Although he was called to the Twelve and ordained an Apostle in 1882, it is 1887 before Grampa Bill is able to find a discourse by Elder Heber J. Grant... and this is only a few very short remarks delivered at the Funeral of President John Taylor. On that day, with the appearance of daylight, vehicles loaded with people could be seen wending their way from various directions toward the city. From north, south, east and west, came thousands to honor the great man.

    President Taylor's family assembled at the Gardo House at 6 a.m., and at ten minutes before 7 the body was removed to the large Tabernacle, where it was placed preparatory to the doors being opened, ten minutes later, for the admission of the mass of people already assembled outside of the Temple Block.

    From seven o'clock until half-past eleven, a continuous stream of humanity flowed into the Tabernacle, where President Taylor's body lay in state. It is estimated that fully twenty-five thousand people availed themselves of the privilege of taking a last look at the face of the illustrious dead.

    Elder Grant was the third speaker.

    I feel in standing before you this afternoon, that it would not be becoming in me to occupy very much of the time. I feel that it is much more appropriate that those men who have lived almost a lifetime with President Taylor should be the speakers on this occasion. However, inasmuch as I have been requested to make a few remarks, I am willing to do so. I can say of President Taylor that he lived a faithful, honest and conscientious life; that he did all that was in his power for the advancement of the work of God upon the earth. He has been a faithful Latter-day Saint, and no more can be said of any man. Every Latter-day Saint has had the privilege of receiving a testimony of the Gospel, and those of us who live true to that testimony, and that fill up a life of usefulness and do nothing that will rob us of the light of the Holy Spirit, when we come to lay down this body, can have no greater thing said of us than that we have been faithful.

    If the sons and the daughters of President Taylor will imitate his example; if they will be courageous in fighting for the cause of God; if they will do as he has done, they will have the privilege of meeting him and enjoying his society eternally. He has lived unto a good old age. He has filled up the measure of his creation, and there is no man but can say that he has been true to his own conscience. No matter what has been the obstacle before him, he has never faltered. He has always been firm and steadfast in walking in the path of duty. There is nothing else that will bring the same joy to anybody as will doing those things that devolve upon them and that are pleasing in the sight of God. We come upon this earth to do the mind and will of the Lord, and it behooves each and all of us to so live that we will be entitled to the revelations of His Spirit, and that when we receive them we will have the courage and the determination to carry them out, as our beloved President has done.

    May God bless his family. May God bless the Latter-day Saints everywhere, is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.