Editors’ Table

EDITORS' TABLE 509 naught the statement of the lowly Naza- rene, that Jerusalem should not be rebuilt until the times of the Gentiles were ful- filled. He took his great armies, his co- horts that had conquered the world, and called upon the Jews to return to Jeru- salem and rebuild it. The infidel Gibbon, in his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, states that great balls of fire burst forth from the foundation stones and drove the workmen away, and Caesar had to abandon his attempt to rebuild Jerusa- lem. When it came to the time of his passing away, he had to acknowledge that the meek and lowly Nazarene had tri- umphed. Stephen A. Douglas, no doubt, felt ab- solutely certain that he had the presidential chair within his grasp, and, with that as- surance in his mind and heart, he thought he would prove that Joseph Smith was a false prophet. So he discussed the "Mor- mon" question and said: 'Mormons' are bound by horrible oaths and terrible penalties to recognize and main- tain the authority of Brigham Young as para- mount to that of the United States." From the Days of the Prophet A greater lie was never uttered by a mortal man. The "Mormons" have never been bound by any such oath. The "Mor- mons" have taught, from the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith, that the men who wrote the Constitution were raised up by God, and that it was adopted by inspired men. We believe in the inspiration of the living God, in the forming of our govern- ment. " — And that they expect ultimately to subvert the government of the United States to that of Brigham Young." Another falsehood, pure and simple. This man, I believe, was familiar with the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mor- mon teaches that this is a land of liberty, choice above all other lands, and that no king shall rule here. When I had the honor of officiating as chairman of the Liberty Loan drive in this state, I went to California to confer with the chairmen from Oregon, California, Nevada and Arizona, and in one of our meetings (it looked at that particular time as though Germany and her allies were going to conquer), I said: "Gentlemen, there is no 'Mormon' who has any fear whatever that any kaiser or any king shall rule in this land. It is a land choice above all other lands, a land of liberty, that was discovered under the inspiration of God to Columbus. No 'Mormon' has any fear that we are not going to win." They spoke up and said: "Well, we are mighty glad that somebody has no fear at all. It looks pretty blue just now." Judge Douglas continued: "That this alien government of Brigham Young is forming alliance with the Indian tribes, inciting them to hostility and organ- izing bands of "Danites. or destroying angels.' In the Providence of the Lord Another falsehood, pure and simple. This speech was made by a most eloquent man. I know he was eloquent, for I have read some of his speeches in the celebrated debates between Lincoln and Douglas and I remember being profoundly impressed with what I read. I remember, too, that the manager of Lincoln's campaign told him that if he insisted upon debating up- on certain subjects he was sure to be de- feated. And yet Lincoln did insist upon it and said: "If he commits himself, which I am sure he will, in a certain way, in answering these points that we are to debate, it will defeat him from ever sitting in the presidential chair." I do not believe that Lincoln at the time he sacrificed his ambition to be a senator and allowed Stephen A. Douglas to win thought that he might himself some day become the president of these United States. But. in the providence of the Lord, he was the man raised up to defeat Stephen A. Douglas. The Latter-day Saints believe that absolutely. The Deseret News published Mr. Doug- las' speech, and Orson Hyde, who was pres-

510 IMPROVEMENT ERA ent at the interview when that which I have read to you was said by the Prophet, announced to Stephen A. Douglas, in a let- ter published in The Deseret News, that he had defeated himself; for he had under- taken to stand up and proclaim against the prophecy uttered upon him by the Prophet Joseph Smith. At the same time The Deseret News published an editorial (which I will not take the time to read) announc- ing that Douglas had sealed his own doom, and that he would be disappointed. As the Prophet Said It was generally understood here by the men then living, was commonly talked about and was published in The News, that he had taken a stand whereby he would be defeated, and that he would die, as the Prophet said he would, a disap- pointed man. In less than a year from the day that he was defeated he passed away from this life, although a compar- atively young man. Every Latter-day Saint believes that Abraham Lincoln was raised up and in- spired of God, and that he reached the presidency of the United States under the favor of our Heavenly Father. I read last night in The Deseret News an editorial, a part of which I will quote: "What inspiration there is in the life and work of this immortal figure! Born in the backwoods, he came from humble folk and humble surroundings. Keeping close to the great breast of mother earth, he found a strength and a sweetness unknown to many men. He came to manhood and his career with an open mind, susceptible to the prompt- ings of the omnipotent; and in response to this attitude he found that God was ever on his side to help him in the noble endeavors which he made for the good of humanity. If ever a man seemed inspired and fortified by a power above his own, to do the work he was called upon to do. Lincoln was that man. And to his credit be it said that he had the courage to do his duty no matter what sacrifice or pain it might entail. In the end he gave even his life. "The outstanding keynote of Lincoln's character was his determined stand for law and order." Lincoln Statements These are Lincoln's statements: "Let the people know the truth, and the country is safe." "Let none falter who thinks he is right, and we will succeed." "Let us dare to do our duty as we under- stand it." The following quotation from Lincoln was recently published in an address over the signatures of the Presidency of the Church, and in last night's Deseret News. I take pleasure in repeating it here: "Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well wisher to his posterity, swear by the blood of the revolution never to violate, in the least particular, the laws of the coun- try, and never to tolerate their violation by others. As the patriots of seventy-six did to the support of the Declaration of Independ- ence, so to the support of the Constitution and laws let every American pledge his life, his property, and his sacred honor. Let every man remember that to violate the law is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the charter of his own and his chil- dren's liberty. Let reverence for the law be breathed by every American mother to the lisping babe that prattles on her lap. Let it be taught in schools, in seminaries, and in colleges. Let it be written in primers, in spelling books, and almanacs. Let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legis- lative halls, and enforced in courts of justice. In short, let it become the Political Religion of the Nation." A number of other sentiments wete pub- lished in last night's News. "Law has her seat in the bosom of God, her voice in the harmony of the world." — Hooker. "Laws are not made for particular cases but for men in general." — Johnson. "Laws are the very bulwarks of liberty. They define every man's rights and stand be- tween and defend the individual liberties of all."— J. G. Holland. "Law makers should not be law breakers." — Proverbs. Sacredness of Franchise Every man and woman who has ar- rived at the years of political accounta- bility and has the right to vote should never sell himself or herself or pledge him-

EDITORS' TABLE 511 self or herself to vote for men regardless of who they may be, provided they are nominated by their party. Unless I am misinformed, men all over this state are pledging themselves in groups to vote for the nominations at their party conventions, without knowing who is to be nominated, thus selling their God-given right to stand up for honorable, true, virtuous men. men worthy of the franchise of the citizens of the United States of America. "Laws written, if not on stone tables, yet on the azure of Infinitude, in the inner heart of God's creation, certain as life, certain as death, are there, and thou shalt not disobey them." — Carlyle. Following is the declaration of the Church contained in Section 134 of the Doctrine and Covenants, regarding our be- lief in governments and laws in general: "We believe that governments were insti- tuted of God for the benefit of man. and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, either in making laws or administering them, for the good and safety of society. "We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and con- trol of property, and the protection of life." And any man or woman who signs an agreement to vote for whoever may be nominated, regardless of who the individual may be, is relinquishing his God-given right of the free exercise of conscience. "We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same, and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people, if a republic, or the will of the sovereign. Instituted of God "We believe that religion is instituted of God, and that men arc amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the conscience of men. nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never con- trol conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul. "We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly; and that all governments have a right to enact such laws as in their own judgment arc best calculated to secure the public interest: at the same time, however, holding sacred the free- dom of conscience. "We believe that every man should be honored in his station: rulers and magistrates as such, being placed for the protection of the innocent, and the punishment of the guilty; and that to the laws, all men owe respect and deference, as without them peace and harmony would be supplanted by anarchy and terror; human laws being instituted for the express purpose of regulating our interests as in- dividuals and nations, between man and man. and divine laws given of heaven, prescribing rules on spiritual concerns, for faith and wor- ship, both to be answered by man to his Maker. "We believe that rulers, states, and govern- ments, have a right, and are bound to enact laws for the protection of all citizens in the free exercise of their religious belief: but we do not believe that they have a right, in justice, to deprive citizens of this privilege, or pre- scribe them in their opinions, so long as a re- gard and reverence are shown to the laws, and such religious opinions do not justify sedition nor conspiracy. "We believe that the commission of crime should be punished according to the nature of the offence; that murder, treason, robbery, theft, and the breach of the general peace, in all respects, should be punished according to their criminality and their tendency to evil among men, by the laws of that government in which the offense is committed; and for the public peace and tranquility, all men should step forward and use their ability in bringing offenders against good laws to punishment." Duty of Each and Every One I maintain that it is the duty of each and every one of us, whenever asked to give evidence that we possess which will lead to the conviction of those who are breaking the law, to do so. "We do not believe it just to mingle re- ligious influence with civil government, where- by one religious society is fostered, and an- other proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied."

512 IMPROVEMENT ERA Please remember that this was pub- lished way back in 1835, as the position of the Church, and it has never changed. "We believe that all religious societies have a right to deal with their members for dis- orderly conduct according to the rules and regu- lations of such societies, provided that such dealings be for fellowship and good standing; but we do not believe that any religious society has authority to try men on the right of prop- erty or life, to take from them this world's goods, or to put them in jeopardy of either life or limb, neither to inflict any physical pun- ishment upon them. They can only excom- municate them from their society, and with- draw from them their fellowship." And we have done that time and time again and propose to go on doing it, par- ticularly so far as those are concerned who have been guilty of entering into pre- tended plural marriages. By the way, I hear that a book is going to be published wherein a certain woman testifies that I proposed marriage to her since the Mani- festo, and that I taught her plural mar- riage. They are perfectly welcome to pub- lish all the lies they want to publish, including the lies of this woman who has once been in the insane asylum. "We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and griev- ances, where personal abuse is inflicted, or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in de- fending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful as- saults and encroachments of all persons, in times of exigency, where immediate appeal can- not be made to the laws, and relief afforded." I believe that nothing plainer could be written than those statements of our be- lief. Nothing could be fairer; and no matter what a man's faith, belief or re- ligion may be, I am sure he can endorse those sentiments given to the Church in 1835. Joseph Smith advocated the sale of the public lands by the government for the purchase of the slaves. Josiah Quincy, in an interview some forty and odd days, as I remember it, before the martyrdom of the Prophet (this interview was published in his book entitled Figures of the Past), refers to this proposition made by Joseph Smith, and says that it was made again eleven years later by Ralph Waldo Emer- son, that great statesman who was con- sidered ahead of his times in advocating the sale of the public lands for the pur- chase of the slaves. Nothing Could Be Fairer In his book he says that if we are to give credit to Ralph Waldo Emerson as being a great statesman for making a statement of this kind when war clouds were discernible in the heavens, "what shall we say of the 'Mormon' Prophet, who advocated the same thing 1 1 years before, when the heavens looked tranquil and beneficent?" We as Latter-day Saints say that he was inspired of the Lord to point out the way to save the country from that terrible rebellion. We believe that Joseph Smith, by the inspiration of the Lord, pointed out the peaceful solution of that great ptoblem. But it was not accepted. Afterwards Lin- coln was the instrument in the hands of the Lord in seeing that the right side and the right thing won in that great civil war. "The Kingly Faculty" Josiah Quincy gives credit to Joseph Smith for being one of the two men of all whom he had ever met who seemed to be possessed or endowed with "the kingly faculty that directs, as by divine right, feeble and confused souls looking for guid- ance." He went on to say: "It is by no means improbable that some future text book for the use of generations yet unborn will contain a question something like this: What historical American in the nineteenth century has exerted the most pow- erful influence upon the destinies of his coun- trymen? And it. is by no means impossible that the answer to that interrogatory may be thus written: 'Joseph Smith the "Mormon" prophet.' And the reply, absurd as it doubt- less seems to most men now living, may be an obvious commonplace to their descendants. History deals in surprises and paradoxes quite as startling as this. The man who established a religion in this age of free debate, who was

EDITORS' TABLE 513 and is today accepted by hundreds of thous- ands as a direct emissary from the Most High — such a rare human being is not to be dis- posed of by pelting his memory with unsavory epithets. Fanatic, imposter, charlatan, he may have been; but these hard names furnish no solution to the problems he presents to us. Fanatics and imposters are living and dying every day and their memory is buried with them: but the wonderful influence which this founder of a religion exerted and still Latter-day The Latter-day Saints do not stand helpless. They know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and the living God. He prophesied that the Saints would continue to suffer much affliction and be driven to the Rocky Mountains and there become a great and mighty people. That prediction has been literally fulfilled. The Latter-day Saints today have a standing in nearly all parts of the world. They have between two and three thou- sand missionaries out preaching the gos- pel, from Scandinavia on the north to South Africa on the south, from Canada to South America, and in New Zealand, in Australia and in the islands of the sea. And let me call your attention to the fact that with all our preaching during the past exerts throws him into relief before us, not as a rogue to be criminated, but as a phenomenon to be explained." He concludes by saying: "I have endeavored to give the details of my visit to the 'Mormon' prophet with ab- solute accuracy. If the reader does not know just what to make of Joseph Smith. I cannot help him out of the difficulty. I, myself, stand helpless before the puzzle." Saints Know ninety-seven and a fraction years, I know of no single, solitary missionary who has returned home to us with the message that he has discovered that "Mormonism," so- called, is not the truth and that he has found that some other church has the truth. On the other hand, for over ninety-seven years, all over the wide world, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, restored to the earth through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith, has gathered in men and women from every denomination under heaven where the message has gone, and they have been men and women who have given their lives to the Church be- cause of an individual testimony of the divine mission of Joseph Smith, the prophet of the true and the living God. Honor to Abraham Lincoln We honor the man that God honors. We honor Abraham Lincoln because we believe absolutely that God honored him and raised him up to be the instrument in his hands of saving the Union and ful- filling a prediction made by the mouth- piece of the living God; namely, the Prophet Joseph Smith. Many people complain bitterly about the power of the priesthood in the "Mor- mon" Church. Therefore I intend to read to you just how much power we are en- titled to exercise. I read from Section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants, principally for the benefit of non-members of our Church, that they may know exactly just how we should exercise the authority of the priesthood. "Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? "Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson — ■ "That the rights of the Priesthood are in- separably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be con- trolled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness. "That they may be conferred upon us. it is true; but when we undertake to cover out sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain am- bition, or to exercise control, or dominion, or compulsion, upon the souls of the children of men. in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the spirit of the Lord is grieved: and when it is withdrawn. Amen to the Priesthood, or the authority, of that man. "Behold! ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks: to per- secute the Saints, and to fight against God. "We have learned, by sad experience, that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men. as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to ex- ercise unrighteous dominion. "Hence many are called, but few are chosen. "No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood,

514 IMPROVEMENT ERA only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness, and meekness, and by love un- feigned: "By kindness and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypoc- risy, and without guile. "Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; "That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death. "Let thy bowels also be full of charity to- wards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasing- ly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God. and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. "The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth, and thy do- minion shall be an everlasting dominion, and, without compulsory means, it shall flow into thee forever and ever." The Reputation of the Church May God help each and every Latter- day Saint to become familiar with the commandments of the Lord as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants; to become familiar with the history and the dealings of God with Joseph Smith, with the mar- velous inspiration of the living God to him who was the founder under God of the Church of Christ. Above all, may each and every Latter-day Saint live the gospel so that its truth will be proclaimed by his example. May every father and mother within the sound of my voice so order their lives that their example will be an inspiration to their children. May those in this building and those who may be listening to my remarks, in any part of the country where Latter-day Saints are located, realize that each and every Latter- day Saint carries, to a certain extent, upon his or her shoulders the reputation of the Church of Christ. I heard of a man, who was at a great banquet, speaking to another regarding the faith of the Latter-day Saints. He said, "Why, the 'Mormon' people, those who live their religion, do not use tea, coffee, tobacco or liquor." The other man said, "I do not believe a word of it." The man said, "It is true." These two non-"Mormons" were sit- ting at one of the tables at this banquet. Along came a "Mormon." The man who was defending the "Mormons" said, "There comes a 'Mormon.' He is going to take a seat with us. I'll bet you he won't drink coffee." The bet was ac- cepted. The "Mormon" drank the cof- fee! When they came out the one who lost his bet said, "I have no further use for that man, who professes to believe that God gave a revelation through Jo- seph Smith, telling the people to leave such things alone, and yet he comes here and publicly disobeys the teachings of his prophet. I have trusted that man, but I will quit trusting him." The Word of Wisdom We carry upon our shoulders the reputation, so to speak, of the Church, each and every one of us. The young men and young women of today who think they are being smart by getting a little wine and a little liquor in their homes, and doing that which the Lord tells them not to do, are laying a foun- dation that will lead to their destruction eventually. They cannot go on breaking the commandments of the Lord without getting into the rapids. And what are the rapids? The rapids of moderate drink- ing, nine times out of ten, lead to excessive drinking, and excessive drinking leads to the destruction of body and of mind and of faith. Any Latter-day Saint who ac- tually believes in the commandments con- tained in this book must have no regard for advancement in life when he fails to keep what is known as the Word of Wisdom, which was given to us, not by commandment, but for our temporal salva- tion. There is absolutely no benefit to any human being derived from breaking the Word of Wisdom, but there is every- thing for his benefit, morally, intellectual-

EDITORS' TABLE 515 ly, physically and spiritually in obeying it. I What does the Lord say to those who obey his commandments? "And all Saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel, and marrow to their bones; "And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; "And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint; "And I, the Lord, give unto them a prom- ise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them." A Constitutional Law Prohibition has been enacted as a con- stitutional law, and we find recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants the statement that we are to choose wise men and good and true men to occupy offices. We are also told to obey constitutional law, and Christ that is breaking the prohibition law is also breaking the laws of God. May God help each and every one of us who has a testimony of the divinity of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to live it, that our lives may proclaim it, I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, out any man or woman in the Church of Redeemer. Amen. Books Moral Teachings of the New Testa- ment, by Professor Milton Bennion, Dean of the School of Education, University of Utah, has recently been published by the Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City. This is a source book with commentaries, and treats the New Testament from a new angle; — quoting passages relative to various moral theme9, on which the author then comments in his usual logical and interesting manner. The book is divided into four parts: "The Religious and Moral Unity of the New Testament," "New Testament Standards and Morals," "Quali- ties of Character," and "Application to Social Institutions." It should prove a valuable addition to home libraries, and would serve as an interesting, edifying text book in classes. Among the recent important circulars, reports, etc., published by the Utah Agri- cultural Experiment Station, Logan, Utah, are the following: The Importance of Clean Milk and Its Production, (Circular 69), by E. G. Carter, treating the food value of milk, the dangers of impure milk, etc.; report announcing the success of sugar-beet breeding experiments, by Dr. George Stewart, agronomist, in which are pointed out many important facts con- nected with the successful raising of sugar beets; The Agricultural Outlook for Utah, 1928, (Circular 70), suggesting the vari- ous crops to which farmers might profit- ably pay close attention this year, as well as warning against expansion of other crops. Any of these circulars will be mailed free on request to the Division of Publications, Utah Experiment Station. Logan, Utah. Mother — Heart of (3old, book two, by Theodore E. Curtis, containing inspiring Mother-day poems, has recently been pub- lished. The frontispiece is a picture of President Heber J. Grant and his mother. Rachel Ivins Grant; and at the back is a picture of the late President Joseph F. Smith and his mother, Mary Fielding Smith. A most suitable little booklet for distribution on Mother's Day.