Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-16
ask in the name Of the Lord Jesus

ask In the name OF the Lord Jesus.
Amen.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH f. SMITH.
I had really hoped that the other
brethren would occupy the time allot-
ted to us on this memorable occasion.
feel so Inadequate to the task OF at
tempting to speak and to express my
feelings, that II would have been re-
lief to my mind to have been per-
mittcd TO sit still and listen to others.
To say that the Lord loved l'resi-
dent +. u. richards would be only TO
express that which you all know.
And II would seem unnecessary for me
to say that loved him. and that he
was beloved by all his brethren. ! do
not know man anywhere VINO docs
not love or has not loved President
Franklin II. Richards. l do not see
how II would be possible for any man
who knew him not TO love him. ana
not to feel for him the kindlicst and
the deepest respect. He has been
comfort and strength to me all my
life. As Brother brigham Young has
said here. he has known him all his
days; 80 have I. / do not know one
OF the Apostles who has been more IA
miliar to my mind. or. with whom i
have been better acquainted all my life.
than Brother Richards. There always
seemed to be something about him that
drew me towards him, and that drew
felt when | was In his presence. or
when absent from him, that 1 would
receive an: but true brothcrly and ia
therly consideration from him. ! had
the utmost confidence In him. i be-
lievcd In him. and believe In him still.
na a man OF God. n man OF truth. OF
virtue and OF honor before the Lord. To
say that he. or that ]. or any other
man had not human weaknesses and
imperfcctlona. or TO say that lie or
any other man was or In perfect In
Judgment. In knowledge. and In the ex-
| erciae OF wisdom. would be to say that
| which should not perhaps be attribut-
| ed to mortal beings. But l know OF no
man OF all my acquaintance who 80
completely won my love and my conf
| dcncc and respect rs my brother whose
| remains lie before us here today. ! nl-
ways felt when he arose to speak, that
/ he would say something good. and that
he would not say anything that would
! gricvc the Spirit OF the Lord or give
unnecessary oncnsc TO any living being.
felt always that he was In perfect ac-
cord In his spirit with the Spirit OF the
Prophet Joseph Smith: and ! know no
| man who, ! believe, was n trucr man
TO the Prophet Joseph Smith than was
Franklin ID. Richards. Every fibre OF
| his soul seemed to be In accord with
the divine mission OF Joseph Smith.
| have listened to his testimony concern.
ing that Prophet OF God when II has
lust simply filled my whole being al
most beyond my power to contain.
have rcjoiccd In hearing his Testimony
OF the Prophet Joseph Smith
| l might mention another trait In his
character that has seemed to me 1,
shine out beyond that OF almost an,
other man ! ever knew. He cxempli'
fed the spirit that was expressed by
Job. and he has done II for many. man,
ycara.-'Though he STAY me. yet viii
trust In Him" I know no man ON THU
earth that has manifested that spiri
equal to this man. And that example
which | have seen In him has hclpe,
me 10 be humble. and 10 yield In M
spirit ut times when perhaps I nigh
have been no brittle otherwise. that
should have flown to pieces probably
The thought Of the experience and cx
ample OF Brother Richards. what h
has endured. how he has bowed to tn
rod and submitted to the viii OF provi
dcncc, has given me courage, strength
and humility. and have been blessc
through him. | thank God for my as
Hociations with Brother Franklin 4
richards. with such us he | would low
to be associated not only throug
the remaining few days I have to liv
upon this earth. but throughout tn
. countless ages OF eternity. You ma
count me one with him.
! want to be where he IL.
! want to be associated with hlr
, and with men like him -men who woul
die for the truth: men who would sui
! fer anything for the truths sake; me
: whose testimony II and has been ur
wavcring and mistaken. Arm as IN
! rock OF ages. No matter what eli
. cumstancos he was called to pas
: through In life. his testimony was jus
J the same. As I said before. In III
I language OF Job. they could Stay hin
~ D ga hta fftlaf IA \ N
Whatever difficulties he had 10 on
. counter he was for Zion. for the build
Z Ing up OF Zion: he was with his breti
n rem. true. steadfast and faithful.
9 could not help but notice the remar
y OF one OF the brethren, thas II such q