For the Increase of Faith: A Remarkable Testimony Meeting

FOR THE INCREASE OF FAITH. A REMARKABLE TESTIMONY MEETING. That was an inspiring, unusual and magnificent sight wit- nessed in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Sunday morning, at the conjoint officers' meeting of the M. I. A., June 14, 1908. About four thousand people assembled in a testimony meeting — we doubt anything like it has ever before been witnessed in the history of the Church. The spirit of testimony was richly manifest; so much so, that often two or three persons, and sometimes four or five, would arise at once to testify. The testimonies were calm, deliberate and earnest, and were inspiring to both young and old. It was feared that, owing to the size of the hall, difficulty would be experienced in hearing, but there was little or no complaint on this account. During the time allotted, sixteen brethren and nineteen sisters testified of God's goodness to them; of the truth of the gospel; and their knowledge of the divinity of the latter- day work established by the Prophet Joseph Smith. Many of those who spoke were workers in the Mutual Improvement Associations, but there were others who, catching the spirit of the occasion, could not refrain from expressing their joy in the work of the Lord. We have only space to print two or three of these testi- monies, as reported by Elder F. W. Otterstrom. The blessings upon the people and the testimony of President Joseph P. Smith, given at the close of the meeting and printed in this connection, will serve to stimulate and encourage the laborers and the investi- gators in the great latter-day work: THE SPIRIT BEARETH WITNESS. My Dear Brethren and Sister: — I wish to bear my testimony, this morning, to the truth of the gospel. I can assure you that this is

FOR THE INCREASE OF FAITH. 763 a great joy to me to be permitted to meet with you here. I know what it is to be without the gospel, for I have been in the Church only two years, but they have been the happiest years of my life. My mother and my people were raised in the Methodist church: we were Southern Methodists; but I was never satisfied with any of the religious denominations, and I went from one church to another, until two years ago, in Portland, Oregon, I received the gospel. I went to a Latter-day Saints meeting, one afternoon, out of mere curiosity — not expecting to receive the truth. I had never heard a ''Mormon" speaker, but after being in the building just a few moments, I knew there was something there that was differentfrom other places. After I had been in the meeting a short time, the Spirit of the Lord came into my heart, and I knew that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of the living God. If I had never attended another meeting, but had gone out in the world again and heard any one vilify that noble man, I would have stood up and said: I know that Joseph is the prophet of the living God. I had the privilege of attending the next meeting of that little branch in Portland, Ore- gon, and that day the truth came to my heart that the gospel the Latter-day Saints leach is the true and only gospel. I thank my Heavenly Father that was prepared to embrace it at that time. I It was not a great while until I went into the holy waters of bap- tism. The Lord has blessed me every day and every moment, and I feel that I would rather give up my life than ever deny those principles. It was hard for me to keep the Word of Wisdom. We were Southern people, and always had our coffee. After I was married,, my husband used to tell me, Mamma, you must keep the Word of Wisdom; and I said, I will, just as soon as I can. Time went on, and it seemed I never got to the point where I could give up my coffee; so the Lord permitted us to be stricken with the small-pox; and when my babes were threatened with the dread disease, then my eyes were opened, and I knew the Lord had per- mitted that to come upon us. I thank his holy name that he has taken away from me all desire for coffee and things like that; and from that time until this I have never tasted these things. With his help — and I know he will give it to me— I will never disobey those words again.

764 IMPROVEMENT ERA. I ask that the Lord may keep us faithful, and may he bless each and every one of us, I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. DRIFTED AWAY— BROUGHT BACK BY THE SPIRIT. — My Dear Brethren and Sisters: When I came here today it was the furthest thought from my mind that I would bear my testimony. I was bom a girl of "Mormon" parents, but I drifted from the Church, and from its teachings, and until middle life, I * was ashamed for anybody to think that I was a 'Mormon." I never would go near a "Mormon" church. I would go to any church in the world rather than to a "Mormon" church; but there came a time when the gospel came to me with such force that I was bound to accept it. I cannot tell you how it came; but it came exactly like the promptings of the Spirit led me to stand up today and bear, before this magnificent congregation, the testimony I have of the truthfulness of the gospel. I am more thankful than I can tell for this privilege, because I feel that it is the great- est privilege that will ever come to me, in being able to stand be- fore all of these intelligent people. While you are strangers to me, I feel that I am right in the bosom of my own family. May God bless us all with a testimony of the gospel, and help us to be faithful, that we may never deny it, because it is true; and I bear this testimony to you, in the name of Jesus. Amen. "MY MOTHER'S RELIGION IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME." Brethren and Sisters: — My heart has been made glad, and my soul has' been fed with the beautiful testimonies that have been borne here this morning. I know that God lives. I kn6w that Jesus Christ died for me and for you. I know that "Mormonism" istrue, and I am glad, my brethren and sisters, that my parents were called by the voice of the Good Shepherd from the world unto these mountain tops, that I might be born under the new and everlasting covenant and be an heir to the great things that God has in store for his children. A few evenings ago, while standing on a street corner in this city, I heard a man, who was speaking, propound this question to those who were listening; he said: "Is there any one in this crowd

FOR THE INCREASE OF FAITH. 765 whose mother's religion is good enough for him?" No one answered that question; but, my brethren and sisters, here in this holy temple of God, this morning, I desire to state that my mother's religion is good enough for me. A few weeks ago, my mother took from her chest a letter that is faded — a letter that was written by her father nearly a half century ago. She had gone to a city to work, and the news had come to my grandfather that his daughter, or my mother, had embraced "Mormonism." He wrote this letter, and I never heard such pleading from a father to a child, urging her to retract and not affiliate with the "Mormon" people. He said: "My child, I have reared you with the hope that you would be an honor to the family. It has always been the prayer of my heart, to my God, that I would have joy in my old age, to see you a true Christian, in the Lutheran church." My mother went and wrestled with the Lord for weeks and weeks until finally her prayer was answered. She wrote back to my grandfather and said: ''Father, I love you. It breaks my heart to receive such a letter from you, but my Father in Heaven has borne witness unto me that this work is true; and between you and my Father in Heaven, I must receive the voice of him." my brethren and sisters, the religion of my mother is Yes, — good enough for me, not that I, her son, am following my mother blindly; I have received her testimony, I know she is a pure woman. I thank God for her truthfulness and virtue. There is nothing she could say to me but what I would believe; but above this testimony, my Father in Heaven has borne witness unto my spirit that "Mor- monism" is true. Thank God that I have a mother who has a re- ligion that is good enough for me and I believe that every one in ; this audience can voice the same sentiments, and I believe there are tens of thousands of young people throughout the vales of Zion and in the world who will stand up and say: Yes, I know that ''Mormonism" is true, and thank God that the religion of my mother is good enough for me. God bless you all. Amen. BLESSING AND TESTIMONY OF PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH. President Joseph F. Smith said: Brethren and Sisters:— There is not sufficient time to meet the desires of the people who

766 IMPROVEMENT ERA. are gathered here in a meeting of this kind. Some of us have appointments that we must fill, and the hour has come for our dis- missal for the noon. I desire, however, to say that I have en- joyed very much the calm and deliberate testimonies that have been given to us here today, by our brethren and sisters who have spoken, and the earnestness with which they have expressed their hearts' desires. Inasmuch as I have been busy all the week, and have not had the privilege of attending the meetings and gather- ings of the Mutual Improvement associations which were held on Saturday, I wish to say just a few words now. I believe with you in the divinity of the mission of the prophet Joseph Smith, just as T believe, with all my heart, in the divinity of the mission, and atonement, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I believe that I can say with all truth and soberness that I do know that my Rerleemer lives. I feel it in every fiber of my being, as expressed by those who have spoken. I believe in this gospel — the Gospel of Jesus Christ, commonly called "Mormonism." I am very thankful that my mother be- lieved in it, and that, therefore, her religion, as well as that of my father, is good enough for me. While the good brother was speaking in relation to the re- ligion of his mother and that of her father, and contrasting it, this thought entered my mind: Yes; why should he not be satis- fied with the religion of his mother, since her religion compre- hends and circumscribes all religion. It goes beyond, and above, all the conceptions of religion by the world. held The religion of his mother possesses the power to redeem her father's family, who did not believe it, who did not know of its truth, who did not understand it, and through prejudice would not receive it. The religion that they possessed, and that they knew and followed, had no power beyond the things of the present day and the pres- ent life. Why should we not rather prefer the religion that has power to go back to the beginning of time, and that reaches for- ward to the end of time, and comprehends the necessities and the conditions of every soul that has ever lived in the world, or that will ever live in the world, even to the winding up scene? Surely the children of the Latter-day Saints may be justified in saying that the religion of their fathers and mothers is a religion that is

FOR THE INCREASE OF FAITH. 767 good enough for them. I trust that we will ever live up to its teachings, and that we will feel as the good sister now feels, who confessed that she was born of "Mormon" parents, but drifted away. The Spirit of the Lord followed her, and though she be- came ashamed to be known as a Latter-day Saint, or as a "Mor- — mon," or being connected with them yet the Spirit clung to her, until it brought her back to a new love for the religion of her par- ents, the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation. want to thank you, my brethren and sister, who have borne I your testimonies of the truth here today. I know the gospel is the truth. The principles of the gospel appeal to me upon their own mer- it. I need no outward testimony with reference to their truth, for they bear the very insignia of truth, and they appeal to my judgment, and to my sense, and they convince me that they are good, that they are true— that they are from above, not from beneath. Therefore, I receive the gospel in my heart, on its merits. I need no wonderful spiritual manifestation to know that these principles are true, for God has endowed me with a degree of common sense — ordinary comprehension and understanding — and with this com- mon sense and ordinary comprehension which the Lord has blessed me with, I am able to weigh the gospel of Jesus, and I see in it the principles of life and salvation, principles of righteousness, principles of truth and of godliness, and they are indeed the power of God unto salvation unto all that will receive them. May the Lord bless this congregation, these people who are here representing this great cause 'of Mutual Improvement, and all associated with this work. May the blessing of life attend you, and may the power of God and the power of the Holy Priesthood rest upon you, brethren and sisters, to lead you in the discharge of your duties, and to make you proficient in the performance thereof. Above all things in the world, let us keep our eyes upon the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ^Saints, and upon the principles of truth revealed in the gospel; and though we may be offended at men, let us never be offended with the truth. Let us cleave to God, though all men fail. Let us not depart from him. Let us cleave to the redeeming promise and pov:er of ^the Son of God, though all other people in the word, near or far, depart from

768 IMPRO VEMENT ERA it. Let us abide in the truth that has been revealed in this dis- pensation, testifying to the divinity of the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith, though we stand alone in the world in that belief and in that faith, for I tell you that all the error in the world can- not weigh in the balance against one simple principle of the gos- pel which pertains to God and godliness, and the principles of righteousness in the earth. The Lord bless you, my brethren and sisters. May he bless the cause of Zion. May he bless the youth of Zion, and the Latter-day Saints everywhere, and lead them calmly and dispassionately to weigh the truth in the light of truth, and under the promptings and influence of the Spirith that comes from God, that they may learn the truth, that it may enter into their souls and become a part of their very life and being, that no power on earth or beneath the heavens may ever turn them aside from their duty in the work of the Lord This is my prayer for . you, and for all Israel, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. THE MISSIONARY'S PRAYER. Lord, make me equal to the task That thou dost daily set for me. Aid me, Lord, I humbly ask Keep me from sin and evil free. E'en as I journey here below. Keep thou my mind on heaven above; Thy mercies, Lord, on me bestow let me feel thy wond'rous love. And, as I labor day by day. Thy gospel plan make plain to me; Dear Savior, lead me in the way The path of life eternally. Help me to find the honest souls Who daily seek and pray for light; For them a true example set; Lead thou and guide me in the right. Savior, I am poor and weak; Bless me with wisdom, love and faith; Give me the courage, Lord, to speak Thy word of truth, come life or death. RichSeld, Utah Annie G. Lauritzen.