--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 6 number: 9 published: 1903-07 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, \"Editor's Table,\" *Improvement Era* 6, no. 9 (July 1903): 702–712." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0609unse 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: improvementera0609unse start_page: 702 end_page: 712 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1903-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0609unse publication_year: 1903 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 1903, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Editor's Table EDITOR'S TABLE. ON CHURCH GOVERNMENT. One of the principles that ought to claim the careful atten- tion of our young people is that of Church government, — rules of government by which order is maintained, and good will and love one towards another preserved. Some remarks were made on this subject at the conjoint officers' meeting of the M. I. A., and I desire to say a few words on this matter to the public in general. There is no of opinion on any of necessity for difference the elements in Church government. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most peaceful and united organ- izations in all the world. Dr. Ely has recently asserted that it is the most perfect organization in the world, except, perhaps, the German army. I want to say that we have a better organi- zation than the German army. There is this difference, at least: one is held, governed, controlled, and managed by force of arms, and by means of rigid rules established by law and customs such as have been long founded in the armies of the nations of the world. The government of this people is not based on that foundation at v but on the high principle of love, if we are harmonious, if we all, have a perfect organization, and observe and move harmoniously and have no clashing nor jealousy, no bickering. We are not governed by law and rule, and fixed customs and usages that obtain bacause they are antiquated, or are enforced by inexorable will, but we are governed by law because we love one another, and are act- uated by long-suffering and charity, and good will; and our whole organization is based upon the idea of self-control, the principle of give and take, and of rather being willing to suffer wrong than to EDITORS TABLE. 705 do wrong. Our message is peace on earth and good will towards men,' love, and charity, and forgiveness, which should actuate all associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ours is a church where law is dominant, but the law is the law of love. There are rales which should be observed, and will be observed if we have the spirit of the work in our hearts; and if we have not the spirit with us, we have only the form of godli- ness which is without strength. It is the Spirit which leads us to the performance of our duties. There are many who know this Gospel to be true, but have not the least particle of the Spirit, and therefore are found arrayed against it, and take no part with the people, simply because they have not the Spirit. Now, in relation to the government of our Church; a word or two in order that we may understand it. In the first place, I lay down the principle, which I think is an infallible one— one that we must be governed by,— that is, that the priesthood after the order of the Son of God is the ruling, presiding, authority in the Church. It is divided into its various parts— the Melchizedek and the Aaronic— and all the quorums or councils are organized in the Church, each with special duties and special callings; not clashing with each other, but all harmonious and united. In other words, • there is no government in the Church of Jesus Christ separate and apart, above, or outside of, the holy priesthood or its authority. We have our Relief Societies, Mutual Improvement associations, Primary associations, and Sunday schools, and we may organize, if we choose, associations for self-protection, and self-help among ourselves, not subject to our enemies, but for our good and the good of our people, but these organizations are not quorums or councils of the priesthood, but are auxiliary to, and under it; organized by virtue of the holy priesthood. They are not outside of, nor above it, nor beyond its reach. They acknowledge the principle of the priesthood. Wherever they are they always exist with the view of accomplishing some good; some soul's salvation temporal or spiritual. When we have a Relief Society, it is thus organized. It has its president and other officers, for the complete and perfect accomplishment of the purposes of its organization. When it meets, it proceeds as an independent organization, always mindful of the 706 IMPROVEMENT ERA fact that it is such, by virtue of the authority of the holy priest- hood which God has instituted. If the president of the stake comes into a meeting of the Relief Society, the sisters, through their president, would at once pay deference to him; would con- sult and advise with him, and receive directions from the presid- ing head. That head is the bishop, in the ward, the president, in the stake, the presidency of the Church, in all the Church. The Young Ladies' and Young Men's associations, the Primary associa- tions, and the Sunday schools are the same. All are under the same head, and the same rules apply to each. Now, another phase arises; it is when the Young Men's and Young Ladies' associations meet together. When they meet sep- arately, they each have presiding officers and they take charge and conduct the business. If the bishop comes in to either the Young Men's or Young Ladies' association, due deference is paid him. But in joint association of the Young Men's and Young Ladies' officers, there are the two organizations, the two beards are represented. Who shall take the initiative? Who shall exer- cise the presiding function? Is the sister to take the initiative and exercise the presiding function? Why, no: — not so, because that is not in accordance with the order of the priesthood. If the Young Men's officers are there, they hold the priesthood, and it is their place to take the initiative. President John Taylor was particular that High Priests should preside over these organiza- tions in the stakes, and did not allow anyone to preside in stake capacity in the Mutual Improvement Associations who did not hold the office of High Priest. I never did quite see the necessity for this, but he established it. But in any event, every officer of the Y. M. M. I. A. holds the priesthood.is an elder, high priest,or seventy. If I were the president of a Young Ladies' association, and we met in joint meeting, I should expect the president of the Young Men's association to take the initial step, that he would call the meeting to order, etc., because he holds the priesthood, and should be the head; then he should not forget that the Young Ladies' have an organization, and are entitled to perfect and complete repre- sentation in the conjoint meetings, and under the priesthood should be given charge at least half the time, if he is not in his place, then let the young lady preside as she would in her own meeting. The ' EDITOR'S 1ABLE. 707 ladies should not be discriminated against, but should have equal chances. There should be no curtailment, nor abridgment of these rights; but every opportunity for their exercise should be given. Gallantry would naturally prompt the young men to give even more, maybe, than they take themselves; but they should direct, in all these matters, in the spirit of love and kindness. Imention these items for the reason that there is a principle running through and permeating all these organizations which leads to a permanent officer —a head — whence the authority springs for the government of the people of God, for the good of all, that unity and love may prevail. We meet in our general conferences semi-annually. The whole Church is invited. Do we have discord there, is there contention and strife and argument? No; that would not do for a moment. It would be contrary to the spirit and genius of the great latter-day work, and could not be permitted. God has established quorums, and councils, and courts, in the Church, by which differences may be adjudicated and made right. Those who have differences and adjust them in the courts of the Church go out with their differences adjusted in the proper way; according to God's law, without strife, anger, or argument; to unite and see eye to eye with our brethren, this is according to the priesthood and according to the order of the Church. There never can be and never will be, under God's direction,two equal heads at the same time. That would not be consistent.it would be irrational and unrea- sonable, contrary to God's will. There is one head, and he is God, the head of all. Next to him stands the man he puts in nomina- tion to stand at the head on the earth, with his associates; and all the other organizations and heads, from him to the last, are sub- ordinate to the first, otherwise there would be discord, disunion, and disorganization. T am tenacious that all should learn the right and power of the priesthood, and recognize it; and if they do it, they will not go far astray. It is wrong to sit in judgment upon the presiding officers. Suppose a bishop does wrong, are we to run away to everyone and backbite and slander him, and tell all we know or think we know, in relation to the matter,and spread it about? Is that the way for Saints to do? If we do so, we shall breed destruction to the faith of the 708 IMPROVEMENT ERA. young.and others. If I have done wrong,you should come right to me with your complaint, tell me what you know, and not say one word to any other soul on earth; but let us sit down together as breth- ren and make the matter right; confess, ask forgiveness, shake hands, and be at peace. Any other course than this will create a nest of evil, and stir up strife among the Saints. Joseph F. Smith. INTRODUCING THE GOSPEL IN JAPAN. There is always special interest attached to the first labors accomplished in any mission in introducing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a nation, and this interest is not lacking in its introduc- tion to the Japanese. It will be two years on the 24th day of July since Apostle Heber J. Grant and the first missionaries set out on their long course acrose the Pacific to Japan, to proclaim the everlasting Gospel to the people there. A foreign language is not easy to conquer, but a language which is so different from the English as is the Japanese, is still more difficult to acquire, and for many months the brethren have been constantly and doggedly laboring to overcome the intricacies of this oriental tongue. Only those who have had the thing to do, can comprehend the toil of days and nights that has been necessary before the western mis- sionaries could proclaim the message which they had come to bear to these eastern people in their oriental tongue; but, characteris- tic of the Latter-day Saints, they have conquered at last, and six young men are now traveling two by two, in the country places of Japan proclaiming in their simplicity, as best they can, the knowl- edge of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and his restored Gospel, which is unto all nations. Naturally there is a great interest attached to this declaration by the Latter-day Saints. In the last issue of the Era a letter from Elder Sandford W. Hedges, briefly referred to the first public meeting that was to be held in the great hall that had been hired in Tokyo for the purpose of publicly proclaiming the message which they had been sent to EDITOR'S TABLE. 709 Japan to utter. It was also noticed there, that this historic meet- ing had been held, that it had been a success, that hundreds had heard the proclamation, which it is to be hoped will spread from that meeting until all the inhabitants of that nation shall hear the message which has been sent to them for their salvation and glory. From a letter received recently from Apostle Heber J. Grant, we make the following compilation in regard to this gathering which, to the Latter-day Saints, is of great historic interest: "At 4:45 p. m., April 18, 1903, we left for the Kinki Kwan Hall. When we arrived, I do not think there were ten persons in the building, and it gave me a sickening sensation, as our meeting was advertised to start at 6, and it was then about twenty minutes to the hour. At a few minutes after 6, the small audience began to be restless, and started to applaud. I felt that we could not hold a meeting with any success with so few, and as they seemed to be coming in quite rapidly, I announced that we would sing a number songs, then start our regular meeting. of We sang 'America,' the Japanese national hymn, 'Kimiga,' and also, 'Do What is Right.' By this time the hall was half full, and people were still coming in. We then began our meeting by singing 'God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform,' and Elder J. F. Featherstone opened by prayer. Elder H. S. Ensign then sang, '0 Ye Mountains High,' all of the company joining in the chorus. Elder Alma 0. Taylor then spoke fifteen minutes, deliv- ering in Japanese the first and so far the only tract that we had prepared in this language, making such slight changes as were necesssary from the printed word, and bearing his personal testi- mony to close with. We then sang 'Truth Reflects Upon Our Senses,' after which Elder H. S. Eneign spoke in English for about twelve minutes, after which we sang 'School thy feelings, my for eleven brother;' following which Elder Caine spoke in Japanese minutes, followed by the singing of 'Let us oft speak kind words to each other,' by Elder Ensign, the chorus being sung by the eight of us present. then addressed the meeting for sixty-five I minutes, and enjoyed very fair liberty, speaking on the articles of mission of the Pro- our faith, the history of our people, the divine and giving their phet Joseph, and quoting some of his prophecies fulfillment. likewise I referred to the Book of Mormon and the 710 IMPROVEMENT ERA. testimony of the witnesses thereof, and testified to the healing power of God, taking the case of ray own healing, with others, as examples. Following my speech which was in English, we sang, 'Come, Come, Ye Saints/ and Elder Jarvis offered the benediction. "I felt well satisfied with the meeting, and with the splendid attention that was paid to all that we said. One would judge the hall to have been about two-thirds full, but as the most of the peo- ple were sitting on the floor, and took all the room thab they wanted, I do not think it was more than one-half full. It would hold one thousand people. I was thankful and glad that we had as much of a success as we had. Preliminary to my talk, I refer- red to Mr. Hirai's kindness to us in suggesting the meeting, and read from his speech at the World's Parliament of Religions, in Chicago. Mr. Takahashi was there, but when Elder Taylor finished his remarks, he left. Mr, Nirayama, Mr. Mashimo, and several others of our friends were present, and all seemed pleased with the meeting, and complimented us very highly. Mr. Hirai said that Elder Taylor did not make a mistake in his speech. We returned home with thankful hearts that it had been successful. "We are all well in the mission. Four of the young elders have gone north, and two south. Brother Taylor, the sisters, and myself, are now the only people of our company at headquarters. The reports from the traveling elders by letter, as well as that given by two who visited us yesterday, are very satisfactory. They are making friend^ in the country places to which they have gone, and are very happy to be at their work in the missionary field. The Lord is blessing them, and they are much encouraged in their efforts. While I do not seem to be doing much here, I am as contented and happy as I have ever been, and want to stop here until I can see something being accomplished. We all send mes- sages of love and good will to our friends at home." In order that the young people of Zion may comprehend the difficulties that our brethren have to encounter, the Era takes pleasure in presenting one page of the above-referred-to first Latter-day Saint tract ever printed in Japan, and so far the only one. It contains the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth articles of our faith. In order to read it, begin at the right side of the page and read do vn each line. The reader will understand the last line EDITOR'S TABLE. 711 to be the signature—Joseph [Smith. Brother Grant, however, states that it is sent "just to look at:" 14 77 + V m % wm m mi ST '£ rfch fit L* h it % L n as ^ < k i5^ Of X £L IT ? 5 *«- S* t ^ 6 k it 5 75? t it?® Ju<« kt -^^ n 6 CO •^J'* S£ «* ffii: rz. Sl A£ K* 2« St t t a* 3 ft % CO F3A. nr*. in -r m ^ ° it o 7 5 I: -c Hi ft IK mi d « pc mi '% L #< < ^ m a* < s 5: lit if a! (? It In the English language, the tract has seven pages, four of which contain the speech delivered by Elder Taylor referred to in Brother Grant's letter, and the other three, the Articles of Faith with Bible references, which references are left out of the Japan- ese edition, — while in the Japanese edition are fourteen pages. We 712 IMPRO VEMENT ERA think this tract of sufficient historic importance to reproduce it in full in the Era, omitting only the articles of faith: AN ANNOUNCEMENT CONCERNING THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, BY HEBER J. GRANT. Prove all things; hold fast to that which is good.— 1 Thess. 5:21. you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men If any of liberally,and upbraidethnot; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a — wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. James 1:5, 6. We, as duly authorized representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have been sent to Japan for the purpose of teaching the plan of life and salvation, as it has again been revealed from heaven by the true and living God to the Prophet Joseph Smith. We earnestly entreat the people of this nation to fully investigate the message which we have come to deliver. f We testify that there is a God in heaven who is in very deed the Father of the spirits of all men. He is the Creator of heaven and earth, and all that in them is. He was created; existed before the world exists today, and will exist forever. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is all-powerful, and to his wisdom there is no limit. He is no respecter of persons; is full of mercy, love and compassion, and is forgiving to all those who will repent of sin, and seek him and t serve him with full purpose of heart. All men are well aware that compliance with the laws of a nation is become a citizen thereof, and the absolutely necessary in order to same applies with equal force to those who wish to become citizens of the kingdom of God. A knowledge of and compliance with God's laws is a matter of the most vital consequence to all men. These laws are con- tained in the divinely inspired books known as the Bible, and Book of Mormon. We feel assured that all who will earnestly and fully investi- gate will come to a knowledge of the divine authenticity of these records. For many hundreds of years after the creation of the earth, God appeared in person, from time to time, and talked with his children, and gave instructions as to what was necessary for them to do in order to be worthy, when this life was ended, to come back and dwell forever in his presence. A little over nineteen hundred years ago, he sent his Son Jesus Christ to the earth to teach mankind the plan of life and sal- EDITOR'S TABLE. 713 vation. Jesus is the Savior of the world, and faith on his name and obedience to his commandments will take us back into the presence of God where we shall dwell forever. Jesus Christ called upon all men to repent, to live lives of right- eousness, and to be baptized in water for the remission of their sins, and made them the promise that if they would do this and keep his com- mandments they should know whether the doctrines He proclaimed were of God or man. In the spring of 1820, God and his Son Jesus Christ visited the earth and talked with Joseph Smith. They afterwards sent heavenly messengers who gave him the necessary instructions and authority to establish on the earth the true Church of Christ. Some immediately accepted the doctrines which this prophet taught, but the majority mis- represented his teachings and persecuted him. False charges were pre- ferred against him, and he was imprisoned many times, but upon trial was declared innocent of every charge. He lived a life of virtue and uprightness, maintaining, in the face of the most bitter opposition, his testimony as to the truths revealed to him from heaven. Finally, while he was in Carthage jail, Illinois, U. S., under the pledged protection of the state, awaiting a trial, to which he had voluntarily surrendered him- self, the jail was attacked, and he was murdered by a mob of wicked men. Thus did Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the nineteenth century, seal his testimony with his life's blood. Dr. David Nelson, in his book, "The Cause and Cure of Infidelity," says: "A true prophet is not applauded by a majority of the wicked or by the mass of the depraved. He is generally disliked by those farthest from God, and spoken evil of by those who sink deepest in sin. He is often not only reviled, but put to death if the laws permit; but the false prophet is neither stoned nor sawn asunder- He is often extolled greatly by the most dissolute, and is at least tolerated or praised to some extent by the leaders in depravity or the officers of sin." Many people have spoken ill of the Latter-day Saints, or, as we are commonly called, "Mormons." We ask to be judged not by the false statements of our enemies, but by the infallible standard, "By their fruits ye shall know them." Wisdom dictates that no cause should be judged without a hearing, and least of all when only one side has been heard, and that the side of its enemies. The history of the Latter-day Saints is before the world, and speaks for itself. In a tract entitled "My reason for leaving the Church of England and joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," the writer says: "No one who will read the whole history of the Latter-day Saints — — 714 IMPROVEMENT ERA. with a truly honest and unprejudiced heart, and look upon the blessings - of prosperity which they at present enjoy, can for a moment doubt that they are members of a church which is under the direct guidance of God through new revelation. I am quite sure that any one who will read with a fair, and unpre- judiced mind the teachings of Joseph Smith can not but conclude that he must have been inspired, especially when they consider the fact and marvelous work which he performed before his that all the great martyrdom was accomplished while he was still a young man, and that he had never enjoyed the privileges of education and experience. We call attention to the last of the accompaning Articles of our Faith, that, "If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praise- worthy, we seek after these things," and advise all men to do likewise.. In conclusion, in all solemnity and humility, we bear testimony that God lives; that Jesus Christ is his son and the Savior of the world;, that Joseph Smith was the prophet of the true and living God, commis- sioned to restore again the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the inhabitants of the earth. We once more entreat all men to investigate our message, and promise, as did our Savior, that all who will repent of sin and obey the Gospel shall receive a knowledge from God of the divinity of the doctrines which we proclaim. May the first missionaries be abundantly blest, and may the first meeting held and the first tract published, bear much fruit to the glory of God and to the salvation of souls in far off Japan. NOTES. The world generally gives its admiration, not to the man who does what nobody else ever attempts to do, but to the man who does best what multitudes do well. Macaulay. Fundamentally the question of love and confidence between parents — and children underlie the whole social system, not only underlie but are. Our civil life, in the long run will rise and sink as the average family is a success or failure. All questions of social life will solve themselves if the children are brought up to be the highest they are capable of being, if our social and family relations are as they should be; if not, no ma- terial prosperity, no progress in literature, art, success in business, or victory in war, will make up for it to the nation. Theodore Roosevelt.