All Together for a Sacred Sabbath

Improvement Era Vol. XXII AUGUST, 1919 No. 10

Inspiration and Integrity of the Prophets'

By President Heber J. Grant

I desire to read to you a testimony regarding the first man who occupied the position as President of the Church of Jesus — Christ of Latter-day Saints the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. This testimony was given a., short time hefore the death of the late beloved President of the Church, Lorenzo Snow, and will be found in the current June number of the Improvement Era, in an article written by his son, Elder LeRoi C. Snow. He said, referring to his father:

President Snotifs Testimony Concerning the Prophet Joseph "His work on earth was nearly done, his mission was almost finished; he was about to return to his Maker, and with all the remaining strength of his soul he testified concerning the divinity of the work in which he and the Prophet Joseph Smith commenced their life's work when youn? men: " 'A word or two about Joseph Smith. Perhaps there are few men now living who were so well acquainted with Joseph Smith, the Prophet as I was. I was with him often-times. I visited him in his family, ate at his table, associated with him under various circumstances, and had private interviews with him for counsel. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God; I know that he was an honorable man, a moral man, and that he had the respect of those who were acquainted with him. The Lord has shown me most clearly and completely that he was a Prophet of God, and that he held the holy priesthood and the authority to baptize people for the remission of their sins, and to lay hands upon them for the reception of the Holy Ghost, that they might receive a knowledge themselves in relation to these things, I am one who has received from the Lord the strongest revelation concerning the truth of this work. That manifestation was with me powerfully, for hours and hours, and whatever circumstance may occur in my life, as long as memory lasts this perfect knowledge will remain with me. . . . '"

*From the President's opening speech, at the 89th annual conference of the Church, June 1, 1919.

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842 IMPROVEMENT ERA

As to the testimony that Lorenzo Snow, the Prophet of the Lord, in later years had, in this same article his testimony is re- corded :

"About three weeks after his baptism, Lorenzo Snow received a won- . derful vision which he tells in his own language, in his journal, as follows: " 'I had no sooner opened my lips in an effort to pray than I heard a sound, just above my head, like the rustling of silken robes, and imme- diately the Spirit of God descended upon me, completely enveloping my whole person, filling me, from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, and O, the joy and happiness I felt! No language can describe the almost instantaneous transition from a dense cloud of mental and spiritual darkness into a refulgence of light and knowledge, as it was at that time imparted to my understanding. I then received a perfect knowledge that God lives, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and of the restoration of the Holy Priesthood, and the fulness of the Gospel. It was a complete — baptism a tangible immersion in the heavenly principle or element [the gift of] the Holy Ghost; and even more real and physical in its effects upon every part of my system than the immersion by water; dispelling for- ever, so long as reason and memory lasts, all possibility of doubt or fear in relation to the fact handed down to us historically, that the 'Babe of Beth- lehem' is truly the Son of God; also the fact that he is now being re- vealed to the children of men, and communicating knowledge, the same as in the apostolic times. I was perfectly satisfied, as well as I might be, for my expectations were more than realized, I think I may safely say, in an infinite degree. * * * That night as I retired to rest the same wonderful manifestations were repeated, and continued to be for several successive nights. The sweet remembrance of those glorious ex- periences from that time to the present, bring them fresh before me, im- parting an inspiring influence which pervades my whole being, and I trust will to the close of my earthly existence.'

Confirming Testimony of Many Others

I have listened to the testimony of all of the apostles who have lived in these valleys of the mountains from Brigham Young to Joseph F. Smith, and have heard them tell of their personal acquaintance with the Prophet Joseph Smith. The testimony of Joseph F. Smith was the testimony of one who as a child knew the Prophet and loved him. The testimony of Brigham Young, Jr., was in the same class; but all the other testimonies were those of men of experience, men of power, men of individual determination, men who had wills and minds of thir own, men who could not be led by a man who did not teach the truth. The testimony of Brigham Young, of John Taylor, of Lo- renzo Snow, Wilford Woodruff, Erastus Snow, George A. Smith, Heber C. Kimball, and of others who have held the apostleship, who have held the priesthood of God and who knew the Prophet Joseph Smith intimately; of every true Latter-day Saint, man and woman, including the testimony of my own dear departed mother, than whom no sweeter, purer, nobler soul ever lived;