President Roberts was a very progressive leader and was anxious that his missionaries have all the help possible to assist them in becoming better trained and prepared. Each year he would have all of the new missionaries come to mission headquarters for a month of intensive training. This was sometime before the mission school was started in Salt Lake City. In January 1925, I was privileged to attend such a school. The classes taught by President Roberts were instructive and inspiring.

. . .

The next five and one-half months were glorious months in my life. To be in the presence of this great man and to be taught by him, was a privilege. He loved to explain the principles of the Gospel. After the evening meal, we would sit for hours while he answered our questions and recounted faith-promoting incidents from his experiences.

What a blessing it was to have devotional and family prayer with him before breakfast and prior to our dinner in the evening. When he would pray, the veil would become thin, the windows of heaven seemed to open, and we felt that our Heavenly Father was very near. Oftentimes his prayers were quite lengthy, and we soon learned the wisdom of getting near a chair or couch upon which to lean for support.

. . .

After conference, we drove to Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, where the Prophet Joseph Smith was born. This is a beautiful, peaceful spot situated in the green hills of Vermont. We viewed the memorial monument, a polished granite obelisk 38 1/2 feet in height--one foot for each year that the Prophet lived. It is reputed to be the largest granite obelisk in the world and was dedicated on December 23, 1905--just 100 years after the Prophet's birth.

. . .

He also retold of Joseph Smith's experience in the Sacred Grove in what is referred to as the First Vision, when our Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ appeared and gave instructions. He then summarized this important event with these words: "And now came one to this grove, as to a solenm temple, to submit his mind and will to God-man's highest act of worship--self surrender." (CHC, Vol. 6, p. 523.)

Next he recalled Moroni's several visits to the Prophet on the Hill Cumorah. Then he said: "Brother Taylor with these few thoughts as a background, will you be kind enough to lead us in prayer?" After we had knelt, I had finished a rather lengthy prayer, expressing gratitude for the restoration of the gospel, and for all.of the blessings that we now enjoyed, and petitioned the Lord for continued inspiration and success. President Roberts then prayed, and as he prayed his voice choked with emotion, tears filled his eyes, and a glow came into his face; his snow-white hair waved in the gentle breeze. As he continued pouring out his soul to the Lord, the veil grew very thin. Surely the Lord was near. This was an experience that I shall always remember and cherish.

. . .

He had sincere love and profound respect for the Prophet Joseph Smith. He said that when he was called to the other side, he would approach the Prophet and say, "Brother Joseph, I have done my very best to defend you and to carry on the work you started." He felt that the Prophet lived his life in crescendo, arriving at the peak at the time of martyrdom.

The president was modestly and justly proud of his achievements and accomplishments, but he certainly was not a shrinking violet; he had assurance and self-confidence. In our mission school, in answer to an elder's question, he had given his opinion. The elder pointed out that this answer was contrary to the belief expressed by Elder James E. Talmage, a member of the Council of the Twelve. The president stood erect, squared his shoulders, and asked, "And who is Talmage?"