Outward Ordinances

Outward Ordinances the world we mean There is a tendency in the world, and by women who are hostile to the truth and the mass of men and to belittle the outward ordinances to the true followers of Christ, outward ordinances we mean, among of the -ospel. By the the of the baptism and the laying on of hands for grft others,

EDITORS' TABLE 537

A Correction In Charles F. Steele's thoughtful poem, "The Solitary Scribe," page 314,^ 8th linefrom the top, the printer and proof reader speak of "lean- ing" flames; needless to say the author wrote it "leaping" flames, and the couplet should read: — "He pauses his eyes turn from the shining plates Toward the leaping flames," etc.

534 IMPROVEMENT ERA | Holy Ghost. Men often say, "If we have faith in God and Christ, and treat all mankind with respect, living righteous lives, it makes little difference about accepting baptism and other out-

ward ordinances, which are merely 'outward signs of an inward grace,' and of little import. Neither does it matter who per- forms these ceremonies and ordinances." This attitude is a radical fallacy. Baptism is perhaps not the main thing in the gospel, but it is just as important as faith in God, and repentance of sin. Without it, two essential neces- sities to spiritual growth cannot take place: entrance into the Church of Christ, and remission of sins. And the act must be performed by one having authority. Jesus condemned the Pharisees, it is true, for over-empha- sizing little things, and forgetting the weightier matters of the — law judgment, mercy, and faith. He said on one occasion: "Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone" (Luke 11:42). In thus speaking, Jesus condemned hypocrisy, not the payment of tithes, fasting, nor any other outward act commanded of God. Our Lord and Master in his life emphasized the need of conforming to certain ordinances and outward forms. He sub- mitted to baptism by John, in accordance with the will of God the Father in whom he had implicit faith, although he stood in no need of repentance. Having no sins to confess, he still showed a desire, nevertheless, to fulfil the law of righteousness, by being baptized and the Father was well pleased with his act. ;

When he came to John to ask baptism at his hands, John for- bade him, saying: "I have need to be baptized of thee, and com- est thou to me? And Jesus answering, said unto him: Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, say- ing, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." It would appear from this, therefore, that outward or- dinances are just as important as inward grace, and cannot be dispensed with, without a stultification of growth. The ceremony of baptism was not the main thing, but it was just as necessary as faith. Faith alone would not have fulfilled all righteousness. It was not an empty formality, or Jesus would not have submitted to it; it was a law of righteous- ness. Why is baptism necessary? For two reasons: it is the door by which men and women may enter the kingdom of God, and

EDITORS' TABLE 535

Christ has said, "He that entereth not by the door unto the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." Secondly, it is for the remission of sins, and without baptism, sin is not remitted, neither can one receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Peter said in answer to the cry, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" coming from the de- voted men of every nation gathered to hear his Pentecostal speech: "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." and repentance, which are inward feel- It is true that faith ings, must precede baptism, in order to make it effective. But we cannot stop at faith and repentance, because if we do, we stop growth and development; and the blessings resulting from obedience to them cannot be realized unless we submit to these ordinances. Hence the ordinance of baptism is as essential as faith in God and repentance. The Latter-day Saints do not view the outward ordinances as of secondary consideration. Each ordinance and principle of the gospel, is as essential as any other. All must be complied with, for they are all important. The Saints do not pay small have been termed attention to outward forms which by some both principles and ordinances the chaff of religion, but consider there no chaff in true religion; ours is a paramount. In fact, is our resurrected Lord and true religion—the genuine gospel of hence, wheat. Savior Jesus Christ— it is all works, and parts ot Faith and repentance are proved by laying on of hands for the recep- these works are baptism, the Ghost, and compliance with the commandments tion of the Holy gospel of our Master. Neither princi- of God as set forth in the were considered unimportant by Him His nles nor ordinances was directed against self-righteousness and hy- condemnation pocrisy.

Books ~ a • u„ T? «; Harris Ph. D., Director and

graphy, American beet-sugar compame and the contents ? f ° ^£ £«»,, yj™ mhirty years, been much of w ; itten a valuable index to J™' relating to sugar beets in America, 7^^^, ^ P**" ^ns, and itherhasthebeen this material is largely the design of this book, scattered in various whic \ ha * b ;™ ^ ' im in the .

S&J^ZteZfS-& S t , r V g a r bee, „,„,, con-

536 IMPROVEMENT ERA

ililions for growing sugar beets, soils, manuring and rotations, contracts, preparation of seed-bed and planting, cultural methods, irrigation and drainage, harvesting, by-products, pests and diseases, factors affecting quality of beets, production of sugar-beet seed, cost of producing beets, community aspects, sugar-growing, sugar-making, sugar cane, and world's vise and supply of sugar. Altogether, not only the farmers who are rais- ing sugar beets, and the agriculturists of the sugar companies, but the students of sugar beets in Agricultural, colleges, will find the book a most wonderful help in their study and practice in this growing industry, and in familiarizing themselves with its many phases. It also discusses the world's sugar supply. The author is by no means an inexperienced writer, there having re- cently appeared from his pen two books, Principles of Agronomy, which is being used as an agronomy text by practically all high schools of the West, and The Young Man and His Vocation, which has recently been added to the list of books being distributed to the United States Expeditionary Forces by the American Library Association. His latest contribution, "Sugar-Beets in America" is pronounced easily the most authoritative and practical treatise on sugar-beet production that has yet been written.

Agricultural College Experiment Station publications, Logan, Utah, recently issued, and can be obtained by those interested on request. "Factors Affecting the Depth of Sowing Various Crops," bulletin No. 164, gotten out under the direct supervision of Dr. F. S. Harris, Director and Agronomist of the Station. A total of 17,280 determinations were made in the experiments. "A Method of Feeding Orphan Lambs," by Dr. W. E. Carrol, animal husbandman, based on a very practical system by Mr. W. S. Hanson, of Collinston, Utah. In an actual test, practically 90 percent of a lot of orphans were so raised. Details in circular No. 33. "Licensed Stallions in Utah During the Season of 1918," containing a list of owners and their addresses given by counties, and other valuable information on the subject. Circular No. 35. "Legislation concerning Water Rights," circular No. 39; author, Pro- fessor A. W. Israelsen. Since 1903, Utah has spent $75,000 in making sur- veys of river system, but has not yet completed the determination of any right. "Field Beans," circular No. 37, containing Utah's experimental work, and important features of the experimental work and practices of the most successful bean producing sections in the United States, by Professor George Stewart. The publication contains 45 pages showing how to select seeds, prepare seed beds, plant, cultivate, irrigate, harvest, thrash, clean and grade the crops, explained in detail. There are numerous tables giv- ing valuable statistics.

Manuals for 1919-1920

Owing to conditions which prevented the Y. M. M. I. A. from meeting fcr most of the season 1918-1919, the General Board has decided that the manuals in use for this year, for the Senior and Junior classes, shall be used for the next year, 1919-1920. A number of the associations took up special work for the balance of the season, following the opening in Feb- ruary, others used lessons from the manuals. But owing to the fact that there are 18 lessons in the manuals, it is believed that there will be ample good matter for the classes of 1919 and 1920, hence the decision. Manuals may be ordered at any time.