I rejoice this day that the spirit which I have felt in these gatherings yesterday and today is quite the same spirit as that which I have felt in the small gatherings in the various European countries. The Latter-day Saints who live the Gospel of Jesus Christ speak and hear by the same spirit. They understand one another by that same spirit. This is one great church, whether in Salt Lake City or in the far distant branches of the missions, one people, with one understanding, with one purpose, with one holy desire to please the Almighty Father.
— John A. Widtsoe, April 1931
That’s awesome. Am I correct in assuming that this is in general conference?
Yes. President Grant authorized John and Leah Widtsoe to come home to Salt Lake for a few months because they had been gone so long serving in the European Mission, and it was timed so that they could be at General Conference, before they headed back to Europe for another couple of years.
I quite like this, I definitely realized this was true when I was serving in a rather dysfunctional, remote, and small branch on my mission. Growing up I got used to hearing that the manuals, schedules, and hymns are what make us the same, but I think that’s overlooking the real reason given here.