--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - West, Wilburn C. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 29 number: 10 published: 1926-08 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "West, Wilburn C., “The Divinity of Jesus Christ,” *Improvement Era* 29, no. 10 (August 1926): 929." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera29010unse 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: improvementera29010unse start_page: 929 end_page: 929 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1926-08) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera29010unse publication_year: 1926 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 1926, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Divinity of Jesus Christ THE DIVINITY OF JESUS CHRIST By Wilburn C. West Ours is a world of strife. Nations* are striving to overpower nations; creeds, to crush creeds; vices, to villainize virtue; and men, to get glittering gold. As a Church and nation, we should understand how to improve these conditions. Almost two thousand years ago there was born into the world a stranger who should spread a gospel of peace and tolerance. It is through this gospel that we can answer the question, "how?" It was a beautiful night. A semi-tropic sunset not long before had gilded the mountain horizon with tints unknown to the artist. A sense of quietude and rest brooded calmly over Bethlehem. Shep- herds followed the angel star to the humble manger and offered gifts and good tidings. Angels sang. Men opened their hearts and re- joiced. Christ, their Lord and Master, had come to dwell and reign. Some of Christ's success was due to the labors of John, the Baptist. This fore-runner opened the gate for the entry of a mission. Soon after his fasting and temptation, Christ gave the Sermon on the Mount, for he told his followers: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill can not be hid." Treasures should be laid up in heaven. "For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also." When he had chosen the twelve apostles and sent them on missions, Christ instructed them to be united and humble in their endeavors. He pleaded, taught, advised, and set the example whereby we might enter into the kingdom of God. In his parables we see instruction. In his miracles, humility. But such a man must have foes. Fame had created enemies. Christ, the Redeemer of mankind, was accused by those for whom he came. Christ, their Lord and Master — betrayed by one of his own! Tolerant and forgiving was his attitude as he was led to die. A crown of thorns pierced his head, yet he did not murmur. He was scorned and scourged, yet he endured. Crucified! yes, and cruelly, yet he was tolerant. Looking toward heaven, he pleaded: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." The gospel of Christ is not to be spread by sword. It is not to be carried by Napoleons. The conquests and victories of Alexander and Caesar were as two mighty rivers: gushing and roaring in the spring, then silenced when the source is gone, but the gospel of Christ is like a fresh sparkling fountain in that beautiful valley called life, where toil-worn men may rest their heavy loads and find love, re- freshment, and hope to carry out the purpose of their creation. Fare West, Utah