---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Samuel W. Richards
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 4
number: 12
published: 1901-10
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Samuel W. Richards, "Science and Religion," *Improvement Era* 4, no. 12 (October 1901): 912.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0412unse
  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: improvementera0412unse
start_page: 912
end_page: 912
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1901-10)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0412unse
  publication_year: 1901
  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 1901, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Science and Religion

<!-- page:912 -->

—

912 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

and his neighbor's opinion as he regards himself and his own, —a day
when the voice of the people shall be in unison with the voice of God.

SCIENCE AND RELIGION.

All computations of mathematical science that have relation
to material things, either of weight or distance, can be accurately
determined with only ten comparatively insignificant little figures,
when each one is placed in its proper relation to others; but the
least variation from this rule of one single figure, would make the
product or answer a lie, which, if not detected before action wa s
taken, might result in most serious consequences or perhaps in an
entire failure of the noblest enterprise.
So with the science of divine truth. When each item of
truth is presented in its proper relation to other truths, correct

impressions are conveyed to the human mind, but when presented
out of that relation, they become lies and may lead to the most
serious consequences — no less than the destruction of a living soul

of necessity in every case, to infidelity, and doubt. A truth only
half told may be equally misleading and ruinous to the soul of man.
For instance, it is written, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and you shall be saved." This, though a scriptural statement, as
it is used by the Christian world today, is leading the souls of
men estray. The revivalist is crying upon the streets, "Come and
confess Jesus and you are saved. You can do it in ten minutes;
yes, in five minutes, or in one minute, and you are saved;" utterly
disregarding the idea that any more is to be done.
Another scripture says that belief, or faith, without works is
dead, being alone. And again, "Every man shall be rewarded
according to his works." It is he that doeth the will of the Father

that shall be saved, and every man according to his works. It is not
only the doing of today that justifies, but that doing must continue
unto the end of this life to be saved in the eternal life to come.
The lesson to be learned is, let every truth be taught in view
of its proper relation to other truths. There can be no conflict in
all truth, no more than with and in the source from whence it

comes. Samuel W. Richards.