--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - President Joseph F. Smith collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 5 number: 5 published: 1902-03 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "President Joseph F. Smith, \"Editor's Table—The Better Way,\" *Improvement Era* 5, no. 5 (March 1902): 388–389." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0505unse 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: improvementera0505unse start_page: 388 end_page: 389 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1902-03) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0505unse publication_year: 1902 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 1902, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Editor's Table—The Better Way EDITOR'S TABLE. THE BETTER WAY. It is conceded that small matters make up the sum of life; that attention to trifles is the safeguard to business; and that if the little virtues are regarded, the character is safe. These say- ings are doubtless true; but there is, on the other hand, danger that men may go to extremes in caution and care over little things; and forget, or neglect, the weightier matters of the law, the great objects about us, the leading policies in business, and the more enduring virtues of existence. It has been said that the average man who visits the valley of the Snake River returns with a more vivid recollection of the mosquitoes that have disturbed his rest, than of the sublimity of the sweeping river, the majesty of the Tetons, or the vastness of the distances and solitudes. It is human nature for men thus to observe and remember some disagreeable little personal disadvan- tage rather than the grandeur of the more wonderful scenes about him. So also it appears to be human nature to think of petty ills in all things, rather than of their greater and truly uplifting qualities. This disposition in people is a deplorable characteristic, and young men who desire to advance to that per- fection of character which insures the greatest happiness, should study to avoid this error. It is better to judge, in a general way, people and great institutions by their achievements, in the main, and not by their small mistakes or errors committed. One fruitful source of apostasy from the Church comes from an inclination on the part of those who apostatize to consider the small, mostly unintentionally committed errors of its oflicers, EDITORS TABLE. 389 rather than the broader and more important labors which enter into their experience. Young men so inclined turn from the infinite truths of the gospel, the mighty plan of salvation, the eternal purposes of God, to carp and cavil upon the insignificant actions and the imperfect achievements of men, judging the in- spiring magnitude of the former by the disagreeable and tiresome detail of the latter. Many of the serious annoyances of communal life among the Saints would be obliterated entirely if men would search for the great and noble aspirations actuating their neigh- bors, rather than for the imperfect sidelights that lay bare their puny shortcomings. Those who wish to advance in the world will avoid soul-destroying, mind-narrowing thoughts, and devote the days alotted to them, which, it will be found are none too numerous, in studying the greater, nobler, grander subjects that tend to build character, provide happiness, and create harmony with the mighty purposes of the Church and its founder, the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us estimate our brethren by their best desires and noblest aspirations, not by their trifling shortcomings and failures. We estimate the majesty of the Wasatch by Monte Christo, Baldy, Observatory, the mighty Cottonwoods, Clayton, Timpanogos, and Nebo, — its loftiest peaks,— not by its rolling elevations or hillocky spurs, rocky ravines or trifling canyons. So also let us judge our fellows, and so the Church. It is the better way. Instead of always dwelling upon petty thoughts, young men would better gaze often toward the mighty heights to which the Church points its members, and ponder upon its unfailing efforts to elevate mankind, enrich humanity, solve vexatious social problems, and lead the way to life eternal. These are its riches to which all should aspire; not that detail is unnecessary or to be neglected, but that we should not so let it blind us that the beauty, grandeur and glory of the perfect whole is thereby obscured to our vision. There are men who so persistently delve for the dollar that power or wisdom for its use and enjoyment dies out in their souls. So also is it possible that continually seeking trifles, we may check the natural development of faculties that assist us to comprehend the sublimity of the universe, as well as the sweet truths hidden in the scriptural sayings: The soul thirsts for God; blessed are