Editor’s Table: Their Religion Is at the Bottom of It; Habit Builds the Bridge; Questions and Answers

EDITOR'S TABLE.

THEIR RELIGION IS AT THE BOTTOM OF IT.

Much has been said in the papers lately about the recent con- version to "Mormonism" — or, more rightly, to the Gospel of Jesus Christ — of two ladies who stood high in some of the church socie- ties in New York. Especially have certain ministers been much exercised over the "Mormon" missionaries, who are declared to have encroached upon the spheres of influence of the churches. These have been the means, it is stated, of winning over to the 1 'Mormon" way of thinking several prominent church workers, which is considered by the ministers to be a very detestable thing to do; though why they should so consider it, they themselves being constantly working to win people over to their way of think- ing, is not quite clear. Further, why these particular converts should attract such wide-spread attention is not made plain, for it is not unusual for the many hundreds of "Mormon" elders, minis- tering constantly in all parts of the United States, to secure con- verts; and there are at least twice as many converts each year as there are missionaries in the field. Neither is it unaccountable, or in the least degree remarkable, that these intelligent church workers should embrace "Mormonism," so-called. It may seem surprising to the ministers, who stand wrapped in the cloak of sectarian prejudice, but to the student of truth, the reasonable answer lies in the gospel itself, the true doc- trine taught by Christ, and revealed anew to the Latter-day Saints.

780 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

The Chicago Record, speaking of the incident, says of the "Mormons":

Their social and sectarian dogmas aside, the "Mormons" are en- titled to respect for sincerity, consistency, enterprise, and thrift. They have contributed substantially to the material development of American civilization wherever they have settled. Charges of dishonesty, rapine, usury, idleness, or tergiversation can not be sustained against them. They have literally caused the desert to bloom like a rose garden. They have submitted peaceably to what they deemed persecution. While civilization has recoiled from disclosures of conjugal slavery made by former plural wives, the fact that the mass of "Mormondom" remains contented, frugal, and self perpetuating must be accepted as having undeniable logical weight in extenuating the practical value of their mode of religious and social government.

It is clearly apparent that evil social and religious train- ing cannot bring forth good material fruit; and it is a truth that what the representative Latter-day Saints are materially and socially, is the fruit of their religious doctrines which, to tell the truth, even with them, stand far above what they have at- tained in actual practice. There are hidden jewels in their spirit- ual life and teachings that have never sparkled in their redemption of the desert, or glittered in their contribution, great though it be, to the material development of American civilization. So, it is their religious doctrines that underlie the respect which the Lat- ter-day Saints are entitled to for "sincerity, consistency, enter- prize and thrift." There is more in the mystery of their spiritual life than any man not of them has yet discovered, or that ever has come to the sur- face in their temporal activities which, rightly speaking, are mere incidents in their more wonderful work. It is this spiritual truth, this surpassing peace and contentment arising therefrom, that has upheld them in every strange mutation; and it is this that appeals to the convert, because it gives sweet reply to the longings and the mysterious questions of his soul. Why is all perishable? Why is the next life hidden from our knowledge? Why was death brought into the world? Why the fall? Why has the recollection of a former life been taken from

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us? What relationship are we to God, and what part are we tak- ing in his plan of eternal progress?Why are we tempted, and why pursued by pain and sorrow in our journey of life; and why is our path steep and hard and ever strewn with thorns? Why laden with heavy burdens? What is the object of it all? What is this love of wife and husband and child and friend? What is our duty here? our destiny hereafter? All these, and a thousand other queries, are answered in the gospel of Christ as revealed anew to the prophets of God in our time; while, on the other hand, these longings and questions of the soul find no sufficient solution in the formal teachings of the dying and decaying protestant churches of our day. But to the Latter-day Saints, they are answered so plainly, and in such adequate manner, that men and women familiar with them become content, are lifted up in joy, and do the best temporal work in the world. They do not worry over the riddle of life, for its mystery is man- ifest. They walk by faith, knowing full well in whom they trust. They thank God, rejoice in their duty while they live, and, dying, joyously consign themselves into his care and keeping.

HABIT BUILDS THE BRIDGE.

Are your habits good or bad? is a question every young man should often ask himself. Make a careful study of your habits. Watch how you repeat day by day the same acts over and over again. In this repetition a person soon becomes a bound slave to habit. There is, too, a something in our natures that inclines us to desire to do again what has once been done. It is this some- thing that requires careful watching. Repetition may be encouraged if the first act is right; in this way, a good habit is formed. But if the first act is wrong, the best and strongest effort of a person's

life should be made to prevent its being repeated. The first act may seem insignificant, but once performed, it becomes so very

782 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

easy to do it again, and in this way soon grows to be a habit, good or bad. Here is an apt illustration. It is said that when the suspen-

sion bridge over Niagara was about to be built, the first connection was a tiny string borne over the great river by a kite. Once over, a little wire thread was attached to the string and hauled to the other side; then to the wire thread, a rope was tied and drawn over; by means of this rope, a larger one; then the first cable; then, at length, the mighty bridge was completed uniting our country to Canada. And so habits grow. How insignificant the first act seems! How easily the first kite string may be broken! But if by repetition the work goes on, how strong the habit, how mighty the bridge! The poet has connected this bridge-building incident with the growth of habit;

"First across the gulf we cast Kite-borne threads till lines are passed, And habit builds the bridge at last."

Youth, when character-building is begun, is the most import- ant time to guard against the evil kite-strings of habit, and to en- courage the tiny actions which, oft repeated, will build the strong bridge of character. But how can young men tell which is evil and a<hich is good? Their own judgments may not always safely be relied upon. It is not safe to follow one's own inclinations al- ways, for men are prone to evil as sparks fly upward. If a young man is in doubt about the result of any kite-string he is about to fly, let him ask father or mother; or let him seek the counsel of the Priesthood; or let him go humbly in prayer to Father in heaven, and he will not return in doubt, for it is written:

Every one that asketh receiveth; and he thatseeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Let us note just a few bridges of character in whose con- struction one may safely cast his first threads across the stream, so that his after building by repetition may become habit: prayer; reverence for God, his servants and sacred places and things; cheer- fulness, punctuality, promptness, truthfulness, thrift, industry. Any

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building which tends to the opposite of these, should be avoided, and the safest way to avoid it is not to fly the first string, not to perform the first act; but if this, through ignorance, folly, or error, has been done, avoid repeating, lest such act grow to an evil habit, and fasten itself upon your character, to your everlast-

ing detriment and sorrow.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. Right of Succession*

What officers in the Melchizedek Priesthood, if any, hold the right of succession?

There is no right of succession in or belonging to the Mel- chizedek Priesthood, nor any of the offices thereof, except that of patriarch, and even that depends upon worthiness. The pos- session of the Priesthood, as indicated by any office in it, implies power and authority, and no power or authority under any circum- stances can be entrusted to those who are unworthy. The inherit- ance of blessing also depends on obedience to God and his laws. In the case of the children of the Prophet Joseph, no doubt many blessings would have followed upon their heads, if they had con- tinued with The Church and proved faithful; but otherwise, there is no promise to them. This is plainly set forth in a revelation found in Section 82, of the Doctrine and Covenants, verse 10:

I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say ye have no promise.