Religious Value of the National Summer School

RELIGIOUS VALUH OF THE NATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL By Asa J. Merrill. On June 13, 1925, I returned to my home after having filled a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southern States. On June 15, 1925, I registered to attend school at the National Summer School which was being held at Logan, Utah. Naturally, one of the things that I would be interested in would be the religious value of attending the school. The School was all that I hoped that it would be, with respect to the class room instructions, and in a religious way it was a revelation. My knowledge of the gospel was enlarged and my testimony of the truth of this great latter-day work was made broader and stronger. I firmly believe that if I went back to the mission field now, I could be a much better missionary for having attended the National Summer School. The Utah Agricultural College was very fortunate in securing the high type of men, that it secured as instructors. Almost without ex- ception they were nationally recognized in their line and they were men who had a firm faith in God. Although, with the exception of Dr. John A. Widtsoe, these men were not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, yet perhaps this was one reason why I gained so much in a religious way from mingling with them. An oft repeated adage will perhaps best illustrate what I mean. "If you have a dollar and I have a dollar, and we exchange we will each have a dollar; but if you have an idea and I have an idea, and we exchange we will each have two" ideas." The Prophet Joseph Smith once said that one of the most im- portant distinctions between the Latter-day Saints and the rest of the religious world was that we were willing to accept all truth, no matter from whence it came. One truth does not conflict with any other truth. When religion and science disagree it merely means that one of them does not have the truth. Our duty is to decide which one has the truth. These men believe this to be a good and true statement. I can best prove this by citing the reader to a statement or so made by members of the visiting faculty. Dr. Charles A. Ellwood, Professor of Sociology of the University of Missouri, said that his attitude and also the scientific attitude was, "The open-minded love of the truth." To the "Mormon" people he paid his respect because of their industry, their integrity, and their devotion to the basic institution of our civili- zation— the family.

34 IMPROVEMENT ERA Dr. Milton J. Rosenau, Professor of Public Health at Harvard, and inter-nationally recognized as a Public Health authority, said, "I marvel at the advancement the Utah people have made in solving com- munity problems. They are solved better here than in any place that I have ever been." Dr. Garnett G. Sedgwick, Professor of English at the University of Vancouver, echoed in his own words the thought expressed by Dr. Rosenau, in a talk that he gave to the members of the Student Life staff. Many other cases might be cited, but these will be enough to illustrate the opinion of all. These men, while not greatly interested in "Mormon" theology, showed a willingness to accept "Mormonism" as a good functioning religion because they can see that the fruits are good and the Master of all said that that was the divine test. The Latter-day Saints believe that we are living in the era just before the second coming of Christ. The scriptures say that certain signs will be given just before he comes, as a warning to the people. They say that strife and contention will increase, crime will become rampant, immorality will become as prevalent as it was in the days of Noah, and mothers will even turn and hate their children. Although as yet we have not reached that condition, Professor Ellwood, in his course in General Sociology, clearly showed that crime was increasing, that the divorce rate was increasing, that the homicide rate was in- creasing, and that unrest and strife is everywhere present. The class in sociology tended to strengthen my belief that these are the last days, and if the Latter-day Saints act as the salt of the earth we must do two things: 1. Love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and strength. . 2. Love our neighbor as ourselves. The Brigham Young College is using as a text Dr. Ellwood's book entitled, The Reconstruction of Religion. Many people who read tlr's article will also have read the book entitled The Religion Worth Having, by Dr. T. N. Carver, professor of political economy at Harvard, who added materially to the religious background of the school. Perhaps one of the things that impressed me most was that which is hardest to explain, the spirit of the school. The Lord instructed Joseph Smith to seek knowledge from all good books, that all knowl- edge was useful. Upon entering a class room or a lecture assembly, there was a spirit that made one almost breathless, so eager he became to hear what was being said. Those who attended the school were desirous of following the instructions given to Joseph Smith, namely to gain knowledge. With this gaining of knowledge went a spirit of peace and helpfulness which is indeed the gospel spirit. Any discussion of the religious value of the National Summer

RELIGIOUS VALUE OF NATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL 35 School which failed to discuss the work of Dr. Shailer Mathews would be very incomplete indeed. Dr. Mathews is from the University of Chicago, and has a national fame as a lecturer and educator. He came to the U. A. C. to give a series of lectures upon religious sub- jects. His topics were: 1. A sociological discussion of the Apostle Peter. 2. A sociological discussion of Judas Iscariot. 3. The common people at the time of Jesus. 4. Contributions of science to religion. 5. Life of the Apostle Paul. The purpose of these lectures, was to give the students a basis for studying the scriptures. They aimed to give us an understanding of the "Men about Jesus," and the conditions under which Jesus labored, in order that we would understand the reactions of the apostles and the reactions of the common people. Dr. Mathews accomplished what he set out to do. After listen- ing to him, we better . understood the fiery Peter and the scholarly Paul. We had great compassion for Judas Iscariot. We better under- stood why the mass of the people rejected Jesus, and again was brought to our minds the truth of the saying, "True science and true religion harmonize." and that "All truth is from God whether it be scientific or religious." • One reason why our missionaries are not more successful, and so often meet with rebuff, is because the people do not understand con- ditions in "Mormonism." If they did understand they would admire the missionaries and be eager to listen to them. When these men and visiting students go back to their com- munities their reports of Utah will do much to break down the barriers of ignorance and misunderstanding, and this work of God will prosper. I believe that everyone who attended the school will go forth and be a better citizen, a better member of whatever church to which he may belong; and if he goes out in the world as a missionary, he will be a bigger and better representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Logan, Utah. Little Things Even the sod that we tread on Even the tiniest molecule Ennobles our lives with its grace, Is a voice that whispers of God, And the daisy that blushes in Summer And the cloudland flitting above us Is a jewel in infinite space. Refreshens the humblest clod. Thus, far on the highways of fancy, Or near, in the simplest retreat, There are manifold fragments of heaven Luxuriantly strewn at our feet. Salt Lake City, Utah. EZRA J. POULSEN.