I'd like to hear from Sister Margaret Messer tonight. It's certainly a pleasure to be here. I'm very grateful to be able to be here. And I surely pray for the Spirit of the Lord to be with me. Whatever I might say will be directed by Him. Because I know that if I don't have His Spirit, I might just as well sit down right now. I was very happy to hear my...

favorite hymn, we thank you, God, for a prophet. And I know that if we do what the brethren have told us to do, if we have any problems in our lives, if we have any doubts, if we'll take that hymn and read it and concentrate on it and ask the Lord to help us to know what it means, that we'll be lifted up in our spirits to heights that we just can't imagine.

Because those words are true. We do want to get to the place where we can say that we love to obey these commands and the commandments of the gospel that the Lord has given us. I feel so grateful to think that in my decrepit condition that I still have a chance to make something out of myself and to become one with my husband.

And I know that that's the first desire that we should have in our hearts, is to become one with our husbands, whether they're still on the earth at this time or whether they have been taken away. The brethren have told us that we can still, and it still is our duty to become one with them, even if they have been taken away. And through staying near the priesthood, and doing the things that they told us to do, to draw near unto them, I know that this can be possible. And I know, too, that there is a great work for the sisters in the work of God. But I also know that it is up to us to put forth the effort to let our husbands know that we are interested in becoming one with them, because I know that they have much work to do.

Their bodies, their minds are tired. And if we want to use that for an excuse, we can use it. And we'll find ourselves old and gray. And they'll still be busy and they'll still be tired. And so if we want to draw anything from them, we've got to let them know that that's what we want. We speak and we hear so much as the lives of our snow. And I have heard...

People say that the gospel just came naturally to her, that it wasn't any effort for her to accept the gospel. If you read a little bit of her life, you'll find that it was an effort. But the spirit that she had with her was the spirit of obedience. And that's what we have to have. The reason that she got so much teaching from the prophet Joseph was that while the few precious moments that he was with her, She drew from him. The gospel was her life. And she drew from him everything that she needed to know. She was only married to him for four years. In those four years, he was on the run in hiding and jail so that we know that he didn't spend many hours with her. But the reason that she got so much out of it, she was desirous of knowing the truth.

She wanted to be taught. And she recognized his position as the prophet of God. Now I know that it's up to us to do the same thing. I know that if a woman wants with all her heart to become one with her husband, she can do it. She can also be a helpmate to him. She can get to the point where she can stand shoulder to shoulder with him. And that should be our aim in life. And if we put our husbands on that spot, They're going to have to turn to the priesthood and get the help they need so they can answer our questions and so that they'll be able to guide and direct us. And I know that this can be done. I know that we have to first have the desire and then we have to become converted to the things that we were taught. And we have to have the spirit of obedience.

Even if our husband tells us to do simple little things, sometimes he's only putting us to the test to see if we mean what we say, which he has the right to do. Now, I am satisfied that if we'll do these things in our life and be serious and want this gospel more than anything in the world and put that first in our life in conducting our...

so that we'll be an example to our children, that we'll get to that place that we want to be. And if we don't want that, we'll go sliding back. Now, I know that these things can be done. And I know that the brethren have to take the first step. And I know that it's up to the sisters to go to them and ask them and try to find out what they need to know to become one with them.

so that they will feel that responsibility and go where they can be taught. And this, I feel, is our duty and responsibility. We have got to come out from under the curse that has been placed upon us in this life. And I know no other way than becoming one with your husband. I don't know any other way that we can remove that curse. And so you might think that's a simple little thing.

But when you make up your mind to start on it, the devil's going to make up his mind that you're not going to do it. And so we must constantly pray for the devil to be kept away from us, that our minds will be alert, that we'll know the steps to take, and we'll know the minute that he throws one of his fiery darts at us so that we can work to get the Spirit of the Lord. And I know that if we put these things into practice, That it won't be long until we can be called up rather than constantly being called down. But I know too that we've got to put forth the effort. We've got to have the desire to do these things. We've got to admit to our Heavenly Father of our sins and weaknesses. We've got to be truthful with our husbands. And we've got to have the spirit of obedience and gratitude. I feel that...

that I can say that I know, that my Father knows that I know that I'm under condemnation. And that is the thing that I want to come out from under. And if it takes me the rest of my life to do it, that's what I want to do, as well as come out from under the curse that's placed upon us women. But I'm sure that we can do it. And I'm grateful for these breading and the counsel. And I know that...

If we even criticize them in our thoughts, we can lose the Spirit of the Lord. If a woman even criticizes her husband in her thoughts, she can lose the Spirit of the Lord, and her husband will withdraw his mind and will from her. And unless you make up your mind to do something about it, you'll be staying the same as so many say. The gap between us is too wide to do anything about.

And I hope and pray that we can take the teachings that we've spread on earth so desperately trying to put over, especially to the women. Because I know there is a place in this gospel for women. I know that there is a place in this gospel for every woman that will apply these principles to her life. I'm grateful for the life of Aunt Susie and the example that she has set.

And I hear people say very often, I hope I can be like Aunt Susie when I get as old as she is. And I feel to say that she never will, unless you start now. Because I'm sure there hasn't been a time in Aunt Susie's life that she didn't fight for the celestial law and for this gospel. And if we want to follow in her pattern, we have got to start now. We have got to apply these...

principles to our life so that we can overcome our sins and our weaknesses you have to have the spirit of obedience a person who is obedient is peaceful they're going along minding their business their their heart is happy and they're trying to overcome the sins and weaknesses that they have a disobedient person is just the opposite And they'll be persecuted and unhappy, both in this life and in the next, until they finally become, have everything burned out of them, and they'll finally, in the end, have to become obedient. And I think that's a good measuring stick to measure ourselves by. If we're really happy and know that our Father in Heaven knows that we're trying to put into our...

Life, these things that we're being taught, we're applying that principle of obedience. I don't feel to take up any more time. I didn't intend to take up this much time. But I do feel grateful and thank my Father in Heaven for this gospel. Because I know that there isn't anything in this world without it. And I hope and pray that I can...

live the life that he will do the work that he sent me here to do, to overcome my sins and weaknesses, to become one with my husband, and to be obedient to the laws of God, and to stand behind this priesthood, full-heartedly. Now I pray for these blessings for each of you, as you so desire, and ask our Heavenly Father to bless us all to this end, and do it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.