--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 28 number: 12 published: 1925-10 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, “Editor’s Table,” *Improvement Era* 28, no. 12 (October 1925): 1182–1186." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera28012unse 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: improvementera28012unse start_page: 1182 end_page: 1186 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1925-10) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera28012unse publication_year: 1925 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 1925, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Editor’s Table The Safe and Sane Way We hope all will read carefully the speech of William Jennings Bryan, in the "Tennessee Case," found in this number of the Era. It agrees in most respects with our faith. The Latter-day Saints have faith in the existence of a personal God, and in his Son Jesus Christ, his resurrection and atonement, and in the Holy Ghost. In this faith lies the foundation of our religion. We believe, of course, in the Bible, and, besides, in the Book of Mormon, and in the modern revela- tions contained in the Doctrine and Covenants in which the needs of the present day are set forth. We hold that God can and does reveal himself in the day in which we live. We believe that God is the creator of the heavens and the e2rth and the Father of all mankind, in whose image we are created. Our religion has no conflict with scientific dis- covery, but refuses to accept unproved philosophies concerning the origin of man. Man is a child of God, the Eternal Father Ours is a practical religion and the basis of our practice is faith in a personal God as our Father; in Jesus Christ, his Son, as our Redeemer, and in his gospel given while he was on earth, as set forth in the Holy Scriptures, and in his revelations made known in modern days. These are our standsrds of living: We believe that God the Eternal Father can hear and answer our prayers. We believe in continuous revelation, both for the individual and for the Church: for the individual in his own affairs, and the affairs assigned to him in the Church: and for the Church through the presi- dent, or presiding authority of the Church. We believe in the resurrection of the body after death, and a union of the spirit and the body forever thereafter. We believe in the judgment in which all men shall receive reward or punishment for their deeds and conduct in life from the Lord God, the just Judge. We believe in loving God and our neighbor; in the ten command- ments; in the sermon on the mount; in the beatitudes, and in all righteous actions towards our fellow men, as taught in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Read I Peter 3:8-14. We believe that if the conduct of our lives shall conform with these standards we shall merit through the mercy of the Lord, peace, joy, health and contentment in this world, and eternal life, the Lord's greatest gift to man, in the world to come. We believe that eternal life comes through knowing God and his Son Jesus Christ. We learn to know God through prayer, through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and through righteous living. "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments," is a very EDITOR'S TABLE 1183 necessary injunction to follow. It is safe and sane, and no scientific truth or discovery, however useful, will ever upset it. — A. Henry C. Lund With great sorrow we record the death of our esteemed brother and co-laborer in the Y. M. M. I. A., Henry C. Lund, which oc- curred at Salt Lake City on September 5, 1925, in his 53d year. Brother Lund was a son of President Anthon H. Lund, and bore many of the characteristics of his admirable father. He was gentle, he was kind, he was a man of few words, and earnest work, and in his testi- mony of the divinity of the great Latter-day gospel, he was as true as steel. For over thirteen years he was a faithful member of the General Board of the Y. M. M. I A., and as such labored constantly for the ad- vancement of the cause. He will be greatly missed by his fellow workers whose opportunity for intimate association with him, created in their hearts deep appreciation for his cheerful and lovable personality and character. We express our fervent wish that the good family of Brother Lund may find peace and consolation in the knowledge that he lived a noble and exemplary life, and that he died true to the faith. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." Close of Volume 28 This number of the Era closes volume 28. We thank our sub- scribers for their compliments and their patronage. We thank the writers who have so grandly made its pages of deep interest to our readers, and who have so generously provided us with their thoughts and ideas. We assure our patrons that no labor of ours and no means at hand will be spared to make Vol. 29, beginning with the November number, worthy of a place on the reading table of every family in the land. We call attention to the fact that we have given the subscribers one whole number — one hundred pages free — in extra space added from time to time during the past volume. If our patronage justifies, this will happen also in the coming year. We invite you to read the four- page invitation to send your subscription for Vol. 29, found in the front of this number. Awaiting your prompt action, again thanks. — A. New General Board Members Two new members were added to the General Board of the Y. M .M. I. A. at the June conference: J. Reuben Clark and Franklin S. Harris. Both of these brethren are well known. Brother Clark was for many years a resident of Washington, D. C, where he oc- cupied a position in the Department of State. Within recent years he has removed to Salt Lake City, and is now a member of the law firm of Clark, Richards and Bowen. Brother Harris is President of the 1184 IMPROVEMENT ERA Brigham Young University, at Provo, and the author of several books dealing with problems of young men. Both Brother Clark and Brother Harris are well equipped to advance the cause of the Y. M. M. I. A., and will greatly enrich the personnel of the Board. Missionary Home — Preparatory Training School This was recently established in Salt Lake City, and is a place where all the missionaries spend a week for instruction before they go out into the various fields to pursue their work. During the past six months about one fourth, five hundred out of nearly two thousand, of the missionaries now in the field have had the benefit of this Church missionary home and training school. This new work is directed by a Supervisory Committee composed of Elder David O. McKay of the Council of the Twelve; President Rulon S. Wells and Bishop David A. Smith. The Home, at 3 1 North State Street, Salt Lake City, is under the immediate direction of Elder and Sister Leroi C. Snow, who are devoting their entire time in the interest of the mssionaries. The missionaries arrive in groups on Thursday of each week and remain at the Home one week. During this time they are kept very busy following a definite program of instruction and training. While secretary of the Eastern states mission recently, Elder Snow felt the need among the missionaries of better acquaintance with the General Authorities and councils of the Church. As soon as he was appointed to his present work, he prepared a group picture of these officials, a copy of which is used as a frontispiece in this issue of the Era. On arrival at the Home each missionary receives a copy of this picture and during his stay becomes acquainted with many of the Church Authorities. The picture is also helpful in the mission field. "A Basis for Character Education" We have received from Colliers, the publishers, a copy of a booklet entitled, A Basic for Character Education. This booklet is one of the developments of the Moral Code for Youth sponsored by Colliers and which code has found a place in nearly one- third of a million school rooms in the United States. Dr Milton Bennion of the University of Utah, Chairman of the Committee on Character Education of the National Education Associa- tion, has written a foreword to the book in which he points out that the citizens of the country owe a profound duty to the children of the nation in that they should set the child a fit example in his own personal habits and in his exercise of civic duty so that the community may be made an ideal place for children to grow to maturity. It cannot be expected that much progress will be made by the teaching of morals in the public schools if respected citizens by their everyday manner of life shall contradict these teachings. The book contains a page of the Moral Code for Youth in which it is pointed out that if a child wishes to be a happy, useful citizen, he must have courage and hope, wisdom, industry and good habits, knowledge and usefulness, truth and honesty, healthfulness and cleanliness, helpfulness and unselfishness, charity, humility and reverence, faith and responsibility. A number of writers present suggestions for carrying out a moral program in the schools. Changes in Ward and Stake Officers Among the changes in ward and stake officers during August, 1925, were the following: In Pioneer stake, Datus Eugene Hammond, was made president with Jeremiah A. Hancock and Charles S. Hyde, now on a mission in Holland, counselors. In the Liberty stake, Elder Wilson McCarthy was appointed second counselor to President Bryant S. Hinckley in the stake presidency. Among the new wards established in the Church in August was the Pingree ward in Blackfoot stake; and in the Grant stake, Central Park and Southgate wards. New bishops were, Richards ward, of the Granite stake, Clarence L. Gardiner, who succeeded Julius A. Rockwood. New bishops were also appointed in the Tyhee ward of the Pocatello stake; Hill Spring and Cardston 2nd, of the Alberta stake; Widtsoe of the Garfield stake, and Naples of Uintah stake. The name of Bingham stake was changed to Idaho Falls stake, con- sisting of the following wards. Ammon, Beaver Creek, Coltman, Dehlin, Idaho Falls 1st and 2nd, Iona, Lincoln, Milo, Ozone, Shelton and Ucon. The Presidency of the stake is Heber C. Austin with Charles W. Hansen and Charles E. Dinwoodey, counselors, all of Idaho Falls. Genealogical Sunday In commemoration of the visit of the angel Moroni to the Prophet Joseph Smith. September 21, 1823, the First Presidency set aside Sunday, September 20, 1925, as Genealogical Sunday. It was generally observed in the wards of the Church by using a part of the Sacramental meeting time by speakers selected by the bishops for the consideration of the subject: "Salvation and its Relationship to the Dead." Musical numbers appropriate to the occasion were chosen and sung. President Anthony W. Ivins is the president of the Genealogical Society of Utah. HENRY CHARITON JACOBS AND SONS This picture shows four sons of Henry Chariton Jacobs and his wife Susie Stringham. Left to right they are: Henry Chariton Jacobs, Bishop of the North ward of Mt. Pleasant. Utah; Zebulon William Jacobs, second counselor to President Wood of the Alberta temple at Cardston. Canada; Bishop Murray Kimball Jacobs of the Riverdale ward, Weber county; and Bishop Bryant Stringham Jacobs of the Clearfield ward, Davis county, Utah. ELDER MELVIN J. BALLARD OF THE COUNCIL OF THE TWELVE And Second Assistant Superintendent of the Y. M.M.I. A. Elder Ballard, it was recently announced, has been chosen to open a new mission of the Church in South America, possibly with headquarters in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where a small number of German Saints are already located. Rulon S. Wells of the Council of Seventy and also of the Y. M. M. I. A. Board, and Rey L. Pratt of the Council of Seventy and President of the Mexican mission, will accompany him. They will leave just after the October conference.