--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Talmage, James Edward collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 22 number: 8 published: 1919-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Talmage, James E., "Editors’ Table: The Basis of True Religion," *Improvement Era* 22, no. 8 (June 1919): 729–737.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2208unse 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: improvementera2208unse start_page: 729 end_page: 737 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1919-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2208unse publication_year: 1919 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 1919, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Editors’ Table: The Basis of True Religion EDITORS' TABLE 731 ways influences to noble action and to love of neighbor, springing from the love of God. A true knowledge of Him does not permit a man to let his feelings and emotions end in themselves, but it stimulates him to acts of mercy, kindness, and love. Thus, one must first seek for the knowledge of God, his will and his righteousness, and all other things will be added unto him, until religion shall become a working fact, a standard philosophy, an influence that moves to human duty, founded in the character and will of God, to whom obedience, service and honor are due. Having rendered such service, obedience, honor and recognition to Him, men cannot fail to serve their neighbors and humanity, thus fulfiling the second great commandment: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." The religion of the Latter-day Saints teaches duty to God first, and obedience to his will, and having fulfiled those requirements, the believer is ready and prepared to fulfil his duty of the law exto man, thus complying with both requirements pressed by the Savior: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy might, mind and strength, and thy neighbor as thyself." The religion of the Latter-day Saints is spiritual, intellectual, and practical. Its emotions do not end in emotions, but in noble action. Its philosophy is rational, is based on a true knowl- his holy will. edge of God, and leads to a practical fulfilment of doctrines are clearcut interpretations of the message de- Its mankind to the world, lhey are livered by the Redeemer of proper conception of God, faith in his revealed will based upon a spiritual the tem- and action in conformity to that will. The practical in the faith of the Latter-day poral, the emotional, the combined that the believers are enabled to be as Saints are so of God, the Eternal Father, they are, and should be, true lovers and the plan of salvation which they and of his Son Jesus Christ, well as lovers of man- have revealed for the exaltation of man, as the uplift of humanity. kind and practical helpers in Commendable Activity Scarcely a returning soldier from overseas but Wew^ in his heart for the Salvation est sympathy and commendation the boys at the front and in SmT These people were with needs, providing them with fh "Trenches, looking after their their heartsjrehevmg SSe^SSic and'eomforts to gladden an extent tha no orther organ their wants, pains and sorrows to done, too, without price or selnsft ization did. The service was motives. When A?an example, one little incident may be cited. : 732 IMPROVEMENT ERA a ship arrived in New York recently, carrying a number of our Utah boys on their return from overseas, they were met on shipboard before landing, as many other soldiers had been met, by Salvation Army representatives, with prepared telegrams which they asked the boys to sign. These telegrams notified the home folks of their loved ones' safe return to New York. Many were signed by the boys, and a number were received in various parts of the State of Utah, being sent free directly to the folks at home by the Salvation Army representatives. It was a simple message: "Arrived safely in New York, allwell," or words to that effect, but only the folks at home could appreciate the service or know the gladness of the message. On April 24, the telegram was followed by a little letter sent to the father or mother at home and which read as follows "Dear Sir: You will have received our telegram conveying the glad news of the safe arrival from overseas of your relative. [Son or friend, as the case might be]. "I send you this letter to say how much we rejoice with you in the happiness which this homecoming will bring, and to assure you of our prayers that our heavenly Father, who has been so good in bringing back the one you love, will continue to bless you and him. I want to assure you that you will find us ever ready to help you in any way possible. "Wishing you every blessing, sincerely yours, "Evangeline Booth, Commander." This may seem a simple and a little thing to do, but all persons who received such a message will forever after have *t loving thought in their hearts for the organization and its workers who took the time and trouble without reward or remuneration, to perform this little service, which means so much to those unto whom it was rendered. It is an indication of the attention they paid to the boys in the camps and at the front, amenities which have made the returned soldier so full of praise for the lassies of the Salvation Army! Messages from the Missions Good Work of the Bureau of Information Leon M. Strong, secretary of the Northern States mission, Chicago, Illinois, under date of April 11, says that the office has a list of earnest investigators to whom they send the Era occasionally, and they have received letters of appreciation for the favor. The Era finds a hearty welcome with the missionaries and their friends. He continues: "The excellent missionary work done by the Bureau of Information, and the directors of the organ EDITORS' TABLE 733 recitals in the tabernacle, Salt Lake City, is effective in making lasting friends from various parts of the country, who are happy to tell missionaries, on meeting them, of the pleasant experiences on the Temple grounds. Needless to say, the missionaries always find a true friend in such people. We wish you continued success for your splendid magazine." The following are the missionaries laboring in Chicago, front row, left to right: George W. Fowler, mission clerk; D. Rees Jensen, Mrs. Mary Smith Ellsworth; President German E. Ellsworth; Paul S. Hansen, president Chicago conference; Franklin S. Davis, mission stenographer; Clarence E. Schank, mission bookkeeper. Second row: Levi Swensen, Lexia M. Clark, Carl F. Reimann, Sam H. Williams, Allie L. Carlston, Marjory Howard, Douglas 0. Woodruff, Richard P. Condie. Third row: Matilda Nuttall, O. D. Van Orden, N. Cassie Stevens, Anders Anderson, Florence Telford, Leon M. Strong, mission secretary; Clara Devy. An Occasional Sounding for Bed Rock "We thank Thee God for a Prophet," has been sung by and recorded the proprietor ot on the Columbia Graphophone for sometime. Recently a New York Undertaking Parlor, Henn Brothers, wrote to the Eastern States Mission of the Church, asking them to send the words and music of this beautiful song for use in their parlors. The Eastern States matter to the Northern States Mission at Mission referred the Chicago, Illinois, and a copy of the Songs of Zwn was sent o the firm whichkter expressed the desire to have the L. D. S. male or mwd^JJ Songs of Zwn at the come and sing some of the hymns contained in the fTerals held in their parlors. Leon M. Strong, Spates mission writes: "This incident the office asking for Books of Mormon us feel encouraged in the thought = Secretary of the Northern togethei with many letters : _ and Doctrine and Covenant makes that 'Mormonism h ^/ ^'^ p °£ ngmto Through the r to swing back in our direction and the pendulum has started indifference in general, and prejudice awards the Latter- great wave of an occasional sounding for bedrock day Saints in particular, there comes sea spiritually. on the part of those at 734 IMPROVEMENT ERA Sixty Lady Missionaries in the Field. Elder Joseph S. Nelson, Bradford, England, writes under date of April 15: "The enclosed photo includes most of the elders present at the Leeds General conference, held at Westgate Hall, Bradford, March 30. After being alone in the conference for some little while, it was truly a treat to have so many elders together here. Chaplain Calvin Smith, now on leave lo take a three months' course at the Leed's University, stands in the center, the other three who are standing are English boys who are on missions, paying their own expenses, just as do the elders from Zion: They are left to right Ira William Mount, Liverpool; E. Henry Clark, Birmingham, president; Reginald H. Sanders, Leeds. Those sitting are left to right: Ether L. Marley, Liverpool; Joseph S. Nelson, Leeds, retiring president; Arnold G. Holland, Leeds, incoming president; Orial L. Anderson, Norwich, retiring president. Mission President George F. Richards is now releasing many of the few remaining American missionaries to return home. Local brethren are taking their places, in many instances, as conference presidents. Already foUr traveling elders have been called out of this conference alone, within two months. We have sixty local lady missionaries, each reporting work done for each month this year. Fifteen people were baptized in February, and we are already prepared for another baptism company. It is a glorious work." Program FOURTEEN— SUMMER WORK Tuesday Evening, July 8, 1919. General Subject: Peace Conference Program. Topic: "Re-drawing the World's Map" TUALWRK M. I. A. Annual Conference Salt Lake City, June 6, 7, 8, 1919 PROGRAM—FRIDAY, JUNE 6 Joint M.I. A. Officers' Meeting, Assembly Hall, 10 a. m. Opening Hymn, "Behold a Royal Army" Congregation Prayer Chorus "A C ppella" Club—Mrs. Esther Stephens, Director The M. I. A. Slogan: "We Stand for Spiritual Growth through Attend- ance at Sacrament Meetings.' "And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sac- raments upon my holy day." (Doc. and Cov. Sec. 59:9.) Greetings Presiding Officers Advanced Senior Class "Work Dr. George H. Brimhall Chorus "A Cappella" Club — Teacher Training Classes (a) Organization and plan; (b) Lesson and application; (c) The spirit of teaching Elder David 0. McKay Discussion. 9. Closing Hymn, "Onward Christian Soldiers" Congregation 10. Benediction. Separate Y. M. M. I. A. Officers' Meeting, Bishop's Building, 2 p. m. Opening exercise. Roll call and reports. M. I. A. Slogan: "We Stand for Spiritual Growth through Attendance at Sacrament Meetings." "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength ; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him." (Doc. and Cov. 59:5.) — — Junior Deaprtment "Our Biggest Problem Suggestions for Its Solu- tion"— (a) Organization, George J. Cannon; (b) Leadership, B. F. Grant; (c) Activities, John H. Taylor; (d) Summary, B. S. Hinckley. Closing exercises. Separate Y. L. M. I. A. Officers' Meeting, Assembly Hall, 2 p. m. Opening hymn, "Earth With Her Ten Thousand Flowers" ...Congregation Prayer. Chorus Wilford Ward Ladies' Chorus—Mrs. Ida White, Director Roll and report. "We Stand for Spiritual Growth through Attendance at Sacrament Meet- ings." "And he said unto them, he that eateth this bread, eateth of my body to his soul, and he that drinketh of this wine, drinketh of my blood to his soul, and his soul shall never hunger nor thirst, but shall be filled." (Ill Nephi 20:8.) 736 IMPROVEMENT ERA 6. Opening Remarks President Martha H. Tingey 7. Solo Florence Summerhays 8. Junior Work Ann M. Cannon 9. Senior Work Lucy Grant Cannon 10. Social Service. 11. Chorus Wilford Ward Ladies' Chorus 12. Benediction. Joint Y. M. and Y. L. M. I. A. Reception and Social to Visiting Stake Officers Roof Garden, Joseph F. Smith Memorial Building, Latter-day Saints University, 8 p. m. SATURDAY, JUNE 7 Joint M. I. A. Officers' Meeting, Assembly Hall, 10 a. m. 1. Opening Hymn, "We Are All Enlisted" Congregation 2. Prayer. 3. String trio Misses Lucille Schettler, Margaret and Katherine Stewart 4. "We Stand for Spiritual Growth through Attendance at Sacrament Meet- ings." "And there was one day in every week that was set apart that they should gather themselves together to teach the people, and to worship the Lord their God, and also as often as it was in their power, to assemble themselves together." (Mosiah 18:25.) 5. Announcement of M. I. A. Activities Mary E. Connelly 6. M. I. A. Service LeRoi C. Snow 7. Solo Mrs. Nellie Thomas 8. — Summer Work (a) Why this work? (b) The program; (c) Leadership, Mrs. Martha G. Smith; (d) Publicity and problems and solution, Ros- coe W. Eardley. 9. Closing hymn, "We are Watchers, Earnest Watchers" Congregation 10. Prayer. Separate Y. M. M. I. A. Officers' Meeting, Bishop's Building, 2 p. m. 1. Opening Exercises. 2. Roll and miscellaneous reports. 3. M. I. A. Slogan: "We Stand for Spiritual Growth through Attendance at Sacrament Meetings." "Jesus took bread and blessed it, and gave it to the disciples and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it, for this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matt. 26:28.) 4. Responsibility of the Senior Department Osborne J. P. Widlsoe 5. Each Lesson Faith Promoting Henry C. Lund 6. The Test of Efficiency Nephi Anderson 7. Finance Claude Richards 8. Publications Preston Nibley 9. Closing Exercises. Separate Y. L. M. I. A. Officers' Meeting, Assembly Hall, 2 p. m. 1. Opening Hymn, "Count Your Blessings" Congregation 2. Prayer. 3. Solo Edith Grant Young 4. "We Stand for Spiritual Growth through Attendance at Sacrament Meet- ings." "And this shall ye always observe to do, even ac I have done, even as I have broken bread, and blessed it, and gave it unto you. MUTUAL WORK 757 * * * And j j un a commandment h these things. And if ye shall always do these things, blessed are ye, yC 3re UP0 " my rock " (IH Ne P hi 18 6,12.) 5. A°L Address. = President Heber J. Grant 6. Closing Hymn, "High on the Mountain Top" Congregation Executive Session, 3 p. m. Final Contests in Public Speaking, Assembly Hall, 7:30 p. m. SUNDAY, JUNE 8 Officers' Testimony Meeting, Assembly Hall, 8:30 a. m. " 2 Pr^Ter 1 ^ Hymn ' G1 ° ry l ° G ° d ° n High " Congregation 3. Hymn, "Oh, Say What is Truth" Congregation 4. Closing Hymn, "Do What is Right" ™ZIc!3KKS Joint Officers' Meeting, Tabernacle, 10 a. m. en S Hymn " C ° me LCl US An6W " 2' ' ' Congregation Pra i" 3. Male Chorus S. D. Winter, Director 4. "We Stand for Spiritual Growth through Attendance at Sacrament Meet- ings." "But remember that on this the Lord's day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High. * * * And on this day thou shalt do none other thing only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, or in other words, that thy joy may be full." (Doc. and Cov. 59:12,13.) 5. Selection Male Chorus 6. "A Campaign for 100,000 Membership"— (a) Purpose and plan of the campaign, Assistant Superintendent Richard R. Lyman; (b) The Value of the M. I. A. in My Stake, President E. J. Wood, Alberta Stake; (c) What the M. I. A. has done for me (two ten-minute talks), Lorenzo Young, Mollie Higginson. 7. Ladies' Chorus Margaret Summerhsys, Conductor 6. (d) Advertising the M. I. A., Claude Richards; (e) Holding the 100,000, Ernest P. Horsley. 8. Closing Hymn, "Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah" Congregation 9. Bendiction. Public Meeting in the Tabernacle, 2 p. m. "We Stand for Spiritual Growth through Attendance at Sacrament Meetings." "And the Church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak with one another concerning the welfare of their souls; And they did meet together oft to partake of bread and wine, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus." (Moroni 6:5,6.) This meeting will be under the direction of the General Church Authorities. Music for this session will be furnished by the Tabernacle Choir Prof. — A. C. Lund, Director; Prof. J. J. McClellan at the Organ . Public Meeting in the Tabernacle, 7:30 p. m. Music for this session will be furnished by the Tabernacle Choir Prof. — A. C. Lund, Director; Prof. J. J. McClellan at the Organ. 1. Opening Exercises. 2. "We Stand for Spiritual Growth through Attendance at Sacrament Meet- ings." "And this shall ye do in remembrance of my body, which I have shewn unto you. And it shall be a testimony unto the Father, 738 IMPROVEMENT ERA that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me, ye shall have my Spirit to be with you. * * * "And when the disciples had done this Jesus said unto them, Blessed are ye for this thing which ye have done, for this is fulfilling my commandments, and this doth witness unto the Father that ye are willing to do that which I have commanded you." (HI Nephi 18:7,10.) 3. The M. I. A. Slogan — (a) Communion with Saints; (b) "Faith cometh by hearing," Counselor Ruth May Fox; (c) The Sacramental covenant — and blessing Elder Melvin J. Ballard. 4. Closing Exercises. Commendable Scout Activity A report of the scout scribe of Troop 44, M. I. A., Emerson ward, Granite stake, is a fine sample of what many like troops of boy scouts of Salt Lake City are accomplishing. The report covers the work between the period March 19, 1918, to March 18, 1919. The disbursements are as follows: Printing of programs and other expenses of scout play of March 22, 1918 $ 78.35 Ward donations 15.00 Mutual Improvement Association 15.00 Janitor service 6.00 Scout party, ice cream, etc 3.00 Registration fee for the troop 18.25 Troop flags and other supplies 1.20 Flowers of sympathy 2.00 Swimming lessons 5.50 Expenses for auto service and supplies on hikes 17.11 Liberty Bond 51.00 Total $212.41 Making a balance of $21.31 in the treasury. In addition to being the only scout troop to purchase a Liberty Bond out of troop funds, we have taken active part in the following campaigns: Red Cross service for old clothes, magazines, books and distributing advertising literature, distributing Liberty Loan bills on the second drive at 9 p. m., distributing Extras on two occasions at 6 a. m., stake and church tabernacle patrol duty on several occasions. We have gathered fast offerings during the Influenza epidemic and are scouting such service up to date. In one of the best months of such service we collected over $50 for which our bishop has given us due credit. "We have a number of boys who sold bonds in every issue. Three boys obtained their ace medals in Thrift Stamp sales. We have ten boys who went over the top in the last Liberty Loan drive, and, through the determination and good salesmanship of the boys, we ranked fourth among the troops in the entire city for total sales. We expect to do big things in the Victory Drive. Besides the above mentioned, we have aided a number of widows in the ward to spade and prepare war gardens. You will see that there has been a number of things accomplished by the troop that most of the people are not aware of, and we solicit your support to make this a better and Every scout in our troop, of which we are all proud to be members, is trying to live up to the scout promise and law. Edward Taggart, Scout Scribe. Wm. A. Dunn, Scoutmaster. K i$e ilhelm according to a provision in the Peace Treaty, l Jf er -ill ^°"I! > COU *£-vE&£?**r of the United States, Great « ? f five . udges composed of representatives J Britain, France, Italy, and Japan, and tried for his crimes. Honorable Anthony W. Ivins, was chosen president of the Board of Trustees of the Agriculture College of Utah, and John Dern of Salt Lake Y, ^-President, at the regular annual reorganization £ the r> Board, held at the college on Saturday, April 26. meeting of President Ivins succeeds Lorenzo N. Stohl, who has been a board member for fourteen years, and who has acted as president of the board for twelve years. Mr Stohl having resigned, he was tendered a vote of thanks for his long and efficient services as chief executive. President Carranza of Mexico, is making himself as dis greeable as possible to the Allied nations. Mexico has declined to recognize the clause in the Armistice of November 11, 1918, which pledged Germany not to dispose of any of its foreign security without Allied consent, on the ground that Mexican law was contravened thereby.Mexico also publicly protested against the Monroe Doctrine, as an attack on the sovereignty of Mexico. The withdrawal of its representatives at Paris and Rome followed. France and Italy, have both declined to recognize the Carranza government. Dr. Heber John Richards, one of Utah's medical pioneers, died at his home in Provo, on Monday, May 12, 1919. He was born in Manchester, England, October 11, 1840; coming to Utah with his parents when a young man. He received his early education in the Deseret University, and later graduated, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, from the Bellvue Medical college, New York, and was considered for many year«, Utah's foremost physician, being associated in Salt Lake City, with the late Doctor W. F. Anderson. In 1892, he went to Provo, where he practiced medicine for many years. A special session of Congress was called by proclamation of President Wilson, by cable from France, May 7, to convene at 12 noon, May 19, 1917, at Washington. The sixty-sixth, or "reconstruction" congress was organized by electing Representative Gillett of Massachusetts, speaker of the House; and Senator Cummings of Iowa, president pro tem. of the Senate, both Republicans, which party now assumes control for the first time since 1911, of the National Legislature. A short message from President Wilson was read, May 20. The League of Nations, the Peace Treaty and the failed appropriation bills will receive attention first. The cable systems between the United States and Europe, taken over by the Government sometime ago, reverted to their private owners at midnight, May 2. Postmaster-General Burleson, recommended on April 28, that the telegraph and telephone lines also be returned to the control ol the companies owning them, at the earliest possible date. The increase