--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 2 number: 9 published: 1899-07 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Fruits of the Spirit," *Improvement Era* 2, no. 9 (July 1899): 699–701.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera29unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera29unse start_page: 699 end_page: 701 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1899-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera29unse publication_year: 1899 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1899, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Fruits of the Spirit EDITOR'S TABLE. TALKS TO THE YOUNG MEN. FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT. BY THE SENIOR EDITOR. The most needful inspiration for young men is the Spirit of Ood. All your efforts, brethren, should be directed towards the possession and the inculcation of the spirit of the Gospel which is true knowledge. True knowledge bears the right kind of fruit; but knowledge alone does not, for many men have knowledge enough to be saints, but instead are wicked sinners. Lucifer himself knows the truth, he possesses knowledge, but he lacks the essential principle with it — the spirit of truth. He is devoid of the spirit although he has the knowledge, and, for that reason, he remains the fallen Son of the Morning. Of what use is it that we know the truth, if we lack- its spirit? Our knowledge, in this event, becomes a condemnation to us, failing to bear fruit. It is not sufficient that we know the truth, but we must be humble and with this knowlege possess the spirit to actuate us to good deeds. Baptism, as well as all other outward ordinances, without the spirit accompanying, is useless. We remain but baptized sinners. It is the duty of the young men of Israel to seek first the 700 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and leave other things to follow; to seek the spirit of truth so as to possess the knowledge of God, which giveth them a desire for purity, light, truth; and a spirit to despise evil and to turn away from all that is not of God. Do you wish to know the difference between the fruits of the spirit of the world and of the Spirit of God? Turn to the fifth chapter of the Galatians, 16-24: This I say then. Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace; longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Learn to repeat this precious scripture, bum it into your souls, let it be engraven upon Here we have a key your hearts. by which we may determine what is of God and what is not. It is a plain dividing line between light and darkness. Here is essential Gospel which you should discern in yourselves. Keep on the right side, keep pure, crucify the flesh, deny the appetites, and say to them as Christ said to the tempter: "Get thee behind me, Satan." He who enjoys the Spirit may have power to do this. That, too, is the practical, work-a-day way in which to learn self-government which is a primary essential to a Latter-day Saint, for he who learns to govern himself, we are told, is greater than the ruler of a nation. EDITOR'S TABLE. 701 Ask yourselves daily, brethren, if your knowledge is bearing the right kind of fruit, the fruit of the Spirit of God.