--- 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: 7 published: 1914-05 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Major Gilbert," *Improvement Era* 17, no. 7 (May 1914): 687–688.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1707unse 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: improvementera1707unse start_page: 687 end_page: 688 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1914-05) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1707unse 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. --- # Major Gilbert EDITORS' TABLE 687 absurd to argue that he was doing this merely to be consistent with an idiom, which no one but an appreciative Hebraist could r ecognize. If, also, he was "attempting to imitate the solemn style of the English Bible," as President Fairchild suggested, the particle "and" as a connective must have seemed much more familiar and regular. If, as claimed, the Book of Mormon was actually trans- lated from a text in Egyptian letters, the inference is nearly un- escapable that the Hebrew writer used some sort of ideogram or "picture sign" as a connective, instead of the word spelled in phonetic characters. If, as is not impossible on Hebrew analogy, this sign indicated some such idea as "happening," "go- ing forward," etc., the translation "came to pass" (after the an- alogy of Greek verbs in the New Testament) would seem the most logical rendering. Such a use of Egyptian signs could be admitted, since the Book of Mormon suggests a Hebrew composition, rather than an Egyptian. This is precisely what it claims to be. An esti- mate of the number of "ands" in the Old Testament and of "it came to pass" in the Book of Mormon would show effectually that the latter reproduces a familiar idiom of the former; also that the writers were familiar with Hebrew, probably as a na- tive language. Major Gilbert Through the courtesy of Superintendent of Church Schools H. H. Cummings, the Improvement Era presents to its readers, as a frontispiece in this number, an excellent photograph of Major J. H. Gilbert, who was the principal compositor of the first edition of the Book of Mormon. Major Gilbert was the son of Russell Gilbert and was an unpretentious, but very interesting character. It was his custom continually, up to his last birthday, to visit each succeeding year the printing office where the Book of Mormon was set, and which is still in operation. Here he would set a stick of type and regale the printers with reminiscences of his early experiences. He was very sociable and a great favorite with the young people, was an expert upon the violin, and in his early days a dancer. It was his custom to get together groups of young people and give them dancing lessons. He was respected by all the citizens of Palmyra. His death occurred when he was ninety-two years, ten months of age. None of his family reside in Palmyra. He gave to Mr. Pliney T. Sexton, who now owns the printing office, as well as the Hill Cumorah, an uncut copy of the 688 IMPROVEMENT ERA first edition of the Book of Mormon, and Mr. Sexton has fre- quently, and with great care, since he holds the book very precious, exhibited the volume to visitors from Utah who have called upon him and whom he has treated invariably with the greatest cour- tesy. Major Gilbert is mentioned in the History of the Church, volume 1, page 75. A New Book The Story and Philosophy of Mormonism, by Dr. James E. Talmage has just been issued from the Dcscrct News and is a work which will be welcomed by both missionaries and other readers who are members of the Church, as well as by inquirers who seek to know the truth concerning the Latter-day Saints. The littlevolume contains two lectures delivered at different times by Dr. Talmage. The "Story" first appeared in the Im- I'rovement Era, and was later issued in booklet form bv the .1///- Icnnial Star, and by the Bureau of Information, and has been translated and published abroad, versions having appeared in Swedish, modern Greek and Russian. "The Philosophy of Mor- monism" was «first delivered by Dr. Talmage before the Phil- osophical Society of Denver, and later appeared first in the Im- provement Era. Of this also translations have been made into the Danish and German languages. The "Story" contains highly condensed essential events relating to the history of the Latter- day Saints, vividly described in a style clear and convincing, and in- dicating the thorough familiarity of the author with the subject under consideration. The Prophet Joseph Smith, the beginning of "Mormonism," the appearance of the Book of Mormon, the work among the Indians, temple building, the growth and expan- sion of the Church, the martyrdom of the prophet, and the rise and achievements of Brigham Young, his exodus with the people to the West, the "Mormon" Battalion, the arrival of the pioneers in the valleys of Utah, and the subsequent development of the Church up to recent times, are treated in the usual convincing fashion of the noted author. In "The Philosophy of Mormonism" the reader and investi- gator will find a concise statement of the belief of the Latter- day Saints. This lecture is particularly valuable to investigators and friends, as well as critics, who desire an authoritative state- ment of "Mormon" belief in the Godhead, man's mission on earth, free agency, man's eternal progression, and other doctrines of the Latter-day Saints. Those who read it will learn that the prin- ciples of "Mormonism" conform to the teachings of the Savior, both as related to the spiritual destiny of man and to that needed service that one should give to another here upon the earth, and