Editor’s Table

Editors' ^Tahle What Is The Harvest? June being the close of the Mutual Improvement year on study courses, it would seem to be a proper occasion to review the work and discover, if possible, what has been its harvest. Concerning one item especially, though rather a difficult one to estimate, it would be well to count results. We might ask this question: "What number of testimonies have been obtained from the repetition and study of the slogan: 'We stand for an individual testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ'?" In nine hundred associa- tions, or thereabout, this slogan has been repeated weekly in concert by the members of each association. Prior to the repetition there has always been an appropriate introduction, consisting of scripture reading and faith-promoting remarks, during the whole year. From computation, nearly 100,000 young people have repeated the slogan weekly, or approximately it has been repeated in the eight class-months about three million times. If this has been done with the right attitude of mind, and we believe that such is the case in most instances, the psychological effect alone must have been wonderful. Some would say, perhaps, that this effort has become mechanical; but even so, we believe that thou- sands of our young people have been stirred to obtain such a testimony, or are on the way to receive it, through faith and prayer and through keeping the commandments. Many have become thoroughly imbued with the fact that their moral and religious lives will be dire ted hereafter by the gospel standards of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But if there are some who may not have received this testimony, they have been set on the way) to obtain it, and we enjoin them to continue study, prayer, will, and work, until they shall receive it accord- ing to the promise made, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." If thist is done, and they so continue, the testimony is sure to come. Testimony is correct knowledge — not knowledge only, but correct knowledge. It does not come to all in the same way, but if we have desire, it generally comes, in some way or other, to all who seek. To Nathanael it came through faith, following a short conversa- tion with the Savior. Through faith, and not by long study, he was immediately able to utter the following unequivocal testimony: "Then art the son of God; thou art the king of Israel." Doubtless it came to him by virtue of faith, through the Holy Ghost and the revelations of the Father, even as Christ said it came to Peter.

EDITORS' TABLE 807 But a testimony came in a different way to Thomas. To him it came following a physical demonstration and a miracle. Thomas, still doubting when the other disciples told him they had seen the resurrected Lord, exclaimed: "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and. thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." Following this declaration, on another occasion when Thomas was with the Twelve, Jesus stood among them, the resurrected Jesus, the doors being shut, and after the greeting, "Peace be unto you," he said, speaking directly to Thomas: "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy band, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless but believing." Then it was that Thomas received his testimony, and said unto Jesus: "My Lord and my God." , The answer that the Savior gave to him was kind and full of admonition to the youth of all ages, an answer that we must not forget: "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." The point we wish to make is this, and this applies to all young men and all young women who feel that they have not yet received a testimony, that through desire, prayer, works of righteousness, persisted in, the testimony will come to all. It may be delayed; it may be in different ways; but to the faithful, the persistent and those who keep the commandments of the Lord, it shall come. It may not be in the way that Nathanael received it; or that Thomas received it; it may not be by miracle or sign, though these are not to be despised, but ;to him or to her who has a desire and will follow the regulations and instructions, it will come in time, no matter how. The desire to know will bring it, if such desire is followed by will to know, by study, by prayer, by practicing the principles our Savior taught. It may come from one single fact or truth, and, having that evidence to build upon, more will be gathered to it, more truth, more sustaining evidence until the testimony shall be perfect. To those who have not obtained a perfect testimony, the desire will bring it, for desire" spurs us on to work, and we will continue to practice, believing that Jesus is the way, the truth and the light, by whom we come unto the Father. We, shall learn to love him and to keep his sayings, and he says: "He that hath my commandments, and keepcth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." And as Moroni said: "I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost." There are many things of which we have knowledge that we cannot see by the naked eye. In science the atom, said to be 3

808 IMPROVEMENT ERA universe in itself, and its recently discovered marvels, cannot be seen by the naked eye; but we have faith in the discoveries of the scientist. Hence, even material things as well must be understood by faith and by faith made known to us; even so spiritual things are made known and comprehended. We admonish all who have not yet obtained a testimony to continue the search for it in the way pointed out; to retain what they have received, and by persistent prayer, study and work they shall reap a harvest of full and certain knowledge. The closing of the year should noc end our efforts. Our slogan for 1926-27, to be presented at our annual conference, will require a continuation of similai efforts. — A. President Grant's Visit to the East President Heber J. Grant and Mrs. Grant left Salt Lake City, April 16, for a 'trip East. In Washington, D. C., the President attended the Sixteenth Annual Convention of the Boy Scouts of America, he being one of the representatives of the Salt Lake Council. On the way he held meetings in Chicago on April 25. He attended the convention meetings in Washington April 30 and May 1; and the dinner of the Twelfth Region representatives. Superintendent George Albert Smith was also present at these meetings. President Grant addressed briefly the convention, telling of the interest taken by the Church over which he presides in the young people of the M. I. A. and other organizations. It was held in the building of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and President Coolidge and General Baden Powell were among the speakers. President Grant, on May 2, attended Sunday school and met with the Saints in the chapel at Brooklyn. He spent a week with President Roberts, attending meetings also May 8 and 9 in the Massachusetts conference. On Friday, May 14, he addressed some forty or fifty missionaries in Brooklyn. On the 16 he attended the meetings of the Michigan conference of the Northern States mission, visit- ing Chicago May 17, where he met President John H. Taylor at the mission headquarters, leaving on the evening train for Salt Lake City. President Grant is looking and feeling well, and enjoyed the trip very much. He met Chief Justice William H. Taft, Associate Justice George H. Sutherland, Senator William H. King, and Representatives Don. B. Colton and E. O. Leatherwood, also Secretary Herbert Hoover, Stephen T. Mathers William Spry, Heber M. Wells, Brigadier General Bryant S. Wells, and many other friends. With Senator Smoot and Superintendent George Albert Smith, he looked over the property which has been purchase4 in Washington, and on which the Church intends to build a chapel. What to do in June Since all cannot come to the June Conference, have the vital messages of it carried over to, your own organization by having the young people called together in stuke or ward capacity to listen to a review of the big inspirational topics, such as the new message on recreation, reading course for the year, the slogan, the spiritual themes, etc. Announce here the Summer recreation program, weekly half-holiday programs. Fathers and Sons' Outings, Mothers and Daughters' Day, Flag Day exercises. It is a time for skillful, considerate, personal contact that will make the membership feel your interest in them. Consult the Year-Round Recreation Program and Contests, for suggestions.