Testimony of John W. Rigdon; The Great Temple; Questions and Answers

— 546 IMPRO VEMENT ERA . that I am in accord with hira and with them, and while this is the case, I feel that there is no real danger for Zion; that God, our heavenly Father, is still watching over us, and is permitting us to pass through these trials for an express purpose." President George Q. Cannon, Oct. 8, 1882. TESTIMONY OF JOHN W. R1GDON. In the article under the above title in the April number of the Era, an error, in reporting the statement of John W. Rigdon, inadvertently crept in. In the second paragraph, on page 466, it is said, "I, myself, well remember when Parley P. Pratt brought the book to my father's house," etc. This paragraph should read as follows: "I, myself, well remember having been informed by my mother, and also recently by my sister Athalia, who is now alive, of the time when Parley P. Pratt, Oliver Cowdery, and Ziba Peterson brought the book to my father's house, and presented it to him, and I also know, through them, that this was the first time that my father ever saw it," etc. Brother Rigdon was only a few months old at the time this incident occurred, and consequently it is obviously an error to state, aswas inadvertently done, that he remembers the incident. Brother Rigdon, who otherwise practically made the same statements in the late conference as appeared in the last number of the Era, called and asked that this correction be made. THE GREAT TEMPLE. This is the title of a hand-book of twenty-seven pages recently printed by the Bureau of Information and Church Literature of Salt Lake City, and written by Elder D. M. McAllister. The pamphlet is beautifully illustrated with cuts of the temple, and parts thereof, together with a one-page cut of the temples at Nauvoo, St. George, Manti, Logan, and Kirtland; also a portrait of Joseph the Prophet. This is one of the best descriptions of the great temple which has ever been written, and contains, besides, a

EDITOR'S TABLE. 547 concise statement from authentic sources naming the purposes for which the holy structure has been built. It satisfies all reasonable inquiry concerning the building, giving, as it does, its history, dimensions, architecturaljfeatures, and the significance of the emblems; together with a description of the adjoining buildings, the interior of the temple, and its cost. There is also a division on historical temples, and a statement concerning the admission of non-"Mormons" before its permanent opening, together with an explanation of its present exclusiveness, and a short description of the temples heretofore built by the Latter-day Saints. all In addition to this, there are divisions on Latter-day Saint character; the temple ceremonies, including baptism for the dead; marriage for eternity, and sealing children. It is a book whose information should be understood by every Latter-day Saint, and which will tend greatly to enlighten all peoSaints ple concerning the magnificent structure the Latter-day have built as an offering to the Lord. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. Who is to lead the ten tribes from the north? keys No person has ever been named in revelation, but the through the Prophet were given to the Church of Jesus Christ, land of the north. Joseph Smith, to lead the ten tribes from the is referred to section 110, Doctrine and Covenants, The questioner the truth was made manifest to Joseph in which it is said that this while in the Kirtland temple, Seer and Oliver Cowdery,in a vision April, 1836. The 11th verse reads: on the 3rd of heavens were again opened unto us, After this vision closed, the committed unto us the keys of he and Moses appeared before us, and parts of the earth, and the leading gathering of Israel from the four land of the north. of the ten tribes from the administer to the sick in the absence Has a priest the authority to of an elder? the keys of the ministering No; the lesser priesthood holds

of angels and the preparatory gospel, which is of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments. Priests are to teach the principles of the gospel as directed by the Spirit, but when there are any sick, "the elders of the Church, two or more, shall be called, and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name." (Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 42: 44; also verses 12, 13, and James 5: 14). There is no objection to a priest assisting in this ordinance, when he is called upon by an elder, but nowhere is he given authority to do so in the absence of an elder. What is the correct wording of the fourth article of faith? Wero the articles of faith given by revelation; if so, when and where? The fourth article of faith as now given reads: "We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: First, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost." When the Prophet Joseph Smith first wrote the articles of faith, in Nauvoo, in 1842, they were included in a letter to a newspaper publisher who had written to obtain a short account of the founding of the Church, its progress and persecutions, and were in no wise then given as a revelation, though their principles, ordinances, and doctrines, had, of course, previously been revealed to the Prophet. In this writing, the fourth article began: "We believe that these ordinances are," etc. The change, as above given, was first made in Talmage's Articles of Faith, for the obvious reason that the article in question enumerates both principles and ordinances — faith and repentance are principles; baptism and the laying on of hands are ordinances. "MAN PROPOSES." Perhaps some of the young ladies who are readers of the Era will answer this perplexing question, in some other way than that of the unreturned missionaries who have sent the following to the Era. We shall be glad to print the best reply:

EDITOR'S TABLE. 549 — Editor Improvement Era: We have searched in vain for the moral in the story "Man Proposes," in the Era for March. We, however, think we have found something else, a secret, in fact, which has long puzzled us, and which is this: Why d» so many of the Latter-day Saint girls "go back on" their absent young men in the mission field? The problem is now solved, by the aid of "Man Proposes," as follows: These missionaries are usually not wealthy young men, and, because of their temporary absence from money-making employment, there are no prospects for them of immediate worldly riches. The girls are aware of this, and know that these young men as husbands cannot continue to array their wives' "delicate forms" in "shining pink satin dresses" or hang aroung their necks "priceless bertha of Duchesse lace," or add to tha already "heavily ringed fingers" a "diamond ring to sparkle on the engagement finger," — therefore, excuse the slang, it is "all off" with these boys — these (Yours truly,) Unreturned Missionaries. Liverpool March 20, 1905. ANNUAL M. I. A. CONFERENCE. At a meeting of the General Boards, on Wednesday, April 19, it was decided to hold the annual conjoint M. I. A. conference on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 9, 10, 11, 1905, in Salt Lake City. The first conjoint officers' meeting will be held in the Assembly Hall, 10 a. m., Sunday, and general meetings will follow at 2 and 7 o'clock p. m. in the tabernacle. Interesting programs will be presented. Separate officers' meetings, which all the officers are specially invited to attend, will be held on Friday and Saturday, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. An officers' reception, including a light program, refreshments and dancing, will be given in the Granite Stake Tabernacle on the evening of the 9th. Every M. I. A. worker in the Church should make it a point to be present at this conference. Let us make it a feast of information, inspiration to will be sework, and social rejoicing. Rates on all the railroads cured. Watch for the announcements. NO. 7. VOL. 1 WANTED. The Era of above volume is wanted at this office. We will pay 25 cents for each number.