Elder Levi Edgar Young.
(Of First Council of Seventy.)
My brethren and sisters: I have been asked by President Smith to say a few words this morning concerning the organization for the World's Peace Foundation that has been inaugurated here in the United States. Yesterday afternoon the Utah organization was perfected by the election of Hon. Wm. N. Williams as president; he with the other regularly elected officers, will take up the work of perfecting the organization throughout the State of Utah. At the head of the peace organization in the United States is Ex-President William Howard Taft. The movement has been inaugurated for the purpose of inculcating in the hearts of all American people the virtue of peace, and it is desired that such organizations be perfected in all of the states of the Union.
Utah is recognized by a great many people abroad as being loyal to the gospel of peace. It is said that we have contributed here in this state more for the suffering people of Europe than any other state of the union in comparison to the population. It is greatly desired by the peace organization that all of the people of the State become interested in this movement and contribute in spirit and in truth, to the cause, that a sentiment may be aroused in the hearts of men and women, and of the children of the public schools, that we may have a backing that will count for something, and that it may be said that our own State is not dead to this great message which Christ brought to the world over eighteen hundred years ago.
I was particularly interested in the words of Elder Orson F. Whitney. I believe every word that he uttered. I know that the revelation that he read is true, and the glorious thing to me is that the people throughout our government is beginning to recognize the great work of the Latter-day Saints. It has been recently printed in the Alumni Review of the Harvard University, that the "Mormon" people established in the Far West the most splendid American institutions of government, and when Dr. Turner, of the Department of Western History, made that statement he did it because of his careful study. But I believe we have gone farther and established in early days in this state the most splendid types of municipal and civic government of any American people that ever lived. In the Department of Political Science of Columbia University, students are making a study of the development of the old English town government of this state. This institutional life which the pioneers established in this great country of the Far West is being recognized, and the truth of their work is destined to be known.
But the Latter-day Saints have done more than establish American institutions in the Far West. They have established not only economic institutions that are wonderful in history, but "Mormonism" calls every man, woman and child into the field of constructive social activity. I believe we have the key to the social reformation of the world, through the priesthood and the different organizations of the priesthood of God. But over and above all of these things, Zion is to be established on this continent, as has been pointed out this morning by Elder Whitney, and all people who wish the truth, and who would bow to their God and ask for truth, shall know the truth and the truth will make them free. They will come up unto Zion and be purified, and Zion will be built upon this continent, and it will be the great center of all civilization and culture. The gospel of the Christ shall grow in the hearts of all, and Christ shall reign as Lord of Lords. He shall come and the great millennium shall be ushered in, but not until the people of the world shall have bowed to His great word and recognized that Jesus is the Christ.
So here, in this State, we have every opportunity of establishing a peace society that will be effective. A part of Zion at least will be here, and Zion means the place where the pure in heart are living. This will be a veritable Zion. We will contribute a light to the world. The sorrowful, those that are placed in all kinds of terrible social conditions, because of the great war in Europe, they will look, I believe, to the United States government for succor, and in time will they kneel in prayer to God and ask for the light and truth, recognizing as they will, that the truth has been taken from the hearts of men and that they are in need of a knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world. We urge that this peace movement receive your hearty support throughout this state, that organizations may be perfected in the respective Stakes of Zion, that it may be said that among the Latter-day Saints of the far west, not only do they preach the gospel of peace, but they are perfecting the Gospel of peace by their righteous works. I believe that we have a great opportunity, my brethren and sisters, of doing a splendid work in this State.
May Zion be built upon this continent, may we cleanse our hearts and do the great work and make the great contribution of bringing about the unfurling of the flag of peace, of helping to bring about the federation of the world in a league of peace, that there may be no more war, that peace may come and that all people shall look up to Zion and know that God is God and that He has spoken to His people. May we so direct our lives that this message may be given to the world.
I bear you my testimony that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that He is the Redeemer of the world, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and that the great saving message of God, the Father, has been revealed unto His people no more to be taken from the earth, but to spread through the world as the great life and light of salvation and universal peace and happiness. Amen.
The anthem, "Christ is Risen," was sung by the choir, 25 of the lady members rendering the solo parts.
The benediction was pronounced by Elder Lewis W. Shurtliff.
Conference adjourned until 2 p.m.
Overflow Meeting
An overflow session of the Conference was held in the Assembly Hall, adjoining the Tabernacle, at 10 a. m. The services were presided over by Elder George Albert Smith; and the Forest Dale, Waterloo, and Richards ward choirs, combined, furnished the music.
The hymn, "O awake! my slumb'ring minstrel, was sung by the choirs.
The opening prayer was offered by Elder George C. Lambert.
The choirs sang the hymn, "Ye simple souls who stray."