---
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: 17
number: 5
published: 1914-03
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: "Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, \"On Titles,\" *Improvement Era* 17, no. 5 (March 1914): 479."
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1705unse
  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: improvementera1705unse
start_page: 479
end_page: 479
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1914-03)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1705unse
  publication_year: 1914
  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 1914, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# On Titles

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EDITORS' TABLE 479
our children and to the world, this Church need have no fear of the
outbursts of falsehood and indignation from our enemies and from
those who seek to destory us with lies and sensational stories. We
shall triumph over all, for truth and purity will triumph in the
end. But woe unto us if we fail in this great duty, for the Lord
will have a pure people.
Joseph F. Smith.
On Titles
We desire to call special attention to an article appearing
elsewhere in this issue, entitled, "The Honor and Dignity of
Priesthood ;" written by Elder James E. Talmage, of the Council
of the Twelve. We heartily commend the article to the careful
study of every officer and member of the Church, as well as to our
friends who are investigating the doctrines of the restored Church,
and who have not yet identified themselves with us as members of
this great organization, established by Divine command in this the
Dispensation of the Fulness of Times.
Priesthood is not given for the honor or aggrandizement of
man, but for the ministry of service among those for whom the
bearers of that sacred commission are called to labor. Be it remembered that even our Lord and Master, after long fasting, when
faint in body and physically weakened by exhausting vigils and
continued abstinence, resisted the arch tempter's suggestion that
he use the authority and power of his Messiahship to provide for
his own immediate needs.
The God-given titles of honor and of more than human distinction associated with the several offices in and orders of the
Holy Priesthood, are not to be used nor considered as are the
titles originated by man ; they are not for adornment nor are they
expressive of mastership, but rather of appointment to humble
service in the work of the one Master whom we profess to serve.
The Scribes and Pharisees of old sought to be esteemed as great
above their fellows, and loved to be greeted with distinct on in the
markets and upon the streets, and to be called by titles d| honor,
"But," said our Lord, addressing his disciples, "be not ye called
Rabbi ; for one is your Master, even Christ ; and all ye a re brethren." '(See Matt. 23:1-8.)
In our custom of using the expressive term of address,