Editor's Table: Thanksgiving Day; Church Literature in Japan

EDITOR'S TABLE. THANKSGIVING DAY. As far back as history is recorded, men have given thanks for the blessings they have enjoyed. Thanksgiving day seems to be the only holiday which the Americans celebrate right. It is a home day. A day of association and love in the home. The day in New England history dates from November, 1621, when, the year following the landing, the Plymouth colony numbered little scarcely a hundred people. In Governor William Bradford's His- tory of the Plymouth Plantation (1602-47), it is said: "Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, so that we might, after a special manner, rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruit of our labors." And so the custom grew and was observed year after year, until now Thanksgiving is the national anniversary. The Pilgrims landed on the shortest day of the year, in 1620; but the Massachusetts Bay Colony, of two thousand people, on the longest day, in 1630. The latter were well equipped, and had every sign of prosperity about them. But their first Thanksgiving was more dramatic. The sea food in the new country was unfa- miliar to them, and the following fall and winter many died. Gov- ernor John Winthrop, however, with rare foresight, had sent Cap- tain Pierce with a ship to England, soon after they landed, with nstructions to hastily return loaded with wheat, barley, oats, rye, cheese and butter. When, in February of 1631, Pierce's return- ing ship hove in sight, the colony were tired and discouraged. The governor had his "last batch of bread in the oven," and there

56 IMPROVEMENT ERA. were sickness, sorrow, death and apprehension. In January solemn fasts had been observed, and the grumbling and discontented were reminded by the General Court that "man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." They were told that it will not do to sit sighing here for the flesh pots of Egypt. So a solemn fast was appointed that the people might learn how to use their flesh and fish, and remember that they came there for "the greater glory of God and to enjoy him forever." But when the ship hove in sight, the General Court's order for fasting was changed to one for thanksgiving. Thus came the first Thanksgiving Day for the Massachusetts Bay colony. It was the first and last Thanksgiving in February, for which there was then a very good reason. The old New England Thanksgiving, in November, was afterwards adopted, and from such beginnings as these it has grown to be a holiday in all the states and dominions of our great country. It is a day for thanks to God for his bountiful gifts to us. As a nation we are at peace; we are prosperous beyond prophecy. There is plenty of wheat, and corn, and rye, and oats, and flesh and fowl for all, and enough to send a daily surplus to our brothers in every part of the world. And let us hope there is love for our fellows and for each other, and a genuine spirit of thanks and de- votion in our hearts to the Giver of all good. No people on the earth have greater occasion to be thankful to the Lord this Thanksgiving Day than the Latter-day Saints. They enjoy all these blessings, and in addition the custody of the gospel of our Lord, with its accompanying spiritual gifts. They should not be forgetful of these things, nor of their duties and re- sponsibilities because of them. On this day there should be no poor or unfortunate one forgotten, no homeless one or stranger in our midst uncomforted; for be it remembered there is scarcely a land or an ocean where some of our wanderers are not passing lonely in the cities, traversing the valleys, or counting the waves. Let us serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with singing. ' 'Know ye not," says the Psalmist, that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his

EDITOR'S TABLE. 57 gates with thanksgiving, and unto his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." CHURCH LITERATURE IN JAPAN. The Era has received a copy of A Brief History of the Church, translated into Japanese by Elder John W. Stoker, illustrated with many Utah scenes, and persons, and a map of the United States, and published by the Japan Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In an interesting letter to the editors, Elder Alma 0. Taylor, president of the mission, says: We have no apologies to make, for the general appearance of the book inside or out, nor for the slight mistakes that appear, for considering that this is the first attemptmade by us to publish a book of such size and kind, we are proud of the success of this our maiden effort. There are many books in circulation which bear the name of experienced publishers, but they are no better than "our his- tory." * * * * Elder Stoker, whose faithful, diligent labor made the translation a success, is a recipient of the praise and gratitude of the mission president, missionaries, and Saints, all of whom have anxiously and prayerfully awaited the coming forth of this book in the native language. And while we give to Elder Stoker and those who rendered valuable assistance to the work, due praise and honor, we recognize that without the blessing of God our success would not have been as satisfactory as it is. The first edition consists of 1,000 copies, 500 copies bound in cloth and 500 in paper. We sell the cloth binding for 55 sen (27 1-2 cents) each, and the paper bound copies for 40 sen (20 cents each). One of Elder Stoker's relatives suggested that there doesn't seem to be any- thing "brief" about this history, judging by the time it has taken to translate and publish it into Japanese. But the translation was particularly difficult, for it required the deepest thought and study to make suitable and true translations of the words and expressions peculiar to our Church. In fact, words like '"high council," "primary," "revelation," "priesthood," "Godhead," etc., have each taken hours and hours of thought and discussion, for these words have their pecu- liar significance in our Church, and the current words for even a common English word like "revelation," are too sectarian in meaning to be of any use to us. This translation presents many entirely new words to the Japanese vocabulary, and it has been an arduous labor indeed to get words which convey the true meaning of

58 IMPROVEMENT ERA. our English, and at the same time that would be within the range of the reader's un- derstanding, for be it kept in mind that new words in Japanese are made by making new combinations of old words. By this book, then,wehopeto successfully and en- duringly establish, among our members at least, definite Japanese words convey- ing the meaning of our strictly "Mormon" terms. The English preface was not translated, but instead the fol- lowing introduction appears, the English of which is here printed. President Taylor and his associates certainly deserve high com- mendation and praise for their persistent, literary labors, under very trying conditions, not only with this work, but with the very great task of translating and printing the Book of Mormon which they are now completing: PREFACE. Believing that the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, when read without prejudice and with a desire to know facts, is one of the strong- est evidences of the divinity of its claims, and intensely interesting even to the casual reader; and recognizing the need of such a history for the benefit of the Saints and investigators in Japan, the translation of A Brief History of the Church was undertaken. Elder John W. Stoker was selected by the officers of the Japan mission to make the translation. He labored faithfully and well to accomplish his task, but having very many other duties to perform in connection with the mission, he was unable to devote his entire time to the work. Finally, through the blessings of God, his translation was completed, and the criticisms and suggestions of several capable Japanese were solicited and kindly given. This baok, being simply a brief history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Lat- ter-day Saints, does not attempt to detail events, but to mention, in a general and accurate way, the important incidents connected with the rise and progress of the Church from the early part of the 19th century to the present time. The author of the original, Elder Edward F. Anderson, compiled this brief history from, and after a careful research of, the full and reliable histories of the Church and its leaders. Several minor and unimportant items, together with many proper names, have been omitted in the translation. At the same time, additional historical facts have been inserted where, in the judgment of the translator and his counselors, such additions were necessary and of interest. So far as possible the history has been illustrated, and two maps showing the migrations of the Church, have been carefully prepared. A rather lengthy appendix, not in the original, discusses the relationship of the "Mormon" Church to polygamy, both as a practice aud prin- ciple, and gives a brief story of the Japan mission. A perusal of the pages of this book will give a fair idea of the great faith of the Latter-day Saints, and the unparalleled hardships through which they passed for

EDITOR'S TABLE. 59 the sake of their religious convictions. The reader will also note, perhaps with more or less wonderment, the marvelous advancement and growth of this remark- able Church, in spite of the slander heaped upon it, the persecution waged against it, and the continual opposition it has received. And, too, reference to the prin- ciples and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which gospel is nothing more nor less than the plan which Cod, the Eternal Father of man, and Creator of heaven and earth, has established for the salvation of the human race, will be found herein by the careful reader. While the true name of the Church is: "The Church of Jesus Christ of Lat- ter-day Saints" (the words "Latter-day Saints" are used to show the relation of tha Saints today to those who lived in the days of Christ and the Apstles), it is often referred to as "the 'Mormon' Church;" members as "Mormons," and its the system as "Mormonism." The reason is this: As this history shows, a sacred book known as the Book of Mormon, was revealed to the world through the agency of Joseph Smith. The Latter-day Saints look upon this book as the word of God. It is one of the standard books of the Church. Therefore, the enemies of the Church, desiring to avoid the true name, nicknamed it the "Mormon" Church in derision. By this nickname it has become known throughout the world. There is no particular objection to the name "Mormon" itself, for Mor- mon was a man of God, who lived in America anciently. He is the prophet who compiled the Book of Mormon. The meaning of the word, "Mormon" is "more good." The " 'Mormon' Church" certainly stands for all that is good. we pray that the Spirit of God may ac- In presenting this book to the public, company the same, and that those who read or study its contents may be con- vinced of the divine origin of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, and receive a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Japan Mission of the Church op Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 12, 1907.