--- 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: 21 number: 1 published: 1917-11 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, \"Our President’s Seventy-ninth Anniversary,\" *Improvement Era* 21, no. 1 (November 1917): 77–79." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2101unse 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: improvementera2101unse start_page: 77 end_page: 79 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1917-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2101unse 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. --- # Our President’s Seventy-ninth Anniversary EDITORS' TABLE 77 tribution to be used to assist in the erection of the two temples now under construction, one in Canada and one in the islands of the Pacific Ocean. In an almost incredibly short time this penny fund has accumulated a sum equal to twelve thousand seventy-four dollars and some cents. It has not been missed by any of the sisters, and it will just add about a little over $6,000 apiece to the two temples, to help pay for the workmen. This principle of the penny fund was inaugurated first in the City of Nauvoo, at the time the temple at Nauvoo was under construc- tion. The suggestion came from Mary Smith, the wife of Hyrum Smith, and was seconded by her sister, Mercy Rachel Thompson. Through the sanction and permission of Hyrum Smith and the Prophet and others, they inaugurated this penny fund. The invitation to contribute was extended to all the branches of the Church then known in the United States and in Great Britain, and I only need to add that all the cash that was necessary to pay for all the nails and the glass used in the temple at Nauvoo was furnished by this penny fund. Importance of the Great Latter-day Work Now, the Lord bless you, and may the work of the Lord continue to grow in your hearts and in your love. There is not anything in the world, nor beneath the Celestial kingdom of God today that is of equal importance to this latter-day work that you are engaged in. Receive that from me as my testi- mony. It is not mine only; it is the testimony of the Lord, and his word that cannot and must not be broken, and will not fail, and, therefore, I repeat it unto you and admonish you, my brethren and sisters, in the name of Jesus Christ, to keep the commandments and observe the laws of God, for they are the greatest things on earth to us. Amen. Our President's Seventy-Ninth Anniversary President Joseph F. Smith, in his introductory speech at th*' late October conference, paid a glowing tribute to the integrity of the presidents of the Church who had preceded him in the office which he now occupies. He spoke of their enjoyment of the Spirit, inspiration, and revelation of God; their wisdom to carry on the work which was placed in their charge, their purity and cleanliness of life, their honesty and freedom from guile, their susceptibility to the impression of the Spirit of the Lord, and their general ability to handle the affairs of the Church in a manner pleasing to God and acceptable to the membership of the Church and to all mankind. 78 IMPROVEMENT ERA Referring to his own administration, he said: "Let the work speak for itself, let the people and the voice of the people of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints say what is b ing done by the Lord. Let it not be said by me, and not by my counselors nor my associ- ates. The Lord forbid that I should ever imagine for one moment that we are of any great importance in this great work of the Lord. Others may be raised up, and the Lord can shape their minds, he can qualify them and humble them, if need be, to fit them for the duties and responsibilities that may be required at their hands. I believe that Zion is prospering, and that so far as our spiritual life, our spiritual growth and our faith are concerned, as well as our temporal condition, we are prosperous, and all is well in Zion, today." Those who know President Joseph F. Smith best will recog- nize in these words a characteristic strength, modesty, and hu- mility, so becoming in a man of such power and influence, and which has made him so beloved of his people. Everything he said concerning the integrity of his predecessors, can be and has been said of him, in all justice and with equal emphasis and propriety. Not one associate of his, among the authorities who spoke at the recent general conference, but referred to him as a man of God whose whole heart and soul are in the work of the Lord and the welfare of the people. If all the members of the Church could express themselves, we are sure they would voice their unanimous confidence in his administration and bless him for his untiring labors in the great cause. Why not let him know how we feel? Could anything be more appropriate upon his 79th anniversary, on November 13? Also, in view of the fact that it was 50 years last October 8 since he was sustained a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, and is now the only survivor of the authorities at that time pre- sented in the then just opened great Tabernacle. A well known and valued lady correspondent of the Era has submitted the following: "Among three great men at whose feet I have sat listening diligently, I name Joseph F. Smith. He taught me many things. He helped me first to be content that I was woman-born, and not to go hankering after men's stern labors and their dread responsibilities. "He helped ine choose the honest phrase, for he hated flattery and adu- lation. He showed me often what the fear of God could mean. For I so feared his sharp, yet ever merited reproof that I would struggle harder to be worthy of his smile. Yet afterwards, I learned the quality of mercy, in the increased kindness that followed fast upon the heels of chastisement. T l wa9 almost worth the punishment —that swift and sweet forgiveness. "I learned through his rigid honesty in administering public funds and religious trust, that carelessness is crime. He taught me forgetfulness of wearied limbs or aching heart, in absorbtion in the work of God. For never have I seen him heed the call of ease or pleasure when duty beckoned. "The chastened lesson of loyalty and friendship that his dvotion to the people lays bare before my gaze would find me churlish indeed, did I not seek to imitate that self-for getting example. His balanced nature, which EDITORS' TABLE 79 men name wisdom, checks my too-fond enthusiasm, and helps me to see all around life's problems. His passion for his country and its inspired basic principles led me in my youth to study governments and policies, and to rely on men who loved probity more than public place, and to vote for policies that lay closest to the root of liberty. His contempt for cheap ambi- tions and for petty place taught me a healthy hatred for such measures wher- ever found. "His tongue is single, and I often search my words and motives, lest selfishness or wish to please may tempt my swift, unguarded speech. "Who may voice the influence of his deep devotion to his family! My own children are richer for my prayerful, studied efforts to reach his exalted parental place. Age hath no meaning for his usefulness. His years sit on him like a cloak oft blown by love and service into showing through the folds the changeless, youthful hope and confidence which toil nor burdens may not wither. "His fiery gentleness, his youthful energy, his nobleness of heart, his benevolence and unfathomable integrity, his clearness of vision, directness of speech, and firmness of intellect, are pillars in the moral structure of the Church. He is like a temple gate upon the hill of Zion which draws all men upward and opens wide to receive all those who love Christ and God." We are confident that hundreds of thousands of the Latter- day Saints, young and old, in all parts of the earth, will join the workers of the Improvement Era in expressing sincere apprecia- tion of President Joseph F. Smith's life and labors; and in wish- ing for him every blessing that his good and honest heart desires, on this his anniversary health, happiness, and unlimited power : to speed onward the work of God which he so dearly loves.