--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Smith, Joseph F. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 7 number: 9 published: 1904-07 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Joseph F. Smith, "Editor’’s Table—Rest for the Peaceful Followers of Christ," *Improvement Era* 7, no. 9 (July 1904): 714–717.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0709unse 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: improvementera0709unse start_page: 714 end_page: 717 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1904-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0709unse 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. --- # Editor's Table—Rest for the Peaceful Followers of Christ EDITOR'S TABLE. REST FOR THE PEACEABLE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST. I desire to call the attention of the Latter-day Saints to the words of the Prophet Moroni, who says, in speaking of his father's instructions to the ancient saints upon this continent : Wherefore I would speak unto you that are of the Church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope, by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth, until ye shall rest with him in heaven. This is a very significant passage. The rest here referred to is not physical rest, for there is no such thing as physical rest in the Church of Jesus Christ. Reference is made to the spiritual rest and peace which are born from a settled conviction of the truth in the minds of men. We may thus enter into the rest of the Lord today, by coming to an understanding of the truths of the Gospel. No people is more entitled to this rest — this peace of the spirit — than are members of the Church. It is true that not all are unsettled. Not all need to seek this rest, for there are many who now possess it, whose minds have become satisfied, and who have set their eyes upon the mark of their high calling with an invincible determination in their hearts to be steadfast in the truth, and who are treading in humility and righteousness the path marked out for the Saints who are complacent followers of Jesus Christ. But there are many who, not having reached this point of determined conviction, are driven about by every wind of doc- trine, thus being ill at ease, unsettled, restless. These are they who are discouraged over incidents that occur in the Church, and EDITOR'S TABLE. 715 in the nation, and in the turmoils of men and associations. They harbor a feeling of suspicion, unrest, uncertainty. Their thoughts are disturbed, and they become excited with the least change, like one at sea who has lost his bearings. Among this latter class are a number of young men and young women who are not thoroughly established in the knowledge of the Gospel, having not settled their minds as to the course they should pursue. They are not founded in the testimony of Jesus, and have, therefore, not entered into the rest spoken of by the proph- et. Were they convinced, their spirits would cease to be agitated by uncertainty and unrest, and they would find consolation in the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as taught by the Latter- day Saints. They would understand that this Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. They would be satisfied, and would peace- fully pursue a straightforward course, in conformity with the law of God, swerving neither to the right nor to the left. They would not seek the street corners, listening to men with alleged new re- ligions, who are in reality without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and who pretend to have a new doctrine, one better for men to lay holdof. They would know that in the Gospel of Christ they have gems of far greater value than can be obtained from these pretended dispensers of the word of God. If they had thoroughly entered into that rest spoken of by the prophet, they would not waste their time seeking for and listening to these vague doctrines of men; nor would they be driven hither and thither, to and fro, by every wind of doctrine that blows along their way. When men are thus unsettled, uncertain, wavering, never quite satisfied, it is evident that they are still wandering, seeking for rest in the phil- osophies of men, rather than in the true Gospel of Christ, in which alone it may be found. But what is the remedy? Where would you have people go who are unsettled in the truth? The answer is plain. They will not find satisfaction in the doctrines of men. Let them seek for it in the written word of God; let them pray to him in their secret chambers, where no human ear can hear, and in their closets petition for light; let them obey the doctrines of Jesus, and they will immediately begin to grow in the. knowledge of the truth. This course will bring peace to their souls, joy to their hearts, and a settled conviction which no change can disturb. They may be well assured that ''he that heareth in secret will reward them openly." Let them seek for strength from the Source of all strength, and he will provide spiritual contentment, a rest which is incomparable with the physical rest that cometh after toil. All who seek have a right to, and may enter into, the rest of God, here upon the earth, from this time forth, now, today; and when earth-life is finished, they dhall also enjoy his rest in heaven. One blessing which I desire above all blessings here upon the earth is that I may continue to enjoy this condition for it brings con- ; viction of the truth to the soul, and peace and joy and satisfaction, and banishes restlessness and every spirit of doubt. It prevents one from being subject to the cunning craftiness of men, and places one in harmony with the Spirit of God, and makes one established in the faith and doctrines of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I know that Christ is the only begotten Son of God, that he is the Redeemer of the world, that he was raised from the dead; and that as he arose, so shall every soul bearing the image of God arise from the dead and be judged according to his works, be they good or evil. In the never-ending eternities of our Father in heaven, the righteous shall rejoice, while the association and love of their families and friends shall glorify them through the ages that are to come. Joy and rest unspeakable will be their reward. These are some of the doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ which the Latter-day Saints believe. I don't wish for anything better; I desire to be satisfied in these, and to possess that peace and joy which spring from the contemplation of the opportunities and truths that are embraced in this gospel. Were I to seek for other truths, where would I go? Not to man. I must know for myself, from the source which provides these blessings and gifts; but what more would I ask for than a knowledge of the resurrec- tion, that I shall be made whole of my sins and become perfect in Christ Jesus, through obedience to his gospel? Is any doctrine more reasonable and more compatible with free agency than this? It is true that ancient philosophers taught us many morals, but where in all the philosophy of the world, have we better teachings than in the gospel of Christ which has been revealed to us, and which we hold and are made partakers of? No doctrine was ever EDITOR'S TABLE. 717 as perfect as that of Jesus. Christ perfected every principle that had hitherto been taught by the philosophers of the world; he has revealed to us the way of salvation, from the beginning, and through all the meanders of this life to never-ending exaltation and glory in his kingdom, and to a newness of life therein. He has taught us that man is a dual being, the offspring of God, and that the body and the spirit, blended in one immortal soul,is eventually to stand in the presence of its maker, and see as it is seen, and know as it is known. Whenever the Lord speaks to man, he speaks to his immortal soul, and satisfaction and unsurpassing peace and joy come to all who listen. Happy is the man, indeed, who can receive this soul-satisfying testimony, and be at rest, and seek for no other road to peace than by the doctrines of Jesus Christ. His gospel teaches us to love our fellow-men, to do to others as we would have others do to us, to be just, to be merciful, to be forgiving and to perform every good act calculated to enlarge the soul of man. His perfected philosophy teaches also that it is better to suffer wrong than to do' wrong, and to pray for our enemies and for those who despitefully use us. There are no other gospels or systems of philosophy that bear these marks of divinity and immortality. You may hunt the philosophies of the world in vain for any code of ethics that in- sures the peace and rest that may be found in his comprehensive, yet simple, gospel. To the young man or the young woman who is at a loss to know what to do, among all the various teachings that are extant in the world, I would say: Search the Scriptures, seek God in prayer, and then read the doctrines that have been proclaimed by Christ in his sermon on the mount, as found in Matthew, and as reiterated to the ancient saints upon this continent (HI Nephi.) Having studied these splendid standards, and searched deeply the signifi- cance of these matchless sentiments, you may defy the philosophies of the world, or any of its ethics to produce their equal. The wisdom of men is not to be compared with them. They lead to the rest of the peaceable followers of Christ, and enable mankind to become perfect as he is perfect. No other philosopher has ever said as Jesus said, "Come unto me." From the beginning of the world until the present time, no other philosopher has ever