The Chosen Road

THE CHOSEN ROAD 1027 one road to heaven from this earth. It is the Chuich of Jesus Christ. The ticket one must have on this road is faith. It cannot be used effectively on any other. A ticket for heaven will not get you there, if you board a train for hell, even though the conductor accept your ticket and allow you to ride. Even so, faith based on a false doctrine will not change the nature of that doctrine. To make this point clear I quote a widely known illustration from the works of Orson Pratt: "When Europeans first began their explorations in the new world, the Indians whom they met were much amazed at the power and explosive properties of gun-powder, and asked many questions respecting the manner in which it was produced. The Europeans, taking advantage of the ignorance of the sav- ages, and seeing an opportunity to increase their wealth by the deception, told the Indians that it was the seed of a plant which grew in the lands they had come from, and doubtless it would thrive in their land also. The Indians, of course, believed this statement, and purchased the supposed seed, giving in exchange for it large quantities of gold. In implicit faith they carefully planted the supposed seed, and anxiously watched for its sprout- ing and the appearance of the plant; but it never came. They had faith in the statements made to them by the Europeans, but as these statements were false, and therefore, the evidence on which the Indians based their belief untrue, their faith was vain." You have your ticrets. I am a conductor on God's great road. It is the only road that leads through the mountains of repentance, through the narrow pass of baptism, into the beautiful valley of truth — the abode of the Holy Spirit. All aboard. Deadivood, South Dakota Gratitude I thank Thee for eyesight to see — to behold the light of day, and to look into the faces of those whom I love. I thank Thee, for ears to hear — to listen to the songs of the birds, and to hear the sweet voices of my friends. I thank Thee for a heart to feel — that I may drink deep of the beauties of • eternity: yes even in sorrow and in tribulation it may mellow my life, and teach me of Thy ways. I thank Thee for a brain to think — that by reason and prayerful deduction I may arrive at a correct conclusion of knowledge, that men are the offspring of Deity — sons and daughters of God. Joseph B. Smith