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 PRACTICE
MAKES
PERFECT ™

English
Conversation
 PRACTICE
MAKES
PERFECT
TM

English
Conversation
Premium SECOnd Edition

Jean Yates, PhD

New York Chicago San Francisco Athens London Madrid

Mexico City Milan New Delhi Singapore Sydney Toronto
Copyright © 2016 by McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. Printed in the United
States of America. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976,
no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any
means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission
of the publisher.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 RHR 21 20 19 18 17 16

ISBN 978-1-259-64327-9
MHID 1-259-64327-1

e-ISBN 978-1-259-64326-2
e-MHID 1-259-64326-3

McGraw-Hill Education, the McGraw-Hill Education Publishing logo, Practice Makes

Perfect, and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of McGraw-Hill
Education and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries and may not be
used without written permission. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners. McGraw-Hill Education is not associated with any product or vendor
mentioned in this book.

McGraw-Hill Education products are available at special quantity discounts to use as

premiums and sales promotions or for use in corporate training programs. To contact a
representative, please visit the Contact Us pages at www.mhprofessional.com.

McGraw-Hill Education Language Lab App

Audio recordings of all the Conversations in this book are available to support your
study. Go to www.mhlanguagelab.com to access the online version of the application,
or to locate links to the mobile app for iOS and Android devices. (Note Internet access is
required to access audio via the app). More details about the features of the app are
available on the inside front cover.
 Contents

Preface  vii

1 Introducing yourself and others  1

2 Expressing opinions, likes, and dislikes  13

3 Describing people, places, and things  25

4 Striking up a conversation  35

5 Making dates and appointments  47

6 Expressing wants and needs  59

7 Making requests and offers  69

8 Expressing doubts and uncertainty  81

9 Talking about future events  93

10 Making a case or arguing a point  103

11 Narrating a story  115

12 Retelling a conversation  127

13 Electronic conversation  139
Appendix A: Irregular past tense and past participle forms  145
Appendix B: Short tag questions and answers  149
Appendix C: Glossary  155
Answer key  161

v
 Preface

Practice Makes Perfect: English Conversation is designed to give you practice with
the vocabulary and structures that are most often used in common types of infor-
mal conversations.
The book consists of thirteen chapters, each one devoted to a particular con-
versational function. Each chapter begins with a typical conversation followed by
a discussion of vocabulary and structures that are particularly important for the
type of conversation being addressed. Certain expressions are repeated in other
chapters so that you will become more familiar with them as they occur in differ-
ent contexts. Following the discussion section are several sets of exercises to help
you feel confident that you understand the material. The exercises also give you
practice in using new vocabulary and structures so that you will be able to include
them in your personal conversations.
Use this book, practice your English in conversations with your English-
speaking friends, and continue to enjoy this language.

vii
 PRACTICE
MAKES
PERFECT ™

English
Conversation
 Introducing yourself
and others
·1·

Conversation: Meeting at a party

Todd: Hi—you must be John’s cousin Matt, right? From San Diego?
Matt: Correct! I just got in last night.
Todd: I’m Todd, John’s roommate from Tech. Glad to meet you. I can assure you
that I’m not anything like what John has told you.
Matt: I’m happy to meet you, too—and, yes—I have heard about you! Football
player and party animal extraordinaire.
Todd: Football, yes—and as a matter of fact, I do like parties. But tell me more
about yourself and what you do in San Diego.
Matt: Well, I’m more (of) a surfer than a football player. You know, San Diego has
a fantastic coast—and we can surf all day and then party on the beach at night.
Todd: That sounds awesome. How long are you staying?
Matt: Well, I’ll be here for two weeks. John has promised me a nonstop schedule—
kind of a mix of sightseeing, meeting his friends, checking out the local scene,
and—hopefully—camping in the mountains for a couple of days.
Todd: John’s a good guy—and you can be sure he knows the local scene. He knows
everybody in town. I’m sure he’ll show you a good time. And his friends are here to
help.
Matt: Thanks so much—I really appreciate that. I’m still a bit jet-lagged at the
moment but should be in good shape by tomorrow. I’m looking forward to hearing
what John has in store for me. . . .
Todd: Don’t worry. We’ll all take good care of you. And don’t be surprised if we show
up on your doorstep in San Diego one day, ready for surfing!

Improving your conversation

I’m Todd ( Jones)
Simply using I’m and then saying your name is one way to introduce yourself. You
could also say, for example, My name’s Todd (Jones). It is customary to offer your
right hand in a handshake to the other person. In very informal situations, you
could just say Hi, I’m Todd, with no handshake.
To introduce one or more people other than yourself, say:
This is (my wife,) Mary. And this is Susan, Bob, and Joe.

1
 To introduce more than one person and also tell how you know them, say:
These are my friends, Susan and Bob. And this is Jim, my coworker.
All of the people introduced would then shake hands. You could also say:
I want you to meet (my friends,) Susan and Bob.

Glad/happy to meet you

When you have been introduced to someone, it is customary to say (I’m) glad/happy to meet you
or It’s nice to meet you. The reply is I’m happy to meet you or I’m happy to meet you, too. (The
underlined words are pronounced slightly louder than the others.)

Right?
Right? is an informal way to ask for confirmation that what you have just said is true. The answer
can be That’s right!
This train goes to Washington, right? That’s right.
You’re from Panama, right? That’s right, I am.

Correct!
This is an informal answer to a question that asks for confirmation.
You’re Matt, aren’t you? Correct!
This is Economics 101, right? Correct!
If you want to tell your questioner that he or she is not correct, you can politely say this with,
for example:
No, that’s not right.
No, that’s not correct.
No, I’m not Matt; I’m Jim.
No, she isn’t my sister. She’s my cousin.
(The underlined words in the examples should be spoken slightly louder than the other words in
the sentence.)
To sarcastically indicate that something is not correct, Yeah, right! is used.
Dylan, I heard you just won the lottery Yeah, right! Where did you hear
jackpot! that nonsense?

Am, do, etc.

When a yes-or-no question using the verb to be is asked, the answer can be made emphatic by
following it with a tag, in which, if the answer is yes, the verb is said a little louder than the other
words. Affirmative tag answers are not contracted.
Are you unhappy? Yes, I am.
Is he sick? Yes, he is.
Are we winning? Yes, we are.
Are they leaving? Yes, they are.

2 Practice Makes Perfect English Conversation

 When the answer is no, there are two ways to answer with a tag. The underlined words are
the ones said a little louder. Negative tag answers are usually contracted. The full form makes
them more emphatic.
Are you unhappy? No, I’m not./No, I am not.
Is he sick? No, he’s not./No, he isn’t./No, he is not.
Are we winning? No, we’re not./No, we aren’t./No, we are not.
Are they leaving? No, they’re not./No, they aren’t./No, they are not.
When an information question using any verb other than to be is asked, the answer can be
made emphatic by following it with a tag, in which the verb is said a little louder than the other
words.
Do you eat meat? Yes, I do./No, I don’t./No, I do not.
Does he like school? Yes, he does./No, he doesn’t./No, he does not.
Do we wait in line? Yes, we do./No, we don’t./No, we do not.
Do they live here? Yes, they do./No, they don’t./No, they do not.

As a matter of fact
As a matter of fact is a common expression that has a number of different meanings. In our
example conversation it introduces a confirmation of what was previously said. It can go before
the main clause or after the verb.
I heard you were looking for a job. As a matter of fact, I am!
Your friend is very good-looking; is he He is, as a matter of fact!
single?
You can express the same meaning with actually, but put it after the verb.
I heard you were looking for a job. I am, actually.
Your friend is beautiful, but I’ll bet She is, actually.
she’s married.

Just
This use of just indicates that something happened only a short time before. It can be used with
the past tense or with the present perfect tense. For example:
Past tense Present perfect tense
I just arrived. I have just arrived.
They just finished. They have just finished.
We just ate. We have just eaten.
He just called. He has just called.

To get in
To get in means to arrive and is usually used in the past tense.
What time did you get in?
They got in late last night.
Another way to say to arrive, when it refers to the future, is to get there.
I hope we get there on time.
She will get there by six.

Introducing yourself and others  3

 To get in can also mean to be accepted by a school/college/university or other group with
limited membership.
He applied to that college and really hopes to get in.
She didn’t get in her first choice of sororities, but she got in another one, and she’s happy.

I can assure you that . . . /you can be sure (that) . . .

These are common ways of saying that you believe something to be true, hoping to win the con-
fidence of the person you are talking to.
I can assure you that I will work hard.
You can be sure that something interesting will happen.
Here is another way to express that you believe something to be true:
I promise you that we won’t leave until the work is done.

Party animal
Party animal is an informal expression used to characterize someone who spends a lot of time
with friends or acquaintances for entertainment—either at home or in public places.
My friend Eric will take you downtown on Saturday night; he’s a real party animal, so you’ll
meet lots of people.

Extraordinaire
Extraordinaire is a word borrowed from French, pronounced in English “ek stra or d- NAYRE.”
It is used to exaggerate the meaning of the previous word.
I’d like you to meet Marc—he’s our pastry chef extraordinaire. You have to try his
cheesecake!

What do you do?

The question What do you do? asks what one’s job or occupation is. When you answer with a
form of to be, you give a general job title. Note that the article a is always used when referring to
only one person but is never used when referring to more than one person.
What do you do? I’m a lawyer.
What does he do? He’s a painter.
What does she do? She’s a banker.
What do they do? They’re professors.
When the answer refers to someone who has a special title or position (i.e., is the only one in
that position), use the instead of a.
What does he do? He’s the president of ABC Enterprises.
What do you do? I’m the school secretary (the only one).
When you answer with another verb, you give more specific information about where you work.
What do you do? I work for a large firm.
What does he do? He drives a delivery truck.
What does she do? She works at Atlas Bank.
What do they do? They teach French at Loyola.

4 Practice Makes Perfect English Conversation

 When a specific time or place is included in the question, the answer refers to how people
spend their time, not just what their jobs are.
What do you do on weekends? I relax and hang out with my friends.
What does she do at the beach? S he surfs, relaxes on the beach, and
goes to the boardwalk for fun.

Tell me about yourself

Tell me about yourself is a polite way to let someone know that you are interested in learning
more about him or her. It is better than asking direct questions, as the person being asked can
decide what to tell and what not to tell. For example:
Tell me about yourself. Well, I’m twenty-seven, I have a degree
in mathematics, and I’ve been
working at SYZ Company for three
years. My parents are both
economists, and I have a sister who’s
a nurse and two younger brothers.
They all live in Connecticut, where I
was born. I’m crazy about football
and have season tickets. I listen to
reggae, etc.
Tell me about yourself. Well, I’m from a small town, and I
came here to work.

Awesome
Awesome is an expression that is used a lot—maybe too much!—to say that you think something
is really good. Other ways to express the same thing include great, fantastic, terrific, wonderful,
and cool.
So . . . how do you like it here? It’s awesome!
Did you like the movie? It was awesome!
Thank you for taking me—
you’re awesome!

Nonstop schedule
Nonstop schedule describes the activities of a very busy person, whether it be because of work,
school, family responsibilities, or even social life.
I don’t have time to see you this week, with my nonstop schedule.
Other ways to indicate nonstop activity are around-the-clock or twenty-four-seven (twenty-
four hours a day, seven days a week).
I get telephone calls around-the-clock.
He works twenty-four-seven, so I hardly ever see him.

A mix
A mix refers to a combination of different elements, usually indicating variety.
There will be a good mix of music at the wedding, to keep the grandparents, the parents, and
the young people happy.
We invited a mix of people—family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors.

Introducing yourself and others  5

 Hopefully
Hopefully is a word inserted to indicate your wishes that something will happen. It can come in
the middle of a verb phrase (will + hopefully + verb), before the subject, or at the end of a
sentence.
I’ll hopefully graduate in two years.
Hopefully, I’ll graduate in two years.
I’ll graduate in two years, hopefully.
If we leave right away, hopefully we’ll arrive on time.

A couple of
A couple really means two; however, informally, it can mean more than that—but it does indicate
a small number.
I’ll see you in a couple of hours. I’ll see you sometime today.
It only costs a couple of dollars. It costs less than five dollars.
He’ll be home in a couple of months. He’ll be home before the end of the year.

A good guy
Calling someone a good guy is a common way to recommend a male as being understanding of
someone’s situation, helpful, or generous. A female with the same kind of recommendation would
be called understanding/helpful/generous.
If you’re looking for a used car, go see Sam Smith; he’s a good guy and will probably give you
a good price.
If you want a teaching job, call Mary Johnson; she’s very understanding and will give you
good advice.

The local scene

The local scene refers to the culture and range of entertainment offered in a particular area.
I’m moving to Springfield next month. Oh, it’s great! There are lots of things to do
What’s the local scene like there? at night and on weekends.

To show someone a good time

To show someone a good time means to make sure he or she is entertained.
If you come visit in December, we’ll show you a good time. All our friends have parties in
December!

Thanks so much
Thanks so much is a common way of expressing appreciation. Other ways to say this are Thank
you very much/Thanks a lot/I really appreciate this/You’re a doll (very informal)/You’re a
sweetheart (very informal).
The reply to any of these could be You’re welcome/No problem/I’m glad I could help you/
Glad to help/Any time.
Thanks so much for fixing my tire. No problem.
I really appreciate it.
Thank you very much for helping us. You’re welcome. Any time.

6 Practice Makes Perfect English Conversation

Another Random Scribd Document
with Unrelated Content
 ELDER JAMES A. CULLIMORE 45 President N. Eldon Tanner
Elder Bruce R. McConlcie of the First Council of Seventy has just
spoken to us, and Elder James A. Cullimore, Assistant to the Twelve
will now speak to us. Elder James A. Cullimore Assistant to the
Council of the Twelve My brothers and sisters, I am grateful today
for this choice experience. Sister Cullimore and I have just concluded
a tour of all the missions of Great Britain, holding meetings with
many of the branches and the wards there, and we bring you
greetings, especially to President McKay; the members want you to
know how much they love you, and wanted us to bring you their
greetings. One of die greatest thrills that came to us as we visited
these missions was to see the light in the eyes of the new converts,
the tremendous radiance and light that came into their eyes as they
expressed their faith and their happiness in receiving the gospel of
Jesus Christ. I think, too, as I see the happiness and the radiance —
the joy in the eyes of good members everywhere who are living the
gospel — that it lets me know more than ever that the restored
gospel is indeed the way to joy and happiness. As the Lord placed
man upon the earth, he intended for him to be happy. He gave him
laws which, if he is obedient to them, will bring him happiness. He
filled the earth with all things to make him happy. "Blessed are the
meek" In this dispensation the Lord has said, ". . . inasmuch as ye
do this [keep the commandments], the fulness of the earth is yours,
the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which
climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth; "Yea, and the
herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food
or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for
gardens, or for vineyards; "Yea, all things which come of the earth,
in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man,
both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; 'Tea, for food and
for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to
enliven the soul. "And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these
things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used "
(D&C 59:16-20.) Obedience an expression of gratitude Now all that
he asks of us is gratitude through obedience; for he said, ". . . in
nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled,
save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his
commandments." (D&C 59:21.) And then he gave us the real key to
joy and happiness. He said: "But learn that he who doeth the works
of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world,
and eternal life in the world to come." (D&C 59:23.) Peace comes as
the Father witnesses unto us his divine approval of the things that
we are doing. This peace is a basis of real joy and happiness, and it
comes to us through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Consequences of
Adam's transgression One of the most profound statements in the
scriptures as to the purpose of man's advent upon the earth is in the
Book of Mormon, as Lehi teaches his son Jacob in the many truths of
the gospel. He said: "And now, behold, if Adam had not
transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained
in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have
remained in the same state in which they were after they were ere 
 GENERAL CONFERENCE 46 Friday, September 29 ated; and
they must have remained forever, and had no end. "And they would
have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a
state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no
good, for they knew no sin. "But behold, all things have been done
in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. "Adam fell that men
might be; and men are, that they might have joy." (2 Ne. 2:22-25.)
He taught Jacob also that as the Lord desired men to have joy, so
the devil seeketh to make him miserable, "for he seeketh that all
men might be miserable like unto himself." (2 Ne. 2:27.) This great
joy came to our first parents as the Lord revealed unto them the
purpose of the creation, and they saw that now through the Fall
these purposes could be fulfilled. The "Fall," another version The Fall
is generally looked upon by our Christian friends as a great sin,
committed by our first parents, which brought shame and death to
all the human family. They believe that if Adam and Eve had not
partaken of the fruit, their posterity would have lived on endlessly in
peace and bliss, free from temptation and sin and the problems of
the flesh today. The Lord has revealed to us that only by the Fall
could his plan be accomplished. Adam and Eve praised the Lord
Despite adversity First Day the flesh I shall see God. "And Eve, his
wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our
transgression we never should have had seed, and never should
have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the
eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient." (Moses 5:9-11.)
The Way to joy and happiness Yes, the restored gospel of Jesus
Christ is the way to joy and happiness. The Lord intended that his
children should be happy, that they would have joy as they served
him. He gave them understanding of his plan and how they would
enter back into his presence. He had given his children a promise of
great blessings for obedience. Almost every commandment is
accompanied by a promise of reward for obedience. Paul said to the
Corinthian saints: ". . . Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him." (1 Cor. 2:9.) I like the verses of
President George H. Brimhall: "The aim of man's existence is That
he may have more joy Than sorrow, in the sum of life — Build rather
than destroy; To seek the truth, love man and God And in his work
be glad; Be much more moved by love of God Than by the fear of
bad." Is it any wonder then that as these glorious truths were
revealed to Adam and Eve, they had great joy and praised God? The
Holy Ghost fell upon Adam and Eve and bore record of the Father
and the Son and gave witness that as they had fallen, they may also
be redeemed, and "all mankind, even as many as will." We are told
that Adam "blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy
concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name
of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in
this life I shall have joy, and again in The Lord intended that man
should have joy in his labors; that even through adversity and
sorrow and trials the hand of the Lord could be seen as he fulfills his
purposes in the earth; that in the sum of life we should emerge with
more joy than sorrow, more gladness in work than drudgery, be
motivated by love rather than fear, have joy as we build and achieve,
have peace and satisfaction as we seek to find the truth. That joy
and happiness often come through sorrow and trials is attested to by
President Brigham Young: ". . . in the midst of the sorrows
 ELDER JAMES and afflictions of this life, its trials and
temptations, the buffetings of Satan, the weakness of the flesh, and
the power of death which is sown in it, there is no necessity for any
mortal man to live a single day without rejoicing, and being filled
with gladness. I allude to the Saints, who have the privilege of
receiving the Spirit of truth, and have been acquainted with the laws
of the new covenant. ... it is necessary that we should be tried,
tempted, and buffeted, to make us feel the weaknesses of this
mortal flesh. . . . We rejoice because the Lord is ours, because we
are sown in weakness for the express purpose of attaining to greater
power and perfection. In everything the Saints may rejoice — in
persecution, because it is necessary to purge them, ... in sickness
and in pain, . . . because we are thereby made acquainted with pain,
with sorrow, ... for by contrast all things are demonstrated to our
senses. We have reason to rejoice exceedingly that faith is in the
world, that the Lord reigns, and does His pleasure among the
inhabitants of the earth. . . . I rejoice because I am cast down. . . .
Because I shall be lifted up again. I rejoice that I am poor, because I
shall be made rich; that I am afflicted, because I shall be comforted,
and prepared to enjoy the felicity of perfect happiness, for it is
impossible to properly appreciate happiness, except by enduring the
opposite." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, pp. 358-59.) Need to labor
compatible with happiness In the Fall the Lord told man, "By the
sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, . . ." and unto woman, "I will
greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception." (Moses 4:25, 22.)
This didn't take away the possibility of happiness and joy from the
Father's children. It made it possible for them to appreciate true joy
as they understood sorrow. The restored gospel is truly the way to
joy and happiness, as it gives men truth to live by and a knowledge
that they are free to act for themselves; that . CULLIMORE 47 free
agency is a gift of God; and that by proper exercise of our agency
we might have great glory with our Father in heaven. It teaches the
happiness that comes by keeping our bodies clean and pure and free
from sin in abiding by the code of health as revealed to the children
of the Lord, knowing that our bodies are the temples of God. It gives
man an understanding of the plan of salvation; that we lived
premortally; the real purpose of mortal life; and the hope of eternal
life — life with God in all its glory. It witnesses unto us the
vindication that comes from the Father, as we give service to our
fellowmen. President McKay said that he who seeks for happiness
seldom finds it, but he who lives for the welfare of others, who loses
himself in giving happiness to others, finds it in double portion, for it
comes back to him. Our Father witnesses to us his acceptance of our
obedience to him in keeping his commandments by the warm, sweet
feeling of heavenly peace that burns within. Quoting President
McKay again, "Peace comes by obedience to law." (Pathways of
Happiness, p. 33.) "That man is not at peace who is untrue to the
whisperings of Christ, the promptings of his conscience. He cannot
be at peace . . . when he transgresses the law of righteousness. . . .
Peace does not come to the transgressor of law." (Ibid., p. 136.)
Happiness "is a warm glow of the heart at peace with itself." (Ibid.,
p. 104.) Happiness from obedience There is no question but that
man receives the greatest happiness from compliance to law. Our
knowledge of the promised glories of our Father that are prepared
for those who are obedient to his commandments gives obedience
to these laws and great happiness. Possibly equal to the joy that
comes to one in the feeling of vindication of the Father as he
witnesses to us his divine approval for our good lives is the "joy in
the soul that repenteth." The Lord has said: "Remember the
 48 Friday, September 29 worth of souls is great in the sight
of God; . . . And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!"
(D&C 18:10, 13.) The Lord is greatly concerned about every one of
his children and would that all would repent and enter into the joy
that he has prepared for those who keep his commandments. "The
object and design of existence" The Prophet Joseph Smith summed
the matter up like this: "Happiness is the object and design of our
existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that
leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulGENERAL
CONFERENCE First Day ness, holiness, and keeping all the
commandments of God." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith,
pp. 255-56.) May each of us be worthy to receive great joy and
happiness each day is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President N. Eldon Tanner We have just listened to Elder James A.
Cullimore, Assistant to the Twelve. Knowing Brother Sterling Sill's
ability to condense his remarks, we will call him as our concluding
speaker. Elder Sterling W. Sill Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
As I was leaving my home a few mornings ago, I stepped on a black
walnut. I carried it with me as I walked to work; and as I now hold it
in my hand, I think of it as a symbol of life. This walnut has a
shelllike stone. And if you could see into its inside, you would
discover a great network of stony reinforcements. And in the
labyrinths in between is a substance having a gigantic power. If you
were to plant this seed in the soil under the right circumstances,
heat would be developed on its inside. You might turn a blowtorch
on the outside of a walnut with little effect, but when heat develops
inside a person or a walnut, important things begin to happen. In
the case of the walnut, a great power is created that breaks this
stony shell as though it were paper, and a little shoot is sent up on
its important mission toward the sun. This walnut has within itself
the ability to attract from the elements in the water, the soil, and the
air all of the ingredients necessary to become a great walnut tree,
with wood and foilage and blossoms and fragrance and fruit
multiplying by a million times the original investment. But God did
not put his best gifts into walnuts. Every human soul was created in
the image of God, and each of us was endowed with a set of the
attributes and potentialities of Deity. And the greatest idea that I
know of in the world is that everyone who lives the principles of the
gospel of Jesus Christ will be given a far more miraculous power
whereby he will be able to attract from his environment all of the
elements necessary to become even as God is. May God bless our
efforts toward this end, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen. President N. Eldon Tanner And that is quite a message, isn't
it? The Saturday morning session will be broadcast direct by
numerous radio and television stations, and recorded for
transmission on Sunday morning to many television stations in the
eastern and central parts of the United States. A video tape of
Saturday morning's session of conference will be flown from the
mainland and broadcast Sunday morning in Hawaii and to Alaska,
and broadcast at both Anchorage and Fairbanks. Morning sessions of
Saturday and Sunday will be carried from the tabernacle over direct
oceanic cables to a
 SECOND DAY 49 large number of Saints assembled in many
chapels throughout Great Britain, Germany, Austria and Denmark on
Sunday. Both sessions of our conference today, Saturday and
Sunday, will be rebroadcast over KSL, KIRO at Seattle, and WRFM in
New York the following morning beginning at midnight and will be
heard in many parts of the United States and other countries. Under
the direction of the First Presidency there will be a
WelfareAgricultural meeting held in the Assembly Hall tomorrow
morning, Saturday, at 7:30 o'clock. Invited to attend this special
session are all stake presidencies, high councilors, bishoprics,
agricultural operating committees, stake Relief Society presidents,
and others responsible for operating Welfare Production projects.
The singing for both sessions today has been furnished by the Relief
Society Singing Mothers from stakes in Alberta, Canada, under the
direction of Florence Jepperson Madsen, with Robert Cundick at the
organ this morning, and Alexander Schreiner at the organ this
afternoon. On behalf of all who have listened to the singing during
these sessions of General Conference, we express appreciation and
thanks to these sisters for their beautiful music. God bless them for
the service they have rendered in these sessions. The Singing
Mothers will now favor us with: "The Lord Bless Thee and Keep
Thee," and the benediction then will be offered by Elder Ara O. Call,
formerly president of the Northern Mexican Mission. The General
Session of this conference will then be adjourned until 10:00
tomorrow morning. The Singing Mothers Chorus sang a selection
"The Lord Bless Thee And Keep Thee." Elder Ira O. Call offered the
closing prayer. Conference adjourned until Saturday morning,
September 30, at 10:00 a.m. SECOND DAY MORNING MEETING
THIRD SESSION Conference reconvened Saturday morning,
September 30 at 2 o'clock p.m., with President Hugh B. Brown, First
Counselor in the First Presidency, conducting the services. The music
for this session was furnished by the Salt Lake Tabernacle Choir.
Elder Richard P. Condie directed the singing; Elder Alexander
Schreiner was at the organ. President Brown made the following
introductory remarks: President Hugh B. Brown President David O.
McKay, the President of the Church, is listening to this service by
television. His doctors advised that he be not present. He joins the
rest of us in extending a hearty and cordial welcome to all present
this morning in this historic tabernacle, and in the Assembly Hall in
Salt Lake, and also to the vast television and radio audience
throughout the world, in this the third session of the 137th
SemiAnnual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. The Tabernacle Choir under the direction of Richard P.
Condie, with Alexander Schreiner at the organ, will open these
services by singing, "The Redeemed of the Lord," following which
the invocation will be offered by Elder Phil D. Jensen, formerly
president of the North Scottish and California missions. The
Tabernacle Choir sang as an opening number the "The Redeemed of
the Lord," following which the opening prayer was offered by Elder
Phil D. Jensen.
 50 Saturday, September 30 President Hugh B. Brown To
many it will be of great interest to know that this is the centennial
anniversary of the Salt Lake Tabernacle, which was first used for
General Conference in October 1867. This buildiag has since become
acknowledged as one of the great auditoriums of the world,
renowned for its acoustics, looked to as a center of spiritual
guidance, and used and appreciated as a place for cultural and civic
events, where eminent artists, statesmen and others have appeared
and have acclaimed its excellent characteristics world-wide; a place
built by our GENERAL CONFERENCE Second Day pioneer forebears
in their poverty. Thank God for the faith of our fathers. Three songs
were sung one hundred years ago at that first session of conference
held in the tabernacle. One of these songs was, "An Angel From On
High, the long, long silence broke." The Tabernacle Choir will now
sing that same song in commemoration of that event in October
1867. Following the singing President Nathan Eldon Tanner of the
First Presidency will speak to us. The Choir sang "An Angel From On
High." President N. Eldon Tanner Of the First Presidency President
McKay, brothers and sisters everywhere, it is a joy indeed to be here
today in this historic Tabernacle, here on this beautiful Temple
Square, where members of the Church have been meeting at these
regular conferences during the past hundred years; where, as did
those who have preceded us, we enjoy the Spirit of the Lord, listen
to words of wisdom, and are instructed in gospel principles; where
we can have our faith renewed and our testimonies strengthened;
from where, as radio and television have made it possible, the great
messages of the leaders of the Church have gone out to all the
world. We wish to extend a warm welcome to our radio and
television audience today. Centenary of the Tabernacle and of the
Choir We have just heard the beautiful rendition of this great
Tabernacle Choir, which was organized in 1847, and which, with the
"Spoken Word" by Richard L. Evans, has been heard weekly by
millions of people since 1929. The latest tour, which was made about
a month ago, made it possible for thousands and thousands of
people in Canada at the exposition, in New York, Michigan,
Nebraska, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island to enjoy its
magnificent concerts. On behalf of the First Presidency, those
assembled here, and, I feel sure, all members of the Church, we
wish to express our sincere and deep appreciation to President Isaac
M. Stewart; to the conductors, Richard P. Condie and Jay Welch; to
our organists, Alexander Schreiner, Robert Cundick, and Roy Darley;
to every dedicated member of the choir, and to others who have
contributed to its outstanding success. May the Lord continue to
bless them with success. One hundred years of conferences in the
Tabernacle As we reflect on the many conferences that have been
held under the direction of prophets and inspired leaders, all of
whom have been dedicated servants of God, many of whom were
really giants of the Lord, it certainly makes one feel humble to
occupy this position. I do earnestly pray and ask that I may have an
interest in your faith and prayers, to the effect that the Spirit of the
Lord will be with us while I stand before you, that what I may say
will be in keeping with his Spirit and helpful to those assembled here
and to those who may be listening in. I sincerely pray that
 PRESIDENT N. ELDON TANNER 51 the Spirit and blessings
of the Lord will attend you, that those things you desire in
righteousness will be given you. Faith in prayer I have great faith in
prayer, and believe that "more things are wrought by prayer than
this world dreams of." (Tennyson, Morte D' Arthur.) In fact, I have
chosen to talk on prayer and pray that the Lord may help us realize
the importance and value of prayer, and what a great privilege and
opportunity every one of us has of going to the Lord in thanksgiving
and supplication. It is because I have had my prayers answered so
many times throughout my life, and because I feel so keenly the
great need of calling upon the Lord, and because I have experienced
the strength and blessings and guidance of the Lord in the position
which I now hold, that I have chosen to discuss this subject with you
today. I pray that those who doubt might be helped to see and
understand that God is our Father, that we are his spirit children,
and that he is really there, and has said: "Ask, and it shall be given
you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
"For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth;
and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (Matt. 7:7-8.) I often
wonder if we really realize the power of prayer, if we appreciate
what a great blessing it is to be able to call on our Father in heaven
in humble prayer, knowing that he is interested in us and that he
wants us to succeed. As Richard L. Evans has said so beautifully:
"Our Father in heaven is not an umpire who is trying to count us out.
He is not a competitor who is trying to outsmart us. He is not a
prosecutor who is trying to convict us. He is a loving Father who
wants our happiness and eternal progress and who will help us all he
can if we will but give him in our lives an opportunity to do so with
obedience and humility, and faith and patience." To pray effectively,
and to feel that one can be heard and have his prayers answered,
one must believe that he is praying to a God who can hear and
answer, one who is interested in his children and their well-being.
The first record we have of anyone praying to the Lord is that
recorded by Moses in these words: "And Adam and Eve, his wife,
called upon the name of the Lord, and they heard the voice of the
Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them,
and they saw him not; . . . What hath prayer wrought? "And Adam
and Eve, his wife, ceased not to call upon God. . . ." (Moses 5:4, 16.)
Great and influential men have always prayed for divine guidance.
Even this great nation was founded on prayer. U.S. Senator Strom
Thurmond reminded us of this in May of last year wherein he said:
"The Mayflower Compact, written in November of 1620, begins with
a prayer, 'In the name of God,' and goes on to state: 'We . . . having
undertaken, for the glory of God, ... do by these presents solemnly
and mutually in the presence of God, and of one another, covenant
and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic' "Thus our
nation began founded on prayer. The kneeling figure of George
Washington through that bitter winter in Valley Forge is a part of this
country that should never be forgotten. . . . "The Constitutional
Convention in June of 1787 had been meeting for weeks without
agreement, when Benjamin Franklin rose to his feet and addressed
George Washington: " 'Mr. President: The small progress we have
made after four or five weeks close attention and continual
reasonings with each other ... is a melancholy proof of the
imperfection of the human understanding. . . . We have gone back
to ancient history for models of government that now no longer
exist. And we have viewed modern states . . . but find none of their
constitutions suitable to our circumstances. . . . How has it
happened, Sir, that we have not, hitherto once
 52 GENERAL C Saturday, September 30 thought of humbly
applying to the Father of Light to illuminate our understandings? "
'In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible
of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for divine protection. "
'Our prayers, Sir, were heard; and they were generously answered. .
. . '"I, therefore, beg leave to move: — " "That henceforth, prayers
imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessings on our
deliberations be held in this assembly every morning before we
proceed to business.' " ("A Priceless Asset," Spotlight, May 1966.)
Prayer is not unconstitutional This was done, and now we enjoy the
fruits of their labors in answer to prayer. Prayer has never been
outmoded in this great country. Lincoln, who prayed to the Lord
continually for guidance, said: "It is the duty of nations as well as of
men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to
confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow . . . and to
recognize the sublime truth that those nations only are blessed
whose God is the Lord." President Dwight D. Eisenhower, at the time
of his inauguration, petitioned the Lord: "Give us, we pray, the
power to discern clearly right from wrong, and to allow all our works
and actions to be governed thereby, and by the laws of this land ...
so that all may work for the good of our beloved country, and for thy
glory. Amen." Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the telegraph, said
that whenever he could not see his way clearly, he knelt down and
prayed for light and understanding. We have that sweet and simple
prayer recorded by astronaut Gordon Cooper while orbiting the
earth: "Father, thank you, especially for letting me fly this flight.
Thank you for the privilege of being able to be in this position, to be
up in this wondrous place, seeing all these many startling, wonderful
things that you have created." Second Day Prayer is finite
communication with the infinite I join with Senator Thurmond in his
appeal to "our people to pray more, to examine the religious
heritage of our country, and to see the benefit of seeking God's
blessings. Prayer is the only way in which the finite can
communicate with the infinite; ... in which the visible may be in
touch with the invisible. You may easily see, if you but examine the
history of our Nation, that prayer and communication with God is the
very cornerstone of our society. If you allow it to be abandoned now,
you will be casting away the greatest asset this Nation, or any other
nation, has ever known." All of the prophets, from Adam to our
present prophet, have prayed unceasingly for guidance, and even
the Savior prayed continually to God the Eternal Father. We read,
regarding the Savior: "And it came to pass in those days, that he
went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer
to God." (Luke 6:12.) The Lord has admonished all of us to pray, and
through the prophet James has given us this promise: Pray for
wisdom "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth
to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is
like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." (Jas. 1:5-6.)
This promise is given to every one of us— high and low, rich and
poor. It is universal, unrestricted to you and to me and to our
neighbors. He has told us that we must believe and have faith in
God. We should know that the Lord stands ready to help his children
if they will put themselves in tune through prayer and by keeping his
commandments. In fact, the Lord has said: "I, the Lord, am bound
when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no
promise." (D&C 82:10.) The Lord has warned us that we must
humble ourselves and not be as the ancient prophet said: Many men
 PRESIDENT N. ELDON TANNER 53 "are lifted up in the
pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of
their stumbling block . . . nevertheless, they put down the power
and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own
wisdom and their own learning. . . ." (2 Ne. 26:20.) Paul said,
concerning the proud man of the world: "But the natural man
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness
unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned." (1 Cor. 2:14.) "For what man knoweth the things of a
man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of
God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." (1 Cor. 2:11.) As that
great student, the late President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., said, if men are
to learn of God and be guided by him, they "must put pride of their
learning and their achievements from their hearts. And why not? For
how like a drop in the ocean is the knowledge of the wisest
compared with the fullness of the truth of the universe. Men must
humbly confess Jesus as the Christ, 'for there is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.' " (On
the Way to Immortality and Eternal Life, p. 6.) Recognize the power
of God We must be prepared to recognize God as the Creator of the
world, and that he, through his son Jesus Christ and his prophets,
has given us in simple language man's relationship to God,
information regarding our premortal existence, the purpose of our
mission here on earth, and the fact that our post-mortal existence,
or our life after death, is real, and that what we do here will
condition us for the world to come. We must not be misled by the
doctrines of men. All the studies of science and philosophy will never
answer the question: "What is man and why is he here?" But it is
answered clearly and simply in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we
are instructed: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God " (Jas.
1:5.) Let us be prepared to do this and not be as those to whom the
Savior referred, when he said: ". . . well did Esaias prophesy of you,
saying, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and
honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. "But in
vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments
of men." (Matt. 15:7-9.) Humility and meekness foster the spirit of
prayer Yes, it is important, and the Lord emphasizes that we must
humble ourselves and accept the teachings of Jesus Christ and keep
his commandments if we would expect him to hear and answer our
prayers. We should all be prepared to say truthfully, as Paul did, in
speaking to the Romans, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth. . . ." (Rom. 1:16.) It is difficult to understand why some
cannot believe, or find it very hard to believe, that God can hear and
answer our prayers, and yet they believe that astronauts can leave
the earth and travel in outer space at thousands of miles per hour
and still be directed from home base; that they can keep in touch
with home base and receive instructions and be led in their activities
and then be brought back to a safe landing here upon the earth.
How can we question God's ability to hear and answer our prayers
and direct us in all things if we will but keep in tune with him and at
the same time have no doubt that Surveyor III, a mechanical
instrument, can be sent out from the earth to the moon and there
be directed by mere man here upon the earth? It followed
instructions as it was directed to dig, to stop digging, to make a
report, to send back pictures, and to dig again. As long as it was in
tune, it could be directed. We are as astronauts, or the Surveyor,
sent out by God to fill our missions here upon the earth. He wants
us to succeed. He stands ready to
 54 Saturday, September 30 answer our prayers and assures
us a safe landing as we return if we will but keep in touch with him
through prayer and do as we are bid. As we pray, however, are we
prepared to ask the Lord to bless us as we answer his call or
acknowledge and serve him? Are we prepared to ask the Lord to
forgive us as we forgive one another? For the Lord has said: ". . . if
ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive
you; But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses." (3 Ne. 13:14-15.) Prayer in
emergencies We may well stop and analyze our own situation. Do
we wait until we are in trouble and then run to the Lord? As we pray,
do we give orders to the Lord by saying, "Bless this," and "Bless
that," "Give us this," and "Give us that," "Do this," and "Do that"? Or
do we pray that we might be led to do that which is right, or be
blessed with those things which are for our best good? We should
always pray for the desire and strength and determination to do the
will of our Heavenly Father, and always stand ready to do his
bidding. Men pray for different reasons. Many are driven to their
knees out of fear, and then only do they pray. Others go to the Lord
when in dire need of immediate direction for which they know of no
other place to go. Nations are called by their governments in case of
a national tragedy, drought, or plague, famine or war, to call upon
God for his blessings, for his protection, and for his direction. Some
people ask to be healed, others to be strengthened. They ask for the
blessings of the Lord to attend their families, their loved ones, and
themselves in all their righteous endeavors. This, I am sure, is all
good in the sight of the Lord. Pray to express gratitude It is most
important, however, that we take time to express our gratitude to
our Father in heaven for the many GENERAL CONFERENCE Second
Day blessings we receive. I was deeply touched one day following
our family prayer when one of our little daughters said, "Daddy, I
don't think we ought to ask for more blessings. The Lord has been
very good to us, but I do think we should ask him to help us to be
worthy of the blessings we receive." Since then we have tried more
diligently to express our gratitude to our Father in heaven and pray
for guidance that we might be worthy of that which he has given us.
As we express our appreciation for our many blessings, we become
more conscious of what the Lord has done for us, and thereby we
become more appreciative. We all know what it means to hear or
receive an expression of gratitude for anything we might have done.
Our forefathers set aside a day of thanksgiving. I fear that some of
us even forget that day. I wonder if we are sometimes guilty of not
expressing to the Lord our gratitude, even as the lepers who were
healed. We all remember so well the story of Jesus healing the ten
lepers, who cried: ". . . have mercy on us. "And one of them, when
he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice
glorified God, "And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him
thanks: and he was a Samaritan. "And Jesus answering said, Were
there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? "There are not
found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger." (Luke
17:13, 15-18.) And as Mark Antony said when referring to Caesar,
who recognized his friend Brutus among his assassins: "This was the
most unkindest cut of all; For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, Quite vanquished him:
then burst his mighty heart. . . ." (William Shakespeare, Julius
Caesar, Act 3, sc. 2.) The will to do right I am sure that the Lord
expects us to
 PRESIDENT N. ELDON TANNER 55 express our gratitude for
our many blessings as we ask for his continued blessings, and to ask
forgiveness for our failings and the desire and strength to do right.
When we pray, it is important that we set about to do all in our
power to make it possible for the Lord to answer our prayers. As my
father said to me when I was just a boy, "My son, if you want your
prayers to be answered, you must get on your feet and do your
part." I often think how much more effective it would be, when the
country's president calls upon his people to set aside a day of prayer,
if we were all living righteous lives and were prepared to
acknowledge God as our Creator and to keep his commandments. It
seems that many have lost belief in God entirely, and others
question his ability to answer our prayers. Others have faith and
confidence in their own learning and in their own strength and
power. Then there are those who are as the chief rulers referred to
in John: "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on
him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest
they should be put out of the synagogue: "For they loved the praise
of men more than the praise of God." (John 12:42-43.) Serve "the
God of this land" Let us all pay heed to the warning of the Lord
himself, wherein he said, regarding the American continent: "Behold,
this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be
free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations
under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is
Jesus Christ " (Ether 2:12.) With this warning from the Lord, we
have this promise: ". . . seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt.
6:33.) We should all have the courage and determination to say as
did Joshua: ". . . choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . . but as
for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Josh. 24:15.) The
Lord has instructed parents to teach their children to have faith in
Christ, the Son of the living God, and to pray and to walk uprightly
before the Lord. There is no doubt that our children, if they are
taught to pray to a living God in whom they have faith, can more
easily walk uprightly before the Lord. I shall never be able to express
fully my appreciation to my parents for teaching me to pray secretly
and to participate with them in family prayer. My mother taught me
at her knee. She made me feel and know that I was talking to the
Lord, to our Maker, our Father in heaven, and that he was conscious
of my acts and my wishes and my needs. I was taught that I should
express my sincere thanks, ask for forgiveness, and ask for strength
to do the right. This has always been a great strength to me
throughout my life, and today I pray even more diligently than I ever
did before that the Lord will guide and direct me in my activities,
that whatever I do will be acceptable to him. As I think back to
when we used to kneel as a family in prayer every morning and
every evening, I realize what it meant to us as children to hear our
father call upon the Lord and actually talk to him, expressing his
gratitude and asking for the blessings of the Lord on his crops and
flocks and all of our undertakings. It always gave us greater strength
to meet temptation when we remembered that we would be
reporting to the Lord at night. The power of family prayer Family
prayer in any home will draw the family closer together and result in
better feelings between father and mother, between parents and
children, and between one child and another. If children pray for
their parents, it makes them more appreciative of their parents, and
as they pray for one another, they feel closer to one another and
part of each other, especially as they realize that they are talking to
their Father in heaven while on their knees in family or secret prayer.
Then is when we forget our
 56 Saturday, September 30 differences and think of the
best in others, and pray for their well-being and for strength to
overcome our own weaknesses. There is no doubt that we are better
people when we try to tune in to the spirit of our Father in heaven
so that we might communicate with him and express our desire to
do his will as we pray for his blessings. The Lord has admonished us
to "pray always, lest you enter into temptation and lose your reward.
"Be faithful unto the end, and lo, I am with you. These words are
not of man nor of men, but of me, even Jesus Christ, your
Redeemer, by the will of the Father." (D&C 31:12-13.) The Lord has
also said: ". . . the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much." (Jas. 5:16.) I have often asked myself and tried to
answer the question, "Why do some people refuse to pray? Is it
because they feel they have not the time?" I remember very well a
father coming to me one day regarding his oldest son, with whom he
was having some difficulty. The boy was a good boy, but he was
getting out of hand. I asked the father if they had regular family
prayers in their home. His answer was, "Well, no, but sometimes.
You know, we are too busy and we go to work at different times,
and therefore it is most difficult for our family to get together for
family prayer." I asked: "If you knew that your boy was sick nigh
unto death, would you be able to get your family together each
night and each morning for a week to pray that his life might be
spared?" He said, "Why, of course." I tried then to explain to him
that there are other ways of losing a boy than by death. I also
explained that where families pray together, they usually stay
together, and their ideals are higher, they feel more secure, and they
have a greater love for one another. Next, do they feel too
independent, too smart, and that they can go it alone? Or are they
ashamed to call upon God? Do they think it shows a weakness? Or
do they not believe or have faith in God? Or is it that they do not
appreciate their many blessings? Or do they not feel worthy?
GENERAL CONFERENCE Second Day If one does not feel worthy, he
should acknowledge his weaknesses, express regret, repent,
covenant to do right, and ask for guidance. Is it because some do
not know how to pray? If that is true, I suggest that you go to your
Heavenly Father in secret. Pour out your heart to him. Pray regularly
so that you can feel at home and comfortable while communing with
him. All one needs to do is express his feelings, which the Lord
understands. He has invited all of us to call on him regularly and has
promised that he will hear our supplication. The promise of Moroni
The ancient prophet Moroni, referring to the Book of Mormon, said:
"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye
would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these
things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real
intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto
you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. "And by the power of the Holy
Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." (Mora. 10:4-5.) This
promise applies to all of us if we will but repent and go to the Lord,
knowing that he can hear and will hear and answer our prayers. We
should all realize that we are God's children and that he is still as
interested in us as he ever was. He still answers the prayers of the
righteous and those who diligently seek him. This is my testimony to
you. May we all humble ourselves and diligently seek him through
prayer, and then walk uprightly before him, that we may be led to
immortality and eternal life, I sincerely and humbly pray in the name
of Jesus Christ. Amen. President Hugh B. Brown President Nathan
Eldon Tanner of the First Presidency has just spoken to us. The
Tabernacle Choir will now sing "O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings."
Following the singing Elder Marion D. Hanks of the First Council of
Seventy will speak to us.
 ELDER MARION D. HANKS 57 Selection by the Choir "O
Thou That Tellest Good Tidings." President Hugh B. Brown To those
who have just tuned in on this conference we wish to extend a very
hearty welcome. Elder Marion D. Hanks of the First Council of
Seventy will now address us. Elder Marie Of the First Cour With
President Tanner, I too believe in prayer, and learned long ago that
there are occasions when, perhaps not very literarily but with utmost
earnestness, we say, "Lord, help me now," and I pray to that effect
this morning. Youth We are told that this broadcast is going to
beloved Britain, and so it is appropriate that I begin by noting that in
the foyer of a church building in a British city a time ago, I happened
by a group of older ladies who were discussing somewhat critically
the behavior of several young members of the congregation who
had just walked noisily by. I had observed the incident and had
thought the young people a bit exuberant, but not objectionably so.
The ladies disagreed. As I passed by I heard one of them
disapprovingly say, "Ah, well, what can you expect from this younger
generation, anywayl" I did not agree with her implication, but I take
her rhetorical question very seriously, believing that the answer is of
vital significance. What can be expected of this younger generation?
There are few questions more important. In the population In the
first place, there are so many young people. Most of us have heard
the statement, sometimes uttered in solemn and hushed tones, half
in apprehension, half in resignation, that soon 50 percent of the
population will be under age 25. i D. Hanks i! of the Seventy The
statistic is correct, the prospect sobering. Some who speak of it do
so almost as if they expected that when the magic mark is reached,
the older generation will relinquish their responsibilities and
succumb, and the young will then automatically take overl Of course,
it will not happen that way. But there really are so many of them!
And they are so important Publicity What kind of people are they? A
small, raucous, rebellious, sometimes harmless — in some cases
very dangerous — minority gets most of the publicity. The hippies,
the drug adventurers, the motorcycle brigade, the flower crowd, the
politically unstable, the lawless get so much press attention that
there is an unquestionable effect on the style of life and the way of
thinking of multitudes of youngsters everywhere. Speaking of the
discontented ones, a writer has recently said: "So far I have seen or
heard very little in the way of constructive suggestions from them.
What fruitful insights and programs have they to offer us? I can't
help wondering [as they criticize their adult generation] if they ever
wonder what their children will have to thank them for. For fouling
their chromosomes with LSD? For dropping out and copping out at a
time when society was never in greater need of their participation?
What are their credentials for billing themselves as the take-over
generation?" (Albert Rosenfeld.) We cannot afford to underestimate
or ignore their influence.
 58 Saturday, September 30 But obstreperous and well
publicized as they are, they constitute a small minority of the young
generation. Competent youth The solid majority of our young people
want to do well, are doing well, and intend to do well with the great
challenges facing them. Across the world I have found them
threading their way resolutely through the maze of a civilization
often characterized by conflict and inconsistency, a civilization that
could not exist except upon indispensable foundations in good
homes, stable marriages, happy families, exemplary parents, yet
increasingly beset by disrupted family life, contention, divorce,
parents who do not teach or discipline or set a good example. The
young are sensitive; they see the gap that exists between our stated
convictions and our conduct, and they are bewildered, sometimes
embittered. They say that the adult generation condemns a
promiscuity it frequently practices, preaches peace and supports war,
counsels the priority of the spiritual but in fact seeks first the
material, talks of love but acts in self-interest, and generally
represents a hypocrisy that cannot be admired. Responsibility In all
of this our generation must acknowledge some measure of guilt. But
the young people can and do also take heart and direction from the
unselfishness and sacrifice they observe in the adult generation.
They see much patience and patriotism, goodness and truth, and
beauty and brotherly love all about them. They appreciate the values
of good homes and parents who care. They love God and their
country. They want to live wholesome and happy lives. Their insights
are sometimes remarkable. I heard one of them say about another,
"His parents don't like him. He can do anything he wants." Let me
tell you about two or three of them whom I have recently met.
Resources of youth Over the jungles of Vietnam a few GENERAL
CONFERENCE Second Day months ago Brother Hinckley and I sat
buckled in bulkhead seats in what the flying men call the "Gooney
Bird" — the old C-47. Alongside me was a 19-year-old corporal who
was serving with distinction as a chaplain's assistant. He told me
how he had become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. Capacity for faith and action "I didn't like my way
of life or my associations or my prospects for the future," he said. "I
knew I was missing something. So one day when I was 16, I went
into a grove of trees near my home in Colorado. I didn't know much
about prayer or God. I had never heard of Joseph Smith. I just stood
there and looked up and said, 'God, I am ready for you, if you are
ready for me.' " There was no voice, no vision, no startling
experience, just sweet peace and assurance in his heart. Within
hours, through the help of the Lord, as he testified to me, he was in
touch with people who introduced him to the restored gospel of
Jesus Christ. His life since is a stirring youthful expression of faith
and great promise. He was ready for God, and God was ready for
him. Dauntless steadfastness In Hong Kong I asked a young
Mormon missionary how he was getting along in his efforts to
master the difficult Cantonese language. "Just fine," he said. And
when I expressed mild surprise at his optimism and faith in the face
of heavy obstacles, he told me of the courage with which his parents
had met a deep personal tragedy. "With an example like that," he
said, "you wouldn't expect me to whine or whimper about the
blessing of learning this choice language and teaching the gospel to
this wonderful people, would you, Brother Hanks?" Heroic
acceptance of trouble in "my time" A high school student leader was
called on to speak extemporaneously in a church meeting. He
responded with
 ELDER MARl good feeling and good sense. He spoke briefly
about the conflict in which our country is engaged; then with a tear
in his eye, he electrified and moved us emotionally when he said,
right off the top of his heart, "If there has to be trouble, thank God it
can be in my time. I don't want my little brother or the son I hope
someday to have to have to fight a war on these or other shores. If
there has to be trouble, thank God it can be in my time." Well, what
can we expect from the younger generation? Everything good,
creative, decent, wholesome, uplifting, if we help them, and if
somehow they come to a knowledge of what makes for happiness,
makes for joy. Cultivate the attributes we honor Plato said, "What is
honored in a country will be cultivated there." And Pericles said,
"The young draw strength not from twice-told arguments, but from
the busy spectacle of our great city's life as we have it before us day
by day." How can we help them? We can be more consistent in our
lives. We can provide a better example. We can repent. We can obey
the commandments of God. We can teach them. Charity out of a
pure heart Do you remember the stirring statement of the Apostle
Paul to his young brother in the gospel, Timothy: ". . . the end of the
commandment [I suppose he meant the result of obedience to the
commandments] is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good
conscience, and of faith unfeigned." (1 Tim. 1:5.) The promise is
valid and personally relevant to all of us. Paul — he of great intellect
and strong training and shattering experience; he who had
persecuted, and then been turned around, and who thereafter gave
his full measure to the better way — he knew the really important
values of life. His testimony to Timothy was that in good conscience,
in wholesome, happy relationships with our families and fellowmen,
and in the true faith that grants us confidence in the presN D.
HANKS 59 ence of God lie the real blessings of life. Conscience
"spark of celestial" light Is good conscience important? It is a prize
beyond expression! And conscience is more than a local standard or
the accumulation of the mores and traditions of a community or a
society or a generation. Whatever else it is, it is the voice of God
speaking to us, inspiring moral obligation. Washington called it "that
little spark of celestial fire." It is true that we can desensitize our
conscience, as it were. In the Book of Mormon we read of a group to
whom God had spoken "in a still small voice, but ye were past
feeling." (1 Ne. 17:45.) It is also said that there are those who have
become "dead as to things pertaining unto righteousness." As we
can desensitize a conscience, so to speak, so we can prepare
ourselves better to hear the voice of the Lord by stripping off what
the poet called the layers of "muddy vesture and decay," by ceasing
to sin and learning to obey. There is the privilege of learning true
values and living to them. "When I do good I feel good" Abraham
Lincoln is credited with a simple summation of conscience and the
way to live with joy: "When I do good I feel good, and when I don't
do good I don't feel good." No one can be truly happy who has a
bad conscience, and bad conscience is the inevitable result of
conduct below the level of our understanding. "We live in a universe
of moral law. We can choose evil and get what we want right now
and then pay for it afterward. Or we can choose good and pay for it
first, before we get it." (Fosdick.) So it is with a life of honesty and
responsibility, of sexual purity, of integrity, of selfless service. The
blessing is substantial and sweet and satisfying — worth everything,
worth working and waiting for. Marks of moral and spiritual maturity
When Paul spoke of charity out of the "pure heart," I believe he was
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