Our Work: Important Instructions to Mutual Improvement Workers; Answers to Questions

OUR WORK.

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS TO MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT WORKERS. Among the meetings of the April general annual conference of The Church, there was one of special interest to the workers in the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, which was held on Sunday afternoon, immediately after the close of the conference. The General Board had decided to call together all those who were at the conference^ for a few moments, to impress upon them some of the items of work that should receive attention during the summer months. It has been the case heretofore that only little attention has been paid to the affairs of mutual improvement during the time that the associations are not in active operation. The gathering of workers at this time was to impress upon them some of the points that should engage their attention during the so-called vacation. There were several hundred present, a fine— representation of active laborers in the cause, — and a full quorum present of the General Board. President Joseph F. Smith presided. There were several speakers, each of whom touched upon special topics assigned him to speak upon. The points are of living interest to all officers, and we repeat them with the injunction that every officer make a special study thereof, and put them into immediate practice. Apostle F. M. Lyman was the first speaker. He stated that the presidents of stakes and bishops, at the Priesthood meeting on Saturday evening, had been instructed by President Snow to allow the Improvement Associations one Sunday evening in each month for conjoint meetings. These meetings were to be appointed by the Stake Superintendents after consultation with the presidents of stakes; and the ward presidents, after consulting with the bishops, were to carry out the instructions, and arrange for the holding of these meetings in connection with the authorities of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations.

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These meetings are held in the Salt Lake Stake on the evening of fast days. The purpose was to impress upon everybody that the Mutual Improvement Associations are permanent organizations, and do not end with each season. Once organized, they are organized for good; once a president of an association, you are a president until you are released by proper authority. It is the duty of the president to see that all the instructions of the General Board are carried out, both summer and winter; to see that his local missionary corps, organized by the general missionaries last season, are kept in working order. He is responsible for their conduct and labors, and must see that they perform their duties properly and faithfully. He must have all arrangements in such shape that there shall be uo delay in opening the season on time, on the day appointed. He should have the Manuals on hand, his missionaries at work, his notices given out, his lessons assigned, and every detail attended, so that when the day of opening comes, in the first week in October, his association can begin its labors without waiting for instructions from any source. It is his duty to act. He is president summer and winter, and should keep in touch with the instructions of the General Board, and carry them out, always consulting with and informing the bishop, and gaining his co-operation in the work. Presidents should

not be removed for every trifling thing, and those who are called to this teachers to important office should be fit for the work— among the best the spirit of be found— exemplary men, who pay tithing, full of faith and work of mutual improvement, willing and able to act permanently in the the position, or until released for good and sufficient reasons. Summing his instructions, we find: the The associations should hold monthly conjoint meetings with young ladies during the whole year. The presiding officers of mutual improvement associations should permabe made permanent laborers in the cause, and the associations are nent organizations. in readiness to begin It is the duty of presidents to have everything on the set meeting date in October, waiting for nothing. They operations of their stake superintendents, should keep in touch with the instructions and with the General Board. Missionaries appointed last season should be organized and set to

work; their appointments are permanent. two topics. Presidents are Apostle Heber J. Grant spoke on from each member for the requested to collect twenty-five cents their Improvement Fund. Some presidents had an idea that it destroyed their associations. That is a wrong influence to mention this matter to

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idea. -7 It would neither injure them nor the members, but on the contrary would strengthen their influence, and make the members more interested than ever. Presidents and stake superintendents who act so gingerly about this matter, are not themselves converted to the necessity of this fund, and a non-compliance with this request is more from a lack of faith with the officers than from negligence with the members. Let us have an improvement in the income of this fund. The Board desire every officer and member to contribute this triffe for the advancement of the cause. The same argument applies to the Era. The General Board requests that every officer of the associations shall be a subscriber for our magazine. It is indispensable to the workers in

mutual improvement. It is not a private enterprise. Every cent made upon it is devoted to the cause of mutual improvement. Eighteen hundred copies are sent free to the missionaries. It belongs to no person. It is owned and controlled by the associations. It is a matter of patriotism for the cause for every enrolled member to subscribe, and the Board expects it of him. Keep in mind the two points: Every officer and member is expected and requested to contribute twenty-five cents annually to the General Improvement Fund. The Era is the organ of mutual improvement; not a private but a public enterprise, and it is the duty of every officer to subscribe for it, and to urge his members to do the same, and to read it. Elder B. H. Roberts called attention to the annual conference which had been set for June 10, this year, that being the quarter-centenary of the organization of the first association. He urged all the officers to arrange to attend, and invited all that are interested in the cause to be present to place themselves in harmony with the work that will be required for the coming season. Doubtless appropriate exercises will be given also to commemorate the organization of the first association twenty-five years ago. It will be a season when fresh impetus will be added to the great cause of mutual improvement. The compilation of the Manual for 1900-01 is progressing. It will be in the line of a continuation of the Manual of this year, and will complete the story of The Dispensation of the Fullness of Times to date. Copious notes and references will be given so as to make it a complete text book for the members. He called attention to the value of these manuals as a whole, and urged that the officers encourage the members to begin to gather private libraries of Church works. It should be the pride of every young man to have a library of this class to which he can point and say: "I have read those books as I gathered them." In this way, the books would not be an ornament merely upon the shelves of the book-case, but

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their store of doctrine and information would be of practical and inestimable value to the owner. The reference works named in the Manuals should thus be gathered and read. This work may continue the year round. Reading, as a review of the season's work, may thus go on in the precious spare moments of the summer, to the lasting benefit of the ambitious young man who shall thus employ his time. The three items to keep in mind are: The General Annual Conference of the Mutual Improvement Associations will convene in SaltLake City, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, June 10, 11 and 12, 1900, which all the officers and members are urged to attend. The Manual for 1900-01 is being prepared, and will be ready in ample time to be distributed before the opening of the season in October next. The Manuals, and the books of reference given for their study, should be the basis of a private library for every member, who should take a pride in reading these books as they are gathered, employing his spare time in summer for that purpose. President Joseph F. Smith called attention to the request recently sent out by the General Board to all the associations to contribute one dollar and not more than five dollars to assist in the erection of a suitable monument to our late beloved president and superintendent, Wil-

ford Woodruff. He left only a small estate, and his executors had set

aside a small amount of it for a monument, but it is not enough to build

one worthy of the man. The young men had Itherefore been given the privilege of assisting in the work.A circular had been sent to every association some weeks ago. Ninety-six associations had responded with $230.73 and there were yet four hundred and thirty-four to hear from. Those who desired to respond were urged to send in the amounts without delay. President Smith spoke of the Era, and asked the officers to aid in giving it a wide circulation. Some say they would subscribe, if they had the means. Perhaps they would. He thought that if they were desirous, two dollars could easily be saved by the sacrifice of some or by quitting tea luxury like the attendance at dances and theatres, the latter could not be done by and coffee and tobacco. Of course the word of wisdom strictly, but he was sorry to officers, for they keep are many members who could pay for the Era by just a say that there small sacrifice in this direction—young men who smoke and drink away who might obtain many subscriptions each year much to theirldetriment, subscription out of these ex- good results to themselves by saving a

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penses. They would be better for it. He called attention to the recent decision of the Board relating to the title of officers: The general officers are entitled superintendent and assistants; the stake officers, superintendents and assistants; the ward officers, presidents and counselors, which titles should be applied in all cases where the officers are mentioned, to avoid confusion. He also referred to the matter of presidency in conjoint meetings. proper and right that the Priesthood shall It is

preside. The meetings should therefore be called to order and opened by the person in authority holding the Priesthood. The services may then, through courtesy, be given to any person, man or woman, whom such authority may designate, for further conduct, either in part or entirely, until the program is concluded, when the person who has taken charge of the exercises or named the speakers should return the meeting into the hands of the presiding authority for him to conduct the closing exercises. It should be remembered that the Priesthood always presides even where others may, by request, conduct the meetings. So also does the bishop preside over all the deliberations of these associations, for they are not a part of the Priesthood organization, but are auxiliary organizations under the direct care of the bishop who, however, respects every person in his place. Epitomizing the remarks of President Smith, we find that The associations have been permitted to help in the erection of a suitable monument to President Woodruff, and are asked to contribute from each association not less than one nor more than five dollars for this undertaking. Members and may sacrifice some luxuries, permitted and officers

forbidden, to raise means to subscribe for the Era, and are promised that such sacrifice will be of benefit to them. The titles of officers are: General superintendent and assistants; stake superintendents and assistants; ward presidents and counselors. The Priesthood always presides in all deliberations of the associations, but a person presiding by its authority should and does show courtesy to others by calling upon them to assist, be they either men or women. The associations are in no respect organizations of the Priesthood, but are auxiliary helps thereto, and are presided over by the bishops, or, rather, are under their control and supervision ; and they show the proper respect to every officer in his place. All of these important instructions were given in the space of a half hour. Seldom has a meeting been held where so much was said in

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so short a time, and in so pointed and direct a way. The meeting closed, prayer being offered by Elder Edward H. Anderson.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. THE PROPHECY OF ZECHARIAH CONCERNING JOSEPH SMITH.

Does Zechariah 2 : 1-5 refer to the Prophet Joseph Smith? Osborne Widtsoe and M. W. Davis. In reply to this question, the reader is referred to "Reminiscences of Joseph the Prophet," by Edward Stevenson, published by the author and for sale by Cannon & Sons, pages 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23, in which a very plausible explanation is made concerning the reference that this passage of Scripture has to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Elder Stevenson says: "In 1834, I first listened to this Prophet of God, who related this vision [of the plates] he had been favored with. The honesty and power of his expression carried conviction with it." He then proceeds to prove that the delivery of the golden plates to Joseph Smith was to take place in the latter days, and quotes Zechariah, second chapter, which says:

And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him. And said unto him, run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein.

"In order to discover further the mind of God's inspired prophet, we will turn to his eighth chapter, which reads as follows:

^®^ 1 ******* Again the word of the Lord of hosts came to me saying, Thus saith the Lord of Hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great

°Thus saith the Lord, I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the called a city of truth. midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be old men and old women Thus saith the Lord of hosts, there shall yet streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his statt in his dwell in the

boys and girls playing ^^""^And th7st?eets of the city shall be full of in the streets thereof. ,--,,_4.-„ ,

east country * * * Behold I will save my people from the and from the west country;

554 IMPROVEMENT ERA. And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

"Soon after the message of the angel to the young man Joseph, he, in obedience to God's command, organized The Church. In due time there were twelve apostles, and he appointed two of those apostles on a mission to Jerusalem. Upon Mount Olivet, one of the apostles, —Orson Hyde, — offered a dedicatory prayer unto God, the Eternal Father. "In that prayer he supplicated God to remember his promises made to Father Abraham concerning this dry and barren land, and Abraham's seed which should inhabit this thirsty country, and who had wandered as strangers in a strange land. The land had become barren because of the sins of those who, in their ignorance, crucified God's Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. He further pleaded:

And as Jesus, thy- Son, in his sorrowful and trying hours, cried, ^'Lord, forgive them, they know not what they do!" so do thou, God, have mercy on them and let the promises of the prophets come up in remembrance before thee. Be pleased, Father, to send the rains on these parched lands; and may the dews fall upon the hills and valleys, that the land may again teem with plenty, and the cities be built up unto the Lord our God.

"This is the substance of the supplication of the Apostle who dedicated the land of Palestine. Since then the way is being prepared with a railroad from the Mediterranean Sea to Jerusalem; and lo! the time has come for God's mercy, as foretold by Isaiah, fortieth chapter:

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she has received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

"Joel, another of God's ancient prophets, prophesying of future events, in his second chapter, says:

Fear not, land; be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain; the former rain and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. * * * j^^jj yg shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you, and my people shall never be ashamed.

"Realizing that the words of the prophets Isaiah and Joel will have a literal fulfillment, we can readily conceive of the way being thus pre-

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pared for the support of the hosts that are soon to fill the streets of Jerusalem; for without the early and the latter rains, this land, for so many generations barren, could not be redeemed. Indeed, the words of thosewho crucified the Savior, or who consented to his death, are brought forcibly to the minds of Christians: 'His blood be upon us and our children.' Matt. 21: 25. "Because of their wicked desires, desolation has rested upon this land which once flowed with milk and honey. But, thank God! a pardoning time is being ushered in. The angel spoken of by Zechariah has come with the glad tidings. "John, the Revelator, also, was permitted to behold an angel who had a message to deliver. Who can truthfully say the angel he saw is not the very one Zechariah said should speak to the young man!

And I saw an angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel (the Book of Mormon says it contains the everlasting Gospel) to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people; saying with a loud voice, fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship him that made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water. Revelation 14: 6, 7.

"In Zechariah, second chapter, eighth verse it says:

Sing and rejoice, daughters of Zion: for lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. And many nations shall be joined to the Lord that day.

"What day? The day in which the angel was to speak to the young (not old) man. In Zion there are now over twenty nationalities who are joined in the Lord. "Zechariah, in the same chapter says:

And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land and shall choose Jerusalem again. Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord;

for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.

"These things are soon to take place, when the Jews will be gath- 'Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion: shout, daughter of Jeru- ered. unto thee.'— Zee. 9. salem; behold thy king cometh 9:

this second time, when: 'They shall look upon me "He will come whom they have pierced.'— Zee. 12: 10. 'And one shall say unto "Again this prophet says in chapter 15: 6: those him, what are these wounds in thy hands?' Then he shall answer,

v^^ith which I was wounded in the house of my fnends of David " 'In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house Zee. 12: 1. and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.'—

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"The same book, fourteenth chapter, says: 'His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives.' "It appears sufficiently plain that God has set his hand again the second time to gather not only the Jews, but the House of Israel. In Isaiah, eleventh chapter, it is clearly stated that there is to be an ensign to the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek. And the next verse says that in that day the Lord will set his hand again the second time ta gather his people: 'And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah. from the four corners of the earth.' Isaiah 11, 12. "We learn more perfectly in the tenth verse that the Gentiles as well as the Jews are remembered. "Isaiah, second chapter, says: 'And it shall come to pass in the last days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains.' "Following on we find that two places are distinctly spoken of: Zion, from whence the law of God is to go forth; and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And as Jesus came to his own (the Jews) first, and to the Gentiles last, so now the first shall be last and the last shall be first. And in our day Joseph Smith has been directed by the Lord to gather the people to Zion, as so vividly portrayed by the prophet who saw the angel who should run and speak to the young man."

THE OFFICIAL NAME OF THE CHURCH.

Please answer question eight, in lesson nine of the Manual; "Give the origin of the official name of the Church," and explain whether this question has reference to the organization on April 6, 1830, or to the naming on May 3, 1834. A. M. Neeley, Jr., Riverdale, Idaho. Prior to 1834, The Church was called The Church of Jesus Christ, but at the conference on the date last named the words, "of Latter-day Saints" were added, on motion of Sidney Rigdon, in order to distinguish it from the former day Church, Later, as we find in Section 115 of the Doctrine and Covenants, paragraph 3, a revelation was received confirming the name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Undoubtedly some question had arisen as to what the real name of The Church was according to the commands of God, and to answer that discussion, the Prophet probably inquired of the Lord and received the reply given in the section referred to. Hence, we would think the question has reference to both the original organization, and to the naming

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on the date mentioned in 1834, and the answer to the question is

j)roperly given by referring to both.

SETTING AN ELDER APART AS A TEACHER.

If an elder is called as an acting teacher in a ward, should he be set apart to that office by the laying on of hands? W. H. Mendenhall, Gentile Valley, Idaho. Yes; but he could act without being so set apart. It is customary, however, and perfectly proper, for the bishop to bless him and set him apart for his work.

THE SWORD OF LABAN.

Was the sword of Laban in the box with the plates which were given to Joseph Smith, the Prophet? George M. White, Miller, Salt Lake County. There is no definite statement in the Doctrine and Covenants or the history of Joseph Smith to that effect; on the contrary, it is not believed that such was the case. Section 17, paragraph 1, Doctrine and Covenants, reads as follows: "You shall have a view of the sword of Laban, the Urim and plates, and also of the breastplate, the Thummim, which were given to the brother of Jared upon the mount, when he talked with the Lord face to face." See Historical Record, pages 369-70; also page 21 of "Reminiscences of Joseph the Prophet, and the Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon," by Elder Edward Stevenson. The Prophet Joseph writes concerning the box and records: "Having removed the earth and obtained a lever which I got fixed under the edge of the stone, and with a little exertion raised it up, I looked in,

and there indeed did I behold the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate, as stated by the messenger. The box in which they lay, was formed by laying stones together in some kind of cement. In the bottom of the box were laid two stones crossways of the box, and on these stones lay the plates, and the other things with them." Millennial Star Supplement, Vol. 14, p. 6.