Editors’ Table

EDITORS' TABLE 563 The body of Jesus Christ was the same which he had before death, but when he had risen it was made clear some way, somehow, that his body was released from a number of material conditions unto which it had been before subject, for apparently he passed through closed doors, (John: 20: 26) , he could be present at different places at short intervals of time (Luke 24:15, 34-36); and, though the same body, it was so different as to delay or hinder recognition (Mark 16:12; Luke 24:16,31; John 20:11,14; 21:4). Further, his arising from the grave brought the doctrine of the resurrection from the background of religious thought to the very front. The gospel of Jesus Christ demanded and demands acceptance on the grounds of his resurrection, declares him to be the son of God (Acts 9:20; Romans 1:4), and sets the final seal of divine acceptance on his teachings and life. The gospel which the apostles preached was the gospel of the resurrection (Acts 3:15; 4:2) ; and, in fact, a confession of Jesus Christ and faith in his resurrection, with the implied works and righteous living, are necessary conditions for salvation (Romans 10:9; 6:4,5,6; Colossians 2:12; 3:1). The Latter-day Saints believe implicitly in the literal bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ as set forth in the holy scriptures, iih, the accounts given in the gospels. (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20 and 21.) We believe that Jesus Christ is the true type' of the resurrection of all men from death unto life. As he arose from the dead, so it will be with every son and daughter of Adam brought into the world. The identity of the individual will not be lost, and just as surely as Jesus was resurrected and brought from death to life again, will the life and the resurrection from death to life again come upon all children of Adam. Jesus Christ redeemed man from temporal death and saved him from spiritual death; provided, man shall repent of his sins and obey the gospel of our Lord and Savior. Our resurrection will be on the pattern, so to speak, of Christ's, we shall be like him (1 John 3:2,3). His resurrection answers all doubts as to the possibility of resurrection for us; and, too, it, answers sufficiently all questions in which those doubts express them- selves: as to how, and wherewith. Some have expressed the idea that in one respect the parallel between his resurrection and ours appears to fail or not to apply, and that is in the reanimation of a body not decayed, as was his; and the raising up of a body which has to be reconstituted, as will be the case in all others who pass away, (with the exception, perhaps, of those who in the last day shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye). A little thought will convince one that the difference is not of great weight, for the change which came to Jesus Christ must have been of so fundamental a character that, while his outward identity was preserved, the natural body had given place to an eternal one, a redeemed one, (Rom. 8:23) in likeness of the old, yet wholly different from the one laid in the grave, containing only its essential parts. Speculations, from time to time, are indulged in concerning how

564 IMPROVEMENT ERA the resurrection shall take place, but it is no denial of faith to declare, as we must, that this we do not know; but this we do know, that as He arose from the dead, so shall all men arise from the grave, for we shall be like him in all respects, and our faith in eternal life and in the joining of the spirit and the body to make the living soul, we declare shall take place, that man may have a fulness of joy, (Doc. & Cov. 93:33.) But how, we may not know. It is a mystery, and since we have so many mysteries that we cannot solve, but which we take for granted, even life itself, the universe, and the wonderful laws of nature and of nature's God, that are yet unsolved, but in which we have faith, so likewise, we have faith in the resur- rection of the body, and in the joining of the spirit with that body, in the form and likeness now existing. President Chas. W. Penrose in a recent sermon delivered on the 2nd of March, 1924,- in the Eighteenth ward chapel, gave answer to this objection in the following words: "Now I want to say to you brethren and sisters, that the resurrection is a part of the gospel. Christ died, and he presented his appearance before his disciples in his body. It was the same body, to all appearance that he had when it was put down in the tomb, but it was not subject to dissolution. Death had no real dominion over it. It was quickened after the power of an endless life, and so it will be with ours when we are raised from the dead, and we will be quickened with the glory of which we will be made partakers, celestial, terrestrial, telestial. How, I do not know. I do not pretend to know. I do not try to know. Because there is no way for me to know. But I do know that the resurrection of the dead is as sure as our life here on the earth. The resurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul, and through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, we shall receive our redemption, every one in our own order; Christ the first fruits, afterwards those who are Christ's at his coming. * * * 'Then cometh the end,' and all will be judged according to the deeds done in the body, good, bad or indifferent, and all our good efforts made while we dwelt in the flesh — all the efforts we have made to conquer our body, to bring it into subjection, to make it as the Lord would have it to be, and to live as he would have us live, all that will be of essential benefit to us in the resurrection from the dead; for we will be what we are, what we actually are, not what the people think of us, what they say of us, but what we actually are; and therefore the lesson is, Fear God, keep his commandments, walk in his ways, obey his gospel, cleave close to it, live in the spirit of it. Take it in to your homes. It will be in your heart, it will guide you in every deed." God of our fathers, give us faith in Christ and in his resurrection, that with him and his ransomed we may obtain eternal joy and glad- ness with our loved ones, in the mansions he has prepared for the faithful, where sorrow and sighing shall flee away and there shall be no parting forevermore. — A. i The Negro and the Priesthood The question arises from time to time in regard to the negro race and the Priesthood. Such a question has been received and the

EDITORS' TABLE 565 writer says: "The belief prevails to a considerable extent that when the plan of redemption was laid before the spiritual hosts in heaven, that one-third remained neutral, also that from this source the negro race sprung. Are there any scriptural proofs, that will substantiate such a belief?" We know of no scripture, ancient or modern, that declares that at the time of the rebellion in heaven that one- third of the hosts of heaven remained neutral. This thought has developed from the fact that the Lord states that one-third of the hosts of heaven rebelled and were cast out with Lucifer and became the devil and his angels. Doc. and Cov. 29:36-38. It is true that the negro race is barred from holding the Priest- hood, and this has always been the case. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught this doctrine, and it was made known to him, although we know of no such statement in any revelation in the Doctrine and Cove- nants, Book of Mormon, or the Bible. However, in the Pearl of Great Price, we find the following statement written by Abraham: "Now this first government of Egypt was established by Pharaoh, the eldest son of Egyptus, the daughter of Ham, and it was after the manner of the government of Ham, which was patriarchal. Pharaoh, being a righteous man, established his kingdom and judged his people wisely and justly all his days, seeking earnestly to imitate that order established by the fathers in the first generations, in the days of the first patriarchal reign, even in the reign of Adam, and also of Noah, his father, who blessed him with the blessings of the earth, and with the blessings of wisdom, but cursed him as pertaining to the Priest- hood." Pearl of Great Price, Abraham 1:25-26. President Brigham Young, in a discourse given in 1855, speaking of the negro said: "It is their privilege to live so as to enjoy many of the blesings which attend obedience to the first principles of the gospel, though they are not entitled to the Priesthood." Journal of Discourses, 2:184. That one-third of the hosts of heaven remained neutral and therefore were cursed by having a black skin, could hardly be true, for the negro race has not constituted one-third of the inhabitants of the earth. It is a reasonable thing to believe that the spirits of the pre- mortal state were of varying degrees of intelligence and faithfulness. This thought is conveyed in many passages of scripture, such as Acts 17:24-27; Deuteronomy 32:8; Abraham 3:19-26. However, to dwell upon this topic and point out certain nations as having been cursed because of their acts in the pre-existence, enters too much on the realm of speculation. Therefore, let it suffice that the negro is barred from the Priesthood and the reason some day we may understand. — Joseph Fielding Smith.

566 IMPROVEMENT ERA Books The Founding of Utah, by Levi Edgar Young, head of the department of western history, University of Utah, Charles Scribner's Sons, price $1.50. This book is a study of the founding of the state of Utah, and the author has kept strictly to pioneer days with a view of letting the reader obtain some conception of what the founders of Utah went through to re- deem the soil and to build homes and school houses. The author has suc- ceeded admirably in accomplishing this purpose and his book of 445 pages serves as a most fascinating introduction to the later history of the state of Utah, and the development of the great west surrounding. The book is somewhat different from other histories in that it does not give a con- nected story of the state down to the present time; but rather presents a series of stories headed in chapters treating the principal economic and social factors of the state's early history. It is a readable, entertaining, instructive, and charming collection of facts tending to stimulate a love for the pioneers, whose work developed the fields and industries of our wonderful state. It is a book which the citizens of the surrounding states will take as much inter- est in reading as the citizens of Utah from the fact that it deals with a period in Utah's history when this state was the nucleus from which went out the settlers of practically every surrounding state. Their children and children's children are still interested in the struggles of the pioneers who first settled in the Salt Lake Valley whose descendants largely they are. The book is divided into four parts entitled, "The Land of the People of Long Ago," "The Colonizing of Utah," "The Struggle For Education," and "The Old Freighting Days;" and the forty chapters into which these cap- tions are divided are replete with thrilling stories of the fur traders, the Wasatch mountains, hand-cart companies, the great migrations to the west, the first company of pioneers, the schools, amusements and art and the writers and journalists, of early days, closing with the stage coach and ox team days, the pony express and other methods of mail delivery, and finally, the railroads, and Utah today. It is a book whose stories the young people of our time may sit down by their firesides and thoroughly enjoy. The Chicago Evening Post says that the book is "not only a fine piece of historical writing, but a marvel in character delineation." Dr. Franklin Henry Giddings, of Columbia University, writes to Professor Young: "You have certainly made a most suggestive study of social forces and productions of Utah, and a fascinating story as well." Dr. Edward Channing, of Har- vard, says: "I think you have done a good bit of work and the book should be put into every school of Utah." The Journal of Education, Boston, says: "It is the first adequate story of Utah's beginning that is neither over- wor- shipful of the religion of the fathers or in nowise critical thereof. It is as important a service to American history as it is to western history." — A. Books received: Applied Character Analysis, John T. Miller, editor Character Builder, Psychological Laboratory of the Vocational Guidance Bureau, Los Angeles, California, the Gorham Press, Boston. Hidden Heroes of the Rockies, a pre-pioneer history of Utah and the west, by Isaac K. Russell and Howard R. Driggs, World Book Co., Chicago, These will receive further notice in the May number of the Era.

(Priesthood Quorums Home Evening One of the leading topics of a recent meeting of the presiding author- ities, high council and bishops of the Granite stake of Zion was the emphasis given to the observance of Home Evening, a requirements that has been made of the Saints in that stake for many years. Every family in that stake is requested to call the members together on Monday of each week to spend the evening in instruction, entertainment, recreation, songs, music, games and general family association. It was stated that the possibilities of the program at this home evening gives an unparalleled opportunity: I. To parents to teach the gospel to their children. 2. To discuss profitably family government and family affairs. 3. To discover and improve the talents of the respective members of the 'family by affording opportunity for expression and development at these- meetings. 4. To increase and maintain common interests and a closer understanding between all members of the family by joint consideration of common, or even of individual matters. Common experiences in thought and action tend to knit the lives of the family closer together and to narrow the gap of misunderstanding that may exist between father and son and other members of the household. 5. To promote love in the home. 6. To combat "idleness, ignorance and vulgarity," the dangerous enemies of youth and of all ages, with habits of industry, learning and virtue. 7. To promote recreation in the home. 8. To help in general terms, make the family successful by consideration of any and all matters pertaining to their welfare. 9. To increase cooperation among members of the family, and for all worthy institutions and movements without. 10. To cultivate the spirit of the Lord in the hearts and homes of the members. II. To implant faith in God and men, and create interest in his great latter-day work. 12. To build up the home that it may be a power in elevating mankind. 13. To teach children respect for parents, and parents for children, and to teach all to have respect for one another, and for the community, and the Church. 14. To consider frequently and effectively, stating it in a summary, as a family group, the biggest of all life's problems — the problem of correct living. To make the Home Evening successful it was suggested that the super- vision be assigned to those in charge of ward teaching, and that a suggestive program be prepared by the stake high council committee for the meetings, and that the movement be given recognition and encouragement in the Sacrament meetings, at the stake Priesthood and conference meetings, and at the stake and ward meetings of those who supervise ward teaching. The following instructions were suggested for the parents: 1. Read frequently the instructions of the First Presidency to presidents of stakes, bishops and parents in Zion, on Home Evening, on page 157-8, Y. M. M. I. A. Handbook, 5th edition. 2. Observe Monday evening as Home Evening. 3. Start the exercises at 7 o'clock in the winter, and 8 o'clock in the summer, unless some other hour suits you better. Begin promptly.

568 IMPROVEMENT ERA 4. Use the program offered by the Stake committee. If you miss a meeting go on to the program outlined for the next meeting. 5. Assign topics one week ahead. 6. Get the younger members to take some of the initiative. Dis- tribute the responsibility of these meetings among all. See that all take part. Each member, or two members, might take turns in arranging. A. The program. B. The refreshments. C. The recreation, and then rotate. Experience will determine the best way. Father and Mother should be well prepared. 7. Follow this or some other definite outline: I. Class Period — Time — 30 minues to one hour. A. Present and discuss the subject of the evening. B. Discuss briefly any business that you wish to bring before the family II. Recreation Period — Time 3 0 minutes to one hour. A. Give members of the family opportunity for expression, in mu- sic, story telling, reading, dancing, and any other desirable activ- ity, either now or at some other time during the evening. Start your meeting with singing. Either open or close with prayer, both if you think best. B. Light refreshments. C. Games, dancing or any form of suitable entertainment. 8. Bring in outside help, at times, a person to talk on the subject in hand, an expert on recreation, some available person who, you think, will make your meeting more interesting and profitable. This need not be done very often. 9. Once in a while, arrange to meet with the family of a kindly neighbor or relative, either for a joint program or a program rendered by one of the families. This will make for variety and secure a larger audience, thus adding to the experience of those who take part on the program. 10. Occasionally invite some guests. 1 1 . See that the evening's program is faith-promoting, and that a re- ligious atmosphere pervades the meeting. 12. Be sure that good feeling precedes the meeting, and that the meeting is made enjoyable. 13. Emphasize Home Evening, A. By definite preparation for the meeting. B. By making Monday an important day: 1. A day of good cheer. Lay aside your troubles. Be optimistic. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the gospel of optimism, of good cheer. 2. A good turn day, when each member of the family does a special good turn to another, when the parents pay particular attention to their children, and the children are especially mindful of the wishes of their parents, when the father is solicitous of the happiness of the mother, and vice-versa, and when brothers and sisters seek to please one another. 3. A religious day. With the blessings of the Sabbath fresh upon your heads, make Monday a religious day — a day for increasing the happiness of others — for making the world better. Charged with the teachings and inspirations of the Holy Day try to make Monday a special day for righteous endeavor, for starting the week with greater promise of worthy achievement. Turn the theories and teachings of yesterday into practice, into living action, and