--- 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: 15 number: 1 published: 1911-11 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Smith, Joseph F., "A Word to Ward Teachers," *Improvement Era* 15, no. 1 (November 1911): 78.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1501unse 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: improvementera1501unse start_page: 78 end_page: 78 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1911-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1501unse publication_year: 1911 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 1911, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # A Word to Ward Teachers 78 IMPROVEMENT ERA His broad spirit of tolerance enabled him to hold factions together for the good of his state and people, even when bitter disputes threatened to disrupt. And what he did with his own, he was admirably qualified to accomplish with strangers, and so in his activities he allayed prejudice against Utah and her people wherever he journeyed throughout the land, or associated with leaders of men in congresses and conventions. His masterly eloquence and convincing speech made friends everywhere, because there were no stings to bruise — only tolerance, truth and brotherly kindness, to win the heart. He not only went about doing good, but he saw and sought good in all men, and found it; and they in turn respected his sterling manhood, and loved him and his people for his love of them. His name is known for good from one end of the land to the other — and with the Latter-day Saints is a household word. It is said that he loves God most who serves mankind the best. Judged by this stand- ard, John Henry Smith was a true lover of God, for he was a friend and lover of all men. Straightforward in his actions, guilty of no double dealing, outspoken, candid, full of cheer and hope, respected and loved by all, hated by none, full of integrity for the truth, and faithful in all things, John Henry Smith has finished his work and passed to his fathers, full of years and honor. In the great tabernacle, on October 17, the day his body was laid^to rest, ten thousand friends, among the hundreds of thou- sands who mourned his death, paid their tribute of love to him as a man of sterling character, a loyal citizen, a wise counsellor, and a dear, big-hearted friend. A Word to Ward Teachers. President Joseph F. Smith, at the third session of the late semi-annual conference, said: There are just a few words that I desire to say in relation to the subject on which some of the brethren have dwelt this morning, which I have no doubt they perfectly understand, but which, so far as I have heard, they omitted to say, and that is this : that the teachers who visit our homes do not come to visit us as Elders or Seventies or High Priests or Apostles or Presidents. The teachers have jurisdiction over the membership of the Church, or the mem-