--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 8 number: 12 published: 1905-10 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Editor’s Table—The Effective Course," *Improvement Era* 8, no. 12 (October 1905): 940–946.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0812unse 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: improvementera0812unse start_page: 940 end_page: 946 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1905-10) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0812unse publication_year: 1905 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 1905, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Editor’s Table—The Effective Course EDITOR'S TABLE. THE EFFECTIVE COURSE. Undoubtedly the question often arises in the minds of young men who find themselves in the mission field, "What shall I say?" And another follows closely upon it, "How shall I say it?" To those who go out in earnestness, and who have made a partial study of the principles of the gospel at home, the first question will soon be solved, even if they have failed to make the very best use of their time and opportunities in our schools, associations and religious meetings. They will soon find attraction in the principles of truth, and, as they find time, by close application, become familiar with the teachings set forth in the gospel of Jesus Christ, as revealed to and taught by the Latter-day Saints. But the sec- ond question, involving the best method of delivering the message which the missionary has gone out to proclaim, that is not always so readily solved. And yet, the success or failure of a mission largely depends upon the false or accurate solution of this problem. It, therefore, becomes very important for a young man that he shall learn to settle correctly how to deliver his message, and how to present to men, in the most striking and effective way, the precious gospel of life and light. While no specific rule may be given, experience has taught that the simplest way is the best. Having learned the principles of the gospel,through a prayerful spirit and by careful study, these should be presented to men in humility, in the simplest forms of speech, without presumption or arrogance, and in the spirit of the mission of Christ. This can not be done if a young missionary EDITOR'S TABLE. 941 waste his effort in a vain-glorious attempt to become a noisy orator, as it is reported from some of the missions that a few of our young men are doing. This is the point I wish to impress upon the elders, and to advise that all oratorical effort be confined to ap- propriate times and places. In the mission field is not the time and place for such effort. The gospel is not successfully taught by ostentatious display of words and argument, but rather is impressed by modest and rational statements of its simple truths, uttered in a way that will touch the heart, and appeal, as well, to reason and sound sense. remember years ago visiting in Scandinavia with a number I of the brethren, and observed how earnestness and simplicity in the speaker, and how plain everyday truth, stated without pretense or affectation, succeeded in winning the hearts of the people, where formality, and display of logic and argument, though given in faultless and musical language, produced little or no effect upon them. We had in our company one brother to whom the first course was natural, and another who had adopted the latter. The first won the good will of the congregations, caused beaming countenances and hearty welcomes; while the other, though ad- mired, produced a cold, artificial feeling. Numberless examples might be added to show how men who have been most earnest and natural, have most won the confi- dence, love and good-will of the people. A short time spent among the Saints in a district is sufficient to learn the different views entertained by them about the dispositions of missionaries who have labored among them. Invariably, the man who has acted most natural has won the greatest hold upon their affections. Showiness, insincerity, ostentation are peculiarities the gloss of which dis- cerning men penetrate at a glance; and the person who displays them will not win the admiration of discriminating people. They are absolutely foreign to the spirit of the gospel, and certainly should have no place in the life and character of the missionary. It isn't the rounded period, but the thought which it contains, that is of value; nor is it the faultless sentence so much as the spirit accompanying the speaker that awakens life and light in the soul. The spirit must first be with the missionary, if he shall succeed in awakening its response in his hearers; and this is true 942 IMPROVEMENT ERA. whether the words be spoken in conversation, face to face, or in public gatherings. The spirit will not manifest itself in the per- son who devotes his time to deliver what he has to say in pomp- ous words or with display of oratory. He hopes to please arti- ficially, and not effectively through the heart. Oratory, if it is not a failure, as it is in most cases, causes admiration, but never a testimony. Men rise to great occasions naturally, but the lan- guage and style of such occasions "put on" at pleasure, make the user ridiculous, and utterly fail to serve the purpose sought in the delivery of the testimony of truth. There is, as well, a more serious disadvantage. It is that young men who give such great thought to what may be called art- ificial modes of expression, who aim at style, oratory and effect, neither learn to understand nor to teach the gospel. Indeed, it may be safely said that failure will follow in their footsteps, as far as their being able to convert any one to the gospel is con- cerned. Neither do they become convinced of the truth them- selves, because they spend more time catering to form than to enduring substance, to parade than to fact. It is, therefore, of great importance that the gospel should be preached in the simplest and most intelligible way. This does not mean that the language should not be choice, nor that all the refinement possible should not be employed, but that there should be no affectation, nothing "put on." There is enough in the gospel to occupy our earnest time and language, without devoting our time to artificial effects. By earnestness and simplicity the missionary will not only establish himself in the truth, but his testimony will convince others. He will also learn to stand for himself, with God as his helper; he will touch the hearts of the people, and will have the pleasure of seeing them come to an understanding of his message. The spirit of the gospel will shine forth from his soul, and others will partake of his light and rejoice therein. The other course will be ineffectual, serving no useful purpose,either to the missionary himself or to those who hear him, but rather leading to vanity, emptiness and futility. In the mission field, as in our daily lives, it is best to be na- tural, rational —neither given to exaggeration of spiritual gifts, nor to destructive affectation in act or language. It is best to EDITORS TABLE. 943 develop simplicity of speech, earnestness of manner, humility of spirit, and a feeling of love for our fellows, thereby cultivating that well-balanced common sense in our lives that shall command the respect and admiration of the honest in heart, and insure the continual presence and aid of the Spirit of God. Joseph F. Smith. A WORD FROM THE EDITORS. With this number the Era closes its eighth volume. The editors and the General Board are grateful to the young men who have helped to make our magazine a success. Their labors in ob- taining subscribers are greatly appreciated, and it should be gener- ally understood that without the unselfish efforts of the Y. M. M. I. A. officers, it would not have been possible to present as good a magazine as the Era for two dollars per annum. Some have con- tended that it should be cheaper, but when it is remembered that all the missionaries are supplied with a copy, post free, gratis; that a large manual is given free with each subscription; that where five per cent of the Church population is obtained as sub- scribers, 25 cents for each subscription is returned to the asso- ciation; and, finally, where the necessarily limited circulation is considered, that comes to a class publication, the price is as low as it can be made, and insure success. We believe by concerted effort, on the part of our officers, the circulation may be doubled for volume nine, which begins Novem- ber 1. Attention is called to the special features of this volume, in the prospectus bound into this number, and we urge officers to present this in detail to the public, and make an extra effort now to obtain subscriptions for the new volume. A little work on the part of returned missionaries, who above all others understand the real value of our publication, will greatly aid the cause. They should be solicited not only to subscribe, but to induce others to become regular readers of the Era. The work should be done immediately, and if the officers get at it in good season, their suc- cess is certain, for it has been demonstrated that it is an easy 944 IMPROVEMENT ERA. matter to obtain subscriptions when solicitation is made of the people in an intelligent way and at the right time. We trust the officers will see the necessity of promptly subscribing themselves, and then that they will all make a united effort to circulate the Era widely in their home cities and towns. We also appeal to the general readers to renew their subscriptions at once. In this connection, we also express our thanks to all our writers whose names are printed in the index of authors in this number. Without their gratuitous assistance, the Era could not have appeared. Many of them have promised to give us articles for the next volume, and we solicit aid from them all, and from new writers who wish to present their thoughts to the young men of Zion and to the Latter-day Saints and the world generally. The Latter-day Saints have hundreds of young men and women who have received higher education in the great educational institu- tions of our state and nation, as well as in foreign nations, and on missions, in well nigh all the nations of the earth. We consider that these fortunate persons owe a debt to those who may not have been as fortunate, and to those who have toiled to provide them these privileges. It may be partly repaid by their giving some of their best thoughts, stories and observations to the Era, for the advancement, edification, and benefit of the community as a whole. We invite them to write for our magazine. Such work will keep them in touch with the gospel, and with the spirit of our work, and while some may think "there is nothing in it," we are convinced that it will be a gain to them richer than gold. Let us hear from you. We thank God for the good which the Era has done in the past, and for the helpwhich it has rendered in the cause of truth and progress, and approach the new year with hope for continued success, confident that it will result from our united efforts. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH, VOLUME III. The third volume of The History oj the Church is printed. It concludes, for the present, the annals of the Saints in Missouri. There are some forty-seven pages of interesting introduction by the EDITOR'S TABLE. 945 editor, Elder B. H. Roberts, which serves as a most excellent pre- liminary consideration of the causes that led to the troubles in and around the center stake of Zion; and gives a complete understanding of the questions and people, which arose and who were the early act- ors, in the tragic drama of the Church in Missouri- The subheadings following give an idea of the topics treated: "Enlightenment a Factor in Determining Responsibility for Conduct," "The People of Missouri and the Saints," "The Question of Slavery," "Political Fears," "The Saints and the Indians," "The Unwisdom of the Saints," and "Retribution." The latter topic is treated at length, and demonstrates how Missouri, in her treatment of the Saints in 1833-9, sowed the wind which she reaped as a whirlwind, in 1855- 65. The lesson drawn is that when nations, states, individuals, feel power, they must not forget justice. "The Unwisdom of the Saints" is also treated judiciously in an extended article, which even to the Saints today, has its wise lessons to teach. The third volume of History of the Church, treating, as it does, a mo3t important and exciting period of the history of the Saints, is made doubly valuable by the editor's carefully considered and explicit introduction. The division under the heading, "The Saints and the Indians," as one of the pretexts of trouble, is here quoted in full: The interest of the Saints in the American Indians grows out of the knowledge they have of their forefathers, revealed through the Book of Mormon. From the historical parts of that book they learn the origin of these Indians; that they are of the house of Israel: from the prophetic parts of the book, they learn of their future, that it is to be glorious; that fallen as their fortunes now are, they will not always remain so; extinction is not their fate, but before many generations shall pass away they will become a white and a delightsome people, favored of God, and prominent in bringing to pass hi3 purposes in the — land of Zion the two Americas. It was a mission to the Lamanites or Indians who first brought several of the elders of the Church of Christ to western Missouri. When the people of Missouri learned in what esteem the Saints held the forefathers of the Indians: and also the Indians themselves, both on account of their forefathers and the prom- ises of God to them, it was but reasonable that they should conclude there was —as indeed there — a strong sympathy on the part of the is 946 IMPROVEMENT ERA. believe that Saints towards the Indians; and there was great reason to this sympathy might become mutual. It was in this substratum of truth that the false accusations against the Saints were founded, to the effect that they were seeking to enter into an alliance with the Indian tribes of the west for the purpose of driving the old settlers from their possessions in western Missouri, in order that the Saints with the Indians might possess the land to the ex- clusion of the "Gentiles." To appreciate the seriousness of this charge, it should be remem- bered that the Indian tribes formerly residing east of the Mississippi, ' — about this time during President Jackson's two presidential terms, 1829-1837— were being transplanted into the country immediately west numbers of these people— amount- of Missouri, so that there were great ing to many thousands — being massed just beyond the boundaries of the state. Many of the tribes were in no amiable mood, either. In some instances the terms of the treaties by which they accepted lands in the Indian territory west of Missouri, for lands that constituted their old homes in the east and south, were forced upon them after to them — —disastrous wars; might well be suspected that they would so that it be ready to follow any leader who would hold out promise of regaining their lost possessions, or who would give them the hope of revenge upon their despoilers. Let these facts be considered and given their due weight, and the reader will not find it difficult to perceive what a potent factor against the Saints this charge of holding communication with the Indians for the purpose of dispossessing the people of western Missouri of their homes would be; and, as in the case of the slavery question, their ene- mies were not slow to see the advantage, and made the most of it. It was not until the agitation for the removal of the Saints from Clay county began, however, 1836, that this charge of holding communica- tion with the Indians, for the purposes already set forth, was publicly made. Then, in the document adopted at the mass meeting setting forth the several reasons of the old settlers for asking the Saints to remove from Clay county, this passage occurs: "In addition to all this, they are charged, as they have hitherto been, with keeoing up a constant communication with our Indian tribes on the frontiers; with declaring, even from the pulpit, that the Indians are a part of God's chosen people, and are destined by heaven to in- herit this land, in common with themselves. We do not vouch for the correctness of these statements; but, whether they are true or false, their effect has been the same in exciting the community. In times of greater tranquility, such ridiculous remarks might well be regarded as