As a keynote, we'll ask Brother Shomadar Shafi to be our first speaker. Brothers and sisters, I'm delighted to stand before you at this time, a day in which I believe a great deal of enlightenment has been taught from this stand. We have an inspired priesthood before us, and they are directed by the Council Found High.

they are directed, you cannot fail but to partake of the glory of God, which is intelligence. All of us have different avocations in life, many of us different ambitions. How many of you still believe in the counsels of the Prophet Joseph Smith, I am not able to say. But one thing was strenuously taught by him, and that was, Find out your election and make your calling sure. Learn to save yourselves first and then save your family. For myself, I'm overjoyed at the words of truth that we hear so often. And then if your eyes are open, you still see persons moving and panting. The counsel is clear and direct, but intelligence is lacking and carrying it out.

And we can go from tithing, clear up to celestial marriage, and find differences of opinion on how to live. Many enjoy the various personalities that are around us, and they feel they ought to emulate these personalities in their own lives. Only one personality and character has ever been given to us to be emulated, and that was our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.

Everything else is a form of mimicry. I recall at a time of Zion's camp, the prophet was giving some instructions in relation to the needless taking of life, especially the animal kingdom. In order to test the brethren, after he had given a sparing address, he stepped up to a group of them and took a rifle from the hand of one.

and shot a squirrel from a tree, gave them back their rifle, and walked on. Orson Hyde told the brethren, let's cook the meat so it doesn't go to waste. And in his journals, the prophet had this to say about the incident. I perceived that the brethren understood what I did it for, and in their practice gave more heed to my precepts than to my example, which was right. I believe that's what Brother Timpson meant when he declared to us that there are many members of the priesthood here and that they were men of truth. Our first allegiance is to God and to the truth and to those servants that he has duly appointed to direct us and counsel us in making us successful.

of our mission here. We hear a lot said about solidifying the people, becoming united, and the views are very diverse as to how to become united. I've heard tales of people all over this continent who unite in physical exercises. I unite with the people I work with, a very simple task. If that were the measure of the man, to unite with you brethren, and building cities and empires, I feel we've been building castles in the sky. I have here some words that I've copied out of the Truth magazine from a sermon that was spoken by one of our prophets before us today, some years back. These words strike at the truth, and they move me to exercise greater faith in He who has given me life.

A moment that the Lord is convinced that he has enough men who have established this law firmly within their souls. Prophet was speaking of the celestial law which comprises all phases of our lives. We're all familiar with it. Religious, social, political. He will set about to redeem his people. But until he can get these men, who can with one voice receive the revelations of the Spirit, he is at a disadvantage and cannot endow us with the power necessary to accomplish his work. As long as there are two men standing in this group and one receives in power the Spirit of the Lord and the other can't receive it, there is disunity.

and that this unity is what stands between us and the completion of the work of the Lord. I trust all of you may come to understand this form of unity, and that all else is only a means to an end. If we cannot work with all our heart, might, mind, and strength, we are poor participants in the kingdom of God.

I pray for a continuance of the faith of this people that the windows of the heavens will be opened and that so much will be poured out that we will not be able to contain. That we may move along and get this work on the road and not grow weary with the years. Age will come to all of us and we do not need to wait till tomorrow to accomplish the millennium.

within our own lives. I ask the blessings of the Lord upon all of us to take serious the work that's before us, to take stock of ourselves, and to account to the shepherds that's been placed before us. I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.