Editors' Table

Editors' Table

"Receiving" the Holy Ghost

The following inquiry lias been received from an elder re-siding in Tooele county, with a request for a reply:

"There is a dispute here among the brethren as to when the Hoi}'Ghost was received, was it at or before the day of Pentecost?"

The answer to this question depends upon what is meant by"receiving" the Holy Ghost. If reference is made to the prom-ise of Jesus to his apostles that the endowment or gift of theHoly Ghost by the presence and ministration of the "personage ofspirit," called the Holy Ghost by revelation in Doctrine and Cove-nants, Sec. 130, verse 22, then the answer is: it was not until theday of Pentecost that the promise was fulfilled. But the divineessence called the Spirit of God, or Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghostby which God created or organized all things, and by which theprophets wrote and spoke, was bestowed in former ages and in-spired the apostles in their ministry long before the day of Pente-cost. The word "Ghost" and "Spirit" are often used synony-mously, and this causes some confusion, when the difference be-tween the "personage of spirit" and the spirit "poured out fromon high" is not taken into consideration. There is a universallydiffused essence which is the light and the life of the world,which lighteth every man that cometh into the world," whichproceedeth forth from the presence of God "throughout the im-mensity of space, the light and power of which God bestows indifferent degrees to "them that ask him," according to their faithand obedience, but the Holy Ghost, which Christ said he wouldsend to his apostles from the Father (John 14:26) was and is a"personage of spirit" and was not to come until Christ wentaway (John 16:7). Also the endowment from that divine Being,the third person in the Holy Trinity, called "the gift of the HolyGhost" is a special blessing sealed upon baptized repentant be-lievers in Jesus Christ and is "an abiding witness." The Spiritof God may be enjoyed as a temporary influence by which divinelight and power come to mankind for special purposes and occa-sions. But the gift of the Holy Ghost, which was received by theapostles on the day of Pentecost, and is bestowed in confirma-tion is a permanent witness and higher endowment than the ordinary manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

We read that Jesus, after his resurrection, breathed upon

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his disciples and said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost." But wealso read that he said, "Behold I send you the promise of myFather upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until yebe endued with power from on high" (John 20:22; Luke 24:49).We read further "For the Holy Ghost was not yet given; becausethat Jesus was not yet glorified" (John 7:39). Thus the prom-ise was made, but the fulfilment came after, so that the HolyGhost sent by Jesus from the Father did not come in person untilthe day of Pentecost, and the cloven tongues of fire were thesign of his coming. This manifestation was repeated in this dis-pensation at the endowment in the Kirtland Temple, in the monthof April, 1836.

Joseph F. Smith,Anthon H. Lund,Charles W. Penrose,

First Presidencv.

Break Away from the Cigarette

Numerous letters of inquiry are received at the Bureau ofInformation calling for data upon various subjects.

Recently a gentleman wrote from Oklahoma, enquiring withregard to the ordinance of baptism, he being desirous of learningthe necessary qualifications for membership in the Church ofJesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The following was printed on the reverse side of the letter-head used by him, and it will no doubt interest many readers ofthe Era :

i never smoke nor chew tobacco

1. Because it has no food properties—hence not necessary tomy physical existence.

2. Because it has poisonous properties, (Prussic Acid, Arco-lein, Pyridine, Monoxide, Nicotine)—hence destructive to bothbody and mind.

3. Because its filth and stench would make me an undesir-able associate for a refined person.

4. Because its use would make me selfish and unsociable,seeking the smoking car and secluded places as my quarters."Our first baby was a nervous child and the doctor told me itwould not do for it to breathe tobacco smoke. So I got into theway of shutting myself in the library of evenings to enjoy mycigars."

5. Because it would make me the servant while it would bethe master—time nor money nor distance any object when a chewis wanted or a smoke is craved.

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6. Because it is the forerunner of drunkenness, creates athirst which cannot be satisfied by natural means, but only by anarcotic. Out of 600 in state prison at Auburn, N. Y.,—500 tes-tified that it was tobacco that led to intemperance.

7. Because it costs too much money and affords no returnsfor the money. Education is sacrificed; libraries are empty ofbooks ; necessities of life are secondary to tobacco; children'sshoes and clothes are worn threadbare, while tobacco must come;farms can't be bought but cigars can; bank accounts can't be in-creased but we can spend $750,000,000 each year for tobacco.

8. Because many good men have condemned its use:Bent. Franklin—"I never saw a well man in the exercise

of common sense who would say that tobacco did him any good."

Thomas Jefferson—"The culture of tobacco is a cultureproductive in infinite wretchedness."

Horace Greeley—"Tt is a profane stench."

Daniel Webster—"If those men must smoke, let them goto the horse-shed."

T. DeWitt Talmage—"The pathway to a drunkard's graveand a drunkard's hell is strewn with tobacco leaves."

Ruskin—"Tobacco is the worst curse of modern civiliza-tion."

9. Because it is productive of many physical weaknesses:"There is nothing that so stunts the growth of boys and young'men as the use of tobacco." "His physical development is not sogood, and his lung capacity is usually lower than that of the non-smoker."

Dr. W. G. Anderson—"Nicotine strikes a direct blow at theheart. It weakens the heart's action ..*"

Dr. Kress—"Cigarettes are making our boys weak and punyand unmanly."

Dr. Poulson—"Fully one-half of the inebriates in ourasylum have lost their reason through the use of tobacco." Super-intendent of Northampton Asylum.

10. Because men who have responsible positions to be filleddon't want tobacco users:

F. H. Harriman—"We might as well go to the insane asylumfor our men as to employ cigarette smokers."

Elbert Hr?.?..\Rr—"Never advance the pav of a cigarettesmoker : never promote him ; never trust him."

P. M. Sn appless—"More and more voting men are hoistingthe si°:n, 'I am a fool' bv appearing in public with a cigarette."

Larktn Company. John Wanamaker, The Cadilac MotorCompany, Henry Ford. Wm. A. Wep.t?—"Trainmen and otheremploves of the Katv railroad are forbidden to smoke while onduty."

W. H. Gossard (Gossard Corset Company)—"I would like

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for the head of every department to be a man who neither smokescigarettes nor drinks liquor."

A Prominent Banker—"I have never yet employed a youngman who said he used tobacco or liquor."

Fidelity Insurance Company—"We will not bond a manwho uses cigarettes, for such men are not safe physically normorally."

Chas. W. Murphy—"All the 'cub' baseball players mustleave liquor alone at all times, must abstain from the use ofcigarettes."

Conclusion—''My son, as long as thou hast in thy skull thesense of a jay-bird, break away from the cigarette, for lo, itcauseth thy breath to stink like a glue factory; it rendereth thymind less intelligent than that of a cigar store dummy, yea thouart a cipher with the rim knocked off."-—Bob Burdette.

A Baby Week

A baby week campaign, with the slogan, "Better babies,better mothers, better cities," has been inaugurated in theUnited States, and a concerted effort is being made by one cityafter another to arouse the public to its duty to the babies. Peo-ple are waking up to the realization of the criminal folly of let-ting so many babies die because of ignorant and lax enforcementof the laws of health, hence, this month will see the biggest move-ment yet undertaken in this line of endeavor, by the initiativeaction of the Nation Wide Baby Campaign, fostered by the Chil-dren's Bureau of the United States Department of Labor. Thisdepartment has issued a pamphlet giving valuable suggestions forsuch a campaign.

In planning a Baby Week two principal points should be re-membered : (1) It should be a community campaign with oneorganization or association to take the initiative, and in whichall other organizations should be asked to co-operate. (2) BabyWeek should not be a temporary flurry, but definite efforts shoul 1be made with follow up work, leading to permanent good for thebabies.

We suggest that those interested send to the Department ofLabor, Washington, D. C, for the pamphlet, and that some or-ganization in each of the settlements and cities take the initiativein this movement to educate not only mothers, but fathers andchildren to the needs of the baby. The Latter-day Saints are pre-eminently interested in the babies and the young people, so thatthere is perhaps not so much need of this movement with them

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as in oilier communities; but even among" llie Saints much im-provement can be made in the care of the precious little ones.

An Expression of Approval

The Case Against Mormonism is a book of 157 pages, writtenby Robert C. Webb, and published by L. L. Walton, New Yorki ity. In this little work, many of the misrepresentations underwhich the Church and our people have suffered are analyzed in amasterly way by the able author who, as specified by himself onthe title page, is a non-"Mormon." We commend this book toour missionaries in the field, to the earnest inquirers and investi-gators whom they may meet, and to the Latter-day Saints gen-erally.

Joseph F. Smith,Anthon H. Lund,Charles W. Penrose,

First Presidency, Church ofJesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Salt Lake City, Utah, January 29, 1916.

The book may be obtained from the publisher, L. L. Walton,31 East 27th Street, New York City, N. Y.; and also from theDeseret News and Deseret Sunday School Union Book Stores,Salt Lake City; price 75 cents per copy.

Messages from the Missions

Indifference to the Gospel Message

Elder M. Lowrey Allen, Evansville, Indiana, January 6, 1916: "Wefind new friends among many who have not so far embraced the truth,as taught by the Latter-day Saints. Our branch consists of 60 mem-bers, all of whom are living the gospel, and in turn teaching it to theirfriends. Our Sunday school and hall meetings are well attended. Thespirit of harmony and progress reigns in our midst. Among the peo-ple, however, we have to contend with a marked spirit of indifferencetowards religion in general, and for this reason we are tolerated—notaltogether because the people are tolerant, but because the}' are indif-ferent."

Lovers of Pleasure

Wilford B. Ilawes, Biloxi, Mississippi, January 12: "The Lord isblessing- the elders in their work. We are accomplishing some good,though most of the people who arc here at this season of the vear are

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of a pleasure-seeking class who love worldly things, and, as the Saviorhas said, 'They cannot serve God and mammon.' The Era is a greatcomfort to us with its cheerful messages from our mountain home.

Elders F. Leslie Bolton, Paris, Ida.; R. L. Hughes, Spanish Fork,Utah; Kimball E. Griffiths, Lewisville, Ida.; Wilford B. Hawes, Provo,Utah."

A Branch Composed of Children

Elder J. Leo Seeley, Dublin, Ireland, January 5: "The enclosedphoto is a picture of the children and myself of the Dublin branch ofthe Irish mission. I have had the pleasure of teaching the little onesfor the last six months. Our branch here is largely composed of

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children, and a brighter or more intelligent lot it would be difficult tofind. It is inspiring to hear them bear their testimony to the truthful-ness of the gospel. They are as happy and contented as any childrenone could ask to see, and are exceptionally well versed in the doctrinesof our Church. During this European conflict our branch has sufferedconsiderably. Most of our male members being of German nationality,

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they have been interned, and some of our sisters have been forced toleave us, but the faith and fortitude displayed by all have been goodto sec. Though this branch is small, it is large in the spirit of thegospel. Charity and brotherly love are ever manifested. We rarelyhear any complaints, and all realize that the blessings and goodnessesof God far outweigh the present severe time and trial through whichthey are passing."

A Great Conference

Elder S. J. Ottley, Opapa, H. B., New Zealand, December 16: "Thetraveling elders of the Hawkes Bay conference of the New Zealandmission have jurisdiction over a conference spreading over some twohundred and fifty miles of country, much of which is quite hilly; butthe beautiful metalled roads make cycling the best means of travel.This is one of the wealthiest sheep-raising districts in New Zealand,and when that is said we maysay it ranks high with any inthe world. The ideal climateand abundance of grass the yearround, added to the absence ofwild animals and poisonous rep-tiles, make sheep-raising a lu-crative business here. While theEuropean farmers are by far inthe majority, we have manylevel-headed natives who aremaking their lands pay largedividends. The native makes afar better shearer, as a rule, thanthe European, and during shear-ing season they reap a good har-vest earning from eight to fif-teen dollars a day. Our travelsare almost exclusively amongthe natives. Other elders attendto the European work. Travel-ing from fifteen to sixty miles aday keeps us physically condi-tioned, and the joy of seeing ourdark-skinned brothers develop inspirituality makes our livespleasant indeed. Elders left toright: W. J. Maw, Plain City:Harold Hinckley, Hinckley: Sid-ney J. Ottley, Murray: M. ChardMoody, Hinckley, Utah. Wejoin in wishing the Saints and loved ones in Zion a happy New Year.''[The above letter was received bearing the stamp of the censor, indi-cating that all letters from that district are censored.—Ed.1

Used Augusta Opera House

L. Standifrid, Augusta, Maine. January 26: "We were fortunatein getting the Augusta opera house to hold our conference in, Sunday,January 23. Tt was the most successful conference that we have heldin the state of Maine. President Monson was in attendance and con-tinually did things that will cause the people to remember him as aservant of God. Nearly two hundred people were present at each of

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the afternoon and evening meetings. Many were pleased and willfollow up the meetings here every Sunday evening. This was the firstconference ever held in this city, and makes us believe that the gospelis making a good impression on the people here."

From President Smith of the European Mission

■President Hyrum M. Smith of the European mission, in recent let-ters, shows the progress of the work in England and gives a briefaccount of his labors. He is quite optimistic concerning the growthof the work of the Lord in Britain. The Church and the servants ofGod, he declares, must soon come into their own, and be acknowl-edged and accepted, and the day seems rapidly approaching. When itcomes, justice will also be metedout to the vile and the wicked."I read with interest and satis-faction what noted men, such asmembers of the American BarAssociation, say of Utah and herfounders. These testimonieswill help to bring about the dayreferred to. Yet there areclergy here who still preach thatSalt Lake is a horrible placefrom whence no one who entersmay ever return. It is clear tosee their cause is unworthy,when it must be maintained bysuch cowardly means." Presi-dent Hyrum M. Smith notes thatthere were four "Mormons" onboard the "Hesperian" when itwas sunk, but they were allsaved and later came to Amer-ica. He writes a feeling compli-ment to President Joseph F.Smith, his father, congratulatinghim on his 77th anniversary,wishing him the very best ofbirthday greetings, and thank-ing the Lord for his kindnessand mercy and goodness toPresident Joseh F. Smith in pre-serving his life, and prays thatthe Lord may grant many yearsyet of healthful, happy life tohim, so that his family and theChurch may continue to beblessed by his presence andcounsel. One sentiment he ex-presses is worthy of special attention by all Latter-day Saints. Hesays that President Joseph F. Smith's life has had its full share oftrials and tribulations, but has been intermingled with supremest joysand most exquisite sorrows, "but in the pain and sorrow and sufferingwhich you have been called to endure, God in his mercy has givenyou strength, and comforted your heart, he has spared you from thatsuffering which to you would have been the greatest affliction thatcould ever come to you in this world, namely, the departure of one ofyour family into apostasy or dishonor. We all thank the Lord forthis." All readers of the Era will join in this thanksgiving sentiment.

H YRUJVI M.

SMITH, AND HIS SON,JOSEPH F.

From a photo taken January 6,1916. The young man was only asmall lad when he left home. He,with other members of the family,is attending school in Liverpool.