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Show 4 . . t ft c ' t The Last Days Are Here' when first expressed. Men and nations, having refused to walk in the Light, and, as Jesus said, stumble in darkness and know not which they go. Motivated for centuries largely by self interests, the human race, judging from present world conditions, is still dangerously near the jungle where primitive passions dominate and govern. Lincoln, in his day, declared people, We have been the of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no nation has ever grown; but we have forgotten God. We have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated by unbroken success, we have become too to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to God who made us. It behooves us, then to humble ourselves before the offended power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness. I still have confidence that tne Almighty, the Maker of the Universe, will, through the instrumentality of this great and intelligent people, bring us through this as he has through all other difficulties of our county. And we all know how God did guide Abraham Lincoln. There are many instances about which I could tell you wherein the hand of the Lord has been manifest in guiding His servants. I know it is real. I know it as I know that you are assembled in thus Conference. I know the spirit can be in tune, and hear that sweet, still, small voice. I know He will warn us. I know He w'H never say anything that is impossible to understand. I know He is our Father in Heaven. He is just as real as rr.y earthly lather and mother whom I hope to meet Over There. Abraham pray that God will give us strength to continue our mission here in life, and by our actions and our words to teach others so that we shall bring the honest in heart to know the Truth. Show to all that the Gospel has been established in this Dispensation for the happiness and joy and salvation here in this life as well as in the life to come. God keep our young people away from the low, who seek to follow the scheming plans of him who enthrones passion, who decries who renounces the sacredness of the family, and who, in the words of Marx himself would dethrone God. God inspire our young men and women to sustain and to fight for, and yes, die for, if necessary, the Light of Christ, and that they will come to realize the Truth of Christ's saying that if they are willing to lose their life for Ilis sake, they I l, will find it. God bless you all in your homes. Husbands do not be cross when you enter your homes. Let ns be kind. Be courteous. Have the same courtesy in your homes that you have when you are out in society; thank your wives, thank your children, and say, if you please, excuse me, these little things mean so much and make life so much sweeter. Let us be courageous in defense of the Right. Be not afraid to speak out for the Right. Let us be true. Let us defend the weak, be charitable to our brothers, render help to the sick and the afflicted. Hie Gospel is the spirit of kindness. Let us honor and sustain the Priesthood in our homes. I pray God to sanctify to our good, and the good of all who have listened in this day, and to the Church membership ev- erywhere, the blessings and testimonies of this great Conference. In this parting, I leave with you, my dear fellow workers, my dear associates, and all members and friends everywhere, my blessings to each one of you, as Gcd has given me power and authority to bless, and I do this in the nam of Jesus Christ, Amen. Savior, the Son of God, is at the head of this Church. I am not the Make Christianity Thehead of this Church Jesus Christ is our Head ! I know that the former Presidents of the Church knew that, and declared it. Joseph Smith, the Prophet, knew it. This is Christs Church, and we are His messengers, His representatives, and it is our duty to keep in touch with Him and know what His wishes are. You and I, and all who have repented of their sins, have been baptized into this Church, and had hands laid upon their heads, are entitled to the companionship and inspiration of the Holy Ghost. If we keep in tune with Christ and His teachings, we are entitled to fellowship with Him. He does not love sin; He does not love lying, nor stealing; misjudging one another, nor condemning others. We have to keep our hearts pure and clean to be worthy of His fellowship. God help us so to liv that we may be found worthy to hear from Him the whisperings of His spirit, the whisperings of His voice, as He guides us and warns us and tells us what to do in order to come back into His presence. Man is not living for himself. Ills selfish desires should be overcome and controlled, and he should render service to others, One of the greatest sayings of Jesus when He was among the Twelve during His s two and here, was the one yea'-that touched upon that same principle He that findetli his life shall lose that is the selfish part and lie that los-et- h his life for my sake shall find it. A paradoxical statement, but oh, how true! Thousands upon thousands in the Church are willing to lose Iheir lives In service to the building up of the Kingdom of God. one-ha- lf it: Real, Admonishes President Tanner Address giien by President N. Eldon Tanner, second counselor in the First Presidency, at the Saturday morning, October 5, 1968, section of the 138th Semi-AnnuGeneral Conference of the Church. the call of our leader, President David O. McKay, I am privileged to stand here before you in this great Tabernacle this morning, and I do so in all humility, with a prayer in my heart that what I might say will be in harmony with the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We who will occupy this position during this Conference have the responsibility to do as Paul charged Timothy: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, and doctrine. exhort with all For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away 'heir ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (II Tim. 4:2 4) "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (Unquote) (II At Tim. 3:1) The last days are here and now, and his prophecy is being fullilled before our very eyes. Men are lefuslng sound doctrine, and. after their own lusts,, are turn ing their ears from the truth, and ate listening to those who pieach to their own liking. As a result we are suffering many How uplifting and dignifying it k to know that we are tally the spit it children of God, made in His imng; that He and Jesus Christ are personal gods, and ) at . they are interested in us, and that God so loved the worlu, that He gae his only begotten Son, that whosoever in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Jesus Christ is the Son of God, as stated in ancient and modern scripture. Oij different occasions God introduced Him to men on the earth in these words: "This is my Beloved Son! Hear him. (Matt. 3:17; 3 Nephi 11:7; Joseph Smith 2:17) tribulations throughout the world. We have reached a time in our history which I believe is the most crucial mankind has ever had to face. Thinking, serious-mindepeople in all fields of endeavor, agree that present circumstances cannot continue very-muclonger without precipitating one of the most serious crises men has ever known. . d we consider these disturbing conditions in a world of turmoil. I am sure we are asking the simple questions, Why is there so much strife and hate In the world between nations, within nations, within states, in universities, a"d even in groups of local communi- As Jesus taught that as ties, and with this unrest, distrust, and strife extending even into the home? Why is it so universal? What can and should be done to correct these conditions with which none of us are content or happy? As I was contemplating on these matters, I continued to search the scriptures for an answer. As we all know, the Holy Writ is replete with exhortations, warnings, and prophecies pertaining to the welfare of mankind and conditions in the latter days, or the days in which we now live. We find the w'orld divided into two great opposing camps. One is made up of individuals and nations whose philosophy of life is fully materialistic, who not only reject, but aggressively repudiate the true Christian way of life. In the other camp are those who still "... retain a nominal recognition of spiritual and moral values. These comprise what we call our Christian civilization. One of the greatest tragedies of this generation, however, is that so much of our Christian civilization does no more than profess Christianity, and in fact, many today do not even profess. only clear and sure solution lo our problems is to make our professed Christianity real, to make it personal, apply it in our lives, accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and as the real living Savior of mankind, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." also my assured the multitude : In house are many if were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if 1 go and prepare a, place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto mjself; that where I :m, there ye may be also. (John i4:2-3- ) Regarding His resurrection we have also the testimony of Paul, who was once a persecutor of the Saints, and denier of Christ, that the apostles and he himself and hundreds of others had seen Christ after He rose the third day according to the scriptures. (I Cor. 15:4) How fortunate is the person who looks forward to the resurrection as an important step in eternal progression and prepares now to meet God! As I attended the funeral of our lcyal and devoted colleague and faithful servant of the Lord, William J. Critchlow Jr., was greatly impressed by Ihe serenity of his wnfe, his children, and even his grandchildren. They had been taught and believed in a literal resurrection, and knew they would be reunited as a family. I tried to compare their feelings with those who do not have such faith, who will not accept sound doctrine, but who search in vain for hope. I humbly prayed to my Heavenly Father that I would be able to touch the hearts of some, and help them to appreciate and undei stand what great joy and satisfaction and assurance faith in the resurrection gives. Father's He mansions: it d The (Acts 4:1-2- ) Jesus Christ not only gave His life for us, but has given us clearly the plan of life and of salvation, and He has assured us that to gain eternal life we must live by sound doctrine w'hich is the word of the Lord, spoken either by God or Jesus Christ, or by the prophets of God. It answers clearly and definitely such vital questions as: Who are we? Where did we come from? Why are we here? Is there life after death? Is there a living, personal God? What is our relationship to God, the Eternal Father? Is Jesus Christ, the Savior of the W'orld, the Son of God? What must we do to gain exaltation and enjoy eternal life? For answers to these questions let us turn to and consider the words of the Loid and of the prophets, both ancient and modern. While ith all the irrefutable testimonies of the prophets regarding the gospel truths, why is it so diffi-- j cult for man to accept and endure sound doctrine, which is so important tc an of us? Some of the reasons are evident. First, Satans influence on mankind. In we were all in the spirit world God the Father, he said to Only Begotten, then with Him in the spirit: We will go down . . . and we will make an earth whereon tlie.se may dwell; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them, (Abraham 3:24-25- ) So God created man in his own image, in tire image of Gcd created he him; male and female cieated he them. (Genesis 1:27) tie spirit children of the Father, with that spark of divinity in us, we can become like Him by keeping His commandments-- . lie also said: Search the scriptures . . . which testify of me. (John 5:39) And Paul told the Romans: For whatsoever things w;ere written aforetime were written for our leaning, that we through patience and comfoit of the scriptures might have hope." (Rom. 15:4) Then again we have the words of. Jesus: And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3) In answer to the question, If I die shai I live again? Christ said: I am the resurrection, and the life: he that belriveth in me, though he were dead, jet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. . . He ga'e hi? life and was (John 11:25-26- ) resurrected that man might not remain forever in the grave. the spirit world, even befoie the world was, Satan rebelled because his plan was rejected, and God said: that Satan because Wherefore, rebelled against me, and sought to destroy I caused that he the agency of man should be east down; And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies., to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at". Continued on Page U ... , , , s t WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 12, 1968 CHURCH-- 13 |