"We believe that the final test of any religion is the effect it has upon the lives of those who live it."

This statement was published on the front page of the first Church Section of, April 4, 1931, forerunner to today's Church News. With this week's issue, we note the 75th anniversary of the Church News. It seems only natural to take a look at our first issue to draw inspiration for this week's Viewpoint.

The introductory statement above was made by Bryant S. Hinckley, father of President Gordon B. Hinckley, in an address delivered over radio station KSL on March 22, 1931, and published in the Church Section.

This Viewpoint is written with a two-fold purpose: to commemorate the origins of today's Church News and note the convening of the 176th Annual General Conference of the Church. Throughout its history, the Church News has been a chronicler of Church events and has had a key role in publishing the words of its leaders to help members more fully "live their religion."

We quote further from Brother Hinckley's radio address: "Religion ought to do two or three things for a man: First, inspire him, lift up his heart, keep his face toward the light, put his life in motion and put purpose into his endeavors. Second, it should cultivate in his soul the stern and rugged virtues that underlie sound living, and in the third place, it should make him sweet and kind and tolerant.

" 'Mormonism' seeks to do this. It lays great stress upon human behavior, it requires that men's lives square with their professions. It means more than learning the Ten Commandments and reciting the Beatitudes; it means keeping them, living them. It is not doctrine in cold storage. 'It is action, not diction.' What one gets beyond the pearly gates must be paid for here. Real religion finds expression in every day life, in the home, in one's attitude toward those who work for him, and his attitude toward those for whom he works."

Brother Hinckley said that the "supreme and final proof of the superiority of 'Mormonism' must be revealed in the behavior of its members. If this people continue to be genuinely sincere, intrinsically sound in their lives they are destined to become the pride and glory of the earth for they have the plan for making them such. What they most need is the vital faith and the unquestioned fortitude to live their religion."

He added: "Religion is the foundation of society and the creative force back of sound industry. It has been the inspiration for the finest creative effort and has produced the best things the world has known."

With these words echoing from our first front page, we look to the current conference for additional counsel that will instill within members everywhere the "vital faith and unquestioned fortitude to live their religion."

Members everywhere look forward especially to hearing the counsel of Bryant S. Hinckley's son — the prophet, seer and revelator of our day, President Gordon B. Hinckley. We approach this conference with gratitude for answered prayers offered in behalf of a restoration of his health following cancer surgery in January, for the privilege of having him, once again, walk among those he often refers to as "beloved associates in the gospel of Jesus Christ."

As the Church News staff, we look forward to sharing with readers worldwide reports on President Hinckley's addresses at this conference, as well as messages delivered by his counselors in the First Presidency, President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust, and members of the Quorum of the Twelve, Quorums of Seventy, the Presiding Bishopric and general auxiliary leaders.

From past experiences of seeing how the Spirit guides those who address general conferences, we know — even before the conference opens — that their messages will inspire and lift us. And we know they will help members throughout the Church, as Brother Hinckley said 75 years ago in the first issue of the Church Section, "to live their religion."