--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Brimhall, George H. - Hoyt, Harrison V. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 27 number: 5 published: 1924-03 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "George H. Brimhall and Harrison V. Hoyt, “Life’s Visions and Purposes,” *Improvement Era 27, no. 5 (March 1924)*: 473–477." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2705unse 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: improvementera2705unse start_page: 473 end_page: 477 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1924-03) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2705unse publication_year: 1924 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 1924, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # 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 XIX — The Church as a Distributor of Truth A. Questions and Problems. 1. What was the vision concerning the Church as a distributor of truth in the beginning? 2. What was the great purpose of the distribution of truth by the Church? 3. What has the Church done as a distributor of truth? 4. What is the present vision concerning the Church as a distributor of truth? 5. What should be the family vision and purpose concerning the Church as a distributor of truth? 6. What should be the individual vision and purpose concerning the Church as a distributor of truth? 7. How does the work for the dead accelerate the distribution of truth? 8. Of what great gospel truth is the life of every genuine Latter-day Saint a broad-caster? (Think out the answer.) , B. Helpful Subject Matter. The vision concerning the Church as a distributor of truth was the Lord's vision as revealed to Joseph the Prophet about eighteen months after the organization of the Church and recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants Sec. 1 :2, 3, 4, 5. In paragraphs two, four, and five we have a view of the extent of the work and the power with which the distribution will be made. As to the purposes of the distributions of truth, paragraphs seventeen to twenty-four are explicit. The purposes might be stated as: 1. To make it possible for the people of the earth to escape calamity. 2. That the words of prophets might be fulfilled. 3. That men should trust in God more than in his fellow-man. 4. That every one might have the blessed privilege of growing through preaching the gospel. 5. That there might be less doubt and more faith on the earth. 6. That the humble might be magnified in the presence of the mighty. Turning from God's vision and purposes of the distribution of truth by the Church, we may get a glimpse of the vision of the early members by a consideration of the following: "Boast not of your lightning wires to bear the news. Such tardy means the saints would never use; Too slow your fluid and too short your wires. For heavenly converse such as love inspires. If we would fain commune with worlds above, Angels transport the news on wings of love." Parley P. Pratt. The hymn beginning "Come all ye sons of God, who have received the Priesthood," tells something of the vision and purpose of the distribution of truth in the early days of the Church. That the visions and purposes concerning the Church have not been turned away from, the following quotation is good evidence: 474 IMPROVEMENT ERA "'While in poverty and distress, in the midst of persecution, or when blessed with peace and plenty, the Church has not for a moment neglected this first great command. Its missionaries have gone into every civilized country of the world, where entrance was permitted, bearing witness to the people that a light had broken forth among those who sit in darkness, which was the fulness of the everlasting gospel, and warning the people to prepare the way of the Lord, and make straight his paths, that they might be prepared for his kingdom and coming. "I have no means by which I can definitely state the number of missionaries who have gone into the field, since the organization of the Church, or the number of years of missionary work which has been given, but taking the record of the past twenty years, during which period we have kept accurate records, and making a very low estimate, the result would be about as follows: Sixty thousand and eighty men have gone to the mission fields, we think many more. It has cost, to send these elders to their fields of labor, and bring them back to their homes, at least six millions of dollars. The expense of keeping them in the field has not been less than eighteen millions of dollars. Counting their earning capacity, again a very low estimate, at seventy-five dollars per month, would amount to fifty-four millions of dollars, so we have a total of seventy-eight millions of dollars, which have been expended, in time and money, by the elders of the Church, in carrying the gospel message to the people of the world since the organization of the Church. When it is considered that all of this time and money has been given without compensation, the men who have accomplished the work having paid their own expenses, I feel justified in saying that it is an accomplishment which cannot be duplicated in the history of the world." — From an address delivered by President Anthony W. Ivins at the ninety-third Annual Conference of the Church. See Conference Report, April, 1922, and Era, July, 1922. The present outlook and the present purposes are those of the past, but the minds that see and the wills that purpose have multiplied. The heroes and the heroines of today are not superior to those of the past, but there are more of them; hence the Church as a distributor of truth is greater than ever before. And, moreover, the implements of distribution have multiplied mar- velously. The possibilities of today for the distribution of truth are in- comparable with those of even a decade ago. The family ideal contains missionaries, and among the present family purposes is that of missionary preparation of both boys and girls. Among the features of the visioned career of individuals, the period of a mission is prominent, and among the purposes of the new convert and the youth is that of being ready to respond to the call: "Go ye into the world and preach the gospel." The vision and purpose concerning the Church as a distributor of truth is not limited to earth. Through the temple ordinances, the Church member- ship is increased and the priesthood is conferred for and in behalf of men in the spirit world, and thus is the army of advocates of the gospel added to in that place to which Jesus went and opened up a gospel dispensation while his body lay in the tomb. (See "Vision of the Redemption of the Dead," Gospel Doctrine, p. 596.) C. Suggestive Topics for Teachers' Lecture. 1. Facing the Truth: a. In religion, b. In business, c. In government. 2. The struggle of Truth: a. In the heart of man. b. In the policies of na- tions. 3. The triumph of Truth: a. Divinely revealed truth, b. Scientifically dis- covered truth. D. Discussion E. Social Period. LIFE'S VISIONS AND PURPOSES 475 Lesson XX — The Church as a Trainer A. Questions and Problems. 1. Explain the four-years, course of training in dependability that Joseph had under the angel Moroni. 2. Show that the mission of Joseph Smith the prophet was training in both the do and not do. 3. Discuss this statement concerning Joseph Smith. Miracles of knowledge made him a prophet, and inspired thinking made him a philosopher. 4. Is the Church for man, or man for the Church? 5. What Church requirement trains us in expressing gratitude, and gives us the habit of counting our blessings? 6. Explain how the Church trains in thrift and in generosity. 7. What desirable training does the Church give through the Word of Wisdom requirement? 8. Show that by its Sabbath day provisions, the Church gives training in reverence and in higher grade sociability. 9. Discuss the statement: In the Church, aptitude and inclination are sup- plemented by opportunity to lead. 10. What picture is presented by our life-vision of the Church as a trainer? 11. What is our life purpose concerning the Church as a trainer? B. Some Helpful Subject Matter "Teaching is causing others to know." "Training is causing others to do." Under the requirement made by the angel Moroni, Joseph Smith the prophet had a four-years' course of training in dependability before the plates were placed in his possession. See Essentials in Church History, by Joseph Fielding Smith, pp. 53-60. What a wonderful training in resistance was provided for Joseph in the requirement that he should not show the plates until Divine permission was given. It was an every-day exercise of will power in favor of obedience against human desires. One may judge of what the struggle was by contemplating the following: "On coming in, Joseph threw himself down beside me and exclaimed, 'Father, mother, you do not know how happy I am; the Lord has now caused the plates to be shown to three more besides myself." See History of the Prophet Joseph, by Lucy Smith (the mother of the prophet) p. 139. The training of the prophet was not limited to resisting temptations, he was put in the position of meeting difficulties and persistently pursuing a purpose, under the direction of recognized leadership. His training was along the double parallel lines of the do and the not do. The work of the youthful prophet was of a character that it gave training in clear definite thinking. Miracles of knowledge made him a prophet; inspired study made him a philosopher. His prophecies have not failed; nor has his philosophic utter- ance come to naught. (See Doctrine and Covenants 93:24; Widtsoe's Joseph Smith as Scientist.) The Church is an instrument through which man can do more for God. his fellow-men, and for himself, than he can do without it. The Church was made for man because man is suited for Church work; each is, there- fore, for the other. The individual and family-prayer requirement of the Church trains in the forming of the spiritual habit of expressing gratitude, which is nothing short of becoming habitually appreciative. The prayer habit is the habit of counting one's blessings in the presence of the Giver of them. The Church requirement of tithe-paying is a training in thrift, loyalty, self-sacrifice. 4 76 IMPROVEMENT ERA The Word of Wisdom requirements of the Church gives a constant training in the keeping of our appetites subordinate to the judgment, and this is one of the big fields of self-control. The Sabbath day regulations of the Church provide for training in rev- erence, and the formation of a habit that finally draws one toward public worship with a force that makes Sabbath-breaking painful. The missionary service expected of Church members trains in the making of character, as well as in the making of converts.. An eminent American educator of international recognition, said to a returned missionary: "Your two years' mission ought to mean as much to you as two years of college training." (See also statement of Elder Middleton, Feb. Era, 1924, p. 339.) Following the vision of the ever-progressive destiny of the Church and the purposes of its existence (helping to give men joy) , it provides for special training in leadership. Aptitude and inclination to lead are sup- plemented by opportunity to lead. The field of Church service is so broad that there is room for the leadership ability of all. The Church as a trainer reaches over into the field of industry as is evidenced by the following quotation from the deed of trust founding the Brigham Young University (the Academy), nearly half a century ago: "Each of the boys who shall take a full course, if his physical ability will permit, shall be taught some branch of mechanism that shall be suited to his taste and capacity." Our hospitals provide for the training of nurses. From this beginning a system of Church schools grew where provisions were made for the giving of industrial training to students of both sexes. The life vision of the Church as a trainer presents the picture of a condition where everybody is skilled in the best way of doing the best things The vision and purpose concerning the Church as a trainer is that it shall be seen and heard and known as the "Alma Mater" of the best-trained people of the ages. C. Suggestive Topic for Teacher's Lecture. 1. The relative value of teaching and training. 2. Church service trains for the here and hereafter. 3. Character as a composite of knowledge, purposes and habits. D. Class discussion. E. Social period. Lesson XXI — The Church an Instrument of Social Salvation A. Questions and Problems. 1. What are the social characteristics of communities where there is no Church? 2. What are the usual social characteristics of communities where the Church has a leading influence? 3. On what grounds have the churches tried to repress recreation? 4. On what grounds should the Church foster rather than repress recreation? 5. What is the chief purpose of the Church in providing recreation? 6. What are the essential features of an entertainment that could consistently claim Church approval? 7. What theological justification has the Church for making recreation a part of its activities? B. Some Helpful Subject Matter. The absence of the Church in a community usually means the presence of the grog-shop, the gambling-den, and the brothel. These evils may exist where there is a church but their right to survive is always challenged by the Church, and their power to degrade is lessened just as fast as the power of the Church to elevate is increased. LIFE'S VISIONS AND PURPOSES 477 As a rule, low ideals and vice characterize the churchless community. A little white church and the "little red schoolhouse" proclaim the little com- munity a place of peace and prosperity. One always feels safe in camping chere. The house of God and the home of the children almost spell heaven :o the traveler; they are unmistakable evidences of the presence of a worshiping, child-loving citizenry. The Church is the instrument through which spiritual power is social- ized, and goes to complete the abundant life. Life may be lived without the Church but not in abundance of enjoyment and helpfulness, as it can with the Church. The Church then is an instrument of salvation agiinst an incompleteness of life. Faith in futurity, hope of heaven, love of peace, and willingness to not only let live, but to help live, characterize the Church- influenced community. The abundant life necessitates broadness of vision. Man's social nature calls for recreation and the Church cannot expect to succeed in giving to man a fulness of life without providing that all of the avenues of elevative enjoyment shall be kept open. Under the mistaken idea that man is intrinsically evil, some churches have made the mistake of suppressing recreation. Merriment has been looked upon as the road to eternal misery, and dancing considered as the evil-one's highway. The idea that whatever gives pleasure must be put under a ban was a child of ignorance and as such unworthy to survive. In the light of modern revelation, man's inclination for recreation has been recognized as a legitimate claim for attention. The Church, in keeping with the higher view, takes the responsibility of providing for the wholesome recreation of its members. The question may be asked, Is there such a thing as spiritual recreation? Much of our Church-going is recreational: we go to enjoy the music, even the congregational singing is for the most part recreational, and the spirit of the speaker gives us more thrills than his logic. When recreation, whether physical or spiritual, degenerates into nothing more than amusement then participation becomes a weakening indulgence. Entertainment may go so far astray from recreation that it becomes degenerated. The Church is not providing recreation merely as a means of preventing some other employment of leisure time; its aims are positive; its purpose is the construction of character through recreation. It aims at having people do what they like to do in such a way that the doing will make them better. As an instrument of social salvation the Church provides a way of recreating to higher levels. Any entertainment that can consistently claim Church approval must, of course, conform to Church standards. In doing so it will be: 1. For people of good repute only. 2. Properly environed. 3. Free from excess. 4. Elevated throughout. 5. Reverential. 6. Not interfere with schools, or Sabbath day observance. See Gospel Doctrine, pp. 400-402. As to theological justification for providing recreation for its members, the Church is acting on a commandment, "If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise, and thanksgiving." Doctrine and Covenants, 136:28. In this scripture we have pointed out four ways of giving expression of happy-heartedness. C. Suggestive Topic for Teacher's Lecture. 1. The commercializing of recreations. 2. Character shown by their recreations, a. Individuals, b. Nations. D. Class Discussion. E. Social Period,