--- 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: 23 number: 3 published: 1920-01 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Prophecies and Promises of the Lord—XIII–XIV," *Improvement Era* 23, no. 3 (January 1920): 250–253.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2303unse 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: improvementera2303unse start_page: 250 end_page: 253 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1920-01) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2303unse publication_year: 1920 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 1920, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Prophecies and Promises of the Lord—XIII–XIV — 252 IMPROVEMENT ERA 8. "Do the work and ye shall know of the doctrine." Apply this saying to the increase of intelligence. 9. Reconcile these two commands: "Seek learning even by study, and also by faith." "Take no thought what ye shall say." 10. Give illustrations of faith as a means of increasing one's intelligence. 11. Quote a passage providing for spiritual illumination in a council of two or three. 12. Relate an experience where you or another have been more than the natural self, as an intelligence. Increase of Intelligence Collateral References:Contributor, Vol. 4, pages 255, 258. "Sermons of Joseph Smith." "Ignorance," page 427; also pages 31, 32, Gospel Doctrine, Rational Theology, Dr. John A. Widtsoe. Chapters 2, 3, 4. Who are the meek? Page 130, 131, The Religion Worth Having, by Carver. The following quotations are suggested as memory gems: "Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection." Joseph Smith. "Thou that teachest another, teachest also thyself." LESSON XIV.— CRISIS CONFLICT Crisis conflict means war. War is theologically justifiable only when other means fail. The decreed purpose of war is made plain in Section 63:33, 34. When men strive against the Spirit of the Lord, and persist in opposing it, the Lord, to keep his promise, in which he says, "My Spirit shall not always strive with man," withdraws his Spirit and this withdrawal is a sigual for the onrush of the powers of evil, which have been kept in abeyance by the Spirit of the Lord. When such conditions obtain, greed dominates over generosity, egotism crushes out altruism, and service terminates in slaughter; thus is war decreed through the decree that the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with men who oppose it, and crime becomes its own executioner. The decreed purpose of war is that the wicked may slay the wicked. War is permitted, and even commanded, as a means of defense against the invasion and domination of the wicked, but is only justified after all other means have failed, then, and then only, is it sanctioned by Divine edict. Sec. 98:33-43 contains information of intrinsic value on this topic. Zion, the home of the Saints, or the home of the holy of the Latterdays is the only land promised immunity from war. Sec. 45:66, 67, 68, 69. Section 87 is a miracle of knowledge concerning war, and as such is testified to by the Prophet Joseph, and in part reiterated in Section 130: 12, 13. Therevelation bears the official stamp of divinity in its introduction,and is launched as pre-history of a series of crisis conflicts, beginning with one of the states of the Union, and terminating with universal war for the cause of liberty. That the voice heard by Joseph, on that Christmas night in answer to his prayer, was the voice of Omniscience, the writings on the scroll of lime bear witness. The details of unborn events set forth in paragraph 3, followed by such precision of fulfilments, proclaim Joseph Smith a special instrument in the hands of God, a prophet, seer, and revelaior. What sociologist would hazard the statement that a slave cause would seek support from an anti-slave nation? . PROPHECIES AND PROMISES OF THE LORD 253 Paragraph 5 provides that the remnant, the American Indian or aborigine should vex the civilized world. What mere human prognostication could see the possibility of Mexico looming up as one of the vexatious problems which the world wisdom of almost a decade has not solved? Are the inhabitants of the earth painfully feeling the corrective power of our heavenly Father, and will this chastening process continue until the arrogance of nationalism shall be submerged in internationalism, faith, hope, and charity? The consummation decreed does not provide for the end of all peoples, but for an end of all nations. It may provide for a time when the flag of all flags, the white flag, the color of which is the blending of all colors, shall wave over all. Paragraph 7 points to a time coming when industrial and social oppression, and the spilling of blood, shall no longer create conditions demanding retribution under the great law of compensation. Paragraph 8 calls upon the people of God, in the light of this pre- diction, to stand in holy places; that is, under the protection of God and "workfully wait" for the salvation of the Lord. The paragraph closes with the prediction that the triumph of righteousness shall come with as much speed and unexpectedness as did the wars preceding the promised peace. Questions and Problems 1. Discuss the fulfilment of 63:33, 34, in the light of present conditions. , 2. Compare the predictions made in 45:68 with gem found in Compendium, page 271, on the "Coming of the Son of Man* On another occasion, about this time, the prophet Joseph made the following remarks: "Men profess to prophesy. I will prophesy that the signs of the coming of the Son of Man are already commenced. One pestilence will desolate after another. We shall soon have war and bloodshed. The moon will be turned into blood. I testify of these things, and that the and coming of the Son of Man is nigh, even at your doors. If our souls, of Man, and our bodies, are not looking forth for the coming of the Son forth, we shall be among those after we are dead, if we are not looking who are calling for the rocks to fall upon us. The time is soon coming when no man will have peace but in Zion and her stakes. "I saw men hunting the lives of their own sons, and brother murder- daughters, and daughters seeking ing brother, women killing their own the lives of their mothers. I saw armies arrayed against armies. I saw blood, desolation, fires, etc. (sec. 98:16 34- 3. Compare the Lord's requirement for declaring war forbearance taken by the United States with Ger- 48), with the steps of many before declaring war. . . „-. , » 4. Discuss this question: The war in heaven, a crisis conflict for PCaC contestants may 5.' Name conditions under which the the battle claim anDroval and assistance of the Lord. .. _., out of the Civil War, through . . » 6 manv years before the How breaking was the revelation and prophecy on war, the rebellion of South Carolina, "^V^afmonth and"! what day of the month was the revela- the revelation was ^^S.^What the circumstances under which were given? Section g 130:12-13. ... j. „!«•:«« 9 this revelation? 9 What was the evident purpose of giving has this revejation been to the Saints ( JO. what value Of 254 IMPROVEMENT ERA 11. Of what value might it have been, and still continue to be, to the world? 12. What condition of severity is foreshadowed by the prediction: "He that will not take up arms against his neighbor (giving to the word neighbor its ordinary meaning) must needs flee to Zion for safety"? 13. What effect would it have had on so called "Mormonism," if the prophecy on war had failed in its fulfilment? 14. Why could it not fail? 15. Discuss the relative value of nationalism as a means, and nationalism as an end. Collateral References Gospel Doctrine, Joseph F. Smith, page 523 to 537. No student of the question of War can afford to miss giving time and thought to this reference. Pearl of Great Price. Revelation 12:7-11. "The Twelve Scout Laws" With Correlated Outlines from the Junior Manuals For Boys in the Junior Class Doing Regular Scout Work Lesson X —A Scout is Obedient "A scout is obedient. He obeys his parents,, scout master, patrol leader, and all other constituted authorities." The English version of this scout law has the following paragraph in addition: "Even if he gets an order he does not like, he must do as soldiers and sailors do, he must carry it out all the same because it is his duty; and after he has done it, he can come and state any reason against it; but he must carry out the order at once. That is discipline." Note the order in the scout law in which obedience is called for. Is this order important? What do you understand by "all other constituted authorities?" You have heard the saying: "Order is the first law of heaven." How do you suppose that saying originated? Before order can be had, what principle must first be observed? What would be the result if soldiers in the army were not obedient to their commanders? What follows when sailors on board a ship refuse to follow the orders of the officers? What would happen to a business concern if the employees did not observe the rules laid down by the managers? Obedience may be given not only to the commands of persons, but it is very important that obedience be given to all principles of right and proper living. For instance, there is a law given to all members of the Church called the Word of Wisdom. This is what the Lord says regarding that law: "And all Saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel, and marrow to their bones." Name some of these commandments which if obeyed will bring blessings of health. One of your playmates may be chosen to be the president of the cpiorum of the priesthood to which you belong. Why should you obey him in that capacity? The Prophet Samuel once said this: "To obey is better than sacrifice, "THE TWELVE SCOUT LAWS" 255 and to hearken than the fat of rams." Tell the incident which brought out this saying. (I Samuel 15:22.) Tell instances of obedience to commandments which seemed hard to obey, as, for instance, Nephi in the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and any others whom you might know. Lesson XI — A Sccut is Clean "A scout keeps clean in body and thought, stands for clean speech, clean sport, clean habits, and travels with a clean crowd." The lesson on cleanliness found in the Junior Manual, No. 2, "lessons on Conduct," Lesson XI, will be found very helpful in the presentation of this lesson to the boys, it being replete with illustrations and suggestions. A scout, of course, understands what is meant by being clean in body. All he requires to observe this law is a little soap; a good deal of water, and the will to use the soap and water. Why should he wash his hands before every meal? Discuss this: Which is more important to keep clean, the hands or the face? Distinguish between "clean dirt" and dirt which is not clean. Examples: The dirty hands of a lazy school boy; the black hands of a blacksmith or automobile mechanic. — What gives some boys not scouts —unclean mouths, unclean lungs, unclean breath, unclean fingers? What is meant by clean sport? How can thoughts be said to be clean? What do unclean thoughts lead to? What do unclean words lead to? What is an unclean crowd in the meaning of the scout law? How can you help keep the crowd clean? Here is a safe rule to test the kind of stories to tell in the crowd: First tell it to your mother and get her opinion of it. One of the prophets in the Bible once said: "Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord." How can we apply this to the scouts who are deacons? Lesson XII —A Scout is Reverent 'A scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties and respects the conviction of others in matters of custom and religion." For reference see page 105, in the Junior Manual, "Lessons on Conduct." "A scout is reverent toward God." Why? A word very nearly akin to reverence is love. We love those who love us and do much for us. Who is doing most for us? What has God done for us? What has the Lord Jesus Christ done for us? An answer to these questions will show why we should revere these persons. Why should we hold meetinghouses and churches in reverence? We do not reverence the houses as such, but because they are places where we ask the Spirit of God to come. We also ask the Lord to send His Spirit into our homes. Why should we not also revere them? Then we ask for the Spirit of the Lord to dwell within us. Should we revere our bodies? Can we give reverence to something not clean? When are our bodies unclean? The scouts should remember that the Church of Jesus Christ is the greatest organization in the world. Within that Church there is an organization called the Mutual Improvement Association. The M. I. A. Scouts belong to this association, and, therefore, are closely connected with the Church. He should not, therefore, let any of his scout activities draw him aw?y from the Church, but should make these activities connect up with his duties in the Church. In this way he becomes reverent in all his activities. What special blessing and privilege is it to be an M. I. A. Scout of the Boy Scouts of America?