--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Talmage, James Edward collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 20 number: 6 published: 1917-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'James E. Talmage, "Destiny of the American Nation," *Improvement Era* 20, no. 6 (April 1917): 514–515.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2006unse 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: improvementera2006unse start_page: 514 end_page: 515 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1917-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2006unse publication_year: 1917 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 1917, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Destiny of the American Nation DESTINY OF THE AMERICAN NATION 515 beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land." (Book of Mormon, I Nephi 13:10-12.) Lehi and his people were Hebrews; all other nations are designated in the Book of Mormon as Gentiles. As later parts of the record make plain, "the promised land" is the continent of America. The "man among the Gentiles," who was to come across the many waters and discover the descendants of Nephi's brethren upon whom the wrath of God had fallen, was Christopher Columbus whose mission was as surely foreappointed as was that of any prophet. Then follows the prediction of the migration of the Pilgrim Fathers, who are described as "other Gentiles" going forth out of captivity; while the subsequent occupation of the land by multitudes of the Gentiles who would prosper as a nation and would subjugate the Indians is impressively set forth. The struggle of the American colonies for independence was foretold, and the assurance that the power of God would be exercised to give them victory over "their mother Gentiles," or the British nation, was inscribed on enduring metal before the existence of the western world had found place even in the dreams of mankind. In the economy of God, America, which is veritably the land of Zion, was aforetime consecrated as the home of a free and independent nation. It is the divinely assured inheritance of the "House of Israel;" and people of all nationalities who will abide by the laws of righteousness, which embody the principles of true liberty, may become by adoption members of the House of Israel. For a wise purpose this promised land, the American continent, was long kept from the knowledge of men; and the Lord has been potent in directing its discovery and hand of the in the establishment of the nation of promise and destiny thereon. Nephite prophets reiterated this solemn assurance, as the will and purpose of God that the governand proclaimed ment of the land should be a government of the people and not ihe tyranny of kings. The Latter-day Saints hold that the American government is a divinely established institution, and that the men who framed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were worked upon to act in accordance with striven to establish, the purposes of God, as were all who have maintain, the righteous supremacy and as are all who strive to of the Republic of the United States. The Gift of Trapper's Cave By Elsie C. Carroll (Concluded from p. 445) Thanksgiving had passed, and the boys at Good Luck were looking forward to Christmas. The church had made an appropriation to help build the new gymnasium-reading-room. The president of the mine and Channing had made liberal contributions, and the boys, not to be outdone had gone into their wallets with very satisfactory results. Harrie had begged to donate her library and the minister intended to contribute a splendid organ. They hoped to have the building ready for the Christmas celebration that was being planned. Already the boys from two nearby camps had been invited, and many friends from Mohava had promised to come out. Mrs. Channing had returned from a summer's visit with her people in the east and she with Harrie and the other women of the camp were enthusiastically working out their part of the program. And through it all, Nick Tupple and his gang became more troublesome with each step of progress taken by the camp. Even Harrie had apparently lost all influence with them. Their chief grudge was still against the minister, though they "had it in," as the boys said, for the whole camp. Harrie did all she could to show Nick that her friendship was just as true and warm as it had been in the old days, but he had become sullen and secretive and she could no longer understand him. It had been an open autumn. Although Christmas was only two weeks distant, no snow had yet fallen. On the mountain, small patches of brown and golden foliage were still visible. The air was just sharp enough to send the blood hurrying through the veins, giving an added tang to life. "Let's climb to that ledge and see what that bed of crimson is," said Woods, one afternoon as he encountered Harrie coming from Mrs. Channing's. "Why, that's a patch of wild raspberries," she told him. "I picked enough berries from there this spring to make five quarts of jam. But come on. I'll go with you. The leaves are gorgeous." They scrambled up the steep trail like a couple of school