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It's about duration-izing your
GAS FURNACE.
While our boys in uniform are making it hot for the enemy. . . you'll want to keep the home fires burning. Let me help you!"
HERE A R E S O M E PRACTICAL HINTS
PLEASE AVOID UNNECESSARY SERVICE CALLS — Hun- dreds of trained utility men are in the armed forces. Trucks roll on precious rubber. War jA industries have first call. In order to
/wV maintain essential find emergency serv-
f\ ice, your gas company requests: If pos-
sible, make minor adjustments yourself; and for skilled service or repairs, call your heating dealer or plumber.
FLOOR FURNACES (also applies to cold air return) —
Avoid dropping or sweeping debris through grille, or "register." Once each season, pref- erably now before heavy winter usage, cobwebs and dust should be cleaned out. Some types have removable grille and can be cleared with a vacuum
cleaner attachment; others have a clean-out door
underneath or in the basement.
FORCED AIR FURNACES - Blower fan and motor bearings should be lubricated periodically with a few drops of fine oil, and fan belt kept tight enough to prevent slipping. If your installation includes filters, they should be replaced every year or two years, de- pending on condition. These simple precautions may savdannoyance and costly repairs.
REPLACEMENTS — Your gas furnace is so simple in operation that with ordinary care, it should serve for the duration. But if serious trouble develops through extreme age or break- age, call your dealer or plumber while parts are still obtainable. In fact, you may be eligible to buy a new furnace if available in your locality. Ask your dealer about latest government regulations; also about a main- tenance contract for regular service.
SAVE GAS — Avoid overheating rooms; it is more healthful as well as economical to maintain a steady "comfort temperature." Remember; Waste helps the enemy, conservation helps America,
DURATION -IZE ALL YOUR APPLIANCES — A previous message in this series discussed wartime care of your gas range. Watch for future advertisements on how to prolong the life of your automatic gas water heater and gas refrigerator, and assure their efficient operation.
t
GAS
THE
WONDER
FUEL
'Buy more, and
more U. S. War
Bonds
MOUNTAIN FUEL SUPPLY COMPANY
Serving Twenty-three Utah Communities Sales offices in Salt Lake City, Ogden and Provo
By FRANKLIN S. HARRIS, JR.
A ccording to Dr. Walter B. Cannon, "^ the heat produced by a man's strenuous exercise, continued for twen- ty minutes, if it were not promptly given off by the body, would cause some of the albuminous substances of the body to become stiff, similar to a hard-boiled
egg-
4
"pEAR and anxiety may so dry out the ■*• mouth and throat as to cause a dis- tressing thirst. ■f-
A simplified musical scale has been ** proposed by Kenneth B. Wood in England to leave out the distinction be- tween the treble and bass clefs and to be without special marks on a note to show sharps and flats. In the sim- plified notation the position of a note on the staff corresponds to the position of the key on the piano. The staff is composed of alternate groups of two and three lines, the black lines repre- senting the black keys, and hence both sharps and flats, and the white spaces between, the white keys. C sharp, the lowermost line of the treble clef, is drawn more heavily than the rest, and the bass clef is merely a con- tinuation downward of the treble clef.
*"Phe Morse code used in radio and telegraphy is to be learned most easily by ear, according to the Ameri- can Radio Relay League, Instead of learning dots and dashes by seeing and writing, as the equivalents for letters, it is easier to learn by hearing the sound whistled or as it comes in on a headset.
KTagnesium, one-third lighter in weight than aluminum, can now be arc-welded by keeping oxygen away with a blanket of the inert helium gas. With oxygen present in the arc the magnesium would burn just as it does in an incendiary bomb.
Tt is estimated that about fifty leaves on the tree are necessary to produce the food to develop an orange, forty to fifty for a good-sized apple, and thirty to forty for a peach.
4
"KTSThite corpuscles, living in bottles vv away from the human body, ac- tively eat microbes and red corpuscles just as though they were defending the body. Epithelial cells, which normally cover a surface such as forming the skin, when cultivated outside the animal to which they belong arrange them- selves in a pattern just as though they were protecting a surface. ^
Tt has been found by Dr. Walter M.
Elsasser that air cools in a clear sky
(Concluded on page 678)
Clip and Send Today for
Free Recipe Book
</
Or if you prefer delicious old-fashioned Buckwheat Pancakes ask for Globe "Al" Buckwheat Flour — also ready prepared.
GLOBE "Al" FMC AKFl ^WAFFLE FLDIJH
673
113th Semi-annual Conference Edition
containing an account of conference proceedings and the complete
text of the addresses delivered
*Mmproocment Era
"The Glory of God is Intelligence'
NOVEMBER, 1942
VOLUME 45 NUMBER 11
"THE VOICE OF THE CHURCH"
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS, MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS, DEPART- MENT OF EDUCATION, MUSIC COMMITTEE, WARD TEACHERS, AND OTHER AGENCIES OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
JhsL £dih?i&u (paqsL
|
Heber J. |
Grant, |
|
John A. |
Widtsoe, |
|
Editors |
|
|
Richard |
L. Evans, |
|
Managing Editor |
|
|
Marba C |
. Josephson, |
|
Associate Editor |
|
|
George Q. |
Morris, General Mgr. |
|
Lucy G. G |
innon, Associate Mgr. |
|
J. K. Orton |
, Business Mgr. |
My Call to the Apostleship Heber J. Grant 685
QPiWick, 3>si£duteA.
656
Message of the First Presidency to the Church
Private Ownership under the United Order, and the
Guarantees of the Constitution J. Reuben Clark, Jr. 688
The Light that Shines in Darkness David O. McKay 690
Joseph F. Smith, Patriarch to the Church
Joseph Fielding Smith 694
Evidences and Reconciliations — LIX* What is the Meaning
of Salvation? John A. Widtsoe 721
Conference Index 675 Priesthood: Melchizedek 730
Music: Forum for Church Mu- sicians, Alexander Schreiner..680
Church of the Air Broadcast .700
Tabernacle Choir and Organ Broadcast 704
Genealogy: Record - Making, Nellie F. D. Hanny 714
The Church Moves On 718
SpGCLoL J>£jtdlVi£A.
Sam Brannan and the Mormons
The Land of Timelessness
Journey to Mexico — 1884
Exploring the Universe, Frank- lin S. Harris, Jr 673
Old Testament Curiosities 674
Native Culture in Mexico,
Charles E. Dibble 677
Telefacts 678
Added Information on "The Ab- stracted Indian Trust Bonds" 684 "Strange Language," R. L. E. ..709 On the Book Rack 717
Aaronic 733
Ward Teaching 734
Mutual Messages: Executives.. 735
Special Interest 735
M Men-Gleaners 736
Explorers 736
Juniors 736
Scouts 738
Bee-Hive Girls „ 738
in Early California — Part II
Paul Bailey 692
Milton Mangum 693
Rachel Grant Taylor 696
Homing: Words A Shining
Armor, Edith Brandis .722
Challenge to Women 722
Cooks' Corner, Josephine B.
Nichols 723
Handy Hints 724
Moslem in Name Only, S. Ed- ward Williams 724
Index to Advertisers 758
Your Page and Ours 768
Two Notable Anniversaries John A. Widtsoe 720
The Patriarch to the Church .....John A. Widtsoe 720
"As Plants Grown Up in Their Youth" Richard L. Evans 720
As One in Spirit Richard L. Evans 720
The General's Boots Richard Ball 716
Frontispiece: Land of Liberty.. 683 Quiet Faith, Eva Willes Wangsgaard ....703
Poetry Page 715
Young Ducks, Lucretia Penny. .722 Scriptural Crossword Puzzle.. ..766
JhsL Qovsuv
A beacon of liberty to all the world, this symbol, photographed by H. Armstrong Roberts, is a reminder of the prophecies concerning this land, of the rights of free men everywhere, and of the guarantees of the Constitution, a sacred and inspired document of freedom. (See pages 683 and 688)
674
OLD TESTAMENT
1. To whom did God promise that His children should be in numbers as the stars in heaven?
2. By whom were the Jews delivered according to prophecy?
3. What book of the Bible was writ- ten without mentioning the name of God?
4. What was the early Bible name for prophet?
5. By whom were the children of Is- rael carried captive into Babylon?
6. What did Job say at the loss of his children and all his possessions?
7. Who is greater than he that taketh a city?
8. To whom was the birthright given when taken from Reuben?
9. The birth of how many distin- guished Bible characters was announced by angels?
10. Who said "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken, than the fat of rams"?
(Answers will be found on page 728)
EXECUTIVE AND EDITORIAL OFFICES:
50 North Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Copyright 1942 by Mutual Funds. Inc., a Cor- poration of the Young Men's Mutual Improve' ment Association of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All rights reserved. Sub- scription price, $2.00 a year, in advance; 20c single copy.
Entered at the Post Office, Salt Lake City, Utah, as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in section 1103. Act of October, 1917, authorized July 2. 1918.
The Improvement Era is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, but welcomes con- tributions. All manuscripts must be accompanied by sufficient postage for delivery and return.
NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES
Salt Lake City: Francis M. Mayo San Francisco: Edward S. Townsend Chicago: Dougan and Bolle New York: Dougan and Bolle
MEMBER OF THE AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS
A MAGAZINE FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
9ndex, to •
GENERAL CONFERENCE
ADDRESSES
Ashton, Marvin O. 748
Bennion, Samuel O. 746
Bowen, Albert E., Immutables 712
Callis, Charles A., Rededication 711
Changes in Church Officers 751
Church of the Air Broadcast 700, 704
Clark, J. Reuben Jr., Private Owner- ship Under the United Order, and the Guarantees of the Constitution 688
Clawson, Rudger, The Lord's Mercy to the Repentant 699
Evans, Richard L. 700, 704, 739
First Presidency, Message of the —1—686
Grant, Heber J., Call to the Apost- leship 685
Hardy, Rufus K. 741
Ivins, Antoine R. 745
Kirkham, Oscar A. 740
Lee, Harold B., Remaining Steadfast .713
Lyman, Richard R., Liquor, Immoral- ity, and Our Armed Forces 706
McKay, David O., The Light that Shines in Darkness 690
McKay, Thomas E. 741
Merrill, Joseph F., Priesthood Ac- tivity 710
Richards, George F., Our Aspirations and Covenants 703
Richards, LeGrand, The Power of Example _ 701
Richards, Stephen L, In Holy Places .... 705
Romney, Marion G. 744
Smith, George Albert, True to the Faith 702
Smith, Joseph F., Testimony 694
Smith, Joseph Fielding, To Be Called the Sons of God 704
Smith, Nicholas G. 749
Sonne, Alma 739
Tabernacle Choir and Organ Broad-
704
746
cast
Taylor, John H.
Widtsoe, John A., Leadership 708
Wirthlin, Joseph L. 743
Young, Clifford E. 747
Young, Levi Edgar, Sowers and Reap-
ers
700
She's A Wise Mother Who Insists On Checking The Flavor, Color And Texture Of The Foods She Serves
Her Youngster!
TVTAYBE you're one of those women who think all baby XV± foods taste alike! We'd like to have you compare Heinz ^trained Foods with any other brand you choose. Look at the fresh color of Heinz food-note the smooth, full-bodied texture -taste that tempting, wholesome flavor! Heinz 15 Strained Foods have the natural goodness of finest-grade fruits, vegetables, meats and cereals-scientifically cooked and vacuum-packed in enamel-lined tins. Vitamins and minerals are also retained in high degree.
Order a supply of these high-quality, ready- to-serve foods. See if your baby, too, doesn't decide they're delicious!
THESE TWO SEALS MEAN
PROTECTION FOR YOUR
BABY
BABY FOODS
BACKED BY A 73-YEAit QUALITY TRADiTJIONf
J5 delicious, ready-to-serve Strained 12 highly nutritive Junior Foods- Foods vacuum-packed in protective unstrained and mildly seasoned — enamel-lined tins; vitamins and min~ designed to bridge the gap between erols are retained in high degree! Strained Foods and family meals.
675
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, NOVEMBER, 1942
We Vol
ue
our association with
president Mcbcr j. $m\t
for hid
— Wise Counsel
— ^eudoneu Audament
— ^rriendlu (^oo&eration
u \^oop
Cxemptctru rJLile
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD
676
VLativsL gidtuJUL
IN MEXICO
By CHARLES E. DIBBLE
Roosevelt Fellow, Institute of Interna- tional Education
WE are accustomed to think of Mexico as a Spanish-speaking nation with a culture very similar to our own. We forget the extent to which pre-Spanish habits, customs, ideas, and traditions persist among the native population. Racially, Mexico is still Indian rather than Spanish or mes- tizo.
According to recent government fig- ures, three million or about seventeen percent of the population still speak one of the fifty surviving Indian languages spoken in Mexico. The greatest num- ber, six hundred seventy thousand, speak Aztec, and two hundred seventy- nine thousand ninety-three still speak Mayan.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, NOVEMBER, 1942
|lS,'
HUASTECA FAMILY
Illustrative of these native-speaking Indians are the Huasteca of southeast- ern San Luis Potosi. Their language is related to the Maya and is spoken by approximately forty-one thousand two hundred seventy-one persons. Voca- bulary comparisons show that their language has not changed appreciably during the last two centuries. With the exception of the dog, burro, horse, a few cows, and the coffee bean, their material culture is little different from before the conquest. Their basic staples are corn cakes (tortillas), beans, chile, and coffee. They still use the bow and arrow to some extent in hunting deer. There is an abundance of legend and tradition of the life of these people be- fore the arrival of the Christian con- querors. Occasionally reports filter through of an inland village still harbor- ing an ancient idol supposed to have special power over the manifestations of nature.
What's worse:- 35 miles an hour or 00 miles an hour?
Don't flunk an easy one!... This is worth thought . . .The prize at stake is your car!
. . .Today's sensible top speed of 35 for patriots is a cinch for your engine, com- pared to unlubricated cold starting — way down at 00 miles an hour!
People in dead earnest to battle wear from the very start, are having their engines oil-plated. Without using up extra moments or money, they simply change to Conoco N^ motor oil — patented. And this oil's added modern synthetic — with apparent "magnetic at- traction"— closely bonds lubricant to inner engine parts. That's called oil- plating because it resembles any good protective plating in not all "going else- where" while the car stands cold.
Oil-plating doesn't all quickly go draining off down to the crankcase. Oil down there in the depths is still trying to "get a move on" as the engine starts, while oil-plating is already faithfully fastened clear up to the topmost piston rings. Simply because oil-plating doesn't all go away, it's there ahead of time, to get ahead of rampant wear in starting cold. It's there the rest of the
time, too. And so the strong liquid-type film of Conoco Nth oil is sliding between oil-plated surfaces. Not much look-in for wartime wear. Better change to an oil-plated engine, at Your Mileage Merchant's Conoco station. He knows your correct Winter grade of Conoco N**» oil. Continental Oil Company
JOIN FREE
Elect yourself to the once-a-week club at Your Mileage Merchant's Conoco station. Choose your own regular day to drive in and have him check your tires, oil, radiator and battery. His systematic expert attention means trouble-prevention. He'll report in advance on lubrication and anything that he finds you need for the duration of your car!
Care For Your Car . . . For Your Country
CONOCO
MOTOR OIL
AMERICA'S FINEST OVERALL
SINCE 1853
LEVI'S
THERE'S A REASON— Others can't imitate LEVI'S!
LEVI STRAUSS.
A NEW PAIR FREE IF THEY RU>
scratch CONCEALED COPPER RIVETS ON BACK POCKETS
677
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, NOVEMBER, 1942
A SUPERB HOTEL
*#®mm
IN SAN FRANCISCO
Convenient to business, social, shopping and theatres . Single from $4 -Double from $6 Suites from $10 'A generally lower scale of rates for long term occupancy
HOTEL
Edmond A. Rieder
General Manager
P &" ''
HOW
would you plan a
i
I
i
1. Travel only when neces- sary; plan trips in ad- vance.
2. Select less crowded sched- ules; go week days.
3. Get tickets early; take only 1 suitcase.
union pacific
STAGES
if.
*ftix,.,:,:;:>¥SH-::^
TEiEFACT
PICTOGRAPH CORPORATION SCIENCE SERVICE 7.25.2
HOW CIVILIAN USE OF RUBBER
CIVILIAN CONSUMPTION
IN 1941
HAS TO BE CUT DOWN
700,000 TONS
IN 1942
150,000 TONS
Exploring the Universe
(Concluded from page 673)
by radiation of energy about one de- gree Centigrade in polar air masses and two to three degrees in equatorial air. The heat for this must be supplied by convection, turbulence, and condensa- tion of water since there is apparently no heating of the air by radiation.
♦
Tn Papua, in the south seas, nets of great strength are made from the webs of giant spiders which spin their geometrical webs from tree to tree. The Santa Crucians make an octagonal kite from cocoanut fronds with a tail to serve as a fish line. A mass of cobweb is used as b lure, trailing in the water. When the garfish leaps for the lure he gets his curved teeth entangled in the sticky web and is thus captured.
-♦
Investigators have found small elec- trical differences between different parts of the human body, such that a "topographical" map could be con- structed showing areas of high and low potential, a pattern which is independ- ent of the pathological condition of the skin,' nerves, and muscles and which lasts after death up to ten hours until ' rigor mortis. Further work has led Fritz Munk to suggest that catching cold
is due to a disturbance of the normal electrical condition of the skin and not in the heat-regulating system, since sneezing temporarily restores the dis- turbed electrical condition of the skin when a person is "catching cold."
4
rTTHE largest observed comet had a total mass less than a millionth that of the earth and no change in the mo- tion of the earth by the gravitational pull of the comet coming near the earth has ever been measured. The comet which has approached closest to the earth was still four times as far away as the sun.
>
Tf oat seedlings are soaked in water A through which oxygen is bubbled for a day before planting, the growth of the seed upon later planting is al- most completely stopped, compared with those where air is bubbled through. Nitrogen gives almost the same results as air.
>
"plNELY cut garbage has been found to be a good fertilizer.
"Decords of smallpox extend back as **■ far as 1000 B. C. in China.
""P'he area of surface in the human lungs is almost five hundred square yards.
TEiEFACT
PICTOGRAPH CORPORATION SCIENCE SERVICE 7.24.2
PRODUCTION OF DEHYDRATED FOOD
* GROWS RAPIDLY
1939
1941
1942
(EST.)
Each symbol represents 5,000,000 lbs.
678
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, NOVEMBER, 1942
TO UTAH FARMERS
E. J. Erekson of Payson, Utah, has one of the most modern, streamlined poultry farms in the inter-mountain states. His setup includes 6 acres of rocky bench land where his laying flock produces, and a 47-acre farm, partly in orchard, where the young pullets are kept. Current egg produc- tion varies from 14 cases weekly (30 dozen eggs per case) in late summer to 45 cases weekly during peak laying in the spring.
For the past 8 years Mr. Erekson has served as a director of the Utah Poultry Producers Cooperative Asso- ciation and was its president in 1937.
"Fortunately our Association is one of the best managed farm co-ops in the country," Mr. Erekson told me. "Even so, we have our marketing
A
Safeway
Farm Reporter Advertisement
problems, particularly in the spring when heavy laying piles up the egg supply and threatens prices.
"Regularly during such periods we've had help from Safeway and other food chains on a generous, really important scale. They've used special advertising and big store posters to increase egg buying — featured the Springtime Egg Festival.
"The Safeway method of direct sell- ing also appeals to me. Eggs for ex- ample— Safeway demands high qual- ity eggs and pays top prices for them. Then they deliver to consumers by the quickest, least expensive route, which saves folks plenty of money."
Your Safeway Farm Reporter
AT 10, 2 AND 5:30
In six large laying coops likethis,E.J. Erekson maintains about 3000 laying hens — highly nervous White Leghorns which produce best on strict routine. "We gather the eggs three times daily — in summer, at 10 a. m., 2 p.m. and 5 :30 p. m., and in winter, at 9 : 30 a. m., 2 p. m. and 4 p. m.," Mr. Erekson ex- plained to me. "If I varied my routine as little as half an hour my hens would probably go off their lay for several days. Collecting three times daily al- lows cooling of the eggs soon after they are laid, and that's important for qual- ity. My hens stay in the laying coops."
Each spring the Ereksons buy about 2400 best grade sexed chicks as replacements for the laying flock. After 9 or 10 weeks in the brood- er house, the pullets are put in screened frames and allowed to range an apple orchard
Advertising and selling support for eggs given by Safeway is a big help to his Association, reports Mr. Erekson. Shown here is a typical Safeway poster pro- moting sales to consumers
Floyd Harmer manages the Payson branch of the Utah Poultry Producers Cooper- ative Association where Mr. Erekson's eggs are graded, packed and shipped
679
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, NOVEMBER, 1942
Let us
WINTERIZE
Your Car
— to keep it in safe condition, now more important than everl
The government wants motorists to continue using their cars for essential transportation.
No matter how much or how little you drive this winter, you want to protect your car against the rigors of cold weather.
So drive in and let us give it that protection.
Our 14-point Winterizing service takes care of every vital part — from radiator to differential. The cost is small. It will safeguard one of your most valuable possessions. Don't delay. Have this important service performed now, before real cold weather sets in.
(Djuvsl ift at ihhu
ShpLJ$. S&JW1XJL
CAR CONSERVATION HEADQUARTERS
IH PEtf°Y
Utah Oil Refining Company Stations and Dealers in Its Products
Everywhere in Utah and Idaho
CARE FOR YOUR CAR— FOR YOUR COUNTRY
m
t i
i >' f t t t t t t \ t t
^5i
NORTH SALT LAKE
YOUR EVERYDAY CASH MARKET FOR
CATTLE, HOGS -*» SHEEP
The following bonded Commission Firms operate on our market and are ready to serve you at all times.
PRODUCERS' LIVESTOCK MARKET ASS'N. UTAH LIVESTOCK COMMISSION CO.
SALT LAKE UNION STOCK YARDS
NORTH SALT LAKE, UTAH
ggggg
* m o * ft«>**«««ft*»it«m
i m w vv m
g5SSS5555ggS5
WtuAk,
FORUM FOR CHURCH MUSICIANS
Btf Alexander Schveinet Tabernacle Organist and Member Church Music Committee
'"Hhe general music committee of the Church is eager to establish a more intimate connection with the music workers throughout the Church. It desires to hear from choir leaders, or- ganists, and others interested in church music, concerning their work, their suc- cesses, their problems, and difficulties. It is believed that a discussion of their work on this page in answer to their let- ters will be of general interest and bene- fit. It is hoped that many ward musi- cians will participate by writing to the General Music Committee, 200 North Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah.
The committee should^ like to re- ceive letters concerning any and all phases of music work. Perhaps a cer- tain problem has been solved. Tell us about it. If some one thing is being done in a superior way, perhaps it should be adopted generally. Let us know about it. Such letters will be dis- cussed on this page, and all readers will benefit by the experience pre- sented. Any unusual service rendered to the Church by music organizations or their members should be reported. Perhaps a choir has a growing nest egg which at some future time is to be used for the purchase of a new reed organ, or piano, or other musical instrument, or for an addition to the chapel in the form of a choir room where the choir can rehearse during cold winter months.
Photographs will be welcome, es- pecially of successful ward choirs. Give a list of names of those in the photo- graph, together with names of officers, ward and stake, and the date of the photograph. These may be old or new. The older or the newer, the better. Such photographs would be a pleasing fea- ture on this page every month.
Now what are some church music problems? First, keeping the choir members happy and active and provid- ing them with new and interesting music which they will like to sing. Second, playing and directing congregational singing in the most effective way, so that it may be a prayer rather than something to be hurried through. Third, playing the prelude and the postlude, and obtaining a devotional spirit in the congregation during the prelude. Fourth, adhering to the rule that all music for the Sabbath day services be sacred, and requesting that visiting singers and instrumentalists be pre- pared to offer sacred selections. Fifth, keeping instruments in good repair. Write to the music committee if you have suggestions for solving these problems or if you need help concern- ing them.
(Concluded on page 729)
680
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, NOVEMBER, 1942
America will always Need the Eeet Sugar Industry
FOR over a half century the beet sugar industry has been providing Inter- mountain states with the finest sugar obtainable. During this time the sugar beet harvest from tens of thousands of fertile acres has been turned into sparkling white sugar. More than a half million dollars revenue from this "white gold" has poured into the pockets of our Intermountain farmers, factory workers, railroad employees, livestock growers, merchants, and taxpayers during the last fifty years. Taxes and revenue from the beet sugar industry have helped create whole new communities, have helped build schools and highways, and have bene- fitted every man, woman, and child in the states in which factories are operating.
Domestic Eeet Sugar to Serve 36 States
BUT today the domestic beet sugar industry is assuming an even greater im- portance. Before Pearl Harbor, sugar beets supplied less than one-fourth of the nation's sugar. Now the beet sugar industry of the West along with the West-coast cane refineries has been drafted to supply all the sugar for 30 states, plus sizeable portions of six others. This is a great responsibility, but one that Intermountain farmers and factory workers, with the help of our local communi- ties, will meet as one more contribution toward winning the war. Western beet growers and processors will do everything in their power to keep the nation sup- plied with an adequate amount of sugar to meet both military and civilian needs.
Energy for tiome~Front - - . and Battle Front
Sugar is your cheapest and best quick-energy food. It's a food we all need to give us the quick energy that will help win the war both on the battlefront and on the home-production front.
There's no finer sugar made anywhere than U and I Sugar . . . grown and processed right here in the
Intermountain West. Don't waste this sugar, but use whatever you are allowed under the rationing plan. U and I all-purpose sugar is the very best you can get for cooking, canning, and all sweetening. Ask for it at your grocers when you get your next ration.
UTAH-IDAHO SUGAR CO.
681
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, NOVEMBER, 1942
■jftnmtm* "Zfz6&+]tc^
We know they would approve
Around the northern end of Great Salt Lake in Utah are 120 miles of railroad track. This track has been but infrequently used, and then for local purposes, since the Lucin Cause- way across Great Salt Lake was completed in 1904. Yet every mile of it is a thrilling chapter in the saga of the West. It was here that Cen- tral Pacific* workmen, racing with the Union Pacific, laid ten miles of track in less than twelve hours
-a
record that has never been equalled. And it was here at Promontory, on May 10, 1869,
*Now Southern Pacific
that the Golden Spike was driven to complete America's first transcontinental railroad, a pioneer national defense project. Now the Government is taking up the track in order to use the rail for essential defense facilities. Thus about 13,000 gross tons of rail will be made available for national wartime use . . . and yet it is like tearing a deathless page from
the history of the West. But if the pioneers who suffered untold hardships to build this line were here today, we know they would heartily approve.
PROMONTORY
„CORINNE
UTAH
The War Bonds
you buy now will be
a nice nest-egg
for the future.
S*P
The Friendly Southern Pacific
An $18.75 War Bond
will buy
145 rounds of
50 caliber
ammunition.
682
Photograph by H. Armstrong Roberts
...1
It is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another. And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose. . . .
(Doctrine and Covenants 101:79, 80)
M
Lave mercy, O Lord, upon all the nations of the earth; have mercy upon the rulers of our land; may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defend- ed, namely, the Constitution of our land, by our fathers,
be established forever. (Doctrine and Covenants 109:54)
I
OR behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting
decree of God. (Book of Mormon, Ether 2:10)
683
'See that woman? — I'd
swear she buys a different laundry soap every week."
'Know how she buys? — She comes in and asks me, 'Which one's having a sale today?' So I tell her and out she goes, pleased as Punch, with a bagful of bargains. . . . And next week she's back again — buying somebody else's soap."
7afoi..4fcd0q&?
"Some day she'll try Fels-Naptha Soap and shell be done with all that. Instead of saving pennies here, PS'Nftrll she'll save dollars at home
you wait ana see
>»
684
OdckxL 9njfamcrfhtL
"THE
ABSTRACTED
INDIAN
TRUST BONDS
//
The following letter from How- ard S. Bennion, president of the New York Stake, and also a major in the reserve of the United States army, throws additional light on the situation that prevailed in high government circles during the period immediately preceding the Civil War:
New York City.
"Dear Brother Widtsoe:
"The articles entitled 'The Ab- stracted Indian Bonds,' by M. H. Can- non, appearing in the July and August issues of The Improvement Era, call to my mind teachings of the Professor of [Civil and] Military Engineering at West Point some thirty years ago which cast light on the expedition of Johnston's Army to Utah in 1857. [This colonel was Gustave Joseph Fiebeger, who assumed that position at West Point in 1896.1 In the years immediate- ly preceding the outbreak of the Civil War, the Secretary of War was Jeffer- son Davis, followed by John B. Floyd.
"In outlining the events preceding the outbreak of the great struggle, the professor said that the War Depart- ment, with the aid of elements in Con- gress, quietly but vigorously shifted army leaders and troops and accumu- lated armaments and stores of ammuni- tion in Southern garrisons and arsenals. For fear this proceeding would be- come obvious, he said the organization and dispatch of a sizable military ex- pedition against the Mormons was seized upon as a diversion, a distrac- tion, to cover the war preparation.
"The financial manipulations of Sec- retary Floyd had much more point than ordinary graft and peculation. His department of government was being used to help finance and set the stage for a great rebellion. Stories against the Mormons came at an op- portune time for this. The Utah ex- pedition was incidental.
"Sincerely your brother,
H. S. Bennion."
to-portrait of President Heber J. Grant
EIGHTY-SIX YEARS IN LIFE SIXTY YEARS AN APOSTLE TWENTY-FOUR YEARS AS PRESIDENT
November 22, 1942, marks the eighty-sixth anni- versary of the birth of President Heber J. Grant.
October \6, 1942, marks the sixtieth anniversary of President Grant's service as an apostle.
November 23, 1942, marks the twenty-fourth anni- versary of President Grant's administration as President of the Church.
In this notable lifetime President Grant has shown qualities of character of leadership which will cause him to be remembered among the great names of all time — qualities which have blessed his own generation and will yet bless generations to come. His fearless frankness, his willingness to counsel, his generosity, his worthy family, his hatred of evil, his forgiving spirit, and his humility before the things of God are a few of the innumerable things that have endeared him to honorable men everywhere and that have made his life a living evidence of what he has preached and stood for.
In his conference address, read by President McKay at the Saturday afternoon session, President Grant tells the story of his call to the apostleship, which ad- dress appears in full, beginning on this page. — R. L. E.
TThj. falL to JthL
&pDAilsi&hjLfL
By PRESIDENT HEBER J. GRANT
Address presented at the second session of the
\\3th Semiannual General Conference, in the
Tabernacle, Saturday, October 3, 1942
I am grateful beyond my power of expression for the faith and prayers of the people and for the blessings of the Lord in my behalf. For two and one-half years I have been gaining a little since I became ill, I have been home since that illness overtook me a little longer than two years, and when people have asked me how I am, I have said, "Better than I was yesterday," and this is really true — I have been gaining a little all the time. To begin with I could not move my left leg or my left arm. The doctors said it was not a paralytic stroke, but it must have been at least a second cousin to it. I could walk upstairs only one step at a time and drag my left leg up. Now, I can walk up and down stairs. I can walk across the floor without scraping my foot on the carpet; I can throw my left leg over my right one with perfect ease, and back again; my improvement is very remarkable considering the condition I was in, and I attribute it to the prayers of the Saints in my behalf. I am grateful to them beyond expression, and I am grate- ful to the doctors who have so very kindly taken care of me in California and here at home. I am truly appreciative of the interest they have taken in my behalf. I feel almost normal.
I have decided to tell in detail one or two very remarkable things that have happened in my life.
I was made one of the apostles in October, 1 882. On the 6th of October, 1882, I met Brother George Teasdale at the south gate of the temple. His face lit up, and he said: "Brother Grant, you and I" — very enthusiastically — and then he commenced coughing and choking, and went on into meeting and did not finish his sentence. It came to me as plainly as though he had said the words; "Are go- ing to be chosen this afternoon to> fill the vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles."
I went to the meeting and my head swelled, and I thought to myself, "Well, I am going to be one of the apostles," and I was willing to vote for myself, but the conference adjourned without anyone be- ing chosen.
Ten days later I received a telegram saying, "You must be in Salt Lake tomorrow without fail." I was then president of Tooele Stake. The telegram came from my partner, Nephi W. Clayton. When
(Continued on page 754)
685
JhsL MESSAGE jofciha. FIRST PRESIDENCY JbthL CHURCH
To the Saints in every land and clime we send our love and greetings and say unto you: May the Peace of Christ which passeth human understanding enter your souls and be and abide with you always. During the coming winter, may the Lord in His wis- dom, give food to the hungry, rai- ment to the unclothed, heat and shel- ter to those who are cold; may His Spirit bring comfort to the broken hearts, bind up the aching wounds, heal those who are sick, preserve from plague and pestilence those who are victims of this worldwide holocaust.
Our Testimonies
\X7e again bear you our testimony: that God lives and that He loves those who keep His com- mandments and walk in His ways; that Christ, His Only Begotten, came to earth and lived His mission through, that He was crucified, died, the Lamb of God sacrificed for the sins of the world, and after three days came forth from the tomb, a re- surrected being, thereby making the Atonement which brings the bless- ing of a resurrection to all God's children; that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, raised up to usher in this the last dispensation of the fulness of times, and to bring about the restoration of the fulness of the everlasting gospel and the Holy Priesthood of God, lost to earth through the wickedness of men.
We bear witness that this is the one true Church of the Christ, and that except through it and the fol- lowing of the teachings and com- mandments it proclaims, men may not reach the highest exaltation in the eternities to come.
We say unto you that in the dark- est hours of these days of dread, tumult, and woe, the Lord is near to us, that He mourns over the iniqui- ties and the sorrows of His children, that He would lead us into paths of peace if we would but follow Him; that He holds in His loving hands, nurtured by His boundless mercy, every one who lives righteously, and 686
Read by President ]. Reuben Clark, Jr., at the first session of the \\3th Semi-annual Conference, Saturday, October 3, 1942, in the Tabernacle, Temple Square, Salt Lake City.
YJ\Te bear witness that this is the one true Church of the Christ, and that except through it and the following of the teachings and commandments it proclaims, men may not reach the highest exaltation in the eternities
TO COME.
'T'HE DOCTRINE OF THIS CHURCH IS THAT SEXUAL SIN
— THE ILLICIT SEXUAL RELATIONS OF MEN AND
WOMEN — STANDS, IN ITS ENORMITY, NEXT TO MURDER.
who seeks His protection; that He listens and hearkens to those who, having pure hearts and contrite spirits, come to Him with prayers of unshaking faith. He stands today ready as always to gather us in, "even as a hen gathereth her chick- ens under her wings," would we but yield our lives in righteous service to Him.
Drink and the Word of Wisdom
HPhe world is smitten, nigh unto death, with great and grievous tribulations, following the commis- sion of cardinal sins.
Over the earth, and it seems par- ticularly in America, the demon drink is in control. Drunken with strong drink, men have lost their reason; their counsel has been des- troyed; their judgment and vision are fled; they reel forward to de- struction.
Drink brings cruelty into the home; it walks arm in arm with poverty; its companions are disease and plague; it puts chastity to flight; it knows neither honesty nor fair dealing; it is a total stranger to truth; it drowns conscience; it is the bodyguard of evil; it curses all who touch it.
Drink has brought more woe and misery, broken more hearts, wrecked more homes, committed more crimes, filled more coffins, than all the wars the world has suffered.
Therefore, we thank the faithful Saints for their observance of the Word of Wisdom, for their putting aside of drink. The Lord is pleased with you. You have been a bulwark of strength to this people and to the world. Your influence has been for righteousness. The Lord will not forget your good works when you stand before Him in judgment. He has blessed and will continue to bless you with the blessings He promised to those who obey this divine law of health. We invoke the mercies of the Lord upon you that you may continue strong in spirit, to cast off temptation and continue teachers to the youth of Zion by word and deed.
But so great is the curse of drink that we should not be held guiltless did we not call upon all offending Saints to forsake it and banish it from their lives forever.
God has spoken against drink in our day, and has given to this, the Lord's own Church, a specific reve- lation concerning it, as a word of wisdom by revelation —
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, NOVEMBER, 1942
That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Fa- ther . . .
And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies. — (D. & C. 89:5, 7)
This declares the divine wisdom. It is God's law of health, and is binding upon each and every one of us. We cannot escape its operation, for it is based upon eternal truth. Men may agree or disagree about this word of the Lord; if they agree, it adds noth- ing; if they disagree, it means nothing. Beyond His word we cannot reach, and it is enough for every Latter-day Saint, willing and trying to follow divine guidance.
For more than half a century Presi- dent Grant has on every appropriate occasion admonished the Saints touch- ing their obligation to keep the Word of Wisdom. He has told them what it means to them in matters of health, quoting the words of the Lord there- on. He has pointed out that treasures of knowledge, even hidden knowledge, would come to those who lived the law. He has, over and over again, shown what it would mean financially to every member who would keep the law, what it would mean financially to our people, and what it would mean financially to a nation. He has told us what it would mean in ending hu- man woes, misery, sorrow, disease, crime, and death. But his admonitions have not found a resting place in all our hearts.
We, the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, now solemnly renew all these counsels, we repeat all these admoni- tions, we reinvoke obedience to God's
law of health given us by God Him- self.
We repeat here the directions here- tofore given by President Grant: We ask that every General Authority, every stake and ward officer, every of- ficer of Priesthood quorums, every aux- iliary officer in ward, stake, or general board, every president of mission, every regular or stake missionary, in short, every officer in every Church or- ganization, strictly to keep the Word of Wisdom from this moment forward. If any feels too weak to do this, we must ask him to step aside for some one who is willing and able so to do, for there are thousands of Latter-day Saints who are willing to obey the com- mandments and who are able to carry on the work of the Lord.
We ask all Church presiding officers immediately to set their official houses in order.
The Lord will not otherwise fully prosper us in our service in His cause, wherefore we shall stand accused before Him that we walked not in ithe lead of His flock in the full stature of worthy, righteous example. Further- more, we make a like call upon all these officers to keep also the law of tithing, to live the law of strictest chastity, and to observe and do the commandments of the Lord.
That in these dire days, we may, each in his own place, enjoy the abun- dant physical blessings of the righteous life, we call upon all true Latter-day Saints, in or out of office, to keep this law of health, — completely to give up drink, to quit using tobacco, which all too often leads to drink, to abandon hot drinks and the use of harmful drugs, and otherwise to observe the Word of Wisdom. We urge the Saints to quit
trifling with this law and so to live it that we may claim its promises.
Upon you parents, laden with the divinely imposed responsibility of guid- ing pure, eternal spirits through the early years of their earth existence, we urge a faithful performance of your sacred duty, to teach this law of health to your children both by precept and example. Of a surety the Lord will not hold us guiltless if we fail one whit in guarding, protecting, and guiding these innocent and precious souls on their way to exaltation.
Parents, these are not the times for weak attempts and half measures, but for the full strength of righteous, pray- erful, God-fearing effort to walk our- selves, and to lead our children, along the paths of sobriety and chastity.
How great are the blessings prom- ised to those who observe the law:
And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. (D. &C. 89:18-21)
When, as the Lord Himself has de- clared, plague, pestilence, famine, and death shall be poured out upon the na- tions for their wickedness, and when these shall break over our heads and our loved ones are smitten nigh to death, when hearts are torn and the anguish of grief almost overwhelms (Continued on page 757)
THE FIRST PRESIDENCY
President Heber J. Grant, Center; J. Reuben Clark, Jr., first counselor, left; David 0. McKay, second counselor, right.
687
PRIVATE OWNERSHIP
By J. REUBEN CLARK, JR.
of the First Presidency
B
PRESIDENT J. REUBEN CLARK, JR.
Delivered at the Saturday Evening Session of the \\3th Semi-annual Gen- eral Conference, October 3, 1942, in the Tabernacle.
BRETHREN: I have been trying for a week to relieve you of this experi- ence, but Brother McKay, so kind, so sweet, and so merciful, has been perfectly adamant. So I stand be- fore you here, not to preach, but to counsel with you.
There is a great deal of misappre- hension among our people regarding the United Order.
I have not been able to believe that the United Order meant what some people have thought it meant, so within the last months I have spent quite a little time reading the revela- tions thereon, also reading our his- tory, and at the same time giving some consideration to a dissertation which has been written regarding the Order.
There is a growing — I fear it is growing — sentiment that commun- ism and the United Order are virtu- ally the same thing, communism be- ing merely the forerunner, so to speak, of a reestablishment of the United Order. I am informed that ex-bishops, and indeed, bishops, who belong to communistic organizations, are preaching this doctrine. So I thought that perhaps if I said just a few words to you tonight regard- ing the way I interpret the revela- tions that are printed about this in the Doctrine and Covenants (if there are other revelations about the 688
ASIC TO THE UNITED ORDER WAS THE PRI- VATE OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY. . . .
Perhaps . . . when the welfare plan gets thoroughly into operation , . . we shall not be so very far from carry- ing out the great fundamentals of the united order.
|F THE WELFARE PLAN IS FULLY OPERATIVE, WE SHALL BE ABLE TO CARE FOR EVERY DESTITUTE LATTER-DAY SAINT WHEREVER HE MAY BE.
. . . To me the Constitution is part of
MY RELIGION.
Order, I do not know of them ) , I thought if I said something about it, it might be helpful. I recommend that you, my brethren, read a few of the Sections of the Doctrine and Covenants which cover this matter, beginning with Sections 42 and 51. (See also Sections 70, 78, 82, 83, 85, 90, 92, 96, and 1 04. ) If you will go over these sections, I feel sure that you will find that my explanation of the United Order will be substanti- ally accurate.
Early Deviations
I may say to begin with, that in practice the brethren in Missouri got away, in their attempts to set up the United Order, from the principles set out in the revelations. This is also true of the organizations set up here in Utah after the Saints came to the Valleys. So far as I have seen there has been preserved only one document that purports to be a legal instrument used in connection with the setting up of the United Order, and that document is without date. It is said to have been found among the papers of Bishop Partridge. It was a "lease-lend" document. You may have heard that phrase before. Under this instrument the Church leased to Titus Billings a certain amount of real estate and loaned him
a certain amount of personal prop- erty.1
This instrument is not in accord- ance with the principle laid down in the revelations touching upon the United Order.
The basic principle of all the reve- lations on the United Order is that everything we have belongs to the Lord; therefore, the Lord may call upon us for any and all of the prop- erty which we have, because it be- longs to Him. This, I repeat, is the basic principle. (D. &. C. 104:14-17, 54-57)
One of the places in which some of the brethren are going astray is this: There is continuous reference in the revelations to equality among the brethren, but I think you will find only one place where that equal- ity is really described, though it is referred to in other revelations. That revelation (D. & C. 51:3) affirms that every man is to be "equal ac- cording to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs." (See also D. & C. 82:17; 78:5-6.) Obviously, this is not a case of "dead level" equality. It is "equality" that will vary as much as the man's circumstances, his family, his wants and needs, may vary.
]Sraith, Joseph, History of the Church, Vol. I, pp. 365-367.
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AND THE GUARANTEES OF THE CONSTITUTION
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Consecration
In the next place, under the United Order every man was called to con- secrate to the Church all of the prop- erty which he had; the real estate was to be conveyed to the Church, as I understand the revelations, by what we would call a deed in fee simple. Thus the man's property became ab- solutely the property of the Church. (D.6C. 42:30; 72:15) Then the bishop deeded back to the donor by the same kind of deed, that is, in fee simple, and also transferred to him by an equivalent instrument, so far as personal property was concerned, that amount of real and personal property, which, the two being taken together, would be required by the individual for the support of him-
self and his family "according to his family, according to his circum- stances and his wants and needs." This the man held as his own prop- erty. (D. & C. 42:32; 51:4-6; 83:3)
In other words, basic to the United Order was the private ownership of property, every man had his own property from which he might se- cure that which was necessary for the support of himself and his family. There is nothing in the revelations that would indicate that this proper- ty was not freely alienable at the will of the owner. It was not con- templated that the Church should own everything or that we should be- come in the Church, with reference to our property and otherwise, the same kind of automaton, manikin,
. . . The Constitution of the United States is the basic law for all of the Americas, or Zion, as it has been de- fined by the Lord.
. . . We must have the great guaran- tees THAT ARE SET UP BY OUR CONSTITU- TION. There is no other way in which
WE CAN SECURE THESE GUARANTEES.
vou may look at the systems all over the world where the principles of our Constitution are not controlling and in force, and you will find there dictatorship, tyranny, oppression, and, in the last analysis, slavery.
fZoD GIVE US WISDOM AND ENABLE US IN THESE TIMES OF TROUBLE AND STRIFE CLEARLY TO SEE OUR WAY, THAT WE MAY BE INSTRUMENTAL IN SUSTAINING THE CON- STITUTION, IN UPHOLDING OUR FREE INSTI- TUTIONS, OUR CIVIL RIGHTS, OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OF PRESS, OF RELIGION, AND OF CONSCIENCE.
that communism makes out of the in- dividual, with the State standing at the head in place of the Church.
Now, that part of a man's prop- erty which was not turned back to him, if he had more than was needed under this rule of "equality" already stated, became the common property of the Church, and that common property was used for the support of the poor of the Church. It is spoken of in the revelations as the "residue" of property. (D. & C. 42:34-36)
Land Portions
Furthermore, it was intended, though apparently it did not work out very well, that the poor coming into Zion, and by Zion I mean, here, Missouri — the poor coming into Zion were to have given to them a "por- tion" of land, which land was to be either purchased from the Govern- ment (and it was planned to pur- chase large areas from the Govern- ment), or purchased from individu- als, or received as consecrations from members of the Church. The amount of this "portion" was to be such as would make him equal to others according to his circumstan- ces, his family, his wants and needs.
The land which you received from the bishop by deed, whether it was part of the land which you, yourself, had deeded to the Church, or wheth- er it came as an out-right gift from the Church as just indicated, and the personal property which you re- ceived, were all together sometimes called a "portion" ( D. & C. 51 :4-6 ) , sometimes a "stewardship" (D. & C. 104:11-12), and sometimes an "in- heritance." (D. &C. 83:3)
As just indicated, there were oth- er kinds of inheritances and stew- ardships than land or mere personal property; for example, the Prophet and others had a stewardship given to them which consisted of the reve- lations and commandments ( D. & C. 70 : 1 -4 ) ; others had given to them a stewardship involving the printing house (D.8C. 104:29-30); another stewardship was a mercantile estab- lishment. (D.SC. 104:39-42)
Surplus
I repeat that whatever a steward realized from the portion allotted to him over and above that which was necessary in order to keep his family under the standard provided, as al- (Continued on page 752)
689
J**- Light that Shines in
Address delivered oyer KSL and the Columbia Church of the Air, from the Salt Lake Tabernacle, Sunday, October 4, 1942, during the \\3th Semiannual General Conference.
"Wi
alk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you : for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth."
That solicitous admonition given by the Savior of men is as pertinent today as when it was first expressed. Men and nations having refused to walk in the Light now as Jesus said stumble in darkness and know not whither they go. Motivated for cen- turies largely by selfish interests, the human race, judging from present world conditions, is still dangerously near the jungle where primitive pas- sions dominate and govern.
There is a mythical Greek tale that Charon was permitted once up- on a time to visit the earth to see what men were doing. From a lofty eminence he looked over the cities, palaces, and other works of men. As he turned to resume his assigned task, he exclaimed: "These human beings are spending their time in building just birds' nests. No won- der they fail and are ashamed."
Men today in far too great an ex- tent are not only spending their time with things which have no perma- nent value, but ruthlessly destroying much that they have built through- out the centuries. War is making the earth a shambles. Churches, pal- aces, cottages, hospitals in many parts of the globe lie in ruins as if shaken by a terrible earthquake. As accompaniment to this destruction there is a pall of night which seems to be enveloping nations as an im- penetrable fog — a darkness that springs from Hate; for, "He that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes."
During this very hour while we reverently worship the God of Heav- en, millions of men lie wounded, bleeding, maimed, many disabled for life by the hands of their fellow men. Other millions sleep in death, many in unknown graves, some in no graves, their bodies trampled by sav- age feet stumbling forward toward a coveted and selfish goal. Not only men but women — mothers lying life- less clasping their babes even in 690
By
DAVID O. McKAY
of the First Presidency
PRESIDENT DAVID 0. McKAY
death. Truly it seems that "Dark- ness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people."
Men Have Forgotten God
Why this worldwide holocaust? Why this mad orgy of death? Be- cause man is acting contrary to eternal principles of Right!
In words quite as applicable today as when he declared them, the im- mortal Lincoln gives the answer as follows :
We have been the recipients of the choic- est bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown; but we have forgotten God, We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were pro- duced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken suc- cess, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserv- ing grace, too proud to pray to God that made us. It behooves us, then, to humble
ourselves before the offended power, to con- fess our national sins, and to pray for clem- ency and forgiveness.
I still have confidence that the Almighty, the Maker of the Universe, will, through the instrumentality of this great and intelligent people, bring us through this as he has through all other difficulties of our country.
In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord says:
If you keep not my commandments, the love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore, you shall walk in darkness.
The Antithesis of Christ's Teachings
No one can doubt that the seeds of this war found nourishment in soil of hatred and dishonor, which are the antithesis of Christ's teachings. The Conversations of Munich, for example, were followed by viola- tions of agreement and broken prom- ises; the invasion of Poland was prompted by covetousness and car- ried out by the fiendish power of conquest; the attack of Pearl Harbor was conceived in treachery and de- ceit; Czechoslovakia, Greece, and other nations, too weak to withstand the onslaught, have been cruelly crushed by the forces of one who had defiantly rejected Jesus of Naz- areth and His teachings. So the list can be lengthened, showing how principles of Right have been vio- lated, and how Hate has plundered and destroyed.
Men Groping Blindly, Aimlessly
The serious effect of all this is far reaching. Men's confidence is shak- en in political forms of government. In uncertainty they begin to ques- tion the promised security of well- tried and fundamental principles. They see the discoveries and inven- tions of science prostituted as a means of human destruction. Old beliefs and ideals are toppling, and as a drowning man seizes a floating substance, men and women grasp at any new idea or theory that is thrown as a bait in this sea of con- fusion.
The upsetting of the world has forced us into war, and we should be recreant not to go forward. To our soldier boys wherever you are we say God bless and guide you as you defend the divinely-given prin- ciples of freedom. May the Light of Truth and the power to resist evil be your constant companions. We all realize with you that you are enlisted in a war against
Darkness
wickedness, and that peace cannot come until the mad gangsters having in their hands science-produced ex- plosives, mechanized equipment, and giant tanks, are defeated and branded as murderers, and their false aims re- pudiated, let us hope forever. Yes, the conflict must continue though its aims and purposes to many seem terribly complicated, and the establishment of a just peace, a task as herculean as the terminating of the war itself.
generally in men's hearts there is a de- sire to treat fairly their fellow men.
The One and Safe Guide
Tn all such seeking, however, there is A one idea indispensable to the estab- lishment of a permanent peace which too many men and some nations have obliterated from their minds entirely, but which now should be reburnished until it shines as the unclouded noon- day sun. I call it an idea, having in
f~\f the ultimate victory for freedom we must not doubt; nor harbor either discouragement or despair.
Tf America is "the melting pot" the gospel of Jesus Christ is the crucible in which hate, envy, and greed are consumed, and good will, kindness, and love remain as in- NER ASPIRATIONS by which man truly lives
AND BUILDS.
When one looks out upon the human race, the way it has come and the way it must go, and sees that tiny gate so obscure that one must search to find it, and so lowly that one must stoop to enter it, and yet the only way to life, die only escape from ruin of mankind, one is sobered. . . . And yet civ- ilization will be transitory until men in large numbers go this way of love.
For two thousand years and even more, nations have ignored, and, in many instances, repudiated fundamen- tal principles of the gospel. Even in so- called Christian lands men have spurned the teachings as being impractical. The result is that the earth has literally been drenched with blood.
I have referred to the present-day carnage, even to think of which makes everyone gloomy and sick at heart, to emphasize, if possible, the need of a drastic change in men's dealings with one another. Never has there been a time in the history of the world when a change for the better was so impera- tive. Now, if ever, as the scripture promises, "a nation should be born in a day" — a nation of men and women with changed hearts and changed at- titudes.
Since rejection of Christ's teachings has resulted in disaster and useless
The constitution of this government was written by men who accepted jesus Christ as the savior of mankind.
The Need of a Guiding Light
/""\f the ultimate victory for Free- ^-' dom, we must not doubt; nor har- bor either discouragement or despair. As after every night, even in the dark- ness, rises the morning star, so now in the midst of the blackness of inter- national hatred and bloody conflict, men may behold a Light heralding a new day, if they will but look through the eyes of Reason and Common Sense.
Statesmen, men of science, thinking men in all nations, laymen everywhere sense the need of something definite to which to look forward, some clear bea- con that will guide the stranded nations to a safe harbor of permanent peace. As practical steps toward that goal they say: (1) mete out just punishment to villains and murderers; (2) make res- toration of sovereign rights to those who have been deprived of them by force; (3) secure equal enjoyment by all nations of world trade and materials needed for prosperity; (4) establish improved labor standards, economic advancement, and social security for all; (5) declare a peace assuring safety and tranquility the world over; (6) grant freedom of the seas to all; (7) exact promise of abandonment by all nations of the use of force, and of dis- armament of aggressive nations pend- ing the establishment of general securi- ty— these and other expressed aims are worthy ideals and point to the fact that
(^HRIST IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE, THE ONLY SAFE GUIDE TO THAT HAVEN OF PEACE FOR WHICH MEN AND WOMEN THE WIDE WORLD OVER ARE EARNESTLY PRAYING.
mind the fact that "there is more dyna- mite in an idea than in many bombs." It is as old as the Lord's first message to man, and some of you listening in will call it trite — men in the past have entertained it for a time, have dallied with it, then without attempting to make it a reality have permitted it to drop below the plane of consciousness, and even to sink into the abyss of un- belief. This idea so frequently men- tioned but so seldom practiced, con- notes things which, if lost, civilization itself is lost. It connotes the right to live, to be treated decently, to be kind- ly spoken to, to enjoy home, to love, and to be loved. It connotes strength to defend the Right — sympathy for those who, striving, have failed. It connotes justice and mercy. It turns the eye and the heart from beastly pas- sions to noble aspirations.
It is Christ's plan of love and serv- ice— summarized in the two great com- mandments: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbour as thyself."
I fully realize with Professor Wie- man that
bloodshed, with only intermittent periods of respite and progress, why in the name of reason should people not be willing to substitute for selfish aggrandizement Christ's principle of brotherly consideration? As a first step, for example, make truly appli- cable the simple injunction of putting one's self in the other fellow's place, the surest of all means of eliminating the bitterness that characterizes mis- understandings.
Applicability of Christ's Teachings
"^fo thinking person can say truthfully ^ that the application of this one simple act if practiced among individ- uals and nations would not bring about a better world!
Equally effective and applicable are His teachings regarding the value and sacredness of human life, the virtue of forgiveness, the necessity of fair deal- ing, His condemnation of the sin of hypocrisy, and of covetousness, His teachings regarding the saving power of love, and of the immortality of the soul. His doctrine of arbitration as a means of settling difficulties and quar- (Concluded on page 750)
691
SawL (B/vanncuL
PART II
7Tt the age of twenty-seven, L\ Samuel Brannan was a dash- J. A. ingly handsome figure. His dress was impeccably dandified. His near six-foot physique and tire- less energy were heritage from sturdy seafaring ancestors and the bleak coast of Maine which cradled him. His hair was black, his eyes dark and flashing, his voice full of imperious thunder. He walked the sagging decks of the old Brooklyn like a king — demanding instant obedience from that band of Mor- mon pilgrims who had plighted their lives to ocean hazard and looked to him for guidance.
Despite his tendency toward pomposity and self-exaltation, Bran- nan had leadership qualities which if rightly used could have assured success for the undertaking. He was shrewd, attentive to detail, and possessed of courage and vision in a degree given few men. In stock- ing the hold of the Brooklyn he chose supplies and equipment cal- culated to meet any emergency which might arise in pioneering a new commonwealth. In 1848 the coasts of California were but vague- ly known to the American people, and rarely touched by ships plying the Pacific. In the China trade, Honolulu was the Pacific port of call rather than any of the squalid seacoast villages of California. Oc- casionally American merchantmen touched at Yerba Buena, San Ped- ro, or San Diego, but their only hope for a cargo was an occasional load of dried beef hides.
In that land of imponderables Samuel Brannan hoped to plant a Mormon colony. He seemed con- vinced that Brigham Young would lead the Saints through to Califor- nia— a belief difficult to reconcile with the great leader's public utter- ances and writings at that time. He expected to arrive first in this new land. His responsibility, he con- sidered, was to make ready a place where weary Saints who traveled overland might find rest and sur- cease from the trail.
So into the hold of the Brooklyn had gone agricultural and mechan- ical implements for eight hundred
692
AND THE MORMONS IN EARLY CALIFORNIA
By PAUL BAILEY
SAM BRANNAN'S
PRINTING
PRESS
Upon this press was printed "The Prophet," and "The Messenger." Afterwards, hauled around the Horn on the "Brook- lyn," it was used by Bran- nan to print San Fran- cisco's first newspaper, the "California Star."
men: scythes, plows, hoes, forks, shovels, plow-irons, nails, glass; blacksmith, carpenter and mill- wright tools; equipment for three grain mills; turning lathes and saw- mill irons; printing equipment and two years' supply of paper. There were such staples as brass, copper, tin and crockeryware, dry goods, and an immense supply of school books and slates. Two milch cows, forty pigs, and crates of fowls were loaded aboard to make certain Zion had an agricultural start. And the cows, milked on deck, provided a fresh and nourishing diet for the Brooklyn's infant passengers. A case or two of smooth-bore muskets were carefully hidden between
—Courtesy, Society of California Pioneers.
decks, and the ship had been pro- visioned for a six month's voyage. To prepare meals, a negro cook and a negro steward had been hired for sixteen and eighteen dollars a month, respectively.
Throughout the weeks preceding the voyage a crew of carpenters had transformed the decrepit old mer- chantman into something vaguely re- sembling a packet. Lower deck and a portion of the evil-smelling hold had been converted into tiny cabins and bunks, with one large room pro- vided for religious services and mess hall. These quarters were ill-ventil- ated, insanitary, and almost wholly devoid of light.
(Continued on page 725)
JhSL
LAND OF TIMELESSNESS
By MILTON MANGUM
From the land of today, with its calendars, clocks, and schedules to the land of timelessness, where sifting sands grind slowly and time is measured in geological ages — that is what it means to be transported from the busy, bustling cities of northern Utah to the canyons and crags of the San Juan River country. Here in this land of the Navajo and ancient cliff- dweller one sees the silent, relentless fight between life and death. Here plant and animal life, armed with thorns or claws and sharp, often poisonous teeth, wages endless battle for life against the elements.
In the Cottonwood canyon near Bluff or in the cliffs overhanging the Chinle Creek one sees the remains of some of these ancient battles, battles in which man fought desperately — and lost. Here the elements are slowly dis- integrating the work of an ancient peo- ple. Winds and water are crumbling the sandstone shelves upon which were built the homes of a people who once sought the protection of the vari-col- ored cliffs.
The mud mortar, once patted into place and marked with the imprint of hands which have long since crumbled to dust, is slowly weathering away and sifting out from between the rocks.
Buried under the dust of centuries are the sunken circular fire boxes where food, gathered at the risk of life, was cooked in pottery molded into shape and decorated in basket-like effects by pressure of the thumb on soft clay. Corncobs, still showing the teeth- marks of a race now gone, are found buried under the dust and debris.
In the dust a shiny arrowhead sparkles in the shadows. What was its mission? Did that glistening stone, cut in the shape of a mountain pine, once tear through flesh and release a soul from further fear of hulking shadows, or was its use arrested by another like stone while it was being put in place to tip a willowy shaft?
We cannot answer. Turning away we follow the path of modern man. A narrow road across the vast stretches of this country indicates where our own people have invaded the mystical si- lence of this land of timelessness: the road from Bluff to Kayenta — a haunt- ing road where shadows of the past hold tryst with the foreboding spirits of
MONUMENT VALLEY
the future. It skirts the muddy San Juan for some distance, then winds out of the valley up through the jagged rocks of a gray and red reef. Eyes feast on the vast panorama of color reaching out to the far horizon, and ears drink in the rich silence. Down we dip again into a deep valley between overhanging walls and feel the cool- ness of the canyon floor where the sun never shines. Then up again to the high, grey spine of comb ridge and on down the tortuous road to Mexican Hat and the river.
Looking down into the Moenkopi, red waters of the San Juan at Mexican Hat give one the impression that the land is slowly bleeding to death.
We must not pause too long at the Gooseneck or we shall become be- wildered by the twisting and writhing of the river in the deep, dark canyon below; be overcome by an impulse to plunge out into space and forgetfulness.
Let us follow the road as it climbs out of the canyon at Mexican Hat and winds out across the Navajo reserva- tion. Catch a glimpse of the Alham- bra as it bathes in the first rays of the sun in the morning. Like the story castle of "Sleeping Beauty" it waits for a "Prince Charming" to come and awaken the household. But no prince ever comes.
The road winds on through a land where the undaunted spirit of the pio- neer has been broken on the wheel of tragic desert life. Here and there along the road an abandoned oil well, an empty shack, a broken wagon or dis- carded truck only further demonstrate the ruthless strength of the elements in this desert land.
It seems the elements in this strange land resent the distorting touch of man and are doing all they can to discour- age him in the invasion of its sphinx- like security. If he breaks the stillness of its silent canyons with sacrilegious shout, the cliffs mock back. If he leaves his imprint upon the face of the vast valleys, soft desert winds cover the vul- gar mark with clean sand. If he seeks gold or greasy oil, fortune fades and leaves an empty shaft or silent derrick as a warning to future invaders.
Here and there empty Navajo hogans
are weathering away, mute witness of death's visit to them. These silent peo- ple of the desert believe that once death passes the portals of the hogan, that hogan is cursed and must be abandoned and a new one built. Yellow and brown lizards crawl into the recesses of these once inhabited homes, where sorrow and pain stalked a stoic people in the stillness of the night. Rattlesnakes curl in the shade where once a child was born. Horned toads blink from the shadows where long ago an Indian mother sang softly to her baby.
By the decaying hogan stands the post where once was tied the lean cay- use waiting to be ridden across the blackbrush-covered ridges or turned loose to graze on the sparse growth of dry grass or low greasewood. Here is the rude stick which once formed a part of a loom upon which were woven into a coarse blanket the vivid colors of the desert.
Here are the blackened stones which once encircled a friendly fire of cedar and blackbrush; a fire which moment- arily blinked back the blackness of the desert night. Here beside this lonely hogan brown-skinned nomads of the desert once lived, loved, hated, felt pain and hunger, then died or moved on. Now the desert seems bent only to the task of erasing the signs of the infamy.
In the evening the silent guards of Monument Valley draw the dark cloaks of the night about them in solemn similitude of the sanctity of this strange land. All night they stand, mute warnings to him who would in- vade that sanctity.
Warm sands of day turn cold at night, and tinseled stars hover so close it seems one could almost reach out and pluck them from the sky. Yet again these solemn sentinels seem to put forth a warning hand to guard these jewels of the night.
In the stillness of the night a message from the desert is whispered into the ears of the soul: "This is the land of timelessness. If you would stay you must become a part of it, be swal- lowed up by the desert. Your identity must be lost. Here time is forever, and eternity is now."
693
JOSEPH F. SMITH
(pat/ricuuzk, to JthsL tfku/ich.
By JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH
of the Council of the Twelve
At the first session of the semi- annual general conference of , the Church held in the taber- nacle, Saturday morning, October 3, 1942, Elder Joseph F. Smith, eldest son of the late Hyrum M. Smith, was sustained as Patriarch to the Church. At the time of his appoint- ment he was the head of the speech department at the University of Utah. He was born January 30, 1899, in Salt Lake City, the eldest child of Elder Hyrum M. and Ida Elizabeth Bowman Smith. His fa- ther was the eldest son of Presi- dent Joseph F. Smith and from Oc- tober 24, 1901, to his death, Janu- ary 23, 1918, was a member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. Joseph F. was left in his youth with- out both father and mother, as his mother died September 24, 1918, six days after the birth of her second son, Hyrum Mack, Jr. The care of the children was left to their Aunt Margaret Bowman, who has been to them all that love, sympathy, and motherly care could exact.
Joseph F. was baptized on his eighth birthday anniversary, Jan- uary 30, 1907. His early school- ing was received in the Salt Lake City district schools. When Hyrum M., Joseph F.'s father, was called to preside over the European mis- sion, in the fall of 1913, he took his family with him, and Joseph at- tended Liverpool Collegiate School. After returning to his native land he continued his education in the University of Utah, where he showed exceptional talent in speech 694
JOSEPH F. SMITH
and dramatics under the guiding hand of Dr. Maud May Bab- cock, to whom he owes much in obtaining his start in his chosen field. In April 1920, he was called on a mission to the Hawaiian Islands, where he labored under the direction of his uncle, E. Wesley Smith, then presiding in that mission. He re- turned home in September 1922, aft- er completing a successful mission, and again took up his studies at the University of Utah. Shortly after his return he was called to do the usual duties required of faithful young men in the Church, in the or- ganizations and became a teacher in various classes and in his quorum. He was also called to serve on the Granite Stake Sunday School board. Since 1929, he has been a member of the general board of the Y.M.M. LA.
He received the Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Utah in 1 924, and the following year took a course in the University of Lon- don, where he obtained a certificate in phonetics. The next year he was a student in the University of Illi- nois where he obtained his M.A. de- gree; in 1936-38 he was a student in the University of Wisconsin, where he also taught. He also spent one summer at Oxford. He has taught two summer sessions in the Univer- sity of Minnesota, and one summer in the University of Iowa. For one year he was Director of Theater in the University of Illinois and also taught in the summer school in the University of California at Berkeley.
REMARKS OF
JOSEPH F. SMITH
Patriarch to the Church
Delivered at the Saturday Morn- ing Session of the l\3th Semi- annual General Conference, Oc- tober 3, 1942, in the Tabernacle.
T know that my Redeemer lives. A Once in January of this year, and again in April, I lay in the valley of the shadow of death. I returned therefrom only by the power of the Priesthood and the faith of those who love me. Let sophists- scoff — let worldly learned men rationalize: I know — as I know that I stand here — that I am alive this day by the power of the Priesthood and by the faith of my loved ones.
Many nights have I lain and pondered the Lord's goodness to me — goodness which I must con- fess seemed all too unmerited. There are no words for me to tell you what went on in my heart this day as I saw this great body of men holding the holy Priesthood sustain me in the calling to which the Prophet of God has sum- moned me.
I know that my Redeemer lives. I know that Heber J. Grant is His chosen and properly-ordained mouthpiece upon earth. God grant that we as a body of Priesthood, that our families, that our breth- ren and sisters who are mem- bers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may have the wisdom and the strength to hew closely to the words which have issued and which shall issue from the constituted authority of the Church. Only by so doing will we have the strength to face the trials that are to come. The hearts of the strongest may quail. Obedience to the word of the Lord is the only thing which will fortify us in the days to come.
God grant that we may be Lat- ter-day Saints, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
He taught in the University of Wis- consin two years and during five summer sessions, and for the past seven years he has also taught in the summer session in the Banff School of Fine Arts, a subsidiary of the University of Alberta. All of this, in connection with the duties as head of the department of speech in the University of Utah, and his activities on the Young Men's General Board and in other Church work, has made for him a very busy life.
He is a member of the following fraternities, societies, and profes- sional organizations: The National Sociology Fraternity; Theta Alpha Phi; the National Dramatic Fratern- ity; National Forensic Fraternity; and Sigma Phi Sigma.
Early in the present year, 1942, he was taken seriously ill and spent many weeks in the hospital and only by the blessings of the Lord through administration, was his life spared. Then following this illness he was seized again and spent another siege of serious illness which necessitated an operation at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Again, through the pow- er of the Lord he was brought back to his present condition of health.
January 5, 1929, he married Ruth Pingree, who is a member of the Primary General Board, and daugh- ter of Pauline Taggart Pingree, a member of the Relief Society Gener- al Board; and the late Frank Pingree. They have five children, three girls and two boys: Ruth S., Ida, Raoul Pingree, Denis Pingree, and Lynne Esther, who is four months old.
The office of Patriarch to the Church is one of two hereditary of- fices in the Church, the other being that of Presiding Bishop. In the case of the Presiding Bishop, however, the Lord has not revealed the line of descent and since one holding the office of high priest may serve, this
order has been followed from the be- ginning in this dispensation. Speak- ing of the office of Patriarch, the Prophet Joseph Smith has said:
The Evangelist is a Patriarch even the oldest man of the blood of Joseph or of the seed of Abraham. Wherever the Church of Christ is established in the earth, there should be a Patriarch for the benefit of the posterity of the Saints, as it was with Jacob in giving his patriarchal blessings unto his sons. ( Teachings of the Prophet, page 151 )
In case of the patriarchal office, the Lord has designated the line of descent. By revelation and com- mandment Joseph Smith, Sr., was called and ordained to this office. In the blessing pronounced upon his head the Prophet said:
Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Maha- laleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of the posterity who were righteous into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman and there be- stowed upon them his last blessing. And
JOSEPH F. SMITH AND FAMILY
Front: Ruth Pingree Smith and Lynne Esther, Denis, Joseph F. Smith, and Raoul; Rear: Ida, Ruth.
the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Mich- ael, the Prince, the Arch-angel. And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him, I have set thee to be at the head; A multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a Prince over them for- ever. So shall it be with my father. He shall be called a prince over his posterity holding the keys of the Patriarchal Priest- hood over the kingdom of God on earth, even the Church of the Latter-day Saints, and he shall sit in the general assembly of Patriarchs, even in council with the An- cient of Days, when he shall sit and all the Patriarchs with him, and shall enjoy his right and authority under the direction of the Ancient of Days. . . .
Again, blessed is my father, for the hand of the Lord shall be over him and he shall be full of the Holy Ghost. . . . Behold the blessings of Joseph by the hand of his progenitor shall come upon the head of my father and his seed after him, to the utter- most. (Blessing given December 18, 1833.)
{Concluded on page 737)
JOSEPH SMITH, SEN.
HYRUM SMITH
PATRIARCHS TO THE CHURCH SINCE 1S33 JOHN SMITH
JOHN SMITH
HYRUM G. SMITH
No
photograph
available
695
Journey to
HEBER J. GRANT AS THE YOUNG APOSTLE
"I
am twenty-eight years old today. I can scarcely realize I am more than eighteen or twenty. I feel like a boy in knowledge regard- ing the gospel."
These words were written in Heber J. Grant's journal at St. David, Arizona, November 22, 1884.
He was "traveling for the Church" in company with Brigham Young, Jr., and had spent a month holding meetings in the settlements of the Saints in Arizona. Such a visit was a minor part of their as- signment, for, as apostles, they had been called by President John Tay- lor to choose a party of competent men and proceed into Mexico.
"Our trip into Sonora, Mexico, is for the purpose of visiting the Chief of the Yaqui Indian nation and to try to find a place on the upper Yaqui for a settlement ... a place for a city of refuge."
Twenty-three men were called to accompany them.*
The meeting place was at No- gales, Arizona, where on the morning of November 25, "shortly after 10 a.m. President Layton's buggy ar- rived and we went a mile north of the town and camped. About twelve o'clock the teams from Salt, Gila, and San Pedro rivers arrived. We were very much pleased that the teams from the different towns should arrive here at the same time and all on the appointed day."
Upon reaching the border it was necessary to have a one thousand
*President Alex. T. Macdonald, Charles S. Peter- son, Solomon F. Kimball, Milton L. Ray, and Jorgen H. P. Newman of Mesa City, Maricopa County; Benjamin F. Johnson, and Heber T. Johnson of Terape, Maricopa County; Alma P. Spilsbury, Mesa City (Alma Ward); Henry C. Rogers, Reuben Col- let, Lehi; Incarnacion Vaienzuela, (Lamanite) from Papago Ward, Maricopa County; John S. Merrill, David E. Merrill, and Samuel B. Curtis of St, David, Cochise County; Alfred Baker, James Larsen, and Thomas Ramson of Pima, Graham County; Levi Curtis, Curtis, Graham County; George M. Hawes, and Wil- liam C Clemens of Central, Graham County; Hyrum Brinkerhoff, Thatcher, Graham County.
696
Wkxko
AS RECORDED IN THE JOURNALS AND LETTERS OF
(p/UL&jud&nL
Compiled by RACHEL GRANT TAYLOR
'"Phis account of an arduous and disheartening journey indicates how •■■ Church service tests men, and calls for faith to follow instructions despite personal sacrifice and danger. The journey to Mexico would seem to have been a fruitless venture, but it proved the mettle of the men who undertook it, and pursued the line of their duty with courage, in spite of hardship and disappointment.
dollar bond to enter the country. "I telegraphed to Mr. Dooley of Wells Fargo and secured the money, gave a Mr. Goodwin a sixty-day sight draft, and Mr. Goodwin signed a bond with the customs house for the safe return of five wagons, three carriages, nine riding saddles, three pack saddles, and thirteen sets of harness." Their animals, "thirty- two in number, were not subject to duty on account of there being no horses — mares, mules, and stallions pass free."
Over three hours were spent at the customs house and then "for the first time in my life I put my foot on soil of a foreign country."
That afternoon the company traveled about twenty miles inland and when night came camped in the timberland where grass was plenti- ful. "It was arranged that at our prayers night and morning the chap- lain would call on the members of the party in order of their ages.
"Sonora, Mexico, November 27: Broke camp a few minutes after 8 a.m. Have traveled about thirty- three miles today, most of the time on a small stream which we were told was the Magdalena River. It is hardly worthy of the name of river. Before leaving Nogales, Mr.
Goodwin warned us not to stop in Magdalena, Hermosillo, Guaymas, and other towns on account of yel- low fever. The country on either side of the Magdalena River is very fine and would be a lovely spot if it were owned by some wide-awake Utah farmers. The valley is very narrow and not capable of support- ing much of a population. Plenty of trees on our route today, black walnut, sycamore, black willow, Cot- tonwood, blackberry, etc.
"November 28: Continued our journey at 7 a.m. Today we have passed a number of small Mexican towns: Imuris, La Mesa, San Ig- nacio, and others. This afternoon we passed through Magdalena City — some four thousand inhabitants. Camped just out of Magdalena in the field of a Mexican. He charged ten cents per head for feed for our animals. In Magdalena we called on the prefecto and Brother Young presented a letter from the Mexican consul at Tucson. The prefecto received us very kindly and gave us all the information he could regard- ing the country, and a letter of in- troduction to the Governor of So- nora. Have traveled about twenty- eight miles today. We have had fine weather ever since leaving St.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, NOVEMBER, 1942
David but find it gradually getting warmer. Today we passed through a small town where there was a large number of orange trees. . . . To see green fields and trees seems more like May than November. Saw a wheat field where the wheat was up several inches.
"Sunday, November 30, 1884: Started from camp at 6:30 a.m. Traveled about nine miles for water to a ranch called Querobabi. Learned from a Mexican that six persons had died there from yellow fever two months ago.
"We watered our animals from one of the most filthy tanks I ever saw. It was this or nothing. We had to pay for the water, five cents per animal. Some of our party drank from the tank but I did not care to do so although I was quite thirsty. The water looked like it had been there all summer at least. Animals were driven into it, and it looked more like the remains of a cow yard than a tank saved for the use of animals and man. Plenty of good grass today but no water ex- cepting that in tanks. Made a dry camp a few miles further on.
* * *
"This morning about one o'clock most of us were aroused from our slumber by the bellowing of a large number of bulls. We were reminded of the Mormon Battalion's experi- ence with bulls, but these did not come to our camp. They did some fighting among themselves and any amount of bellowing.
"Brother Young stated that he thought we should hold occasional meetings and call upon the Lord. He felt that we would be more apt to fully accomplish our mission if we were prayerful and went trust- ing in our Heavenly Father. He promised that if we would be faith- ful that no harm should come to any of our party or their families while we are on this mission. I kept camp guard until twelve this evening.
"December 1, 1884: This evening our party was organized into two companies. The matter of being always on our guard and prepared for any kind of an emergency was fully discussed.
"Sonora, Mexico, Tuesday, De- cember 2, 1884: Came to a fine stream of running water about 1 1 a.m. It was quite refreshing to find running water after traveling sever- al days where the only water we could get was from wells at Mexi- can ranches or from filthy tanks. Have traveled about twenty-six miles today. This morning just be-
fore daylight our two horse guards brought a Mexican into camp. He was armed with a gun and had been discovered near our animals. He claimed to be on his way to San Miguel. After some little conversa- tion he was turned loose. We passed through the Mexican town of La Labor. Camped tonight near the headquarters of a band of thieves, that is, judging from the best in- formation we could obtain. Did not turn our animals out tonight, as it is not considered wisdom. It has been very warm today. Purchased something over 400 oranges at La Labor.
"Wednesday, December 3, 1884: Broke camp about 5 a.m. We drove until after nine and camped for breakfast about two miles this side north of Hermosillo. After break- fast about a third of our party went into the city. Brothers Young, Mac- donald, Ray, and myself called at the governor's office. We learned that he was out of town. Brother Young presented his letters of in- troduction from the Mexican consul at Tucson and the prefecto at Mag- dalena to the secretary, who re- ceived us kindly and gave us all the information he could regarding the Yaqui River and the country in the
vicinity of that river. I was quite disappointed upon going to the post office today to find no letters for me from home. I was positive there would be quite a number.
"Hermosillo is said to have seven thousand inhabitants. Most of the buildings are one story with flat roofs and are built of adobes. The streets are very narrow and in com- parison with our Utah streets are hardly worthy of the name. The government building in which the governor has his office will be a very fine structure when completed. The plaza in front of this building is as lovely a spot as one could ask to look at. It is full of trees and flowers, many orange trees full of ripe fruit. Orange trees are planted on some of the streets in the same manner as we plant trees for shade in Utah.
"This evening in camp we talked over our future program. We have been warned by every Mexican offi- cial that we have met from the consul at Tucson to the secretary in Sonora not to go into the country on the Ya- qui River occupied by the Yaqui In- dians. The secretary informed us that the Yaquis would take our arms
{Concluded on page 698) ROUTE OF THE JOURNEY TO THE YAQUI COUNTRY
697
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, NOVEMBER, 1942
{Concluded from page 697) and animals and that we would be for- tunate if we escaped with our lives.
"In camp about four miles from Hermosillo. Thursday, December 4: Something like a third of our party left about 10 a.m. for Hermosillo. We called on General B. B. Topets, who gave us all the information he could regarding the Yaqui River and other parts of Sonora. He said that the Yaquis disarmed every company that came into their country, that they would raise a force of two thousand men if necessary. He advised us to remain over a day and meet the gov- ernor. He offered to furnish us a mili- tary escort to assist us in exploring the country. We returned to camp and in the evening held a meeting.
"Today being fast day, all of our party fasted this morning.
"I have felt impressed that I had bet- ter remain at our camp with the disap- pointed part of our company instead of going to Guaymas. I told Brother Young my feeling. He had felt the same but hardly cared to name the matter to me, thinking I would not desire to re- main.
"December 5, 1884: This a.m. part of our company drove to the city. In company with General Topets, Broth- ers Young, Macdonald, Johnson, Ray, and myself called on the Sonora gov- ernor. We were kindly received. vVe found the governor to be a very pleas- ant gentleman and a good English talker.
"Governor Torres gave them to un- derstand that their mission was not ap- proved by him, that the Yaquis were in open rebellion against the Mexican government and would not come under control.
"The Yaquis, the governor said, had about four thousand men garrisoned and would not allow the Mexican sol- diers or people to go into their coun- try. As they were a hard-working people, the bone and sinew of Sonora, the government did not wish to make war upon them just yet.
"Brothers Young, Macdonald, B. F. Johnson, Ray, Brinkerhoff, Valenzuela, and Clemens took the train for Guay- mas. There they secured a Yaqui boat, the Falucha, to take the party to the mouth of the river. . . . While the boat was waiting for the wind, the Yaquis and Mexicans gathered about and told the party to confess their sins as they would not come back alive. A Catholic priest among the number seemed par- ticularly anxious for the welfare of the little band. Valenzuela, the Indian, be- came so fearful at hearing such a warn- ing from the Yaquis themselves that he left the boat and refused to go any further.
"I have been to Hermosillo a number of times since we have been in camp. Wednesday, last, as we were going and coming from the city, we drove a mile or two west of the city to see the farms and orange groves. I am sur- prised that a person could content him- self in as dirty a place as the old town
698
of Hermosillo when the farms adjoin- ing the town are so much more invit- ing.
"Notwithstanding, it is a tiresome task to be lying in a camp doing nothing. . . . We have had a feast of or- anges."
The following is a letter written by Brigham Young, Jr., telling of the ex- periences of the group who went into the Yaqui country:
"First Village, Megarng of the Ya- quis, several miles above the mouth of the river, Dec. 10th, 1884.
"Dear Brethren at Camp Hermosillo:
"We are in good health but have labored hard to get this far. I wrote you we were in a lagoon. We remained there last night, wind unfavorable this morning, ran further up the lagoon and hired some Yaquis to car- ry our baggage for a dollar each, to this point four miles across the worst bottom land I have seen for some time. We tramped it through but were wading in water and mud knee deep nearly every step of the way.
"Our Yaquis were disposed to be exact- ing, but all turned out well. We find this is just as far as we can go without a pass. Cajeme (Cahama) is far up the river or perhaps six miles away, and the next in com- mand must give us a pass to go farther to find the chief, and when we want to leave can- not until his chiefship gives us a pass to return and pass this cordon of settlements. We have declined to go any further and have sent word to the chief that we would like an interview if he will signify his pleasure to grant it. Boat starts in the morn- ing hence we are hurried to write as it is now dark. All the people here have been exceedingly kind and we are cared for by a liberal-minded fellow whose boat we hired. All is well with us. It is rumored that Yaquis who left Guaymas since we [did] have brought a letter from the padre to Cajeme, but we trust in the Lord. These people are just like the Kanakas. They are the royal stock. All send love to all. God bless you. In behalf of all. "B. Young"
Of their visit, Milton L. Ray, the of- ficial recorder, writes:
"All well except Brother Young. . . . We employed a Yaqui to go and look for the general and tell him we would like an interview. ... A little while afterwards we saw the general coming at the head of a dozen or fifteen soldiers. . . . Brother Young spoke first, making known our mission. He spoke to me in English. I interpreted what he said to Bonifacio in Spanish, who in turn gave it to the chief in his own tongue. For though the chief spoke Spanish fluently, he could not com- promise his dignity by receiving a com- munication in any but his native tongue. . . .
"In the evening, we had another meeting and talked to them on the prin- ciples of the gospel. I read and trans- lated some of the Book of Mormon. They were very anxious to have our elders visit them and bring the Book of Mormon and read and teach them it. They told us of their situation in Son- ora and of their stand for their rights, saying they meant to govern them- selves. The chief said they believed our teachings, and when we came with
the Book of Mormon, they would send a commission to visit our people (in Arizona ) and to go and visit Salt Lake City."
President Grant's journal continues the narrative:
"Sunday, December 14, 1884: Morn- ing spent reading. Brother Young and party arrived from Guaymas this after- noon, and with the exception of Broth- er Young they were in excellent health and spirits. He looked very bad, and the minute I saw him I felt impressed that he must not attempt to do any traveling by team.
"Monday, December 15, 1884: Broke camp about 10 a.m. and drove to the Sonora railroad depot where Brother Young and I separated from the brethren, and they continued their journey by team to Nogales. At 3:10 p.m. our train pulled out, and we found ourselves once more headed for home. Must confess that I feel much pleasure in again being homeward bound and am satisfied with our mission as the Yaquis whom Brother Young and his party had met expressed a perfect willingness to have our missionaries come among them. In fact, they made the brethren promise to send them mis- sionaries with the Book of Mormon within a few months. They expressed a willingness to have our people es- tablish a settlement in their country and said that they would welcome any of our people who were being perse- cuted. They said they believed what the brethren had told them regarding the Book of Mormon was the truth."
The young apostle and his com- panion reached Salt Lake City on De- cember 18, 1884.
"Immediately upon the account of this visit to the Indians being made pub- lic," so reported The Deseret News, "the press, particularly of the United States, detailed the particulars of an agreement said to have been made be- tween the Mormons and the Indians by which war on the Mexican government was to be conducted by their united forces. The agitation became so full of malice as to move President Taylor to abandon the idea of making a settle- ment of the Latter-day Saints in the Yaqui country at that time."*
The promise to send the Book of Mormon to these people was delayed but not forgotten. In 1887, Wilford Woodruff, then president of the Church, appointed Ammon M. Tenney and companions to return to the Ya- quis, The trouble with the Mexican government still continued, and they were not allowed to enter Yaqui terri- tory, so they were sent to labor among the Lamanites of Sonora. The Indian, Elder Valenzuela, who had become frightened and returned to camp on the previous trip, was particularly spirited in bearing his testimony to his brethren of the truth, often standing on his feet and preaching for ten hours at a time. Hundreds of Indians were baptized, and great faith was manifest.
*L. A. Wilson, The Deseret News.
TO THE REPENTANT
PRESIDENT RUDGER CLAWSON
Brethren, I have read the Bible sev- eral times. I have read the Book of Mormon, studied it, and re- joiced in the teachings thereof. I have rejoiced in reading and studying the book of Doctrine and Covenants, and also the Pearl of Great Price. I recom- mend these books to many honest souls asking questions about them. These books constitute a library, one of the greatest libraries in the world, because it sets forth the truth, and calls atten- tion to the wages of evil, and warns against the evil.
There are many interesting and in- structive stories and principles in these good books. If we will follow the teachings thereof closely through our lives, we will reach a safe journey's end.
I was reading, the other day, from the book of Alma, who was the son of Alma. I think likely you would be in- terested if I read some, this afternoon, from the character of Alma the Second.
This Alma, the Second, was address- ing himself to his son Helaman. This is where the story begins, and very soon has an ending.
My son, give ear to my words; for I swear unto you, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land.
I would that ye should do as I have done, in remembering the captivity of our fathers; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it was the God of Abra- ham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he surely did deliver them in their afflictions.
And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore I be- seech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whoso- ever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.
And I would not that ye think that I know of myself — not of the temporal but of the spiritual, not of the carnal mind but of God.
Now, behold, I say unto you, if I had not been born of God I should not have known
By RUDGER CLAWSON
Of the Council of the Twelve
Delivered at the Saturday Afternoon Session of the 113r/i Semi-annual Gen- eral Conference, October 3, 1942, in the Tabernacle.
these things; but God has, by the mouth of his holy angel, made these things known unto me, not of any worthiness of myself;
For I went about with the sons of Mosiah, seeking to destroy the church of God; but behold, God sent his holy angel to stop us by the way.
And behold, he spake unto us, as it were the voice of thunder, and the whole earth did tremble beneath our feet; and we all fell to the earth, for the fear of the Lord came upon us.
But behold, the voice said unto me: Arise. And I arose and stood up, and beheld the angel.
And he said unto me: If thou wilt of thy- self be destroyed, seek no more to destroy the church of God.
And it came to pass that I fell to the earth; and it was for the space of three days and three nights that I could not open my mouth, neither had I the use of my limbs.
And the angel spake more things unto me, which were heard by my brethren, but I did not hear them; for when I heard the words — If thou wilt be destroyed of thy- self, seek no more to destroy the church of God — I was struck with such great fear and amazement lest perhaps I should be de- stroyed, that I fell to the earth and I did hear no more.
But I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.
Yea, I did remember all my sins and in- iquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell: yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments.
Yea, and I had murdered many of his children, or rather, led them away unto de- struction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of com- ing into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.
Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds.
And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul.
And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.
Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.
Yea, methought I saw, even as our father Lehi saw, God sitting upon his throne, sur- rounded with numberless concourses of an- gels, in the attitude of singing and praising their God; yea, and my soul did long to be there.
But behold, my limbs did receive their strength again, and I stood upon my feet, and did manifest unto the people that I had been born of God.
Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Yea, and now behold, O my son, the Lord doth give me exceeding great joy in the fruit of my labors;
For because of the word which he has imparted unto me, behold, many have been born of God, and have tasted as I have tasted, and have seen eye to eye as I have seen; therefore they do know of these things of which I have spoken, as I do know; and the knowledge which I have is of God.
And I have been supported under trials and trouble of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions: yea, God has deliv- ered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me.
And I know that he will raise me up at the last day, to dwell with him in glory; yea, and I will praise him forever, for he has brought our fathers out of Egypt, and he has swallowed up the Egyptians in the Red Sea; and he led them by his power into the promised land; yea, and he has delivered them out of bondage and captivity from time to time. (Alma 36:1-28)
"NJow, brethren, this is a remarkable ■^ case. It shows the love and mercy of God that was shown to this man when he repented of his sins. God took mercy upon him and forgave him of his sins, and he accomplished a mighty work among his people, and he became high priest in the Church.
May the Lord bless you, my breth- ren. This large audience is a great sight, but I must not linger as there are others yet to speak.
Peace be with you. Amen.
699
SOWERS >M. REAPERS
PRESIDENT LEVI EDGAR YOUNG
I was deeply touched by the address of President Grant, which was read by President McKay this morning. On the day that President Grant was chosen as one of the Twelve Apostles by a revelation of the Lord to President John Taylor, my father was also called and ordained a member of the First Council of the Seventy. He succeeded his father, President Joseph Young, who was ordained to his position by the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple in February, 1 835. My grand- father and my father both had deep and abiding testimonies of the divinity of the gospel of Jesus Christ as it was restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith. I am grateful to the Lord for the same testi- mony, for I know that God lives, that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, for he spoke for God and was sharer of God's counsels. He was the bearer and preacher of God's Word, and opened one of the greatest stages of religion in the history of mankind.
My brethren of the seventies, we are awakened to the great responsibilities of teaching the gospel to all mankind. If ever the world needed the Word of God, it is today. For this reason we must have vision, which gives us a view of the future as well as insight into con- ditions of the present. The calling of the seventy is an ideal of fellowship, with sacred obligations to God. Our spiritual obligations must make for unity and concord, and promote a spiritual culture within our ranks, which will give us power to teach the Word. From now on, we of the organizations of sev- enty will glorify our work as never be- fore, for I believe that the world is waiting for the truths of God. Every one of us has a sacred duty and trust, 700
By LEVI EDGAR YOUNG
of the First Council of the Seventy
Delivered at the Saturday Afternoon Session of the \\3th Semiannual Gen- eral Conference, October 3, 1942, in the Tabernacle.
and while we as missionaries have our daily vocations, the most joyful recrea- tion is in going to the homes of people with the gospel message. Remember the divine injunction: "Not slothful in bus- iness, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." Our hearts need not be troubled or afraid, if we have the simple faith in God and the work He has given us to do. We remember the words of the Prophet Micah :
... in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the moun- tains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord. . . . (Micah 4:1-2)
The nations have come to the moun- tain of the Lord, and they will continue to come and be taught by you, my breth- ren, for the prophet continues and says:
. . . they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning- hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Micah 4:3)
You stake mission presidents should call your brethren around you and teach the gospel. Remember when you ap- proach people, you will receive from them the same thought that you give them. If hate, you will receive hate; if love, it will be love. God will be the judge of institutions and people; it is your duty to "love the Lord thy God with your might, mind, and strength, and thy neighbor as thyself." In his let- ter to the Ephesians, Paul speaks of the grace that is given each one:
. . . for the work of the ministry . . . Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. (Ephe- sians 4:12-13)
We pray that the missionaries of all the stakes of Zion will from now on have new life. We must turn our thoughts forward, for the gospel will meet every man's wants, and protect and guide his life. You will see your labors rewarded. Sowers and reapers will rejoice together. You are com- mitted to nothing but the truth. People will listen to you. God bless all the mis- sionaries in the Church, that they may see the importance of the work as never before, and go forth with the Light of God in their hearts, I humbly pray. Amen.
BROADCAST
Immediately after the conclusion of the traditional nationwide Taber- nacle broadcast, Sunday morning, October 4, an additional thirty- minute period, regularly known as the Colum- bia Church of the Air, was presented from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m., over the na- tionwide Columbia network as a part of the proceedings of this session of the conference. President David O. McKay, second counselor in the First Presidency, delivered the address, which begins on page 690.
The program was conducted by Elder Richard L. Evans, of the First Council of the Seventy, whose con- tinuity follows:
Theme: "Sweet is the Work" — McClel- lan — Organ and humming voices.
Richard L. Evans: Columbia's Church of the Air.
Evans : A decade ago the Church of the Air was brought into being by the Columbia network to give opportunity to representa- tives of the major faiths to bring their messages to a nationwide congregation of worshipers. Since that time these religious services have been heard twice each Sun- day. Today, in the twelfth year of the Church of the Air, the service comes to you through Station KSL as part of the proceedings of the 113th Semi-annual Con- ference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, now in session. The service originates in the Mormon Taber- nacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, and the congregation which fills the Taber- nacle includes the General Authorities and representatives of the worldwide Priesthood organizations of the Church. The speaker will be President David O. McKay, a mem- ber of the First Presidency.
The Tabernacle choir joins in the serv- ice and will sing now "O Light Divine" by LeRoy Frisby.
(Choir sings, "O Light Divine" — Frisby)
Evans : We now turn the service into the hands of President David O. McKay of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The subject of President McKay's address: "The Light that Shines in Darkness."
President McKay . . . (See page 690.)
(After the address of President McKay and the singing of "See the Mighty Angel Flying" by the male voices of the choir, the following closing announcement was given : )
Evans: Ladies and Gentlemen: You have been attending Columbia's Church of the Air. The service today has come through Station KSL, from the Mormon Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, as part of the proceedings of the 113th Semi- annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church. Filling the Tabernacle was a congregation of men including the General Authorities and representatives of the worldwide Priesthood organizations of the Church. The speaker was President David O. McKay, a member of the First Presidency. Copies of President McKay's sermon, "The Light that Shines in Dark- ness," may be obtained by writing to the station to which you are listening.
The Tabernacle choir joined in the serv- ice with J. Spencer Cornwall conducting and Dr. Frank W. Asper at the organ.
jhL POWER + EXAMPLE
By LEGRAND RICHARDS
Presiding Bishop
Delivered at the Saturday Afternoon Session of the 113th Semi-annual Gen- eral Conference, October 3, 1942, in the Tabernacle.
BISHOP LEGRAND RICHARDS
With all my heart, brethren, I ap- preciate the opportunity o£ be- ing here today, feasting on the spiritual food that we have been receiv- ing from our leaders and associates. I thank the Lord that there never has been a time in my life that a shadow of a doubt has crossed my mind as to the divinity of this work and the divine calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith and those who have succeeded him in the Presidency of this Church. I thrilled today with President Grant's testi- mony, as it was read to us by President McKay, and I was delighted with the message of the First Presidency de- livered to us this morning by President Clark. Of all the leadership in the world today, surely there is none com- parable to that which we have in the Church. How safe and secure we should feel in following their precepts and their example.
A few days ago I received a letter from a man in the East with whom I have had some correspondence — a prominent business man, but not a mem- ber of our Church. I forwarded him some of our literature. He and his wife have read the Book of Mormon three times. He has just read the Articles of Faith and writes a beautiful apprecia- tion for the truths contained therein. But I would like to read from his letter his comment after having read the mes- sage of the First Presidency delivered at the April conference. He says: "The message of the First Presidency was read with intense interest. It portrays the mind of a soul deeply interested in the welfare of a higher civilization, with a clear understanding of 'mercy and justice.' ' It is good to know that think- ing men, though not of us, recognize the power of leadership of those whom the Lord has placed to guide His people in these days.
VWe have a great responsibility, those vv of us who are here today. For we represent the leadership of this Church — the General Authorities and those who preside in the stakes, the wards, and the Priesthood quorums of the Church. We have problems and re- sponsibilities and opportunities probab- ly such as we have never had before, particularly in these defense areas. I hope we will realize that there will be more expected of us — that our arms will be just a little longer, and our love a little deeper, and our faith a little more sincere, and that our confidence and trust in God and the ultimate triumph of His work in the earth may never falter.
I hope the bishops will realize that they are in very deed fathers of the people, all who live within the confines of their wards whether their names be on their records or not. Many have come from outside places and they need care and attention. I hope the bishops will also sense their great responsibili- ty as presidents of the Aaronic Priest- hood in their wards — that the ward teachers will realize that their responsi- bility is greater than ever before, that the presidencies of Priesthood quorums and all charged with responsibility in this Church will respond thereto as never before. And I wouldn't like to overlook the seventies, for I feel with Brother Kirkham the great importance of missionary work, for the Lord has decreed that the gospel shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations, even to every creature. I feel that there are added opportunities within our reach today, and I hope that we will meet these responsibilities in such a way that whoever comes into our communities need never go away and say that he was not given an opportuni- ty to hear the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ from the elders of this Church.
I would like to leave one other thought with you before closing. It has been said that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Probably it was because Paul never had any children of his own that he wasn't afraid to tell the bishops and deacons that they should be able to rule well their own houses, for said he: "If a man know not how to rule his own
house, how shall he take care of the church of God." Some of us may not have dared say such a thing, but I be- lieve that under present conditions we should give more thought to this, each one of us individually, than we have ever done before.
\\7e listened to President Clawson a v v few minutes ago reading the words of Alma. It has always occurred to me that that great mission of Alma, the son, was the result of the faith and the pray- ers of Alma, his father, who pleaded with the Lord until the Lord saw fit to call him back from the error of his ways. I wonder if we are doing that for our boys and girls. I wonder if we are holding council meetings as husbands and wives, and fathers and mothers, to try to meet the new conditions and temptations that are in our midst. I wonder if we know each one of our children well enough to know that they are making their contribution to the building up of the kingdom of God in the earth. Are our children setting an example because of our power as lead- ers and priests in our own homes?
A few days ago, I received a letter from one of our boys in the service, and I commend the counsel given in this con- ference, that we write them. He said he had just been ordained an elder in the Church, and he thanked the Lord for that more than for any other thing. While he has been in the service he has changed his way of living so that he is setting an example in upholding the standards of this Church.
But how did he get started in the way of righteousness? His grandmother in one of our stakes was concerned about him, because his mother was dead. She wrote a letter and asked if we would write to this boy. We finally located him, and the first letter we received told how he was in California and heard two missionaries speaking on the street corner and lady missionaries singing; and he said he wouldn't have gone and spoken to them for anything in the world. He was afraid. He drew a dia- gram showing how he went down to the corner and back again, and then down to the corner and back again, and finally he found himself standing talk- ing to the missionaries. In his letter he asked: "Do you think the Lord had anything to do with this?" As far as I am concerned I think the prayers of that grandmother and the importunities pro- bably of his mother who had gone be- yond, were the means of bringing that: boy back into line of duty and right- eousness.
God help us to labor with our chil- dren, to pray with them, to see that our own are setting an example in the Church. It will do more than all the preaching we can do. God help us to do it, I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
701
TRUEi°iA* FAITH
By GEORGE ALBERT SMITH
Of the Council of the Twelve
Delivered at the Saturday Evening Session of the 113th Semi-annual General Conference, October 3, 1942, in the Tabernacle.
WE certainly have had a glorious time today. From the first prayer that was offered, the first hymn sung, this house has been the abiding place of the Spirit of the Lord. Those of us who have assembled have un- doubtedly been enriched by the experi- ences through which we have passed. Reference has been made to the fact that recently one of the brethren had visited some of our shrines, if we may call them shrines, and that reminds me that within the last year I have been at the birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith. It is just about the same size village as it was when he was born. I have been at Kirtland, Ohio, where the Latter-day Saints built a temple. It is the largest building in that section of the country now, and Kirtland is a vil- lage shrunk to the point that it no longer has a post office. I also have been at Far West where there were three thou- sand of our people, when they were driven out, and there are only three buildings on the tract of land that we referred to as Far West — only three, and very poor buildings at that. I have been thinking also of other places where our people lived, where they have de- veloped lands and built houses, and then were compelled to leave their homes and go away. Independence, Missouri, is no larger in point of population, or little larger, than it was a hundred years ago. The section of country around Nauvoo is just a village. Nauvoo, when the Saints were driven out, was a city of more than twenty thousand people, and today it has neither a streetcar nor a railroad train, and its population does not exceed one thousand people. Our people came out of the world because they were compelled to come. It was a choice between the world and the wilderness, but see what the Lord wrought and see how He has fulfilled His promise.
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all things will be added unto you."
You will find no place even today, in all America, no house of worship, equal to the house you are sitting in now, in point of convenience and the ability to hear the voices of those who speak. I know of no city more beauti- fully laid out, in all America, than this with its one hundred forty thousand population, and we have other fine cities. The Lord brought us here when it was a wilderness, and He has made it delightful to dwell in. Surely we are grateful for our heritage. 702
This morning the patriarch to the Church was introduced to you. His remarkable lineage is worth tracing. He is a son of one of the mighty apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
GEORGE ALBERT SMITH
day Saints. He is the grandson of one of the great presidents of the Church. He is a great-grandson of Hyrum Smith, the martyr, who was the brother of the Prophet Joseph Smith, who gave his life with his brother that this gospel might be kept in the world. He is a great-great-grandson of Joseph Smith, Senior, the first patriarch in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be so designated, and the first man to receive the testimony of Joseph Smith the Prophet that he had beheld a heav- enly vision and had listened to the voice of an angel.
Every family that came into the Church in the early days and remained faithful has enjoyed rich blessings that could be obtained in no other way. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not just another church. It is His Church who gave it His name. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the loving ad- vice of a kind and Heavenly Father who, knowing the end from the begin- ning, says, "This is the pathway — -walk in it, and ye shall find the celestial king- dom," and there is no other pathway that leads to that kingdom.
Where are those who left the Church
about the time of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith expecting to de- velop a church and lead the people? What has happened to them? I made a mental note while sitting here of the failure of James J. Strang, Sidney Rig- don, Jason W. Briggs, James H. Gur- ley, Lyman Wight, Granville Hedrick, and I might name others but I will not take time. What became of them and where are their followers today? You could put all of them that make any claim to following those men, in this building and they would be lost. This is only one of the great structures of the Church with which you are iden- tified that if it were required could be filled many, many times over, not by all the people, but by the Priesthood alone.
T am thankful for my membership
in this, the Church of Jesus Christ. I think that nobody could be more thankful than I or more grateful for parents and grandparents who were faithful Latter-day Saints. We must not forget that when we see all the richness of our lives we can't separate it from the righteousness of our moth- ers. It is a wonderful thing to know, as Nephi of old, who said he was born of goodly parents — he didn't say just a goodly father. He was born of good- ly parents, and we would do well when we think of our blessings to remember our mothers and our grandmothers and our great-grandmothers. Wherever there was a great leader in Israel there was a great wife or mother or both who stood by his side. I am thankful to be here with you. It is a blessed privilege.
That was a marvelous message that was received this morning from the Presidency of the Church — you can't duplicate it in any other church in the world; and you can't think of anything that would be desirable to enrich the Church and to prepare us for a place in the celestial kingdom that was not included in that message. A marvelous gathering of facts and figures and ad- vice and counsel that we would all do well to listen to and profit by.
Now tonight we are here in peace and quiet. The world is on fire. Every- where peace has been taken from the earth, and the devil has been given power over his own dominion. God has said if we will honor Him and keep His commandments — if we will ob- serve His laws He will fight our battles and destroy the wicked, and when the time comes He will come down in heaven — not from heaven — but He will bring heaven with Him — and this earth upon which we dwell, will be the celes- tial kingdom.
What if all the world knew and be- lieved that? What a change there would be in the conditions among the children of men! What joy would be in the place of sorrow and distress today! It is your duty and mine, having re- ceived this information, to impart it to others.
We are a little handful of people
among the children of men, but possess-
(Concluded on page 747)
OUR ASPIRATIONS — COVENANTS
By GEORGE F. RICHARDS
Of the Council of the Twelve
Delivered at the Saturday Evening Session of the With Semiannual General Conference, October 3, 1942, in the Tabernacle.
W^iiLE sitting here upon the stand, realizing that I might be called upon to speak, I have wondered what I might be able to say that would be germane to this occasion, something in which we might all be interested and possibly be profited. I have come to this conclusion, brethren, that everyone of us is a candidate for the blessings of eternal life and exaltation, and that nothing short of a fulness of glory will satisfy us after this life. That suggests that we have something to do while we live here upon the earth and should not forget the purpose of our being here — the goal of our existence and that which we desire to attain. And if we attain eternal life, brethren of the Priesthood, it will be through the Church and the gospel of Jesus Christ with the Holy Priesthood.
The Savior said to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, "Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." We are all on common ground again in that we have, all of us, been born again of the water and of the spirit and have entered the kingdom of God on earth and have received our membership in this way. Where we have received blessings of this character from the Lord, the saving ordinances of the gos- pel, there is always a covenant of faith- fulness attached. And so we might ask what is the covenant that we have en- tered into in receiving the gospel. I can say for myself when I received baptism I was placed under a covenant that I would henceforth keep the command- ments of God as fast as they are made known unto me. This was done with uplifted hand before God, angels, and witnesses present.
I do not know to what extent that practice obtained in the Church or how long since it obtained in that particular ward where I was born and where I was baptized, but I have reached this conclusion, brethren, that every person that has been baptized into this Church has received this covenant or has made this covenant, if not verbally, the very fact of accepting the gospel through baptism, and confirmation, has made this covenant. That responsibility rests upon every member of the Church. We hear people, sometimes, in praying, ask the Lord to help us to keep the cove- nants that we have made at the waters of baptism. I know of no other cove-
nant that we have made in entering the Church through baptism, and that is very important, brethren. The gospel, with our membership in the Church and kingdom of God here on earth, is one of the greatest blessings that our Father in heaven has to give, and necessarily a solemn covenant of faithfulness should be exacted.
Another thing, we all hold the Mel- chizedek Priesthood. In this we are on common ground; and in receiving this Priesthood on the same principle we have entered into a solemn oath and covenant with God our Father that we will magnify that Priesthood, and He with us, that all He has shall be given unto us. Most of these brethren hold offices that grow out of the Priesthood, and in order to magnify the Priesthood we will have to magnify these offices which we hold.
We have had the privilege and many of us have accepted the privilege of go- ing to the temple and receiving the holy endowments, and there we are told that they are to prepare us to enter into the celestial kingdom and to receive an ex- altation therein. But we have to enter into covenants of faithfulness; and any man who desires to be faithful and in- tends to be faithful in keeping the com- mandments of God will not be afraid
QUIET FAITH By Eva Willes Wangsgaard
A friend of growth is Patience. In No- vember, She hovers where the barren poplars rise — Tall, oval cones of grandeur in September,
Now empty sieves that screen the greying
skies. She brooded long, where orchard trees are
yielding
The opulence they drew from patient Earth,
And gave to man in fruits and nuts, for shielding
The holy secrets of the year's rebirth.
She hummed a lullaby for sleepy summer,
The nameless murmurings of numerous bees,
Where honeysuckles fed each winging comer,
A lush reward for aiding mysteries.
My heart has need of her, for every season
Shames with a quiet faith my loud unreason.
GEORGE F. RICHARDS
to make covenants of faithfulness. Now be it known that a man cannot go to the temple to receive those endowments un- til he has received the Melchizedek Priesthood and that makes the receiving of the Melchizedek Priesthood a condi- tion of salvation, to every male member of the Church. We have had the privi- lege, many of us, of going to the temple, having first received the Melchizedek Priesthood, and receive certain sealing ordinances there, entering into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage, and it is in that covenant that the great- est blessings that our Father has to give to us are given. Those who have at- tained those higher blessings, that is husband and wife sealed for time and eternity, they are to have an offspring, an eternal increase. It is unthinkable that that condition could be obtained outside of the marriage relations that the Lord hath ordained. Priesthood is nec- essary in order to receive those bless- ings. We ought then, brethren, to ap- preciate this Priesthood which God has permitted us to hold and keep all the covenants we have entered into with the Lord, and be prepared for that which we hope to receive when we have fin- ished this brief period upon this earth. May God help us to this end, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
703
JoJbsLCatkd. THE SONS OF GOD
By JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH
Of the Council of the Twelve
Delivered at the Saturday Morning Session of the l\3th Semi-annual Gen- eral Conference, October 3, 1942, in the Tabernacle.
First, I wish to endorse all that has taken place and all that we have heard this morning. We have here assembled in this im- portant historic building the leading men who hold the Priesthood who have been called to great responsibility. Never before in the history of the Church has the responsibility which has been given to the Priesthood been more necessary of fulfilment than to- day. Never before have we been un- der greater obligation to serve the Lord and keep His commandments, and magnify the callings which have been assigned to us.
The world today is torn asunder. Evil is rampant upon the face of the earth. The members of the Church need to be humble and prayerful and diligent. We who have been called to these positions in the Priesthood have that responsibility upon our shoulders to teach and direct the members of the Church in righteousness. I would like to read the words of John as found in the third chapter of the First Epistle of John:
JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH
Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God. Therefore, the world knoweth us not, because it knoweth Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, but it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall
appear we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is, and every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself even as He is pure.
John was speaking to the men who held the Priesthood. He calls them the sons of God. We are the sons of God. That same divine authority has been bestowed upon us. We, too, in this day should be just as grateful and just as willing to serve and keep the com- mandments of the Lord and magnify the callings which have been given unto us as were these men in former days who were the sons of God. I wonder if we realize the greatness of our call- ings— yes, all the elders in this Church — do they realize that they hold the Melchizedek Priesthood? Do they know that through their faithfulness and their obedience, according to the revelations of the Lord, they are en- titled to receive all that the Father has — to become the sons of God, joint heirs with our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, entitled to the exaltations in the celestial kingdom? Do we realize that? We, too, if we do realize it, should be like those of former days, and every man that hath this hope in him, will purify himself even as Christ is pure. Brethren, that we may do so, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
JobsAnack, ^JwjUl. and. Ohaan, BROADCAST
During the period from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m., the regular weekly nationwide broadcast of choral and organ music and brief spoken com- ment was presented as part of the Gen- eral Conference proceedings. This pro- gram, which completed its thirteenth year of continuous nationwide broad- casting in July of this year, was pres- ented by the Tabernacle choir and or- gan, and broadcast through the courtesy and facilities of the Columbia Broad- casting System's coast-to-coast net- work, throughout the United States. The broadcast, written and announced by Elder Richard L. Evans, originated with radio station KSL, Salt Lake City, and was presented as follows :
TABERNACLE CHOIR AND ORGAN BROADCAST
10:30-11:00 a.m. MWT Sunday, October 4, 1942
Choir hummed "Gently Raise the Sacred Strain" for announcer's background:
704
Richard L. Evans: We pause once more from the hurried ways of life to beckon your thoughts again unto the hills. As we wel- come you within the peace and quiet of these walls, Columbia presents again the music of the Tabernacle choir and organ from Temple Square in Salt Lake City. This is the 690th performance of this traditional broadcast from the Crossroads of the West, now in its fourteenth consecutive year of nationwide presentation.
The choir is conducted by J. Spencer Cornwall. Dr. Frank W. Asper is at the organ.
We begin with one of the cherished hymns of the inland West — a hymn that has called men and women to renewed pur- pose these many decades past: "Come, come, ye saints, no toil nor labor fear."
(Choir sang "Come, Come, Ye Saints" — Clayton)
Evans: As we continue from Temple Square we give place to the solo voice of the organ, which recalls from out of its seventeenth century setting a "Trumpet Tune and Air" by Henry Purcell.
(Organ presented "Trumpet Tune and Air*'— Purcell)
Evans: Voices are raised now in quiet supplication to the Father of all men as Richard Condie and the Tabernacle choir sing the hymn by Roger Quilter: "Lead us, Heavenly Father, lead us, o'er the world's tempestuous sea; Guide us, guard us, keep us, for we have no help but Thee."
(Choir presented "Lead Us Heavenly Fa- ther" by Quilter)
(Without announcement organ modulated into "Deep River," arranged by Asper)
Evans: These words from David of Is- rael are recalled in a text from the Twenty- fourth Psalm: "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." (Psalm 24:3-4) The musical setting is by J. A. Parks and is sung by Jessie Evans Smith and the Tabernacle choir.
(Choir sang "The King of Glory" — Parks)
(Continued on page 711)
IN HOLY PLACES
By STEPHEN L RICHARDS
Of the Council of the Twelve
Delivered at the Saturday Morning Session of the 1 13th Semi-annual General Conference, October 3, 1942, in the Tabernacle.
IN June I had the privilege of visiting some of the shrines of the Church, places made sacred by memorable events in the history of the restored gospel. I am happy to report that wherever these places are owned or controlled by the Church they are maintained in good condition, creditable to the great cause and momentous things they commemorate. So signifi- cant to Latter-day Saints is every shrine that a discourse might be built around each one. That, of course, is infeasible, I must be content merely to give you a little of my reflection and feeling as I came into the atmosphere of these historic places.
Many of them are in western New York, centering around the city of Palmyra. The Prophet's boyhood home, the Sacred Grove, the Hill Cum- orah, scenes associated with the trans- lation and publication of the Book of Mormon, the Peter Whitmer home where the Church was organized, and the site of the first baptisms — all are within short drives of Palmyra. Not far distant on the banks of the Susque- hanna River is the area in which the Priesthood was restored.
In this historic section perhaps noth- ing is quite so conspicuous and im- pressive as the Hill Cumorah. Capped by the beautiful monument which the Church has erected, it is the outstand- ing landmark of the countryside. A well-designed cottage-bureau of in- formation at the base of the Hill with beautifully landscaped grounds, a com- modious parking space for cars, and the illumination of the monument at night which gives to it and to the statue of the Angel Moroni which crowns it the appearance and atmosphere of an ethereal apparition projected high and impressively into the night sky, all com- bine to make this spot a mecca for tourists. When, as has been the year- ly custom, the missionaries stage a sacred pageant on the crest of the Hill, representing figures and events of the past, culminating in the coming forth of the new witness for Christ, and when the trumpeters in the stillness of the night, stationed at the base of the imposing monument, sound their clarion call heralding the advent of the new dispensation of the fulness of times, thousands of spectators, gathered from far and near, coming mostly out of curiosity, are hushed in speechless and awful reverence for the sacred and mighty thing the representation por- trays.
Tn the Sacred Grove there comes to A one of faith, a solemnity and feeling that are indescribable. It is believed that many of the large stately trees that gave shade and seclusion to the humble boy a hundred and twenty years ago still live. Standing beside these ancient silent witnesses who know the truth it is not difficult to se- cure confirmation and added support for testimony and conviction. That something which we call the soul of man responds to such an environment. His inner feelings are stirred, the spark of divinity within him is kindled anew, and each one of the seventy persons gathered together in a five-and-a-half- hour missionary meeting in this ex- quisitely beautiful Grove knew, as per- haps he had never known before, that the experience of Joseph within these woods was actual, that he did behold the Father and the Son, that he heard Them speak and that his incompar- able mission in life was divinely given to him.
Each historic scene brought similar feelings and confirmation. There was rejoicing in our hearts as we contem- plated the great labors and accomplish- ments of the Prophet as we tried to reconstruct important episodes in his life. The supernatural translation of the Book of Mormon, its publication, the attestation of its divinity, the be- stowal of the Aaronic and the Mel- chizedek Priesthoods, the organization of the Church with its unique and ef- ficient government, the marvelous mis- sionary work carried forward under his direction, reaching out into most of the nations of the world when travel and communication were extremely diffi- cult, the unparalleled accretion to the Church resulting from the wide accept- ance of the restored gospel by brave souls the world over, the inspired in- terpretation of the gospel message with its new and beautiful concepts which for centuries had escaped a professed- ly Christian world — these and many other comparable meditations filled our hearts with inexpressible gratitude.
'T'hroughout our visit, however, there was ever a strain of sadness. We realized that every accomplish- ment had been attended with persecu- tion and with sorrow. This was parti- cularly emphasized on our way home in Nauvoo, Carthage, and Winter Quar- ters.
It was inspiring to behold the magni- ficent site of Nauvoo. The state of II-
STEPHEN L RICHARDS
linois has constructed a scenic high- way along the banks of the Mississippi. Nowhere is the view more impressive than at the bend of the river where Nauvoo is located. What a thrill must have come to Joseph and his friends as they saw this city grow with its lovely homes and business institutions, its ad- joining farmlands, its churches, schools and recreational facilities, climaxed by the million-dollar temple that symbol- ized perhaps more than anything else the devotion, the sacrifice, and the true faith of the Saints. Nauvoo is pretty much a ghost city today, but enough remains to help us visualize what it was when it was the largest city in the state — a bigger city than Chicago was. It died with the depredations of the mob- ocrats nearly a century ago and has never revived.
Carthage is only a few miles distant. It was here that our feelings were most deeply touched. The jail which for many years was used as a residence has been restored by the Church as nearly as may be to its original condi- tion. It is now surrounded by lawn, shrubs, and flowers, and a cottage for the keeper has been erected nearby. Many visitors come to this place. They are taken up the narrow stairway to the upper floor where the mob ascended on that fateful June 27, 1844, to reach the object of their malice. Visitors are taken into the room in which the Prophet and his friends were incar- cerated. They are shown the faint trace of the martyred Hyrum's blood on the oak floor and the window through which the Prophet was shot and fell as he gave himself to seal his testimony for the cause he loved more than his life.
It is but natural, being in this build- ing and recalling the tragedy enacted there, that I should think of my grand- father. I thought of his devotion to the Prophet, his offer to give his very life for him, how he declined to part from him even at the risk of great per- (Concluded on page 740)
705
RICHARD R. LYMAN
IN the public press appeared a state- ment recently from an official of our Navy that we are losing this war and that we do not know it.
If I express, therefore, some rather intense feelings at this trying and ter- rible time of unprecedented war and bloodshed, I hope I may be forgiven. If I say some things that seem to be critical, I hope you who listen will be good enough to look upon my asser- tions with charity and regard them merely as suggestions.
A good many vears ago my beloved friend, the late Henry van Dyke, put into my hands one of his poems en- titled "Righteous Wrath."
This poem reads :
There are many kinds of hatred, as many kinds of fire;
And some are fierce and fatal with murder- ous desire;
And some are mean and craven, ie vengeful, sullen, slow,
They hurt the man that holds them more than they hurt his foe.
And yet there is a hatred that purifies the
heart: The anger of the better against the baser
part, Against the false, the wicked, against the
tyrant's sword, Against the enemies of love, and all that
hate the Lord.
O cleansing indignation, O flame of right- eous wrath,
Give me a soul to feel thee and follow in thy path!
Save me from selfish virtue, arm me for fearless fight,
And give me strength to carry on, a soldier of the Right!
On a large poster in the Strater Hotel of Durango, Colorado, I read recently these words:
"We consider peace a catastrophe for human civilization." — Mussolini
"We shall soon have our storm troopers in America." — Hitler
"I am looking forward to dictating peace to the United States in the White House in Washington." — Admiral Yamamoto 706
LIQUOR, IMMORALITY,
jcuuL
OUR ARMED FORCES
By DR. RICHARD R. LYMAN
Of the Council of the Twelve
Delivered at the Sunday Morning Session of the \\3th Semi-annual General Conference, October 4, 1942, in the Tabernacle.
How Unlike Christianity
T-Tow unlike the Christian teaching, 1 A "rY\lon shalt love thy neighbor as thyself," or the spirit of the immortal Lincoln who "with malice toward none and charity for all" undertook to settle those great issues for which thousands had struggled on the battlefield.
And under each of those quotations in the Strater Hotel is the statement, "What do you say, America?" And that is the question I ask you citizens of the United States: What do you say?
As an American citizen I say these statements fill me with that "righteous wrath" of which Henry van Dyke speaks. But with deliberation let us examine some of the conditions in our country today.
The Matter of Repeal
Touring the years 1932 and 1933, the people of our nation voted to re- peal the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and to repeal also all our prohibition laws. Will I be unpatriotic if I say to you that this action filled me with "right- eous wrath"? The people did not then nor will they ever repeal that law of nature which makes alcohol a poison. Nor did the people then nor will they ever repeal that law of God which says, "Strong drinks are not good for man."
In those days the strategy of many of our political leaders seemed to be that we could drink ourselves into sobriety. Ask the mothers and the widows and the fatherless children of the three thousand whose lives were lost at Pearl Harbor December 7th if that strategy was correct. Many of those three thousand, as I have been told by soldiers who were there, were killed by our own bombs because of the inefficiency of our own men, which inefficiency was due to the use of al- coholic beverages. Are the leaders of our nation and those at the head of our armed forces today proceeding on the theory that we can drink ourselves into victory? Alcohol and war will not mix any more successfully than do alcohol and gasoline. Ask the loved ones of those thousands who have lost their lives on our highways because of
the use of liquor what they think of mixing alcohol and gasoline.
The Word of God
T atter-day Saints believe the Book *"* of Mormon to be the word of God. This sacred record of recently revealed truth tells us that the Lord Himself has prepared this land of America as a land choice above all other lands, and that inasmuch as the people on this land keep the commandments of the Lord they shall prosper. (I Nephi 2:20) This land, the divine record says, has been provided for a righteous people. (Ether 2:7) and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bond- age, free from captivity and free from all other nations under heaven on con- dition that the people will but serve the God of this land who is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Ether 2:12)
These stirring promises of the Al- mighty are to be effective for the in- habitants of this land only if the in- habitants are a righteous people. This land, the revealed word says, has been prepared and preserved by the Lord Himself (Ether 2:7) and that whoso should possess it "henceforth and for- ever" must serve the true and living God or they will be "swept away ' when they are "ripened in iniquity." (Ether 2:9) Let me ask, are we serv- ing the true and the living God or are we ripening in iniquity?
Immorality and Our Armed Forces
KTTore of the men in our armed forces, it has been said, are rendered un- fit to fight because of venereal diseases than from all other causes put together. And it is said also that for seventy- seven days after December 7 prohibi- tion was in force at Pearl Harbor. During the next thirty days after pro- hibition was discontinued by military order, the number of arrests for drunk- enness at Pearl Harbor was more than six times the average during the seven- ty-seven days of prohibition.
When I think of Pearl Harbor and the American lives which that disaster cost, I am filled to overflowing with that "righteous wrath" of which I have spoken. Let me say with J. Frank Hanley, I bear no malice toward those engaged in the liquor business, much
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, NOVEMBER, 1942
less toward those young men who, in society, by example or otherwise have been taught to drink, but I do hate the liquor traffic. I hate it as virtue hates vice, as truth hates error, as righteous- ness hates sin, as justice hates wrong, as liberty hates tyranny, as freedom hates oppression. I hate it for its in- tolerance. I hate it for its hypocrisy. I hate it for its commercialism, for its greed and for its avarice and for its sordid love of gain at any price. I hate it for its domination of politics; I hate it for its corrupting influence in civic affairs and for the cowards it makes of public men. I hate it for the load it straps on the back of labor and for the wounds it gives to genius. I hate it for the multitudes of human wrecks it has made of men of out- standing ability and promise, for the prisons it has filled, for the insanity that it begets and for the countless graves it has made in potter's fields. I hate it for the mental ruin which it im- poses upon its victims and for its moral degradation. I hate it for the crimes that it commits, for the homes that it destroys, and for the hearts that it breaks. I hate it for the grief it causes womanhood, for the scalding tears of women, for their hopes deferred, for their strangled aspirations, for the burden of want and care which liquor heaps upon them. I hate it for its heartless cruelty to the aged, the in- firm, and the helpless. I hate it for the shadow it throws upon the lives of children, for its monstrous injustice to multitudes of the blameless little ones. "I hate it," concludes Frank Hanley, "as Abraham Lincoln hated slavery. . . . And I sometimes seem to see the end of this unholy traffic, the coming of the time when, if it does not wholly cease to be, it shall find no safe habitation anywhere beneath Old Glory's stainless stars."
"On Fire for God and for Right"
HPhe great "Flying Squadron" that visited every state in the Union, all of the states' capitals and many of the other important cities of our country in the latter part of 1914 and the be- ginning of 1915, delivered stirring ad- dresses in two hundred fifty-five cities in two hundred thirty-five days. These addresses were heard by a million peo- ple, it is said. Their slogan was, "We stand for the abolition of the liquor traffic. On this issue we fight. When- ever a politician or an executive of- ficer or a political party prefers the liquor traffic above the public morals, such men must be set aside and such parties abandoned. To the accom- plishment of this high purpose," they said, "we dedicate ourselves."
This group of sixteen speakers of commanding eloquence and personal force were all "on fire for God and for the right." The name of President Heber J. Grant might very appropriate- ly be added to this list of distinguished prohibitionists, for he and these other unselfish and effective workers gripped
the hearts of thousands of the young and of the old throughout the country and gave to their hearers a clearer and a bigger vision of true Christian citizen- ship.
We have now unsheathed the sword of the United States of America, and we have carried into this great world conflict "the only flag in all the world that has never known defeat." To complete the mighty task to which we have set our hands, to make the future better than the past, to create a better world in which to live, "America needs every man at his best." Daniel A. Poling says that whatever makes for physical incompetency is an enemy of the state. He says a moral incom- petent cannot be a good citizen, an in- dustrial incompetent cannot be a good citizen, a political incompetent cannot be a good citizen, and he adds that the liquor institution is the supreme tangible foe of the state because it is the supreme positive promoter of physical, moral, industrial, and political incompetency. He says, "Millions of citizens, men and women, immediately vital to the na- tional and world program of this re- public cannot be at their best until the liquor institution and the evils con- nected with it are destroyed." Alco- hol was once regarded as a food, later as a stimulant. All scientists agree to- day that alcohol is a narcotic. Its ef- fects upon the human system are the same as those of ether and chloroform. Alcohol, a poison, is the greatest phy- sical menace of the human race. Who would care to converse even with his best and most intimate friend if that friend were drunk or even tipsy.
Another Drink of Whiskey
The only thing that a drink of whiskey ever suggests is another drink of whiskey. Whiskey never suggested to a drunkard that he buy shoes for his children or furniture for his house, but it has suggested to crea- tures, once men, that they take the shoes from the feet of their babies, the furniture from their scantily supplied house to buy more whiskey.
Prohibition is patriotic because it has proved itself to be a true friend of labor and a true friend of capital. Rome did not die for lack of college and pub- lic games, for the want of culture and refined society, or because she had no army or no navy. Rome died when she rotted at the heart. Rome com- mitted moral and political suicide.
Said Poling:
I fear no yellow peril, I fear no foe that may embark from a foreign shore to do us hurt. I fear only the foe from within, this shackler of bodies, this impoverisher of in- dustry, this moral despoiler, this corrupter of government which is called alcohol.
And may we ever remember the sad lesson our country has learned that statutory legislation and constitutional amendments are helpless in the hands of unfriendly and indifferent political administrations. To our sorrow we have learned that prohibitory law is not an automatic machine. A tool must be used. An ax calls for a man to wield
it. Prohibition demands an administra- tion that will enforce it.
Prohibition Laws Not Automatic PVuty and patriotism today demand *"^ that by legislation or otherwise we do something to protect against them- selves our fine and innocent young men, especially those who are serving as soldiers of our country. When in a doctor's office the father of a young man was informed that his son had a venereal disease, the father let loose his uncontrollable temper and berated the boy because of the boy's condition. Soon, however, the tables were turned, according to the doctor's story, so that the father was seated, and the boy was standing. It was then clearly evident that all the temper in the family was not in the father.
"Who is to blame for my condi- tion?" shouted the boy. "You are old and I am young. You knew and I did not. You had the information and I was in ignorance. You are the father and I am the son. Why didn't you teach me, why didn't you warn me, why didn't you protect me! I didn't know there was such a thing in the world as this disease. You are the one," shouted the boy, "that is responsible for my condition." No nation can en- dure indefinitely with a manhood af- flicted with venereal disease and the liquor habit. The great need of our country is spiritual awakening. While our motto is, "In God We Trust," yet as Babson says, World Wars I and II have come about because the leading nations during the last fifty years have been trying to get along without God. If this war is to be fought to a finish it will end only when we repent of our sins, readjust our wasteful standards of living, and once more make God the Eternal Father the ruler of our homes, our schools, our businesses, and our nation.
Have We Forgotten God? Touring our Civil War, Abraham Lin-
coin said the great difficulty with our country and our people was, "We had forgotten God." In a modern re- velation to you and to me and to the people of this generation the Lord, speaking through the Prophet Joseph Smith, has said, "Behold, the world is ripening in iniquity; and it must needs be that the children of men are stirred up unto repentance." (D. & C. 18:6) Let us therefore as a nation return to church, let us partake worthily of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, let us come into closest possible communion and cooperation with God, the Eternal Father, and pray that freedom and lib- erty, that gift of God by us so highly prized, may come to all the people of all nations of the earth. And I pray humbly that we in this land, choice above all other lands, may be a righteous people who deserve the blessings the Almignty has promised to those who love Him and serve Him and keep His command- ments, and I do this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
707
LEADERSHIP
By DR. JOHN A. WIDTSOE
Of the Council of the Twelve
Delivered at the Sunday Morning Session of the 113th Semi-annual General Conference, October 4, 1942, in the Tabernacle.
D
ear Brethren and Fellow Work-
ers:
During the time allotted me I should like to call to mind some funda- mentals of leadership.
Nearly every member of the Church, at one time or another, is called to some official Church position; but here are assembled the present Priesthood lead- ership of the Church. In our hands, with the willing cooperation of the membership the Latter-day Saints, lies, in large measure, the future of the Church. We may retard or accelerate its progress. The Lord has given us a great trust.
The Church of Jesus Christ in these latter days has had great leaders. From Joseph Smith to Heber J. Grant they have been mighty men. In their day they may have suffered persecu- tion and derision; but with the process of the years they have come to stand as gigantic figures, worthy of the ac- claim of all who love righteousness. They are fruits of the spirit of the gos- pel of Jesus Christ. To follow the ex- amples of these great leaders is to make our own leadership more worthy and powerful.
Joseph Smith, under Jesus Christ is the head of this dispensation of the gospel. To him we bore tender and touching tribute yesterday. He was indeed a leader worthy of our emula- tion. His leadership began with a con- suming love of truth. Indeed no man can be a safe leader who does not love truth above all else. The words truth and light appear and reappear as the foundations of his teachings. He would not walk in darkness. He knew that the light of truth would banish the night of error. Truth was his measuring rod, therefore he would not and could not support any cause, political, social, or commercial, which did not square with truth. There is never a possible compromise with untruth. Truth must ever be obeyed, or leadership leads downward. What a different world we should have today if the leaders of nations had made truth their first love and had surrendered to it. The Prophet declared his passion for truth, and the power of truth, in a glorious answer to a correspondent:
I combat the errors of ages; I meet the violence of mobs; I cope with illegal pro- ceedings from executive authority; I cut the Gordian knot of powers; and I solve the mathematical problems of the universities with truth — diamond truth. (D. H. C. 6:78)
708
JOHN A. WIDTSOE
Love of truth by all members of the Church, from 1830 to 1942, has made the Church mighty; and love of truth and obedience to it will enable us to es- tablish on earth the kingdom of God. By truth we shall achieve the world's leadership.
'T'he history of Joseph Smith reveals A further a man who did not pretend to know everything. He was not opinionated. He was not sufficient unto himself. He knew the limitations of man who is born to die. That is an- other mark of his leadership. In his eager boyhood, when he longed for the truth of religion he went to the Lord for help. As he grew in age and power, he continued to seek help from the Cre- ator of earth and man. He was pray- erful. In the record of his life we read again and again, "I enquired of the Lord." There was in his life a con- stant outreaching for divine help. He knew the source of truth, and sought refreshment at the fountain head. Per- sonal opinions and even the apparently needed help of living men were set aside when the Lord spoke. James Arlington Bennett, recently baptized into the Church, but without the spirit of the gospel, desired to help the Prophet out of the difficulties of the day. He offered to be the Prophet's
"right hand man." Like a flash from the sky came the Prophet's thunder- ous reply: "God is my right hand man." We can not attain leadership unless we seek help from the Lord, unless we cultivate the spirit of prayer. Again, let me ask, would the world be in its present state of bloody confusion, if its leaders had sought counsel from the Lord?
The truth that Joseph Smith promul- gated, the instructions he received from heaven, were applied in the spirit of love for humanity. That was a further mark of his leadership. He recognized that all are children of the Eternal Father, and to that extent di- vine. He was ready to afford all men equal rights on the way to salvation. He did not lift himself above his brethren. He had seen the Lord and had conversed with Him; he was a prophet; he was the president of the Church — nevertheless he was but as one with his brethren — a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints, striving and struggling for salvation. In him destroying pride was swallowed up in life-giving humility. Arrogance was absent from his private or official actions. Such forgetfulness of self, such love of his fellow men made him a powerful leader. If we who battle for the cause for which he gave his life desire to become success- ful leaders, we must love our brethren and sisters, be courteous and gentle with them, must be one with them. The Prophet records in his diary that he told some new arrivals in Nauvoo:
I was but a man, and they must not ex- pect me to be perfect; if they expected per- fection from me, I should expect it from them; but if they would bear with my in- firmities and the infirmities of the brethren, I would likewise bear with their infirmities. (D. H. C. 5:181)
Such an attitude creates leadership. The resulting love quiets "the restless pulse of care" in our human relation- ships.
Joseph the Prophet met the final test of the leader, that of fidelity. He was true to the cause which he represented. He gave of himself for it. Almost every day of the fourteen years he presided over the Church was one of toil, often of pain and sorrow. But, he continued to be diligent, dependable, ever considerate of the welfare of the people. In the needs of the Church he forgot himself. Opposition to the Church was usually visited upon his head. Fifty times he was charged with offenses, falsely as the record shows, for he was never found guilty. He spent months in a foul jail. He was driven from place to place and robbed of his material possessions. His name became known for "good and evil" the world over. But he did not falter. He built cities and temples; he fought the battles of the Church; he surrendered his own comforts for the benefit of the people; he taught them everlasting truth. When at long last the enemy threatened to take vengeance upon his people, if he would not yield himself to men of the law who were untrue to
the law, and because some of his own people were seized by fear, he said, "If my life is of no value to my friends it is of none to myself." And when he accepted arrest he said to the com- pany who were with him:
I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am calm as a summer's morning. I have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward all men.
The words of a worthy leader!
He suffered a martyr's death. He was true even unto death.
The Lord does not require that we give our lives in this manner for the cause of truth. Yet, every man to be true to his calling in this Church must possess the spirit of devotion and sac- rifice, of diligence and dependability, of love of man and God, which en- abled the Prophet to seal his testimony with his blood. Humanity in its pres- ent utter travail and sorrow is calling for leaders, who, rising above human diplomacy and self-interest, are true to the cause of truth, at any cost.
T eaders who follow the example of "^ Joseph Smith receive great rewards. They find daily joy in life. The visions of heaven are theirs. And they win disciples. Others, witnessing their lives, seek to follow them. Brigham Young bore incessant testimony to the joy of being a disciple of Joseph Smith; and his dying words were, "Joseph, Joseph!" John Taylor, with Hyrum Smith and Willard Richards, dared death in Carthage Jail to be with their leader and brother. The lives of Wil- ford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, Joseph F. Smith, and Heber J. Grant, judged by the marks of leadership, conform to the Prophet's life. Love of truth, of God, and of their fellow men, and an unquestioned, unselfish devotion to the latter-day work of the Lord have char- acterized the actions of these men. To follow the examples of these men is to achieve leadership.
In our respective callings, in stake or ward or in the Priesthood quorum, the signs of leadership which have marked the great leaders of the whole Church, will mark us as successful leaders. Leadership is in essence the same wher- ever applied.
That which makes a Church official a leader may be used by any and every member of the Church in winning joy in life. It is equally important for the whole membership of the Church, if we are to be as a light upon a hill for the guidance of the nations, to love truth, to go to the Lord for help, to re- cognize the divine kinship of all men, and to be obedient and dependable, true citizens of the Kingdom of God.
We have a great destiny. We are commissioned to bring peace and hap- piness to the earth, to lead the world from error to truth, from darkness into light. In that sense we have been called to be world leaders. For that calling let us prepare; let us build the Church with courage and faith toward perfec- tion, until the time when the reign of righteousness shall be ushered in, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
\\
PRESIDENT GRANT AND MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY AND MISSIONARY GROUP IN JAPAN.
STRANGE LANGUAGE
//
A recent article reproduced in the October issue of Reader's Di- gest invites attention to the diffi- culties of finding those who are quali- fied to decipher and decode Japanese documents. Fewer than one hundred such persons, says the article, are known to be available in this country. This comment reminds us of President Grant's experiences with the Japanese language.
In going over her father's earlier rec- ords, Rachel Grant Taylor recently came upon a much-used and much-worn paper-covered notebook that dates back to President Grant's sojourn in Japan. In it are a hundred or more pages, giv- ing evidence of the painstaking care with which President Grant, past forty-
By RICHARD L EVANS
five, undertook the difficult and dis- couraging study of Japanese with that persistent determination which has marked all the activities of his life.
Page after page is inscribed with words and phrases pertinent to the Church and to the commonplace things of the passing day, opposite the Jap- anese equivalents, sometimes written in symbols of our alphabet and sometimes also in the Japanese characters. For an unforgettable lesson in the will-to-do one needs only to visualize this man of energy, in middle age, faithfully settling down to a task so trying, and pursuing it so earnestly.
THE REPRODUCTIONS BELOW ARE EXCERPTS FROM PRESIDENT GRANT'S JAPANESE NOTEBOOK.
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I 7l
PRIESTHOOD ACTIVITY
By DR. JOSEPH F. MERRILL
Of the Council o/ the Twelve
Delivered at the Saturday Afternoon Session of the \\3th Semi-annual General Conference, October 3, 1942, in the Tabernacle.
JOSEPH F. MERRILL
Brethren, this is a remarkable gath- ering, the first that I have known about in the history of the Church : a session of a general conference com- posed entirely of the leaders of the Church in the stakes and wards and Melchizedek Priesthood quorums in the Church. Perhaps a larger percentage of these officers named are here than ever before.
I was recently asked if, in my opinion, the Melchizedek Priesthood quorums were making progress. That took me back in memory thirty-one to forty years ago when, as a seventy, a mem- ber of two different quorums, one the Third Quorum of Seventy of which Brother George Albert Smith was also a member, when we felt we were doing our full duty as seventies if we met once a month with our quorum and there participated in the class work along lines furnished by President B. H. Roberts. Since that day we have gone a long way. We have come to appreciate that Priesthood means activ- ity— that a quorum organization is a group of brethren banded together in order to do things, not merely to study about things. We stand foremost in advocating that faith alone will not save. Works are necessary, and no man can do his full duty in any Priest- hood capacity, member or official, in any quorum who is content to sit on his seat and listen only. He must be on his toes doing things.
I was thrilled and thrilled with the message of the First Presidency this morning as it was delivered by Presi- dent Clark. There were some things in there relative to Priesthood that are dear to those that are trying to help Priesthood quorums in their work. Pres- ident Clark referred to the family, what it should do if it had an absent member in the armed forces of the country, and he referred to the quorums. Now,
710
brethren, may I say that as President Clark indicated, any family that does not communicate frequently, weekly, he said, with its member, is failing in its duty. Any quorum, we believe, and any bishop at the head of the priests' quorum who does not write or have letters writ- ten monthly on behalf of the quorum to the ones that are absent, is fail- ing also in his duty. Brethren, all we need to do is to travel about the coun- try on the crowded trains, keep our eyes and our ears open, contact men in uniform here and there, and lis- ten to the stories of those of our own boys who have been in the camps to know that these boys are faced with situations more tempting, more trying, more severe, than they have ever before faced in their lives; and would any quo- rum permit any man, any member of that quorum, to be without the assist- ance that quorum can give? If the of- ficers of any quorum fail in seeing that that is done, they have failed in one of their duties, I verily believe.
TUe have heard this afternoon about vv missionary work. May I say, brethren, we are all called to be mis- sionaries. The members of the Church are all called to be missionaries, not necessarily to give our time to pro- claiming the word, the message of Mormonism, which is defined as the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness, but we are called upon to be effective missionaries and perhaps the most effective missionaries it is possible for us to be, by being true in our lives to the faith that we profess, and this is not an easy thing. Perhaps never be- fore in the history of the human family, has the tempter had such power as he has today. Perhaps never before, cer- tainly not since I have known anything about history, I believe, have the moral standards of the people become so low, as judged by our standards and our points of view, as they are today. You travel about on the trains. It used to be that if one wanted to smoke he retired to certain compartments, certain cars, certain places in the train. Nowadays it doesn't make any difference where you are, the air is blue with smoke, men and women alike puffing — mothers, grandmothers — I have seen them — mothers with small children puffing to- bacco smoke. It makes you sick. And what else do they do? Brethren and sisters, President Clark spoke of the
evils of drink. They are openly, in these trains, everywhere drinking their liquor. Now the conditions that pre- vail in the camps, the cantonments, and the places where our boys in uniform are working and training, are the con- ditions that are set according to the standards of a sinful world, and our boys are there. Will we try to help this situation? Will we try to get those boys — and there are hundreds of them who have returned from foreign mis- sions— so impressed that they will feel obligated to continue their missionary work by living according to the teach- ings and standards of the Church? We must do this, brethren. We must do it or fail in a duty.
Now, may I say that all of us here know absolutely, undoubtedly we know absolutely, that this is the work of the Lord. If the work of the Lord lags, it is because we are lagging in our duty. If the work of the Lord fails, it is be- cause we fail in our duty; but to fail in our duty is to do something in the light of our testimony that is positively absurd, perfectly ridiculous, absolutely foolish; to know that this is the work of the Lord and that the plan we teach is the plan that will lead into the celestial kingdom if we follow it unto the very end, and then deliberately, through our foolishness, through our weakness, through our indifference, step aside from that plan, out of the path, and thus endanger our admittance into the celes- tial kingdom and therefore endanger our achieving the great reward that we will receive if we are true and faithful, is to do something that in the light of ration- ality is perfectly absurd, knowing that the gospel is true. But, brethren, we are in a world of temptation. We must not get an idea that it is easy to live according to the plan we teach. To be sure, the plan we teach, if followed, will yield more joy, more satisfaction, more real pleasure in life than any other; but yet, we must remember that it isn't easy to live that plan, because of our environ- ment, because of our temptations, be- cause of our weaknesses.
I pray God that He will help us — that He will strengthen us, will give us wisdom and strength and courage and all that we need to keep us active in His work, that we may realize the joys that come to us as a result of obedience and faithfulness, and I ask it all in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Tabernacle Choir and Organ Broadcast
(Continued from page 704)
Religion On Trial
President Evans: We live in a day when every standard of value is being challenged, and religion has not escaped the challenge. Perhaps this is because men have asked too much of religion and too little of themselves. Many have supposed that a mere creed or code of belief, or statute of doctrines and dog- mas, would take the place of self-effort and self-mastery. Some have known the law but have not lived it. Some have not even bothered to know the law, but have left such knowledge to others, and have worshiped once re- moved, if at all. Some have placed convenience above truth. Some have permitted man-made sophistries to supplant the revealed word in their thinking and in their living. By some it has been supposed that religion was a system whereby men could have set aside the consequences of their own doings — another form of the false phil- osophy of getting something for nothing. And so, perhaps we should determine once and for all what we may rightly expect religion to do for us, and then judge its effectiveness or ineffec- tiveness by that standard. It should not be expected to give us ease without ef- fort, or knowledge without study, or truth without search. We should not expect it to offer reward without work, peace without repentance, blessings without obedience, or exaltation here- after without justifying our existence here. The Savior of the world gave us an indication of what we should expect of religion, when He spoke of the "wise man which built his house upon a rock : and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat up- on that house; and it fell not." But the house of the foolish man was built upon the sand, "and it fell: and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:24-27) The implication is plain. The floods and the winds came alike to the wise and the foolish. But one stood the onslaught, and the other fell before it. And that is what we should expect of religion — not that it should spare us the varied ex- periences of living, but that it should help us to understand them and sustain us through them; help us to grow be- yond them, and prepare us for yet great- er things. No man escapes all the vicissitudes of life — but he who has isolated himself from spiritual under- standing, frequently breaks under the strain, and is brought low in the anguish of his own bitterness and in the blind- ness of his own unwillingness to see. But this uncertain groping and sense of defeat are they spared whose lives have been shaped by the principles and pow- er of religion, pure and undefiled — by the everlasting truth of things both pres- ent and yet to come.
(Concluded on page 712)
REDEDICATION
By CHARLES A. CALLIS
Of the Council of the Twelve
Delivered at the Saturday Evening Session of the 1 1 3th Semi-annual Gen- eral Conference, October 3, 1942, in the Tabernacle.
CHARLES A. CALLIS
Throughout the precious message we received from the First Presi- dency, the spirit of Isaiah and Jeremiah, like a golden thread, was in evidence. A true prophet is never popular, because he reproves and de- nounces, with equal vigor and equal impartiality and justice, the iniquities of the rich and the unrighteousness of the poor.
In this solemn and troubled hour there is an urgent need for the people every- where to rededicate themselves to God, home, and country. The world is wan- dering in the wilderness because it is not baptized into the obedience that makes men free. We have been walking proudly, with assumed confidence, as though we were on adamant or the foundations of the world. Really we have been rolling along on parchment beneath which glowed a lake of fire. Lo, we have plunged into the inferno, this terrible inferno of war.
Joshua, the great ruler in Israel, re- dedicated himself in this way: "Choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." If this nation would refresh its soul with this reconsecration, if the world would awaken and free itself from the fearful enslavement of sin, then the peace of Christ would dawn upon the world, and men, instead of killing each other, would love and save their brothers.
As I regard it, the home is the funda-
mental, essential unit of civilized so- ciety. For the instruction of our chil- dren we are depending too much on our Sunday Schools, Primaries, and other auxiliary associations, yea, and on the day school. We are willing that our children should receive instructions, much of them unknown to us, while we sit placidly by in our homes, and feel that the teaching of our children, thrown onto other shoulders, is a relief. This will end in disaster. The home is the place where character is formed and where faith in God is strengthened.
Let us not delude ourselves; let us not lay the flattering unction to our souls, that if we complain at rulers and leaders our duty is ended. Before God every father in Israel is a ruler in the sense of the Lord's definition of the spirit of the Priesthood. A man is a ruler in his house, and he will be held accountable for the manner and the character of his rule. If in justice and love and patience he exercises his authority, having rev- erence for the dreams of youth, there will be no need for so many public ex- hortations on the Word of Wisdom, for liquor and other forbidden things will not be found in the home of "one that ruleth well his own house." I be- lieve that all evils are of a family. Im- morality is a brother to drunkenness.
With firm assurance we will magnify our calling and rededicate ourselves to the service of God. The General Au- thorities of the Church, stake presidents, and bishops hold dominion, righteous dominion, under the awful hand of God, and to Him they are accountable for their overseership.
God bless our country. God bless our homes. In properly conducted homes the children are builded up in character, in faith, in the principles of the gospel. A nation in which such training abounds shall increase in glory from day to day. The delight of such a nation will be not in shedding blood, not to conquer by might or physical power, but to conquer the world in the spirit of Christ along the lines of justice and mercy.
And in the love of Christ we will walk under His banner and bring souls unto Him whose glorious coming is nigh, and he will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. This is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
711
MMUTABLES
By ALBERT E. BOWEN
Of the Council of the Twelve
Delivered at the Saturday Evening Session of the l\3th Semiannual Gen- eral Conference, October 3, 1942, in the Tabernacle.
ALBERT E. BOWEN
Almost every day we hear it said, or read it, that we are living in a changing world. I don't believe many of the people who use that phrase have any very clear idea about what they mean by it. It sounds good, seeming to imply a penetrating insight into the portent of the times, no matter how nebulous or muddy the thinking behind it may be, so it is freely used.
But I don't want to talk about that. A companion phrase is that we can't go back — we'll never go back to things as they were before. Well, the man who finds himself finally hanged on the gallows is the man who, when he got started off wrong, wouldn't go back. My judgment is that when we get started on the wrong way the sooner we turn back the better. The whole doctrine of repentance assumes a turn- ing back from wrong to right.
But I don't want to go into that, either. I merely want to remind you that, amid all the changes in an ever- changing world there are some