I am persuaded that the subject last referred to by President
Young—the prolongation of life and the preservation of health cannot
be overrated. This is one of the subjects relating to our temporal
welfare that received the early attention of the Prophet Joseph, and
the revelation commonly called the Word of Wisdom has been before the
people for over thirty years. I feel assured that a word on this
subject kindly spoken by our President is a prompting from on high,
and I believe that every true Elder in Israel will bear witness that
this is the word of the Lord to us at this time. I exhort every Bishop
and presiding Elder in this city as well as throughout the country to
lay this matter to heart as one subject requiring their special
attention. Not to make it a hobby to the exclusion of everything else,
so as to disgust the people, but in the true spirit of the Gospel seek
to bring this matter home to the hearts and understandings of the
people of their respective wards and settlements. Feel after those who
may be stupid and ignorant, who do not come to meeting, and do not
receive the spirit of this Conference. Let the Bishops and others in
authority endeavor through their teachers and otherwise to search out
such individuals, and dig round about them, and prune them that they
may perchance bring forth fruit.