--- 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: 16 number: 1 published: 1912-11 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Joseph F. Smith, "“What Is to Become of Such as Me?”," *Improvement Era* 16, no. 1 (November 1912): 70–71.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1601unse 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: improvementera1601unse start_page: 70 end_page: 71 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1912-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1601unse 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. --- # “What Is to Become of Such as Me?” 70 IMPROVEMENT ERA and title to the property temporarily vacated should in all cases, and by every lawful means, be maintained. "Second: That all those who wish to permanently remain in the United States should take immediate steps, with the aid of the committee appointed, to render needed assistance, to make definite arrangements to repair to the places decided on by themselves in which to settle. "Third: Those who regard it as unsafe to return to their homes at present, but who expect to do so under changed conditions, are advised to take up their temporary abode as near to the border line as they can, where suitable and profitable employment may be obtained. "Fourth: In view of what has happened, and what may yet take place, we have not felt, neither do we now feel, that we could consistently assume the responsibility of advising our colonists to return to their homes, and must therefore leave the responsibility of deciding this question with themselves. But to all who may decide to return, we cheerfully say, go with our sanction and blessing and our prayers for your preservation and success. "Your Brethren, "Joseph F. Smith, "Anthon H. Lund, "Charles W. Penrose, "First Presidency." "What is to Become of Such as Me?" That there are many good people in the world who believe the principles of the gospel as taught by the Latter-day Saints, and yet, through circumstances and environment, are not prepared to publicly accept the same, is evidenced by the following letter written by a reverend gentleman to a kinsman and member of the Church in Idaho, and which the Era is permitted to use. The names of the parties immediately interested, for obvious reasons, are omitted. The letter follows : "And this brings me to say, in a word, that it is refreshing to hear you express your hope of meeting beyond mortality those of your beloved friends who have gone before, for it is strange if we are endowed with such powers of mind and affections of spirit and faith in God, merely to live in this world for a few years, and then just as we are getting used to it, and begin to be of any use, to be blotted out and be no more. Whoever can believe this outrageous nonsense? I know this is simply a common-sense way of looking at it, but 'we EDITOR'S TABLE 71 have a more sure way of prophecy,' and you 'Mormons' an additionally sure word, regarding this and other things; at least, I think so. Fortunately or unfortunately for me, I say, I believe you people are right in following the word given with such wonderful power and certainty, as witnessed by the disinterested men who saw with their own eyes and heard with their own ears, at the beginning. Who can believe these, with Joseph and Hyrum Smith, were all liars and worse? I cannot. But here, dear cousin, is a question for you and your elders: What is to become of such as me, who believe this about you, and yet are tied and bound by circumstances such as mine? Here I have been a minister for fifty-five years, and an ordained priest in the English church, the church of our forefathers, thirty-eight years. I have exercised this ministry all those years, unbroken — I cannot change now if I would. I am an old man seventy-eight years next birthday (March 10, 1835, I was born). Yes, let there be no mistake about my belief. I preach three sermons every week and execute other ministerial duties, but I never preach anything contrary to the doctrines of 'Mormonism,' not designedly but necessarily, because I see the fundamentals of Holy Scripture are the same as those restored by what people call 'Mormonism.' I am not referring to the peculiar, what I would call, accidents of the latter-day work, such as the marriage law that people have made themselves such fools and liars about, but I mean the doctrines and covenants and organization of the Church which seem to me to be perfect. This is a lot for me to say who have nothing to do with the matter, and I did not intend to say so much when I began, but my visit to you and my uncle quite satisfied me that you were not the sort of bad people you. were described to be in certain quarters." In answer to the question, "What is to become of such as me?" let it be said that every person will receive his just reward for the good he may do and for his every act. But let it be remembered that all blessings which we shall receive, either here or hereafter, must come to us as a result of our obedience to the laws of God upon which these blessings are predicated. Our friend will not be forgotten for the kindness he has extended to the work and the servants of the Lord, but will be remembered of Him and rewarded for his faith and for every good deed and word. But there are many blessings that result from obeying the ordinances of the gospel, and acknowledging the priesthood authorized of the Father and restored to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that cannot be obtained, until the person is willing to comply with the ordinances and keep the commandments revealed in our day for the salvation of mankind. The true searcher will see and understand this truth and act upon it,