Articles of Determination

1046 IMPROVEMENT ERA Answer: Joseph Smith the Prophet was a Mason. Question 18: Was Joseph Smith, Jr., a polygamist? Answer : Joseph Smith introduced and practiced plural marriage. The proofs of this are abundant and complete. These questions are answered, so that it may not be truthfully claimed that we avoid them. Some of them are not subjects of discussion among the Latter-day Saints, but are brought forward usually by persons who desire to cavil and contend, and rarely from a real desire for information. It is to be hoped that our correspondent is not among that number. Yours sincerely, Charles W. Penrose, Of the First Presidency. Articles of Determination Elder Andrew Kimball Smith, son of President Joseph F. Smith, recently attended a conference of the Netherlands-Belgium mission with many elders and with Presidents Rudger Clawson of the European ; Andreas Peterson, of the Swedish ; Martin Christopherson, of the Scandinavian; R. W. Eardley, of the Netherlands-Belgium ; and H. W. Valentine, of the German, mission. Elder Smith writes to his mother: "We had twelve meetings and were kept busy digesting good advice and counsel. Each missionary was expected to take part in the discussion. I returned to Leipzig with many new ideas, and also many resolutions. I believe it was President Lund who once said, Tt is better to make resolutions and break them than not to make any at all.' I am going to tell you what a few of my resolutions are : "I intend to rise at 7 o'clock in the morning, or before, r(gardless of the time I retire. "2. I intend to eat regularly and moderately, and never break the Word of Wisdom. "3. It matters not whether I distribute three or seventy-five tracts, I intend to do two hours of conscientious tracting a day, for five days in the Week. "4. I do not intend to visit my room between 9:30 a.m. and 9 at night, except upon extraordinary occasions. "5. I intend to be punctual at every meal, invitation, and meeting. "6. I intend to study my Bible-class lesson, Sunday school lesson, brothers'-meeting lesson, Priesthood meeting lesson, etc., as faithfully as any other missionary and Saint in the branch. "7. I intend to obey in spirit and letter all instructions and admonitions of those rjlaced in authority over me.