Elder David B. Haight
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"As I look at this vast audience and reflect on our humble beginnings, just imagine in Fayette, N.Y., the Peter Whitmer log cabin, with dimensions that, as I recall, were about 20 by 30 feet. . . . In that humble building 170 years ago, the church was organized. Imagine!"
That small farm home was the location of the final translation of the Book of Mormon. It was the place where the church's first two elders, the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, were ordained. It was the location of the first sacrament meeting.
"With that humble, humble beginning we stand here today," in a new building for a new millenium. "I just want to say hallelujah, to thank the Lord for all that's taken place."
We've started a little tradition in my family. Wherever our family members are at general conference time, even if it's in front of a TV, we stand and raise our hands to the square and sustain church officers. In this way, our family has learned the importance of supporting church leaders.
"The Lord promised that Joseph Smith and others would receive power and authority to bring the church out of obscurity and out of darkness. . . . All of us, as we assemble here today. . . have the feeling that this is only the beginning, only a chapter in the on-rolling of this work."
Remember the Lord's questioning of Peter: "Lovest thou me?" When Peter answered "Yes," the Savior said, "Feed my sheep."
"May we have that testimony, that desire to serve others, not only by what we say, but by the way we act, how we live. . . and the kind of example we are to mankind."
