This Church is now celebrating the 117th anniversary of its organization. There has been no turning back since that memorable day; there must be no turning back now. Some perhaps have dropped by the wayside. One of the great contributions of pioneer life and of pioneer colonizing was the fact that the Mormon people did not turn back. You have read the story of other pioneer companies who came to the West in those early periods. Many of them started out perhaps with 30 or 40 people and ended with half the number. They were not home builders; they were trappers; they were men seeking something else than homes. But it was different with the Latter-day Saints. They were to come west under the direction and inspiration of a great leader to build homes, and there was little turning back. That is the inspiration for us today, my brethren and sisters, that there be no turning back, there be no wavering.
… We are gratified about [the growth of the Church], but when we come to analyze it, numbers mean very little. We are only strong, we're only powerful and influential insofar as we live the things that God has revealed for us, His children. We are only a great people as we cling to those concepts that were revealed for our benefit and blessing. …
God help us that we may live so to do and that we may not turn back and not waver but be worthy and strong in the faith.
Subheads added; punctuation, capitalization, and paragraphing standardized.
Illustration by Scott Snow
© 2011 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.