How About the Unworthy Son?

The Improvement Era for December, 1929 167 How About the Unworthy Son? By JOSEPH S. PEERY (~)N Temple Square, to a com- ^ pany of tourists, the guide was explaining Temple work, as it is taught by the Latter-day Saints. A devout lady listened for awhile and then said, "The Temple work for the dead sounds good, but the great trouble with it is, it is not true. When we die our lot is for- ever determined by the way we have lived in this life. There is no chance for repentance in the hereafter." The guide said, "Let us go into this question further and when I finish I feel sure you will agree with me." The lady answered, "I shall listen to your explanation, but you will not be able to change my belief in the matter." HTHE guide proceeded: "I was -*■ talking to a group of tourists recently about the beauties of the eternal family relationship, that those given me by the authority of the Almighty will belong to me throughout the endless ages. A gentleman interrupted to ask, 'How about the unworthy son?' I an- swered, 'You or I might have an unworthy son who forgets the teachings of his youth, starts out in the world with a determination to live his own life as he wants to live it. So he takes the bit in his teeth and runs away. He is gone a long time and then returns home saddened through experience. He says, 'Father, I have been disobe- dient but I have learned through bitter trials that you are right and I am wrong. Now I want to repent and do better. Won't you please take me back and give me another chance?' What would you or I do? Would we give him a kick and slam the door in his face, or would we take him in and treat him kindly?' "That is merely marking prac- tical application of Christ's beau- tiful parable of the prodigal son. Is God less forgiving?" OUR Father in Heaven loves his ^ children much more than we love our children. The Bible says: "God's tender mercies are over all his works." (Psa. 145-9) "God's mercy endureth forever." (Chron. 16:34). "If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heav- en give good things to them that ask Him?" (Matt. 7:11) I say and you will say, God will never turn a deaf ear to a repentant child. The devout Christian lady an- swered: "Yes I agree with you when you put it that way." The guide continued, "Would you like a tract on the subject?" With in- terest she said, "I surely would." The guide gave her John Morgan's Plan of Salvation, or Where we came from, Why we are here, and Where we go when we die. President Joseph F. Smith said: "Try to be as broad as the Gos- pel." The Savior said: "And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me." (John 12:32) Buy With Confidence Wear With Satisfaction Where Savings Are Greatest LOGAN GARMENT COMPANY LOGAN.UTAH Where Quality and Workmanship Are Sold At Moderate Prices 400. Med. weight. Cotton $1.25 X104. High Grade Combed Peeler Cotton. Lt. wt. Extra fine, either style 2.20 X104B. High grade Combed Peeler Cotton. Lt. wt. Extra fine Bleached. Either style 2.40 X304. Heavy wt. Carded Cotton. Either style. 2.50 X304B. Heavy wt. Carded Cotton. Bleached. Either style 2.70 OTTO MEHR, Manager 304. Silk and French spun worsted. Wool mixed. Med. wt. Either style $2.70 374. The best grade Dulenza Silk Garments. New style 2.95 604. Silk stripe, cotton mix 1.85 741. Extra heavy worsted wool and cotton mix. Either style 4.60 Write for Samples 10% extra for sizes larger than 44 bust, or "double backs." Use enclosed coupon when ordering direct. Made to Mcasuri LOGAN GARMENT CO., Logan, Utah. Please send me the following suits of L. D. S. Garments: Quantity Style No. Sex Bust Length | Sleeve Height Weight Price Name Street City .State YOU CAN ASSIST In the DEVELOPMENT of YOUR COMMUNITY by Patronizing your LOCAL DEALER REMEMBER— Your HOME MERCHANT is a Convenience as well as a Necessity. You can See and Inspect your Purchases from Him and Receive his GUARANTEE of SATISFACTION. He Contributes Largely to the Support of Local Churches, Schools, Colleges, Charitable and Public Institutions. MONEY— Which you send to Distant Points for Supplies NEVER RETURNS to BENEFIT YOU or YOUR HOME TOWN. The^alfLafce /^Hardware @o. Salt Lake City, Utah Grand Junction, Colorado Wholesale Exclusively Pocatello, Idaho Boise, Idaho

168 The Improvement Era for December, 1929 No Sweeter Music Than The VIOLIN and it's the ideal Christmas Gift! SPECIAL Stradivari us Model Brand-New VIOLIN OUTFIT Violin made of thoroughly seasoned wood ; •top of spruce, back of finely figured maple. The careful selection of material, as well as the artistic workmanship and fine finish, gives •a TONE that is rich, mellow and responsive. COMPLETE with beautiful case, bow, rosin, and chin rest. A $60 OUTFIT $riA 50 Special While They Last 29. $10 Cash— $5 Monthly Or $27 Cash With Order FREE TRIAL MAIL THIS COUPON TO CONSOLIDATED State instrument you are interested in and it will be sent to you on 5 Days' FREE TRIAL without a penny in advance, or if you pay in advance, money back if not satisfied within 10 days. Whether one instrument or 100 — send coupon today. State instrument you want. Your name Address . CONSOLIDATED Music Company VISIT US WHEN IN SALT LAKE 121 So. Main — Salt Lake Sans Frankincense and Myrrk (Continued from page 108) roof tomorrow. Timothy Waite's a first rate carpenter. Mr. Chessar was here tonight. He said he'd have the lumber up in the morn- ing. He put Timothy Waite in charge of the thing. Told every man to be out with his hammer at eight o'clock." "Who's Mr. Chessar?" "Why, the owner, the big gun. I must be going. Len'll be in for his supper soon. He'll be fam- ished. Oh, it's so thankful I am for the work. Len's the best hus- band and father in the world but he's never himself when he's out of a job." Clarise prepared her supper on her grille. She was hungry and cooked quite a meal. It would be exhilarating to have a man coming in who was famished. For want of better amusement she studied the question, "Who might the famished man have been?" Not Jack — he was not even among the eligibles — nor Earl. He was eligible enough, but there was too much Earl. It might have been dear old Glenn. He was sym- pathetic but she never could have survived his jokes. And Guy was the best friend a girl ever had, but it never could have been more than friendship for them. Oi "NCE and once only had the tinder of her emotions really struck fire — and then so brief a flash. She wished she could have known him. She sometimes imag- ined he might have been the man. No, she was just very young and had read too many romantic stories, and was especially suscep- tible that day. My, she had liked him. But it was since that her imagination had woven romance about him. If she had seen him again or known him undoubtedly he would have "petered out" like the rest. It was at the Christmas season, their brief meeting — all of fifteen years ago. It was her last year at Normal College. She was going home for the holidays. At the Junction she had to change cars. She had a suitcase in one hand — in the other she clutched a bunch of holly through a big black muff. The holly was a luxury. She had bought it just before boarding the train. It was the first real holly she had ever had and it was wine to her spirits. Even now when she saw holly it startled in her that reminiscent surge of expectancy. OHE was so happy she felt she could walk on air. Per- haps that was the reason, as she left the train, that she miscalculated the height of the step from the ground. At any rate she missed it by several inches and would have gone on her head but for a quick hand that caught her. Then just a flash — their eyes together — she groping for speech. She never thought to thank him. "Merry Christmas" were the only words that came but their tone was fer- vent. He looked startled and she fled the full length of the platform to her waiting train. That was all! A girl's life must be bare indeed to fasten on a meagre incident like that for romantic food. But it was not so meagre. His eyes — . Why did all her similar musings end just here? ALL next day the hammers rang. They were sweet as Christmas bells to everyone. There was no longer any doubt about the children's having a real Christmas. The warehouse roof was finished early Wednesday. Mr. Chessar was there to give the men their checks. They were well paid for over time. Everyone was happy. School was over and all the children had gone. Clarise sat down to tidy her desk, piled high with Christmas presents. Ruefully she regarded a baby's record book bound in white satin. Maude Flint had been so proud of her offering. "Brother died and Ma says there won't be no more." Clarise wanted to laugh, but couldn't. What was this desperate loneliness clutching at her throat? Always before there had been mother and home at Christmas time. She wished she hadn't de-

The Improvement Era for December, 1929 169 clined Aline's invitation to spend the holidays with her and Bob and the children. If she only had some place to go. A HEAVY step in the hall. Clarise pinched her shapely nose with her handkerchief. She could not bear to be caught snivel- ling. Her back was to the door and she did not turn immediately. The visitor addressed her back: "So you are the young lady I have to thank for all this trouble. What have I done that you should pray the roof off my warehouse?" "I — why, I didn't pray a bit hard — and you say it came off?" Clarise arose and faced him with a roguish smile. "Mr. Chessar!" Her eyes met his and she turned much paler than the occasion warranted. M LR. Chessar's face was a study, too. It changed so suddenly from jocosity to deadly earnest. "The Christmas girl," she heard him say. She had no idea how it happened but the next in- stant her two hands were being held very tight. "I know it isn't the usual thing, but I'm never going to let you go again. I've been looking for you for years." It was pleasant but Clarise was not going to be such an easy mark. She drew away from him. "Is this the form your punish- ment always takes?" She struggled to make the remark seem casual. "No, not always." "Only when the offender is an old maid school-teacher." "It's no use, my dear — your eyes have told me so. That's a line from a song, but it's none the less true. You do remember me — and you have thought of me maybe twice in these fifteen years. Our paths have crossed again at last. After this I'll take no more chanc- es; my path and yours must coin- cide. At Christmas time it has al- ways seemed most probable we should meet, for I've always thought of you as the 'Merry Christmas Girl.' " Hi .E did not get that speech out all in one piece; my no! He was too confused and excited to be eloquent — with words. At any rate he made Clarise understand all that he said and a great deal that he did not. The silence as they stood hand in hand at the window — that was eloquent. It was hard getting conversation back to normal, but some way they managed it. "I came in to get you to help me with a little writing. I just received great news — confirmation on a big order from the East. We'll re-open the mill as soon as possible." G py cry, <L ARISE gave a hap- "Then there will be work for the men. That is what I really prayed for and I knew the ware- house roof was not the answer." "I've got some boxes out in the car for each family — nothing much, but since I've got this news I've been thinking I'd like to put a note in each one — something about reporting at the mill for work, January 2nd, 8 a. m. It's too late to get hold of my stenographer, be- sides I've heard how interested you've been in these people's. Christmas. Thought you might like to be in on the secret. What it really was that brought me in here SOUTHERN PACIFIC LINES OFFER SPECIAL WINTER EXCURSION FARES FROM SALT LAKE CITY OR OGDEN TO LOS ANGELES AND RETURN BOTH WAYS VIA SAN FRANCISCO TO LOS ANGELES VIA SAN FRANCISCO RETURNING DIRECT OR ROUTE REVERSED $50.50 $58.00 Proportionately low fares from all other points in UTAH, IDAHO and MONTANA. STOPOVERS ALLOWED AT ALL POINTS TICKETS ON SALE DAILY COMMENCING OCTOBER 1st FINAL RETURN LIMIT 8 MONTHS FROM DATE OF SALE For further information CALL, WRITE or PHONE PRESS BANCROFT, GENERAL AGENT 41 SO. MAIN ST. SALT LAKE CITY PHONE WASATCH 3008 — 3078 LATTER-DAY SAINT GARMENTS Save Agent's Commission — Buy Direct from Our Modern Factory Made individual to order, OLD or NEW Style. Samples submitted on request. For LADIES No. 81 Flat Weave $ .95 82 Ribbed Light Weight.... 1.25 83 Fine Quality Cotton 1.50 862 Fine Mercerized Lisle.... 1.85 822 Silk Stripe, Med. Wt. 1.5© 821 Extra Fine Silk Stripe.. 1.95 870 Silk Stripe, Part Wool.. 2.50 829 Rayon 1.95 826 Super Quality Rayon 2.75 For MEN No. 12 Ribbed Med. Light $1.25 93 Ribbed Extra Fine 1.50 16 Med. Heavy Cotton 1.50 925 Med. Wt. Extra Q,ual..... 1.75 074 Med. Heavy Unbleached Cotton 1.95 975 Med. Heavy Wt. Cotton 1.75 930 Non-Run Rayon 2.50 90 Extra Hvy. Coarse Cot. 2.25 970 Med. Light Silk Stripe.. 2.50 9107 Wool and Cotton Mix.... 3.75 Be SURE to specify OLD or NEW Style, light weights are usually made with short sleeve and three-quarter legs according to TEMPLE PATTERN, the heavy weights are regularly made with long sleeves and long legs. In ordering, to insure good fit, give bust measure, height and weight. Garments marked, 15c pair extra. We prepay postage to all parts of United States. Quality Highest— Prices Lowest SALT LAKE KNITTING STORE 70 Main Street, Salt Lake City Oldest Knitting Store in Utah