I have been very much pleased and interested in the proceedings of
this conference and in the teachings that we have had from those who
have addressed us, and I take very great pleasure in performing my
part in these exercises in which we are now engaged. It would seem that this building is rather too small for us at present; I do
not know that we can stretch it any; consequently we will put up with
things as they are. However it will only be on extraordinary occasions
that we shall have the amount of people in it that there is today. By
and by the storms will be over and the winter past, and we have got a
larger building close by, that we can go to. I am very much pleased,
however, with the exertions that have been made in preparing this
building so far, it is true that it is in an unfinished condition for
the assembling of the Saints at this conference; but I suppose that it
will be quite gratifying to the priesthood and to all who have
assembled together on this occasion, to possess the privilege we now
enjoy.
There are a few thoughts that have passed through my mind in hearing
the remarks of some of my brethren. I was much pleased this morning in
listening to the remarks made by Brother Pratt and the brethren who
succeeded him, particularly in regard to the subject that they seemed
to have their minds upon, that is in relation to the observance of the
word of wisdom; and although, like Brother Pratt, I should have to
make an acknowledgement that I have not fulfilled that always, yet, I
heartily sustain and coincide with every principle that God has
revealed for the temporal or spiritual salvation of his people. There
were some remarks associated with those made by some of the brethren
that also bore a little on my mind, namely, that our religion did not
consist simply in one principle but in many, agreeable to what has
been spoken in ancient days that "man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." But we are
none of us justified in repudiating or ignoring any one of those
principles which God has given unto us, and if we have been negligent
in these or other matters the proper way for us to do is to reform, to
begin anew, or, at least if we have let down any stitches, as the
sisters sometimes say when they are knitting, gather them up again and
put things in proper position that we may be able, not only in that
but in everything else, to honor our God in all sincerity, fidelity
and integrity; that we may be able to present ourselves before the
Lord in a manner which shall always have his acceptance.
We need teaching continually, line upon line, precept upon precept,
here a little and there a little. Hence we have our various
organizations of the priesthood, calculated to oversee, to manipulate,
to regulate, to teach, to instruct, and to enter into all the
ramifications of life whether they pertain to this world or the world
to come. We need continually not only the guidance and the teachings
of the apostles, the presidents, the bishops, priests, teachers,
deacons and the various organizations of the priesthood; but we need
individually to look unto the Lord for wisdom to direct us in all the
affairs of life, that we may speak aright, that we may think aright,
that we may act aright, and we may perform the various duties
devolving upon us to attend to in all of the avocations of life, and
in our prayers, in our various devotions in a family capacity, in a
church capacity and in every position that we occupy, we need the
guidance and direction of the Almighty. And it is with individuals as
it is with families and branches and portions of families, we need to
seek unto the Lord and obtain wisdom from him. There is one fact, and
that is a great many people—scarcely any of us—know what is
good for us. We may have our ideas about that; but we need continually
the guidance and direction of the Almighty. The disciples, that is the
apostles of old, understood this principle and they asked the Lord to
teach them how to pray and in a very few words he uttered one of the
most comprehensive forms that has ever been penned or spoken. He said
when you pray say, "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy
name, Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is done in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as
we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, the
power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen." That is a most
comprehensive prayer. In the first place the God of the universe is
recognized, our Father who is in the heavens, the God and the Father
of Jesus Christ. And what else? The God and Father of the spirits of
all flesh. We recognize and reverence him as "Our Father which art in
heaven," we bow before him and seek unto him for his guidance and
direction. We hallow and reverence his name. And then what next? "Thy
kingdom come." What kingdom? All those things branch out into great
and important principles, that can only be understood by revelations
from the Most High. "Thy kingdom come." Why? That "thy will may
be
done on earth as it is done in heaven."
I wish to refer a little to some of these things, those ideas and
principles that are developed in this saying, in part, because these
things can only be done in part. We talk a good deal about the church
and kingdom of God. I sometimes think we understand very little about
either. The kingdom of God means the government of God. That means
power, authority, rule, dominion, and a people to rule over; but that
principle will not be fulfilled, cannot be entirely fulfilled, until,
as we are told in the Scriptures, the kingdoms of this world are
become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ, and he will rule over
them. And when unto him every knee shall bow and every tongue confess
that he is Christ, to the glory of God, the Father. That time has not
yet come, but there are certain principles associated therewith that
have come, namely, the introduction of that kingdom, and the
introduction of that kingdom could only be made by that being who is
the king and ruler, and the head of that government, first
communicating his ideas, his principles, his laws, his government to
the people; otherwise we should not know what his laws were. The world
has been governed in every kind of form; we have had every species of
government. Sometimes we have had patriarchal government, at other
times we have had unlimited monarchies or what may be called despotic
governments, where the power to rule is in the hands of one
individual. At other times we have had limited monarchies such as
exist in many places now upon the face of the earth. In other places
and at different ages we have had what is termed republican
governments where the voice of the people has ruled and governed and
managed the people's affairs. There have been various forms
independent of these, which I do not wish to enter into at present,
but nowhere have we had the government of God. It is true that for a
limited period among a very small people in early days, among the
Jews, they profess ed to be under the guidance of God for a
certain length of time. But they were continually departing therefrom.
They had their priesthood, they had their prophets, they had their
Urim and Thummim, and through these mediums they sought the wisdom and
guidance of God in regard to many of the prominent enterprises in
which they engaged. The law given by Moses was one of those things
that emanated from God. Moses received from the Lord the ten
commandments written upon tables of stone—written by the finger of
God—and this people, who were then quite a small people comparatively
speaking, received the commands of God and professed, at least, to be
governed thereby. The Lord gave them commands and they were proclaimed
to the people, and when proclaimed it was usual for all the people to
say "Amen. These laws we will observe and do." But this was among a
very limited people. Very soon they desired to have a king to rule
over them, but the idea that was then considered proper among them
was: "The Lord is our king, the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our
lawgiver, and he shall rule over us." We see the feeling which they
had and entertained as a people, but they departed from it and they
sought a king and were led astray from correct principles—led into
folly, darkness, ignorance—until they were scattered abroad to the
four winds of heaven.
There has been a time spoken of by all the holy prophets since the
world was, when God should govern his people, and the Jews, when the
Messiah came, expected that he was come to reign over Israel as a
temporal king, that he was going to take possession of his kingdom to
overthrow all other kingdoms, empires, dynasties and powers, and
declare himself the king of Israel and of the world. But they did not
understand many things associated therewith, and they do not now; and
the world does not, and we ourselves understand very little about
them. But the Scriptures say that "till heaven and earth pass, one jot
or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be
fulfilled." Now then, if the kingdoms of this world have never yet
become the kingdoms of our God and his Christ they will be, and it is
necessary that there should be a commencement to this as well as to
every other thing. This is a matter that has been looked forward to by
prophets and apostles, patriarchs, and men of God in the various
dispensations of time. It is called "the dispensation of the fulness
of times" when God will gather together all things in one whether they
be things on the earth or things in the heavens. Now there must of
necessity be a starting point for this, and the question is how is it
to originate? Who among the nations of the earth knew or comprehended
anything about the government of God? None did; nowhere; no king, no
emperor, no potentate, no president, no power upon the face of the
earth; no divine or theologian, no scientist, no philosopher,
understood anything about this matter. It is indeed the kingdom of
God, and being his kingdom, it must originate with him, it must
receive from him its teachings, its forms, its principles, its laws,
its ordinances, its institutions, and everything connected therewith
must emanate from God, and as it was necessary that it should
originate with him, it is also necessary that it should be upheld and
sustained by him and that those who should operate in this kingdom
should be governed by the same spirit that you heard Brother
Pratt talk about this morning. It became necessary also that a medium
should be introduced whereby man might be placed in communion with God
that they might comprehend him, that they might understand his laws
when he gave them, that they might be acquainted with the principles
which he had to develop; for there is one great principle that men
very little understand, viz.: "The things of God knoweth no man, but
the Spirit of God," and if they don't know only through his wisdom, it
would be in vain for God to communicate with a people who could not
comprehend him, who had not the capacity to receive these principles
which he had to communicate. The same principle holds good everywhere
among all the principles with which we are acquainted or know anything
about. You cannot teach a child algebra, nor arithmetic, until it has
gone through a certain system of training. You cannot teach the arts
and sciences without necessary preparation for their introduction, nor
can you teach people in the government of God without they are placed
in communication with him, and hence comes the Church of God, and what
is meant by that? A school, if you please, wherein men are taught
certain principles, wherein we can receive a certain spirit through
obedience to certain ordinances. And we, having received this spirit
through those ordinances, were then prepared to take the initiatory
steps in relation to other matters, and hence as a commencement the
Lord appeared unto Joseph Smith, both the Father and the Son, the
Father pointing to the Son said, "This is My Beloved Son in whom I am
well pleased, Hear ye Him!" Here, then, was a communication from the
heavens made known unto man on the earth, and he at that time came
into possession of a fact that no man knew in the world but he, and
that is that God lived, for he had seen him, and that his Son Jesus
Christ lived, for he also had seen him. What next? Now says the
Father, "This is my beloved Son, hear him." The manner, the mode, the
why, and the wherefore, he designed to introduce through him were not
explained; but he, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the
Redeemer of man, he was the one pointed out to be the guide, the
director, the instructor, and the leader in the development of the
great principles of that kingdom and that government which he then
commenced to institute. What next? The next step was that men having
held the priesthood, that had ministered in time and eternity and that
held the keys of the priesthood came and conferred them upon Joseph
Smith. John the Baptist conferred upon him the Aaronic priesthood, and
Peter, James and John the Melchizedek priesthood; and then others who
had operated in the various ages of the world, such as Moses and
Enoch, appeared and conferred upon him the authority that they held
pertaining to these matters. Why? Because it was "the dispensation of
the fullness of times," not of one time only but of all the times; it
was the initiatory step for the development of all the principles that
ever existed, or would exist pertaining to this world, or the world to
come. What next? He was commanded to set apart other men, to baptize
them that believed, that had faith in God and in his kingdom, and in
his revelations and in his government. After they were put in
possession of these principles, they were commanded to baptize those
who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who repented of their
sins, that they were to be baptized for a remission of their sins and
to have hands laid upon them for the reception of the Holy Ghost. What
then? There was a priesthood organized, a First Presidency, the
Twelve, a High Council, Patriarchs, quorums of High Priests,
Seventies, Elders, Bishops, Priests, Teachers and Deacons, to carry on
the purposes of God, and to instruct men in the laws pertaining to his
kingdom, even the laws of life. Men were sent forth in the name of God
to preach the principles of truth which had been revealed, and a great
many believed and were baptized and were initiated into the Church of
God, and we may say into the initiatory or preparatory steps necessary
for the establishment of the kingdom of God. They then received the
Spirit of God, which is "no cunningly devised fable;" it did not
originate with man, it was the gift of God to man. The Elders, for
instance, were told to go forth and call upon men to repent, to be
baptized, and they were to lay their hands upon them that they should
receive the Holy Ghost. And what should that do? Take of the things of
God and shew them unto the people. This is one of the greatest
developments of power that ever existed among men. You Elders,
hundreds of you that are now listening to me, have gone forth to
preach this Gospel. You have called upon men to believe in the Lord
Jesus Christ and they have done it. You have called upon men to
repent, and they have done it. You have told them to be baptized and
you have baptized them. You have then laid your hands upon their heads
and said "receive ye the Holy Ghost," and they have received it. And
you know, and this congregation knows, that what I say is true, and by
that principle, through obedience to the law of God that he had
introduced in his Gospel. What for? To prepare men to be placed in
communion with God. To prepare them to be members not only of his
Church but of his Kingdom, and to prepare them to take part in this
great event that had to transpire in the last days. Now these are
facts that you cannot controvert, nor anybody else. You know that
these things are true. What does it prove? That it is God's kingdom,
he has introduced it, and as it was said in former times, "Ye are my
witnesses," as well as the Holy Ghost that beareth witness of us. Now,
then, could you have received this without the interposition of the
Almighty and his Son Jesus Christ? No you could not. Could you have
received it without the keys of the priesthood being restored and
which some men affect to despise so much? No you could not. Hence we
trace out the order of these institutions as they dwelt in the mind of
God, and as they were made manifest among men. Have those elders that
perform these ceremonies their weaknesses? Yes, just as much as Elder
Pratt and I have our weaknesses. Have they their infirmities? Yes. Was
it a rich treasure that was conferred upon us? Yes, but we received it
in earthen vessels, surrounded with the infirmities of man. But God
knew these infirmities; he was acquainted with all our weaknesses.
Nevertheless, he conferred upon us this priesthood, this power, and
this authority, and when we went forth in his name and by his
authority, God sanctioned our acts. Is God with us while these things
take place? I think so. What do you think about it? It is a principle
that is clear, and plain and demonstrable. Well, what next? Then we began to gather together. And why do
we gather together? Some of us can hardly tell why, and I am often
surprised when I read letters importuning us in regard to this matter.
I get letters time and again praying that some means may be devised
that the Saints may be delivered and gathered to Zion, and be enabled
to live with the Saints of God. What is the reason of it? Why do they
want to gather? Because there was a spirit and influence associated
with this Church and this kingdom which led and propelled them to this
action, and you who hear me have felt this influence; you felt a
desire to gather, and you came, and those that are not here now feel
as strong a desire to gather as you did. And when you have gathered,
many of you think it is a curious kind of Zion, don't you? It is; for
while the net gathers in the good, it brings all kinds as well, good
and bad. We have some very good fish, and some very bad ones, and some
a kind of half and half, and some feel like saying "Good Lord and good
devil," as they do not know into whose hands they may fall.
Nevertheless, this is the order, and the wheat and tares, I suppose,
have got to grow together until the harvest comes, and that is not
quite here yet, and hence we are jostling one against another, and
some of us hardly know whether it is us or somebody else. Difficulties
and trials beset us, and we are amazed. But we are here, and we are
here according to the command of God and according to the operation of
the Spirit of God that rests upon us, and did rest upon us, and led us
here, and I was going to say, we are here because we could not help it.
Well, what next? Who are we, and what are we when we are here? Some
good Latter-day Saints, and some, as I have said, half and half, some
one thing and some another. But how do we stand in the position we
occupy as a Church and as other people stand? We believe in God. We
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in virtue, purity,
holiness, integrity, honesty. We believe in good citizens and good
Saints. We believe in keeping the commandments of God, and carrying
out his purposes. We believe in spreading the Gospel to the ends of
the earth. We believe in gathering together the honest in heart. We
believe in building temples and administering therein for the living
and for the dead, and we believe in acting as saviors upon Mount Zion
according to the word of the Lord. All these things and a great many
more are leading principles which we as Saints profess to believe in.
Well, we have a right to do that, although there are others who do not
believe in those things. They have just as much right not to believe
in our principles as we have to believe in them. And we sometimes feel
angry and out of sorts with others because they do not believe as we
do. Well, we do not believe as they do. Some of them think we are very
foolish, very enthusiastic, very superstitious, and very wicked. Those
that know us do not think we are so bad after all. We have our
weaknesses and imperfections, yet we are quite as good as the balance
of them, and a little better, and we ought to be, for we make great
pretensions. But they think these things about us. They think we are
deluded. Now the only difference between us and them is that we know
they are superstitious and corrupt, and that they violate those laws
they profess to believe in and those principles which they profess to
be governed and guided by. But we have no right to expect
everybody to submit to our doctrines, our views, our principles, it is
a matter of free will with them, and as I said they have just as much
right to believe as they think proper and to worship as they choose as
we have. These are some principles that are really correct. Well, they
try to prevent us from worshipping as we believe? Now that is—what
shall I call it? A doctrine of devils, it does not come from God, he
is more free and generous in his feelings than that. He does not
control the consciences of men nor force them to obey his behests; it
is a matter of free grace, it is a matter of free will. Well, though
they think they have a right to interfere with us, we do not think we
have a right to interfere with them. And I do not think we do. There
is a number of institutions here in this city, Catholics,
Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, etc., and I do not
know how many more, quite a pile of them. If they think they are right
I am quite willing they should think so. I do not wish to interfere
with them. Who interferes with their building meetinghouses? Who
interferes with their worship? If there is anything of this sort I do
not know of it; I hope I shall not know of it; I hope never to hear of
such things. I believe that all men have the privilege of worshipping
God according to the dictates of their own consciences and then I
think we possess just the same right; and when they depart from this
principle and wish to curtail us of our rights they are violating the
spirit and genius of the institutions of our common country, and also
those of the kingdom of heaven with which we are associated. They are
also violating those good feelings that ought to exist between man and
man, brother and brother, and they are interfering with things that in
no wise belong to them.
Now then, here is the ground that we stand on in a religious capacity.
If I can find a way and you can find a way, whereby we can approach
our God and have him for our guide, our teacher and instructor, if
they cannot do it, it is none of their business what we do. They have
nothing to do with it, it is none of their business in any way
whatever, and any interference is an interference with the legitimate
rights and inherent principles that belong to humanity.
Well, so far as they stand on their platform and we on ours, they may
be Methodists, they may be Presbyterians; all right. They may get up
their revival meetings and think they are doing a great deal of good;
all right, and so far as they teach good moral principles, and do not
depart from truth, all right. So far as they obey the laws of the
land, all right; we have nothing to do with them? Have you? Has the
city? Has the Territory? No.
Well then, we will go a little further. By being here we become an
integral part of the government of the United States, as a Territory.
Very well. Here is another thing we are talking about. Is that the
government of God? Not quite, but it is the government we are living
under, and if they treat us right and extend to us any kindness we
appreciate that. If they treat us wrong, we think it is not according
to correct principles. We think as American citizens we ought to
receive all the privileges equally with other people; we think we
ought to be allowed to worship God according to the dictates of our
consciences and be protected in our worship. So far, then, as I have
said before, we are on a level. Now then, we are on the same
ground in regard to political circumstances. We are under the United
States, but the United States is not the kingdom of God. It does not
profess to be under his rule, nor his government, nor his authority.
Yet we are expected as citizens of the United States to keep the laws
of the United States, and hence we are, as I said before, an integral
part of the government. Very well, what is expected of us? That we
observe its laws, that we conform to its usages, that we are governed
by good and wholesome principles, that we maintain the laws in their
integrity and that we sustain the government, and we ought to do it.
But there is a principle here that I wish to speak about. God dictates
in a great measure the affairs of the nations of the earth, their
kingdoms and governments and rulers and those that hold dominion. He
sets up one and pulls down another, according to his will. That is an
old doctrine, but it is true today. Have we governors? Have we a
president of the United States? Have we men in authority? Yes. Is it
right to traduce their characters? No, it is not. Is it right for us
to oppose them? No, it is not. Is it right for them to traduce us? No,
it is not. Is it right for them to oppress us in any way? No, it is
not. We ought to pray for these people, for those that are in
authority, that they may be led in the right way, that they may be
preserved from evil, that they may administer the government in
righteousness, and that they may pursue a course that will receive the
approbation of heaven. Well, what else? Then we ought to pray for
ourselves that when any plans or contrivances or opposition to the law
of God, to the Church and kingdom of God, or to his people, are
introduced, and whenever we are sought to be made the victims of
tyranny and oppression, that the hand of God may be over us and over
them to paralyze their acts and protect us, for as it is written, the
wrath of man shall praise him, the remainder of wrath shall he
restrain.
Now, we in Utah here are under the government of the United States; we
are a very little portion of it. It is true we have our legislators,
we have our probate judges, we have our marshals, constables, etc., we
have our city charters, etc., etc., and certain immunities and
privileges of this kind. Well, shall we be governed by them? Yes.
Shall we obey the law? Yes. Shall I as a citizen of this city obey the
laws of this city? Yes. Shall I cause trouble or speak evil of the
mayor or city council or any of the administrators of the law? No, I
ought to pray for them that they may lead aright and administer
justice equitably and act for the welfare and interest of the
community wherein they live and for whom they operate. Am I a citizen
of the United States? Yes, and I ought to feel the same toward them.
Well, now, there are some important points come in here. As I have
said, we are a very small portion of this government. Now, do we wish
to overthrow the government. I think not. I think we do not. Do we
wish to cause them trouble? Not that I know of. I know we are accused
of that; but it is not true. These statements are not correct. Our
religion, however, differs from the religion of many others, and as I
have said before, while they look for liberty to worship God as they
please, they do not want us to possess the same privileges. There is
nothing new in this; but because of this have they a right to
interfere with the institutions of which we have become a part? Do not
our legislators, our governors, and all men here swear fealty not only
to the Territory, but to the United States, and say they will support
the Constitution, laws, and institutions thereof? They do. This is the
position we occupy. But we are placed in a peculiar position in some
things. They—I was going to say in their wisdom, but I will say in
their folly, and I hope they will excuse me, for I look upon it in
that way—have passed certain laws trying to interfere with us in our
operations in religious affairs. Well, we cannot help that. I told you
a while ago—you believe me, this congregation believes me with very
few exceptions—that God had introduced and instituted this Church,
that he was the founder of it, that it emanated from him, the
doctrines, ordinances, principles, government, priesthood, authority,
and all that pertain to it emanated from him; we had nothing to do
with it. Joseph Smith had nothing to do with it, only as a passive
worker in the hands of the Lord. Brigham Young had nothing to do with
it only acting in that capacity. I have nothing to do with it, nor my
brethren of the Twelve. God revealed it. I cannot help it. Can you?
Can anyone? Now, then, this people have been received into this
Church in the way that I have spoken of, and have actually received
communication from God by the laying on of hands, received the Holy
Ghost, and have a hope within them blooming with immortality and
eternal lives, and are in possession of a hope that enters within the
veil whither Christ has gone. Can you uproot that from the minds of
this people? No, no power on earth, no power in heaven, nor all the
combined nations of the earth can do it; God planted it there, man
cannot take it away, and men are foolish in trying to attempt it. Very
well. But they do try to interfere with us under a pretence that we
are very wicked here. Well, it is enough to make a person laugh
sometimes, when we think about these things, and enough to make us
sorry when we know of the hypocrisy, lasciviousness, crime, murder,
bloodshed that prevail in this nation and other nations, to hear them
talk to us about our morality. We know when they talk in that way that
they are hypocrites. We know that they know better when they tell
these things to the world.
Now, then, the United States pass a law that a man shall not marry
wives according to the order that God has revealed. Now it is a fact
that we should like to obey the laws of the United States, if we could
do it. If they could only tell us how to get out of the dilemma they
have placed us in we should be very much obliged to them, we really
should like to get out of it. But we have had no hand in either of
these things. We had no hand in making the commandment that God has
given to his people, and we have had no hand in making the law of the
United States pertaining to these things. We feel very desirous of
keeping the laws of the land if they would only let us; but we should
pray our Father in heaven that he might preserve them from making
laws that we cannot conscientiously keep without violating our
consciences and transgressing the law of God. And if they do we shall
be under the necessity of leaving them in the hands of God for him to
deal with them as he may deem proper, and we will put our trust in the
living God and risk the consequences let them be what they may.
Now, these are our feelings on this point. Is it well to tell these
feelings? Yes. We want to be frank and open and candid and free from
hypocrisy of every kind, and feel as though we were the children of
our Father in heaven without guilt, without treachery, without fraud
of any kind. Let us be sincere worshippers of God and believers in him
and in his law. But do we propose to govern, interfere with, or rebel
against the Government of the United States? No, we do not. That is
not in the program. Has God given us a law? Yes. All right we will
get along and do the best we can, but we won't forsake our God. All
who are willing to abide by the laws of God signify it by raising the
right hand (unanimous vote). Now try and keep them. But will we fight
against the United States? No, we will not. Well, how will these
things be brought about? Don't you expect that the kingdoms of this
world will become the kingdoms of our God and his Christ? Yes, I do,
as much as I believe I am speaking to you and you are hearing me, and
I not only believe it but know it. Well, now, how will that be brought
about if you do not pitch in? We need not do this. There is plenty
that will pitch in; there will be plenty of trouble by and by without
our interference, when men begin to tear away one plank after another
out of the platform of constitutional liberty; there will not be much
to tie to. And how will you get along with them? We will leave them to
get along with themselves. And how will that be? We are told the
wicked shall slay the wicked, but says the Lord: "It is my business to
take care of the Saints." God will stand by Israel, and Zion shall
triumph and this work will go on until the kingdom is established
and all nations bow to its standard.
May God bless you, may he lead you in the path of light, is my prayer
in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.