Prophecy and History

PROPHECY AND HISTORY By Edward H. Anderson What many of our young married couples need is a clear, rational vision of the relation of prophecy and history to their lives. Every person should be a prophet in his own affairs, and have a clear vision of his future. In this way prophecy becomes history, and the old adage, which declares history is prophecy reversed, becomes true in his experiences. Besides, this knowledge of prophecy and history gives men and women a definite aim in life, holding them steadfastly to noble purpose. It saves them from entering by-paths that lead nowhere. It protects them from morbid materialism, and moral degeneracy, and places them on a foundation of spirituality in which God is the directing power. Not till our young fathers and mothers possess this, will they have paid in full their debt to the valiant pioneers whose prophetic spirit and keen insight, made possible the history of our western commonwealths. Not till then will they have paid in full the debt they owe to the new generation now being cradled in their homes. Prophecy in the experience of the Latter-day Saints as individuals has frequently become history. The same may be said of the people as of individuals. I need only refer to two well known instances, one uttered by Joseph Smith, the prophet, in August, 1842, more than eighty years ago and recorded at the time. In this a number of the brethren were promised: "Some of you will live to go and assist in making settlements and build cities and see the Saints become a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky mountains." This is a prophecy which has become history before our very eyes. Another by President Brigham Young. He and a number of his brethren were walking over the land, soon after the arrival of the pioneers, when suddenly President Young, coming to the place where our world-famed temple now stands, then a barren, rocky spot, struck his cane into the ground and exclaimed: "Here we will build the temple of our God." Several years thereafter, on the 6th of April, 1853, the corner stones were laid by President Young as- sisted by his counselors, Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards. Forty years later the glorious structure was completed, and the temple of our God, which to the prophet Brigham Young, had been a vision and prophecy, is now a visible history. An incident in connection with the breaking of the ground for ♦Delivered at the opening session of the June, 1924, M. I. A. Conference, at joint officers meeting in the Assembly Hall.

PROPHECY AND HISTORY 1131 the foundation was related to me more than thirty years ago by Brig- ham Young, Jr. and is worthy of mention. The breaking of the ground was done in February and President Young was present. The ground was frozen and hence broke in a large crust. As the men were raising the first piece of earth a silver dollar fell upon it. The sight of coin in those days was a rarity, and the appearance of the silver at the time and place, contributed doubtless by an unknown witness of the proceedings, was considered a good omen. It certainly has so turned out, for the temple as Brigham saw it was a prophecy which has become a marvelous history in our lives. And so we might go on with illustrations. Our happy moun- tain homes, our fruitful fields, our thriving towns and cities, our marvelous industries and mines, our canneries and factories, our luxurious palaces of learning, our glorious temples and houses of wor- ship, are prophecies which, being fulfilled, have become history. Behold, it is marvelous in our eyes! What we have seen and learned in the course of our own lives is a lesson to us and to our young people to seek the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy that we in turn may prophesy of the future, and by our faith and works, make our visions come true. This will result in history, full of countless blessings to those who shall follow after us — our children and our children's children, — history that shall overflow even in fuller measure than that resulting from the prophecies of our fathers. The Latter-day Saints are believers in the efficacy of prophetic utterance. They are firm believers in the prophets and prophecies of the Book of Mormon, treating of the ancient inhabitants of this con- tinent. These are full of splendid lessons that may be applied to our lives. There are scores of illustrations of prophets and their pro- phecies fulfilled in that holy book that cannot fail to impress the young married people of our age with their wonderful value as in- spiration for the future day, once they become familiar with them. Of course, in order to get value from them, we must become familiar with them so that they may be applied in our tasks and be made prophetic guides for our instruction and for the history of our lives. Lehi was comforting the mother of his sons who had journeyed into the wilderness up to the land of Jerusalem to obtain the record of the Jews. It appears that Lehi also found certain plates of brass upon which a genealogy of his fathers was engraved, by which he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, and from whom has sprung Ephraim and Manasseh. Lehi thus dis- covered the genealogy of his fathers and was filled with the spirit and was led to prophesy concerning his seed saying "that these plates of brass should go forrth into all nations, kindreds, tongues and peo- ple who were of his seed. Wherefore, he said that these plates of

1132 IMPROVEMENT ERA brass should never perish, neither should they be dimmed any more by time." And he prophesied many other things concerning the people who were to be his descendants. This prophecy has been remark- ably fulfilled, at least in part, by the coming forth in these days of the Book of Mormon containing these facts. Doubtless many other ideas in that book were gathered from the brass plates by the ancient writers of the Book of Mormon. This book has been and is being distributed to the seed of Lehi in all parts of this land. Hundreds of thousands of copies have been printed and distributed to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, as well as to the seed of Lehi. And so the prophecy is made history in our day. Many other instances might be mentioned in which the Book of Mormon prophecies have become history in modern times. In the course of study in the advanced Senior class of the Y. M. M. I. A., 1924-25, it is intended that some of these shall be pointed out to the membership of the class, which now numbers something like 25,000 people. Besides, twelve lessons from the text book, The Founding of Utah, will be prepared that will illustrate the fulfilment of some of the prophecies of modern prophets. Think what wonderful history this membership may project into the future, if they shall obtain the spirit of prophecy, and by their faith, study, and works, and the help in the days to come of the Holy Spirit, cause to be woven into reality by their descendants, history upon which future generations may still build structures of progress, spiritual and temporal, that shall reach into the eternities. The idea is not so much to gather voluminous illustrations, as to have the membership imbibe the spirit that characterized the prophets of old and the people who transformed their prophecies into history. The same application may be made to the lives of the people today. And now, as a closing thought! We must obtain a testimony of Jesus as our Savior and a firm faith in God as the overruling Being. Faith, which is a gift of God to all who seek, comes by asking and by studying and by hearing the word of the Lord. Our study in the Advanced Senior class will direct us in the way, and if we continue earnestly, our faith will increase, so that at the close of the study season of 1924-25, we can have a testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy, and can say in our hearts, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." At a recent convention of Scouts, it was stated that out of 3.200 boys coming before the Los Angeles Juvenile Court, only two were boy scouts. Of course, the boy scout program has much to do with such a showing, but it should be remembered, also, that the underlying cause of good conduct is love of God and faith in him. A great majority of our Scouts are blest with parents who have this

PROPHECY AND HISTORY 1133 faith, and who believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior of mankind. Hence their good behavior. Knowing God and his Son Jesus Christ is not only eternal life, but it is a solid foundation for moral conduct. Without this knowledge we build upon sand. Despise not prophesyings! From prophecy has arisen the deepest movement of the human spirit. Prophecy is a creative power whose results remain the imperishable heritage of our age and race. Our Church is built upon prophecy, hence our progress. We believe in prophets and prophecy. We sing, "We thank thee, O God, for a prophet." We worship God, we seek the testimony of Jesus Christ which is the spirit of prophecy. My brethren and sisters, fellow workmen in the M. I. A., I am delighted to have had this privilege of saying these few words to you; you who are the descendants of workers with whom I have been associated in the M. I. A. for fifty years within a few months. I love the work, it is dear to my heart, and I hope that God will inspire you and me and coming generations to carry it on, and on. Thank you, God bless you, Amen. Nature's Music There's music in the gentle breeze That stirs the leaves and sways the trees; There's music in the plaintive song It sings, while gliding smoothly on. There's music in the gusts that roar Among the cliffs where the eagles soar, And in the great pines' heavy notes, Whose sound o'er hill and valley floats. There's music in the gentle rain; While rushing down the verdant hill, When, o'er some great high cliff it leaps, And falls below in liquid heaps. There's music in the gentle rain; It sings a sweet and soothing strain, While falling on the grateful leaves, Or dripping from the sulky eaves. There's music in the restless sea Where great high waves rush toward the lea, And giving forth their mighty roar While dashing madly on the shore. There's music in the human soul Which, harmonizing with the whole. Responds to all that nature sings And blends most sweetly with all things. Logan, Utah SAMUEL B. MlTTON.