--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Halls, William collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 15 number: 12 published: 1912-10 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'William Halls, "The Ax at the Roots of the Tree," *Improvement Era* 15, no. 12 (October 1912): 1103–1105.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera15012unse 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: improvementera15012unse start_page: 1103 end_page: 1105 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1912-10) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera15012unse publication_year: 1912 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 1912, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Ax at the Roots of the Tree he Ax at the Roots of the Tree BY WILLIAM HALLS, AUTHOR OF "SELECT WRITINGS' "And now also the ax is laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire." When the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith that all the Christian churches were without divine authority, that "they teach for doctrine the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof," the ax was laid at the roots of the tree of modern Christendom. The Prophet Daniel saw the time that the God of heaven would set up a kingdom that should break in pieces all other kingdoms, fill the whole earth, and stand forever. The ax would be laid at the roots of all human churches. When the Lord gave the Latter-day Saints the law that governed the people in the day of Enoch, the ax was laid at the roots of plutocracy, pauperism, strikes, lockouts, boycotts, anarchy, tyranny, slavery and militarism : "And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness, and there was no poor among them." Being equal in material privileges, and none being poor, there was no incentive to industrial strife, nor any cause for war. In the revelation called a "Word of Wisdom," the ax is laid at the roots of intemperance, and physical, mental and spiritual degeneracy. The law of "celestial marriage" lays the ax at the roots of divorce, suicide, prostitution, and all unlawful commerce of the sexes. All these trees bearing forbidden fruit must be hewn down, not to leave the field barren, but to give room for the "tree of life" that its branches may fill the earth, whose leaves (the principles of the gospel of Christ) "are for the healing of the nations." When the elders go into the world and proclaim a new dispensation, and testify that the priesthood has been restored by the ministry of angels, that the Church of Christ is organized 1104 IMPROVEMENT ERA with all the officers, doctrines, ordinances and spiritual gifts that were in the Church in the days of Christ, they put all the members of the Christian churches in general, and their ministers in particular, on the defensive, since to accept the authority of the elders is to deny their own authority. A man that is educated exclusively for the ministry, who has a congregation that furnish him and his family a living, if he should be convinced of the divine mission of Joseph Smith and the truth of the message of the elders, a change would come into his life, new conditions would be forced upon him. If he continues in the ministry, he must act in violation of his convictions, and the consciousness of hypocrisy will destroy his self-respect, his peace of mind, and his hopes of future reward. His mind will be darkened till he will be led to fight against the truth. On the other hand, if he should resign his ministry, and become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he will lose the respect of his congregation, and his present means of living. To take the Cross and despise the shame, under such conditions, requires such faith and courage as few men possess. The ax is laid at the root of his pride, his social standing, and his means of support. The same is true, but in a less degree, with the lay members. As in the days of Christ, so today, the gospel is apt to set father against son, mother against daughter, children against parents, and master against servant. We have known a father to disinherit his son, a mother to turn her only daughter out of doors, regardless of what might befall her. We have seen children turn against their parents, and a master discharge his servant, because of their joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The ax was laid at the roots of parental, filial and fraternal affection. A young man in a good position, with every prospect of advancement, is called to go and preach the gospel among strangers, for several years, to give all his time, labor, and several hundred dollars, bearing his own expense. The ax is laid at the root of his worldly prospects. A young woman is acquainted with a young man, a non-member of the Church, who makes her an offer of marriage ; her affections say, "Yes ;" but her conscience says, "It is not wise. It will bring sorrow and disappointment," and so she says, "No." The ax is laid at the root of her most ardent desire. T HE AX AT THE ROOTS OF THE TREE 1105 The Savior said to the man who had kept all the commandments pertaining to the moral law, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasures in heaven, and come and follow me." The merchant sold all he had to purchase the pearl of great price. The price of eternal life is self-denial and sacrifice ; yet in the application of this law, it is not the design of the Lord to keep his people poor, but rather to make them rich. By self-denial we overcome those habits that weaken our bodies, darken our minds, and bring us under the bondage of sin ; and we adopt those habits that give us health, wisdom, and freedom from the bondage of sin. By sacrifice we overcome selfishness and learn to use our means wisely for our own happiness and the good of others. Jesus said to his disciples, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." When men use their wealth in the right way, the more they have the better. The man whose income is ten thousand dollars, and who pays one thousand in tithing has nine thousand left. The man whose income is ten hundred dollars and pays one hundred in tithing, has but nine hundred left. While each is justified, one can do more good than the other. In making sacrifice for the gospel's sake there is no risk, as the reward is sure. Jesus promised "a hundred fold in this life, and in the world to come, eternal life." The young man who goes on a mission makes a good investment of his time, labor and means. He gains an experience that lifts him to a higher plane; life means more to him; he has a brighter conception of his relationship to his Father in heaven, and to mankind. The Spirit of the Savior animates his soul, his charity and sympathy are extended; he is a broader and better man. We must be stripped and washed clean before putting on the wedding garment. All our evil trees must be hewn down before we can partake of the fruits of the tree of life. In this dispensation of the fulness of times, the Lord is pruning his vineyard, he has given to Joseph Smith, and, through him, to the elders of Israel, the keys of the Priesthood, with a divine mission to lay the ax at the root of every principle of evil that leads in the broad road to destruction ; and to plant in their own hearts, and in the hearts of all who will receive it, every principle of good that leads in