The Steps to Happiness, Glory and Exaltation

The Steps to Happiness, Glory and Exaltation Besides the first principles and ordinances of the gospel — such as faith in God and in his Son Jesus Christ, repentance, and baptism for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost — there are other import- ant requirements with which members of the Church must comply. These requirements are standards or ideals in the lives of the Latter-day Saints. Their observance is quite as im- portant as compliance with the first principles of the gospel. Obedience to them is very necessary and far-reaching, because nearly all of them have a promise attached. The Lord has said that all blessings are predicated upon law, and if we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to the law upon which such blessing is predicated. Furthermore, he has de- clared: "I, the Lord, am bound, if ye do what I say; but when ye do not as I say, ye have no promise." Now here are some of the commandments and laws with promises and penalties which have become ideals or standards in the liVes of the Saints: Parents are to teach their children the doctrine of repent- ance, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, faith in Christ, the Son of the living God, baptism when eight years old, and teach them to pray and walk uprightly before the Lord. If this is done, the promise is a righteous and faithful posterity. But if this is not done, the penalty is that the sins of the children shall rest upon the heads of the parents. Members of the Church are to observe the Fast day and the Sabbath day, and if this is done, with thanksgiving and with cheerful hearts and countenances, the promise is that the good things, the fulness of the earth — food, raiment, houses, and lands shall be theirs. If they do the works of righteousness, their reward is peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come; the opposite if they fail, and thus offend God. All who earn means are to pay one-tenth of their increase to the Lord, for the building of his house, founding Zion, and for the debts of the Church. If this commandment is kept, the land shall be sanctified and become holy, but to those who do

EDITORS' TABLE 1020 not keep the law, the penalty is that it shall not be a land of Zion, a land of the pure in heart, unto them. Another law is the observance of the Word of Wisdom, the law of physical health to the Saints. They are not to use strong drinks, or any drink which, stimulates or creates an appetite for itself. They are not to use tobacco, and not over much meat. To all who observe these requirements and other laws and com- mandments, wonderful promises are made: They shall receive "health in their navel, and marrow to their bones, and shall find wisdom, and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures, and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint." And further, the destroying angel shall pass by them and not slay them. Of course, the penalty is that if they do not obey, they have no promise. And so one might go on and name laws and command- ments on modesty, on dress and behavior, cleanliness, work, prayer, healing, living together in love, and many others. All have promises, and, when unobserved, have penalties. One other commandment we would especially emphasize: "Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord." The Latter-day Sajints insist upon one standard of morality for m!en (and women. Chastity is demanded. "I will raise up unto myself a pure people, that will serve me in righteousness." "Let Zion rejoice, for this is Zion — the pure in heart; therefore let Zion rejoice, while all the wicked mourn." Vengeance, we are told, cometh speedily upon the ungodly, as the whirlwind, * * * "for the indignation of the Lord is kindled against their abom- inations and all their wicked works." Zion, the pure in heart, shall escape affliction, pestilence, plague, vengeance and de- vouring fire, if she observe to do< all things whatsoever I have commanded her, says the Lord. That is his promise. But if she oberve not the laws and commandments of God, among them, "Be ye clean," then the penalty is just the opposite. And Zion, in this sense, means you and me individually. No law broken brings the vengeance of God sooner and more certainly than an impure life. As the youth of Zion we, therefore, em- phasize and strive to live closely to our slogan: "We stand for a pure life through clean thought and action." Chastity is one of the standards, virtue, an ideal of the Latter-day Saints. It is a fundamental in the gospel of Jesus Christ, which in our personal lives we seek in all earnestness to promote. That great and good man, Preident Daniel H. Wells, once said on this subject : "The gospel makes men and women free — free from sin — the greatest of all tyrants; and there is no greater slave on the earth than the man who is under the control of his own pas-

1030 IMPROVEMENT ERA sions, and who is subject to the dictation of the spirit of evil which is so prevalent in the world. The acts of all such per- sons bring their own punishment, and it is swift and certain; while those who are controlled by the principles of the gospel have a joy and peace, under whatever circumstances in life they may be placed, which the world knows nothing of." — Daniel H. Wells, Aug. 9, 1873 ; Journal of Discourses, Vol. 16, p. 125. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." The law of chastity, in which we so truly believe, is one of His greatest laws to us; its blessings of health and power, of peace and joy, of glory and achievement, here and now, and in the world to come, are beyond price! It caps the climax of every praiseworthy accomplishment; it is a law to mankind whose observance is enjoined among the first of all of his revealed principles, ordinances, and commandments; it is a gem of first brilliancy in the standards and ideals of the Latter-day Saints. Compliance with the principles and ordinances of the gospel is essential as first steps to obtain salvation from sin; but a strict keeping of the laws and commandments, among the foremost, "Be ye clean," marks the imperative steps of our onward prog- ress to happines, glory and exaltation. — A. How are You Going to Vote? "We stand for the non-sale and non-use of tobacco." Likewise, "We stand for the anti-cigarette law and its strict enforcement" Now that candidates for the legislature are about to be nom- inated and elected, how are we going to determine who of the candidates, both for the legislature and for minor offices in state and county, will stand for the same principles? Men and women of all political parties who favor these declai'ations (and we believe that the great majority of this state of Utah do), should see to it that every individual candidate is publicly pledged to allow the anti-cigarette law to remain on the statute books, "and to stand firmly for its enforcement. We believe that the majority of the people are for it. Let the will of the people be made known in lively action. Let every voter voice aloud the sentiment of President Heber J. Grant, expressed in his sermon at the June Conference: "/ appeal to the body of our young men and young women, the great majority of whom are endowed tvith the franchise, to vote during the coming election for no candidate for the leg- islature, who will not publicly announce himself or herself in favor of allowing the anti-cigarette law to remain on the statute

EDITORS' TABLE 1031 books. Many say it ought to be repealed because it is not obeyed; I say it ought to be enforced, not repealed" Immediate and vigorous cooperation in this matter will have a telling effect. Let's go to it! — A. Messages from the Missions Church School at Hastings Elder A. P. Anderson, recently returned from a mission to New Zealand, reports that much good is beng done for the boys of the South Sea Islands who take advantage of attending the Maori Agricultural Col- lege, thes Church school at Hastings, New Zealand. "At the present time there are boys attending the school from Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, and also the natives of New Zealand. Some of these islanls are; 2,000 miles away. The native boys are able to get a high school education at the school, and they are also taught the principles of the gospel, of which many of the boys are very capable expounders." Missionaries, left to right, front row: Vern Iverson, P. R. Buttle, edi- tor of Te Korea, mission paper; Leo B. Sharp, principal; A. P. Anderson, secretary (released); E. U. Moser. Back row: William A. Cole, A. S. Holmes, Harold Jenkins, Gerald F. Heaton, Henry Jorgensen. Full of Faith and Good Works Though Far Away- Elder William C. Warner, conference president, Perth, West Aus- tralia, writes under date of May 23: "We are 1,300 miles from the near- est conference, and 3,000 miles from missionary headquarters. We held our annual conference on April 30, President and Sister Don C. Rushton being in attendance. Sister Rushton is the first mission president's wife to visit Western Australia, owing to the distance from the other conferences. Her

1032 IMPROVEMENT ERA visit was much appreciated. Our meetings are well attended. We have here a membership of 66, and an average attendance of about 55. We need a more suitable place to hold our services. We enjoy our work very much, though we find only a few who are willing to accept the gospel, and we find also a number who are opposed to our work." Elders laboring in Perth, left to right, back row: Lorenzo F. Hansen, Brigham City; Gordon Smith, Cedar City; Thomas Wm. Lutz, Rexburg, Idaho; front row: Confer- ence President William, C. Warner, Grace, Idaho ; Sister and President Don C. Rushton, Salt Lake City. On Unselfish Service Roscoe C. Cox, of the Hawaiian mission, writing from Hilo, July 8, calls attention to a letter which he received from President William M. Waddoups of the Temple, which was a great impetus and encouragement, filling him and his companions with a strong determination to do their full duty in the work of the Lord. He considers part of the letter suitable for publication in the Improvement Era, believing that it will be a means of bringing to other readers the same sweet joy that it brought to him and his companions. Here is the quotation: "What a wonderful joy comes from good work well done! There is no compensation quite so valuable as the satisfaction which fills the soul when rendering service for the Master. I know that God compensates all men according to their works, and I know that the best and only way to serve him is by service to his children. I am convinced that none are so miser- able and unhappily unsatisfied as those who shut themselves up in their little cell and selfishly spend their lives seeking their own pleasure and comfort. This world is a big place, but after all, it is not large enough for one to hide from oneself, and the consequences of our lives' acts follow us as our shadows. Love will beget love, selfishness will spring up as a re-- ward for selfishness. Our faith in God and our ability to love and serve

EDITORS' TABLE 1033 him will be in exact proportion to the unselfish service we render. Oh, if men would only understand the supreme joy they miss in spending their live for personal gratification! Oh, that all men might know by the sweet whisperings of the spirit of truth, the sublime joy of an undying, untiring faith in God and the divinity of his great work! This, dear brother, is our mission. First of all, to love God; and next, and equal unto it, to love his children, and ourselves last. What an almost impossible task it is to place ourselves last. But that you are doing, in unselfishly giving your services, as you are, in the Master's name." Missionaries of the Port Arthur Conference of the Canadian Mission Back row from left to right: Jas. E. Bacon, Roy G. Bailey, Lorenzo S. Davies. Seated: Conference president, James R. Vance, Mission President, Ne- phi Jensen. Steady Growth — Increase of Activity J. W. Ernest Tomlinson, writing from Sheffield, England, June 30, reports steady growth and increase of activity in all the organizations of the conference. "There are eight active elders who are striving hard to increase the spreading of the message of salvation in spite of the nation- wide disinterest in subjects of religion. This condition of a non-religious attitude is both appalling and lamentable. It is the fight over which we, as missionaries, must be victorious in the presentation of the gospel mes- sage. An obstacle of this nature we do not consider insurmountable. It only assists in bringing elders and Saints in closer contact and firing us with greater determination of faith, efficiency and endurance. We have come to realize the necessity of the contents found in the Improvement Era, as a part of the equipment of a successful mission."