Editors' Table

Editors' Table

Newv< Year's Greeting

I wish all our readers a Happy New Year. May they beprosperous both in spiritual and temporal affairs. And as mywishes go out to you, dear reader, so I wish these blessings forall the officers of the Priesthood, the M. I. A., the Church schools,and the auxiliary organizations, the missionaries, and the Saintseverywhere.

There is great satisfaction in knowing that the work of theLord is prospering, not alone at home, but also in the various mis-sion fields. The Saints at home have been abundantly blessed inevery effort put forth. The earth has yielded richly for their tempor-al wants. It is good to know that in material prosperity they havenot forgotten their obligations to the Lord. They hold the prin-ciples and requirements of the gospel as the most precious gifts inthe world. These lead to true service for the benefit of our fellowmen, and to obedience to the commandment, love one another. Intheir studies and activities the youth of Zion, through theirquorums and organizations, hold uppermost in their thoughts themessage of life and salvation. Their teachers take advantage ofevery opportunity to impress the truth upon them that temporalblessings are merely necessary stepping stones to upward spiritualprogress. If they are used otherwise, they become the steps of theway that leads down to death and destruction.

Our teachers must impress these common truths upon theyouthful mind. Their messages should be simple and practical.This applies to our schools, our Priesthood classes, and all theauxiliary organizations, and to the ward teachers. There is morevirtue in impressing the mind with a few fundamental principlesunderlying the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, asrevealed to us through the Prophet Joseph Smith, than in all theintellectual philosophies of the world that are without the spiritof the gospel. I sometimes think in our teaching we are too fondof outlines, and mental structures built upon forms and rules, tothe forgetting of those great sources of knowledge, the HolyGhost, and the spirit of the gospel. This, of course, should notbe so.

Our teachings should be simple: The Father and his Sonlesus Christ live and answer prayer. They revealed themselvesto Joseph Smith, personally, by which we know they are like untoman in form. By means of the revelations of the Lord Jesus toJoseph, the true Church of Christ is organized upon earth with

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an authorized priesthood to officiate in its ordinances, and toreceive continued revelation for its perpetuation and permanentestablishment in the world. Men are called upon through thisauthority to have faith in God, repent and turn from their sins,to be baptized by those who have authority, and to have hands laidupon them that they may receive the Holy Ghost as a light to theirpath and a guide to their feet. They thus become, by conformityto the will of the Lord, examples of righteousness before theworld, by which they let their "light so shine before men, thatthey may see their good works, and glorify their Father which isin heaven."

May the Latter-day Saints, who hold the authorized commis-sion of our Lord to cry repentance to the nations, and to officiatewith authority in the ordinances of the gospel, realize their awfulresponsibility. May they be found ready to proclaim the messagein word and action, at home and abroad, to every nation, kindred,tongue and people.

Grateful that our land is free from the terrors of war, let uspray that the people of our country and its officers, who are theirservants, may be inspired to so direct its destiny that we may havecontinued peace and prosperity. May the strife and contention nowtearing the nations asunder end in a better understanding amongmen of that new life that is coming and which shall be directed bythe spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and obedience on the partof mankind to his laws and commandments. That is the only wayto happiness and peace in this world, and to eternal life in theworld to come.

Then, finally, may each of us live so worthily in the new yearthat personally we shall not be found wanting, but when the callshall come, we can answer, "Lord, here am I."

Joseph F. Smith.

Let Peace Abound

The first session of the Sixty-fourth Congress opened inWashington December 6, 1915. Both the Senate and the Housemet at twelve o'clock noon. This session of Congress wdl con-sider much important business, which will be taken up after theholidays. Our readers will be specially interested in and agreewith the prayer offered at the opening of the Senate by Rev. For-est J. Prettyman, D. D., chaplain of the Senate, who prayed asfollows:

"Almighty God, by Thy grace and favor we are permitted to meetagain to open this session of our National Congress. We pause at thethreshold of a great responsibility to make mention of Thy name and

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to seek once more Thy guidance and Thy grace. Thy name hasmade us great and Thy truth alone can establish us in greatness. Thyspirit can lead us in the use of all the powers that Thou hast put atour command, and Thy favor alone can prosper us in all our enter-prises. We seek the spirit of refinement in every heart. We ask Thyguidance and Thy blessing that every representative of every Stateof this great Union may have enthroned in his heart the ideals of agreat Republic. We bless Thee for Thy continued favor, and seek Thyguidance for the future days.

"Let peace abound. May the message and ministry of this greatland be that of brotherhood among mankind, and may the righteous-ness that Thou hast revealed to us in Thy word be established, andjustice made permanent in our country.

"Hear us in this our prayer, and guide the affairs of this greatNation to the ultimate establishment of Thine own kingdom, for Thouart the Lord of lords and the King of kings. We make our prayer'n Jesus' name. Amen."

So also, the opening prayer given in the House by Rev. HenryN. Couden, D. D.:

"We stand before Thee, O God our heavenly Father, with bowedheads and open hearts, at this the first session of a new Congress, forwe realize that without the inner light superinduced by Infinite wis-dom, power, and purity, its work will fail of the best. Hence we mostearnestly invoke Thy favor upon all its members, that the highest con-ceptions of statesmanship may follow in the wake of all the greatproblems, national and international, which shall present themselvesfor solution. Be wisdom and strength to the Speaker of this House,that with consummate skill, justice, and equity he may preside over itsdeliberations with characteristic zeal and lead on to the desired results.Be with all who are called to serve in State or Nation, that with un-selfish devotion to duty they may fulfill the obligations resting uponthem with fidelity and efficiency, that law and order may prevailthroughout our borders. Strengthen the arm of our President, thathe may guide the ship of state safely through the storms raging roundus to a calm and peaceful harbor; and grant, O most merciful Father,that the war in which our sister nations are now engaged, with its de-structive and devastating effects, may cease, that the higher and noblerinstincts of humanity may obtain and all their differences be adjustedby the rational and peaceful methods of arbitration, that the worldmay enjoy the fruits of a pea-ce which shall be forever and aye. Andto Thee, O God our Father, we will ascribe all praise, in the name ofHim who taught us to pray: Our Father which art in heaven, hal-lowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earthas it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive usour debts as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptationbut deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power andthe glory forever. Amen."

Where the Responsibility Rests

Collier's, in its fight against liquor, quotes, almost weekly, il-lustrations from daily life showing the common responsibility of themanufacturer of whiskey, the dealer, and the criminal, for the

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crimes that are committed through drink. The criminal is not allto blame; the saloon keeper and the manufacturer are culpableaccessories.

We have recently had a case of the kind in Utah:On the 6th of December Alexander Robertson, forty-twoyears of age, was shot and killed at Eureka by his friend ElmerHorton, a miner twenty-six years of age. Horton, we are told inthe account in the Provo Post, had been drinking heavily, andwhile in one of the saloons discharged a gun into the ceiling.Watchman Robertson, whose wife is now a widow, and whosechildren are fatherless, was immediately notified, and went to thesaloon to place Horton in custody. Both men were on the mostfriendly terms, and for that reason Robertson did not take thegun away from Horton, it being his intention to place the youngman in jail until he became sober. While Robertson was unlock-ing the door to the jail Horton, who stood behind him, fired twoshots which ended the life of his friend. He was then arrested,charged with murder in the first degree, and when he sobered up,he expressed deep sorrow for his awful act which he could noteven remember having committed. Aside from the fact that heis addicted to occasional sprees, Horton was generally liked. Whois responsible for this murder? Where should the fight on whis-key begin ?

In this connection, also, how about the papers that advertisewhiskey; and the men who place great posters about the fields andstreets with glaring and attractive advertisements of the curse,before the youth of the land? As Collier's remarks: "It is thehog-itch for profit that keeps booze going, and this means thosewho boost it as well as those who make and sell it."

A Testimony

I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. Josephreceived instructions from the Lord Jesus Christ. For this reasonthe Church has survived; and because it has survived we are heretoday. We are here, furthermore, because we have received thiste^timonv. We have accepted the true religion which embrace^every principle of progress, righteousness, honesty and uprightness. It excludes all hypocrisy and doubt. It brings to our spiritsan assurance that we are right, as well as what we should be anddo as men and women in our every walk of life. If this assur-ance has not been brought to a man, he should study and provethat he may receive it and progress. If any Church member havea doubt about the divinity of the mission of Jesus Christ or ofJoseph Smith, it is evidence that there is something wrong with

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him, and not an evidence that there is anything wrong or any lackin the gospel. If we possess doubts, we have not put ourselvesin harmony with the truth, by which we have entered the rest ofthe Lord. It is true that many have not entered into God's rest.This rest comes to those who receive the truth and thus obtainfreedom from doubt, fear, and from apprehension that they maybe wrong. Men can never enter this rest unless by effort andprayer they so will. God cannot compel men when they will not,they have free agency. The man who has studied and accepted thegospel has entered into this rest; he walks in the light as God is inthe light, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in his soul.

Joseph F. Smith.

Socials and Dancing

In the Mutual Improvement department in this number of theEra are found vital suggestions from the General Boards of theY. M. and Y. L. M. I. A. on the subject of dancing and ball roommanagement. Organization, education, preparation, and the su-pervision of dances are among the items given consideration.

All who are interested in the subject should carefully studythe sugegstions that were approved by the General Boards, andadopt them as far as possible in the management and conductof their social dances in the various stakes and wards of theChurch. By so doing great improvement will be made in the gov-ernment and conduct of the ball-room.

Attention is also called to a paper in this number by the ath-letic director of the Brigham Young University, Mr. Eugene L.Roberts, on social dancing and its direction, which contains manygood thoughts. As far as consistent with their local conditionsand surroundings, those who have charge of dances will do wellto follow the suggestions made. We think there is need of morecareful management and supervision, stricter order and discipline,and greater attention to details and etiquette than now obtains inmost of our ward socials. The best and most respected talent insocial affairs should take a hand in this work, under the properdirection of stake and ward authorities. Our socials and partiesshould be leaders in refinement and propriety; no other conditionshould be tolerated by those in charge.

Messages from the Missions

Changing Ideas of "Mormonism"

Elder M. E. Wood, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, November 4:'The mission work is growing in this city. People are changing their

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ideas of 'Mormonism,' and are beginning to realize that Joseph Smithwas a true prophet of God, and that he was the instrument in thehands of the Lord of establishing the true Church of Christ, and inopening up the work of the last dispensation."

LARGEST BRANCH—OLD FOLKS' RAMBLE

"This picture was taken at a 'Ramble' that we gave for the oldfolks of our branch. You can see from the number who attended thatthey appreciated the interest we took in them. We have a largenumber of old Saints here who give us a great deal of encourage-ment in our missionary work, and they are ever zealous to bring theirfriends out to our meetings; as are also our young folks, and we feelthat they are doing a very good work along this line.

A GROUP OF OLD FOLKS AT THE RAMBLE

"We have the largest branch in the British mission here inBradford, which is due, to a large extent, to the interest that theSaints and friends take in the work. The average attendance at ourSunday evening meetings is over the hundred mark, and very oftenit exceeds it by twenty or thirty. This gives us a great deal of en-couragement, and makes it plain to us that the Lord is pleased withthe efforts put forth here.

"A great deal of prejudice has been allayed here and the peopleare beginning to realize that 'Mormonism' is not the terrible monsterthey have been led to believe it was. As a result, we are usually giventhe privilege of explaining our views to those we come in contact with.At our last semi-annual conference, held here a few days ago, wehad the privilege of speaking to some five hundred and sixty people.

"The Saints are feeling well in the work of the Master; and.although nearly all our young men have been called to the colors, wefeel that that has served to make the people more humble, and hasalso made them appreciate the gospel more than they ever did before.

"The picture of the elders is one taken last summer, and someof the elders here shown have returned home. Left to rights back row:

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-^^Itk^j

O

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Elijah F. Spencer, Verner O. Hewlett, N. E. Neville (Notts. Con.),Ralph Bishop, W. Leslie Cocking. Second row, standing, Alonzo H.Peterson, Earl S. Harper, Clyde F. Hansen, Clarence W. Smith, (HullCon.), W. Hazen Hillyard, Aaron T. Pingree, (Notts. Con.) Sitting:Elmer M. Savage, Cyrene N. Bagley, Leonard B. Nielsen, ConferencePresident; Joseph F. Worthen, Hyrum M. Smith, Mission president;Arthur L. Beesley, Liverpool Office; John J. Haslam, Joseph F. Smith,III. Front: S. Evan Francis and J. LeRoy Wright.

'Our numbers are now reduced to nine elders; and, as we havenine branches, our time is well occupied, and we are therefor happyand enjoying the work, but are anxious to see more elders come outfrom Zion.—Clyde F. Hansen, Bradford, England, Oct. 22, 1915.

L. D. S. SUNDAY SCHOOL, SPRINGFIELD, ILL.

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Sunday School in Illinois

Emma Anderson, Springfield, Illinois, November 23: "The Sun-day school of Springfield, Illinois, was recently organized with ElderLawrence J. Barclay superintendent; John Jimason first, and GeorgeBaugh, second assistant superintendents; Edna Neil, secretary; MamieHodge, organist. Teachers in the various departments are Alvin S.Reber, Herbert Halls, Emma Anderson, John Neil, Cora Hanks, JohnJimason, Alta M. Craig, and Edna Ball. Much interest and enthusi-asm are displayed by the willing service rendered in every way. 'OurSunday school is the life of our branch' is the remark one often hears."

One Hundred Baptisms

Carlos S. Higgins, Darbin, Mississippi, November 10: "TheMississippi conference was never in better condtion spiritually than

today. Over one hundred bap-tisms were reported this pastsummer; and it is glorious forthe earnest missionary to contem-plate the large number of peo-ple who are reaching out to un-derstand the beauties of thegospel as taught by the Latter-day Saints. Many churches andschoolhouses have been openedto us during the summer. Insome instances, in the cities,chairs have been brought out onthe sidewalk by business menfor the ladies, while our streetmeetings were in progress. Atpresent we are engaged in teach-ing the principle of tithing, andthe Saints seem to be impressedwith the tithing spirit. Elders,standing, right, Joseph Erickson,Springville; left, Hacel W.Nalder, Layton; sitting, CarlosS. Higgins, conference presi-dent, Blackfoot, Idaho."

Preaching Granted in Streets of Georgia

Charles O. Hamilton, Atlanta, Georgia, November 10: "The photoherewith is of our new church building recently erected in this cityand which was dedicated July 4, 1915, by Elder Rudger Clawson ofthe Council of Twelve. Plans were appproved and the constructionwas authorized by President Joseph F. Smith, when he was in AtlantaNovember, 1914; cost $7,000. The names of the missionaries in the ac-companying photo are, standing, A. Pulham; sitting left to right, JohnC. Preston, Sister Pearl A. Hamilton and President CharlesO. Hamil-ton. We are meeting with good success in our labors in this southerncountry. The mayor of Atlanta has granted us the privilege of preach-ing on the streets. This opportunity is the first that we have had topreach the gospel on the streets of Atlanta, for a long time past.Sister Hamilton has recently organized a Relief Society here, and the

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L. D. S. CHURCH, ATLANTA, GEORGIA

sisters are preaching the gospel and doing a noble work. The Societyhas purchased a new sacrament set for our new Church, and alsoplaced an enlarged picture of President Charles A. Callis in thebuilding."

MISSIONARIES, ATLANTA, GEORGIA