--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - John H. Peterson collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 6 number: 11 published: 1903-09 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'John H. Peterson, "Why I Am a Latter-day Saint", *Improvement Era* 6, no. 11 (September 1903): 836–841.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0611unse 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: improvementera0611unse start_page: 836 end_page: 841 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1903-09) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0611unse 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. --- # Why I Am a Latter-day Saint 834 IMPROVEMENT ERA. "sends us to grass like oxen," but how often does man place upon himself a curse such as sends him to worse than grass. Not in the realms of nature did God place such appetites as men have acquired, and, as he found them not in any of God's creations, it must be that the "imp of darkness" conjured them up from the "nether pit." Beasts do not persist in contaminating themselves with things which their natural guide tells them is not good for them or their species; but human beings do. The beast, in the propagation of his species, does not transmit to his offspring worse qualities than he is endowed with by hi3 Creator; but how often do we find the heritage of man's offspring a collection of curses! The beast perpetuates his best qualities; man, alas! too often.his worst. It has been said that the first right of children is to be well born; but how sadly are they robbed of their first, best privilege! And what makes it sadder still, robbed by those from whom they rightfully expect the most. In justice to the spirits yet untaber- nacled, an evenging God once saw fit to put a stop to this whole- sale abuse, and very nearly depopulated the earth to accomplish it, which makes it the more awful to contemplate the future punish- ment of those who have gone back to the same or similar practices. "He should be a man who asks a girl to leave her happy home," was a sentiment expressed in a onetime popular song, and it is a prerequisite that women have a right to demand. "It was not good for man to be alone," and for him man — was woman created; for the beasts God made other provision. To bring weak and wayward men to a sense of their condition, and cause them to take an inventory of their habits and conduct, it was arranged through the medium of conjugal love that they should indulge that emotion and make it the source of high resolves. That so-called love, which is sometimes professed for a woman, but which fails to mirror the man.and in such a way as to strip off all shallow conceits and show him to himself as he is, and induce him to move to a higher plane of life, is not worthy the name. The imputation that any parent did not love his children would be considered as an in- sult; but, if that love is not of sufficient potency to cause that parent to purge out of himself all habits and appetites that he knows are detrimental to his own welfare, so as not to burden his posterity with tendencies that would impair their usefulness and SHOW THYSELF A MAN. 835 hamper their enjoyment of lif e,may we not be justified in counting it as sadly deficient? Possibly I have grown too pessimistic. But with all the inducements which the best philosophy of life — the gospel — holds out to us, Saints must never be devoid of a proper appreciation of life, their birthright, and its purposes and possibilities, and of the obligations attendant upon it. "Kings and Priests unto the Most High God," aye, the godship itself — the is ideal possible of Latter-day Saints who understand and apply their religion. And the method of progression is to fit oneself for each succeeding station or estate, by attaining to the highest possible degree of excellence in the one that preceds it in this life, manhood in its best and highest sense. We sometimes hear it said that perfection is not possible to man in this sphere, but if each of us would stop to measure our words, our habits, and our conduct, by their effect upon ourselves, upon those we love, and upon society in general, we would have just grounds for indulging the hope of a better order of things. Verily, ecce homo would have a more general application did we all more fully sense the significance, and abide the conditions, of the admonition, "show thyself a man." WAS CIVILIZATION CRADLED IN AMERICA? The eastern continent has generally been regarded as the first home of civilized man, and the similarity of certain Central American games and customs to those of Asia have been held to indicate that they were brought hither across the Pacific. In a recent article, Dr. Culin, of the University of Pennsylvania, affirms his agreement with the late Dr. Brin- ton, one of the most distinguished of American archaeologists, who be- lieved that, at the time of the discovery of America, there was not a dialect, an art, a plant, a tool, a weapon, or a symbol, that had been brought hither from any other continent. This being so, it is evident that the similar games, customs, etc., must have arisen independently on both sides of the Pacific, or that the Asian cases must have been derived from the American. Dr. Culin believes that the latter is the true sup- position, and he thinks "that ancient America may have contributed, to an extent usually unimagined, her share of what is now the world's civ- ilization." (See Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. 116.) WHY I AM A LATTER-DAY SAINT. BY ELDER JOHN H. PETERSON, OF THE NETHERLANDS-BELGIUM MIS- SION, GRONINGEN, HOLLAND. "Be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within you." — Peter, I 3: 15. My parents, relatives, and nearly all my friends are Latter- day Saints; so I presume it will be charged that I am a Saint be- cause they are. Home influence and early training have so much to do with moulding one's character and shaping his opinions, that I cannot deny that these circumstances have had much to do with the forming and establishing of my religious belief. While willing to concede that much, I can still truthfully say that my main rea- sons for being a Latter-day Saint do not now rest on that ground. The older I get, and the more experience and knowledge I gain, the more thankful I become that I was started on the right path. I am not one of the kind who will accept any theory or proposition without proof or the semblance of reason. Through having come in contact with or read something about nearly all religions extant, I consider myself capable of deciding (for myself at least) whether the religion my parents first taught ma is the best one or not. I have invariably found whenever I have attempted to place this gospel on trial with other religious systems, that I was deeply im- pressed with the immense superiority of the former. Here I may be told that my standard of comparison is wrong; but if so, some one will have to show me a better one. So far, the more thorough- ly I have investigated this subject, the more firmly have I become convinced, and I believe now that it will always be that way. In no other religion can I find such high aspirations, no where else such WHY I AM A LATTER-DAY SAINT. 837 noble incentives to right living. No other church can make me so wise or so intelligent. (The knowledge of God and man is the high- est intelligence and wisdom). From no other standpoint can all truth be harmonized. No other religion can save and exalt me. I believe in the Bible, and a careful study of the same proves to me that "Mormonism" is the only doctrine that does not make that book contradict itself. I cannot balieve the whole Bible with- out being a Latter-day Saint. Basing my arguments on the Scriptures, sound reason, and common sense, my reasons for being a Latter-day Saint can be more explicitly stated as follows: 1. The true Church of Christ must bear the name of its founder, Jesus Christ. The members of that Church in former days were called saints. It is perfectly reasonable that there should be a distinction in the names of the Former- and the Latter- day Saints. 2. The leading characteristics of the church of Christ given in the New Testament are: (a) It is built upon the principle of continuous revelation, (b) It is constituted with apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc. (c) It teaches in their order the first principles of the doctrine of Christ; viz.,faith, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, (d) In it are to be found all the gifts and manifestations of the spirit and the signs promised true believers, (e) The members are united and love one another, (f) It possesses authority to preach the gospel and administer the ordinances thereof, (g) It teaches the necessity of keeping all the commandments of God. (h) Its members will be persecuted as long as wickedness prevails on the earth. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints alone are all these characteristics to be found. 3. This Church has the most elaborate, comprehensive, and wonderful organization of any church on earth. The head is in constant touch with every member of the body. Provision is made for eyery emergency and necessity. It admirably serves the pur- poses for which it is intended; viz., to promulgate and administer the gospel, and teach and govern the saints. It requires more credulity on my part to believe that such a complex yet harmon- 838 IMPROVEMENT ERA. ious working organization could have been evolved by .human wisdom than to believe it was revealed from God. 4. Priesthood or authority from God is needful. The Latter- day Saints are the only people who know anything about priest- hood. 5. "Mormonism" teaches the only rational and consistent con- ception of Deity, the only one that corresponds with the testimony of all prophets who have ever seen or held communion with him. They all speak of him as a being or personality in whose image we actually are. Christ spoke of him as his Father and our Father. Paul says we are actually his offspring (Acts 17). That is more reasonable than to say man was formed like a brick or a piece of iron, etc., is formed. I would much rather worship a God whom I can comprehend, and one who is actually my Father. 6. In this Church only can I learn where I came from, why I am here, and what my conditions in the future life will be. I con- sider these things highly necessary for me to know. Were it not for this gospel, I could never know who or what I really am. 7. There is no reason for believing that the higher emotions of the human soul, such as love, joy, reverence, affection, charity, are not as enduring as the soul itself. What would the soul be without them ? What of the objects on which they center ? Was man created male and female for this life only ? Will we be hus- band and wife, parents and children in heaven ? Who knows ? It cannot be learned definitely from the Bible. Human nature teaches me that the affections are enduring. My conception of heaven would be very much humbled if I did not think that the ties of family and friendship would be perpetuated in the eternal worlds. I am extremely desirous that they should be. "Mormonism" teaches me that they will be, if I comply with the laws of God pertaining thereunto. It explains this subject to me so I can understand it, and this knowledge gives me joy. Outside of this Church, I search for it in vain. 8. From this Church I get the most rational and consistent comprehension of the work of man's redemption. Every person will be rewarded or punished according to his works, the most righteous judgment that can be thought of. There is a salvation for those who died without hearing the gospel,and for those who were WHY I AM A LATTER-DAY SAINT. 839 honestly deceived in this life. All men, except the sons of perdi- tion, will be saved in some degree of glory; but not without obe- dience to the prescribed laws. When a sinner has received the full measure of his punishment, he can be freed. The Latter-day Saints believe in salvation for the dead, and they are doing their best to redeem both the living and the dead. To them have been revealed the necessary principles, ordinances and authority to ac- complish this work. Who else is in possession of this knowledge and authority ? 9. The scriptures teach that Christ shall come again to earth, and usher in a reign of universal peace which shall be called the Millennium. A preparatory work must precede his advent. The "gospel of the kingdom" (not the creeds of men) must be preached "in all the world as a witness." Israel, including the Jews, must be gathered, Zion must be established, and Jerusalem rebuilt. There must be temples. "He shall suddenly come to his temple." The Latter-day Saints are the only people who are doing this prepar- atory work, or who have any prospects of accomplishing it. 10. The multiplication of sects proves that the Bible has not been a sufficient guide in matters of doctrine and discipline. There is nothing in that book to indicate that it was ever intended to be such a guide by the written word alone. No proof can be found Lord would ever cease to reveal himself to in the Bible that the man except through unbelief of the latter. If Christ is the head of the church, shall he have nothing to say in its management ? Are we wise enough to get along ourselves ? The Bible does not contain all the scripture that ever was written. The Latter-day Saints believe in continuous revelation, the same as the obedient children of God always have done. "Mormonism" accepts all truth, and all scripture written by inspiration, whether the same be found in the Bible or not. lhat appeals to me. The Bible predicts a universal apostasy from the primitive 11. church. The condition of the world for over 1700 years proved that the prophecy has come to pass. A restoration is also pre- dicted. How could a restoration take place except through reve- lation ? I have read Joseph Smith's account of the restoration of the gospel, including authority to preach it and to administer its ordinances; and I find nothing unraasonable or inconsistent in it.