--- 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: 4 number: 2 published: 1900-12 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," *Improvement Era* 4, no. 2 (December 1900): 146–149.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0402unse 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: improvementera0402unse start_page: 146 end_page: 149 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1900-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0402unse 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. --- # Editor’s Table 144 IMPROVEMENT ERA a manner as to show the people that the Lord had made no mistake in his selection. Next came Wilford Woodruff. We all know how well he filled the place. A more childlike man, I do not believe, ever lived! Free from show, free from ostentation, free from the defects which beset many men. I never knew a man so childlike, unassuming and free from jealousy and vanity. He was the embodiment of childlike simplicity of faith, and, at the same time, a man of undaunted courage. It required a man of such peculiar gifts to do what he did. As natural men, neither Brigham Young nor John Taylor could have issued the manifesto. They would have required to have been changed by the influence of the Spirit of God. Wilford Woodruff, because of his peculiar organization, could do it, and did it. I think it one of the bravest acts a man could perform. I cannot believe that Brigham Young or John Taylor could have done it as he did, and it has always seemed to me that the Lord chose him specially to do this work, and he did it in a manner to please God and the people. Now I look at Lorenzo Snow. His life has been prolonged, and the Lord has raised him up to fill his sphere under the peculiar circumstances in which The Church is situated; and there can be no doubt that he will perform the work in a manner to please the Lord, he having those peculiar gifts and graces which will enable him to glorify God. I pray that God will bless the family of President Woodruff and that they may be inspired with the same spirit as their father, and continue to the end in the service of the Lord. President Joseph F. Smith then offered the dedicatory prayer, as follows: Holy Father! Thou who knowest all things, and who seest the hearts of all men, we look unto thee, and come before thee desiring to approach thee in a manner acceptable, and pleasing, in honor of our beloved president whose remains lie here. We ask thee, Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, thy Son, that thou wilt accept this monument, and that thou will bless and sanctify it and make it holy in the eyes of all the people. Preserve it, that it may stand here as a memorial of the life of Wilford Woodruff until the trump shall sound and the dead in Christ shall rise. May it be preserved from desecration and from decay, and from every disturbing influence and power. May it remain in peace in this place, and may these remains lie in peace until they shall be called to rise and enter into glory. We thank thee for the example of thy servant. We pray that we may prove our worthiness of thy confidence as thy servant proved his- THE WOODRUFF MONUMENT. 145 We thank thee for his sons, and daughters, and wives, remaining among us. We thank thee that one of his sons is called to be an apostle, and though he is absent today, we would remember him, and we thank thee for his faith and energy and earnestness in the discharge of his duties. May other sons be raised up out of the loins of thy servant who shall be known for their mighty faith. Father, we dedicate this monument unto thee; we commend it into -thy hands, for we offer it unto thee as the work of our hands, prompted by a desire to establish a mark of our love for one who has been true and faithful unto thee. Accept of us and save us in thy kingdom, and fit us for every duty in life that we may be worthy to enter into our kingdom and thy glory. We dedicate all unto thee, and commit all into thy hands, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The quartet sang: "Savior, Comfort me." General Secretary Thomas Hull, in behalf of the family and the General Board, thanked those present for their attendance, and the benediction was pronounced by Bishop John R. Winder. The family of President Woodruff desire to express, through the pages of the Era, their deep appreciation of the love and respect shown, by the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations of The Church, to their beloved husband and father; and of the labors of the General Board and its committee for their loving interest taken in the work of erecting the monument. EDITOR'S TABLE. THE SECOND SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION. The second convention of the Sunday Schools of The Church was held in Salt Lake City on the 12th and 13th of November, with a preliminary meeting of the officers on Sunday morning, the 11th, at the Theater, and special Sunday School talks at the regular Tabernacle services in the afternoon. There was a large representation of Sunday School workers at each of the meeetings held, and altogether two thousand and twenty-five delegates attended, all the stakes of Zion except one being represented, with delegates from Oregon and the Southern and Southwestern States' missions. The subjects under discussion were treated in a brief but pointed manner. The instructions given were of a practical, helpful character, specially adapted for aiding officers and teachers to perform their important mission among the children. The singing, under Directors Evan Stephens and H. S. Ensign, was particularly delightful. The meetings were presided over by President George Q. Cannon, and during the session important sermons were uttered by Presidents Lorenzo Snow and Joseph F. Smith. The latter dwelt effectively upon an important topic to young men and women, "Marriage and Home Building." He deprecated the inclination manifest among the young people in the larger cities to avoid wedlock owing to supposed financial incompetence; and advised that young people marry in the way the Lord has provided, and set to work together to build the foundations of homes which they would then more happily enjoy together than in case EDITOR'S TABLE. 147 they waited until their financial conditions were as good as those of their fathers. There is often more happiness in the homes of the humble and the poor, than in the palaces of the rich, for, while riches well-directed is a desirable condition, it is not necessarily a panacea, insuring contentment or blessedness. The evils of divorce were strongly set forth, and emphasis was placed upon the expression of Jesus to the Pharisees: "What therefore, God hath joined together, let no man put asunder." He proclaimed against divorces and in favor of that order of marriage instituted by God. Love and reverence between the man and woman in marriage are the first elements in successful home building; chastity is a vital principle, and should be inculcated from the cradle to the grave. A home is not a home in the eye of the Gospel, unless there dwell perfect confidence and love between the husband and the wife. Home is a place of order, love, union, rest, confidence and absolute trust; where the breath of suspicion of infidelity, can not enter; where the woman and the man each have implicit confidence in each other's honor and virtue. President Cannon called attention to the necessity of the Sunday School teachers bringing this subject home to their schools, that the blessings of marriage and home building, in the right way, might be taught to the children of Zion. This practice of avoiding marriage is a great evil among the people. He called attention to the large number of young men in our midst over the age of twenty-five years who are unmarried. This is wrong, and is an evil that should be remedied. Important instructions were given by President Lorenzo Snow on the subject of tithing. He strongly urged that this principle be taught, for it is this law observed that makes this a land of Zion unto us. He expressed his belief that the time is near when the Saints will return to Jackson County to build a temple. This can be accomplished only through the observance of the law of tithing. The convention was a great success, and will serve to increase the interest for months to come in the great Sabbath School cause. The Sunday School Union, with their host of self-sacrificing workers, may congratulate themselves upon the good results which are sure to accrue from their labors of love. Every Latter-day Saint will