--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Jensen, Nephi collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 17 number: 6 published: 1914-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Nephi Jensen, "The Magic of Truth," *Improvement Era* 17, no. 6 (April 1914): 552–555.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera176unse 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: improvementera176unse start_page: 552 end_page: 555 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1914-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera176unse 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. --- # The Magic of Truth The Magic of Truth BY NEPHI JENSEN A thousand men of a thousand minds have striven to lay bare the secret of Joseph Smith's fame. Theologians, philosophers, and scientists have stood puzzled, for a time, in the presence of the mighty work he 'accomplished ; and, failing to find the key to the riddle, they have become impatient and vexed, and then turned away shouting "fanaticism," "delusion," "fraud." These critics did not stop to analyze "Mormonism." They did not reason about it. They sought not for the truth in it. They did not strive to acquire the faith it inculcates. They wanted to condemn. They wanted to disprove, and not being able to disprove, they just denounced and derided. It is now a little more than a century since Joseph Smith was born. Today, over four hundred thousand people call his name blessed, and fervently declare their faith in his prophetic calling . What is the basis of this devotion ? What is the foundation of this extraordinary faith in a mere mortal man? These are the questions which tens of thousands of searchers after truth today are seeking to answer. These investr gators have progressed far enough in their research to know that the answers to these mighty questions are not to be found in some coarse epithet. The simple truth about this extraordinary man is that he lived, wrought, and taught, in such a way that he held, and still holds, the faith and devotion of his followers, by the strength of his character, and the magic of the truth he taught. He is greatest who in his life and work gives the greatest expression to the true, the good and the beautiful. Measured by this standard the name of Joseph is deserving of a place next to that of Him who was the Light of the world. For the right he fought, struggled and suffered. His life was a sublime blending of the purest humanity to man, and the truest devotion to God. Truth was his polar star. For truth he yearned, prayed, and delved. For truth he lived, and suffered while he lived. For truth he died. Trust in God was the dominant note in his nature. He had the faith that defies fate. At the age of fourteen he knelt beneath the blue dome through which no word had passed for seventeen centuries, and with the sublime confidence of a child asked the invisible God, residing beyond the stars, for light to guide his THE MAGIC OF TRUTH 553 wandering footsteps. Between him and the last man who had faith to commune with the Infinite, was an age of myth, fable and barbarism. Around him were the sophistical theologians, void of faith or hope, wrangling and contending about subtle points of cold theological abstractions. All the customs, notions, creeds, and dogmas of the time denied the possibility of a real answer to prayer. But the soul of that boy was dauntless. His faith did not waver. He was bold. He defied the history of the centuries of fable and doubt. In spite of creeds, doctrines, dogmas and doubts he trusted in Him who had said, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not." And so he prayed. And as he prayed there descended and rested above him a pillar of light in which stood God the Father and the Son. The Father pointed to the Son, and said : "Joseph, this is my beloved Son, hear him !" The boy's faith triumphed. He made the greatest discovery of his century. He discovered the power of faith, the power by which earths, stars, and suns were made. His was a deep and honest nature. He yearned to be in tune with the Infinite. He wanted to be certain. He wanted to know. Neither the theory of the philosopher nor the guess of the theologian satisfied his craving for truth. On the wings of faith he ascended to the realm of light and truth. Joseph Smith found superstition everywhere — superstition that hugs the factless myths of the past and rejects the facts and truths of the present ; and he boldly proclaimed the faith which is founded upon fact and truth. He found doubt in the pulpit and despair in the pews. With the courage and confidence of a Paul, he taught the faith which heals the sick, gives sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and life to the dead. He found the Bible a dead letter containing the decrees and promises of Jehovah to another age, and he left it the veritable word of God, a compendium of his gracious promises to all men of all times. In the place of spirituality he found sentimentality. The preachers talked eloquently about the Pentecostal, cloven tongues of fire, but never dreamed that souls, living eighteen hundred years after Peter preached and pricked the hearts of sinners, could enjoy the Spirit which testifies, reveals, and prophesies. While the divines were still graphically describing what great' things God had done for his people, Joseph Smith fervently testified of the great things which God is now doing for his people. He reannounced the promises of old, and demonstrated their validity. He rediscovered God. With the earnestness of one who knows the truth, he denounced the inexplicable idea of God being everywhere and yet nowhere in person, and reaffirmed the sim- 554 IMPROVEMENT ERA pie truth expressed in the Master's words, "Our Father, who art in heaven." He answered the question, "From whence came man?" in the way in which the poet and the philosopher are now beginning to answer it, and gave in the words, "man is that he might have joy," the best and truest explanation of the object of man's existence. He found man a worm, groveling in the dust, and proclaimed him to be actually and in truth the son of God, destined, in eternity's ages, to overcome, improve, develop, increase in intelligence, wisdom, goodness, and glory, until he shall become perfect, even as God in heaven is perfect. He exploded the infinitely cruel doctrine of eternal punishment that arbitrarily consigned to the eternal, unquenchable flames all non-Christians, and gave wings and harps to all, good or bad, who spoke the formula, "I believe in Jesus." He reaffirmed the declaration of John, that man will be judged according to his works. He dispelled gloom from the tomb. He denied the narrow dogma that man's hope of salvation is interred with his bones ; and taught the beneficent doctrine of salvation for the dead. He gave to the word "heaven" a new meaning. He took out of it the impossible notion of winged angels everlastingly playing on harps ; and declared heaven to be a place where the truest human ties are inviolate, and the gentlest memories of this life are mingled with the joys and glories of the life that has no end. Joseph Smith restored to man a religion which saves temporally and spiritually, now and hereafter, a religion which is scripturally true, philosophically true, and demonstrated to be true by actual human experience. And yet it is just a plain religion. It has no creed expressed in high-sounding theological formula. It has no gorgeous liturgy. Its votaries bear the plain name of Saints. Its chief teachers are called by the simple name of elders. "Mormonism" does not charm; it warms. It entwines its cords of truth around the hearts of its devotees, and holds them secure from the insidious snares of error and evil. "Mormonism" has no attraction for the gay and haughty. The frivolous and vain are repelled by its homeliness, and evil men rage in the presence of its righteousness. But honest-hearted men who have genuine sympathy for the struggles and sorrows of the race, and who really love God, are drawn to its shrine by the magic of its truth. The followers of Joseph Smith cherish his memory, and have faith in his calling, because they know that the religion he taught furnishes thoughts worthy of the mind of a Spencer or a Spinoza, and satisfies the yearning of the plainest human heart. "Mormonism" lives because it gives to its votaries the faith that dispels THE MAGIC OF TRUTH 555 all doubt, and the hope that no misfortune can shatter. Within the strong arms of its truth there is calmness, peace and joy. Joseph Smith was great in faith, great in integrity, great in courage, but greatest of all in the immeasurable legacy of truth he bequeathed to the race. In this vain world his name provokes a frown, But in the realms above, he wears a crown. E. A. Ricks, Conference, President, Thames, New Zealand, October 9: "The enclosed is a portrait of the members of the Thames Sunday School which is the largest European branch in the New Zealand Mission. Recently we acquired a new hall in the central part of the city, and our meetings are becoming more largely attended. Considerable interest is being taken in our work which is very gratifying to the laboring elders in this conference. The Saints are taking an active part with the elders in their labors. Like unto our Sunday School is our Mutual Improvement Association and our Relief Society. These organizations are also well attended and their work is satisfactory. We wish the Era success."