Succession in the Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

by B. H. Roberts

I wish to say to the Latter-day Saints, all that we have to do is to be faithful, to keep His commandments, to be humble, to seek Him in mighty prayer and all will be well with us.

There has been a great deal of work done in this dispensation. The Lord called this people to the valleys of the mountains in fulfillment of prophecy. Old father Jacob, in blessing Joseph and Ephraim, told them what would take place with them and their posterity to the latest generation; that their blessings should extend to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills. We are here as descendants of Joseph and Ephraim, and Abraham, who were patriarchs and holy men of God. They had the Priesthood, and it has been continued and handed down from generation to generation as long as God has had a people upon the earth. He has revealed it in this dispensation through the Prophet Joseph, and it is here to stay and will remain until Christ comes.

I want to say to the young men and maidens of the Latter-day Saints, have no fears from what you hear through the outside world or from those who are professing to build up the kingdom of God, but who have not got the Priesthood as established by the Almighty through Joseph Smith. If you will do your duty all will be right. I am thankful for the privilege of living so long. I have seen the progress of this work almost from the commencement. I thank God for what I see today. I see great improvement but there is still great room for improvement among us now.

I wish to say to our young men there is an evil power, a growing power of darkness around and amongst us. The powers of darkness desire to lead the young men of Israel astray. They think if they can do this, if they can get them to do wickedly, they can weaken this Church. But our young men are raised up to follow in the footsteps of their fathers, and not to be easily led astray.

I pray God my Heavenly Father to bless the Latter-day Saints, that we may all have faith in Him and in the revelations and promises He has given, and in all the truths we have received, and if we do so, all will be well with us. We have come here upon a mission. Our mission is a great and responsible one; it is mighty. In fact, we have been called to leave our homes, our fathers, our mothers, our wives, our children, all that is dear to us, and to go abroad to preach the Gospel to the inhabitants of the earth. We have been called to do this, and as Brother Joseph Smith said, if we do not round up our shoulders and help to bear off this kingdom, we shall be damned. No man can receive the Priesthood from the hands of the Almighty and abuse it but what it will be answered upon his head.

Therefore, let us all, old and young, improve the time, live our religion, have faith in God and His works. The Lord brought us here, His power has been upon us; by His power and His blessings we have built temples and beautified homes; and there has never been a people that I know of that have ever had the power to rear as many temples in so short a time as we have done in the mountains of Israel. Let us remember this and be faithful, remembering our fasting and prayers, call upon the Lord in secret prayer, and ask him to bless and direct us.

The Lord is with us, His hand is over us, and he is guiding this work and will continue to do so until Zion shall arise and be built up and shall stand in beauty, power and become the glory of the whole earth, while the judgments of God shall extend throughout the nations.

May God bless you as Mutual Improvement Associations, may He bless every organization and association that has been established as helps and governments to this great latter-day work; and may we be blessed in all our endeavors to do right—which may God grant, for Christ's sake. Amen.