---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - George E. Blair
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 7
number: 7
published: 1904-05
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'George E. Blair, "The House of the Way," *Improvement Era* 7, no. 7 (May 1904): 509.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0707unse
  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: improvementera0707unse
start_page: 509
end_page: 509
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1904-05)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0707unse
  publication_year: 1904
  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 1904, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# The House of the Way

<!-- page:509 -->

JOSEPH SMITH AS SCIENTIST.                          509

in   advance of the   scientific   world,   must excite wonder     in the

breast of any person, be he follower or opposer of Joseph Smith.
      The discussion of the important statements made in section
89 of the book of Doctrine and Covenants, might be elaborated into
a series of papers. The merest outline has been given here.   The
physiological   teachings of the prophet concerning work, cleanli-
ness and sleep, might also be considered with profit.         The oppor-
tunity for such a discussion may possibly come later.
      To summarize the contents of this paper: Joseph Smith clear-
ly recognized and taught the physiological value of alcohol, tobacco,

tea and coffee, at a time when scientific discoveries were just be-
ginning to reveal the active principles of these commodities.       The
probability is that he knew nothing of       what the world of science
was doing in this direction,       at the time the doctrine was taught.
Joseph Smith clearly recognized and taught the fundamental truths
of food chemistry, and the food relation of vegetable products to
man, nearly a generation before scientists had arrived at the same
doctrine.   Whence came his knowledge?
                           (to   be continued).

                   THE HOUSE OF THE WAY.
     The ears of the people grow deaf and their eyes grow dim,
     They hear not the voice of the prophet, that coraeth from Him.
     They lie in their sins and repent not, cruel, lustful and bold,
     For salvation hold they as folly, their birthright is sold
                                                              !

     The light that illumines dark places is hid from their sight;
     They know not the peace of the Spirit, all is darkness and night!
     Pride that is humbled not, hold they fast, aye, pride of the blood,
     That looketh with hate and mocking scorn, and spurneth the good.
     False, yea, false as the broadway to hell, to the last broken breath,
     Going down to the House of the Way, to the Chamber of Death.
                                                  —George E, Blair.