--- 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: 3 number: 2 published: 1899-12 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Editor’s Table: A Business View of the Word of Wisdom; Book Review," *Improvement Era* 3, no. 2 (December 1899): 143–146.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera32unse 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: improvementera32unse start_page: 143 end_page: 146 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1899-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera32unse 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. --- # Editor’s Table: A Business View of the Word of Wisdom; Book Review EDITOR^S TABLE. A BUSINESS VIEW OF THE WORD OF WISDOM. There are at least two ways to look upon the instructions that are given in the revelation. If the question should be asked, Why do you observe the commandment generally known as the word of wis- dom? it is probable that there would be various answers. One does it out of principle, because it is a command of God, and he knows that by obeying, he will be benefitted in health; he has faith that the promises will be given to him, and that he shall run and not faint. Another looks upon it in an economic light, having perhaps less faith, but being possessed of business acumen, he obeys be- cause it pays — saves money. Young men should remember that it both views are good. The first is the best, of course, for it covers the whole ground, it includes all the benefits of the second. But if you prefer to look upon the money side, well and good. You will gain value for all your effort, even looking at the subject thus. Sav- ing money is a virtue in itself; and, if it can be done by simply obeying a command of God, which, besides, promises other rich blessings, is it not doubly worth your while? The following is told by Collis P. Huntington, and gives an idea of how he gained his first conception of the value of money, and shows the wisdom of saving it rather than spending it for some- thing of no special value. When he was a lad he, like many other country boys, had none too much spending money. There was to be a church festival in a nearby church which he much desired to 144 IMPROVEMENT ERA. attend. He went to his father and asked him for a dollar, in order that he might attend the entertainment. His father replied, "If you really want to go to the festival, you will go out and make a dollar." The lad, who was destined to dazzle the world with his great railway and financial operations, recognized the justice and reason- ableness of the remark, and went out and made the dollar, working earnestly and devotedly at farm labor. "But," says Mr. Huntington, "when the night of the festival arrived, and I went up to my room to dress, I thought to myself: 'Now, I've worked too hard for that dollar to squander it on some- thing that will do me no special good.' I saved that dollar, and," continued the capitalist with a twinkle in his genial eyes, "I've never been without a dollar since." Smoking, drinking, chewing; are they of any special value to you? They are not; but, according to the command of God, are of great detriment. Then, when you are about to indulge, why not employ Mr. Huntington's argument: "I've worked too hard for that dollar to squander it on something that will do me no special good," (but rather an injury,) and save your dollar, and never be without money after? In addition, at least some of the promised blessings of the word of wisdom are likely to follow unsolicited. Recently, Mr. Huntington administered a rebuke to a gentle- man who entered his room smoking a cigar. This gentleman headed a committee which waited upon the financial magnate appealing for aid for some charitable institution. In presenting his plea, he waxed eloquent upon the signal manner in which Mr. Huntington had been blessed in worldly goods, and referred to the immense size of his fortune. "Yes," said Mr. Huntington, with a smile, "I've got money, and have had lots of it; but do you know," and here his gaze rested full upon the gentleman who headed the committee, and who happened to be smoking a fragrant cigar, "I never had money to burn." Smoking is too common among young men. Why not stop it, and employ the argument of Mr. Huntington? It may make you wealthy. It will surely make you better. Do not burn your money, but save it, and by so doing gain the double advantage of obtaining both money and health, both temporal and spiritual blessings. BOOK REVIEW. Y. M. M. I. A. AND MISSIONARY HYMN AND TUNE BOOK. This is a collection of hymns and songs set to music and adapted especially for the use of Mutual Improvement Associations and mis- sionaries in their religious services and social entertainments. It contains some fifty-six songs which have come into popular use in the Church and Sabbath Schools and Mutual Improvement Associa- tions. The book has been compiled and arranged by Prof. E. Steph- ens, general music director for the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations and the leader of the Salt Lake Tabernacle choir. It is especially fitted in size for carrying about, and will, therefore, be- come popular with missionaries. George Q. Cannon & Sons Co., publishers. Salt Lake City; price, $3.00 per dozen. CHURCH CHRONOLOGY. We have received a copy of Church Chronology, second edition, revised and enlarged. It is a record of important events pertaining to the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, compiled by Andrew Jenson, Assistant Church Historian. The period covered is from the birth of Joseph Smith to the close of the year 1898. In addition to the regular chronology, it has an introduction containing diagrams of the First Presidency and their counselors, also of the council of the Twelve Apostles from the beginning unto the present time, with the dates of their entrance into office. Simi- lar diagrams are given of the first council of Seventies, the presid- ing bishopric, and church historians and recorders. A novel feature is the publication of ordinations to the Holy Priesthood of leading men of the Church, intended to benefit all who desire to trace the — — 146 IMPROVEMENT ERA Priesthood which they hold, back to the Prophet Joseph. Bio- graphical notes, to this end, are given, which contain the ordinations of all the elders who have been sustained and are being susutained as the general authorities of the Church. In addition to the regular value of the work, to those who are interested in dates and statistics, it is published in an edition of 25,000 copies, and sold for the benefit of a church historian's ofiice, soon to be built it is hoped, which shall be commensurate with the growing historical interests of the Church. Every purchaser, therefore, in buying the book, not only helps him- self to valuable data, but likewise aids in the building of a proper edifice for the important historical documents and ofiices of the Church. Deseret News Co., Salt Lake City, publishers; price, $1.25