Life’s Visions and Purposes

LIFE'S VISIONS AND PURPOSES A Study for the Advanced Senior Class, M. I. A., 1923-24 By President Emeritus George H. Brimhall, and Dean Harrison V. Hoyt of the Brigham Young University Lesson XVI — The Church as a Miracle or Divine Gift to Man A. Questions and Problems. 1. What is it that makes an event a miracle? 2. Show by explanation and illustrations that some events are only partly miraculous. 3. Wherein was Joseph Smith's first vision a miracle? 4. Give evidence that the Book of Mormon came to us through a series of miracles. 5. Prove that the Pearl of Great Price is a miraculous production. 6. Show that the Doctrine and Covenants is a com- pilation of miracles of knowledge. 7. Relate the miracles that restored (a) the Aaronic Priesthood, (b) the Melchizedek Priesthood, (c) the keys of the Gathering of Israel, (d) the keys of the sealing dispensation. 8 Show that the Church re- ceived its name by miracle or divine direction. B. Topics from which Teacher may Choose one for Lecture. 1. The credibility of the Witnesses who declare the miraculous source of the Book of Mormon. See article by J. M. Sjodahl, Improvement Era, September 1923, p. 968. 2. The hand of Providence seen in the protection of the Church, (a) against the loss of identity by amalgamation, (b) against the loss of leadership authority. 3. The "Rock" upon which the Church is built. C. Class Discussion. D. Some Subject Matter to Aid in Answering Questions and Solving Problems. A real miracle is an act or event in which the power of God interposes. There are many events that appear to be miracles which are not, because they are purely the results of common forces not understood. Such events may be called apparent miracles. The genuine miracle is the real power of God interposing to check up, stop, accelerate, or start, or complete some- thing. This power never acts unnaturally, but it acts supernaturally or above and beyond what we know as nature. Some events are partly miracles. A man is stricken with appendicitis, has kept the Word of Wisdom, his heart is unusually strong, his blood pure, and his will almost indomitable, he has faith in God, but is a believer in doing all that one can do for one's self and trusting in the Lord for the final outcome. The surgeons operate, they are divided in their opinion as to whether he will live or die. The Lord has promised this man's wife that her husband should not die. He recovered. One doctor said that the man's heart pulled him through; some people said it was his determination not to die that saved him; the man himself testifies that keeping the Word of Wisdom, having skilful surgeons, and his own clinging onto life were factors in the event which became a miracle by the Power of the Lord. To this power more than to anything else he owes his life. A case is on record of a man in the Church losing the miraculous power of translation because he would not use the natural powers within his reach. The first vision of Joseph Smith was a miracle of the first magnitude. Never before in the history of the world had the heavens been opened to view as they were on that occasion. The two members of the God-head

3 74 IMPROVEMENT ERA participated in the glorious event. It was more than a restoration, it was a revelation of something which had not been on the earth before, the presence of the Father and the Son in a state of perfection more advanced than was possible before the resurrection of Christ. It was an official procedure in which the Father of the Redeemer introduced His Beloved Son, a God, to the boy, as his instructor — there was no need of introducing the boy to Jesus. Joseph asked his Divine Teacher for information un- obtainable from human sources, and got the answer that arrayed the world against him.. Thus the great miracle of knowledge was wrought, "the dawning of a brighter day." Joseph Smith came into possession of the plates through the angel sent of God. The plates were translated by means of a miraculously pre- pared instrument obtained by the aid of the angel, or super-human messenger — a resurrected being. The translation of the Book of Mormon was the most extended mircale of record, it occupied months. The authenticity of the Book of Mormon was given to the three witnesses in a way that made a miracle of the event. An authorized agent of God, a super-human being, pre- sented the evidence. See testimony of the Three Witnesses. The Pearl of Great Price came not by man's interpretative power. Joseph the Seer laid no claim to the ability to translate as a man. (See Book of Moses chapter 1.) The Doctrine and Covenants is not the words of man telling what the Lord wants; it is for the more nart the direct words of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Expressions, "Thus saith the Lord," and the use of the pro- noun "I" mark the revelations as the personal communications of the Lord, thus making of the book a compilation of miracles. That the authority in the Church came as miracles the record of the events makes plain. Divine super-human agencies participate on both occasions. See Doc. and Cov. 13 and 27:12.) The key of the gathering of Israel was restored by Moses, and the keys of the sealing dispensation, by Elijah, in the Kirtland temple, making each of these events miracles. (Doc. and Cov. 110:15.) The Church received its name through a miracle; it was named by Him who directed its organization. He pronounced the name by which it should be known. (See Doc. and Cov. 115:4.) Whatever else the Church may be, it is first of all a miracle, a gift of God to man. Lesson XVII — The Church as a Natural Growth A. Questions and Problems: Discuss the growth of the Church in each of the following directions: 1. Growth in Doctrine. 2. Growth in Publications. 3. Growth in Organ- izations. 4. Growth in Temple Building. 5. Growth in Missionary Work. 6. Growth Financially. 7. Growth in Education. 8. Growth in numbers. 9. Growth in Loyalty to Leaders. 10. Growth in Recognition by Prominent non- "Mormons." B. Suggestive Theme for Teachers Discussion (15 minutes) : 1. Church growth as evidence that we have builded wisely and well under Divine guidance. 2. Prognostications as to what the next fifty years will bring in the way of Church growth. C. Class Discussion. — Particular function which the M. I. A. per- forms. D. Subject Matter to Aid in Preparation of Questions: — - The wholesome growth of the Church in every department and activity

LIFE'S VISIONS AND PURPOSES 3 75 is one evidence of Divine guidance, and acts as a reminder of the well-known prediction that the gospel will never again be taken from the earth. The following material indicates the phenomenal growth of the Church from a humble yet noble beginning of six members, in 1830. The interacting of each department accelerates the work of the Lord. The splendid growth in every direction testifies to the strength of the foundation and wisdom of our directing "Living Oracles." Growth in Doctrine. — One cannot help but marvel at the great amount of doctrine which the Latter-day Saints have brought forth. No phase of man's spiritual welfare is left unexplained or undirected. The Lord in his wisdom, has given us, through revelation, much fundamental material. Inspired leaders have ransacked theological history and made it readily avail- able. Not to mention the contents of the Articles of Faith and the Pearl of Great Price, the Doctrine and Covenants itself has 136 sections, all re- velations, or miracles of knowledge, pertaining to important phases of Church government and human conduct. All but the first 22 sections were given after the organization of the Church, April 6, 1830. Growth of Publications. — In the latter part of the Essentials of Church History, by Joseph Fielding Smith, Church Historian, a list of some fifty different Church publication is given. These fifty publications include maga- zines published in fourteen different countries and islands of the seas. The standard publications of the Church have been translated into several dif- ferent languages, — the Pearl of Great Price and the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants. The Book of Mormon has been translated into fifteen languages. This is illustrative of the extent that the Church publications are being distributed among Church members and the world at large. Growth in Organization. — Growth in the number of organizations has taken place to keep pace with the changing social conditions and increase in membership of the Church. The Church now has 90 stakes, more than 900 wards, 61 independent branches connected with stakes, 24 missions, and 73 3 mission branches. The stakes are directed by the stake presidency and the high council. Each ward has the various Priesthood quorums and auxiliary organizations. These comprise a total of approximately eleven thousand different organizations, with a total of about fifty thousand officers. Growth in Temple Building.- — From the noble beginning at the dedica- tion of the Kirtland temple, on March 27, 1836, and since the erection of the Nauvoo temple, the Church has erected and is operating the four temples in Utah, one in Canada, and one in the Hawaiian Islands. In addition to this, a temple is now being constructed at Mesa, Arizona. All of these palaces of peace, except the Nauvoo temple, are still standing, each one a monument of the faith, hope, and industry of the people who built them. To take care of the great demand for temple work, it has been nec- essary in some of our temples to inaugurate two shifts each day and special evening sessions. Growth of Missionary Work. — The fact that we are giving millions of dollars annually in money and work to the missionary cause "indicates the Church's growth in missionary work. The Church at the present time is spending out of its tithing receipts, large sums of money for the main- tenance and operation of its various missions. During 1922 there were 1,775 missionaries in the field. In addition to the amount the Church expends for the operation of missions, the personal gratuitous expenses of the missionaries, including their time reaches millions of dollars annually. The yearly sum which the "Mormon'' people are thus paying out is stupendous. This testifies to the blessings of the Lord and the importance which the Latter-day Saints attach to missionary work. See statistical repor: in General Conference Report, April 1923. We have in the Conference Report for April 1923, pp. 2-4, a suggestion of the expenditure of the Church from which may be inferred the financial

3 76 IMPROVEMENT ERA growth which has taken place in the space of seventy years. Aside from the industry and frugality, sacrifices and loyalty on the part of Church members which these expenditures indicate, they also strongly denote the presence of Divine help. Growth in Education. — Recognizing knowledge as a factor of salvation, the Latter-day Saints have been among the leaders in secular as well as spiritual education. It is of special interest to note that the abstract of the 1920 Census of the United States shows that Utah has a larger per- centage of children between the ages of seven and twenty-one attending school than any other state in the Union. From a speech by Dr. John A. Widtsoe, Latter-day Saint Church School Commissioner, made at the April Conference, 1923, published in the Era, June, 1923, page 744, the following is quoted: "We have in this Church 8.6 young people attending college out of every thousand members of the Church; whereas, in the whole United States there are only 4.9 per thousand of population attending college. In this Church we have nearly twice as many college students per capita as in the country at large. "I was interested also in the high school figures. There are 60.6 individuals per thousand attending high school in this Church: whereas, in the United States as a whole, there are only 20.8. That is, nearly three times as many young people are attending high school in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as are attending high school, on the average, in this great land of ours. "In the elementary schools, the difference is not so great, for in our Church there are 223.3 students out of each thousand of membership, attending the elementary schools, as against 204 in the country at large." We read in the Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. 97, a revelation given to Joseph Smith in reference to a school in Zion. With this as a beginning, the Church has always fostered and promoted educational in- stitutions. At the present time the youth of Zion are afforded a religious training through a well-organized seminary system operated as a spiritual supplement to intellectual culture. In New Zealand the Church maintains an Agricultural College. With the view of giving the youth of Zion a training in leader- ship, both spiritual and scholastic, the Church maintains six Junior calleges, 39 seminaries, and a University. Growth in Numbers. — The growth of the various departments of the Church has met the demands of the increasing membership which now stands in the vicinity of 500,000 consisting of one of the most cosmopolitan church populations in existence. Growth in Loyalty to Leaders. — By comparing the dissensions and apostasy, during the early history of the Church, with the united front which the Church presents after nearly one hundred years of history, we have an unmistakable evidence of an increase of universal confidence in the loyal support of our Church leaders. Growth in Recognition by the World. — As the Church has grown in numbers its enemies have become fewer. Before- its light the darkness of misunderstanding has fled, and before its warmth the mountains of prejudice have melted away. It is conquering the world without captives. It has grown to be a "City on a hill." References: August and September issues of the Improvement Era, for 1923, include comprehensive articles on the Church School System by Dr. John A. Widtsoe. Brief History of the Church, Edward H. Anderson; One Hundred Years of Mormonism, by John Henry Evans. Essentials of Church History, by Joseph Fielding Smith.

LIFE'S VISIONS AND PURPOSES 3 77 Lesson XVIII — The Church as a Protector A. Questions and Problems for Members. 1. In what specific way does the Church offer health protection? 2. How does the Church protect its members from financial failure? Give examples. 3. Wherein does the Church protect the individual agency of its members? 4. Show that the Church protects its members against autocratic exercise of authority. 5. What protection against narrow-mindedness is offered by the Church? 6. What doctrinal provisions are made by the Church to guard against greed? 7. What special protection does the Church offer for personal purity? B. Suggested Themes from Which the Teacher may Choose one for a Talk. 1. Safety — one of the greatest factors of happiness. 2. Protection and progress constitute eternal life. 3. Our Church-fellowship as a protection against committing sin. C. Class Discussion Germane to the Lesson. D. Some Subject Matter. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints constant teachings are carried on in favor of temperance, and the privilege of leadership. It is the policy to withhold from persons who will not "keep the Word of Wisdom," by refraining from the use of "strong drinks," Church leadership. The traditioning of children against the use of narcotics, stimulants, and the excessive use of meat is not only parental duty but it is an institutional obligation, and finds expression in the Church literature. Strong is the health protecting power of the Sunday School child song: "That the children may live long, and be beautiful and strong — Tea and coffee and tobacco they despise. Drink no liquor and they eat but a very little meat. They are seeking to be great, and good, and wise." The Church is 'a protector of health by sermon, by song, and by selective standards of preference. The Church teaches thrift; it denounces idleness. "The idler shall not have place in the Church." (Doc. and Cov. 75:29). The Church counsels against debt (Doc. and Cov. 64:27). The leaders of the Church are constantly warning against bondage. "Get out of debt, and keep out" is a slogan of long Church-standing. Giving heed to the doctrine of counsel invariably saves Church-members from financial reverses. The Church is founded on the principle of free agency — next to life comes liberty. Doing things by common consent is a prevailing practice in the Church. It is the application of a divine declaration: "Let all things be done by common consent" "And all things shall be done by common consent in the Church." (Doc. and Cov. 26:2). The Church protects its members against autocratic exercise of authority by pronouncing against any selfish exercise of power. (Doc. and Cov. 121:41-42). The Church protects against a narrow-mindedness by making eternal progress one of its fundamental doctrines and by declaring that the glory of God is intelligence and that espoused ignorance and salvation are absolutely incompatible. (Doc. and Cov. 93:36; 131:6). It emphasizes the eternal value of educational acquirements. (Doc. and Cov. 130:19). The Church protects both rich and poor from the growth of greed in their hearts by holding to the divine warning recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 56:16-17. Next to life itself, the Church values purity of life. Unchastity is classed as a sin entailing upon the transgressors disastrous consequences. From the Church point of view fallen man is as undesirable as fallen woman, and neither can regain standing except through sore repentance.