--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 16 number: 8 published: 1913-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Editors’ Table: Defeat the Liquor Interests," *Improvement Era* 16, no. 8 (June 1913): 824–828.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1608unse 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: improvementera1608unse start_page: 824 end_page: 828 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1913-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1608unse 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. --- # Editors’ Table: Defeat the Liquor Interests Editors' Table Defeat the Liquor Interests Two years ago many towns and cities in Utah adopted local option and banished the saloon. All who have kept pace with the situation are well aware of the great progress that has resulted in the moral uplift of the community. Even where good-for-nothing officials were derelict in their duties, and thereby encouraged illicit traffic in alcohol — even under these circumstances, conditions cannot truthfully be said to be as bad as they were before the sale of liquor was forbidden. The fact is that conditions are infinitely better. For inefficient and cowardly officers, the remedy at hand is a change in officers, not the open saloon. Only such men as are willing to do their full duty in supporting the law should be tolerated as officials in our communities. In a number of cities and towns in our state at present — the liquor interests — the enemies of the race — are again making keen efforts to restore the former low-down conditions. In some places, we understand enough petitioners have already been obtained and the names filed with the commissioners requesting an election this June. With all good people we join in hoping that these efforts may utterly fail to restore the saloon. This should be the desire of all Latter-day Saints, and their prayers should be supported by their works and votes. In these elections the wives, mothers and sisters have their golden opportunity with fathers and mothers to arise and utterly crush the cursed traffic in drink for which so many have suffered in sweat, and pain, and tears. Joseph F. Smith. After Many Days On their way from Kirtland to Missouri seventy-nine years ago, May 16, 1834, a little body of men were passing through Dayton, Ohio. They were Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and one hundred thirty to one hundred fifty of his followers, later augmented to two hundred and five. The company was "Zion's EDITORS' TABLE 825 Camp." They traveled well organized, setting a pattern followed later by the valiant band of pioneers who crossed the plains to the Rocky Mountains and became the founders of Utah. The avowed object of "Zion's Camp" was to relieve their friends and fellow-religionists who had been ruthlessly driven from their homes the previous year in Jackson County, Missouri, over the river to the counties further north in that State, and who now again were threatened with further persecution and drivings. The personnel consisted of the strength and the cream of the "Mormon" Church in the east, going in this crude way, and with a fund at first of $261.50 gathered by the Prophet, in Kirtland, to relieve their scattered and driven brothers and sisters, who had been ejected at the point of the sword from their hard-earned homes in Jackson County. But the expedition did little, if anything, to accomplish this purpose. It became rather a school of trial and a test of fortitude for the men — many of whom later became the trusted leaders of the Latter-day Saints in the colonization and development of the great west. However, these poorly-clad men, thirsting, often starved, frequently sick, with their twenty baggage wagons, later twenty-five, created no end of curiosity and encountered much opposition as they wended their way across the country. Church history offers no more interesting experiences than those undergone by this peculiar company of men during the month of May, from the time they left Kirtland until they camped on the banks of the Mississippi, in the state of Missouri, on June 4, following. Their experiences, physical and intellectual, were of a very trying character. While they were often on the verge of starvation, encountered much sickness, and suffered greatly through physical inconveniences, they were yet highly blessed with the inspired teachings of the Prophet Joseph, with the visit of angels, and with the comforting spirit of prophecy. Everybody along the way was suspicious of them, for they kept their mission a secret. Spies came to their camp many times, but went away none the wiser. As stated, this company passed through Dayton, Ohio, May 16, 1834, and this is the record of their reception : "While passing through Dayton, Ohio, great curiosity was man'- 826 IMPROVEMENT ERA fested, various reports of our numbers and designs having gone before us. Some of the inhabitants enquired of the company where they were from, when Captain Young replied: 'From every place but this, and we will soon be from this.' 'Where are you going?' 'To the west.' Some ten or a dozen gentlemen came over from Dayton to ascertain our numbers, which they reported to be at least 600. These gentlemen also enquired of almost every man in the camp where he was from and where he was going, and what was his business. They returned to Dayton and reported that every man in the company was a gentleman, and gave a respectful answer to every question asked. But they could not ascertain where we were going, or what was our business." Something more than three-quarters of a century has changed the situation for the descendants and co-religionists of that peculiar and suffering "Zion's Camp" in such a way that even a casual glance at the situation must convince the most skeptical that the Lord has directed and blessed their struggles. A fearful disaster fell upon the people of Dayton, — "a national calamity" it was pronounced by President Wilson, — during the last days of March, 1913. Hundreds were killed by floods and fire, and many millions of property were destroyed. The Governor of the state called on the nation for help for the homeless and suffering. The cry was heard in the midst of the Rocky Mountains, where this peculiar people has been blessed and prospered of the Lord, and among the first to respond was President Joseph F. Smith, with a check for $1,000 sent to the Governor of Ohio for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This sum was augmented by the efforts of other citizens, by commercial clubs, and by members of the Church personally, to an amount approximating $10,000. While no doubt this same love and helpfulness would go out from Zion to any other community in our country, or anywhere else from which a cry for help might come, the pleasure of giving in this case is enhanced when we remember the citizens of Dayton who came out to that bedraggled band, in 1834, and reported "that every man in the company was a gentleman." A Remarkable Healing President Oleen N. Stohl, of Brigham City, Box Elder Stake of Zion, writes to President Joseph F. Smith and Counselors under date of March 28 : Dear Brethren : The following is an extract from a letter I just EDITORS' TABLE 827 received from Elder Denmark Jenson, who is laboring as a special missionary in the Northern States Mission. The letter is teeming with the spirit of missionary work, and the good fruits which follow the labors of the Elders. I thought it would be interesting to you. I am with kindest regards, yours very truly, Oleen N. Stohl. I witnessed one of the greatest manifestations of healing, the last time I was in Peoria, that I have seen for some time. A lady by the name of Mrs. May Lawrey had been very sick with hemorrhage of the lungs, and the doctor pronounced her case very serious. Elder McEwin asked me to accompany him to visit this family. We found the father and three sons feeling very badly over the condition of the wife and mother. After talking to them for some time, explaining to them the beautiful truths of the gospel and the blessings it would bring to them if they would accept it, the father said, "If mother were well, we would accept it at once, for I believe it is true." I felt impressed to say, "If you will accept it, God will heal your wife at once." We were then invited into the bed-room where the good mother lay sick, almost afraid to speak for fear the blood would start from the lungs. I shall never forget how the tears trickled down her cheeks when she said, "I heard what my dear husband said to you, and I also heard the promise you made him." I said, "Good sister, do you believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ as explained by the elders, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God?" "I do," she said, "and if I could be healed, I would embrace it at once." I said, "Good sister, we will pray for you, and you shall be healed." Not having any oil, we all knelt around her bed and prayed for her. The next morning Elders Alfred N. Olson, McEwin and I went there and found the good woman up and doing her work and getting their clothes ready for baptism. She was made well, and enjoyed a good night's rest. They were both baptized the next day. The Faith of a Little Child One of the special features of Religion Class work is to teach the children to have implicit faith in God. And this is being accomplished very successfully. The faith exhibited by many of the little children is, indeed, remarkable, and speaks well for the teachings they have received. Instances almost innumerable could be cited showing how the Lord has placed his approval on the work of his faithful servants by answering the prayers of little children. Elder W. A. Morton related to us a few days ago a circumstance which took place recently which shows the good effect of the teaching of the gospel to our children : One evening Brother and Sister W- - were paying a visit 828 IMPROVEMENT ERA to some friends in a certain part of the city in which they resided. They had left their little children at home, in care of an elder member of the family. During the evening a terrible storm passed over the city. The electric light system was affected for some time, leaving the entire city in total darkness. The lightning flashed and the thunders of heaven seemed to shake the city. Fear came upon the little children of Brother and Sister W . They huddled closely together, terrified by the lightning and the deafening peals of thunder. Suddenly a happy thought came into the mind of one of the little ones, and she said, "I'll tell you what we'll do ; we'll pray for papa to come home." The little ones knelt down together, and the eldest led in prayer. She said, "Dear Heavenly Father, there's an awful storm down here, and we're afraid. Please send papa home. This is our prayer, in the name of Jesus. Amen." At that time Brother W turned to his wife and said, "Dear, I feel impressed to go home ; I feel that I am needed there." The good woman tried to get him to stay a little longer, till the storm had ceased ; but he said he felt he should go at once. So, asking to be excused, he hastened home. As he entered the house his little children came running to him, clapping their hands with joy, and exclaiming, "We knew you would come, we knew you would come." "And how did you know, my darlings?" he asked. "Because we prayed for you to come." O for the faith of a little child ! Messages from the Missions Elders of Newcastle conference May, 1912, top row left to right: Amos Belnap, Preston, Idaho; L. M. Wayne, Manassa, Colo.; Marion J. Steed, Syracuse, Utah; George Duffin, Provo, Utah; Cyrin Duffin, Provo, Utah. Second row: William A. Van Orden, Lewiston, Utah; Frederick J. Bradshaw, Magrath, Canada; John C. Gibby, Provo, Utah; Louis L. Allen. Cove; Martin G. Brixen, Salt Lake City; Joseph Parmley, Winter Quarters, Utah, clerk of Newcastle conference; Howarth Roberts, Ogden, Utah. Third row: W. K. Lindsay, La Grande, Oregon; Joseph V. Ford, Cedar City; George B. Chambers, Garfield; J. Eugene Lichfield, Provo, president of Newcastle conference; Rudger Clawson, Salt Lake City, president British Mission; F. A. Dahle, Logan, Utah; John R. Sayer, Rigby, Idaho; P. H. Service, Salt Lake City. Fourth row: Francis Simpson, Bedford, Wyoming; Roscoe C. Merrill, Richmond, Utah; Richard D. Bradshaw, Magrath, Canada; George T. Cox, Pocatello, Idaho; Law-