Editor's Table

Helpfulness

In these war times it behooves every capable man and wo- man to be engaged in safeguarding, protecting and leading aright the children and youth of their particular community. Let us get down off any high pedestal that we may be self- ishly occupying and do our part. Remember the admonition of Jesus, as well as his example: "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. * * * I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." There are Pharisees in our day, who consider themselves as whole and righteous, quite as unwilling to do anything for what they consider "publicans and sinners" as were those of old. The Savior's retort to the Pharisees, mingled as it undoubtedly was with a species of sarcasm and irony, apply to this class of people today, and they may well take to themselves also his further saying: "Go ye and learn what that meaneth." Un- doubtedly the conclusion will be reached by some at least that his language meant condemnation for self-righteousness, and ridicule for their claims to superiority. It is a clear duty for all who are not otherwise engaged in the present world conflict to devote their ability and untiring energies to prevent the rising generation from being left in sin and wickedness. This can bs done by the extension of a helping hand, by mingling, working and eating with them, as did the Savior, and by exercising one's effort and leadership for their benefit and blessing. The true teacher and leader is the servant: "Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, be and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not let him be your so among you; but whosoever will be great among you, minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and even as the to give his life a ransom for many."

Are you doing your full duty? If not, offer your services as

your bishop, to the organizations in your a willing helper to to your own ward, even where such actions would seem to be inconvenience. In dire need of leadership, the Sunday School, scout organizations, the Primary the Y M. and Y. L. M. I. A., the Let us and Religion classes are crying out for such service. in helpfulness to the call, and take upon ourselves to respond brother s keeper, some extent the responsibility of being our avbid falling under the con- that we may aid in his salvation, and demnation of the Lord.

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Sentiments from the Soldiers Preaching the Gospel by Living It. David I. Company, 62nd Infantry, Camp Fremont, Pearson, Supply California: "The boys in our camp have a red triangle club on Tuesday evenings at which Mr. Glade is president, and we are studying the "Articles of Faith" by Talmage. We have testimony meetings at the Y. M. C. A., and all seem to enjoy the meetings very much. Our only way of preaching the gospel, except in rare instances, is by living it, which is the most effective way that it could be preached. Each of the boys in the camp is doing his very best to accomplish this purpose." Value of Scout Training Howard B. Anderson, who left Utah with a number of University of Utah boys for the Officers' Training Camp, at Camp Fremont, California, May 15, and was later sent to the 9th Battery, Field Artillery Central Officers' Training Camp, at Camp Zachary Taylor, Kentucky, writes to his brother Leland under date of July 9. He was formerly scout master of troop No. 11, Richards ward. He says: "I hope you are getting along O. K. with the scouts. I wish I could be there to help take them for a week's camp in the mountains. Not that I'm not getting enough out-door life, but just by way of having a change and sleeping under the stars in the old Rockies. I wish I had been a first-clasa scout when I joined the army. Almost everything I did learn I have already reviewed under Uncle Sam's supervision. These include semaphore, wig-wag, and buzzer signalling, some first aid, knot-tying, and the practical carrying out of the scout oath and law. I think there is no exception in the latter two which a soldier does not live up to if he does merely his duty as prescribed by his oath and army regulations and the unwritten laws of barrack life. I still carry my scout card in the note book in my shirt pocket, and refer to it as my code. I think it contains about all that any man should be expected to live up to. It's a high standard for a soldier; so, if you can bring up a bunch of scouts to feel that way about their scout work, you've done about as much, I figure, as the Big Judge could expect of anybody. You can do more, I believe, there than you or anyone else could here. Stick to it, old boy. Tell Troop 11, 'hello' for me and read or tell them what I have just told you. It applies to every scout." Religion in the Army Private Lawrence F. Wooley writes to a friend from New Orleans: "I am a member of the Medical Department of the 43rd Inf. as well as a member of the L. D. S. Church. While I was stationed at Camp Pike I received several copies of the Era and enjoyed them very -much They were very popular in our Detachment as there are several young men with us who are members of the Church, and many who are not members, who are very interested in the work. "While in New Orleans I have met the missionaries, especially Elder Reed who is an old school mate of mine. I got a great deal of good out of my visits with them, and they certainly seemed to enjoy seeing some of the fellows from home. Visits of this kind give mutual benefit by bracing those who participate in them against the outside influences that are always seeking to tear down and destroy faith. Moreover, it lets our boys who are out facing the world and its cynicism with the divine truths of the gospel that they are not entirely alone, but have behind them the good wishes of all the members of the faith. A soldier is peculiarly exposed to temptations, but I can truthfully say that our boys have carried themselves better in every way than the others. They seem to be more fully equipped to com- bat the difficulties of life. Some of us have done foolish things, but the

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others are always ready to steady and help the one who errs. So, instead of continuing along the wrong way, they soon come back into the right again. "There is one thing of which I would like to speak more fully than I will have time for at this writing, and that is the wonderful way our boys are carrying their religion with them into the army and living it. I should like to tell of the way the other fellows look up to them, and respect them, and how many of these outsiders come to us to ask serious questions and investigate. Also it is remarkable how the young fellows in the service are so open-minded and are all eager to find out for themselves the truth. Surely this is a good sign that the people are eagerly striving upward toward the light of the everlasting gospel."

Letters of Encouragement Wanted

From Corp. O. E. Howell the home folks have received a message from which these extracts are culled: I wish to convey a message, which I feel is the reply from the hearts of every soldier and sailor in the ser- vice, in answer to the question from home, "what can we do to help?" "Get in and get it over" is the soldiers' motto, and we look to you for the real support. The call comes to the home folks for money. We must give until it hurts to give. The government says, "stamp out sedition." We must overcome the spirit of "let the other guy go, he wants adventure;" and in- stead of this half heartedness supplant enthusiasm and determination. From across the Atlantic, comes the call for food to feed the starving children, and struggling soldiers. This must be supplied. All these are calls we all sense, and they are being repeated enough; possibly too much, for there is danger of overemphasis, making them too common to awaken response. But there is one call to you, which is not commonly made and yet is as vital I think as any. That is the call from the hearts of our boys "ove* — there" the call for moral and spiritual support. "Over there," in that shell-torn hell, they are facing a terrible demon, and they do it with the spirit of the Yankee fighter. Seeing it, the Hun halts, and his bloody hand trembles, for he knows it is folly to fight with such a force. In the Yankee's cheer for democracy, rhe autocrat hears his doom. As the soldier boy stands there fighting and cheering with such en- thusiasm, although his face is calm, his heart cries out; and he wonders if those at home sense his sacrifice. He dares and does as a part of the day's work, but his heart, at times, grows sick, and he wonders at his own calmness. Are we giving him the needed moral support? Send him letters, for — only a soldier knows what it means to get or not get, a letter. A soldier at Portland, Oregon, recently, in a fit of loneliness attempted to desert, an

extreme example, which illustrates the great need of friendly sympathy. Send the soldier boy news of the home doings, tell him how proud you are of him. Pray for him that his courage will not fail. Help him to keep himself clean, efficient—"fit" always, in body and mind. He must faith in a just God. get from home loyalty, assurance, and an unwavering He must have those letters, that assurance, that loyalty, those prayers, if he is to continue to smile, and fight, and die—and shout "play ball.

Books the title of a Pertinent Facts on Utah's Loyalty and War Record is Goddard pamphlet of twenty-four pages recently issued by Elder Benjamin

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of the Bureau of Information, Salt Lake City, Utah. Candid inquirers on the loyalty of the people of Utah will find in this pamphlet many items of great interest sustaining the declaration that Utah and her people have always been loyal to the government of the United States. A number of pages are devoted to a compilation of statements by noted authority on what this state and her people have done in the great war now terrorizing the world. The information, of course, is not complete, for every day adds to the patriotic sacrifices in men and money of the people of the state who willingly and patriotically render the service because they believe such ser- vice to be approved of the Lord and necessary that the gospel of peace and righteousness may at length with liberty prevail among the nations of the earth.

Tobacco and Human Efficiency is the title of a new book, just issued from the presses of the Deseret News, whose author is Dr. Frederick J. Pack, Deseret Professor of Geology, University of Utah. The book is pub- lished by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its three hundred and twenty pages are full of examples and illustrations of the evils of to- bacco: economical, physical, mental, moral. The author fairly outlines the findings of modern scientific investigations touching the matter of tobacco and its influence on man's efficiency. Besides the foreword, which gives a very striking illustration of why smokers are always in the rear ini hiking, there are twenty-seven chapters, some of which are entitled, "Poisonous Fac- tors of Tobacco;" "Cigarettes Especially Objectionable;" "Tobacco and Disease;" "Tobacco and College Scholarships;" "Business World and To- bacco;" "Social Aspects of the Tobacco Habit;" "The Cost of Tobacco;" "Tobacco and Scholarship in the Grades;" "Tobacco and Juvenile Delin- quency;" "Women as Affected by the Tobacco Habit;" "Tobacco and Spir- ituality;" "Tobacco and our Soldiers." The final chapter treats on "The Attitude of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Towards the Use of Tobacco." The book is a contribution of encouragement to clean life well worth the careful study and consideration of every young man in the Church. Dry-Farming, published some years ago by Dr. John A. Widtsoe, pres- ident of the University of Utah, and which was translated at the time into French and published under the auspices of the French government; also in Spanish, published by the chief publishing firm of Madrid; and besides, in the Hungarian, Russian, Japanese and Swedish, has now been translated into and published in the Italian language, according to information re- ceived by Dr. Widtsoe from Guido Rossati, its translator. It is published by the Italian Ministry of the Colonies by consent of the Macmillan Com- pany, New York. It has been carefully revised by the International Insti- tute of Agriculture, at Rome, and a number of leading professors, interested in dry-farming in tha Italian colonies. Prof. E. DeCillis, director of the agricultural office of the Tripolitania, has written an introduction. He critically discusses the scientific principles of dry-farming arid of their adaptability under different conditions, more especially under those encoun- tered in southern Italy and the Italian colonies. Referring to the book, he says, "This is the manual needed. If it is true that faith works miracles, no other work can be more valuable than this by Widtsoe, because written by a man whose faith in the possible redemption of the desert is ardent and unlimited. This faith is breathed through every page of the book with suggestive power to impress and convince even the most skeptical. And, since in the desert region of the United States, dry-farming has already yielded notable success, this proves the undoubted utility of the book which is presented as a guide to the farmer in the arid sections of Italy and; its colonies."

MUTUAL WORK Four Essential Things to Be Taken Care of Early These suggestions come from the Superintendency of the Box Elder stake, to their officers: Membership: Many of your boys have gone to assist in the great war for the liberty of the world, and as a consequence you will have to fill up your ranks with a good many men who have not heretofore been with you. You are asked to make a thorough drive for membership. Call on every family in the ward and urge every male from 12 to 100 years of age to enroll in your splendid association. It is absolutely essential. We must have the members. "Era" and the Fund: It has been decided by the stake and ward officers to make a detailed and complete canvass of each ward for the Era and the Fund, before Sept. 1. Brother of the Stake Board has been appointed to assist you. "DO IT NOW" is the slogan. This is the best time of year to get money. War Savings Campaign: In our convention circular, we are asked the question, "Do you have a War Savings Stamp Club?" Everybody has pledged to buy War Savings Stamps, so it will be an easy matter for you to appoint a brother to act as chairman of the club and one as secretary, if it has not already been done, and then they can be energetic in doing their best to see that the pledges are made good. Four Big Things: Membership, Era, Fund, and the War Savings Club to be organized. Make one thorough and complete canvass for the Member- ship, Era and Fund.

Suggestions for an Opening Social (Let the Action be Lively, Get Through)

"Come, Come, Ye Saints." Prayer. * America." "Display and Explanation of the Flags of the Allies." "Demonstration of Army Bugle Calls," by Boy Scouts; or 'Scout Law and Promise," etc. 6. "Call to