My dear brothers and sisters, I have had more compliments on the talk I did not give yesterday, than I have ever had on one I actually gave. I am sure those who thus commented were thinking of the advice that Brother Henry Taylor gave yesterday about the responsibility of improving upon silence.

Last night in priesthood meeting, I missed the voice that has always made an eloquent plea for unity, and I am grateful this morning that I heard that voice bear such a powerful testimony to the divinity of this work. [President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., could not attend priesthood meeting.]

Where else could you go in the world and find such certainty and knowledge that God lives and that Jesus Christ is his Son. Contrast what we have heard the past few days with this statement:

"Several years ago in a seminary recognized as perhaps the greatest in this country, a doctor of divinity, who had a string of honorary doctoral degrees and who is on the board of directors of one of the largest Protestant churches in America, in lecturing to a large group of students, most of whom already had bachelor of divinity degrees, said, sympathetically:

"'I know that it is difficult for you men to teach creeds which you, yourselves, do not believe, but you have the social obligation to do it.'"

Another man in the same institution, having about the same academic credentials, declared: "Who knows but what in the year 2004 or some other year, there will live a man who will live more perfectly than did Jesus. Then we will worship him as the Son of God, rather than Jesus. The reason we worship Jesus as the Son of God is because he lived the most perfect life of any man of whom we have knowledge."

Does the world need the message of Mormonism? I think it needs nothing more than to know the true concept of the Godhead, to have borne upon their souls the testimony that has been borne here these days of conference—the testimony that comes through the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, that bears witness to our souls and our hearts that God does live. He is real. He is a glorified, resurrected Being, and he is our Father, and he loves us. He "... so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life"  John 3:16

Jesus is the Savior. We declare boldly, yet humbly, to all of the world [p. 96] that he is the Redeemer; that he atoned for the sins of man, and he is veritably the Son of God.

I am grateful that we have had restored to us today, another witness that this is so. This witness comes from the Book of Mormon. Nephi saw in vision that Mary was to be the mother of the Son of God after the manner of the flesh  1 Ne. 11:18 The Book of Mormon further witnesses that Jesus Christ did come to this people on this continent. They bore testimony that he lives.

I am grateful for the Prophet Joseph Smith, who said he saw two Personages stand above him in the air, and that the one called him by name and said, "This, is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"  JS—H 1:17 And I would add to the testimonies that have been borne in conference, my own testimony. It has come to me through the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. I know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. I am grateful for this witness of the Spirit to my soul.

I would plead with the parents of this Church to prepare their sons to bear this testimony to the world, the only power that will bring peace, because peace is rooted in righteousness. When the hearts of men on this earth can be prepared to receive the witness of the Spirit, all men will be brothers, and then peace can come to our hearts.

I pray that we shall hasten this day through our united efforts by wholeheartedly supporting these brethren who direct the affairs of the Lord on earth, and can contribute both service and substance to help the work of the Lord forward. I humbly pray his blessings upon us, and bear this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.