Editor's Table: A Step in the Right Direction; Hobbies

WATCHMEN, WHAT OF YOUR CHARGE? 468 There are hosts of people who cannot tell whether Utah and Salt Lake are not synonymous. They know nothing of the eight- teen hundred miles from Canada to Mexico, and, on their arrival here, they stand on the railroad platform at times, looking for a welcoming hand or a momentary shelter. The elders they knew, reverenced, loved, are not there to meet or greet them; one lives in Arizona- -"where's that?" — another in Idaho, "where's that?" another close by, a few miles or blocks, perchance; but they are absorbed, employed, and did not know, anyway, that an anxious disciple, an enthusiastic convert had arrived, or was on the way. System is a wonderful thing, and these newcomers cost something! Did you ever consider how much that is? How they were shielded by loving attention and continuous watchcare in their native land, where everything was familiar, and that some have simply been here a couple of weeks, and you hear of them next in Pittsburg, California, or again in the factory-town of the mother country; they had no reception — no welcome — and so, heartsick, they found their way back home, to the discomfiture of the elders, the de- moralization of their old associations in the Church, and the sur- prise of real honest enquirers? This is not good; and, while some may think that this implies a lack of moral stamina, of individual- ity, of native force; and others may doubt whether such people ever had a testimony or not, it is assuredly true that a tithe of the attention given them at home would have saved them and theirs to the Church here, and the investment of sacrifice could have been compounded speedily with a little judicious and timely care. In child-life, some children are born puny; they do not ac- quire self-reliance at once, but no mother, father, or savior regards this, save to give extra attention, that the purpose of life's activ- ities may not be frustrated or overthrown. "Men are but children of a larger growth," said the sage, and he who would be "a savior upon Mount Zion" must be both mother and father to aver- age humanity, which is the key to redemption, as implied in the sanctified mission field!

EDITOR'S TABLE. 469 Creed Revision Committee, consisting of twenty-one ministers and elders. The need for such a committee is well stated by Dr. Henry Van Dyke, one of the most prominent clergymen of that church in the country, who frankly acknowledges the human rather than the divine origin of the doctrines of his church, by saying that, "It was natural * - * * that the metaphysics of the seventeenth century should creep into certain chapters and that certain points should represent a judgment of that age rather than a permanent truth." Two of the main points that the committee are to report upon, and, in fact, upon which it has recently rendered a declara- tory statement, are "infant damnation" and "predestination." Dr. Van Dyke, in explaining what makes the work of revision neces- sary, says: "By expressly mentioning 'elect infants,' the Westmin- ster Confession leaves open the supposition that there may be 'non-elect infants.' Presbyterians believe today that all who die in infancy are saved by Jesus Christ." Dr. Roberts, the secretary of the committee, has said that "The members (of the committee) denied that the American Pres- byterians ever taught the doctrine of infant damnation;" to which the Springfield Republican replies: "It will surprise some Presby- terians in this country to learn, on such good authority, that the Presbyterians in this country have never taught infant damnation, but it isn't necessary to quarrel with wise theologians who can execute such a masterly retreat." But this little hit aside, we gather that if the doctrine has never been taught, it is not now believed; and hence the creed should be revised to say so. It is a step in the right direction. The Lord declared on this subject as early as September, 1830, to the Prophet Joseph: "But, behold, I say unto you, that children *are redeemed from the foundation of the world through Mine Only Begotten; Wherefore, they cannot sin, for power is not given to Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become account- able before me." (Doctrine and Covenants, 29: 46, 47.) Again, in a revelation given in 1833: "Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning, and God having redeemed man from the fall, men became again in their mfant state innocent before God." (Doctrine and Covenants, 93: 38.)

470 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Now on the second subject, "Predestination," Dr. Van Dyke (The Outlook, January 11th,) says: "The Westminister Confession has a long metaphysical chapter on God's eternal decree, which at least seems to teach that some men are created to be saved and others created to be damned. The Presbyterian church today does not believe this, and to guard against misapprehension on the subject it wishes to say clearly and unmistakably that God has not put any barrier between any human soul and salvation." Dr. Roberts, the committee secretary, in the declaratory state- ment referred to, announces that the members of the committee believe that "The doctrine of predestination is held in harmony with God's love for all mankind, and that no man is condemned except on the ground of his sin." This agrees with the scriptures as pointed out by the Latter- day Saints in their second article of faith, as well as in the revela- tions of Joseph the Prophet: "We believe that men will be pun- ished for their own sins and not for Adam's transgression." (see also Matthew 12: 36, 37; 16: 27; Jeremiah 17:10? II Cor. 5: 10; Rev. 20: 12, 15.) Also in the third article of faith: "We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel." (see also Isiah 23; Acts 4: 12; Romans 5: 12-19; I John 1, 7-10.) The Latter-day Saints have preached the gospel of free agency, lo ! these many years, and in all earnestness declared man's free agency, and that the only barrier between salvation and the indi- vidual is the individual's own sins, which may be washed away by compliance with the principles and ordinances of the gospel, in- cluding repentance, baptism, by one holding authority, the recep- tion of the Holy Ghost, and good works. There is no man whom God is not willing to save; but while this is so, no man will be saved who is not willing. The Presbyterians are progressing on the right way, but they have much yet to learn. The main point is this: their creed is founded on the wisdom and authority of men, and however many truths they may adopt from the true Church of Christ, the holy priesthood, which has the sanction and permis- sion of God to act in his name, is not given to them, is not in their possession, and, hence, their work is vain. That authority and sanction of God, given directly of the Father and Son in person by

EDITORS TABLE. 471 revelation to the Prophet Joseph, and by him conferred upon his followers to this day, is found only in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our Presbyterian brethren should go one step further and acknowledge the authority of the Church of Christ in which all the ordinances are performed, and all the prin- ciples of the gospel taught, by the sanction of God through revela- tions to his authorized servants. They with all mankind are respectfully and earnestly invited and called upon to repent and join in the work of the Lord — the "marvelous work and a wonder" which God has established in these last days. It has the spiritual bread of life to offer to all the people of the earth; and in tempor- al matters, God has so prospered it that the one-time silence of the deserts and hills where its people dwell, has been gloriously awakened with the voice of thrift and industry. Joseph F. Smith. HOBBIES. Continuing the subject of last month, in which it was sought to establish the value of dwelling sometimes upon generalities, and not always upon detail, I wish now to call the attention of young men to the evil of having hobbies. That is another form of nar- rowness of mind. The man who has a hobby pushes it to the front on all occasions, appropriate or inappropriate, timely or un- timely, until at last he becomes so subject to it, that all other things are as nothing to him. It swallows him, covers him up, controls his mind completely, even to the absolute exclusion of all other thoughts. Hobbymen are found in every settlement, and in all positions in the Church. Their themes are often good, sometimes bad; fre- quently, neither; but in any event, the tendency is to narrow the soul and to shrivel up the man, as a flower is pestered by the desert wind. A few hobbies are mentioned: The healer in the Church : people get an idea that only such a man can effectively be called upon in case of sickness. He travels far and wide to administer to the sick; people go long dis-

472 IMPROVEMENT ERA. stances to get him; many doctrines are set aside or ignored by him, — only healing is of any consequence. He neglects the word of wisdom and forgets his tithing. At last he feels called upon to travel from town to town, as if he alone possessed the power of healing, he and the Saints forgetting the command- ment: "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the Church; and let them [not any special one or two] pray over him, an- ointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord [not any special man] shall raise him up." The man who keeps the word of wisdom: all other virtues are as dimmed stars; his star only, shines. He would not touch tea or coffee or meat or anything forbidden, a very commendable resolution, but he has no scruple in touching to his own benefit almost any other substance that he may lay hands on. He for- gets his promises, his debts, his tithing, his prayers; has never called his family together to be taught the comfort in the truth that our Redeemer lives! The tithe-payer: he dwells upon a vital theme. But the hobbyist allows even this to cover many sins. One cannot buy himself into the Kingdom of God. The moral life is not reached by travel on the path of gold. The latter is too hard. It should be softened by sympathy and fellow-feeling, and blessed by sacrifice. Such a hobby should be shattered by contemplating the condition of the poor and the struggling men among us, whose lives are a daily grind upon the steely wheel of necessity. It is a duty to pay tithing; so also is it that we love our brethren. Then there is the doctrinal hobbyist, the man with one doc- trine, one thought, upon which he bases his whole salvation. He pushes it upon audiences, upon bishops, presidents of stakes, the general authorities. It must be accepted. His construction of sentences, expressions, paragraphs in the scriptures, must be ac- cepted, or the whole Church fabric is pronounced wrong. So crazy do such hobbyists become that they will permit themselves to be led down to destruction, to be severed from the Church, rather than refuse to parade their hobby before the people. Here is one of the many that has been ridden lately, the alleged Book of Mormon expression, "Jesus is the very God." Actually there is a whole