President McKay, President Moyle, President Brown,
President Smith, my beloved brethren of the General Authorities, brothers
and sisters: I had prepared a talk that I thought would be fitting on the
subject of fasting, fast offerings, and fast day, but I feel today that
it would not be appropriate. I would therefore like to save this subject
for another time.
I think there are times which come in every man's
life when he feels that he is not quite up to the situation with which
he is confronted. This is one of those times for me. I am sure you can
imagine and understand that I have prayed diligently for the help of the
Lord, and I would like to ask you if you will help me. I think it was fifteen
years ago at the October conference when the death of that great man, Bishop
Marvin O. Ashton, left a vacancy in the Presiding Bishopric. At that time
I was called to the councils of the Church to serve as second counselor
to Presiding Bishop LeGrand Richards, whom I regard as one of God's noble
servants.
Then after some years, I was called to serve as
first counselor to another choice man, Presiding Bishop Joseph L. Wirthlin.
In my humble opinion Bishop Wirthlin is one of the hardest workers I have
ever known. If anything, probably he worked too hard. I have heard
him say many times, "No matter what the brethren ask me to do, I will do
it."
I would also like to say that Bishop Carl W. Buehner
has been a great strength to both Bishop Wirthlin and to me in the Presiding
Bishopric.
Yesterday when President McKay called us to his
office and told us of our release from the Presiding Bishopric, he asked
us how we felt. I am sure he detected that we felt all right about it because
we did feel all right about it. This morning when you voted to give us
a vote of thanks as you released us, I am sure that our hands went higher
than any others in the building. I confess, President McKay, that I leaned
over to Bishop Wirthlin and said, "That is the greatest relief I have had
in fifteen years." Then in about two minutes and forty seconds, when the
names of the General Authorities were read, I nearly stood up to ask whether
they were being read from the wrong sheet.
When I heard my name, it came as a bolt of lightning
to me. I did not know, nor did I expect, nor did I desire such a calling.
But talk about blessings! I haven't the words
to express the blessing it has been for me to be associated with these
brethren, to visit in the wards and stakes of the Church. A few weeks ago
I went to a stake where I had never been before. I did not know those men,
I had never seen them. They were in far-off Florida. But after being with
them for only two days, we embraced each other as I left those choice men
of that stake presidency.
Can you imagine that kind of blessing in any other work
in the world? I would not take anything for the wonderful experiences I
have had these last fifteen years, although at times, of course, the work
was hard. I hope you will always remember that none of these brethren sought
the positions they hold that every one of them is probably giving more
than his physical energy would normally permit. I have said to my boys,
"If there is any work that has to be left undone, it must not be the work
of the Church."
I am so grateful to you brethren in the wards
and stakes who have made us feel so good when we have come to you. I have
witnessed the blessings of the Lord, and I have seen men change. I know
what it is for men to change. I plead with all the senior members of the
Aaronic Priesthood whom I love very deeply. I have seen many of them change,
because when you once catch the Spirit that Elder Marion G. Romney has been talking about, you are bound to change, and you will always change
for the better. I know what the Spirit of the Lord is, and I know what
it is not to have it. With all my heart, I plead with you leaders to take
good care of the senior members of the Aaronic Priesthood and not let those
fine men stay out there alone. They need and deserve your help. They are
good men. I am one of those who believe the Lord loves them. If you have
a wayward son, do you love him? Certainly you do. Well then, what makes
you think the Lord does not love his sons who might be a little wayward?
I plead with the senior members of the Aaronic
Priesthood to make themselves available for activity in the Church. I know
what it is to have the Spirit of the Lord, and I know what it is to receive
inspiration. Without them we cannot function in this Church.
I ask you not to find fault with your leaders.
We are not perfect. We do not profess to be. But we are trying to live
as close to the Lord as we know how. I think when you allow someone to
find fault with your bishop or your stake president or one of the General
Authorities, you ought to raise your voice against such practice because
that person will be hurting himself more than he is hurting anyone else.
My son called this morning and said, "If you are
released today, I do not want you to feel bad, because we have gone fifteen
years without your close association. We would like to have you home a
little bit." My daughter said, "It will seem good to have you home once
in a while." They were both quite happy this morning. But I am sure they
will be happy now, because I believe the Lord will make it up to each of
them in some way. My wife has been lonesome, of course, and she had looked
forward to my being home more. The loyalty of my wife and family has inspired
me through the years. Their love has sustained me.
There is nothing in the world like the gospel
in the lives of men and women. A short time ago I was riding with a man
who was not a member of this Church. I asked him what his faith was, and
he said he didn't have any particular faith. I said, "You do belong to
a church?"
He said, "Yes."
"What does your church do for you?"
He said, "Nothing."
I then said, "Do you attend church?"
"No."
"Well, what do you do for your church?"
"Nothing." Then I thought when he said the church
had done nothing for him, it was probably because he had done nothing for
the church.
Oh, how different we are! What would we be without
the Church? I think all of us here would say that everything we have and
all that we are that are worthwhile have come to us because of the blessings
of the Church to our parents, our grandparents, and our forebears. Life
without the Church would not be worth living.
I would like to thank many of those who have assisted
me in my assignments in the Presiding Bishopric. Brother Irvin Nelson takes
care of these grounds and lawns, which was one of my assignments. I have
never worried about them because he has always taken such pride in them.
I would like to thank Brother Samuel Bateman who has been the head custodian
of this great building for so many years. He has done a great work.
I would like to thank J. Frank Marble and his
staff of workers, my secretaries Darcey Wright of the Church Office Building,
our hospital administrators, and our boards of trustees.
I thank Lee A. Palmer, David G. Thomas, Henry
G. Tempest, N. Keith Carroll, and Ray L. White of our office. They have
been wonderful in helping us in our many assignments.
We pledge our wholehearted support to the new
Presiding Bishopric, Bishop John H. Vandenberg and his counselors. We know a little of the details with which they will be confronted. We pledge that
we will help them with every ounce of energy we have in picking up the
loose ends and getting things in order with as little delay as possible.
I bear my testimony and thank God my Father for
life. I have recognized that he was kind enough to spare my life when I
had an illness recently. I want to do that every day as long as he will
let me live. I thank you, my brethren and sisters, for being so tolerant
with me. If I have offended any one of you in any way, (because sometimes
I am quite blunt) I wouldn't want to hurt you, and I ask your forgiveness.
I bear testimony to you that I love the Lord.
He has been so good to me that I owe him everything. I know that God lives,
that he hears my prayers and your prayers. I couldn't get along a day if
I could not go to him. One of the most peaceful experiences in my life
is when I follow Elder Romney's admonition, when I can find a spot alone.
I endorse that to you. It will give you strength, peace, comfort, inspiration,
and greater faith.
I bear testimony to you that I know Joseph Smith
was a prophet of God, as I know President David O. McKay is a prophet of
God. There isn't a day that I do not pray for President McKay -- a number
of times, and for every one of these General Authorities, with no exception.
I regard them as prophets of God and servants of the Lord. Would you ever
want to speak unkindly about a servant of the Lord? Not ever again, if
you ever have.
May the Lord bless us that we may be strong and
that we may move forward with the Church. The Church is growing fast, and
if we want to keep up we will have to do likewise.
God bless you. May he watch over us all and give
us the strength and the faith to do as he would have us do, I humbly pray
in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
