The Heaven We Get Will Be the Heaven We Earn

IN HONOR OF PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH 203

As a preacher he was original, simple, fearless and pro-

found. He never indulged in fine-spun theological technicalities.

Nor was he a reciter of verbal trappings, empty of meaning.

His words were more than mere coinings of a brilliant brain.

What a life he lived! From his thrilling escape from In-

dians, when only eight years old, to his glorious vision of the

spirit world at the age of eighty, almost every hour of his life

was spent in serving man and glorifying God. Very few lives

have been as rich in deep and varied experiences. He knew the

thrill of dire danger, the pang of privation, the gnaw of hunger,

the deep joy of divine service, and the bliss and glory of being

in favor with God.

Such a life is not the product of colleges alone. The school

room alone cannot produce such a man. Indeed it is question-

able whether technical scholasticism could have added any-

thing of importance to such a career. What did he lack that

schools could give? He knew man and God. His heart was as

deep as truth, and lifted as high as heaven. He was not a

stranger to sod nor star. He knew every phase of practical life,

and his tender spiritual nature was keenly sensitive to the finest

things of art, and the truest things of religion. His life touched

the depths and heights of human experience. He was a pioneer,

preacher, orator, lawmaker, prophet, and leader of men. He

was the most kind-hearted husband, the most loving father, one

of the truest friends of mankind, and the anointed of God.

His life was a complete, perfect exemplification of the

truest success. He suceeded most wonderfully in the biggest

business of life, the business of ennobling human souls.

The Heaven we Get will be the Heaven we Earn

By Joseph S. Peery, Superintendent Y. M. M. I. A., Liberty Stake.

Many people seem to be satisfied with baptism, thinking thereby they

will get to heaven. It is true that baptism is the door to the Kingdom of

God, but there are various degrees in that kingdom. Paul compares the

degrees to the sun, moon and stars.

Heaven will be strictly a merit system. We get what we earn. That

is all we are entitled to. Should we send up no good works, by what right

can we expect a good place? If we make the Celestial degree, it will de-

pend upon our works. It will not be attained through indifference. Things

worth while are won by effort.

The Lord is a good pay-master. It is a great privilege to be in his

service, and those who decline this opportunity will certainly have intense

regrets. They may lay up for themselves treasures on earth, but these

treasures all perish with death. President Young said, "I am for life ever-

lasting." He attained his aim.

Will I get a mansion or a dug-out? That depends on what I earn.