Our Work: Age of Membership

EDITOR'S TABLE. 137

latter class are by far the more numerous. Indeed it is difficult to name an author who has written on the life of Jesus, whose writings are not burdened with error; and therefore we commend to the members of our associations a careful study of these four gospels as the very best books to consult on the life of Jesus; and indeed the only ones that can be recommended without reservation. They, with the Jewish prophecies in the Old Testament, and the Nephite prophecies and the history of the ministry of Jesus on the western hemisphere, contained in the Book of Mormon, are the original sources of information concerning the earthly career of the Son of God. From them may be learned the incidents that make up the blameless life of Jesus of Nazareth — a life intended to instruct all future ages and races of men. From them may be learned the attributes of that perfect character which was intended to be, and which is, the manifestation of God to man. From them may be learned that plan of redemption designed before the foundations of the earth were laid for the salvation of man. And hence in the Manual course of study on the life of Jesus, we have sought to lead our students to those very fountains of knowledge concerning the career and doctrines of the Son of God, rather than to any streams flowing from those sources; for as streams of water take on the hue and flavor of the soils through which they cut their way, so lives of Jesus written by others than those named above, while containing much that may be good, are nevertheless liable to reflect the sectarian prejudices or religious bias peculiar to each writer. Hence our advice is, study the life of Jesus from the original sources of information.

AGE OF MEMBERSHIP.

In the instructions of the general superintendency, given in October, 1880, occurs the following passage: "The associations should be composed of young men, running to neither extreme as to their age. " That instruction in making up the membership of our improvement societies should be strictly adhered to. We say this because in some associations there is a disposition to admit very young boys as members, and when this is objected to a strong plea is made to retain them and encourage others to come, until there is great danger, if this is not checked, of making our societies children's rather than young men 's associations. There would be some excuse for admitting very young members into our organizations if the young men's associations were the only organizations in the church for the improvement of the young. But that is not the case. With the Sunday schools in existence, and the primary associations running, young boys will find in them ample opportunities for spiritual and moral education; and to take them into the young men's associations is apt to result in failure to do that grade of work it is intended our associations shall do; and will very likely result in driving away from us the very class of young men the improvement societies are intended especially to benefit. To superintendents of stakes and presidents of associations, therefore, we say, keep up the grade of your membership as to age.