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Show Pres. Lee arrives at a devotional in San Diego for one of his many speaking engagements. Standing in the Scored Grove, Pres. Lee addresses cast members of the Hill Cumorah Pageant near Palmyra, N.Y, He Accepted Call in Within one hour of the announcement of the organization of a new First Presidency on July 7, 1972, President Harold B. Lee and his counselors, President N. Eldon Tanner and President Marion G. Romney, held a press conference in the church administration building. At that time, President Lee gave a message to church members, a message he reemphasized many times until his dcah Dec. 26. He told the members that there is nothing more important for them to do than keep the commandments. When, at age 73, he became the 11th president of the church. President Lee filled the role the Lord had prepared him for, presiding over the more than three million members of the church. He accepted his responsibility in deep humility, and he constantly acknowledged thev guiding hand behind him. On Aug. 13, 1972, in his first major appearance before the youth of the church since becoming president, he said, Im not the head of tne church; the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is the head of this church. I happen to be the one who has been called to preside over His church at the present time here upon the earth." Less than two weeks later, the Area Conference for Mexico and Central Amerca began in Mexico City. 1 here, President Lee opened the conference by again emphasizing that members should keep the commandments. conferHe told those at the three-da- y ence that the strength of the church is not to be measured by the amount of money paid as tithing by faithful members, nor by the number of the total membership of the church, or the number of church chapels and temple buildings. "The real strength of the church is to individual the measured be by testimonies to be found in the iota! membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints, he said. President Lees love for members of the church was expressed in his continuing efforts to draw closer to them. One visit example of this was a three-weeending Sept. 27, 1972, with church mem-bet- s in England, Europe and the Mediterranean, and including a tour of the Holy k Land. Just less than a year later, he pre 4 - CHURCH WEEK ENDING DECEMBER at the Area Conference in Munich, Germany, where he told the members that they werent forgotten and urged them to be true and faithful in keeping the commandments of God. Dont be afraid of testing and trials of life, he said. Sometimes when you are going through the most severe test, you will be nearer to God than before. sided The deep humility felt by President as he presided over the church was perhaps most apparent at the Solemn Assembly Oct. 6, 1972, when he was sustained by the church. Today, at the greatest moment of my life, I find myself without words to express my deepest and innermost feelings, he said. How grateful I am for your loyalty and your sustaining vote. I bear you solemn witness as to the divine mission of the Savior, and the certainty as to His guiding hand in the affairs of His church today, as in all dispensations of time. From the beginning, when President Lee was sustained as president by the General Authorities, a general theme of unity was immediately apparent. Lee That theme continued throughout his administration, with each of the General Authorities expressing their love, support and testimony for President Lee as Prophet, Seer and Revelator. On Nov. 3, 1972, President Lee dedicated the San Diego Area Visitors Center in San Diego, Calif., and on Nov. 15, he presided, and spoke, at the dedication of the new General Church Distribution Center in Salt Lake City. The theme, "Keep the commandments," was reiterated Dec. 2, 1972, in the First Presidencys message to servicemen, and again Dec. 16, 1972, with their annual Christmas message. President Lee also took the opportunity Dec 14, 1972, along with his counselors, to speak to church employes at their annual Christmas party. His activities in 1973 began with great interest throughout the church as the announcement was made of Uie Munich Area General Conference in Germany. President Lee personally asxed the Tabernacle Choir if they would like to accompany the General Authorities to Europe for the area conference and w as 29, 1 973 H umility pleased with their enthusiastic acceptance. President Lee, on Feb. 24, 1973, received another opportunity to speak with youth, this time at the Salt Lake City District Seminaries S" Lay, at a meeting in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square. He told the youth, The most important thing you can do is to learn to talk to God. Talk to Him as you would talk to your father, for He is your Father, and He wants you to talk to Hun. Another special opportunity to speak to the youth of the church occurred March 9 for President Lee. This time it was in Pocatello, Idaho, addressing th? seminary and institute students at Idaho State University. He later spoke to some 3,500 other members in the Pocatello West Stake Center. To both groups, President Lee emphasized the importance of living the Gospel, and where they may have been sinful, of repenting and keeping the commandments. In preparation for his 74th birthday March 28, 1973, President Lee gave a message which expressed his love for all mankind, and especially for the members of the church. I wculd only wish that the members of the church, the world over, could know my heart and know my love as it reaches out to everyone of them to whom I feel a special kinship. My love and blessing goes out to all, he said. During April, President Lee spoke m conference of the strength of the church, repeating his earlier message that its strength lies in the testimony and faith of its members. Also during the conference, President Lee spoke at length to the priesthood bearers about magnifying their calling He told them that v hen they act righteously in their callings, ihey act in the stead of God For the next several weeks, President Lee took three opportunities to speak again to the youth, addressing young people in Southern California on April 29, m Seattle, Wash., on May 2S and in Billings, Mont , on June 10 In many ways, his comments to the youth were m preparation for MIA Con ference m June when the details of the inspired Aaronic Priesthood MIA were presented. Said President Lee of the new MIA program, I choose not to offend God by claiming that all this has come by the will of man. I confess with all my soul that these things are the Lords and they come through have righteousness, through prayer and through great need." It was in Palmyra, N.Y., at the site of the Hill Cumorah and the pageant there, when President Lee spoke of the significance of the pajjant, noting, On these hills there transpired some of the greatest events in the worlds history. This is the place where tne great dramatic events which brought about the restoration of the gospel took place." It was also here that President Lees quiet strength of spirit profoundly affected those who attended a two-hosacrament meeting and regretted its ending after hearing the prophet speak. On Oct. 26, President Lee, responding m part to the conditions of turmoil apparent in the country, spoke in Rexburg, Idaho, at a homecoming devotional asnot to sembly, urging those present preach pessimism about the country. In talking about Amenca, President Lee said the United States will stand despite whatever trials and crisis it may have to pass through He stressed emphatically that the nation will never fail But, among the most profound of his messages to church members vv as dunng the closing moments of General Conference in October 1973, when President Lee urged faithful members to prepare for the coming of the Lord. Peace be with you, he said, not the peace that comes from the legislation in the halls of Congress, but the peace that comes m the way that the Master said, bv overcoming all the things of the world. The prophet also said. Sometimes when the veil has been very thin, I have thought that if the struggle had been still greater that mayba then there would have been no veil. I stand by, not asking for anything more than the Lord wants to give me, but 1 know that he is up there, and lie is guiding and directing |