--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Hyde, W. A. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 16 number: 6 published: 1913-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Hyde, W. A., "Why I am a “Mormon”," *Improvement Era* 16, no. 6 (April 1913): 531–546.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1606unse 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: improvementera1606unse start_page: 531 end_page: 546 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1913-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1606unse publication_year: 1913 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 1913, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Why I am a “Mormon” Why I am a "Mormon" BY PRESIDENT W. A. HYDE, OF THE POCATELLO STAKE OF ZION [President W. A. Hyde, of the Pocatello Stake of Zion, delivered this address some months ago, in the Congregational church, in Pocatello, Idaho, at the request of its pastor. It is one of a series given by members of the different churches from the pulpit of the Congrgational church in that city. As an effort to condense the gospel ideals of the Latter-day Saints into a forty-five minute speech, it is all that could be expected and is of value and interest especially to those who desire to investigate the gospel as taught by the Latter-day Saints. The address was highly spoken of by all classes, being well received by "Mormons" and non- "Mormons" alike. The Editors.] In answering the question, "Why am I a 'Mormon'?" I shall consider that I have made a satisfactory reply, if I shall have shown that "Mormonism" is a strong, beautiful, saving system of religion, and my discussion shall therefore be directed to an explanation of the most distinctly characteristic of our beliefs and as ; I suggested to your pastor, my effort, in the brief time that this meeting offers, shall be to touch only the high lights of our beliefs; and for this purpose I might profitably divide my subject into three divisions, — the philosophy of the gospel as believed in by us, the organization of the Church as the means for putting our theories into practical application, and the aims and accomplishments of our people. In the beginning, that our minds may be free from any confusion that may arise on account of the use of terms not entirely clear to all people, I will say that the title "Mormon" has been borne by us much against our will in the past, but of late years with more patience and resignation. I don't see why we should object to it, when not used officially, for the name itself is a good one, as it is that of a grand old soldier prophet who lived on this continent four hundred years after Christ. The name, 532 IMPROVEMENT ERA Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was adopted by the Church officially, in contra-distinction to that of the former day saints who constituted the organization of the Church in the days of Christ and his apostles. The term Christians, applied to the early Church in derision, has now become the most honored generic title of religion that one may know, and the title of "Mormons" has attached to us, and has been accepted by us, much in the same way. To consider the philosophy of "Mormonism," is to consider itsdoctrines, for they are philosophical, and based upon truths so fundamental, as to be patent to us. "Mormonism" is essentially Christian. Christ is the heart and soul of it. Eliminate his divine personality form it and the philosophy is at once destroyed. Every highway and by-way in our theories lead to him. He is with us the stone that has "become the head of the corner." This philosophy, which we term the gospel of Jesus Christ, is fundamental, — a plan made in the beginning, before this world was delivered by the councils of God to Adam, preached unto ; Abraham, renewed in modified form by type and symbol in the days of Moses, bearing its flower and fruit in the meridian of time, in the coming to the earth of Christ, its author preached in ; the demonstration of the Spirit by the apostles and followers of the Master renewed again in this Dispensation of the Fulness of ; Times, and which is now, as it has ever been, the "power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." While the truths of the gospel are deep, they are at the same time simple and easily understood. The Latter-day Saint is spiritually practical in his views of religion, and he is simple-minded in his acceptance of scripture. Making due allowance for the poetical and figurative in the Bible, he believes that that book should not be subject to "private interpretation," and he looks upon it as being a marvelously correct account of God's dealings with man kind. We have no sympathy with the modern tendency to subject to what is called the "higher criticism" the sacred word of God, or rather, we believe that the Bible will survive all such criticism. We believe that there are a few errors in the Bible, due to faulty translation, and that it suffers from incompleteness due to a loss of some of the writings of the prophets and ancient historians, but it is accepted as a standard of faith, and upheld as such by us. Basing our views upon this standard of faith, and upon the revelation of God to us, — we believe in God the Eternal Father, — and in his Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost, the glorious Trinity who form the Godhead. God, the Father in very deed, Jesus, his Son and our Elder Brother in very deed, and the Holy Ghost, a personage of Spirit, whose chief mission is to bear witness of the Father. We harmonize the apparently irreconcilable ideas of the personality and limited form of God with his omnipresence — WHY AM A "MORMON" I 533 by the statement that God is everywhere present by the influence of his Spirit that proceeds from his presence and fills all space, that illuminates and warms the earth, that enlightens the eyes, and quickens the minds and intellects of men. We believe that God is omnipotent by reason of his sufficient intelligence,— that the selfevident fact that "knowledge is power" has as its ultimate conclusion — God. We believe that the high aspiration in man that seeks and climbs, is the reaching out of the Infinite within us to the Infinite above us, and that an aeon of progress, perhaps, may see us nearing the place where knowledge will give us power to do, to create, to reign righteously, to uplift and exalt others, and these things are the elements of godhood. We believe that we were with God in the pre-existent state, that we came here willingly for the purpose of obtaining a body, with which, by obedience to God's laws, we might go back to him, having won eternal life and exaltation in his presence. We believe in the free agency, or moral liberty, of man, and with that free agency we place upon him the responsibility for his own acts. "We believe that man will be punished for his own sins, and not for Adam's transgression." The Fall of Adam brought death into the world, the Atonement of Christ brings life again. Man is not responsible for the condition brought about by Adam, and without terms, as far as man is concerned, that condition is removed by the vicarious offering of Christ. But having "bought us with this price," the Lord has imposed upon us the conditions by which our personal sins are to be forgiven. "We believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel." The laws and the ordinances of the gospel are the conditions that Christ imposes upon us as the price of entry into his fold, and we believe that he has not left us in doubt as to what those laws and ordinances are. The "Mormon" conception of scripture is that entry into the fold of Christ, which is the Church of Christ, must be by baptism of the repentant believer by immersion in water, and the baptism by the Holy Ghost of the repentant believer. In other words, he "must be born of the water and the Spirit or he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. Faith with us is the spiritual assurance that leads to action,— repentance, the proof of faith, in the laying aside, as far as man may. of his sins. — and baptism, their utter washing out by the beautiful figure of the death and burial of the old, and the coming forth of the new man in Christ, and finally comes the witness of the Holy Ghost which shall guide the honest soul into all truth. Webelieve that principles and ordinances, so sacred and farreaching as these, and which, by their very nature, presume the co-ooer^tion of God for the salvation of his children, may not be assumed or apply without proper authority. For these holy pur- 534 IMPROVEMENT Ek.\ poses, "we believe that man must he called of God by prophecy and by the laying on of hands by those in authority, to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof." We believe that there should be a clear distinction between the fact, which no one denies, that God invites all men to do good, and that he accepts the contributions of all men to righteousness, and the specific authority by which he is bound by the act of his agent. Authority is the foundation of all law, human and divine, and in the theory of the gospel, as believed in by the Latter-day Saints, one might as well take the authority of duly constituted officials out of civil government, as to take duly constituted authority out of ecclesiastical government. In either event there could be no legal act performed. We believe that no man, no matter how well intentioned he may be, "can take this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God." And that calling of God must be no sentimental idea merely as to the need of the work, and of ones own special fitness for it, but by a definite act of God, as in the case of the calling of Aaron, or by the act of one who has been empowered to select and appoint by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, as in the case of Barnabas or Saul. This authority the Latter-day Saints claim to have received, and upon it they base their claims to the right to preach, baptize, confirm, and administer in all the saving ordinances of the Kingdom. "We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kindgom of God." The bringing to light of the Book of Mormon, in the beginning of the history of the Latter-day Saints, was to them a wonderful and inspiring event. Outside of the interest it aroused in their minds as to the mystery of this continent, which it to a great degree solved, it broadened their conception of the scope of God's great work, and the words of Paul came to them with greater clearness, wherein he says "And hath made of one blood all nations of men : for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation that; they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us." It is no idle conception in the minds of the "Mormon" people, then, that outside of the scripture of the East and the scripture of the West, there may still be other scripture that is already written, that may ;n due time be revealed and we look forward to the time, when all of ; God's word that has been preserved shall be gathered together in one great volume. The Book of Mormon we look upon as being the fulfilment of the prophecy of Ezekiel, for to us it is the stick of Ephraim, or book of Ephraim, which was to be united with the stick, or book, of Tudah, and that the two should become one in the hands of the people. Wevalue the Book of Mormon as a compan- WHY AM A "MORMON" I 535 ion book to the Bible, and believe that it is indeed the word of God, and that the spirit and motive of the work have been accurately preserved in its translation. To us this book is beautiful because of its truth. From our standards, it may be crude in composition, and lacking' the embellishments of high literary art, but it must still stand as a masterpiece of literature, and i£s truthis and the purity of its motives, must be acknowledged by all candid readers. The Pearl of Great Price, is, in addition to the Bible and the Book of Mormon, sacred scripture to us. This volume is a translation from papyrus found in an Egyptian tomb and contains books of Moses and Abraham. Having accepted these sacred books unreservedly, the mind of the Latter-day Saint is open to the will of God with reference to the needs of the present day. .We believe that he has not left us, alone of all his children, void of his living word. We do not belittle ancient scripture, in beliving that God may have a word for us now, any more than Paul belittled Moses, or John the Revelator, infringed upon the rights of Isaiah. Humanity is continually evolving in a sense. The world is won to-day by new methods, as unlike as possible the customs of old. Is all thought progressive, except religious thought, and are we to be deprived of the light that should accompany new development? Granting and maintaining sturdily that the gospel is eternal, and its principles unchanging, still, with much of the plan lost in the ages, and new conditions arising, the "Mormon" looks for the living word to direct him now. Loving the word of Paul and Peter, he is not satisfied with the pittance that is preserved of what they said. Glorying in the conceptions of Isaiah, he desires and looks for new prophetic word, for surely the kind Father who rules in love and mercy, "will do nothing except he reveal his secrets to his servants, the prophets." God. we believe, is revealing himself daily, in the marvelous progress of the age, and to inquiring minds everywhere he grants his inspiration, and to his Church he grants revelation from time to time, as it shall need, for the specific guidance of its members. The Doctrine and Covenants of the Church, is a compilation of revelations given in this day that harmonize with God's former word, and make clear his desires to us and the history of the : Latter-day Saints is the history of the development of these instructions, and their application to present conditions. They deal largely with the organization of the Church, and while emphasizing the commandments given in olden times, supply many new and precious things for the comfort and enlightenment of the Saints. Among other things, the outline of a system of living is revealed that if observed would cure the ailments in our social and industrial life it is the law of the order of Enoch, bv which that ancient city ; was perfected. It is a social order by which men become united in 536 IMI'KOVKMK.V] I- l< \ a common purpose in all things, and thai is predicated « -entially upon the spirit of the gospel. Tt reveals principles for the physical salvation of hui laying down some of the laws of health thai if observed would work a revolution in the strength of the race. It reveals a perfect financial system Tor the perpetuation and promotion of the work of the Church, that is founded on strict justice to all, the rich and the poor alike. In a revelation, rich in doctrine and philosophy, is shown the different degrees of glory to which men may attain, and the brief reference of Paul to the glories that he saw in his vision of the Heavens is fully explained. Kducation is, exalted, and knowledge is made a great aim in life, as witness these sayings: ''The glory of God is intelligence." "It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance." "Whatever principles of intelligence we attain to in this life, will rise with us in the resurrection." "Tf a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come." "Seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom : seek learning, even by study, and also by faith." "Teach ye diligently, and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the Kingdom of God that are expedient for you to understand." "God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, that has not been revealed since the world was until now; which our forefathers have waited with anxious expectation to be revealed in the last times, which their minds were pointed to by the angels, as held in reserve for the fulness of their glory; a time 1o come in which nothing shall be withheld, whether there be one God or many Gods, they shall be manifest; all thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ; and also if there be bounds set to the Heavens, or to the seas; or to the dry land, or to the sun, moon and stars; all the times of their revolutions; all the appointed days, months and years, and all their glories, laws and set times, shall be revealed, in the days of the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, according to that which was ordained in the midst of the Council of the Eternal God of all other Gods, before the world was, that should be reserved unto the finishing and the end thereof, when every man shall enter into his eternal presence, and into his immortal rest." : WHY AM A "MORMON" I 537 With this promise in our minds, we look to see the time when there will be no mysteries, for the hidden things will be revealed, and all men will be led unerringly to the light of Christ, the author of this wonderful plan. The revelations inculcate the philosophy of a perfect patience and faith. Says one of them "Seek diligently, pray always, and : be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another." And again: "For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward ; of the same is greater in the Kingdom of Heaven. * * * For after much tribulation cometh the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory the hour is not ; yet, but is nigh at hand." "Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto ; the end of thy days." The principle is plainly laid down that the Saints must acknowledge the hand of God in all things. Their sorrows as well as their joys come from him, and all things work together for their experience and development. These teachings have made the "Mormon" people Spartan-like in endurance, and patient and long-suffering under all conditions. This is the essential philosophy of the true pioneer. It enabled the Saints to leave their comfortable homes in Illinois without a murmur. It led them across the plains, singing songs of devotion and confidence. It enabled them to fasten their feet firm in the desert that has been pronounced uninhabitable. This is the same spirit that shone from the hearts of the exiles from the Mexican colonies within the last few months leaving $8,000,000 worth of property ; behind them to be pillaged by barbarians, they were found in their temporary shelter in El Paso, scantily provided for, sick and dependent, singing their inspiring songs of Zion and those people ; will settle again wherever the providences of God shall lead them, and will again conquer the earth with their sublime courage and patience. I am a "Mormon" because I believe that if the same spirit is manifested in the Church now as in former times, the same re- sults will be obtained. "We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, etc." Some of the most sacred recollections of the "Mormon" people are the tender manifestations of God's care for them and their sick who have been healed bv the power of faith, and there has beei. much comfort received from these words "And whosoever among you are sick, and have not faith to be healed, but believe, shall be nourished with all tenderness, with herbs and mild food, and that not by the hand of an enemy. Ar" 4 538 IMPR< >VEMENT ERA the ddera of the Church, two or more, shall be called, and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name; and if they die they shall die unto me, and if they live, they shall live unto me. Thou shall live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die, and more especially for those that have not hope of a glorious resurrection. And it shall come to pass that those that die in me, shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them." Under the administrations of the elders the sick have been healed, and specific instances are to be found in the testimonies of hundreds. Faith and works go together in these, as in all the experiences of the Saints, and the skill of the nurse and physician is invited along with the exercise of faith in the Divine Healer. Bearing in mind the wise suggestion of Paul "For he that : speaketh an unkown tongue, speaketh not unto men but unto in God for no man understandeth him howbeit, in the spirit he ; ; speaketh mysteries," the Latter-day Saints still have comfort and faith in the fact that the gift of tongues and the interpertation thereof, has not been uncommon among them. But this to us is a sign rather than the substance of our religion. It bears up and sustains the humble follower of Christ with the assurance that the Spirit that he promised his disciples in the days of old, is still among men for their solace and edification, and these sacred instances in our lives are treasured in the inner sanctuaries of our hearts, where they aid in keeping alive the flame of our faith. I am a "Mormon" because our religion teaches us the highest type of patriotism and love of our country. Our writings teem with patriotic sentiments. The Book of Mormon speaks of America as a land held sacred by God for his special purposes. It is to be a land of liberty, a land of true democracy, a land dedicated to the advancement of great principles, a light to the world, conditioned only upon the righteousness of its inhabitants. Through the pages of that book from the beginning to the end is written God's warnings against evil in those who shall be permitted to occupy this choice land, and the destruction of a race comes as a final climax in the fulfilment of that warning. In the minds of the Latter-day Saints is the thought of a similar fate for this favored nation, if, she keep not her hands free from tyranny and oppression, and remembers not the law of God, and fails to bear aloft the banner of political, social and industrial righteousness. The purposes of God are indissolubly connected with the life of this government. America led the way to religious liberty for the entire world. She has set the pace of progress in the happiness and development of mankind, and she must not fail now at the time of the culmination of God's great work in the redemption of the entire earth from bondage and sin. America must ever lead. This is what our books and our leaders have taught us. love We : WHY AM A "MORMON" I 539 the Constitution of our government, for we believe it to have been inspired of God. These are the words of Joseph Smith with reference to that sacred instrument: "The Constitution of the United States is a glorious standard ; it is a heavenly banner ; it is under whose branches men from like a great tree all climes can be shielded from the burning of the inclement sun." In speaking of the proceeding that should be followed for the obtaining of redress of grievances, one of our revelations says "According to the laws and constitution of the people which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all according to just and holy principles * * * flesh, And have I established the constitution of this land, for this purpose, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood." God's great purpose in his plans -for America we believe to be in the fact that some day Zion is to be built upon this continent, where we believe, indeed, that the human race originated, and that upon our favored land, Christ shall set up his Western capital, and that with Jerusalem in the East redeemed, and his glory resting upon it, "out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." Having this exalted idea of our country, and feeling thus toward its institutions, it follows logically that we should believe in "being subject to our presidents, rulers and magistrates," and that "we believe in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law." The laws established on the foundation of our Constitution must be upheld at any cost, and there is no wav of changing or amending the Constitution but by the method therein ordained and the ; conservatism of the "Mormon" people as to proposed changes in our fundamental law, is a result of a fear that they have, that an instrument that they believe to have been inspired of God, was in danger of violation. That the laws and institutions of our country mav be upheld, we counsel respect for men in authority, and we try to uphold their hands and sustain them in the discharge of th Q ir official duties. The Latter-day Saints believe in the redemption and perfection of their dead, and of sealing ordinances, which reach into futurity, and this principle of their faith, perhaps the least understood by others, is, in and of itself, the most beautiful and potent of their doctrines, for it is the climax of their faith. "If in this life only we have hone, then are we of all men most miserable," and the Latter-day Saint has learned to distinguish between the ; 540 IMI'R. IVKMKXT I'.KA natural sentiment in the heart of man, which is born oi his wish and desire, thatpresumes a union with his loved kindred in the hereafter, and the hope, which is akin to knowledge, which is based upon the sanction and authority of God For such a union. We believe that the authority "to hind on earth and it should be bound in leaven" was not reserved for Peter alone, but that I wherever God has had a dispensation of the gospel, he has had men with like powers. The "Mormon" theory of authority takes the ground well established in law that the principal is hound by the act of the accredited agent. They assume rightfully, we believe, that the things that God does, are as his own nature and plans — eternal. Emerging from our own narrow sphere, we perceive generation after generation of the existence of the sons and daughters of God. These are all part of the grand racial chain, to which we are united by ties of blood and kinship. Some of these were blessed with the gospel in their day of mortality, and some of them died without the light we do not believe that these : who have not confessed Christ shall go into outer darkness for no fault of their own, but that wherever they are and whatever may be their condition, they may all if they so choose come in due time to the general assembly and church of the First Born and be members of the fold of Christ. This presumes another sphere of opportunity, where the spirits of the departed may hear, consider and accept or reject the gospel. It presumes the co-operation of the visible with the invisible world, by means of earthly ordinances which are performed for the dead, which upon acceptance by the beneficiaries bring them into fellowship with Christ, and heirs to the blessings of the gospel. It is written that Christ "went to nreach to the spirits in prison, who were disobedient in the days of Noah ;" and the mystery of the saying of Paul, "Why are ye then baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all?" is dispelled in the light of the vicarious work performed by the Latter-day Saints. Last year there were 1 14,000 ordinances for the dead performed in our four temples, and that work has been going on since the openinsr of the temple in Nauvoo, Illinois, in the infancy of the Church. The snirit of Elijah, we believe has come to "turn the heart of the children to the fathers, and the heart of the fathers to the children." and men the world over are searching for the genealogies of their progenitors, and link by link the work of connection is being supplied in the temples, and fathers are being united to their descendants in the great plan of God's redemption and the Millennium will, no doubt, see this work completed. Fitting into this theory of the salvation of all the human race is the belief that an army of men, pernios from Paul of old clown to the last man who died with the truth in his heart, are carrying the gospel of Christ to those who had no opportunity or disposition to receive it here. : WHY AM A "MORMON" I 541 The devout "Mormon" turns his heart to the temple as did the Jews of old, and no doubt for a similar reason. Our children sing of the sacred building. The youth and maiden dream of it in connection with their early loves, for when married there, their sealing is for time and all eternity. Under these conditions such unions are of the spirit as well as of the body, and the result is that "Mormon" marriages are usually happy, and divorces very infrequent. If outward forms had within them the power to convert, I should b" a "Mormon," for the beauty and strength of our organization. It is a system strong, yet flexible, with power centralized, yet distributed. It is a theo-demoracy of a perfect type. With us "all things must be done by common consent, by much prayer and faith." The tendency of man to usurp authority is understood and provided against with a rule of iron and a corresponding penalty. Here is to be found a fundamental in government that may be termed a corner-stone of the constitution of the Church, and that in effect might be profitably copied by civil government many called, but few are chosen. And why are ''Behold, there are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do nof — learn this one lesson that the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness. That they may be conferred upon us, it is true, but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control, or dominion, or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the Priesthood, or the authority of that man. Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks to persecute the saints, and to fight against God. * * * * ; No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the Priesthood, only by persuasion, by long suffering, by gentleness, and meekness, and by love unfeigned ; by kindness, and pure knowledge, wh ch shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without ; guile, reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy." The manifestation of this spirit has greatlv endeared the different leaders of the Church to the Latter-day Saints, for we have seen in their martyrdom and sacrifice for us that "their faithfulness has been stronger than the cords of death." No leader has ever asked a man to do a thing that he would not have been willing 542 IMPROVEMENT ERA to do himself, and the greatest of all in our Church has always been the servant of all. As we claim our doctrines to be the restored gospel, so it would follow that our organization is the restored Church, for the one is the complement of the other, and one could not perform its mission without the other. It is the same in general structure as that organized by Christ and his apostles. There are "prophets, apostles, pastors, teachers and deacons;" elders, bishops, evangelists and seventies, all with functions so clear and distinct as to mark them as separate and apart in authority, but still, in a degree, co-ordinate one with the other. Three high priests, supported and upheld by the Church, are the presiding quorum over the Church in all the world. This quorum is known as the Presidency of the Church. The twelve apostles form a quorum next in authority. Their duty is to oversee the preaching of the gospel, and themselves to be special ministers of Christ and witnesses of him. They also set in order the stakes of Zion, and co-operate with the First Presidency in the broad general duties of administration. The First Seven Presidents of Seventy have the duty of supervising the quorums of Seventy under them, whose duty it is to preach the gospel, whenever and wherever called there are approximately ten thousand ; of these men who are sometimes designated as the "minute men" of the Church. The patriarch of the Church, sometimes termed an evangelist, presides over the patriarchs in the stakes. Their mission is a prophetic one and is devoted to the blessing and comfort of the Saints. These with the Presiding Bishopric, whose duty it is to look after the temporal matters, or business affairs of the Church, form the general authorities. The rank and file of the priesthood is divided into an army of high priests, seventies and elders of the higher or Melchizedek priesthood, and a like army of priests, teachers, and deacons of the Aaronic priesthood. Every worthy male member over twelve years of age is supposed to have some degree of authority, and carry some responsibility. The high priests, whose calling is more particularly to preside, have general direction of affairs in the wards and stakes the sev- ; enties as has been explained are standing ministers the elders also ; labor as missionaries and at home in various active capacities, under the direction of the presidents of stakes and the bishops. The special duty of the priests, teachers and deacons, is to visit the people in their homes, and encourage and watch over them, and to minister comfort to the Church, as its servants under the direction of the bishops. The Church is divided for convenience of management into WHY AM A "MORMON" I 543 stakes and missions of which there are at present sixty-two stakes and twenty-one missions. A stake for convenience is divided into wards, of which there are now about seven hundred. When the officers of the Church are doing their duty, every family of the Saints is visited once a month in their homes where they are encouraged to faithfulness. — Six auxiliary societies, the Relief Society, with its mission of charity and aid to the needy and distressed the Sunday School, ; and Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutuals, and the Primary Associations, with their social and educational functions and the ; Religion Class, teaching practical religion under the direction of our Church school system, all co-operate in assisting to strengthen the Church. Our organization has been compared to that of the German army, but if there can be a likeness found, it exists only in the attention to and control of detail, by which a great body may be quickly reached and set in motion. The labors of the priesthood are, first, to proclaim the gospel. This is a day of warning in preparation for the coming of Christ to reign upon the earth. One thousand young men go out into the world each year, bearing the message, and crying repentance. This is without remuneration and at their own expense. Our second interest is to build up and establish the stakes of Zion. We are essentially colonizers. The men who preach today, are at the plow or bench tomorrow. With us all matters are spiritual, — if not in nature and reality, yet as a means to gain the result sought. To plan and provide for the emigrant, is to make of him a successful, useful and contented addition to the Church, and to colonize, and to build a sugar factory is with us, in their sphere, as essential as to preadi the word. The Saints are co-operative by teaching and tradition there lies ; ever before them that higher law of social and industrial unity to which their minds have been directed by revelation, and an education, is going on, that is, perhaps unconsciously to them, preparing them for it. The organization of the Church provides for a judicial system. There is the bishop's court having jurisdiction in the ward, in varying degree over every member. The High Council of the stake, has original and appellate jurisdiction, as does the highest court presided over by the President of the Church, which is the court of last resort with us. Our courts deal only in matters that do not interfere with the civil courts, and can enforce a decision only by the force of the penalty of excommunication. They are enjoined to judge righteously, and mete out justice without fear or favor, and they have been the means of settling many difficulties that without their good offices might have resulted in loss of much money and faith. As to the attitude of the "Mormon" people to the world our : : 544 IMPROVEMENT ERA doctrines teach us to be broadly generous and free in what we have to offer, and frankly receptive to what our neighbors have to give to us. If. because of pressure from without, we have in the past been self-centered, that is not the result of our doctrines, but because of our experiences. A system of faith so wide as to cover eternity, and reach out for the dead, the living, and future generations, is the opposite of narrow. Wehave this conception of ( kid's dealings with his children, that in all ages and climes he has inspired men with truth. The world is full of good. Great men are striving for and finding the truth in art, poetry, science, morals, law and ethics, and all we can get of light we desire and need. "Mormonism" embraces all truth, and in saying that we are not stealing or appropriating the possessions of others. Truth is like sun-light and air, the gift of God, and none can lay hand upon it, and appropriate it exclusively. Mr. Rollin Lynde Hart, in summing up our doctrines, recently said in the Atlantic: "Are you a Baptist? The 'Mormon' believes in immersion. A Methodist? The 'Mormon' obeys his bishop. A Campbellite? The 'Mormon' claims a yet closer return to apostolic ordinances. A Theosophist? The 'Mormon' holds to pre-existence. A Spiritualist? The 'Mormon' hears voices from the dead. A Faith healer? The 'Mormon' heals by the laying on of hands. A Second Adventist? The 'Mormon' waits the Messiah. A Universalist? The 'Mormon' says all will be saved. Massing his proof he declares his peerless religion the one immutable, eternal faith, lost in the early ages and restored in the latter days, though glimmering in broken lights through all the creeds of Christendom. 'Bring me from Europe or Asia,' said Brigham Young, 'a truth that is not a part of 'Mormonism,' and I'll give a thousand errors for it, if you can find them.' Said a 'Mormon' at Harvard, 'Sunday by Sunday I go to service in the Appleton chapel, and there I hear nothing but 'Mormon' doctrine.' Limited only by the broad bounds of Christianity, this faith is an amalgamated and co-ordinated parliament of religions." Our articles of faith are rounded and completed by this humble statement "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in dong good to all men indeed, we may say that we follow the ad- ; monition of Paul : We believe all things, we hops all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." Now. after having said so much, we unhesitatinglv lay down WHY AM A "MORMON" I 545 this statement, that if our doctrines are not authoritative and full of truths, we have not been able to read scripture aright, and that if Joseph Smith was not inspired of God in his revelations for the restoration of the gospel and the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then he must be classed as a constructive genius of the highest rank and if to us be now ap- ; plied Christ's infallible rule, "By their fruits ye shall know them," what should I say further? Here I should let history speak. If we have proved unworthy of the principles we offer, then have great truths been entrusted to undeserving hands. Admitting that there has been and is now, many that are unworthy among us, I am sure history will not classify us as a people thus, for, though with fifty years more of time for the haze to lift, we may see more clearly the results of our doctrines, yet I believe that even now, the "Mormon" people show worthy fruits, that are discernible to him who will see. "Mormon" energy, fortitude and intelligence, led the way for the development of the West, and demonstrated that a desert, denounced by Webster on the floor of the Senate of the United States as a "vast worthless area" could be made the home of prosperous millions. "Mormonism" has taken from the different nations of the world its converts, and, applying right principles of government to their lives, has fused them into a superior type of citizenship. We are making men who are patriotic, and who love their country with a devotion as strong as any men who have been and now are ; ready to offer their lives, if necessary, in its defense. The "Mormon" citizen is not radical in any direction, and this nation may expect to find them always on the side of law and national integrity and honor. Our country needs "Mormonism" to enter more largely into its institutions. If all could believe as we about our country, there would be few radicals and no anarchists, and we would make our country great by clearing up the evils within it, for we believe that no armament or navy shall serve to defend us if we are not a righteous nation. "Mormonism," by its "word of wisdom" teaches a system of temperate and abstemious living, with reference to intoxicants and stimulants, that will mean much to the future generations, and to this, perhaps, and to the injuction to uphold and sustain the law, is due the fact that in comparison to other communities, the per- centage of criminality is very low among the "Mormon" people. Wherever "Mormons" colonize, the first thing they do is to build a church and then near to it they build a school, — and the Church has developed a splendid school system, with colleges, universities and academies, and illiteracy, according to a recently published statement of the Commissioner of Education of the 546 IMPROVEMENT ERA United States, is lower in Utah, the headquarters of the "Mormon" Church, than in any other state in the Union. We are rated high in the commercial world as honest and thrifty. I believe that the world in its present stage of development has need of just such a system as "Mormonism," for it is quick to discern elemental rights and principles, and to uphold them. It is strong, forceful and aggressive. We are not materialistic in the sense that that word is applied to us there is no more spiritual ; faith than ours. Today scientists are rapidly discerning what we — have known for half a century, that spirit is matter, only in a purer and finer form. As man conquers one element and then another, discovers one hidden secret and then another, masters the things that are the utilities of the universe, that -have lain at our feet since God first ordained them, he must inevitably stand at last on the threshold of the Infinite, and will then sense the fact that the "Mormon" mind now grasps, that with the secret of life made known, God can be revealed in the immensity of his knowledge and with the ; chasm between mortality and infinitude narrowed, man may admit, as the "Mormon" has claimed for eighty years, that God is a man perfected, whose hand-dealings are apparent and potent today as ever. For its high philosophy of doctrine, its practical strength of purpose, and its lofty aims, all of which are fortified by a thousand references of scripture and history, I am proud that I am a "Mormon," for, as Mr. Hart says, I believe our religion to be "a peerless one," and that when understood, it most nearly fills the aspirations and needs of mankind for their salvation here and exaltation hereafter. POCATELLO, IDAHO