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Show Address of s Press-Richard- r P x - , , vitattorr:Extended to All : ci 1140 Build the Kingdom , ::.':'- I - . , ' : :::, . . , . . .: ).:.. : . , (4,1,, ; , ,,, , clergy. It was even a greater innovation to set one up without laity, where everr man and boy Is a minister of religion. Joseph , had no precedent for such By PRESIDENT STEPHEN L' RICHARDS - Smith I feel very deeply the r;sponsibility of this mat opportunity . an organization, save only in theI assure you I need the aid of the Holy Spirit and I humbly pray Church set up by the Master him- , self in his own earthly ministry. that I may enjoy it , I desire to use this oppor- - relationship to his God and his It is no wonder that such' a novel concept was shocking to the tunity to extend an Invitation-- In -fellowmen.t Second,-----igiving this invitation I feel that brings CO0.500133 Prophet's I shall have the -- approval and purpose into his livieg. It digni- de rmined the necessity of the the of the support of my associates in the flea his service, and enables him Callings out the need cloth" presiding councils of the Church, to distinguish between the really for - theand wiped spiritual ex-, not necessarily in its Manner of worthwhile and the frivolous, or perts. insubits but less 2 presentation, . iMportant - stance-,- and 'that they will sus- It gives to him the legitiniate While the new doctrine abjures'lain me in speaking for them as pride of being associated with a ignorance and acclaims intelliwell as for myself. To the people great cause, the greatest in agence, its objective is to make ' of the Church, there is nothing the world; and third, and per; every man his own spiritual exnovel in this invitation. Al- - haps in importance greatest of pert, with divine power in himto Understand and apply the though it has gone out to the all, membership in the Kingdom self lawsof-the-Gosfor-mo- re to himself 'makes irpossible for him to re- than a century, there are still ceive the delegation of divine and those dependent on him. few - of - the world who fully power itself, and rejoice in the This universal and generous be-stowal of the priesthood makes understand its import , blessings brought by it to our every -- recipient a teacher jand . This is the invitation ad- - Father's childrem - - ' , preacher of the word of God; Distribution of Priesthood , whether dressed: or not he be called to To.All Men, Women and Chit- This wide distribution ' of the a special position, his diocese is dren: holy priesthood is one of the as large as' his circle of family, most distinctive features of the friends and acquaintances, and Dear Friends: . You are cordially and restored Kingdom of our Lord. he is under obligation to teach to partici- There is creditable evidence to to them the revealed truth. . earnestly invited pate in building the Kingdom. believe that when the Savior set If he has limitations of utter of God in the earth. up his Church in the meridian, ance, there are no limitations to ef time he caused a wide dishibu- - the power --of hilexample,--anTime-No- w. tion of the. priesthood to mem-perionality hers of his Church then, as he among those who know him. (Signature) THE CHURCH OF JESUS has done, in his restored Church. Here in the Lord's Kingdom is , CHRIST OF LATTER-DAHow logical it seems, upon re-- the most perfect exemplification SAINTS. flection, that this should be his of his great law of fairness and The acceptance of this Invita- desire. Why should be wish to equality that - "God - is no the holding of his divine specter of persons." tion will not materially alter the Full text of the address . delivered at the Sunday morning Semi Annual Conference lotion of the One Hundred Twenty-thir- d of the Church - held in the Tabernacle on Temple Sparc - '.0 ; . .,,...; ,, - - . 14 ,...,: , .0i'k I ,4,, It - - ,t; , i, i . ' . - ' .:( ' ' -- - .,,i,,,,, ' l' 1 ..,,, 4 ) , 4 ,,,t - - . - L - -- -, - -- -- --- - -- people-of--the--w- "f contempn- -- ,- here.' powerywhich-may---be-delegat- e. plc Those who have within their - - hearts a of God anrtheir fellowmen- ,- and - devote theinselves to Christian service, Will , discover in identifying them- selves with-oFather's ling- dom a significance to their high idealism and their humanitarian service which will surpass any concept of living they have ever They who have not ton-- known. formed their lives to the divine will, and have succumbed to the weaknesses of the flesh, will discover that in participation in , the Kingdom there is help, merci- ful and understanding, which fosters repentance and forgiveness, and courage and to overcome and be happy, lilsre., ur - -- --- --- th gives-streng- -- j. , . - 1 kli, , 1 , thing about the Kingdom and some of its features, which hold so much of attraction and promise to various segments of the world society. First, there is the common man of the world. I use 'common" in no derogatory sense. The world 'makes distinctions among men on the "basis of education, wealth and position. Fun: 'damentally, I make no such distinctions, but we are all obliged to 'admit that the great preponderance of all men are not in worldly preferential classes. This common man in some is- - the most -- important element in the world society. In 't democratic nations, where aristocracy, caste and statism do not circumscribe his activities, he often rises to leadership. Like-, wise in democratic countries, he chooses the leadership because of his voting preponderance. Per! haps even, more importantly, he is at the head of most of the households of the world. He begets its populations, supports Its infancy and youth,-influeand in large measure determines - social and other trends--'What does participation in the Kingdom do for the common manl First, it brings to him an en-and more adequate under- nces to-m- en; to any favored -lityttatio- r themselves worthy in righteous- ness be eligible for the divine comMission of the priesthood? All are eligible in the Kingdom of our Father. Adherence to his law is the only requirement, and the officers of the Kingdom are under compulsion to bring this great benefaction to all who are Worthy If I had time at my disposal L, I should like to give to the men to whom. I present this Invitation a more -- complete. explanation of e natu 'e of the and the manner: of its exercise,as set forth in revelations given at the founding of the Lord's Kingdom in this dispensation. I must content myself merely with the statement that the priesthood of Almighty God, bestowed upon his servants, is a very different e thing than many men of world suPpose it to be. It is an authoritative power given by di-. vine Commission, but in essence and use it is invested with the virtues kindness, mercy and judgment of its Divine Author, the Savior. himself:- - - The to the common menhe who has not known the emolu ments and preferments.which the Common- - Man-- - Now a distinction, world giv what an e leouragement, what an uplift of 5pirit, and what high hopes await him as he shares with his brethren the holy priesthood in the Lord's Kingdom. The common man has - aspirations, even though - their - attainment dim . may seem remote and -- very and progression Improvement are the laws of life. Here, with the investiture of the holy priesthood, lie opportunities unlimited for the fulfillment of worthy and lofty ambitions for the common man, as for all men of high or low station in life. -htilld-rt a -- r s- t I 4 4,,i,....gt,,, . ''",,,-- k e 1. It , 6,..,,,, PRESIDENT STEPHEN L RICHARDS justified in giving women the assurance - that is will they find such no other place or instittitionis-thstworl- d high and lofty concepts of marriage atalons as in stored Kingdom of our Lord. Here a woman ir neither a slave nor ado!!, but area! 'partner in the enterprise of building the 'kinidons. - n-to-Womeir-- Now I have very great ure- in extending this invitation all women.. I am sure I not make it as attractive as it could be made, bat perhaps I may be able to point out a few items which should be of serious cmcern to women, and which may intrigue their interest. It would be expected that in I Should first the womeh's-wor-ld bring forward the subject . of the home. Despite modern social emancitrends, and' the pation of women from the al leged drudgery of home life, I am sure We need no statistical proof to convince us that the of our great - preponderance . worteinwanthusbands Wes; snd I am optimistic enough to believe, even in the lace of shocking figures on divorce, that the overwhelming majority. t women would like to keep their husbands and preserve the en- during solidarity of the home. If these assumptions are cotrect or nearly eorreck, I am jus-tilled in giving 'women the surance that in no other place or institution in the world will they find such high and lofty concepts of marriage and home as in the restored Kingdom of our Lord.' Here a woman is neither a slave nor a dolt, but If every woman fully undermarstood thisiofty-conceptriage, she would want no other. It is not a marriage solemnized with elaboratd ceremony -- and pageantry,- - for show and social prestige. No. great Church is filled with spectators; only a few are presentthe contracting parties,a, humble marl of the priesthood to officiate, the witnesses, usually the parents, and a' few of the family and close friends., , S uch a marriage contemplate s taking the Lord into the partner-ship, so the participants meet in His Ihouse, and make their cove- nants with Him end each-othe- r, in privacy- in humility, without is t intation, safeguarded from the stare of the curious or the praise of the indulgent Does a man or a woman seek public' acclaim for a private prayer? Why should a couple, entering into the most solemn engagements they will ever make in their lives of a private and personal nature, expose themselves to. public scrutiny, and distract their minds from a sacred ceremony by the exigencies of style, and Show. I am speaking of the marriage ceremony, not the wed- -' ding reception. - I remember once reading an yld,minister articlewrittenlyan In who had officiated many years of building the Kingdom The In Church in downtown one of she is plays great NewTrinity part York. He said that during dignity, with opportunitylorthe had seen the Chrisabundant expression of all the tian ceremony-o- f marriage, at liner feelings, the tenderneks, the one time sacred and impressive, and the ennobling Patient ,love into a paganistic qualities which are attributes of degenerate pageant designed ,,to achieve soher sex. That can "never In the kingdom a woman does cial notoriety.' to temple happen marriage. It IS not hold the priesthood, but she acalamity for It to happen to shares it with her husband,. and for such a ten- she is the immediate beneficiary any mirriage be!in no small meas. -dencymay of rnany'toritu grearblessings.1 When he unites in marriage' ure responsible for the instabiliwith a man of the priesthood in ty- of marriage In recent years. Revealed Concepts one of the Ttemples Lille women will the blessings pronounced The home-lovin- g upon her are of equal import to find In the Kingdom other rethose given her husband, and Vialed ebncepts about life, which these blessings are to be realized' ..wilrbringtothemlgreatitappV ness and hope and satisfaction. ot d - -- -- thi-intemi- se -- -- this life and of our aspirations for the higher blessings in the life to come. They will learn that . a couple, rightly married, are called to officiate in a transcend- ently beautiful and vital service.. As a priest and priestes in the temple of the home, it is their high privilege to receive the spirit children of our Eternal Father into mortality; then to nurture, train and lead these chosen ones coming to their home back into the eternal presence whence they came. It takes but a moment to say this sen- tence; it takes a lifetime to fill - -- -- - , the mission of parenthood. - it Is mIssionwheivitilAtecepted and fulfilled. It is A tragic experience when it is resented. - -Women of the Kingdoin find the supreme joy of their' lives In their families despite the sacrifices and entailed In their care and training. They are taught and they believe that the highest blessings of heaven will be realized through the projection of their homes into eternity. They have complete confidence in the perpetuity of the family ' relationship, when sanctified and sealed under the power of the holy priesthood. If a child is 'parted from their family group, they do not feel that be is lost They confidently expect a reuniting in the eternal family circle, and while they are at earthly partings, the only they really fear is sin, may deprive the erring is place in the eternal one ,a glorious -- self-deni- It . , .. Women, who enter Into these eternal unions with their are far better fortified to withstand irritations not uncommonly Incident to domestic life. They and their husbands look e ahead, and in their vision, they are disposed to overlook many of the temperary obstacles to happy, compatible Hy.' Int Just think of the tragic plight of Innocent children averted by this concept of enduring mar- riage;--Evelwunien who has thepacthe;inarriage,----tor-umantome; They wilrlearcthat(is not) without. the - woman, of which they are such an in serious concern for the attain,- -- neither the woman without , the I dispensable part, lies at the very ment of A full and happy life will . 'man in the Lord. basis of purposeful living here in Bee AN INVITATION, rage 1 . only-throug- h- Chureh-Ittith- out , .:N - uoa.-to men in his image and en- dowed with divine attributes, why should not all who make If ' al --- ,.- --stand- ing merety in a visionary way his group-o- order, -- , - 1 -- s,,,, . pel orla Place-Every'w- If bus-ban- --- long-rang- --- ing I |