The Prophet’s Natal Day: “Mormon” Doctrine of Deity

138 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

No; on the other hand, this should be done every day, and in

the home, by precept, teaching and example. Brethren, there is

too little religious devotion, love, and fear of God, in the home; too much worldliness, selfishness, indifference, and lack of reverence in the family, or it never would exist so abundantly on the outside. Then, the home is what needs reforming. Try today, and tomorrow, to make a change in your home by praying twice a day with your family; call on your children, and your wife to pray with you. Ask a blessing upon every meal you eat. Spend ten minutes in reading a chapter from the words of the Lord in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, before you retire, or before you go to your daily toil. Feed your spiritual selves at home, as well as in public places. Let love and peace, and the spirit of the Lord, kindness, charity, sacrifice for others, abound in your fami- lies. Banish harsh words, envyings, hatreds, evil speaking, obscene language and innuendo, blasphemy, and let the Spirit of God take possession of your hearts. Teach to your children these things, in spirit and power, sustained and strengthened by personal practice. Let them see that you are earnest, and practice what you preach. Do not let your children out to specialists in these things, but teach them by your own precept and example, by your own fireside. Be a specialist yourself in the truth. Let our meetings, schools and organizations, instead of being our only or leading teachers, be sup- plements to our teachings and training in the home. Not 'one child in a hundred would go astray, if the home environment, ex- ample, and training, were in harmony with the truth in the Gospel of Christ, as revealed and taught to the Latter-day Saints. Fath- ers and mothers, you are largely to blame for the infidelity and in- difference of your children. You can remedy the evil by earnest worship, example, training and discipline, in the home. Joseph F. Smith.

THE PROPHET'S NATAL DAY. The 98th anniversary, December 23, of the Prophet Joseph Smith's birth is a reminder that in two years more a century will have elapsed since his natal day. His birthday should be appropri-

EDITOR'S TABLE. 139

ately celebrated in the congregations of the Saints. One hundred years will soon have passed since he was born in Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont. The Church of Christ which he was instrumen- tal in founding — active, vigorous, and stronger than ever in its power for achieving good upon the earth,— is rapidly approaching its centennial.

Looking at his mission then and now, who can deny that he was indeed called to lead in the performance of a "marvelous work and a wonder!'' Thousands who died without seeing him have solemnly declared that he is a man of God. Living thousands, by the gift of the Holy Spirit, bear this same testimony with us today. Other thousands who were privileged to see and hear him have testi- fiedthat he is a prophet of the living God. His work declares the same great truth, and his uttered revelations bear record of his divine calling and inspiration. On this occasion, one of these testimonies by a departed vet- eran of the Church is good, inspiring reading. It has never appeared in print before, and is from the pen of Gilbert Belnap, who died some

years ago in Ogden. For many years he acted as bishop of Hooper ward, and was one of the early workers in establishing the Saints in Utah. Born in Canada, in 1821, he joined the Church by baptism when he became of age, and two years thereafter found himself in Nauvoo, "observing and reflecting upon everything I saw and heard." In 1856, while filling a famous mission to the Lamanites, in the Salmon river country, Idaho, he recorded in his journal the following testimony and impressions of the Prophet Joseph whom he met in Nauvoo, June 3, 1844: "I was introduced to the prophet, whose smiling face and piercing glance denoted kindness, great depth of penetration and extensive forethought. "While standing before his penetrating gaze, which seemed to read the very inmost recesses of my heart, a thousand thoughts passed through my mind. I had been permitted by the great Author of my being to behold with my natural eyes a prophet of the living God, when millions had died without the sight, and to grasp his hand in mine. It was a blessing that in early days I did

not expect to enjoy. I seemed to be transfixed before him. I

gazed with wonder at his person; I listened with delight to the

140 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

sound of his voice; at that time and afterwards, in public and in private, I paid attention. The impression made on my mind at this introduction can never be erased ; though in after years I may be- come a castaway, yet they are indelible and lasting, as if written with an iron pen on the tablet of my heart. My very destiny seemed to be interwoven with his; I loved his company, the sound of his voice was music to my ears, his counsels were good; his theo- logical reasoning was of God; his acts were exemplary and worthy of imitation; and, in his domestic circle, mild and forbearing, but resolute and determined in the accomplishment of a good work. Although opposed by the combined powers of earth and hell, by the inspiration of God he restored the gospel to the earth, organized the Holy Priesthood, consecrated the land of Zion, planted a great city, gathered his thousands around him, and laid the foundation of a mighty work. At the same time he endured the most unparal- leled persecution of any man in the history of our country. Like one of old, his arms were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. With a mind that disdained to confine itself to the old beaten track of religious rites and ceremonies, he burst asun- der the chains which for ages past had held in bondage the nations of the earth. He soared aloft and brought to light the hidden treasures' of the Almighty, and bade defiance to the superstitious dogmas and combined wisdom of the worldly wise. He laid the foundation for man's eternal happiness, and revived the tree of liberty."

"MORMON" DOCTRINE OF DEITY. A new volume of Church literature has just issued from the press of the Deseret News, entitled " 'Mormon' Doctrine of Deity," embracing several chapters on the subject. It will be remembered

that in the winter and summer of 1901, a great interest was awak- ened in the "Mormon" view of Deity in consequence of a series of lectures that were delivered by a prominent Salt Lake minister, and also because the Mutual Improvement Associations of the Church, during that season studied "The Being and Nature of God." A lecture was given, at the instance of the Salt Lake Stake M. I.

EDITOR'S TABLE. 141

A., at a conference on the 18th of August of that year, by the author, in which he set forth the doctrine of the Church of Christ on the subject. This lecture, which created much interest at the time, and which was published in revised form in the Improvement Era, comprises chapter 1 of the new book. In reply to this lecture Rev. C. Van Der Donckt, of Pocatello, Idaho, a priest of the Roman Catholic church, wrote an article, which was also published in the Era, and which now appears as chapter 2 in this new work. This reply of Rev. Van Der Donckt was a very able paper, which, it was the opinion of some, could not be successfully answered. A rejoinder, however, was writ- ten by Elder Roberts, and printed also in the Era, and is now em- braced in chapter 3 of this new volume. A chapter appears as the 4th division entitled, "Jesus Christ the Revelation of God," which emphasizes and renders even more clear the thoughts discussed; and explains also fully the doctrine of the Church that Jesus Christ is the complete and perfect reve- lation of God, and that just as Jesus Christ is God is. Chapters 5, 6 and 7 consist of a collection of utterances from the sacred scriptures, and prophets of the Church, on the doctrine of Deity, which will be of exceeding value to students of this inter- esting subject. Chapter 8, closing the volume, is President Joseph F. Smith's splendid sermon, "I know that my Redeemer Lives." The leading thought sought to be established in the whole work, is that God is a personal being in whose image man is created; that the "Mormon" doctrine on the subject of Deity is the same now as it has been from the beginning of the Church, — as first promulgated

in the great revelation received by the Prophet Joseph Smith, in which God revealed himself once more and made himself known to the prophet, who knew him as Moses did, face to face, and as man knows his friend. Of the value of the work to the young people, it is only necessary to say that nothing stronger or more able on this subject appears in the literature of the Church. It covers the whole ground of argu-

ment, bringing into one view nearly all that has been said or is

known on the subject. The book consists of three hundred pages neatly bound, and is on sale at the Deseret News Book Store, at one dollar per copy.

142 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

The author's reason for writing and publishing the work is

well stated in his preface to the book from which we quote:

In nothing have men so far departed from revealed truth, as in their conceptions of God. Therefore, when it pleased the Lord in these last days to open again direct communication with men by a new dispen- sation of the gospel, it is not surprising that the very first revelation given was one that revealed himself and his son Jesus Christ. A revela- tion which not only made known the being of God, but the kind of being he is. The Prophet Joseph Smith, in his account of his first great reve- lation, declares that he saw "two personages," resembling each other in form and features, but whose brightness and glory defied all description. One of these personages addressed the prophet and said, as he pointed to the other: "This is my Beloved Son, hear him." This was the revelation with which the work of God in the last days began. They The revelation of God, the Father; and of God, the Son. were seen to be two distinct personages. They were like man in form, but infinitely more glorious in appearance, because perfect and divine. The Old Testament truth was reaffirmed by this revelation. "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him." Also the — truth of the New Testament was reaffirmed Jesus Christ was shown to be the express image of the Father's person; hence God, the Father, was in form like the man, Christ Jesus, who is also called "the Son of Man." Again the Old Testament truth was revealed — "The Gods said us let

make man in our image, and in our likeness." That is, more than one God was engaged in the work of creation. Also the truth of the New Testament was again reaffirmed — the Father and the Son are seen to be two separate and distinct persons or individuals; hence the Godhead is plural, as shown at the baptism of Jesus, and throughout the conversa- tion and discourses of Jesus and his inspired apostles. All this, coming so sharply in conflict with the ideas of an apostate Christendom which had rejected the plain anthropomorphism of the Old and New Testament revelations of God, also the scriptural doctrine of a plurality of Gods, for a false philosophy —created God, immaterial and passionless — all this, I say, could not fail to provoke controversy; for the revelation of Joseph Smith challenged the truth of the con- ception of God held by the modern world —pagan, Jew, Mohammedan and Christian alike. It was not to be expected, then, that controversy could be avoided, though it has been the policy of the elders of the Church to avoid debate as far as possible —debate which so often means contention, a mere