I remember very well the last charge that Joseph gave to the Apostles. We had as little idea that he was going from us as the Apostles of the Savior did that He was going to be taken from them. Joseph talked with us as plainly as did the Savior to His Apostles, but we did not understand that he was about to depart from us any more than the Apostles understood the Savior. Now, I have heard of other parties rising up and pretending that the Prophet Joseph Smith gave unto them a charge to lead and direct the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I want to say that it is false; there is not a word of truth in it. When he delivered that charge to the Apostles he was filled with the power of God. His face was clear as amber, and the room was filled with the Spirit of God, like the holy fire. In his address he told us that he had received at the hands of the Almighty God all the keys, and powers, and priesthood, and ordinances and gifts belonging to the dispensation in which we lived. "Now," says he, "I have sealed all these blessings upon your heads, upon you Apostles of the Lamb of God, who have been chosen to bear off this Church and kingdom on the earth;" and after making this solemn proclamation to us, he said, "Now, you have got to round up your shoulders and bear off this kingdom, or you will be damned." I never shall forget that.

My brethren and sisters, we must be faithful, because the responsibility is great and mighty that rests upon us as bearers of the Holy Priesthood. You will see many strange things take place in the earth. We are at the end, so to speak, of the six thousand years. We are bordering on the millennium, when the Son of Man shall come in the clouds of heaven. Therefore, we can- not lay down our Priesthood and the work which the God of heaven has put into our hands. The eyes of God and the heavenly host are upon us. The eyes of the Prophet Joseph and all those sanctified spirits who have laid down their lives for the work of God and testimony of Jesus are upon us.

Elders who have traveled thousands of miles can bear testimony that wherever this Gospel has been preached and wherever the Elders of Israel have administered, the gifts and graces have followed them. I bear tes- timony to this. My brethren can bear testimony to it. The sick have been healed, devils have been cast out, the lame have leaped, the deaf have heard, and all the gifts and graces that ever were manifest have been enjoyed among these Elders of Israel. Several years ago I met a man and woman here in the street. The woman said, "Do you know me?" I said I do not. "Do you know this man that is with me?" "No, I do not." "Why," said she, "you laid hands on this boy in Herefordshire fifty years ago. He was dumb- never spoke a word till you laid hands upon him and blessed him; and he has spoken ever since."