Mother’s Tears Hard to Get By

918 IMPROVEMENT ERA Church through baptism. "Rebaptism" as understood in the question has not been done away, for even today where persons feel that they have transgressed to such a degree that they cannot conscientiously claim membership in the Church, and recpiest baptism, even as new members, in order to be restored to fellowship among the Saints, their request may be granted. It is unnecessary, however, to rebaptize persons merely as a renewal of their covenants every time they transgress in order that they may obtain forgiveness, for this would greatly cheapen this sacred ordinance and weaken its effectiveness. One baptism by water for the remission of sins should be enough, and there are other means by which sins may be forgiven those who have made covenant with the Lord, provided they do not sin away their right to a standing in the Church. The rebaptism spoken of in Section 22 of the Doctrine and Covenants applied to those who had been baptized into some other organization, without authority from the Lord and who afterwards desired to unite with the Church and be accepted on their unauthorized baptism which had been performed by one without the Priesthood and power to officiate in gospel ordinances. Joseph F. Smith, Jr. 'Mother's Tears Hard to Get By' The Improvement Era is in receipt of an extract from a letter from a young man who is attending school at Berkeley, California, and whose home is in Logan, Utah. The parents, who forward us the letter "from our boy," think that perhaps it would not be amiss to publish this extract in our magazine. It is young men of this character whom we hope will enlist in the National Guards and in the Navy and the Army as upon a mission. If they do so, they are entitled to the blessings and protection of the Lord. The works of righteousness which they will be able to do, as well as the splendid service they can ren- der their State and Nation, under such influence, will be incal- culable. The extract reads as follows: "You will say it isn't Christian to go into the shooting business, but after all, the very essence of Christianity is to live for humanity, and if necessary to die for humanity; and don't you think that Christ would be ashamed of me to sit idly by and watch the people of Europe suffer, and autocracy and oppression threaten our future generations? You say let those go who want to go, and let them gather up the people not good for anything else, but if we call out an army of 2,000,000 men, there will be required 60,000 commissioned officers, and we can't pick up hoboes for this service. If educated people are good for anything, there is where they ought to be, and that is why I think I ought to do something. I hate to wait until they draft me into the ranks, when I might as well go in as

EDITORS' TABLE 919 an officer, where my training would be of some advantage, and where one gets a fair monetary consideration for his service. It would be my plan to join the officers' reserve corps, and only be subject to service in time of emergency; and, of course, might not be called out at all, while on the other hand, I might go into the trenches any time. I have also thought seriously of the marine corps. It would be a fine experience, and has the advantage that one either sinks or floats, and doesn't meet with the hard knocks that they get in the line service. I suppose I could get into coast defense where there would only be about one chance in forty of ever getting shot at, but I feel like it would be an awful crime to 'lay' for an easy job, where there is no danger, and let some other man leave a wife and family and go into the dangerous places. I really don't know of a sin- gle person on the map who is more nearly the proper man for service than I am. I have some qualifications, and no reason for staying out. No one is depending on me. It would sure be tough luck to get $1700 a year and not have any place to spend it, but it would be easy to get used to. I think it would be pretty nice to spend a few months or years as an officer in the army, if one gets back; but of course there isn't anything sure about getting back.' I wouldn't go in for the fun, nor for the experience. However, I don't expect a very good time. "I am just as sorry we didn't keep out of war as you are, but we ve watched and worked and prayed for peace for so long, that I am quite firmly convinced that it is the Divine purpose that we go to war, and the sooner we go, the sooner it's over with, and we might as well be optimistic about it I could whistle while I fight, all right, if it weren't for you people worrying about it so much. I believe that I could face a line of bayonets all right, but mother's tears would sure be hard to get by. Can't you culti- vate a little optimism? There ought to be missionary work enough in the army to suit you, and think just once of the things that could be wwse than giving a few years for a good cause. I should think you would be proud of it!"