--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Alter, Cecil collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 23 number: 8 published: 1920-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Alter, Cecil, "Joseph Smith as a Statesman VI–VII," *Improvement Era* 23, no. 8 (June 1920): 701–710.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera238unse 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: improvementera238unse start_page: 701 end_page: 710 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1920-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera238unse 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. --- # Joseph Smith as a Statesman VI–VII Joseph Smith as a Statesman VL—JOSEPH SMITH, A PRACTICAL SOCIOLOGIST The membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints grew rapidly, and as the converts to the new system began to gather at certain designated parts of the country in considerable groups, social organizations became necessary. It will therefore be interesting to examine the social structure established by Joseph Smith to make it possible for these people to live together in peace and amity and to make the re- ligious, industrial, social, and educational undertakings success- ful. The human elements found in several towns and villages were sufficiently varied to make the problem of even holding them together a difficult one. In the beginning, the new con- verts came from all parts of the United States and later from Europe. Naturally they had a diversity of opinions due to their training and education. Furthermore, the environment was en- tirely new and a great many possessed no knowledge of agri- culture, the predominating industry. To this diversity of ideas was added, before long, people representing several languages. To conciliate these different peoples with conflicting ideas and interests, was certainly a difficult task. The sociologist is interested in knowing what common interests could be found that would hold these people together, for they have been held together until the membership of the Church now numbers hundreds of thousands. The "Mormons" readily attribute the success in a large part to religious influence and careful organ- ization. The sociologist, however, is inclined to look further to see if at the same time other social forces were not also em- ployed. By this it is not meant that the sociologist does not rec- ognize the great efficiency of a strong common religious belief as a powerful factor in making for a common interest. Religion did much to bring about on the part of these people a recog- nition of the consciousness of kind. Joseph Smith, however, possessed too keen a knowledge of human nature not to em- ploy in addition to religion such other social forces as might increase human interest. Religion John Fiske tells us that no race exists that does not possess a belief in a God of some kind. If this statement is true, and the writer does not doubt it, it indicates that the religious feel- lessons for weekly joint M. I. A. meetings up to June Conference. 702 IMPROVEMENT ERA ing is a deep seated human attribute. At all events, since writ- ten history began, religion has always played a very important role in controlling men and their activities. It has made or shaped many human institutions and very properly continues to control men's lives to a great extent. As a sociologist, Joseph Smith, the organizer of a new church, appealed strongly to this element in order to secure unity of action of his people. The chapel or church, commonly spoken of as the meet- inghouse by the Saints, was in the beginning the center of all community activities. Services were frequent and so diver- sified in their nature that nearly every one was given some posi- tion that called for activity or trust. This drew the adherents close to the organization and secured their active co-operation in all religious matters. In other words, it really made them feel that they were part of the system. They were interested in the system because they were helping to make it. It brought about a unity of purpose and a co-ordination of action as noth- ing else could have done. It constantly brought members of the group into relationship with each other and was a means of making them interested in their religion, working at all times, as Joseph Smith believed for the betterment of the indi- vidual. The idea held before them was that a truly religious man made a better farmer, mechanic, or business man than an irreligious one. He taught that an incompetent workman could not be a good Latter-day Saint. Economic Activities Joseph Smith early recognized that it was not a profitable undertaking to preach spiritual salvation to men on empty stom- achs, so that the economic conditions of his people were of much concern to him. In Lesson II it was shown how the prophet had planted his people on the soil so that their ma- terial wants could be especially cared for. Agriculture for peo- ple on the western frontiers, with very little capital, was the most productive industry. By locating families near together on the soil, both their spiritual and material welfare could be provided for and easily supervised. Frequently in the early stages of social development, the religious and the material were closely knit together, a perfectly natural condition among a homogeneous people. As a result, both in the Mississippi Valley and in Utah, the Church has led in a variety of undertakings that concerned the material as well as the spiritual welfare of its people. It has built bridges, constructed roads, reclaimed desert lands, furnished poor settlers with seed, and established fac- tories. In fact, it has interested itself in almost every industry that would improve the welfare of its people. The problems were so difficult in many instances that they could not be solved JOSEPH SMITH AS A STATESMAN 703 otherwise. In establishing new towns the Church did not allow a body of settlers unskilled in pioneering, to go out alone and fail, as has been too often the case with other societies. If a new settlement was contemplated, it was undertaken as a group movement properly organized with a competent leader who was familiar with the work he was chosen to supervise. Before action was taken, a definite policy was marked out and a group sufficiently large to carry it into effect was selected. From the days of Independence, Missouri, to the present time, such has been the policy of the leaders of the "Mormon" Church, and Joseph Smith set the example. When settlements were made the plan embodied the pri- vate ownership and cultivation of the soil. At the same time industries which concerned the entire community were carried on co-operatively, whether it was a factory, a store, or when the Saints came west, an irrigation canal; all were invited to become members of the co-operative industry. Seldom were beneficial projects allowed to fail for want of leadership or sup- plies. The "Mormon" Church frequently intervened to save ne- cessary industries from hankruptcy. As soon, however, as the co- operative undertakings were on their feet, the Church support was usually withdrawn and directed into new channels. Tim policy was followed with a view of developing qualities of eco- nomic independence and self reliance with its people. This policy, laid out by the Prophet Joseph Smith, has been fol- lowed in subsequent undertakings until at present it is gener- ally conceded that the Latter-day Saints are the best colonizers in the West. But after all it is the application of the principle of the unity of group action with competent leadership that has made the Saints economically successful in every locality in which they have settled. In the arrangement of communities, Joseph Smith possessed some very definite ideas. He preferred the town or village com- munity to the open country. It lent itself very much better to unity of group action. The towns were laid out in blocks, and members of the Church were encouraged as far as possible to settle down on a town lot and not on their farms. This made the different forms of social intercourse easier to carry on. The chapel or meetinghouse, was really the community center and was used for a variety of purposes. The lands adjoining the villages were divided into areas sufficiently large to support a family and each person desiring to farm was allotted a piece of land and those, who, by training or desire, were qualified to practice business trades or professions, were encouraged to do so. In this way everybody was provided with the means of sup- porting himself and family. From the earliest days of the Church to the present, the employment of its members has re- 704 IMPROVEMENT ERA ceived thoughtful attention from the Church organization and the Church system has certainly made the economic welfare of its people an important consideration. Recreation In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 136:28, it reads: "If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanks- giving." Following these instructions, Joseph Smith was di- rectly interested in sports and amusements of all sorts. In his maturity he would often go out on the playgrounds and partici- pate in the games with the children just like a youth of school age. He encouraged games and sports of a legitimate nature among all classes of his people, for he realized their value in physiological training as well as a means of socializing the peo- ple and bringing them nearer together. Dancing and theatri- cals of a legitimate nature are regularly practiced as a part of "Mormon" community activities. Before proper halls could be provided these activities were carried on in the meeting-houses where, in order to emphasize their religious nature, they were opened and closed by prayer. Going with these activities was the encouragement of the study of music. The Prophet's point of view was certainly in advance of his time, for it is only in re- cent years that the necessity of community amusements have been fully realized as a means of proper recreation; yet we fully comprehend today that legitimate amusements and sports are necessities for a healthy community life. Education For any people to be progressive they naturally must be interested in education. Joseph Smith taught that "No man can be exalted but by knowledge." Again he says, "Intelligence is the path to the Gods, and knowledge is the first rung of the lad- der to heaven." The 24th Section of the Charter of the City of Nauvoo, Illinois, reads as follows: "The City Council may establish and organize an institution of learning within the limits of the City for the teaching of the arts, sciences, and learned professions, to be called the University of the City of Nauvoo." At the first meeting of the City Council in Nauvoo, Illinois, a university was organized in accordance with the pro- visions of the charter. Schools were also established for the children. Joseph Smith in many of his writings indicates very clearly that only intelligent persons can serve God properly and that ignorance is a heavy load for any people to carry. The same educational spirit characterizes the movement of the Saints to the Great Basin. A school for children in the "Old Fort" JOSEPH SMITH AS A STATESMAN 705 was opened, October, 1847, and the University of Deseret was established by legislation, February, 1850. In its charter, the University of Deseret was authorized to teach arts, sciences, phil- osophy, literature and language. From that day to the present, the Latter-day Saints have increased their educational facilities as fast as the wealth of the commonwealth would permit. Critics from older commonwealths have sometimes criticized the "Mor- mons" for not founding better educational facilities in the early days. If they will, however, compare the schools and the wealth of the new western commonwealth with the schools and the wealth of the older eastern commonwealths, the Saints will ap- pear in a favorable light. If they will go further and make a com- parison between the educational facilities of "Mormon" commu- nities and the surrounding western communities, now or at any previous time, they will certainly stand out prominently. Space will not permit the consideration, in this lesson, of other sociological elements employed by Joseph Smith in the organization of community life. Discussion, however, has pro- gressed sufficiently for us to see that Joseph Smith possessed a statesmanlike grasp of the sociological principles necessary to bring together and to hold together, people of diversified inter- ests. The towns and villages established included a very great variety of people differing in training, education, nationality, etc. From the sociological point of view, to take a few persons out of each of different assimilated groups and to bring them together so as to form new assimilated groups working measur- ably well in unison, is an extraordinarily difficult undertaking. Hundreds of times all over the world, such attempts have failed. Through employing the religious, economic, recreational, edu- cational and other elements in human life, Joseph Smith suc- ceeded, where others with similar undertakings, based upon a less comprehensive grasp of sociological principles, have failed. The success of the "Mormon" settlements and institutions throughout the world is the best evidence obtainable that Jo- seph Smith had a good understanding of the underlying princi- ples of practical sociology. QUESTIONS (1) What is sociology? (2) How was religion used as a means of holding the Latter-day Saints together? (3) What is a civic center? (4) What were the advantages of the Church helping the Latter- day Saints economically? (5) How does the recreational spirit unite the people of a com- munity? , . _ (6) Why do the Latter-day Saints believe in education.' (7) How have they fostered education? 706 IMPROVEMENT ERA VII.— JOSEPH SMITH, A PATRIOT Webster defines a patriot as "One who loves his country and zealously supports its authority and interests." By words from his own mouth and by his works, we shall attempt to show that Joseph Smith possessed all the attributes of a patriot. The first thing to be observed is that Joseph Smith is a direct descendant of revolutionary stock. His father had likewise fought in several battles in his country's wars. He had seen many of his companions shot down by his side, so it can hardly be charged that he was descended from cowardly ancestors, or that his family had not done its part in obtaining and maintaining the freedom of the Republic. It would hardly be expected that a father who had fought for his country and its independence would fail to teach his children to love their country, to have faith in its institutions, and to support its government. From birth to death, Joseph Smith showed the effects of his early education in loyalty. Though he was tried upwards of fifty times, being acquitted each time, he never lost faith in the American Republic and its institutions. Love of Country Just prior to his death, in 1844, he said: "The wisdom which ought to characterize the freest, wisest, and most noble nation of the nineteenth century, should, like the sun in its meridian splendor, warm every object beneath its rays; and the main ef- forts of her officers, who are nothing more or less than the ser- vants of the people, ought to be directed to ameliorate the con- dition of all, black or white, bond or free." Continuing, he says, "Our common country presents to all men the same advantages, the same facilities, the same prospects, the same honors and the same rewards." Two quotations from subsequent paragraphs read as follows, "The very name 'Ameri- can' is fraught with friendship and were I President of the United States, I would honor the old paths of the venerated fathers of freedom: I would walk in the tracks of the illustrious patriots who carried the ark of the government upon their shoulders with an eye single to the glory of the people." Constitution Inspired But Joseph Smith went further than merely to love and to believe in his country and its institutions. He held that its Constitution was divinely inspired. Section 101:80 of the Doc. and Cov., reads, "And for this purpose have I [God] es- JOSEPH SMITH AS A STATESMAN 707 tablished the Constitution of this land [United States of Ameri- ca], by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood." In section 134:1 of the Doc. and Cov., the Prophet says, in outlining the belief of the Latter-day Saints: We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man, and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, either in making laws or administering them, for the good and safety of society. In the same section, verse 5, the Prophet is very specific in his statement of the obligations of himself and the Latter-day Saints in sustaining the governments under which they may live. The verse reads as follows We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the re- spective governments in which they reside, while protected in their in- herent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments. The next verse reads: We believe that every man should be honored in his station: rulers and magistrates as such, being placed for the protection of the innocent, and the punishment of the guilty; and that to the laws, all men owe re- spect and deference, as without them peace and harmony would be sup- planted by anarchy and terror. * * * The foregoing quotations are sufficient to show Joseph Smith's love for his country and his support of its institutions. Perhaps nowhere by a religious leader are to be found such strict injunctions in respect to observing and upholding the constitu- tion and laws of the nation. Although his followers were driven from state to state and their property was confiscated, never once did he advocate violence or even force except when the de- Saints were actually set upon. Then he believed that self fense was justified. Joseph Smith was also interested in the country's welfare. Neither did he take a narrow view of patriotism or national in- terest. In previous lessons, we have seen how he proposed to guard and promote the national welfare by a constructive na- tional program. Practical Patriot I But after all, Joseph Smith was a practical patriot. He real, that, The idle ized, as perhaps no other religious leader had, mind is the devil's workshop" and that if men were to be law 708 IMPROVEMENT ERA abiding and contented, they must have something profitable to do. Some employment must be provided whereby they could provide themselves with an honorable living through honest labor; that teachings, however elevated and high minded, would not make an orderly law abiding people where want stalked abroad. He felt much like a recent writer on sociology, who says: "The result is that as much cant is being preached in the name of social service as was ever preached in the name of spirituality. This is to be expected of those who do not realize that all productive work, such as growing corn, wheat or cattle, to feed the world, growing wool or cotton to clothe the world, is social service; and that the best social service which the av- erage man can perform is to do his regular work well." The Prophet Joseph Smith felt very much this way in regard to patriotism. To the average man it meant living his religion, loving his country, obeying its laws, building a house, feeding his family and educating his children. These were the founda- tion principles taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith to his fol- lowers. Such a policy and the successful adoption of it by hun- dreds of thousands of American citizens certainly made him a patriot. J Summary i In the foregoing lessons we have attempted in a brief way to evaluate Joseph Smith in the field of statesmanship. The discussions have shown his great practical knowledge of human psychology, his understanding of the importance of religion in life, his grasp of economic and political problems, both national and local, his wise counsel as to their solution, his ability to guide large bodies of men and women and to render them val- uable service, his development of community life, his advocacy of law and order, his love of country and, finally, his ability to use and embody successfully all of these principles in working social institutions. His success is evidenced by hundreds of thousands of Latter-day Saints in the world. QUESTIONS (1) Who is a patriot? (2) From what stock does Joseph Smith come? (3) What was his belief in the constitution? (4) How did he feel that the ordinary man could best show his patriotism? (The End) © Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. A RESTING PLACE OF AMERICAN DEAD IN FRANCE Memories of the war are already glimmering, but those who visit the cemeteries in France and see the fateful result of the war, will never forget. This photograph shows the American Cemetery at Suresnes, near Paris, France. The French government and people are caring for the graves and keeping the cemetery in perfect condition. Died in Service The "Era" will be pleased to receive short sketches from parents ort friends, of soldiers who gave their lives in our country's cause in the Great War, and who have not yet been mentioned in this column. Address, Editor "Era," Room 406 Church Office Building, Salt Lake City, Utah. For com- plete index see "Era" for November, 1919. Private William Squires, of Salt Lake City, was reported killed in ac- tion, in France, in the casualty list published November 9, 1918. Corporal George R. Day, of Bountiful, was killed in action in France, September 17, 1917. He entered the service of the United States; and in June, 1917, he left Camp Lewis for overseas. Privates Martin Sanders, of Richmond, Utah, and Lavon A. Marshall, of Franklin, Idaho, died of wounds received in action, in France, according to reports issued by the war department the latter part of November, 1918. Frederick F. Smaltz, born South Weber, Davis county, Utah, Decem- ber 18, 1887, and son of Mrs. F. Smaltz, was killed in action October 3, 1918, in the Argonne Forest. He was drafted May 27, 1918, and was in Company M, 109th infantry. John Gunnell Darley, of Wellsville, Utah, 29 years of age, died of influenza and pneumonia, October 12, 1918, at Fort Logan, Colorado. He entered the army October 1, 1918, and is survived by his wife, one child, mother, father, brother and two sisters. Private George Benson Parkinson, son of President William C. Park- College, inson of the Hyrum stake, and wife, died at the Agricultural Loga'n, one day during the last week of October, 1918, and was buried with military honors, at the Logan cemetery, November 3, 1918. 710 IMPROVEMENT ERA William Wallace Asher, of Lehi, died November 23, 1918, at Douglas, Arizona. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Asher. Influenza was the cause of death. He enlisted in the United States cavalry two years prior, at the age of 16. He was a lieutenant's orderly at the time of his death. Amasa Lyman Green, Jr., son of Amasa Lyman and Ada Cutler Green, of Mona, Utah, died in the service of his country at Camp Funston, Kan- sas, October 18, 1918, of influenza. He was born at Clendale, Kane county, Utah, June 8, 1896. He enlisted in the engineering corps and left home July 29, 1918. His remains were shipped to Mona, Utah, for burial. The death of George P. Ketcham, of Cowley, "Wyoming, at sea, October It, 1918, was announced in due time. He and his brother, Dote, left Cowley, June 13, for Logan, Utah, to take special training preparatory to going to France. He was buried with military honors at sunrise, the morn- ing following his death. He was the first Cowley boy to die in the war. Private Russell Muir, of Heber City, died in a hospital in France, of influenza, according to a message to his sister, Mrs. Clifton Pierce, of Springville, Utah, received the latter part of November, 1918. He wa» 23 years old. Mr. Muir was a member of an artillery regiment. He was trained at the University of Colorado, at Boulder, and went to France in September, 1918. Private Henry M. Zabriskie, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Zabriskie, of Mt. Pleasant, Sanpete co., Utah, 26 years of age, was killed in action in France, October 1, 1918. He entered the service in April of that year, and went to France the following July. Before enlisting, he was a member of the national guard and took part in the military expedition on the Mexican frontier, in 1916. Corporal Arthur R. Green was killed in action, October 5, 1918, according to a telegram received by bis parents, Mr. and Mrs. George R. Green of Murray. The young man was a member of the 362nd infantry and was trained at Camp Lewis. He left Salt Lake Sept. 19, 1917. Corporal Arthur Green was the first Winder ward boy to be killed in action. He was a nephew of the late Bishop Orrin P. Miller. Private Ebbie Christensen, son of Mr. and Mrs. N. C. Christensen, of Lehi, Utah, died of influenza, November 1, 1918, at the Presidio, San Francisco, California, 26 years of age. Mr. Christensen enlisted August 2 and joined the students' army training corps at the University of Utah where he was in training until October 18, when he was sent to the Presidio. He was a member of the coast artillery. Private Bert Spackman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Spackman, of Richmond, Utah, was reported killed in action in France, some time during the month of October, 1918. He is said to have been the second soldier of Richmond, Utah, to die in his country's service. He left September 21, 1917, for Camp Lewis, in company with Ephraim Woodland, and arrived in France early in July, 1918. He and Woodland were members of the same machine-gun corps. Cyril Arthur Gooding, son of W. J. Gooding, CardsTon, Alberta, Can- ada, died in action, at Vimy Ridge, April 9, 1917. At the age of 14, he came to Cardston, from Chatham, Kent, England with his parents in March, 1912. He was an attendant of the public schools in Cardston. He