New President, Netherlands-Belgium Mission

Our Refuge and Strength. BY WILLIAM A. MORTON. At the close of the morning session of conference, on Sunday, April 8, the Tabernacle choir sang in its usual spirited and impres- sive manner the inspiring anthem, "God is our Refuge and Strength." As I sat listening to the splendid rendition of the sacred composition, I was led to reflect on the history of my peo- ple, the Latter-day Saints. I thought of the Prophet Joseph Smith, of the opposition which he encountered when he announced to the world a new revelation from God; I thought of the terrible persecution to which he was continuously subjected because of his faithfulness in bearing witness to the truth which the Lord had revealed to him. And when I reflected upon these things, and upon the miraculous manner in which he had been preserved and sustained until he had completed his mission, I was led to say in my heart, "Surely God was his refuge and strength, a very pres- ent help in trouble." And as it was with the prophet, so it has been with the peo- ple. The Latter-day Saints have been subjected to all manner of persecution; they have been robbed of their possessions; driven from their homes to wander as exiles in an unknown land; they have suffered the loss of almost everything save life itself — and, indeed, many of them have sacrificed their lives for the truth's sake — yet today they stand before the world as the three Hebrews stood before their tormentors, free from even the smell of the fiery furnace of persecution through which they have passed. Who sustained and preserved the Saints in all their trials and tribula- tions? It was he who led the children of Israel through the Red Sea, who "stopped the mouths or lions, quenched the violence of fire, and put to flight the armies of the alien." It was God, our

1104 IMPROVEMENT ERA. father's God. He has been our refuge and strength, a very pres- ent help in trouble. Professor George H. Brimhall reminded a few of us recently of a remarkable deliverance which the Lord brought to his people a number of years ago. The leaders of the Church were being hunted like wild beasts of the forest. For a long time the Saints had been deprived of their association and inspiring counsel, and they were becoming like sheep who had lost their shepherds. Wait a moment and see the clouds disappear and the sun shine forth in all his glory! Behold the servants of the Most High com- ing forth from their hiding places to mingle again with those they love! Hear the prison doors unlock, and see the prisoners for con- science sake emerging from their prison cells to enter the sanc- tuary of the Lord, to praise him for their deliverance, and to feed the flock over which he had made them overseers! How was all this brought about? A proclamation was sent throughout the Church setting apart a day for fasting and prayer on behalf of the authorities, that they might be delivered out of the hands of their enemies and permitted to return to their places. The offer- ing of the Saints was accepted of the Lord, and ere long his cove- nant people were rejoicing in the fellowship of their beloved leaders. With the wonderful record of the past before us, what have we to fear? Surely he who has been with us from the beginning, who has fought our battles for us, and delivered us out of the hands of our enemies, will continue to be "our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." 1 have just laid down a little volume bearing the title Widow O'Callaghan's Boys. I have learned much from it. The poor widow had a little boy named Andy who, the second or third day after he had commenced school, was set upon by a bully named Jim Barrows and abused and beaten. But Andy had a big brother named Pat who happened to come along at that time and found his brother crying. On learning the cause of his trouble, he made up his mind that he would teach Jim Barrows a lesson, which he did the next day by giving him a good thrashing. After that, Andy had peace. It was a good thing for the little O'Callag- han boy that he had a big brother to defend him.