---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Daines, William M.
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 27
number: 2
published: 1923-12
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'William M. Daines, "Some Workings of Law", *Improvement Era* 27, no. 2 (December 1923): 108–116.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2702unse
  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: improvementera2702unse
start_page: 108
end_page: 116
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1923-12)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2702unse
  publication_year: 1923
  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 1923, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Some Workings of Law

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SOME WORKINGS OF LAW By William M. Daines "There is a law, irrevocably decreed in the heavens, upon which every blessing is predicated." — Doctrine & Covenants. Alfred Haywood was puzzled. Yes, and distressed extremely. He had just received a call from the sheriff, who had served a summons attached to a "Complaint in foreclosure" from the Real Estate Mortgage and Loan Corporation, which meant that his fifty acre tract would be taken from him. He had placed a mortgage of $1000 upon the tract three years ago, in order to buy the ten acres adjoining his forty acres, and which was con- servatively valued at $7,500 at the time of the mortgage, but because of shrinkage in values since, owing to changed conditions in the country, could not be sold now, if at all, for more than $5,000. True he would be given a year in which to redeem it, but what with the low comparative selling prices of his grain and hay, and the cost of high living that his family had become used to, (and thought they could not do without) including the expenses of the beautiful and luxurious automobile; the $500 still due on the auto; the absolute necessity of an addition to the barn to say nothing of the installing of the water system in the home they had so counted on ; of what value or advantage would the year be as far as the prospect of redemption was concerned? Besides, the costs of the suit, including unpaid interest and taxes and the large attorney's fees now allowed by the courts, would bring up the amount to not less than $1,400. When he had signed the note and mort- gage that bound him to pay "reasonable attorney's fees in case of fore- closure," the fees allowed were not more than 50% of those allowed now. And besides, did he not dismiss the thought of ever having to pay these expenses when reading them over before signing, because of the easy money he saw in prospect, not only from the potatoes he was going to raise on the ten acres, but from the grain that was to bring him $2.50 to $3 per bushel that would be raised on the forty acres? And if he could not raise the semi-annual interest of $45 and pay the taxes as they came due, because of the cost of high living and operation, how could he expect to raise the $1,400 and accrued interest within the year? And it was the failure the past year to pay the taxes and interest that had brought on the foreclosure suit; for although the mortgage itself was not due for another seven years, there was a clause in the mortgage, as in all real estate mortgages, that failure to pay interest or taxes when due, would give the right to the mortgagee, "upon his option, to declare the full amount of the mortgage due and payable and to proceed to collect the same by fore- closure and sale, according to the law in such cases made and provided," etc. True, he might have foregone that trip last season by auto through the Yellowstone National Park, and paid off these bills, but he had the auto, and the family certainly deserved this outing; for Mrs. Ballett and Mrs. Piedmout and others were going, and his family needed the trip as well as they, and had worked as hard. And, the mortgage company need not have been in such a hurry any way, for did it not have ample security? And what was it to anybody else, but himself if he did let his taxes go delinquent,' for the extra penalty and interest Would ultimately be paid by him and nobody else? And why need the lawyers get in their "whack" on hirn? . . .;.. -_l ....

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SOME WORKINGS OF LAW 107 With these resentful thoughts adding materially to his discomfort, Mr. Haywood walked into the house only to find "added fuel to the flame." For there stood his eldest daughter, Mabel, dressed in her latest silk party gown ready to go out to the dance to be held that evening in the "Select Dance Hall," (that welcomed anybody who could pay the $1 per couple for admission) and tearfully complaining "that she had worn that old dress three times now, and it was high time that she should have another so that Banker Jones' daughter who was not half as good looking as she could not put it over her, as she had been trying to do." And as Mabel finished her complaint and demand, in came a telephone from Paul, that he had just had an accident with the auto on the state road, and "couldn't Daddy just phone to Peebles' garage and ask them to tow him in, for they refused to do so unless Daddy requested it and would be responsible for the $5 charges?" "Yes, it had damaged the car con- siderably, for that idiot, Pete Canning, was drunk I guess and wouldn't give his share of the road. Yes, he says I was to blame, but I'll show him when it comes into court, for I have plenty of witnesses that I am right. What did you say? Didn't I know that court actions are expensive? Well, I guess they are, but old Pete can't put it over on me if it does cost some- thing!" After making the necessary request of the garage people, Mr. Haywood refrained from any comment, feeling much too troubled and concerned to give way to words before his family, for he had profound respect as well as love for his wife; and although he always confided in her and sought her counsel in material matters, and usually went ahead only after they had mutually agreed as to the wisdom of the undertaking, it now came vividly ro his remembrance that they had disagreed for some time about buying the ten acres and giving the mortgage; and that her consent to the transaction was only half-hearted and clearly in defference to his persistence and anxiety. So that now he very much dreaded to speak of the foreclosure suit to her, especially at this time when the unwise actions of their older children were so much in evidence. Besides, Mrs. Haywood was busy trying to pacify Mabel, and prepar- ing the evening meal, and left her husband to his thoughts, and did not notice his worried attitude, so that without particularly noticing him, except that he was not getting ready for Priesthood meeting, she awakened him from his reverie by asking rather sharply, "if he did not know it was nearly meeting time, and he did not think he ought to eat before going?" for when he left it till after meeting to have supper, he not only missed having the meal with the family, (which she considered very undesirable") but also compelled her to work far into the night with the necessary after- supper work. "What did you say, Mary? Am I not going to Priesthood meeting tonight? Well I guess I ought to go, but with so many troubles coming all at once, I haven't looked at the lesson. I think I'll leave it up to Brother Smith to take the class and give the lesson, and I'll go see what the damage is to the auto." Mr. Haywood then informed her of the pending suit, and repeated that he would not go to meeting, "for it seems that my troubles are becom- ing about all I can stand, and I don't believe I could enjoy meeting toniqht with all these matters on my mind, and I ought to go and look after that fool auto matter anyway." "Don't you think, Alfred," said his wife, "that Paul and the Peebles can look after the car, and if you went to meeting and Brother Smith gave the lesson, you might get some inspiration from it to help you stand these

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108 IMPROVEMENT ERA trials, if not some means of avoiding the calamities that seem to be coming on to us faster and faster?" "Oh, drat it, Mary, you are fast becoming a regular scold." "No, I'm not, John. If I'm to be a true wife to you, I think it is one of my duties to stir you up in remembrance of your obligations to your- self, in the Church. Paul will not be able to go with you to the meeting as he should, and I think it would be a shame for you to begin seeking excuses to stay away. Your example should be everything to your boy, and I notice lately he has excused himself from Sunday meetings entirely, because you neglect to go so much of the time. The Bishop asked us yesterday to be sure and remind our husbands and sons of the meeting to- night, and I think you ought to go." "Well, Mary, to please you, I'll go to meeting tonight and call at the garage on the way home, and look at the auto, but I don't expect to get all out of it that you think I should, for we study religion in meetings, not business." With that, and after having eaten a hasty supper, Alfred made his way to meeting, not with thoughts, however, of the good that he might obtain from the lesson, but with anxiety for bills to be met and with fears of a financial crisis, if not absolute failure, and the loss of most if not all of his hard-earned accumulations. Quite different were the thoughts of his wife as she cleared away the supper dishes, and prepared the smaller children for bed, which included the never-failing prayer at her knee before retiring. She thought of the present home life compared with the years immediately following Alfred's return from his mission to the Hawaiian Islands, when Paul and Mabel were little tots and had been content to be tucked away. She was no* tucking away her two youngest, leaving the older girl to wash and put away the dishes, but Mabel at the dance and Paul with the damaged auto! (This about Paul's and Mabel's present whereabouts with a shudder) . She thought how proud she was of Alfred's ability and willingness to teach the gospel, then; of how he sustained the ward and stake authorities, and was honored by them : of how hard he had worked to get the comfortable home and splendid surroundings, and his apparent success. But with this success, how he began neglecting his meetings, pleading need for rest of urgent work as excuses; how he had lately as tonight neglected to call the family to eve- ning prayer while they were all there at supper time; and, through this change, had often neglected it altogether; how the Church authorities h.id been obliged to release him, first from one calling, then another, because of his plea "that his work would not permit him spending the necessary time to perform the labor in a suitable manner and others with less to attend to were willing to do the work;" until now, all that was asked of him was to lead the class of Seventies in the regular Monday evening Priesthood meet- ing in the study of the lesson, and he was now caring so little for that, that Brother Smith had been asked to assist and was having to do the most of it lately. Oh, would he throw himself out of all Church service, and would he gradually go from one condition to another, till he would be found finding fault with the Lord's constituted authorities, and destroy the family's cherished hopes of an exaltation. For did not the Prophet say that the first step to apostasy is the neglect of a known duty, and was not fault-finding a sure sign of its progression. With these serious and disquieting thoughts, came a yearning that something might be done to stem the current of events, that seemed to be carrying them to this dreaded and dreadful condition. But what could be done? She had first counseled against the stand

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SOME WORKINGS OF LAW 109 Alfred had taken against continued service, although his plea that his "three years in the Islands should be sufficient service to the Church for a while, at least," had been hard for her to answer. Then when these conditions increased, she had pleaded with him not to throw away all the progress he had made, but he had been cross and resent- ful with her, and for some time she had not said much along these lines, in order to avoid contention in the home. But tonight these other alarming and dreadful financial difficulties had compelled her attention, and she had spoken again, first to be resented by Alfred, and then to be partially acquiesced in by him, and he had done as she wished and gone to meeting, if not to take his place as teacher, at least to participate in the lesson. And as many times before when sorely tired and perplexed, Mary had gone into her bed chamber and in secret poured out her heart unto the Lord and got encouragement and solace therefrom, she now sought the Lord in secret prayer, that she might have the inspiration from the Lord, that her fears might be groundless; or that something might occur that would open Alfred's eyes to the impending danger; and also that they might be able to see and know the reason of their financial troubles and be given strength and wisdom to overcome them and avert the impending financial disaster. Meantime, Alfred listened to the discussion of the class on the sub- ject of "Patriarchal Blessings" with only partial attention; in fact taking but little part in the discussion. For, with the announcing of the subject of the lesson his thoughts at once reverted to the blessing given him by the stake patriarch when he was in his teens, and which he was so enthusiastic over, that it took all the self- control he could muster to obey the injunction of the good man, that "these promises are for you, for your individual benefit, not for the public," and not let his chums and all others who would listen know of the precious promises made to him. And he began wondering why these promises were not being fulfilled the past few years, as they had been from the time they were given, through the period of his young manhood, his young married life, and during his mission, and a short time after. For certainly a number of the promises had been literally fulfilled and none possible of fulfilment because of the time indicated in the blessing had failed till the past few years. "What could be the reason for this? Did the good man overreach himself and add promises he was not inspired to make, or what is the matter? The discussion had gone along similiar lines to his thoughts, and some very pointed questions had been asked, and discussed, but only partially an- swered. At least they had not been answered to the entire satisfaction of Alfred and he was becoming plainly worried over the matter. For the events of the day and evening were pressing hard upon him, and he was beginning to doubt his ability to solve the financial problems that were pressing for adjustment by his own strength and wisdom, and did not want to give way to doubts on spiritual matters if he could help doing so. For he had testi- fied many times of his knowledge of God's Latter-day work, and had been a teacher of the people in many capacities. To doubt now would not only stultify himself but would destroy all his hopes for the future and make him miserable indeed. And partially realizing this a feeling of humility came over him, and with a mental prayer for Divine help (could it have been at the same time that his dear wife was engaged in her secret supplications) , he asked Brother Anderson, an aged high priest, who had come into the class, attracted by parts of the discussion that he had overheard, if he could not throw light

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110 IMPROVEMENT ERA upon the subject and clear up the questions that had been only partly an- swered. This good brother had filled several missions, and important positions in the Church, and was looked up to as a safe exponent of the principles of the gospel. This request being seconded by the class leader, Brother Anderson quoted the passage from the Doctrine and Covenants, that opens this nar- rative, and further explained that all blessings that are promised by the Lord, either through the patriarchs or through other means, are on con- ditions, not only of faithfulness to our sacred covenants, and obedience to those placed by the Lord to advise, counsel, and direct us in our duties and obligations, but also on condition that we comply with the particular law upon which the coveted blessings are predicated. "But," said Elder Jackson, "I understand that we are promised fi- nancial success if we pay our tithing, and I know of many men not of our Church who do not pay any tithing who are prospered financially much more than any in our community who are good tithe payers." "Yes; that is so, but we must remember that the Lord has told us also that 'Where much is given much is required. We have received added light and knowledge and have made covenants to serve the Lord and keep all his commandments, and he sometimes withholds things from us because of our lack of obedience, and p£rmits reverses to come to us, not only as a pun- ishment, but also as a means to bring us to a realization of our true position before him, which should bring repentance and a return to faithfulness. "Besides, a financial success does not always mean financial blessing, for in order that it be a blessing, it must be so to the extent that we are capable of receiving and controlling, so that it will add to our faith and the faith and well being spiritually as well as temporally of those dependent upon us, and whose progress here and hereafter is so dear to our hearts. "Then also, those who obtain much wealth, either Church members or non-Church members, do so through obedience to sound financial prin- ciples, not otherwise. Sometimes for punishment, for disregarding counsel, the Lord withdraws his inspiration in temporal matters, and our judgment is taken away, and we do things, little things, foolish things, that change success into defeat, and we hardly know what has happened except that we have met with loss and not with the expected gain; while doing the thing just a little different would have brought gain and not loss." The usual exclamations, "I for one would like to be tried with more riches than I have," "I don't see why I could not profitably have a great deal more than I have now," etc., were heard from members of the class and after questions were asked and answered as to the working of other principles, to the observance of which specific blessings are promised, as the observance of the Word of Wisdom the keeping of the Sabbath day holy, etc., the les- son was concluded. The discussion had awakened such a train of thought in the mind. of Alfred Haywood, that he scarcely realized that he was requested to prepare the lesson for the next meeting, and when meeting was dismissed he seemed to go out in a dazed condition. He forgot all about calling at the garage to see the damaged auto, and upon arriving at his home, was startled out of his apparent dreaming, by hearing his wife exclaim, "Why Alfred, what on earth is the matter? You look like something dreadful has happened." "No, dear," he answered, "not dreadful but wonderful." "Well, what can it be?" she said in her anxiety, not waiting for him to explain, so wrought up was she from the day's experiences, and now Alfred's strange actions and words. "I have had an awakening, thank the Lord. I now see the course I

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SOME WORKINGS OF LAW 111 have been pursuing for so long past; and to think that you have tried to enlighten me so many times and I was so deaf to your pleadings! I wonder if you can ever forgive me and have the same confidence in me that you had a few years ago?" "Of course, I can, if there is anything to forgive and any need of a renewal of confidence. But what is it all, and how has it come about?" "Oh," said Alfred, "will it be possible to save ourselves from the threatened loss of property, which does not seem of nearly the consequence that it did a few hours ago? And of infinitely more importance, can I re- trace my steps, merit the confidence of my brethren and the continued bless- ings of the Lord, and oh, can we stop the foolish and wayward course of our dear Paul and Mabel, and turn them toward the light and keep our other children from treading the same dangerous way that my foolish actions have started our older children in?" "God grant it might be so!" reverently exclaimed Mary. "But do tell me all about it, that I may rejoice with you and help in whatever there is to do for our future happiness and advancement." "Thank the Lord for you, my precious real helpmate," said Alfred as he kissed her and lead her to a seat beside him on the davenport. "And now I must tell you all, if it takes me till morning. For you are entitled to full explanation and confidence." Then he recounted all his experiences of the day, his attitude on going to meeting, and as nearly as possible the outline of the discussion as it pro- ceeded in the class; and his thoughts and feelings while the discussion were going on, and the explanations that were made by Elder Anderson. "Oh, how I do thank the Lord, Alfred, for this awakening. I have prayed so long for it. And now it has come, I can hardly realize it. But, come, let us go to rest and in the morning see if we cannot start off on a new (or rather former) track and try and retrieve that which has been lost." "I am afraid that will be a long journey, dear, for the law seems inexorable, that "whatsoever you sow, that also shall you reap." And if you are not too tired, I should like to make the full confession of my past errors and the explanation of the results of my actions as they have come to me in this inspiration." "Very well, dear, but make it as short as you can, for it is now growing late." "Well, to begin with, I now realize that my attitude soon after my return from my mission, that my three years' missionary service was all that ought to be expected of me for a while, was altogether wrong. Had I taken it right, I would have known that the mission was an opportunity, and that it should have made me more anxious than ever to work in the service of the Lord. Did he not give all, yes, his very life, that we in connection with all our Father's children might have eternal life? How infinitesimal the little I can do, by constant labor, in comparison." "Then, as I see it now, how ridiculous my excuse for staying away from sacrament meetings so much, on the plea of the necessity of rest, when that is a part of the program of the Lord to give us rest, through the re- freshing of his Spirit." "Yes, Alfred, and I wondered so much that you could not see it that way, for I always came home from a good meeting rested and invigorated, and more ready for my Monday's work than I did when I gave in to your suggestions to stay at home and get a hot dinner." "I can see it now. Then my next big mistake was when I went into debt for the auto, I hadn't been to conference when the President spoke against going into debt, and though I. read a synopsis of it in the papers

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112 IMPROVEMENT ERA and knew in general what the advice was, the reading did not convey the inspiration under which he spoke, and I did not get it." "Besides, others of our friends (you know them) were having their good times running around, hither and thither, in their fine cars, and my pride coupled with the importunities of the children, made me reckless, I guess, and I felt that, come what may, those neighbors should not out-do me and neither should their children have more advantages or pleasures than mine." "The result; I disobeyed the counsel of the Lord, saddled us with an expense that our income would not justify; took Paul and me away from our farm work many parts of days, that resulted in loss of revenue that was so much needed; and contributed to the vanity and recklessness of our children." "But, why in the world did we not see it then? I confess that the allurement blinded me as well as you. Why, oh, why, did we not know better?" "The only way I can figure it out is, that through neglect I had made myself unworthy of the right inspiration." "You will remember that the year before, I had kept putting off the payment of our tithing, till I found myself at the end of the year with not a fourth of it paid; and with taxes to be paid, and the inducement that was offered of $1 a ton discount on our coal if bought all at once in December, I used up all our ready cash and just let it go at that; instead of selling something off the farm or borrowing it for a few weeks until the payment would come in from what a neighbor was owing us. When Jed did pay instead of paying the tithing as we should, I used it to make the first pay- ment on the auto, that has, to say the least, not proved a blessing to us. And ever since, from one excuse and another our tithing has not been paid in full." "And I can see now where many times, through lack of judgment, or of care, or of foresight, losses here and there have come, that many times exceed the amount of tithing I should have paid, that I did not pay. You will remember how I turned the cows into the alfalfa that morning after the frost and three of them died, worth fully $75 each; then the fine, two-year- old colt that had to be killed because it broke its leg in that old bridge across the canal that runs through our land. It was well worth $125 and I had seen that hole in the bridge more times than one and intended fixing it, but did not do so notwithstanding it wouldn't have taken over an hour's work and a dollar's worth of material. And then, to cap the climax, I bought that ten acres at fully double the price that it would bring today, if there was any sale for it, which there is not." "But, Alfred, that was the price offered by others and many were increasing their holdings then, because prices were so good, and it appeared that then was the chance, if ever, to increase ours to the amount that you and Paul could care for. Why blame yourself for that?" "It was increasing our debts, contrary to counsel, and the outcome shows that if we had sought and obtained divine guidance, we would not have bought it." "Besides, last year we were strongly advised, almost pleaded with, to plant sugar beets and because we received a fair price for our potatoes, the year before, what must I do but plant potatoes again and realize hardly enough to pay for digging them; while beets proved a very profitable crop, especially with the two or three bonuses we have received." "Then, I fear, there was a little resentment against planting beets, even with me, for I had listened to so many insinuate that the inspiration back of the advice to plant beets was the personal financial interests of the advisers

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SOME WORKINGS OF LAW 113 who were supposed to own sugar stock, that I fear I was somewhat in- fluenced by them; though I know now as I have always known that I have never received counsel from our Church leaders, on any question, but what was safe to follow and would bring good and not evil to all con- cerned." "Well, you seem pretty thoroughly convinced now of the right course to pursue; but your evidence that you present to me seems to be mostly of the negative character. I mean the results of disobedience. Have you nothing positive to offer? It seems necessary to have some of this to marke it entirely convincing." This from Mary seemed unnecessary to Alfred, as on most points of the questions involved, she had seemed convinced all along; although she had thoroughly enjoyed the auto rides, and especially the extended trips 10 the Park, and to distant parts, visiting relatives and friends. But Alfred was quick to answer: "If our own experience, both 'before and after,' is not sufficient, just consider Brother Downing. I heard the Bishop say not long ago, that he believed that if any member of the Church paid an honest tithing, Brother Downing is the man; 'for,' he said, 'he seems to tithe everything that comes to him in property of every kind, as well as cash, and I never knew him to go in debt for anything. He would go without very desirable things first.' " "Well, what of him, he does not seem to me to be such a success? He certainly hasn't got nearly as much property as we have." "But what he has is paid for, and he has no fears of foreclosure or other suits, and he has no 'duns,' camouflaged as statements, to worry him every month. Besides, his family are well housed and always well dressed, even if they don't excite the envy of the banker's daughter by following the extreme fashions. Then he has sustained two of his sons on quite long missions, and I heard the other day that his daughter Amy was called and that she intends going right away. I fear that if Paul or Mabel were called, we would at least have to ask for quite a delay in order to get enough means to even start them out, and it would be questionable whether we could keep them in the mission field long enough for them to get really interested in the work; and I have noticed that a large percentage of those who have to come home before they have been there from one and one-half to two years are very tired with everything and everybody and it is very hard indeed to induce them to do further work in the Church." "You never hear of Brother Downing losing any cattle or horses in a careless way, and he didn't buy land when the price was out of sight, but waited till he could pay for it and then got it at a reasonable figure." "You don't say he has been buying land now?" "Yes, he bought twenty acres last week, better land than the ten acres we bought and at less than half the price, as he had cash to pay for it." "Well, now we see our true situation I hope matters will go moie smoothly." "I do not know how soon, dear. It does seem, that as far as finances go, it is "death-bed repentance" on my part, but with your help I am going to make the struggle, seek forgiveness, and retrace our footsteps the best way possible to save ourselves, and our dear children, and, the Lord being willing, what we can of our property." "Yes, Alfred, it will be a long, hard struggle, and if we can get back in four or five years to where we were that long ago, oh, how thankful I will be!" And indeed the outlook was somewhat discouraging. For it is so easy to go into debt; but it requires long struggle and economy to live and pay. It is easy to let the youth fed by vanity and pleasure-seeking go the

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114 IMPROVEMENT ERA way of their inclinations, but it takes tact and patience and "love unfeigned" to draw them back to the straight and narrow path of service and seeking after the Lord. They will find it very difficult at times to keep their feet firmly planted, in following the path they know must be trodden in order to fully succeed in their renewed determination. The insistent demands of creditors and the needs and importunities of loved ones are so much more personal, and in a way seem more tangible, than are the laws and promises of the Lord, that often before they fully realize what they are doing, their income will be promised or spent before it gets into their hands. They will find themselves trying to excuse themselves from fully meeting their obligations to the Lord, on the plea that he is merciful and long-suffering. They forget that it was their own lack of obedience that brought their present condition. But they know the way, if they only can follow it; and with faith and humility, and the courage and determination that were in evidence dur- ing the first few weeks of Alfred's awakening, there is reason to hope that their success is fully assured. Preston, Idaho M. I. A. Slogan We stand for divine guidance through individual and family prayer. What relief, in time of sorrow, Through our prayers sweet peace to borrow From our heavenly Father, through his mercy and his love; 'Tis a joy beyond all measure, Far above all earthly treasure, 'Tis the means of sweet communion from above. When our days are full of trouble, And our trials seem to double, When the path ahead is dark and full of gloom ; There's no need to sit repining, For the sun will soon be shining, If we'll only kneel in secret prayer within our room. Or, in time of real rejoicing, We can put our thoughts in voicing, Sending thanks and praise unto our Mighty God. It will strengthen us and brighten, And our burdens it will lighten, And 'twill help us to hold firmly to the rod. - For our M. I. A. stands ready; A hundred thousand youth so steady; 'Tis their slogan, and they'll live it day by d:,y. It will keep them all from sinning, It will be a fine beginning For each youth of Zion now must learn to pray. Mesa, Arizona Ida R. AUdredge