--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Anderson, Nephi collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 3 number: 6 published: 1900-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Nephi Anderson, "For the Salvation of Souls: Part Second," *Improvement Era* 3, no. 6 (April 1900): 412–420.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera36unse 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: improvementera36unse start_page: 412 end_page: 420 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1900-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera36unse publication_year: 1900 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 1900, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # For the Salvation of Souls: Part Second — FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS. A STORY IN TWO PARTS. BY NEPHI ANDERSON, AUTHOR OF "ADDED UPON," "a YOUNG FOLKS' HISTORY OF THE CHURCH," ETC. Part Second. No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the Priesthood, only by persuasion, by long suffering, by gentleness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy and without guile. Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love towards him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death. Doc. and Cov. Sec. 121. The stake superintendency and aids of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations met each week in an upper room at the home of the superintendent. There they talked over the affairs of the associations and planned for their best interests. Their meetings began with the singing of a hymn, then they drew their chairs in a circle and by them knelt and offered up their prayers to God. Reports of visits to associations were given, suggestions offered, and then the next week's lesson was recited from the manual. Sometimes there were special meetings, as was the case the evening when the missionary representing the General FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS. 413 Board laid before the officers his instructions to them regarding the system of local missionary work. That evening the superintendent spoke earnestly of the work of improvement among the young men of Zion. "Right in our own fair city the enemy of righteousness has planted another stronghold in the shape of a saloon, whereby to bring our young to destruction. I tell you, brethren, our responsibility is great, and we have plenty of work before us. I believe this system of quiet, private missionary work will much good. result in Let us take hold with a will, put our hearts into it as much as we did when doing missionary work in the world, and God will bless us and give us souls for our reward." At the next regular meeting it was decided that each of the stake officers be given the name of a young man that needed laboring with. Seven names were written on seven slips of paper and then distributed to the best advantage. The name on one of the slips they all shrank from. "Brethren," said the superintendent, "we all appreciate the difficulty of this brother's case. I have been thinking which of us would likely have the most influence over him and have concluded that Brother Acton should take this name." So William Acton put the slip of paper in his pocket, and said he would do his best. Written on that paper was the name of Harrison Ware. From that evening Will Acton began to study Harrison Ware. He knew he had no easy task, so he prayed much for assistance. Harrison was perhaps five years older than Will. They were not very intimate, as they lived in different wards, so Will went out of his way to and fro from his work to step into Harrison's grocery store to purchase some article and have a chat with him. By careful inquiry Will learned fairly well Brother Ware's spiritual condition. He had nearly ceased going to meetings. During the year past, he had two credit marks on the records of the Seventies' quorum. He had never joined the Mutual, though he had visited the meetings a number of times shortly after the missionaries had visited him last year. Then Will tried to ascertain where Harrison's interest lay, and that was no hard task. Harrison Ware was aspiring to be a leading politician in his ward. " " 414 IMPROVEMENT ERA He would rather talk politics than sell groceries. Will studied him along this line, and had many chats with him upon political principles and party candidates. In time, the missionary concluded that the strong hand of party power had Brother Ware in its grasp, and was fast squeezing out of him all interest for anything else. Even his religion, for which he had sacrificed much, gave way to the demands of this partisanship. One evening. Will saw Brother Ware's oldest son, a lad of about fifteen, enter the corner saloon. The boy did not stay long, but it was enough to give the missionary a chance. Next day Will called and asked if he could have a talk with Brother Ware. "Certainly, come right in, Brother Acton," and he led the way into the office. "What I wanted to tell you was that I saw your boy George go into the saloon last night. I thought as a parent you would like to know." "George is a little wild I know, but I had no idea that he frequented the saloon. I am much obliged to you. Brother Acton, for letting me know. I will speak to him about it." "How is it, does he attend the Mutual Improvement meetings?" "Not as he ought to. I can't get him interested, and then, there's Bishop Wild's boys, you know. They lead him off and you can't expect — "But, dear brother, don't you think a little example from his father in that line would help?" The grocer laughed. "Well, perhaps it would; but, you see, I haven't the time. Besides, the president of our association is a little cranky and — "Look here, Brother Ware, we're all 'cranky' on some things, even the best of us are." "Yes; you're right there. The best of us are. I suppose you heard President Blank's sermon at the Tabernacle last Sunday?" "Yes; and I saw you there. What did you think of it?" "It was all bosh, mere bosh. Why, he himself doesn't practice that doctrine; and I actually heard of an apostle the other day—" "Well, I'll have to be going," interrupted Will, and he left the FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS. 415 store. A certain oppressive feeling always came over him after listening to such fault-finding. It made him miserable, and he did not enjoy the experience. Had he not been on a mission, he certainly would have kept outside the circle of such an influence. "I've underrated my task," thought Will, as he walked home. "Brother Ware is already far in the dark. When a man finds fault with every officer of The Church from the teacher on his block up, then T pity him. There certainly can't be much sunshine in his own life. Poor Brother Ware, what can I do to help him?" Harrison Ware did not respond to the invitations to attend the association meetings. Will thought he became more bitter at every talk he had with him. In their meetings some of the officers reported some glowing successes, but Will's was not encouraging. He had a mind to give up, but his brethren would hot hear of it. "The harder the battle, the greater the prize," they said. One day, Will Acton brought with him an interesting account of some missionary experiences in the Eastern States. Brother Ware received Will coldly, bordering on rudeness; but the missionary was not to be daunted. He got out his paper and showed him the article. "You spent over two years in that locality, didn't you?" "Yes." "I thought you would be interested in the account." "Well, I'm not very;" and he went on arranging some goods on the shelf. They were alone in the store, and Will began reading the article aloud. The merchant listened, and presently came and sat on the counter. As the reading proceeded, Will could see the interest brighten in the listener's face. The missionary had found a tender spot upon which he could make an impression, and the discovery gave him renewed courage. He left Brother Ware looking over the paper the second time. A few days after, as Will called at the grocery store, he was greatly surprised to see the blinds down, and a strange name in the window as assignee. HarrisonWare had failed. A great pity welled up in his heart. He thought of Brother Ware's three boys and their neglected condition. (Brother Ware's wife had died four years !ago.) The grocer had lately been seen visiting the 416 IMPROVEMENT ERA. establishment where the beautiful bottles were displayed. And now he had failed in his business. He was going fast down the hill, and the efforts of the missionary seemed to have no effect. Will tried to find the merchant, but seemingly he tried to avoid everybody as much as possible. Some days after the assignment Will called at Harrison's house and found his rooms vacated. The neighbors said they had all moved to Salt Lake City. That same evening at the officers' meeting, the name of Harrison Ware was given up; but as Will Acton was walking home, a passage of scripture came to him so suddenly that it somewhat startled him: How think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. It was enough for Will Acton. Within a few days, the April conference would convene in Salt Lake, and Will got a week off and attended. It took two days of search and inquiry to locate him. Then he found the small family in a little, old, adobe house not far from the railroad station. The father was not at home, but the oldest boy had taken charge of affairs and had tried to arrange the meagre household belongings as comfortably as he could. The children seemed pleased with a face they had seen at home. It was in the evening, and the father soon came in. Of course he was surprised to see his visitor. Harrison showed signs of the ordeal through which he was passing, and Will noted the haggard expression in his face. Will accepted the invitation to share the simple evening meal, and then when the boys had gone to bed the missionary began his work in earnest. Will led Harrison into telling him about his troubles. Brother Ware was not blind to the continued interest his friend took in him. Will could see that Harrison was a struggling man. He felt that the crisis in the man's life had arrived, and that the powers of good and evil were battling for the possession of a soul. Har- " FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS. 417 rison would make some most bitter accusations, then he would melt into a mildness bordering on tears, only to work himself up again into a passion against his brethren. Elder Acton talked quietly. He felt the Spirit of God resting upon him and it gave him power over this man. "Brother Ware," he said, "your father left his native land for the Gospel's sake. Your mother suffered in the early persecutions for the same cause. I know their one great aim in passing through these trials was that their children might be firmly established in Zion and in the faith of Christ. Would you be willing that they should come tonight, hear what you have said and feel of the spirit you have manifested? "Never mind answering, Brother Ware. 1 want to bring you back to your early days. Do you believe that when a servant of God took you down into the waters of baptism and there immersed you for the remission of your sins, that that was an ordinance of any consequence? Do you think that when the hands of the elders were placed upon your head that you received the Holy Ghost?" "I know it." "Do you believe that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation?" "I have never denied the Gospel, and I hope I never shall. The Gospel is true enough, but — "But, dear brother, you stultify yourself. You say the Gospel is true, yet claim that its ministers are evil-designing men. You claim a church can exist pure whose every department is controlledby wrong-doers. You do not doubt the validity of your baptism, or of that of your children's, yet you can not trust those same men with any portion of earthly authority. You call in the Priesthood to administer to you and your family, to call down heaven's blessings upon you, and you do not question their right, their authority; yet you cannot trust these men in a petty matter of worldly moment." Harrison had slowly dropped his head, and now sat looking at the table. "You have a wife in the other world. You love her. You were bound to her for all time and eternity, and it is among your fondest hopes that some day you will clasp that wife again to 418 IMPROVEMENT ERA. your bosom; that you will call her wife, and she will call you husband. What would you think should I tell you that the whole thing is a delusion and a snare, and that he who performed that ceremony, claiming power from on high, was a cheat and a rogue? Brother Ware, you would trust these men you have so bitterly railed against tonight and many other times, with the most sacred desires of your heart, trust thembring to you the great- to est gift God can bestow upon man, trust them to perform for you ordinances that will insure your eternal salvation and happiness in the worlds to come — yet, dear brother, you will not grant them the common privilege which every American citizen claims of expressing his opinion on a political question — you will not trust them in the most insignificant of perishable worldly affairs." Harrison did not answer, but tears stood in the man's eyes. "You, Brother Ware, have been upon a mission as I have also. You have exercised the God-given powers of the Priesthood, and you have rejoiced in it. You know it is true. You, no doubt, by that same divine authority brought souls into the fold of Christ who are now blessing your name and memory for those kind deeds. Oh, those were sweet moments, Brother Ware. Those were blessed days, employed in the service of the Master for the salvation of souls. The memory of those mission years comes to us now as a holy benediction, as a calm, soothing sweetness distilling into our troubled souls." The two men, as with the same impulse, slipped quietly onto their knees. Will Acton prayed aloud. When he had finished, he looked at his brother who did not move, neither arose from his position, and Will again bowed his face into his hands to pray, this time inaudibly. A strange feeling had come over him. From the joy of conversion, he had relapsed into a feeling that his brother would not be completely won by his labors alone. At this critical moment, he felt the need of other help, and this help should come from his brother's missionary experience, some fellow missionary perhaps, who would rivet together firmly the past to the present. All this flashed through his mind in an instant, and when he prayed again it was that God would send him this assistance. A light tap came at the door as the two men arose. FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS. 419 "Come in," said Harrison after a short pause. A young woman came in with a tray on which steamed three bowls of soup. At the sight of the two men she paused at the door. "I — beg your pardon," she I said. "I expected to find the three boys here, and I brought them some soup." She placed the tray on the table and looked at Harrison Ware. "Brother Ware!" she said. "Brother Ware, is that you? I didn't know you lived here. Surely, you are Elder Harrison Ware?" — "That is my name; and you to be sure, you are Sister Margaret Lee. And how are you? You have changed some, but I would know you. Well, well, and what a surprise!" The two shook hands warmly. Will backed out of the way and stood looking at them. Then he knew his prayer was answered that his re-enforcement had come, and that he could even at that moment retire from the field assured of victory. Will was introduced, and as he looked into the clear eye and open countenance of the young woman, he saw character written there. Another little prayer went up from Will's heart, a prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude. The three sat around the table and talked of the past and a new light came into Harrison's face as he recalled his missionary experiences. Will let the others do most of the talking. He listened and enjoyed their conversation. Margaret said she lived with a family a few doors away. She had seen the three boys in the yard a number of times, and had pitied their apparently homeless condition. Then Harrison had difficulty in speaking, and there came a pause in the conversation, during which Will took the three bowls from the table and put them on the stove. Then when they were suflaciently warm, he placed a bowl before each of them. "The boys have gone to bed, Sister Lee, and it won't do to have the soup spoil. Help yourselves." They all laughed again, and began sipping the warm liquid. "This reminds me," said Harrison, "of a Christmas back in the missionary field. Don't you remember. Sister Lee?" 0, yes, she remembered. "You see," continued Brother Ware, turning to Will, "Sister — 420 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Lee is famous for making good soup, and she became such an expert at it that she actually served it once for our Christmas dinner. Think of it, the broth from a knuckle bone for a Christmas dinner —nothing but the broth, remember." "Brother Ware, we had bread and butter with it. Tell the straight of it, if you please: and if I remember rightly, you were greatly pleased with that dinner." "I think it was the best meal I ever ate; and look here, here's a coincidence. There were just three of us sitting around a table something like this one. Yes, and we had three bowls One for me, and one for you. And one for old Sister Hennesey. It ought to be Christmas^now." "It is Christmas now," exclaimed Will Acton, as he gave the table a tap with his spoon." "How do you make that out?" "Today is the real Christmas, or rather the anniversary of the birth of Christ. Today is the Sixth of April, which is the birthday of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." Will arose in making his little speech. The others arose also; and while they stood there looking at each other, Harrison Ware said: "You are right. Today is the real Christmas; and doubly real it is to me, for today has Christ again been born to me. Again has his regenerating power been exercised in my behalf. I see the brink whereon I stood, the depth and awful darkness into which I was going. 0, God, be praised for your love, brother, your patience and long-suffering; and for you, dear sister, that have come again into my life with your smile and your sunshine from heaven. I am so weak. You must both help me. You must not desert me. 0, God, forgive my sins and help me to overcome them. Bless my brother, bless my sister, bless us all in the name of Jesus. Amen." And the other two said fervently, "Amen."