Editor’s Table

Christ is Risen The Savior's atonement and resurrection are fundamental in the faith of the Latter-day Saints. His own words (John 5:28. 29) attest the truth of the universal redemption of the human race from death: "Marvel not * * * for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice [Christ's], and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." His apostles also taught the doctrine of a universal resurrection (Acts 24:15; Rev. 20:13): "There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust;" the sea "and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works." Modern revelation confirms tr^e same (Doc. and Cov. 18:12): Christ "hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of re- pentance." That Christ did rise from the dead is abundantly attested by scriptural evidence. His many appearances after he arose from the grave re-established, in his apostles, faith in him as the Redeemer. They were convinced by actual contact, by sight and feeling, beyond doubt, that his body was raised from the grave, that he lived again and that God had clothed him with power. They proclaimed his resurrection with confidence and fearlessly expressed their many testi- monies to the effect: "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses." They testified to the fact in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, "and unto the uttermost parts of the earth." Their knowledge was not of gradual formation, nor an after- thought, it was an immediate, early and living knowledge which they never modified nor sought to change. It was ever the same in all essentials. Many people, under various conditions and on many occasions, received sensible proofs that he appeared in the same body which had been crucified. The resurrection had a firm foundation in the earnest testimony of the apostles, not alone that of one or two of them, as in the case of Paul and, Peter to whom Jesus personally appeared (Luke 24:34; I Cor. 15:5-8), but to all of them. Not only do we have the testimony of the New Testament, but we have confirming evidence in the holy American scriptures — the Book of Mormon. Christ appeared twice after his resurrection on the American continent to the Nephites, and once to the Twelve

EDITORS' TABLE 55 7 Apostles of the Nephites whom he chose to minister to the people of this continent, and to act for him in the establishment of his Church in the western world. These are additional, confirming evidences of the reality of our Lord's resurrection. (3 Nephi 19:4.) But we have still another convincing testimony of the Master's resurrection in his appearance to the Prophet Joseph Smith, which resulted in the restoration of power and authority to establish the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His visit resulted in restoring the Priesthood to the earth, through which was given author- ity to men to preach and teach the gospel and to perform all the ordinances pertaining thereunto. By these outside evidences we are justified in saying that Christ is risen; and as he rose from the dead so shall all men arise later, to stand before the judgment seat of the Father to be judged according to the deeds done in the body. We have also a more sure, inward, individual testimony in the witness of the Spirit to all who have repented and have been baptized and who have received by authority the gift of the Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands of the authorized servants of God. We are a part of the marvelous work of God in the latter days. We live in a time when he has committed the keys of his kingdom and a dispensation of the gospel, for the last and the fulness of times, unto men on the earth. We have the commission to preach to all the nations the gospel restored, and with it Christ Jesus and his resurrec- tion. He is our Redeemer and Savior, whose death and resurrection is a part of the^plan of the eternal Father "to bring to pass the im- mortality and eternal life of man." Our mission is to declare his gospel, with the sound of rejoicing, for he has said: "Lift up your hearts and be glad, for I am in your midst, and am your advocate with the Father; and it is his good will to give you the kingdom." Christ came to redeem all who would believe on him; he suffered and died to atone for our sins. He rose from the dead, and became the first fruits of the resurrection of all mankind. — A. Reflections A Cause of Crime — Recently Dr. D. H. Kress, of the Washington Sanitarium, speaking before a class at the Wilson Normal school, linked crime and cigarette smoking. He stated that 93% of the offenders taken before the Juvenile courts of the country are "cigarette fiends." He said further that "the youthful habit of cigarette smoking would rapidly degenerate the human race to a disastrous extent. Cigarettes, besides, are largely responsible for heart disease, causing more deaths than any other malady." The law alone cannot prevent cigarette smoking. It can help. The habit must be abandoned through the

558 i IMPROVEMENT ERA desire and strong will of the individual himself, who should be educated to understand its evil effects on mind and body. A Week that Deserves to be Year Round — Since the war, we have national weeks set apart for many purposes, some very good, some only to advertise trivial schemes. For the week of April 4 to 9, we have the national Be-Kind-to-Animals Week, sponsored by the American Humane Education Society, 180 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Mass. State governors, mayors, editors, reporters, bishops, ministers, Sunday school superintendents, parents and teachers and all other leaders among the young people, are asked to celebrate the week, and to impress upon the young people (and, sub rosa, themselves) the need of being kind to animals. We are told, "Train a child to be kind, and when he is grown he will be kind." No child can practice cruelty toward any living creature without doing himself the greater harm. Kind-to- animals week deserves to be continued the year round. We need to impress upon the rising generation kindness to every living creature, including, of course, the human race; and not for only a day or a week, but for every day the year round, and year after year! The Fruits of Right Living — Levi S. Udall sends the Era a clipping from the Arizona Gazette, Phoenix. It contains a glowing tribute justly merited, he says, by the "Mormon" athletes and their associates of that state. They evidently measure up to "Mormon" standards of right living. Quoting from the paper: "The tenets of the 'Mormon' Church demand temperate habits and abstention from those vices which, it so happens, are most likely to undermine athletic stamina. 'Mormon' athletes seldom break training." These thoughts are well worthy of consideration, not only by the members of the Y. M. M. I. A. and the "Mormon" schoolboys, but by all young men. The standards and ideals of the Church give joy, increased efficiency, cleanliness of life, happiness. Try them. It must be remembered, however, that one does not get results because one knows how to get them, or because one wants them and longs for them. To obtain the fruits of right living, one must fulfil the conditions upon which they grow; must deal with causes that effects may follow. This provides pleasant work, but requires persistent effort, and a long journey. The fruits of right living come by placing oneself in the midst of a chain of sequences that will bring good results. The Savior said, "He that abideth in me bringeth forth much fruit." Abiding in Christ, living right as he did, is the cause — • strength, stamina, real joy, the effects. Books Home Evening Bulletin is the title of a brochure issued by the Granite stake of Zion. It contains a fine portrait of President Frank Y. Taylor, the father of Home Evening work in Granite stake, and is affectionately "dedicated

EDITORS' TABLE 559 to the fathers and mothers in that stake of Zion, who are earnestly striving to make the home a real center of peace and love and a genuine bulwark of the Church and the nation." It contains a very interesting letter of approval of the Home Evening in the Granite stake by President Heber J. Grant; also greetings by the presidency of the stake; an introduction by the high council committee having Home Evening in charge; an analysis of Home Evening work, with suggestions on how to solve some of the problems listed in the analysis, also suggestive exercise on how to carry on the Home Evening pro- gram, with sermons explaining its purpose, and a very enlightening address on Home Government by the late President Joseph F. Smith. The publication should be a great help to parents. In the Granite stake, Monday evening is devoted entirely to the home, where parents and children are invited to meet, to discuss the word of the Lord and family affairs. The pamphlet contains some sixty pages, and has been distributed free to about 2,700 homes. A neat little brochure, with illuminated, embossed cover, entitled Mother, and containing eight poems on Mother, by Theodore E. Curtis, a well kncAvn contributor to the Improvement Era, and author of Lyrics of the Westtand, has just been issued. It contains as a frontispiece Lucy Smith, mother of the Prophet Joseph; and also a portrait of Louie B. Felt, first of- ficial mother of one hundred thousand Primary children ; her period of service nearly fifty years. "She has been mother to most of us," as the title expresses it. To those who are looking for an appropriate selection of Mother poems for Mother's Day, this little publication will be an excellent offering. The delightfully descriptive language so well known in Mr. Curtis' nature writings has not been lost in these beautiful poems on Mother's Day. The poems may be obtained from the author or from the Deseret Book Company, 25c each, $1.50 per dozen. Credit for Photograph The beautiful photo accompanying "The Rescue," the choice one-act play in this issue of the Era, was taken by Dr. W. H. Hopkins, a well- known Salt Lake physician and lover of nature. Through his courtesy our readers will receive, in the picture, a realistic view of gulls on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. Spring The winter's snow and chilling wind Are going fast. It's coming Spring! The ground, so long 'neath mantle white, Will soon be spread with flowers bright. I loved you, Winter, for a spell, But with you would not always dwell. Just now, my heart delights to sing. It's coming Spring! It's coming Spring! She'll be all dressed in raiment fair. With sweetest perfumes fill the air. When birds and bees their message bring, 'Twill then be Spring! Lovely Spring! Hattie Critchlow Jensen.