Wouldn't you like somebody to love that boy of yours just as you love that elder," "Bishop," he said, "You have conquered me fair and square. The boy can go. I will pay his expenses." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.26 AN ARMY OF MISSIONARIES. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.26 Love of God and love of our fellow men -- the first great command, the Savior said, the first great law is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our might, mind and strength; and the second is like unto it, to love our neighbor as ourselves. I want to bear witness to all the world that no other people upon the face of the earth can show such love of God and such love of their fellow men as do the Latter-day Saints. We have about 2,000 missionaries, on an average, out in the world preaching the gospel, without money, without price, without being sustained except from their own pockets or the pockets of their relatives -- for what? Because of their love of God, and because of their love of their fellows, to deliver the message to all the world that God has again opened the heavens; that he has spoken from on high; that he has sent his messengers; that they have laid their hands upon the servants of God in this day, and restored again to the earth the authority of the Priesthood of the living God, and the power to build up the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the earth. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.27 We have recorded here in the back of this book, the little Pearl of Great Price, the Articles of Faith of the Latter-day Saints. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.27 "We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.27 BELIEF IN A PERSONAL GOD. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.27 We believe absolutely in God our Father. I remember reading, while I was in England, a book entitled, "The Young Man and the World." In that book, written by Senator Albert J. Beveridge, there was one chapter on "The Young Man and the Pulpit." In his book, Mr. Beveridge says that any man who enters the pulpit to preach, if he is not converted in his heart of hearts to the truth of that which he preaches, commits a sacrilege every time that he stands up in his pulpit. Then he said: "A certain man, with good opportunities for getting correct answers, during an entire summer vacation asked three questions of all the ministers with whom he came in contact. The first question was: "Do you believe in God, the Father -- God a person. God a definite and tangible intelligence -- not a congeries of laws floating like a fog through the universe -- but God a person in whose image you were made? Don't argue; don't explain; but is your mind in a condition where you can answer yes or no?". Not a minister answered "Yes." I wish to say that there is not a boy, there is not a girl, in the intermediate classes of the Sunday schools of the Latter-day Saints, nor is there a man or a woman in all the Church of Jesus Christ, who would not answer "Yes" to that question. We believe that we are the children of the living God, and that he is in very deed an exalted person. Why? Because the Lord God Almighty, nearly a hundred years ago, appeared to a little boy 14 years of age, and spoke to him. This boy saw that God our Father is a glorified man, so to speak; and he pointed to his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and said to this little boy: "This is my beloved Son, hear him." In answer to a simple question from that boy, as to which of all these denominations of the world he should join, the Savior told him to join none of them, because they had all gone astray; and later he was called to be the instrument in the hands of God of restoring again the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.28 The next question in Senator Beveridge's book was: "Yes or no, do you believe that Christ was the Son of the Living God, sent by Him to save the World? I am not asking whether you believe that he was inspired in the sense that the great moral teachers are inspired -- nobody has any difficulty about that; but do you believe that Christ was God's very Son, with a divinely appointed and definite mission, dying on the cross and raised from the dead -- yes or no?" Not a minister answered, "Yes." They went on to explain that he was a great moral teacher. Permit me to deny the fact that he was a great moral teacher, unless he was the Son of God. He himself announced that he was the Savior of the world, that he was the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh, that he was the Son of God; and therefore, if he was not the Son of God, he could not have been a great moral teacher, because the foundation of his mission was that he was God's Only Begotten Son. If he was not God's Son, he could not be a great moral teacher, because his foundation would be a falsehood. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.28 The next question was: "Do you believe that when you die you will live again as a conscious intelligence, knowing who you are and who other people are? Answer yes or no." Not one of them answered "Yes." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.28 Every man and every woman married in the temple on this block, or in any of the temples of God, are married for time and for all eternity. We believe that the marriage covenant is an eternal covenant, and there is not a Latter-day Saint living who does not expect to have his or her conscious identity beyond the grave. Thank God for the first article of our faith and our absolute knowledge, of God and of Jesus Christ. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.28 "We believe that men will be punished for their own sins; and not for Adam's transgression." I shall not comment on that. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.28 "We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.28 We find the following in a revelation from the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith, section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.28 And this is the gospel, the glad tidings which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.28 That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.28 That through him all might be saved whom the Father has put into his power, and made by him. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.28 Who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition, who deny the Son after the Father hath revealed him; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.29 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; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.29 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 -- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.29 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.29 FIRST PRINCIPLES AND AUTHORITY. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.29 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 bands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.29 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.29 I want to say to you that all those missionaries who have gone out to preach the gospel -- and we have had at least 80,000 of them, from the day the Church was first organized -- have had laid upon their heads, the hands of God's authorized servants, men who held his authority; and all over the wide world, in every land and in every clime, from the midnight-sun country of the north to South Africa, wherever they have gone, the Spirit of the living God has attended them. From every land and from every clime men and women have received the witness of the Holy Spirit, and have embraced the gospel; and all the wisdom of all the world, the wisdom of all the churches, in all the world, has never yet been able to convert any Latter-day Saint elder. They say we have not the truth; they say that we are deluded! How the Lord Almighty has neglected for nearly 90 years, the honest, faithful, virtuous, upright Latter-day Saints, having failed to allow any of their missionaries, or of their converts in the world, to discover the error of this gospel as taught by the Latter-day Saints! Yet these men have gone forth after having had hands laid upon their heads, giving them authority as God's ambassadors to go and proclaim the truth, and from every denomination under heaven men and women have been converted to the gospel which some people regard as a delusion. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.29 BELIEF IN PROPHETS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.29 "We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive Church, viz; apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.29 I shall not take your time further than to refer to the Prophet Joseph Smith. We believe that he was a prophet of God, and we not only believe it but we know that he was. Why? He declared that he would be chosen, when he was a child, and he was chosen. He announced to the world that he would receive the Book of Mormon, and he did receive the Book of Mormon, which he translated from the plates, to which reference has been made. Eleven men, in addition to himself, bear witness that he had the plates. Eight of these men handled them and saw the engravings, and the plates were shown to three of these men by an angel of God who came down from heaven. "Oh, but," says one, "I don't believe it," but if eleven honest, reputable men testified that a man had committed murder, that man would hang all right or be shot. There is no one who can say that the statement of the witnesses regarding the Book of Mormon, is not true, and there are tens of thousands who can say, by the witness of the Spirit of God, that these things are true. Joseph Smith proclaimed that he would yet be a prophet, before he was one, and he was chosen. He predicted that the Latter-day Saints would be driven from city to city from county to county, from state to state, and finally driven from the confines of the United States to the Rocky Mountains, which was then Mexican territory. People laughed him to scorn for saying that he, whom they considered a miserable upstart, at the head of a deluded lot of people, would attract the attention of anybody to the extent that they would be driven out of a state, and particularly be driven beyond the confines of the United States. He also announced that the day would come when not only a city, not only a county, not only a state should be arrayed against the handful of Latter-day Saints, commonly called "Mormons," but the day should come when the whole United States would be arrayed against them. People hooted at that statement, but the day did come when we were driven from city to city, from county to county, and state to state, and the day did come when we were driven to the Rocky Mountains, where he had said we should become a great and mighty people. And that is exactly what we have become, because in proportion to our numbers we are a great and mighty people, and people are beginning to recognize it today. Finally the United States of America, on the statements of lying judges and others sent an army against us -- for doing what? For doing what we never did, but subsequently the government pardoned us for our sins that we had never committed, but they sent their army here all the same. And later, because of false statements made to Congress, the government confiscated all the property, both real and personal, belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as if the Lord desired doubly to fulfil the prediction of Joseph Smith. I picked up the paper day after day myself, when the trial was going on here in the courts, and read in bold headlines, "The United States of America vs. the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," and laid the paper down and said: "Thanks be to Uncle Sam for putting the absolute stamp of divinity upon the utterances of the Prophet Joseph Smith!" This is one of the reasons why we believe in prophets -- because their prophecies are fulfilled. It is only fair to say that this property was afterwards restored to the Church by acts of Congress. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.30 EVANGELICAL INSPIRATION. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.30 "We believe in pastors, teachers, evangelists" -- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.30 There is no need of believing in an evangelist unless he has the evangelical inspiration of his office. I want to say to you that when I was a baby my mother took me to the patriarch, or the evangelist, Brother Perkins, who afterwards moved to St. George and located there, and that patriarch put his hands upon my head and bestowed upon me a little blessing that would perhaps be about one-third of a typewritten page. That blessing foretold my life to the present moment. The promises made to that baby have been fulfilled. I went to Tooele as a boy not twenty-four years of age, to preside over that stake of Zion. I was without experience, and I felt mightily my weakness. Soon after I arrived there with my wife and two little babies, my youngest baby was taken very sick and came nigh to death's door. I did not know one single solitary soul in Tooele City when I went out there except John Rowberry and Francis M. Lyman. Brother Lyman lived next door to me, but he was not at home. Knowing that my little baby was in a dying condition, I sent for my friend, John Rowberry, the patriarch, the evangelist in that stake of Zion, asking him to come and assist me in blessing the baby. After blessing the little one he said: "Brother Grant, looking at it naturally, your baby is going to die." I said, "I have no doubt of it, unless the Lord hears and answers our prayers." He said, "Well, the Lord is going to hear and answer them. Go and get a table and a piece of paper, and sit down by the bed; I want to give this baby its patriarchal blessing." He laid his hands upon that baby and promised her that she should live; that she should grow to womanhood; that she should marry a servant of the living God; that she should become a mother in Israel; that she should become a leader among the sisters in the Church. A year or so ago, President Joseph F. Smith handed me the list of Church authorities to present to the people, as he quite frequently did. I read the names and presented them, and when I came to the last name, as one of the General Board of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association, I had to read that name through tears of gratitude, because I was presenting the name of my daughter, who, I believe, but for the power of God, would have died when a baby -- I was presenting her name to be one of those to preside among her sisters, over thirty or forty-odd thousand of the young women in the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.31 Why do we believe in evangelists? Because they have the inspiration of God, the inspiration of their office and they are able to foretell the lives of the men and women upon whom they place their hands. While in Tooele. I received a patriarchal blessing myself from this same man, John Rowberry, and he promised me that I should be taken from that stake of Zion and become a leader in the Church of Christ; and I stand here today a witness of the inspiration of God to that man, John Rowberry. Not only did he promise me that, but many other things, all of which have been fulfilled. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.31 THE GIFTS PROMISED, AND BESTOWED. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.31 "We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.31 healing, interpretation of tongues," etc. -- we believe in the gift of tongues. When I was a little child, in a Relief society meeting held in the home of the late William C. Staines, corner South Temple and Fifth East streets, my mother was there, "Aunt Em" Wells was there, Eliza R. Snow, Zina D. Young, and many others. After the meeting was over Sister Eliza R. Snow, by the gift of tongues, gave a blessing to each and everyone of those good sisters, and Sister Zina D. Young gave the interpretation. After blessing those sisters, she turned to the boy playing on the floor, and pronounced a blessing upon my head by the gift of tongues, and Zina D. Young gave the interpretation. I of course did not understand one word that Aunt Eliza was saying. I was astonished because she was talking to me and pointing at me. I could not understand a word, and all I got of the interpretation, as a child, was that some day I should be a big man. I thought it meant that I would grow tall. My mother made a record of that blessing. What was it? It was a prophecy, by the gift of tongues, that her boy should live to be an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ; and ofttimes she told me that if I would behave myself, that honor would come to me. I always laughed at her and said: "Every mother believes that her son will become president of the United States, or hold some great office. You ought to get that out of your head, Mother." I did not believe her until that honor came to me. Tell me that the gift of tongues is not exercised in this Church? As well tell me that I do not know that I stand here today. Subsequently my own wife, the mother of the baby to which I have referred, upon one occasion when I came home at 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning, having been working early and late trying to meet the interest on my obligations, read me a lecture about breaking the Word of Wisdom. She said to me: "You'd better drink tea or coffee, or even use tobacco, rather than sit up all night working. You are breaking the Word of Wisdom." Finally she stopped suddenly, and by the gift of tongues she made a prediction and several wonderful promises, among others that I should live to pay all my obligations. This was at a time when my friends were begging me to take the bankruptcy act. Among other things she promised that I should live to lift up my voice in many lands and in many climes, proclaiming the gospel. Since then I have lifted up my voice in the Hawaiian Islands, in Japan, in Great Britain, Belgium, Holland, the three Scandinavian countries, in Canada, in Mexico, and in almost every state in the Union of the United States, proclaiming that I know that God lives, proclaiming that I know that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and the living God. I have dote this in fulfilment of a promise made on my head by my wife, whose body now lies in the tomb, who made this promise years before it came to pass. I will not take up further time on that article of our faith. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.32 OTHER ARTICLES OF FAITH. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.32 "We believe the Bible to be the word of God, as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.32 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.33 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion will be built upon this (the American) continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.33 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where or what they may. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.33 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.33 Yet some people write that we are in rebellion against the United States; that we would like to set up a republic of our own; that we are a great financial combine of people who are arranging to eventually conquer our country. Our boys who gave their lives in France; our boys who went forth in far greater number than the government had requested, according to our population; our money so freely given for Liberty and Victory bonds; our declaration to all the world, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, that the men who wrote the Constitution of this country were inspired of the living God -- all of these things give the lie to all the liars who are perpetually saying that we are opposed to this country. When the Latter-day Saints were being driven from their homes, when they were coming to these Rocky mountains in fulfilment of the prediction of Joseph Smith -- they were being expatriated; they were driven from the confines of the United States, and were coming to Mexican soil. Our country was then in trouble with Mexico, and the government called on Brigham Young for 500 men to help fight Mexico. To this call President Young replied: "You shall have your men, and if we have not enough men we will furnish you women;" and within three days the men were ready. That Mormon Battalion went to California and discovered gold. Show to me, if you can, in all the history of the world another case of a people being expatriated, being driven from their own country, from their own lands which they had purchased, being driven out from a beautiful city, the last remnant of them crossing the Mississippi river in the dead of winter, on the ice, nine babies being born during the night of that terrible expulsion, with no shelter but their mother's breasts, going forth on their journey of a thousand miles in the wilderness, after having appealed to the president of their republic, who could only say: "Your cause is just, but we can do nothing for you" -- show me another people, I say, who under like circumstances would have furnished 500 men to fight their country's battles! Show me greater patriotism and loyalty to country than this! It can't be done. Allow me to announce that from the day of Joseph Smith to this identical day, the leaders of this people have had absolute respect, love and reverence for their country. Allow me to announce further that we are patriotic Americans to the core, and that we have learned it, many of us, at our mother's knees, where we said our prayers. We believe absolutely in the inspiration of God to the men who framed our Constitution. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.34 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul, We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.34 JUDGED BY THEIR FRUITS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.34 All we ask of the world is to remember the articles of faith of the Latter-day Saints and to judge the Latter-day Saints by their fruits. This was the standard that the Savior gave for a righteous judgment. What are the fruits of "Mormonism?" No people in these United States of America have higher financial credit than the "Mormons." No other people in these United States of America have as low a death rate as the "Mormons." Vileness and wickedness do not decrease the death rate. No people of the same number can produce as many fine singers -- and fine singing does not go with corruption and wickedness. The Lord said in a revelation to the wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith, "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and shall be answered with blessings upon their heads." No people have a better reputation for fulfiling the first great commandment of God -- "Multiply and replenish the earth." No race suicide in Utah; that is, in the "Mormon" sections of Utah, or in the "Mormon" communities of southern Idaho, or in Canada, or in Arizona, or Old Mexico. No people can make a finer record in failing to produce insane than the Latter-day Saints, and yet insanity generally comes with wickedness. No people can produce fewer criminals than the Latter-day Saints. The governor of the state of Arizona remarked some time ago that we were being robbed of several hundred per cent of our taxes, because none of our people were in the insane asylum, and we were entitled to quite a number. He further said that we were being robbed of two or three thousand per cent of our taxes because we had only one inmate in the penitentiary, although we were entitled to twenty-five or thirty, according to our population. I referred to this statement when I was in Arizona a short time ago, and the district judge, who was sitting in the audience, jumped up and said: "Pardon me, Mr. Grant, but that one has since been pardoned." (Laughter.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.34 I see I have talked much longer than I had intended. I rejoice in the witness of the Holy Spirit to me that I can stand up in all sobriety and testify to you that the angel of God, ninety-six years ago today, did appear to the boy Joseph Smith, and that the promises made to that boy have been fulfilled; that he did become a prophet of God; that he died a martyr to the truth; that his blood testified, as the blood of all martyrs has done in ages past, to the divinity of the work that he has established; and I bear to you my witness that God has given to me a knowledge that he lives; that Jesus is the Savior of the world, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I pray for light and knowledge and power and ability that you and I, every one of us who have received this testimony, may so order our lives that all men, seeing our sobriety, seeing the Uprightness of our lives, may be led to investigate the fruits of the gospel of Christ, and that they, too, may receive the witness of the Holy Spirit. This is my prayer, and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.42 It is a source of regret to all of us, I believe, to learn from the dispatches received this morning, that the President of the United States is in a very critical condition of health. I wish to say that I was profoundly impressed with all that he said from this stand, during his recent visit, and that it met with my hearty approval. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the hotel, and I was impressed with the honesty and sincerity of his motives. I believe that he desires, with all the power of his being, to accomplish that which, in his estimation, is for the good of mankind the world over. After the singing of the Doxology, by the congregation, we will ask that you all join Elder Orson F. Whitney in the benediction, and pray for the recovery of the health of our President of these United States. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.44 It has fallen to my lot, from the time that I became one of the general authorities, to come in close business relations with many influential people, both on the Pacific and the Atlantic coasts, as well as in the cities between. When I was a small boy, about twelve years of age, Colossians Alex G. Hawes, the Western Manager of the New York Life Insurance Company, came to board at my mother's home. He subsequently returned with his bride, and his first child was born in our house. He became, without any exception, the dearest and best friend that I had in all the world, aside from my own people, and my association with him, I believe, was as intimate as it was possible to have with any man. He treated me almost like a father; and in the panic of 1893, hearing that I might fail in business, he wrote and told me he had arranged to mortgage his home, to get money to assist me. He had tried at every commercial bank in the city where he lived to borrow money on first class collateral security, to send me; none of them were making loans. "But," he said, "the savings banks are loaning; they loan only on real estate, and I have no real estate except the home in which I live. I have arranged for a loan on my home, and if it will save your financial life, do not write, but telegraph immediately upon receipt of this letter, and I will transfer the money to you by wire, as delays are dangerous." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.44 I could not hold back the tears of gratitude that filled my eyes, to think that a man of the world would make such an offer as this to me in my time of distress. He subsequently secured for me the agency for Utah of the great company with which he was connected, and for one year I was their representative in connection with my associates in this city. At that time a gentleman by the name of Darwin P. Kingsley was the superintendent of agencies, and subsequently became the president of that company. The day before yesterday I received a very beautifully bound volume of some four hundred pages, containing speeches made by himself mainly upon this great question of peace, and questions connected with the war. I have read with intense interest something over one hundred and fifty pages of these speeches, since the book arrived, and they strike a very responsive chord in my understanding of the situation. I remarked here this morning that, like the congressman, I was going to ask permission to reprint my speech of two weeks ago. I am going to do the same here again this afternoon, and shall have printed in tomorrow night's News one of President Darwin P. Kingsley's speeches on the League of Nations, containing also a splendid tribute to President Wilson. We will now be addressed by President Charles W. Penrose. President Heber J. Grant I have been delighted with the blessings of the Lord that have been poured out upon us during this conference. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.123 I had no intention to speak but have decided to make a few remarks to this very wonderful congregation of Latter-day Saints, occupying the short time which remains. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.123 OVERWHELMING RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRESIDENCY. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.123 As I stated, I rejoice in the rich outpourings of the Spirit of the Lord. When I first came to the Presidency the thought of the responsibility that rested upon me was overwhelming and for several weeks it was impossible for me to obtain my needed rest. It became absolutely necessary for me to go to the coast to get the needed amount of sleep; because men cannot live very long who do not get rest at night. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.123 A WONDERFUL MANIFESTATION AND TESTIMONY. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.123 When I was chosen one of the apostles -- as I stated this morning in a little meeting of the Religion Classes -- from October until February, I was very unhappy, notwithstanding the fact that my call had come by direct revelation; and the reason was because of my having had such a wonderful reverence and respect, almost adoration for the men who held the apostleship. If there was one thing that my dear departed mother impressed upon my very soul it was reverence and respect for the Priesthood of the living God, and for the men who stood at the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When the call came to me to be an apostle, the spirit of the adversary pursued me day and night, from October until February, telling me that I was unfit to occupy that exalted office. Every time that I bore witness of my knowledge that Jesus was the Christ, the words would fly back in my face: "You lie; you have not seen him." I would wake up in the night feeling that I should resign, that I was unworthy. A relative of mine said to me one day: "Do you know that Brother - -- - declared that no man was man was fit to be an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ who had not seen the Lamb of God?" He had first asked me the question, "Have you ever seen the Lamb of God," I said, "No." Then he referred to this man's declaration. I said: "Yes, I know that." "Well then, how is it that you stand as an apostle?" I answered: "Which would you rather believe -- the Lord Almighty or Elder - -- -?" He said: "The Lord." I said: "So would I; and he sent a revelation calling me, and I will take his word for it that I am fit to occupy the position." But, just the same, I did not confess that, day and night, there was a feeling upon me, calling upon me to resign. I took a trip, in January, 1883, with Brigham Young, Jr., to San Luis Valley, Colorado, to San Juan, to the Arizona stakes, to Mexico, where we visited the Yaqui Indians. In Arizona we visited the Navajos and also the Moquis. Speaking of the Navajos, I regret very much that I did not have a shorthand reporter with me when we held a meeting with Manulita, the war chief of the Navajo Indians. I could not understand a word he said, but I knew that he spoke with a fire and a force and fervor that I had seldom heard in all my life, and the interpreter, Brother Ernest Titjen, said that it was the most wonderful speech he had ever heard. The Indian chief was speaking about the wrongs of the Indians and the diseases that had come among the Indians from the whites; and he spoke of the failure of the whites, except only the "Mormons" to treat the Indians rightly. He announced that the women of the Indian nation were safe in the hands of the "Mormons." There was trouble, at that time, in that section of the Navajo Indian Reservation, but he said: "You are absolutely safe to travel among the Navajos, because I will send word ahead that you are 'Mormons,' and they know that 'Mormons' are the friends of the red men." While in the Navajo Indian Reservation, traveling in a company of perhaps half a dozen wagons and eight or ten horsemen, we would alternate riding in the wagons and on horseback. I was riding at the rear of the company with the late President Lot Smith of the Little Colorado stake, and as we were traveling in a southeasterly direction, suddenly the road turned and went northeast. But continuing from where the road changed was a well-beaten path, I said: "Wait a minute, Lot, where does that trail lead?" He said, "O it reaches down there three or four miles and swings back into the road. We will make a regular mule-shoe with the road, and then join the trail. There is a deep gully that a team cannot cross, therefore we have to go around." I said: "Can a horseman cross it?" He said, "Yes." "Well," I said, "Lot, I want to be alone. Go ahead, follow the crowd. I will go over here all alone and meet you when the trail joins the road." First I asked him, "Is there any danger from the Navajos?" He said, "None whatever." I undoubtedly asked this question because only a few days before I had visited the spot where George A. Smith, Jr., -- I believe the only son of that beloved and saintly woman, Bathsheba W. Smith, had been killed by the Navajo Indians, and I was naturally a little nervous, going off alone in that section of the country. The reason that I wanted to be alone was that I was oppressed, as I had never been before, even from October until that moment, with that awful feeling of dread and doubt and with the suggestion hammering away at my brain that I ought to resign as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, that I had never done anything that entitled me to that distinction, that I had never performed any special labor, that I was not posted on the gospel, as an apostle ought to be; that my mind had been given to the ordinary affairs of life, and that I should step aside and let some other man be called who, I believed, was better qualified for the position than myself. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.125 With this awful depression upon me, I desired to be alone, and I rode across there, tortured, so to speak, by the devil. After riding about a mile, I suddenly stopped the mule on which I was riding, and I communed with High Heaven. It was revealed to me there, sitting alone in the Navajo Indian Reservation, that I had done nothing to entitle me to the great honor of being an apostle, except that I had kept my life pure and sweet. It was revealed to me there that a council was held in heaven exactly the same as we hold councils here. Matters were discussed, and there was presented the question of filling the two vacancies existing in the quorum of the Twelve Apostles; that the conference had adjourned, and those two vacancies remained and ought to be filled. The question was: "Whom shall we call, in sending a revelation to fill those vacancies?" My father, Jedediah M. Grant, who died when I was a baby, only nine days old, asked God, our heavenly Father, that his son, Heber J. Grant, be called as an apostle, and Joseph Smith, the Prophet of this last dispensation, the man who, as a child, communed with God, our Father -- who had communed with Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, and was told by the Savior of the world to join none of the churches then extant, as they had all gone astray, and that he should be the instrument in the hands of God to restore the gospel again to the earth -- that great Latter-day Prophet joined in the request made by my father, and the revelation was sent calling me to be an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.125 JOY IN PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.125 No man, I believe ever had less happiness or less joy than I had in proclaiming the gospel from October, 1882, when I was called to be an apostle, until February, 1883, when the Lord Almighty gave to me this manifestation. But I believe that no man lives who has ever had sweeter joy, who has ever had greater happiness than I have had in testifying to the divinity of this work, in Japan, in the Hawaiian Islands, from Canada to Mexico, in nearly every State of the Union, in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Belgium, Holland, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, -- testifying that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith is his prophet. There is no joy, there is no happiness in all the world, that can compare with that which comes into the heart of a Latter-day Saint when, under the inspiration of the living God, he is able to bear witness: "I know that God lives, I know that Jesus is the Christ, I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of the true and the living God, and that this work called 'Mormonism' is in very deed the plan of life and salvation;" and I bear that witness before you here today, for I have the knowledge from God, and I lie not. God bless you all. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.201 Elder Joseph Fielding Smith informs me that I made a mistake, he thinks, in announcing that his father's favorite hymn was, "Uphold the Right." He believes his father's favorite hymn was, "I know that my Redeemer lives." As I read the other favorite hymn, I will read this one. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.201 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.201 He lives to bless me with his love, He lives to plead for me above, He lives, my hungry soul to feed, He lives to bless in time of need. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.201 He lives to grant me rich supply, He lives to guide me with His eye, He lives to comfort me when faint, He lives to hear my soul's complaint. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.201 He lives to silence all my fears, He lives to wipe away my tears, He lives to calm my troubled heart, He lives, all blessings to impart, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.201 He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly friend, He lives and loves me to the end, He lives, and while he lives I'll sing, He lives, my Prophet, Priest and King. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.201 He lives, and grants me daily breath, He lives, and I shall conquer death, He lives, my mansion to prepare, He lives to bring me safely there. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.201 He lives, all glory to His name! He lives, my Savior, still the same; O, the sweet joy this sentence gives, "I know that my Redeemer lives!" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.201 You will note that I have changed one word in the second line of the last verse. I remember that whenever we sang this hymn in the Temple, President Smith insisted on reading that line as I have given it, "He lives, my Savior, still the same." I believe that I am safe in saying that no man who has ever stood at the head of the Church, within the recollection of us who were born in this valley, ever thrilled the hearts of the people in testifying that his Redeemer lived, as did our late beloved President Joseph F. Smith. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.202 The choir sang: "Hear Him," from the Oratorio, "The Restoration," by B. Cecil Gates, solo by Emma Lucy Gates. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.202 That is very beautiful, indeed, and it seems very appropriate, in this magnificent structure, erected under the direction of President Brigham Young, that his grandson and his granddaughter should be connected with this beautiful singing. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1919, p.202 I sometimes feel that we should have at least four days, instead of three, for conference, as there are so many from whom we would like to hear, but time will not permit. We will now hear briefly from the members of the First Council of Seventy. PRESIDENT HEBER J. GRANT We would have been very much pleased, indeed, to have heard from one or two more, but time will not permit. I wish to say that each and all of the general authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, without any reservations whatever, have my unbounded love and confidence. They have sustained me with their faith and their prayers, and have fulfilled every request that I have made of them. I wish to say that there is not a stake president in all the Church who does not have my love and confidence. The Latter-day Saints throughout the Church have sustained me beyond anything that I could have expected or believed possible. I pray God to sanctify all that has been said and done in this conference to the good of the Latter-day Saints. I pray for the welfare of mankind, at home and abroad. I bear to you my testimony that God has spoken again from the heavens, that we have the gospel of life and salvation; and I pray God to help us to live it, all of which I ask, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.2 It is certainly an inspiring sight to see so many of the Latter-day Saints gathered here at the opening of our conference. Considering the weather I had expected that there would be no need this morning of having an overflow meeting in the Assembly Hall, but I was mistaken. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.2 I rejoice exceedingly in the faith that is in the hearts of the Latter-day Saints. I rejoice in the loyalty of the people to the Church of Jesus Christ, wherever they are located, from Canada on the north, to Mexico in the south, and in all the various missions throughout the world. I am convinced, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that there are no other people upon the face of the earth who are as devoted to their religion, or who are ready and willing to and who do in very deed make as many sacrifices for their church, as an absolute practical demonstration of their faith, as do the Latter-day Saints. THE SAINTS ABSOLUTELY SINCERE. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.2 When we realize that thousands of Latter-day Saints who are absolutely honest in the payment of their tithes, who look upon the obligation to pay one-tenth of all they make as sacredly as they would look upon the obligation to divide with a partner, if that partner had a one-tenth interest in their business; when we think of the donations that are made for the support of the poor, for the erection of meetinghouses in the various wards, for the erection of stake tabernacles, for the building of academies, the construction of temples, and last, greatest of all, when we think of the wonderful sacrifice that is made by the men and women, giving two, three and five years of their time for missionary work, and some of them ten and fifteen years, at their own expense or the expense of their families, not only giving their time but paying their own way--I am sure that any person who stops to reflect upon these sacrifices must acknowledge that there can be no greater evidence of absolute sincerity and devotion given by any people to their faith and to the cause of God, as they understand it, than is given by the Latter-day Saints. DISPOSITION OF TITHING. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.3 I will read for your information some of the things that have been assisted by your tithing during the past year. The Saints themselves have contributed $500,000, because it has been the custom for the Church to pay one-third only in the building of meetinghouses. During the latter part of the year, however, the Church has been doing one-half in the constructing of meetinghouses, and I would like to call attention to the fact that there are no applications now made for assistance from the Trustee-in-Trust, but what the different wards and stakes ask for one-half of the money needed to erect their meetinghouses and their schoolhouses, and there are applications on file now with the Trustee-in-Trust for considerably above one million dollars. It is just as well for you to know that it is a financial impossibility for us to comply with all of those applications. Buildings cost today twice as much as they did a few years ago, so if a building that would cost $30,000 three or four years ago were erected now it would cost $60,000. In the past the Church has given ten thousand; today it is asked for thirty thousand, which is an increase of two hundred per cent. We can not possibly comply with all the requests, much as we would like to. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.3 There has been appropriated for maintenance of meetinghouses in the various wards during last year $254,108.59; for stake tabernacles, $35,811.82; appropriations to the various stakes, $167,410.96; for wards throughout the Church, $444,763.60; for hospitals, $70,121.00; for temple maintenance and construction, $214,476.51; for the various missions, $420,359.88; in addition to money contributed in these missions. Expended for charity, $354,283.26. For education, the Church gave $722,353.83, and the applications now for our schools amount to over one million for the coming year. We can not reach all that is required, but we will do as much as we possibly can. The total amount that has been expended in the various stakes, wards and missions of the Church funds, for the year 1919 is $2,683,689.45. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.3 I am reminded of the fact that in two more days we will be celebrating the 90th anniversary of the birth of the Church of Jesus Christ upon the earth in this last dispensation. Before the Church was organized there were a few people who believed in the vision that the prophet Joseph Smith had had as a boy, fourteen years of age. They also believed that he had been visited by heavenly messengers, that he had had years of instruction, and they believed beyond the shadow of a doubt, that he had in his possession the golden plates from which he was translating the Book of Mormon. They believed in the many revelations that God gave to him and which he wrote out and delivered to the few with whom he was associated prior to the organization of the Church. One of those revelations was to the prophet's father--it is brief and I will read it--given a little more than a year before the organization of the Church. REVELATION TO THE PROPHET'S FATHER. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.4 Now 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; Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work, 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 perish not, but bringeth salvation to his soul; 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. Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you. (D&C, Section 4.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.4 Truly a great and marvelous work has come forth and been proclaimed in every land and in every clime all over the wide world. The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored--by a personal visitation of the apostles Peter, James and John, laying their hands upon the heads of Oliver Cowdery and the Prophet Joseph Smith and ordaining them to the apostleship; by a personal visitation of John the Baptist, who baptized the Savior, laying his hands upon Oliver Cowdery and Joseph Smith and ordaining them to the Aaronic, or the lesser priesthood--the gospel is again restored to the earth, with the power and authority that existed in the days of the Savior. Millions of dollars in money have been expended for erecting and maintaining temples wherein ordinances are performed for the salvation of those who have died without a knowledge of the gospel. All these things bear witness of the inspiration of God to that man Joseph Smith, when he delivered this statement in a revelation to his father, that a great and a marvelous work was about to come forth among the children of men. TRIBUTE TO LATTER-DAY SAINTS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.4 The readiness, the willingness, the spirit of sacrifice among the Latter-day Saints are an inspiration to those not of our faith. I had intended to read here this morning some of the very splendid things that were said in the United States Senate regarding the Latter-day Saints by the senators from Nevada, from Colorado and from Arizona. I did not intend to read anything said by our own senator from Utah, but I rejoice when men not of our faith can bear the testimony that these men did, respecting the loyalty of our people. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.4 [President Grant here read selections from the speeches of the senators referred to. The tributes, in full, however, including the speech of Senator Smoot, are here given]: BY SENATOR SMOOT, OF UTAH, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.4 Mr. Smoot. Mr. President, I am not going to occupy more than about 15 minutes of the time of the Senate. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.4 For over 16 years I have paid no attention whatever to any of the false and malicious newspaper reports and statements made against the so-called "Mormon" Church. The only excuse that I have to offer for doing so at this time is that I have received a request from members of a number of the principal clubs of the State of Utah to call the attention of the Senate and of the country to certain false statements published in different newspapers throughout the United States. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.4 First, I desire to call attention to an article that appeared in the New York World of October 22, under the date line of London, October 21. This same article, I will state, was published in many other newspapers throughout the United States. It is as follows: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.4 "Girls, Mormon Converts, Want to Leave England.--Fully 1,200 of them, Says Authoress, Have Asked Passports so They Can go to Utah. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.4 "London, October 21. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 "Winifred Graham, the well-known English authoress, who has done much in this country to expose Mormonism, told the World correspondent today that fully 1,200 English girls have recently been persuaded by Mormon propagandists here to go to Utah. 'During the war,' she said, 'the Mormons made great headway in the United Kingdom. I hope the American authorities will prevent the departure of these girls for America. From reliable sources I learn that there are 1,200 of them anxious to sail immediately. Only last week one was bound over in a London police court for falsification of a passport in her efforts to go to Utah.' Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 "Winifred Graham is the pen name of Mrs. Theodore Cory. She sails on the Baltic October 29 as the British delegate to the World Citizenship Congress in Pittsburgh, which begins November 9. She will speak on Mormonism. Her anti-Mormon work here, she says, has caused her to be shadowed and threatened by the Mormons. United States consuls are on the lookout for any Mormon converts. Owing to the strict passport regulations there is little chance that any of these English girls will be able to sail. Some of the girls to whom passport vises were refused recently were suspected of being Mormon converts." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 Mr. President, I thought the time had arrived when the newspapers of the country would cease publishing such rot. How easy it is for any newspaper to send a representative to the Bureau of Immigration and find out just the number of immigrants entering the United States going to the State of Utah for any year in the past, and also to find out the professions and occupation of the immigrants, and the different classification of each as provided by the department. If the newspaper doing so wants to publish the truth it would never publish such statements as I have just read. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 I went to the department, upon my attention being called to the newspaper article and asked for a statement of the number of immigrants for Utah for the years of 1917, 1918, and 1919. The statistics taken from the annual report of the Commissioner General of Immigration show some interesting facts. I have taken the State of Utah and compared it with the State of Colorado and the following is the result: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 Immigration in Utah: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 Professional--1917, 6; 1918, 8 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 Skilled laborers--1917, 96; 1918, 49 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 Miscellaneous occupations--1917, 501; 1918, 202 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 No occupation (including women and children)--1917, 362; 1918, 254 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 Grand total of all immigrants--1917, 956; 1918, 513; 1919, 588 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 Total immigrants from England--1917, 118; 1918, 48 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 Immigration in Colorado: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 Professional--1917, 33; 1918, 19 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 Skilled laborers--1917, 98; 1918, 43 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 Miscellaneous occupations--1917, 448; 1918, 185 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 No occupation (including women and children)--1917, 398; 1918, 326 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 Grand total of all immigrants--1917, 977; 1918, 573; 1919, 738 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 Total of immigrants from England--1917, 136; 1918, 56 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 The above table shows that the total number of immigrants with no occupation--including women and children--going to Utah was smaller on a percentage basis than the same class going to Colorado. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 It also shows the percentage of English immigrants of the total which went to both states, the percentage being about the same. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 Mr. President, the Commercial Club of Salt Lake City, the leading business club of the State of Utah, upon seeing this scurrilous article against the "Mormon" Church published throughout the United States, prepared and issued a statement, dated November 4, 1919, entitled "Refutation issued by the board of governors of the Commercial Club of Salt Lake City," which I desire to read, as follows: A STATEMENT OF REFUTATION. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.5 Issued by the Board of Governors of the Commercial Club, Salt Lake City. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.6 The attention of the Salt Lake Commercial Club has been called to the appearance in newspapers in the United States, of a "syndicate article" bearing the date line of London, Eng., in some instances as "October 19," from the pen of one purporting to be George Selden, writer of the English metropolis, which is vicious, inconsistent and maliciously false in its accusations against the "Mormon" Church. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.6 This article, sent broadcast through the United States, contains quotations credited to one Winifred Graham, to whom the article refers as a novelist, some of which are as follows: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.6 "What is Mormonism doing in England? It works secretly as in America and snaps its fingers at law in both countries. This very minute the Church elders have twelve hundred girls ready for shipment to Utah. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.6 "The Mormon Church pays the fares and offers excellent wages, but once it gets women over it uses them as it pleases. The war gave the Mormon elders their greatest opportunity for proselyting. In the absence of the men folk and because of the deaths of thousands of soldiers, the women of the poorer classes fell easy victims. Secret meetings were held in homes that attracted the neighborhood without attracting suspicion. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.6 "Every girl is baptized. They then become silent about polygamy, but they become either polygamous wives or slaves of the Mormon Church. Occasionally we hear of girls who are slaving on Mormon farms." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.6 The Commercial Club of Salt Lake City, Utah, through its duly constituted Board of Governors, hereby desires that it be known that it has taken cognizance of and read these statements, which it brands as being vicious in intent and so obviously inconsistent as to be their own refutation, and they are scandalous, pernicious and false. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.6 The Commercial Club, in line with its activities from the time of its organization, is critically persistent and thorough in its survey of conditions relating to the interests of our commonwealth and is fully qualified by its knowledge of facts to thus brand these sensational stories as unmitigated falsehoods. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.6 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called the "Mormon" Church, is working in harmony with other institutions in Utah, ecclesiastical and civic, for the maintenance of the highest attainable standard of morality, and has made an enviable record in their accomplishment, as also in patriotic and devoted service to the country's needs. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.6 This Commercial Club disavows and condemns with disapprobation equally strong the circulated falsehoods of "Mormon" interference in State or National politics. The "Mormon" people exercise their political rights and preferences in common with their fellow-citizens who are not of their faith; and this Club unhesitatingly affirms that the stories alleging "Mormon" control of political parties in this State or elsewhere are but myths and fables, without even the merit of apparent consistency to excuse their periodical retelling. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.6 (Sgd.) Lester D. Freed, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.6 President Commercial Club, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.6 H. N. Byrne C. B. Hawley A. N. McKay Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.6 H. M. Chamberlain J. C. Howard C. W. Nibley Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.6 Joseph Decker S. R. Inch F. C. Schramm Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.6 Lester D. Freed Jas. Ingebretsen M. H. Sowles Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.6 R. C. Gemmell D. Carlos Kimball Charles Tyng Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.6 (Board of Governors) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.6 Mr. President, I protest against the libelous press matter that has been published throughout the country, that the blatantly heralded announcement of the falsehoods an English writer of fiction has come here to tell. The Church has nothing to conceal. I want the people of the United States to know that as far as polygamy is concerned it is dead, and scandal mongers in the future must find some other hobby to ride. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.7 All I ask is that the "Mormon" Church and its adherents be judged by the fruit of the tree. No one can examine the record made by that people during the World War without coming to the conclusion that no more loyal people live on this earth. No call was made upon them without an immediate response, and not only for the amount asked for but for nearly double the amount in most every case. They not only furnished their quota of soldiers but in some of the calls 100 and 200 per cent more. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.7 Mr. President, I would not have taken the time of the Senate to make this short statement if it had not been requested of me. I will say: The signers of the statement of refutation are at least three-fourths non-members of the "Mormon" Church, and they are the leading business men of the State. It seems to me that the people of this country ought now to understand the true situation and if the "New York World" or the "New York American" desires to learn the truth about the "Mormon" people, I will gladly pay all expenses of a representative of either paper, if it desired to make an honest investigation. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.7 I am a Senator of the United States. I represent all the people of Utah and not any Church as such. I have never felt called upon to defend the "Mormon" Church against false attacks, because I felt that sooner or later the truth would be understood by all the people. I am not making this statement as a representative of the "Mormon" Church but as a United States Senator. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.7 The "Mormon" Church has been foully misrepresented from many sources in the past. I confidently look forward to the day when the "Mormon" people will be known as they are and not as represented. BY SENATOR ASHURST, OF ARIZONA. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.7 Mr. Ashurst. Mr. President, I am very glad that the Senator from Utah [Mr. Smoot] has spoken as he has. It was time for such a speech. A matchless maker of epigrams said that when "once a lie or a counterfeit statement gets into circulation it is well-nigh impossible to overtake it," and therefore I believe the Senator has done a service to his country in exposing this infamous slander, which has been published broadcast against so many worthy people. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.7 When I read the article, I felt offended because there are in Arizona a large number of "Mormon" people, or people who belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and I would be false to that principle of fair play for which I have always pretended that I stood if I failed at this time to say a word on the subject. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.7 It may be true that I do not understand fully the theology of the "Mormon" Church; but, Mr. President, the first church I ever attended was a "Mormon" Church. When there was no other church within 100 miles of the lonely frontier cabin where my parents lived, we found solace and comfort in attending the "Mormon" Church situated 9 miles distant. Our nearest--in fact, our only--neighbors for years were the "Mormon" people. Better neighbors no pioneer ever had. I am proud of the "Mormon" people. I am proud of the friendship that I have for them, and that I believe they have for me; and while, as I said before, I do not completely understand their theology, I am able to say here, in the Senate of the United States, that their church has elevated many intellects and purified many hearts in my State. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.7 As pioneers in a new country, the "Mormons" are unrivaled. They are sober, industrious, frugal, honest. They are pre-eminently state builders; and today, if called upon to name a people who could most expeditiously transform a desert of swirling and heated sands into splendid fields and farms, I would unhesitatingly choose the "Mormon" people. In many places where once cacti lifted their thorny arms into the brazen and heated air, "Mormon" industry has reared temples, hospitals, homes, factories, and schools. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.8 Moreover, I never saw a "Mormon" I. W. W.; but I have, at some county courthouses in my State, heard disgruntled, lazy, and indolent men who did not belong to the "Mormon" Church, sit on the steps of the courthouse and curse the Government and curse the President, while "Mormon" citizens were going into the same county courthouse to pay taxes without complaint. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.8 Mr. Owen. Mr. President-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.8 Mr. Ashurst. I yield for a question. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.8 Mr. Owen. I should like to ask the Senator if it is not a tenet of the "Mormons" to teach and preach industry and thrift? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.8 Mr. Ashurst. I am able to state that industry and thrift are amongst the foundation stones of the "Mormon" Church. Absolute and unquestioned obedience to law is a tenet of the "Mormon" Church. Respect for authority is one of the tenets of the "Mormon" Church. We need more of such people in these perilous times of the Republic; and again I would be false to every principle of justice and to every sentiment of gratitude if I failed to state at this time that when savage Indians galloped along by our pioneer homes, burning and murdering, plundering and scalping as they went, it was to the "Mormon" people that my defenseless but heroic parents went for refuge and defense. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.8 So, Mr. President, I say the Senator from Utah has done well in "scotching" this falsehood, which has been given such wide circulation. I believe the American people are coming at last fully to understand the "Mormon" people. Their temples, schools, fields, homes, industry, frugality, their morality and their patriotism testify for them in more eloquent terms than the Senator or I could speak. Then, again, observe their Representatives in the House and in the Senate. Look at the high class of public servants they send here. I ask that the "Mormons" be judged as a people, judged as a religion, as the Senator says, by their fruits; and if they be judged by their fruits the verdict of the world will be in their favor. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.8 It seems to me that the time should be welcomed in America when men shall not further be assailed because of their religion or lack of religion. Men ought not further to be assailed or discriminated against because of their particular view of how to follow the Master. America was built up, and one of the reasons why the migrations came from the old countries to these shores was that our ancestors desired to find a place to build free and strong states where such ignoble sentiments as bigotry could not survive. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.8 Mr. President, I do not forget that this splendid domain of Arizona, one of the imperial states of this Union, came into being largely through the brave exploits of the "Mormon" people. When General Stephen Kearny was beleaguered near San Diego during the Mexican War, and it seemed as if the Mexicans were going to capture and annihilate him and his entire command, it was the "Mormon" battalion that marched all the long way from Iowa into Tucson, Arizona, and occupied in Mexican territory a domain we now know as the Gadsden Purchase, which was purchased by our Government in 1854. When the commanding officer, Lieut. Colossians St. George Cooke, entered the Mexican town of Tucson and raised the American flag, he issued a pronunciamento, and I wish the German outragers had read that document before they invaded Belgium. The lieutenant colonel entering the city of Tucson, nearly 1,500 miles from civilization, said in his manifesto to the people of Mexico: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.8 "We do not war upon civilians. We make war against men in uniform only. The property of individuals will be held sacred. All civil rights will be upheld. Those who obey the law and conform to order will be protected." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.8 The command remained there some days to refresh itself and then marched on to the relief of General Kearny, who, as I said, was beleaguered and surrounded near San Diego. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.9 So, Mr. President, the "Mormon" people, as pioneers, as state-builders, as statesmen, as people of industry and patriotism, in every department of life, compare well and favorably with the general mass of their fellow citizens. This much I feel I should have said; more than that I need not say. BY SENATOR THOMAS, OF COLORADO. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.9 Mr. Thomas. Mr. President, I am not and never have been a communicant of any church, and if I live to be as old again as I am now, I would not change. In my youth I was greatly impressed with a remark of Gibbon, that "all religions are to the vulgar equally true, to the philosopher equally false, and to the statesman equally useful," and the experience of mature years has served to deepen the impression. I have never been able to reconcile the tenets and doctrines of all religious faiths with that spirit of persecution and fanaticism they develop toward each other, and which has so many times culminated in destructive and decimating wars. I believe in religious toleration, without any conditions whatever, except those required by the tenets of morality and of law and order. Hence I have remained aloof from identification with any faith. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.9 Up to this time I have never found occasion to publicly defend the "Mormon" people, because it has not seemed necessary; but I can not allow the occasion to pass without paying tribute to their morality and usefulness, not only to their own communities, but as exemplars to the whole country in perilous times like these. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.9 Mr. President, when respect for the law is the exception and not the rule, when the different forces of society are so antagonistic that the political structure is menaced with danger, it is refreshing to note that the adherents of this faith have at all times been the advocates and the exponents of peace, of justice, of law, and of order; and however just the criticisms aimed against former institutions, the fact remains, as established by more than half a century of practice, that the communities professing the "Mormon" faith are among the best and highest exemplars of American citizenship. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.9 During the war there was much disloyalty in America. Scarcely any commonwealth was entirely free from it. During the war resistance to the draft occasionally punctuated our dispatches, and the expression of toleration or friendliness to the enemy was one of the commonest of occurrences. But during that critical period upon no occasion which I can remember did the people of Utah, "Mormon" and Gentile, fail to whole-heartedly, loyally, and enthusiastically respond to every call made by the Government for soldiers or for money. Not in a single instance did this people falter. Their splendid youth were given freely to our armies, and the blood of their boys sanctifies the soil of every battle field in France. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.9 Every loan drive was responded to, not by the quota, but far beyond it, and in everything that contributed to good citizenship, to patriotism, to loyalty, and to love of country, these people were ever conspicuous; and it is due to them, as one of the representatives from a neighboring state wherein many of these people are located, and are among our best citizens, that I should say so. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.9 We have not many "Mormons" in the State of Colorado. Some years ago a settlement was established in what is known as the San Luis Valley. It has grown, it has flourished, it is prosperous. Its people are law-abiding, they are industrious, they are hard working, they pay their debts, they obey and support the authorities. Bolshevism, anarchism, and socialism are foreign to the atmosphere of that community. They can not take root in such a soil. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.9 These people are today, therefore, one of the pillars of the social, economic, and political systems of the country, whose removal might imperil the entire structure of our social, economic, and political life. Their faith I am not concerned with; their character and their achievements are a credit to them and an incalculable benefit to the country. BY SENATOR HENDERSON, OF NEVADA. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.10 Mr. Henderson. Mr. President, I wish to express my approval of and join in all that has been said by the senior Senator from Colorado [Mr. Thomas] relative to those of the "Mormon" faith. We have in eastern Nevada a number of "Mormon" settlements. I have visited a number of them. I wish to say that there are no better citizens in the country than those of that faith. In one community that I know of, established over 40 years ago, there has never been a jail. I believe that is true of the others. These people never have any use for jails. Where they go, law and order prevail, and thrift and economy are taught and practiced. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.10 Mr. President, the record of the "Mormon" people, throughout the war has been without a blemish. Their sons were amongst the first to enlist and their quota was quickly filled. They oversubscribed their proportion of Liberty bonds. Their patriotism has been of the highest order and without question. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.10 There is much that can be said in their favor, Mr. President, but I shall not detain the Senate longer, as there are some Senators waiting to address the Senate on the proposed reservation to article 10. I am glad, however, of the opportunity to express my disapproval of the attack directed against the "Mormons" referred to by the Senator from Utah [Mr. Smoot]. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.10 I thank the Lord that these Senators can truthfully pay such tributes to our people. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.10 I wish to lift my voice and to warn every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints against the destruction of the property of any man, of any corporation or of any city in these United States of America. LATTER-DAY SAINTS WORK AGAINST DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.10 Property is the fruit of labor; property is desirable, it is a positive good in the world; that some should be rich shows that others may become rich and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him work diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built."--Abraham Lincoln. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.10 There is an evil rampant, at the present time, among some who are teaching that it is justifiable to destroy property, and even to destroy life in trying to accomplish their purposes, and I desire to lift my voice, with all the ability and with all the power with which God has endowed me, against anything of this kind. I have been criticized and letters have been written to me by professed Latter-day Saints, finding fault with my remarks at the last conference, about upholding the law; and the only answer that I desire to give to these criticisms, as I have not taken the time to answer the letters, is to read again the identical words that I delivered when I stood here before you six months ago. They were not premeditated or thought out and I have concluded that I could not do any better than to read them, word for word, and say they are my sentiments today: MUST RESPECT RIGHTS OF OTHERS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.11 As Latter-day Saints we have what is known as The Articles of Faith, and one of them reads: "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law," and no Latter-day Saint can in very deed be a Latter-day Saints if he does not honor and sustain and uphold the law. Nearly all over the world, at the present time there is a spirit of lawlessness, a spirit of ridicule, and a lack of respect for the men who hold positions. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.11 I want to say that I am perfectly willing that men shall join labor unions, that they shall band together for the purpose of protecting their rights, provided they do not interfere with the rights of other people. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness belong to all people in the United States, according to the laws of our country, and should, upon all the face of the earth; and I say that, to my mind, a provision in a labor union is all wrong that favors boycotting and the laying down of tools or the quitting of employment because a non-union man obtains employment while exercising his God-given right to stay out of a union. Men who have that kind of a rule have a rule that is in direct opposition to the laws of God. There was a battle fought in heaven--for what? To give to man his individual liberty. An attempt to take the agency of man away is made when he does not see fit to join a union, and when men in that union, without any complaint or grievance, strike because a non-union man is employed. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.11 Now, I'd better not say any more, perhaps, on this question, or I may offend somebody, I may hurt somebody's feelings; but it is the God-given right of men to earn their livelihood. The Savior said it was the first great law or commandment to love the Lord with all our hearts, and that the second was like unto it, to love thy neighbor as thyself. That is the doctrine for every. true Latter-day Saint. How much love is there in starving your neighbor because he will not surrender his manhood and his individuality, and allow a labor union to direct his labor? Mighty little love, mighty little of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in any such a rule! I hope to see the day when no Latter-day Saint will join a union unless the union eliminate that clause from its rules. I am not going to ask them to leave their union. I am not going to lay it down that they must, that it is the mind and the will of the Lord for them to leave a union. I want, as I said here two weeks ago, to give every man his free agency, to give every man the right to act as he thinks proper, but I cannot see how a Latter-day Saint who is a member of such a union can get down on his knees and pray for God to inspire and bless him, to bless the Saints and to protect them and then be a party to allowing one of his own brethren to go, year after year, without employment, because that brother will not surrender his manhood and join a union with him. There is none of the Spirit of the Lord in, that, to my mind. That is exactly the way I see it. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.11 I desire, as stated, to emphasize and re-emphasize those statements delivered here six months ago. I believe that it is the absolute right of men to combine together for their protection, for their advancement, for their welfare in unions, but as stated here, I deprecate the idea of their undertaking to dictate to those who will not join them. I believe this is all I desire to say upon that subject. PROGRESS IN THE MISSIONS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.12 Since we last met here, it has fallen to my lot to hold meetings in the Central States Mission, in the Eastern States Mission, in the Canadian Mission, and three times in various parts of the California Mission. It has fallen to my lot to visit the capital of our Union and to hold a meeting there. It has fallen to my lot to visit some of the stakes of Zion, especially two in Arizona, the Maricopa and the St. Joseph stakes, and to hold a meeting in the capital of Arizona. I wish say that I rejoice in the wonderful change of sentiment regarding the Latter-day Saints that has come to people wherever I have met with them during the past six months. In addition to these visits I have had the privilege of visiting the Hawaiian Islands, with some of the brethren of the general authorities, and of dedicating there to the Lord one more temple for holy ordinances for the salvation of the dead. And I want to bear witness to the Latter-day Saints that there was, with our small party on that trip to the Hawaiian Islands, in the dedication of that temple, in the various services that were held there, lasting for a number of days, the inspiration of the Lord God Almighty, and that we were blessed abundantly, beyond our power to tell. There is something that no mortal tongue can tell, when an individual realizes and knows that while proclaiming the gospel of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ he has been blessed by the inspiration of the Lord; and that was our experience in dedicating another temple to the Lord in that far-off land. The Hawaiian people have a dark skin, but their hearts are white, their loyalty to God is perfect, and the Lord Almighty has abundantly blessed many of that people by giving to them an absolute knowledge of the divinity of the work in which we are engaged. RESPECT GROWING FOR OUR CHURCH. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.12 I am thankful that wherever I have traveled during the past six months I have found a feeling of respect, a feeling of love in the hearts of many for the Latter-day Saints, in the hearts of those not of our faith. I heard many very splendid compliments while in Washington by members of the president's cabinet, by senators and representatives, and by officials of the government in the Federal Reserve banking departments, and in others, wherever I went, and with all the people that I met, bankers in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and other cities, I heard good things said of the Latter-day Saints; we are coming into our own, so to speak. Our character is becoming known, and no longer can men lie about the Latter-day Saints, or women either, and get away with the lies with the great majority of the people in our country. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.13 While our reputation has been bad, this reputation has come to us, how? Because of the lies, as a rule, by men who have been excommunicated from this Church. No loyal, patriotic American citizen wants the people of our country to be judged by the Benedict Arnolds that the country has produced; but the men of America desire that our country shall be judged by its achievements, by the men who have been loyal to that God-inspired instrument, the Constitution of our country. All we ask of any people upon the face of the earth is that they shall judge the Latter-day Saints by Joseph Smith, the prophet of the living God, by the record that he made in the few short years that he stood at the head of the Church. The Church was organized in 1830, 90 years ago, and he presided over it for only 14 years. The accomplishments of those 14 years under his administration, what he did, and what he left to the Church in the wonderful revelations that he gave to us, in the translating of the Book of Mormon, that sacred Scripture of the forefathers of the American Indian, and the wonderful labors that he performed, these stand as a monument stamping him, in very deed, a prophet of the living God. No man without the inspiration of God, in 14 short years, could have accomplished what Joseph Smith did; could have laid the foundation of this great work to which you and I belong. And as the years come and go, men are beginning to recognize the greatness of the labor he performed. MAKE SACRIFICES FOR GOSPEL. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.13 I remember as a boy that I borrowed a book from the Thirteenth ward Sunday School library; it was on the evidences of Christianity by Dr. Paley, and I remember among other things, in that book, that he stated that the strongest evidence of the divine mission of the Savior of the world was the absolute loyalty of those who embraced Christianity, and their willingness to lay down their lives, if need be, for the testimony that they possessed of the divine mission of the Savior. I remember thinking as a boy: If that is the strongest evidence, of men being willing to lay down their lives and to voluntarily make sacrifices and to stand up under persecution, then that same identical evidence applies to the divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Latter-day Saints were driven from city to city, county to county, state to state, and finally beyond the confines of the United States to the Rocky Mountains, then Mexican territory. They could have had immunity, they could have dwelt in peace, had they renounced their faith; but our fathers and our mothers had received the witness of the Holy Spirit and they knew that Jesus was the Savior, they knew that Joseph Smith was in very deed a prophet of God. The Lord Almighty had implanted in their hearts a knowledge that God did, one hundred years ago this spring, appear to a boy; that he did speak to that boy; and that when the boy asked of our Father in Heaven, "Which of all the religious denominations in the world is the true Church of Christ?" in answer to that question our God and our Father pointed to the Savior of the world and said: "This is my beloved Son, hear Him." The Savior of the world told that boy to join none of the sects, that they had all gone astray, that they were teaching for doctrine the ideas and the commandments of men, and that they did not have the true Church of Christ. When that boy returned from that wonderful and marvelous vision, the greatest event in all the history of the world, excepting only the birth and death of the Savior, his mother saw that there was something strange about his appearance and asked him some questions; and he simply answered, m substance, and said to his mother (who was a Presbyterian): "Mother, there is one thing I know now, and that is that the Presbyterian church is not the Church of Christ." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.13 When he related his vision to ministers and others the boy was ridiculed. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.14 Three years later an angel of God appeared and told him there was buried in the hill Cumorah some golden plates containing a record, a sacred record of the forefathers of the American Indian, and that he should be the instrument in the hands of God of translating those plates. The angel gave him many wonderful instructions and quoted much Scripture to him; then disappeared. He returned and repeated his instructions and disappeared. He returned again and repeated those instructions, the three visitations occupying the entire night. The next day when that boy went to his work in the field with his father, having had no rest during the night, his father saw that he was not feeling well and told him to go home; and as he was climbing a fence he fainted, but he was aroused from his faint by the voice of the messenger who for the fourth time repeated all that he had said during the previous night, and told him to go back to his father and tell his father all that he had heard and seen. This he did, and the boy's father answered: "This is of God. Listen to the teachings of the angel." The boy visited the hill Cumorah; he saw the plates and was instructed by the messenger to come there once a year for four years, to be instructed by that angel of God, regarding the great and marvelous work that was to come forth in the last days. At the end of four years the plated containing the record were delivered to him by the angel Moroni. He translated those plates, and the translation is the Book of Mormon. VAST MULTITUDE HAVE TESTIMONY. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.14 O but, says one, I don't believe a word of it. There are thousands, there are tens of thousands of men and women, from the midnight sun country in Scandinavia to South Africa, all over Europe, from Canada to South America, in every state of the Union of the United States, upon the islands of the Pacific, who stand up and in all humility bear witness before high heaven that God has given to them a knowledge that Joseph Smith did see him, that Joseph Smith did see the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith was visited by angels of God, that he was ordained to the apostleship, that he did in very deed commune with the Savior of the world, that he was a prophet of the living God. All the non-belief, all the lack of faith of all the people in all the world cannot change that fact, if it be a fact, and God has given many of us a knowledge, an absolute knowledge that it is a fact, that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that this Gospel, called by the world "Mormonism," is in very deed the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. TESTIMONY OF PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.14 I want to read one of the latest testimonies regarding the divinity of this gospel, given from this stand by our late beloved Prophet, Joseph F. Smith, as to where divine authority exists today: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.15 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is no partisan church. It is not a sect. It is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the only one today existing in the world that can and does legitimately bear the name of Jesus Christ and his divine authority. I make this declaration in all simplicity and honesty before you and before all the world, bitter as the truth may seem to those who are opposed and who have no reason for that opposition. It is nevertheless true and will remain true until he who has a right to rule among the nations of the earth and among the individual children of God throughout the world shall come and take the reins of government and receive the bride that shall be prepared for the coming of the Bridegroom. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.15 Many of our great writers have recently been querying and wondering where the divine authority exists today to command in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, so that it will be in effect and acceptable at the throne of the Eternal Father. I will announce here and now, presumptuous as it may seem to be to those who know not the truth, that the divine authority of Almighty God, to speak in the name of the Father and of the Son, is here in the midst of these everlasting hills, in the midst of this intermountain region, and it will abide and will continue, for God is its source, and God is the power by which it has been maintained against all opposition in the world up to the present, and by which it will continue to progress and grow and increase on the earth until it shall cover the earth from sea to sea. This is my testimony to you, my brethren and sisters, and I have a fulness of joy and of satisfaction in being able to declare this without regard to, or fear of, all the adversaries of the truth. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.15 We heard sung here three verses of the hymn, "O, say what is truth?" and I request that in the future the choir sing all four verses, and not omit the last. OH, SAY, WHAT IS TRUTH? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.15 O, say, what is truth? 'Tis the fairest gem That the riches of worlds can produce And priceless the value of truth will be, When the proud monarch's costliest diadem Is counted but dross and refuse. Yes, say what is truth? 'Tis the brightest prize To which mortals or Gods can aspire: Go search in the depths where it flittering lies. Or ascend in pursuit to the loftiest skies; 'Tis an aim for the noblest desire. The scepter may fall from the despot's grasp, When with winds of stern justice he copes; But the pillar of truth will endure to the last, And its firm-rooted bulwarks outstand the rude blast And the wreck of the fell tyrant's hopes. 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. CLOSING TESTIMONY. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.16 And I bear witness to you, here today that we have the truth, that God has spoken again, that every gift, every grace, every power, and every endowment that came through the Holy Priesthood of the living God in the days of the Savior, are enjoyed today. God lives, Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and the living God. "Mormonism," so called, is in very deed the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. God has given me a witness of these things. I know them and I bear that witness to you, in all humility, and I do it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.16 The choir and congregation sang, "Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah." Three verses were sung and President Heber J. Grant stated that hereafter he would like to have the fourth verse sung by the choir whenever sung in his presence. He then read the last verse of the hymn. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.23 There is so little time left that we will not impose on anyone of our speakers by asking him to try to concentrate his thoughts and condense his remarks to occupy the few minutes that remain. Perhaps I can overrun the time myself without creating much criticism, so I will take the time and a few minutes beyond. THE "ERA" AND "THE VISION" BY EVAN STEPHENS ENDORSED. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.23 I hold in my hand the last issue of the Improvement Era. I read it, from cover to cover, before it was printed, when it was in proof sheet form. I am very grateful to the men and women who have written for this number, every article of which refers to the vision given to the Prophet Joseph. The words of the sacred historical cantata entitled "The Vision," written by Professor Evan Stephens, which will be sung here tomorrow night is also recorded in this number. I have requested the Deseret News to print ten thousand extra copies of this issue of the Era. I think that every person who believes in that wonderful vision ought to get this number of the Era. STATISTICAL ANNOUNCEMENTS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.23 Since our last General Conference the following changes have occurred in stakes, wards and missions. NEW MISSIONS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.23 Danish mission, Carl E. Peterson, president. Norwegian mission, Andrew S. Schow, president. Chihuahua mission, Joseph C. Bentley, president. NEW WARDS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.23 Lost River ward, Lost River stake; Colonia Chuichupa ward, Juarez stake; Rigby Second ward, Rigby stake; Lehi Fifth ward, Alpine stake; Starrh's Ferry ward, Burley stake; Jackson ward, Burley stake; Stockton ward, Tooele stake; Mountain Home branch, Woodruff stake; Thatcher West ward, St. Joseph stake; Clay's Springs branch, Snowflake stake; West Tintic branch, Tintic stake; Nibley ward, Hyrum stake. NEW PRESIDENTS OF STAKES. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.23 Parowan stake, Henry W. Lunt, president; succeeded Wilford Day. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.23 Utah stake, Thomas N. Taylor, president; succeeded Joseph B. Keeler. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.23 Ensign stake, John M. Knight, president; succeeded Richard W. Young. NEW STAKE CLERKS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.23 St. Johns stake, Dewey Farr; succeeded Levi S. Udall. Granite stake, Milton H. Ross; succeeded Wm. McEwan. STAKE PRESIDENT DIED. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.23 Ensign stake, Richard W. Young. BISHOPS DIED. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.23 Timpanogos ward, Utah stake, Otto J. Poulson. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.23 Vineyard ward, Utah stake, William Varley. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.23 Sugarville ward, Deseret stake, Norman Stillwell Anderson. IN MEMORY OF RICHARD W. YOUNG. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.24 As announced, Richard W. Young, President of the Ensign stake, and a Brigadier General in the United States army, has passed away, by death, since the last conference. He spoke at the overflow meeting in the Assembly Hall, on the afternoon of October 5, 1919, and I desire to read a few words from that address: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.24 I was just looking over that wonderful poem, "The Seer," Written by President John Taylor, that remarkable, splendid father of President Frank Y. Taylor who is here today. I find written there, concerning the Prophet Joseph, that Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.24 "He shared their joys, their sorrows too, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.24 He loved the Saints, he loved Nauvoo." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.24 I have been away from this people long enough to develop a strong love for the Saints of God; the good people, who make up the congregations of the Church are the dearest people in all the world to you and me. There is no experience that touches my heart more deeply than the sight of the face of a good old brother or sister whom I have known, and known to be faithful for many years. I share their joys and their sorrows too. I deeply love the Saints and their association, and am proud of being a member the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.24 I was thinking during the noon hour how much reason we all have to be proud of the record of the Church. When you stop to think about it, you must conclude that this Church has been right throughout its whole history upon all of the important moral questions that have affected our welfare. In the nature of things there is not within the United States a people more patriotic than the Latter-day Saints. I know of no sect that assumes the position that the constitution of the United States was written as it were by the very finger of God. Surely that belief is an inspiration to the highest patriotism. You remember reading in the history of the Church that this people were accused in Missouri of being opposed to slavery. In that slave-holding state such an attitude became one of the reasons of our persecution and drivings. You remember that the first message that flashed across the completed telegraph line from here to the Atlantic ocean was a message of congratulation from Brigham Young to Abraham Lincoln that the Union was preserved or was in the way of preservation. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.24 President Grant spoke this morning of the attitude of the Navajo Indians toward the "Mormons." They had confidence in the "Mormon" people because the "Mormon" people had never abused their confidence. Books have been written, one book that I remember in particular, called "A Century of Dishonor," an indictment covering hundreds of pages against the American people for treatment of the American Indians. But no indictment had ever been framed, or would be formulated against the "Mormon" people for their attitude or treatment of the aborigines of this continent. We have always treated them fairly and squarely, as of course they should have been treated. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.24 We have stood square upon women's suffrage. We were among the very first--the second, as I now recall it--of the states to give what should have been given years before, the right of equal suffrage to the women, now recognized not only in this country but throughout the world as a long delayed measure of justice. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.24 We have stood fairly and squarely upon the prohibition question throughout the Church. IN MEMORY OF OSBORNE J. P. WIDTSOE. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.24 Since our last conference, one of our greatest educators has passed away, Osborne J. P. Widtsoe. One of the splendid articles in this April number of the Improvement Era was from the pen of our departed brother, and I will read the last paragraph or two: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.25 But while it is well it is not enough. Steadily to maintain the narrow way throughout the generations, there must needs be communion with the director of all. Where there is no revelation, the people perish; they wander from paths of rectitude; they deny even that which has given them life. This, then, is the sum of all: Not alone because the doctrines revealed through Joseph the Prophet spurs the energies of man to work, and to know, and to do; nor yet alone because it is based on the law of association, will it thrive and prosper; but because there is added hereto the still more basic principle of faith in God and his power to guide man by continued revelation--as times and seasons and countries shall require--will ultimate triumph be achieved. The far-reaching extent of the work of the Prophet Joseph Smith cannot be declared; the monument he has erected to his memory cannot be measured. But this much is certain: It is as natural as that the rising sun shall appear in the east to spread its glory gradually over the world, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should prosper and progress to come ultimately to inherit the earth. THEY GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.25 Richard W. Young offered his life twice, by volunteering in the service of his country, going once to the Philippine Islands, and once to France. Osborne Widtsoe gave his life to the service of the Church and for the uplift, educationally, of the people. The lives of these two noble men stand as a testimony to the divinity of this work. No more upright clean men ever drew the breath of life. We thank God for the record that they have left and pray God to bless and comfort their families and to assist them to walk in that straight and narrow path in which their fathers walked. May God's comforting influence be and abide with them and with all those who have been called upon to mourn, since we were last here, is my prayer and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.165 The Government of the United States is endeavoring to the very best of its ability to encourage the people to be thrifty and to save. It is trying to overcome the wave of extravagance that at present seems to be sweeping over the country, notwithstanding the high cost of living. IN THE INTEREST OF ECONOMY, NO LARGE PARTY WILL BE TAKEN TO THE SACRED GROVE. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.166 We desire to announce that the Church authorities are in full accord with this campaign of the Government in favor of thrift. In view of the present conditions and of the marvelous and wonderful rendition of the "Vision" last night in this building, the cantata by Professor Evan Stephens, it has been deemed wise--in view of the immense amount that it would cost to carry a large number of people, probably a thousand, judging from the many applications that have come to us--not to take a large party to the Sacred Grove. We feel it would be an expense that ought to be avoided; and therefore only a small company, if any company at all, will visit that sacred spot. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.166 We had here last night the most magnificent audience that has ever been in this building for any entertainment of any kind or description. The receipts were larger, although the admission was only 50 cents, than when we have had the world-renowned artists of the country here, charging $2 and $3 admission. Hundreds, yes more than a thousand, I am sure, were turned away last evening. THE "VISION," BY STEPHENS, TO BE REPEATED IN JUNE. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.166 We expect to repeat "The Vision" again during the June conference, and to make that occasion as memorable as this conference. We believe that more good will come from this conference and from the June conference than by having an excursion to the Sacred Grove. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.168 I want to indorse with all my heart the very wonderful testimonies that have been borne here. I want to say that there has been a response in my heart to these marvelous testimonies. I want to pay my tribute of respect to the splendid audience that was here last night and to the wonderful rendition of the "Vision" by the choir. I desire to thank Professor Stephens and each and every one of those who took part in that very remarkable rendition, and to pray God to bless them and inspire them, that when it is repeated the same wonderful spirit may be with them. I am grateful for the splendid speech that was made here last night upon the "Vision," brief, but to the point, by Elder Melvin J. Ballard. I pray that the spirit and inspiration of the living God may accompany each and every one of the Latter-day Saints to their homes. It is the spirit that giveth life. I rejoiced in listening to the testimony of our Patriarch whose great grandfather was the father of the Prophet Joseph Smith and of the Patriarch Hyrum Smith, who lost their lives as a testimony for the divinity of this work. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.168 My heart was filled when I thought of the missionary labors time and time again of John Henry Smith, as I listened to the wonderful five-minute testimony of his son. They say that "Mormonism" is dying out in the second and the third generations; but "Mormonism" is progressing and growing day by day, year by year. This is no mushroom growth but it is the growth of the sturdy oak. We have in very deed the truth. God lives; Jesus is the Christ; Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and he is a prophet of God. He stands at the head of this dispensation. He did see God, he did receive a message from the Redeemer of the world. We have the truth. May God help us to live it, I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.168 We will now sing the hymn, "O My Father." The great majority of this audience I am afraid are not acquainted with the old English tune, by which tune Aunt Eliza R. Snow said she loved to hear her hymn sung, better than any other. The choir will lead us in singing the hymn by that tune. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1920, p.168 I was once asked by Professor John J. McClellan, "Why did you learn 'O My Father' by the old tune instead of the Moody and Sankey tune?" I said: "Because it is all wool and a yard wide and the other is shoddy." He said: "Had you been a musician, you could not have made a better criticism." President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.2 I rejoice again to have the opportunity of meeting with the Latter-day Saints in another general conference. I am very happy to see so many here at this, our opening session. I desire with all my heart that all that I may say during this conference, and all that is said by my associates who speak to you, shall be inspired of the Lord. I am grateful beyond expression for the rich outpourings of the Spirit of the Lord during our conferences that we have held since it fell to my lot to preside over the Church. I am free to confess that I approached our June conference, and the other conferences that have been held here since my presidency; with fear and trembling. When I thought of the wonderful blessings of the Lord in the past at our general conferences and the inspiration to Brigham Young and those who have succeeded him, I desired with all my heart that there should be no falling off in the inspiration of the Lord to those who might address us, and earnestly supplicated him to this effect. And I am indeed grateful for the blessings that we have enjoyed, and I pray that that same blessing, that same rich outpouring of his Spirit may be given to all who shall speak to us during the sessions of this conference. A MAGNIFICENT GIFT TO THE CHURCH Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.2 I received a letter last night that was very gratifying to me, and before making any remarks, I will read it: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.2 Salt Lake City, Utah, October 7, 1920. President Heber J. Grant and Council: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.2 Dear brethren: We desire to give to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints our home on Main and First North streets to be used preferably for the women's building, thus housing the three women's organizations, or for such other purpose as may be deemed best. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.2 Yours faithfully, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.2 (Signed) A. W. McCune, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.2 Elizabeth A. C. McCune. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.2 I remarked to one of the wealthy men of our Church, within the last forty-eight hours: "When you come to pass away don't leave all of your property to your family, but give a portion of it as an endowment for some good cause for the advancement of the work of God." I have always regretted that those who have been abundantly blest of the Lord with the wealth of this world have failed to leave a part of it to some of our charitable institutions or our various organizations. I believe that where a man is worth a half million dollars or even less, if he were to give a tenth or even a quarter of his means for some charitable purpose in this Church, the remainder that he left to his family would do them more good and they would have greater wisdom in handling it and would accomplish more than though all the wealth had been left to the heirs of the departed man or woman, as the case may he. My heart has gone out in gratitude to the late Matilda M. Barratt for building us the splendid building known as the Barratt Hall, in the days of the adversity and financial hardships of our schools. And I pray God to bless Brother and Sister McCune for this magnificent gift, and to multiply their substance. HISTORICAL EVENTS SINCE APRIL LAST Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.3 Since our last conference the following bishops have passed away: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.3 Bishops Who Have Died Since April Conference Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.3 Norman S. Anderson, Sugarville ward, Deseret stake; Otto J. Poulson, Timpanogos ward, Utah stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.3 New Stakes Organized Since April Conference Franklin stake, Samuel W. Parkinson, president; Logan stake, Oliver H. Budge, president; Roosevelt stake, William H. Smart, president; Garfield stake, Charles E. Rowan Jr., president. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.3 New Stake Clerks Since April Conference Oneida stake, Joseph W. Olson; Cache stake, John C. Peterson; Duchesne stake, LeRoy W. Rust; Franklin stake, Jessie P. Rich; Logan stake, John E. Olson; Roosevelt stake, William H. Gagon; Twin Falls stake, Wilford Johanson. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.3 New Wards Organized Since April Conference Manavu ward, Utah stake, Nephi Anderson, bishop; Lost River ward, Lost River stake, Henry N. Mickelson, bishop; Logan Eleventh ward, Cache stake, Hans A. Pederson, bishop; Manassa Second ward, San Luis stake, Silas S. Weimer, bishop; Roosevelt Second ward, Roosevelt stake, David Bennion, bishop; Star ward, Burley stake, Alma C. Tilley, bishop; Payson Third ward, Nebo stake, Leonard A. Hill, bishop; Rupert Second ward, Blaine stake, Richard T. Astle, bishop. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.3 Mission Changes (Called But Not Yet in the Field) Australian mission, Don C. Rushton, president; New Zealand mission, George F. Taylor, president; Swiss mission, Serge F. Ballif, president. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.3 THE SPIRIT OF HELPFULNESS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.3 This morning, after coming to my office, I happened to see lying upon my desk the first volume of what is known as Heart Throbs. I had brought it from my home to have a couple of poems copied, several days ago, and as I looked at the book I remembered a poem in it that I decided to read here today: "I shall not pass again this way," is the title. Preceding the poem is the following note: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.3 (For several years before his death, Mr. Daniel S. Ford, the proprietor, editor and builder of the "Youth's Companion," because of delicate health, did his work and managed his mammoth business from a little room in his home in one of the beautiful parks of Boston. When loving hands cleared the plain, but convenient desk, there was found, in a conspicuous place, much worn with frequent handling, the following poem. If the poet had intended to describe Mr. Ford's daily words and actions, he could not have done so in more appropriate language.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.4 The bread that bringeth strength I want to give, The water pure that bids the thirsty live; I want to help the fainting day by day; I'm sure I shall not pass again this way. I want to give the oil of joy for tears, The faith to conquer crowding doubts and fears. Beauty for ashes may I give alway; I'm sure I shall not pass again this way. I want to give good measure running o'er, And into angry hearts I want to pour The answer soft that turneth wrath away; I'm sure I shall not pass again this way. I want to give to others hope and faith, I want to do all that the Master saith; I want to live aright from day to day; I'm sure I shall not pass again this way. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.4 I feel that every Latter-day Saint ought to have the same desire as Mr. Ford found expressed in this very beautiful poem. I am sure I have it in my heart this very day, as I stand before you. I feel, as expressed in the Psalms: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.4 Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.4 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. -- 139:23, 24. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.4 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.4 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. -- 19:9, 10. PAINED OVER POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL DIFFERENCES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.4 In speaking to a few friends the other day I made some remarks and as my secretary happened to be present to take notes, I decided to read what I said on that occasion: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.4 "I am anxious to see the Latter-day Saints devoted to the work of God above everything else in the world; and I have never been so pained in my life as I have been during the past few months over the conditions -- political, financial, and otherwise -- that we find among among the people. The spirit of bitterness that seems to exist in the hearts of some true, faithful and honest Latter-day Saints, because of their difference of ideas and opinions on business matters and political matters is very painful to me. I do hope and pray, with all my heart, that the Spirit of the Lord may come to the Latter-day Saints in great abundance; that this spirit of almost hatred and animosity, that seems to be existing today among the, people may disappear." THE LORD'S DEMAND Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.4 In section 64:8-13, D&C, we find the following: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.4 My disciples, in days of old, sought occasion against one another, and forgave not one another in their hearts, and for this evil they were afflicted, and sorely chastened: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.5 Wherefore I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another, for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses, standeth condemned be fore the Lord, for there remaineth in him the greater sin. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.5 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.5 And ye ought to say in your hearts, let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.5 And he that repenteth not of his sins, and confesseth them not, then ye shall bring him before the Church, and do with him as the Scripture saith unto you, either by commandment or by revelation. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.5 And this ye shall do that God may be glorified, not because ye forgive not, having not compassion, but that ye may be justified in the eyes of the law, that ye may not offend him who is your Lawgiver. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.5 And in section 121:45, 46, we read: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.5 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.5 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy sceptre an unchanging sceptre of righteousness and truth, and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee for ever and ever. ILLUSTRATION FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.5 I have a very wonderful respect and regard for this quotation from page 240 of the D&C. Some years ago a prominent man was excommunicated from the Church. He, years later, pleaded for baptism. President John Taylor referred the question of his baptism to the apostles, stating that if they unanimously consented to his baptism, he could be baptized, but that if there was one dissenting vote, he should not be admitted into the Church. As I remember the vote, it was five for baptism and seven against. A year or so later the question came up again and it was eight for baptism and four against. Later it came up again and it was ten for baptism and two against. Finally all of the Council of the Apostles, with the exception of your humble servant, consented that this man be baptized and I was then next to the junior member of the quorum. Later I was in the office of the president and he said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.5 "Heber, I understand that eleven of the apostles have consented to the baptism of Brother So and So," naming the man, "and that you alone are standing out. How will you feel when you get on the other side and you find that this man has pleaded for baptism and you find that you have perhaps kept him out from entering in with those who have repented of their sins and received some reward?" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.5 I said, "President John Taylor, I can look the Lord squarely in the eye, if he asks me that question, and tell him that I did that which I thought was for the best good of the kingdom. When a man holding the holy Priesthood of God goes forth to proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, to call the wicked to. repentance; goes to proclaim that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and that the gospel has been restored again to the earth, and that man in the mission home of the Church of Christ commits adultery, I can tell the Lord that he had disgraced this Church enough, and that I did not propose to let any such a man come back into the Church." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.6 "Well," said President Taylor, "my boy, that is all right, stay with your convictions, stay right with them." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.6 I said, "President Taylor, your letter said you wanted each one of the apostles to vote the convictions of his heart. If you desire me to surrender the convictions of my heart, I will gladly do it; I will gladly vote for this man to come back, but while I live I never expect to consent, if it is left to my judgment. That man was accused before the apostles several years ago and he stood up and lied and claimed that he was innocent, and the Lord gave to me a testimony that he lied, but I could not condemn him because of that. I got down on my knees that night and prayed God to give me the strength not to expose that man, seeing that he had lied but that we had no evidence, except only the testimony of the girl that he had seduced. And I prayed the Lord that some day additional testimony might come, and it did come, and we then excommunicated him. And when a man can lie to the apostles, and when he can be guilty while proclaiming repentance of sin, I think this Church has been disgraced enough without ever letting him come back into the Church." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.6 "Well," repeated President Taylor, "my boy, don't you vote as long as you live, while you hold those ideas, stay right with them." A CHANGE OF HEART--THE SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.6 I left the president's office. I went home. My lunch was not ready. I was reading the D&C through for the third or fourth time systematically, and I had my bookmark in it, but as I picked it up, instead of opening where the bookmark was, it opened to: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.6 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men; but he that forgiveth not his brother standeth condemned before the Lord. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.6 And I closed the book and said: "If the devil applies for baptism, and claims that he has repented, I will baptize him." After lunch I returned to the office of President Taylor and I said, "President Taylor, I have had a change of heart. One hour ago I said, never while I live, did I expect to ever consent that Brother So and So should be baptized, but I have come to tell you he can be baptized, so far as I am concerned." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.6 President Taylor had a habit, when he was particularly pleased, of sitting up and laughing and shaking his whole body, and he laughed and said, "My boy, the change is very sudden, very sudden. I want to ask you a question. How did you feel when you left here an hour ago? Did you feel like you wanted to hit that man right squarely between the eyes and knock him down?" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.7 I said, "That is just the way I felt." He said, "How do you feel now?" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.7 "Well, to tell you the truth, President Taylor, I hope the Lord will forgive the sinner." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.7 He said, "You feel happy, don't you, in comparison. You had the spirit of anger, you had the spirit of bitterness in your heart toward that man, because of his sin and because of the disgrace he had brought upon the Church. And now you have the spirit of forgiveness and you really feel happy, don't you?" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.7 And I said, "Yes I do; I felt mean and hateful and now I feel happy." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.7 And he said: "Do you know why I wrote that letter?" I said: "No, sir." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.7 "Well I wrote it, just so you and some of the younger members of the apostles would learn the lesson that forgiveness is in advance of justice, where there is repentance, and that to have in your heart the spirit of forgiveness and to eliminate from your hearts the spirit of hatred and bitterness, brings peace and joy; that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings joy, peace and happiness to every soul that lives it and follows its teachings." LOVE AND FORGIVENESS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.7 And so he went on. I cannot remember all of the teachings, but he continued in this way, telling me that he could never have given me that experience, that he could not give to me a testimony of the gospel; that I must receive that testimony for myself; that I must have the right spirit come into my heart and feel it -- the spirit of forgiveness, the spirit of long-suffering and charity -- before there would any good come to me as an individual; that by simply surrendering my will to his, and voting to baptize this man, I would never have learned the lesson that the spirit of joy and peace comes in the hour of forgiveness, and when our hearts are full of charity and long-suffering to those who have made mistakes. From that day to this I have remembered those teachings. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.7 The Prophet of the Lord said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.7 My boy, never forget that when you are in the line of your duty your heart will be full of love and forgiveness, even for the repentant sinner, and that when you get out of that straight line of duty and have the determination that what you think is justice and what you think is equity and right should prevail, you ofttimes are anything but happy. You can know the difference between the Spirit of the Lord and the spirit of the adversary, when you find that you are happy and contented, that you love your fellows, that you are anxious for their welfare; and you can tell that you do not have that spirit when you are full of animosity and feel that you would like to knock somebody down. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.7 I am reminded of one of the finest chapters in all the Bible (One- Corinthians 13): Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.7 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.8 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 charity, I am nothing. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.8 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.8 Charity, suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.8 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.8 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.8 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.8 Charity never faileth; but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.8 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.8 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.8 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.8 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.8 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.8 Many people imagine that charity is giving a dollar to somebody; but real, genuine charity is giving love and sympathy, and that is the kind of charity that the apostle had reference to in this 13th chapter of First Corinthians. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.8 I remember that after that teaching given to me as a young man, as a boy, almost, by the President of the Church. I read this chapter about once a week for quite a while, then once a month for several months. I thought I needed it in my business, so to speak; that it was one of the things that were necessary for my advancement. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.8 I remember that a year ago, here at the conference, I read a very splendid and wonderful song, the half of the first verse of which reads as follows: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.8 Let each man learn to know himself, To gain that knowledge let him labor, Improve those failings in himself That he condemns so in his neighbor. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.8 The whole poem was published in the conference pamphlet. I quoted it some weeks ago, and was asked where one could get a copy, and again last Sunday, when I told some people that they could read it in next Saturday night's News. So I shall not take up your time by quoting the whole poem. I also quoted the four short verses from our hymn on page 66, a part of which reads as follows: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.8 Should you feel inclined to censure Faults you may in others view, Ask your own heart, ere you venture, If that has not failings too. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.9 I had not the slightest idea when I quoted these poems, that I would desire to quote from them again today; but in view of the condemnation and the spirit, almost, of animosity, and hate that seems to be manifested by some people among the Latter-day Saints, at the present time, regarding business and political affairs, I desire to emphasize, with all the power of my being, the last verse of that little hymn, on page 66: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.9 Do not form opinions blindly, Hastiness to trouble tends, Those of whom we thought unkindly Oft become our warmest friends. EVERY MAN INNOCENT UNTIL PROVED GUILTY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.9 There are a great many people who believe that if a person is indicted, he is undoubtedly a criminal. There are very few people who stop to reflect upon the fact that when a Grand Jury finds an indictment against any man, it is seldom, if ever, the case that he is permitted to appear before the Grand Jury, or to have a representative there to state his case. The law itself provides -- as I understand it -- although I am not a lawyer -- that every man man shall shall be considered innocent until such time as he is proved guilty; and no man is guilty, in the true sense of the word, of an offense, just because a Grand Jury finds an indictment against him. In criminal cases a man is to be considered innocent unless the evidence against him shall be so conclusive that there is not even a reasonable doubt as to his guilt. Certainly Latter-day Saints ought to be as liberal in their judgments, as the cold law of the land; and certainly every man ought to be considered innocent in the estimation of the Latter-day Saints -- particularly if that man is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has devoted his life for the up-building of God's kingdom until such time as he has what is known as "his day in court." We can afford, I believe, to be as liberal as the cold law itself. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.9 I desire to repeat the last verse of that excellent hymn, which I learned thirty-five or forty years ago, when Francis M. Lyman first sang it for me. I wrote it that very night, and learned it the next day. I would like every Latter-day Saint to apply the teachings of this splendid verse in his or her life, and if we do that I believe we will grow in love and charity; that the spirit of peace and happiness, that President Taylor promised me when I entertained the feeling of determination to keep a man out of the Church, and the spirit of joy and peace which came to me, after the change of heart, will come to Latter-day Saints: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.9 And in self-judgment, if you find Your deeds to others are superior, To you has Providence been kind, As you should be to those inferior. Example sheds a genial ray Of light, which men are apt to borrow, So first improve yourself today And then improve your friends tomorrow. REGRETS THAT THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS QUESTION IS IN POLITICS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.10 A year ago, at our conference, I expressed sincerely my regrets that bitterness was being engendered in the hearts of the Latter-day Saints, because what was known as the League of Nations had been rejected into politics. I expressed my sincere regrets that this great document should ever have been made a subject for political discussion. I felt that all people in these United States of America should approach the consideration of this great document, independent of party affiliation. I desire to express my regrets that, if anything, it is in politics more today than it was a year ago. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.10 I sincerely regret that what is known as the "sugar question" has been injected into politics, in this State of Utah. I feel in my heart of hearts that it has engendered bitterness, that it has created a great deal of animosity, and I think it is something that ought to have been eliminated from politics, and that all questions of that kind should be settled by the interested people. I desire, beyond my power to tell, that there shall always be perfect harmony and perfect justice between the farmer and the sugar producer. I desire that all judgments by Latter-day Saints upon the course of men connected with any industry in this state, shall be withheld, at least, until there has been passed a final judgment by a court that has the right to pass upon it. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.10 I wish to say to all Latter-day Saints: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.10 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.10 I beg every Latter-day Saint to cultivate the spirit of charity, of long-suffering, and brotherly love. I say to all Latter-day Saints: Keep the commandments of God. That is my keynote speech, just those few words: Keep the commandments of God. Read the psalm that tells you not to fret your soul about the sinner. It is a magnificent psalm to read. I thought some of reading it here to this congregation, but I have read so much that I am, afraid you will get tired of the reading. Keep the commandments of the Lord. Be honest with God. Never fail to pay an honest tithing to the Lord, on every dollar that comes into your hands. "Oh but," says one, "the Church does not need it." You are right; you are correct. The Church does not need it, but the man who has made covenant with the living God to keep his commandments, and then does not keep them, he needs it. A man who is not honest with the Lord should repent and be honest with the Lord, and then the windows of heaven shall open and God will pour down upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints blessings, if they are financially honest with the Lord. Observe the Word of Wisdom. Never indulge in those things that the Lord God Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, has told us are not good for man. CONCLUSION Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.11 I rejoice that we have national prohibition. I rejoice that many, even in our own community, who were wrecks financially, almost wrecks spiritually, because of prohibition and the taking away of temptation, are making men of themselves today. I rejoice that prohibition -- to my mind the greatest financial and moral blessing that has ever come to humanity -- has come to the people of the United States, and I hope and pray that it may soon come to every nation under heaven. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.11 I rejoice that the women have the franchise. I rejoice in all of the great and wonderful advancements that are being made for the benefit of mankind; and I rejoice, above all things, in a knowledge that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith is a prophet of the true and living God; that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the plan of life and salvation, has been restored to the earth. I rejoice that you and I have a knowledge of that gospel; and oh, may God help us to live it; may he fill our hearts with charity, with love,. with forgiveness, with the desire to serve him, and may we in very deed be Latter-day Saints, is my prayer and desire, and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. President Heber J. Grant: "Boys who smoke cigarettes are like wormy apples. They drop long before the harvest time. They rarely make failures in after life, because they don't have any after life. When the other boys are taking hold of the world's work these are concerned with the sexton and the undertaker." President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.83 I had no idea of saying anything more at this conference, but after listening to the very splendid remarks of Elder Ballard, I desire to read a revelation given a year before the Church was organized. REVELATION TO HYRUM SMITH AND COMMENTS THEREON Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.83 This revelation, among other things, says that it is not only for the man to whom it was given -- Hyrum Smith, who was martyred Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.83 with his brother, the Prophet Joseph Smith -- but that it is to all of us, and therefore I desire to read it: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.83 A great and marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.83 Behold, I am God, and give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my words. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.84 Behold the field is white already to harvest, therefore whoso desireth to reap, let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.84 Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.84 Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.84 I will say that Hyrum Smith and many other men came to the Prophet Joseph, believing that he was in very deed a prophet, believing that God had chosen him to organize again the Church of Christ upon the earth, they came to him and asked: "What does the Lord desire at our hands?" And many of the revelations in the fore-part of the D&C were given, before the organization of the Church, to individuals, in answer to this inquiry that they made of the prophet. This section I am reading is one of those revelations: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.84 Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.84 Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments. THE KEY-NOTE OF THIS CONFERENCE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.84 Remember, ye Latter-day Saints, that that is the key-note of this conference. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.84 Keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.84 Seek not for riches, but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me, so it shall be done unto you; and if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation. TRIBUTE TO HYRUM SMITH Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 No mortal man who ever lived in this Church desired more to do good than did Hyrum Smith, the patriarch. I have it from the lips of my own sainted mother, that of all the men she was acquainted with in her girlhood days in Nauvoo, she admired Hyrum Smith most for his absolute integrity and devotion to God, and his loyalty to the prophet of God. And God honored that man by allowing to come from his loins the late beloved President Joseph F. Smith. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 The devil, through his emissaries, thought to destroy this Church by having them kill the prophet and the patriarch; but the son of the patriarch lived to be the Prophet of the living God, and his great-grandson sits here today as the Presiding Patriarch of the Church. Nothing can be done by the people of the world to retard the progress of the work of God. Murder and all that has been done against the Latter-day Saints has had no effect whatever. The work of God has gone steadily on from the day that the Church was organized with only six members. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me, so it shall be done unto you; and if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 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. * * * Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 Behold thou hast a gift, or thou shalt have a gift if thou wilt desire of me in faith, with an honest heart, believing in the power of Jesus Christ, or in my power which speaketh unto thee; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 For, behold, it is I that speak; behold, I am the light which shineth in darkness, and by my power I give these words unto thee. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good; yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously, and this is my Spirit. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 No man in all the Church put his trust in that Spirit more perfectly than did Hyrum Smith, or than did his son, the late prophet, Joseph F. Smith. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit; which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 And then shall ye know, or by this shall you know all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 Behold, I command you, that you need not suppose that you are called to preach until you are called. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 Remember, the Church was not yet organized. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 Wait a little longer, until you shall have my word, my rock, my church, and my gospel, that you may know of a surety my doctrine; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 And then behold, according to your desires, yea, even according to your faith, shall it be done unto you. * * * Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 Keep my commandments, hold your peace, appeal unto my Spirit. Yea, cleave unto me with all your heart, that you may assist in bringing to light those things of which have been spoken; yea, the translation of my work; be patient until you shall accomplish it. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 The work of the translation of the inspired record, the Book of Mormon, was in progress at the time of the giving of this revelation. "Behold, this is your work," and it is the work of all the Latter-day Saints: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind, and strength; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea the power of God unto the convincing of men; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.85 But now hold your peace, study my word which hath gone forth among the children of men, and also study my word which shall come forth among the children of men, or that which is now translating, yea, until you have obtained all which I shall grant unto the children of men in this generation, and then shall all things be added thereunto. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.86 Behold, thou art Hyrum, my son, seek the kingdom of God, and all things shall be added according to that which is just. Build upon my rock, which is my gospel; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.86 Deny not the Spirit of revelation, nor the Spirit of prophecy, for woe unto him that denieth these things; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.86 Therefore, treasure up in your heart until the time which is in my wisdom that you shall go forth. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.86 Behold, I speak unto all who have good desires, and have thrust in their sickle to reap. (D&C Secs. 6 and 11.) THE SAINTS EXPECTED TO STUDY THIS REVELATION Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.86 Read this revelation, ye Latter-day Saints, over and over again, because it applies to you; and time and time again you will find that the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave this revelation, repeats himself in saying: "Keep my commandments." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.86 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the life and the light of the world. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.86 I am the same who came unto my own and my own received me not; But verily, verily, I say unto you, that as many as receive me, to them will I give power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on my name. Amen. President Heber J. Grant I am inclined to think that we will have to arrange, in the future, to have four days for conference. It seems that we can't get through in three days. A LETTER FROM ELDER GEORGE ALBERT SMITH Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.155 I have a letter from the absent member of the Council of the Twelve, Brother George Albert Smith. I would like to read it all to you -- some four or five pages -- but I shall read shall read only a very few words: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.155 Owen Woodruff is making good. He is a splendid man, and I hope to give him every opportunity and encouragement that lies within my power. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.156 Owen Woodruff is a grandson of President Wilford Woodruff, and the son of the late Elder Abram O. Woodruff, of the Council of the Twelve: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.156 President Angus J. Cannon is doing a wonderful work. and in my judgment ought not to be released until next spring, unless you have somebody to take his place who is thoroughly familiar with conditions in Switzerland and Germany. President Cannon has endeared himself to the members of the Church all over. He loves them and they love him, and his heart is in the work. But for his mother and son I am sure he would be pleased to remain here indefinitely. His wife is doing a noble work, she stands by him and does her best all the time. I visited, as far as my time would permit, the various conferences of Switzerland and Germany. President Cannon has nine men working full time in Switzerland, and thirty-eight giving full time in Germany, in addition to the five elders who have come from Utah. These men are all expecting to perform missions of two years or more. Many of them are traveling without purse or scrip and it is a real joy to see the faith that they manifest and to hear how the Lord blesses them. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.156 We held a meeting with the German missionaries at Leipzig. There were thirty-three present. As neat and fine a class of missionaries as I have ever seen. I was sorry to be compelled to leave them. We held conferences in different parts of Germany, the largest being at Chemnitz where more than seven hundred people assembled. We had a joyful time. * * * Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.156 From present indications the Swiss and German mission will be the big end of the European mission, so that in selecting a successor for President Cannon, I hope you will choose a strong man who understands the people and can do the work. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.156 I wrote Brother Smith that we had chosen just that kind of a man; no better; and I believe you can all testify to that fact, after hearing Brother Ballif here today: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.156 The New Home in Basel is all that could be desired. It is a commodious place that will be a credit to the Church, and there is plenty of room to build a chapel sufficiently large to take care of all our people who assemble there. I feel to compliment President Cannon on the purchase that he has made. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1920, p.176 Before the close of this conference I desire to express to our heavenly Father, on behalf of myself and associates, the deep gratitude of our hearts for the rich outpouring of his Holy Spirit that has been with all those who have addressed the conference since the first opening remarks. I pray God to bless the Latter-day Saints, to fill their hearts full of charity and love and long-suffering, to give them a love of God and of their fellows that they may, in very deed, remember the teachings of the Savior. May the people of Christ love God with all their might, mind, and strength, and may they love their brother as themselves. May the peace of heaven attend the Latter-day Saints. May the Lord bless their flocks, their herds, all their possessions, and all that pertaineth unto them. May they grow in a love of the gospel, in a love of truth, in a love of their fellows; and I, as the mouthpiece of the Lord here upon the earth, bless all the Latter-day Saints and the honest the world over, and pray God to confound the wicked and to bring their schemes to naught, and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.2 I am indeed delighted to see such a wonderful audience here this morning. It is gratifying to note the interest that has been manifested by the Latter-day Saints in their assembling together, throughout the various stakes of Zion, during the past six months, in fact, during the past year, in their houses of worship, to render thanks to the Lord for his goodness and mercy to them, and to testify of the blessings they have received. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.2 I have prepared some items that I believe will be of interest to this conference. It has been usual, in the opening address, to give some items regarding the condition of the Church. INCREASED ATTENDANCE AT SACRAMENT MEETINGS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.2 Our reports show that there has been an increased attendance at our sacrament meetings and fast meetings, all over the Church. I never listen to the revealed prayers that came from God, to be used in our sacrament meetings, wherein we, through those who administer the sacrament, express our determination to remember our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and to express our willingness to obey him and to keep the commandments which he has given us but what I rejoice in the inspiration of Joseph Smith, in translating the Book of Mormon, and giving to us those two wonderful sacramental prayers, those two marvelous covenants that all Latter-day Saints make when they assemble together and partake of the sacrament. I rejoice in knowing that there has been an increase in the attendance at these meetings, and also at our fast meetings, where we are able to testify of the many blessings of God to us as a people. I am grateful to our young people for adopting the slogan that they were in favor of developing spiritual growth by attendance at our sacrament meetings. The attendance has increased, and therefore there has been a spiritual growth. LOCAL MISSIONARY LABORS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.2 The missionary work which was outlined in our general Priesthood meeting at the last October Conference, has been successfully conducted in most of the stakes and has been the means of doing a great deal. of good. This labor is twice blessed. It blesses him that gives and him that receives. Some of the choicest meetings that I have been permitted to attend, during the last six months, have been gatherings of those who are engaged in missionary work in the various stakes of Zion; and I rejoice to know that many people who have heard the word of God, through these missionaries, have been baptized into the Church. I believe that in proportion to the amount of labor that has been put forth in the various stakes of Zion, of a missionary character, among those who are in our midst, but who know not the gospel, there have been as many, if not more, baptisms than there have been in the missionary fields throughout the different parts of the world. TEMPLE WORK. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.3 The work in our temples is progressing very satisfactorily; the attendance has been increased, and the great interest throughout the Church in temple work is very encouraging. We are now having four companies daily in the Salt Lake Temple. I think that it was a very wonderful example of the faith of the Latter-day Saints in temple work, when a fast-day was declared and the people were requested, last September, to make donations to aid in the erection of the temple in Arizona, that over one hundred eighteen thousand dollars was collected without one cent of expense, by donation upon the special fast-day set apart for that purpose. Nothing could more conclusively show the loyalty of the Latter-day Saints to that principle of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, revealed again to the earth, namely, the right and the privilege to perform labors in the holy temples of God for those of our ancestors who have passed beyond the veil than to have upon a single fast day throughout this Church one hundred eighteen thousands dollars contributed by the people for the erection of the Arizona Temple. TEMPLE BLOCK LABORS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.3 I wish to commend the splendid missionary work done on the Temple Block, under the direction of the Bureau of Information, together with the free organ recitals which are given to the public. The amount of good done by this excellent labor can hardly be estimated. I have met people who have visited the Temple Block, from Salt Lake City to the Hawaiian Islands, and from Salt Lake City to New York, and to San Francisco, and in Canada and other places, and I know from my conversation with them of the splendid impression that has been made upon their minds by coming in contact with those devoted men and women who are working upon the Temple Block here as missionaries. CHANGES OF OFFICERS IN STAKES AND MISSIONS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.3 There has been a slight increase in the payment of fast offerings, although there is still room for much improvement in this matter. Since our last Conference there have been two new Stakes organized -- North Sevier stake, with Moroni Lazenby as president and South Sevier stake, with John E. Magleby president. Since our last Conference, John N. Henrie, President of the Panguitch stake, has passed away. He was a faithful, diligent president of that stake of Zion. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.4 Since our last Conference the following bishops have passed away: Bishop Herbert Beck, of Centerfield ward, South Sanpete stake; Bishop Godfrey Fuhriman, of Providence First ward, Logan stake; Bishop Walter Roberts, of Sutherland ward, Deseret stake, and Bishop Clyde A. Hammond, of Moab ward, San Juan stake. We extend the blessings of the General Authorities to the families of these our brethren, who have been called from us since our last Conference. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.4 The following changes in stake presidencies have been made since our last Conference: Albert Choules has succeeded Don C. Driggs as President of the Teton stake, William J. Henderson has succeeded the late John N. Henrie, as president of the Panguitch stake. Brother Driggs was released with the love and confidence and blessing of his brethren, as the President of the Teton stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.4 In the Netherlands mission, John T. Lillywhite has been appointed president, to succeed John A. Butterworth. Mark Coombs has been appointed as President of the Tonga mission to succeed Willard L. Smith. J. Wiley Sessions has been appointed president of the South African mission to succeed Nicholas G. Smith. I have received a letter from Brother Sessions announcing his arrival in South Africa. Brother Sessions had been trying for nearly a year to get to South Africa, but on account of the obstructions put in the way by officials, who refused to vise passports and to allow him to go there, we have been under the necessity of keeping Brother Nicholas Groesbeck Smith in that mission another year after we felt that he should have been released. Brother Smith has filled a splendid mission in South Africa and will return with the love and blessings of all the authorities of the Church. VITAL AND EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.4 Seventy-five per cent of the families of the Church in the Stakes of Zion own their homes. The birth rate of the Church is now 38 per 1,000. The death rate is 9 per 1,000. The marriage rate is 15.5 per 1,000. There has been expended for educational purposes $718,497.19. There has been expended for tabernacle, meeting houses and amusement halls, $346,203.17. MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.4 There has been expended for missionary activities $511,709.97. This does not take into account the amount expended by the individuals who go upon missions, nor the amount that they lose by giving up their employment to go upon missions. This, I am sure, would be more than two million dollars a year, in addition to this half million dollars. So that the Latter-day Saints, as a people, are giving to the world an object lesson, such as I believe no other people upon the face of the earth are giving of their love of God, that first great commandment given to us, and also the second commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves. When we stop to reflect that a handful of people, numbering in all parts of the world only five hundred thousand men, women, children and babies, that they are expending $2,500,000 a year in time and means to proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, with no hope of earthly reward, we find an object lesson of the love of our fellows that I believe cannot be matched, in fact I know it cannot be matched, in all the wide world. HELP FOR THE POOR. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.5 There has been expended for assistance rendered to the poor, $450,000, of which $110,000 was raised during a single fast day for the relief of the sufferers in Europe, in Armenia and other places. There has been expended for Temple purposes $158,715.29. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.5 I received a splendid letter from the Near East Relief Committee, in New York, which I failed to find this morning; but a day or two ago the following letter was received from Herbert L. Gutterson: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.5 "New York City, March 21st, 1921. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.5 "Mr. Heber J. Grant, 47 E. South Temple St., Salt Lake City, Utah. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.5 "Dear Mr. Grant: We are in receipt of your letter of the 16th, addressed to Mr. Hoover, which we wish to acknowledge in his behalf. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.5 "The contribution of $68,318.21 from your Church is a most splendid testimonial to the cause, which was the basis for the formation of the European Relief Council. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.5 "Please accept in the name of the European Relief Council as a body, our most sincere, heartfelt thanks for the contribution from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and we beg that you will express to them this sentiment and gratitude for their co-operation. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.5 "With kindest wishes, we are, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.5 "Very sincerely yours, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.5 "CONTROL COMMITTEE. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.5 "By Herbert L. Gutterson." DEATH OF PRESIDENT ANTHON H. LUND. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.5 Since our last Conference we have suffered the sorrow of parting with one of the Presidency of the Church, President Anthon H. Lund, than whom, from the day of his baptism as a boy in Scandinavia, to the day of his death, no more faithful, diligent, energetic, painstaking, conscientious and intelligent worker have I known in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. President Lund was a man beloved by all. I never heard one soul in my life say anything but good of the late President Anthon H. Lund. His ability and capacity were known to all the General Authorities as that of a great and noble and a true man, a Latter-day Saint to the very core. We mourn his loss. But in the providences of the Lord we feel that he will raise up others to assist in the rolling on of this great work. We had here a most wonderful audience at his funeral, the house being crowded to overflowing, thus showing the love and confidence and the respect of the people for President Lund. CHANGES IN THE FIRST PRESIDENCY. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.6 I believe that in the promotion of Brother Penrose to be First Counselor in the First Presidency after he has labored from the time that he was a boy, nineteen years of age, for ten long years in his native land, proclaiming the gospel, and returned to that land to fulfill three more missions, a total of over twenty years of missionary work, and then labored here at home constantly with pen and tongue to proclaim the gospel; after his having accomplished all this, I feel sure that the Latter-day Saints; rejoice in the promotion of this aged man, now in his ninetieth year, to be the First Counselor in the Presidency of the Church. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.6 I believe that the Latter-day Saints generally have approved in their hearts of the selection of Anthony W. Ivins to be my Second Counselor, to become a member of the Presidency of the Church. We have not yet presented these names but they will be presented before the Conference adjourns. CHOICE OF A NEW APOSTLE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.6 I am convinced in my own heart that if President Anthon H. Lund had had the privilege of nominating a man to fill the vacancy caused in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, through his death, and through the promotion of Brother Ivins, that he would have named Brother John A. Widtsoe. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ has gathered from the British Isles and from the Scandinavian countries many thousands upon thousands of honest, energetic, faithful, loyal, true Latter-day Saints. Scandinavia, second only to the British Isles, has furnished great numbers of converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I believe that the Saints generally approve of those who have been called to these positions. I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Presidency and the Apostles, under the inspiration of the Lord, nominated the proper man to fill the vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and I have absolutely no doubt but what the Latter-day Saints will sanction our having set apart and ordained to the Apostleship Brother John A. Widtsoe. HEARTY RESPONSE TO INSTRUCTIONS AT LAST CONFERENCE. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.6 I rejoice in what I believe has been a response to the speeches made here six months ago. The keynote of our Conference at that time was to obey the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ, to have in our hearts a love of God, a love of our fellows, to have in our hearts the spirit of forgiveness and of long-suffering, to have in our hearts a desire to do those things that would be pleasing and acceptable to our heavenly Father; and I feel grateful that, during the past six months, there has been a spiritual growth. I believe that there has been a better feeling, that some of the animosities that were existing six months ago, because of political differences, have disappeared, now that men have had time, figuratively speaking, to "cool off." I would rejoice beyond all the power which God has given me to express my feelings, if the Latter-day Saints could express their opinions in times of political campaigns without animosity, without vindictiveness, that they could simply proclaim those principles in which they believe, without indulging in personalities. CHANGE OF SENTIMENT FAVORING THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.7 I think that we as a people have very great cause to rejoice in the era of good will and fellowship that is existing today for us as a people, among those not of our faith, in comparison with the conditions that existed some years ago. I do not know of any single thing that has happened in my experience, during the long time that I have been one of the General Authorities of the Church, that has impressed me more profoundly with the change of sentiment towards the latter-day Saints than the reception that was accorded to me December last when I went to Kansas City and delivered a speech upon the accomplishments of "Mormonism." When I reflect upon the fact that in the leading hotel in that wonderful and progressive city -- (I don't know that all of the people here, in fact I feel sure that perhaps the majority of those here are not aware of the fact that although that city is only one-half as large as St. Louis, its bank clearings are larger than those of St. Louis, that in some particular items they stand first, in commerce, among all the cities of the United States; and I do not know whether you are aware of the fact that they have one paper there that is conceded to be one of the six leading newspapers of the United states, the Kansas City Star) -- I was permitted to stand up within ten miles of Independence, the place from which the Latter-day Saints were expelled, by an expulsion and exterminating order of the Governor of the State, Governor Boggs, and to proclaim the accomplishments of the Latter-day Saints; to relate the prophecies of Joseph Smith, to give to those men that were there assembled -- over three hundred of the leading influential business men of the city -- the testimony of Josiah Quincy regarding the Prophet Joseph Smith; to repeat to them the great Pioneer hymn, "Come, come, ye Saints;" to relate the hardships, the drivings and the persecutions of the Latter-day Saints and to have that body of representative men receive that address with approval, applaud it in many places, and many of them come to me after the meeting and shake hands and congratulate me upon the address; and to have some of the members of the Board of Directors of that great club -- the Knife and Fork Club of Kansas City -- (which I have been have been informed is the second greatest dinner club in the United States, the Gridiron of Washington standing first) to have them say that they hoped for a return date so that they could hear more of our people; and then stop to reflect upon the fact that the Prophet and his followers, in the early days, were expelled from Missouri; that many of them were murdered; that all kinds of crimes were committed upon the people; that their property was confiscated; that we have never received anything for our property that belonged to us in that section, that today some of the valuable country that we traveled over there is the very property that our people owned, (for when you follow up many abstracts of valuable property you will find that the title centers in the bishop of the "Mormon" Church, and only because of lapse of time have people secured a proper title to these lands, and not because it was ever paid for) -- I say to stop and reflect that the drivings and the persecutions of the Latter-day Saints, of which no tongue can tell and no pen can paint the conditions; and then to realize that there is a feeling in that community now, among the people residing in the very place, so to speak, from which President Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the living God, and others were driven out; to be invited to go there and be asked to talk of the accomplishments of "Mormonism," and to have that talk received, with open arms, shows the most wonderful change of sentiment. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.8 A short time ago the editor and publisher of the Coast Banker a paper that has a circulation all over the Twelfth Federal Reserve banking district, asked me to write an article on the accomplishments of our people. I did not have time to write the article, but I sent him my speech delivered before the Knife and Fork Club, and told him if that would fill the bill, I would be very glad indeed to have him publish it. Of course, I realized it was a very long speech, because I talked pretty rapidly and I talked for fifty-seven minutes, but he published all that I said. He published, besides, an introduction of such a character that I am very proud of it. I thanked him kindly, when I met him, for this introduction to my speech. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.8 Now, I pray the Lord to bless the Latter-day Saints. I pray the Lord that we may remember that same keynote that was given here six months ago -- keep the commandments of the Lord. Why, you know, if we can just remember those first two great things, to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, with all our might, with all our mind, with all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves, we are sure to walk in that straight and narrow path that shall lead us to life eternal. God bless you one and all, and all Israel, and all the honest, the world over, is my prayer, and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. President Heber J. Grant CHANGES IN CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.21 We announced here at the last conference, the changes in the Australian, New Zealand and the Swiss and German missions. At that time Brother James N. Lambert who had been to New Zealand was with us and spoke to the congregation. Since then, Brother Arnold G. Miller, from the Australian mission, and Brother Angus J. Cannon from the Swiss and German mission have arrived home. We welcome them and tender them our sincere thanks for the very splendid, long and arduous labors that they have performed in those missions. INCREASE IN PAYMENTS OF TITHING Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.21 In reading a number of items this morning, I read what became of several millions of dollars of the funds of the Church during the last year, and lo and behold, I skipped the all-important item of tithing. The Saints have done remarkably well, during the past year, in the payment of tithes, especially when we consider the hard times through which we are passing. I wish to commend the bishops, and other officers of the Church, as well as the membership of the Church, in general, for the faithfulness exhibited by the Saints in payment of their tithes. I think that it is nothing less than wonderful in view of the great hardships financially, through which all sections of the country have been passing, during the year that is just closed, that there should be no falling off at all in the tithes of the Latter-day Saints. The tithes for the past year have been slightly in advance of those for the previous year, which was one of the largest years for the payment of tithes in the history of the Church. AN EDITORIAL IN THE "COAST BANKER." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.23 Elder Joseph W. McMurrin, President of the California Mission, came up and suggested that I should waive my insurance modesty, and that I should read the introduction to my speech, as written by the editor of the Coast Banker; and I shall do so. One of my insurance friends in San Francisco, president of one of the greatest companies in the United States, remarking on the photo of myself that is printed with the article, stated that he would pay a great deal if he could only have a picture taken of him that would flatter him as much as this picture flatters me. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.23 (The editorial, which was here read by President Grant, and the speech in full may be found at the close of this record. -- Clerk.) THE CANTATA "THE MARTYRS," BY EVAN STEPHANS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.23 The sacred cantata, "The Martyrs," by Evan Stephens, and a chorus of 400 will be presented in the Tabernacle, Monday evening, April 4. I read an editorial in The News, last night, and felt that Brother Stephens was entitled to have this splendid editorial read to you here today: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.23 "Among other events of the approaching Conference season claiming the attention of both residents and visitors the rendition of Evan Stephans' sacred cantata, "The Martyrs," in the Tabernacle, on Monday evening next, is deserving of special notice. A year ago this gifted home composer fairly electrified a mammoth audience in the Tabernacle with "The Vision" -- an appropriate precursor of the present work; and those who are in a position to speak with intelligence and authority on the question, affirm with enthusiasm that 'The Martyrs' is in all respects the equal of, and in some respects is superior to, the earlier masterpiece. Certainly in the matter of attention to detail in presentation, Mr. Stephens has allowed nothing to be overlooked a -- a fact upon which those who know his artistic and indefatigable nature will need no assurance. He has in conspicuous degree the talent of infusing into his performers a measure of his own zeal, so that to the most exacting demands of practice and rehearsal they yield without demur. The result is that when at length the hour for the public performance arrives, all those who have been engaged upon it are prepared to give it a rendition as nearly faultless as is humanly possible. Apart from the fame of the soloists, the heavier choral work of the great chorus of four hundred voices should prove at once a mighty attraction and inspiration. In short, it is to be hoped, and it is the probability, that, vast as is the auditorium where the performance will be given, the demand for seats will be so great that not all can gain admission, for it promises to be in all respects a stupendous and memorable occasion." President Heber J. Grant ARIZONA APPROPRIATES $2,500 TO "MORMON" BATTALION MONUMENT. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.42 I have rejoiced in all that has been said here today and endorse most heartily the remarks of my brethren. I have a little note from Brothers J. W. Lesueur and Andrew Kimball of Arizona, the presidents of Maricopa and St. Joseph stakes. They call my attention to the fact that the Arizona legislature has appropriated $2,500 for a Mormon Battalion Monument; that the majority of all the agricultural settlements in Arizona were begun by the "Mormon" people; that the State of Arizona will issue next month the Mormon Settlement book giving an account of the settlements of our people in Arizona, a book of four hundred pages, with sixty illustrations. The state of Arizona is publishing a history of that state, and this volume is a part of it. This volume alone will cost approximately $15,000. The Governor of Arizona and the Historian of the state have devoted a great deal of time, and our friend and brother, LeRoi C. Snow, has been employed in the Historian's office there. We understand that if this volume is sold at the price at which they will sell it, the state will be at a loss of fully $10,000. I have had a brief letter from Brother Snow, enclosing a full account of the contents of the book, but I have been too busy, since I returned from the coast, to read the same. "THE DESERET NEWS" COMMENDED. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.43 After announcing the time and place of various meetings, President Grant continued, referring to the Cantata of Prof. Evan Stephens, and to the splendid editorial in the Saturday News regarding the Cantata, and said: "You should all take the News. The Deseret News is the organ of the Church, and it is entitled to the support of all Israel. Because it is an excellent paper, and also because of the announcements which are made there by the Presidency, from time to time, and other matter it contains, the paper should be in the homes of the people. Read the editorial regarding the Cantata when you get home. REFERENCE TO CHANGES IN THE RELIEF SOCIETY. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.43 There is one thing I forgot -- and I regret it exceedingly. In the meeting of the Relief Society yesterday, I forgot to invite all of the honored and released members of the General Board of the Relief Society, who in years past have sat there to the right of this stand to continue to occupy seats with the new members of the Board. They have our love, our confidence and our blessings, and we want them to know, as we have said to our retired mission presidents, that there is always a place reserved for them at our General Conference meetings. I have been sorry this afternoon, in looking for the familiar faces, that I forgot to make this announcement yesterday. We want our sisters here, they have our love and our confidence, and our blessing for their past labors, and our prayers for their future happiness. President Heber J. Grant CONCERNING THE JEWS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.124 Some of you may be familiar with the agitation that is going on at the present time, in the publications, against the Jewish people. There should be no ill-will, and I am sure there is none, in the heart of any true Latter-day Saint, toward the Jewish people. By the authority of the Holy Priesthood of God, that has again been restored to the earth, and by the ministration, under the direction of the Prophet of God, Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ have been to the Holy Land and have dedicated that country for the return of the Jews; and we believe that in the due time of the Lord they shall be in the favor of God again. And let no Latter-day Saint be guilty of taking any part in any crusade against these people. I believe in no other part of the world is there as good a feeling in the hearts of mankind towards the Jewish people as among the Latter-day Saints. President Heber J. Grant APPRECIATION OF STEPHENS' "THE MARTYRS." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.141 I want to express my unbounded approbation and delight with the very splendid cantata that we had here of "The Martyrs" last night. I am sure all who were here were very much delighted and pleased, and that all feel grateful to the Lord for the inspiration to our beloved brother, Evan Stephens, in furnishing us such a wonderful piece of music, and such a splendid tribute in poetry to our beloved dead. THE SCHOOL OF ART AND MUSIC. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.141 Perhaps you have noticed in the papers that the magnificent McCune residence, which would probably cost over half a million dollars, and which was presented to the Church at our last Conference, has been set aside by the Presidency for the use of a School of Art and Music. And I am pleased to say that this disposition of the property has met with the very hearty approval of A. W. McCune and his wife, the donors of the property; in addition to having given this imposing structure, when they learned it was to be used as a School of Music and Art, they presented to us the two magnificent pieces of statuary that are now in that home, which would probably cost something over twenty thousand dollars, as a beginning for art collections that may go there. I trust that the people will call and partake of the hospitality of the School of Music. Of course, as to this designation for the use of the place, I do not know exactly that it will always be permanent, but we are inclined to think it will be. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.141 There have been a great many people, of course, who have urged me to move there and use that magnificent house as the official residence of the President of the Church. I appreciate the compliment and the many expressions of good will and desire for me to occupy such a magnificent structure; but I consider it would be a vast waste of the money of the good people to maintain me in any such an elegant place, for the reason that if I went there I would want everything to be in keeping with the house, and it would be in direct opposition to what Brother Stephen L. Richards has said here today, all of which I endorse with all my heart. For the time being I shall be perfectly satisfied to live in my little bungalow, one story and a half high in about the nicest spot in all Salt Lake City. During the first six months of my residence there, I don't believe I missed a half dozen times sitting up in bed every morning and taking a view of the whole valley and singing President Charles W. Penrose's hymn, "O ye mountains high." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.141 I endorse with all my heart the excellent remarks that have been made here this morning, and if time would permit, would like to add a few comments, but we aim to start on time and to close on time, barring the musical selection after twelve o'clock. May the Lord bless us, and may we have a time of rejoicing this afternoon and on the morrow in our conference, is my prayer, and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. President Heber J. Grant THE NECESSITY OF THE CIGARETTE LAW. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.146 I believe that Brother Joseph W. McMurrin first called my attention to an article published in the Scientific American and reproduced in the Literary Digest, announcing that for fifty long years no young man in Harvard University had ever graduated at the head of his class, as the principal student, who was a user of tobacco, notwithstanding the fact that eighty-one or two per cent used tobacco and only nineteen or eighteen didn't use it -- so that, taking it man for man, for those many years, the tobacco users had not become the head students of that great institution. I don't think anybody, with an ordinary, common, every-day head on him, needs any greater evidence than that of the necessity of passing anti-cigarette and other laws of this kind. INTRODUCING PROF. PERRY G. HOLDEN. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.147 We have with us today Professor Perry G. Holden of Chicago, a man with a national and international reputation as an extension worker. I have been handed one or two statements made by Professor Holden that I will read before we have the pleasure of hearing from him: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.147 "Every American ought to have his own home, and every family ought to have an acre of ground. Men don't fight for their boarding houses -- they usually fight in them." And we might add, with their tongues, mostly. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.147 "Men who own their own homes don't go out on riotous strikes." That reminds me of a man who was a socialist, over in France, working for a very wealthy man. He went out two or three nights a week to his socialistic meetings, advocating the dividing up of all the property. Finally he quit going, and the wealthy man for whom he worked asked him why he hadn't gone. "Why," he said, "at the last meeting which I attended some months ago, there was a calculation which had been made, and they read how much each family would have after we got all the property divided up, and lo and behold, I have more in the savings bank already than would be my share." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.147 "If the community will take care of its boys today, its boys will take care of the community tomorrow." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.147 To his son leaving for the army: "My son, keep your standard." On his return: "Have you kept your standard?" "Yes, father." "Money spent on education is not a tax. It is an investment." "Am I a better man today than I was yesterday?" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.147 I have very great pleasure in introducing Professor Perry G. Holden. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.155 I feel gratified for the very splendid compliments that have been paid to our people by the previous speaker, and on behalf of the Saints here we thank him, particularly for the words of praise that he has spoken regarding us, away from Salt Lake City. I feel, as he has said, that we are coming into our own. It was like an oasis in the desert, a few years ago, to find anybody who was willing to say anything good about the "Mormons;" but some of the finest and most energetic and most faithful men in all America today, educationally and in other lines, are beginning to say good things of the Latter-day Saints. I want to say to Professor Holden that the Latter-day Saints sang "Come, come, ye Saints," as they crossed the plains, with all their hearts and with all their souls, feeling every word of the lines: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.156 "And should we die before our journey's through, Happy day! all is well! We then are free from toil, and sorrow too, With the just we shall dwell," Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.156 The young men and the young women of the "Mormon" Church who live up, to the principles of their fathers, are as loyal and as determined and as willing to sacrifice today as were their fathers, their grandfathers, and their great grandfathers, for that which we know and proclaim to all the world to be, in very deed, the plan of life and salvation, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.187 I read here last evening at the priesthood meeting some items regarding our missionary work, and I thought they would be interesting to all the Saints, so I will read these items again: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.187 MISSIONARY STATISTICS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.187 The mission membership of the Church at the close of 1920 was 99,870. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.187 Tithes paid in all missions of the Church, $456,699; an increase of more than a hundred thousand over any previous year. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.187 Value of mission property, $1,467,571. This does not include all of the Hawaiian property. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.187 Spent for charity in all the missions, $34,532. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.187 Baptisms in all the missions last year, 5,087. This is the highest record in many years. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.187 There were 1,727 missionaries in all the missions on January 1, 1921, an increase of 574 over January 1, 1920; while the average expense of the missionaries of the Church was $37 per month in 1920, or $10 per month higher than in 1919, and that is the highest expense per elder in the history of the Church. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.187 The number of baptisms per elder in 1920 was about three. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.188 Calls of the missionaries were answered at 2,926,416 homes, and the elders had 2,617,345 gospel conversations. They sold 34,703 copies of the Book of Mormon, and distributed 7,023,378 tracts and held 135,532 meetings. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.201 A revelation was given to the Church ninety years ago last February from which I have read during this conference, and I will read from it again. This revelation is to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the elders in it. A VERY IMPORTANT REVELATION. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.201 "Oh, hearken, ye elders of my church, and give an ear to the words which I shall speak unto you. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.201 "For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye have received a commandment for a law unto my church, through him whom I have appointed unto you, to receive commandments and revelations from my hands." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.201 I want to emphasize once more, "A law unto my church." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.201 "And this ye shall know assuredly that there is none other appointed unto you," [Who? "my church,"] "to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.201 "But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him, for if it be taken from him, he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.201 "And this shall be a law unto you," [and who is this law unto? "Unto my church,"] "that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.201 "And this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.201 "For verily I say unto you, that he that is ordained of me shall come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you before, to teach those revelations which you have received, and shall receive through him whom I have appointed." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.201 And I said that anybody who taught contrary to that was a plain, simple, every-day liar. That is what I said; that is what I mean. The idea that any man claiming to believe the teachings of this revelation saying that he has today the right to perform plural marriages, is utterly absurd. We have cut such men off from the Church. CONCERNING PLURAL MARRIAGES. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.201 Perhaps I owe an apology -- in fact I will make one -- for speaking with anger in this building last Sunday night. As I came to the meeting Sunday night, I was told that a person had said that neither Heber J. Grant nor any other man had any right to say that an individual could not perform a plural marriage; that God had revealed plural marriages, and therefore that I had no right to say that they could not be performed, and that one party had remarked that it would take an angel from heaven to convince him, even if I did say it. In my remarks on Sunday evening I had no thought of referring to anybody outside of this Church, or that I ever had any right to undertake to say that I had anything to do with directing any other people than the Latter-day Saints. But I branded as plain, simple liars those who undertake to say that anybody, aside from the President of the Church, had any right to give revelations to this people. I had just heard that one more pretended plural marriage had been performed, and after all the teachings from this stand, and all the declarations, and after excommunicating, as we have done, within the last year, one man for marrying -- or pretending to marry -- a plural wife, I confess I was angry and "rebuked with sharpness." NO PERSON HAS THE RIGHT TO PERFORM PLURAL MARRIAGES. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.202 But I want to say to the Latter-day Saints that no man upon the face of the earth has any right or any authority to perform a plural marriage, and there are no plural marriages today in the Church of Christ, because no human being has the right to perform them. Therefore, any person pretending to have that right is attempting to exercise an authority that he does not have, and therefore be does not perform a marriage and there is no marriage covenant when such ceremonies are performed. SEVERAL PERSONS EXCOMMUNICATED FOR PERFORMING PRETENDED MARRIAGE CEREMONIES. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.202 We have excommunicated several patriarchs because they arrogated unto themselves, the right, or pretended right, to perform these ceremonies, and after our having excommunicated several patriarchs, another one, so I am informed, has committed the same offense. I announce to all Israel that no living man has the right to perform plural marriages. I announce that no patriarch has the right to perform any marriages at all in the Church. We have delegated, at the present time, to the presidents of stakes and to the bishops of wards, the right to perform lawful marriages, and there has been delegated to some elders who held positions as county clerks, the right to exercise the authority of the Priesthood to perform legal marriages for time. And it was in view of the lie that was going out, and a desire to protect virtuous, noble, good girls who were being deceived and entrapped into doing what, under the law of God today, and under the law of the land, is adultery, that I was branding the liar. CONCERNING INSPIRATION. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.202 I want my friends to know that the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints declare that God inspires men. We heard Elder Whitney read to us the twenty-ninth chapter of Alma. When I was the junior member of the council of the twelve apostles, I knew that chapter off by heart, and I used to repeat it, time and time again, in my public addresses. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.202 "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!" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.203 This same chapter further states that men are inspired, and are given all that is wisdom in God that they should have, and Alma says that he ought to be content with the things that were allotted unto him. And the thing allotted unto him was to declare repentance to the people, and he had had great joy in that many men, because of the word he had declared, had come unto God. Perhaps there is no other passage, no single chapter, in all the Book of Mormon, that I have preached from as often as I have from that twenty-ninth chapter of Alma. We believe absolutely, as has been said here, that God inspired Columbus. I commend to all Latter-day Saints when the conference pamphlet is published, to read what Elder Orson F. Whitney said about the inspiration of God being given to men in all parts of the world. We endorse his remarks. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.203 One of the fundamental articles of faith promulgated by the Prophet Joseph Smith was: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.203 "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience; and allow all men the same privilege -- let them worship how, where, or what they may." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.203 But we claim absolutely no right, no prerogative whatever, to interfere with any other people. We desire the good will of all mankind, and we desire the advancement of all mankind, and we pray God to bless every man that is striving for the betterment of humanity in any of the walks of life; and we say of every man who believes that Jesus is the Christ and who proclaims it: O God, bless that man. But we cannot pray for those who pretend to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and deny the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, and who proclaim that he was only a man. Jesus is the Redeemer of the world, the Savior of mankind, who came to the earth with a divinely appointed mission to die for the redemption of mankind. Jesus Christ is literally the Son of God, the Only Begotten in the flesh. He is our Redeemer, and we worship him, and we praise God for every individual upon the face of the earth who worships our Lord and Master as the Redeemer of the world. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.203 I rejoice in the blessings of the Lord that have come to us during this conference. God bless the Latter-day Saints. God bless every honest-hearted soul all over the world, all who are striving to do good, striving to benefit mankind. I thank the Lord for the rich outpouring of his holy Spirit during our conference. May we all go home and take the Conference spirit of love and of fellowship and good will to all the congregations of the Saints, and thus inspire them to serve God and to keep his commandments is my prayer, and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.204 I want to read just one more thing: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.204 "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates; in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.204 The law provides that any person performing a marriage shall record the marriage, and I haven't heard of this last marriage I referred to being recorded; and there should be a license issued also; I haven't heard of any license. Heber J. Grant: Strength of the "Mormon" Church (See Conference Record, April, 1921, p. 23) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.205 (From the "Coast Banker," San Francisco and Los Angeles, March, 1921.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.205 Glimpses From Its History, With Reference to Its Trials, Travels, Beliefs, Achievements, and Plans for the Future, as Shown in an Address Delivered by Invitation at the Banquet of the Knife and Fork Club at Hotel Muhlebach, Kansas City, December 16, 1920, by Heber J. Grant, President of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-day Saints. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.205 One of the greatest forces, in temporal and religious affairs of the United States is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the "Mormon" Church. Its head is Heber J. Grant, who officiates under the title of President. Mr. Grant possesses the characteristics of a real leader -- strength of purpose, nobility and humility of character, enthusiasm for all causes in which he enters, and indefatigable industry. He is well known and respected by the business men of the western third of the United States, regardless of their religious affiliations. For years he has been a banker, and he holds the office of president of the Utah State National Bank, and of the Zion's Savings Bank and Trust Company, Salt Lake City, and for many years he has been strongly identified with the insurance business as well; so that when, on the death of President Smith, he succeeded to the headship of the "Mormon" Church, he brought with him an equipment that fully qualified him to take up the leadership in the various corporations in which the "Mormon" Church either holds a dominant position or is interested in a lesser degree. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.205 The important place the "Mormon" Church occupies, not only in Utah but in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Arizona, and other parts of the Western Hemisphere, is told by President Grant in a most thorough study and analysis; therefore we recommend to our readers, the financial people of the western third of the United States, that they read this address by him, because it will explain to them, not alone his plans, but those of the organization which is so great a factor in their territory. The Editor. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.205 I consider it a very distinct honor indeed, gentlemen, to be invited to speak here tonight to this representative body of business men in your wonderful city. It is remarkable, to me, that your bank clearings should exceed the showing of St. Louis, although you have only one-half the population. Utah is one of the most enterprising of all the enterprising states in the United States, and the reason I consider it an honor to speak here is the fact that early "Mormons" were driven from this section of the country. (Laughter.) I am grateful for this opportunity of addressing a body of representative men in the very place from which our people were expelled by an exterminating order of Governor Boggs. This is a good illustration of the wonderful change of sentiment in the United States regarding the people with whom I have the honor to be associated. My mother was cast out as a thing of evil, by some of the Ivins family of the East, when she became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Forty-two years later, when I took her back to Philadelphia to meet her relatives and friends, her brothers and sisters having passed away, the nephews and nieces fell in love with the "very fine old lady." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.206 Many people imagine that the "Mormons" have no faith in what is known as the Bible. You will pardon me for taking a little of your time to correct a few erroneous impressions of this kind, and to refer briefly to the travels of our people before the pioneers reached Utah. The "Mormons" accept the Bible as the word of God, but they also believe in the Book of Mormon. Comparatively few people know what the Book of Mormon purports to be. It is the sacred history of the forefathers of the American Indian. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.206 The Latter-day Saints started in New York, where the Church was organized in 1830. They later located at Kirtland, Ohio, where they built quite a large temple, which is still standing. The opposition and ill will which they encountered were so great that they decided to move to Missouri, there locating in and around Far West. Previously they had established a colony at Independence, a few miles from this city, where they met with much opposition and were forced to leave. Afterwards, as I have stated, they were expelled from the State of Missouri under the exterminating order of Governor Lilburn W. Boggs. Later they were invited to locate at Commerce, Illinois, where there were very few people. They built a city known as "Nauvoo, the Beautiful," in which within a few years there were 20,000 inhabitants. Here, too, they met much opposition. The prejudice against them caused them to be bitterly persecuted, and the prophet Joseph Smith crossed the Mississippi River, intending with a chosen body of men to explore the Rocky Mountains for a place of settlement and gathering for the people. A short time before that he had uttered a prophecy "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 would 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." At the time this prophecy was delivered, one of the foremost statesmen in the United States, Daniel Webster, is quoted as having made a remarkable statement with reference to the western part of our country, in which Joseph Smith had predicted the Saints would become a mighty people. Said Webster: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.206 "What do we want with this vast, worthless area? This region of savages and wild beasts, of deserts, of shifting sands and whirlwinds of dust, of cactus and prairie dogs? To what use could we ever hope to put these great deserts or those endless mountain ranges, impenetrable and covered to their very base with eternal snow? What can we ever hope to do with the western coast of three thousand miles, rockbound, cheerless, uninviting, and not a harbor on it? Mr. President, I will never vote one cent from the public treasury to place the Pacific Coast one inch nearer Boston than it now is." (Laughter.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.207 Even statesmen, it appears, sometimes make mistakes. There are some very fine harbors on the Pacific Coast, and the whole section west of the Missouri River certainly has developed into a very marvelous country. THE MARTYRDOM AND SUBSEQUENT EVENTS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.207 Joseph Smith had foreseen that his people would be forced again to leave their homes, and, as I say, he had started West with a picked body of men to find a place of refuge. But some of the people in Nauvoo accused him of running away and deserting his flock. He thereupon returned to Nauvoo, remarking that if his life was of no value to his people, it was of no value to him. He surrendered to the Governor of the State of Illinois. He, with his brother, Hyrum Smith, John Taylor, and Willard Richards, was incarcerated in Carthage jail, with a pledge of protection from the Governor. On his way to Carthage he said: "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 towards God and towards all men. I shall die innocent. and it shall yet be said of me, 'he was murdered in cold blood.'" He and his brother were killed by a mob. John Taylor, who afterwards became president of the Church, received four gunshot wounds and carried in his body some of the rifle-balls to his grave. Brigham Young, as leader of the stricken people, then entered into an agreement that the latter would move to the West. He, with others, began exploring the country, and the migration started. Quite a number of the people located at Council Bluffs; but that winter, after many of the able-bodied men had left, the mob drove the remnant of the "Mormon" people from their beloved city of Nauvoo, which was then the largest city in the State of Illinois. It was a beautiful and populous town of twenty thousand souls when Chicago was a mere trading post; and they deserted that city willingly, because they had to. (Laughter.) The first detachments of the people crossed the Mississippi River on the ice, in the dead of winter, and during that terrible night nine babies were born with no shelter save the rude tents and wagon covers under which their mothers were huddled. No tongue can tell, no pen can paint the sufferings and the hardships of the "Mormon" people in these drivings from Missouri and Illinois. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.207 They next located at Council Bluffs, moved across the river and built Winter Quarters, now known as Florence. In the meantime, a state of war had grown out of difficulties between the United States and Mexico, and a government recruiting officer was sent to the "Mormon" camps at Council Bluffs soliciting five hundred men for military service to march against Mexico. The leaders of our people had previously petitioned the President of the United States, Martin Van Buren, for a redress of wrongs, only to have the President announce: "Your cause is just, but I can do nothing for you," a pusillanimous remark, to say the least. Yet now five hundred men were demanded from whom? From a people who were being expatriated, a people who had been driven from Missouri under circumstances of indescribable cruelty, a people who had also just been expelled from Illinois in the dead of winter. Yet Brigham Young said: "Captain Allen, you shall have your battalion; and if we haven't enough young men, we will give you old men." An American flag was hoisted, recruiting started, and in three days the five hundred men were furnished. I maintain that you will search the history of the world in vain to find elsewhere such evidence of patriotism! In spite of their expatriation, in spite of the fact that in order to save their lives they had been compelled to abandon and flee from their homes, they responded to the call of their country. And as to the nature of the service rendered by the heroic volunteers, the gallant commander, Lieutenant Colonel St. George Cooke, said in his general order announcing the completion of their march: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.208 "History may be searched in vain for an equal march of infantry. Half of it has been through a wilderness where nothing but savages and wild beasts are found; or deserts where, for want of water, there is no living creature. There, with almost hopeless labor, we have dug deep wells which the future traveler will enjoy. Without a guide who had traversed them, we have ventured into trackless tablelands where water was not found for several marches. With crowbar and pick and axe in hand, we have worked our way over mountains which seemed to defy aught save the wild goat, and hewed a passage through a chasm of living rock more narrow than our wagons." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.208 I might incidentally remark, as a further instance of the service of the Mormon Battalion in making the West, that some of its members were among the discoverers of gold in California, which subsequently enriched our nation many millions of dollars. THE GREAT MIGRATION TO UTAH. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.208 Crossing to the west bank of the Missouri River, as I have said. the "Mormon" camps established Winter Quarters, and here many log houses were built, and a frontier settlement was made. In this place Brigham Young planted a cottonwood tree, under which I had the honor of standing two weeks ago last Sunday, with some of my companions; and a snapshot was taken of us, which by the way did not come out very well. (I hope we did not spoil the camera.) It is a large tree, with its branches extending a hundred feet, and its trunk about twenty feet in circumference. It is distinctive, historically and otherwise, among all the other trees in the park where it stands. A short distance from that spot many hundreds of the early "Mormons" are buried; and from there, in 1847, Brigham Young started with his pioneer company of 143 men, three women, and two children to explore the unknown West, and find an abiding place for the homeless people. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.208 I shall not relate the many incidents of peril and anxiety on that memorable trip, which required many weary weeks in traveling from the Missouri River to the Salt Lake Valley, which was then practically an unknown country. Nor was the prospect pleasing when they reached the spot where our chief city now stands. "Weary and worried as I am," said one of the three women, "I would gladly go another thousand miles rather than stay in such a desolate place;" and another, her sister, echoed the same sentiment. But Brigham Young had said, "This is the place," asserting that he had seen the valley in vision some time before, and that it was the spot where the Latter-day Saints should locate. He had been taken sick just before reaching the valley, and a small advance company was sent out two days ahead of the main body of pioneers to look over the country and if possible prepare a bit of land for planting. They had brought some plows, but found the ground so hard that several plowshares were broken. They finally turned the water of a small stream on the parched and baked soil, and the first day succeeded in planting a few acres of crops. So far as I know, this was the beginning of that system of irrigation which has meant so much in the development of the United States of America, a system which has reclaimed millions upon millions of acres of land, and has led to the expenditure of very many millions of dollars by the government in reclamation projects in Idaho, Arizona, Utah, and other sections of the country. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.209 The pioneer company later returned to Winter Quarters, where in the meantime the work of outfitting and preparing for the general migration to the West had gone on apace. Large trains of ox teams were organized that took several months to cross the plains. My own father had the privilege of commanding one of those companies -- the third company of emigrants that went to Utah that first season; and by the fall of 1847, there were 1600 people in the Salt Lake Valley. They had built a log fort with extensions, and a number of log houses. Their industry was prospectively to be rewarded with fruitful harvests in 1848, when myriads of crickets appeared, devouring everything before them. Immigration had continued meanwhile, and now the people felt that ruin and starvation stared them in the face, because they were a thousand miles from anywhere, so to speak, and it appeared that the crops would be utterly lost in spite of all they could do. Unless that harvest could be saved, there was nothing for them to look forward to but absolute starvation. As a people they believe God came to their rescue; that it was His providence that from the islands in the Great Salt Lake the flocks of gulls came which devoured the crickets. In commemoration of this deliverance there has since been erected a very beautiful monument, and I shall take occasion to get from Secretary Tufts a list of the members of your club, and when I return home will mail to each of you a booklet entitled "Utah," on the front cover of which is a picture of the monument, erected in remembrance of the mercy of God in saving from starvation the many hundreds of early pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley. Our Legislature has enacted a law prohibiting the killing of gulls; and the birds are so tame that they will come into our fields, and follow the plowman to feast on the worms that are uncovered by his furrow. PIONEERING THE INTERMOUNTAIN COUNTRY. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.210 In the next few years the "Mormons" redeemed the valleys for a hundred miles north and three hundred and fifty miles to the south. Originally, Utah included all of the present State of Utah, all of Nevada, part of Colorado, and part of Wyoming and Idaho; but pieces have been sliced off from time to time, until it is small in area compared with what it was in the early days, perhaps no more than one-half its original size. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.210 The "Mormon" people have been not only the pioneers in settlement and in irrigation and reclamation in Utah, but they were the pioneers also in Idaho. A little settlement that was once in Utah is now in Idaho, and it is the city where the pioneers of the Gem state meet once a year to celebrate "Idaho Day," being the starting point of civilization in that section. In the other direction, the San Luis Valley in Colorado was considered altogether too high in elevation to be of any value for agriculture until a "Mormon" colony went there and reclaimed the locality. They proved that it was a good country for raising crops, notwithstanding the fact that it was seven thousand feet in elevation. The "Mormons" were also among the very first pioneers to go into Arizona. There was a great deal of prejudice against them, but it has practically all disappeared. Today there is perhaps a better feeling toward our people in Arizona than in any other section in which they are located. As an illustration of the goodwill existing there regarding the "Mormon" people: when a novelist by the name of Winifred Graham came over here from England, telling a lot of unconscionable lies about the "Mormons," a Senator from Arizona stood up in the Senate of the United States and voluntarily and emphatically branded her statements as the falsehoods which they were. The ex-Governor of the state also said that no better class of people could be found anywhere than the "Mormons" of Arizona, adding that in one respect they were being robbed of between 2500 and 3000 per cent of a certain class of taxes in Arizona -- because, according to population, they were entitled to have twenty-five or thirty inmates in the state penitentiary, and they had only one (laughter); also, that we were entitled to 700 or 800 per cent more of the taxes set aside for the support of the insane, being entitled, according to population, to seven or eight inmates in the insane asylum, whereas we had none. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.210 We ask people to judge us by the standard laid down by our Savior: "By their fruits ye shall know them." I was reading last Saturday, in Chicago, from Phil Robinson's book, Sinners and Saints, in which he states that he is at the defiance of any man to find a single book, with one exception, written on the "Mormon" question, that is not absolutely untrue, because practically all the books on that subject were written by the enemies of our people, and are unfair. In the book I refer to, Mr. Robinson gives the "Mormons" a fine certificate of character, and among other things says that he nearly choked to death for "a drink" among the "Mormons" while traveling 350 miles to the south and a hundred-odd miles to the north, until after inquiring for a "back-slider" he was successful in finding a demijohn. After that he got along very well. He said he had always supposed water was for the cleansing of the body until he arrived in Utah, and there he found it was used for drinking purposes. Mr. Robinson also refers to the fact that although we had 80-odd per cent of the population in Utah, the remaining 17 per cent (as I recall) furnished 80 per cent of the inmates of the territorial penitentiary. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.211 The first great commandment is to "multiply and replenish the earth;" and Utah's best crop is babies. (Laughter.) We feel very proud of the record of our people in that particular. We can not begin to compare with other people in furnishing divorces. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.211 Before we divided on party lines in Utah as Democrats and Republicans, I heard a Congressman say, while making a campaign speech in Salt Lake City, that hanging on the wall in one of the houses of Congress in Washington there was a map showing the states and territories of the Union. The map was black originally, but as education grew, it was painted white; and he stated that there were only four whiter spots upon that map than Utah. At that time Utah was a territory and we had no public lands to sell to help us in education; we had forged to the front without receiving one single, solitary dollar from the sale of public lands from the United States. We have been branded as an ignorant lot, and yet for ninety-odd years we have been sending our young men to Harvard and other universities to get an education, and they have made a record of which we are proud. While I was presiding over the European mission of our Church, I read in the newspapers that we have overtaken and equalled one of the states in the Union for second place in literacy. Doctor Winship, one of the great educators of our country, has given us credit, in recent lectures, for having the finest laws on education of any state or territory in the Union. TEMPLE BUILDING AND HOME INDUSTRY. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.211 As I have already told you, the early "Mormons" erected a temple soon after they reached Ohio, and considering the small number of people that were there, it was a wonderful accomplishment. They erected a large temple at Nauvoo, which was destroyed by the mob, after the expulsion of the people. The second day, after the arrival of the pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young walked to the spot where the great temple was later erected, drove his cane into the ground, and said, "Here we will build the Temple of our God." The corners were laid forty years, to a day, before the temple was completed. For forty long years the people contributed of their means toward the erection of that temple. As a child I contributed fifty cents a month; later as a boy I gave a dollar a month, then five dollars, and finally made a contribution of several thousand dollars to aid in its completion. In the meantime the pioneers were redeeming a country which was considered absolutely worthless before they undertook its reclamation. The noted trapper, Jim Bridger, had told Brigham Young and his pioneer company that he would give one thousand dollars for the first ear of corn ripened in the Salt Lake Valley; it was quite generally considered a worthless wilderness. Yet, when years later the United States government offered a handsome prize for the best five acres of wheat raised in any part of the United States, Salt Lake Valley carried off the prize. The temple which, as I have said, was forty years in building was erected at a cost, of over four millions of dollars. I imagine it could be built today, even at the high prices of labor and material, for a million and a half. But in those days it took an ox team several days to go to the mountains and bring one solitary stone for the structure. It took several weeks of work by hand to cut that stone. The footings of the building are sixteen feet; the walls are eight feet thick; and it was built, as Brigham Young advised everybody to build, "to last a thousand years." He erected, at that early day, a theatre in Salt Lake which still stands, in which all of the leading companies that visit Utah put on their plays. It was built when I was a child. Every nail in it was carried a thousand miles from the frontiers at the Missouri River, when nails were a dollar a pound. Those were the days when sugar was selling at one hundred one dollars a bag -- one hundred for the sugar and one dollar for the sack. When people went to the theatre they took their molasses in a can, or brought a squash or something else to pay the price of admission. Fortunately there was no war tax; for they could not have paid it; they had no money. Within twenty years after the arrival of the pioneers, the "Mormon" Tabernacle was built, with a seating capacity of eight thousand. On special occasions, when the building has been crowded, more than ten thousand people have been counted. The Tabernacle was erected without the use of nails, the roof being pinned together with wooden pins and tied with rawhide thongs. At the time of its completion, although a thousand miles from civilization, it was the largest auditorium in the United States of America without a center support to the roof; and it is today the largest except where steel girders have been used to support the roof. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.212 A concert was given in the building, by our Tabernacle Choir of five hundred voices, for the relief of the sufferers from the Johnstown flood. The net receipts, at a $1 a seat, amounted to $7500, which was remitted to the sufferers. Yet under those conditions our people built some splendid irrigation projects. Some of them would cost today millions upon millions of dollars, and they were built by the cooperative labor of the people and the exchange of their products. Brigham Young taught the people to sustain home manufacture, to be economical, to avoid extravagant habits, and not think of getting this, that, and the other which would not add to any actual comfort. In those days we were clothed in what was known as "homespun." In nearly every home the wife would take the wool and prepare it for spinning, she would have in her home a loom on which she would weave the rag carpets. When we built a canal, the only money we needed was for the purchase of plows and scrapers and for powder to blast the rocks. Most of our early, great enterprises were made possible by co-operative labor. I know of one little canal on which the settlers worked each winter for twelve long years, and reclaimed the ground where now stands a little settlement of eight hundred or a thousand people. The accomplishments of Utah have been brought about by pulling together, by "teamwork," by absolute unity, and co-operation, which I believe existed there to a greater extent than in any other community. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.212 Brigham Young has the honor of having established in Utah the first department store in our country -- Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution, of which I am now president. This list of companies (pointing to program) of which I am credited with being president fails to mention those which come my way accidentally, one may say, because I became president of the Church, all of which are of more importance than the ones on the list here published. One of the institutions over which I have the honor to preside, and over which my predecessors from Brigham Young to Joseph F. Smith have presided, is Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution, established in early days to prevent excessive profits and to protect the people by giving them fair goods at a fair profit. That institution now does a business of some twelve million dollars a year. ESTABLISHING BEET-SUGAR INDUSTRY. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.213 Another institution that I have the honor of presiding over is the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company. I wish to say to you gentlemen here that we have the honor of having erected the first beet-sugar factory ever built in the United States of America with American machinery. There had been several factories built with imported machinery; in fact, away back in 1862, the "Mormons" sent John Taylor (who afterwards became president of the Church) to France to bring machinery from there to try to establish the beet-sugar industry in the Great Basin. To my mind, perhaps one of the most substantial illustrations of the loyalty and of the co-operative work of the "Mormon" people is seen in the following: In 1891 when Baring Brothers failed in London, with their investments largely in the Argentine Republic, that failure reached clear out to Salt Lake City; and as there was very little money in the country it made it very hard indeed for our people. Many of those who had subscribed for stock in the sugar company were unable to pay their subscription; but the president of the Church said: "We will build that factory if it breaks the credit of the Church itself; we must build it, because it will make an increased product from the soil and therefore be beneficial to the people." The president sent me East, West, North and South, all through the country, as his agent, to borrow money with which to build that factory. After we had failed in New York and other Eastern centers to get money to finish it, I went to San Francisco and appealed to Henry Wadsworth, then manager of the Wells Fargo Bank, to loan the last hundred thousand dollars that we needed. In my appeal I said to him: "Mr. Wadsworth, when you were in Salt Lake you believed in me as a boy when I worked for you; you gave me $100 as a New Year's present, and stated that no one else in the bank should have a dollar because all the others watched the clock to see how soon they could get out of the front door after 3 o'clock, whereas I came back occasionally and worked at night. Now that I am one of the leading officials of the 'Mormon' Church I ask you to believe in me and to furnish the hundred thousand dollars necessary to complete this factory. I have just succeeded in getting fifty thousand dollars from the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company of San Francisco; they know me well. But I must have a hundred thousand dollars more, and I must have it from you." I pleaded with him to deposit the money in Zion's Savings Bank and Trust Company, in Salt Lake City, and told him we could convince that bank that our securities were good. His reply was that "banks were failing everywhere and he could not let me have the money." Finally I said: "Mr. Wadsworth, the beet-sugar industry must and shall be established. I have no authority to offer you the note of the Church, but I pledge you four notes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- twenty-five thousand due in six months, twenty-five thousand in a year, twenty-five thousand in eighteen months, and twenty-five thousand in two years, with twenty indorsers, individually and severally liable for the obligation; you to write out twenty-five names of the strongest financial 'Mormon' men in Salt Lake City, and I will guarantee to get twenty indorsers out of the twenty-five." He said: "My boy, that is an impossibility; no twenty men on earth would guarantee, individually and collectively, one hundred thousand dollars for any church." "Well," I replied, "we are a little different from any other church; I will get you the notes and indorsers all right." He insisted that it could not be done. "Then you don't need to give me the money," I said at last; "all I ask is that you give me the opportunity." Then he said: "I will go you one better; I will write thirty names, and if you can get any twenty out of the thirty, it will be satisfactory, and you can have your money." He wrote five or six names, tore up the paper, and said: "Heber, you were my office boy fifteen years ago. Many a man has gone broke in fifteen years. I will just write up to my successor in Salt Lake and tell him to write the names." When I got back home, his successor wrote a list of names, and as he looked at them he said: "Those names remind me of an incident in early days in a California mining camp. There was a saloon-keeper who had on his front door a list of names of the people who owed him for whisky. One day his wife in a streak of cleanliness scrubbed the floor and even washed the door, and when the man discovered it he exclaimed: 'Good heavens! you have ruined me; give me a pencil quick, and maybe I can still make them out.' Then he studied out the names as best he could, and rewrote them, and stood and looked at the list. You know some people say that 'damn' is only emphasis; and with emphasis he said: 'That is the best lot of -- names that was ever on that door.'" So this banker said: "This is the best lot of names I ever saw." A FINANCIER'S FAITH AND AID. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.215 I got twenty-four indorsers out of the thirty men on his list; three of the thirty were out of town, and one man volunteered to sign whose name was not on the list, but who happened to hear two of the gentlemen that were on the list refusing to sign the note, these taking the ground that it was not good morals for a church to borrow money to loan to a private corporation. I said to them: "I will agree, when you and I meet the Lord, if we ever do, to absolve you from all trouble if you will put your name on the back of these notes. (Laughter.) It will be time enough for you, or me, to decide the morals of the question when we become members of the presidency of the Church. The presidency have signed the notes, and they will have to answer to the Lord for the moral part of it. Will you sign the notes, or will you not?" They declined. Then I had this conversation with the voluntary signer to whom I have referred. He lived in Ogden and was worth more than any ten men who had signed the note -- when he died his estate was worth fifteen to twenty millions of dollars. He had been writing a letter and after the two men declined, he said: "Heber, I have heard your story. Is my name on the list?" "No," I replied, "there are only Salt Lake men on the list." He said he would like to look at the notes. I handed them to him, and he wrote his name on the back of each one without even reading the notes. He handed them back, with the remark: "I don't think my name will hurt them." Then he said to me: "Heber, tell the president of the Church that any time he wishes those notes paid, if he will notify David Eccles thirty days ahead -- I always keep from one to three hundred thousand dollars in bank, on certificates of deposit, so that on thirty days' notice I can draw it out -- I will be glad to pay these notes, and the Church can pay me in one year, or five years, or ten years, or when convenient." Maybe you think I did not want to hug this man about that time. (Laughter.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.215 Then Mr. Eccles added: "Tell the president of the Church that if he wants my name on another hundred thousand dollars of notes, just to send you up to Ogden. You have never been in my house. I will give you supper, bed and breakfast; and we have pen and ink." By the way, I went up there some time later, and got his signature for another $100,000. (Laughter). When he told me the street on which he lived, I said: "Don't tell me what street you live on. Step across the road to my office and I will show you a plat of your house. I have it insured." (Laughter.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.216 I have referred to some of the buildings erected by the Latter-day Saints, among them the great Salt Lake Temple. When I was a boy they erected a temple also at St. George, three hundred fifty miles south of Salt Lake City, at a cost of several hundred thousand dollars. Later, when I was a young man of twenty-six, they completed a temple in Logan, costing several hundred thousand dollars. Some three or four years later they erected another temple, just as large, at Manti, Utah. Last November, on my birthday, I was in the Hawaiian Islands and dedicated a temple there which cost over two hundred thousand dollars. This coming summer we will dedicate, in Canada, a temple costing over six hundred thousand dollars. We have spent millions of dollars in the erection of ward chapels and district meeting houses, also millions of dollars in erecting Church-school buildings, from Canada to Mexico. During the present year we will supply, for maintenance of Church schools alone -- to say nothing of erection of buildings -- three-quarters of a million dollars. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.216 Time will not permit me to speak in detail of the part the Church has played in establishing and fostering institutions for the good of the people. I have referred to Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution and to the beet-sugar industry. The latter, the first year produced only one million one hundred thousand pounds of sugar. The Dyers of Cleveland, Ohio, who built this factory, left Utah after two or three years, believing that the sugar industry in Utah would be a failure; but among the "Mormon" people there is a considerable percent of Scotch, Dutch and Scandinavian blood, and they are somewhat stubborn. You know it is said there is nobody on earth quite as stubborn as a Scotchman, except a Dutchman. I happen to be Scotch on my father's side and Dutch on my mother's. Our people have been brought together from all sections of the country; in fact, we have converts from all parts of the world. They did not allow difficulties to discourage them; they did not give up; and in 1920, the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company will produce over two million one hundred thousand bags of one hundred pounds each of sugar, instead of one million one hundred thousand pounds as in the first year. There are other sugar companies in Utah and Idaho and their combined product will be equally as much as ours. So that the beet-sugar industry in the intermountain section will produce this year over four million bags of sugar. It is true that Colorado has outstripped us in the beet-sugar production; but the original people who went over into Colorado and built the first factory, received their education in the first factory built in Utah. "MORMON" PIONEER HYMN. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.216 Some day a story will be written about the sufferings and hardships of the "Mormon" pioneers while crossing the plains. I feel disposed to tell at least one little incident in connection with the pioneer journey. When the "Mormons" were at Winter Quarters, preparing to outfit their companies to travel by ox team to Utah, Brigham Young turned to a man named William Clayton and said: "Before the first company starts for Salt Lake Valley, I want you to write a hymn that will inspire and comfort and cheer and bless the people on their long journey." William Clayton went away, and is reputed to have returned the same day with what is known as the great "Mormon" pioneer hymn. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.217 When I arrived in Liverpool to preside over the European mission, as successor to the father of Doctor Richard R. Lyman, who is here with us tonight (a professor of engineering in the University of Utah and graduate from Michigan University), President Lyman said: "We will sing your favorite hymn tonight." I replied that I hadn't any favorite. "All the leaders of the Church ought to have a favorite song," said President Lyman; "my favorite is, 'School thy feelings, O my brother; train thy warm impulsive soul.' The favorite of my bosom friend John Henry Smith, is 'Up, awake, ye defenders of Zion.'" And he named the favorite hymns of about a dozen of our Church leaders. Finally I said: "Hold on; I can choose my favorite in a quarter of a minute -- 'Come, come ye Saints.'" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.217 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. 'Tis better far for us to strive Our useless cares from us to drive, Do this, and joy your hearts will swell All is well! All is well! Why should we mourn, or think our lot is hard? 'Tis not so; all is right! Why should we think to earn a great reward, If we now shun the fight? Gird up your loins, fresh courage take, Our God will never us forsake; And soon we'll have this tale to tell -- All is well! All is well! We'll find the place which God for us prepared, Far away in the West; Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid; There the Saints will be blest. We'll make the air with music ring, Shout praises to our God and King; Above the rest these words we'll tell -- All is well! all is well! And should we die before our journey's through, Happy day! all is well! We then are free from toll and sorrow too; With the just we shall dwell. But if our lives are spared again To see the Saints their rest obtain, O, how we'll make this chorus swell -- All is well! All is well. PATHETIC INCIDENT OF THE PLAINS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.218 One day my father-in-law said to me: "Heber, for twenty long years I have listened in vain for our choirs to sing the fourth verse of 'Come, come ye Saints.' I believe the rising generation know nothing whatever of the comfort and cheer which we received, while crossing the plains, from singing that pioneer hymn or they never would be guilty of leaving off the fourth verse, which we looked upon as a prayer." In one of the revelations to our Church we are told by the Lord: "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." My father-in-law said that hymn was a blessing to every one who sang it, and particularly the last verse, which they sang, and meant every word of it: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.218 And should we die before our journey's through, Happy day! all is well! We then are free from toil and sorrow too; With the just we shall dwell. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.218 Then he related the following incident: "One of the men in our company crossing the plains was late coming into camp one night. (In those early companies they traveled a day and a half or two days apart, and had three companies going practically together, so that in case of Indian trouble, having a few horses with each company, men with guns could go back or forward.) As this man had not reached camp, and it was getting late, we organized a volunteer company to go back to see if he had been waylaid by Indians. Just as we were ready to start, we saw him coming in the distance. He explained that he had been sick, and as he happened to have the last wagon in the company, he was alone, and had to lie down by the road for a few hours' rest. He was very feeble when he came into camp, so we unyoked his oxen, and got his supper ready. After supper he sat on a large rock by the campfire and sang 'Come, come ye Saints.' It was the rule of the camp that whenever any one started to sing this pioneer hymn, all the others should join in; but in this case it happened that none of us joined in the song. When he had finished. I looked around and I did not see a dry eye. The next morning, noticing that he had not yoked up his oxen, we went to his wagon and found that he had died during the night. We dug a shallow grave, buried his body, and to the head of his grave we rolled the stone on which he sat the night before. while singing. 'And should we die before our journey's through, happy day! all is well! We then are free from toil and sorrow too; with the just we shall dwell.'" My father- in-law started to tell me something else, but stopped and said: "Never mind." Years later the Burlington railroad, while surveying its line through Nebraska and Wyoming, found a broken wagon tire sticking out of the ground, on which there had been chiseled the words: "Rebecca Winters; age 50 years." The surveyors with delicate kindness and consideration went back three or four miles, and changed the line of the road in order to miss that lonely grave. The railroad company fenced the spot and wrote to Utah to find out if any one knew Rebecca Winters. She was my wife's grandmother. No doubt my father-in-law had intended to tell me during the conversation above quoted, that when he came to Salt Lake City from his home in another part of the territory, to meet an immigrant train on which he expected to find his beloved mother, he learned that she, too, had died before her journey "was through." We have erected a little monument at the grave, inscribing on one side the history of Grandma Winters, and on the other side the fourth verse of "Come, come ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear." AS COLONIZERS AND NATION-BUILDERS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.219 It is this spirit among the "Mormon" people, of co-operation, this willingness to stand one by the other, and to build up the communities, that has helped to redeem the desert, that has enabled them to make a record in Canada, in Mexico, as well as in our own country -- that has given them the splendid standing and reputation they enjoy. They were regarded as the foremost colonists of all Mexico, in the estimation of that great leader of the republic, the late General Diaz. No one would suspect that that iron character would be guilty of shedding a tear, and yet on the last trip he took to Chihuahua to visit the state fair, when he saw the exhibit of industry and frugality, the saddles and the harness, the canned fruit, the bottled fruit. the exhibits from the "Mormon" academy and the pictures of the "Mormon" Church schools in Juarez, the old warrior wiped his eyes and said: "What could I not do with my beloved Mexico if I only had more citizens and settlers like the 'Mormons.'" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.219 Wherever we have gone, we have made a success. The "Mormon" people believe in education; they believe in art, in literature, in science, in advancement. They sent their tabernacle choir of two hundred fifty voices to the Chicago Fair in 1893, and won the second prize in competition with all the world, for the best choir of that number of voices. The choir that won first prize, I understand, had hired the best fifty voices from Wales to help them out. (Laughter.) We put in a little protest, but the protest did not work. One of the producers of operas, concerts, and lectures, a great theatrical man of New York, told me that he was at the fair and heard the choirs sing; and his verdict was that those fifty voices did not help the other choir, their strength and power destroyed perfect harmony: "but, of course," he said, "it never would have done to give you miserable 'Mormons' the five-thousand-dollar prize, although if I had been the judge you would have received it." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.219 It was my intention to speak from notes on this occasion, because this is my first attempt at talking to an audience like this. The first thing I had intended to do was to read a poem, but I forgot all about it until I looked at these notes. Now that I see my time is about up, I am going to close with what should have been the beginning and use the remaining few minutes in reading this poem and a statement regarding Joseph Smith. Some four years ago I happened to buy this book, and since then I have given away over five hundred copies. I have just ordered something over a thousand to send out, at the expense of the Church, to our missionaries in the United States. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.220 I am very grateful to be here, as I said in the opening of my remarks, and I hope you will get acquainted with me. This poem is from the pen of Edgar A. Guest, and is entitled: WHEN YOU GET TO KNOW A FELLOW. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.220 When you get to know a fellow, know his joys and know his cares, When you've come to understand him and the burdens that he bears, When you've learned the fight he's making and the troubles in his way, Then you find that he is different than you thought him yesterday. Then you will find his faults are trivial and there's not so much to blame In the brother that you jeered at when you only knew his name. You are quick to see the blemish in the distant neighbor's style, You can point to all his errors and may sneer at him the while, And your prejudices fatten and your hates more violent grow As you talk about the failure of the man you do not know, But when drawn a little closer, and your hands and shoulders touch, You find the traits you hated really don't amount to much. When you get to know a fellow, know his every mood and whim, You begin to find the texture of the splendid side of him; You begin to understand him, and you cease to scoff and sneer, For with understanding always prejudices disappear. You begin to find his virtues and his faults you cease to tell, For you seldom hate a fellow when you know him very well. When next you start in sneering and your phrases turn to blame, Know more of him you censure than his business and his name; For it's likely that acquaintance would your prejudice dispel And you'd really come to like him if you knew him very well. Then his faults won't really matter, for you'll find a lot to praise. When you get to know a fellow and you understand his ways, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.220 (Applause.) TRIBUTE TO THE FOUNDER. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.220 Brigham Young, some day, will be acknowledged as one of the greatest leaders and pioneers that the world has ever known, and yet I want you to know that all that has been accomplished, by so-called "Mormonism" and by our people, was built upon the broad foundation laid by the man who was martyred in Carthage jail. He gave the Church a book of revelations of hundreds of pages. Brigham Young gave but one revelation pertaining to the organizing of the pioneer companies. John Taylor gave but one revelation during his presidency; and his successors promulgated no new revelations. The foundation was laid by the prophet Joseph Smith for all that has been accomplished. He gave his life, in Carthage jail, sealing with his blood the divinity of his testimony, and credit is due to this wonderful leader for what has been accomplished. I desire to read a testimony given by Josiah Quincy, a man who knew Washington and others of the country's great founders, a man who was once Mayor of Boston, and a man who was on the reception committee to welcome Lafayette when he came over here from France. In his book, Figures of the Past, he says: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.221 "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 destinies 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. History deals in surprises and paradoxes quite as startling as this. The man who established a religion in this age of free debate, who was and is today accepted by hundreds of thousands as a direct emissary from the Most High -- such a rare human being is not to be disposed of by pelting his memory with unsavory epithets. Fanatic, impostor, charlatan, he may have been; but these hard names furnish no solution to the problem he presents to us. Fanatics and impostors are living and dying every day, and their memory is buried with them; but the wonderful influence which this founder of a religion exerted and still exerts throws him into relief before us, not as a rogue to be criminated, but as a phenomenon to be explained. The most vital questions Americans are asking each other today have to do with this man and what he has left us. * * * A generation other than mine must deal with these questions. Burning questions they are, which must give a prominent place in the history of the country to that sturdy self-asserter whom I visited at Nauvoo. Joseph Smith, claiming to be an inspired teacher, faced adversity such as few men have been called to meet, enjoyed a brief season of prosperity such as few men have ever attained, and, finally, forty-three days after I saw him, went cheerfully to a martyr's death. When he surrendered his person to Governor Ford, in order to prevent the shedding of blood, the prophet had a presentiment of what was before him. 'I am going like a lamb to the slaughter,' he is reported to have said, 'but I am as calm as a summer's morning. I have a conscience void of offense and shall die innocent.' I have no theory to advance respecting this extraordinary man. I shall simply give the facts of my intercourse with him. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.221 "A fine-looking man -- " Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.221 [Incidentally, my mother tells me he was the finest looking man she ever saw; he stood over six feet high.] Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.222 "A fine-looking man is what the passer-by would instinctively have murmured upon meeting the remarkable individual who had fashioned the mold which was to shape the feelings of so many thousands of his fellow mortals. But Smith was more than this, and one could not resist the impression that capacity and resource were natural to his stalwart person. I have already mentioned the resemblance he bore to Elisha R. Potter, of Rhode Island, whom I met in Washington in 1826. The likeness was not such as would be recognized in a picture, but rather one that would be felt in a grave emergency. Of all men I have met -- " Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.222 [Remember the writer had met Washington, he had been private secretary to John Adams, and he had met Lafayette and the great men of his day] NATURAL LEADER AND STATESMAN. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.222 "Of all men I have met, these two seemed best endowed with that kingly faculty which directs, as by intrinsic right, the feeble or confused souls who are looking for guidance." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.222 In passing, I may remark that you can read in one book written against the "Mormons" that Joseph Smith got all his inspiration and revelations while he was having fits. (Laughter.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.222 "We then went on to talk of politics. Smith recognized the curse and iniquity of slavery, though he opposed the methods of the abolitionists. His plan was for the nation to pay for the slaves from the sale of the public lands. 'Congress,' he said, 'should be compelled to take this course, by petitions from all parts of the country; but the petitioners must disclaim all alliance with those who would disturb the rights of property recognized by the Constitution and which foment insurrection. It may be worth while to remark that Smith's plan was publicly advocated eleven years later by one who has mixed so much practical shrewdness with his lofty philosophy. In 1855, when men's minds had been moved to their depths on the question of slavery, Ralph Waldo Emerson declared that it should be met in accordance 'with the interest of the South and with the settled conscience of the North. It is not really a great task a great fight for this country to accomplish, to buy that property of the planter, as the British nation bought the West Indian salves.' He further says that the 'United States will be brought to give every inch of their public lands for a purpose like this.' We, who can look back upon the terrible cost of the fratricidal war which put an end to slavery, now say that such a solution of the difficulty would have been worthy a Christian statesman. But if the retired scholar was in advance of his time when he advocated this disposition of the public property in 1855, what shall I say of the political and religious leader who had committed himself, in print, as well as in conversation, to the same course in 1844? If the atmosphere of men's opinions was stirred by such a proposition when war-clouds were discernible in the sky, was it not a statesmanlike word eleven years earlier, when the heavens looked tranquil and beneficent? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.222 "General Smith proceeded to unfold still further his views upon politics. He denounced the Missouri Compromise as an unjustifiable concession for the benefit of slavery. It was Henry Clay's bid for the presidency. Doctor Goforth might have spared himself the trouble of coming to Nauvoo to electioneer for a duelist who would fire at John Randolph, but was not brave enough to protect the Saints in their rights as American citizens. Clay told his (Smith's) people to go to the wilds of Oregon and set up a government of their own. Oh, yes, the Saints might go into the wilderness and obtain the justice of the Indians, which imbecile, time serving politicians would not give them in the land of freedom and equality. The prophet then talked of the details of government. He thought that the number of members admitted to the lower house of the National Legislature should be reduced. A crowd only darkened counsel and impeded business. A member for every half-million of population would be ample. The powers of the President should be increased. He should have authority to put down rebellion in a state, without waiting for the request of any Governor; for it might happen that the Governor himself would be the leader of the rebels. It is needless to remark how later events showed the executive weakness that Smith pointed out -- a weakness which cost thousands of valuable lives and millions of treasure. ... Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.222 "Born in the lowest ranks of poverty, without booklearning and with the homeliest of all human names, he had made himself at the age of thirty-nine a power upon the earth. Of the multitudinous family of Smith, none had so won human hearts and shaped human lives as this Joseph. His influence, whether for good or evil, is potent today, and the end is not yet. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.222 "I have endeavored to give the details of my visit to the 'Mormon' prophet with absolute accuracy. If the reader does not know just what to make of Joseph Smith, I can not help him out of the difficulty. I myself stand helpless before the puzzle." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1921, p.222 I thank, you, gentlemen, for your attention. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.2 It is indeed a great pleasure to have again the opportunity of meeting with the Latter-day Saints in General Conference. I desire most earnestly that the prayer of President Chipman may be realized and that all of us, who may have the opportunity of speaking during the sessions of this conference, may be inspired of the Lord. I know that I not only speak for myself but for all of my associates of the General Authorities of the Church when I say that we desire only to say those things, during this conference, that shall be for the benefit, spiritually as well as temporally, of the Latter-day Saints. I know not only my own heart, but I know the hearts of those with whom I am associated, as the General Authorities of the Church, and I know that each and all of us desire more than anything else in the world the advancement of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We desire the welfare spiritually of the people, and also their temporal welfare; and it is our daily and constant prayer to God that his blessings may be and abide with the Saints in all parts of the world, and also with every honest-hearted soul who dwells upon the earth. THE SANCTIFYING POWER OF DISTRESS, AS ILLUSTRATED IN THE HISTORY OF THE SAINTS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.2 I would like to express my firm conviction as to the application to each and every faithful Latter-day Saint, of the last verse that we have just sung, verse number four of the hymn, "How firm a foundation:" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.2 When through the deep waters I call thee to go, The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o'erflow, For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.2 When I think of the distress of the Latter-day Saints, the dangers and persecutions through which they went in New York, Ohio, Missouri and Illinois; when I think of the trouble and difficulties of the great pioneer journey from the Missouri river to these valleys; when I think of the reign almost of terror at different times from my childhood until now -- the coming of an army against our people; when I think how near they came to starving because of the crickets; when I think of the confiscation of all the Church's property, and the many trials and tribulations through which the people have passed, I say when I think of these things I realize that the Lord has sanctified all their trials to the good of the Latter-day Saints, for these afflictions and tribulations have fitted and qualified them more perfectly to live the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. PRESENT DISTRESS AND DEBT Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.3 At the present time the Latter-day Saints and the people of this intermountain country are in great distress financially. Perhaps there has never been a time from the early days of the settlement of the valley, when there was a greater scarcity of money in proportion to the needs of the people, and when so many people find themselves in financial difficulties, mainly due to the fact that they launched out beyond their means, and ran in debt, in many cases for luxuries. I happened to pick up in Chicago a bank advertisement which I think is very fine and timely just in this particular condition of affairs. The words are the words of that wise man, Benjamin Franklin: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.3 Taxes are indeed very heavy; but if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might the more easily discharge them. But we have many others and much more grievous to some of us; we are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly, [and they didn't even have automobiles in that day] and from these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver us by allowing an abatement. FAITH, INTEGRITY AND DEVOTION OF THE SAINTS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.3 From my earliest recollections, from the days of Brigham Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.3 Young until now, I have listened to men standing in the pulpit in the old Tabernacle, and before that in the Bowery, before we had the old Tabernacle, and from this stand, urging the people not to run into debt; and I believe that the great majority of all our troubles today is caused through the failure to carry out that counsel. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.3 I certainly hope that the lessons that we are learning today will turn out a blessing to us, that they will be sanctified to our good, as illustrated in the words of this verse from the hymn that I have read. And I believe that they will. I have an abiding and perfect faith in the integrity and the devotion and the loyalty of the Latter-day Saints to God and their desire to serve him. I have full faith in the people that have embraced the gospel. Why? Because they know the Lord; because they know our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ; because they know that this gospel, commonly called "Mormonism," is in very deed the plan of salvation; because they have an absolute and abiding knowledge that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and living God, and that the revelations contained in the D&C are in very deed the words of God. There is no doubt in the minds of the Latter-day Saints that God our heavenly Father, the Creator of heaven and earth; did speak to Joseph Smith. There is no doubt in the minds of the Latter-day Saints that God pointed to his Son and announced that he was his Son, and told the boy to hear him, and that the Savior of the worm gave instructions to Joseph Smith. I read a few months ago of one of the great "divines" in Great Britain -- a great student of the Bible, declaring that Jesus Christ was not the Son of God, and quoting as part of his authority another great "divine" and a famous theological student and teacher. Thank the Lord for the revelations of God to us, for the revelations from Jesus Christ where, time and time again, he announces himself as the Son of the living God, and the Redeemer of the World! Knowing as I know, and as the Latter-day Saints do know, that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, that the revelations contained in this book are in very deed the words of God, and the words of our Redeemer, I repeat that I have full faith in the integrity to God of the Latter-day Saints; and I am convinced beyond a shadow of doubt that the work of the Lord will continue to spread, notwithstanding the hard times financially through which we have been passing. PROGRESS IN THE MISSION FIELD Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.4 We have, at the present time in the missionary field, seventeen hundred and ninety-eight missionaries, not including hundreds of workers in foreign lands who are local missionaries, who have been working in that capacity because of the lack of material in sending elders from the stakes of Zion. Our missionary activities for the first six months of this year indicate an increase in all the missions of the Church of 65 per cent in baptisms, as compared with the same period a year ago. This proves that the work of the Lord is spreading, that notwithstanding hard times, notwithstanding financial difficulties, there is a most remarkable and wonderful increase in the number of those who are embracing the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have practically the same number of missionaries now that we had a year ago, so this growth is not because of the increase in the laborers in the fields, but is because of increase in the power of the missionaries and the blessings of the Lord to those who are engaged in the work. There has also been an increase of over 50 per cent in the mission fields in charities obtained during the past six months. ABOUT THE LABORS OF MISSIONARIES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.5 In this connection, I desire to say to all the Latter-day Saints that we wish they would refrain from writing to laborers in the mission field suggesting that it is about time they were coming home. Where parents have had sons in the mission field for, say 15, 16 or 18 months, and feel, because of financial difficulties that it is impossible to keep them longer, we advise that they state the circumstances to the bishop of their wards, who should then apply to the elders and seventies, and these should endeavor to raise the means to keep those young men in the field for at least two years or two years and a half. In most cases a young elder is just coming to himself and to a capacity and ability and power to preach the gospel with force and with the inspiration of God, when he has been in the mission field 18 months, and it is a great injustice to the boy who is growing spiritually -- as he cannot grow in any other labor in all the world -- that he should have to have to come home too soon. Those who are at home ought to realize this, and ought to feel a responsibility and a willingness and a desire to keep in the field the young men from the various wards until they have completed at least two years of service; and in many cases it would be a god-send to the young men, as well as to those who help, if their mission were extended to two and a half or even three years. I remember President Lyman's idea was that a missionary who had been in the field two years and a half could do more by remaining another six months than he had done in the entire year of his previous term; and I believe this. APPEAL TO THE SAINTS TO KEEP MISSIONARIES IN THE FIELD Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.5 So where young men have the spirit of their missions and are themselves willing and anxious to stay, but whose parents, because of financial difficulties are unable to keep them, I appeal to the Latter-day Saints to respond to the calls of the elders and the seventies and the bishopric of the wards, and assist in keeping these young men in the field. Our mission to the world is to proclaim the gospel; one reason why the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ was placed upon the earth was that men should come to a knowledge of the truth; and the one supreme object above all other objects of every Latter-day Saint should be to bring people to a knowledge of the truth. MISSIONARY WORK THE GREATEST OF ALL IN THE WORLD Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.5 The missionary work of the Latter-day Saints is the greatest of all the great works in all the world. We find recorded in the eighteenth section of the Doctrine and Covenants: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.6 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.6 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.6 And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.6 And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth. Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.6 And if it so be that you should labor all your day 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? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.6 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? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.6 Behold, you have my gospel before you, and my rock, and my salvation. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.6 Ask the Father in my name, in faith believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.6 And if we have not faith we cannot please the Lord, the revelation goes on to say. We should have faith in God and not only have faith, but works also, and exhibit our works by supporting those who are in the missionary field. WONDERFUL MISSIONARY LABORS IN THE STAKES OF ZION Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.6 I wish to say that I am delighted with the excellent and wonderful labors that have been accomplished in some of the stakes of Zion in converting and baptizing people. Missionary work that has been carried on here at home during the past six months has been far more fruitful than it has ever been before. We have not really done our duty here at home in our missionary work. It is only within the last year or two that we have taken up a systematic labor of visiting those who are not of our faith and explaining the gospel; and in proportion to the amount of this work that has been done, the results in baptisms have been greater than the same amount of work anywhere. I am grateful for this labor, and commend those stakes of Zion where it has been most energetically carried on. THE BEST LAW IN THE WORLD TO MAKE BETTER LATTER-DAY SAINTS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.6 In these hard times financially, I want to repeat to the Latter-day Saints my firm belief that God our heavenly Father prospers and blesses and gives wisdom to those men and to those women who are strictly honest with him in the payment of their tithing. I believe that when a man is in financial difficulty, the best way to get out of that difficulty (and I speak from personal experience, because I believe that more than once in my life I have been in the financial mud as deep as almost anybody) is to be absolutely honest with the Lord, and never to allow a dollar to come into our hands without the Lord receiving ten per cent of it. The Lord does not need your money or mine. Compliance with the law of tithing and donations for ward meetinghouses, stake houses, academies, temples, missionary work and these various needs, are all for our good. They are but lessons that we are learning which will qualify and prepare us to become more godlike and to be fitted to go back into the presence of our heavenly Father. The very lessons of a financial nature that are given us are the same as lessons that are given in a school to a boy or a girl; they are for the benefit of the boy; they are for the benefit of the girl, for their advancement, for their joy and happiness in after life; because of all the knowledge and information we acquire, and in the improvement that we make, we ourselves are the ones who are benefited. God our heavenly Father has instituted laws to improve his people physically, spiritually, intellectually, and one of the best laws in all the world to make better Latter-day Saints is the law of tithing. There are many people who believe the gospel and would probably embrace it, but for the fact that they are like that young man of whom we read in the Scripture, when the Savior told him, after the young man declared that "all these things have I done," to sell what he had and give to the poor. Many people cannot endure the gospel because of financial requirements that are made of them, and they allow the things of this world, which they have grasped firmly and steadfastly, to rob them of the greatest of all God's gifts, namely, life eternal. I commend the law of tithing to the Latter-day Saints, and I am entitled to commend it, because from my childhood days I have never made a dollar that the tithing has not been honestly paid upon; and I acknowledge the blessings of Almighty God to me because of obeying this law. THE LAW OF HEALTH AND WEALTH Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.7 I want to exhort the Latter-day Saints to observe and keep the Word of Wisdom. I consider it almost a crime for men and women who acknowledge that they know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and that this gospel commonly called "Mormonism" is in very deed the truth -- I consider it almost a crime that when the Lord Almighty gives to them a law whereby they can have health and vigor of body and mind, they disregard it. Every single dollar that is expended in breaking the Word of Wisdom goes out of the country. It is so much of the vital fluid, so to speak, financially drawn from the community every time a man or woman drinks a cup of tea or coffee or uses tobacco or uses liquor, because we do not produce those things at home. If they actually believed thoroughly the Word of Wisdom it seems to me you couldn't possibly persuade people not to obey it: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.8 "A Word of Wisdom for the benefit of the Council of High Priests, assembled in Kirtland, and Church, and also the Saints of Zion. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.8 "To be sent greeting -- not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and will of God" -- remember this is the will of God -- "in the temporal salvation of all Saints in the last days." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.8 I believe firmly that if all the money which has been sent out of this country from the day the Saints first located in these valleys, for those things that the Lord has said in this revelation are not good for man, had instead been kept here, the accumulation of wealth in our country would have been so great that this intermountain section where the Latter-day Saints are located, would be one of the richest and most prosperous in all the United States. A dollar is to the financial body what a drop of blood is in the body. We only have, as I understand, about twenty pounds of blood in the body. The heart beats about eighty times a minute and handles about four ounces every time it beats; therefore that twenty pounds of blood is handled every minute and there is about ten tons of it handled every twenty-four hours -- ten tons although there are only twenty pounds of it. Of course they say we just accidentally came here, our hearts just accidentally keep a-going and handles ten tons of blood a day -- a little bit of a pump, the size of your fist -- and if it accidentally stopped two or three minutes, none of us would be here. The heart alone is one of the greatest testimonies of the divine power of God, because we don't even have to think to ask it to beat. If we did, we wouldn't have anything else to do but sit down and tell the heart to work. It would keep us busy all the time. There is nothing in all the world devised by the utmost ingenuity of man, that can do the same amount of work as that little piece of machinery, the human heart, operating after the manner of a pump, with twenty pounds doing practically ten tons of work every twenty-four hours. Now, as I say, money, a dollar, is just the same. It is estimated that a dollar does all the way from twenty to over a hundred dollars of work a year, going round and round, and circulating, and buying and paying and doing work; so when we stop to think that there are hundreds of thousands of dollars sent out of this country every year for breaking the Word of Wisdom -- true, the great majority of it is not sent by the Latter-day Saints -- we can form some idea of what could have happened if money thus sent out had been kept at home and each dollar of it permitted to do its hundred dollars' worth of work. A PRACTICAL LESSON ON THE WORTH OF A DOLLAR IN HOME INDUSTRY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.9 Speaking of the work a dollar does at home reminds me of an incident that I have related many times. Years ago there was a great drive in this section of the country to support home-made goods, and I was one who was deeply interested in it, being a member of several committees that were working to bring about this policy. I remember that during our conference we had a meeting in the Assembly Hall one evening and one of the speakers on that occasion was the then bishop of Smithfield, George L. Farrell, Brother Farrell said that for twenty odd years, or perhaps he said thirty, he had been coming down to conference twice a year and, knowing that all the stock in the railroad running through that country was owned by eastern capitalists, he had marked the money which he paid for his tickets to see if he ever got any of it back again. "I have also," he said, "marked the money that I paid for home-made goods to see if I got any of that back again, I never got any of my railroad money back," he continued, "but one reason that I always buy home-made goods is that I think a whole lot of George L. Farrell and I like to get my money back again, and time and time again when I have bought homemade goods and marked the money, that identical money, staying in the community and circulating around, has come back to me. And it is because I think a great deal of myself, as well as my neighbors, that I buy shoes made at home for my children, that I buy homemade cloth out of which to make clothes for those children." Then he said: "To give you a practical illustration: When starting for this identical conference, standing at the depot at Smithfield I saw a man who had made some shoes for my children, and I walked up and handed him five dollars to pay for those shoes; he saw somebody else in the group to whom he owed five dollars, and he handed him the five; this man saw another to whom he was indebted and handed him the same piece of money; and he in turn saw another man and handed it to him until finally after five or six debts had been paid with the same piece of money the last man to receive it came up to me and said, 'Brother Farrell, I owe you six dollars. Here is five on my account' -- and I put my home-made shoes money back into my trousers pocket." Twenty or thirty dollars' worth of debts were thus paid by patronizing one shoemaker in Smithfield, the money was saved at home by circulating around, it paid these many debts and at length landed back into the pocket where it started from. That was a practical lesson, and a practical lesson that ought to count. HOME MANUFACTURED GOODS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.9 It would be a very easy matter to increase the use of this one product in this country by thousands and tens of thousands of dollars. Before me is an audience of at least five to ten thousand people, and I would like to know how many of you are standing, or sitting I should perhaps say, with your feet in home-made shoes. I dare not ask those of you who are thus shod to stand up -- I am afraid the showing would be altogether too thin. I am myself standing in home-made shoes; it is the kind I have been standing in for over thirty years, and I find that they are good enough for me. Another reason why I like them is that they wear longer than any I used to get before I commenced wearing them, and in addition to wearing longer they look better; and in addition to looking better, they cost less. So I am like Brother Farrell. It is not altogether patriotism, it is because I think a whole lot of Heber J. Grant that I wear home-made shoes. I have been converted to home-made goods from the time that, as a young man, I heard a sermon from this stand by Brigham Young, that great leader, that man of wonderful foresight for the benefit of his people spiritually, financially, and intellectually, one of the greatest pioneers and most remarkable men that ever lived. In passing let me say that in conversing with a great banker in New York only a few days ago, I made the remark that Brigham Young would yet be recognized as one of the greatest organizers and one of the greatest leaders of men that ever lived, and this banker replied in substance: "There is no one who knows anything of Brigham Young's history that does not acknowledge it today. I do. I have read his history and it is one of the most intensely interesting books I have ever read." And my belief is that one of the very things which caused the banker to have confidence in the Latter-day Saints today was that many years ago he read the history of Brigham Young and was impressed by the wonderful things that had been accomplished by him. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.10 But coming back to the sermon. President Young pleaded with the people to support the Provo Woolen Mills; and from that day until these mills shut down some years ago, I never bought a suit of clothes in Salt Lake City that was not made from Provo goods which I selected and handed to the tailor to make up for me. I was honored once with being in the legislature when we gave a ball to the members of the Wyoming legislature. I was wearing at the time a gray Provo suit; and, realizing that everybody who would be at the party in the Theatre would have a black suit -- a swallow-tail or Prince Albert, -- I went went to the Z. C. M. I., bought me a black suit, Prince Albert coat. I didn't want to be the only white sheep in the bunch, and so went to the ball in black. The very next day I gave it away to a poor relative: the ball cost me thirty odd dollars -- the cost of a black suit. A friend asked me, "Why didn't you wear it a little while, and get a little benefit out of it before you gave it to your neighbor?" I answered that I didn't want to have the suit on if I happened to want to preach in favor of home-made goods. I was afraid that it being a black suit, I might by chance wear it some Sunday, and I have always felt that I would not ask the people to do anything that I didn't do myself. I didn't know until yesterday that the Provo Woolen Mills were again making cloth for suits and overcoats and I do not propose to buy any overcoats in the future except those made from the Knight Woolen Mills goods or some other Utah establishment which is making them. BUY HOME MADE GOODS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.11 I call upon the Latter-day Saints to buy home-made goods of every kind that they can possibly get here at home. In other words, let cane sugar alone and buy some beet sugar. Some people think you can't make the finest kind of candy unless you have cane sugar. Well, I have been guilty of swapping sacks, you know, and lo and behold, Utah beet sugar in a cane sugar sack will "jell" all right, will make all kinds of candy; but cane sugar in a Utah beet sugar sack won't do any of these things. I had the same experience years ago with soap. As a young man I was agent for Franklin MacVeagh & Co.'s grocery house, of Chicago. The soapmaker employed by James A. Kirk & Co. had left that firm and MacVeagh & Co. secured his services and proceeded to make all the kinds and brands of soap which he had been making for his former firm. There was a good hired woman working for us who couldn't read English, but knew all the wrappers on the Kirk soap; and she insisted she couldn't create a lather on wash day. She couldn't wash clothes at all with the MacVeagh soap. But when I took the MacVeagh soap out and put in Kirk wrappers she declared it perfect; and when I took the Kirk soap and put it in MacVeagh wrappers the poor woman again insisted she couldn't lather with it. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.11 I say to the people, buy all things that you possibly can which are produced here at home. No section of the inter-mountain country has been hit so hard financially as ours -- Utah and southern Idaho -- because of the tremendous slump in the prices of the products of the soil and because of the great fall in live stock values. I was given a place of honor as state chairman and I esteemed the privilege of calling upon the people to subscribe for Liberty bonds. I went to California with Mr. Farnsworth, chairman of our state defense committee, and other loyal, patriotic, men, to discuss ways and means in connection with raising money for our government and as chairman of the Liberty Loan committee for Utah. I said to Mr. Lynch, then governor of the Federal Reserve Bank: "I pledge you the absolute loyalty of the people of Utah. I promise to put over any requirement, no matter how much it is, that is placed on the people of Utah, on one condition, and that is that you will give us a federal reserve branch in Salt Lake City. We haven't got the resources, we haven't the war activities, we haven't the money. But we have the loyalty, and if you will bring the bank there, we will borrow the money and we will do our share. The Bank organized a bank and they expected that five or six clerks, ten at the most, were all they would need for some time; and it was a little less than five months, as I remember it, when we were owing that branch bank, because of financial distress, between forty and fifty millions of dollars. We did our duty. Then since the slump came, inasmuch as it was all borrowed money, it is wearing the life out of us to pay the interest. I have conversed with men from San Francisco and they acknowledge that this inter-mountain country has been hit hardest because of difficulty in getting our products to market. Our distance from market creates a discrimination -- not that I am blaming this all upon the freight rates, which are costing us heavily, being in some cases almost prohibitive. But if we have to suffer in having to pay so much to get our goods to far-away markets, if we are suffering more than most other sections in this respect, all the more reason to avail ourselves of the great relief and remedy that will come from our purchasing and using every single solitary article that can be made at home. Now, I am not getting any commission for talking home manufactured goods; but I feel that it is clearly for the people's financial benefit that they should support home-made goods to the fullest possible extent. CO-OPERATION ADVISED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.12 I have been much delighted with the splendid work that President Alonzo A. Hinckley is doing in trying to arrange for a co-operation so that our alfalfa, which is quarantined and cannot be shipped away, can be utilized by the people who have livestock to feed. I would rejoice if we could mature our livestock, quit killing the lambs and the breeding cattle, and arrange to feed our stock here at home. I commend all the co-operative work in this direction that is going on, and hope that the farmer and the stock raiser can get together and use up all the hay and other products of the soil for the feeding of our own stock instead of carrying these products over for another year. As an illustration of the imposition in being obliged to pay so much for mutton, I ordered a couple of muttonchops -- 80 cents -- during my recent trip east; and while I haven't such a fearfully large mouth, I mouth, I honestly believe I could have taken one of them entire in just one bite, if I had cut the meat off the bone -- two bites -- forty cents a bite. On other occasions, I ordered and paid for chops which I am sure I could have got in my mouth without the least trouble in the world, in two bites to a chop -- twenty cents a bite. Now, when you think of the stock-raiser having to sell his ewe lambs and getting about five cents a pound, it will be evident that the time has come when we need a little co-operation between the man who is running the restaurant, the man who is running the meat shop, the man who has hay and grain, and the man who has got mutton for sale. Perhaps some of us then could raise enough money so that instead of getting two bites for eighty cents, we might get three chops for a meal instead of two and get them for thirty or forty cents. CHARITY ENJOINED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.13 We want to try to get back to first principles, and to co-operate to carry out that second great commandment. The first is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our might, mind and strength; and the second is like unto it, to love our neighbor as ourselves. Let us be charitable in these hard times. Let us not oppress our brothers who may be owing us a little, if we can possibly avoid it. Let us he hopeful and cheerful and happy. Why, we are in a magnificent condition in comparison with the time when the crickets were destroying the crops of our fathers and mothers. We are in a magnificent condition in comparison with the early days when people went around bare-footed, when they had one suit of clothes, when they had one pound of butter in a whole year, as some of us did in our houses. Let us study economy, let us be kind and charitable, and above all, let us serve God with full purpose of heart, be honest in our tithes and offerings, liberal in doing these things with our means that shall be for the benefit and uplift of God's kingdom. May the Lord bless us and pour out his Spirit abundantly upon us during this conference is my prayer, and I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Since our last conference new stake presidents have been appointed as follows: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.13 President Thomas L. Allen, Summit stake. President Wallace Calder, Uintah stake. President John V. Bluth, North Weber stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.13 New wards have been organized as follows: Logan Twelfth ward, Logan stake. Fairview North ward, North Sanpete stake. Escalante South ward, Garfield stake. Topence ward, Idaho stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.13 There have been new independent branches organized: Boulder branch, Garfield stake. Standardville branch, Carbon stake. Kenilworth branch, Carbon stake. Rains branch, Carbon stake, Soldier Summit branch, Utah stake. Grovont branch, Teton stake. Jackson branch, Teton stake. Wilson branch, Teton stake. Ophir branch, Tooele stake. MacKay branch, Lost River stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.14 We have to announce the death of President Orville L. Thompson, president of the Millard stake of Zion, a man of devotion as a president of the stake, an honorable, upright member of many sessions of the legislature, a splendid father, husband and Latter-day Saint. We extend to his wife and family the sympathy of all of the people here assembled. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.14 Bishops who have died: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.14 Bishop Clyde A. Hammond, Moab ward, San Juan stake. Bishop Isaac C. McFarlane, St. George East, St. George stake. Bishop Frederick W. Passey, Lanark ward, Bear Lake stake. Bishop Robert Siddoway, Rockport ward, Summit stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.14 Bishop Henry K. Thatcher, Thatcher Second ward, Bannock stake; also was Bannock Stake Clerk. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.14 Mission presidents released: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.14 George Albert Smith, European mission. Nicholas G. Smith, South African mission. Theodore Tobiason, Swedish mission. Mission presidents appointed: Orson F. Whitney, European mission. J. Wyley Sessions, South African mission. Isaac P. Thunell, Swedish mission. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.64 Elder Hart has asked you to read from the scripture. I thought I would do the same; and then while considering it, I believe that nine out of ten of you would not do it, so I am going to read an entire section of the Doctrine and Covenants: Remember this is the word of the Lord Almighty, a revelation from God to his people, the very first section in the Doctrine and Covenants: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.64 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.64 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 And they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I, the Lord, have commanded them. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 Wherefore, fear and tremble, O ye people, for what I, the Lord, have decreed in them shall be fulfilled. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 And verily, I say unto you, that they who go forth, bearing these tidings unto the inhabitants of the earth, to them is power given to seal both on earth and in heaven, the unbelieving and rebellious; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 Yea, verily, to seal them up unto the day when the wrath of God shall be poured out upon the wicked without measure; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 Unto the day when the Lord shall come to recompense unto every Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 man according to his work, [not according to his profession, not according to his knowledge, not according to the testimonies he bears, but according to his work] and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear may hear: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 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; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 And the arm of the Lord shall be revealed; and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles shall be cut off from among the people; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 For they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 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, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 Wherefore I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 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; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 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, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 That faith also might increase in the earth; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 That mine everlasting covenants might be established; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 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, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 And inasmuch as they erred it might be made known: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.65 And inasmuch as they sought wisdom they might be instructed: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.66 And inasmuch as they sinned they might be chastened, that they might repent; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.66 And inasmuch as they were humble they might be made strong, and blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.66 And after having received the record of the Nephites, yea, even my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., might have power to translate through the mercy of God, by the power of God, the Book of Mormon; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.66 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, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.66 For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.66 Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.66 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.66 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, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.66 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; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.66 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.66 Search these commandments for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.66 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; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.66 For behold, and lo, the Lord is God, and the Spirit beareth record, and the record is true, and the truth abideth for ever and ever. Amen. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.66 A revelation from the Lord God to the Latter-day Saints. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.86 I really believe that this is the largest gathering I have ever seen in this Tabernacle of a Sunday morning. I am told that the Assembly Hall is full and running over, and that there are several hundred people still standing up. It will therefore be necessary to hold an overflow meeting. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.86 In announcing the hymn, "When dark and drear the skies appear," President Grant remarked: The words of this very splendid hymn are by Sister Emily Hill Woodmansee, the music by our late organist, Joseph J. Daynes. No person that I ever knew, lived more perfectly in keeping with these beautiful words than the good sister who wrote them. She came to this country, dragging a hand cart all the way from the Missouri River to the Salt Lake Valley. She lived and died one of the true and faithful Latter-day Saints. She has written some of the most inspiring of the many inspiring hymns that we have in our hymn book. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.191 We have with us today the only living survivor of the Pioneers who came here with President Brigham Young -- Brother Lorenzo Zobriskie Young. I doubt if he could be heard, so we will only ask him to stand up and let us take a look at him. This is Brother Young, the only surviving member of President Brigham Young's company, which came here in 1847. [He was one of the two children who came with the company -- Perry Decker, being the other child. -- Clerk.] PRESENTATION OF PEACE RESOLUTION. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.191 President Grant presented the following resolution: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.191 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, brought forth and established by the power of God and dedicated to the mission of preparing the way for the glorious coming of the Son of God to reign in the earth, in truth and righteousness and peace, beholds with deep interest every authoritative movement taken by the nations in the interest of World Peace. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.192 It is believed that the conference called in Washington to consider the limitation of armaments and questions concerning the Pacific and nations of the Far East may, under the favor of Heaven, promote this great objective. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.192 To the end that it may do so, the Latter-day Saints in general conference now assembled approve the appointment of a Sabbath day before the eleventh of November, 1921, on which in all the wards and stakes of Zion, and in all branches of the Church in the United States and in the Missions throughout the world, the members of the Church shall be called together in their usual places of worship to engage in special and solemn prayer for Divine guidance of the International Conference on the Limitation of Armaments, that the cause of Peace may be thereby enhanced, and an amelioration of the burdens of mankind secured. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.192 President Grant: It is moved and seconded that this resolution be adopted by the Latter-day Saints in General Conference assembled. All in favor raise the right hand. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1921, p.192 There was a unanimous vote of approval. President Heber J. Grant PRESIDENT EMMELINE B. WELLS. Emmeline B. Wells, Conference Report, October 1921, p.199 Since our last meeting here, in general conference, one of the most faithful and best beloved, and most remarkable workers in the Church among our sisters, has passed away, the late Emmeline B. Wells, who lives in the hearts and memory of the people. She bore testimony to the divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith, from my earliest recollection until she passed away, some ninety-odd years of age, with a power, a force, and a spirit that I have seldom heard from the lips of any person. I rejoice that she had the opportunity of traveling over the stakes of Zion, from Canada to Mexico, and in many foreign lands, in attending many gatherings of noted women in the world, at home in these United States and abroad. Wherever she went she bore that testimony and, by the integrity of her heart, by the wonderful and splendid intellect that she had, and above all, by the burning testimony of the divinity of this work, in which we as Latter-day Saints are engaged, she made friends for this people among all those with whom she came in contact. REGRETS THE LIMIT OF TIME. Emmeline B. Wells, Conference Report, October 1921, p.201 There has been but one regret in my mind during this conference, and that is that we have had to limit the time of the speakers, asking some not to exceed ten minutes, others not to exceed fifteen, and allowing none to go beyond twenty minutes. I sometimes feel that we make a mistake in not having four days of conference, so that when men are speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit of the living God, they will not feel that they have to say "Amen" upon the moment. At the same time, I believe that we feel better and that we accomplish more, if we can start on time and close on time. BLESSINGS FOR TIlE PEOPLE. Emmeline B. Wells, Conference Report, October 1921, p.201 I feel to bless the people for the wonderful attendance at this conference. I feared on account of the hard times, and the great financial depression, that our conference would not be as largely attended as heretofore; but our gatherings here this morning, in this building, in the Assembly Hall, and in the overflow meetings, and our gatherings this afternoon in all three of those meetings, I believe have been larger than upon any other occasion in the history of the Church. Zion is growing. The faith of the people is enlarging. Their attendance at their sacrament meetings, and at their priesthood meetings is increasing and they are becoming more and more faithful in performing the duties and the obligations that rest upon them in the auxiliary associations. They are doing better; more work is being accomplished in the temples than ever before; and the people are growing in the light and the knowledge and testimony and the love of the gospel. I pray God to bless the Latter-day Saints in every land and in every clime, I pray for his blessing upon the honest the world over, and I pray for peace and happiness to come to the inhabitants of the world. We will now close our conference for six months, by the choir singing the words of a song given by revelation from God contained in the D&C, Section 84. Emmeline B. Wells, Conference Report, October 1921, p.202 The music was written by a former citizen of this state, Arthur Shepherd, who has gained for himself a national reputation as a composer of music. Emmeline B. Wells, Conference Report, October 1921, p.202 The Lord hath brought again Zion: The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, According to the election of grace, Which was brought to pass by the faith And covenant of their fathers. Emmeline B. Wells, Conference Report, October 1921, p.202 The Lord hath redeemed his people, And Satan is bound and time is no longer: The Lord hath gathered all things in one: The Lord hath brought down Zion from above. The Lord hath brought up Zion from beneath. Emmeline B. Wells, Conference Report, October 1921, p.202 The earth hath travailed and brought forth her strength: And truth is established in her bowels: And the heavens have smiled upon her: And she is clothed with the glory of her God. For he stands in the midst of his people; Emmeline B. Wells, Conference Report, October 1921, p.202 Glory, and honor, and power, and might, Be ascribed to our God; for he is full of mercy, Justice, grace and truth, and peace, For ever and ever, Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.2 I am delighted once more to have the opportunity of meeting with the Latter-day Saints in General Conference assembled. I am pleased indeed to see so large a congregation here today, considering the inclement weather of some months past, and the great need of our farming community to stay at home to prepare their farms for the coming harvest. It shows the faith of the Latter-day Saints when they neglect their ordinary temporal affairs, and, upon a week day, assemble in such large numbers as we see here before us. I believe this is one of the largest congregations I have seen for a number of years, except on the Sabbath day, of Conference when, as you know, the building is overcrowded and we have to hold overflow meetings. THE INSPIRATIONS FROM A NOTED HYMN Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.2 I never hear the opening hymn, "Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear, but with joy wend your way," but that my heart goes out in gratitude and thanksgiving to God for these wonderful men and women who sang this hymn, day after day, and week after week, and month after month, as they were crossing the plains, coming fifteen hundred miles from the city of Nauvoo, where, as you know, they had been expelled by a mob. A gentleman said to me in substance, when I sang him this hymn one day as I was taking him up one of our beautiful canyons, "Mr. Grant, I have never heard a single verse of any hymn that has impressed me more with an absolute and perfect faith in the immortality of the soul of man than that last verse in your hymn, 'Come, come, ye Saints.'" Previously he had asked me for a copy of the hymn which I gave him, and in addition, I had given him a copy of The Songs of Zion. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.2 "And should we die before our journey's through, happy day, all is well. We then are free from toil and sorrow too, with the just we shall dwell." I am convinced that every one of the people who traveled a thousand miles over an almost trackless trail to these valleys of the mountains, and who sang this hymn, had an absolutely abiding testimony in their hearts and souls of the immortality of man. There is no doubt in the mind of any Latter-day Saint that the body shall be literally resurrected, that we shall meet God, our Father, in whose image we were made, that we shall meet our Redeemer, our elder brother, the Son of the living God. We have in very deed found the place which God for us prepared. We have in very deed been blessed of God. We have become, as the Prophet Joseph Smith predicted, a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains. He said that the Saints should continue to suffer much persecution and affliction, that many should be put to death by our persecutors, and others should live to go and assist in building cities and making settlements and should become a great and a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains. This part of the country was then considered a worthless tract; it was put down upon the maps as the "Great American Desert," but the inspiration of the living God to Joseph Smith as shown by the prophecy that he uttered and had recorded, was that we were to come here; and we have come here, and we have become a mighty people in the midst of these mountains. Brigham Young announced that in vision the Lord had shown him this valley, and when he stood upon the hill to the east and saw the valley, he said "This is the place." When I think of this great building erected by him and remember that the few nails used in it cost at the rate of $1.00 a pound, and that it is held together with wooden pins and tied with raw-hide -- when I think of the erection of this building and the organ here and all the great things that were accomplished under the direction of that wonderful pioneer, especially when I hear this hymn, my heart goes out in gratitude, that I, too, had a father who was one of those who came here in early days as a pioneer and that he had in his heart the love of God and the faith that God had prepared a place for us, far away in the West. CONCERNING THE GREAT SUGAR INDUSTRY OF THE INTERMOUNTAIN COUNTRY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.3 I have received a communication asking me if I did not think I had charged a little bit too much when I received $900,000 commission for raising $2,100,000 to help out the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company. I did not get one dollar of commission, neither did the "Mormon" Church get a dollar of commission; but the "Mormon" Church used its credit for $2,100,000 to buy $3,000,000 of preferred stock, (less the limited amount which the share holders took, which was a little less, as I remember it, than 10 per cent of the capital stock). We did this to save the sugar industry, and I spent weeks of my time borrowing money for the Church -- something we do not like to do, and would not have done except to save a great industry, for the benefit of the farmers and the stockholders of the company. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.4 I want to say to the Latter-day Saints that the first beet sugar factory ever built in the United States of America, with American machinery, was built by the people of Utah, at Lehi; but for the fact that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints used its credit and borrowed the money to build that factory, during the panic of 1891, that factory would never have been built. I was utilized by President Woodruff and his counselors as the financial agent of the Church, and I went to New York, to Boston, to Hartford, to Philadelphia, to San Francisco and other places, and borrowed money upon the credit of the Church to finish that factory, for the people who had subscribed for stock in it, because of the panic, failed to fulfil their pledges. It is only fair to say that many of the bankers were not willing to loan money to build that factory, even to the Church, because banks were failing all over the country. I made a proposition to the bank that loaned the last $100,000 for the building of the factory that if the banker, the cashier and manager of Wells Fargo Bank of San Francisco, would write the names of twenty-five of the strongest financial men in Salt Lake City who were "Mormons" I would promise that twenty out of that twenty-five would individually and collectively guarantee the payment of the $100,000. I used to be his office boy in Salt Lake City when he was the manager of Wells Fargo Bank here, and I pleaded with him that as he believed in me as a boy, to believe in me now as a man and as one of the leaders of the "Mormon" Church. He laughed and said, "Why, Heber, that is an impossibility, no set of men on the face of the earth would guarantee four Church notes for $25,000 each. I said, "All I ask is for you to give me the privilege, and if I fail to get the twenty signatures, then I do not ask you to loan me the money." He said, "My boy, I will go you 100 per cent better; you offer me a margin of five; I will give you a margin of ten. I will write thirty names, and if you can get twenty out of the thirty, your Church can have the money." He wrote four or five, tore up the slip of paper, threw it in the waste-basket and said, "By the way, Heber, twelve or fourteen years have passed since I left Salt Lake, many a man who was wealthy then may be busted now; I will just have my successor in Salt Lake write those thirty names and when you take him the notes he will pay you the money. I came home and the man wrote thirty names. I secured twenty-four signatures out of the thirty and three of the men on the list were out of the city, and I secured one endorser who was not on the list, the late David Eccles, who was worth more than any half dozen of the men who signed. David Eccles who heard me telling the story, asked me the question, "Is my name one of the thirty?" When I said, "No," he said, "I would like to look at those notes." I had said they were payable, one in six months, one in twelve months, one in eighteen months and one in twenty-four months. He did not look at the face of them; he turned them wrong side up and wrote his name on the back of them and said, "My name won't hurt them." Then he said, "You tell President Wilford Woodruff that David Eccles always keeps two or three hundred thousand dollars where he can put his hand on it by giving thirty days' notice, and that, as these notes fall due, if he will give me thirty days' notice, I will take them up, and he can pay me in one year or five years or ten years or whenever convenient. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.5 There is, perhaps, nothing more tiresome to an audience, accustomed to hearing a man speak always without reading, than for him to read to them, but I am going to tire you by reading an editorial from the Improvement Era, entitled, "Integrity and Industry:" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.5 "In the practical religion of the Latter-day Saints, we find not only spirituality, but integrity; not only faith, but works" * * * * Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.5 I may not have been a very good preacher of the gospel of the Lord, Jesus Christ, from the standpoint of doctrinal preaching, but I have endeavored, to the best of my ability, since I was called as a boy forty odd years ago, to preside over the Tooele stake of Zion, and forty years this coming October, to be one of the apostles of the Lord, Jesus Christ, to preach the doctrine of St. James, "I will show thee my faith by my works." He wanted men to show their faith by their works: and I have announced to the Latter-day Saints time and time again from my first public speech lasting seven and a half minutes, after my call to the ministry, that I did not ask any man to be a more honest tithe payer, or a more perfect observer of the Word of Wisdom, or to be a better observer of his family and secret prayers, or to be more liberal in proportion to his means, for the advancement of God's kingdom, than I would be; and, thank the Lord, I have kept that promise, made to the people of Tooele. I believe in the Latter-day Saint who is honest with the Lord, God Almighty, who believes it a privilege to contribute to the Lord one-tenth of all that the Lord puts into his hands, I believe in the man who goes down on his knees and supplicates God every day of his life for the guidance that comes from above; I believe in the man who observes the Word of Wisdom and who has faith enough not to take into his system those things that the Lord, God Almighty has revealed to us are not good for man. "* * * * not only thrift, but industry,. not only co-operation, but unselfish service. In a community where these characteristics predominate, the consequence must necessarily result in a God-fearing, clean, loyal, prosperous and dependable people. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.5 "As an illustration of these remarks, we cite the wisdom displayed in the saving of the sugar industry of Utah and Idaho from the recent threatened disaster. The rounding of the sugar industry was one of the grandest happenings that could come to the West, and is an illustration of the wisdom, faith, and integrity of those who stood and who stand at its head. Had this great industry, which was seriously threatened, not been sustained and protected, the disastrous effects would indeed have been far-reaching, the loss most dreadful, not only to business, but to individual producers as well. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.6 "In view of these facts, and considering the benefits to be derived from this accomplishment, the following statement, from one who is well-in-formed on the subject, must prove of great interest, both to manufacturers and farmers, as well as to the people in general: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.6 "'For the various sugar companies of Utah and Idaho during the season of 1921, there were approximately 160,000 acres of sugar beets grown by approximately 16,000 farmers. About half of this amount was raised for the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company. The 16,000 farmers delivered from the 160,000 acres to the various companies in the two states approximately 1,600,000 tons of beets, from which upwards of 4,000,000 bags of sugar have been manufactured, which, if sold at the present price of about $4.50 per bag, would amount to approximately $18,000,000, this being distributed, about one-half to the farmer, and the other half to the workmen and manufacturers for material, etc. While the manufacturers of this sugar will undoubtedly sustain a loss, unless the price of sugar increases, yet the benefits to be derived from the circulation of this vast sum of money, during this period of financial distress is of inestimable value. It furnishes the very life's blood of our industrial pursuits, and will assist in tiding this section of the country over, in some of its financial difficulties. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.6 Speaking of circulation of the blood reminds me of the fact that a dollar as the circulating medium of finance, is to the body of the financial world, exactly what a drop of blood is to the human body. I understand there are about twenty pounds of blood in the human body, and that the heart handles about four ounces every time it beats; therefore it handles, since the heart beats about eighty times a minute, the whole twenty pounds every minute. Multiply this quantity by sixty, and then multiply it by twenty-four, and you get more than ten tons -- yet there are only twenty pounds of blood which circulate continuously every twenty-four hours. Twenty pounds of circulating medium; ten tons of work every twenty-four hours -- the heart, just about the size of my hand, is a wonderful little pump. It goes, with some people, over ninety years, without even being told to go. Of course, it just accidentally dropped inside of us, and just accidentally goes on, according to the ideas of some people! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.6 Now, it is estimated that a dollar does from $25 to $100 worth of work every year. Just figure it out -- if you can get a string of figures long enough -- what this $18,000,000 would would do, if it did a hundred times that much work every year. Brother Ivins had an interesting check. A man in Arizona, where they have had great money depression and are hard up on account of the discontinuance of the high prices for cotton, drew up a check for $25. When the check was returned it had paid $500 in debts, having twenty endorsers. I heard the manager of the Federal Reserve bank in our city say that some six or seven months ago there were forty odd million dollars of rediscounts in that bank, and that they had been reduced to twenty-two and a fraction. I want to give it, as my judgment, that as 85 per cent of all the sugar that is raised in the intermountain country has to go to or beyond the Missouri river, if the vast sum of money, resulting from sugar sales had not been brought here, instead of the Federal Reserve Bank having only twenty odd millions of rediscounts today, it would have nearer thirty odd millions. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.7 I have often told the story about Bishop Geo. E. Farrell, who bought some home-made shoes and paid for them at the depot, and then found his $5 went around and around and at last landed in his own pocket after paying $25 worth of debts. He said he bought homemade goods because it kept the money at home and helped build up the community. I recommend this, because, since I was a youth of 17 or 18, I bought but one suit of clothes in Salt Lake, until the mills closed, not made from cloth manufactured in the old Provo Woolen Mills. I heard Brigham Young deliver a sermon here, telling the people who were then a thousand miles from supplies, that we should be self-sustaining and should patronize home manufacturing institutions. I patronized the Provo Woolen Mills from that day until the day the mills closed. The one suit purchased in Salt Lake that was not made from Provo goods, was when I had the honor of being in the Legislature. We gave a ball to the members of the Wyoming legislature. I was wearing at that time a gray Provo suit; but did not want to be the only white sheep at the ball in the theatre; so I bought a hand-me-down black suit from the Z. C. M. I. -- "Prince Albert." The next day I gave that thirty odd dollar suit to a poor relative. I said I did not want to have it on, if I should happen to want to preach on supporting home manufacture. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.7 "'Had this financing not been accomplished, business concerns throughout this section would have been shaken to their very foundations and would have suffered great losses. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.7 "'To produce the $18,000,000 resulting from the 160,000 acres of beets and the sugar manufactured therefrom, it would take 1,000,000 acres of grain or 1,500,000 acres of alfalfa at the present prices. Therefore the sugar beet crop manufactured into sugar has produced, in the gross, five or six times, at least, as much per acre as that of the other standard crops of this section. It also furnishes thousands of people with employment both in and out of the factories, which the other crops do not furnish. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.7 "'Besides, the by-products of the beet crop, such as tops, pulp and syrup, have fed thousands of head of cattle, sheep and dairy cows, thus producing abundance of beef, mutton and dairy products, for home consumption and shipment abroad, the returns for which have been brought back to the two states above mentioned. Further, the feeding of the livestock on the farms helps to keep up the fertility. It has been thoroughly demonstrated that the growing of sugar beets raises the standard of farming and in creases the yields of other crops to follow. The countries of the old world, as well as the new, where sugar beets have been grown for a long period of years, have proved that where 25 per cent of the land has been used for beet culture the remaining 75 per cent has raised as much in cereals as the 100 per cent produced before sugar beets were grown. The deep plowing required for this crop, the intense cultivation of the soil, and the small, fine rootlets of the beets, that penetrate deeply into the soil, and are left there to pass off into the soil, are all beneficial to other crops in the rotation system which so many of the farmers have learned to follow.'" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.7 This is the end of the quotation from whoever furnished this information. The associate editor of the Era, Edward H. Anderson, than whom no more faithful, no more upright, no more diligent man is in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, makes the following comment: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.8 "Both business and agriculture have indeed cause to be thankful that the policy pursued in the beginning of the sugar industry in Utah, about thirty years ago, is still to be continued." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.8 After hearing an adverse report to establishing the industry, made by a committee of leading financial minds of Utah, President Wilford Woodruff said, "The beet sugar industry will be beneficial to this community, and although it may break the Church, it shall be established." To the inspiration of the Lord to that man, we are indebted for the establishment of this great industry. HOME MANUFACTURE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.8 I am delighted to say that within the last week, I have placed an order for a suit of clothes from goods made at the Knight Woolen factory. Go thou and do likewise. I am delighted to say that I am stranding in shoes that are made here at home. Go thou and do likewise. We sing, "We thank thee, O God, for a prophet to guide us in these latter days," but many of us ought to put a postscript on it, "Provided he doesn't guide us to do something that we do not want to do." GOVERNMENT AID TO INDUSTRY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.8 During the past year, on account of the financial distress and other troubles, I have had to go to New York and Washington three times. I want to say that I am delighted to be a citizen of this great Republic. I am delighted that we are a great and powerful nation; I am delighted that the men who stand at the head of this nation are anxious for the welfare of the farmer, the stock-growers, the beet industry and every other industry in our country. I believe that, except for the aid extended by the Government of the United States, through the War Finance Committee, amounting to about nine million, five hundred thousand dollars, our beet sugar industry could not have survived. Bankers from San Francisco, Chicago and New York declined to assist when we appealed for aid to harvest our beet crops, for some of our factories here. We asked for an adjournment of forty-eight hours. The next day a committee of influential men from this City and from Denver presented our claims to Mr. Eugene Meyer, Jr., the manager of the War Finance Committee, and to his associates. Mr. Meyer introduced us to the President of the United States, who very kindly said, "These men are entitled to your help." Before the day was over we were pledged ten million dollars upon our stock of sugars, with which to harvest the beet crop and to furnish the money to pay the farmer. That money came to us rapidly. The next day, when we went back to New York, where we had been met with a cold reception and no promise of help, arrangements were made for a year's extension upon several millions of obligations of some of the sugar companies. I am grateful for our wonderful country. SERVICES AND LIBERTIES OF OUR GREAT AND GLORIOUS COUNTRY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.9 Speaking of our wonderful country reminds me that recently I heard three speeches by Herbert Hoover, which are among the most remarkable that I have heard in my life. One was given at the Commercial Club, one before the Engineer's Association of Utah and the third one before the Rotarians. I have just sent a copy of the speech before the Rotarians to the Deseret News, to be printed next Saturday. I would to the Lord that every American citizen would read that speech. I will read the closing paragraph. He had told of the feeding of millions upon millions by our great and glorious country, and he closed by saying: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.9 "I feel certain that it is more important to our country both spiritually and materially that we should have planted the American flag in the hearts of 250,000,000 people, than that we should maintain it at the masthead of any battle-ship we have yet built." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.9 While I think of it, I am grateful for the success of that wonderful Disarmament Conference recently held in Washington, as a result of which millions upon millions of dollars of battleships will be peaceably sunk, instead of being used as engines of war to kill hosts of people and to be sunk in battle; and that the armaments of the great countries have been reduced. A FIVE WEEKS' REST AND ACTIVITY IN CALIFORNIA Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.9 I recently had the pleasure of spending a little more than five weeks in Southern California. After the strenuous time that I had in the East, and the multiplicity of duties that devolve upon me, I took my first long rest since I was a boy of fifteen. Nevertheless, mail followed me and I kept a stenographer busy most of the time while I was resting. In addition I had the pleasure of attending meetings in the wonderful city of Los Angeles, which is growing by leaps and bounds, in Ocean Park, in San Bernardino, in Fresno, in Bakersfield, in Long Beach and in San Diego. I attended nine meetings in five weeks. Notwithstanding the "loaf," so to speak, that I had down there, I did quite a bit of work. We dedicated a meeting-house in San Bernardino, and I feel to rejoice that upon the spot of ground that was originally settled by "Mormon" pioneers, we now have our own meeting-house. The United States sent an army against us because some run-away judges lied and said that we had burned the court records and that we were in rebellion, etc., etc.; when these charges were afterwards proved to be false we were pardoned for sins that we had not committed. At that time the "Mormon" pioneers in San Bernardino were called home from the great California ranch which they had bought and which today, no doubt, is worth more than all the possessions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, several times over. The fact is that those who remained there and who did not come back when Brigham Young called them, lost their faith; and every Latter-day Saint who believes and knows that we have the truth, realize that the saving of one soul is of greater value than all the wealth of the world. Therefore we feel to thank the Lord that about 95 per cent of the San Bernardino settlers came back to Utah. I thank the Lord that upon the spot in California where once the Latter-day Saints were established, we now have our own meeting-house. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.10 I rejoice thoroughly in the wonderful spirit of the gospel which I found in my recent labors in California. There are no people in all the wide world that can compare with the Latter-day Saints in fulfiling the admonition of our Redeemer to keep the first and second great commandments, "Thou shalt love thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind"; and the second is like unto it, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." WONDERFUL MISSIONARY WORK OF THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.10 When I think of the wonderful missionary work of the Latter-day Saints, the five hundred, the thousand, and some years two thousand men at a time who go out at their own expense, with no hope of earthly reward, to proclaim an unpopular doctrine, solely because of the love of their fellow men, I rejoice in this gospel of Jesus Christ that inspires men with a willingness to perform such service. When I think of the twenty long years that have been given in proclaiming the gospel without money and without price, by my counselor, President Charles W. Penrose, now 90 years old -- twenty long years in his native land, ten years as a young man from nineteen to twenty-nine, without purse and without scrip -- without hope of earthly reward, I rejoice in the testimony and the knowledge of the gospel that must be in a man's heart who will give such wonderful evidence of the love of God and the love of his fellow man. No peoples in all the world can compare with the Latter-day Saints in giving of their time and their money for the benefit of their fellows, to carry to them the glad tidings of great joy. The California mission is growing by leaps and bounds as are all of our missions. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES -- CHURCH AND SECULAR Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.10 That reminds me that I have a few missionary statistics here in connection with some others, that I will now read: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.10 "There have been expended for the year 1921 for stake and ward purposes in the maintenance of operation of the stakes and the wards of the Church, $925,270. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.10 "Education -- Expended for the maintenance and operation of Church schools and seminaries, $893,000. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.10 I will read something about education from a great educator, Nicholas Murray Butler, President of the Columbia University. This was sent to me by the President of the Brigham Young College: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.11 "The little red schoolhouse of the generation that followed the Civil War, with its wretchedly poor equipment but with an earnest and devoted teacher who laid stress upon character-building and upon the fundamentals of intellectual training, did more for the American people than does many a costly and well-equipped educational palace such as may be seen in any part of the United States today. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.11 "It is significant, too, that in this period of vigorous and able-bodied reaction the world should be without a poet, without a philosopher, and without a notable religious leader. The great voices of the spirit are all stilled just now, while the mad passion for gain and for power endeavors to gratify itself through the odd device of destroying what has already been gained or accomplished. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.11 "The simple business of training young children in good habits of diet and exercise and conduct; of teaching them the elementary facts of the nature which surrounds them and of the society of which they form a part; and of giving them ability to read understandingly, to write legibly and to perform quickly and with accuracy the fundamental operations with numbers, has been pushed into the background by all sorts of enterprises that have their origin in emotionalism in ignorance, or in mere vanity. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.11 "There is no man, there is no people, without a God. That God may be a visible idol, carved of wood, or stone, to which sacrifice is offered in the forest, in the temple, or in the market-place; or it may be an invisible idol, fashioned in a man's own image and worshiped ardently at his own personal shrine. Somewhere in the universe there is that in which each individual has firm faith, and on which he places steady reliance. The fool who says in his heart, "There is no God" really means there is no God but himself. His supreme egotism, his colossal vanity, have placed him at the center of the universe which is thereafter to be measured and dealt with in terms of his personal satisfactions. So it has come to pass that after nearly two thousand years much of the world resembles the Athens of St. Paul's time, in that it is wholly given to idolatry; but in the modern case there are as many idols as idol worshipers, and every such idol worshiper finds his idol in the looking-glass. The time has come once again to repeat and to expound in thunderous tones the noble sermon of St. Paul on Mars Hill, and to declare to these modern idolaters "Whom, therefore, ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.11 A gentleman sent out several hundred letters to representative ministers, and asked them the question: "Do you believe in God, a personal God, a definite and tangible intelligence, not a congeries of laws floating like a fog in the universe, but God a person, in whose image you were made?" Not a minister answered, "yes." They said they could not be certain about a thing of that kind. There is no Latter-day Saint who does not believe absolutely in God as a Personal being, and that the scripture tells the truth when it says "In the image of God created He him; male and female created He them." The foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ, organized ninety-two years ago today, is based upon the appearance of the Lord, God Almighty, a glorified Being beyond the power of man to describe to a boy not yet fifteen years of age. It is based upon the appearance of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in the express image of the Father, to that boy. In answer to the boy's simple question, "Which of all the churches on earth today is the true one," the Lord God Almighty pointed to His Son and said to that boy, "This is my beloved Son; hear Him." When the question was repeated, which church to join, that boy was told to join none of them; that they had all gone astray. He was given to understand that he would be the instrument in the hands of God of again establishing upon the earth the gospel of Jesus Christ. We declare to all the world that God lives, that He is the Father of our spirits, that He is absolutely the Father of Jesus Christ, that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of the world. Men say we lack liberality and breadth, because we say we are the only true Church. We are not lacking in liberality or breadth; the Redeemer of the world, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, said it, and we are repeating what He said. We believe in allowing all men absolute freedom to worship where and what they may, but we declare to all the world the truth as it has been revealed to us through the Prophet Joseph Smith. All men, all women, from the midnight sun country of Scandinavia to South Africa, from Canada to South America, or upon the Islands of the sea, who have entered the waters of baptism and joined the Church of Christ, believe that Joseph Smith was in very deed a prophet of the true and living God, and that God is a person and talked to the boy Joseph. The whole world may declare they do not believe that Joseph Smith saw God, the whole world may declare that they do not believe that Jesus Christ appeared to him or delivered a message, but all the disbelief of the world cannot change that message and the truth of it, as it was delivered. Joseph Smith declared that three years after the First Vision, in answer to fervent prayer, an angel of God appeared and delivered a message to him; that the angel disappeared and returned and repeated his message again; that he again dissappeared and returned the third time. The entire night was consumed with the three repetitions of that message which was that there were buried, in the Hill Cumorah, some golden plates upon which was inscribed the sacred history of the forefathers of the American Indians, and that he should be the instrument in the hands of God of translating those plates. The plates have been translated and the translation is now known as the Book of Mormon. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.12 "Oh," says one, "I do not believe he ever had the plates." If he had the plates, the disbelief of the world cannot change it. Joseph Smith announced that John, the Baptist, came to the earth laid his hands upon the heads of Oliver Cowdery and Joseph Smith, and ordained them to the Aaronic Priesthood, with authority to baptize; and he also announced that Peter, James and John came to the earth and delivered the authority to build up the Church of Christ, by laying their hands upon them and by ordaining them to the Melchizedek or the higher Priesthood and by bestowing upon them the Apostleship. So, to all the world we declare these truths, and the disbelief of all the world cannot change the fact, for it is a fact. God has given to the Latter-day Saints by the revelations of His Spirit a knowledge that this is true. Again reading from Pres. Butler's remarks: "We are trustees of a great inheritance. If we abuse or neglect that trust, we are responsible before Almighty God for the infinite damage that will be done in the lives of individuals and of nations." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.13 I will have this extract from the speech of Nicholas Murray Butler, part of which I have read, published in full in the Era. I think you will all enjoy reading it. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.13 I rejoice in the very splendid exercises that we had yesterday up at the University. You will undoubtedly be able to read the speeches that were made. I thoroughly enjoyed them, and I am sure you will. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.13 There has been expended for educational purposes $893,000. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.13 This is over 100 per cent, nearly 150 per cent more than it was a few years ago. I regret, because of the falling off in tithing, the discontinuance of dividends from sugar companies and other institutions, that we will have to curtail very materially during the coming year, our school activities. CHURCH CHARITIES AND MISSION EXPENDITURES Expenditures for Temples: -- Expended for the construction, maintenance and operations of temples, $170,000. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.13 Charities:-Amount expended from the tithes, $266,649. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.13 There was expended for charities through the Relief Societies and other sources, $459,769, therefore the total expenditures for Church charities last year was $726,733. You will notice that the total expenditures not including the Relief Society disbursements, amount to $2,255,234, which is for stake and ward purposes, education, temples and charities. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.13 Mission Expenditures For the erection of chapels and the maintenance and operation of all the missions $518,647. In additions to the payments made from Church funds for mission purposes, we estimate there has been sent to missionaries by their families and friends, $860,640. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.13 By the way, we have heard it remarked by some people, that they had quit paying tithing because all the tithing comes to Salt Lake City, and that they would like to build up their own local section. For the benefit of the Saints, I will announce that 84 2-3 per cent of all the tithes collected, in the missions and in the Church, is sent back to the stakes, wards and missions. So the immense amount that is up here won't hurt anybody very much. CHURCH GROWTH AND VITAL STATISTICS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.13 Children blessed and entered on the records of the Church in the stakes and missions 20,441. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.13 baptized in the stakes and missions 15,404. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.13 entered on the records of the Church by baptism 7,113 increase in Church membership for the year 1921 22,779 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.13 There are now 86 stakes of Zion, 879 wards, 24 missions and 789 branches in the missions. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.13 Birth rate, 37.3 per thousand. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.13 Death rate, 8.2 per thousand. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.13 Families owning their own homes, 75 per cent. VITAL STATISTICS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.14 We are a very wicked and bad people, according to liars over England and some other places, even in this country. As a rule no bad people have a high birth rate. No civilized people, who are bad, have a low death rate. No bad people have a low proportion of the inmates of the penitentiary. The Ex-Govcrnor of Arizona was reputed to have said -- I did not hear him say it, but George Albert Smith and Joseph F. Smith say they did; that no better citizens could be found in Arizona than the "Mormons." In one particular, considering the expenditure of the state taxes, he said they were being robbed of between 2500 and 3000 per cent, because in proportion to their population they ought to have in the Arizona State Penitentiary from twen-ty-five to thirty inmates and they only had one. He said that in another respect they were being robbed, also, for they ought to have seven or eight in the Insane Asylum, and did not have any. The first time I went to Arizona, after I heard this story, I was speaking in the St. Johns meeting house, and when I expressed my gratitude that we were lacking twenty-four to twenty-nine inmates in the state penitentiary, a gentleman got up and said that he was the District Judge in Apache county and that the one "Mormon" inmate of the penitentiary had been pardoned. When Governor Campbell was here with the Governors of the states of the Union, he and some others did us the honor to call upon my counselors and myself, and I repeated this story to the Governor. He laughed and said, "Yes, I remember, he was from Apache county." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.14 I have been connected, since the time I was a boy of fifteen -- fifty long years -- with the the insurance business. The death rate in the great life insurance companies, like the Mutual Life and the New York Life, that I also represented, (neither of whom would insure me, because I was too long and lean, and they had a rule you know, that a man has to be somewhere within the bounds of proportion before he is fit to be insured) is ten and a fraction to the thousand, yet this bad, immoral people that are sending out missionaries to secure girls practically for brothels and houses of ill-fame, according to the liars in England, whose lies have caused mobs to break all of the windows in our London meeting house and to have the Government itself consider the question whether they will let a "Mormon" preach in that fair land; this people has a death fate nearly 20 per cent lower than the great life insurance companies. "By their fruits ye shall know them." I am at the defiance of the world to prove that there can be found in any land or in any clime a community that by their fruits of honesty, of integrity, of virtue, of sobriety, of all these things that go to make a good community -- can show anything better by their vital statistics than can the Latter-day Saints. I rejoice indeed, my brethren and sisters, in the knowledge that we have, that we are serving God and that we are keeping His commandments and that sooner or later those who know not the Truth, if they will investigate our message and will investigate the record we have made, will have to put the stamp of honesty, of sobriety, of integrity, of love of fellow-men and of love of God and the love of country upon the Latter-day Saints. MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES Number on foreign missions 1,688 Missionaries laboring in the stakes of Zion 2,046 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.15 Books of Mormon and standard Church works distributed in stakes and Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.15 missions 252,879 Gospel tracts distributed in stakes and missions 83,746,793 Gospel meetings held in stakes and missions 171,049 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.15 Temple Work Baptisms, endowments, and sealing for living and dead performed in the Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.15 temples in the year 1921 ...................................... 646,410 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.15 Changes Since October Conference New Stakes Organized: -- Lethbridge Stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.15 New Stake Presidents: -- President Hugh B. Brown, Lethbridge Stake; President Lewis R. Anderson, S. Sanpete Stake; President James W. Funk, Benson Stake; President John A. Beckstrand, Millard Stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.15 New Wards Organized: -- Moffatt ward, Roosevelt Stake; Grand View Ward, Utah Stake; Solomonville Ward, St. Joseph Stake; McCornick Ward, Millard Stake; Brigham City Sixth Ward, Box Elder Stake; Cedron Ward, Teton Stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.15 Bishops Who Have Died: -- Bishop Gilbert Taysome, Afton So. Ward, Star Valley Stake; Bishop Frank Stanley, Poplar Grove Ward, Pioneer Stake; Bishop John W. Clinger, Labelle Ward, Rigby Stake; Bishop Thomas H. Blackburn, Brigham City Second Ward, Box Elder Stake; a former Bishop, Thomas R, Cutler, of Lehi. DEATH OF WM. W. RITER We have lost by death the chairman of our auditing committee, William W. Riter, the Chairman of the Board of Regents of the University, a pioneer, one of the stalwart, faithful, diligent men of our Church. The last time I heard him preach, he delivered a sermon, which I sincerely regret was not reported. He announced that for some fifteen or twenty years, as I remember it, he had religiously, once a year, read the Book of Mormon through; and he said, to his mind, it contained more inspiring and uplifting doctrine than any book that had ever been published. He said he was at the defiance of any man to find anything in the Book of Mormon, from cover to cover, to offend; that everything taught was uplifting to mankind. He stated that he loved the contents of that book with all his heart. He bore a wonderful testimony of the divinity of this work; and of his intimate acquaintance and knowledge of the integrity of the men, from Brigham Young down to the present time who had stood at the head of the Church. He was only a boy when the Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred, but he knew him; he came here as a boy; he was one of the stalwarts of the business world in Utah. We mourn his loss. RETURN OF ELDER DAVID O. MCKAY FROM CIRCLING THE GLOBE I rejoice in this wonderful gathering. I rejoice in the knowledge which I possess that we are engaged in the work of the living God. I rejoice in the fact that Brother McKay is with us today. Brother McKay has circled the globe since he was last at a conference -- has visited our missions in nearly every part of the world, and has returned, as every missionary does return who goes out to proclaim this gospel and comes in contact with the people of the world and with all the varieties of faiths of the world, with increased light, knowledge and testimony regarding the divinity of the work in which we are engaged. THANKFULNESS AND CAUSES FOR REJOICING I thank God for the knowledge that I have that He lives. I thank God for the knowledge I have that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of the world. I thank God for the knowledge that I possess that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and the living God, and that this gospel, commonly called "Mormonism" is in very deed the plan of life and salvation. I thank the Lord that I know that the souls of men are precious in the sight of God, and that no other people upon all the earth are so ready, so willing, so anxious, as the Latter-day Saints are, to proclaim and spread the gospel so that those who embrace it may go back and dwell eternally in the presence of God, our heavenly Father. We, as a people, have cause to rejoice because of the rich outpouring of the Spirit of the living God upon the people all over the wide world, who have embraced the restored gospel. I do pray with all the power, with all the fervor of my soul, that every Latter-day Saint who knows that God lives, who knows that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer, who knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet, may live the gospel, may proclaim it by their works of honesty, of integrity, of devotion, of a prayerful, upright life, that those who know not the truth, by our example and our works may be led to investigate the message that we have to bear. This ismy prayer and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. President Heber J. Grant PRAYERS ANSWERED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.164 My attention has been called to the fact that a resolution was passed here some time ago, recommending that a day be set apart for a general fast and prayer meeting among the Saints, to ask for the success of the great International Conference on the Limitation of Armaments. We thank the Lord that our prayers and those, undoubtedly, of the great majority of all the people in the United States, for the success of that conference, have been answered. AIM AND DESIRE OF THE GENERAL AUTHORITIES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.164 I believe that I am in a position to know, better than any other living man, the heart, the aspiration, the desire and the ambition of each of the twenty-six men who constitute the General authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Starting with myself and ending with Brother John Wells, and without any mental reservation whatever, I announce to you that I believe -- I not only believe, but I know, that each and every one of these men has his heart set upon the accomplishment of the purposes of God. While we all have our faults, our failings, our imperfections, our weaknesses, nevertheless there is no mental reservation in saying to you that these brethren, one and all, desire the advancement of God's Kingdom, and that it is first and foremost in their affections. When we become perfect we may not he able to stay here. AN APPEAL TO FATHERS AND MOTHERS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.165 Once I was able to quote the following stanza correctly, but I am not quite sure of it now: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.165 "Vice is a monster of such frightful mien, As to be hated needs but to be seen; But seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.165 I can remember when a young lady walked the streets of Salt Lake with her dress high enough to show the tops of her shoes, and an inch or two more, that we were shocked; but I have seen many a knee on the Temple grounds today, because the dresses were too short. Fathers and mothers, use your influence with your modest, pure, sweet girls who, in their anxiety to follow fashion, are causing men to blush with shame! USE NO DRUG THAT CREATES AN APPETITE FOR ITSELF Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.165 The head of the health department, Dr. Beatty, has requested me to say to the Latter-day Saints that there are more injurious ingredients in coca-cola than there are in coffee, and particularly when some of the good people say: "Give me the double shot." I say to the Latter-day Saints, and it is my right to say it -- because you have sung, since this conference started (whether you meant it or not, I am not saying) -- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.165 "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." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.165 Now, if you mean it -- I am not going to give any command, but I will ask it as a personal, individual favor to me, to let coca-cola alone. There are plenty of other things you can get at the soda fountains without drinking that which is injurious. The Lord does not want you to use any drug that creates an appetite for itself. A WORD TO FARMERS AND POULTRYMEN Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.165 Fifteen years ago, yes longer than that, when I was presiding over the European mission, I remember reading an article on the poultry industry, and I was dumb-founded to learn that the products of the poultry industry -- eggs, chickens, ducks, etc., were greater than all the products of any other industry in the United States of America. Cotton was not "in it." Corn was not "in it." I would not be positive as to the figures, but my recollection is that in the state of Utah there were not two hundred thousand chickens, and in the state of Iowa there were over ten millions; and yet, I believe we have as good feed for chickens here as they have in Iowa. I ate butter all the way from Denmark, when I went to Japan. We ought to export butter, but never import it. We ought to export eggs and chickens, but never import them. I have known of poultry coming in here by the car-load, which ought never to come. It is really almost a moral obligation on us to provide these things here at home. THE TESTIMONY OF THE GOSPEL FAR-REACHING Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.166 We had at our Priesthood meeting here, two thousand three hundred ninety-eight men -- lacked only two of two thousand four hundred men -- the largest Priesthood meeting that has ever been held within my recollection, and in another six months it will be forty years since I first had the privilege of occupying this stand to proclaim the gospel to the Latter-day Saints. I thank the Lord for that power and that inspiration of His Spirit which abides in the hearts of the Latter-day Saints, men, women and children. No other people like them: no other people have the absolute knowledge that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that God has spoken, and that He did reveal Himself to the Prophet Joseph Smith. The testimony of the divinity of that man's mission has been given to people from the country of the mid-night sun, Scandinavia, clear away to South Africa. It has been given to men and women all over Europe, from Canada to South America, and in the islands of the sea. The Japanese and Chinamen, and men all over the world have been blessed by Almighty God through His giving to them a knowledge that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and the living God. THE ABSENT BRETHREN OF THE GENERAL AUTHORITIES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.166 Brother J. Golden Kimball is not with us today on account of poor health. He is in San Francisco, or in the neighborhood of San Francisco. Our prayers and faith go out for his recovery. With the exception of Brother Kimball, the only members absent from this conference, of the twenty-six men standing as the general authorities of the Church are: Elder Reed Smoot, who is in Washington, and Brother Orson F. Whitney who is presiding over the European mission. Brother Whitney is accomplishing a wonderful work. I have read with the keenest interest some of his splendid editorials in the Millennial Star. I believe that it is needless, now, for me to say anything in praise of Elder Reed Smoot. From the President of the United States down, he is being commended for his splendid labors as a senator. A MEETING OF STAKE PRESIDENCIES WITH THE GENERAL AUTHORITIES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.167 Now, I agreed to quit in thirty-five minutes, and I am through in ten, with one single exception, two exceptions; maybe I will find three before I get through. I have found three. The Presidency and the general authorities desire to meet tomorrow morning at 9:30 in the Temple -- entrance from the west door -- all the presidents of stakes who are here at this conference, and their counselors. We will not promise to close that meeting till we get through. You know if you were at a picture show you could stand it for three hours without getting tired, but when you are in a meeting somewhere, you know it nearly kills you to sit a little over the regular time. PRAYER IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND IN THE FAMILIES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.167 I have here a note from Elder Stephen L. Richards, who is an attorney, and he says: "A notion seems to be prevalent among educational people that the offering of prayer in our public schools contravenes the law of the State. I believe a reputable legal opinion will not support this view; since provision is made for prayer in the Federal Congress, the State Legislatures, and other public assemblies, why prohibit prayer for the children?" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.167 President Brigham Young said: "Prayer keeps a man from sin, and sin keeps a man from prayer." We ought to have enough interest in our children to have prayers. I will thank the Lord when the public sentiment of America shall say that a man who does not believe in prayer cannot teach our children, at the expense of the public. Why should my money be used to employ a man to teach my children infidelity and a lack of faith in God? I remember as a boy, when we had our small common schools, that they hired a non-"Mormon," to teach in the Twelfth Ward school. He got up and said: "I understand that in the past you have prayed in this school. We will not have any more prayers, because we do not know whether or not there is anybody to pray to." I consider it an outrage that the money of people who believe in the Lord God Almighty can be spent to teach our children that kind of "rot." I endorse Nicholas Murray Butler's words. "The fool who says in his heart: 'There is no God,' finds his god when he is looking in a mirror." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.167 Mr. Babson, the greatest statistician in America, and he knows what he is talking about, says: "Much of the prosperity of the nation is due to the family prayers which were once held in the homes of our fathers. To a very large extent, this custom has gone by. Whatever the argument pre and con may be, the fact remains that such family prayers nurtured and developed the spiritual resources to which the prosperity of the nation is due. The custom of family prayers should be revived, along with many other good New England customs which some radicals may ridicule, but to which they owe all they possess." HAPPINESS CONSISTS IN GIVING AND SERVING Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.168 Those are the two things I nearly forgot. Here is the other. Henry Drummond has written some of the best essays, and has delivered some of the finest speeches that I have ever read. In one of his books entitled, The Greatest Thing in the World, he says: "Half the world is on the wrong scent in its pursuit of happiness. They think it consists in having and getting and in being served by others. It consists in giving and in serving others." The happiest men in the world are the missionaries who are giving the gospel free of charge to the people of the world. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1922, p.168 May the Lord sanctify all that has been said and done in this great conference. May He bless our organizations. I thank the Lord for that wonderful oratorio, "The Restoration," that came from the brain of the daughter, Susa Young Gates, and partly from the voice of the granddaughter, Emma Lucy Gates Bowen, and from the inspired pen in writing the music of the grandson, B. Cecil Gates -- of the great man, Brigham Young, under whose direction was erected this building, and our great organ. May the Lord inspire us one and all who have a knowledge of the gospel to live it. May we obey the Word of Wisdom, because God tells us to, to say nothing about the advantages to ourselves by so doing. May we pay our tithing so that we will be on the right road to happiness, is my prayer. May we pray to God, so that we will have His Spirit; may we live the gospel, so that we may inspire our children to do the same, I ask it, with my blessing upon you all, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.2 It is a source of great pleasure and satisfaction to me to see such a magnificent audience here today, almost completely filling this house. I am sure that those who are standing in the gallery and on the south side of the building, by a little closing up on the part of the audience, could all have a seat. I have no recollection of ever seeing an audience here on a week day, in the opening of our conference, where there were so many people standing when we commenced speaking. There could be no greater evidence of the interest of the Latter-day Saints than is shown by this great outpouring of people at the first meeting of our General Conference, and I am grateful to all those who are here assembled. I know you have come here with a desire to be fed the bread of life. I have no desire whatever to say anything to you this morning except that which may be for your benefit, as well as for my own. ENGAGED FOR MANY YEARS IN PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.2 Forty years ago this October conference, I met the late Elder George Teasdale of the Council of the Twelve, at the south gate, and he shook hands with me and said: "Brother Grant, I am delighted to see you. You and I are going to be" -- and he stopped suddenly and his face turned red; but the Lord gave me the balance of the sentence. Four times in my life I have been permitted to read the thoughts of people. The balance of Brother Teasdale's sentence was -- "sustained this afternoon as apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ to fill the vacancies in the Quorum," and that went through me like a shock of electricity. I came to the Sunday afternoon meeting of the conference, because of this partial sentence, and the balance that was given to me, with the assurance in my heart that Brother Teasdale and myself would be sustained as apostles. Those of you who were at that conference remember that it adjourned without filling those vacancies. I do not believe that any mortal man ever more humbly supplicated God during the next few days to forgive him for his egotism than I did for thinking that I was to be chosen as an apostle. As you are aware, within a week a revelation came to John Taylor calling Brother Teasdale and myself to those positions. For forty years I have been engaged in proclaiming the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and bearing witness to my knowledge that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is a prophet of the true and the living God. I have had the privilege of bearing that testimony in nearly every state of the Union, in Canada on the north, in Mexico on the south, in the Hawaiian Islands, in far-off Japan, in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Italy, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, and I have had exceeding great joy, during all of those forty years, in bearing this testimony. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.3 I was undecided in my mind, before coming to this meeting which of the many things that I had read in the Book of Mormon and in the D&C I would speak upon. The only question was: Which is the one theme to present? I have no hesitancy now as to the thing to talk about, because the opening prayer was on the identical subject of the first item that I read this morning in the D&C, and that was to sustain and to uphold the laws of the land. BELIEF OF THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS ON GOVERNMENT AND LAWS IN GENERAL Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.3 I have been criticized, time and time again, by friends and others, and have had much splendid advice given to me not to read so much in public because nothing could be more tiresome to an audience than reading; but I am not here for the purpose of saying something to tickle your ears or to please you, but I am here with a prayer in my heart to say those things that shall be for your best good and benefit, and mine also. I honestly believe that it will be for our best good to hear every word of an entire section of the D&C which is: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.3 "A Declaration of Belief regarding Governments and Laws in general, adopted by unanimous vote at a general assembly of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held at Kirtland, Ohio, August 17, 1835." (Section 134.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.3 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.3 "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." (And that means the right to labor without taking the chance of being killed.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.3 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.3 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.4 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.4 "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; human laws being instituted for the express purpose of our interests as individuals and nations, between man and man; and laws given of heaven, prescribing rules on spiritual concerns, for faith and worship, both to be answered by man to his Maker. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.4 "We believe that rulers, states, and governments have a right, and are bound to enact laws for the protection of all citizens in the free exercise their religious belief; but we do not believe that they have a right in justice to deprive citizens of this privilege, or proscribe them in their opinions, so long as a regard and reverence are shown to the laws and such religious opinions do not justify sedition nor conspiracy. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.4 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.4 "We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.4 "We believe that all religious societies have a right to deal with their members for disorderly conduct, according to the rules and regulations of such societies; provided that such dealings be for fellowship and good standing; but we do not believe that any religious society has authority to try men on the right of property or life, to take from them this world's goods, or to put them in jeopardy of either life or limb, or to inflict any physical punishment upon them. They can only excommunicate them from their society, and withdraw from them their fellowship. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.4 "We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is inflicted, or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.4 "We believe it just to preach the gospel to the nations of the earth, and warn the righteous to save themselves from the corruption of the world; but we do not believe it right to interfere with bond-servants, neither preach the gospel to, nor baptize them, contrary to the will and wish of their masters, nor to meddle with or influence them in the least, to cause them to be dissatisfied with their situation in this life, thereby jeopardizing the lives of men; such interference we believe to be unlawful and unjust, and dangerous to the peace of every government allowing human beings to be held in servitude." DUTY OF THE SAINTS TO SUSTAIN AND LIVE THE LAW Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.5 I endorse with all my heart this declaration sustained by the unanimous vote of the general conference in 1835. I am convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that it is the duty of every Latter-day Saint to sustain and live the law. I believe that every Latter-day Saint who has any idea in his or her heart that some law has been passed that is not a righteous law, after it has been fought out in the courts and has been decided, whatever the decision may be, by the highest tribunal of our great and glorious country, the Supreme Court of the United States, that it is his duty to obey such law. I believe that every Latter-day Saint -- and by the way no man is a Latter-day Saint who drinks whiskey -- but any "Mormon" who drinks whiskey today knows that he is in condemnation before the Lord Almighty, whether he is the one who bought the whiskey, or whether he is simply a partaker of it. I believe that every Latter-day Saint owes it to himself to uphold and sustain what is known as the cigarette law, and I believe that we as a people should know by the announcement of every man who is to be elected to the legislature, that he will stand for that law, and if he will not so announce himself, if his opponent, no matter what his politics may be, will stand for that law, that we ought to bury our politics and vote for the man favoring the retaining and enforcing of the cigarette law. BEST MEN SHOULD BE CHOSEN REGARDLESS OF POLITICS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.5 Politics reminds me very much of the measles. The measles don't hurt much if you will take a little saffron tea or something else to keep them on the surface, but if they once set in on you, they turn your hide yellow and sometimes make you cross-eyed. So do not let politics set in on you. I believe absolutely in the best men for office. I believe in honest, upright, good men being chose to occupy places and positions in the state and in the Church. THE SAINTS BELIEVE IN THE WORDS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.5 We testify to all the world that Joseph Smith met the Creator of heaven and earth. We testify to all the world that in answer to the question asked of God, as to which of all the various religions in the world had the truth, that God pointed to his son, Jesus Christ, and announced that he was his well beloved Son and said: "Hear him," and that the Savior of the world told Joseph Smith to join none of them. We believe that the man who promulgated these statements regarding government and laws was a prophet of the living God. We believe the statements made in the section following what I have read to you -- and by the way, as I am not here to please you, I will also read Section 135: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.6 "Martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and his brother, Hyrum Smith the Patriarch, at Carthage, Illinois, June 27, 1844. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.6 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.6 "John Taylor and Willard Richards, two of the Twelve, were the only persons in the room at the time; the former was wounded in a savage manner with four balls, but has since recovered; the latter, through the providence of God, escaped, without even a hole in his robe. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.6 "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. 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 D&C, 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! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.6 "When Joseph went to Carthage to deliver himself up to the pretended requirements of the law, two or three days previous to his assassination, he said: '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 towards God, and towards all men. I shall die innocent, and it shall yet be said of me -- he was murdered in cold blood."' (And that is said of him all over the world, whether by members of the Church or not, who are familiar with all the circumstances. A more dastardly, outrageous murder was never before committed in the world.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.6 "The same morning, after Hyrum had made ready to go -- shall it be said to the slaughter? yes, for so it was -- he read the following paragraph, near the close of the twelfth chapter of Ether, in the Book of Mormon, and turned down the leaf upon it: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.6 "'And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity. And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore thy garments are 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. And now I * * * bid farewell unto the Gentiles; yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood.' The testators are now dead, and their testament is in force." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.6 My mother, as a young woman, lived in Nauvoo for years. She assured me that no more God-fearing, upright mortal ever trod the earth than Hyrum Smith, the Patriarch, and I have no doubt whatever as to the absolute exaltation of Joseph and Hyrum in the presence of the Lord. I have no doubt that these two men are assisting in directing, by the power that they have on the other side, the work of God here on the earth, notwithstanding their martyrdom. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.7 "Hyrum Smith was forty-four years old in February, 1844, and Joseph Smith was thirty-eight in December, 1843; and henceforward their names will be classed among the martyrs of religion; and the reader in every nation will be reminded that the Book of, Mormon, and this book of D&C of the Church, cost the best blood of the nineteenth century to bring them forth for the salvation of a ruined world; and that if the fire can scathe a green tree for the glory of God, how, easy it will burn up the dry trees to purify the vineyard of corruption. They lived for glory; they died for glory; and glory is their eternal reward. From age to age shall their names go down to posterity as gems for the sanctified. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.7 "They were innocent of any crime, as they had often been proved before, and were only confined in jail by the conspiracy of traitors and wicked men; and 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 on the escutcheon of the State of Illinois, with the broken faith of the State as pledged by the governor, is a witness to the truth of the everlasting gospel that all the world cannot impeach; and their innocent blood on the banner of liberty, and on the magna charta of the United States, is an ambassador for the religion of Jesus Christ, that will touch the hearts of honest men among all nations; and their innocent blood, with the innocent blood of all the martyrs under the altar that John saw, will cry unto the Lord of Hosts till he avenges that blood on the earth." THIS AUDIENCE A TESTIMONY TO THE DIVINITY OF THE CHURCH Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.7 I have understood that this splendid account of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith was written by President John Taylor, known as the "Champion of Liberty" who received four shots in his body and who lived carrying some of those bullets to his grave, and who, years after the martyrdom, stood before the people in this stand as the President, Prophet, Seer and Revelator of the Church of Jesus Christ. Men may conspire, men may work against the Church of God again established upon the earth, but the statement here made that no man, saving Jesus Christ himself, has done more for the salvation of humanity than did Joseph Smith, cannot be controverted. I am at the defiance of the world to have any religious people, I do not care where you go, with no more members than the Latter-day Saints have, to call a conference of the people and have such a splendid audience as there is here today. This very audience is a testimony to every living soul who stops to reflect upon it, that God has in very deed, through the instrumentality of Joseph Smith, established again upon the earth the plan of life and salvation; that Jesus Christ did direct him. All the disbelief of all the world that God and Jesus Christ spoke to him, cannot change the fact, if it is a fact -- and God has given to me, to hundreds and thousands, and tens of thousands of his Children, from the country of the Midnight Sun, Scandinavia, clear down to South Africa, all over Europe, from Canada to South America, and all over the Islands of the sea, an absolute witness by the Holy Spirit that Joseph Smith is in very deed a Prophet of the living God. FALSEHOODS STILL PROMULGATED CONCERNING THE CHURCH Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.8 Allow me to read a news clipping sent me in a letter by former Governor John C. Cutler. He says: "I thought the annexed clipping would be information to you, as it was to me": "MORMON LEADER POLITICAL BOSS SAYS REFORMER Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.8 (Exclusive Dispatch) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.8 "Winona Lake (Ind.) August 9. -- The most powerful political private individual in America today is H. J. Grant, head of the 'Mormon' Kingdom," declared Dr. James S. Martin of Pittsburgh, superintendent of the National Reform Association, in addressing the annual Christian Citizenship Institute here today. "Twenty-six years ago," he continued, "there was not a principal man in all 'Mormondom' who had even so much as a vote. All had been disfranchised by the United States government on account of their crimes. Today H. J. Grant patronizes presidents, makes bargains with great political parties, dictates the political policies of Utah and at least five surrounding states and wields effective political influences in at least five others." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.8 The gentleman must have been listening to one of the lying speeches of a notorious anti-"Mormon" woman. Martin is the Superintendent of the National Reform Association. If he is properly quoted he better reform himself, and purge himself of falsehood. There is a special place prepared for his kind, and if he does not repent he will land there. I announce to all the world that I do not even control, politically, Utah, and that I have no desire to control Utah, that I have never opened my mouth in favor of or against any individual in any of the adjacent states that he is reported to say I control politically. Joseph Smith was told that his name "should be had for good and evil among all nations," or that it should be both "good and evil spoken of among all people," and we, his successors, have had the same privilege. We have been lied about most scandalously. One anti-"Mormon" is reported to have said that I had fifteen million dollars in a Wall Street bank, as Trustee-in-Trust for the Church; and I never had fifteen cents. DISBELIEF AND LIES OF THE WORLD CAN NOT STOP THE PROGRESS OF THE WORK Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.8 As I have said, all the disbelief of all the world and all the lies of men like Doctor Martin, who might inform themselves and therefore do not need to tell these lies, cannot stop the progress of this work. Just to show you that it cannot be stopped, let me read again what the Lord told Joseph Smith when he was incarcerated in Liberty Jail. You cannot keep the revelations of the Lord even from coming to the Prophet while in a jail. I will let you read some of it yourselves. It is Section 121. Read it all. I will start with the 33rd Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.9 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.9 "Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.9 "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 -- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.9 "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." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.9 Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, or any one of his successors, cannot, and never could, handle the powers of heaven only in righteousness, and they never tried to. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.9 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.9 "Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.9 "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 exercise unrighteous dominion. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.9 "Hence many are called, but few are chosen. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.9 "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; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.9 "By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile -- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.9 "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, test he esteem thee to be his enemy; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.9 "That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.9 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.9 "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." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.9 Liberty Jail did not keep back the inspiration of the living God from Joseph Smith; as few if any greater revelations have ever been given us than this one received in Liberty Jail. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.9 I will now quote from section 76: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.9 "And this is the Gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us -- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.10 "That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness." (Doc. and Cov., Sec. 76.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.10 That is the testimony of the gospel that we bear to all the world. Men have said: "We believe that Jesus Christ lives, but we don't know it." Two men at least knew it, and here is their testimony; this is the testimony of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.10 "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! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.10 "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 -- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.10 "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." OUR SACRIFICES FOR THE GOSPEL A PROOF OF OUR LOVE FOR IT Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.10 "Oh but," says one, "I don't believe it." Once more allow me to announce that all the disbelief of all the world cannot change the fact, if it is a fact, and God has given to thousands and tens of thousands the witness by the revelations of his Holy Spirit that it is a fact, that "Mormonism" so called by the world, is in very deed the plan of life and salvation; that Joseph Smith was in very deed the Prophet of the true and living God. People say: "We cannot understand the strength of "Mormonism," we cannot understand why two thousand young men and young women at one time, at their own expense or at the expense of their families, will go into the world, giving their time without money and without price, to proclaim the gospel losing their wages, paying their own way, to proclaim your faith." Every Latter-day Saint can understand it. They understand it because those young men and those young women who go out to proclaim the gospel, live it, they in very deed are fulfilling the requirements laid down by the Savior "to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, might and strength," and the next great commandment, "to love our neighbor as ourselves." No other people in all the world are giving such an evidence of the love of God and the love of their fellows as is given by our missionaries. Day after day the majority of all the letters that come to the desk of the Presidency of the Church are from young men and young women who are called upon missions, and it is the rarest thing in the world to find a missionary call that is not favorably and willingly answered. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.10 When we send out these calls for missions the answer comes back: "I thank the Lord that he has seen fit to inspire his servants to call me upon a mission. It has been the dream of my life." Another: "My heart has always longed to go forth and proclaim this gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful that the call has come." That is the class of letters that we get day after day. There are tens of thousands of men and women who have gone forth to proclaim this gospel, and the amount of sacrifice in actual dollars, in proportion to our numbers, is almost beyond calculation. When you figure that these people could earn probably, on an average, $100 per month, that they are spending from $20 to, in same cases, $60 and $70 a month, an average probably of nearly $50; that two thousand or nearly that number, and sometimes it has been in excess, are giving all this time and this expense; add it together and it amounts to several million dollars a year, and all done with no hope of earthly reward. THE UNCERTAIN REPLIES OF THE MINISTERS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.11 I remember while proclaiming the gospel in England I ran across a book written by ex-Senator Beveridge, I believe he was then a senator, entitled, The Young Man and the World. I have referred to it many times here, but I desire to refer to it again. In that book I found chapters on, "The Young Man and the Pulpit," "The Young Man and His Home," "The Young Man and the Law;" and in the chapter on "The Young Man and the Pulpit," he said that a certain individual with very splendid chances for favorable answers, with good opportunities during an entire summer vacation asked of all the ministers that he met, three questions and he announced before coming to those questions that one of the greatest transportation men in all the United States had said that he would rather have a knowledge that we live again and that the soul is immortal than to have the greatest honor and the greatest position that could be given in all the world, and he told of another man that was just an ordinary ward politician who said he thought of many strange things -- "Is the soul immortal and what is the soul anyway?" The three questions were as follows: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.11 "First, yes or no, Do you believe in God, the Father; God a person, God a definite and tangible intelligence -- not a congeries of laws floating like a fog through the universe; but God a person, in whose image you were made? Don't argue; don't explain; but is your mind in a condition where you can answer yes or no?" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.11 "Not a man answered, "Yes." Each man wanted to explain that the Deity might be a definite intelligence or might not; that the 'latest thought' was much confused upon the matter, and so forth and so on." Then the next question: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.11 "Yes or no: Do you believe that Christ was the Son of the living God, sent by him to save the world? I am not asking whether you believe that he was inspired, in the sense that the great moral teachers are inspired -- nobody has any difficulty about that. But do you believe that Christ was God's very Son, with a divinely appointed and definite mission, dying on the cross and raised from the dead -- yes or no?" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.11 "Again not a single answer with an unequivocal, earnest 'Yes.' But again explanations were offered and in at least half the instances the sum of most of the answers was that Christ was the most perfect man that the world had seen, and humanity's greatest moral teacher." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.12 He was not a great moral teacher if he was not the Son of God, because he announced himself as the Son of God. He announced himself as the Redeemer of the world, and therefore he could not be a great moral teacher, if the foundation upon which he stood was a falsehood. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.12 The third question was: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.12 "Do you believe that when you die you will live again as a conscious intelligence, knowing who you are and who other people are?" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.12 "Again, not one answer was unconditionally affirmative. 'Of course they were not sure as a matter of knowledge.' 'Of course that could not be known positively.'" THE DEFINITE ANSWER OF THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS TO THESE QUESTIONS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.12 The Latter-day Saints everywhere in the wide world, without one moment's hesitation, would answer: "Yes, yes, yes," to all three of those questions. We have no doubt that God is a person. Joseph Smith saw him and talked with him. We have no doubt that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of the world because he declared that to Sidney Rigdon and to Joseph Smith in the declaration that I have just read to you. We have no doubt, because Jesus Christ appeared in the Kirtland temple to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. We have absolutely no doubt whatever regarding the immortality of the soul-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.12 "And should we die before our journey's through, Happy day! all is well! We then are free from toil and sorrow too, With the just we shall dwell." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.12 I had a letter from the vice-president of a great banking institution, to whom I sang this song when he was in Utah, and he asked me for a copy of it. A few days later he repeated to me the last verse, and said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.12 "Those are wonderfully inspiring words. I have never read a verse of any hymn that taught such an absolute, firm conviction in the immorality of the soul." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.12 In a letter which he wrote to me he referred to those words again, and he said: "I consider these the most sublime words I have ever heard. They inspire to courage and that beautiful confidence in the immortality of the soul that raises man to the stature of a God." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.12 Latter-day Saints answer those questions "Yes, yes, yes." Mr. Beveridge says that these ministers were among the most eloquent and high-grade ministers in the Eastern and New England states, and that they felt there was a decline of faith among the people. In that connection he said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.12 "Is it possible that such priests of interrogation could warn the hearts of men?" He went on to say before he asked these questions that any man who stood up in the pulpit and undertook to teach the doctrines of Christ, when he lacked a faith in those doctrines himself, committed a sacrilege every time he entered the pulpit. BELIEVE WHAT YOU SAY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.13 I have heard it said that "damn" is not swearing, that it is only emphasis. I was preaching one night with the late President John Henry Smith, in the opera house in Phoenix. The legislature was in session. Hearing that two of the "Mormon" apostles were there, some of the members of the legislature waited on us and said they had arranged to hire the opera house, and they would agree to fill it if we would condescend to preach. Well, we usually hire our own hall and condescend to preach to empty benches; so, of course, we condescended, and were delighted with the opportunity. One of the good sisters who came down from Mesa was sitting behind a man while I was preaching, and she heard him say, with emphasis, that I was an earnest preacher. Pretty soon, with that emphasis again, he said I was a good preacher, and finally once more with emphasis he said: "That man believes (with emphasis) every word he is saying." I ask no greater compliment. GRATITUDE TO PARENTS WHO WERE TRUE TO THE FAITH Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.13 Before I sit down I want to say that I have never heard and never expect to hear, to the day of my death, my favorite hymn: "Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear, But with joy wend your way," but what I think of the death and the burial of my little baby sister, and the wolves digging up her body on the plains; but what I think of the death of my father's first wife, and the bringing of her body here for burial, from Echo Canyon; but what I think of others that I know of, who laid down their lives; but what I think of that wonderful journey of Brigham Young and his band of Pioneers, and those who followed him, and my heart goes out in gratitude beyond all the power with which God has given me to express it, that my father and my mother were among those who were true to God, and who made those sacrifices for the conviction of their hearts, because of the knowledge that they had that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, and that Joseph Smith is his Prophet. I never hear this Other hymn that we have sung here today -- "Do what is right" -- but what I desire with all the power of my being to impress upon the Latter-day Saints the necessity of following the teachings of the last verse of that hymn, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.13 "Do what is right; be faithful and fearless, Onward, press onward, the goal is in sight; Eyes that are wet now, ere long will be tearless, Blessings await you in doing what's right. "Do what is right, let the consequence follow, Battle for freedom in spirit and might, And with stout hearts look ye forth till tomorrow, God will protect you, do what is right." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.13 God bless you all. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.174 When this great auditorium was built, we were a thousand miles from civilization; nails were worth a dollar a pound, therefore the building is mostly pinned together with wooden pins. Elder Junius F. Wells handed me a memorandum day before yesterday and I have had it copied, and I am sure it will be of interest to all of the people here assembled: THE FIRST CONFERENCE IN THE GREAT TABERNACLE "Fifty-five years ago today, October 6, 1867, the first General Conference ever held in this building convened, on Sunday morning at 10 o'clock. "The building was incomplete -- there was no gallery. The gallery was added in 1870; improvised seats; the organ was partly built, 700 pipes, and it was announced that when finished there would be 2000 pipes. Joseph J. Daynes played upon it. Choir was led by Robert Sands. The choirs of Springville, Payson and Spanish Fork attended -- Elder Fishburn conductor. Croxall's Brass Band, Eardley's Ogden Band and the Nephi Brass Band attended. A hymn by Eliza R. Snow composed for the occasion was sung. Solos were sung by W. C. Dunbar and J. T. D. McAllister. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.174 "The General Authorities were: First Presidency: Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and Daniel H. Wells. Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt, Sen., John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, George A. Smith, Ezra T. Benson, Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith. (All present but F. D. Richards presiding in the European Mission.) Patriarch: John Smith. First Seven Presidents of Seventies: Joseph Young, Levi W. Hancock, Henry Harriman, Albert P. Rockwood, Horace S. Eldredge, Jacob Gates and John Van Cott. Presiding Bishopric: Edward Hunter, Leonard W. Hardy and Jesse C. Little. Reporters: George D. Watt, David W. Evans, Edward L. Sloan, Clerk of the Conference. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.175 "Of the General Authorities sustained that day all died in the faith. (Four of the Twelve became Presidents and three Counselors in the First Presidency.) Neither before this period nor for thirty years afterwards could this be said. The Church then numbered less than 120,000. It has increased three-fold if not four in the fifty-five years. SUBJECTS AND REMARKS BY THE SPEAKERS 55 YEARS AGO Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.175 "President Young congratulated the workmen and the people on the good work done towards completing the building and gave out a number of texts for the brethren to preach upon: The Perpetual Emigration Fund; Education of Children in the Ways of the Lord; and of Young Women in Business, so that they could be profitably employed in Light Labor, such as Bookkeeping and Store Work; On Raising Five Hundred Teams to Haul Rock for the Temple; On the Southern Mission; On Temperance in Eating and Drinking: and the Word of Wisdom. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.175 "Elder Orson Hyde said: 'This is the largest congregation I ever addressed and the largest assembly of religious worshipers I have ever seen together.' The house was filled to overflowing. He testified that at a meeting in Iowa, in 1848, the Lord revealed to the Twelve Apostles and others that Brigham Young should be their leader. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.175 "Elder Orson Pratt remarked upon how the great tabernacle appeared towering above other buildings like an artificial mountain -- "the Mountain of the Lord's House in the tops of the mountains," as he came down Parley's Canyon, returning from his late mission to Europe. He delivered a powerful discourse on the personality of God, and touched on the resurrection. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.175 "President Young said he did not know how the resurrection would be but supposed he knew as much about it as any one. 'No man can explain it except he has received the keys of it by revelation.' He said that we should preserve our personality and that the essential parts of our bodies endure forever. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.175 "Elder John Taylor spoke upon the supremacy and superiority of the laws and government of God over the governments of men, and of the comprehensiveness of the gospel, comparing savage and civilized peoples. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.175 "Elder Wilford Woodruff spoke of the wonderful providence of God in the growth of the people, in means and members, and advised the young people to marry and lay the foundation for homes and happiness. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.175 "Elder George A. Smith advocated home manufactures, recommending the use and economy of wooden-soled shoes and urged the people to emigrate the poor. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.175 "President Brigham Young delivered a wonderful sermon on the Word of Wisdom. He said: 'It is wisdom for us not to drink liquor, tea and coffee, and to let tobacco alone.' If there are any cases when a cup of tea or a little tobacco will do good he would not object to their being taken; but who is to be the judge of, when they will do good? He was satisfied that when the least lenity is given, there would be a disposition to treat resolution. Some seem to think that this counsel will soon die away and that the people will return to the use of tea, coffee, tobacco and liquor. He would say that if any of the Elders of Israel should treat this counsel lightly he would promise them the curse of God would be upon them. It is required of the Latter-day Saints that they keep the Word of Wisdom and if they trifle with it they will be sorry for it. He spoke briefly several times during the conference. He offered the opening prayer and he made the benediction. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.176 "Elder Ezra T. Benson spoke on home industries, and referred to the good effect of President Young's recent trip in the North. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.176 "Elder Charles C. Rich spoke briefly on home industries and upon the Unity of the Saints, saying there never had been a time when they were more united than at the present. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.176 "Elder Lorenzo Snow spoke on education and preaching the gospel, warning the nations of the judgments and calamities coming. He illustrated his theme by reciting the dreams of Joseph and their fulfilment in Egypt. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.176 "Elder Erastus Snow spoke prophetically of the South country saying there were elements of great worth there, which in time, would justify the wisdom of colonizing that country. About one hundred and fifty young men were called to go south and live, and strengthen the settlements there. This was the 'Muddy Mission.' The names were called out by Elder George Q. Cannon, who also presented the General Authorities sustained as above. He spoke on education, and of the regeneration of a people through observing the Word of Wisdom. He also laid before the audience the plan of the Sunday School Union soon to be organized. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.176 "Elder Joseph F. Smith was called into the Twelve to fill the existing vacancy. He delivered an interesting discourse on individual duty and obligations and advised all foreign born Saints to learn to speak the English language. He said: 'Our mission is to work righteousness and to bring all things subservient to the will of God.' Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.176 "President Young paid Brother Joseph F. Smith a remarkable tribute, and commented upon the honors, rights and privileges of every man holding an office in the Priesthood. 'No man succeeds to the crown or honors of another; each secures his own by his faithfulness and his deserts.' Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.176 "On Tuesday, October 8, the President said there were things he would like to teach the people that would keep them together continuously, but it was not prudent to hold them too long. A vote was then taken to decide whether to adjourn conference for six months or to continue it over another day. The vote was to continue, and so the fourth day, Wednesday, October 9, meetings were held all day. The emigration of Saints from Europe was stressed by all the speakers. A REMARKABLE GATHERING Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.177 "This was a remarkable conference. There were no railroads here then, no street cars, no paved streets, no sewers, electric or gas lights, no telephones, automobiles or radiographs, nor three story buildings in Utah. There were no High Schools, Improvement Associations or Primaries. The University had but a nominal existence. The instructions were nevertheless to preach the gospel of Christ; emigrate the poor; build up Zion substantially; educate the children; cultivate the land; produce our own wares, food and fabrics; set our own fashions; be kind to families, charitable to all people, clean, refined, virtuous, lovers of God, obedient to his counsels, and loyal to country and one another." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.177 I felt sure that this audience would be pleased to hear what transpired in that conference fifty-five years ago -- before I was eleven years old. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.184 There has never been, within my recollection, anything to compare with the wonderful outpouring of people, to our semi-annual conferences, such as we have had during the past three days. CONSIDERING A FOUR-DAYS CONFERENCE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.184 I think that, perhaps, in the future it may be well -- and we will seriously consider it -- to have four days of conference. Several of our speakers limited themselves to sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen minutes, and, as you know, only two of the seven presidents of seventies have had the opportunity of addressing the vast congregations that have appeared in this building, and only one of the presiding bishopric. The suggestion made fifty-five years ago and carried by a vote of the people, that they continue the Conference for another day, if carried out at our next meeting, in six months from now, would, in all probability, give each of the brethren of the general authorities, and some of our mission presidents, an opportunity to express themselves without feeling very much limited for time. I am not sure but that the addresses of the three or four of our brethren, including the addresses of the presidency, that were beyond the short limit of fifteen to twenty odd minutes, gave the brethren who delivered them greater liberty of utterance, and a freer flow of the Spirit, than was enjoyed by those I had to request to make their addresses short. It is only fair to say that a great many of the Latter-day Saints have expressed to me, time and time again, the idea that if we cannot all find the time to bear our testimonies and deliver our messages at a general conference, it would be better to only have a number of us talk at one of the conferences, and the balance at the next one. But, I have felt in my heart an anxiety that each of those who are presiding over our missions throughout the United States, and each of the general authorities of the Church whom you have voted to sustain here this day -- the twenty-six members that stand as the presiding authority in the Priesthood -- should lift up their voices in each and all of our conferences and bear witness of the goodness of God to them. For that reason we have always had them speak, and occasionally we have heard from some others in addition. I have heard a great many people say that one cannot very well deliver much of a sermon in ten minutes, but some of the very choicest of all the choice sermons that I have ever heard in this building, have been delivered in five and ten minutes. EXPRESSED THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE TAKEN PART Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.185 When I think of the scores and scores of conferences I have attended in October, through driving storms and snow, to say nothing about the cold and the blizzardly weather we have had, I have rejoiced and been thankful to the Lord for the very wonderful and splendid weather we have enjoyed during this conference. I extend to the Saints my thanks and my blessing for the wonderful outpouring of the people at these conference meetings. I am grateful to our choir and to all who have taken part in rendering to us the very splendid music that we have enjoyed during our conference. I am thankful to each and all of the speakers who have spoken here in this building, and to those who have spoken in the overflow meetings. I feet that the Lord has abundantly blessed us, and poured out his spirit upon us, and that we will go from this meeting refreshed in spirit, renewed in our determinations to serve him and keep his commandments, and to proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ by the uprightness, the honesty, the integrity and the devotion of our lives. THEY ARE THE GREATEST SPEAKERS WHO LIVE THE GOSPEL Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.185 The Latter-day Saints, as a people, have the greatest number of preachers in all the world, for the reason that nearly every lay member has been on one or more missions of from two to five years, proclaiming the gospel, without money and without price. We are a nation -- small nation, so to speak -- of preachers, but the greatest and the most wonderful preacher among the Latter-day Saints is the man or the woman who lives the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. "Show me thy faith by thy works" is the thing that counts. James said that he would show his faith by his works, and that faith without works is dead. It is like the body without the spirit, and you know that needs to be buried very soon after the spirit departs, or it becomes obnoxious. It is by our works, our diligence, our faithfulness, our energy, that we can preach this gospel, and the people of the world are beginning to recognize, to know and to comprehend the fact that the fruits of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as taught by the Latter-day Saints, are good fruits. To have the lowest death rate, to have the highest birth rate, to have Utah tie -- (nearly twenty years ago, when I was in England, presiding over the European Mission) for second place among the states of America, for literacy only one state ahead of us -- show that we are making a record that we can well be proud of. I have said to people, in my travels as a member of the Council of the Twelve, during the past forty years, that all we ask any man or of any woman, at home or abroad, that they do for the Latter-day Saints, is to judge them by their fruits. The one great standard laid down by the Savior of the world was, "By their fruits ye shall know them." For happiness in their homes, for contentment, prosperity, business integrity, sobriety, for observance of the laws of God and of man, I am at the defiance of the world to find any other people superior to the Latter-day Saints. I am not speaking now of "Mormons" who do not keep the commandments of God. THE STANDARDS BY WHICH WE WISH TO BE JUDGED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.186 No true Americans desire to be judged by the Benedict Arnolds of our country, but they desire to be judged by men like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and others who have been devoted to the principles upon which this country stands and to the Constitution of our country, who respect that Constitution, who stand for the obeying of the laws of the country, and who have given their lives, or offered their lives, for the country. Those are the people whose lives we desire shall be the standard by which the United States of America shall be judged -- not by the law-breakers. We desire that the Latter-day Saints shall be judged by those who keep the commandments of the Lord, who obey the word of wisdom, who obey the commandment to give to the Lord one-tenth of all that shall come into their hands, who attend to their family and their secret prayers, who are ready and willing to go, without money and without price, to the uttermost ends of the earth to proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and who do it under the inspiration of the Spirit of the living God. A PROMINENT EXAMPLE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.186 We desire to be judged by men, for instance, like Colossians R. M. Bryce Thomas, who came to Salt Lake City about thirty years ago, a retired Colonel in the British Army. His wife was taken sick and they were stopping in what was then known as the Templeton hotel, and, across the road from that hotel was the headquarters, then, of the Deseret News. Over the front door was a sign "'Mormon' publications for sale." Day after day he read this sign, until it got on his nerves, so he went and bought a lot of "Mormon" publications, and he read and studied them. When he returned to London, he attended our meetings, and later joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He made two trips all the way from London to Salt Lake, to perform ordinances for his dead ancestors, in the temple of the living God, on this block. He wrote a long letter -- I imagine fully a hundred, if not more, pages, telling his friends why he had joined the Church of Jesus Christ. It is entitled My Reasons for Leaving the Church of England and Joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This was written for the express purpose of enlightening his friends. He received so many letters asking him why he had joined this unpopular people, that it kept him constantly busy and so he decided to publish his reasons, with no idea that his pamphlet, or the letter that he sent to Liverpool to have published for his benefit, would be used as a tract. We ask to be judged by men like Colonel Thomas. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.186 It has been said, and I believe truthfully, that about the tenderest part of the human anatomy, of the male variety of the species, is the pocket, and Colonel Thomas, from the day that he was baptized sends once a month to the London office a fast-day offering; once a month a check comes for one-tenth of his compensation as a retired Colonel in the British army. THE JOY OF CONVERTING SOULS AND PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.187 We ask to be judged by those men who are giving their all -- their talents and their lives -- and those women who are doing the same, for the advancement of God's kingdom, by those who feel a desire in their hearts to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, that feel exactly as did Alma of old, when he said (Alma 29): Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.187 "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! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.187 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.187 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.187 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.187 "Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men; or he that knoweth not good from evil is blameless; but he that knoweth good and evil, to him it is given according to his desires; whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.187 "Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.187 "Why should I desire that I were an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.187 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.187 "I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.187 "And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.187 "Yea, and I also remember the captivity of my fathers; for I surely do know that the Lord did deliver them out of bondage, and by this did establish his church; yea, the Lord God, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, did deliver them out of bondage. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.187 "Yea, I have always remembered the captivity of my fathers; and that same God who delivered them out of the hands of the Egyptians did deliver them out of bondage. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.187 "Yea, and that same God did establish his church among them; yea and that same God hath called me by a holy calling, to preach the word unto this people and hath given me much success, in the which my joy is full." There is no living soul in all the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who has gone forth to proclaim this gospel, from the midnight sun country of Scandinavia, where the mother of Reed Smoot heard the gospel, down to South Africa; from Canada to South America, but who like Alma of old has had that same joy and that same happiness, when he or she has been an instrument in the hands of God of bringing some soul to a knowledge of the divinity of the work in which you and I are engaged. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.188 "But I do not joy in my own success alone, but my joy is more full because of the success of my brethren, who have been up to the land of Nephi. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.188 "Behold, they have labored exceedingly, and have brought forth much fruit; and, how great shall be their reward! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.188 "Now, when I think of the success of these my brethren my soul is carried away, even to the separation of it from the body, as it were, so great is my joy. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.188 "And now may God grant unto these, my brethren, that they may sit down in the kingdom of God; yea, and also all those who are the fruit of their labors that they may go no more out, but that they, may praise him for ever. And may God grant that it may be done according to my words, even as I have spoken. Amen." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.188 I know of no joy on earth that can compare with that which comes to the heart of the man who is an instrument in the hands of God of saving some soul and turning it from that broad way that leadeth to destruction, into that straight and narrow path that leadeth to life eternal. AN ILLUSTRATION IN THE CONVERSION OF THE SPEAKER'S BROTHER Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.188 As I stand here today, I remember what to me was the greatest of all the great incidents in my life, in this tabernacle. I saw for the first time, in the audience, my brother who had been careless, indifferent and wayward, who had evinced no interest in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and, as I saw him for the first time in this building, and as I realized that he was seeking God for light and knowledge regarding the divinity of this work, I bowed my head and I prayed God that if I were requested to address the audience, that the Lord would inspire me by the revelations of his Spirit, by that Holy Spirit in whom every true Latter-day Saint believes, that my brother would have tO acknowledge to me that I had spoken beyond my natural ability, that I had been inspired of the Lord. I realized that if he made that confession, then I should be able to point out to him that God had given him a testimony of the divinity of this work. Brother Milton Bennion was sitting on the stand that day, and he had been asked to address the congregation. President Angus M. Cannon came to me and said, "Before you entered the building, Brother Grant, I had invited Brother Milton Bennion to speak, but he can come some other day." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.188 I said, "Let him speak." Brother Cannon said, "Well, I will ask him to speak briefly, and you will please follow him." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.188 Brother Bennion told of his visit around the world; among other things, of visiting the sepulchre of Jesus. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.189 I took out of my pocket a book that I always carried, called a Ready Reference, and I laid it down on the stand in front of me, when I stood up to speak. It was opened at the passages that tell of the vicarious work for the dead, of the announcement that Jesus went and preached to the spirits in prison, and proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ to them. I intended to read about the baptism for the dead, and I intended to preach upon the fact that the Savior of the world had not only brought the gospel to every soul upon the earth, but that it reached back to all those who had died without a knowledge of it, or in their sins, that they would have the privilege of hearing it; that, as I understood and had read in the D&C, Jesus came into the world to be crucified for the world and to die for the sins of the world and that he saved all except only those who denied the Son after the Father had revealed him -- those who had lived and those who had died. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.189 I remember standing here feeling that that was perhaps the greatest of all the great themes that we as Latter-day Saints had to proclaim to the world. I laid the book down, opened at that page; I prayed for the inspiration of the Lord, and the faith of the Latter-day Saints, and I never thought of the book from that minute until I sat down, at the end of a thirty-minute address. I closed, my remarks at 12 minutes after 3 o'clock, expecting that President George Q. Cannon would follow me. Brother Angus came to the upper stand, and said, "George, please occupy the balance of the time." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.189 He said, "No, I do not wish to speak," but Brother Angus refused to take "No" for an answer. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.189 Brother Cannon said, finally: "Alright, go take your seat, and I will say something," and he arose and said in substance: "There are times when the Lord Almighty insures some speaker by the revelations of his Spirit, and he is so abundantly blessed by the inspiration of the living God that it is a mistake for anybody else to speak following him, and one of those occasions has been today, and I desire that this meeting be dismissed without further remarks," and he sat down. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.189 I devoted the thirty minutes of my speech almost exclusively to a testimony of my knowledge that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, and to the wonderful and marvelous labors of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and bearing witness to the knowledge God had given me that Joseph was in very deed a prophet of the true and living God. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.189 The next morning my brother came into my office and said, "Heber, I was at meeting yesterday and heard you preach." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.189 I said, "The first time you ever heard your brother preach, I guess?" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.189 "Oh, no," he said, "I have heard you lots of times." I said, "I never saw you in meeting before." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.189 "No," he said, "I generally come in late and go into the gallery. I often go out before the meeting is over. But you never spoke as you did yesterday. You spoke beyond your natural ability. You were inspired of the Lord." The identical words I had uttered the day before, in my prayer to the Lord. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.190 When I heard George Q. Cannon, after I sat down, and before his brother spoke to him, say to himself, "Thank God for the power of that testimony," the tears gushed from my eyes like rain and I rested my elbows on my knees and put my hands over my face, so that the people by me would not see that I was weeping like a child. I knew when I heard those words of George Q. Cannon, that God had heard and answered my prayer. I knew that my brother's heart was touched, and the next day when he came and repeated my words, I said to him, "Are you still praying for a testimony of the gospel?" He said, "Yes, and I am going nearly wild." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.190 I asked, "What did I preach about yesterday?" He replied, "You know what you preached about." I said, "Well, you tell me." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.190 "You preached upon the divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.190 I answered, "And I was inspired beyond my natural ability; and I never spoke before -- at any time you have heard me, as I spoke yesterday. Do you expect the Lord to get a club and knock you down? What more testimony do you want of the gospel of Jesus Christ than that a man speaks beyond his natural ability and under the inspiration of God, when he testifies of the divine mission of the prophet Joseph?" The next Sabbath he applied to me for baptism. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.190 If I were offered today, all the wealth of all the world, and had my brother in the condition he was in -- without a knowledge of the divinity of this work, I know, as I know that I live, it would not be the slightest temptation to me. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.190 I do rejoice beyond all the power with which God has endowed me, in the divinity of this work in which we are engaged, and in the joy and the happiness that it brings to everyone of the Latter-day Saints who keeps the commandments of God. SARCASTIC ARGUMENTS AGAINST PROHIBITION Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.190 I had here a lot of things I was going to read, and I have forgotten about all of them but one. There is one thing I want to read and I want to call attention to the hypocrisy of a certain article in Judge, now combined with Leslie's Weekly. It is a contemptible and sarcastic sample, as we find here in an editorial in the Improvement Era, which says: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.190 "As a sample of the sarcastic and contemptible argument made by the anti-prohibitionists, Judge, which is a combination of the former Leslie's Weekly and the comic paper, Judge, has this editorial in a recent number: "LIGHT WINES AND BEER "Volstead Prohibition has -smothered us in prosperity, -solved our labor problems. -diminished crimes of violence. -improved, our morals. -cut down our divorce rate. -produced greater respect for the law - -discouraged corruption. -improved our foreign relations. - lessened the privileges of wealth. -increased our patriotism. - made us happier. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.191 "This list contains eleven lies. To make it an even dozen, we'll add that Judge is a prohibitionist" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.191 I lack language to express my contempt for any such an editorial as that in Judge, therefore I will not attempt to do it. The Lord has not given me the power. BABSON ON PROHIBITION Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.191 I want to read something from the greatest statistician in America -- Mr. Babson: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.191 "Another optimistic factor in our present business situation is national prohibition." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.191 Mr. Babson, I guess, is paid more money for what he writes than any other living man in the United States, even, I venture the assertion, about ten times as much as Judge with all the whisky money that they get for writing such stuff as I have read from Judge for you. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.191 "Before the Prohibition Act was passed, $3,000,000,000 were spent annually for drink." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.191 What is $3,000,000,000? Three dollars a minute for every minute until now, since the birth of the Savior of the world -- three dollars a minute -- three billion dollars, and no human being is benefited one particle by that $3,000,000,000 of expenditure, and hundreds and thousands and tens of thousands are ruined physically, morally and every other way, and many hundreds commit murder because of the liquor that they have. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.191 "Now, this $3,000,000,000 that was formerly spent for drink, goes to the buying of merchandise, the building of homes, the furnishing of homes and the starting of savings accounts. No matter what interpretation may be put on the law or what new legislation may be enacted, of this we are quite certain that same $3,000,000,000 which formerly went to drink will hereafter be used for stimulating the regular channels of business. It will be used to buy merchandise, start savings accounts and do those things which tend to make people happy and prosperous." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.191 It will increase and has increased, in every land and in every clime, by a hundred to two or three hundred per cent, the amount of milk consumed, and milk is the best food that human beings can have. GETTING THE TOWEL DRY IN BUSINESS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.191 "As a successful merchant needs delivery wagons, so a successful nation needs a good merchant marine. Thanks to the war, the United States has such today. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.192 "Finally, we are today citizens of the richest country in the world. Where formerly we were a country owing the other nations of the world, we are today a credit country, with the rest of the world owing us. For this and other reasons, this country, fundamentally, is all right. Even at the present time, this medial line which represents fundamental conditions, is slowly but constantly going upward. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.192 "During 1917-19, however, [he is referring to the towel as representing business] the towel became saturated with water. This is just what happened to business. The drops of water that fall off the towel when lifted out of the water may be indicative of orders for goods which fall to us during such inflated times. The saturated towel represents business when we were at the highest point in January, 1920, thoroughly saturated with water. Such saturation must be taken out. We must always get the towel dry again." ADVICE TO THE SAINTS TO GET OUT OF DEBT Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.192 I say to the Latter-day Saints: Get the water out of your business at the earliest possible date; get down to bed-rock. Remember the wonderful teachings of Joseph F. Smith from this stand, years ago, that would have saved hundreds and thousands of Latter-day Saints from ruin financially if they had listened to it. He said, "Get out of debt and keep out of debt." Cattle and sheep men, merchants, farmers and everybody, in the days of the boom, who got more land, more sheep, more cattle, more everything, by running into debt, would thank the Lord Almighty if they had only listened to President Joseph F. Smith. THE SECRET OF "MAKING GOOD" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.192 I want to read a little story. I do not think it will take me over five minutes, and then I am through. I read so much that I make people tired, but I do it in the hope they will read it again after it is published: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.192 "There were two boys named Brown; they were brothers. The mother had died with tuberculosis when the children were young. The father was a sea captain, one of the best of the town, but he was lost when these boys were fourteen and sixteen years of age, respectively. They, however, lived together in their three rooms, did their own cooking and housework, and went to School. The people called them 'hatchet and handle' because they were always together. The older boy, Jimmie, finally went into a store, but the younger boy got that longing for the sea which only those brought up near the ocean can appreciate, and when sixteen years old he went out 'on the banks' for a fishing trip. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.192 "The boy had been away only two weeks, when to that New England town came word that the vessel with all hands had gone down. The disaster was, of course, a great blow to the older brother, Jimmie -- a terrible blow. It occurred in February or March. The spring came on; the birds returned. The summer followed; and again the trees changed their color in the autumn. Still Jimmie was very sad. In, November a rumor came through the town that a great four-master schooner had gone on the rocks near the Point. The boys of the town, as always, went with the crowd to the Point to see the wreck. When they reached the shore, the life boat had already gone out." "THE SPIRIT WHICH MAKES GOOD." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.192 And I want every Latter-day Saint to make good. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.193 "It was a wicked afternoon; that life boat would rise to the top of the waves and then go completely out of sight. Every one held his breath until it would come in sight again. Finally, the boat reached the ship, tookoff the crew, and came back to shore. As soon as it landed, the Life Saving men and the shipwrecked crew came stumbling out, falling exhausted on the beach. They were taken to a fire which had been built of driftwood, were given hot food and rubbed. They were gradually recovering when a rumor ran about the crowd that a chap, sick and helpless, had been left aboard the ship; that because of his weak condition they could not get him into the life boat, since the waves were too severe, the sea running too high. Well, that didn't go with the people of that New England town and they urged the life boat crew to go back and save the other man. The crew replied: 'No, we cannot. It is too much to attempt again in these waves this afternoon.' Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.193 "Then to the surprise of every one, little Jimmie Brown jumped up on a rock and shouted: 'I have nothing to live for. I have lost my brother. Let me go and I want some boys to go with me.' So the boys formed a volunteer crew, went out to the ship, and brought the other chap ashore. They also fell exhausted on the beach on their return. But they were rubbed and warmed: while the unconscious lad was taken to another fire to be nursed by the good women living near by. Finally, the unconsciousone smiled and opened his eyes. Every one was happy. Gradually, one by one, the volunteer boy crew came up to the fire to look at this chapthey had saved. Finally Jimmie Brown came and looked. Lo and behold, it was his younger brother! The crew of the fishing schooner had all been lost excepting this young Brown. He had been picked up by the four master on its way to Manila, which, on its homeward voyage, was wrecked on the New England coast. "Young men and women who read this book: Remember Jimmie Brown. Forget yourselves. Think of the other fellow. Become interested in doing what is right; in standing for industry, integrity, service. If you do, you (like Jimmie Brown) will find what is dearest to your hearts, namely, PROSPERITY. The secret of making good is being good and doing good." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.193 No other people upon all the face of the earth have done as much good, have spent as much time, have spent as much money in proclaiming the gospel and in living the gospel, by paying their tithes and their offerings and doing the things that God has commanded, as have the Latter-day Saints. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1922, p.193 God bless you all. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.2 It is indeed a source of pleasure to see such a magnificent audience here this morning at the opening of our General Conference. DEDICATION OF THE SALT LAKE TEMPLE THIRTY YEARS AGO Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.2 I am reminded of the fact that thirty years ago today we were dedicating the Salt Lake Temple. I am reminded of the fact that of the twenty-six General Authorities of the Church who were then alive, Presidents Seymour B. Young, Brigham H. Roberts, J. Golden Kimball, Rulon S. Wells and I are the only ones now living, and that four chosen during the past thirty years, have also passed away from this life. TEMPLE CORNERSTONE LAID SEVENTY YEARS AGO Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.2 My attention has also been called to the fact that seventy years ago today the corner-stones of the Salt Lake Temple were laid by the General Authorities, and that a contingent of the Nauvoo Legion was in attendance, under the direction of my father, as major-general, and marshal of the day. GREAT PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 I am grateful for the preservation of my life until the present moment, and I desire to live as long as I can be of any benefit to the Latter-day Saints. I am grateful for the very wonderful work that has been accomplished in the Salt Lake Temple, since its dedication. I am grateful for the prosperity, for the advancement spiritually, temporally, and in every other way, of the Church of Jesus Christ during this period. I am thankful for the great increase in the attendance at our General Conferences, in comparison with that of thirty years ago. It was very seldom that we had, then, more than two-thirds as many in the audience as we see here today, with the exception of Sundays, when, of course, we always had more people than this building could accommodate. GENERAL STATISTICAL INFORMATION Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 It has been customary at the April Conference to give some statistics regarding the expenditure of the tithes of the people, our mission work, and other items; and, as a rule, during the time that I have presided over the Church, I have read those statistics at the close of my remarks; but, today I have decided to read them first and trust to the inspiration of the Lord that the latter part of my remarks may perhaps be more interesting and more inspiring than statistics. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 Following are the expenditures from the tithes of the Church for the year 1922: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 STAKE AND WARD PURPOSES: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 There has been returned from the tithes to the stakes and wards for their maintenance and operation $928,859.00 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 EDUCATION: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 Expended for the maintenance and operation of Church schools. 771,490.00 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 TEMPLES: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 Expended for the construction, maintenance and operation of temples. 168,371.00 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 CHARITIES: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 For the care of the worthy poor and other charitable purposes, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 including hospital treatment 273,657.00 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 MISSIONS: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 For the maintenance and operation of all the missions, and for the erection of places of worship and other buildings in the missions 615,461.00 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 TOTAL: $2,757,838.00 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 which has been taken from the tithes and returned by the Trustee-in-Trust to the Saints for the maintenance and operation of the stakes and wards, for the maintenance and operation of Church schools and temples, for charities and for mission activities. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 OTHER CHARITIES: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 In addition to charities paid out of the tithes, (as above stated) there have also been disbursed the fast offerings and Relief Society charities, amounting to $323,638.00, which, added to the $273,657.00 paid from the tithes, makes a total of Church charities $597,295.00 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.3 MISSIONS: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 In addition to the large sum paid out of Church funds for mission purposes, amounting to $615,460.00, we estimate that there has been sent to missionaries by their families and friends, the sum of $887,500.00. Estimating the value of the services of 1,775 missionaries at $1,000.00 per year each, viz $1,775,000, makes a total expenditure for the missionary work of the Church for the year 1922 $3,277,960.00 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 STATISTICAL REPORT COMPILED FROM THE RECORDS OF THE YEAR 1922 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Church Growth: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Children blessed and entered on the records of the Church in the stakes and missions. 19,703 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Children baptized in the stakes and missions. 14,440 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Converts baptized and entered on the records of the stakes and missions. 6,376 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 There were at the close of the year 87 stakes of Zion, 883 wards, 61 independent branches connected with the stakes, 24 missions and 733 branches in the missions. Since the first of the year the Los Angeles stake has been organized, making 88 stakes today. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Social Statistics Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Birth rate--36 per thousand. Marriage rate--14 per thousand. Death rate--8.3 per thousand. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 There are 155,606 persons in the Church who are married; of this number, there were 243 persons divorced in the year 1922. Families owning their own homes--75 per cent. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Missionary Activities Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Missionaries laboring in the stakes of Zion 2,552 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Number on foreign missions 1,775 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Total number performing special missionary labors at home and abroad 4,327 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Books of Mormon and other Church books distributed in stakes and missions 286,702 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Gospel tracts distributed in stakes and missions 6,601.132 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Gospel meetings held in stakes and missions 153,437 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Temple Work Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 There were 43,207 persons recommended to the temples during the year 1922. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Ordinances for the living and dead performed in the temples in the year 1922 768,546 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Educational Statistics Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Attending colleges and universities 3,845 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Enrolled in high schools 27,230 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Enrotled in district schools 100,513 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Total attending schools 131,588 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Nearly every child of school age is attending school, except 480 physically unable to attend, and 2,497 who, in consequence of distance from school, and other conditions, are not attending. There are only 535 adult persons in the stakes who cannot read the English language. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 Occupations Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.4 There are 113,000 Latter-day Saints employed in all kinds and varieties of occupations. Of this number 86,780 are employed in productive occupations. "Productive occupations" means those that the Government classes as productive. CLEAN UP TOWNS AND VILLAGES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.5 It is expected there will be a great increase in the tourist travel through the state from this time on, particularly through the southern part of the state, where the government and the railroads are spending large sums of money to induce tourists to visit Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks, and the Grand Canyon of the Colorado. In view of this, our people should take pride in cleaning up, and grading their streets, fixing their fences, planting trees, and in every way making their towns and villages more attractive. TEMPLES AND MEETING HOUSES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.5 The Alberta Temple is practically completed. Its furnishing and equipment is in process. It will be ready for dedication by August 1, 1923. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.5 The building of the Arizona Temple is under way. It is expected that it will be completed within two years. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.5 Extensive alterations and improvements will be carried out this year in the Salt Lake Temple, to provide facilities for the large number who visit the temple. Comparative report of total ordinances performed in the Salt Lake Temple: 1918, 158,887; 1919, 189,593; 1920, 212,514; 1921, 300,474; 1922, 413,478, an increase of nearly three hundred per cent since 1918,--a most remarkable and wonderful record. And our other temples, with the exception of St. George, where the population has decreased, have also had remarkable and splendid increases. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.5 A splendid new meetinghouse has been erected in Honolulu and will be dedicated in the very near future. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.5 A mission home is in process of erection in Atlanta, Georgia, for the accommodation of the president and office staff of the Southern States mission, the only mission of the United States that has not been furnished with suitable quarters for its president. Quite a number of chapels, some large and beautiful, are being erected in most of the missions of the United States. THE PRIMARY CONVALESCENT HOME Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.5 The Primary Home is taking care of from twenty-five to thirty children, who need expert surgical and nursing treatment. The Church has expended considerable means in preparing and equipping this home for these little children. Since then it has been very largely supported by the gifts of the Primary children and other benevolent persons. The Rotary Club of Salt Lake City has just donated $1,000 to this children's home. TRAINING OF THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.5 A commendable work is being done in all the wards and stakes in the development and training of the Aaronic Priesthood and this good work should be continued. TITHES RETURNED TO THE STAKES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.6 I should like to call attention to the fact that the amount of tithes returned to the stakes, and the total amount of charity, including that of the relief society and the Fast day donations, amounts to over $3,300,000. Considering the limited membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to my mind this is a marvelous and wonderful showing of the liberality of the people, and of their willingness to contribute for the support and erection of meetinghouses, the support and erection of schoolhouses, and for educational, charitable and church purposes generally. REMARKABLE INCREASE IN TEMPLE WORK Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.6 I am particularly pleased with the very remarkable increase in the labor being performed in our temples. There is no work in which the Latter-day Saints are engaged which brings greater peace and joy to the human heart than laboring in the temples for the salvation of our dead. This vicarious labor is one of the greatest that Latter-day Saints can be engaged in. It is one that brings greater satisfaction and joy than almost any other in the world, and it is one in which the Latter-day Saints have always taken great pride and great interest. I believe there is no money expended by the Church or by the individual members that has brought more comfort and happiness to the people than that expended for the erection of temples and for the labor performed therein. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.6 I am pleased to hear that the temple erected in the Hawaiian Islands is doing a great deal by way of advertising the Latter-day Saints and causing a great many influential people,--tourists visiting those wonderful islands,--to take an interest in the literature of the Latter-day Saints. I hear nothing but good reports from that temple; and I also hear very wonderful and splendid reports concernig the spirit of good-will that comes through such visits to the temple that is not yet dedicated in Canada. I believe Brother Wood, the president of the Alberta stake, might be willing to put off the dedication another year, on account of the great good that he thinks would be accomplished by admitting strangers into our temple before it is dedicated. But, we have erected that temple, of course, for temple ordinances, and when it is ready for dedication, we will dedicate it that it may be utilized for the purposes expected of us by the Lord. THE BEET INDUSTRY AND THE CHURCH Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.6 A year ago, in this stand, at the opening of the Conference, I devoted nearly the entire time in my address, to the beet industry. I urged upon our people, during that conference, the planting of sugar beets, and announced that I believed it would be greatly to their advantage if they would do so. This was my opinion then. I am pleased to say that during the past year the industry has been very successful, and that today it is in a very much better financial condition than it was a year ago. Two years ago this coming October the Church went in debt for the first time in many years; the Trustee-in-Trust borrowed in New York and Chicago in the neighborhood of two millions of dollars, to help the sugar industry. It went against the grain, to run the Church in debt, but it was the unanimous opinion of the Presidency and Apostles that it was a wise thing to foster this industry, by borrowing the money necessary to protect and safeguard it. I am very pleased to announce to the Latter-day Saints that all of those obligations of the Trustee-in-Trust, incurred for the support of the sugar industry, have been paid, and once more the Church has no direct floating indebtedness, barring one little note of $10,000, that we did not get a chance to take up. PEOPLE ADVISED TO STAY ON THE FARM Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.7 I believe it will be to the interests of the farmers to raise sugar beets during the coming year. I believe that the sugar industry, in our community, is one of the greatest beneficial industries that has ever been established. I feel that President Wilford Woodruff was inspired of the Lord to call upon the people to invest their means in that great enterprise; although some of the brightest of our business men had no faith in the final outcome. President Woodruff felt that the inspiration of the Lord pointed to the establishment of that industry, so as to have an increase of the products of the soil. It has always fallen to the lot of the Latter-day Saints to be engaged in tilling the soil. From the days of President Brigham Young until the present time, the leaders of this people have always advised the Latter-day Saints, as far as possible, to be engaged in tilling the soil, and in manufacturing, and in other productive enterprises. Brigham Young preached that the Saints perhaps could go to California and get sudden wealth and come back with gold, but said it would do them very little good, while if they stayed on their farms and engaged in cultivating the soil, making homes and in rearing their families, they would gain eternal riches. I believe firmly that the very best place in all the world to rear Latter-day Saints is on the farm, and that about the poorest place to rear Latter-day Saints is in the biggest city in which you can locate them. There seems to be strength, physical, moral and religious, which comes to those engaged in cultivating the soil which, on an average, is far superior to that of any other occupation I know anything about. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.7 At the present time there is quite a feeling that it is not worth while to stay on the farm, that the thing to do is to sell the farm, or if it is mortgaged for a large amount, to say: "Well, we will let the man who owns the mortgage cultivate it. It does not pay us to cultivate it." This is wrong. I believe that with the blessings of the Lord and with economy and the raising of products from the ground, and utilizing those products to feed cattle, sheep and hogs, and to increase your income by producing butter, egges, cheese and in other ways, that the farms can be made profitably productive. I remember that when I was in the far-off land of Japan, I ate butter from Scandinavia, and I know that while I was in England the great majority of the time I ate butter from Scandinavia. If butter can be shipped all the way from Scandinavia to Japan, I believe that butter can be raised and shipped at a profit out of this inter-mountain country. There are no finer farms to be found anywhere than can be found in this inter-mountain country. It is the best dairy country. There is no stronger, more substantial and splendid soil that will produce year after year if it is only treated right, than that of this inter-mountain country. THRIFT, ECONOMY AND HARD TIMES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.8 We talk about hard times. I wish to say that I have read more than once the wise sayings of Benjamin Franklin, on thrift and economy, and his reference to the people's complaint against the tax burdens laid upon them. He says that the luxuries in which the people indulge and the wasteful expenditure of their money is a far greater burden, many times over, than the taxes and the public burdens the people have to meet. Today, the great majority of all the money put into automobiles is for pleasure. In the state of Utah we have about 50,000 automobiles. I think we have a few more than that. I do not believe the depreciation, wear and tear, the oil, gasoline, and the tires, will cost less than $50.00 a month per car on an average; 50,000 cars at fifty dollars each a month is $2,500,000; multiplied by twelve, is $30,000,000 a year, principally an unnecessary expense. I believe that this figure could be cut squarely in two, if the people made up their minds to do it. I believe that nearly all of the hardships of a majority of the people would disappear if they were willing to forego the habit of wearing silk stockings, so to speak, and get back to the ordinary manner of dressing in a rather quiet, unassuming way; stay away from about nine-tenths of the picture shows that they attend; return to the ways of thrift and economy that I have heard preached from this stand from the days of President Brigham Young until today. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.8 I believe that the burdens that are upon the Latter-day Saints would be very light indeed had the people listened to the advice of our late beloved President Joseph F. Smith, to get out of debt, when everything was booming, when they could sell all of their sheep and their cattle and nearly everything they, had for about two or three times its cost instead of running, as they did, further in debt, increasing their mortgages on homes and live-stock, believing that every dollar they could borrow meant increased wealth to them. President Joseph F. Smith's warning sank into my heart. If I have had one opportunity, being in debt, to go in deeper, I have had scores offered to me, but I remembered the teaching of President Smith and I went to work that day to get out of debt and not to speculate one single solitary dollar until I did get out of debt; and, with the exception of some small loans on my life insurance policies,--I have saved by investing in a building society every month enough to pay these loans--I do not today personally owe a dollar. If I had not listened to and taken the inspired advice of Pres. Smith, I think I should be everlastingly "busted," because of the very many good things that have been offered to me since for financial investments. Pres. Smith's inspired words found echo in my heart, and I went on from then until his death, singing, "We thank Thee, O God, for a prophet to guide us," instead of adding, "providing he does not guide us to keep out of debt," as a good many people should be singing today. AN APPEAL TO SUPPORT HOME INDUSTRY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.9 Brethren and sisters, support our home manufactured goods of all kinds and all descriptions. At a recent conference, I pleaded with the people to do this, and told story after story about home-made goods, and announced that I was going to have a Provo suit of clothes. I got that suit and have been wearing it every since, but it is a little old now, and so I thought I would put on my black suit again this morning. Let us support our home industries. Let us stay on the farm. Let us remember that our fathers sacrificed and came here for the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.9 I want again to assure you that the best place in the world to rear Latter-day Saints is on the soil. I know of people who have sold their farms, gone to California or some other place to work, and spent all their farms brought them. Now they are wishing they had enough to get back to Utah. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.9 "O say what is Truth? 'Tis the fairest gem That the riches of worlds can produce; And priceless the value of truth will be, when The proud monarch's costilest diadem Is counted but dross and refuse." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.9 We have the Truth to give to the world. We have the plan of life and salvation. We have the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and if we will live our religion, the Lord God Almighty will bless us. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.9 "Yes, say, what is truth? 'Tis the brightest prize To which mortals or Gods can aspire; Go search in the depths where it glittering lies, Or ascend in pursuit to the loftiest skies; 'Tis an aim for the noblest desire." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.9 Every Latter-day Saint should have a desire, above all other things, that his life Should proclaim the Truth, and that his life should be a teacher of the Truth, not only to the world, but especially to his own family. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.9 "The Sceptre may fall from the despot's grasp, When with winds of stern justice he copes, But the pillar of truth will endure to the last, And its firm-rooted bulwarks outstand the rude blast And the wreck of the fell tyrant's hopes. 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.10 I pray the Lord to bless us abundantly in this conference. We are going to have more speakers than ever before, for we are going to limit the time of the speakers including myself. I usually talk an hour in my opening address; I decided to take thirty minutes this morning and I have just about a minute left. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.10 We are going to depart a little from our usual custom, and call on the presidents of stakes and others to make brief addresses, not exceeding ten minutes. I earnestly pray the blessings of the Lord to attend you. Amen. NEW MISSION PRESIDENTS AND RELEASES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.10 I find that I omitted reading some of the statistics I had intended to present. The following have been released as Mission Presidents: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.10 Elder Nephi Jensen of the Canadian mission, succeeded by Brother Joseph Quinney, Jr. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.10 Elder Winslow Farr Smith has been released as President of the Northern States mission, succeeded by Elder John H. Taylor. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.10 Elder Orson F. Whitney as President of the European mission, succeeded by Elder David O. McKay. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.10 Elder Carl E. Peterson as President of the Danish mission, succeeded by Elder John S. Hansen. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.10 Elder John P. Lillywhite of the Netherlands mission, succeeded by Elder Charles S. Hyde. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.10 Elder August S. Schow of the Norwegian mission, succeeded by Elder Albert R. Peterson. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.10 Elder Isaac P. Thunell, of the Swedish mission, succeeded by Elder Gideon N. Hulterstrom. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.10 We are going to release Brother Hulterstrom during the coming week and he will be succeeded by Brother Hugo D. E. Peterson. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.10 Elder Serge F. Ballif, President of the Swiss and German Mission, succeeded by Elder Fred Tadje. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.10 Elder E. Wesley Smith, President of the Hawaiian mission, succeeded by Elder Eugene J. Neff. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.10 Elder George S. Taylor, released as President of the New Zealand mission, to be succeeded by Elder Angus T. Wright. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.11 Brothers Nephi Jensen, Winslow F. Smith, Orson F. Whitney, Carl E. Peterson, John P. Lillywhite, August S. Schow, Isaac P. Thunell, Serge F. Ballif, E. Wesley Smith and George S. Taylor have all given very splendid and satisfactory service in the missions over which they have formerly presided, and they return to their homes with the love and blessings of the Presidency, and I am sure with deep satisfaction on their own parts for the privilege that they have had of laboring in spreading the gospel. I am sure that the Lord has abundantly blessed them and rewarded them with a rich outpouring of his spirit for their splendid labors. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.23 While Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were engaged in translating the Scriptures, they said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.23 "And while we, meditated upon these things," [the things they refer to were in regard to the resurrection] "The Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.23 "And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fulness; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.23 "And saw the holy angels, and them who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God and the Lamb who worship him forever and ever. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.23 "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! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.23 "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-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.23 "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." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.23 Thank the Lord that Joseph Smith saw and conversed with the Redeemer, that the Redeemer of the world was introduced to him by God our Father. Thank the Lord that somebody else, in addition to Joseph Smith, has left us his testimony that Jesus is the Son of God, and that the voice from heaven bore record. Thank the Lord for the gospel. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.23 "And this is the gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.23 "That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.23 "That through him all might he saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.23 These passages came to my mind as I was listening to the remarks of Brother Winslow Farr Smith. I want to read just a few words for the benefit of all Latter-day Saints, from the first section of the Doctrine and Covenants: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.23 "Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies which are in them shall all he fulfilled. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.23 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.24 "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." President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.44 My attention has been called to the fact that seventy years ago today the corner stone of the Salt Lake Temple was laid, and that the Nauvoo legion was called out under the direction of my father as Major-General. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.96 I would like to ask the people who are outside of this building to quit whispering and talking to one another, for the benefit of those who would like to hear what is going on in this building. There are a great many people outside who are anxious to hear, and those who are talking and carrying on conversations are preventing them from having the privilege of doing so. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.157 While listening to Bishop Nibley I thought of some quotations from a book, a copy of which was sent by the Presidency to the 1775 missionaries of our Church, in all the world. This book is entitled Fundamentals of Prosperity, and the author is Roger W. Babson. I brought it here to hand to a friend after the meeting, and not for the purpose of reading from it, but some of the things that have been said this afternoon have caused me to turn to the book, and I desire to read some things from it, and to make a few comments: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.157 "The need of the hour is not more legislation. The need of the hour is more religion. More religion is needed everywhere, from the halls of Congress at Washington, to the factories, the mines, the fields and the forests. It is one thing to talk about plans or policies, but a plan or policy without a religious motive is like a watch without a spring or a body without the breath of life." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.158 "Why is it that most of the able men in our great industries came from the country districts? The reason is that the country boy is trained to work. Statistics indicate that very seldom does a child, brought up in a city apartment house, amount to much; while the children of well-to-do city people are seriously handicapped. The great educator of the previous generation was not the public school, but rather the wood box." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.158 There is hardly an individual in all the Church who has not some responsibilities. We have ward teachers, two of them for every block in all the Church. In addition, we have two Relief Society teachers for each block. There are a bishop and two counselors in every ward. There are from fifteen to twenty high counselors in every stake. Responsibility develops people. I want to read just a word on responsibility, from Mr. Babson's book: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.158 My little girl has a black cat; about once in four months this cat has kittens. Opposite our place is a man who has an Airdale dog. When that dog comes across the street and that cat has no kittens, the cat immediately "beats it" as fast as she can, with the dog after her. But when that dog comes across the street and that cat has the responsibility of some kittens, she immediately turns on the dog and the dog "beats it" with the cat after him. It is the same dog, the same cat, and the same back yard; but in one instance the cat has no responsibilities and in the other case she has. Responsibilities develop faith, vision, courage, initiative, and other things which make the world go round. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.158 I will read a comparison between the people who settled North and South America: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.158 Just before I went to Brazil I was the guest of the President of the Argentine Republic. After lunching one day we sat in his sun parlor looking out over the river. He was very thoughtful. He said, "Mr. Babson, I have been wondering why it is that South America with all its natural advantages is so far behind North America notwithstanding that South America was settled before North America." Then he went on to tell how the forests of South America had two hundred and eighty-six trees that can be found in no book of botany. He told me about many ranches that had thousands of acres under alfalfa in one block. He mentioned the mines of iron, coal, copper, silver, gold; all those great rivers and waterpowers which rival Niagara. "Why is it with all these natural resources, South America is so far behind North America?" he asked. Well, those of you who have been there know the reason. But, being a guest, I said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.158 "Mr. President, what do you think is the reason?" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.158 He replied: "I have come to this conclusion. South America was settled by the Spanish who came to South America in search of gold, but North America was settled by the Pilgrim Fathers who went there in search of God. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.158 Friends, let us as American citizens never kick down the ladder by which we climbed up. Let us never forget the foundation upon which all permanent prosperity is based. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.158 That foundation is religion, faith in God and determination to serve God. Our fathers came here for the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and for nothing else. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.158 Again, I say to the Latter-day Saints, that we can rear better citizens and better Latter-day Saints upon the farms than in any other place. Mr. Babson goes on to say that over thirty per cent of all the great men in the industries today have come from the farms, or are sons of poor preachers. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1923, p.159 May the Lord bless the people of Zion. May we keep his commandments in a way and manner that all men, seeing our good deeds, our honesty, our integrity, may be led at least to respect us, whether they believe in our faith or not. God bless you. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.2 It is certainly an inspiring sight to see this building so well filled at the first session of our semi-annual conference. I feel truly grateful to the, Lord for his blessings to us as a people during the past year. Our harvests have been very abundant. There is a feeling of contentment today throughout this intermountain country, where the Latter-day Saints are located, that is very different, financially speaking, from what it was two years ago today. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.2 We are grateful indeed for the blessings that have come to the people during the past two years, and we humbly pray that they may be continued upon the Saints, that the land may yield abundantly, and that peace and prosperity may continue with all of the people of the Lord. Above all it is the desire of the Presidency of the Church and the General Authorities that the Latter-day Saints may grow in the light, the knowledge, and the testimony of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, which has been restored to the earth again, through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith. While we rejoice in the material prosperity of the people, we rejoice more in the growth of faith and knowledge and the love of God and a desire to serve him on their part. PRESIDENT'S VISIT Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.3 During the past six months we have had the privilege of receiving a visit from the President of the United States, who spoke from this stand, and who later visited the Southern part of our State. We all know that he has since been called from this life. As I stated here upon one occasion, I am very grateful that President Harding had the opportunity of meeting and mingling with the people of our State and of the adjoining States, where so many of the Latter-day Saints are located. I rejoiced when he said to me as I was dining with him in the Yellowstone Park, that his good opinion of our people had been enhanced by his visit among them. I am grateful that the high office he held until his death is now occupied by a man who I believe with all my heart is worthy of that exalted position. I desire, and I am sure that all Latter-day Saints desire, that the inspiration that comes from God may be given to President Coolidge in the great office which he holds, and that wisdom may come to him and his cabinet in directing the affairs of our beloved country. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.3 We as Latter-day Saints have much to be thankful for. We are just completing in Idaho Falls a magnificent hospital, which when completed and furnished, will cost about four hundred thousand dollars, and will be a lasting monument to the integrity of our people and their devotion to God. Otherwise we would not have had the means to have created such a magnificent structure in our adjoining state. TEMPLE DEDICATED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.3 There has been dedicated a temple to the Most High God in a foreign land, the first that has ever been erected outside the confines or dependencies of the United States. The cost of the Alberta Temple, including furniture, equipment, lawns, grounds, and in fact the building complete, is seven hundred and eighty-one thousand, four hundred and seventy-nine dollars and ninety cents--over three quarters of a million dollars expended there in completing a house to God, dedicated for sacred purposes. Many of us had the opportunity of attending the sessions, eleven in all, at each of which the dedicatory prayer was read, and remarks were made upon more than one occasion by all of the General Authorities who were in attendance, by many of the officers of the Church, and by many of the people who were there as visitors. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.3 I rejoice in being able to say that that same sweet, peaceful, Godlike and inspiring spirit that I have had the opportunity of enjoying at the dedication of the Logan Temple, of the Manti Temple, of the Salt Lake Temple, and the one in the Hawaiian Islands, was present with us upon all of the occasions when we met in the Alberta Temple. I rejoice that there was a rich outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord during all of the eleven sessions that were held in that Temple, and that those who were present partook of that spirit, and that the visitors and the local people were satisfied in their hearts and able to bear witness that the Lord, by the rich outpourings of his Spirit was with us throughout the sacred services. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.4 There stands out in my mind in the various dedications of temples that I have had the privilege of attending, a feeling of gratitude and thanksgiving to God that I was permitted to be present at these dedications, and to partake of the spirit that was always present. It is the spirit that giveth life, while the letter killeth; and I can testify that the spirit of the living God has been present at the time of the dedication of each and all of the temples that I have had the great privilege and honor of attending. SPIRITS ATTUNED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.4 If we, as Latter-day Saints, live the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, our spirits are perfectly attuned, so that we really partake of the inspiration of the living God that is present in the conference gatherings of the Latter-day Saints and I know that no faithful Latter-day Saint could have been present at Logan, at Manti, at Salt Lake City, in the Hawaiian Islands, or in Cardston at the dedication of the several temples but what he or she was thrilled by the spirit of God that was present upon all of those occasions. No Latter-day Saint has attended any of those sessions who has not gone away with an increased love of God, with an increased desire to serve God, with a renewed determination to live more faithful the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ that we have espoused. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.4 It call to mind two occasions while in the missionary field that were remarkable to me, for they compared in my affections and in my feelings with the blessed experiences incident to the dedication of these temples. One of them was when we had all of the Elders of the British mission and representatives from Europe present at Bradford--several hundred missionaries, and we had a spiritual feast. We had what would be called "a red letter day," spiritually. The Lord God Almighty blessed us abundantly upon that occasion. I call to mind another instance in Rotterdam, where many of the missionaries of the Netherlands mission, including Belgium and Holland, and many from the Swiss and German mission were present. Our meeting lasted until midnight, and I am sure that no one of the many elders who were assembled there was the least bit weary because of the length of the meeting. There were tears of gratitude and thanksgiving to the living God for an abiding knowledge and testimony of the divinity of the work in which we are engaged, shed in great profusion upon that occasion. The fear of God was with us, and we rejoiced exceedingly. CUMORAH CONFERENCE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.5 On the 22nd day of last month we had the privilege--four of the General Authorities from this city and one who was located at Brooklyn as the president of the Eastern States mission, Brother Brigham H. Roberts--of being present at the wonderful conference held at the Joseph Smith farm, in the Sacred Grove, and at the Hill Cumorah, celebrating the one-hundredth anniversary of Joseph Smith's first view of the plates from which the Book of Mormon was later translated. A very remarkable conference for three days was held there. A rich outpouring of the Spirit of the living God was experienced. I am grateful, indeed, to President Brigham H. Roberts for arranging that conference, for I am free to confess, that in the multitude of duties and responsibilities resting upon me, I might have neglected that one-hundredth anniversary. I feel grateful to Brother Roberts that he did not allow it to pass without a very splendid conference. It was one that each and every person who attended will look back to with that same pleasure and joy and satisfaction with which we look back upon the dedication of our temples, and the passing of other mile-stones, so to speak, in the history of this Church. IN THE SACRED GROVE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.5 I remarked in the first meeting that we were sorry beyond expression that President Roberts' health was such that he could not be present, that it seemed to me very much like the great play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out. Brother Roberts had prepared a very remarkable program, covering many episodes and historical matters in connection with the rise of the Church through the one hundred years, nearly, of its history; and there were no words with Which we could convey adequately our regret that the man to whom we were indebted for all of these labors could not take a more active part than he did because of his poor health upon that occasion; and yet we rejoiced that he was able to lift up his voice on several occasions during that conference, and also to be present during some of the meetings, although his health was such that he had to withdraw from a few of them before their close. I have expressed, and heard others who were present express sincere and heartfelt regret that the prayer delivered by Brother Roberts in the Sacred Grove on Sunday morning, Sept. 23, was not taken down in writing. I cannot remember when my heart has been more stirred, and when I have had my affection called out to the Lord more perfectly than upon the occasion when Brother Roberts uttered that prayer in the Sacred Grove, where the Lord God 'Almighty, and where Jesus Christ our Redeemer had appeared and conversed with the prophet, or more properly speaking, with the boy Joseph Smith, afterward the prophet of the living God. FAITH INCREASED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.6 We know, of course, that the world doubts that God and Jesus Christ spoke in that grove to Joseph Smith; but there is no Latter-day Saint living who has kept the commandments of God, and has received the witness of the Holy Spirit, that we are engaged in his work, who has any doubt in his or her mind that the Lord God Almighty, that Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world, the Savior of mankind, did talk to that boy. And those of us who had the privilege of assembling in that Grove Sunday morning, Sept. 23, and partaking of the sacrament of the Lord's supper, in witness to God of our remembrance of the death and suffering, and of the atoning blood of our Redeemer, and who listened to the inspiring words of the prayer of supplication by Brother Roberts, had our faith increased and strengthened, and had our hearts mellowed in gratitude to the living God for the rich outpourings of his Spirit at that sacred spot. I believe that if I had more thoroughly partaken of the spirit of that conference prior to going there, that arrangements would have been made to have had hundreds of the Latter-day Saints present. It was only a very short time prior to this one-hundredth anniversary that I felt impressed that I ought to go there. Last May I thought, perhaps I would go, but scarcely felt the full inspiration of it. However, just before the conference was to be held, the impression came to me that it would be a very serious mistake if the man whom the Lord had seen fit to honor in placing him to preside over the Church of Christ, established through the instrumentality of that boy who, one hundred and three years ago, conversed with God, the Father, and the Savior, and one hundred years ago saw for the first time the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated, did not attend that celebration. I was very grateful that two of the Council of the Twelve happened to be in the East at the time, so that they could also be there; and in thinking the matter over I felt that it would be very fitting indeed for one of the blood relatives of the Prophet Joseph Smith to be there at that remarkable celebration of the one-hundredth anniversary of the first view of the plates from which the Book of Mormon was transcribed. NEW INSPIRATION Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.6 I have read within the past few weeks what a lot of rot the Book of Mormon is, what an absurd, ridiculous book it is. I want to say that it was my pleasure to be very intimately acquainted with the late William W. Riter, than whom there are few men in all the Church who were greater readers and greater students and who had more analytical and thoughtful minds. The last time that I heard Brother Riter speak was in a meeting in the ward where I reside. He was a man who read and studied a great deal. Among other things he made the statement, which was greatly to my surprise, that for many many years he had read the Book of Mormon through regularly every year, I never dreamed that he would take the time to do so. And he said that he found new inspiration, new uplifting thoughts, that he enjoyed the book, he believed, more each time that he read it than he had previously done. He said that nobody could find anything in that book that was not calculated to uplift mankind, and to improve them; that there was no book that more perfectly inspired a love of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world, by its contents, than did the Book of Mormon; that there was not one single incident, not one paragraph in that whole book, that could offend the most sensitive soul. I have regretted beyond expression that the very remarkable and splendid sermon that he gave that night was not taken down in shorthand. THE ARIZONA TEMPLE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.6 I am pleased to be able to inform the people that the work on the Arizona temple is progressing satisfactorily, that next month we hope to lay the corner-stone and deposit some records in that stone, and that we hope in the near future to have that building completed for sacred ordinance work. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.7 We are making very extensive improvements, almost completed now, giving greater facilities for taking care of larger numbers of people in the Salt Lake temple. Many of those improvements, however, have had to be made underground because of the conditions that face us. We have made some improvements, also, in the Logan temple for increased capacity in doing temple work there. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.7 There have been changes in the following missions: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.7 Hugo D. E. Peterson has been made the president of the Swedish mission, succeeding Gideon E. Hulterstrom. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.7 John S. Hansen has been made president of the Danish mission, succeeding Carl E. Peterson. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.7 Angus T. Wright has been made president of the New Zealand mission, succeeding George F. Taylor. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.7 Ernest LeRoy Butler has been made president of the Samoa Mission succeeding John Quincy Adams. MISSIONARIES SAFE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.7 Martin A. Robertson has been appointed to succeed Lloyd Ivie as president of the Japan mission. Brother Ivie has not yet returned. We received a cablegram, however, from him, stating that our missionaries in Japan were safe. We have not yet had a letter from him since the terrible catastrophe of earthquake and fire in that land, but we are grateful indeed to the Lord that all of our missionaries in Japan were preserved during the awful calamity that came to that country. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.7 Albert R. Peterson has been made president of the Norwegian mission, succeeding August S. Schow. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.7 Fred J. Tadje has been made president of the Swiss and German mission, succeeding Serge F. Ballif. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.7 Charles S. Hyde has been made president of the Netherlands mission, succeeding John T. Lillywhite. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.7 The work in all of our missions is progressing very favorably indeed. We are thankful for the splendid labors being performed in all of the missions throughout the world. The one cry that comes to us from every mission is: Send us more elders. The people are becoming interested in the work of the Lord. "We could use twice as many elders," is the word that comes from many of the missions. IMPRESSIVE SLOGAN Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.8 The Mutual Improvement Associations of the Church have an impressive slogan this year. They stand for spiritual growth among the Latter-day Saints through family and secret prayers. I wish to commend the young people for adopting this slogan. I am convinced that one of the greatest and one of the best things in all the world to keep a man true and faithful in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, is to supplicate God secretly iu the name of Jesus Christ, for the guidance of His Holy Spirit. I am convinced that one of the greatest things that can come into any home to cause the boys and girls in that home to grow up in a love of God, and in a love of the gospel of Jesus Christ, is to have family prayer, not for the father of the family alone to pray, but for the mother and for the children to do so also, that they may partake of the spirit of prayer, and be in harmony, be in tune, to have the radio, so to speak, in communication with the Spirit of the Lord. I believe that there are very few that go astray, that very few lose their faith, who have once had a knowledge of the gospel, and who never neglect their prayers in their families, and their secret supplications to God. I am grateful for this slogan. I am also grateful that in addition to this slogan the fifty thousand or more of our young ladies are being requested that they shall, during the next six months, observe rigidly and strictly the Word of Wisdom. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.8 If you or I possessed a letter from the late President Warren G. Harding, I am sure that we would prize it, that we would hold it as a keepsake all the days of our lives, and that we would leave it as a legacy for our posterity--a communication from a man that had been honored by being the President of our great country. Do we ever stop to think that the Creator of heaven and earth, the Maker of all that we see in this great universe, the Father of our spirits, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ in the spirit and in the flesh, has communicated with us, that he has given us counsel and advice such as will lead us back into his presence, that will give us vigor of body and of mind? A MATTER OF REGRET Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.8 And yet there are hundreds, there are thousands among the Latter-day Saints to whom the Lord God Almighty has given a testimony and a knowledge that he lives, a knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, a knowledge that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and living God, and who are able to bear that witness and to testify of it at home and abroad, who, when the Lord God Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, tells them what is good for them, physically and spiritually, and writes them a letter, neglect to pay any attention to it. I am sorry to say that today there are many of the sons and daughters of the Latter-day Saints--some of the sons and daughters of leading men and women in this Church, who are having social gatherings and who think that it shows a spirit of liberality and of broadness to drink wine and to have their tea and coffee and to play their cards, and to do those things that we have been taught are not good for us. I am going to read to you a letter from the Lord to the Latter-day Saints: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.8 "Revelation given through Joseph Smith, the prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, February 27, 1833." Ninety long years ago since the Lord wrote this letter to you and to me, and to every man and woman and child in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as the Word of Wisdom. What is there in all the world so valuable as wisdom? Nothing. The one thing of all others that King Solomon sought after was wisdom. "Abstinence from wine, strong drink, tobacco and hot drinks enjoined--moderation in the eating of meat--twholesome foods--promises to those who live according to these these precepts. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.9 "A Word of Wisdom for the benefit of 'the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the Church, and also in Zion. GIVEN WITH PROMISE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.9 "To be sent greeting: not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and will of God," in a letter telling you telling me, the will of God "in the temporal salvation of all Saints in the last days-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.9 "Given for a principle with promise," don't forget that promise, "adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all Saints, who are or can be called Saints. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.9 "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-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.9 "That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.9 "And behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the Vine, of your own make. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.9 "And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.9 I remember hearing the most eloquent address that I heard during all of the campaign for prohibition of liquor delivered by Dr. Geisel, a lady who was connected with the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan, and she stated that there were scores and hundreds of doctors that had become absolutely convinced from their scientific investigation, from their personal experience, that alcohol or strong liquors were absolutely worthless as medicine when taken internally, but that they were good for the washing of the body, that there was a stimulating and invigorating effect that those who were sick enjoyed by washing their bodies with alcohol. FAVORABLY IMPRESSED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.9 I remember after hearing her remarks in the Twenty-fifth ward Sunday school that morning, that I asked permission. to ride to the depot with her in the automobile. She had a watch lying in front of her and agreed to talk within ten minutes of train time. In going to the train I said: "Dr. Geisel, I am delighted to hear that your investigations in America, France and Russia regarding alcohol confirm what we knew seventy-five years ago through a revelation of the Lord to Joseph Smith the Prophet." And I told her of the Word of Wisdom, and she said she was coming back here some time to spend an entire summer vacation, that she had found so many remarkable things in our faith and our doctrines, that she wanted to investigate them. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.9 "And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.9 "And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.9 "And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.9 "Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.10 "Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.10 "And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of Winter, or of cold, or famine." TEACHINGS CONFIRMED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.10 I remember recently reading that many of the doctors had come to the conclusion that excessive use of meat was one of the great causes of cancer, and of many other of the diseases that are destroying the human race. Year by year the inspiration comes to men through study and research to confirm, one by one, the teachings that came by the inspiration of the living God to Joseph Smith, the prophet of this last dispensation. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.10 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of Life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals than run or creep on the earth. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.10 "And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.10 "All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.10 "Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.10 Now, O ye Saints, listen to the promise of the Lord God Almighty in this letter written to you as to what shall be your heritage if you obey these simple words of wisdom: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.10 "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; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.10 "And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.10 "And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.10 "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." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.10 Let me read the last verse once more: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.10 "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." BENEFIT OF OBEDIENCE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.11 In the same book you will find it recorded that there is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven, before the foundations of the world, upon which every blessing is predicated, and when we receive a blessing we receive it because we fulfil the law upon which the blessing is predicated. I wish to bear my witness here that I believe with all my heart and soul that if I had not obeyed the Word of Wisdom, if I had not kept these commandments, that I would not be standing before you this day as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I believe that I would not be alive but for having obeyed this commandment, but for having fulfilled the law which was irrevocably decreed before the foundation of the world, whereby I was entitled to live. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.11 We have the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have the plan of life and salvation revealed to us--temporal salvation, spiritual salvation. We have the gospel that will bring to us life eternal in the presence of God our Father, Jesus Christ our Redeemer, and of our loved ones who have gone before, who have been faithful. REJOICE IN TESTIMONIES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.11 I thank the Lord God Almighty for the faith, for the integrity, for the devotion to him and the gospel of his Son Jesus Christ in the lives of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. I thank the Lord that they were true, even to the day of their martyrdom. I rejoice in the testimonies at the Hill Cumorah, at the Joseph Smith farm, and at the Sacred Grove, regarding these men. I rejoice in the marvelous integrity and devotion to God of Brigham Young in the days of apostasy, in the days when murder was in the hearts of many who had once been Latter-day Saints. I rejoice that when men said that Joseph Smith was a fallen prophet, Brigham Young was as true as steel, and would have given his life at any time for the Prophet Joseph Smith. I rejoice in the wonderful accomplishments of Brigham Young. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.11 I rejoice in the integrity and devotion to God of John Taylor, of Wilford Woodruff, of Lorenzo Snow, and of Joseph F. Smith with whom I was intimately associated for forty-one years this identical month. I know the hearts of these men. I knew the inmost desires of their lives, that which they desired most to accomplish, and I know that every one of these men loved God with all his heart, and with all his being that they all loved the people of God, and that the one and only thing in their heart's desire above everything else in the world, was the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the spread of it, that men who knew not the truth might learn and accept the plan of life and salvation. LOYAL TO COUNTRY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.12 I know that their thoughts, their prayers, their ambitions, were all for the good of this people and their advancement spiritually and morally, intellectually and patriotically. I know as I know that I live that no men ever graced the footstool of God who were more loyal to their country, who believed more firmly that the Lord God Almighty inspired the men who brought freedom to this country trader George Washington and inspired the men who wrote the Constitution of our beloved country. I thank God for these men, and with all the power of my being I pray God that I, having been honored in my weakness and my lack of strength in comparison to them, may lead this people as they did, in that straight and narrow path that leads to life eternal. I desire to read just two paragraphs from the prayer given at the dedication of the Alberta temple: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.12 "We thank thee, O Father, for the knowledge which we possess, that thou dost live, and that thy Son Jesus Christ is our Redeemer and our Savior, and that thy servant Joseph Smith, Jr., was and is a prophet of the true and living God. And, O Father, may we ever be true and faithful to the gospel of thy Son Jesus Christ, revealed through thy servant Joseph. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.12 "We especially pray thee, O Father in heaven, to bless the youth of thy people in Zion and in all the world. Shield them from the adversary and from wicked and designing men. Keep the youth of thy people, O Father, in the straight and narrow path that leads to thee, preserve them from the pitfalls and snares that are laid for their feet. O Father, may our children grow up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Jesus Christ. Give unto them a testimony of the divinity of this work as thou hast given it unto us, and preserve them in purity, and in the truth." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.12 And I say unto you, O fathers in Israel; if you will set an example by being honest before God in the payment of your tithes, if you will observe the Word of Wisdom, if you will observe your family and your secret prayers, God will give you strength to preserve the youth of Zion as mentioned in this supplication. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.12 May the Lord bless us and pour out upon us richly his Holy Spirit during this conference, is my prayer, and I ask it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. President Heber J. Grant PART OF THE HILL CUMORAH PURCHASED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.23 I forgot one item that we have here, namely that we are now the owners of a part of the Hill Cumorah. The Church, a few weeks ago, purchased a farm of ninety odd acres, which embraces the West slope of the Hill Cumorah, about one-third of the way up the hill. There is a nice farm house, and it is a very fine piece of property. Elder Willard Bean, in charge of the Memorial Home, or the Smith Farm, wrote us that he could purchase this property, and we are glad now that at least part of the hill is in the possession of the Church. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.84 I wish to say that I have been very gratified indeed with our meetings here today. I feel that the Lord has abundantly blessed us in our gatherings and that we have had a rich outpouring of his Holy Spirit. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.84 I regret exceedingly that we have to limit our brethren to a very few minutes when they speak here. There is hardly one of the brethren who has stood upon his feet but what, I am sure, could edify this congregation for an hour or more if the opportunity were presented; but if you stop to think of the fact that there are twenty-six of the general authorities, and that we are anxious to hear from the mission presidents and from as many stake presidents as we possibly can, you will realize that we can only barely have testimonies borne by most of the brethren in these conference meetings. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.85 I regret to say that Brother Whitney's health is of such character that he has not been able to be with us during our conference, so far, and he feels that he cannot come this morning nor this afternoon. I am pleased to inform you, however, that his health has very greatly improved, during the past six months, and that he is again able occasionally, in fact nearly always, to meet with us once a reek in the temple in the regular council meeting of the Presidency, the Apostles and the Patriarch. But considering the state of his nerves at the present time, he does not feel that it is wisdom to be here and mingle with a large crowd. He is with us in spirit and we hope and pray that he may be here in vigor of body and mind six months from today. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.101 The inspired hymn that Elder Ballif read was also one of the hymns sung at the conference at the Hill Cumorah. The author of it is William W. Phelps. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.102 David O. McKay is absent from us, as you all know, he is performing an excellent work, presiding over the European mission and also over the British mission, and is accomplishing a splendid labor. We hear from him frequently. He is thoroughly enjoying his work. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.148 There are five members of the First Council of Seventy that have not had the opportunity of speaking to. us, and I had the names of some of our honored returned missionaries who have presided in some of the foreign missions, on my list. Time will not permit of our brethren speaking to us, as I am sure they would like to do, but we are going to stay here-those of us who are not so hungry that we are anxious to get away--until we hear from these brethren of the First Council of Seventy. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.156 I regret exceedingly to have had to limit the time of any of the brethren in these conferences. I am sure that every speaker, judging by myself, would have been pleased to occupy more time in talking to the Saints. When we stand up to speak and the Lord blesses us with the light and inspiration of his Spirit, it is rather a difficult matter not to want to talk and keep on talking. I confess freely, that it is very seldom when I am addressing the Latter-day Saints, that I do not have very many ideas come into my mind that I would like to express; but I feel the necessity of not continuing my remarks, as a rule, longer than I have done in the past. I therefore regret that it is not possible to give the brethren the opportunity and the chance to more fully express themselves; but I am sure that many of them who have been limited to ten minutes have done themselves proud, under the inspiration of the Spirit of the Lord, in testifying to us during the short time that was allotted them. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.156 Now to the law and testimony as we believe in it. BELIEF OF THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.156 "We believe that all religious societies have a right to deal with their members for disorderly conduct, according to the rules and regulations of such societies; provided that such dealings be for fellowship and good standing; but we do not believe that any religious society has authority to try men, on the right of property or life, to take from them this world's goods, or put them in jeopardy of either life or limb, or to inflict any physical punishment upon them. They can only excommunicate them from their society, and withdraw form them their fellowship." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.157 "We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is inflicted or the rights of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.157 I spent considerable time while Brother Ivins was preaching, looking through a lot of old papers for a few words that I wanted to read to this congregation. It fell to my lot to be honored, by playing a game of golf with the President of the United States. It also fell to my lot, when a very noted attorney, Judge James A. Emery, came here to make a very important speech as an industrial expert, to be invited to play a game of golf with him. And after playing that game of golf, I had the privilege of hearing him deliver his speech at the Country Club. He expressed pleasure in coming back to Utah and he announced--I do not know that I can give his words--that the people of Utah stood like a great rock in the ocean against the waves of discontent. A ROCK OF CERTAINTY. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.157 I just wish to read one little tribute from his address: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.157 "In renewing an old acquaintanceship comes a peculiar source of inspiration. I have been impressed with the continuing evidence which the light of Utah has had in the development of the state. Tell me what a man thinks and I will tell you what he does. This community has stood like a rock of certainty and decision in the midst of radicalism and discontent. Utah has stood as one of the cornerstones of reliability in the American political structure." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.157 That is from one of the great lawyers of the United States. After his speech, I had the pleasure of riding to the Country Club in the automobile with him, and afterwards of having a little ride to enjoy some of the scenery. The gentleman owning and driving the automobile, was not a member of our Church, but in complimenting judge Emery upon his magnificent address, he said: "Credit is due to the 'Mormon' people for not defending those things that are contrary to the fundamental laws, and the sustaining of the institutions of our country," or some words to that effect; and the Judge said: "Why, everybody knows that." I might add: except some people here at home. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.157 We hear a great deal about the wonderful influence of the "Mormon" priesthood and the tyranny of it; and this reminds me of a little incident in my own life. When I was a vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce and a certain gentleman was made the secretary, I suggested that we have that gentleman write a pamphlet upon the resources and attractions of Utah, inviting people to come here and make permanent homes--but of course we do not want anybody to come, so we are told ! FALSE, AND TRUE PROPAGANDA. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.158 And he wrote that pamphlet, and I suggested that after the cost of setting up the type had been returned and we had had our investment returned, that this man have an increase of salary because of the selling of the pamphlet. A few months later he thanked me for having made that motion, because he said that he was getting $20 or $25 per month from it and it was adding to his meager salary. I said: "It is contemptible for any man to receive thanks from his fellow-man in a favor that he did not extend. I did not nominate you, and suggest that you write that pamphlet because I wanted to increase your salary, although I did announce that it would increase it. I nominated you to write that pamphlet because I knew you would have to tell the truth in your writing, and that the truth printed in that pamphlet would brand the articles that you had written upon this city years ago as a United States official, as plain, simple lies. That is why I nominated you, sir. Among other things, you said that the "Mormon" Priesthood controlled the people in every city, in every home, and all over this Territory, and that they were getting rich by robbing the people, in the articles you wrote for eastern publication. In this pamphlet you say that in no other state or territory of the United States are such splendid opportunities for settlers to be found as in Utah and that the city, community and territorial taxes are lower than in any other state or territory in the Union. What a pity that .these robbers could not be exported to rob other people by reducing their taxes!" About that time he looked as if he would like to hit me instead of thanking me. I decided that I was quick enough to dodge if he should attempt to do so. AUTHORITY OF PRIESTHOOD. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.158 Now, with reference to the authority of the Priesthood of God and how it is to be exercised: The Prophet of the living God was imprisoned in Liberty jail and there was a desire that he should be tried and executed; but all the prison doors in all the world cannot prevent the revelations of the mind and the will of God coming to those that are entitled to receive them; and while in Liberty jail the Prophet Joseph Smith received one of the very greatest of all the great revelations from God that are contained in the Doctrine and Covenants. I read from Section 121: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.158 "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, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.158 "Behold, there are many called but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.158 "Because their hearts are set so much upon the thinks of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.158 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.159 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.159 "Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.159 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.159 "Hence many are called, but few are chosen." INSPIRED WORDS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.159 Now, I want to emphasize the balance of this. revelation, given in a jail. With all the power of a State trying to take away the liberty of Joseph Smith, they could not prevent the communication of that prophet with the heavens, and he received the following inspired words that should never be forgotten 'by any bishop or any president of a stake, or any apostle, or any president of the Church as long as they hold office in this Church: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.159 "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; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.159 "By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.159 "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; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.159 "That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death. "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.159 "The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion," MORE PRICELESS THAN WEALTH. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.159 More priceless than all the wealth of all the world is to have the Holy Ghost as our constant companion. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.159 "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 for ever and ever." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.159 We are an ignorant people, are we? Why, Dr. Winship announces that we have the best laws on education of any state in the United States, and yet the majority of the legislature come from the ignorant "Mormons." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.160 We are a vile people, are we? Consider this: the governor of Arizona announced that if we had our just dues we would not have been robbed of between twenty-five hundred and three thousand per cent of some of the taxes in Arizona, namely: that we were entitled to twenty-five or thirty inmates in the state penitentiary and only had one. He also announced that we were being robbed because we did not have six or seven, in proportion to our population in the insane asylum. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.160 When it comes to divorces--the crying evil of the age--we are not in it at all! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.160 When it comes to marrying, we can lead them every time. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.160 When it comes to, fulfilling the first great commandment of God: to multiply and replenish the earth--we lead. Utah's best crop, and Canada's and Mexico's best crop, in every true, loyal, faithful Latter-day Saint family, is babies. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.160 Our death-rate is lower. Our birth-rate higher. BY THEIR FRUITS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.160 "By their fruits ye shall know them," and we are at the defiance of the world in all the vital statistics that go to show that we are a Christian people, that we do acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer of the world, and are living up to his teachings. We are at the defiance of any honest man upon the face of the earth to point out that we do not lead in all those things; and the Savior said, "By their fruits ye shall know them." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.160 Speaking of the accomplishments in our Mexican colonies, that great president and warrior who ruled Mexico with an iron hand for so many years--Porfirio Dias, when he visited, just a short time before he was driven from his country, the fair in Chihuahua, when he came to the exhibits of industry and frugality; when he saw the products of our canning factories, our harness factories, the shoe factories; when he saw the exhibits from our academy there--as fine an academy as is in all Utah, barring only Logan, Ogden, Salt Lake, and Provo, our four principal cities--when he saw all the exhibits there, that warrior, whom nobody would expect to shed a tear, when he saw what this "ignorant" people had done in Mexico, wiped his eyes and said: "What could I not do with my beloved Mexico if I had more citizens like these 'Mormons?'" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.160 In Canada we have made a record second to no people. GOOD COLLEGE RECORDS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.160 In every college of the United States where our boys have gone, in every university attended by them, they have made a record that is the equal to the best. We expended of the Church funds and the people's funds, last year, a million dollars because we are a lot of ignoramuses and want to keep the people in ignorance. "The Glory of God is intelligence." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.160 Let me read some more from the Prophet Joseph Smith: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.160 "Whatever principles of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.160 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.160 "There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.161 "And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.161 Latter-day Saints realize, know and comprehend that one of the greatest duties devolving upon them is to gain knowledge, and to study and get information out of good books. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.161 "If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.161 God lives, Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and the living God; and this work called "Mormonism" is the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Redeemer, and is the plan of life and salvation; and all the disbelief of the world, all the opposition of all the world cannot stop it, God has established it and it will go on and on until it has fufilled its destiny! And may God help you and me and every soul that has a knowledge of the divinity of this work, to live the Gospel, that our acts may preach it, is my prayer and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.161 The Deseret News has been broadcasting all the remarks made here this morning and this afternoon. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.161 I desire to express my gratitude and thanks to all the Saints for the very remarkable and splendid order we have had during all our conference meetings. I believe it has been the very best of any conference I have ever attended. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.161 I am very grateful for the very large attendance. I am thankful for the inspiration of the Lord to all those who have spoken. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.161 I am grateful indeed that President Penrose, who will soon be 92 years of age, has been able to be with us and lift up his voice in testimony of the divinity of this great work. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1923, p.161 We will now ask you to arise and President Penrose will offer the benediction. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.2 It certainly is a very inspiring sight to see this house full and people standing at this our first session of the conference. THE CHURCH IN EXCELLENT CONDITION Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.2 I rejoice in the growth Of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at home and abroad. I rejoice in feeling that we have every cause to be grateful to the Lord for the blessings that have come to us during the past year. I believe that I am within the bounds of truth when I say that the Church was never in a better condition than at the present time, that there was never greater unity existing among the general authorities of the Church, more anxiety and determination to serve the Lord, than today; that we never had more energetic and faithful men presiding over the stakes of Zion and in the wards and missions of the Church than today; neither have we had more energetic, faithful men and women, than have been presiding and are presiding at the present time, as general, stake and ward officers in our various auxiliary organizations. GOOD WORK BY THE AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.3 It fell to my lot, yesterday afternoon, to address the conference of the Relief Society for a few minutes. The Assembly Hall was filled to overflowing, and many people were standing. I am convinced that such a gathering as that of active, wide-awake, energetic women-members could not be witnessed among any other people, who are no more numerous than are the Latter-day Saints. Our Relief Societies are doing a very remarkable and wonderful work in looking after the sick and the afflicted. I remember one very good friend of mine, a non-member of the Church, said to his wife just before he passed away, so she told me, that no other people, in his estimation--and he had traveled nearly all over the world--took as good care of their sick and looked after their poor as well as do the Latter-day Saints. They are really one great family of brothers and sisters, united with a common bond of love and respect. Our young people, and those who look after the children of the Primary Association are also doing a splendid work. SATISFACTORY REPORTS FROM THE MISSIONS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.3 The reports from our Missions from all over the world are very satisfactory; and the one call, claim, or plea that is made is, "Send us more missionaries." There is only one real exception to this, and that is in Japan. There is no exception in the call for more mission aries in that field, but, after twenty-odd years of labor in that country, we are convinced that not a dozen people have been thoroughly converted to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have seriously considered the question of closing that mission, but have not yet arrived at any conclusion. ENLIGHTENING STATISTICS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.3 It has been customary, at April conferences, to give some statistics to the people regarding the expenditure of their tithing. Nearly the entire tithing paid during the past year has been returned, in various appropriations, to the different stakes of Zion. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.3 General--The amount returned to the stakes from the tithes, for stake and ward purposes, during the past year and for maintenance and operation of the same, has been (I shall not read the odd figures) $ 993,000 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.3 The amount expended for the maintenance and operation of Church schools has been 835,000 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.3 The amount expended for the construction, maintenance and opera- tion of temples has been 449,000 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.3 Expended for hospital construction 146,000 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.3 Since our last General Conference our hospital in Idaho Falls, costing in the neighborhood of $400,000 has been dedicated, and is open for the care of the afflicted. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.3 For Charity--For the care of the worthy poor and other charitable purposes, including hospital treatment 171,000 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.3 Missions--For the maintenance and operation of all the missions, and for the erection of places of worship and other buildings in the missions 586,000 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.3 The grand total--Taken from the tithes, and returned by the Trustee-in-Trust to the Saints for the maintenance and operation of the stakes and wards, for the maintenance and operation of Church schools, temples, charities, and for mission activities is $3,182,207.22 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.3 Other Charities--In addition to charities paid out of the tithes, as before stated, there have also been distributed the fast offerings and Relief Society and other charities, amounting to $471,000 which, added to the $171,000 paid from the tithes, makes a total of Church charities of $643,060.47. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.3 Following statistics and other reports are compiled from the Church records for the year 1923: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.3 Church growth--Children blessed and entered upon the records of the Church, in the stakes and missions 19,199 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.3 Children baptized in the stakes and missions 13,020 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 Converts baptized and entered on the records of the stakes and mission 7,492 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 The organized stakes of Zion now number 90. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 Wards and independent branches 972. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 There are 24 mission of the Church. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 There are branches in the missions, 635. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 The birth-rate in the Church is 35 per 1000. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 The marriage-rate is 14 per 1000. I think that ought to be increased. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 The death-rate is 7.2, which is certainly very satisfactory indeed. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 There are 157,990 persons in the Church who are married. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 There were 241 persons divorced in the year 1923. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 Families owning their own homes, 75% Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 Temple Statistics--In 1918 and 1923--A comparison for the past five years--Baptisms, five years ago 175,000; last year 393,000 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 Ordinances, five years ago 154,000; last year 442,000 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 Total ordinances in 1918 329,529; in 1923 836,053 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 or an increase of more than 150%--over 500,000 more ordinances performed last year than five years ago. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 Missionary statistics--On Foreign missions, from Stakes of Zion, there are 1,798 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 Local elders laboring in foreign missions 83 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 Special missionaries laboring in the stakes of Zion 2,137 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 Total missionaries 4,018 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 Stake presidents--There have been appointed since last October the following Stake Presidents: Wayne H. Redd, San Juan stake. Henry M. Mickelsen, Lost River stake. M. Howard Randall, Morgan stake. James Berkley Larsen, Shelley stake. Winslow Farr Smith, Ensign stake. William H. Callahun, Wayne stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 There have been new wards organized: In the Roosevelt Stake, Mountwel; in the Liberty stake, Yale; in the Los Angeles stake, Belvedere and Glendale. TEXT FOR AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 I am requested to read this announcement. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 "Mendelssohn's oratorio entitled, Elijah, will be given this evening, Friday, in the Tabernacle, commencing at 8:15. In addition to the choir of two hundred and fifty voices selected from the Tabernacle Choir, ten talented soloists, and an orchestra of forty men, will take part. The committee announce popular prices of 25c and 50c. Tickets may be obtained at the box office and at the Bureau of Information. The choir and musicians have been preparing this splendid oratorio for many months, and a musical treat is promised to all who attend. Will you kindly emphasize the above, and oblige, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 "Sincerely, The Committee." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 I have decided to emphasize it by devoting my talk, entirely, or practically so, to that subject. I had not made up my mind until this morning what I would talk about. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 On the 21st day of September, 1823, nearly seven years the organization of the Church, Moroni, an angel, made the following statement to Joseph Smith the Prophet: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.4 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.5 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.5 "If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.5 In the revelation known as the Preface to the Doctrine and Covenants we are told: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.5 "Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.5 "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 be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.5 "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." THE APPEARANCE OF ELIJAH Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.5 In 1836, about thirteen years after the angel Moroni declared that Elijah should restore again the Priesthood, Elijah appeared to Oliver Cowdery and the Prophet Joseph Smith, in the Kirtland temple. The record of this appearance is to be found in the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 110. Not only did Elijah appear, upon that occasion, in the Kirtland temple, to the Prophet and to Oliver Cowdery, but the Savior and others appeared, and I will read not only regarding Elijah's appearance, but also that of the Savior. The Savior stated: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.5 "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." OUR SAVIOR, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST LIVES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.5 I know of nothing for which we, as Latter-day Saints, should be more grateful than the absolute knowledge that every Latter-day Saints has, that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world, the Son of the living God. All over the world today, even among professed Christians, there is a lack of faith in the divinity of the Savior. Even some ministers of the gospel go far enough to declare from their pulpits that they do not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. There is no doubt in the mind of any Latter-day Saint living regarding the fact that Jesus is the Son of God, because when the boy Joseph Smith, not yet fifteen years of age, went into the woods to pray in the Sacred Grove, he saw God the Father and God introduced to him his well-beloved Son, and told this boy to hear Him. Every Latter-day Saint believes absolutely in the revelations contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, that they are true; and in one of these revelations we have this recorded by Sidney Rigdon and the Prophet: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.5 "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! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.5 "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-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.6 "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." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.6 We have an account of the actual appearance of the Savior in the first temple erected in this dispensation which was at Kirtland. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.6 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.6 "Behold, your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me; therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.6 "Let the hearts of your brethren rejoice, and let the hearts of all my people rejoice, who have, with their might, built this house to my name. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.6 "For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall he here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.6 Then after the appearance of the Savior we have the following: KEYS TO GATHERING OF lSRAEL RESTORED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.6 "After this vision closed, the heavens were again opened unto us; and Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.6 One of the Articles of Faith of the Latter-day Saints is: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.6 "We believe in the literal gathering of lsrael and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion shall be built upon this [the American] continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.6 "After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed. VISITATION OF ELIJAH IN FULFILMENT OF MALACHI'S PREDICTION Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.6 "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: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.6 "Behold the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi--testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.6 "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-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.6 "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." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.6 This visitation of Elijah to the Kirtland temple was on April 3, 1836, the 88th anniversary being yesterday. THE FAITH OF THE SAINTS VERIFIED BY TEMPLES AND WORKS THEREIN Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.7 I rejoice in the fact that the Latter-day Saints believe absolutely beyond the peradventure of a doubt, that Elijah did come, that he did commit the keys to Oliver Cowdery and to Joseph Smith, and the temple erected in Kirtland, the temple erected in Nauvoo, and the temples that have been erected here in this state of Utah, and those in Hawaii and in Canada, and the one that is now being erected in Mesa City, Arizona, bear testimony, to the extent of millions of dollars of money, of the faith of the Latter-day Saints that the keys have been given, whereby we can, in very deed, be saviors upon Mount Zion for those who have died without a knowledge of the gospel. AN AWAKENING ON THIS SUBJECT IN ALL THE WORLD Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.7 And simultaneously, almost, with the declaration way back in 1823 by the Angel Moroni, (Section 2, D&C that I have read to you, ) all over the world there came into the hearts of people, not of our faith, a desire to organize genealogical societies, to compile records of names by the thousands, and tens of thousands. I have met in many lands and in many climes, men who have spent years, and a large amount of treasure, and almost their entire time, in compiling records of their ancestors. I have asked them why they did it. They said they did not know, they were seized with a great desire to compile records of their ancestors; and, as we know, these records are worth their weight in gold to the Latter-day Saints. INTEREST IN WORK FOR THE DEAD INCREASING Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.7 It fell to my lot last night to make a brief address to the representatives of the Genealogical societies and organizations of the Church, on the top floor of the Bishop's Building. The auditorium there was crowded to overflowing. We have had a great many gatherings there at one time and another, but I have never attended a gathering in that building when the room was as well filled as it was last night. It was a meeting of enthusiastic laborers, whose works testify to the coming of Elijah, to the turning of the hearts of the fathers to the children, and of the children to the fathers. This work is being carried on, and as I have read to you in the statistics here this morning, over five-hundred thousand more ordinances were performed in our temples this past year than were performed during a like period five years ago. I rejoice in the splendid work that is being accomplished, and in the wonderful loyalty of those who are working in the temples, and those who are gathering information for genealogical work of different kinds. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.7 I believe that the Committee will be reasonably well satisfied with my emphasis of the great oratorio here tonight, of Elijah. I hope the house will be crowded to overflowing. WE ARE ENGAGED IN THE MARVELOUS WORK OF THE LORD Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.7 I rejoice in the blessings of the Lord, I rejoice in a knowledge that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and the living God. We are engaged in the work of the Lord, and I wish to read the words of the Lord given to the grandfather of our late beloved President Joseph F. Smith, the father of the Prophet Joseph and the Patriarch Hyrum Smith. These words were given, remember, before the Church was organized: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 "Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 "Therefore, if ye have desire to serve God, ye are called to the work: "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; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 "And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 "Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 "Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen. THE GREAT PURPOSE OF OUR LABORS DECLARED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 And before the Church was organized a revelation was given to the father of our beloved President Joseph F. Smith. I will not read it all, but it is Section II, given in May, 1829, nearly a year before the organizing of the Church. Hyrum Smith desired that his Brother, the Prophet, should inquire of the Lord as to what labor he should perform. He said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 "Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments," I desire with all the power that God has given me to emphasize that. That applies to every man, woman and child in all the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "Keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 "Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be done unto you; and, if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 "Say nothing but repentance unto this generation." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 Remember that, O all ye people: Say nothing but repentance. Teach and live the first principles of the gospel, and let the mysteries of heaven wait until you get to heaven. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 "Keep my commandments, and assist to bring forth my work, according to my commandments, and you shall be blessed. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 "Behold, thou hast a gift or thou shalt have a gift if thou wilt desire of me in faith, with an honest heart, believing in the power of Jesus Christ or in my power which speaketh unto thee: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 "For, behold, it is I that speak; behold, I am the light which shineth in darkness, and by my power I give these words unto thee. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 "And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good--yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit * * * Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 "Build upon my rock, which is my gospel; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 "Deny not the spirit of revelation, nor the spirit of prophecy, for wo unto him that denieth these things; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.8 "Therefore, treasure up in your heart until the time which is in my wisdom that you shall go forth. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.9 "Behold, I speak unto all who have good desires, and have thrust in their sickle to reap. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.9 "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the life and the light of the world. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.9 "I am the same, who came unto mine own and mine own received me not; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.9 "But verily, verily, I say unto you, that as many as receive me, to them will I give power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on my name. Amen. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.9 Please remember, Latter-day Saints, that this revelation declares that the Lord speaks unto all of us who have a desire to labor--to seek not for riches, but to bring forth the work of God, and to labor for the accomplishment of that purpose. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.9 Now I see the time that I desired to occupy has expired, but I want to speak just a little more and read a few words that I have been studying occasionally, now for forty long years, since it fell to my lot to be one of the apostles: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.9 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.9 "For this shall be a law"--not an exhortation remember, but a law--"unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.9 "And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.9 "And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord." THE SACRED DUTY OF COMMUNION WITH GOD THROUGH PRAYER Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.9 And the way to teach our children to pray is to pray ourselves in secret and in our families. There is too much neglect in having communion with God on the part of many of the Latter-day Saints. I feel a joy and a happiness every day of my life in communicating with my Maker, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, my Redeemer. And those who do not have a radio communication, so to speak, with our Heavenly Father and our Redeemer, are losing the inspiration that comes from the Lord. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.9 "And the inhabitants of Zion shall also observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.9 "And the inhabitants of Zion also shall remember their labors, inasmuch as they are appointed to labor, in all faithfulness; for the idler shall be had in remembrance before the Lord. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.9 "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; they also seek not earnestly the riches of eternity, but their eyes are full of greediness. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.9 "These things ought not to be, and must be done away from among them; wherefore, let my servant Oliver Cowdery carry these sayings unto the land of Zion. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.10 "And a commandment I give unto them--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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.10 "These sayings are true and faithful; wherefore, transgress them not, neither take therefrom. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.10 "Behold, I am Alpha and Omega, and I come quickly. Amen." TAKE TO HEART THE DUTY OF TEACHING FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.10 I pray that the parents who are within the sound of my voice, and those who may read in the conference reports, or in our papers, what I say, may take to heart the duty that devolves upon them under a commandment from the Lord Almighty to teach faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, to their children, that they shall pray and walk uprightly. That the Lord may help us to rear our beloved children in the nurture and admonition of the gospel, and in a love of God and of our Redeemer, and that each and every soul who has a testimony of the divinity of this work may live the gospel in uprightness, in virtue, and in truth, that their lives may preach the truth to those with whom they come in contact, is my prayer, and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.45 Of the General Authorities of the Church, there are absent from our conference Elders Reed Smoot, David O. McKay, John A. Widtsoe, and George Albert Smith, of the Council of the Twelve. As you all know, Brother Smoot's duties prevent his attendance. We had hoped Brother Widtsoe might be here, but the Commission of which he is a member demands his attention, and he has written his sincere regrets for not being present at the conference. We have a cablegram from Pres. David O. McKay, that "the conference presidents of the mission in special assembly send greetings to the First Presidency and other authorities and the Church at home. God bless you." Brother George Albert Smith is absent on account of sickness. We hope he will be with us before the conference is concluded. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.65 It is certainly very gratifying to see this building filled to overflowing with people, many standing in the aisles and the doorways. We have never before had such an attendance upon a week day at any of our conferences as we had yesterday and as we are having today. Amplifiers have been installed in the Assembly Hall, so that those who do not have seats here, and would like to go over there, can be comfortably seated, and hear whatever is said in this building. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.152 I will announce that the auditors have made the usual report, and reported that they found the books and accounts, and everything in the Bishop's Office and the Trustee-in-Trust's in perfect order. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.152 The Church Stenographer, Brother Frank W. Otterstrom, handed me the following, which appeared in last Sunday's issue of the New York Times, being a statement made in 1911 by Dr. Eliot, President Emeritus of Harvard University: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.152 "How to live long-Go to Church. Keep a clean heart and a good conscience. Give your mind exercise as well as your body--really think. Exercise regularly, eat in moderation, take a full allowance of sleep. Avoid indulgence in luxuries and the habitual use of any drug whatsoever--not only of alcohol, but tobacco, tea and coffee." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.152 In 1833, the Lord told us, in a much more substantial way than President Eliot, to refrain from all those things. Among other things, my brethren and sisters, keep the Word of Wisdom. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.152 I am very pleased to announce that Brother George Albert Smith is with us this afternoon on the stand, but it is scarcely considered wisdom for him to attempt to address this vast congregation. FOR THE SUFFERERS IN EUROPE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.153 There was a special drive made during the past season for the suffering people in Europe; and in addition, there was a drive made for clothes, and we have been able to send four carloads of clothing to Europe. The railroad and steamship companies have furnished us transportation for these clothes, practically free of charge, for which we are grateful indeed. It has been estimated that the cash received, $12,500 of which went to the Near East organization, and the clothing, would amount, in round numbers, to fully $100,000. Sixty and thousand dollars was the estimate placed upon the clothing sent. We have received word from our European missions that this clothing very good indeed, that they were surprised at the high quality of clothing that was delivered. There were extensive repairs made on the shoes that were given, which made them very much more acceptable. This assistance has been rendered to the Netherlands and Germany, to the Armenians, and also the Near East, as stated, and some assistance also to Great Britain. PROGRESS AND INCREASE IN MANY CHURCH ACTIVITIES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.153 There has been a substantial increase in the attendance at our sacrament meetings during the past year. There has been better ward-teaching and an increase in the number of families visited monthly; statistics show an increase in our tithes, a large increase in the number of tithe-payers, and a splendid record of the stake and ward officers in the payment of tithes, for which we are grateful. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.153 An extensive building program is being carried out in many of the stakes of Zion. New meeting-houses are being erected and the people are very liberal in their donations for the same. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.153 In the conservation of life, the records show a marked decrease in the deaths of children under five years of age, showing that better methods are being adopted all through the state to prevent our little ones from passing away in their infancy. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.153 For the first time, more people have removed to the missions of the Church from the stakes of Zion than have been received from the missions. A splendid work is being done, as I announced here at the opening of our conference, by the missionaries in every part of the world. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.153 It is estimated that there have been 1200 converts to the Church as a result of our home missionary work in the various stakes of Zion. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.153 The work of increasing the accomodations in the Salt Lake temple has been completed, and has proved a great convenience to those attending this temple. The facilities have been very greatly enlarged Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.153 and are highly appreciated by those who are working in that temple. The Manti temple has been thoroughly overhauled and renovated. The frame-work of the Arizona temple is now completed and the terra-cotta is being delivered. The building is to be covered with terra-cotta--the same general style of covering as the Hotel Utah. The walls will be completed within a few months. CONDITION IN THE MISSIONS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.153 There is a marked improvement in the conditions for missionary work in Great Britain. The Netherlands mission is very prosperous, having very many investigators. A French mission has just been created, comprising the French people in the devastated regions of France, the French-speaking people of Belgium, and the French-speaking people of Switzerland. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.154 In the Scandinavian missions we are still having difficulty in getting people into Sweden. I regret that the present condition is altogether different from what it was in the days of King Oscar. It fell to my happy lot, with Brother Alex Nibley, whom I see here, and some of my friends, to have the privilege of calling on King Oscar on the 4th day of July, many years ago. With characteristic American assurance, I presented myself at the king's palace and requested an interview and the man who came to the door looked at me as if he thought I was crazy, not to be properly presented through the minister plenipotentiary. I wrote a letter of introduction to his majesty and enclosed a letter from Governor Heber M. Wells of the state of Utah, told him that day, July 4th, was the day that we Americans celebrate, and asked for an audience; and added that I knew that I ought to be presented in proper order, that I had letters from the Utah senators to our minister; but, the day being the 4th of July, we hoped that he would waive all of the customary formalities necessary to see a king. And he very kindly consented, stepped out of the palace, and greeted us; and after learning that only two or three in our party understood the Swedish language, he immediately changed to faultless English, perfect English. He was a magnificent specimen of humanity, standing over six feet high. He made this remark to me: "Mr. Grant, I have sent my personal representatives, unknown to the people, to nearly every state in the Union of the United States, to find out how my former subjects are getting along, how they are prospering; and in no other state in the Union are the former subjects of Sweden and Norway more contented, more prosperous and happier than in Utah; and, as long as I am king of Norway and Sweden, your people shall have religious liberty, notwithstanding all the priests and religious denominations are against you." I wish he was still alive. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.154 An extensive building program is now in operation in many of the missions of the United States. Meeting houses of a substantial character have been erected in some of the missions--in far off New Zealand, in Australia, and in some other places. We are grateful for the very excellent progress that we are making all over the world in our missionary work. WORK OF THE M. I. A. SCOUTS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.155 Some remarks have been made here, telling of the good opinion that people have of us today, in comparison with what it used to be. It fell to my lot to be at a Boy Scout gathering at the Westside High school, where representatives from this section of the country were present. President Moore, the head of the great World's Fair at San Francisco, was one of these men, Stewart French was another, and other influential national representatives were there. One of the men present upon that occasion was George J. Fisher, who is the second in command of the Boy Scouts of America. The man in charge, the head man, Mr. West, was with us in this building about a year ago, and he delivered a magnificent address and paid splendid compliments to our people. He remarked to me that it was a great pleasure to him to have nominated Oscar A. Kirkham to have charge of the Boy Scouts who went to Europe--a great compliment, I feel to the American people. Oscar A. Kirkham has received a letter from Dr. George J. Fisher, which I think every Latter-day Saint would like to hear read. Every Latter-day Saint ought to have read it, because, in every Latter-day Saint home there ought to be the Improvement Era. But, for fear there is not one in every home of those who are here, I will read this from the March number of the Improvement Era: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.155 "It was my pleasure recently to meet the representatives of the Boy Scout movement in Utah and to observe Scouting in action. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.155 "I was deeply impressed not only with the extent to which the boys of Utah had been reached, but with the quality of the program of Scouting which was being conducted. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.155 "Utah excels in Scouting. In Salt Lake City and in Logan, the headquarters of two Councils of the State, I witnessed actual demonstrations by the boys themselves. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.155 "I was profoundly moved and greatly inspired by what I saw. Utah excels in the number of boys reached in proportion to the population. In many communities practically all of the boys available are scouts. There are more boys of advanced rank and a greater percentage of Eagle scouts than in any other section of America. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.155 "Scouting reaches the boys not only in the large centers of the state, but in the remotest villages. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.155 "So well is scouting administered that the boys themselves manage much of their activities under wise adult guidance. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.155 "I saw a great rally directed entirely by scents in Salt Lake City. The dispatch, precision, efficiency and spirit with which they conducted the affair was worthy of high praise. I have never seen it excelled. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.155 "Scouting is raising up a fine breed of boys in Utah. It is giving them splendid executive training that will fit them for effective leadership in the affairs of state in the years immediately ahead. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.155 "Scouting is a course in the practice of patriotism. It is developing patriots in Utah, yes, boys who will be felt in the public and private life of the nation. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.155 "That state is a great state which gives to its youth its first attention. Utah excels in that regard. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.155 "The secret of it all is that splendid, high motivatied men are giving themselves unselfishly to the boys of the state. This is the way to success and real achievement. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.155 "These men are taking serious training for their tasks. I associated for part of two days with almost a hundred of them in training at the State Agricultural College at Logan. They came from the remotest parts of the state and of nearby states. It was an inspiration. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.155 "These men will determine the standards of boy life in the state. It is a noble enterprise, a worthy and commendable service. All praise to them. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.155 "These scouts in the state are catching and demonstrating the spirit of Scouting. It is a great spiritual crusade. They are living the Scout Oath and Laws. They are practicing the 'daily good turn.' Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.156 "Scouting is reaching all boys; poor boys as well as those who are more favored. Utah is setting standards for the whole country. Utah is repeating history. Just as she developed the early scouts, the great heroes of pioneer days, so now she is raising up boy scouts, caught by the same spirit of enterprise, by the same spirit of adventure. It is the pioneer spirit, the holy crusade of olden days applied in practical, yet romantic fashion to the youth of this later age. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.156 "The 'Mormon' Church is the largest factor in this splendid achievement. She it is that is furnishing men and vision and ideals to the young men throughout the state, and they as scoutmasters in the great majority are inspiring the youth of the state to become good scouts. Splendid cooperation is given by other religious agencies in this work. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.156 "And for this good service we are deeply grateful. Scouting is marching on in Utah, an excellent example to all the nation." PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG'S ADMONITION SEVENTY-ONE YEARS AGO APPLIES TODAY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.156 October 6 to 9, 1853: Words of President Brigham Young: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.156 "We will now bring our conference to a close. I wish the Latter-day Saints to hearken to the counsel they receive from time to time, and especially to the counsel I will now give to all Latter-day Saints in this house, in the valleys of the mountains, and to all who are scattered among the nations of the earth. I ask one thing at your hands, and that is, to live your religion day by day. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.156 "The religion we profess is the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ; a religion of revelation, ministering of angels, and the power of God on the people through the ordinances of God. My counsel is, to live their religion. If they do, they will live watchfully, prayerfully, humbly; and their hearts will be filled with compassion one towards another, and they will seek to do good all the days of their lives; and when an evil is presented to them they will shun that evil, and will cleave to that which is right before the Lord; otherwise they will bring disgrace upon themselves, and dishonor their religion. This is my counsel to all Saints, and I wish you to carry it from this conference to your neighbors, and spread it abroad, throughout all the churches of the Saints, upon the face of the whole earth;--Live the religion you profess!" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.156 Brother Junius F. Wells was indexing some of the Journals of Discourses and ran across the above and handed it to me; and I felt I would like to read it here. THE SUGAR INDUSTRY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.157 I am very happy to inform the Latter-day Saints that there has been a very wonderful and remarkable "come-back" in the sugar industry of this inter-mountain country. Instead of the various sugar factories being in debt many, many millions of dollars of money to the banks in New York and Chicago, with large stocks of sugar on hand and no sale for it, there is now a demand for sugar throughout the entire country; and almost without exception, if not without exception, (I am not thoroughly posted) the companies are not in debt to bankers who were unwilling three years ago, without additional capital being invested, to renew obligations that they held. Today, most if not all of the companies are free from bank obligations in the East and the industry has come back in a splendid way; for which we are grateful. The farmers are giving loyal support and raising larger quantities of beets, which means an increased product, which means an increase of prosperity to this intermountain country. GIVE LOYAL SUPPORT TO HOME INSTITUTIONS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.157 From my earliest recollection, I have heard Brigham Young and all of his successors preach to the people and beg them to support and sustain all of the various industries that were established throughout this inter-mountain country; and I appeal to the Latter-day Saints today, to all who are here present, to carry the message to the people throughout the entire Church--to support the institutions of our state, to be loyal to those institutions through which employment can be given to the people, and from which you can secure articles that are manufactured here at home. Give them the preference; help to build Up our country; sustain this inter-mountain country. We need support for everything that is started in the nature of a manufacturing institution in this country. We are so far away from the centers of consumption for many of our products that railroad freight charges prevent tis exporting many goods which, but for the long distance to the markets, we could do. Therefore, let us be loyal to our institutions here at home. BUILDING OF THE ARIZONA TEMPLE PROGRESSING Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.157 I am pleased to inform you that it has fallen to my lot, during the past six months, to visit Arizona and to see the progress that is being made there upon our temple; and I am sure that when that building is completed we shall all be proud of it. I am sure that it will be one more monument testifying to the faith and the loyalty of the Latter-day Saints to the work of the Lord and to the message that has come to us in our day--to labor for the redemption of our dead. I am sure that it will be a credit to our people that will be recognized by those not of our faith, in seeing one more splendid monument of the kind and this in the state of Arizona. INCREASED TESTIMONY AND FRESH INSPIRATION FROM READING THE BOOK OF MORMON Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.158 I have rejoiced during the past six or seven weeks in reading carefully through, at the rate of about ten pages a day, with a prayerful heart, the Book of Mormon. I do not think that I have ever before enjoyed that book so much. I do not think the wonderful testimonies contained in it regarding the divine mission of the Savior, have ever made a more profound impression upon my heart and soul than they have made this last time that I have read the Book of Mormon. I remember, and have often spoken of the fact of reading it in my youthful days, and how there came into my heart an abiding testimony that that book was true, that it was in very deed exactly what it purports to be--the sacred history of the forefathers of the American Indian. I could not as a child or as a young man, comprehend and understand as fully as today the splendid discourses regarding the divine mission of the Savior. His wonderful teachings to the people upon this continent, the wonderful inspired teachings of Alma and Abinadi and many others, as contained in that book. But I am thankful beyond expression that I did read the book in my boyhood days and that the assurance came into my heart that it was in very deed the truth, and that I fell in love with the character of Nephi. More than any other mortal man that we have any record of in the Bible, the Old, or the New Testaments, or in the Book of Mormon, more, I believe, than the influence of my friends and associates with whom I have lived, Nephi has made an impression upon my heart and my soul and has been one of the guiding stars of my life--a man who endeavored upon all occasions never to become discouraged or disheartened, never to complain; but who endeavored to the full extent of his ability to carry out his own wonderful words spoken to his father-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.158 "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 commanded them." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.158 That remarkable declaration, exemplified through his entire life, has stayed with me, I am sure, now for fully fifty long years; and I rejoice in the fact of the impression that was made upon my heart and soul by that statement. I also rejoice in his immediately exemplifying the statement that he would do what the Lord required. What had the Lord required? The Lord, through Lehi, his father, had received a dream to the effect that his sons were to return to Jerusalem and secure the brass plates upon which some of the ancient scriptures and the genealogy of the forefathers of Nephi were recorded. And his brethren were complaining, when he made that impressive announcement that he would go and do the thing which the Lord had required. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.158 They made a failure of their first attempt, and his brothers desired to return to their father in the wilderness, but Nephi said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.158 "We will not go down unto our lather in the wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.158 And they went up again to Jerusalem, and they gathered their riches and they offered them to Laban for the record. Instead of making the exchange, Laban sent his servants to kill them, and he stole their wealth. Nephi's brothers then commenced beating him; and an angel of the Lord appeared and told them to go up again unto Jerusalem and the Lord would deliver Laban into their hands and they would obtain the plates. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.159 No sooner had the angel disappeared than these men, lacking faith--and men that do not keep the commandments of the Lord are always lacking in faith and always will be lacking in faith, and always will find fault; and those who are perpetually seeking for some great and wonderful manifestation will never amount to very much in the Church; while those who keep the commandments of God never find fault, they have faith, they believe--these brothers of Nephi said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.159 "How is it possible that the Lord Will deliver Laban into our hands ? Behold he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?" And the answer of Nephi was: "Let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands?" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.159 Many men say: "If I could only see an angel, if I could only hear an angel proclaim something, that would cause me to be faithful all the days of my life!" It had no effect upon these men that were not serving the Lord, and it would have no effect today. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.159 As I say, I rejoice in the increased testimony that has come into my heart and soul regarding the divinity of the Book of Mormon, in the reading that I have just completed while on my recent trip to the south. THE TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE AT CASTLE GATE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.159 We have had one of the most terrible catastrophies in the history of the state of Utah, on which occasion one hundred seventy-three, as I remember it, lives were lost in the Castle Gate coal mine explosion. It fell to my lot, with Elder Richard R. Lyman and others, to visit Castle Gate and to see the effects of that terrible calamity there. The Governor of the state and others have inaugurated a drive for the benefit of the families that have been left destitute of a provider. I hope and pray that in every hamlet and in every home there will be a disposition to contribute something toward this great drive for the benefit of the families of the men who were killed in that great disaster. There is nothing truer than the statement in ancient writ that "It is more blessed to give than to receive," and I say that the greater blessing will come to those who give than to those who are not willing to give in this case. Let us do our part, as we have ever done our part in all of the various calls that have been made by our nation in times of trouble and by those in distress. I am sure that the appeal will not be made in vain. The Church has been solicited to assist and we have contributed $2,500 of the tithing funds for this purpose, which was somewhat more than the request made by the chairman who called upon us. THE SAINTS LOVE THE GOSPEL, AS WITNESS THE CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.160 I have been very pleased indeed, my brethren and sisters, with the wonderful attendance at our conference. We have never had anything like it within my recollection, nothing to compare with the wonderful outpouring of the people at these conference meetings. To have our week-day meetings so crowded in this tabernacle that many have had to stand up is a new experience, and it shows to me that the Latter-day Saints are awake, that they are alive, that they have a love of the gospel, that they are anxious to come here to partake of the spirit of our conferences, that spirit which has been with the Latter-day Saints, in this building, from the very day it was first opened. It has fallen to my lot, from my childhood days until now, excepting when I have been absent from the state upon foreign missions, to attend conferences in this building twice a year, and I have never come into this building and been disappointed; I have never come here but what I have been benefited and fed with the bread of life and built up in the faith, and strengthened in my knowledge and testimony regarding the divinity of the work in which we as Latter-day Saints are engaged. PRAYER FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.160 I pray that the Lord will bless the President of the United States of America and his cabinet, and that he will vindicate the President and every honest member of his cabinet; and I believe that there are honest, upright, God-fearing, patriotic men in the cabinet of President Coolidge. I believe he is a man worthy of the blessings of Almighty God. That is my opinion of the President of the United States. I believe that he has the welfare of the people of this great country at heart. BLESSINGS ON ALL ISRAEL, AT HOME AND ABROAD Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.160 I pray that the Lord will bless each and everyone of the Latter-day Saints throughout all the stakes of Zion, from Canada on the north to Mexico on the south. I pray that he will bless the Saints all over the wide world, in all the different missions, that they may grow and increase in the light and the knowledge and the testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.160 I bear my witness to you here today that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world, the Redeemer of mankind, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and the living God, and that each man, woman and child who lives the gospel of Jesus Christ shall find life eternal in the presence of our heavenly Father. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1924, p.160 I pray for the blessings of the Lord to abide with all Israel, and I do it in the name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.2 I rejoice again at having the opportunity of meeting with the Saints in General Conference. It is a very inspiring sight to see this large Tabernacle filled to overflowing, and people standing, at the first session. THE RADIO Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.2 The exercises of today and throughout the conference are to be broadcasted; and it is estimated that in the neighborhood of a million people will be able to hear all that is said, provided they are listening in during the conference sessions. The radio is one of the most marvelous inventions man knows anything about. To have the voice carried for thousands of miles seems almost beyond comprehension. LET US SERVE GOD WITH ALL MIGHT, MIND AND STRENGTH Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.2 I rejoice in the remarkable and wonderful growth of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in our day. Over a year before the Church was organized a short revelation was given through the Prophet Joseph, directed to his father. It reads as follows: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.2 "Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.2 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.2 "Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.3 "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; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.3 "And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.3 "Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.3 "Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.3 If there is any one thing more than another that I desire to impress upon the hearts of the Latter-day Saints it is that we should in very deed serve God with all our might, mind and strength, that we may keep pace with the progress of his work here upon the earth. This very audience here today, the immense auditorium filled to overflowing, testifies more eloquently than any language of mine regarding the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ. When I recall the revelations that were given to the Prophet Joseph prior to the organization of the Church foretelling the growth and the accomplishments of the work of God here upon the earth, it is one of many testimonies to me regarding the divinity of this work in which you and I are engaged. OUTSTANDING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE CHURCHIN THE PAST SIX MONTHS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.3 I believe the Saints will be interested in knowing something of the progress in various ways that has taken place in the Church since we last assembled here. Within a few weeks after the April conference it fell to my lot to go East and to hold meetings in Denver, of the Western States mission, in Independence, Kansas City and St. Louis of the Central States mission, and later to visit Omaha in the Western States mission. I had the privilege of speaking in all of these places. Also meeting with and instructing our elders. I found a wonderful spirit of loyalty on the part of the Mission presidents, of the elders, and of the lady missionaries in all of these places. I rejoiced exceedingly in visiting with them. I came in contact with a number of influential men, some of whom attended our services. Several of them afterward expressed their pleasure in having heard something regarding our faith that was new to them. The great majority of mankind pay little or no attention to the message of the Latter-day Saints, but many pay a great deal of attention to the things of a detrimental character that are published against us. Today men of intelligence, men of thought, and men who are studying, in seeing the wonderful progress of the work of God here on the earth, are beginning to realize that there must be something good in it, considering the class of people that are attracted to it. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.4 I had the pleasure of playing a game of golf in Kansas City, and learned that the title to part of the very ground upon which we were playing originally stood in the name of the Bishop of the "Mormon" Church. I also learned that a large proportion of Kansas City stands upon ground once owned by the Latter-day Saints. The title to much of it has never passed, and the only title people today have to a portion of that great city is by possessing the ground. In tracing the abstracts back they find that the title originally was in the name of the Bishop of the "Mormon" Church. We all remember with gratitude the wonderful courage and manhood of General Doniphan in saving the life of the Prophet Joseph. Part of our holdings in that section of the country--thousands of acres, as I remember it--was turned over to Doniphan as a fee for legal services. The price of those lands then was very insignificant, but I was assured that the very land turned over to General Doniphan is today worth more than ten millions of dollars. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.4 After returning from visiting the Western and the Central States missions, in June, I went East and visited the Northern States mission, the Canadian mission and the Eastern States mission. I had the privilege for the first time of visiting Montreal, in Canada, and of attending one of the sessions of the Rotary Club in Toronto. The work in all of the missions I have visited since the last conference is progressing in a splendid way. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.4 Since our last conference, President Anthony W. Ivins and Elder Richard R. Lyman have visited the Hawaiian Islands with members of their families. The work there is progressing splendidly. Our sugar plantations there are progressing more satisfactorily at the present time than for many years past. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.4 New chapels are being erected in many of our missions. A site for a new chapel has been purchased on one of the principal streets in Washington, D. C., and we expect to erect a place of worship there that will be a credit to the Latter-day Saints, and worthy of that city of beautiful churches, wonderful public buildings, and palatial residences. We hope to have a building there that will be as much of a credit to us at Washington as our magnificent office building is to us here--not as expensive, of course, but in every respect worthy of the Church of Christ. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.4 Brother James E. Talmage has been chosen to preside over the European mission. Elder David O. McKay will have been in that mission two years by the time he leaves it. Previous to his being called there, he and Brother Hugh J. Cannon spent a year in traveling around the world, visiting nearly all of the missions in the world. Therefore we felt it was only fair to him to allow him to return to his mountain home without staying the usual three years that the brethren spend in England. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.4 We have sent considerable sums of money to the Norwegian and Danish missions for final payment on meetinghouses purchased years ago. We have purchased a fine large meetinghouse at Rotterdam. There has been erected a splendid meetinghouse at Honolulu; and others are now authorized in the Hawaiian Islands. We have secured a long lease of farming lands for the Tongan mission, not being able to purchase and get title there. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.5 The baptisms in the missions during the past six months number 3,156, a very decided increase over the average in years past. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.5 Two new stakes have been organized since our last conference, namely, the Grant stake, taken from the Granite stake, and the Minidoka stake, a part of the Blaine stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.5 Twelve new wards have been organized during the past six months. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.5 A large number of new meeting houses are being erected in Zion. I believe more building is going on at the present time in the various stakes of Zion than for many years past. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.5 We have ordered a monument to be erected at the grave of Martin Harris, in Clarkston, Utah. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.5 A new home is being provided for the Lamanites located near Cedar City, in order that they may be more comfortably situated. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.5 Successful conventions of auxiliary organizations are in progress at the present time all over the Church. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.5 Quite a number of seminary buildings have been erected by the Saints in various parts of the Church. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.5 There is a large and increased attendance at the Brigham Young University and our other Church schools. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.5 A very remarkable increase is noted in the attendance at all of our temples. The Manti temple has been overhauled, and extensive repairs made there, making it very much more comfortable and convenient than in the past. The repairs being made at the Salt Lake temple are now all completed. Rapid progress is being made in the erection of the Arizona temple. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.5 We have decided to erect on this block a monument in honor of the Three Witnesses (perhaps we will include the Eight Witnesses), to be located in the rear of the statues of Presidents Joseph and Hyrum Smith. The design has not yet been decided upon; but we will endeavor to have something that will be as attractive and as creditable, and that will preach the wonderful message proclaimed in the Book of Mormon as effectively as the Sea Gull Monument preaches the wonderful deliverance wrought by the Lord in the days when the crickets threatened to destroy everything. Undoubtedly some of the inspirational passages of the Book of Mormon, also the fact that these three witnesses declare that an angel of God came down from heaven and laid before their eyes, that they beheld and saw the plates of the Book of Mormon, and the engravings thereon, and that the voice of the Lord commanded them that they should bear record of it, with other incidents that proclaim the divinity of the Book of Mormon, will be features of the monument. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.5 We are pleased to note that there is an improvement in the support of our foreign newspapers. There are many faithful, diligent Latter-day Saints who, having embraced the Gospel in foreign lands at an advanced age, cannot read the English language, and it is a great comfort and blessing to them to have some of the sermons, messages, and news, regarding the work of God published in their own language. We bespeak for these papers the loyal patronage of those of foreign birth. Young men who have prospered here in the things of this world should be willing to assist in circulating at home and abroad the word of God through the papers published in the mother tongue of their parents. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.6 We have been called upon during the past six months to part with one of our loyal stake presidents,--President Andrew Kimball. It fell to my lot to have the privilege of going to Thatcher, Arizona, and attending the funeral, at which there was a wonderful outpouring of the people, showing their respect and love for their president. It was a source of satisfaction to me to have the opportunity of paying a tribute of love and respect to him at the services. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.6 We have to announce the death of Sister Elizabeth C. McCune, who, in connection with her husband, presented to the Church some years ago the magnificent McCune mansion on upper Main street, the name of which has been changed since the death of Sister McCune to The McCune School of Music and Art. We hope at no far distant date to have a portion of that building devoted to the fine arts in the form of beautiful paintings and sculpture. There are two magnificent pieces of sculpture there now, probably the finest in our state, which were presented with the mansion at the time it was given to us. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.6 I believe this covers the activities of the past six months that I thought would be of interest to the people. Of course, you will realize that if I were to enter into detail regarding these activities I could occupy not only the entire time of this morning's session with interest to the Saints, but even longer. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.6 On my way home after attending the funeral of Brother Kimball, in Arizona, I stopped for a few days in California, and the work in the California mission is progressing in a very favorable way. THE DIVINITY OF JESUS CHRIST Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.6 There is one thing that I desire to refer to, and a part of one of the revelations that I desire to read. There are no revelations in the D&C that have made such a profound impression upon my heart and my mind as the one known as The Vision, recorded in the 76th section, and the one known as Prayer and Prophecies, given in Liberty Jail, and to be found in the 121st section. I rejoice every time I read the wonderful testimony of the Prophet Joseph and Sidney Rigdon as contained in The Vision. When bishops over large churches in England announce that Jesus Christ was not the Son of God; that he was not divine, but merely a great moral teacher; when men who are ministers deny the divinity of Christ and are being tried for their lack of faith, I rejoice in reading the testimony of these two men, and never read it but my heart swells with gratitude to God: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.6 "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! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.6 "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-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.6 "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." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.7 I rejoice that the Church of Jesus Christ is founded upon the first great vision that was enjoyed by the boy Joseph Smith over one hundred years ago. He declared that he saw two heavenly beings, whose glory and grandeur were beyond the power of man to describe and that one of them addressed him and pointed to the other and said: "This is my beloved Son, hear him." There cannot be any doubt in the heart of a Latter-day Saint regarding Jesus Christ being the Son of the Living God, because God himself introduced him to Joseph Smith. It is a fundamental truth of the Church of Jesus Christ in our day that Joseph Smith was and is and ever will be a prophet of the living God; and with Joseph Smith recognized as a prophet of God, and the testimony in our hearts of that fact, there will never be any schism, so to speak, in the Church of Christ. Any individual who does not acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world, has no business to be associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This Church is, as I read to you it should be, a marvelous work and a wonder. There is nothing like it in all the world, because Jesus Christ, the Son of God established it, and is the head of it; because Jesus Christ manifested himself to the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery, and to others; and because God, in answer to prayer, has given to people all over the wide world where the Gospel has gone, an individual knowledge and testimony regarding the divinity of the work in which we are engaged. A PROFOUNDLY IMPRESSIVE COMPARISON Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.8 Never have I been more profoundly impressed with the power and blessing of God than I was when I visited Nauvoo upon my recent trip East. Three quarters of a century ago there were twenty thousand prosperous Latter-day Saints in that city, with a magnificent temple. Today there is not a single stone left of the temple where it was once erected, and the population has dwindled to about one thousand people. Men have told me that the site of the City of Nauvoo is one of the finest, if not the finest, to be found upon the great Mississippi river, yet to get there now you have to cross the Mississippi river in a little tub of a steamer, on the deck of which there are but five chairs, and as there happened to be six in our party one of us had to stand; and there are cities with thousands of inhabitants on the Mississippi and on the Missouri that have grown up since that was the great city of Illinois. When I contemplate all these things and then come home and gaze upon the Temple of God in the eastern part of this block; when I look at our office building, at the Utah Hotel, and at the magnificent bank buildings in our city; when I think of the prosperity of the Saints, with beautiful temples, not only in Utah, but in Canada and in the Hawaiian Islands, as well as one in course of construction in Arizona; when I think of all the accomplishments of the work of God, my language utterly fails me to speak in just praise of all that has been done. When I realize the condition of the place from which we were driven, the lack of prosperity and of success in that country, I thank God that we are located here in these mountains. I feel that the very persecutions and troubles through which we passed prepared us and educated us and strengthened us as a people for greater things. Perhaps the very finest residence, with one exception, to be found today in Nauvoo is the one erected by Erastus Snow. They told me that it was erected by Lorenzo Snow, but I have since been informed that the people there were mistaken, and that it was erected by Erastus Snow. One of the fine dwellings there was built with stones taken from the Temple Block. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.8 I rejoice in the testimony of my own dear mother, also in the testimony of Aunt Emmeline B. Wells and scores of men and women who were present upon that memorable occasion, after the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph, when Sidney Rigdon endeavored to be appointed as guardian of the Church. I rejoice in the wonderful manifestation that was given to the people there, including my mother and other relatives of mine, when the mantle of Joseph Smith fell upon the Prophet Brigham Young, and he, Brigham, stood there and talked as with the voice of Joseph, his face being illumined and in appearance like unto the face of Joseph. The sheep knew the voice of the true shepherd. And from that day to this, of the hundreds who were present on that occasion, nearly every one has lived and died faithful and true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, loyal supporters of the Prophet Brigham Young and his successors. HOW TO EXERCISE THE POWER OF THE PRIESTHOOD Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.8 I desire to read part of the wonderful revelation given to the Prophet Joseph in Liberty Jail. Remember, though he was chained in that prison, the Lord Almighty could and did speak to him, and gave to him a revelation that I commend here today to every Latter-day Saint. I particularly commend it to every man presiding in the stakes and wards of Zion, and in the various missions throughout the world. If we exercise the power of the Priesthood of the living God as he tells us in this wonderful revelation to exercise it, then there never can be and there never will be any just complaint made against the Church of Jesus Christ, because of the use of the Priesthood that has been restored again to the earth. It is when men do not follow the teachings and the revelations given of God to us through his prophet that mistakes are made. This revelation declares that by incarcerating the Prophet Joseph men could not rob him of the inspiration of the Living God, which revealed to him these wonderful words in that prison. Starting with verse 33, I read: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.8 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.9 "Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.9 "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-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.9 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.9 "That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, or 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.9 "Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the Saints, and to fight against God. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.9 "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. "Hence many are called, but few are chosen. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.9 "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; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.9 "By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.9 "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; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.9 "That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.9 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.9 "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." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.9 I feel that I cannot close my remarks with anything better than this wonderful revelation given to the Prophet of the living God. GOD'S BLESSINGS INVOKED UPON THE CHURCH AND NATION Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.10 I pray God's blessings to be upon the Latter-day Saints all over the wide world. I pray for those who stand as the General Authorities of the Church. I pray for those who preside in the stakes and the wards and the branches, and in all parts of the Church, from Canada on the North to Mexico on the South, and for those who preside and labor in the various missions all over the wide world. I pray for the people of the world; not only for the Latter-day Saints, but I pray God's blessings upon every loyal, patriotic man and woman that is endeavoring to do right, and to uphold the laws of the countries where they reside. I pray God's blessings upon the President of these United States of America. I thank God for the loyalty and the patriotism of the Latter-day Saints. I thank God that we believe that the constitution of our country was given to us under the inspiration of the Living God, and that the Lord supported George Washington and the patriot fathers of this country. I pray that God will inspire us to continue loyal and true to him, to our country, and to its institutions; and that we may in very deed preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ by our acts; that, as we grow in years and increase in understanding, we may grow in the power and ability to live the Gospel, that our example of integrity, of honesty, of loyalty to God and country may inspire others to investigate the message of life and salvation. CLOSING TESTIMONY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.10 Before sitting down, I bear my testimony to you and to all the world that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer of the world, the Savior of mankind, the Creator of heaven and earth; that Joseph Smith was his prophet, the instrument in his hands of establishing again the Gospel of life and salvation. That we who have that knowledge may live the Gospel is my prayer, and I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Savior. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.83 I doubt very much whether President Penrose will be with us tomorrow. I feel in my heart that it will be wisdom for him not to make the attempt. We all know his marvelous and wonderful will power and his determination to be with us, but in view of his weakened condition I almost feel that it would be tempting Providence for him to be here tomorrow. He sent word that he expects to be here, but I am in hopes he will change his mind. We have him in mind as we sing this magnificent hymn. Few men in all the world have written anything finer in our day or in any other day than the many splendid hymns that Charles W. Penrose has written: President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.84 Parley P. Pratt has written more inspirational hymns for the Latter-day Saints to sing than any of the other of our poets; and there are few, if any, of his hymns that touch my heart more than this wonderful hymn to which we have just listened, so beautifully rendered by our sisters and the choir. It was written by inspiration, and, to my mind, if we omit the last verse, the wonderful prayer, contained in this hymn, is marred and lost. There has never been any doubt in the minds of the Latter-day Saints that Jerusalem will be rebuilt and re-established, and the prediction contained in this last verse is in prospect of being fulfilled. From the day that the British army rode into Jerusalem a change has come. We believe absolutely in the inspiration of this hymn, and that every word of this last verse will be fulfilled: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.84 "Lo, Israel, filled with joy, shall now be gathered home, Their wealth and means employ to build Jerusalem; While Zion shall arise and shine, And fill the earth with truth divine." President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.97 President Charles W. Penrose is hearing everything that is going on here this morning, a radio having been installed in his room, and he is thoroughly enjoying the morning service. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.97 Brother David O. McKay, in Europe, is well and happy but slightly disappointed that he is soon to return home. He is thoroughly enjoying his missionary work, and I am sure that he would really like to remain there until Spring. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.98 You have probably heard of the great Columbia Basin Irrigation Project, the largest contemplated by the United States, up to date. Brother Richard R. Lyman has been requested, by the government officials, to be present there as one of the consulting engineers, hence his absence from this conference. He wrote that he would get excused, if possible, but we wired him that we did not care to disappoint his associates, and that he was at liberty to remain. He is with us today in spirit, and it is a source of sincere regret to him that he is not present. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.98 One of the most remarkable and splendid hymns that we have is this: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.98 "School thy feelings, O my brother, Train thy warm impulsive soul." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.98 This hymn was written by President Charles W. Penrose, at a time When he was falsely accused by his brethren, after laboring in the British mission for ten long years without purse or scrip. Upon completing his mission, as I understand it, and when he was about to go home, these false reports or accusations were made against him, and, as he has told me, the Lord gave to him that night, for his own consolation, the thoughts of this very wonderful poem. I shall not take time to read, or for us to sing, the entire hymn, but I will ask the choir and congregation to arise and sing the first verse; and when you go home be sure and read it all. Be sure and get it into your hearts. Be sure and make it a part of your lives, and this conference will not have been in vain, even if you have heard nothing else or received no other lesson here. It was the favorite hymn of President Francis M. Lyman, and he lived his life in perfect accord with the teachings of his favorite hymn: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.98 School thy feelings, O my brother, Train thy warm, impulsive soul; Do not its emotions smother, But let wisdom's voice control. School thy feelings; there is power In the cool, collected mind; Passion shatters reason's tower, Makes the clearest vision blind. School thy feelings; condemnation Never pass on friend or foe, Though the tide of accusation Like a flood of truth may flow. Hear defense before deciding, And a ray of light may gleam, Showing thee what filth is hiding Underneath the shallow stream. Should affliction's acrid vial Burst o'er thy unsheltered head, School thy feelings to the trial, Half its bitterness hath fled. Art thou falsely, basely slandered? Does the world begin to frown? Gauge thy wrath by wisdom's standard, Keep thy rising anger down. Rest thyself on this assurance: Time's a friend to innocence. And that patient, calm endurance Wins respect and aids defense. Noblest minds have finest feelings Quiv'ring strings a breath can move, And the Gospel's sweet revealings Tune them with the key of love. Hearts so sensitively moulded, Strongly fortified should be, Trained to firmness, and enfolded In a calm tranquility. Wound not wilfully another; Conquer haste with reason's might; School thy feelings, sister, brother, Train them in the path of right. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.102 I failed to mention in my opening address that the following presidents of stakes have been appointed during the past six months: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.102 James A. Christensen, North Sevier stake. Harry L. Payne, St. Joseph stake. Albert H. Belliston, Juab stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.102 I also forgot to mention the fact that we have established, since our last conference, a French mission with Russell H. Blood as the president. I take it for granted that he is a son of Henry H. Blood--I do not know it, but his signature resembles Henry's writing. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.102 I also failed to mention that we now have a total of wards, stakes, missions, conferences and branches, of 1,959, or 41 lacking of 2,000. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.137 We have a message from the radio operator in President Penrose's room. President Penrose heard all of the proceedings this morning, most of it as perfectly as if he were here on the stand. He was very grateful in listening to one verse of his own remarkable and wonderful song, "School thy feelings," and tears of gratitude filled his eyes, while listening to this, that he could enjoy the spirit and inspiration of our meeting almost as perfectly as if he had been here upon the stand. Certainly, one of the most marvelous, if not the most marvelous, inventions to date is radio. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.137 President Penrose wishes the Saints to know that his testimony is as profound and strong as it was when he first embraced the gospel, in 1850. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.137 Brother George Albert Smith has visited President Penrose, during the intermission, and brings this message from him. He wishes to bear his testimony to this audience that Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer and Savior of the world of mankind, that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, that his successors are servants of the Lord, and that his Church is divine and led by inspiration. He is grateful for membership therein. He sends love and greetings to all lsrael. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.145 All over the Church today, at this hour, from Canada on the North to Mexico on the South, with the exception of the immediate vicinity of Salt Lake City, fast meetings are being held in all the wards and branches, and men and women are testifying as to their knowledge, individually, regarding the divinity of the work in which we are engaged. These testimonies, as a rule, occupy only a minute or two or three, very seldom more than five minutes, and a great many people in each of these meetings pour out their hearts in gratitude and thanksgiving to God for the knowledge they have, individually, of the divinity of this work. I shall call a half dozen men to the stand and ask them to bear their testimonies regarding the divinity of this work, speaking not to exceed five minutes, each one. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.145 We will start with Canada on the North, Brother Hugh B. Brown; and Brother Joseph C, Bentley on the South, from Mexico; Brother Winslow Farr Smith, of this city; Brother Edward C. Rich of Idaho, and Brother Robert I. Burton of Ogden. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.152 In calling on the five speakers who have just borne their testimonies to you, I did not do so with any preconceived thought of who they were. It so happens that Winslow Farr Smith is the great grandson of Patriarch John Smith, and the grandson of George A. Smith who has thrilled the hearts of the Latter-day Saints, as his father, the late John Henry Smith, has done many and many a time from this stand. It happens that Hugh B. Brown is the grandson of James S. Brown, one of the great missionaries of this Church, a man that I knew in my childhood, and I rejoiced in hearing him preach the gospel here at home. Edward C. Rich is the grandson of Apostle Charles C. Rich and also of Presiding Bishop Edward Hunter, the man who came with money, after selling a fine farm in Pennsylvania and buying some wild land at Nauvoo, and presented the remainder of his means to the Prophet Joseph, because he was in financial distress. Robert I. Burton is the son of William W. Burton, one of the late stalwarts of the Church. Joseph C. Bentley is the son of one of those early pioneers who went to Dixie--that country which I heard belittled by one of our wealthy men who said he would not give his forty acre farm in Davis county for the entire Dixie country. Richard Bentley went there and stayed. He lived there and pioneered that country, and was one of the loyal, true men of the Church. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.152 We will now hear from one of the brethren that the gospel found in a foreign land--President Soren Rasmussen, of the Jordan stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.152 By the way, the world said that by the time grandchildren came along this work would perish from the earth. We have heard today from one great-grandson. That is a pretty good specimen of its perishing. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.153 I rejoice that the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ has found converts in all parts of the world--from the country of the midnight sun, Scandinavia, to South Africa, from Canada on the North to Mexico on the South, in the far off lands of New Zealand and Australia, in the Hawaiian Islands and in Japan, and that the Lord has been so merciful that no matter where the message of life and salvation has gone, men have received for themselves, individually and not for another the knowledge of the divinity of the work in which we are engaged. One of the truest, most loyal and magnificent men that has ever been connected with this Church of Christ was the late Karl G. Maeser, from Germany. He gave his very life and all the strength, the ability and power that he possessed for the advancement of the work of the Lord, and for the uplift, educationally, of the youth of Zion. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.157 I desire to express my sincere gratitude and thanksgiving unto God for the very rich outpouring of his Holy Spirit, during all of the sessions of our conference. I feel that we have in very deed had a spiritual feast, that the Lord has blessed us abundantly, and I hope and pray that we may all return to our homes in safety; that those who are not located here, but have come from other sections of the state and from other states, from Canada to Mexico, and from the various missions, that we may all go home and carry with us the inspiration that has ben manifest during this conference/ Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.157 I have nothing on my mind that I desire to say further than that I endorse the remarks that have been made, and rejoice in the wonderful testimonies that have been borne. Particularly have I enjoyed the remarks of the last seven speakers who were called upon, who had no expectation of being called. All of the other speakers were rather inclined to worry, as the Bishop said, knowing that their turn would come sooner or later. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1924, p.158 Although I have already borne my testimony I feel impressed that I would like to leave with this body of people, once more, my testimony regarding the divinity of the work in which we are engaged. I know, as I know I live, that God lives, that he hears and answers the prayers of those who honestly seek him. I know that Jesus is the Redeemer of the world, the Savior of mankind, the Son of God. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and the living God, and that there are thousands and tens of thousands of Latter-day Saints who have this knowledge, as perfectly as I have it; that God has revealed it to them, that they are not indebted to any man or set of men for this light, knowledge and testimony regarding God our Father and his Son Jesus Christ, and regarding the divinity of the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the instrument of our heavenly Father and of our Savior in restoring again and establishing upon the earth the gospel of life and salvation, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, which will bring to us salvation, if we are faithful in keeping his commandments, and we shall thus enjoy the privilege of mingling with God and our Redeemer, and the faithful ones who have gone before, throughout the countless ages of eternity. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.2 It is very gratifying, indeed, to see this immense congregation here this morning, bespeaking the interest of the Latter-day Saints in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is customary at the opening session of our conference to give some statistics and to refer to the condition of the Church at home and abroad. I am very pleased to be able to announce that the work of the Lord is growing all over the world; and that there is never a month or a year but what the Church is stronger, spiritually and financially, than it was the month or the year previous. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.2 FINANCIAL STATEMENT Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.2 The following financial statement I am sure will be of interest to the people here assembled: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.2 From the tithes of the Church there has been expended for stake and ward purposes, $1,352,663.43, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.2 For education, the maintenance and operation of Church schools, $727,808.93. For construction, maintenance and operation of temples, $442,018.46. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.2 For the care of the worthy poor and other charitable purposes, including hospital treatment, $175,520.77. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.2 For the maintenance and operation of all the missions, and for the erection of places of worship and other buildings in the missions, $700,664.09. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.2 This makes a total of $3,398,675.68, taken from the tithes for the maintenance and operation of the stakes and wards, for the maintenance and operation of Church schools and temples, for charities, and for mission activities. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.2 In addition to charities paid out of the tithes as before named, there have also been disbursed the fast offerings and Relief Society and other charities, amounting to $489,406.61, which amount added to the $175,520.77 paid from the tithes, makes a total of Church charities, $664,927.38. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.3 CHURCH GROWTH FOR THE YEAR 1924 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.3 Children blessed and entered on the records of the Church in stakes and missions, 19,955. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.3 Children baptized in the stakes and missions, 14,047. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.3 Converts baptized and entered on the records of the stakes and missions, 7,556. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.3 There are now 94 stakes of Zion, 907 wards, 70 independent branches connected with the stakes, 24 missions and 654 branches in the missions. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.3 SOCIAL STATISTICS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.3 Birth rate, 33 per thousand. Marriage rate, 13 per thousand. Death rate, 7.3 per thousand. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.3 There are 160,634 persons in the Church who are married; of this number 256 persons were divorced in the year 1924. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.3 Families owning their own homes, 72 per cent. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.3 PRESIDENT C. W. PENROSE SERIOUSLY ILL Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.3 As announced in the opening, President Charles W. Penrose is in a precarious condition. He sends his love to all the brethren, and desires them to know that they have his confidence in all that they may do; and his message to the Saints is to obey the law, wherever they reside. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.3 Elder Seymour B. Young, President of the First Council of Seventy, has passed away since our last conference, having been a faithful member of the Council for something over forty years. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.3 A MISSION HOME IN SALT LAKE CITY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.3 A home on State street has been dedicated for the entertainment of missionaries, and for the purpose of giving them instructions for a week or more, prior to their departure upon their missions; and also to take care of any returning missionaries who may be stopping briefly in this city on their way home, after having filled an honorable mission. We are pleased to announce that at the dedication there was a rich outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord, and we feel assured in our hearts, judging from the inspiration of the occasion, that it will be a source of great benefit to our young men and young women who are called to go out into the mission field. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.3 CHANGES IN STAKES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.3 There have been some changes in a number of the stakes, and the new men chosen to preside are as follows: Curlew stake, Colen H. Sweeten. Yellowstone stake, John M. White. Nebo stake, Lee R. Taylor. San Luis stake, James P. Jensen. Young stake, Elmer F. Taylor. New wards have been organized since our last meeting as follows: Hillcrest ward, Grant stake. Inglewood ward, Los Angeles stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.4 LaGrand Second ward, Nebo stake. Payson Fourth ward, Nebo stake. Santaquin Second ward, Nebo stake. Genola ward, Nebo stake. Virginia City ward, Los Angeles stake. Home Gardens ward, Los Angeles stake. Ballard ward Lost River stake. New stakes organized since our last conference: Kolob stake, President George Ray Murdock. Palmyra stake, President Henry A. Gardner. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.4 In addition to the death of President Seymour B. Young we announce the death, since our last meeting, of David H. Cannon, president of the St. George temple, for many years; Bishop James A. Wright, of Bingham ward, Jordan stake, and Bishop Armond T. Rose, of North Farmington ward, South Davis stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.4 MISSIONARY WORK Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.4 Perhaps no one thing in connection with the Church is as dear to the hearts of the Latter-day Saints as our missionary labor. Counting the time, the salaries that might be earned by those who are in the mission field, and the expense of maintaining them there, the Latter-day Saints are expendtin today something over $2,000,000 a year for the spread of the gospel in the world. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.4 We know that the first and most important duty for us is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, might, mind and strength; and second to that is love for our fellowmen. No people in all the world in proportion to their numbers, are giving such evidence of a love for their fellowmen, and a desire for their welfare, as are the Latter-day Saints. Our missionary work proclaims to all the world our willingness to make financial sacrifice and to labor with no hope of earthly reward for the salvation of the souls of the children of our Father in heaven. I am sure that a general statement of the missions will be of interest to this congregation. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.4 We have in the California mission, presided over most ably by President Joseph W McMurrin, 125 missionaries. There are 8,625 people in that mission. We own Church property in that mission valued at $289,114.04. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.4 President American Missions Missionaries Members Church Property California, Joseph W. McMurrin 125 8,625 $289,114.01 Canadian, Joseph Quinney, Jr. 71 716 23,021.47 Central, Samuel O. Bennion 158 8,712 110,410.26 Eastern, Brigham H. Roberts 143 4,689 232,818.55 Mexican, Rey L. Pratt 76 2,683 15,184.12 Northern, John H. Taylor 127 5,141 88,694.57 Northwestern, Brigham S. Young 99 5,599 82,535.76 Southern, Charles A. Callis 197 23,047 64,066.14 Western, John M. Knight 96 4,977 102,385.44 Total 1,092 64,189 $1,008,230.35 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.5 Each and all of the men presiding over these missions are giving the best in their power for the advancement of their missions. They are men of God, devoted to the welfare of their respective missions. And this can be said also of all the other missions, the statistics of which I shall now read, giving the name of the mission, the president, the missionaries, the membership and the Church property. European Missions: Armenian, Joseph W. Booth 2 164 450.00 British, James E. Talmage 151 5,670 78,518.17 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.5 (Here let me mention the splendid work Elder James E. Talmage is doing presiding over the European mission. The fact that he is a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh gives him a standing in Europe that perhaps none of the rest of us could possibly have. He is receiving excellent consideration from newspapers there, and is working early and late, as he has done all his life. He is one of the most industrious, energetic men I have ever known, and is making a very splendid successor to President David O. McKay, who did such a good work as the president of the European mission.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.5 Danish, John S. Hansen 24 1,621 55,284.95 French, Russell H. Blood 30 468 1,242.03 Netherlands, Charles S. Hyde 61 3,189 57,229.02 Norwegian, A. Richard Peterson 17 1,621 52,774.43 South African, J. Wyley Sessions 18 485 17,823.30 Swedish, Hugo D. E. Peterson 30 2,051 53,350.17 Swiss and German, Fred Tadje 226 11,102 51,497.79 Total 559 26,371 $368,169.86 Island Missions : Australian, Charles H. Hyde 40 1,115 40,911.18 Hawaiian, Eugene J. Neff 61 13,083 195,830.00 Japan [Discontinued] 164 New Zealand, Angus T. Wright 45 6,184 150,575.66 Samoan, Ernest L. Butler 44 3,462 92,789.24 Tahitian, Ole B. Peterson 11 1,721 13,403.70 Tongan, Mark V. Coombs 19 1,051 24,853.52 Total 220 26,780 $518,363.30 General: Smith Mem. Farm, Angus J. Cannon 20,000.00 Palmyra Farm, Willard Bean 20,000.00 Temple Block, Benjamin Goddard 40,000.00 Total 1,871 117,340 $1,974,763.51 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.5 The grand total of our missionaries is 1,871; of members in the missions, 117,340; the grand total of Church property in these missions is $1,934,763.51, lacking but a very few dollars of $2,000,000 of money invested in Church property in the missions throughout the world. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.5 Certainly when we consider the limited means of the people who embrace the gospel all over the world--for the gospel seems to reach the poor--we have great cause to rejoice in the financial showing in our missions, as well as the wonderful showing financially here at home. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.6 PRESIDENT GRANT'S TOUR OF THE MISSIONS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.6 Since I last had the privilege of meeting with you in general conference, I have visited the missionaries in the east, and given them instructions--in Indianapolis, Indiana; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota; Detroit, Michigan, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; also in Chicago, and held public meetings in all of these places except Chicago. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.6 At Minneapolis we had the pleasure of dedicating a very splendid meetinghouse and recreation hall erected there, and of meeting with a most excellent class of Latter-day Saints. We have chapels also at St. Paul and Minneapolis. The Saints at Detroit and at Indianapolis are gathering funds for the purpose of assisting in erecting chapels in those places. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.6 On Nov. 27, I left Salt Lake City for Independence to attend the funeral of my cousin and the cousin of President Joseph F. Smith, Thalia Grant Smith. The services were well attended. After that I had the privilege of holding meetings in Independence, Kansas City, and St. Louis; also at Fort Worth, San Antonio and Kelsey, Texas, and in Wichita, Kansas, and instructing the missionaries in all of these places, as well as holding public meetings, which were well attended. In a number of places we have excellent meetinghouses to meet in. In others we have rented halls. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.6 During this trip I had the privilege of speaking before the Chamber of Commerce in Kansas City, Missouri. The secretary announced his regret that all of the six thousand members of that great body had not had the privilege of listening to my twenty minute talk. I said in reply: "I can remedy that very easily. I will have six thousand copies of this speech delivered at your office so that when you send out your next monthly statements you can enclose a copy." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.6 He expressed his pleasure in doing it. They were printed, and delivered, and I have received many letters from men who have read the speech, expressing their pleasure in having heard or read what I had to say regarding the faith of the Latter-day Saints. In that short address, speaking very rapidly (much more rapidly than I am doing now), I quoted all the Articles of our Faith and made comments upon them. It took four columns of the Christmas News to print that twenty and one-half minutes speech. I rejoice that there were at least a score of influential men who shook hands with me and expressed their pleasure in having heard the plain statement of the faith of the Latter-day Saints, as embodied in our Articles of Faith. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.6 When I stop to reflect that the Latter-day Saints were expelled from the state of Missouri under the exterminating order of the governor of that state, then to think that representative men of one of the largest business organizations in Kansas City--one of the most progressive cities in the Union--would listen with attention and afterwards congratulate the President of the Church upon a speech in which he quoted the Articles of Faith, and some of them expressed regret that I did not have an hour instead of twenty minutes, and invited me to come back again, and take the hour, certainly we have to acknowledge that God is moving in a mysterious way his wonders to perform, and that the Latter-day Saints are becoming known for what they really are--a God-fearing, upright people, who are loyal to God and to their country. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.7 The newspapers in all these places gave me better notices and published fairer reports of the speeches I made than I have ever had before on any trip I have taken. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.7 On January 9, I left Salt Lake City for Los Angeles, for a brief visit, feeling very much the need of a little rest. I had the pleasure, on that short trip of only ten days, of speaking in the Adams ward and the Matthews ward in Los Angeles stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.7 Feb. 3, I left Salt Lake City for a visit to the California, the Central States, and the Southern States missions, first treading the sands of the Pacific, and a few days later the sands of the Atlantic. Meetings were held upon that trip, in Ocean Park, Oakland and San Francisco; also in New Orleans, in Jacksonville, Florida, and in Atlanta, Georgia. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.7 In all of these places there was a splendid attendance, and again the newspapers gave very fair notices of the meetings and of what was said. In no case was there any attempt to ridicule or belittle or to change the remarks that I had made in public, where reports were taken, or where interviews were given. Some slight mistakes were made, but they were all unintentional mistakes. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.7 I have never enjoyed greater liberty in proclaiming the gospel than I did in some of the meetings on this last trip, lasting something over five weeks, visiting the California, the Central States and the Southern States missions. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.7 I believe this fully covers the activities of the Church that would be of interest to the Latter-day Saints, and of my own labors since we were together six months ago. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.7 ABSOLUTE FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.7 I rejoice beyond the power with which God has endowed me to express my feelings, in the knowledge I possess regarding the divinity of this great Latter-day work in which we, as Latter-day Saints, are engaged; and as I travel I find a lack of belief in God, and in the divinity of Jesus Christ, even among the ministers of the gospel. I rejoice in the fact that every man and woman in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has an absolute faith in God, in his individuality, and an absolute faith that Christ is the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world; that he came to the earth with a divinely appointed mission to die for the sins of the world, and that he is in very deed the head of the Church of Christ. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.8 Upon the trip last mentioned, I cut from a newspaper a clipping which I had intended to read at this conference, but I have misplaced it. It was a recommendation by an English lord that people discard the "absurdity" of Jesus Christ as a God on earth and a Redeemer of the world, and that they accept the Mohammedan philosophy; suggesting that they could believe in all of the ethical teachings of the religion of Christ and Mohammed, but that they should get away from the absurdities of Christianity, and settle the various disputes and troubles that they were having in the Christian religion. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.8 Wherever I read that statement--and I read it in a number of places--I took the trouble to state to the people in the various places where I preached, the position of the Latter-day Saints as to the gospel in which we believe. I quoted the vision of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, as follows: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.8 "And this is the gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us -- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.8 "That he came unto the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to hear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.8 "That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.8 "Who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition who deny the Son after the Father has revealed him." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.8 I announced to the people that in the Church of Jesus Christ no man or woman would be admitted into the Church, or be permitted to retain fellowship who is not willing to accept this statement absolutely without mental reservation. I also read to them: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.8 "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! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.8 "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 -- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.8 "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." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.8 I announced in those meetings, in some of which the majority of the audience were non-members of the Church, that every Latter-day Saint must subscribe to the doctrine that God himself visited the boy Joseph Smith, and that God himself introduced Jesus Christ to the boy as his well-beloved Son. I announced to these audiences that among the Latter-day Saints there is no evidence of "modernism" so-called, and that no man or woman will be fellowshiped in this Church who denies the individuality, the personality of God, or that Jesus Christ is in very deed the Son of the living God, the Redeemer of the world. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.9 THE WORD OF WISDOM Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.9 I regret to say that there is becoming evident among the Saints, a lack of interest and a looseness in observing the Word of Wisdom. I regret to have heard that there are men occupying positions as bishops' counselors, and as members of high councils, who do not observe this law; that certain bishops' counselors and members of high councils are not only drinking tea and coffee, but some of them are using tobacco. No man who uses tobacco is worthy to stand as high councilor in this Church. He owes it to himself to clean himself up or step aside and allow a man with more faith, with more manhood, with more integrity to God and his laws, to take the position that he occupies. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.9 President Wilford Woodruff from this stand, many years ago, called upon every man holding the Priesthood and occupying any office in this Church, to obey the Word of Wisdom or to resign and step aside. I reiterate that men who do not obey the Word of Wisdom are not worthy to stand as examples before the people, to be invited into private priesthood meetings and to discuss matters for the welfare of the Church of God. Their disobedience shows a lack of faith in the work of God. I shall not take your time to read all of the Word of Wisdom, but I shall take time to read the words of the living God that must be acknowledged by every Latter-day Saint to be the word of God, or he or she is not entitled to be a member of this Church. After telling us what is good for us, the Lord makes a promise that is one of the most marvelous, one of the most uplifting and inspiring promises that could possibly be made to mortal man. He says: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.9 THE PROMISE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.9 "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; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.9 "And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.9 "And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.9 "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." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.9 AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE DESTROYER REBUKED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.9 I shall never forget the occasion when a friend appealed to me, upon learning that the doctor had announced that his daughter, stricken with diphtheria, would die before morning. He asked me to pray for that daughter, and after leaving his office I prayed with all the earnestness of my soul that God would heal that girl. While praying, the inspiration came to me: "The power of the living God is here on the earth. The Priesthood is here. Hurry! Hurry! Get John Henry Smith; go and rebuke the power of the destroyer, and the girl shall live." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.9 The doctor waiting upon that girl, said she could not live till morning; but when morning came he explained that he could not comprehend it, and that he believed the girl was going to get well. He could not refrain from expressing his surprise at the change in the girl's condition over night. The power of the living God rebuked the destroyer. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.10 "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 Lord has told us through the Prophet Joseph Smith: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.10 "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." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.10 No man who breaks the Word of Wisdom can gain the same amount of knowledge and intelligence in this world as the man who obeys that law. I don't care who he is or where he comes from, his mind will not be as clear, and he cannot advance as far and as rapidly and retain his power as much as he would if he obeyed the Word of Wisdom. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.10 TITHES AND REAL PROSPERITY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.10 The law of financial prosperity to the Latter-day Saints, under covenant with God, is to be an honest tithepayer, and not to rob the Lord in tithes and offerings. Prosperity comes to those who observe the law of tithing; and when I say prosperity I am not thinking of it in terms of dollars and cents alone, although as rule the Latter-day Saints who are the best tithepayers are the most prosperous men, financially; but what I count as real prosperity, as the one thing of all others that is of great value to every man and woman living, is the growth in a knowledge of God, and in a testimony, and in the power to live the gospel and to inspire our families to do the same. That is prosperity of the truest kind. I would rather die in poverty knowing that my family could testify that, to the best of the ability with which God had endowed me, I had observed his laws and kept his commandments, and by my example, had proclaimed the gospel, than to have all the wealth of the world. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.10 OUR RELIGION THE TRUTH Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.10 Either we have the truth, and this gospel called "Mormonism," is in very deed the plan of life and salvation, the power of God unto salvation, through his Son Jesus Christ, and by following its teachings the greatest of all the gifts of God to man, namely, life eternal, will be ours, or it is not the truth. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.10 God has given to men and women all over the wide world, seeking for the light of his spirit, in answer to tremble prayers, a testimony and a knowledge that this gospel is exactly what it purports to be--that it is the truth, that it will stand forever, and that those who live it shall be exalted eternally in the presence of our heavenly Father, and his Son, our Redeemer. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.11 CLOSING TESTIMONY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.11 May God help each and every one of us who have a knowledge of the divinity of this work to live so that other men, seeing our good deeds, may glorify God and be led to investigate the plan of life and salvation. I bear witness to you here today, that I know God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of the true and living God, that he was a martyr, that he gave his life for this cause, and that his blood bears witness to the integrity, the honesty and inspiration of his mission as a prophet of the living God, because he was true even unto death. May God help us one and all to live the truth, is my prayer, and I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.52 I saw President Ivins turn this book down. He said before he started to speak, he was going to read the last verse of the inspired hymn by Parley P. Pratt that we have heard sung today: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.52 "Lo, lsrael filled with joy Shall now be gathered home, Their wealth and means employ To build Jerusalem; While Zion shall arise and shine, And fill the earth with truth divine." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.52 Another prophecy that was uttered by Parley P. Pratt over three quarters of a century ago is being fulfilled. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.151 CLOSING REMARKS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.151 I desire to express my gratitude and thanksgiving to the Lord for the rich outpouring of his spirit during our conference. It seems to me that we have never had as large an attendance at any other conference within my recollection as we have had during this conference. I feel that all those who have spoken here have been blessed of our heavenly Father. As nearly as I can judge, the people have been deeply interested in what has been said to them and their hearts have responded to the teachings of those who have addressed them during the conference. I regret that we did not have at least another hour, so that I could have announced that during my presidency every stake president has had the privilege of speaking or of uttering a prayer from this stand. As it is, I believe all our 94 stake presidents have had that privilege with the exception of those chosen last year--not more than half a dozen. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.151 SOURCE OF OUR POWER, SUCCESS AND UNITY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.151 I know of nothing that I have enjoyed more in our conference than the brief testimonies of the men who stand at the head of the various stakes of Zion. There was a burning power in those testimonies of their individual knowledge regarding the divinity of this work, it is that personal knowledge, that still, small voice of revelation coming to every honest, prayerful soul, in answer to prayer, which gives the power to this Church. Without this individual testimony, coming as it does to men and women all over the world when they hear this gospel and supplicate God for his spirit, we would not be what we are today--a united people, one in heart and soul, one with God and one with our Savior. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.151 That God our heavenly Father may help us to be loyal and true to him and that we may ever show by our faithfulness, by our honesty to men and women, and by the uprightness of our lives that we are in very deed the servants and handmaidens of the living God, striving for the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is my earnest prayer. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.151 A PRAYER FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE LEADERS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1925, p.152 I leave my blessing with the people who have assembled in this conference, and with all Israel, as well as the honest the world over. I pray God from the bottom of my heart to bless the president of the United States of America, to bless his cabinet, to bless the senators, to bless the representatives, to bless those who stand at the head of all the states of our great country, that they may supplicate their God and their Redeemer for guidance, so that this country may in very deed be under the guidance of the Creator of the universe. This is my prayer, and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.2 I think the hymn to which we have just listened is entitled to the place it occupies in our hymn book, namely, the first hymn--the place of honor. It was written by the late Apostle Parley P. Pratt: A FIRST PLACE POEM Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.2 "The morning breaks, the shadows flee; Lo! Zion's standard is unfurled! The dawning of a brighter day, Majestic rises on the world. "The clouds of error disappear Before the rays of truth divine; The glory bursting from afar, Wide o'er the nations soon will shine. "The Gentile fulness now comes in, And Israel's blessings are at hand; Lo! Judah's remnant, cleansed of sin, Shall in their promised Canaan stand. "Jehovah speaks; let earth give ear, And Gentile nations turn and live, His mighty arm is making bare, His cov'nant people to receive. "Angels from heaven and truth from earth, Have met, and both have record borne; Thus Zion's light is bursting forth, To cheer her children's glad return." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.2 I earnestly desire the faith and prayers of this vast audience to assist me in that which I may say to you today. I sense the great responsibility of addressing so large an audience--for this building is filled to overflowing--and I desire that my remarks shall encourage and bless the Saints here assembled. A TRIBUTE TO PRESIDENT PENROSE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.3 Since we last convened in general conference one of the great and faithful laborers in the Church has departed this life--the late President Charles W. Penrose. Perhaps no man in all lsrael has written more in defense of the people than Charles W. Penrose, and I believe that the literature from his pen has been more widely distributed than the writings of any other of our leading men. He spent nearly twenty years of his life as a missionary in his native land. As I announced at his funeral, during the last nine months that I presided over the European mission we distributed about eight million pages of the writings of Charles W. Penrose. I have been thrilled by his discourses from this stand, from my childhood days until the time of his last public address. He was inspired in his utterances, and he had the capacity and the ability to make plain the principles of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as perfectly as any of our speakers that I have ever heard. We also rejoice from time to time in listening to the inspired hymns that he has written. We mourn his loss, but we rejoice in the wonderful record of labor and service that he made in the spread of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ at home and abroad. WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN'S VISIT TO SALT LAKE CITY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.3 At one of our general conferences some years ago we were honored with the presence of Senator Owen from Oklahoma and Honorable William Jennings Bryan. These gentlemen remained until after the conference session, when an informal organ recital was given in their honor. Perhaps a hundred or a hundred and fifty people were present and following the recital, requests came from different parts of the small audience that Senator Owen and Mr. Bryan make some remarks. They did so, and from the press reports of the occasion we read the following: HIS ESTIMATE OF "MORMONISM" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.3 "Mr Bryan said the truths he had heard expounded there that day he should endeavor to carry with him throughout life, and he believed that through him many people might hear the truth concerning 'Mormonism,' for be would endeavor to give an exposition of what he had heard in plain truth to the people with whom he associated. Mr. Bryan said he had been undecided about coming to Salt Lake. He had been asked to speak in Los Angeles Monday, but he had obeyed a whim almost and had come to Salt Lake. He did not know why, but now he said he believed it was providential. At any rate he said he had beard truths uttered that impressed him deeply, and he knows that he is better equipped to perform his work in the world for having heard 'Mormonism' expounded. Particularly was he impressed, Mr. Bryan said, with the 'Mormon' belief in the personality of God. It is a beautiful belief, he said, and one by which the world might profit. He referred to the application of the gospel in the lives of the 'Mormon' people, and said such principles applied to the problems of the world would in very deed solve the difficulties with which the world is beset. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.3 He referred to the single standard of morality, as expounded by one of the speakers, and said that in very truth that is a principle that might well be applied to the lives of all men." HIS LAST SPEECH SHOWS HIS PERFECT FAITH IN GOD Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.4 The publishing house of Revell & Co. have published a book containing the last address of William Jennings Bryan, which address was prepared for the celebrated evolution case in Tennessee, but was never delivered. I have had the privilege of reading and re-reading the book. It shows that he had perfect faith in God our heavenly Father and in my judgment it is a very strong defense of the divinity of Christ and of the Godhood of our Father in Heaven. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.4 I had the pleasure of visiting with Mr. Bryan, after his remarks following our conference, and he said that he was expected to deliver three speeches in California before leaving, but that he believed the world at large would get more benefit from what he had learned in our conference than the people would have received had he remained in California and delivered those three speeches. He promised to send me a little pamphlet containing his ideas about God. After reading it I remember saying to my family that William Jennings Bryan ought to be a Latter-day Saint, because many of his views were in perfect harmony with our faith. Every Latter-day Saint upon the face of the earth believes in the individuality and personality of God our Father, and of the Lord Jesus Christ. A man who does not so believe has no right to be called a Latter-day Saint. Every Latter-day Saint believes absolutely that God conversed with Joseph Smith, and introduced to him the Lord Jesus Christ as his well-beloved Son. President Grant Present At Historical Events Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.4 During the past six months I have had the privilege of visiting in California and meeting with the Saints there. I had the pleasure of being present at the official opening of Zion's National Park in southern Utah, and of attending the general conference in June of the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement association, and also the Primary association. That great celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the organization of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement association was one of the grandest that we have ever had. It was a marvelous outpouring of the youth of lsrael upon the streets of this, the central city of Zion. The parade was an honor to the Mutual Improvement association and a credit to the Church. I believe that special credit for that parade was due to the insistence of Junius F. Wells, the man called originally by Brigham Young to organize the Young Men's Mutual Improvement association. For the very splendid and orderly way in which it was conducted, credit is due to Governor Mabey and to each and every one of those on the committees. Credit is also due to the various people who took part in speaking, singing, or giving orations or the various contests, musical and otherwise, at the conference. My heart was filled with gratitude and thanksgiving to know that we have today one hundred thousand young men and young women in these Improvement associations interested in laboring with zeal and energy for the advancement of the work of God. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.5 I had the pleasure of being present at a celebration in connection with the great dam that is to be erected at American Falls, where millions of money will be expended and a vast empire redeemed through utilizing the waters of the Snake River. It was also a pleasure later to attend the Burley stake conference. Saturday evening I held a meeting at Oakley at which thirty odd per cent of the people of Cassia stake were in attendance. I first visited that section of the country forty-four years ago this fall, when it was only a branch of the Grantsville ward of the Tooele stake of Zion, numbering perhaps a hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty Latter-day Saints. There are now in that section of the country a number of stakes of Zion, among them the Twin Falls stake. The city of Twin Falls has over eight thousand inhabitants. None of our people were located there at that time, but I rejoice in the wonderful growth of our people and others in redeeming that section of the country. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.5 I was requested to go to Pocatello and dedicate an amusement hall--a fine large building. I thought back to the time when I first went there and met with just a handful of Latter-day Saints in a little rented hall and when I contemplated the fact that there are now six organized wards of the Church at Pocatello, and thought of the wonderful growth of Latter-day Saints in that section, I rejoiced in the material and spiritual advancement of the people there. VISITS MANY SCIENTIFIC WONDERS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.5 I was requested to send a speaker to hold a meeting at the West entrance of the Yellowstone National Park the Sunday evening that I was at Pocatello. I made several efforts to secure a speaker to go there, but all those to whom I applied were engaged. So I decided to drive from Pocatello myself Sunday afternoon, and attend the meeting at West Yellowstone. The next day and the day following I had the privilege of going through the Yellowstone Park, and then driving down to Driggs, where I held a meeting Tuesday night. Yellowstone Park can be reached from here in anight's ride on the train and the scenery there is among the grandest in all the world. Upon my return home Thursday I found an invitation from my son-in-law to climb Timpanogos the following Saturday, which I did. From the top of that mountain, the view of Wasatch, Utah, and Salt Lake counties, the cities therein, and other sections of the country in the distance, is one of the grandest that my eves have ever beheld. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.6 The following Sunday night I left for the scenic wonders of southern Utah, reaching Cedar Monday morning with President Ivins and wife, Sister Grant and my niece. We visited Cedar Breaks and Zion canyon, and the next day going to the Grand Canyon, or at least to the V. T. ranch in the Kaibab forest. We saw between two hundred and three hundred deer that afternoon as we were traveling to this ranch. The next day we visited Point Sublime and saw the Colorado river and that wonderful gorge in which you could drop about one hundred Grand Canyons of the Yellowstone. It is twelve miles wide and one mile deep as compared with the gorge thirteen hundred feet deep and two thousand feet wide at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It is a sight that beggars all description. It is a marvel; it is a wonder! We drove that afternoon to Kanab and in the evening held a meeting with the Saints. I rejoice in the fine meeting house that they have erected there. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.6 The next day we visited Bryce Canyon, and I was more charmed with it than the first time I visited this, one of the scenic wonders of the world. The next morning, Friday, September 11, I parted with Brother Ivins; he returned to Salt Lake by way of Fish Lake, and I returned to Cedar City via Cedar Breaks and was present in the afternoon at the opening of the bridge over Ash Creek, which connects with the Black Ridge. I had the privilege of traveling over the road fifty-nine years ago, when the wagon in which I was riding jumped from one black rock to another, seldom finding any ground to light upon. On that old route which was selected by the pioneers who first went into St. George there is now, over the Black Ridge, one of the finest dirt roads that I have ever had the privilege of motoring over. It is a real delight to travel upon it. The bridge over Ash Creek is certainly a very creditable structure indeed. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.6 In my travels (in Europe) from Scandinavia on the north to Italy, on the south, and from Canada on the north to Mexico on the south, in Hawaii and in Japan, I have witnessed many wonderful scenes; but if they were rolled in together they do not compare with the Yellowstone and these wonderful sights in southern Utah--Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks, Zion Canyon and the scenic points from the north rim of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado. THE GREAT MISSION OF THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.6 Saturday and Sunday following the opening of the bridge over Ash Creek I attended the Parowan stake conference and enjoyed visiting there with the Saints and taking part in one of the conferences. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.7 I rejoice in the wonderful growth in all the stakes of Zion from Canada on the north to Mexico on the south, and in the increase of interest and faith on the part of the Saints throughout the world. I rejoice that there is a cry for more missionaries, from all parts of the world. The one great mission of the Latter-day Saints at home and abroad is to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, to preach the individuality and personality of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to preach the restoration again to the earth of the plan of life and salvation. There is nothing that qualifies a man so much for preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as to study the revelations that the Lord has seen fit to give us in our day. In them he says: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.7 "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. * * * Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.7 "Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled. * * * Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.7 "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and earth pass away, my word will not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same. * * * Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.7 "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. * * * Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.7 "And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good--yea to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.7 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy. * * * Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.7 "Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich. * * * Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.7 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be done unto you; and if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation. * * * Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.7 "Behold, I speak unto all who have good desires, and have thrust in their sickle to reap. * * * Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.7 "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the life and the light of the world. * * * Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.7 "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." A CENTRAL THOUGHT APPLYING TO US Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.7 This last revelation from which I have read was given to Hyrum Smith, the brother of the Prophet Joseph. He was martyred with Joseph Smith, as you all know, in Carthage jail. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.7 I wish to emphasize one passage in this revelation: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.7 "Behold, I speak unto all who have good desires, and have thrust in their sickle to reap." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.7 So that it applies to you, to me and to all the Latter-day Saints. The central thought in this revelation is that we are to keep the commandments of God. It is reiterated in this one revelation some three or four or five times, that the duty was upon Hyrum Smith to keep the commandments of God and to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.7 The previous revelation from which I quoted was given to the father of the prophet. I will repeat the words of that part of it, as I did before, and I wish to emphasize it with all my heart: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.7 "Behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men." (As I look at this marvelous audience and think of the people on the outside, who are hearing what I say, as well as the audiences in Barratt Hall and the Assembly Hall, surely I can say that this revelation, given to the father of the prophet and the patriarch, has been literally fulfilled.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.8 "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." WORTH OF SOULS GREAT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.8 I am well aware of the fact that it is tiresome to any audience to listen to a speaker when most of his time is occupied in reading; but when I contemplate the fact that my words uttered here today will be published in The Deseret News, which goes into the homes of the Latter-day Saints from Canada on the north to Mexico on the south; when I realize that what I am saying here is to be published in a conference pamphlet, copies of which will be sent to the missionaries all over the world, then I am far more anxious to have the words of the Lord and the Savior of the world published in this address than to make remarks myself. I desire therefore to read what the Savior said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.8 "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.8 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.8 "And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.8 "And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth! "Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.8 "And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it he one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.8 "And now, if your joy shall 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! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.8 "Behold, you have my gospel before you, and my rock, and my salvation. "Ask the Father in my name, in faith believing, that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.8 "And if you have not faith, hope, and charity, you can do nothing." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.8 This quotation is from the 18th Section of the D&C. TESTIMONIES OF RETURNED MISSIONARIES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.8 It fell to my lot two weeks ago today to sit upon the stand in the Assembly Hall and listen to the testimonies of five young men who had just returned from missions, and then listen to the testimony of James H. Moyle, the father of one of those young men. My heart was thrilled with the testimony they bore, and their undoubting knowledge that God lives, that Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world, the Savior of mankind, that Joseph Smith is a prophet of the true and living God, and that the gospel, commonly called "Mormonism" by the world, is in very deed the plan of life and salvation again restored to the earth. A TESTIMONY OF THE DIVINITY OF THIS WORK Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.9 I rejoice in the absolute knowledge which I possess, of the truth as contained in section 76 of the D&C, which is known among us as "The Vision." I have been thrilled with the testimony there borne by the Prophet Joseph Smith, as I have repeated it time and time again; and if it were repeated every day of my life, as I supplicate God from day to day, it would do me no harm: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.9 "This is the gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.9 "That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.9 "That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.9 "Who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition who deny the Son after the Father has revealed him." (Thank God they are few and far between.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.9 "And now, after many testimonies which have been given to him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.9 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.9 "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." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.10 When preaching to those not of our faith, in different parts of the world, I read, whenever I have the opportunity, the articles promulgated by Joseph Smith known as the 13 Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I rejoice in reading them and in testifying to those who know not the truth that in very deed those articles have been vindicated; that we believe in God the Eternal Father, and in his Son Jesus Christ, and I testify to the world that we know that they live, because they appeared to Joseph; that we believe men must be called of God, and we know that they have been called of God in our day, because the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ ordained Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. We believe that men should receive the Holy Ghost, and we testify to all the world that they have received it in this Church. I rejoice that all the gifts and graces, that were enjoyed in ancient days--the speaking in tongues, the interpretation of tongues, the healing of the sick, and kindred gifts as enumerated in the Articles of Faith, are enjoyed by the Latter-day Saints all over the world, wherever this gospel has gone. I rejoice in the wonderful faith and knowledge of the Latter-day Saints regarding the divinity of this work. I am thankful beyond expression that wherever this gospel has gone, in answer to humble, faithful prayers, God has given to individuals all over the world a knowledge of themselves concerning the divinity of this work. What kind of men and women should we be, as Latter-day Saints, in view of this wonderful knowledge that we possess, that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God? We should be the most honest, the most virtuous, the most charitable-minded, the best people upon the face of the earth. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.10 That God may help us to live up to the knowledge we possess, that we may grow in the light and knowledge and testimony of the gospel, and that our lives shall be a bright and shining testimony of the divinity of this work in which we are engaged is my prayer, and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen. President Heber J. Grant MISSIONARY CALLS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.10 President Heber J. Grant made the following additional remarks at the close of his opening speech, concerning missionaries, and missionary calls decided upon: OPENING OF SOUTH AMERICAN MISSION Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.10 One announcement I intended to make, which undoubtedly all of you have seen in the paper, is that Elders Melvin J. Ballard, Rulon S. Wells and Rey L. Pratt, have been called to go to South America and open a mission there. APPEAL FOR ONE MAN FROM EACH WARD FOR MISSION IN THE UNITED STATES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.10 In addition to opening a mission in South America, as the President of the Church and the Apostles, we desire to make an appeal to the Latter-day Saints throughout the Church, from Canada on the north to Mexico on the south, that a special effort be made to secure in every ward, from among men of mature years and sound judgment, who have had experience in the preaching of the gospel, one missionary, and where possible more than one, who is financially able to go forth and labor in the mission fields of the United States, Canada or Mexico for at least six months, at his own expense, both going and returning. MEN OF MEANS AND EXPERIENCE WANTED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.11 Since there are a thousand wards in the Church, this would mean a thousand or more men of experience to perform this labor. We feel that men who have been prospered and blessed should be ready and willing to respond to such a call. We know more than a thousand, more than two thousand, have been so blessed. Many of them may have come to this land without a dollar. Some may have borrowed the money to come here. The parents of some of them were perhaps assisted by what was known as the Perpetual Emigration Fund. Many of these men are now worth twenty-five thousand, fifty thousand, one hundred thousand, and some more than one hundred thousand dollars. We ask, in view of the wonderful material blessings which God has bestowed upon them, that they be and proclaim this gospel, and if they can stay longer, all well and good. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.11 Many of them have gone on trips, time and again, for three and four months, for pleasure only, and spent large sums of their money. Now we want during the coming year to have the greatest of all the great missions that the Church has ever had, given to the people of the world by one or two thousand men who have been thus wonderfully blessed financially--men of experience, ability and testimony. We believe, in view of the wonderful harvests that will be of such great benefit to the people in all sections of the country where the Saints are located, that we are not asking too much when we, as the Presidency and Apostles of the Church, make this great appeal for missionary service. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.11 The choir and Hyrum Christensen, and Alvina Ridges, grand daughter of Joseph Ridges, builder of the Tabernacle organ, sang the hymn, "An angel from on high," after the hymn had been announced and read in full by President Heber J. Grant. President Heber J. Grant SYMPATHY EXTENDED TO THOSE WHO MOURN Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.37 Since our last Conference, President Peter M. Hansen, of the Bear River stake, has passed away, also Brothers Arthur A. Paxman, Edgar A. Hunsaker and Hans C. Sorenson, Bishops of Washington, Mesa, and Mount Carmel wards, respectively. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.37 The fine singing today reminds me of the fact that our organist, the late John J. McClellan, has also passed away. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.37 We extend our heartfelt sympathy to those who have been called upon, through the death of their loved ones, to be separated from them. President Heber J. Grant PRESIDENCY OF THE PRIMARY ASSOCIATION REORGANIZED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.152 We will now present the General Authorities and the general officers of the Church and of the auxiliary associations for your support. Before doing so, however, I wish to announce that Sister Louie B. Felt who, for forty-five years, has faithfully and diligently presided over the Primary General Board, has requested that she be released from those labors; and her counselors, Sisters May Anderson and Clara W. Beebe, will naturally be released with her. These sisters are with our love and blessing and with our sincere thanks for their very splendid labors. Sister Felt not only has presided for forty-five years, with dignity and energy and for the benefit of these Associations, but she was also, as I remember it, the president of the second Primary Association organized in the Church, which was in the Eleventh Ward of this city. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.153 Sisters Louie B. Felt and Counselors were released as the Presidency of the General Board of the Primary Association, with a vote of thanks. President Heber J. Grant INTRODUCING ELDER REY L. PRATT Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.169 If this were a picture show or some silly thing we could laugh at, we could stand it for two hours and a half and perhaps three, but if we should run ten or fifteen minutes over the time today I expect many of you would get up and go out. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.169 Before the close of this conference I desire to hear the testimony of Brother Rey L. Pratt. I desire this grandson of Parley P. Pratt who was one of the greatest of all the great writers of inspired hymns in our Church, and one of the great preachers, to bear testimony to us before departing upon his mission to South America. And if there is anybody who cannot stay until Brother Pratt gets through, I would be much obliged to them if they would leave now. President Heber J. Grant TESTIMONY OF MILANDO PRATT Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.174 "President Heber J. Grant, Beloved President: My bosom has swelled with exceeding joy in listening to the most interesting conference services over the radio, from my bedroom, where I have spent most of the time for the past nearly ten years, through a severe operation, followed by a prolonged, painful illness. I have heard distinctly all the tabernacle services, about three miles distant from my home. I am quite sure all the Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.174 speakers were greatly inspired. Your brother in the Gospel, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.174 "MILANDO PRATT." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.174 Milando Pratt is a cousin of our last speaker, and a son of Orson Pratt who was one of the greatest writers and defenders of the truth that the Church has ever had. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.174 Brother Roberts reminds me that way in the 50's the grandfather of Brother Rey L. Pratt, namely, Parley P. Pratt, first carried the gospel to the land of Chile, in South America. Elder Joseph Barlow Dead Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.174 I overlooked announcing that Brother Joseph Barlow, counselor to the President of the Raft River stake, has passed away since our last conference. We extend to the family our sympathy. MISSIONS ESTABLISHED SINCE LAST CONFERENCE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.175 There have been established since our last conference the North Central States mission, with John G. Allred as President; and the German-Austrian mission, with Elder Fred Tadje as President, formerly president of the Swiss and German mission. NEW PRESIDENTS OF MISSIONS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.175 Six presidents of missions have been appointed as follows since last conference: J. Howard Jenkins as president of the New Zealand mission; Herbert B. Foulger, acting president of the Tahitian mission; John H. Anderson, president of the Swedish mission; Hugh J. Cannon, president of the Swiss and German mission; and Ernest C. Rossiter, president of the French mission. MISSION PRESIDENTS RELEASED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.175 Mission presidents released since our last conference: Angus T. Wright, New Zealand mission; Ole B. Peterson, Tahitian mission; Hugo D. E. Peterson, Swedish mission; Russell H. Blood, French mission. All of these released mission presidents have our love and blessing and full confidence, and also those who have been appointed. ABSENT Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.175 There have been absent from this conference, as you know, Elder Reed Smoot, of the Council of the Twelve, in Washington, and Elder James E. Talmage, of the Council of the Twelve, who is presiding over the European mission. The reports from Brother Talmage are very encouraging and very satisfactory, and he is thoroughly enjoying his labors. The newspapers keep us well posted on the very wonderful and magnificent labors that Senator Reed Smoot is performing in Washington. These brethren have our love and confidence and constant prayers for their success. APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE EXPRESSED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.175 I feel to say on behalf of the Presidency of the Church that we are very grateful for the wonderful outpouring of the people during this conference. We are grateful for the light and inspiration of the Spirit of the Lord accompanying those who have spoken to us, and we give to the Saints the love and blessing of all of the General Authorities of the Church, and we echo the sentiment that has been uttered here, time and again during this conference, in the opening and closing prayers and in some of the remarks, that the inspiration and spirit of this conference may be carried by the people who have been here to the various stakes of Zion. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1925, p.176 May God bless you one and all. May each and every one of us who have a testimony of the divinity of the work in which we are engaged, so order our lives that those who know not the truth, seeing our diligence, our faith, our humility, and our desire to serve God, may be led to investigate the truth that we have to bear to them. This is my prayer and desire, and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.2 This is a very wonderful gathering of Latter-day Saints, the Tabernacle being crowded to overflowing. It is certainly an inspiring sight, and bears witness to the interest and devotion of the Latter-day Saints. I humbly pray that while I stand before you this morning I may be able to say something that shall in some small degree fulfil my share of this conference, and which you can take away wills you and feel that you have received some benefit by leaving your homes, some of you from Canada on the north to Mexico on the south, and from New York to San Francisco. CAUSE FOR REJOICING Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.2 I rejoice in the growth of the work of God. I rejoice in the integrity and devotion and the willing self-sacrifice of the people. I am very thankful for all of the many blessings that have come to us as a people, from the thee when that great pioneer, Brigham Young, and that wonderful band of men and women, one hundred and forty odd, first came to this valley. I am thankful for the blessings of the Lord that have attended the Saints, notwithstanding the drivings and the persecutions and the mobbings that they have had to endure during the 96 years since the organization of the Church. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 It is generally expected that at the April conference of the Church something shall be given in the nature of statistics regarding the condition of the Church. Therefore, before making any special remarks, I shall give you a few items of interest. CHANGES IN OFFICERS. AND CHURCH STATISTICS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 Stake Presidents Honorably Released. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 Mark Austin, Fremont stake; Peter M. Hansen (deceased), Bear River stake; Nelson J. Hogan, Idaho stake; Heber C. Austin, Idaho Falls stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 New Stake Presidents Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 George S. Romney, Fremont stake; Milton H. Welling, Bear River stake; J. Fred Corbett, Idaho stake; Frederick A. Caine, Idaho Falls stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 Mission Presidents Honorably Released Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 Albert R. Peterson, Norwegian mission; John S. Hansen, Danish mission; Charles S. Hyde, Netherlands mission; Herbert B. Foulger, Tahitian mission (acting). Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 Mission Presidents Appointed Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 Martin Christopherson, Norwegian mission; Joseph L. Peterson, Danish mission; John P. Lillywhite, Netherlands mission; Alma G. Burton, Tahitian mission. STATISTICS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 There are at present: stakes of Zion, 94; wards, 909; independent branches, 76; missions, 26; branches in missions, 716, making a total of 1701 wards and branches now in the Church. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 There were less than twenty stakes of Zion at the time I was chosen to be one of the twelve apostles of the Church, 43 years ago. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 Since our conference in 1925, 69 stake and ward meeting houses have been erected and 24 buildings in our missions, which makes a total of 93 structures during the year. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 We have not yet completed the Arizona temple, but the expenditures up to the 31st of December, 1925, on that building were $540,000. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 We rejoice in the wonderful growth of work in our temples. In the Salt Lake temple. I learn from brother Geo. F. Richards, we have had as high as 1800 people go through in a single day. Many companies go through there each day, laboring for the salvation of their dead. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 In our Church educational system we have enrolled: in Church schools, 4,184; in Seminaries, 10,341; in Religion Classes, 57,000; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 Total number receiving week-day religious education, 71,525. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 This says nothing of religious education that is being given to 59,000 women in our Relief Societies, 100,000 in our Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations, and a quarter of a million in our Sunday schools. And I am informed that the enrollment of our children in Primary Associations now reaches 100,000. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 There were ordinances performed in the temples for the living and the dead last year, 986,321. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 Number of people recommended to the temples, 55,695. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 We have somewhat more than 2,500 missionaries in the field at the present time. FINANCIAL STATEMENT Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.3 Following are the expenditures from the tithes of the Church for the year 1925: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 Stake and Ward Purposes Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 There has been returned from the tithes to the stakes and wards for building construction, maintenance and operation, $1,486,351.81. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 Education Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 Expended for the construction, maintenance and operation of Church schools, $958,440.67. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 Temples Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 Expended for the construction, maintenance and operation of temples, $319,415. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 Charities Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 For the care of the worthy poor and other charitable purposes, including hospital treatment, $172,352.74. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 Missions Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 For the maintenance and operation of all the missions and for the erection of places of worship and other buildings in the missions, $769,926.79. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 Making a total, which has been taken from the tithes and returned by the trustee-in-trust for the maintenance and operation of the stakes and wards, for the maintenance and operation of Church schools and temples, for charities and for mission activities, of $3,706,397.01. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 Other Charities Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 In addition to charities paid from the tithes, as before named, there has also been disbursed the fast offerings, other charities and assistance rendered by the Relief Society, in the sum of $442,868.07, which amount, added to the $172,262.74 paid from the tithes, makes the total charity assistance rendered by the Church, $615.130.81. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 There has been collected by the various wards of the Church and paid to missionaries to assist in their maintenance, $131,941.31. STATISTICS REGARDING THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 Children blessed and entered on the records of the Church in the stakes and missions, 20,233. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 Children baptized in the stakes and missions, 14,390. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 Converts baptized and entered on the records of the stakes and missions, 6,373. SOCIAL STATISTICS. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 Birth rate, 32 per thousand; marriage rate, 15 per thousand; death rate, 6.7 per thousand. Divorces--There was one divorce in every 20 marriages. Average in the United States is one divorce in every seven marriages. Families owning their own homes, 73 per cent. OBEDIENCE TO LAW Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 There is at the present time an agitation going on in the United States against the enforcement of prohibition. Straw votes are being taken which show that the overwhelming sentiment of those who have seen fit to vote on this straw ballot are in favor of the repeal or modification of the present law. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.4 There is also a wave of crime sweeping over the country. Perhaps there is nothing of greater importance, next to our spiritual growth, than a determination on the part of the Latter-day Saints to observe the laws of our country. I wish to quote from the immortal Lincoln: LINCOLN ON THE SUBJECT Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.5 "Let every American, every lover of Liberty, every well wisher to his posterity, swear by the blood of the revolution never to violate in the least particular the laws of the country, and never to tolerate their violation by others. As the patriots of '76 did to the support of the Declaration of Independence, so to the support of the Constitution and laws let every American pledge his life, his property and his sacred honor. Let every man remember that to violate the law is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the charter of his own and his children's liberty. Let reverence for the laws be breathed by every American mother to the lisping babe that prattles in her lap; let it be taught in schools, in seminaries, and in colleges; let it be written in primers, in spelling books and almanacs; let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative halls, enforced in courts of justice. In short, let it become the political religion of the nation." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.5 One of the Articles of our Faith declares that we believe in sustaining the law and supporting the rulers. So that not only should Latter-day Saints follow the advice of the immortal Lincoln, but they should follow the doctrines of the Church to which they belong. THEODORE ROOSEVELT Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.5 Theodore Roosevelt has the following statements to make that would apply more or less to sustaining the law: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.5 "In character we must have virtue, morality, decency and square dealing as the foundation. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.5 "Any man who claims there can be liberty in spite of and against the law is claiming that anarchy is liberty. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.5 "We need strong bodies; more than that, we need strong minds, and finally we need what counts for more than body or mind--character." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.5 "The man who counts is the man who is decent and who makes himself felt as a force for decency." THE WORD OF WISDOM A REVELATION TO THE SAINTS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.5 The Latter-day Saints have a revelation from God regarding strong bodies. In that revelation it is recorded that tobacco is not good for the body. It is also recorded there that strong drinks are not to be taken internally, but are only for the washing of the body. We are told in this same revelation that hot drinks are not good for man. This revelation was given to the Latter-day Saints in 1833, only three years after the organization of the Church. Yet, there are many of the people who have never lived up to that revelation. But I am thankful that the great majority of the Latter-day Saints are observers of the Word of Wisdom--that tea, coffee, liquor and tobacco are let alone by the Latter-day Saints. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.6 I have read to you that we have seventeen hundred wards and branches in the Church. In each of the wards of the Church there is a bishop and two counselors and a ward clerk, and in each of the independent branches there is a president and two counselors. There are sometimes three presiding officers in the branches throughout the missions, and sometimes only one. But we have an army of men presiding amounting to four or five thousand, and every one of those men must pledge his honor that he will observe the Word of Wisdom. We have now ninety-four stakes, with a presidency of three men, and a stake clerk, and we have twelve high councilors in each of these stakes. In addition we have many alternate high councilors. It will average, I am sure, twenty men to the stake, So we have an army of two thousand there, and every one of these leading men must obey the Word of Wisdom. ON WOMEN AND SMOKING Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.6 I read recently in a paper published in our city: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.6 "The woman smoker is the prominent professional and business woman in every community." I desire to broadcast all over the world that that statement is an absolute falsehood so far as the Latter-day Saints are concerned. Never in my life have I seen a Latter-day Saint woman or girl smoking a cigarette. This article states that last year there were 9,000,000,000 cigarettes smoked by the women of these United States, and that there were 7,000,000,000 cigarettes smoked by women the year before, an increase in round numbers of thirty per cent. The writer said that the woman smoker is "the prominent commercial and business woman in every community." I say: Leave out every Latter-day Saint community, because it is a falsehood. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.6 "She is the wife of your local physician." She is not the wife of any physician in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so far as I know. "She is the wife of the town banker, the attorney. She is the president of your parent-teacher club, your literary club." These statements are reputed to have been made by Cynthia Grey. I would not be a bit surprised if Cynthia Grey is but a newspaper name, and it is one of the tobacco trusts who furnished the article. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.6 "In other words, it is stuff and nonsense, nowadays, to say that the women who smoke are scarlet ladies." We do not say that. So she has put that in to weaken the fight against this awful curse, cigarette smoking. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.6 "Does nicotine harm the woman any more than the man, if it harms either?" Nicotine harms every man, woman and child that uses tobacco, and we as Latter-day Saints have the word of the Lord God Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, to that effect, this lady (or perhaps man), to the contrary notwithstanding. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.6 "I am inclined to believe that even a woman smoker, quite firm in her conviction that she is doing the proper thing" [I do not believe that any woman smoker believes she is doing the proper thing] "would stop smoking, if any real authority could prove she was harming any possible future child of hers." The trained athletes of the nation are pretty good authorities on the harm to the physical body, and they are practically a unit that tobacco and liquor do harm the body. Some of the great baseball clubs of America, who have won championships, won't allow liquor or tobacco to be used by their men. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.7 The head of the New York Athletic club, one of the greatest in this country, announces that there is no prospect of success in the athletic line to the man who uses tobacco and liquor. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.7 "But medical savants, when pushed to the wall, seem not much alarmed." When they are not pushed to the wall, the great majority of them acknowledge the harmful influence of these things. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.7 "The president of the Association of Railway Chief Surgeons is quoted as saying 'Fags help men work out problems. Why not women?'" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.7 A whip helps a horse to go a little bit further, but it does not add any strength to the horse, and no narcotic or stimulant that creates an appetite for itself is good for man or woman. And thank the Lord we have his word to that effect. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.7 I will not take any more of your time reading from this article, for it is "rot." COMMENTS ON SUSTAINING THE LAW Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.7 I meant after reading Lincoln's wonderful appeal to sustain the Constitution, to read the following: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.7 Gladstone said, speaking of the Constitution of the United States: "It is the greatest document of its kind that ever sprang from the mind of man." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.7 The faith of the Latter-day Saints and the teaching that I have had since I was a child at my mother's knee, as well as from this stand, is that the Constitution of our country was written by men inspired of the Lord God Almighty. Therefore we, as Latter-day Saints, more than any other people, ought to be supporters of the Constitution, and all constitutional law. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.7 I read a clipping from a great financial paper, as follows: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.7 "'Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.' is as true today as it was 2,500 years ago. The indications of surface conditions are not satisfactory. A crime wave is sweeping the country; hope is necessary to give a thrill in the movies; temperance and self-control have become a joke; observance and respect for law are considered old-fashioned; honest labor is looked upon as something to be avoided; too many are trying to get something for nothing and are going into debt for needless luxuries and harmful pleasures." LATTER-DAY SAINTS WARNED AGAINST DEBT AND WEALTH Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.7 Right here let me warn the Latter-day Saints to buy automobiles and to buy the ordinary necessities of life when they have the money to buy them, and not to mortgage their future. I have heard of people over in England who regularly mortgage their Sunday clothes Monday morning and take them out of "hock" the next Saturday night. I want to say to you that those who discount their future, who run in debt for the ordinary necessities of life and for the luxuries of life, are laying burdens upon themselves that will come back with compound interest to cause them great trouble and humiliation. To quote again: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.7 "Nasty magazines are building up great circulations, while the colleges are closing up their chapels and opening up smoking rooms for the women students." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.8 Again let me say that that cannot be found in any of the Church schools or seminaries. Once more, please leave out the Latter-day Saints. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.8 "I sincerely hope that these things are merely a phase and that the American people are still a God-fearing race. If not, these things are a tremendous indictment of schools and colleges as well as parents. Yes, America has every material blessing at the present time and if we will keep our feet on the ground, the present era of prosperity should continue for years. On the other hand, all wealth is a mere tool which can be used either to upbuild or to destroy. Everything depends on the motives, ambition and tastes of the people who have this tool in their hands." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.8 Wealth is leading to folly and almost to that which would be counted as sin. Pope says: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.8 "Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,; As, to be hated, needs but to be seen, But seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace." AVOID SERVING THE GOD OF FASHION Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.8 I am ashamed, as I walk the streets of our cities, at the lack of modesty in the dresses, not only of our young people, but our mothers and even grandmothers. I will rejoice when there shall come over this land again an increased respect for the sacredness of the body and a willingness on the part of our good, pure, upright ladies to dress themselves in a more becoming manner. I shall rejoice when the Latter-day Saints shall endeavor to find out that thing which will bring to them and to their posterity peace and comfort of body and of mind. The Lord said that he was a jealous God, and that we should serve no other God before him. So we should not serve the god of fashion. When our Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations were organized they were organized under the title of the Young Ladies' Retrenchment Associations, and one of the purposes was re-trenchment and more modesty in dressing; and I shall rejoice if the Lord will inspire the Latter-day Saints to set a better example in the future than they are setting at the present time. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.8 I want to announce that I shall be glad if we will quit giving notices to the papers of what is termed "teas" that are being held in our homes. I read of a "tea" being given in the home of President Heber J. Grant, and of the "tea" table being decorated. There is no tea table in the home of President Heber J. Grant. There has been no tea served either to our friends or visitors, in the home of Heber J. Grant. I would like us to change that name in our newspapers, at least so far as Latter-day Saints are concerned, and have it a "social gathering," or a lunch, or anything you have a mind to call it, and quit calling it a "tea" when every Latter-day Saint is asked by the Lord to leave tea, coffee and tobacco alone. PROMISE OF GOD TO OBERVERS OF THE WORD OF WISDOM Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.9 And for fear I forget it, I want to read to you one of the most marvelous and wonderful promises that God has made to every Latter-day Saint that keeps this Word of Wisdom. The Word of Wisdom was given, as stated, only three years after the Church was organized: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.9 "All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.9 "And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.9 It is being acknowledged by the great doctors today that an excessive use of meat is not good for humanity, and the Word of Wisdom teaches us that: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.9 "All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.9 "Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horses, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.9 Now listen, all ye Latter-day Saints, to the word of the Lord and the promise of the Creator of heaven and earth: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.9 "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 in their bones; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.9 "And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.9 "And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.9 "And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of lsrael, and not slay them. Amen." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.9 What a marvelous promise! And as there is no promise made by the Lord only upon the condition that we fulfil the law upon which that promise is predicated, the law of life and health to the Latter-day Saints is to obey the Word of Wisdom. THE SUPPORT OF HOME INSTITUTIONS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.9 Generally at these conferences I have made just a few remarks about supporting our home institutions. I thought I would simply read what I said once before: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.9 "The support of home institutions is the main foundation of any state's prosperity. The support of home industries keeps money at home, furnishes employment, reduces cost and insures prosperity. If all the people of Utah and the other intermountain States would adopt the principle of buying the product of the factories of the Intermountain territory, most of our industrial problems would vanish. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.9 "From the earliest days the people of Utah have been taught to support home industries, and to keep money at home. Where the advice has been followed prosperity has resulted. Now, more than ever, the people of the Intermountain country should stand together and support the institutions which are assisting in the up-building of the territory." APPEAL TO FARMERS ON THE SUGAR INDUSTRY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.10 I want to say a word to the Latter-day Saints regarding the beet sugar industry. The credit of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was utilized to the extent of something over $3,000,000 a few years ago in borrowing and loaning money to the sugar industry, to keep it from going into the hands of the receiver. This industry was established by the Church running in debt to secure the money to build the very first factory that was ever built in the United States of America with American machinery, for the manufacture of beet sugar, and the Church has always fostered the industry. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.10 I appeal to you farmers, every one of you, in all the various parts of Utah and Idaho, and in Canada now--wherever a sugar factory has been established--to support those factories by planting a goodly portion of suitable land in beets which may be manufactured into sugar. A great many of the farmers seem to feel that they are under no obligation whatever to support these factories, some of which have been built upon the earnest solicitation and upon the absolute pledge of the farmers that they would furnish so many thousand acres of beets for each factory. Several of these factories have had to remain idle. Why? Because these pledges have not been fulfilled. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.10 Our Lord and Savior said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.10 "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.10 "This is the first and great commandment. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.10 "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.10 As one of your neighbors, who has labored diligently and invested all he had originally, and lost every dollar of it, in establishing this great industry, I appeal to you farmers to love me and others who established it. My personal stock amounts to very little, I could not sell it today for $500, but the Church has invested several million dollars in establishing and maintaining this industry for the benefit of the farmers. Therefore, I appeal to you to have no idle beet sugar factories in your communities; and by supporting these factories you will bring additional money into your communities, and will be fulfilling the second great commandment; to love your neighbors. WHAT THE CHURCH REQUESTS AS TO CARD PLAYING Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.10 By the way, I hear that card playing is becoming very, very popular, and that the Church must be in favor of card-playing because the Church authorities never say anything against it. From the time I was a child and read the Juvenile Instructor, published for the benefit of the people, I have read nothing except condemnation of card-playing and the wasting of your time in doing something that brings no good, bodily, intellectually or in any way, and sometimes leads your children to become gamblers, because they become expert card-players. The Church as a Church requests its members not to play cards. I hope you understand me, and I want you to know that I am speaking for the Church when I ask the people to let cards alone. SUSTAIN THE DESERET NEWS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.11 Again I am speaking for the Church when I ask Latter-day Saints to sustain the newspaper published by the Church. I have gone into the homes of bishops and other leading families in this Church, and have failed to find The Deseret Evening News. We desire the support of The Deseret News because it is your paper. We are the Church and the Church owns The Deseret News, and if you make it a great financial success you will be sharing in that success because it is your paper. And I want to say to the Latter-day Saints that there have been a score or more of speeches published in The News in the past year, nearly every one of which to my mind was worth the price of The Deseret News. I called up an influential man the other day and asked if he had read one, two or three of those sermons. He said no. I want to tell you that a sermon by one of the greatest educational minds in Utah, (I doubt there is a superior one) Dr. Joseph F. Merrill, over the radio and subsequently enlarged upon from this stand, was published in The News. I would not take a fifty dollar bill for it if I could not get it again. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.11 We are here--for what? For the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we get it in The Deseret News. I will say to you that one of the finest sermons on Priesthood that I have listened to--(by the way, I did not listen to it, but I read it in The News)--was by one of the great lawyers of America, one of the international lawyers, a man honored by our country to be called to Washington in the great conference on disarmament, J. Reuben Clark. You did not read it if you do not take The News. It was a splendid talk. I want to say to you that the talks by Adam Bennion and by Milton Bennion are worth the price of The News for a year. I will have to stop talking about The News, or I won't get through with the other things I want to say. AUTHORITIES ABSENT FROM CONFERENCE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.11 There are absent today of the General Authorities, Elders Reed Smoot, James E. Talmage, and Melvin J. Ballard of the Council of the Twelve. Elder Reed Smoot, as you all know, is a Senator from Utah, and thank the Lord for such a senator, a man who has gained for himself a national and an international reputation for his honesty, for his integrity, and for his great and wonderful ability, and he stands today at the head of the greatest committee in the senate of the United States. I remember when ex-President Taft was here he said, with that little chuckle of his that made us all laugh, "And to think that when he first came down to Washington nearly everybody tried to keep him out of the senate. Now I have come all the way to Utah to plead with the people to be sure and send him back again." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.12 Elder James E. Talmage is doing a wonderful and splendid work in the British Isles as president of the European mission. Elder Talmage, as you know, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and the distinction of being a member of one of the greatest scientific societies in the world has enabled him to get favorable articles into the newspapers, in such a way as we have never been able to do before in the British Isles. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.12 Elder Melvin J. Ballard is opening a mission, as you all know, in South America, and is meeting with some success. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.12 Elder Brigham H. Roberts of the First Council of Seventy, has appointments in the East, and on account of the death of his wife and having to come here to her funeral, he has been excused from this conference. He is accomplishing a remarkable and wonderful labor in the Eastern States. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.12 Elder Rey L. Pratt of the First Council of Seventy is with Brother Ballard in South America. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.12 Elder Rulon S. Wells of the same council went to South America, as you all know, but on account of ill health had to return. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.12 Splendid missionary work is being done by all those who are engaged in the different missions in the United States and all over the world, for which we are grateful. CALLS FOR MISSIONARIES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.12 We have calls for missionaries from every quarter of the globe--more missionaries, more missionaries. The lady missionaries, we want it understood, are called to labor only in the United States. There are requests coming constantly that we send lady missionaries to other parts of the world, but we feel it is a mistake to send our sisters further away. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.12 A very remarkable and splendid work has been done by the short term missionaries that were sent out. We regret that the call came so late, and many of them have only been able to stay in the field three months, some of them four and some of them five months. We hope we can have more short-term missionaries, and that they will be able to spend the full six months in the mission field. Some of the accomplishments of these men have been very remarkable. Men of experience, men of testimony, and of undying faith in the gospel have brought many souls to a knowledge of the truth. Perhaps some of our school teachers daring their vacations can volunteer and will be willing to do missionary work. AN EASTER GREETING Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.12 This is Easter, and I wish to read to you a greeting that was published in The Deseret Evening News for Christmas and I believe it is equally as appropriate for Easter Sunday: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.12 Greetings from the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.12 As Christmas tide approaches our minds revert to that never to be forgotten night when shepherds who were watching their flocks on the hills of Judea were startled as the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and the angel of the Lord stood before them and said: "Fear not, for behold I bring you good, tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.12 "For unto you is born this day, in the City of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.13 "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.13 It was a night which was distinct from all other nights which had come and gone since the creation of the earth. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.13 The birth of Christ our Lord was more than an incident, it was an epoch in the history of the world to which prophets had looked forward, of which poets had sung, and in which angels joined their voices with mortals in praise to God. It was the day decreed and foreordained by our Father who is in heaven when he would manifest himself to his children, who are here upon earth, in the person of his Only Begotten Son. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.13 Whether or not the 25th day of December is the proper date of the birth of Christ, our Lord, matters little. We join with other Christian people in celebrating it as such and if we observe it in the true spirit of the Master, renewing the covenant which we have made that we are willing to take upon us his name, and keep the commandments which he has given, our offering will be accepted. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.13 He came that man might see and know God as he is, for he bore witness that whoever had seen him had seen the Father, for he was the express image of his person. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.13 He came to teach us the character of God, and by example and precept pointed out the path which, if we walk in it, will lead us back into his presence. He came to break the bands of death with which man was bound, and made possible the resurrection by which the grave is robbed of its victory and death of its sting. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.13 After his crucifixion and the death of the apostles whom he had chosen, who suffered martyrdom at the hands of those who were opposed to the truths which he taught, it appeared that his mission and ministry had been a failure; but as time passed, and the doctrines of Christianity became better understood, thoughtful men turned to him as their source of light and strength, thus preserving faith in his mission and ministry, with the result that Christianity became the dominant influence in the civilization and development of the world. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.13 As time passed dissensions occurred in the primitive church. The laws governing the church established by the Redeemer, were transgressed, the ordinances were changed, the everlasting covenant was broken. Men began to teach for doctrine their own commandments; a form of worship had been established which was called Christianity, but was without the power of God which characterized the primitive church. Spiritual darkness covered the earth and gross darkness the minds of the people. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.13 Then there came another epochal period in the history of the world. The time had arrived, fore-ordained by the Lord, and foretold by his prophets, when another gospel dispensation was to be ushered in, when the gospel of the kingdom was to be restored, and preached in all the world, as a witness unto all people before the end shall come. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.13 Again the heavens rejoiced, again heavenly beings communicated the will of the Father to his children who are here upon the earth, and men were made glad as the Dispensation of the Fulness of times was ushered in. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.13 Joseph Smith was the agent through whom the Lord saw fit to begin the great latter-day work. To him the Father and Son appeared in heavenly vision, upon him the keys of the everlasting priesthood were conferred, with authority to transmit them to others, with the promise that the priesthood should, never be taken from the earth again, until the purposes of the Father were accomplished. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.14 Under his direction the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized on the 6th day of April, 1830, and the command given to its members to bear the gospel message to all people, calling them to repentance and faith in Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh, with the promise that whosoever should repent and obey would know, by the gift of the Holy Ghost, that the message which they brought was true. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.14 As the result of this message many thousands of people have been gathered out from the various nations where the gospel has been preached and brought to Zion, the place designated by the Lord as the gathering place of Latter-day lsrael. The desert has been made glad because of them, and has been converted into fruitful fields. Springs of living water have broken out to moisten the thirsty land, and cities have sprung up where before was only desolation and wilderness. Music and the voices of children are heard in the streets where silence had reigned supreme. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.14 It is the Lord our God, through his Only Begotten Son, who has done it. To him be the praise and glory forever. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.14 We exhort our brethren and sisters of the Church, wherever they may be, to remain steadfast in their faith. Hold fast to the word of the Lord, which is the iron rod that will lead us to the Tree of Life. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.14 To the people of the world we appeal to come unto Christ, through whom redemption cometh to all those who take upon them his name, and keep the commandments which he has given. We bear witness that the fulness of his gospel has been restored, that his Church is established, and will continue to spread until peace shall prevail among men, and his kingdom come and his will be done upon earth as it is done in heaven. O Lord, hasten that glorious day. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.14 HEBER J. GRANT, ANTHONY W. IVINS, CHARLES W. NIBLEY, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.14 First Presidency. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.14 God bless you. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.44 We have received somewhat more than seventy telephone calls since the meeting started, announcing that people are listening in at various places. I received one from a nephew-in-law of mine. Edward W. Spencer, of Evanston, in which he said: "I got every word of your opening address over the radio." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.44 I remember being ridiculed because I believed in the Book of Mormon, because an alleged absolute impossibility was recorded in that book, namely that the Savior's words were heard all over the land. I remember saying to the professor (I was a young, unmarried man at the time), that I believed in a God who could arrange, if he saw fit to do so, that the words of Jesus Christ could be heard all over the world. I remember reading recently of a man who heard a song nine thousand miles over the radio. He was in a house with the doors closed, and the song was sung in a house or station with the doors closed, nine thousand miles away. Thank the Lord for faith as a boy, in the truths that are being demonstrated, which were miracles beyond all belief in early days! Thank the Lord for the testimony of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.44 "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! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.44 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.44 "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." Conference Report, April 1926, p.44 Following the announcement of the general Priesthood meeting to be held in the Tabernacle on Monday evening at 7 o'clock; the Sunday School Union conference meeting to be held at 7 o'clock on Sunday evening; and the special Priesthood meeting to be held Wednesday morning, April 7, the choir sang the "Hallelujah Chorus." President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.118 In speaking yesterday of the missionary work that is being done throughout the world, although I had a note about it on a piece of paper in front of me, I forgot to mention what I consider one of the greatest of all the missions we have, namely, the one on the Temple Block, presided over by Elders Levi Edgar Young, Benjamin Goddard, and Axel A. Madsen, aided by a number of faithful workers. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.118 The work which they are doing in allaying prejudice and in making the acquaintance of influential people, I feel is among the very finest missionary labors performed in any of our missions. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.138 I wish to say that the Latter-day Saints have undoubtedly spent more money and more time in endeavoring to educate and benefit the Lamanite people, whom we believe to be the descendants of the father Lehi, than any other people. The Church today, I believe, numbers among its converts in Hawaii over one-half the native population of that land. We are given the credit by leading officials in that land of having done more for the uplift, morally, intellectually and physically, and for the temporal benefit of the people of Hawaii than all other missionaries who have been in that land. And we have invested there at the present time in plantations considerably more than a million and a half dollars in money. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.138 We have assisted the Indians in Arizona and in different parts of Utah and Montana. and have done everything within our power for the benefit of this people, and we look forward to the day when hundreds and thousands of them will be abundantly blessed of the Lord, and when they shall eventually become a white and a delightsome people. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.147 "Beautiful Zion For Me," was written by Brother Charles W. Penrose upon the spur of the moment when bidding good-bye to Brigham Young, Jr., who had presided over the European mission, and who was about to sail for home. Brother Penrose remarked, "Oh, Brigham, beautiful Zion for me! I wish I were going with you." Then he asked Brother Brigham Young, Jr., "Do you know the tune, 'Beautiful Isle of the Sea?'" And he said, "Yes." "All right, I will write you a hymn to that tune that you can sing on the ocean." And President Penrose wrote this hymn. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.159 Brother Junius F. Wells has handed to me the following memorandum that I feel sure will be of interest: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.159 PRESIDING AUTHORITIES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.160 "There have been sustained since the Church was organized, seven presidents, 19 counselors in the First Presidency, 54 apostles, 5 presiding patriarchs, 34 of the First Council of Seventy, and 14 of the Presiding Bishopric. A total of 133 besides the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon." A FEW WORDS ON DEBT Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.160 Apropos of my remarks to the effect that we should not run in debt or mortgage our future, I will read a poem that has been handed to me, written by Stoddard King: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.160 SAID THE PIEMAN Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.160 A study of pie salesmanship will be made by the National Pie Bakers Association.--News item. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.160 "The story of Simon called Simple Is one everybody has read; It is sweet, it is sad, and it tells of a lad Who wasn't quite right in the head. When he sought to buy pie of the pieman, Poor Simon was hopeful but rash, For he childishly thought that a pie could be bought Without any transfer of cash. "But we mustn't speak harshly of Simon, Who was simply ahead of his time-- Today he could buy a whole carload of pie By merely investing a dime. The up-to-date salesman would land him-- Or, rather more likely, his wife-- By letting him pay a few cents right away And installments the rest of his life. "It's the way they sell pins and pianos, And paintings, potatoes and pants-- For a few dollars down you can buy the whole town-- As a prospect you haven't a chance. The fact that you're broke doesn't matter, Your only escape is to die-- And as long as they take all the money you make, You might as well spend it for pie!" U. S. COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.160 I am pleased to state that sitting on the stand Sunday, at the opening session of our conference, was the Commissioner of Education of the United States of America, Honorable John J. Tigert, and he expressed himself as very well pleased with our wonderful gathering. PASSING OF PRESIDENT THOMAS P. COTTAM Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.161 Since our last conference one of the most faithful and diligent of all workers in the Church, for many years a counselor in the presidency of the St. George stake, and subsequently the president of the St. George temple, Brother Thomas P. Cottam, has passed away. He was one of the noblemen of the earth, one of the most faithful, loyal, true, upright Latter-day Saints that it has ever fallen to my lot to know. EVANGELINE BOOTH ON PROHIBITION Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.161 I had intended to read something here from Evangeline Booth, Commander of the Salvation Army in this country, but, like the congressmen, I will beg leave to have it put in my speech when it is printed in the Conference Pamphlet, or when it appears in the Deseret News. It was published in the Literary Digest of March 20, 1926: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.161 "Park benches are emptied of their drunken derelicts, and the men who used to make their wives and children the victims of their thirst and besotted rage have sobered up and returned to work to feed their families. And that one fact, believes Evangeline Booth, Commander of the Salvation Army in the United States, is the most convincing argument in favor of prohibition and against the return of the saloon. She is sure, however, that the Eighteenth Amendment is so firmly entrenched in public favor that it will never be repealed, and equally sure that it can be enforced. Such drinking as is indulged in now, she asserts, is a fad of the idle rich which will die out, or else society--society, that is, with the big 'S'--will be turned upside down and furnish rum wastrels for the Salvation Army to salvage. Miss Booth's utterance is no careless statement of fact and possibility, for there is no more seasoned worker among the submerged tenth than she, none among the world's greatest moral clean-up organizations more familiar with the sodden aspects of drunkenness and debauchery and their devastating influence on the home. It was while convalescing from attack of appendicitis that she issued her statement on prohibition, which is quoted in part by the New York Times as follows: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.161 "'After all these years of hard fighting to protect the home, emancipate the neglected children and wipe from our national escutcheon the disgrace of the evils arising from drink, it is good to find that the people of America have come to a correct judgment concerning the drink evil. It is unthinkable that the country will ever return to the deadly saloon system and a resumption of liquor pending. "'Surely it will be conceded that the Salvation Army knows something about the evils of strong drink. From the day my father founded the organization in England to combat the degradation and vice that are inevitable consequences of liquor drinking, the Salvation Army has held rigidly to its purpose, and feels that it had a great deal to do with the enactment of prohibition in America."'It is an illogical thing to say that because a new law has not worked like magic it is best to cast it aside and return to the original state of vice which, because of its awfulness, prompted the enactment of that law. Such a thing would make civilization march backward. It is rather the duty of the citizen, the State and the Government to find ways and means to make the law work out its unquestioned benefits to humanity. It can be done. It is being done. "'Enemies of the Volstead Law waste their time when they try to tell organizations like the Salvation Army that national prohibition will not work. Vast changes have come about, and to undo them would be to strike a blow at every fireside and every industry in this country. "'Why try to tell the Salvation Army that the park benches are crowded with drunken men, as they were before prohibition when we used to gather them in on Thanksgiving Day, for example, and fight to salvage them? They are gone. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.161 The benches still remain, but the occupants are not drunk any more; they are climbing upward to better things while the public rushes by all unheeding. Why try to tell us that workingmen spend their wages before their families can get the money for food, and that men beat their wives and children as in the old days? It simply is not the case. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.162 "'If the idle rich persist in making a sport of the prohibition law, the day may come when the boulevardiers, vastly in the minority, will have to be salvaged out of their attractive places for secret drinking and rescued, if possible, by the Salvation Army, just as the poor saloon victim used to be. In that event the sober and progressive working classes will automatically become the aristocrats, and society, so-called, will be turned upside down in its system of organization. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.162 "'In other words, drinking and flouting the prohibition law are a fad and will die out.'" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.162 In testimony of Miss Booth's experience and of her fitness to pass judgment on prohibition, Arthur J. Davis, State Superintendent of the Anti-Saloon League of New York, says, as he is quoted in the same paper: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.162 "She led her band of salvationists against the drink evil in the United States and consistently opposed the saloon while she salvaged its wrecks and bound up the wounds of its victims. Evangeline Booth has been knocked down by drunkards and so badly injured that she spent months in hospitals. In the early days of her work in New York slums salvationists were murdered by drunkards. She, therefore, knows what she is talking about when she attacks the illegal liquor traffic and upholds prohibition. For seventy years her organization has fought the saloon and she knows the advantages of its banishment." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.162 A study was made in Munich by a professor in which it was discovered that in that great beer-drinking city seventy-two out of every one hundred babies that were born there were unsound. The same professor visited prohibition Maine and found that 71.5 per cent of the babies there were born sound. There have been born to me twelve babies and forty-four grandchildren, all of whom were sound, and I am convinced that among the Latter-day Saints who are observing the Word of Wisdom not more than one to two per cent of the babies are born unsound. And yet, I quoted from an article published in one of our local newspapers that if any woman believed that tobacco would injure her child she would not be guilty of using it. ON MOVING FROM PLACE TO PLACE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.163 I would like to appeal to the Latter-day Saints who are thinking of moving from one place to another, from Canada on the north to Mexico on the south (I believe that four hundred miles north of Lethbridge is the farthest north, or the closest to the north pole, any Latter-day Saint has gone), that before moving they do some consulting with or writing to the presidents of stakes and others in the section where they contemplate going, and ascertain if they can identify themselves with some of the regular organizations of the Church; instead of going beyond the bounds of the Church, and then writing and asking us to please send some missionaries to hunt them up; that they really do belong to the Church, but that they have gotten so far away everybody seems to have forgotten them. Move where you cannot be forgotten and where there is an organized stake or ward of the Church. There is plenty of opportunity in the organized stakes of Zion for those who want to change their location here in Utah and in Idaho and in Canada. ON SMOKING CIGARETTES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.163 There are two items which I had intended to quote here this afternoon, but I shall not do so; instead, as before stated, I will adopt the system of the congressmen, and beg leave to print. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.163 I quote a statement which profoundly impressed me, from Mr. Henry Ford's pamphlet: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.163 "'Several of my young acquaintances are in their graves who gave promise of making happy and useful citizens,' declares Luther Burbank, the wizard of the plant and vegetable kingdom whose experiments have caused the civilized world to wonder, and whose experiments have benefited the civilized world by millions upon millions, in increase of prosperity, by the increase in the various things that he has done in improvement in flowers and in seeds and in fruits and in the redemption of the cactus in Arizona, taking the thorns; he is in very deed the wizard of the agricultural world and one of the benefactors of mankind. He says: 'And there is no question whatever that cigarettes alone were the cause of their destruction.' No boy living would commence the use of cigarettes if he knew what a useless, soulless, worthless thing they would make of him." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.163 I quote from David Starr Jordan, President Emeritus of the Stanford University: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.163 "The boy who smokes cigarettes need not be anxious about his future. He has none." BENEDICTION Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1926, p.163 I rejoice beyond measure in the rich outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord during our conference, from the first session until the present time; and, insofar as God has endowed me with ability and power and his Priesthood, I bless the people. I bless each and every soul who has taken part in this conference, in singing, in praying and in speaking, and I bear witness to you that they have spoken under the inspiration of the living God, and that they are entitled to the blessings of God. I bless the people of the Latter-day Saints who have come here and listened so patiently and in such great numbers to the testimonies which have been borne. May God's choicest blessings attend all Israel, and the honest the world over, and I ask it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.2 I am very thankful indeed for the opportunity of meeting with the Saints in another General Conference. I rejoice in the very splendid turnout that we see here today, and realize that, even with the overflow meeting in the Assembly Hall, there are many who will be disappointed in not getting room in this building or the adjoining one. But it is estimated that fully one hundred thousand people will hear these services today over the radio. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.2 I understand that the amplifier installed here will make it entirely unnecessary for me to raise my voice beyond that which would be needed in an ordinary hall. I am very glad of this for the reason that exerting oneself in order to be heard is very much more of a strain than to talk in just an ordinary voice. I should be very glad to know if any in this audience are failing to hear distinctly what I am saying at the present time. If so, will they kindly raise their hands. I discover that everybody is hearing my remarks, and I am not talking any louder than would be necessary in a room containing only a few hundred people. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.2 I earnestly and sincerely desire the faith and prayers of the Latter-day Saints to attend not only myself but all of the speakers during this conference, that they may be inspired by the Lord to say those things which will be calculated in their nature to encourage the Saints to renewed diligence in discharging the duties and obligations that rest upon them as members of the Church. CHANGES IN OFFICERS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.2 It will be interesting to you, no doubt, to know regarding the changes that have taken place since our last conference. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 The Wayne stake now has a new president--Brother William F. Webster. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 Mission presidents released and appointed during the past six months: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 Mark V. Coombs has been released as president of the Tongan mission, and J. A. Cahoon appointed to succeed him. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 Eugene J. Neff has been released as president of the Hawaiian mission, and William M. Waddoups appointed to succeed him. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 J. Wyley Sessions has been released as president of the South African mission, and Samuel Martin appointed as his successor. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 Melvin J. Ballard has been released as president of the South American mission, and Karl B. R. Stool appointed as his successor. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 Brother Kenneth L. Haymore has been released as acting-president of the Mexican mission on account of the return of Rey L. Pratt, president of that mission, from South America. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 Hyrum W. Valentine has been appointed to succeed Fred Tadje as president of the German-Austrian mission. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 The following new wards have been organized: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 Eden ward, Minidoka stake; Emerson ward, Minidoka stake, Hazelton ward, Minidoka stake; Ogden 19th ward, Weber stake; Conda ward, Idaho stake; Wendell ward, Blaine stake; Jewett ward, Young stake; Ely ward, Nevada stake. NEW STAKES ORGANIZED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 Lyman stake, formerly a part of Woodruff stake, President Melvin H. Rollins. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 Nevada stake, formerly a part of North Weber stake, Carl K. Conrad, president. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 Bishops who have died: William C. Hegstrom of Central ward, Bannock stake, and Bishop John A. Hunt of St. Charles, Bear Lake stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 At the present time we have 96 stakes of Zion, 915 wards and 74 Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 independent branches, making 989 wards and branches. And we have 27 missions. ALMA'S CRY FOR REPENTANCE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 I will read from the 29th chapter of Alma in the Book of Mormon: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 "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! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 "Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the 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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.3 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.4 "Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men; he, that knoweth not good from evil is blameless; but he that knoweth good and evil, to him it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.4 "Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.4 "Why should I desire that I were an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.4 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.4 "I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy." THE JOY OF MISSIONARY WORK Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.4 I believe that every Latter-day Saint who has received a testimony of the divinity of the work in which we are engaged has this same feeling that Alma had--a desire that all the world might hear the testimony of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. When men and women receive a testimony of the divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith, they are anxious that all the world should have that same knowledge and faith. They are anxious that the gospel should go to every honest soul. And there is no other labor in all the world that brings to a human heart, judging from my own personal experience, more joy, peace and serenity than proclaiming the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. I remember that while I was laboring in Japan, on account of my failure to learn the language, I was not entirely happy in my work there. I remember going out into the woods, kneeling down and praying to God that when my work was finished there I would appreciate it if I were called to the British Isles to succeed Brother Francis M. Lyman. Shortly after uttering that prayer I received a cable: "Come home on the first vessel." When I arrived home President Smith told me that they had decided to send me to Europe to succeed Brother Lyman. He said, "We realize that the two years or more that you have been in Japan have been anything but satisfactory from the standpoint of the joy that comes into the hearts of the missionaries in bringing souls to a knowledge of the truth, and we want you to have at least a year of real, genuine, missionary experience." When I went into his office and bade him goodbye, and said, "I will see you in a year," he said, "We have decided to make it a year and a half." I said, "Multiply it by two and say nothing about it, and it will please me," and that is exactly what he did. I was there a little over three years, and never have I had sweeter joy, more genuine satisfaction in my life than during those three years, when I had no thought except the spreading of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. THE WORTH OF SOULS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.5 We have recorded in the 18th section of the D&C the following: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.5 "Remember, the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.5 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.5 "And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.5 "And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth! "Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.5 "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! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.5 "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! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.5 "Behold, you have my gospel before you, and my rock, and my salvation. "Ask the Father in my name, in faith, believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.5 "And if you have not faith, hope and charity, you can do nothing. * * * Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.5 "Behold, Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.5 The foregoing revelation was given through the Prophet Joseph Smith to Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer, and they were instructed to seek out twelve apostles who should have the spirit of the mission to go forth and proclaim the gospel of glad tidings which the voice out of the heavens declared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, as follows: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.5 "And this is the gospel, the glad tidings which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.5 "That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.5 "That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him." (Doc. and Cov. 76:40-42.) MEN HAVE SEEN CHRIST IN OUR DAY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.5 In that same revelation we find, and I have repeated it time and time again: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.5 "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! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.5 "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-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.5 "That by him, and through him, and of him, the world's are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.6 We have this testimony to bear to the world, that men in our day have seen Jesus Christ; that he has restored to the earth the gospel of life and salvation; that in the Kirtland temple the Savior appeared to Oliver Cowdery and Joseph Smith, also Moses, Elias and Elijah and that the keys of every dispensation of the gospel were committed into the hands of those two men. They were given this authority and it is a source of great joy. (Doc. and Cov. 110.) WHAT THE CHURCH IS DOING TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.6 I rejoice in announcing that the Church is doing more today in the spreading of the gospel, and it has a larger body of missionaries in the field proclaiming the gospel, than at any other time in its history. A year ago we called for volunteers of men of maturity, men of experience and testimony, men who were seasoned in the gospel, to go out into the field for a period of six months. Hundreds responded to that call, and I have listened to some of the most remarkable and wonderful testimonies of the manifestations and blessings of the Lord to those men, as I have conversed with them upon their return home, that I have ever heard. The signs verily follow the believers in this Church, and people receive the witness of the Spirit wherever the gospel is preached. THE COMMAND TO PREACH THE GOSPEL SUPREME Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.6 I have culled out a few quotations from the D&C that I would like to read here: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.6 "Go ye into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature, acting in the authority which I have given you, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.6 "And he that believeth shall be blest with signs following, even as it is written."--(Section 8: verses 8, 10.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.6 "And this gospel shall be preached unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.6 "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 water."--(Section 133:37-39.) "I the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."--(Section 82:10.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.6 The one supreme thing that devolves upon me, upon you and upon every Latter-day Saint is the preaching of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, in public and in private, and above all to proclaim the gospel in our lives, by being absolutely honest in keeping the commandments of the Lord. WHO IS FITTED TO TEACH THE GOSPEL? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 No man can teach the Latter-day Saints under the inspiration of the Spirit of the living God, or proclaim to the world, that there has come a commandment from the Lord in our day for men to observe the ancient law of tithing, unless that man is a conscientious and honest tithe-payer. On the other hand, the inspiration of the living God attends those men who proclaim the law of tithing when they are obeying it themselves. No man can, under the inspiration of the spirit of the Lord, warm the hearts of the Saints, or benefit the people of the world, by proclaiming the Word of Wisdom, who does not obey it himself. But the man who obeys the Word of Wisdom can touch the hearts of the Latter-day Saints in proclaiming that wonderful revelation that the Lord has given to us for our health and our benefit, and above all that has been given to us with a promise attached thereto. I desire to read that revelation from first to last: THE WORD OF WISDOM Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 "A Word of Wisdom for the benefit of the council of High Priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the Church, also the saints in Zion-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 "To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days--" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 And let me say right here that I am convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that if the Latter-day Saints had observed the Word of Wisdom, and if the money that has been worse than wasted for tea, coffee, tobacco and liquor, had been utilized for missionary service, we would have had the millions of dollars for the work of the Lord that has been expended for that which the Lord Almighty says is not good for man. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 "Given for a principle with premise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 "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-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 "That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 "And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 "And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 "And, again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle to be used with judgment and skill. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 "And, again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 "And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature and use of man-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 "Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 "Yea, flesh also of beasts and of fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 "And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 "All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 "And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 "All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.7 "Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.8 "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 in their bones; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.8 "And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.8 "And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.8 "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." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.8 Let me read again: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.8 "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when you do not what I say, ye have no promise." PROMISES OF GOD CONDITIONED ON OBEDIENCE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.8 There is no promise made to you or to me or to any Latter-day Saint that the destroying angel shall pass us by, or that we shall have hidden treasures of knowledge, unless we obey the Word of Wisdom, and the way above all other ways for men and women to teach their children the necessity of obeying the Word of Wisdom is by obeying it themselves. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.8 "There is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.8 "And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." (Doc.' and Cov. 130:20, 21.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.8 I believe beyond the shadow of a doubt that there are hundreds and thousands of Latter-day Saints who but for the obeying of the Word of Wisdom would not be here today. When they have been attacked by serious diseases and have been in a critical condition physically, having obeyed that law, having fulfilled an irrevocable law of God, he was bound to bestow the promised blessings, and they have come to the afflicted ones. PARENTS MUST TEACH THEIR CHILDREN BY EXAMPLE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.8 We find recorded in section 68: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.8 "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.""For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized. "And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins wheneight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands." "And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightlybefore the Lord." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.9 And the best way in the world to teach your children to pray and to walk uprightly before the Lord is to pray yourselves, thus setting an example of prayer, and to walk uprightly before the Lord yourselves. When a man fails to be honest as a tithe-payer, when he fails to observe the Word of Wisdom, the teaching of his children to obey those laws will have but very little effect. There is more in example than can possibly come by teaching. No amount of knowledge will save a man; no amount of marvelous revelations and visions and dreams will save a man. But the keeping of the commandments of the Lord and the obeying of those things which the Lord has revealed to us for our salvation, will give us a power and influence with our children for good, and we will be able to make an impression upon their hearts that will keep them in the straight and narrow path which leads to life eternal. JOSIAH QUINCY'S TESTIMONY OF JOSEPH SMITH Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.9 When I picked up the memorandum that is supplied to me of the songs that are to be sung here this morning, I found that the first song that we were to sing today was, "We thank thee, O God, for a Prophet," and I remembered and immediately hunted up the quotation, a very remarkable tribute to the Prophet Joseph Smith, from Josiah Quincy, at one time the mayor of the great city of Boston; and while it has been read time and time again in our hearing, and published often at home and abroad, I thought I would like to read to you again the wonderful testimony of Josiah Quincy, from a book entitled, The Figures of the Past. He says: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.9 "It is by no means improbable that some future text-book for the use of generations yet unborn will contain a question something like this: 'What historic American of the nineteenth century has wielded the most powerful influence upon the destinies of his country-men?' And it is by no means impossible that the answer to this 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. History deals in surprises and paradoxes quite as startling as this. The man who established a religion in this age of free debate, who was and is today accepted by hundreds of thousands as a direct emissary from the Most High--such a rare human being is not to be disposed of by pelting his memory with unsavory epithets. Fanatic, imposter, charlatan, he may have been; but these hard names furnish no solution to the problem he presents to us. Fanatics and imposters are living and dying every day, and their memory is buried with them; but the wonderful influence which this founder of a religion exerted and still exerts throws him into a roller before us, not as a rogue to be incriminated, but as a phenomenon to be explained. The most vital questions Americans are asking each other today have to do with this man and what he has left us. * * A generation other than mine must deal with these questions. Burning questions they are, which must give a prominent place in the history of the country to that sturdy self-asserter whom I visited at Nauvoo. Joseph Smith, claiming to be an inspired teacher, faced adversity such as few men have been called to meet, enjoyed a brief season of prosperity such as few men have ever attained, and finally, forty-three days after I saw him. went cheerfully to a martyr's death. When he surrendered his person to Governor Ford, in order to prevent the shedding of blood, the prophet had a presentiment of what was before him, 'I am going like a lamb to the slaughter,' he is reported to have said, 'but I am as calm as a Summer's morning. I have a conscience void of offense and shall die innocent." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.10 (And a further quotation: And it shall yet be said that I was murdered in cold blood," which is not in Josiah Quincy's statement.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.10 "I have no theory to advance respecting this extraordinary man. I shall simply give the facts of my intercourse with him. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.10 "A fine looking man is what the passer-by would instinctively have murmured upon meeting the remarkable individual who had fashioned the mold which was to shape the feelings of so many thousands of his fellow mortals. But Smith was more than this, and one could not resist the impression that capacity and resource were natural to his stalwart person. I have already mentioned the resemblance he bore to Elisha R. Potter of Rhode Island, whom I met in Washington in 1826. The likeness was not such as would be recognized in a picture but rather one that would be felt in a grave emergency. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.10 "Of all men I have met these two seemed best endowed with that kindly faculty which directs, as by intrinsic right, the feeble or confused souls who are looking for guidance. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.10 "We then went on to talk of politics. Smith recognized the curse and iniquity of slavery, though he opposed the methods of the abolitionists. His plan was for the nation to pay for the slaves from the sale of the public lands. 'Congress,' he said, 'should be compelled to take this course, by petitions from all parts of the country; but the petitioners must disclaim all alliance not recognized by the Constitution and which foment insurrection.' It may be worth while to remark that Smith's plan was publicly advocated eleven years later by one who mixed so much practical shrewdness with his lofty philosophy. In 1855, when men's minds had been moved to their depths on the question of slavery, Ralph Waldo Emerson declared that it should be met in accordance 'with the interest of the south and with the settled conscience of the north. It is not really a great task, a great fight for this country to accomplish, to buy the property of the planter, as the British nation bought the West Indian slaves.' He further says that the United States will be brought to give every inch of their public lands for a purpose like this.' We who can look back upon the terrible cost of the fratricidal war which put an end to slavery, now say that such a solution of the difficulty would have been worthy a Christian statesman. But if the retired scholar was in advance of his time when he advocated this disposition of the public property in 1855, what shall I say of the political and religious leader who had committed himself, in print as well as in conversation, to the same course in 1844? If the atmosphere of men's opinions were stirred by such a proposition when war clouds were discernible in the sky, was it not a statesmanlike word eleven years earlier when the heavens looked tranquil and beneficent?" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.10 It was a statesmanlike and an inspired proposition from a man who was in very deed a prophet of the true and living God. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.11 "General Smith proceeded to unfold still further his views upon politics. He denounced the Missouri Compromise as an unjustifiable coucession for the benefit of slavery. It was Henry Clay's bid for the presidency. Dr. Goforth might have spared himself the trouble of coming to Nauvoo to electioneer for a duelist who would fire at John Randolph, but was not brave enough to protect the Saints in their rights as American citizens. Clay told his (Smith's) people to go to the wilds of Oregon and set up a government of their own. Oh, yes, the Saints might go into the wilderness and obtain the justice of the Indians, which imbecile, time-serving politicians would not give them in the land of freedom and equality. The prophet then talked of the details of government. He thought the number of members admitted to the lower house of the national legislature should be reduced. A crowd only darkened counsel and impeded business. A member for every half million of population would be ample. The powers of the president should be increased. He should have authority to put down rebellion in a state, without waiting for the request of any governor; for it might happen that the governor himself would be the leader of the rebels. It is needless to remark how later events showed the executive weakness that Smith pointed out--a weakness which cost millions of treasure. * * * Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.11 "Born in the lowest ranks of poverty, without book learning and with the homeliest of all human names, he had made himself at the age of 39 a power upon the earth. Of the multitudiuous family of Smiths, none had so won human hearts and shaped human lives as this Joseph. His influence, whether for good or evil, is potent today, and the end is not yet. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.11 "I have endeavored to give the details of my visit to the 'Mormon' prophet with absolute accuracy. If the reader does not know just what to make of Joseph Smith, I cannot help him out of the difficulty. I myself stand helpless before the puzzle." JOSEPH SMITH'S PROPHECY OF THE MIGRATION WEST Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.11 The Latter-day Saints do not stand helpless before the puzzle. They rejoice in the wonderful inspiration of the man who prophesied that "the Latter-day Saints would continue to suffer much affliction and many would be put to death by their persecutors, and others would lose their lives in consequence of exposure or disease, but some would live to go and make settlements, build cities and see the Saints become mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.11 What kind of a place was the Rocky Mountains when this remarkable prophecy was uttered? One of the greatest American statesmen, Daniel Webster, is reported to have said regarding it: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.11 "What do we want with this vast, worthless area? This region of savages and wild beasts, of deserts of shifting sands and whirlwinds of dust, of cactus and prairie dogs? To what use could we ever hope to put these great deserts or those endless mountain ranges, impenetrable and covered to their very base with eternal snow? What can we ever hope to do with the western coast of three thousand miles, rock-bound, cheerless, uninviting and not a harbor on it? Mr. President, I will never vote one cent from the public treasury to place the Pacific coast one inch nearer Boston than it now is." GOVERNMENT PLACED STAMP OF DIVINITY ON PROPHETS UTTERANCE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.11 I rejoice in an individual testimony of the truth of the statements of Joseph Smith, that his name should be had for good and evil in all parts of the world; that the time would come when not only a city, a county and a state should be arrayed against the handful of people called "Mormons," but the day would come when the whole United States of America should be arrayed against them. And the army of the United States was sent against them, and the government of the United States did confiscate all of the property belonging to the Church. Day after day and month after month during the litigation for the return of the Church property I picked up the paper and read, "The United States of America versus the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." And I have laid the paper down and said, "Thank the Lord that the United States have placed the stamp of divinity upon the utterances of the Prophet Joseph Smith." THE GREAT OBLIGATION OF THE SAINTS TO DECLARE THE RESTORATION Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.12 Our boys and girls go out into the world with a love of the gospel, young, inexperienced men and women, and God gives to them the witness of the Spirit and an individual testimony so that they can stand up and say before all the world, "I know that God lives, I know that Jesus is the Christ, I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of the true and living God, and that the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the plan of life and salvation, has been restored to the earth through his instrumentality. The one and great thing that devolves upon me, upon you, and upon all Latter-day Saints is that this proclamation shall be sent to all the world, and I rejoice in knowing that it has never been carried with more force and by a greater number of faithful, diligent workers than at the present time. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.12 May God bless each and every one of us who has a testimony and a knowledge that He lives and that Jesus is the Christ, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and living God, so to order our lives that all men seeing our diligence, our humility, our charity, our love of our fellows, may be led to investigate the gospel of Jesus Christ, is my prayer, and I ask it in the name of the Lord our Redeemer. Amen. President Heber J. Grant CONCERNING PLURAL MARRIAGES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.12 Here is a statement that I would like to read: "Notwithstanding frequent verbal and printed instructions issued by President Joseph F. Smith and counselors to the effect that the solemnization of plural marriages was prohibited by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and these instructions having been reiterated time and time again by myself as President, cases occasionally arise where certain individuals are teaching that it is legitimate to enter into plural marriage, and that such marriages can be performed by certain members of the Church claiming to have authority to do so. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.13 "The revelations of the Lord inform us most plainly that there is but one man on earth at a time who holds the keys of this sealing power; namely, the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As President of the Church, I once again solemnly declare that no man living has the authority to solemnize a plural marriage; and I hereby announce that it is the bounden duty of every Latter-day Saint, male and female, who knows of any such pretended marriage being performed, to inform the proper officers of the Church, in order that the Church's honor may be maintained and that such individuals may be dealt with according to the rules and regulations of the Church and excommunicated therefrom." President Heber J. Grant TABERNACLE CHOIR VISITS CALIFORNIA Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.41 About the first of July members of the choir numbering 250 took an excursion to California, where they gave a series of fine concerts. The expense incurred was approximately $12,000. All of this amount except $991.25 was paid from the receipts of the concerts given. The balance was paid out of the treasury of the choir, it being their proportion of receipts from concerts given locally prior to that time. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.41 Credit should be given the authorities and members of the Los Angeles stake for helping to make this trip a success, for they all gave of their time, and were enthusiastic in their efforts to have the people of Los Angeles and surrounding territory hear the choir. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.41 The choir is worthy of the support of all the people who hear it so often, but when they give a concert many of us do not feel the moral obligation, as well as the small financial obligation, to assist the choir by attending their concerts. PETER WHITMER FARM PURCHASED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.41 President Brigham H. Roberts was authorized to purchase, and succeeded in purchasing, the Peter Whitmer Farm, where the organization of the Church took place. The deal has been closed, and we are now the owners of the building where the Church was legally organized. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.100 After the meeting this morning I was informed that hardly any of the audience heard what Brother Widtsoe said. Yesterday we had a very large machine here to emphasize what we were saying, and the one we have today is not so good, so far as the sound is concerned. It was suggested that if I move this machine in front of me you could hear much better. Did my voice sound louder the last minute? (Answer from voices in the audience: Yes, yes.) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.101 We will ask the speakers to face the machine and maybe that will help. Somebody sent word that they were not hearing Brother Clawson. He then raised his voice and we all heard him, so I understand. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.120 I made a memorandum to speak of the statue which has been completed and installed in the Bureau of Information, commemorating one of the most remarkable incidents in the history of the Church; namely, the migration to these valleys of men and women in this great cause, pulling handcarts and bringing their blankets with them. Brother Knaphus has done himself proud in producing this small statue, which can be seen in the Bureau of Information building. Some of the most heroic and self-sacrificing pioneer work that was ever done by those coming to the valleys is accredited to the people who came in the handcart companies. President Heber J. Grant THE LABORS OF PRESIDENT JAMES E. TALMAGE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.155 I wish to say that we hear from time to time very favorable reports regarding the work being accomplished by Brother James E. Talmage as president of the European mission, and also as president of the British mission. He has succeeded in getting many communications into the papers in Great Britain, setting forth the faith of the Latter-day Saints, and he is accomplishing a very remarkable and splendid work while presiding in that far-off land. He has the constant faith and prayers of the Presidency, Apostles and Presiding Patriarch in their weekly meetings in the temple. THE SAINTS REQUESTED TO APPLY SCRIPTURE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.155 I desire to read the words of the Savior, which I would like the Latter-day Saints to apply to the teachings of the servants of the Lord who constitute the authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ, and who are promulgating his teachings and his sayings and calling people to repentance. I feel that these words should find lodgment in the hearts of those who have listened to the wonderful testimonies that have been borne: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.156 "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: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.156 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.156 "And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.156 "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon the house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." A BLESSING FOR PRIESTHOOD AND AUXILIARY WORKERS AND THE SAINTS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.156 I desire to extend my blessing to all the men and the women who preside in all the stakes of Zion throughout the Church, in all the missions, in all the wards, in all the quorums of the priesthood and in all the auxiliary organizations. I am convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that there cannot be found in any part of the world men and women giving so unselfishly of their time, of their talents, and of the best that is in them, for the Salvation of the souls--of men." I am satisfied that there are no other people who are devoting so much of their time, of their money, of their thoughts, and of their very being for the advancement of God's work at home and abroad, as are the Latter-day Saints. And with all the power that God has given me, I desire to bless the men and the women who are thus giving their time and thought and are setting examples that are worthy of the imitation, not only of those over whom they preside, but of all men. Every man and woman who is laboring for the salvation of the souls of men and keeping the commandments of God is entitled to be blessed, and I pray God that his blessings may come to them. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.156 I rejoice in the remarkable and splendid testimonies that have been borne, during our conference, under the inspiration and by the light and power of God, and I pray that these testimonies may find lodgment in the hearts of the people, and that they will remember that those who obey the Lord and keep his commandments are building their house upon a rock, and those who fail to do this are building their house upon the sand. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1926, p.156 May the God of heaven bless us and be and abide with us until we meet again in six months from now in general conference, is my prayer, and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Savior. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.2 It has been customary at the April Conferences to make announcements and to read some statistics. We regret the absence of Elder Reed Smoot, of the Council of the Twelve. I have a telegram from him reading as follows: TELEGRAM FROM ELDER REED SMOOT Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.2 "I send greetings to the Saints assembled at the General Conference. Allie's serious sickness, only thing that prevents my presence. Blessings of God is the only power that can save her. I would appreciate the faith and prayers of the people assembled, asking our heavenly Father to grant, if it is his will, that she be given further life, with renewed health and strength." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.2 REED SMOOT. OTHER AUTHORITIES ABSENT Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.2 The Presiding Patriarch is absent on account of ill health. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.2 As you all know, Elder James E. Talmage, of the Council of the Twelve, is presiding over the European mission, and cannot, therefore, be with us. I regret, on account of the .serious illness of a daughter of Brother Joseph W. McMurrin, of the First Council of Seventy, that he also is absent. All the others of the General Authorities of the Church are in attendance today. CHANGES AND RELEASES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.2 There has been a change in the presidency of the Lethbridge stake, President Hugh B. Brown being honorably released, and Asael E. Palmer appointed president; a change also in the Maricopa stake, J. W. Lesueur being honorably released and James Robert Price being sustained as president. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.3 Changes and releases in the mission field: John H. Anderson has been released as president of the Swedish mission, and Andrew Johnson appointed to succeed him. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.3 Ernest LeRoy Butler has been released as president of the Samoan mission, and Willard L. Smith appointed as president. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.3 Brigham S. Young has been released as president of the Northwestern States mission and William R. Sloan appointed as his successor. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.3 Joseph Quinney, Jr., has been released as president of the Canadian mission, and Charles H. Hart appointed as his successor. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.3 Brigham H. Roberts has been released as president of the Eastern States mission, and Henry H. Rolapp appointed as his successor. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.3 New wards have been organized: Kimball ward, St. Joseph stake; Cedar Third ward, Parowan stake; Manila ward, Lyman stake; Lankershim ward, Los Angeles stake; Littlefield ward, Moapa stake; Ogden Twentieth ward, Ogden stake; and the Graham and Hibbard. wards in the St. Joseph stake have been combined. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.3 We mourn the loss of the following bishops since our last meeting: John A. Hunt of St. Charles ward, Bear Lake stake; Edgar O. Nielsen of Cleveland ward, Bannock stake; Edwin Olpin of Pleasant Grove First ward, Alpine stake, and John J. Burgnet of Darby ward, Teton stake. FINANCIAL STATEMENT Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.3 Following is a list of expenditures from the tithes of the Church for the year 1926: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.3 Stake and Ward Purposes--There has been returned from the tithes to the stakes and wards for operation, maintenance, and building construction, $1,530,243.64. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.3 Education--Expended for the construction and operation of Church schools, $837,810.47. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.3 Temples--Expended for the construction, maintenance, and operation of temples, $322,500.36. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.3 Charities--For the care of the worthy poor and other charitable purposes, including hospital treatment, $187,570.43. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.3 Missions--For the maintenance and operation of all the missions, and for the erection of places of worship and other buildings in the missions, $738,737.75. Total Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.3 $3,616,862,65. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.3 Other Charities--In addition to charities paid from the tithes, as before named, there have also been disbursed the Fast Offerings, other charities and assistance rendered by the Relief Society, in the sum of $436,055.44, which amount, added to the $187,570.43 paid from the tithes, makes the total charity assistance rendered by the Church, $623,625.87. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.3 There were transferred from the California mission, at the time of the organization of the Los Angeles stake of Zion, the Adams ward chapel and other chapels to the value of $200,000. The California mission at the present time owns chapels of a value of over $400,000. The chapel at Oakland is as fine a chapel, and holds about as many people, as any of our ward chapels in the stakes of Zion. It has been decided to, organize another stake of Zion in Northern California, with San Francisco, Oakland and surrounding country to compose that stake. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 There have been collected by the various wards of the Church and paid to missionaries, to assist in their maintenance, $128,299.65. REPORT OF THE AUDITING COMMITTEE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 "President Heber J. Grant and Counselors, Building. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 "Dear Brethren: As the Church Auditing Committee, we have to report that the accounting of the Church, as shown by the records in the First Presidency's office and in the office of the Presiding Bishopric, is all that could be desired. The receipts and disbursements, the revenues and expenses of the Church are so carefully and accurately kept that the present worth or financial status of the Church is clearly shown. The affairs of the Church are wisely administered, and the present showing is excellent. It is gratifying to know that the credit of the Church comes under the very highest rating, but it is still more gratifying to know that the Church is under no necessity at present to use its credit in the commercial world by borrowing money. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 "(Signed) Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 "HENRY H. ROLAPP, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 "JOHN C. CUTLER, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 "PETER G. JOHNSTON, Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 "Auditing Committee." STATISTICS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 Church Growth--Children blessed and entered on the records of the Church in the stakes and missions, 19,701. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 Children baptized in the stakes and missions, 15,024. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 Converts baptized and entered on the records of the stakes and missions, 6,663. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 There are now 96 stakes of Zion, 915 wards, 77 independent branches connected with the stakes, and 27 missions and 734 branches in the missions. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 Social Statistics--Birth rate, 31 per thousand. Marriage rate, 13.9 per thousand. Death rate, 7.7 per thousand. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 Families owning their own homes, 72 per cent. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 Number of Persons recommended to the temple is 58,958, or 6 per cent more than in 1925. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 Number of Missionaries from Zion, December 31, 1926 is 2,188. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 Number of Local missionaries is 72. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 Number of Missionaries engaged in missionary work in stakes is 1,140. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 Total of Missionaries is 3,400. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.4 The Assistant Historian of the Church, Elder Andrew Jenson, has handed me a compilation of the missionaries that have been in the field from the year 1830 until 1926. The lowest number is 16 missionaries, the first year of the Church. The highest number sent out in any year is 1,313, in 1925; 1,235 in 1926, and 1,211 in 1919. The total is between 35,000 and 40,000 missionaries that have been sent into the field. REPORTS FROM THE MISSIONS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.5 Speaking of the missions, I will read some few requests from a number of mission presidents: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.5 The Northcentral States: "We shall be losing about twenty missionaries in the next twenty days, which will bring us down to about fifty-seven. Our greatest need, therefore, is more missionaries." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.5 Central States: "We need long-term missionaries more than anything else right at the present time." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.5 California mission: "We are parting with short-term missionaries almost daily, and need fifty elders and twenty-five lady missionaries to care properly for the districts that are open. More missionaries will he released during the next three months than the foregoing number." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.5 Australian mission: "In this report we have four fewer missionaries than a year ago, and in February we have nine who will leave this mission, and unless we receive recruits very fast we will be very shorthanded by the first of March." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.5 German-Austrian mission: "Our work is going forward by leaps and bounds. We are needing four or five elders each month in order to hold our present field. We should be opening new fields." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.5 Danish mission: "Elders are needed as we will soon be seriously handicapped on account of so many who will receive releases to return home." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.5 Swedish mission: "During the coming month there will be about five other elders released. We would appreciate receiving more brethren, especially those who understand Swedish; or better still if they can speak it." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.5 The French and Swiss-German missions also make the same appeal. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.5 (At this point President B. H. Roberts remarked: "I wish to join the chorus in behalf of the Eastern States mission.") Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.5 I might say that the chorus will be unanimous, for I do not believe there is a single mission that has not made appeals, but I have just put down a few to read here this afternoon. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.5 (President B. H. Roberts: "President Grant, remember our great population in proportion to our number.") Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.5 I find that each and every mission president is thoroughly converted that he needs more missionaries than the others. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.5 There is another thing that I rejoice in, above everything else in our missionary work, and that is, all the missionaries are thoroughly convinced that their mission president is the finest of all the mission presidents, and that their mission is the best, although it may be in far-off Australia, or any other place. The outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord upon our missionaries is such that they rejoice and are happy in their labors. VISITS SINCE LAST CONFERENCE Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.6 Since our last conference visit has fallen to my lot to be actively engaged in visiting some of the stakes of Zion. I have visited the Big Horn section of the country and other sections of Wyoming and Montana. I also visited some of the wards in the San Luis valley, dedicating a small chapel in Wyoming and one in Denver, Colorado. I visited the St. Joseph, Maricopa and Los Angeles stakes, and some of the stakes in Utah, holding meetings with the Saints in Arizona and dedicating two chapels there and four in the Los Angeles stake. I have had the pleasure of holding meetings with the Saints and missionaries in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska; Rock Springs and Green River, Wyoming. This was the First time that I have had the pleasure of being at Lincoln, the capital of Nebraska, or at Green River and Rock Springs. In addition I have visited a number of the wards in the different stakes here in Utah, dedicating chapels, during the last six months. FAVORABLE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE CHURCH Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.6 There is a most wonderful change in the attitude of the people of the world towards the Latter-day Saints. I find no difficulty whatever in getting publicity in the various papers; and when I travel, in different cities in the east and west, the north or the south, those who have interviewed me have given correct reports of the interviews. Brother James E. Talmage is also getting splendid .publicity in the European papers. He has extensive notices and there seems to. be no prejudice in the press of Great Britain at the present time. AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE FORMER ATTITUDE IN ENGLAND Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.6 When I was in Europe, as the president of the European mission, during the entire three years that I was there, they published no article that we presented, and no report of a favorable nature was ever published in any of the papers. I call to mind visiting one of the great London papers that had published from seven to ten columns of the vilest statements regarding the Latter-day Saints. I took with me a letter of introduction from the manager of the shipping house in Liverpool with which we had done business for over 60 years, vouching for the integrity, not only of myself but of all my predecessors as the presidents of the European mission of the Church. The editors of this paper positively refused to make any refutation of the slanderous articles they had published, or to publish a single thing that I wrote, announcing that they thought they had published exactly what they ought about the "Mormon" people. I told them that I defied them to find a man that had written any of those articles who could furnish them with a .certificate of character, but that I carried with me a certificate of my integrity and honesty, signed by all the non-"Mormon" bankers in Salt Lake City at that time; that I also had letters from bankers and influential business men from New York to San Francisco; that I did not carry with me any recommendation from "Mormon" institutions or from "Mormons." Had I done so, I told the editor, it would be like writing a letter myself: "To Whom It May Concern: The bearer, Heber J. Grant, is honorable. Respectfully, Heber J. Grant." He said, "Never mind your opinion, Mr. Grant, we will not publish anything regarding your people." I happened to remember that the gentleman's name was Robinson. As I reached the door and put on my two-story hat--which it is necessary to wear in Europe, if you are considered anybody--I turned around, took it off and said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.7 "I understand that your name is Robinson, that the editor-in-chief, to whom my letter is written, is out of the city." He said: "Yes, that is right." "Are you acquainted with Phil Robinson?" "Yes." "Would you believe anything and everything that Phil Robinson says about the "Mormons?" He said: "I certainly would." I said: "Was he the correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph, one of the two greatest--and I emphasized 'greatest' because his paper was not one of-- the twoin London?" He said: "He was." "And you would believe everything he wrote ?" "I would." "Buy his book entitled Sinners and Saints, and you will find that everything you have published about the 'Mormons' is a lie, pure and simple. If you can't afford two shillings, I will buy the book and present it to you with my compliments." He said: "You astonish me." I said: "You are not the first man who has been astonished when confronted with the truth regarding the 'Mormon' people. I have met your kind from Tokyo, Japan, to London, who have refused to publish the truth about the 'Mormons.'" He said, "Write a half column." I said, "Thanks for small favors, large ones received with greater thanks. Seven to ten columns of falsehoods written against our people, and a half column allowed for refutation!" Within a couple of hours he had the half column. He kept it the usual 30 or 60 days and returned it with the usual printed slip that I have seen many times: "The Editor regrets that he cannot find space for the enclosed manuscript, and it is returned." When I see those "regrets" I cannot but think of the saying: "Polite lying is an accomplishment. It lubricates business, varnishes unpleasant facts, and promotes friendships." TRIBUTES PAID TO THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.7 Since that time there have been thousands of splendid tributes paid to the Latter-day Saints. I have before me one which was written, I think, seven years ago this coming June. I have never heard it quoted in this Tabernacle, so I am going to read it. It is from Franklin K. Lane, secretary of the interior, as I remember, under President Wilson: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.7 "Cross the border you come down into Utah. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.7 "Never speak disrespectfully of the 'Mormon' Church. It has as law-abiding, steady, hard-working, kindly a group of people in Utah as will be found anywhere this round globe over. Brigham Young may not have been a prophet, of Almighty God, but he worked a miracle when he crossed from the Missouri river over that desert, leading his band of a few hundred followers with their push carts, going out into that unknown waste, and turned the land that lies around Salt Lake City into a garden. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.8 "I brought from Egypt, several years ago, the greatest irrigation expert in the world, perhaps, the man who built the Assuan Dam upon the Nile--Sir William Willcocks, the man who claims to have discovered where the Garden of Eden was located, at the junction of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers--and I sent him to look over the irrigation enterprises of the United States, and he said: 'Nowhere else have I seen people who understand so wisely how to apply water to land as around Salt Lake City.' Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.8 "Utah has wonderful beauty in it as well as great stretches of desert that are to be reclaimed. We have just discovered a new beauty spot there, Bryce canyon." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.8 And many of them are just discovering Cedar Breaks, Zion canyon and the north rim of the Grand canyon, also. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.8 As I stated before, I say again, I rejoice in the change of sentiment of the press of Great Britain, the splendid fruits that are attending President James E. Talmage in getting publicity in the newspapers. MONUMENT TO THE THREE WITNESSES DEDICATED Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.8 I had the pleasure here, yesterday, of dedicating a little monument to the memory of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon. THOUSANDS IN ALL PARTS HAVE A TESTIMONY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.8 I rejoice that there are thousands and tens of thousands of people from the country of the midnight sun, Scandinavia, to South Africa, from Canada to South America, and upon the islands of the sea, reaching clear out to New Zealand and Australia, who can testify that God has seen fit to answer their earnest prayers and has given to them, as is promised here in the Book of Mormon, a testimony regarding this remarkable and wonderful record. I read the words of Moroni: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.8 "Now I, Moroni, write somewhat as seemeth me good; and I write unto my brethren, the Lamanites; and I would that they should know that more than four hundred and twenty years have passed away since the sign was given of the coming of Christ. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.8 "And I seal up these records, after I have spoken a few words by way of exhortation unto you. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.8 "Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.8 "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. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.8 "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. "And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is." CHRIST IS DENIED BY MANY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.8 The Christ is denied today by hundreds of thousands of people. Many of the men who are teaching in our great universities are denying that Christ was the son of God. Many men who are teaching from the pulpit do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ was in very deed the Son of the Living God, the Redeemer of the World. coniing to the earth with a definite mission. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.9 While in Europe I purchased a book by Senator Albert J. Beveridge entitled The Young Man and the World. One of his chapters was devoted to the young man preparing for the ministry. He said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.9 "Any man who assumes to teach the Christian faith, who, in his own secret heart questions that faith, commits a sacrilege every time he enters the pulpit. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.9 "He is like the chemist's grain of wheat, perfect in all its constituent elements except the mysterious spark of life, without which the wheat grain will not grow. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.9 "If, then, you do not believe what you say, and believe it with all your soul, believe it in your heart of hearts, do not try to get other men to believe it. You will not be honest if you do. The world expects you to be sure of yourself. How do you expect to make other people sure of themselves if you are not sure of yourself? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.9 "I would rather be sure that when a man dies he will live again with his conscious identity, than to have all the wealth of the United States, or to occupy any position of honor or power the world could possibly give," said a man whose name is known to the railroad world as one of the ablest transportation men in the United States. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.9 "A few years ago a certain man with good opportunities for the investigation and a probability of sincere answers, asked every young preacher whom he met during a summer vacation these questions: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.9 "'First: Yes or no; do you believe in God, the Father; God a person, God a definite and tangible intelligence--not a congeries of laws floating like a fog through the universe; but God, a person in whose image you were made? Don't argue; don't explain; but is your mind in a condition where you can answer yes or no?' Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.9 "Not a man answered 'Yes.' Each man wanted to explain that the Deity might be a definite intelligence or might not; that the 'latest thought' was much confused upon the matter, and so forth and so on. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.9 "Second: Yes or no; do you believe that Christ was the Son of the living God, sent by him to save the world? I am not asking whether you believe that he was inspired in the sense that the great moral teachers are inspired--nobody has any difficulty about that. But do you believe that Christ was God's very Son, with a divinely appointed and definite mission, dying on the cross and raised from the dead--yes or no?' Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.9 "Again not a single answer with an unequivocal, earnest 'Yes.' But again explanations were offered and in at least half the instances the sum of most of the answers was that Christ was the most perfect man that the world had seen and humanity's greatest moral teacher." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.9 I maintain that Christ could not have been humanity's greatest moral teacher unless he was in very deed the Son of God, because he announced that he was the Son of God, that he was the express image of his Father, and that those who had seen him had in very deed seen the Father; therefore if the foundation of his structure were false, he could not be a great moral teacher. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.9 "Third. Do you believe that when you die you will live again as a conscious intelligence, knowing who you are and who other people are? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.9 "Again not one answer was unconditionally affirmative. 'Of course, they were not sure as a matter of knowledge.' 'Of course, that could not be known definitely.' 'On the whole, they were inclined to think so, but there were very stubborn objections,' and so forth and so on. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.9 "The men to whom these questions were put were particularly high-grade ministers. One of them had already won a distinguished reputation in New York and the New England states for his eloquence and piety. Every one of them had had unusual success with fashionable congregations. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.10 "But every one of them had noted an absence of real influence upon the hearts of their hearers, and all thought that this same condition is spreading throughout the modern pulpit. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.10 "Yet not one of them suspected that the profound cause of what they called 'the decay of faith,' was not in the world of men and women, but in themselves. How could such priests of ice warm the souls of men? How could such apostles of interrogation convert a world?" THE TESTIMONY OF THE SAINTS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.10 I rejoice that every Latter-day Saint living can answer without a moment's hesitation all three of those questions, "Yes, yes, yes." The very foundation of the Church rests upon the fact that a boy not yet 15 years of age saw God himself, a glorified man, beyond the power of any individual to describe, and that God introduced Jesus Christ to this boy. The very foundation of the Church rests upon the further fact that the man who baptized the Savior of the world, John the Baptist, laid his hands upon the heads of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdory and ordained them to the Aaronic Priesthood, with the authority to baptize each other and commanding them to do so; that Peter, James and John, the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, laid their hands upon the heads of these men and ordained them to the apostleship, giving to them the power to proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and build up his Church in the world. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.10 There is no Latter-day Saint that would deny the vision in the D&C which I have quoted time and. time again, and perhaps did so at our last conference, stating: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.10 "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! Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.10 "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-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.10 "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." MARRIAGE FOR TIME AND ETERNITY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.10 I rejoice in the fact that every man and every woman married in the temples of the Lord are married for time and for all eternity. What an absurdity for us to believe in a ceremony uniting our wives to us for eternity if there were no existence beyond the grave. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.10 The Church is also rounded upon the fact that Moroni came and delivered the plates to Joseph Smith. We have no doubt as to the individuality of Moroni who delivered these plates. AN ILLUSTRATION, WITH TESTIMONY AND COMMENTS THEREON Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.10 It seems that there are others who lack faith in addition to those that I have referred to in my quotation from Senator Beveridge's book. Away back in 1910, January 31, Reverend T. H. Martin made some very remarkable confessions that were published in the Anaconda Standard. A man challenged me, after I had read these statements and commented upon them, and said I would get myself into trouble because it was only a lot of "Mormon" lies; that no minister ever delivered such a sermon, and he warned me to stop or I would get into trouble. The warning, however, did not take root nor yield any fruit. The next time that I spoke he asked me if I had seen the Anaconda Standard. I told him no, but inasmuch as I gave the exact date that it appeared, it was up to him to bring an Anaconda Standard and to come and show me that it was not in it. The very next time that I saw fit to preach upon this subject was in the North Sanpete stake of Zion. After my sermon Elder Barrus Cox came to me, and said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.11 "Brother Grant, I am the identical elder who sent that Anaconda Standard to the Liahona, from which they published extracts. I have an extra copy. Would you like it?" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.11 I told him I needed it in my business, and he gave it to me; so I have read this sermon with my own eyes in the Anaconda Standard. Reverend Martin said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.11 "For a long time the following questions have been uppermost in my mind: "Is the church anything but a mere social organization? Is the Christianity of today the true doctrine of the Christ of the Bible? Has the so-called Christianity of today anything in it that ought to attract more than any other creed that is supposed to help humanity? Is not the church of today being boycotted and that justly? Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.11 "I know that such interrogations will not be very savory to many people, but knowing something concerning the church from top to bottom, and as I fear God, and would rather be true than be esteemed, I fearlessly propound them. But with all of this I maintain that the Christianity of the present is face to face with a lamentable loss. The Christianity of today has acquired much, but in its getting it has lost its own soul, it has lost the Holy Ghost." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.11 I declare in all soberness that all over the wide world wherever the gospel of Jesus Christ has gone, (the gospel revealed to us through the Prophet of the living God, Joseph Smith), the Holy Ghost has been bestowed upon men and women by the hundreds and thousands, if not tens of thousands, and they are willing to testify to their knowledge regarding the divinity of this work and to bear witness that God has, by the revelations of the Holy Ghost to them, given them a testimony of the divinity of this work, also a testimony of the divine mission of Joseph Smith and the divinity of the Book of Mormon. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.11 "No true man will dare to refute this argument, for go where you may in .Christendom today you will find that our religion is void of the supernatural element which the Bible claims it must have in order to exist." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.11 Go all over the wide world, wherever you will today, and you will find that the supernatural element does exist in the Church of Christ. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.11 "The commission to the early Christian teachers was that they must be imbued with power from on high and then go and baptize all nations in the name of the Holy Ghost, and that power was always manifested when they performed the deed." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.11 And that power has been mainfested among the Latter-day Saints all over the world. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.11 "The Christian religion of the present is merely a social code and has nothing in it whereby it could claim a divine origin. It is truly pitiable to behold the church religion of today trying to save this sinful world. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.12 "We have lost our magnet. The Christ who said he would draw all men to him if he is lifted up is disobeyed and ignored in the multiplicity of our present church life. Since we have presented many substitutes to the world for genuine spiritual power, but they are of no more value in the saving of the sinner than an artificial heart would be in pumping blood through the arteries. We are like men trying to run an engine without steam. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.12 "The church of today is the church of man, not the church of God. I predict its crashing to pieces like a ship on the rocks before a heavy sea, in the near-by years, unless there is a mighty turning to God in our ranks." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.12 I announce to all the world that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is in very deed the Church of God, and that there are thousands and tens of thousands who have been given this knowledge just as absolutely and as perfectly as I have it. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.12 "We have a great, educated, school-made ministry, but an unconverted ministry." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.12 We have a great converted ministry. I remember on one occasion preaching in Phoenix, with the late President John Henry Smith. The legislature was in session at the time. They called upon us at the hotel and asked if we would condescend to preach, stating that they had rented the opera house and would crowd it to overflowing. As we were in the habit of renting our own houses and generally failing to get an audience we very kindly condescended. They fulfilled their pledge. The house was crowded to overflowing. Some of the good people came from Mesa, about twenty miles away. After the meeting one of the Saints told me that a man in front of her, turned to his friend, and, with the word "damn," that some people claim is only emphasis and not. swearing, said with emphasis, "That man is an earnest talker." Pretty soon he said, with emphasis, again: "That man is a good talker." Pretty soon he said, with double emphasis: "That man believes every word he is saying." TESTIMONY OF A MINER Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.12 On another occasion I remember being with Elder John Henry Smith and Charles W. Penrose in Park City. The opera house was filled to overflowing, and men were standing up. Someone, afterwards told one of our brethren that he heard a man sixteen hundred feet under the earth, one of the miners, turn to his friend and say: "Did you hear those three 'Mormons' preach?" "Yes." "What did you think of it?" "Oh, I did not pay much attention." "Well, I want to say to you, away down here sixteen hundred feet in the earth, that what those men said rings in my ears. They said, each one of them, they knew that God lives, they knew that Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer of the world, the Son of God. They said they knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I have been dropping into their meetings occasionally since then. They have a little bit of a rented hall but they have decided to organize a ward here instead of a branch and to build a meeting house, and I have sent ten dollars in an envelope from an unknown friend.' There were no if's, no and's, no but's, about what those men said. It was an absolute, direct declaration of their faith." KNOWLEDGE COUNTS IN TESTIMONY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.13 I remember one occasion when a professor, who was studying in Berlin in preparation for his doctor's degree, said to my daughter, who was there studying the German language, that it was a shame the way the three young elders murdered the German language, and how poorly they had explained our faith. He said that he had read a hundred tracts about our faith and all our Church books, and he would be very glad to stand up and deliver a lecture of an hour on the faith of the Latter-day Saints and make a fair explanation of it. I was very glad that my young daughter gave him to understand that he did not know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, or that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, and she would prefer to have those young boys who murdered the German language declare those three things, than to have somebody explain that which he thought was the faith of somebody else. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.13 It is knowledge that counts. I have had as high as twenty missionaries arrive at once in the Liverpool office, scarcely one of whom had ever stood upon his feet to say a word about the gospel, and I have known the entire lot of them to run out of ideas in less than two hours, after I had told them that we sometimes held meetings for five hours, and that they would be permitted to speak as long as they desired. Those same elders, who did not deliver more than a half dozen sentences, have returned to the Liverpool office at the end of two years, and they have delivered clear-cut sermons, bearing testimony of the absolute knowledge that God had given them of the divinity of the work in which we as Latter-day Saints are engaged. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.13 "We have a great host on our Church rolls, but they are, with but few exceptions, an unconverted host." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.13 We have a converted host. It is very seldom indeed that any individual out in the world receives "Motmonism," the gospel of Jesus Christ, except with the opposition of family and friends and relatives. Very many young men have been turned out of their homes by their parents for embracing the gospel. I could give you incident after incident where young men and young women have been cast out as a thing of evil, by their own parents, for embracing "Mormonism." It is not popular. It has never been popular, and nothing short of an absolute conversion in the hearts of men and women would lead them to embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.13 "There are periods in the Christian era we look back upon with wonder and admiration. In those days men were convicted of sin and a judgment to come." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.13 In our day men are convicted of sin and a judgment to come, and all over the world where that conviction comes into their minds they go down into the waters of baptism for the remission of their sins and they do receive the Holy Ghost. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.13 "Then the more than human element was visible in our creeds." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.14 The more than human element is visible today in the Church of Christ all over the world. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.14 "Holy men had heavenly visions." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.14 Holy men and holy women have had heavenly visions by the hundreds and the thousands in our Church. TESTIMONY OF HEALING Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.14 "Sickness was cured by spiritual power." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.14 I could stand here and relate to you by the hour instances where sickness has been cured by spiritual power in this Church of Christ, where men and women and children who have been given up to die have been healed by the power of Almighty God. I spoke here of Brother Joseph W. McMurrin being among those who are absent. Brother McMurrin was shot clear through his vitals, and the bullets lodged right under the skin on his back. I heard John Henry Smith promise that man, when blessing him, by the authority of the apostleship of the living God, that he should live and not die, as he had received these wounds while guarding the servants of the living God, and that there should be left upon his body no physical weakness because of these terrible wounds that he had received. I have it from the lips of Brother McMurrin himself that he has never felt any physical weakness because of these wounds. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.14 While relating this incident in the Farmers' ward, upon one occasion, Stanley Taylor, the one-armed hackman, arose and said: "Brother Grant, it was in my hack that Brother McMurrin was picked up and carried to his home. I heard the doctors say: "Take his dying statement, because no man ever lived who was in such a condition." But he did live. Right at that identical time a man was shot in this city, with one bullet through him, exactly where the two went through Brother McMurrin, and he died on time. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.14 The very last time that I had the pleasure of conversing with President Joseph F. Smith, except the night before he died, he said: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.14 "Heber, I never saw you looking better. I recall that as I was in the hospital when you were operated upon, the chief surgeon, Dr. Allen Fowler, turned to me and said: 'Mr. Smith you don't, need to discuss the possibility or the probability of this man living. He has to die. It would be a miracle if he were restored to health, and this is not the day of miracles.'" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.14 I give to the Lord Almighty the credit and the glory, for it is by his power that I am here today. There were nine doctors present when I was operated upon, and eight of them said I had to die.' The nurse told me this the day I was leaving the hospital. I said: "I have no desire to meet the eight, but I would like to meet the ninth, the one who said I would live." I asked him why he disagreed with all the other doctors. He was a southerner and he said: "Mr. Grant, I just took a chance, sir. I have felt the pulse of thousands of gentlemen in my life, but I never felt a pulse just like yours, sir. That heart of yours never missed one, single, solitary beat during the one hour and three-quarters, sir, that you were under the knife, and I said to myself: 'that heart will pull him through'; so I just took a chance." ON OBSERVING THE WORD OF WISDOM--ANOTHER TESTIMONY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.15 We have in our D&C a revelation which says: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.15 "There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated-- Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.15 "And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.15 One of the laws of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that each and every Latter-day Saint shall keep what is known as the Word of Wisdom; that we shall abstain from tea, coffee, tobacco and liquor. Had I not lived the Word of Wisdom, had my blood not been pure, I am convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that I would not have been entitled to that wonderful promise contained in the Word of Wisdom, that those who obey this Word of Wisdom shall be blessed, and that the destroying angel shall pass them by as he did the children of Israel and not slay them. I am convinced that my heart would not have had pure blood, had I not fulfilled the law, and I would not be standing here before you today. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.15 Upon one occasion when my brother, Joseph Hyrum Grant, (who in later years, presided over the Davis stake of Zion) was in Charge of a livery stable in this city, a number of employes of the Z. C. M. I. shoe factory were enjoying an outing at Calder's Park, now known as Nibley Park. My brother who had charge of the transportation, called their attention to the fact that a storm was threatening, and he urged them to return home, stating that a part of the road between the park and Salt Lake City was a turnpike and there was danger of this long drag being overturned in a storm and in the darkness. But they passed a resolution that they would hold the firm blameless if any accident occurred. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.15 Going home in the darkness the vehicle was overturned and several people were quite seriously injured. One of the girls had a number of bones broken and as a result of her injuries and exposure in the storm, pneumonia set in. The doctor in attendance declared that she could not live, and would probably die before morning. My brother felt very much distressed about the matter, having been the driver of the vehicle. He asked me to go with him to administer to that girl, stating that he had received the witness of the spirit that she should live. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.15 When we stepped up to the bed, I told him that she was dying and would be dead before we could get our hands off her head. He turned deathly pale and declared that he had received a manifestation of the Lord. and that he knew, as he knew that the gospel is true, that if we would 'bless her she would live. We did bless her, and in confirming the anointing I was impressed to promise her that the bones should knit, that she should be made well and go back and run her machine in the Z. C. M. I. shoe factory. I did not know that she had been running a machine or what was her work. That evening I met the superintendent of that factory and he said: "I have just returned from the home of Marie DeGray, and she was dying. I am convinced she is dead by now." I said: "Brother Rowe, you go up into your office and sit down and write: 'Marie DeGray is not dead. Marie DeGray will not die, but she will get well and come back and run her machine in your factory.' It has been manifested to me by the spirit of the living God." He said: "I don't need to write it, because from what you say, I know that she will live." STILL ANOTHER TESTIMONY OF THE HEALING POWER Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.16 He then related to me an incident which had occurred in his own family. Said he: "In London, before I came to this country, one of my daughters was very sick, and the attending physician said she could not live till morning." He sent, as I remember, three miles across the great city of London, for Junius F. Wells and his companion to come and administer to his daughter, and she was restored to health. "The next day," said Brother Rowe, "the doctor came to my home and handed me a written certificate, duly signed, stating that my daughter was dead. I invited him into the parlor and introduced him to the 'corpse.' So when you tell me that this girl will recover, I accept your statement, for I know that the healing power of God is in this Church, as well as I know that I live." TESTIMONY OF THE GIFT OF TONGUES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.16 "Holy men spoke with other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.16 Holy men and holy women have spoken with other tongues, as the spirit has given them utterance. One of our Articles of Faith reads: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.16 "We believe in the gift of tongues," and in the interpretation thereof. Karl G. Maeser--than whom no more devoted Latter-day Saint ever lived--told me with his own lips of such an incident as I took a trip with him to Baker City. He said: "Brother Grant, the night that I was baptized I looked up into heaven and said: 'Oh, God, I have found, as I believe, the gospel of thy Son Jesus Christ. I have rendered obedience to it by going down into the waters of baptism. Give to me a manifestation, give to me an absolute witness of the spirit that I have found the truth, and I pledge to you if necessary my life for the advancement of this cause.'" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.16 At that time Brother Franklin D. Richards was president of the European mission, with headquarters at Liverpool. He went over to Germany to be present at the baptism of the first converts to the gospel in that great empire. Walking from the place where he was baptized to his home, a distance of several miles, Brother Maeser expressed a desire to converse upon different principles of the gospel, through an interpreter. That interpreter was Brother William Budge, afterwards president of Bear Lake stake, and finally president of the Logan temple. Brother Maeser, who understood no English, asked questions in German, and Brother Richards, who understood no German, answered them in English; Brother Budge interpreting the questions and answers. After a few questions had been asked and answered through the interpreter, Brother Richards said: "Do not interpret those questions, I understand them;" then Brother Maeser said: "Do not interpret those answers, I understand them." They conversed for miles, the questions in Germam the answers in English; neither man understanding the language of the other. They arrived at the River Elbe and while crossing the bridge they were separated; when they reached the other side Brother Maeser asked another question, and Brother Richards said: "Interpret it, Brother Budge." When the answer came, Brother Maeser said: "Interpret it." His next question was: "How was it, Apostle Richards, that we understood each other, and now we cannot understand?" Brother Richards told him that one of the fruits of the gospel of Jesus Christ was the gift of tongues and the interpretation. Then he said: "God has given to you and to me this night the privilege of partaking of one of the fruits of the gospel by having the interpretation of tongues. Brother Maeser, you have received a witness from God that you have found the truth." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.17 Brother Maeser told me: "I trembled like a leaf, and I again raised my eyes to heaven and said: 'Oh, God, I have received the witness that I asked for, and I pledge to you my life, if need be, for this cause.'" Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.17 Every Latter-day Saint knows that Karl G. Maeser did give his life; that he labored without ceasing, without any thought of personal advancement, personal honor or credit, but he labored untiringly for the advancement of God's kingdom at home and abroad, as a missionary in his native land, and at the head of our great educational system. TESTIMONY OF PROPHECY THROUGH THE GIFT OF TONGUES Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.17 When I was a child, in a Relief Society meeting, Eliza R. Snow, by the gift of tongues, and Zina D. Young, by the interpretation thereof, promised that child playing on the floor--in the home where Grandma Whitney, my mother, Eliza R. Snow, Zina D. Young, Clara Kimball and other leading Relief Society sisters in early days were meeting--that that child should grow to manhood and become an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. My mother often said to me: "Heber, behave yourself, and you will some day be one of the apostles in the Church." I always laughed at her and said: "Get it out of your head. Every mother thinks her son will be the president of the United States or something wonderful. I have no ambitions in that regard." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.18 When I was called to be one of the apostles she asked me if I remembered that meeting in the home of the late William C. Staines on the corner of South Temple and Fifth East. I told her I did. "Do you remember anything that was said?" I replied: "No." "Well," she said, "do you remember Aunt Eliza talking to you on the floor?" I said. "Yes, but I did not understand it." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.18 "Of course, you did not, because she spoke by the gift of tongues." Then she said: "Do you remember anything that Aunt Zina said?" "Yes, I do, mother. I remember that she lifted her hand and said that I would become a great big man." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.18 So when I became tall I used to think of it occasionally, that Aunt Zina said I would be a big man. My mother responded: "She said nothing of the kind; she said you would be a great big man in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that you would be an apostle." That is why I have told you, knowing that the gift of tongues was in the Church. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.18 I wish to say to you that my wife, who is dead, promised me, by the gift of tongues, that I should live to proclaim this gospel in many lands and in many climes, and after she passed away, and at a time when eight doctors out of nine said I had to die, I had not then proclaimed this gospel "in many lands and in many climes," but I recovered, and since then I have lifted up my voice in the far-off land of Japan, in the Hawaiian Islands, in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Canada and Mexico, bearing witness that I know that God lives, that I know that Jesus is the Christ, that I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and the living God, and that every gift, every grace, every power that this man says should be in the true Church of Christ, is in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We have the Pearl of Great Price, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.18 That God may help me and you and every soul within the sound of my voice who has a testimony of the divinity of this Gospel of Christ so to live it that other men, seeing our devotion and seeing our integrity and our determination to live the lives of saints may be inspired to investigate the message that we have to bear to them, is my prayer, and I ask it in all humility, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Savior. Amen. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.24 Telephone calls from various parts of the state report exceptionally fine radio reception this morning. Reports from Provo are to the effect that the lower floor of the Provo tabernacle is crowded and the people are hearing every word. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.152 President Charles H. Hart's remarks about the Catholic Encyclopedia have brought the following memorandum from Brother Orson F. Whitney: Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.152 "President Grant: I wrote the article on 'Mormons' for the new Catholic Encyclopedia, by request of President Joseph F. Smith, and at the solicitation of Dean Harris. He signed it, and sent it to New York, where it was changed, things being written into it that the article, as it left my hands, did not contain. The assertion that the Three Witnesses denied their Testimony was one of these interpolations. I protested to the Dean, and he invited me to correct the misstatement, which I did. Whether they published my second article in the Encyclopedia (as promised) I know not. (Signed) Orson F. Whitney." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.152 Apparently they did not. President Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.174 The time has passed when we are supposed to dismiss, but there are a few things that I would like to say and I crave your indulgence while I do so. GROWTH OF THE CHURCH IN POWER AND TESTIMONY Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.174 When I was made one of the apostles of the Church we did not have twenty stakes of Zion. We now have ninety-six, and we have voted to divide the Jordan stake, which will make ninety-seven, and to divide the Los Angeles stake, which will make ninety-eight, to organize a new stake to embrace Oakland and San Francisco vicinity, making ninety-nine stakes of Zion, or a little more than five times as many as there were when I was chosen to be one of the apostles. Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.174 Anybody who thinks the Church of Jesus Christ of Saints is not growing, is ignorant, to say the least. Zion is growing in power, strength and testimony. REGRET NO TIME TO HEAR FROM MORE STAKE PRESIDENTS Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1927, p.174 I regret that we did not have the opportunity of hearing from at least a dozen more of our stake presidents. There are a dozen men who were ordained as far back as 1924, who have not yet had. the opportunity of speaking in General Conference. But it that we can never quite get through, although we have had an extra meeting of two hours in this conference. In addition,