--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Widtsoe, John A. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 26 number: 1 published: 1922-11 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'John A. Widtsoe, "Right Education as a Force in Obedience to Law", *Improvement Era* 26, no. 1 (November 1922): 73–81.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2601unse 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: improvementera2601unse start_page: 73 end_page: 81 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1922-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2601unse publication_year: 1922 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 1922, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Right Education as a Force in Obedience to Law EDITORS' TABLE 73 Right Education as a Force in Obedience to Law By Elder John A. Widtsoe, of the Council of the Twelve This very remarkable conference, with its great attendance and its pointed instructions, has made me think seriously about many important matters. I have been stirred into thought, especially concerning the chief message given us yesterday by President Grant. I have been trying to determine the causes or forces in our civilization that make men obedient to law, or that make u^| unwilling to obey the laws of God, or of the land. Education as a Factor in Obedience to Law I have been thinking most, I believe, about the part that education plays in training our citizens to obey and to sustain the law and to be loyal in all respects. There is a tremendous power in education. As we are taught and trained in schools, and by those whom we follow, so we become. The late war gave us several examples of the power of long continued education to fasten ideals upon a whole nation. We are an education-loving people. I was really amazed to note, from statistics gathered by the Presiding Bishop's office, as one of the fruits of this marvelous work known as "Mormon- ism," that of all the Latter-day Saints between 8 and 18 years of age only twenty-two have not attended school. I doubt whether such a record can be duplicated by any other people of the same number in all the world. Our schools and colleges are crowded to overflowing. I am informed that the Agricul- tural College of Utah and the University are the two largest institutions of the kind in the United States when the popula- tion is considered. It is proper for this people to be seekers after enlightenment — to be education-loving — for the revelations of God declare that we are to "seek out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study, and also by faith." It is also declared that "The glory of God is intelligence." I have been wondering to what extent this love for education and this use of education may be made to sustain the teachings given us by the Prophet of God in his address to us yesterday. The great problem before us seems to be how to direct the tremendous power that resides in our educational desire and activity so that our children may become rounded, well formed, men and women, not educated in one direction only, but rather so edu- cated that all their powers are developed and strengthened. 74 IMPROVEMENT ERA The Spiritual Nature a Big Influence in Education We imagine too often that we can place most of our bur- dens, with respect to our children, upon the schools; yet, this is not possible, for our public schools are not permitted to> teach all that should be taught mankind. As all know, in our free land, there is a provision in the constitution of the United States — perhaps the finest in the constitution — which provides for religious freedom; and in consonance with that constitu- tional provision, religious instruction is not permitted in our public schools. Since man is not merely physiological, or intel- lectual, but also spiritual, our schools do not wholly suffice for the full training of man. Yet it is quite as natural for a man to desire religious education as to desire education for his body and mind. This truth is borne out by human experience to such a degree that I have no need to dwell long on it here, but it came to my attention again with renewed force just a few weeks ago. I had the privilege of visiting, in company with two members of our Church, and several who were not members, the great Rainbow bridge, or Rainbow Arch, located in southeastern Utah, not far from the Arizona line. It is one of the most beautiful of all such works of nature — a gigantic, perfectly formed bridge or arch of brilliant red sandstones spanning the canyon sym- metrically from side to side. Through the efforts of President R, D. Young of Sevier stake there was found in a squirrel's hole, the registration book which had been used since 1909 by the occasional visitors to this bridge. In this book the visitors had written their names and comments that had occurred to them. Some very distinguished names were found in this book. Theo- dore Roosevelt and three of his sons had been there, I think in 1913, and had written their names in the book. The names of other men and women of national prominence were inscribed in the book. One man of national renown had written below his name: "Here hath the Master wrought with consummate skill/' This man, not primarly a religious man, a well known scientist, standing before this marvelous creation of God, this great, won- derful natural bridge, felt himself drawn to God, and left a testimony of faith to all who might follow. Another man, under his signature, wrote: "This is a wonderful work of God. Remain here and worship God in all His glory." He also turned from the physical beauty of the bridge to the great spiritual beauty of the Maker of the bridge. This is the natural and normal instinct of all men. We are spiritual, as well as mental and physical; and our education, to be complete and fully satisfactory, must take into account the demands of the spiritual nature of man, and provide for religious instruction. The man whose mind and body alone are trained is not necessarily a safe citizen, because EDITORS' TABLE 75 such education is no guarantee against a criminal life or a life of lawlessness. Education frequently helps the criminal in his lawless deeds. Spiritual education is the best known means of causing men to use their powers for human good. We are not justified in sending our children to schools and colleges to be developed mentally with just the barest opportunity for spiritual development during the most critical period of their lives. The Home Must not Shift its Responsibilities to the School Since religious training is not permitted in the public schools, because it is against the law of the land, the question is: how are we to supplement the work done in our public schools, so that our boys and girls may be spiritually developed, and thereby become better able to do the things that have been called to our attention in this conference? I am dwelling on this for a few moments — realizing that there is no time, since there are many speakers, to develop this subject — merely to call the attention of the Latter-day Saints to the necessity of not placing the whole burden of education upon the schools of the land. Too often, of course, school trustees and school teachers are afraid of doing what they really might do, under the Con- stitution of the United States. This is not a God-forsaken coun- try; this is essentially a God-fearing country, and there is no reason why, in our public schools, we should not teach the love and the fear of God. Since, however, we may not do this as fully as we would like, we must go for help to the home and to the church — the two remaining agencies for the rounding out of education. Those who have read the history of recent human thought, will remember that during the last forty or fifty years, the fathers and mothers of our land, hav'ng witnessed the wonder- ful development of the educational system within this country, have gradually placed increasingly much of their responsibility upon the school. The home has been minimized in importance; the school has been made larger in importance than was ever intended by the clear thinkers within the field of education. Thq home still retains its duty — the duty of teaching and train- ing and developing young men and women spiritually, filling in where the school under the Constitution is unable to do its full duty. The home must not, and can not, in safety, shift its responsibilities to the school. Church Schools of Tremendous Importance in Spiritual Training The Church should likewise be of tremendous importance in spiritual training. In this Church we have auxiliaries of 76 IMPROVEMENT ERA various kinds, the chief purpose of which, as I view it, is to spiritually train our school-trained generation. I would like to leave the thought with the Latter-day Saints on this occasion that the prime purpose of the auxiliary institutions of this Church is to supplement our educational efforts, as made through the public schools. The Church has also provided a system of Church schools — in possibilities, the ideal school of course — in which the child, the youth and the maiden may re- ceive instruction, not only out of books of learning made by man, but also out of books of God; where man may be trained physically, mentally and spiritually for complete living, and be better fitted thereby to obey the law and to do all other neces- sary thing in living up to the teachings that are taught in this and similar pupits throughout this Church, and throughout other churches. A number of splendid high schools, junior col- leges and normal colleges are maintained by the Church, to the great advantage of thousands of students. Seminaries and Religion Classes Wonderful Helps) in Religious Instruction But, it is impossible for the Church to maintain Church schools that will reach all the people, nor would it be wise or proper to maintain an educational system, competitive with the public school system, and therefore, we have in this Church a wonderful organization, scarcely understood by the people, known as the Religion Class, which is a definite attempt under the law to correlate religious instruction with the work which the law permits to be done within the elementary public schools. I take the liberty to call your attention to the Religion Classes, from this point of view, in the hope that all Latter-day Saints may give special attention to the meaning and purpose of this great movement in the Church. Then, continuing the religion class, the Church provides for the same purpose — the develop- ment of the spiritual man, so that, educationally, he may be rounded out fully — the seminaries which are maintained for the training of high school students, and in close proximity of the high school, but not in connection with it. In these institutions tho young men and women who attend high school, may re- ceive, an hour a day if possible, proper religious instruction. The Religion Classes and the Seminaries provide means by which the training of the boy and girl may proceed sym- metrically, step by step — not in mental chunks one year and re- ligious chunks another — but so that each year throughout the whole course of education, we may teach and train all the faculties of man. A great university of sound and modern scholarship, the EDITORS' TABLE 77 Brigham Young University, stands at the head of the Church school system, and serves students of university grade. It is not able to care for all the students who desire to enter it. The State of Utah maintains a magnificent state university and an equally magnificent state agricultural college, the students of which no doubt) will have access, in time, to devices, under the law, that will enable them to secure training toward God as well as toward material things. This important subject has rested on my mind since yesterday morning, when I heard our President deliver his ringing message in behalf of obedience to law; and, as my analysis has proceeded, I have come more and more to the con- clusion that through the public school system and through our religious auxiliaries we may be able to help accomplish the thing for which President Grant pleaded yesterday. Spiritual and Mental Education Makes Dependable Intelligence In conclusion let me say again that to be merely mentally trained is to be only partly trained. The man whose mind only has been trained may be likened to the ship with great engines and a huge propeller ready to drive the ship forward, but without rudder, chart, compass, or definite destination. When we add to the man, so trained, spiritual training, then it is as if we add to the ship, with its wonderful machinery, a com- pass, a chart, a rudder, and a dependable intelligence which controls the whole machinery, above and below deck, so that the vessel may reach a safe haven, according to a definite pur- pose. A Testimony May God bless us in our educational endeavors and in all our endeavors. May he strengthen us to make us able to fulfil our great destiny, to be the great people of the world in virtue rnd righteousness. I bear you my testimony that I know that the work represented by this Church is the truth; that God lives; that his Son came on earth in obedience to a great plan, to suffer and to die for us; that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God who came here to do God's will in continuation of this mighty and eternal purpose and that the Church is still directed by God. It is good to be a Latter-day Saint. I thank God for the privilege that has come to me to be a member of this Church, to share in the privileges of the Priesthood and in the bless- ings that flow from it. God be praised that he brought this truth to me and to my family and to you and to yours. God be with us always I ask it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 78 IMPROVEMENT ERA Messages from the Missions The Gospel in France Elder Stephen D. Durrant, of the French conference of the Swiss German mission, writes under date of August 17 from Geneva, Switzerland: "After the war the labors of our elders in French Switzerland died out. We had one branch at that time holding meetings. President Muller was at that time called on a mission.. He strengthened the one branch and es- tablished three others. We now have the number of missionaries as above stated and nearly 150 members. The work is progressing nicely. President Muller was honorably released at our last conference, and David L. McKay was appointed to succeed him as conference president. Elder Muller has accomplished a great work." Missionaries left to right, standing: Franz J. Yoller, Montreux, Switzer- land; Serge C. Ballif, Preston, Idaho; Stephen D. Durrant, Ogden; Daniel D. Shupe, Ogden; Matthew H. Cannon, Salt Lake City; W. Owen Ridges, Ogden; O. K. Winters, Garland; Rulon D. Hinckley, Hinckley, Utah; sitting. Henri Chappuis, Lausanne, Switzerland; David L. McKay, Ogden, Utah; President Serge F. Ballif, of the German-Swiss mission; Conference Presi- dent Herman Muller, Basel, Switzerland. Palo Alto For at least seventeen years Palo Alto has been on the map to the San Francisco and San Jose missionaries, because one lone Latter-day Saint family found it a good place in which to live. Then, along about 1908, Francis W. Kirkham, attending Stanford University here, held, in a downtown hall, a series of lectures explaining the Gospel. Many returned missionaries of that period will remember Palo Alto as a meeting place for the boys on country trips. In 1913 the town was completely gone over by Elders V. Clyde Cummings of ' Salt Lake City, and Veach Grow, of Huntsville. Occasionally families drifted in, usually attracted by the opportunities offered by Stanford University for advanced study. It was not, however, until 1919 that any definite organization was made, EDITORS' TABLE 79 and the branch has a flourishing Sunday School. Palo Alto is a community, ideal in its surroundings, its organization, its climatic and industrial pos- sibilities, progressive, and progressing, with a small but energetic group of Latter-day Saints to form the nucleus of a larger group as soon as others learn of the possibilities of this part of California. Can you blame them for using their energies to the growth of such a group? One of the greatest services of this little branch is the opportunity it gives to Latter-day Saint students attending the university to go forward with their spiritual develop- ment. The greatest source of inspiration that we have is the work of these young men in our little branch and the gratifying feeling that we have, that parents are going to be glad that we are here to do the things for their young people, that they are powerless to do, themselves, during one of Some of the Saints at the Palo Alto branch, California. J. H. Rackstraw presiding. Taken at a recent gathering the most important four years of their children's lives. If this is all that the Palo Alto branch can ever do, we will not consider ourselves as entirely useless. This is not a one-sided service, because these young people give time, study, and inspiration to every meeting they attend. — J. H. Rack- straw, Presiding Elder. New Church Building Dedicated Arthur H. Sutler. 52 Albert St., Melbourne, Australia, writes under date of August 19: "The Saints have been raising funds during the past two or three years with which to build a church of their own. And now through their sacrifice and hard work, coupled with generous assistance from the Church authorities in Zion, they are able to see their ideas materialized in the erection of a house of worship, and judged by those present and in a position to know, second to, none in any of the Church missions. On Sunday, August 13, the building was1 dedicated by Mission President Don C. Rushton. The corner stone was laid May 13, by President Don C. Rushton, in the presence of many Saints and friends. The actual opening 80 IMPROVEMENT ERA ceremony took place on Saturday, the 12th of August, when a social tea was given at 6:30 p. m. under the direction of the building committtee and other auxiliary organizations. This was followed by a musical pro- gram and concert before an assembly of (about two hundred Saints and friends. At the dedication services all the meetings were enjoyable, ad- dresses were delivered by visiting elders, from South Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland, and New Zealand — the largest array of missionaries ever seen in any Australian conference at any one time. The building measures 40 by 70 feet, and has plenty of space for paths and garden plots, with seating accomodation for about 300 persons inside. It hasi a fine platform. It can be divided by means of folding and sliding doors, into class rooms, or conveniently used to stage any concert or per- formance that may be desired. It has a well built concrete baptismal font, good lighting facilities, and windows beautifully done in cathedral glass. The volunteer laborers and the elders and local brethren who worked at the building following their daily work, aided largely in its erection. The building was designed by Brother Leonard F. Hocking, who spared nothing to get the finest effect possible in every department, and whoi has super- vised its erection. A separate dwelling for the elders also will be erected. Top: Mission President Don C. Rushton, Sister Rushton and the elders of the Victorian conference. From left to right — David M. Gaskell, John E. Hipwell, Wallace O. Walker, Doris M. Baker, J. Elmer Hendricks, Cecil S. James, Paul B. Cragun and Sister and President Rushton are in front. EDITORS' TABLE 81 The new L. D. S. Church in East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, also elders and Saints, dedicated August 13, 1922, by Mission President Don C. Rushton Open Air Meetings Great Success in Holland Elder Samuel R. Carpenter, writing from Arnhem, Holland, Sep- tember 9, reports that Holland is becoming more open for the gospel mes- sage as the war conditions abate. When he first arrived there, in January, 1921, only ten missionaries were allowed in the country, and they had to do their work in a quiet way. Now there are forty-three missionaries, and they are left entirely free in their work. "Open air gatherings are being held everywhere and are meeting with great success. We held one here last Sunday and delivered the gospel message to over 150 people. The future of the mission look unusually bright. There has never been a period in my life when I have enjoyed a better and more instructive time, and it is with more or less regret that I watch for the drawing to a close of my time in the mission field. I have always felt that the time is much too short to ac- complish a great deal, and as the weeks and months go whizzing by, I realize that now more than ever. We are having fine success in Holland. In Arnhem we are having wonderful success in giving our testimonies while trading,"