Editor’s Table: Was the Young Man Justified?; Answers to Questions; Book Mention

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admission of Utah into the Union. This memorial and a constitution for a state were adopted in March, 1862. At this time, also, senators were elected by the assembly in the persons of William H. Hooper and George Q. Cannon. They labored hard in Congress for the cause, but failed. While they did not succeed, they won the respect of Congress by accepting their defeat and remaining loyal to the Union, at a time when abroad it was generally believed the civil war would result favorably to the south. In April, Congress began consideration of the Justin S. Morrill bill, which finally became law on July 2, and which is generally

known as the anti-polygamy bill of 1862. It provided, among other things, for the annuling and disapproval of certain acts of the Utah legislature, and that no church corporation shall hold more than $50,000 worth of real estate. In 1862, the Indians, between Utah and the Missouri, became very hostile, and upon being told by President Young that "the militia were ready and able, as they had ever been, to take care of them," and "to protect the mail line if called upon to do so," the war department authorized Governor Fuller to call out ninety men for three months' service between Fort Bridger and Laramie. On the governor's requisition, therefore, a mounted escort, under Col. R. T. Burton, detailed by General Daniel H. Wells, went in the summer of that year to guard the mail stage and passengers, across the Indian-infested plains. The Morrisite troubles were in full force, at this time, and in June, of 1862, Acting-Governor Fuller called upon General Wells to furnish a sufficient military force to act as a posse comitatus "for the arrest of offenders, the vindication, of justice and the enforcement of the law." With the arrival of Governor Harding, the governing career of Frank Fuller terminated, although he appears to have held the position until the 3rd of August following. As secretary, during Harding's administration, he gave the same universal satisfaction that characterized his career as acting governor. As much could not be said of Governor Harding, as we shall see later. During his short career, he made himself exceedingly obnoxious to the "Mormon" portion of the community, so much so that in less than a year he was removed by President Lincoln, and left Salt Lake City on June 11,

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1863. "His official decapitation," writes Andrew Jenson, "was considered a concession to the 'Mormons;' and in order to please the anti-'Mormons,' (so it was believed,) the president at the same time removed Chief Justice John F. Kinney, and Secretary Frank Fuller who had both been friends to the 'Mormons.' Mr. Fuller remained in the Territory for several years afterwards, a highly respected citizen. After the constitutional convention, held in 1872, Mr. Fuller was chosen one of the delegates to proceed to Washington to co-operate with Hon. Wm. H. Hooper in presenting to Congress and advocating the constitution of the proposed State of Deseret. Besides, he was the chosen representative to Congress from the proposed State. He finally settled in New York City where, at this time, he is a successful man of business.

CONTENT.

Sweet are the thoughts that savor of content: The quiet mind is richer than a crown: Sweet are the nights in quiet slumber spent; The poor estate scorns Fortune's angry frown. Such sweet content, such minds, such sleep, such bliss, Beggars enjoy, when princes oft do miss. The homely house that harbors quiet rest. The cottage that affords no pride nor care, The mean, that 'grees with country music best. The sweet consort of mirth's and music's fare. Obscured life sets down a type of bliss; A mind content both crown and kingdom is.

Robert Greene.

EDITOR'S TABLE.

WAS THE YOUNG MAN JUSTIFIED?

The total result of a person's thoughts and acts in life, form his character. So, what we think and act, gradually ends in character. Good character is the result of proper thoughts and acts; and bad character, on the other hand, is the result of evil thoughts and actions. What we think and say, therefore, are important considerations. Every person is his own character-builder. He cannot build for another, neither can another build for him. We see from this how useless it is for a person to do as some one else does, or to follow the example of others, unless his own soul is convinced that such an example is worthy. Then such example becomes a healthy stimulant to him. But he must know for himself at last, otherwise, he will follow blindly and to no purpose in

the end. We are led to write these words by an incident that recently came under our observation. There had been some missionaries appointed to labor with the indifferent young men, in one of our wards. One of them had been appointed to labor with a young man who declared, after the first visit or two, that he would have nothing to do with The Church, or its doctrines. This is the reason he gave: he said: "Why, here is A. who is a High Priest. He smokes, and drinks, and swears as wickedly as any of us. The Church hasn't made him any better. I'll have nothing to do with it. It's all hypocrisy! Before you come to

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me to get me to join in the duties of The Church, or to make me change, as you call it, you'd better get that class of people out." What he said about the high priest might be true; but the high priest will have his life-works to answer for; he is building his own character. But was that young man's position correct? Was he justified in what he said? Of course, he was not. What matters to him what others do! Here are the questions he should have asked himself: "Is it true that God spoke to Joseph Smith and founded The Church? Are the principles underlying the Gospel true? Will certain good results to my character accrue from obedience to such principles?" The reply to each of these questions, if he had taken the trouble to prayerfully and earnestly investigate them, would have been "yes." And when a person feels, "yes" to them, in his heart, what does such a person care

what any high priest, or bishop, or seventy, does that is wrong or contrary to such testimony? Nothing; only to feel sad that a brother should set evil example, and at the same time risk ruining his own character; perhaps, also, to feel: "It must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.'* As for himself, however,he says in his soul "I know what is right, and :

I am going to do right!" Such a course would be a manly course. In all kindness, we ask this young friend to look at the subject in this light. Be a man, and don't ruin your own character because some man that ought to be exemplary and good, persists in a course that will ruin him in the end. Don't condemn the principles of true character, and of eternal life, because some who profess them fail in living up to them. What would you think of a man who would condemn all engineers, and canal-builders, and pronounce irrigation a failure? And why? Because he knew an engineer who had made a mistake in his calculations, a canal-builder who had failed in making the water run up hill, and a piece of land that had raised no crop because of drought? Would you not rather say to yourself: "I will

make a correct survey; I will build my canal so that there will be a fall to the water; I will demonstrate that irrigation is asuccess,be-

cause I know that my faith therein is founded upon true principles." Surely you would, if you were wise. Then apply the same philosophy t religion. Don't be unreasonable enough to discard the truth

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because some brother professing it has made a mistake in his cal- culations, and is trying to make water run up hill. If he still per-

sists in his course, it will ruin him; but you be a man, and do right nevertheless.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

Personality of the Godhead.

Show how to explain to the satisfactory understanding of others, ' the first to fifth verses, inclusive, of the 15th chapter of Mosiah, and still maintain that the Father and Son are two distinct personages.

The personality of the Godhead is an absolute doctrine of The Church regarding which there can be no doubt or controversy. The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are three separate and distinct personages; the first two with glorified tabernacles of flesh and bone, the third a personage of spirit. If this fact is

never lost sight of, there will be no difficulty in explaining any pas- sage of Scripture bearing on this subject. But there is a oneness in the Godhead as well as a distinct- ness of personality. This oneness is emphasized in the sayings and writings of prophets and apostles in order to guard against the erroneous idea that these three may be distinct and independ- ent deities and rivals for our worship. The stress laid upon this unity by the Bible has led to the error, so prevalent in the secta- rian denominations, that this is a unity of personality —that there is only one personage, manifesting himself in three different ways. This error must be carefully guarded against. The passages in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Cove- nants, which have been misunderstood and wrongly used by many of our elders, are the ones found in Mosiah 15: 1-5, and in Doctrine and Covenants, section 29. In explaining these passages, it is necessary to keep in mind two important facts: 1. That Jesus is one speaking