Eternal Quest (H. Brown)
Hugh B. Brown

SELECTED, ARRANGED, AND EDITED BY CHARLES MANLEY BROWN

BOOKCRAFT INC., PUBLISHERS SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

COPYRIGHT BOOKCRAFT, INC. 1956

Dedicated to Zina Card Brown in memory of Hugh C. Brown

Foreword

My first recollection of Hugh B. Brown was when I was a small boy in church. He was then a young veteran of World War I. He had served as a major with Canada's
mounted infantry. He was speaker in our ward. I cannot remember what he said those many years ago. But I could not forget him. His name became a household
favorite in my father's home. It is in ours today. It doubtless holds a similar place in thousands of other homes across the broad horizons of the Church.

Hugh B. Brown has a way of making young people want to be good for the sheer adventure of it. He can take truths that otherwise seem dull, and give them an exciting
freshness. His messages have a poetic manliness that sinks right into the sinew of the soul.

Elder Brown can be both solidly practical and inspiringly lofty. His own life is like that. He has excelled as a soldier. He has succeeded in business and law-in two
countries. For decades he has been in demand as a speaker and teacher. Hundreds have taken their personal problems to him for counsel. Thousands have followed
him as a Church leader. He is equally happy with a book or a five-iron, but there is no joy to him like that of his family.

Elder Brown has presided over two stakes, Lethbridge in western Canada and Granite in Salt Lake City. He was president of the British Mission during some of its
most difficult years: immediately before and after World War II. During the war he was coordinator of all Latter-day Saint servicemen. Since 1953 he has been one of
the General Authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

This book is the result of urgings of friends and family-for a ready collection of Hugh B. Brown's wisdom and inspiration. The compilation has been made by Elder
Brown's son, Dr. Charles Manley Brown, himself a distinguished educator. There are gleanings from addresses, articles, stories, and lessons through many years. The
result is a wide range of challenging subjects, from "Immortality" to the "Girls behind the Men behind the Guns." In all of it Hugh B. Brown is at his best-stimulating,
logical, brilliant in rhetoric, entertaining, yet always inspiring.

This is a book you will want to open to start or close your day. You will find it a soothing companion when life's pressures run high. It is also rich in helps for the gospel
teacher or speaker. It has much for the leader. It is full of lifts for life.

-Wendell J. Ashton

Preface

Eternal Quest is the result of a half-century of Church activity. It carries the working philosophy of one who has responded with distinction to a wide variety of calls to
Church service.

Many of those who have been inspired by Father's writings and sermons have long encouraged their collection and publication. Only after considerable persuasion from
several sources was his reluctant permission to proceed with the present volume granted.

The content of Eternal Quest has various origins. Some sections are from radio sermons delivered when Father was a professor at Brigham Young University. Others
are editorials and articles from the Millennial Star written during his presidencies over the British Mission. Articles from the Instructor, the Improvement Era, and the
Relief Society Magazine, written before and since he was called as one of the General Authorities, have been used. Material written for Church members in the armed-
forces when Father was coordinator for LDS Servicemen during World War II form an important part of Eternal Quest. Speeches and sermons included in this volume
have been delivered at BYU devotional assemblies and Leadership Weeks as well as at recent General Conferences and at conferences of the various auxiliary
organizations. No attempt has been made to group the contents either chronologically or with respect to source. Instead a topical organization has been employed.
Materials written or delivered at various times and under various auspices have been grouped around central themes.

The title, suggested by my sister, Margaret, (Mrs. Clinton O. Jorgenson) reflects Father's lifelong desire to see truth ever more clearly. One of his favorite songs is "O
Take the Dimness of my Soul Away." That he has frequently warned of the danger of arriving at a point of development where further growth was felt unnecessary is
illustrated by this characteristic quotation from a Leadership address: "Then, when the change called death shall come, we shall find that we must take up the quest
where we left it off. Awareness, like creation and salvation, is an on-going process. The quest for truth is eternal."

Many influences have helped to shape Father's life. I will not attempt to enumerate them - they are too well stated in his poem at the beginning of this volume for me to
presume to reiterate. But of one influence, on behalf of the seven living children, I must speak. All of us know-and Father is always the first to assert-that Mother has
been his constant inspiration. In addition to epitomizing all that is desirable in a mother and home-maker, as a wife she has helped him "Meet triumph and disaster and
treat these two impostors just the same." She has been tenaciously loyal, courageously true, constantly faithful. No man has ever had a more selfless companion.
Because these qualities have contributed beyond measure to the quality of his Church service, this volume is most appropriately dedicated to his eternal companion in
honor of their son, Hugh C., who gave his life in World War II.

Many persons have had a part in the fruition of this project. Acknowledgment is especially due to Norma Ashdown whose faithfulness, diligence, and accuracy have
made the final editing easier and to my sister, Zina Lou (Mrs. Gaurdello P. Brown) who has transcribed many of his sermons from her own shorthand notes and
assisted with the editing.

And so this volume is offered to those throughout the Church who may be encouraged in their own quest for truth. Charles Manley Brown

Glendale, California
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October 26, 1956
And so this volume is offered to those throughout the Church who may be encouraged in their own quest for truth. Charles Manley Brown

Glendale, California

October 26, 1956

I Would be Worthy

I thank thee, Lord, that thou hast called me "son,"
And fired my soul with the astounding thought
That there is something of thee in me.
May the prophecy of this relationship-
Impel me to be worthy.

I am grateful for a covenant birth;
For noble parents and an ancestry who beckon me
To heights beyond my grasp, but still attainable
If with stamina and effort I cultivate their seed-
And prove that I am worthy.

I am grateful for a companion on this Eternal Quest,
Whose roots and birth and vision match my own;
Whose never-failing faith and loyalty have furnished light in darkness,
And re-steeled fortitude. May her faith in me
Inspire me to be worthy.

I am grateful for the cleansing power of parenthood,
With its self-denial and sacrifice-prerequisites to filial and parent love;
For each child entrusted to our care, I humbly thank thee;
If I would associate with them eternally,
I know I must be worthy.

I am grateful for the one who was recalled in youth,
For his love and loyalty and sacrifice.
May the memory of his clean and manly life keep resolute the hope
That I may renew companionship with him-and thee;
For this I would be worthy.

I am grateful for the children of my children.
And, in anticipation, for others yet to be
Keep alive, I pray, within my bosom, a sense of obligation unto them,
To pass a name unsullied as it came. To become an honored sire,
O make me worthy!

I am grateful for the lifting power of the gospel of thy Son;
For the knowledge thou hast given me of its beauty, truth and worth.
To attain its promised glory, may I to the end endure,
And then, forgiven, let charity tip the scales and allow me
To be considered worthy.

Hugh B. Brown



Section I a Rational Faith

So Far As We Can See There Is No Goal At Which Me May "Arrive" and Arriving Abide. Life Is An Infinite
Search Leading Toward An Ideal Which Forever Leads Forward and Forever Recedes.



Religion - a Challenge to Creative Living

(a Series of Fourteen Radio Addresses Commencing September 7 and Concluding December 28 1947.)

I Respond to This Assignment With Feelings of Trepidation and Misgivings and Seek Divine Guidance As I Attempt to Direct Your Thinking. I Come to You As One
Who Invites His Friends to Accompany Him on a Quest the Kind of Quest Which Implies Curiosity a Desire to Know a Certain Teachable Humility-All of Which Are
Prerequisites to a Successful Search for Truth. They Who Seek Truth Must Have Courage Must Love Truth and Must be Unafraid of New Adventure. They Must be
Willing to Depart If Need be From the Beaten Path and to Alter and Amend Their Own Opinions. They Must Have Vision to See Valor to Venture and Faith to
Sustain Them on the Quest.

Inasmuch As We Shall be Seeking to Discover to Interpret to Evaluate-We Must be Open-Minded Unprejudiced and Unafraid. There Will be No Disposition on the
Part of the Speaker to Say Dogmatically "This Is It-No More and No Less." Rather He Will Undertake to Give Some Reasons for Certain Convictions Which He
Entertains and Will Welcome Questions Suggestions and Criticisms.

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                                            Servicemen I Especially Invite Them to Join Us. Their Experience Has Taught Them Something of the Problems    / 104
in New Adventure in Orientation and in Finding One's Way in the Dark. They Have Been Trained to Listen to Inquire to Interpret to Decide and Then to Act on the
Basis of That Decision. We Shall Hope Also to Welcome Other Young People of High School and College Age Prospective and Returned Missionaries and Young
Inasmuch As We Shall be Seeking to Discover to Interpret to Evaluate-We Must be Open-Minded Unprejudiced and Unafraid. There Will be No Disposition on the
Part of the Speaker to Say Dogmatically "This Is It-No More and No Less." Rather He Will Undertake to Give Some Reasons for Certain Convictions Which He
Entertains and Will Welcome Questions Suggestions and Criticisms.

Because of Long and Close Association With Servicemen I Especially Invite Them to Join Us. Their Experience Has Taught Them Something of the Problems Involved
in New Adventure in Orientation and in Finding One's Way in the Dark. They Have Been Trained to Listen to Inquire to Interpret to Decide and Then to Act on the
Basis of That Decision. We Shall Hope Also to Welcome Other Young People of High School and College Age Prospective and Returned Missionaries and Young
Couples Who Are Starting Life Together. If a Few Older Ones Should Care to Come Along They Will be Most Welcome. Their Interest Will Indicate That They
Have Not Lost the Questing Spirit Have Not Overtaken Their Horizons Have Not Arrived.

Our Own Experience Seems to Confirm the Opinion Expressed By a Jewish Writer As to the Attitudes of People Toward Religion:

"There are with respect to religion, three classes of people-the religious rationalizers, the irreligious rationalizers, and the religiously inquisitive. The first class may think
about religion from the outside to defend it; the second class may think about it from the outside to destroy it; but only the third class thinks about it from the inside with
a view to discovering precisely what may be the good of it. The first class, the religious rationalizers, are generally very devout and earnest people. They acquired their
religion in childhood or youth or in some profound experience of later years. It is quite complete and finished, and they have nothing more to learn about. . . . They may
be very glad to talk about religion or hear others do so, providing this talk does not arouse any thought concerning the nature and value and true significance of their
religious emotions and doings. . . . The second class also refuses to enter into a candid investigation of the merits of religion, but for an opposite reason. It has antipathy
for it. As the first class was blinded with prejudice for, the second is blinded with prejudice against. They have no understanding of it, of course, but they have made up
their minds concerning it and will not investigate it with fairness. For both of these groups, religion is something cut and dried and stored away and not to be thought
about. The third class is intellectually alive in the direction of religion. . . . They do not think merely in order to defend their religion against attack. . . . They think in
order to understand."

We are sure you who may become interested in these short discussions will not be rationalizers, either for or against religion, but rather open-minded truth seekers who
are religiously inquisitive; who will accept truth wherever it may be found and reject error whatever may be its source.

Having decided, then, that this is to be a friendly discussion of religious subjects, we should perhaps first search for a satisfactory definition of religion. The method
employed by the Apostle Paul in his matchless discussion of charity is most effective. He first tells us what charity is not and then proceeds to define it. Religion is not
merely theology. Nor is it a bundle of inhibitions which must be carried through life. It is not negative except in the sense that a sign at the crossroads may be negative. If
one is bound for New York and at the crossroads sees a sign reading "To San Francisco," that is a negative sign advising him not to go that way. Religion tells where
various roads will lead, and after the warning, lets the traveler take his choice. It is not a joy killer. It is not in reverse gear, pulling against progress. It is true that religion
says emphatically, "Thou shalt not," but science says it also and with equal emphasis.

Religion is dynamic, positive, joy giving-an eternal challenge to creative living. It is a way of life, and to millions, it is the way of life. It is an approach to reality in which
personal values are emphasized as the highest values. It deals with the satisfaction of needs; it adds hope to aspiration. It ever beckons toward a more abundant life.
Religion has been defined as "the art of living," theology as "The theoretical background which enriches the art;" again, as, "personal devotion to the will of God as it
stands revealed in Jesus Christ, finding expression for its aspiration in worship and for its sense of obligation in obedient service." Dr. John A. Widtsoe tells us that
"religion in its broad sense consists of beliefs, including belief in God, that determine human actions. It becomes then, first: an explanation of man and the universe;
second: a guide to conduct; and, third: a conviction according to which a person organizes his life." In the New Testament, we find the searching and oft-quoted words
of the Apostle James:

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the
world." (James 1:27.)

From these and other definitions it seems obvious that our quest will involve the heart as well as the head, something which can be felt as well as thought. Emotion is not
enough, cold intellect will not suffice, but rational faith fired by spiritual insight will bring enthusiastic devotion expressed in obedient service.

The purpose of these discussions is to encourage those whose lives are before them to examine the claims of religion when seeking a way of life; you who are to be the
parents and teachers of a future generation will be greatly concerned with the problem of character education. There is a fundamental relationship between character
and religion. There is a corresponding rise in moral delinquency when interest in religion wanes.

A recent commission report, following a fact-finding survey of conditions in England emphasizes the declension from Christian moral standards and says:

"In every department, both of public and private life, the same trend is clearly seen. The gravest feature in the whole situation is that there is so little feeling of shame in
loose living, still less in untruthfulness or dishonesty. The sense of responsibility and of duty have become undermined. There is no longer a generally accepted moral
standard by which men judge their own actions. Instead, they excuse themselves by an appeal to pseudo-scientific determinism. The idea of man as a responsible
person is in danger of disappearing with the loss of belief in God."

We of the older generation are concerned for you who are to take over from us. We pass on to you a world of international unrest, economic chaos, and political
floundering. But we are more concerned because of present-day tendencies to appraise all values by material standards, to worship technological means, and to lose
sight of spiritual ends.

In the world which you are to inherit from us, the application of scientific knowledge has invaded every area of human experience. In the countries where you
servicemen traveled, and in your own country when you returned home, you found interest chiefly centered upon seeking satisfactions from economic goods. You saw
the effects of scientific efficiency, harnessed to godless materialism, in both Europe and Asia. You fought to preserve the American way of life which was founded in
and has flourished because of deep religious convictions.

The statesmen of all lands today are gravely concerned for the future peace and reconstruction of the world. The most urgent and insistent need in many lands is for
material rehabilitation, and that is understandable to you who have visited these lands and seen the havoc wrought there. But there is emerging in all lands, including our
own, a desire for spiritual rehabilitation. There is universal heart-hunger for the truths of religion and for the comfort and confidence which comes with faith in God.
There is an upsurge of belief in the dignity, glory, and immortality of the individual, endowed as he was by the Creator with certain inalienable rights.

In these discussions we shall consider these rights from the religious point of view, which underlines the duties and responsibilities which in God's economy inevitably
accompany rights and privileges. We shall speak, humbly and reverently, of God and of his purposes, of man's relationship to God, and of what that relationship entails.
We shall inquire as to how man may know God, since it is life eternal to know him, and how, knowing him, we may serve him. We shall be dealing with the age-old
problems of whence, why, and whither; and we believe religion gives the only satisfactory answers to these queries.

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spirit of adventure in any field is sustained by faith. At the edge of knowledge, the scientist as well as the religionist leans on faith and, if courageous, will follow its
tender light. George Santayana has expressed this thought in verse as follows:
accompany rights and privileges. We shall speak, humbly and reverently, of God and of his purposes, of man's relationship to God, and of what that relationship entails.
We shall inquire as to how man may know God, since it is life eternal to know him, and how, knowing him, we may serve him. We shall be dealing with the age-old
problems of whence, why, and whither; and we believe religion gives the only satisfactory answers to these queries.

I have said that this proposed quest will require faith. Any honest consideration of the vast and controversial subject of religion calls for faith-for an inner vision. The
spirit of adventure in any field is sustained by faith. At the edge of knowledge, the scientist as well as the religionist leans on faith and, if courageous, will follow its
tender light. George Santayana has expressed this thought in verse as follows:

"O World, thou choosest not the better part!
It is not wisdom to be only wise,
And on the inner vision close the eyes,
But it is wisdom to believe the heart.
Columbus found a world and had no chart,
Save one that faith deciphered in the skies;
To trust the soul's invincible surmise
Was all his science and his only art.
Our knowledge is a torch of smoky pine
That lights the pathway but one step ahead,
Across a void of mystery and dread,
Bid, then, the tender light of Faith to shine,
By which alone, the mortal heart is led
Unto the thinking of the thought divine."

Objective Witnesses

Servicemen during the war had informal discussions in their barracks, mess halls, tents, and army huts, anywhere they could talk freely and wrestle with their thoughts.
The occasional presence of someone from home who was not in uniform seemed to encourage them to "think out loud."

They talked of home, of childhood, of life and its purpose, "if any." They took issue with one another and debated many sides of various questions. But when someone
mentioned an absent one whose personal belongings were being sent home, there was a noticeable hush or respectful silence until someone thought aloud, "I wonder
where he is now." And then they talked of death, of immortality, of God, and of religion.

It was evident that some of them had become confused by their harrowing experiences. They had lost their sense of direction and were reaching for a hand in the dark.
As one young fellow put it:

"Life has exploded in my face, and I can't put the pieces together again. Things just don't add up to the right answer; What I have experienced here seems to be a
denial of all that I have been taught to believe about the power, mercy, and love of God."

And then the inevitable question, "Is there a God; and, if so, what sort of being is he?"

Let us think together on this the oldest question that has ever challenged human thought in the hope that we may find some intimations of the truth. I shall not attempt to
prove by reasoning, by logic, philosophy, or science, that there is a God. Certainly we shall not learn from any of these approaches what sort of being he is. One may
have, as I have, a firm and abiding conviction that God lives. One may say, as I now say in all humility, that I know with every fiber of my being that I am a child of God
and that he, my Father, is mindful of me. But beyond that, one pauses and admits with the Apostle Paul, "I know in part." (1 Cor. 13:12.)

First, let us cite what some of the men said in answer to the question, "What do you mean when you reverently use the word God?" One lad replied, "Well,-a perfect
being"; another, "One who has all knowledge and power, one who cares for us." A third said, "I think of someone who guarantees that righteousness will finally prevail."
That lad had just come from "D Day," from a maelstrom of hate and carnage, and one could sense that the anchor of his faith had held during the storm.

There was a certain unanimity in the concepts of God as expressed by these men, in spite of the fact that they were members of various churches-or of none. It was
refreshing and assuring to see them ignore the confusing and limiting definitions of the various creeds and give expression to the thoughts of their hearts unwarped by
memories of the chanted "three incomprehensibles in one incomprehensible." They spoke of Deity, with reverence, but with frankness, and with simple faith. One felt
that they were speaking from deep within themselves, and that the search for evidence of God is after all man's attempt to prove what he has always believed.

The first answer we get then to the question, "Is there a God?" comes from the questioner himself. And the answer, when the heart is allowed to speak, is "Yes-
definitely yes." This answer may be based on feeling, instinct, or intuition, but does not rule it out as evidence. In fact someone has said "that purely intuitive religious
faith is a much more efficacious human lever than science or philosophy and that action follows conviction."

Surely man's intuitive hopes are not without their basis in fact. That which has been implanted in man is native to his nature; it is elemental. No rationalism can destroy
what has been divinely impressed upon the structure of the mind. The Bible refers to it as "the evidence of things not seen." It is faith, and we hope to show that it may
be rational faith. Let us think for a moment of some of the things we have seen and try to relate them to our question. Some of you have seen the Taj Mahal in India, St.
Peter's Cathedral in Rome, St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice, or Westminster Abbey in London. Did it ever occur to you that these beautiful and ornate structures
resulted from mere chance; that they just happened, without thought or plan or design; that there was no architect or builder? Were the well-fitted stones, the interior
decorations, the patterns of the mosiacs, the provision for light and heat and comfort, all mere chance, or do you think they were made by someone for the use and
benefit of man?

Have you ever wondered as you looked about you, especially at night, and asked yourself, "What am I in the midst of all this?" Have you marveled at the evidences of
plan and purpose and design all about you? Have you felt that someone had thought and planned and that the planning seemingly had you in mind? In this universe in
which you find yourself you see that provision was made for food, shelter, comfort, and happiness. You note the changing seasons, the vegetation, the fruit and grain,
the birds, animals, and fish. Do you not feel that somehow all this was made for the use and benefit of man?

When you study such courses as zoology, botany, geology, astronomy, your wonder increases with your increasing awareness of your surroundings. No doubt many
questions have been asked which, as yet, have not been answered; no doubt you have found, or have had called to your attention, seeming conflicts with the religion of
your childhood. Even the specialists in these fields are still learning. The evidence is not all in.

You will have no patience with those who argue that the buildings of which we have spoken must have just happened because the architects have not been seen for
several hundred years. You know that someone thought about them, planned them, and built them according to design and with a purpose. Just so we see all about us
evidence
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faith that there was an architect whom we have not seen.

But what of those whose training, facilities, and opportunities for observation entitle them to speak with authority? Do they think that what they behold results from
your childhood. Even the specialists in these fields are still learning. The evidence is not all in.

You will have no patience with those who argue that the buildings of which we have spoken must have just happened because the architects have not been seen for
several hundred years. You know that someone thought about them, planned them, and built them according to design and with a purpose. Just so we see all about us
evidence of plan and design, of law and order, of intelligence and purpose. It is more difficult to believe that what we see about us is the result of chance that to have
faith that there was an architect whom we have not seen.

But what of those whose training, facilities, and opportunities for observation entitle them to speak with authority? Do they think that what they behold results from
chance alone? Do they say law operates without intelligence? Let us hear from some expert witnesses, who, because they are experts, are permitted to draw
conclusions.

Some would say Albert Einstein is an adverse witness, but listen: "It is enough for me," he says, "to try humbly to comprehend even an infinitesimal part of the
intelligence manifested in nature."

An astronomer, Robert Grant Aitken, director of Lick Observatory, said: "It is a universe, in my belief, with thought and more than thought within it; a universe that is
the expression of the thought of an eminent, infinite spirit."

A geologist, Bailey Willis of Stanford, tells us: "Law is dominant. But law is inconceivable without intelligence. Law is omnipotent. . .Intelligence, the inevitable
antecedent, must be omnipotent."

A professor of natural history, Sir Arthur Thompson, late of the University of Aberdeen, declares: "We maintain that the world of life is rich in beings and doings,
becomings and results, that should fill us with wonder. We are led from our own minds, back and back to the Supreme Mind without whom there was nothing made
that was made."

A physicist from Cambridge, England, James Arnold Crowther finds: "Modern science face to face with the mystery of the act of creation, finds no words more
appropriate than those of the great Hebrew poet: `And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.'" (Gen. 1:3.) (The above quotations are from The Great Design
edited by Frances Mason and published by Macmillan Co. of New York.)

Past president of New York Academy of Sciences, A. Cressy Morrison, author of Man Does Not Stand Alone published by Revell Co. of New York, says the
purpose of his book is:

"To point out clearly and scientifically the narrow limits within which any life can exist on earth, and to prove by real evidence that all the nearly exact requirements of
life could not be brought about on one planet at one time by chance." And further, "What science sees and what all thinking men know, is the unbelievable value of the
universal faith in a supreme being. Man's advance to mortality and a sense of obligation is the outgrowth of faith in God and belief in immortality."

Author of Human Destiny, Dr. Lecomte Du Nouy, declares: "Our entire organized living universe becomes incomprehensible without the hypothesis of God." And
again, "Let (man) above all never forget that the divine spark is in him, in him alone, and that he is free to disregard it, to kill it, or to come closer to God by showing his
eagerness to work with him and for him."

A recent number of Life Magazine quotes Hocking as saying: "Faithful observation (of nature) tends to become reverent observation: reverence and faith are supposed
to be childlike qualities, but science's increasing mystery has compelled them in the highest reaches of the deepest minds."

Now my purpose in quoting these scientists is not to show or even to intimate that science has or can supply a complete and final answer to our question. They tell of
what they have observed in the objective field. Their testimony seems to confirm what we ourselves have felt, as we, in a more limited field, have beheld the wonders of
the universe.

But for what we really know or may know of the character and attributes of God, we are limited to what he reveals concerning himself.

Let us all in the spirit of reverence and of faith pursue our search of truth.

Prophetic Witnesses

On the question of whether or not there is a Supreme Intelligence in the universe, we submitted the testimony of some expert witnesses in the objective field. Their
conclusions, based upon their observations, support the affirmative side of the question. Others of equal eminence do not agree with these conclusions, but I think both
sides agree that though within the limits of their search they may discover no reality that can be called "God" in the sense in which the servicemen defined him, still
science does not submit a shred of evidence to disprove such a reality. The question of the character and attributes of Deity does not come within the realm of scientific
investigation.

However, recent discoveries and wider opportunities for investigation seem to confirm the opinions expressed by earlier scholars, like Pascal, Locke, Newton, to the
effect that ours is a universe of law and therefore one of intelligence; that it is a universe of order and therefore one which is controlled; and it is a universe of thought
and therefore, as Sir James Jeans has said, "Its creation must have been an act of thought."

May it not be that science instead of undermining or disproving the claims of religion is discovering for us a vaster and more sublime universe, thereby increasing our
awareness and giving new basis for rational faith. While the ever-widening observations of scientists seem to confirm our intuitive faith, that faith or inspiration may
illuminate and give deeper meaning to the facts observed.

Every great achievement of the human mind which aids us in understanding and controlling life, except in cases of direct revelation, began with an intuitive illumination of
some observed fact or group of facts. Alfred Noyes in The Torch Bearers emphasizes this in the following lines: "Naught avails in science, till the light you seize from
heaven shines through the clear sharp fact beneath your feet,. . .transfigures it, confirms it, gives it new and deeper meanings; and itself in turn is thereby seen more
truly."

It is assumed that our audience consists of believers in the scriptures to which we turn for a written record of generations of men who transmitted to their descendants
an oral account of their own concepts and experiences of God. After all, the first evidence men have of the existence of God comes from tradition or the oral
transmission of information. We shall not have time to discuss, but I wish to refer in passing to the fact that traces of this traditional faith in God are to be found in nearly
all of the mythologies of the world including those of the Greeks and Romans, of India, China, Egypt, and the American Indians.

According to the account given in Genesis, Adam associated intimately with God before the fall; discussed with him the works of his creation, and, under divine
direction,
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knowledge of the fact of God's existence and knew something of his character and attributes. That this knowledge was not withdrawn after the fall is evident from the
record of subsequent conversations and instructions and from the fact that Adam offered sacrifices by command of God.
all of the mythologies of the world including those of the Greeks and Romans, of India, China, Egypt, and the American Indians.

According to the account given in Genesis, Adam associated intimately with God before the fall; discussed with him the works of his creation, and, under divine
direction, he gave names to all the beasts of the field and fowl of the air. We do not know how long this association continued, but certainly Adam had first-hand
knowledge of the fact of God's existence and knew something of his character and attributes. That this knowledge was not withdrawn after the fall is evident from the
record of subsequent conversations and instructions and from the fact that Adam offered sacrifices by command of God.

These experiences with the Creator were discussed by Adam and Eve with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who in turn passed them on to
succeeding generations.

In this matter of oral transmission of information and experiences, the ancients had some advantage over us as they lived to a very great age. Adam, for instance, lived
930 years during which time he talked with and doubtless related his experiences to several generations of his descendants even down to Lamech, the father of Noah.
During these hundreds of years of association, they must have become familiar with the story of God as Adam knew him. Lamech was one hundred and eighty-two
years old when Noah was born, but he lived fifty-six years during the lifetime of Adam, so that what he told Noah during the remaining 595 years of his life was first-
hand information. Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth were also acquainted with many of the other patriarchs. Noah, during the 350 years he lived after the
flood, had ample time to teach several generations of his posterity the tradition respecting God which he had received from the patriarchs before the flood. Noah was
himself directly instructed to build the ark. From Noah to Moses and from Moses to Christ these traditions were taught and became firmly fixed in the minds of men.

But they were not wholly dependent upon what their fathers told them, as many of them had their own experiences with Deity, walking and talking with him, working
under his direction and personal guidance, warning the people, as inspired by him, of events to come. Read the testimonies of Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph, of Isaiah,
Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, of Hosea, Joel, and Amos. Read of the American prophets, of Lehi, Nephi, Alma, Mosiah, Mormon, Moroni, and others, and from them learn
not only that there is in fact a God, but learn also of his character and attributes, of "what sort of being he is." These and many others were eyewitnesses; they tell what
they know, not what they deduce from the objective world about them.

We are told that Enoch walked with God, (Gen. 5:24) that Noah by direct revelation warned his generation and saved his own family, (Gen. 6 and 7.) Abraham
received special revelation on the plains of Mamre. (Gen. 18.) God also appeared to Jacob and inspired Joseph, while a prisoner in Egypt, to interpret Pharaoh's
dream and save a nation and his father's house. He appeared to Moses and said, ". . . I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God
of Jacob. . ." (Ex. 3:6.) All Israel knew, though they were unworthy and afraid to behold him, that God descended upon Mt. Sinai and declared unto them, "I am the
Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Ex. 20: 2-3.) Seventy of the elders of Israel went up with Moses and ". . . saw the God of Israel. . . and did eat and
drink." (Ex. 24:9-11.)

The New Testament writers also affirm the existence of God although they, like the prophets before them, spend little time attempting to prove that there is a God-that
they take for granted. Matthew, Mark, and Luke relate the incidents of the baptism of Jesus and of the Transfiguration on the Mount when Moses and Elias appeared.
In both instances the voice of the Father was heard declaring that Jesus was his Beloved Son. Stephen, when being stoned by the Jews, looked up into heaven and
saw, ". . . The Son of Man standing on the right hand of God." (Acts 7:56.) In fact the New Testament is replete with testimonies of the existence of God.

And then there is the testimony of the prophets who lived on this the American continent. The Book of Mormon is as replete as is the Bible with references to the
personal experience of many men with Deity. Here again the fact of his existence is not argued, but knowledge is revealed concerning his character and attributes.
Testimonies are given as to how they were led and taught by the inspiration of heaven and of how they witnessed wonderful demonstrations of the presence and power
of God. In fact, it is recorded that a whole multitude of people witnessed the visitation of Jesus Christ among them, heard him announce himself as the Son of God and
bear testimony to the existence of his Father.

But for a moment let us see what the prophets have said concerning his character and attributes, for we must have some knowledge of him if we are to exercise rational
and intelligent faith. David said, "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting thou
art God." (Ps. 90:2.) John testifies, "All things were made by him; and without him was not anything that was made.

"In him was life; and the life was the light of men." (John 1:3-4.) The Apostle Paul corroborates John's testimony with, "God . . . Hath in these last days spoken unto us
by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom he also made the worlds." (Heb. 1:1-2.) Moses refers to him as being, ". . . merciful and gracious,
longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth." (Ex. 34:6.) And James declares that with him there, ". . . is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James
1:17.) Peter tells us that he is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34.) John says, ". . . God is Love," (1 Jn. 4:8) while Jesus asks us to call him "Father."

You ask then-what sort of being is he? And on the testimony of these witnesses we reply: he is the Creator of all that is, is all-powerful, just, merciful, abundant in
goodness; he changes not, is a God of truth and cannot lie, is no respecter of persons, is a God of love, and he is our Father.

Faith in such a One tends to lift us out of the pettiness and isolation of our own little private lives into a sense of participation in a great moral enterprise. It gives impetus
to effort, sustenance to courage, and the comfort of feeling, "I am not alone."

We have referred then to the intuitive or instinctive faith which seems to be almost universal among men; we have heard some opinions expressed by scientific
investigators indicating that God is manifest in nature; we have heard testimonies of prophets who lived on two hemispheres declaring that he lives; that he appeared to
them and revealed something of his character and attributes. There remains one final Witness who was himself a complete revelation of God and whose life was a
testimony of such transcendent worth as to eclipse all other evidence. We shall refer to him in the next discussion.

But in closing this discussion let us hear from the latest witness to bear testimony of a personal visitation from the Father and the Son. This witness is an American who
in simple language tells of a great experience and confirms and makes clear what the others have said. He testifies: "I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory
defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name, and said, pointing to the other, This is My Beloved Son, Hear
Him!" (P. of G. P., Joseph Smith 2:17.)

Though persecuted throughout his life and finally killed because of his testimony, it stands uncontradicted, confirmed by later events, and attested by one million now
living.

The Messiah

". . . This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3.) This statement of the Master emphasizes the
significance of our search, the importance of finding the correct answer to the question which we have been considering, "What sort of Being is God?"
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man's neighbors and those who know him best speak well of him, tell of his honesty, fair dealing, thrift, scholarship, benevolence, skill, we form an opinion of the man.
If we go to his farm and see evidence of industry, good management, economy; if we see new and useful machinery which he has invented, see well-bred animals and
". . . This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3.) This statement of the Master emphasizes the
significance of our search, the importance of finding the correct answer to the question which we have been considering, "What sort of Being is God?"

There are two ways to know God or people. We may know them by their works or face to face. There may also be written records of what others have said. If a
man's neighbors and those who know him best speak well of him, tell of his honesty, fair dealing, thrift, scholarship, benevolence, skill, we form an opinion of the man.
If we go to his farm and see evidence of industry, good management, economy; if we see new and useful machinery which he has invented, see well-bred animals and
ample provision for their care; if we find his library stocked with good books which give evidence of use; if we see some masterpieces on his walls and statuary in his
rooms; a painting of his wife and pictures of his family; these and other things indicate that he is industrious, orderly, creative, a lover of fine animals, educated, artistic, a
considerate, and thoughtful husband and father.

If we read his journal where he has kept a record of his life, we get further information about the man. He has perhaps set down some rules of life for himself and his
family, has indicated what he esteems to be of real value. He may refer to his eldest son as being the image of himself, and has perhaps executed a general power of
attorney by which his son is authorized to act for him. Perhaps we meet his son who tells us that to have seen him is to have seen his father, they are so much alike.
Surely from these evidences and testimonies we get a fairly accurate conception of this man whom we have not seen.

We have been trying to get information about our Heavenly Father. We have read what was said and written by those who knew him face to face; we have observed
some of his works and have noted the deductions of expert observers regarding the dominance of law, the evidence of intelligence, the beauty and order and utility of
the universe; we have had access to his journal, the scriptures, and are impressed by his love for his children, his reference to his First-born Son, his instructions and
admonitions and solicitude.

The testimonies which are given of him, and the records which we have of him all indicate in unmistakable language that he is a Personal God with body, parts, and
passions in whose likeness and image man is made, that he is the superlative of all the best we know. I am aware of the repugnance of many to the term
anthropomorphism and of the contention that to liken him in any way to man, in image, form, or attributes, is to debase him. But when you see an image or likeness of
someone, what other conclusion can you draw than that the original is similar to what you see? This, of course, unless it is a cartoon or caricature, and surely when God
made an image of himself there was no distortion.

The prophets and apostles speak of him as of a person, they relate their experiences as matters of fact which need no supporting arguments. Nor do I propose to argue
the case in these discussions or to impose my own opinions. We are on a quest, and each must be free to weigh the evidence and draw his own conclusions.

While we submit some evidence as to his character and attributes, we do not pretend to understand him fully nor to comprehend his infinite majesty with our finite
minds. If his life did not transcend our finite comprehension of it, he would cease, for us, to be infinite. But as we desire salvation, as we think in terms of immortality for
ourselves and those we love, so we seek to know more of him and of his purposes concerning us.

Our relationship to him is somewhat similar to that of a small child to his earthly father. The child comprehends but little of the life of his earthly parent, but year by year
his understanding increases until, as he matures, he is able to understand and appreciate his father more fully.

This concept of the relationship of Father and son existing between our Heavenly Father and ourselves, gives new meaning to the Master's words, "Be ye therefore
perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matt. 5:48.) Considering that we are to have an eternity in which to mature, with an Elder Brother, even the
Master as our guide and tutor, who can put limits to man's destiny, or change the law of "like begets like"?

Fortunately he has revealed himself in such a way as to leave no room for question on the matter of his being a Personal God. He came and dwelt among men in a
mortal body; subjected himself voluntarily to the limitations of mortality; experienced pain, hunger, fatigue, even death; and refused to exercise, in his own behalf, that
divine power which was his from the beginning.

When, in the Meridian of Time, ". . . the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us . . ." (John 1:14), the world was given a new revelation of God, a new insight into
man's relationship to him and their responsibility to one another. It was this new insight which caused John, the beloved, to exclaim: ". . . Now are we the sons of God,
and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know, that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." (1 Jn. 3:2.)

Let us consider for a moment a question put to me by a serviceman on one occasion: "Who was Jesus of Nazareth?" Much confusion could be avoided on this question
if men understood and accepted the fact that Jesus is not only the revelation of God the Father but also that he himself is God. With what is known of Jesus, of his life
and mission, and especially with what has been revealed concerning his pre-existent life and status, it is difficult to understand why some early Christian leaders should
have gone to pagan philosophies for a definition of Deity.

First then, let us inquire as to his status before he became the Babe of Bethlehem. We shall not be able to discuss the general principle of pre-existence, but if we find
that Jesus lived before he was born, it may lead us to inquire into the possibility of the pre-earth life of spirits generally.

The Master himself said, ". . . Before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:58.) In his prayer to the Father he referred to his pre-mortal glory with evident nostalgia. ". . . O
Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." (John 17:5.) He announced himself to Abraham with the words:
". . . Behold my name is Jehovah. . ." (Abr. 1:16.) And to the Jews of his day he said: "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was
glad." (John 8:56.) The Apostle John tells us he was in the beginning with God and that all things were made by him before he ". . . was made flesh, and dwelt among
us. . ." (John 1:14), and Paul corroborates this statement.

The prophets of the Old Testament looked forward to the time of his incarnation as note the following: Moses was told by the Father, "I will raise them up a Prophet
from among their brethren. . . and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." (Deut. 18:18.) Isaiah predicted: ". . .
Behold; a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Meaning "God with us.") (Isa. 7:14.) And again Isaiah: "For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, The everlasting Father, the
Prince of Peace." (Isa. 9:6.) The angel said to Mary who was to become the mother of Jesus, ". . . that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of
God." (Luke 1:35.)

That he was in fact the Creator of the world was understood by the Apostle Paul who refers to him as the first-born of every creature and declares:

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all
things were created by him, and for him." (Col. 1:16.)

And John's testimony is as emphatic: "All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made." (John 1:3.)

The scriptures
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and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the seas, and the fountains of waters." (Rev. 14:7.)

Let it not be understood, however, that this interpretation of the mission and status of the Messiah in any way displaces God the Father. The relationship is clearly that
things were created by him, and for him." (Col. 1:16.)

And John's testimony is as emphatic: "All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made." (John 1:3.)

The scriptures explicitly direct us to worship the Creator, who is as we have shown, Jesus the Christ. Listen to John while he was on the Isle of Patmos: ". . . Fear God,
and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the seas, and the fountains of waters." (Rev. 14:7.)

Let it not be understood, however, that this interpretation of the mission and status of the Messiah in any way displaces God the Father. The relationship is clearly that
of Father and Son. God the Father, Elohim, presided in the Godhead and directed God the Son, Jehovah, in the work of creating the world. Later, in commendation
the Father said to the Son: "And, Thou, LORD, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of thine hands." (Heb. 1:10.)

Men generally have thought of Jesus of Nazareth either as the Babe of Bethlehem, the Boy in the temple, the itinerant Preacher by the seaside with a few unknown
fishermen as disciples, or as the Man of Sorrows, the Meek and Lowly One, the One who had nowhere to lay his head, the One who was crucified on Calvary. These
were descriptive incidents in his mortal life, but in his pre-earth life he was Jehovah, the God of Israel.

He existed in the spirit world as did all the spirit children of our Father. But he attained a status far above that of any other. He was the First-born of the Father in the
spirit and the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. Was that body which was begotten of the Father, given to him for the period of his earth life only, was his status
as a personal, embodied God changed after the resurrection? To all believing Christians there can be but one answer to that question: His body was resurrected from
the tomb. He appeared to Mary, to the men on the way to Emmaus, to the disciples in the upper room; he allowed the one who would not trust his own sight to feel the
prints of the nails in his hands and the wound in his side. In their wonder and amazement he assured them with the words: ". . . A spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you
see me have." (Luke 24:39.) He with his resurrected body visited the people on the American continent and to thousands of them he testified, "Behold, I am Jesus
Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. . ." (3 Ne. 8:15.)

His disciples witnessed his ascension into heaven with his resurrected, glorified body, still bearing the marks of the nails and spear, and they heard the angels predict
that: ". . . This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." (Luke 24:50, Acts 1:9-11.) The
martyr Stephen looked into heaven, ". . .saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God." (Acts 7:55.) Zechariah says when he shall appear on the
Mount of Olives the Jews shall note the wounds in his hands and will ask concerning them, and "Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of
my friends." (Zech. 13:6.)

What then do you say to the question, "What sort of Being is God?" If Jesus was and is God as the scriptures plainly declare, if he was the Creator whom we are
commanded to worship, "The Word" who was made flesh and dwelt among men; if he later took his resurrected body into heaven after ministering to thousands while
yet on earth and was there seen standing on the right hand of the Father, and finally if on his reappearance he is to be identified by the marks in his hands, then what do
you say? Is he a God with body, parts, and passions?

As a fellow pilgrim I humbly confess my own belief that Jesus Christ is a resurrected, glorified Being whose immortal spirit was tabernacled in the flesh in the Meridian
of Time, that he was the God of Israel, the Creator of the world, and that he is the express image of his Father.

Believing with John that we are the sons of God will help us to hold a high opinion of ourselves and to be worthy of our heritage. I pray that this brief discussion of this
age-old question, which is ever new, may lead to further investigation and enable us to say with the prophet of old, ". . .I know that my Redeemer lives. . ." (Job 19:25.)

Life Hereafter

The servicemen frequently asked, "Is death the end of conscious existence?" This question is not peculiar to them, but it was kept in the forefront of their minds by their
proximity to death. Fifteen hundred years before Christ, Job asked: "If a man die, shall he live again?. . ." (Job 14:14.) It is a question which has persisted through the
ages. The noblest thoughts of the world's profoundest thinkers have been given to it.

We propose to discuss this subject under two headings. First, we shall refer to what philosophers, scientists, educators, and others have said on the subject. Second:
we shall examine scripture for the revelations of God concerning the soul of man. We shall not expect any detailed information from the first group, and even from the
prophets we shall not get an illustrated travel talk as by a tourist returning from a strange country. God has seen fit to withhold many things about the state of the soul
after death, and doubtless for good and sufficient reasons.

We find here, as we found in our search for evidence of the existence of God, that men of all races, tribes, and nationalities during all recorded time, have had, and have
expressed in various ways, a deep conviction that the soul of man is immortal. It is intuitive and instinctive. Unless warped or dampened by man-made dogmas or the
pessimistic arguments of the cynic, this faith is simple, positive, and enduring. The heart hunger of mankind after immortality is both rational and normal. The human spirit
by its very nature has a passion for life, and for life that is timeless; it has eternity stamped upon it.

This is not a subject to which we can apply the scientific process of trial and error. All of us will eventually have personal knowledge, but few, if any, will be permitted
to return and tell what they learn. We cannot by reason or logic lead men to an understanding of a subject which is, as yet, partly shrouded in mystery. But we can all
bear witness to an inner urge, an irrepressible hope, a deep-seated faith in immortality.

Tom Fitch wrote:

"We feel the truth of immortality with an intuition that is higher than reason. Our conviction that we shall live again comes to us from an inner source, which we can no
more discern with the eyes of mere reason, than we can weigh reason itself in an apothecary's scales. It is the spiritual sense of man that perceives the spiritual life of
man."

And Emerson speaks in similar vein:

"All serious souls are better believers in immortality than we can give reasons for. The real evidence is too subtle, or is higher than we can write down in propositions."

Victor Hugo, the French poet and novelist, expressed his faith in eternal life as follows:

"The nearer I approach the end, the clearer I hear around me the immortal symphonies of the worlds which invite me. It is marvelous yet simple. For half a century I
have been writing my thoughts in prose, verse, history, drama, romance, tradition, satire, ode and song-I have tried all; but I feel that I have not said a thousandth part
of that which is in me. When I go down to the grave, I can say like many others, `I have finished my day's work'; but I cannot say, `I have finished my life's work'; my
day's work will begin the next morning. The tomb is not a blind alley. It is an open thoroughfare. It closes in the twilight to open in the dawn. My work is only beginning;
my work is hardly above its foundation. I would gladly see it mounting forever. The thirst for the infinite proves infinity."
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Tennyson must have had a similar faith when he wrote:

"When that which drew from out the boundless deep, turns again home."
have been writing my thoughts in prose, verse, history, drama, romance, tradition, satire, ode and song-I have tried all; but I feel that I have not said a thousandth part
of that which is in me. When I go down to the grave, I can say like many others, `I have finished my day's work'; but I cannot say, `I have finished my life's work'; my
day's work will begin the next morning. The tomb is not a blind alley. It is an open thoroughfare. It closes in the twilight to open in the dawn. My work is only beginning;
my work is hardly above its foundation. I would gladly see it mounting forever. The thirst for the infinite proves infinity."

Tennyson must have had a similar faith when he wrote:

"When that which drew from out the boundless deep, turns again home."

So our search leads to the discovery that men, and apparently all men, believe intuitively in some kind of conscious existence after death. But is the fact that men
universally believe a thing any evidence of its truth? Dr. Carl S. Knopf, of the University of Southern California, calls this universal faith an instinct, and on the subject of
instincts he says:

"Imagine a world with bees and beehives, all geared up for the honey making process-and no honey; no honey secreting process in any flower upon the earth! Imagine
a world of fish-and no water to swim in. A cursory glance at the world about us shows that there is no life urge or instinct without a complementary medium of
fulfillment. Instincts are not suspended urges; they are directional."

Speaking of man's instinctive hope of immortality, he says:

"Such a universal wish pattern would stand as a contradictory element in the whole scheme of planetary life if it were the one unattached instinct. The logic of science
demands that this instinct have a counterpart in reality, just as the honey gathering urge of the bee demands honey to gather. Man's irrespressible hope of immortality is
one of its chief guarantees."

Many of the servicemen were confused as they attempted to justify their faith in a meaningful world, and especially their belief in ultimate justice, when they witnessed
chaos and injustice on such a wholesale scale as the war exposed. If there is no larger scope for man's achievement than is afforded between the cradle and the grave,
if there is no court of appeal where injustice may be redressed, it is difficult to justify life for the mass of mankind.

In our former discussions we found ample evidence that there is a God and that he rules in the affairs of men. We found evidence that he is just, merciful, and
purposeful, but unless there is a future life in which there may be redress for the glaring inequalities of this one, then indeed our faith is vain. As the apostle said: "If in this
life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (1 Cor. 15:19.) Thinking men generally believe mortal existence to be but a training ground for life.
As Franklin truly said: "Life is rather a state of embryo, a preparation for life. A man is not completely born until he has passed through death."

Most men when they come to the end of their days have a feeling of incompleteness; of unrealized dreams and resolutions; of unfinished work. This seems to suggest
that there is still a design to be carried out. As Robert Browning said:

"Only an infinite existence is commensurate with man's dreams of achievement."

As we think of another world it may seem strange and unreal because it is a world unknown; but it could not be any more unknown than this one was when we entered
it. We came here as strangers, and surely we will never be more helpless than we were when we were born. But our coming was prepared for, and we found an
environment suited to our new bodies. We had developed lungs to breathe the air into which we were to come. Our ears and eyes and other organs of the body had
been of no use in our pre-natal state and yet without them we would have died at birth. If we could have thought and willed in our pre-natal state without memory of
pre-existence, we should doubtless have said, "I do not wish to be born as that would be death to me. I am dependent upon my mother for my life. If I am separated
from her I must die." And yet it would have been fatal to our mothers and to us if we had not been born when our bodies reached that stage of development where they
could maintain a separate existence.

May it not be that in this life we are preparing for and awaiting birth? Have we not good reason to believe that the same divinity which made provision for our coming
here will have prepared a place for us; prepared the kind of existence for which our development here will have conditioned us? Dying and living again will be just as
natural as being born and living in this form. Is it unreasonable to suppose that upon our arrival there we shall have certain spiritual faculties which we have not had here,
or of which we were not aware; that we may have many senses, and find ranges of existence to answer all of them?

The Bible says there is a spiritual body; and modern revelation informs us that spirit is matter infinitely refined. Is it then irrational to expect a continuation of the process
of growth and development which has marked our earthly life; that mortality and death are only changes denoting transitions from one state to another? It seems
reasonable to conclude on the basis of what we know that, with relation to the spirit, death is merely discarding one garment to put on one more refined and more
suitable for the new environment.

As Dr. Fareed, a physician and psychologist, admonished Professor Armstrong of McGill University:

"Let not any disorganization of the body or disintegration in the material world disturb you and me. You and I have not stepped forth from nonbeing yesterday that we
should fear non-existence tomorrow. Non-existence is the very antithesis of life and so non-existence cannot become existence. We who are today have been forever
and will continue forevermore."

In thinking upon this subject we find ourselves confronted with a choice between annihilation and immortality. There can be no middle ground. The cynic claims our
insistent hope of eternal life is but wishful thinking, is a will-of-the-wisp, a phantom; we are merely chasing butterflies. But the thought of annihilation is not only extreme
pessimism, it is also repugnant to our natures, a contradiction of all we know, and it is unscientific.

The annihilator tells us that:

"All who have ever lived have been blotted out forever, and that the same inexorable fate awaits all who now live and all who shall live in the future; that man with his
God-like intellect, his moral development and his spirituality is of no more significance than the snows of by-gone ages. Only on the firm foundation of unyielding despair
can the soul's habitation henceforth be safely built."

But opposed to this philosophy of despair-which was never held by more than a small minority of mankind-is the optimistic and reasonable philosophy-which is almost
universal-that, "the spiritual part of man is a permanent reality which survives the death of the material body and carries with it the personality and memory of the
individual, thus opening the way for endless progress in the spiritual world."

You who are reading now just try for a moment to believe that creation is merely a blowing of soap bubbles, that its value is temporary and transient, that the universe is
just a death trap; that all the best and finest things you know, are destined to extinction. Do you not find that from deep down within yourselves you recoil at such a
thought;
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If you burn the chair on which you are sitting, you know you have not destroyed any part of it. Its form is changed, but if you gather up the ash, and capture the smoke
and gas, they will weigh exactly what the chair weighed before the fire. If there are permanent values, then, in this universe of ours, if the material things which are about
individual, thus opening the way for endless progress in the spiritual world."

You who are reading now just try for a moment to believe that creation is merely a blowing of soap bubbles, that its value is temporary and transient, that the universe is
just a death trap; that all the best and finest things you know, are destined to extinction. Do you not find that from deep down within yourselves you recoil at such a
thought; that your inner self records a protest and desperately clings to what you intuitively know?

If you burn the chair on which you are sitting, you know you have not destroyed any part of it. Its form is changed, but if you gather up the ash, and capture the smoke
and gas, they will weigh exactly what the chair weighed before the fire. If there are permanent values, then, in this universe of ours, if the material things which are about
us may be changed but not destroyed, then what of the highest and noblest qualities of which you are aware? Does it not seem in the very nature of the case that such
things as love, sympathy, service, intellect, spirituality, personality must be permanent?

Some think of immortality in terms of the spirit being absorbed into some universal spirit ocean. Does this change which we call death result in loss of conscious life, do
we cease to be, as individuals, and become part of a mass where we can never again say "I"? If that be immortality, one might as well believe that our physical bodies
are immortal because they return to the earth and become a part of it.

If we are to be robbed of the personal stream of consciousness, we, as individuals, will not have immortality. It is the soul of man that is immortal, and that soul consists
of a spirit, which had no beginning and can have no end, and a body which will have passed through a change, called death, and been resurrected to everlasting life.

The Author of our being, the Father of our spirits, did not undertake a temporary or transitory work when he created man in his own image. We passed through a
change when we were born, but we did not cease to be. We shall experience another change at death and shall find that we are born again. Growth and development
demands change, but changing a garment does not destroy the body that wore it.

No doubt Benjamin Franklin was thinking along this line when he wrote his own epitaph:

"The body of Benjamin Franklin, like the cover of an old book, its contents torn out and stripped of its leather and gilding, lies here; yet the work itself shall not be lost
for it will, as he believes, appear once more in a new and more beautiful edition, corrected and amended by its author."

There is no goal at which we arrive and, arriving may abide. We believe not only in eternal life but in eternal progress. Let us then, as our loved ones leave us, turn our
faces hopefully towards the dawn and courageously carry on.

And so we leave this phase of our subject impressed by the unanimity of philosophers and convinced that there must be some basis for the reasoning that leads
practically all thinkers to the same conclusion. Wordsworth's lines, often quoted, find an echo in our souls, and we reply to the servicemen: "Death is but returning
home."

"Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting,
The soul that rises with us, our life's star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting
And cometh from afar.
Not in entire forgetfulness
And not in utter nakedness
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God who is our home."

Immortality

The opinions of business and professional men on the subject of immortality reveal a gratifying unanimity of thought. Although they represent various churches and
creeds, although they differ on many points of doctrine, on this subject they find common ground for faith. As Judge Wade of the United States District Court in Iowa,
a Catholic, said, "There is at least one great truth upon which all Christians and Jews can agree-the immortality of the soul."

There is comfort in the knowledge that there is almost universal faith in that which we, above all else, desire to believe. This universal expectancy is an earnest of what is
to come. We study nature's intimations of immortality and discover in the creative and evolving qualities of life some basis for our faith. There is also assurance in what
seems to be an inexorable law-that for every faculty there is a function.

It is a source of inspiration to glimpse the possibilities of spiritual faculties which will begin to function when we are born into a realm of spirit. In fact we cling
tenaciously to every bit of evidence which would seem to support and justify our faith.

Some have professed disbelief and have spent their lives trying to convince others-and themselves-that there is no hope of life beyond the grave. But even they, when
called upon to part with a loved one, find that from their broken hearts there is released the essence of belief and trust. They feel what one of them was impelled to say:
"In the hour of death hope sees a star and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing."

When we face the grim reality of death-and it is an immutable law that every living soul shall face it-when we see the body of the one whom we have loved being
lowered into the grave, our souls cry out for more substantial evidence than the philosopher, the naturalist, or the scientist can give. We ask for better evidence to
support our faith that there still exists something more than the mere memory of the one we loved. We long for contact with some traveler who has "returned from that
bourne" of which Shakespeare speaks.

Fortunately we have such evidence, and it comes from the most penetrating and inspiring personality of all time. While he lived, the Master always spoke of death in
terms of life, and after he himself had tasted death, he returned and proclaimed his victory over it.

But before we hear the testimony of those who actually saw the Risen Lord, let us refer to some predictions which were recorded in books which millions accept as the
word of God.

First, listen to the prophetic promise made by Jehovah himself-the God of Israel-speaking through Ezekiel: "Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord
God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves.

"And ye shall know that I am the Lord when I have opened your graves. . . ." (Ezek. 37:12-13.)

The Jehovah who made that promise afterwards became Jesus of Nazareth, and he did in fact, "open the graves of them that slept"-he himself came forth from the
grave as he (c)
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Matthew testifies: "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
"And ye shall know that I am the Lord when I have opened your graves. . . ." (Ezek. 37:12-13.)

The Jehovah who made that promise afterwards became Jesus of Nazareth, and he did in fact, "open the graves of them that slept"-he himself came forth from the
grave as he promised, and the disciples recognized him as the Risen Lord.

Matthew testifies: "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

"And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." (Matt. 27:52-53.)

Daniel predicted that: "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." (Dan.
12:2)

And the writer of the Psalms exclaimed: "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." (Ps. 16:10.) And again: "But
God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me." (Ps. 49:15.)

The next few witnesses are men and women who saw and conversed with the Risen Redeemer who was an immortal, resurrected Being. The evidence of these
eyewitnesses is relevant, competent, material, admissible, and the witnesses have never been impeached. Furthermore, it is evidence given against interest, at least
insofar as bodily safety was concerned. Their lives were threatened because of it, but no one of them retracted or recanted. Either their testimony is true or it is wilful
falsehood since they say they saw and felt and heard. Men do not give their lives to perpetuate a lie. These men had seen the Risen Lord, had heard his voice, had felt
again the power of his Divine Personality, and all the persecution under heaven could not change their testimony. By their death they attested what in life they had
proclaimed.

When the two Marys and Joanna went to the sepulchre to perform certain rites for the dead, they found the stone had been rolled away and that the body of the Lord
was gone. They did not understand the question of the angels, ". . .Why seek ye the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:15.) Mary Magdalene went to Peter and John
and cried, ". . .They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him." (John 20:2.) Peter and John ran to the sepulchre and
confirmed the report. Later the Risen Lord appeared to Mary and through her made an appointment to meet the disciples. This meeting is reported by Luke as follows:

"And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

"But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

"And he said unto them, why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

"Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

"And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

"And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, have ye here any meat?

"And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

"And he took it, and did eat before them." (Luke 24:36-43.)

"But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

"The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, 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.

"And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto
you.

"Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing." (John
20:24-27)

The miracle which they had witnessed was but the first fruits of the resurrection. He had previously assured them that it was to apply to all. "Verily, verily, I say unto
you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

". . .Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

"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." (John 5:25, 28-29.)

John the Revelator said:

"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign
with him a thousand years.

". . .And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their
works." (Rev. 20:6, 13.)

The Apostle Paul, in characteristic earnestness, leaves no doubt as to his conviction: "But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that
raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Rom. 8:11.)

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.

"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
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"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.

"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

". . .But some men will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?

"There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

"So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption:

". . .it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.

"It is sown in a natural body; it is raised in a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." (1 Cor. 15:19-22, 35, 41-44.)

There were also prophets on the American continent who predicted his birth, death, and resurrection. Nephi, Mosiah, Alma, Abinadi, Samuel the Lamanite, and others
taught the doctrine of the resurrection and of immortality and foretold the coming of the Messiah and the purpose of his mission.

Here is an excerpt from the record of the visit of the Risen Redeemer to the people on the American continent:

"And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes around about, for
they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice, it did
pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was not part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did
cause their hearts to burn.

"And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not.

"And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly toward
heaven, from whence the sound came.

"And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them:

"Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name-hear ye him.

"And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a
white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even
one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.

"And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:

"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified should come into the world:

"And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon
me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.

"And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth, for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that
Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.

"And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying:

"Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and my feet, that ye may know
that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

"And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do,
going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety, and did bear record, that it was
he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

"And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:

"Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him." (3 Ne. 11:3-17.)

And so we have the unimpeachable testimony of many witnesses, from two continents that Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified on Calvary, was, in fact, raised from
the dead and that he was seen by them on several occasions. They were permitted to confirm the evidence of sight by that of touch and both he and his Father testified
that he was the same who was slain in Jerusalem. He and the prophets and apostles of ancient, meridian, and modern times declare without equivocation that all men
will be raised from the dead. That even as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in a newness of life.

Next to the thought of God, and of man's relationship to him, there is no thought which is more sobering, more inspiring, than the thought of immortality. To believe that
one is an immortal soul with freedom to choose his course and carve his destiny, that throughout the eternities one must live with himself; to realize that one is a moral
agent, the architect of a deathless soul, with limitless possibilities, this is a concept, a conviction, which at once inspires hope and steadies resolution. It sustains us in the
hour of death and gives us courage to carry on.

And so when we stand at the bier of our loved ones, or when we know our own time has come, we have an assurance which enables us to approach the change with
unfaltering trust. The gloom which otherwise might follow the twilight of death is dispelled by the hope of the dawn which dwells beyond the sunset. We come to
visualize life in terms of eternity rather than of mortality. Though we mourn the departure of those whom we love it is not a hopeless grief to those who accept the divine
assurance of the Master.
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". . .I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." (John 11:25-26.)
And so when we stand at the bier of our loved ones, or when we know our own time has come, we have an assurance which enables us to approach the change with
unfaltering trust. The gloom which otherwise might follow the twilight of death is dispelled by the hope of the dawn which dwells beyond the sunset. We come to
visualize life in terms of eternity rather than of mortality. Though we mourn the departure of those whom we love it is not a hopeless grief to those who accept the divine
assurance of the Master.

". . .I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." (John 11:25-26.)

With renewed conviction we issue the apostle's challenge:

"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Cor. 15:55.)

Humbly we bow and worship him who broke the bands of death, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Man and Freedom

In our discussion of immortality, the evidence submitted seemed to indicate, if not to prove, that man does not cease to be when his body dies; that there is a spirit
which lives on, an intelligent entity which is eternal. Too often men have thought of everlasting life as being eternal in one direction only; that it will not end. Its inevitable
corollary, that it had no beginning, is not generally understood.

That the spirits of men passed through a stage of existence prior to their earthly probation is clearly taught in the scriptures. Furthermore, it is evident that our natures,
dispositions, tendencies, and even our status and possible destiny were known to the Father of spirits before we were born into mortality. "Known unto God were all
his works from the beginning of the world." (Acts 15:18.)

The doctrine of pre-existence and foreordination, however, does not imply compulsion and should not be confused with the idea of absolute predestination. The law of
free agency is eternal and immutable. ". . .Thou mayest choose for thyself," (P. of G. P., Moses 3:17) spoken unto Adam, applies to all of his descendants.
Predestination would rob man of his birthright to "choose his life and what he'll be."

We have submitted evidence that Jesus Christ, our elder brother, was chosen and ordained to be the Redeemer of the world long before his earthly advent. Peter, in
speaking of Christ, said: "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world. . ."(I 1 Pet. 1:20.) And on the Day of Pentecost he told the assembled Jews:
". . .Jesus of Nazareth. . .

"Being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. . ." (Acts 2:22-23.)

There is abundant scriptural evidence that others too were foreordained to certain callings, and from this fact is it not reasonable to assume that there was divine
selection and preappointment among all the ante-mortal spirits of men?

The prophet Jeremiah was one who was chosen for a special work. We read: "Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

"Before I formed thee. . .I knew thee; and before thou camest forth. . .I sanctified thee, and ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." (Jer. 1:4-5.) Abraham was told
in an interview with the Lord, that he was one of the noble and great ones among the intelligences that were organized before the world was, and that he was chosen
before he was born. (Abr. 3:23.)

Alma the Nephite prophet, speaking of the priests who had been ordained, explained: "And this is the manner after which they were ordained-being called and
prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to
choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceeding great faith, are called with a holy calling. . .which was prepared with, and according
to, a preparatory redemption for such." (Alma 13:3.)

This doctrine of pre-existence and foreordination sheds revealing light on the subject of gradations and diversities among men. With the doctrine of free agency
operating from the beginning we were, to a degree, masters of our fate in the spiritual world as well as in our present mortal state.

There are five definite stages of development of the human soul: intelligence, which always existed; spirit bodies of which God is the Father; mortality, which was
optional; disembodied spirits between death and the resurrection; and resurrected, immortal souls. That we help to condition ourselves in each stage for the one which
is to follow seems reasonable and logical.

Abraham referred to this conditioning process as the keeping of various estates and being added upon. They who kept their first estate had a glory in a kingdom where
those who failed could not come. ". . . They who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads forever and ever." (Abr. 3:26.) Differences of
endowment, varying environment, degrees of valor during conflict, and of wisdom in exercising choice, condition men for various degrees of glory. There will be a place
for all, and each will find the place suited to his capacity. Each day we write a line of the verdict which will be read on judgment day.

Scientists, philosophers, scholars have made little progress in their study of the science of living beings and especially of the human individual. Alexis Carrel, in Man the
Unknown, points to the limitations in this field of research and says, "Our ignorance is profound."

"There is no method capable of apprehending man . . . in his entirety, his parts and his relations with the outer world." The different sciences with their various
techniques arrive at a different conception of their common object. "They abstract only from man what is attainable by their special methods. And those abstractions,
after they have been added together, are still less rich than the concrete fact. They leave behind a residue too important to be neglected. . . . Most of the questions put
to themselves by those who study human beings remain without answer."

The doctrine of the eternal nature of man-eternal in both directions without beginning or end-is both reasonable and scriptural, and some understanding of it is necessary
if we are to comprehend ourselves and our fellow beings.

The revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith on this subject is clear and definite. "Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not
created or made, neither indeed can be." (D&C 93:29.) And the prophet asks: "Is it logical to say that the intelligence of spirits is immortal, and yet that it had a
beginning? The intelligence of spirits had no beginning neither will it have an end . . . There never was a time when there were not spirits (intelligences); for they are co-
equal (meaning doubtless co-eternal) with our Father in heaven. . . . As the Lord liveth, if it (intelligence) had a beginning, it will have an end." (Teachings of the Prophet
Joseph Smith, p. 353.)
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This idea, of life having no beginning, is difficult to grasp at first thought as we have grown accustomed to what we call beginnings and ends. Our idea of time, for
example, is measured by years, seasons, months, weeks, and days. Each seems to begin and end, replacing and giving place to preceding and succeeding events. But in
reality there is no division of time; it does not begin or end; there is no division between today and tomorrow. In our minds and for convenience we consider it in
created or made, neither indeed can be." (D&C 93:29.) And the prophet asks: "Is it logical to say that the intelligence of spirits is immortal, and yet that it had a
beginning? The intelligence of spirits had no beginning neither will it have an end . . . There never was a time when there were not spirits (intelligences); for they are co-
equal (meaning doubtless co-eternal) with our Father in heaven. . . . As the Lord liveth, if it (intelligence) had a beginning, it will have an end." (Teachings of the Prophet
Joseph Smith, p. 353.)

This idea, of life having no beginning, is difficult to grasp at first thought as we have grown accustomed to what we call beginnings and ends. Our idea of time, for
example, is measured by years, seasons, months, weeks, and days. Each seems to begin and end, replacing and giving place to preceding and succeeding events. But in
reality there is no division of time; it does not begin or end; there is no division between today and tomorrow. In our minds and for convenience we consider it in
sections, but God's time is not computed by man's calendar. And so with life. We think of it as pre-mortal, mortal, and post-mortal, but in God's economy it is all one
eternal life.

Scientists have long recognized that some aspects of the universe are eternal, such as "matter" and "energy." To put it into the language of one of them: "There is an
entity in the physical world which is always conserved; though there may be transformation from one to the other, when matter and energy are summed, there is no loss
in the process." Men have through the ages referred to God as being "without beginning of days or end of years." (See Heb. 7:3.)

Life, that elusive element which baffles the scientists, that residue which precision instruments cannot measure, weigh, or analyze-life, being a part of God is also
"without beginning of days or end of years." (Idem.) What a boon, what a challenge, what a responsibility we have, we, who are "all architects of fate."

Our next submission on the subject of man is that he is free. The fact that Deity holds man responsible for his acts requires that he have freedom of choice between
given alternatives. Certainly man should not be praised or blamed for his acts if they are not voluntary. Man is not morally answerable for what he cannot help.

Freedom of choice implies that man's progress does not depend solely upon God but partially upon his own individual effort. Creation is acknowledged to be an
ongoing process, but many have failed to realize that it is a co-operative effort-that God needs our help since, granting free agency, he cannot coerce. It was to protect
and insure this freedom that the war in heaven was fought.

Isaiah laments: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground which didst weaken the nations!" (Isa. 14:12.) It
was the selfish and ambitious desire of Lucifer to rob men of this freedom and arrogate all honor to himself, which caused his downfall. It was his desire for power and
dominion, his love of self which prompted the proposal to redeem all mankind by force.

On the other hand it was love of God and of fellow men which prompted the gospel plan of salvation involving the atonement of Christ and our exercise of responsible
choice. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16.)
Someone has suggested that "God abdicated part of his omnipotence in favor of his creature," when he gave man his free agency. Certainly he regarded man's liberty as
real for he refused to trammel it.

But man's freedom of choice is not absolute. There are many things he cannot do. There are a number of factors which limit his liberty; for instance, there are certain
laws in his universe which limit his action, as, for example, the law of gravity. Ignorance is a limiting factor. Sin robs man of his freedom; it places him in bondage. The
Master said: ". . . Whosoever commiteth sin is the servant of sin." (John 8:34.) And of course our freedom is limited by the rights of others. Our freedom is sometimes
impinged by the sin and ignorance of others as witness the last two world wars where ignorant and ambitious men attempted to institute Satan's plan of domination.

Man may grow and develop by the exercise of his free agency in proper directions, by gaining and utilizing knowledge, by living in harmony with truth. ". . . The truth
shall make you free," said the Master. (John 8:32.) And the Lord said in this day: "I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed. . . ." (D&C 98:8.) Just
as men may limit their freedom by ignorance and sin, so they may increase their opportunities to exercise it by intelligence and love. The Master emphasized love of
God and of fellow men as first essentials to rich and radiant living.

Freedom to choose involves responsibility for choice just as privileges and rights involve duties and obligations. Thinking men, when they assert the rights of freedom to
do as they please, are willing to be held accountable for what they do. If man is to be the master of his fate and if he strives for a high destiny, he must assume moral
responsibility, engage in moral struggle, and exercise moral faith. His emancipation from slavery and serfdom whether imposed or self-inflicted carries with it the
responsibility of making future choices with eternal consequences. How glorious the thought that freedom is God-given and inalienable. How awful the responsibility for
its proper use or for its loss through misuse.

With this freedom and an eternity in which to exercise it, man needs a cause to serve, a purpose which will give point and meaning to life, an aim toward which to work,
a goal toward which to strive.

The gospel of Jesus Christ gives purpose and meaning to life and sets a supreme, all-inclusive and eternal goal. Modern scripture tells us that: "Adam fell that men might
be; and men are, that they might have joy." (2 Ne. 2:25.) The Savior said he came that we might have more abundant life (see John 10:10) while the Father declared it
to be his work and his glory to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life. (See P of GP Moses 1:39.) Perfection is the goal set by the Savior for himself and for us.
More life, abundant, joy-bringing, soul-satisfying life is the goal toward which we may work through time and eternity.

The Master having experienced the deepest meaning of life, or as he said, having descended below all, has risen above all and achieved "all power . . . in heaven and in
earth." (Matt. 28:18.) Because of his love for us, he invites us to develop such moral, intellectual, and spiritual attributes as will enable us to associate with him and with
his Father and with other resurrected, immortal beings, our brothers and sisters, throughout eternity.

Eternal life means more than just continuing to exist. In a qualitative sense it means a Godlike life. It is life eternal, to know God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. To
know him involves becoming like him which in turn involves becoming unlike much which we now are. Man is then eternal; he is free; his life is purposeful, and may
become Godlike in character if he has the moral valor which eternal progress will require.

Let us then be conscious of the fact that we are now living eternal life and that, as Roger Babson says, all that we think and say and do goes on forever. This concept of
man's eternal nature, of his relationship to Deity, of his moral responsibility to himself and to his fellow men, of his right to freedom, and his responsibility for its use-this
concept forms the very core of our democracy and is the basis of our faith.

May we have the wisdom to choose and the valor to maintain the course which will lead us to our destiny with the help of God, our Father, through his Son Jesus
Christ.

The Word of God

We have attempted to say something concerning MAN as an eternal being. We referred to his inalienable right to choose his course in life and to his inescapable
responsibility for the consequence of that choice. We suggested that more life, abundant, Godlike, eternal life was the goal toward which all men should strive
throughout
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We have briefly outlined the mission of the Messiah with its objective, man's salvation, and have drawn attention to the declaration of the Father that it is his work and
glory to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life. With the assurance of their active solicitude for us and with the promise that our free agency will continue
The Word of God

We have attempted to say something concerning MAN as an eternal being. We referred to his inalienable right to choose his course in life and to his inescapable
responsibility for the consequence of that choice. We suggested that more life, abundant, Godlike, eternal life was the goal toward which all men should strive
throughout eternity.

We have briefly outlined the mission of the Messiah with its objective, man's salvation, and have drawn attention to the declaration of the Father that it is his work and
glory to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life. With the assurance of their active solicitude for us and with the promise that our free agency will continue
throughout eternity enabling us to "build the ladders by which we rise," we get an inspiring glimpse of the eternal realm of unattained possibility.

The acute awareness of limitless time, untrammeled liberty, and the possibility of never-ending progress and development emphasizes our responsibility as builders of
our destiny. With this concept there comes a desire to adjust our behavior and achieve harmony with eternal law. To this end we are constantly in need of guidance lest
we ignorantly choose the wrong course and suffer costly delay or permanent disaster.

Life then is a great adventure, calling for intelligent action, indomitable courage, and unfaltering faith. Just as on less important journeys we consult maps, charts,
compasses, or employ experienced guides, so on this eternal journey we shall be constantly in need of help. He who is the Author of the plan which made possible the
adventure of this mortal life has not left us without accessible sources of reliable information. There are "maps and charts and compasses," there are printed instructions
and competent authorized guides. Information is available as to the purpose of the journey, the best and safest route, the dangers and the detours along the way, and
the final goal toward which we strive. We refer to the holy scriptures, both ancient and modern, and to the source from which all scriptures came.

Divine revelation in all ages has been adapted to the needs and understanding of men. Giving and receiving of revelation is in its nature a co-operative undertaking to
which there must be at least two parties. Many have thought, however, of revelation as coming-without regard to time, place, or human understanding-by direct
dictation without any effort on man's part. Man, in this view, is simply a recording machine. On the other hand some students of science hold that revelation, if any,
results solely from human experimentation and experience. God has nothing to do with it. Man seeks and discovers and takes the credit for his effort.

Revelation as understood by the Latter-day Saints, is communication, and that of course requires intelligent understanding between the parties concerned. Not only
must there be an intelligent personal God, capable of and willing to communicate, but there must be someone, intelligent enough and worthy to receive the message.
Revelation comes in response to need and is usually preceded by eager search and prayer for divine guidance.

Each succeeding generation has needed special revelation to meet its own peculiar needs. Adam was instructed for his own day and generation, but if Noah had relied
alone on what God had said to Adam, he would not have been forewarned about the flood. So Abraham and Jacob walked and talked with God, but they were not
told what Moses would need to meet the problems of the Israelites in Egypt. Joshua, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Malachi, and all the prophets between them, were
guided by divine revelation and were chosen agents of the Lord. Luke tells us: ". . . He spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world
began." (Luke 1:70.) While many of them looked with prophetic vision upon what the future held, each dispensation was in need of special guidance to meet their
unprecedented problems.

And when the Master came, while he referred frequently to the "Law and to the Prophets," sometimes with approval, he emphasized the fact that His gospel was up to
date and forward looking. How often he repeated the words: "Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old . . . but I say unto you. . . ." (Matt. 5:21-23, 27-28,
31-32, ff. He gave the Beatitudes as a supplement to the law of Moses and clearly indicated that other revelations were yet to be. "And Jesus answered and said unto
them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things." (Matt. 17:11.)

The Master promised his disciples that the Holy Ghost would come to them after his departure. "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all
truth: . . . and he will shew you things to come.

"He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." (John 16:13-14.) The New Testament is part of the fulfilment of that promise for it was by
the power of the Holy Ghost that it was written. Paul declares: "by revelation he made known unto me the mystery.

"Which . . . is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit." (Eph. 3:3-5.) And again: "God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in
time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

"Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, . . ." (Heb. 1:1-2.)

The faith of the Latter-day Saints in the revealed Word of God is compressed into one sentence in our Articles of Faith: "We believe all that God has revealed, all that
He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God." Christians everywhere profess belief in
"what God has revealed" provided it bears a date not later than the first century of the Christian era. It seems strange that believers in the Bible should doubt God's
power or willingness to continue to lead and guide his children by revelation as he did during all of Bible history. When asked how the Bible came to be, they quote
from it and say: ". . . Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Pet. 1:21.) But they reject the thought that the Holy Ghost may move other
men to speak by his power.

We believe there were "Holy men of God" in other lands who also were moved "by the Holy Ghost" to speak and write and that the records which they left us are
scripture, companion records with the Bible, testifying that he lives and that Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God. We believe further that there are men today
who hold the same authority and appointment as God's agents and that his divine will may be made known through them.

"It is inconsistent with reason and with our conception of the unchangeable justice of God, to aver that He will bless the Church in one dispensation with a present living
revelation of His will, and in another leave the Church, to which He gives His name, to live as best it may according to the laws of a by-gone age. True through
apostasy, the authority of the priesthood may have been taken from the earth for a season, leaving the people in a condition of darkness, with the windows of heaven
shut against them; but at such times, God has recognized no earthly church as His own, nor any prophet to declare with authority. `Thus saith the Lord.'" (See Ready
References.)

The apostles evaluate the scriptures as a guide to men's conduct and an inspiration to their lives. Paul said to Timothy: ". . .The holy scriptures. . .are able to make thee
wise unto salvation through faith," (2 Tim. 3:15.) And to the Saints in Rome: "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we
through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." (Rom. 15:4.) The Master counsels us to: "Search the scriptures for. . .they are they which testify of
me." (John 5:39.) He surprised the priests and wise men with his knowledge of the scriptures of their day.

In the Old Testament we find frequent reference to future revelation from God. "And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the
mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." (Isa. 40:5.) "Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold it
is I." (Isa. 52:6.) "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall
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"And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit." (Joel 2:28-29.) "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his
secrets unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7.) "Where there is no vision, the people perish. . . ." (Prov. 29:18.)
In the Old Testament we find frequent reference to future revelation from God. "And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the
mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." (Isa. 40:5.) "Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold it
is I." (Isa. 52:6.) "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall
dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions:

"And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit." (Joel 2:28-29.) "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his
secrets unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7.) "Where there is no vision, the people perish. . . ." (Prov. 29:18.)

We have quoted rather extensively to emphasize the fact that men have had access to the Word of God, as spoken and written by his servants. That God is in fact no
respecter of persons is evidenced by the fact that we, in this age, may be guided by him, not only by reading what he said to former dispensations but also by reading
and listening to his Word as given through his servants, our contemporaries. Nephi said: ". . .By the Spirit are all things made known unto the prophets, which shall
come upon the children of men. . . . " (1 Ne. 22:2.) And in this dispensation the Lord said of his servants: ". . . They shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy
Ghost.

"And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word
of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation." (D&C 68:3-4.)

The prophets and apostles of old were enabled by the spirit of prophecy and through visions to see our day, and they describe it as ". . .The dispensation of the fulness
of times. . ." (Eph. 1:10.) They indicate that it is the final dispensation of the gospel and that it will be followed by the return of the Messiah who is to reign during the
millennium. John on the Isle of Patmos declared: "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the
earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

"Saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the
fountains of water." (Rev. 14:6-7.)

Our Heavenly Father is never idle in his avowed work of our redemption; but too often we are obtuse and unresponsive to his appeal. Through his word and by the
promptings of his Holy Spirit enlightenment and inspiration are available to all who come into the world. His instructions, warning, and admonitions have found their way
into many lands and can be read in many languages. We have his assurance of help in time of trouble, of his inspiration through the night of strife, of his beacons on the
hilltops when we have lost our way in the storm.

These helps are available to us if we will become familiar with his written word, if we heed the counsel of the living oracles, and if we listen to the "still small voice." We
have grave responsibility, for, as the radio has taught us, broadcasting stations are futile without properly tuned receiving sets. So we must be in tune with the Sender or
the message will not reach us. The mechanism of the spirit is so delicate that even our thought may interfere with good reception and unguarded actions may create such
static as to make reception impossible.

He warns us to "Deny not the spirit of revelation, nor the spirit of prophecy, for wo unto him that denieth these things." (D&C 11:25.) And he promises: ". . .Behold, I
will tell you in your mind and in your heart by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you, and which shall dwell in your heart." (D&C 8:2.) Too often we rebuff his
proffered help by lack of faith. "How often would I have gathered you," he pleads, "but you would not." (See Matt. 23:37, Luke 13:34.)

And so the Master Teacher admonishes us to read the scriptures and learn the lessons of life from the word of God. But we must read with more than mere academic
interest if we are to achieve spiritual growth. We must see in them more than a history of the past, more than things, however marvelous, which were done for our
fathers. The writers of those sacred pages must challenge our thinking, renew our aspirations, color and flavor our daily living, and be an inspiration in our search for the
abundant life.

Let us close with a scholar's estimate of the value of the Bible. Henry Van Dyke writes: "No other book in the world has had such a strange vitality, such an outgoing
power of influence and inspiration. Not only has it brought to the countries in whose heart it has been set new ideals of civilization, new models of character, new
conceptions of virtue and hopes of happiness; but it has also given new impulse and form to the shaping imagination of man. . .

"Born in the East and clothed in Oriental form and imagery, the Bible walks the way of all the world with familiar feet and enters land after land to find its own
everywhere. It has learned to speak in hundreds of languages to the heart of man. It comes into the palace to tell the monarch that he is servant of the Most High, and
into the cottage to insure the peasant that he is the son of God. Children listen to its stories with wonder and delight, and wise men ponder them as parables of life. It
has a word of peace for the time of peril, a word of comfort for the day of calamity, a word of light for the hour of darkness.

"No man is poor or desolate who has this treasure for his own. When the landscape darkens and the trembling pilgrim comes to the Valley named Shadow, he is not
afraid to enter; he takes the rod and staff of scripture in his hand; he says to a friend and comrade, `good-by; we shall meet again'; and comforted by that support, he
goes toward the lonely pass as one who walks through darkness into light."

May God help us to appreciate his word, whether written, spoken, or impressed upon our souls, by his spirit, I humbly pray.

Prayer

In our brief discussion we implied a universal need of help beyond what man can give. The awareness of that need increases with mental and spiritual maturity or is
driven home by the common experiences of life.

Some have thought that revelation or divine communication comes without thought or effort on man's part. Our Father has invited us repeatedly to "call on him." While
he is ever ready to answer when we call, he waits upon our invitation. "Ask, and it shall be given you,. . .knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matt. 7:7.)

He who makes a habit of sincere prayer, and prays believing, will find his life noticeably and profoundly enriched and steadied. He will increase in tranquility and poise;
he will have added courage and stamina. His physical, moral, and spiritual attitude will indicate he is aware of the presence of a powerful Friend.

In attempting to develop a life of prayer, one becomes conscious of the fact that he is two persons, and this is true of all of us. There is our outside self, the person who
is seen and watched by others, who lives and speaks and acts in public, the person we reveal to others with varying degrees of frankness or affectation. And there is
that other self-the inner self, which is ever partly hidden even from our closest friends, and which we, ourselves, but dimly apprehend.

It is this self, our better self, that the Master sees and values. To him the door of this interior castle is always open. He sees the real person. He knows that the fiercest
battles are fought in this "sector of the soul," and he whispers hope to all who have not surrendered there. It was because of this insight that he could distinguish with
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It was this understanding of the inner man which caused him to advise us to go alone into our closets and close the door when we would commune with the Father.
Man, when alone with God, knows there can be no pretense, or make-believe. Here at least he is absolutely honest. "We feel the thing we ought to be beating beneath
that other self-the inner self, which is ever partly hidden even from our closest friends, and which we, ourselves, but dimly apprehend.

It is this self, our better self, that the Master sees and values. To him the door of this interior castle is always open. He sees the real person. He knows that the fiercest
battles are fought in this "sector of the soul," and he whispers hope to all who have not surrendered there. It was because of this insight that he could distinguish with
such startling penetration between the woman and her accusers, between the fishermen and the scribes and Pharisees.

It was this understanding of the inner man which caused him to advise us to go alone into our closets and close the door when we would commune with the Father.
Man, when alone with God, knows there can be no pretense, or make-believe. Here at least he is absolutely honest. "We feel the thing we ought to be beating beneath
the thing we are." Realizing that he knows before we tell him, we lay bare our souls to God. It is the antiseptic washing of the wound which makes healing possible, and
in religion this is called repentance and forgiveness. It is a time when our souls are naked and perhaps ashamed, but, when no longer distracted by fear of discovery, we
can really concentrate on prayer.

Rich and radiant living is generated in the hour of quiet meditation, of self-examination, of confession of weaknesses and prayer for forgiveness. This searching of our
own souls and admitting what we see, is sometimes painful, but its effects are healing and wholesome. Probing a wound is sometimes more beneficial than applying an
ointment.

Prayer is a time to express gratitude for blessings. Real soul growth results from humbly expressing thanks for favors, and our blessings seem to multiply when we pause
to name them to the Giver. Gratitude is akin to humility and love. It refines character and re-emphasizes values. While it should not be what someone has called it, "A
lively sense of favors to come," still gratitude is a seed which will bear fruit in future blessings. Most prayers would be enriched by a larger portion of thanksgiving.

We need the growth that comes to all who praise and worship the Creator. It is not implied that he needs our praise or seeks our adoration. He is our ideal of all the
good we know, and to praise and adore him is to hold before us all the virtues which in him have reached perfection. Contemplation of the life of Christ, and adoration
of the Deity, will tend to lift us above the petty, selfish, and superficial thoughts and experiences of our daily existence and to make us more like that which we adore.

We should ask forgiveness when we pray. Each of us will, at some time in his life, feel the need of mercy and forgiveness, and this need may bring us to our knees in
prayer. David felt this poignant need after the Prophet Nathan pointed the accusing finger at him and said, ". . .Thou art the man. . ." (2 Sam. 12:7.) Listen to the cry of
a once proud but now broken heart as David prays:

"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

"Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

"For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. . .Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Ps. 51:1-3, 9-10.)

Humility on the part of him who prays was commended by the Savior in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. The Pharisee prayed: ". . .God, I thank thee, that
I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

"I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." (Luke 18:11-12.) The publican's prayer was more acceptable though it was spoken in only seven simple
words: ". . .God, be merciful to me a sinner." (Luke 18:13.) There was no humility in the heart of the Pharisee; he had the reputation of being a good man; and he was
quite willing to admit it. He said "I" five times in two sentences without stopping to draw a breath. He was not seeking forgiveness; his was not a prayer of thanksgiving,
nor a prayer of praise except praise of self; there was no worship in it; in fact, it was not prayer but a cheap exhibition of self-righteousness. The publican's humility was
so sincere that he could not even lift his eyes toward heaven; his plea for mercy came from a contrite heart. Speaking of the publican, Jesus said: ". . .This man went
down to his house justified rather than the other. . ." (Luke 18:14.)

We should pray for strength and wisdom, for courage and stamina, for understanding and charity, for the things we need to help build worthy characters and thus to
glorify our Maker. We should pray for help to make us equal to our tasks as Lincoln did. "I have been driven many times to my knees," he said, "by the overwhelming
conviction that I had nowhere else to go; my own wisdom and that of all around me seemed insufficient for the day." At another time he said: "I have always taken
counsel of Him, and have never adopted a course of proceeding without being assured, as far as I could be, of His approbation."

Solomon, who is credited with unusual wisdom, was mindful of its source-at least in his early life-and he prayed for help. "And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made
thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

"And thy servant is in the midst of thy people. . .that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

"Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy so great a
people." (1 Kgs. 3:7-9.)

Prophets of old frequently retired into secluded places for prayer and meditation. Elijah heard the "still small voice" when alone at the brook of Cherith, and he came
back with a great message. John the Baptist spent much time in the wilderness preparing for his mission to announce the coming of the Son of God. Much of the
transformation from Saul of Tarsus to Paul the Apostle took place while he was alone in Arabia after his great vision. The Prophet Joseph Smith sought the solitude of
the Sacred Grove where the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times was ushered in by prayer. The Savior frequently went apart to pray, to get away from the multitude,
and to be alone with his Father. Upon his return from one such communion, his disciples, noting his radiance and the renewal of his strength, and feeling that their own
prayers had sometimes been unavailing, cried unto him, "Lord, teach us how to pray." (See Luke 11:1.) That appeal could well be the introduction to all our prayers.

It is essential that all of us spend some time alone with God, but we should also commune with him in company with others. Many young lives have been enriched and
spiritually provisioned for life's journey as they knelt around the family altar and heard their parents talk with God. Family ties are closely knit when children ask God's
blessings on their parents and on one another while kneeling in this sacred circle. There would be fewer broken homes if the foundations were daily "pointed up" by
family prayer.

We have known men who pray while working, in the office, shop, or factory, in pulpit, any time and anywhere was for them the time and place to pray. "I thank thee
Lord, that I may stop along the way at any time of night or day and talk to thee."

Sometimes we lose confidence in prayer because we do not realize the answer.

"We ask for strength, and God gives us difficulties which make us strong. We pray for wisdom, and God sends us problems, the solution of which develops wisdom.
We  plead for
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us opportunities. This is the answer."

Today a group of men, delegates from many nations, are making plans for world peace. Behind them is a larger group, working almost day and night on propaganda to
Sometimes we lose confidence in prayer because we do not realize the answer.

"We ask for strength, and God gives us difficulties which make us strong. We pray for wisdom, and God sends us problems, the solution of which develops wisdom.
We plead for prosperity, and God gives us brain and brawn to work with. We plead for courage and God gives us dangers to overcome. We ask for favors-God gives
us opportunities. This is the answer."

Today a group of men, delegates from many nations, are making plans for world peace. Behind them is a larger group, working almost day and night on propaganda to
influence their policies and decisions. But the hundreds of millions of us who have no direct contact with them need not be helpless, though in their councils we must be
silent. We all have a vital interest in the outcome of their deliberations; we the common people everywhere could profoundly influence what they do by ceaseless
importunities to God. The prayers we prayed for our servicemen may have partly been in vain unless with the same solicitude we continue to plead for the success of
the cause for which they paid so dearly.

Let us learn some bigger prayers than we said as little children. Let us shift the emphasis from ourselves and our next of kin and enlarge the scope of our interest and
our supplication. We should continue to pray for the safety and the guidance of our loved ones and to believe those prayers are efficacious. But we must enlarge our
outlook and have faith that prayers to God for our country and the world will be heard and answered. But here as in our prayer for kinfolk, we must cast out selfishness
and honestly seek the wider good. We must recognize him as the universal Father and not a mere tribal god who would help one group or section at the expense of
another.

Sincere prayer should imply a willingness to cooperate with God.

The birth and development of our democracy is the world's best example of how men can co-operate with God and displace tyranny with freedom. No doubt the
skeptic sneered with derision when a few men with spiritual faith declared that "All men are created equal." From the viewpoint of the skeptic it was sheer madness, in a
world of class hatred and distinction, ruled by kings and tyrants, for an isolated group to say, "We the people, with God's help, propose to rule ourselves." But what
these praying men established, with heaven's benediction, is now the world's best hope.

These men became the instruments through which the prayers of millions of the oppressed of other lands were answered. The Constitution of the United States stands
as unanswerable proof, not only that God rules in the affairs of men, but that men may be instruments in the affairs of God to bring about his purposes. Let us pray for
the safe launching of a larger "Ship of State" whose keel they are now attempting to lay at Lake Success.

Let us pray and praise and worship-secretly-in our families-and in Church. Let us give thanks for all our blessings and seek forgiveness for our follies. Let us pray for
those who love us, for our leaders, church and state. Let us pray for those who need help and support our prayers with service. Let us pray for health and strength and
wisdom. Pray for faith to carry on when our strength seems insufficient, and the answer is delayed. Let our prayers go out as well as upward. We must work as well as
pray. Let us pray for peace and concord, in our hearts, our homes, and country. Let us pray for other nations-enemies as well as friends. Thus we may make our little
corner of the garden a productive spot of beauty, with no wall or fence or hedge between us and our neighbors. Prayer will rid our hearts of hatred; it will chasten our
ambitions; until with love of God and neighbors we shall keep his two commandments. Let us pray.

The Gospel

When one has faith that God is a living personal Being and that man is a son of God and is eternal with limitless possibilities in the ages which lie before him; when one
believes in scripture and continued revelation through which, by prayer and study he may come to know his Maker and be guided by him; when one evaluates life in
terms of eternity and realizes that the quality of his changing status depends upon that guidance and his own endeavor; then he seeks for understanding of and harmony
with life's meaning.

It was in order that we might understand life's purpose and cooperate in achieving it that God gave us the gospel, which, according to the Apostle Paul in his epistle to
the Romans, ". . .is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. . ." (Rom. 1:16.) Speaking of the Savior, he says: "And being made perfect, he became
the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Heb. 5:9.)

Salvation then seems to be the purpose or the goal of life. Obedience to its author is the inevitable prerequisite. Furthermore, according to these scriptures, there is
available to us a Power, which, properly understood and utilized, will assist us to attain that goal. If the gospel is the "Power of God" our concept of his omnipotence
forbids the thought that it will not be adequate to the task assigned, man's salvation.

There are those who disclaim any need for this proffered "saving." If they are in need of help, they seemingly are not aware of it. If one speaks of rescue or redemption,
they ask, "saved from what?" According to some present-day philosophy, man is doing a fair job of saving himself by the gradual process of evolution, and the hope is
expressed that this process will continue. The idea of divine intervention on behalf of man is often scoffed at by the skeptic.

The theory of evolution in the sense that man evolves from one stage of being to another is not inconsistent with the science of theology. That we lived as spirit children
of our Father before our earth life, that earth life is preparatory to an existence after death, and that throughout eternity we may continue to progress and become more
Godlike is the faith of Latter-day Saints. But we believe that man is a child of God and not an offshoot from some other species.

Salvation is a process, not a destination; it is not a goal, but an eternal journey toward a goal. On this journey man encounters death which is a tremendous and
universal fact in human experience. All who have preceded us have passed through this change and all now living will shortly cease to be as mortal beings. The journey
from birth to death is very short even for those who live the allotted mortal span, and at the close of life all men have a sense of incompleteness.

Man, unaided, could not break the bands of death and continue on his journey. Without the intervention of One who had power over death, its victory would have
been complete and final. With that intervention the power of God is manifest, and men can join with him and say, ". . .O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Cor. 15:55.)

On this subject I should like to quote the late President B. H. Roberts; "I happen to recall an expression made by that splendid English statesman, Cecil Rhodes, one of
the most noted British figures in our modern history. His life is wonderfully interesting. At forty-nine after a most brilliant career, Rhodes lay dying and to his friend
Jameson by his bedside he said: Jameson, the great trouble with life is that it is too short. You no sooner become acquainted with the game and learn how to play it,
than you have to give it up."

"That might be said of all men-`Life is too short!' Men achieve so little, but some often reveal to us life's tremendous possibilities-A Cecil Rhodes, a Gladstone, a
Disraeli, a Washington, a Jefferson, a Lincoln, a Wilson, and all the great leaders in our world-sculptors, philosophers, statesmen-by whatever they achieve, they reveal
to our vision what life might be if only instead of the limited threescore years and ten there could be, say, five hundred years, a thousand, five, ten, a hundred thousand,
a million years! What could not such minds achieve if blessed with physical vigor such as they knew in manhood's prime, with such intellectual power as they then
possessed, with a constantly growing experience-having wisdom and skill with the passing years, on and on in the development of the possibilities of man's power!
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                                           intelligences worth while. But alas! Death steps in and cuts them off before they reach the development ofPage    18 /of104
                                                                                                                                                      the fulness   their
powers. How sad it is! Oh, for some salvation from this monster death, which strikes down not only the common people but the shining examples of the better order of
the sons of men!
to our vision what life might be if only instead of the limited threescore years and ten there could be, say, five hundred years, a thousand, five, ten, a hundred thousand,
a million years! What could not such minds achieve if blessed with physical vigor such as they knew in manhood's prime, with such intellectual power as they then
possessed, with a constantly growing experience-having wisdom and skill with the passing years, on and on in the development of the possibilities of man's power!

"In a few million years, men might become intelligences worth while. But alas! Death steps in and cuts them off before they reach the development of the fulness of their
powers. How sad it is! Oh, for some salvation from this monster death, which strikes down not only the common people but the shining examples of the better order of
the sons of men!

"This gospel is the power of God unto salvation. What does it mean, this salvation? It means to be put in the way of eternal progression; to be associated with the
church of the first born, both on earth and in heaven; to be associated with angels and archangels as companions and guides; increasing in knowledge and wisdom with
the passing years. Having triumphed over death, physical and spiritual, there is no more fear of death, or stoppage in the path of progress. With good men for
associates and God for leader and guide, men may go on and up the shining heights of God's great highway, until they make themselves masters of the surrounding
universe in the midst of which they live.

"Light and intelligence and love will be aglow in their hearts then. All the beautiful relationships which were formed in earth life will be established there; husband and
wife, children and parents, kindred and friends, knitted together in kinship; and brotherhood; all this will abound; touching the life of that brotherhood which binds God's
moral and spiritual universe together through the union of all the great intelligences governing therein. Those who participate in this gospel, in this salvation, will be
members of such brotherhood, going on in spiritual, and moral, and intellectual progress without limitation."

One of the purposes of the gospel is to redeem us from death, and to this stupendous undertaking there is harnessed the greatest power in the universe, the power of
God. The Author of our salvation has assured us that the power is more than equal to the task. He promised before he was born into mortality that he would save men
from the grave. "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. . ." (Hosea 13:14.) While he ministered among his disciples, he said to
them: ". . .I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live;. . .(John 11:25.) ". . .The hour is coming, and now is, when
the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live." (John 5:25.)

And so to the question, "saved from what?" We answer first, saved from death. Redeemed without effort on their part and assured of a resurrection. "For since by man
came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Cor. 15:21-23.)

Man needs more than mere release from the endless sleep of death. It is true that the resurrection is a gift to every living soul and that immortal life, in a quantitative
sense, is the heritage of all through the atoning blood of Christ. But there is another enemy, sin, against which man, unaided, seems to be impotent. Sin and the suffering
it produces are realities, facts inseparably connected with human life. And this enemy, if not defeated, would partly neutralize the personal benefits of Christ's victory
over death. Because of sin, eternal life may be eternal shame and in a qualitative sense, unless this enemy is defeated, we shall not have eternal life.

Sin has been defined as moral wrongdoing or "any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God." This of course presupposes a knowledge of the right.
Some modern scholars claim the word sin is outmoded but, as Dr. Lowell Bennion tells us, "The type of human behavior it describes persists. Clothed in other words,
like those of the immortal Shakespeare, sin strikes home as a considerable part of everyone's life. `If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels
had been churches, and poor men's cottages princes' palaces. It is a good divine that follows his own instructions; I can easier teach twenty what were good to be
done, than be one of twenty to follow mine own teachings. The brain may devise laws for the blood; but a hot temper leaps o'er a cold decree'." (Merchant of Venice.)

All the consequences of or punishment for sin are not reserved for the life to come. Sin brings its own punishment in this life apart from anything that may result in the
hereafter. "The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

"There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." (Isa. 57:20-21.)

The baneful effects of sin are observable on every hand and that man can be deceived continually by its allurement, in the face of its unbroken history of deceit, sorrow,
misery, pain, and death, is a sad commentary on our intelligence and is final evidence that we need help if we are to overcome this enemy.

Every man is confronted with this dilemma; every man must face this conflict; and we shall only triumph, even with his help, as and when we bring our impulses,
appetites, and passions under control and consecrate ourselves to the triumph of the spirit. Our progress then and our eventual salvation do not depend solely on God,
but partly on our own effort. When the apostle says, "The power of God unto salvation," he does not indicate that, so far as redemption from sin is concerned, there is
nothing for us to do. Even though limitless power is accessible, it is obvious that it will be unavailing to lift a load until it is somehow attached to or makes contact with
that load.

It is man's job to utilize the power which is offered; to connect, as it were, himself with the power. A building adjoining a power plant may be wired for light and heat,
but until it is connected with the power, it will remain dark and cold. So far as it is concerned, there might as well be no power if it is not connected there-with. In other
words the law concerning such matters must be obeyed. Thus it is that we are repeatedly told we must obey the law if we are to obtain the blessing.

"There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated-

"And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." (D&C 130:20-21.)

It may be asked: "Upon what law is the transcendent blessing of salvation predicated?"

If we refer to the scriptures quoted at the opening of this address, we find the answer to that question. Note the condition in the first scripture: ". . .It (the gospel) is the
power of God unto salvation; to every one that believeth;. . ." and in the second: "(Christ). . .is the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." Faith and
obedience would seem to be the "coupling pins" by which we may attach our burden to this lifting power of God-the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In addition to the monster death we need redemption from the monster sin, and for this redemptive work we may enlist the "Power of God," the "gospel." "And he is
the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 Jn. 2:2.)

Ignorance is still another barrier to our enjoyment of eternal life. It seems obvious that if we are to be redeemed from ignorance it will be accomplished by replacing it
with knowledge. That is what we attempt to do for our children in our schools and universities. Knowledge dispels ignorance as light dispels darkness. But, some say,
in this realm surely we save ourselves. How does the power of God or the mission of the Savior assist us in our struggle toward salvation from ignorance? It is true the
gospel does not instruct men in all the realms of learning. It is also true that the Savior did not leave us any scientific inventions, nor did he teach the modern sciences.

In addition to
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source and our possible destiny creates in us an unquenchable hunger and thirst for knowledge.

What greater motive to seek learning than the conviction that we have the seed of Godhood in us and that his glory is intelligence. If the glory of God is intelligence, then
with knowledge. That is what we attempt to do for our children in our schools and universities. Knowledge dispels ignorance as light dispels darkness. But, some say,
in this realm surely we save ourselves. How does the power of God or the mission of the Savior assist us in our struggle toward salvation from ignorance? It is true the
gospel does not instruct men in all the realms of learning. It is also true that the Savior did not leave us any scientific inventions, nor did he teach the modern sciences.

In addition to the primary and fundamental information which we get through an understanding of the gospel its teachings instill a desire for truth. Its explanation of our
source and our possible destiny creates in us an unquenchable hunger and thirst for knowledge.

What greater motive to seek learning than the conviction that we have the seed of Godhood in us and that his glory is intelligence. If the glory of God is intelligence, then
man's glory, such as it may be, will be measured by his intelligence.

But the gospel does more than merely inspire us to seek knowledge. It makes knowledge available to us which can nowhere else be found, and as stated, this
knowledge is fundamental. "The Spirit of Christ, the light of His intelligence, the light and power of Deity which Jesus shares with the Father and the Holy Ghost, is the
life and light of men which enlightens every soul that comes into the world." Divine truths have been made known to men through revelation, and by the power of the
Holy Ghost in all dispensations of the gospel. Paul says: "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

"For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." (Gal. 1:11-12.)

The word of the Lord in latter days is very specific in this matter. "It is impossible for man to be saved in ignorance." (D&C 131:6.) "Man is saved no faster than he
gets knowledge." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 217.) "Whatever principles of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the
resurrection." (D&C 130:18.) Man can no more be saved in his ignorance than he can be saved in his sins. The gospel helps us to overcome both and here again it
becomes the power unto our salvation, if we do our part.

All men are in need of salvation, of rescue, of redemption from mortality-from ignorance-and from sin. The Author of eternal salvation stands ready to assist all who will
co-operate by yielding obedience to the laws upon which salvation and exaltation are predicated. Herein is shown the love and mercy of God and herein lies man's only
hope of redemption and of eternal progress which, if we will, may be our destiny. May we have wisdom to understand, faith to follow, and courage to endure.

Faith

In speaking of the gospel as "The power of God unto salvation," we are reminded that obedience to its principles is a prerequisite to its blessings according to the
teachings and example of the Savior. All who seek salvation must understand, believe in, and conform to the laws upon which it is predicated. "But without faith it is
impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Heb. 11:6.)

The predominating sense in which the term faith is used throughout the scriptures is that of full confidence and trust in the being, purposes, and words of God. Such
trust, if implicit, will remove all doubt concerning things accomplished or promised of God, even though such things be not apparent to or explicable by the ordinary
senses of mortality; hence arises the definition of faith given by Paul: "`Now faith is the substance [i.e. confidence or assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence [i.e.
the demonstration or proof] of things not seen.' (Heb. 11:1.) It is plain that such a feeling of trust may exist in different persons in varying degrees; indeed faith may
manifest itself from the incipient state which is little more than feeble belief, scarcely free from hesitation and fear, to the strength of abiding confidence that sets doubt
and sophistry at defiance." ( Articles of Faith , by James E. Talmage.)

Some think religious people are impractical and live in the clouds of unjustified hope. They are accused of being illogical and visionary when they have confidence in
"things hoped for" and rely on evidence of "things not seen." This criticism is based on the false assumption that all of the benefits of faith are reserved for life after death.

We do not teach the principle of faith merely for what it will do for one in the next world. We believe that there is real, practical value in mental concepts which increase
one's self-respect and effectiveness here and now. To believe that there is an all-wise Father in charge of the universe and that we are related to him, that we are in fact
children of God with the "hall-mark" of divinity upon us is to live in a different world from those who believe that man is a mere animal concerned only with requirements
for creature existence which must end at death. Because of low aim, their lives lack trajectory and vision and fall far short of their spiritual capacity.

Convince a young man that he is an eternal being, with limitless possibilities-that he is the son of the Creator of the universe-and he will appreciate and try to be worthy
of his heritage. Teach him to think of life, here and hereafter, as being of one piece, continuing through from pre-mortal to post-mortal without break in the endless
chain; to realize that each of the various stages of his development helps to condition him for the next; convince him that he can take nothing but himself into the next
world: his intelligence, his experience, his character. If this conviction becomes real dynamic faith, it will have definite and lasting effect on the quality of his life, here and
hereafter.

Eternal life means more than merely continuing to exist. Its qualitative value will be determined by what we believe and do while in mortality and by our conformity to
eternal law in the life to come. Eternal existence would be most undesirable if that existence became fixed and static upon arrival in "heaven." "It is hope and expectation
and desire and something ever more about to be" that gives lilt and verve to mortal life. We cannot imagine nor would we desire an eternity without opportunity for
growth, development-eternal progression.

Faith in God and in the ultimate triumph of right contributes to mental and spiritual poise in the face of difficulties. It is a sustaining power when a confining or
antagonistic environment challenges one's courage. When one is falsely accused, persecuted, imprisoned, one needs the penetrating vision of faith to see through and
live beyond the man-made barriers to freedom and self-expression.

What a loss it would have been to the world if John Bunyan had not been greater than his environment. He dreamed the Pilgrim's Progress while incarcerated in
Bedford Gaol. Think of the letters which issued from the dungeon in Rome because Paul's spirit could not be imprisoned. Think of what we in this day owe to Joseph
Smith, who, while his body was imprisoned in Liberty Jail, wrote some of the most sublime sections of the Doctrine and Covenants. Many great men were refined and
tempered in the furnace of adversity or seasoned by the weather of affliction.

We read in the scripture it was through faith that the great ones of old: ". . .subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

"Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the
aliens." (Heb. 11:33-34.)

And so we recommend faith as a present, living power for good here and now as well as for what it will do for us in achieving salvation hereafter. If one has a vivid
sense of his own divinity, he will not easily be persuaded to deprave his mind, debauch his body, or to sell his freedom for temporary gain. You cannot make an abject
slave out of a man who believes in the doctrine that man is made in the image of God. Possibly it was the recognition of this fact that prompted the dictators to try to
destroy religion at the outset and to banish God and the idea of God from among the people.

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Education. We quote a paragraph:

"The first item in the creed of the Jew was his faith in a moral order to which every nation and individual is ultimately subject. At the very masthead of his scriptures he
sense of his own divinity, he will not easily be persuaded to deprave his mind, debauch his body, or to sell his freedom for temporary gain. You cannot make an abject
slave out of a man who believes in the doctrine that man is made in the image of God. Possibly it was the recognition of this fact that prompted the dictators to try to
destroy religion at the outset and to banish God and the idea of God from among the people.

The value of faith in God and in the fact that man was made in his image is emphasized in a recent pamphlet issued by the Indiana Council on Religion in Higher
Education. We quote a paragraph:

"The first item in the creed of the Jew was his faith in a moral order to which every nation and individual is ultimately subject. At the very masthead of his scriptures he
wrote a sublime declaration of faith: `IN THE BEGINNING GOD. . .' Because the Hebrew prophet believed in the final authority of God, he believed that states might
perish, even though they were supported by thousands of legions, if they defied or outraged that moral order. It was according to the prophetic pattern that the Psalmist
sang, `. . .The way of the ungodly shall perish.'" (Ps. 1:6.)

"Neither arms, nor treasure, nor connivance, nor cunning could save a nation or a people who had come under the condemnation of Jehovah, their God. This meant of
course that there was a basic, eternal difference between right and wrong. It never occurred to a Jew that moral judgments were determined by plebiscites or pluralites.
A mode of conduct might be wrong even though the entire nation embraced its folly, and another way of life might be right even though no more than a solitary prophet
in the wilderness walked therein. Whole nations might be broken to pieces on the stone which the builders rejected. No immorality ever became moral because it
became popular.

"The second great basic belief which went to make up Jewish theology was the doctrine that man was made in the image of God. If a man believes that he is no more
than an assemblage of glands or a mere biological accident, then life settles down to the level of the brute. There is a redemptive power in self-respect which has never
yet been adequately appreciated. The source of his survival powers has been the inner faith upon which he lives, his belief that he was of an higher order than the beasts
of the field, that he was made in the image of God."

And speaking of the sanctity of the individual, the article continues: "It was to forever safeguard the people of the United States of America that our founding fathers
wrote certain solemn sentences into the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States." We hold certain truths to be self-evident, ". . .every
man is endowed with certain inalienable rights." But the amazing thing about the doctrine we are discussing is the fact that before a baby's cry is heard, it is the
possessor of inalienable rights. The courts have so held, and the laws of the land confirm him in the enjoyment thereof.

The police powers of the state will be employed to protect that little one who has not yet reached the age of self-consciousness against even his own mother, if
necessary. As an individual, born in the image of God, he has rights which establish claims in his behalf against the state, against society, and against the moral order of
the universe. He is even the possessor of rights which God himself is bound to respect. The recognition and exercise of these rights implant faith in oneself and in the
Author thereof.

Recent magazine articles written by careful students indicate that we are more spiritually illiterate as a nation today than at any time in our history. If this is true, the
future does not look promising in the light of the history of the past. It was faith in God and in the ultimate triumph of right which made for stamina, character, solidarity,
and enduring progress in the past. Without such faith how shall we survive the atomic age which has burst upon us overnight? We are startled by the woeful inadequacy
of our preparation for what is just ahead of us. If spiritual pygmies are to wield a power greater than any ever entrusted to men, what will be the outcome? Chaos and
confusion seem inevitable unless we can be aroused to the necessity of educating our children, upon whom this responsibility will rest, to believe something, as well as
to know facts.

Faith is an inescapable necessity in every human life; man cannot do without it because he must take some action with regard to the future. The kind of action taken will
depend upon the quality of his faith. If he does not have faith in God and in himself, and in the future, he should not be intrusted with such terrifying or glorifying power
as is forecast by the birth of the atomic age.

Faith is a necessity because life is an adventure, and all adventure requires courage. Without faith, courage will not long endure. It takes stout hearts to meet the strain
and stress of life. Stamina depends upon faith for sustenance. We need faith because only he who endures to the end will be saved. The "end" may at times be obscure,
but we must journey on even though we cannot see our way. There is a darkness which only the eternal light of faith can dissipate.

"Because the way was steep and long,
And through a dark and dismal land,
God put upon my lips a song,
And placed a lantern in my hand."

If we are to make moral progress, we must have ideals toward which to strive and for which we are prepared to fight and sacrifice. As Oliver Wendell Holmes put it:
"It is faith in something which makes life worth living." Certainly the quality of one's life depends in large measure upon the depth and quality of his faith. Without the light
of faith many lives would be dark and dreary; sorrows would be overwhelming; and death terrifying. Truly faith makes men masters of their fate.

But after one has said all that can be said on the subject of faith from the various academic approaches, after one has viewed it from the philosophical, the
psychological, and the social angles, there is the one all-powerful center toward which all real faith tends and from which it will get its inspiration. That is faith in God.
There is one name around which all Christian faith must center, and that is the name of Jesus Christ.

Life is a constant test of stamina and endurance. No one permanently escapes the necessity of calling up his reserves to "hold the line." Sad indeed is the plight of him
who has no reserves when the crisis comes.

A reservoir of spiritual strength is needed by the sorrowing mother at the graveside of her child, the distraught wife whose husband and support has gone, the
discouraged and beaten man whose fortunes have vanished, the sick and maimed, the wounded and the shutins. Spiritual reserves are needed by the average man and
woman everywhere who must meet engulfing and almost overwhelming discouragement, disillusionment, doubt, defeat, sickness, and death. To all such, faith whispers:
"The flame shall not hurt thee, I only design thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine." But spiritual equilibrium is likewise indispensable if we successfully cope with
riches, praise, triumph, power, success. The man who has faith in God and in his own destiny can, as Kipling says, "Meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two
impostors just the same."

To summarize, then, we need faith because we are moving into an uncertain future, and faith is the assurance of things not seen; we need faith in God because it
engenders respect for fellow men, and we are to be intrusted with more power than has ever been utilized by man, power which may bless or obliterate the race; we
need faith because there are so many millions without it, and we must share our spiritual as well as our material blessings; we need faith because we are prosperous and
powerful and proud. Let us pray that it may not be the pride which goes before a fall. We need faith to accompany our efforts to establish peace in a godless world.
We need faith that God is concerned in the affairs of men and of nations.

We bear witness
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Repentance
need faith because there are so many millions without it, and we must share our spiritual as well as our material blessings; we need faith because we are prosperous and
powerful and proud. Let us pray that it may not be the pride which goes before a fall. We need faith to accompany our efforts to establish peace in a godless world.
We need faith that God is concerned in the affairs of men and of nations.

We bear witness that the gospel and the power of the priesthood are upon the earth to bless and save mankind.

Repentance

As we give further consideration to the saving power of the gospel of Jesus Christ we come by logical sequence to the first result of faith. When one becomes
convinced of the existence of God and learns something of his attributes, one is immediately confronted with the difficult problem of bringing his actions up to the level
of his beliefs.

Faith in God leads one to contrast his own limitations with God's omnipotence, his own weakness with divine power, and to seek earnestly to bridge the gulf between
them. It confronts one with the necessity of changing his habits, giving up and forsaking all that is inconsistent with divine law, and bringing his life into harmony there-
with.

The first word which John the Baptist spoke to his believing followers was, "Repent," and the Lord reiterated the call all through his ministry. Peter on the Day of
Pentecost told the multitude to "repent" when they were convinced by the power of God that Jesus was indeed the Savior. Paul's first reaction, after a heavenly
visitation transformed him from a persecutor to a defender, was to ask what he could do, and his repentance led him to the waters of baptism.

Repentance then is a call to action, not merely a verbal acknowledgement of wrongdoing. This principle disturbs the complacency of self-righteousness, discourages
rationalizing, and calls upon the wrongdoer to forsake his evil way. It calls for a positive dynamic life, one that is not overcome of evil, but that overcomes evil with
good. Its constant appeal is that we purify our hearts and purge out all pretence and hypocrisy. It makes an uncompromising demand for inner as well as outer
righteousness. It requires surgery instead of salves. The Savior said: "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee:. . .

"And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee. . ." (Matt. 5:29-30.)

Repentance is indispensable to the growing life, since in all growth there is constant adjustment, taking on and sloughing off. We cannot replace a bad life with a good
one by any single word or act; there must be a continuing process of replacing error and wrong-doing with truth and right-doing; of going from bad to good and from
good to better.

The scientist does not hesitate to discard old ideas and processes in favor of new and better ones. The inventor spends much of his time correcting, discarding,
improving with the hope of achieving the best. While they are concerned with the improvement of machines and technical processes, the Master is concerned with the
improvement of character. They work on inanimate and non-co-operative things, he works with responsive beings who are capable of assisting or hampering his work.
They depend largely upon trial and error, upon experimentation, often without a perfect model by which to gauge their progress. In religion we have a Perfect Model,
and faith bids us compare, correct, and measure up.

An understanding of the life and mission of Jesus Christ inspires emulation as well as adoration. We must repent of that which is not in harmony with his teachings if we
hope to become like him. Sincere repentance will lead to the waters of baptism and forgiveness; but the need for repentance will continue while life lasts. Through
baptism we may obtain forgiveness for past sins but it does not guarantee against future folly. Repentance is a vital requisite to the growing life.

We must". . .go on unto perfection. . ." (Heb. 6:1) and not assume that when the foundation is laid the building is completed. Recognition of the right and a vision of
what ought to be, leads to repentance. It does not begin with remorse although an honest comparison of what is with what ought to be may cause self-reproach.

But how may I be sure of what is right and wrong, asks the serviceman who has traveled in many lands? He becomes aware of varying codes of conduct in different
nations and may think right and wrong are only matters of geography and social custom. Sometimes he has wondered if the standards of his home, his church, and his
country should be modified to conform to customs in different lands.

There is a sense in which sin has universal meaning and which is applicable in all lands and places. Moral wrongdoing is sin in any country, if for no other reason than
that it debases the sinner. The purpose of our being is to build worthy characters, to approximate the Godlike life. Obviously, then, any act which dissipates man's
capacity to realize that end is sin. Any act which impedes, delays, or diverts one's journey toward a worthy goal is a foolish, an unwise, a sinful act even though it may
have approval of local groups. But man does not sin against himself alone; others are always affected directly or indirectly. Man cannot sin against others without sinning
against himself, nor can he sin against himself or others without thereby sinning against God.

Dante classified sinners into three groups: (1) those who are incontinent and indulgent, "carnal sinners," and the gluttonous; (2) those who sin against others as in
"avarice" and "anger," and (3) those whose natures have been twisted by an inversion of their spiritual capacity, especially as in fraud or betrayal, or sinning against the
light.

Let us note some of the effects of sin and see if just plain common sense does not condemn it and counsel repentance. In the first place, one cannot sin with his whole
being. Sin creates conflict within oneself, makes him fight against himself. With the individual as with the state, internal conflict is always more disintegrating than anything
outside enemies can do. ". . . Wickedness never was happiness" (Alma 41:10), said a Nephite prophet. Unity of action and consistency of behavior develop and
preserve mental and emotional equilibrium and self-respect.

Self-respect is indispensable to successful and normal living; sin is its deadly enemy. When one does wrong, some part of his being accusingly whispers, "You are a
failure, weak, incompetent, no good, and if this persists, disintegration of character is inevitable." As one overcomes sin and becomes master of himself, he has a sense
of competence, integration, and quiet courage, which are reflected in his personality and character. Confucius spoke truly: "If a man looks within himself and is sure that
he has done right, what does he have to fear or worry about?"

If remorse is only regret at being caught it does not lead to repentance. The remorse which is sorrow for the sin is wholesome, if followed by the unwavering resolution
to abandon it and, where possible, make amends for the wrong. "Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed unto repentance: . . .

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (1 Cor. 7:9-10.) "Again, when I say unto the
wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;

"If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die." (Ezek.
33:14-15.)

When   we speak
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repentance. We must see the right and follow it, recognize the wrong and forsake it with a "Godly sorrow" if we would obtain the blessings of complete repentance. A
growing conception of the good life must be accompanied by constant adjustment thereto if one would achieve harmony with the will of God. Patient and persistent
effort must accompany prayer; a contrite spirit is a prerequisite to forgiveness.
"If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die." (Ezek.
33:14-15.)

When we speak of the continual need of repentance, let it not be understood that we refer to a cycle of sinning and repenting and sinning again. That is not complete
repentance. We must see the right and follow it, recognize the wrong and forsake it with a "Godly sorrow" if we would obtain the blessings of complete repentance. A
growing conception of the good life must be accompanied by constant adjustment thereto if one would achieve harmony with the will of God. Patient and persistent
effort must accompany prayer; a contrite spirit is a prerequisite to forgiveness.

President Joseph F. Smith gave us a searching definition of repentance: "True repentance involves the necessity of turning away from sin, a discontinuance of all evil
practices and deeds, a thorough reformation of life, a vital change from evil to good, from vice to virtue, from darkness to light. Not only so, but to make restitution, so
far as it is possible, for all the wrongs we have done, to pay our debts and to restore to God and man their rights-that which is due them from us. This is true
repentance, and the exercise of the will and all the powers of body and mind is demanded to complete this glorious work of repentance." (Gospel Doctrine p. 123.)

No man is justified in assuming the "Holier than thou" attitude or in saying, either by word or action, "I thank thee God that I am not as other men." (See Luke 18:11.)
While all have need of repentance, there is some good in everyone. The proportion of good and evil varies, but no one is perfect. The dissipated individual may be
capable of a generous nature while the morally upright person may be acrid and intolerant. Emerson said, "I have never met a man who was not my superior in some
respect."

Sincere repentance does not mean that we should brood over past mistakes or continually look backward with regret. The way we are facing is more important than
where we are standing. If God is good enough to give us the gift of repentance, we should turn our backs on the past and resolutely face the future unafraid. The
adversary whispers to the repentant sinner: "You are lost, there is no use trying," but this is as false as his former whisperings that sin is sweet and desirable. He who has
truly repented should forget as far as possible in order that his whole power may be concentrated on the promising future. "Do not insist on remembering what God is
willing to forget." Let us try to rid ourselves of even the memory of sin.

Sin then creates inner conflict, causes loss of self-respect, saps moral strength, causes injury to and estranges others, makes men more susceptible to temptation, and in
numerous other subtle ways retards, delays, and blocks our journey toward our goal. Its enticements tend to divert us from moral ideals and to obscure our vision of
desirable objectives.

True repentance halts this disintegration and, when followed by baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost places one's feet on the highway to successful living. With the
companionship of that spirit, one may release the power which is in the human soul even as men have been able to release the power of the atom. This power, when
released and given divine direction and guidance will lead to immortality and eternal life.

Baptism

The whole plan of salvation is predicated upon obedience to the principles and ordinances of the gospel. When one has faith in God and learns something of the
matchless life of Christ, he becomes poignantly aware of his own shortcomings. The repentant sinner is at first appalled by the disparity, the contrast of his own life with
that of the Master and doubtless views as hopeless any suggestion that he might approximate that life.

We have shown that the principle of repentance, which is a gift of God, whispers hope to all who have a "Godly sorrow for sin." But it is obvious that merely
acknowledging a debt does not discharge an obligation. One may acknowledge his mistakes and wrongdoings, may, in fact, overcome them and live a better life, but he
must carry the burden of past sins until they are discharged by forgiveness.

There are three historical methods of seeking forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ. There are those who believe the sacraments are channels of divine grace
through which men are purified of sin. Those who hold this view teach that men can be saved from sin by the church administering such sacraments as baptism,
confirmation, eucharist, penance, or extreme unction. Others, who also believe in the grace of Deity, teach that grace comes directly to the individual and not through
the mediation of the sacraments of the Church. Those who advocate this doctrine base their belief, as did Martin Luther, on such scripture as Ephesians. "For by grace
are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

"Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph. 2:8-9.) At the basis of both of the above, lies the assumption that man is helpless in his own salvation. It is essentially
the work of Deity, with man's participation being quite incidental.

Some Christian and non-Christian religions teach that salvation from sin is to be achieved by the faith and works of the individual, and they lay exclusive stress on the
moral life of the individual and of society.

The church which I represent teaches that man must avail himself of all three means of salvation: the grace of Deity, the sacraments (ordinances) of the church, and his
own faith and works. None of these has been neglected. Each is indispensable. Although we recognize the importance of all three ways of salvation, the strength of the
Mormon position lies in the fact that the value of the grace of God and the ordinances of the church depend very largely upon the faith and works of the individual.

"We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel." (III Article of Faith.)

The ordinance of baptism is (1) an expression of obedience to the will of God; (2) the doorway or portal to the kingdom, and (3) the means by which men may obtain
remission of sins.

To support our belief that baptism is for the remission of sins and that repentance is a prerequisite, we quote only a few of many passages of scripture on the subject.
Mark records: "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." (Mark 1:4.) Luke declares: "And he [John] came
into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." (Luke 3:3.) "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38.) After Saul of Tarsus had his glorious vision
on the way to Damascus, the Savior directed him to Ananias for further instruction and was immediately told: ". . . Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy
sins." (Acts 22:16.)

It should be unnecessary to quote scripture to prove that baptism is essential to salvation, and yet there are many who question it. They who accept the teachings of
revelation as contained in the Bible should not be confused by the specious arguments of men as the Sacred Record is definite and unambiguous. John the Baptist
informed the people of his day that he had been sent of God to baptize with water and to testify of him who was to come after him who was to baptize with the Holy
Ghost.

Jesus recognized both the importance of the ordinance and the authority of John when Jesus himself submitted to baptism at John's hands. He bore witness to the
importance  of John's
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that the Pharisees and lawyers, who had refused John's baptism had ". . . Rejected the counsel of God against themselves. . . ." (Luke 7:30.) Even though the ordinance
of baptism is simple, refusing to obey or denying its efficacy is tantamount to rejecting the counsel of God.
Ghost.

Jesus recognized both the importance of the ordinance and the authority of John when Jesus himself submitted to baptism at John's hands. He bore witness to the
importance of John's mission in these words: "Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist. . . ." (Luke 7:28.) He then said
that the Pharisees and lawyers, who had refused John's baptism had ". . . Rejected the counsel of God against themselves. . . ." (Luke 7:30.) Even though the ordinance
of baptism is simple, refusing to obey or denying its efficacy is tantamount to rejecting the counsel of God.

Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus by night to be taught of him and was astonished if not amazed when Jesus said, ". . . Except a man be born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3.) When Nicodemus inquired how a man could be born when he was old, the Savior made it more specific by saying:
"Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5.)

Jesus used a fitting analogy when he likened baptism to birth. When one is completely immersed, he lives, for the moment, in an element of water; when he comes forth
from that element, he gasps for breath even as does the infant at the moment of birth, and, like the infant, he starts his new life without sin. The infant leaves its former
way of life and is lighted by the spirit. Baptism to be efficacious must be preceded by sincere repentance, turning from the former life, and is followed by the gift of the
Holy Ghost.

Christ left no doubt as to his estimate of the importance of this ordinance. When he commissioned his apostles on the eve of his departure, he said: "Go ye therefore,
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. . . ." (Matt. 28:19-20.)

It is evident that the apostles also appreciated the import of this charge. On the first Pentecost after it was given, when they were so richly endowed with the Holy
Spirit, and when the assembled multitude were "pricked in their hearts" and asked, "What shall we do," Peter specifically instructed them: ". . . Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38.) He announced the law as being of
universal application when he added: "For this promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." (Acts
2:39.)

Christ himself did not claim exemption from this law nor did the Apostle Paul ask for an exception because of his status or the nature of his conversion. After his
miraculous experience and immediate repentance, after he had conversed with the Risen Lord whom he had persecuted, and had been convinced that He was indeed
the Christ, he was still required to submit to this ordinance. And it was the Master himself who directed him to the one who should tell him what to do. Ananias, who
was chosen for this important mission, told Saul to arise and be baptized.

When Jesus declared that without being born of the water and of the spirit, the kingdom could not be seen or entered, he revealed the prerequisites to salvation. By
submitting voluntarily to baptism he subscribed to the law and set an example which all who hope to be with him hereafter, must follow. They must be baptized with the
same baptism of water and of spirit which was received by him at the river Jordan. Here is a case where the King sets the example and points the way to all who would
become subjects and citizens of his kingdom.

Some have demurred because of the simplicity of the ordinance and others have asked why so much importance is attached to it, or why some other method would not
be as good. The same question might be asked by an applicant for citizenship in the United States. The alien may ask: Why is it necessary to comply with the
naturalization laws? Is there not some other way? Perhaps he might add: "I am a special applicant. I am rich, well-born, well-educated, can pay any price you ask; why
submit to a simple ceremony?"

One of the beauties of our form of government is its democracy. The law applies to all, rich and poor alike. The answer to the question "Why" is simply this: It is the
law! And the same answer should suffice for all who seek citizenship in the celestial commonwealth-it is the law, and it applies to all. At the edge of the water both king
and peasant stand on common ground. Crowns and jewels have no significance here, and no one has money enough to buy his way in. The price is within the reach of
the poorest but beyond the grasp of the unrepentant though he have a prince's power and wealth.

The purpose of baptism is to free the soul from sin, to prepare the repentant for the gift of the Holy Ghost which will lead him into all truth. It is an initiatory ordinance,
but it is more than that. It is a covenant we make with our Father in heaven, and it implies mutual obligation, as do all contracts. The applicant promises to forsake sin;
the Lord promises to forgive. The applicant promises to become a true follower of Jesus Christ; and the Lord has promised the gift of the Holy Ghost. Baptism is the
cleansing process by which sin is washed away. Water, of course, cannot of itself wash away sin; but obedience typified by the water, can and does when the
prerequisites have been met and the ordinance properly performed.

He who said to Nicodemus, "Ye must be born again," amplified his remarks by adding, "born of the water and of the spirit." When John the Baptist proclaimed the
Christ, he said: "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." (Mark 1:8.) It was baptism in both instances and baptism signifies
immersion. President Lorenzo Snow said of his own baptism and the effect of the spirit upon him: "It was a complete baptism-a tangible immersion in the heavenly
principle or element, (the gift of) the Holy Ghost." (The Improvement Era, June 1919, p. 654.)

Jesus often spoke of the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the power thereof. After his resurrection he said to his disciples in Judea: ". . . Wait for the promise of the
Father, which . . . ye have heard of me.

"For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." (Acts 1:4-5.) This promise was fulfilled about seven days later
when, on the Day of Pentecost the disciples being assembled with one accord, in one place, "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing wind, and
it filled all the house where they were sitting.

"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:2-4.)

When Peter instructed the pentecostal group on what they must do, he made them a promise that they should receive the Holy Ghost, and furthermore he made the
promise to all who would comply with the conditions, ". . . even as many as the Lord our God shall call." (Acts 2:39.) Jesus made the unqualified statement that unless a
man is born of the Spirit as well as of the water, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Through water baptism one may gain remission of past sins; but even after the sins of the past are forgiven, one is not guaranteed against future temptation. He may be
inclined to yield to some of the fixed habits of the past. He will find constant need of divine aid if he is to be equal to the task of bringing himself into subjection to the
will of God.

Being born of the spirit-receiving the Holy Ghost-confers of man a sanctifying grace, a strength superior to his own, upon which he may call if he is trying to be worthy
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                                                                                                                                                        into a corner any
more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:
will of God.

Being born of the spirit-receiving the Holy Ghost-confers of man a sanctifying grace, a strength superior to his own, upon which he may call if he is trying to be worthy
of it. He said through Isaiah: "And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any
more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

"And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left." (Isa. 30:20-21.)

Let it not be forgotten that the gospel must be preached and its ordinances administered by those having authority from God if such administrations are to have binding
effect on earth or in heaven. "For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for
sins:. . .

"And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." (Heb. 5:1, 4.)

Many instances of divine displeasure are recorded in the Bible where unauthorized men have presumed to act in the name of God, but time will not permit citing them.
You will remember the Master said to his disciples, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit. .
." (John 15:16.)

We call upon all men to give heed to the first principles of the gospel-to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of their sins and forsake them, be baptized by
immersion for the remission of sins, and become eligible for the reception of the Holy Ghost. We call upon all members of the Church who have had these initiatory rites
administered in their behalf to go on unto perfection and not feel secure because of having taken the first step. Satan first tries to deter those who feel impelled to
comply with these ordinances, and if they resist him and become members of the Church, he then whispers to them that all is well, there is nothing more for them to do.
A spirit of complacency is dangerous. Only they who continue to the end shall be saved.

Let us take the advice of the Apostle Peter who said ". . .Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

"And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience Godliness;

"And to Godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." (2 Pet. 1:5-7.)

My prayer is that these things may be in us and abound.

Pioneering Our Second Century

A million members of the Church in almost every land have bowed their heads in prayer and gratitude for the heritage the pioneers left us, while other millions of tourists
have paused here to do them honor.

Much has been said in deserved eulogy of the men and women whose faith and courage sustained them to make the long journey across the plains and over the
mountains. They journeyed not "through" but "into" a wilderness where they established themselves and created their own "Promised Land."

The outstanding leaders who directed this great exodus were men of clear vision and enduring valor. They who were derided, persecuted, expelled from their country
are now extolled as among the greatest men in history. Brigham Young, successor to the prophet founder of the Church and himself a rugged pioneer, an empire
builder, is now heralded as a modern Moses. It took a century of time to get far enough away from his massive stature to get a true perspective. With him were many
other strong and valiant men who were inured to the rigors of pioneer life. We honor them and the brave women who were their companions.

Whence the impetus and inspiration to this great religious trek? There was no promised land, with milk and honey, to beckon them; no prize awaiting them, no friends
to greet them at the end of the journey, except as they might make friends of the red men. There were no flourishing cities whose walls would crumble at the sound of
the trumpet; no Joshua trained in warfare to vanquish foes.

The "cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night" (See Ex. 13:21) were not always visible, but they had the steady light of faith by which they saw their way in darkness;
by its power they were equal to almost superhuman tasks, by its sustenance they endured hunger and privation beyond the limits of mere human fortitude.

Their faith was in Jehovah, the God of Israel. They believed in him and in their destiny with a tenacity which inspired the admiration of even the mobs which drove them
from their country. They believed they were a chosen group, chosen for a difficult task, chosen to make sacrifices, to establish the Church, to preach the gospel, to
usher in the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, and to set up the kingdom of God on earth.

They were men who had faith in God and in themselves, and that faith gave them undiscourageable pluck. They were ruggedly honest; they believed they could not
think crooked and walk straight. Their code of honor required a quality of moral integrity which bound them beyond the limits of mere legal restraints. They were
industrious and imposed upon themselves a discipline which disdained ease and luxury. They had greater pride in the quality of their work than in the financial returns.
They were inventive and self-reliant because necessity was ever in advance of their facilities and appliances. Experience was the mother of their caution, but they were
unafraid of untried methods or unblazed trails; they thought the words, goal and starting place were synonymous. They feared neither man nor devil, but their fear of
God insured them against arrogance. They were humble but never to the point of servility.

They were loyal to their country even when exiled by their countrymen, loyal to their friends without measuring any profits on their friendship, loyal to their God even
when in the furnace of affliction. They were virtuous, both male and female, and esteemed their procreative powers as God-given and therefore sacred; they believed
that unchastity was an affront to their Maker and verged on sacrilege. They believed that God was "the party of the third part" in every marriage covenant and that
unjustified divorce was a violation of a sacred obligation.

Our backward glance reveals one great leader who did not accompany the pioneers on this westward journey. On December 23 we observed the anniversary of his
birth. This man, more than any other, was responsible for the movement that eventuated in the building of the West. The journey westward and the building of
settlements in the Rocky Mountain area were seen by him in vision long before his people left Nauvoo. This man's name has been heard in almost every country in the
world. It has been spoken in derision by many, but today there are one million persons living and another million who have died to whom he is "The Man Who
Communed with Jehovah," Joseph Smith the Prophet.

Eminent contemporaries, who were not members of his Church, predicted that among historical Americans of the nineteenth century, he would be recognized as the
one who exerted the most powerful influence upon the destiny of his countrymen. One of them wrote after visiting him in Nauvoo in 1844: "A man who established a
religion in this
 Copyright   (c) age of free debate,
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disposed of by pelting his memory with unsavory epithets. . .Born in the lowest ranks of poverty, without book learning, and with the homeliest of all human names, he
has made himself at the age of thirty-nine a power upon the earth." (Josiah Quincy, Harvard graduate and Mayor of Boston.)
Communed with Jehovah," Joseph Smith the Prophet.

Eminent contemporaries, who were not members of his Church, predicted that among historical Americans of the nineteenth century, he would be recognized as the
one who exerted the most powerful influence upon the destiny of his countrymen. One of them wrote after visiting him in Nauvoo in 1844: "A man who established a
religion in this age of free debate, who was and is today, accepted by hundreds of thousands as a direct emissary from the Most High, such a human being is not to be
disposed of by pelting his memory with unsavory epithets. . .Born in the lowest ranks of poverty, without book learning, and with the homeliest of all human names, he
has made himself at the age of thirty-nine a power upon the earth." (Josiah Quincy, Harvard graduate and Mayor of Boston.)

To the unprejudiced student this man's achievements are recognized as being far beyond those of ordinary men; in fact, they appear to transcend human powers. While
many have reviled him; while many charges were preferred against him, none of which were ever proved; while his enemies tried to destroy his work and finally killed
him; while, since his death, many men and some women have tried to prove he was a fraud; he stands today more secure in the hearts of his followers, more esteemed
by those who do not agree with his religious views, than ever before.

If judged alone by his accomplishments in what men call the practical affairs of life, he was an outstanding man. He was responsible for the building of a great city which
was, at the time, the most beautiful in the state of Illinois. He held high political offices with dignity. He established an economic system which today is the admiration of
a world which is in economic chaos. He managed men as few men have done, and though surrounded by many who were strong leaders themselves, he was always
their prophet, seer, president, and acknowledged leader.

If judged by his literary contributions to the world, he is unique in that much of what he wrote is regarded by at least one million souls as the Word of God. He gave us
the Book of Mormon which, one hundred years after its publication, is still a best seller and is still baffling the literary critics.

While in England recently I received a letter from a noted professor of English literature asking, "Who wrote the Book of Mormon? Do not tell me," he said, "that it was
written by Joseph Smith or any of his associates. None of them could have written it; it is a work far beyond their capacity. Who was the author?" I replied, of course,
that Joseph Smith did not claim to be its author, that he was the inspired translator of an ancient record.

The volume known as the Doctrine and Covenants is accepted by all members of the Church as scripture, and they regard the Prophet as the instrument through whom
it came. There have been many great authors, poets, philosophers, dramatists, and some of them have written classics, but where is the modern author whose writings
are regarded as revelations from the Lord?

In this volume there are a lofty style, inspired content, profound thought, and spiritual quality which are consistent with its claim to be the Word of God. The following
paragraph indicates that the writer, who had little formal education, was drawing from a source beyond himself:

"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 exercise unrighteous dominion. . .

"No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love
unfeigned;

"By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile-" (D&C 121:39-42.)

Although deprived of the benefits of early schooling Joseph Smith was a consistent advocate of education and gave to it a religious incentive by declaring: "The glory of
God is intelligence, or, in other words light and truth." (D&C 93:36) and again, "man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge. . ." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph
Smith, p. 217.) Just after his twenty-seventh birthday he received a revelation which is known as D&C 88 of the Doctrine and Covenants from which we quote a
paragraph:

"Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that
pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand: "Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been,
things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the
judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms-

"That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling where-unto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned
you." (D&C 88:78-80.)

We must look back, then, before the days of 1847 to find the inspiration for the great social and religious innovation which resulted in the exodus of twenty thousand
people from the borders of "the land of the free," and in the settling, by the refugees, of the wastelands beyond her boundaries; for the inextinguishable faith in and
devotion to the Constitution of the United States which they believed was an inspired document; for the heroic loyalty which caused them to raise the Stars and Stripes
over a barren area adjacent to but not then part of their own United States.

Brigham Young, great and valiant as he was, repeatedly declared that he was but a disciple of Joseph Smith who was the first prophet, seer, and revelator of this
dispensation. The pioneers regarded Joseph Smith as the most important figure in the Church. He was its organizer under divine direction; through him the main body of
doctrine for the guidance of the Church was revealed.

In retrospect we see heroic men and women of the same caliber as the great leaders of ancient Israel. The hallmark of their faith was stamped upon everything they did.
They believed with a sincerity, a deep-rooted conviction, a high sense of privilege, and a dauntless tenacity. Creative beliefs were their stock in trade.

And so let us turn from retrospect to prospect; from the backward to the forward look; from history to prophecy. Let us seriously ask ourselves, "What of the future?"

Let us decide what we must at all costs conserve and carry over into that future. Though we may not be able to see far, we are convinced that no generation ever faced
a more staggering responsibility.

We shall be dealing with the destiny of nations. We shall need to believe in God with a zeal comparable to theirs; we shall need their vision of human destiny plus the
valor to follow that vision if we hope to be recognized as true descendants of the pioneers. We must believe, with them, in the Old Testament exhortation, "Keep thy
heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." (Prov. 4:23.)

Faith, redemptive, rational faith is more important to our future than is the question of our economic resources. We must bequeath it to our sons and daughters if they
are to survive the atomic age. We must teach them how to release the energy which is packed in the human soul, and then how properly to direct and control that
energy, on the basis of the highest Christian concepts, if the race itself is to be saved from disintegration. In great spiritual conviction lies the hope of civilization.
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Scientific inventions and discovery may modify our thinking in some fields, but if we depart from the fundamental concepts which made our fathers great, we shall fail, in
spite of our knowledge of facts, our perfected techniques, our undreamed-of power. Pioneering our second century will be pioneering on a grand scale, but it will call
for the simple, inner faith, the sturdy endurance, the eternal vigilance which conquered the desert.
Faith, redemptive, rational faith is more important to our future than is the question of our economic resources. We must bequeath it to our sons and daughters if they
are to survive the atomic age. We must teach them how to release the energy which is packed in the human soul, and then how properly to direct and control that
energy, on the basis of the highest Christian concepts, if the race itself is to be saved from disintegration. In great spiritual conviction lies the hope of civilization.

Scientific inventions and discovery may modify our thinking in some fields, but if we depart from the fundamental concepts which made our fathers great, we shall fail, in
spite of our knowledge of facts, our perfected techniques, our undreamed-of power. Pioneering our second century will be pioneering on a grand scale, but it will call
for the simple, inner faith, the sturdy endurance, the eternal vigilance which conquered the desert.

It is a high privilege to witness the end of an epoch and the birth of an age. May He who guided both ancient and modern Israel sustain and direct us that we may have
faith in him, in ourselves, and in our destiny.

The Test of Faith

In the sixth chapter of Micah we read: "Where-with shall I come before Jehovah and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offering, with
calves of a year old?

"Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of
my soul?

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah
6:6-8.)

Much of the criticism of the churches is summarized by Professor Rauschenbusch in the following paragraph; "Religion in the past has spent a large proportion of its
force in doings that were apart from the real business of life; on sacrificing, on endless prayers, on traveling to Mecca, Jerusalem or Rome, on kissing sacred stones,
bathing in sacred rivers, climbing sacred stairs and a thousand things that had at best only an indirect bearing on the practical social relations between men and their
fellows."

Since its organization the Church has carried on a campaign of constructive criticism of existing conditions, ever seeing what is in the light of what ought to be. Its
standards of personal and social living are erected upon the foundation of revealed truth concerning the purposes of life and man's relationship to Deity. Its whole
organization is harnessed to the task of bringing about an ideal social order based upon economic, social, ethical, and spiritual values, comprehended in the gospel of
Jesus Christ and designated by him "the kingdom of God."

In the Old Testament one finds many challenging arraignments of social behavior and severe indictments of those who relied upon their observance of forms and
ceremonies to gain favor with God. The Prophet Samuel asked, "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?"
and he answers, "Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." (1 Sam. 15:22.) Isaiah in his first chapter makes the same appeal; "To
what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood
of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

"Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me. . .

"Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

"Learn to do well: seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. . .woe unto them that call evil good and good evil. . ." (Isa. 1:11, 13,
16-17, 5:20.)

The Church has maintained its vitality and justified its claim to prophetic leadership by coming to grips with the fundamental issues of personal and social living. Its
activities are in the arena where spiritual ideals clash with the forces which would limit or frustrate human values. From its point of view, standards and institutions are
means for the realization of ends. These ends have always to do with persons. Individuals are valued higher than traditional beliefs, formulas, and rituals. When Jesus
was criticised for infraction of laws and precedents regarding the Sabbath, he replied that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. Through its
welfare plan, the Church is preparing to help meet the economic problems which the signs of the times indicate will follow the present international crisis. Through its
Relief Societies it is playing the role of Good Samaritan in many of the nations and its missionary system carries the gospel of material and spiritual salvation to the
world.

While the priests of his day were insisting upon conformity to the law of Moses, Jesus was concerned with individuals and social institutions, with human and spiritual
values, with the more abundant life, and with a reconstructed social order. A new way of life for men meant more to him than ancient laws and authoritative precedents.
He asked men to submit his doctrines to the test of experience. "If any man will do his will he shall know. . . . " (John 17:17.)

Christ's arraignment of the scribes and Pharisees was a direct and trenchant criticism of the spiritless letter of the law. He instructed his followers to be law-abiding and
to respect the authorities, but he always stressed the need of personal righteousness. Note his words as recorded in the twenty-third chapter of Matthew. ". . .The
scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat;

"All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works; for they say and do not,. . .

"Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut the kingdom of heaven against men. . . .

"Ye make clean the outside of the cup and the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess." (Matt. 23:2-3, 13, 25.)

That the sincerity and effectiveness of one's religion may not be judged solely by meticulous observance of some favored requirement of the law is evidenced by his
chiding of the professors of his day. ". . .For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith;
these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." (Matt. 23:23.)

His emphasis was ever upon the kind of life the individual lived and his relations with his fellows, rather than upon their regularity in making sacrificial offerings. He
pointed out that man's standing with God could not be approved at the altar if his human relations were not right. "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there
rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." (Matt. 5:23-24.)
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In his Sermon on the Mount he drew attention many times to the sharp contrast between the "eye for an eye" rule of ancient Israel and the kind of life contemplated in
his gospel. How familiar and impressive are his oft-repeated words; "Ye have heard that it has been said by them of old. . . .
rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." (Matt. 5:23-24.)

In his Sermon on the Mount he drew attention many times to the sharp contrast between the "eye for an eye" rule of ancient Israel and the kind of life contemplated in
his gospel. How familiar and impressive are his oft-repeated words; "Ye have heard that it has been said by them of old. . . .

"But I say unto you. . . ." (Matt. 5:21-22.) And in each case he called for a higher ethical standard of conduct than the old law required.

In his first appearance in this dispensation Jesus renewed his indictment of all professors of religion who relied upon tradition, dogmas, ceremonies, and lip service to
effect their salvation. "They draw me near with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. . .they have a form of godliness but they deny the power thereof." After this
denunciation of existing conditions he raised again his standard of values and called for a complete reconstruction, a new way of life.

The gospel teaches us to see the life of man as a whole, to view it in the light of eternity, and in that light to criticize its values. The gospel spirit penetrates through form
and pretence and reveals to the person that is, the kind of person he might become; reveals to the society we have the kind of society we might have.

Jesus saw all people in the light of their possibilities and with his revelation of themselves they were stirred to greater effort and better living. He revealed to the woman
in the street that which was fine in her while other men saw only the obvious. He saw the better self in an outraged father welcoming his repenting prodigal son in whom
he still believed. He gave hope to the thief on the cross when he would have had no hope. He carried active practical religion, the gospel of help, to the top of calvary,
and from the cross taught men to conquer fear. After Eastern morn the Resurrected Lord met Peter; John, and Thomas and others of his followers at the sea of Tiberias
where he instructed these fishermen how to catch fish and then prepared and served them a meal. They recognized their master because he was still serving even though
all power had been given him in heaven and in earth.

We must have faith if we would be truly religious, for without it there would be no incentive for action. Faith in God as our Father, the Creator of all that is inspires faith
in ourselves as his children. Faith in the immortality of the soul inspires faith that the scheme of things, the plan of life, is broader than the valley of mortality and will
continue and be consummated in eternity. Such faith is needed to produce the kind of courage necessary to meet the present clash between the forces of good and evil.
Conviction, if it is to endure, must be converted into action. The gospel plan calls for man's co-operation with God in his avowed purpose to bring to pass the
immortality and eternal life of man. "Heaven itself waits upon human effort." The gospel is designed to help us meet and solve the problems of life and calls for active
participation in its activities.

"Heaven is not reached by a single bound; but we build the ladder by which we rise from the lowly earth to the vaulted skies, as we mount to its summit round by
round." True religion requires every man to make an honest effort to gain economic independence; it condemns idleness, selfishness, greed, and calls for active co-
operation with one's fellows, which is a fruit of his doctrine "love thy neighbour."

Active religion deals not with one department of human activities and values alone but sees man as immortal, filled with spiritual purpose and goodwill. It is not just a
creed or a profession; it leads to an evaluation of all of life's experiences. Piety must include goodness; faith must involve justice; and true worship grows out of
brotherly kindness. The religious man can not be a social isolationist. If he follows the Master, he will seek contact with his fellows through all the avenues by which life
may be approached. He must keep abreast of the times else his religion will become static and punctilious, losing the vitality of growth. Religion must not only be active
but progressive as well for the good life which ceases to grow ceases to be good. If one keeps aloof from the practical affairs of life and does not have proper social
contacts, he will become mystic; he will lose contact with reality and lack that charity which comes from sympathetic understanding of human problems. How can a man
love God whom he has not seen if he does not love his brother whom he has seen?

Through religion men get faith, insight, hope, conviction by which they gain that spiritual ascendancy which is the mark of the true Christian, whose faith is evidenced by
service and who, being not 'a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word shall be blessed in his deed.

  1 The Wrestle of Religion with Truth-Wieman.

  * For a complete discussion of this subject see, The Gospel, by B. H. Roberts.

  * The above is paraphrased from a treatise by Dr. Lowell L. Bennion.

Section II Building a Secure Faith

Pause on the brink of decision and compare costs with value.

The Profile of a Prophet

I should like to be a witness in support of the proposition that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in our day and that this is his Church which was organized
under his direction through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I should like to give some reasons for the faith I have and for my allegiance to the Church. Perhaps I can do this
more effectively by referring to an interview I had in London, England in 1939, just before the outbreak of the war. I had met a very prominent English gentleman, a
member of the House of Commons, formerly one of the justices of the supreme court of England. In my conversations with this gentleman on various subjects,
"vexations of the soul" he called them, we talked about business and law, about politics, international relations, and war, and we frequently discussed religion. He called
me on the phone one day and asked if I would meet him at his office and explain some phases of the gospel. He said, "I think there is going to be a war. If there is, you
will have to return to America, and we may not meet again." His statement regarding the imminence of war and the possibility that we would not meet again proved to
be prophetic. When I went to his office, he said he was intrigued by some things I had told him. He asked me to prepare a brief on Mormonism and discuss it with him
as I would discuss a legal problem. He said, "You have told me that you believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet. You have said to me that you believe that God the
Father and Jesus of Nazareth appeared to Joseph Smith. I cannot understand how a barrister and solicitor from Canada, a man trained in logic and evidence could
accept such absurd statements. What you tell me about Joseph Smith seems fantastic, but I wish you would take three days at least to prepare a brief and permit me to
examine it and question you on it."

I suggested that we proceed at once to have an Examination for Discovery, which is briefly a meeting of the opposing sides in a lawsuit where the plaintiff and
defendant, with their attorneys, meet to examine each other's claims and see whether they can find some area of agreement and thus save the time of the court later on.

I said perhaps we could see whether we had some common ground from which we could discuss my "fantastic ideas." He agreed to that quite readily.

I can only give a condensed and abbreviated synopsis of the three-hour conversation which followed. I began by asking, "May I proceed, sir, on the assumption that
you  are a Christian?"
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"I am."
I said perhaps we could see whether we had some common ground from which we could discuss my "fantastic ideas." He agreed to that quite readily.

I can only give a condensed and abbreviated synopsis of the three-hour conversation which followed. I began by asking, "May I proceed, sir, on the assumption that
you are a Christian?"

"I am."

"I assume you believe in the Bible-the Old and New Testament?"

"I do!"

"Do you believe in prayer?"

"I do!"

"You say that my belief that God spoke to a man in this age is fantastic and absurd?"

"To me it is."

"Do you believe that God ever did speak to anyone?"

"Certainly, all through the Bible we have evidence of that."

"Did he speak to Adam?"

"Yes."

"To Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Joseph, and on through the prophets?"

"I believe he spoke to each of them."

"Do you believe that contact between God and man ceased when Jesus appeared on the earth?"

"No, such communication reached its climax, its apex at that time."

"Do you believe that Jesus was the Son of God?"

"He was."

"Do you believe, sir, that after Jesus was resurrected a certain lawyer, who was also a tentmaker by the name of Saul of Tarsus, when on his way to Damascus, talked
with Jesus of Nazareth, who had been crucified, resurrected, and had ascended into heaven?"

"I do."

"Whose voice did Saul hear?"

"It was the voice of Jesus Christ, for he so introduced himself."

"Then, my Lord, (that is the way we address judges in the British Commonwealth) my Lord, I am submitting to you in all seriousness that it was standard procedure in
Bible times for God to talk to men."

"I think I will admit that, but it stopped shortly after the first century of the Christian era."

"Why do you think it stopped?"

"I can't say."

"You think that God hasn't spoken since then?"

"I am sure he hasn't."

"There must be a reason, can you give me a reason?"

"I do not know."

"May I suggest some possible reasons: Perhaps God does not speak to men anymore because he cannot. He has lost the power."

"He said, "Of course that would be blasphemous."

"Well, then if you don't accept that, perhaps he doesn't speak to men because he doesn't love us anymore. He is no longer interested in the affairs of men."

"No," he said, "God loves all men, and he is no respecter of persons."

"Well, then, if he could speak, and if he loves us, then the only other possible answer as I see it is that we don't need him. We have made such rapid strides in science,
we are so well-educated, that we don't need God any more."

And then he said, and his voice trembled as he thought of impending war, "Mr. Brown, there never was a time in the history of the world when the voice of God was
needed as it(c)
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                2005-2009,  Perhaps you  can Corp.
                                      Media  tell me why he doesn't speak."                                                                      Page 29 / 104
My answer was, "He does speak, he has spoken; but men need faith to hear him."
we are so well-educated, that we don't need God any more."

And then he said, and his voice trembled as he thought of impending war, "Mr. Brown, there never was a time in the history of the world when the voice of God was
needed as it is needed now. Perhaps you can tell me why he doesn't speak."

My answer was, "He does speak, he has spoken; but men need faith to hear him."

Then we proceeded to prepare what I may call a "profile of a prophet."

Perhaps you would like to amplify what I must condense here-use your own standard of a prophet and see whether Joseph Smith measures up.

We agreed, that at least the following characteristics should distinguish a man who claims to be a prophet:

A. He will boldly claim that God has spoken to him.

B. Any man so claiming would be a dignified man with a dignified man with a dignified message: no table-jumping, no whisperings from the dead, no clairvoyance, but
an intelligent statement of truth.

C. Any man claiming to be a prophet of God would declare his message without fear, and without making any weak concessions to public opinion.

D. If he were speaking for God, he could not make concessions although what he taught would be new and contrary to the accepted teachings of the day. A prophet
bears witness to what he has seen and heard and seldom tries to make a case by argument. His message, not he himself, is important.

E. Such a man would speak in the name of the Lord saying, "Thus saith the Lord," as did Moses, Joshua, and others.

F. Such a man would predict future events in the name of the Lord and they would come to pass, as did Isaiah, Ezekiel, and others.

G. He would have not only an important message for his time, but also often a message for all future time, such as had Daniel, Jeremiah, and others.

H. He would have courage and faith enough to endure persecution and to give his life, if need be, for the cause he espoused, i. e., Peter, James, Paul, et al.

I. Such a man would denounce wickedness fearlessly. He would generally be rejected and persecuted by the people of his time, but later generations, the descendants
of his persecutors, would build monuments in his honor.

J. He would be able to do superhuman things, things that no man could do without God's help. The consequence or result of his message and work would be
convincing evidence of his prophetic calling . . .by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt. 7:20.)

K. His teachings would be in strict agreement with scripture, and his words and his writings would become scripture. "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will
of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Pet. 1:21.)

Now, I have given but an outline which you can fill in and amplify and then measure and judge the Prophet Joseph Smith by the words and stature of other prophets.

As a student of the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith for more than fifty years, I say that by these standards Joseph Smith qualifies as a prophet of God.

I believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God because he talked like a prophet. He was the first man since the apostles of Jesus Christ were slain to make the claim
which prophets have always made: that God had spoken to him. He lived and died like a prophet. I believe he was a prophet of God because he gave to this world
some of the greatest of all revelations. I believe that he was a prophet of God because he predicted many things which have come to pass; things which only God could
bring to pass.

John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, declared, ". . .the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Rev. 19:10.) If Joseph Smith had the testimony of Jesus, he had the
spirit of prophecy, and if he had the spirit of prophecy, he was a prophet. I submitted to my friend, that as much as any man who ever lived, the Prophet Joseph had a
testimony of Jesus for, like the apostles of old, he saw him and heard him speak, and like them he gave his life for that testimony. I challenge any man to name one who
has given more evidence of the divine calling of Jesus Christ than did the Prophet Joseph Smith.

I believe the Prophet Joseph Smith was a prophet because he did many superhuman things. One was translating the Book of Mormon. Some people will not agree, but
I submit that the Prophet Joseph Smith in translating the Book of Mormon did a superhuman work. I ask anyone to undertake to write a story on the ancient inhabitants
of America. Write as he did without any source material. Include in the story fifty-four chapters dealing with wars, twenty-one historical chapters, fifty-five chapters on
visions and prophecies, and, remember, when the writer begins to write on visions and prophecies he must have the record agree meticulously with the Bible. He must
write seventy-one chapters on doctrine and exhortation, and, here too, he must check every statement with the scriptures or he will be proved to be a fraud. He must
write twenty-one chapters on the ministry of Christ and everything the writer claims Jesus said and did and every testimony he writes in the book about him must agree
absolutely with the New Testament.

I ask, would anyone like to undertake such a task? I point out too that he must employ figures of speech, similes, metaphors, narration, exposition, description, oratory,
epic, lyric, logic, and parables. I ask the writer to remember that the man who translated the Book of Mormon was a young man and he hadn't had the opportunity of
schooling that many today have had and yet he dictated that book in just a little over two months and made very few, if any, corrections. For over one hundred years,
some of the best students and scholars of the world have been trying to prove from the Bible that the Book of Mormon is false, but not one of them has been able to
prove that anything the Prophet wrote was not in strict harmony with the scriptures, with the Bible, with the Word of God.

The Book of Mormon not only declares on the title page that its purpose is to convince Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, but this truth is the
burden of its message. In Third Nephi it is recorded that multitudes of people testified, "We saw him, we felt of his hands and his side, we know he is the Christ." (See
3 Ne. 11:14-15.)

Joseph Smith undertook and accomplished other superhuman tasks; among them I list the following: He organized the Church. (I call attention to the fact that no
constitution effected by human agency has survived one hundred years without modification or amendment, even the Constitution of the United States. The basic law or
constitution of the Church has never been altered.) He undertook to carry the gospel message to all nations, which is a superhuman task still in progress. He undertook,
by divine command, to gather thousands of people to Zion. He instituted vicarious work for the dead and built temples for that purpose. He promised that certain signs
should follow the believers, and there are thousands of witnesses who certify that this promise has been fulfilled.
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I said to my friend, "My Lord, I cannot understand you saying to me that my claims are fantastic. Nor can I understand why Christians who claim to believe in Christ
would persecute and put to death a man whose whole purpose was to prove the truth of the things they themselves were teaching, namely that Jesus is the Christ. I
constitution effected by human agency has survived one hundred years without modification or amendment, even the Constitution of the United States. The basic law or
constitution of the Church has never been altered.) He undertook to carry the gospel message to all nations, which is a superhuman task still in progress. He undertook,
by divine command, to gather thousands of people to Zion. He instituted vicarious work for the dead and built temples for that purpose. He promised that certain signs
should follow the believers, and there are thousands of witnesses who certify that this promise has been fulfilled.

I said to my friend, "My Lord, I cannot understand you saying to me that my claims are fantastic. Nor can I understand why Christians who claim to believe in Christ
would persecute and put to death a man whose whole purpose was to prove the truth of the things they themselves were teaching, namely that Jesus is the Christ. I
could understand their persecuting Joseph if he had said, I am Christ, or if he had said, There is no Christ, or if he had said someone else is Christ, then Christians
believing in Christ would be justified in opposing him. But what he said was, He whom ye claim to serve, declare I unto you. Paraphrasing what Paul said in Athens,
`Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.' (Acts 17:23.) Joseph said to the Christians of his day, `You claim to believe in Jesus Christ. I testify
that I saw him and I talked with him. He is the Son of God. Why persecute me for that?'"

When Joseph came out of the woods, he had learned at least four fundamental truths, and he announced them to the world: first, that the Father and the Son are
separate and distinct individuals; secondly, that the canon of scripture is not complete; third, that man was created in the bodily image of God; and fourth, the channel
between earth and heaven is open, and revelation is continuous.

The judge sat and listened intently, he asked some very pointed and searching questions; and at the end of the period he said, "Mr. Brown, I wonder if your people
appreciate the import of your message: do you?" He said, "If what you have told me is true, it is the greatest message that has come to this earth since the angels
announced the birth of Christ."

This was a judge speaking, a great statesman, an intelligent man. He threw out the challenge, "Do you appreciate the import of what you say?" He added: "I wish it
were true. I hope it may be true. God knows it ought to be true. I would to God," he said, and he wept as he said it, "that some man could appear on the earth and
authoritatively say, Thus saith the Lord."

As I intimated, we did not meet again. I have brought forward very briefly some of the reasons why I believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. But undergirding
and overarching all that, I say from the very center of my heart that by the revelations of the Holy Ghost I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. While these
evidences and many others that could be cited may have the effect of giving one an intellectual conviction, only by the whisperings of the Holy Spirit can one come to
know the things of God. By those whisperings I say I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. I thank God for that knowledge and pray for his blessings upon all
of you.

Brigham Young University

Hail to the Prophet

"How prudently most men sink into nameless graves, while now and then a few forget themselves into immortality."

Standing on time's hill number 1944, we look back across the valley of the century and see the name Carthage 1844 on the distant hillside. In the valley which lies
between these hills there are buried many dreams and schemes, hopes and ambitions, plans and plots, with the bones of the men who were their authors. The mist of
time hides much that is buried there, but towering above that mist may be seen the giant forms of the few who were truly great.

We are again reminded that these, with those of other ages who dared to be above the average, were derided and reviled by the generation in which they lived. That
the little men of their time in an effort to pull them back and down to their own rank and level sent them to a martyr's grave.

One of the most persistent lessons of the past, repeated to each generation but not yet learned, is that man's judgment of his contemporary fellow man is generally
unjust, and will be reversed by the higher and unerring court of time. These little men in their attempt to justify their hasty judgment often misconstrue the facts, falsify the
record, suborn witnesses, and disregard the law. The decisions of the higher court, which always hears the case immediately upon appeal, may not be published until
after the appellant has left the jurisdiction of the lower court, but published they will always be showing undeviating and omniscient justice.

Distance brings things into focus, and when time clears the lens of prejudice, which distorts the image and makes a travesty of truth, great souls come into their own,
and we build monuments to their memories. Looking back, we see the pigmies as they strut and beat upon their breasts, usurp and abuse authority and attempt to
emphasize their own importance. Jealous and suspicious of all whose greater stature casts a shadow across ambition's path or whose teachings challenge the value and
validity of what their self-seeking impels them to worship, they try to steady their tottering throne by martyrdom and murder.

The political leaders of the days of Christ were fawned upon by their lackeys for the favors which they could bestow, but later generations know of them only because
of the shameful contrast to the true greatness of the Master. He transformed the cross on which they nailed him into a throne from which he will rule the world. Paul in a
dungeon, when seen through the telescope of time, looms larger than Nero on his gilded throne.

And so on the twenty-seventh day of June-another day made red by infamy-we remember the great prophet of the latter days, who knowing that the death of the
testator must be the seal upon the testament, with the calmness of the summer morning declared his innocence, predicted the judgment of future generations, and went
fearlessly to his death.

What was the crime for which these Christians sought his life? What was the reason for their hate? He simply tried to teach them the gospel as it was taught by him of
whom he testified and whom they professed to serve. He said he had seen a vision and heard a voice and that he knew of a surety that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed
the Son of God, the Savior of the world.

He translated and published a book which throughout proclaims the truth that there is no other name under heaven by which man can be saved except the name of
Jesus Christ. On the title page of that book he dared to say: "Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and revelation-to come forth by the
gift and power of God-to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers-and also to the convincing of the Jew and
Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God."

He gave the world two other books of scripture: one a series of revelations commanding all men to repent and serve the Living God and the other a translation of
ancient writings in strict harmony with and in language like the Bible, telling of God's hand dealings with the ancients and declaring it to be, "His work and his glory to
bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of men."

He organized a Church, founded on faith in God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, and accepting the atonement of Christ as effective in redeeming men from sin
when they are willing to obey his teachings. That Church, organized with only six members, under adverse conditions, has been the object of the worst persecution in
modern times. Its members were driven many times from their homes, deprived of their belongings, banished into a wilderness, mobbed, driven, beaten, and many of
them  slain. Its
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and practices held up to ridicule and denounced by press and pulpit. In the face of all this that Church has grown steadily in numbers and influence, until today with
more than a million members it is known throughout the world as a vital factor in the moral, religious, and economic life of the nation where it was founded, and its
teachings accepted by independent thinking men in thirty one of the other nations to which its message has gone.
He organized a Church, founded on faith in God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, and accepting the atonement of Christ as effective in redeeming men from sin
when they are willing to obey his teachings. That Church, organized with only six members, under adverse conditions, has been the object of the worst persecution in
modern times. Its members were driven many times from their homes, deprived of their belongings, banished into a wilderness, mobbed, driven, beaten, and many of
them slain. Its property was confiscated, its appeals to the government disregarded or disallowed, its officials imprisoned, and some of them murdered, and its teachings
and practices held up to ridicule and denounced by press and pulpit. In the face of all this that Church has grown steadily in numbers and influence, until today with
more than a million members it is known throughout the world as a vital factor in the moral, religious, and economic life of the nation where it was founded, and its
teachings accepted by independent thinking men in thirty one of the other nations to which its message has gone.

He had only twenty years of mature life in which to accomplish his mission, but in that time he so effectively ploughed his teachings into the consciousness of his
generation that his enemies now call him great and his followers know him to be a prophet of Isaiah's stature, and a leader like unto Moses. His adopted system of
revenue, tithing, his law of health, the word of wisdom, his economic sagacity and foresight, anticipating the calamities which almost engulfed the nations, his proposed
solution of the slave problem, and his predictions about war, these and many other of his accomplishments proclaim him to be the great Prophet of the nineteenth
century.

And yet he suffered a martyr's fate after thirty-eight years of stormy life in a world which welcomed him not, in a country which boasted of its religious freedom and at
the hands of professed followers of the same Master to whom he dedicated his life. We may well ask when the world will get the wisdom to recognize the prophets
while they live instead of slaying them and building monuments to the dead. Here is another prophet who was without honor in his own country while he lived but who is
now heralded as a messenger sent of God. We honor and revere the name of Joseph Smith the Prophet.

Millennial Star

A Book You Should Read-and Why

More than one hundred years ago a book was published in America which excited more comment than any book of its time. It was taken to England and other
European nations, and each year sees new editions published. It has been published in eighteen different languages, and today is being read in English, Danish, German,
French, Italian, Maori, Dutch, Samoan, Tahitian, Turkish, Japanese, Czechoslovakian, Arabic, Armenian, and Finnish.

For over one hundred years it has maintained its popularity, and as time goes on the demand increases. This book and its messages have caused the publication of
thousands of other volumes attacking and defending it.

Today this book is being read by thousands who esteem it as scripture. To more than a million people it has ranked with the Bible in interest, influence, and inspiration.

And now you ask, "What is this book? How does it hold its grip on so large a reading public? Whence its power and influence? Is it history or biography, adventure,
science, or philosophy; is it poetry or prose? Has it an ancient or a modern setting? Is it worth my reading?"

Decidedly yes, regardless of your choice of literature, for this book contains all the above and more. It is both ancient and modern, being a message addressed to
modern men by ancient writers. It gives the sacred and political history of two great nations over a period of more than one thousand years. Here you will find inspiring
biographies of heroic men; here, too, is great adventure, inspired and directed by God himself. Here is sublime poetry and compelling prose both in biblical style. In this
book you will find description, exposition, oratory, lyric, logic, parables, a marvelous philosophy; and, what is more, this book contains the words of God!

To answer this question further we shall turn to the book itself, as we would to any other book, and let it speak for itself. We find this amazing statement on the title
page:

"Written by way of commandment and also by the spirit of prophecy and revelation-Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord. . .to come forth by the gift of
prophecy-The interpretation thereof by the gift of God."

Can you find another book with such a preface?

It claims to be an abridgment of sacred records, some of them dating from the Tower of Babel. Its object is "To convince the world that Jesus is the Christ."

If these arresting claims are justified, then surely here is a book worth reading. Written records dating back to the Tower of Babel-if this be authentic, its value can
hardly be estimated. How such records are appraised is shown by the recent purchase by the British Museum of a single document for $500,000, purported to be an
early copy of a translation of parts of the Bible into the Greek language.

But this book claims to have been written by command of God and under the spirit of prophecy. It claims that it was considered by him to be of such importance that
he personally directed that it be hidden and preserved and that its translation was by the gift and power of God.

If the Lord thought so much of it, what think ye? Its object is to convince the world that Jesus is the Christ. Does the world need convincing? Is the Christianity of today
showing the leadership of which the world is so badly in need?

What would Christians not give for some new witness for the central truth of Christianity-that Jesus is the Christ; if there could be added to the testimony of the New
Testament writers that of others who were his disciples, who walked and talked with him and shared his earthly ministry? This book makes these astounding claims.

He visited others besides the little group in Palestine and they, too, have left a record, including the testimony of a multitude of people to whom he came. A whole
nation speaking from the dust across oceans and continents from where he was born declares him to be the Savior of the world.

While the primary object of this book is to instruct, still it tells a gripping story of high adventure. Here we have a record of great civilizations which developed and
flourished and finally ceased to be. It tells of wars and conflicts and shows again that righteousness exalteth a nation, and that sin is a reproach and leads to death.

It tells an eyewitness story of a final great conflict which resulted in the extermination of all white people. The land was left to their copper-colored brethren, who were
then their mortal enemies. The descendants of these victorious, though misguided, warriors were there to great the first Europeans who landed in America. They were
by then named Indians.

A great unbeliever once said when speaking of men's hopes of immortality, "From the voiceless lips of the unreplying dead there comes no answer"; but here we have a
record which proves the dead to be neither voiceless nor unreplying. Out of the dust they speak with ten thousand tongues, and their voice declares the glory of God.
This book has a message for you.
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This book should challenge your attention, for if it be true, it is the greatest book published since the Bible was given to man. It is the Bible of another people, another
nation. It is a sacred record, preserved and brought forth for the convincing of Jew and Gentile. It is a record of one branch of the House of Israel which is to be joined
with the record of Judah to become one in his hand as predicted by Ezekiel. (Ezek. 37:16-17.) This book is the truth which sprang out of the earth, as righteousness
A great unbeliever once said when speaking of men's hopes of immortality, "From the voiceless lips of the unreplying dead there comes no answer"; but here we have a
record which proves the dead to be neither voiceless nor unreplying. Out of the dust they speak with ten thousand tongues, and their voice declares the glory of God.
This book has a message for you.

This book should challenge your attention, for if it be true, it is the greatest book published since the Bible was given to man. It is the Bible of another people, another
nation. It is a sacred record, preserved and brought forth for the convincing of Jew and Gentile. It is a record of one branch of the House of Israel which is to be joined
with the record of Judah to become one in his hand as predicted by Ezekiel. (Ezek. 37:16-17.) This book is the truth which sprang out of the earth, as righteousness
looked down from heaven. (Ps. 85:11.)

No more heartening message could come to this war-weary world than that God rules in the affairs of men, that the heavens are not sealed, that he made of one blood
all nations that he is no respecter of persons, that in every nation he that feareth him and keepeth his commandments is accepted of him.

This book was not written by any man, but by many men at different times-hence no one man is its author. This book records many prophecies and their fulfillment; it
tells of heavenly manifestations, of earthly upheavals and calamities which bore awful witness in America of the crucifixion of the Son of God. It tells of the visit of the
Master to his other sheep, after his resurrection, and of a golden age of righteousness which followed his ministry.

The concluding writer in this record, the man who compiled it and hid it away, and who, after the lapse of fourteen centuries revealed its hiding place to its translator,
wrote in his concluding chapter these solemn words which are both an exhortation and a promise:

"And when ye shall receive these things, 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." (Moro. 10:4.)

You should read the Book of Mormon.

Millennial Star

Churches - and the Church

When traveling in Europe, one is impressed by the number and beauty of the churches and cathedrals everywhere to be seen. There is hardly a village without its spire
and chimes. In each country there is at least one famous shrine of historic architecture and thrilling history.

One is struck with awe and wonder as he visits St. Peter's in Rome; St. Mark's in Venice; the cathedrals of Pisa, Milan, Florence, Naples, Palermo, Notre Dame,
Antwerp, Cologne; and in England, Westminster Abbey, Canterbury, Salisbury, York, Ely, St. Paul's, Exeter, Durham. But for what do they stand, these mighty
sentinels of the past? What do they mean to this scientific and materialistic age? What is their significance to the present generation.

Are they valuable only because of their history, their architectural and artistic beauty, their irreplaceable windows and their sky-piercing spires; or do they also remind
us of the inspiration which called forth such lavish expenditure and noble toil?

Is the Christianity which these great churches claim to teach still vital in the earth or are they, as someone has suggested, merely "tombs in which lie buried the
embalmed remains of a great religion?"

What of the vital faith and simple life of the One whose teachings inspired the builders of these grand cathedrals and the priceless works of art to be found therein?
What of the doctrines and authority taught and exercised by his apostles for whom many of these are named? Is that ancient faith alive today, or must we forever look
back over a dimly lighted interval to the beacons of apostolic days from which these builders caught their vision?

More important to the present generation than these "memories in stone" is the religion which allegedly was carried from the hills of Galilee into their cloistered walls. Is
that religion being taught therein today, and if so, by what authority?

Has the Master so changed since he taught a simple faith on the hillsides and by the sea that he now requires this great display of wealth and pageantry to attest the faith
of those who would be his followers?

With all true Christians, we express appreciation for the rich and gifted past which gave to us these noble structures. But from humble halls and by the wayside we
declare again the simple story of the gospel of Christ, restored again in its simplicity. It is the gospel of a simple faith in God followed by true repentance and
transformation of life; of water baptism where the repentant sinner may be "buried with him by baptism into death," that they also may walk in a newness of life; the
gospel of the Son of God who promised the gift of the Holy Ghost to true believers.

The gospel is more than a book, more than an organization, more than a temple or cathedral; it is the power of God unto salvation. Without this power, our fine edifices
will never accomplish the work and mission of the church, to save the souls of men. It is that men might hear and embrace the truths of the gospel and learn how to
apply its power that the restored Church of Jesus Christ enunciates its simple truths.

When the Apostle John, banished on the Isle of Patmos, was permitted to view the future of the world, he prophetically declared: "And I saw another angel fly in the
midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the
fountains of waters." (Rev. 14:6-7.)

The message of the angel was to go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. This implies that none of them would have the gospel at that time, and so it was.

We testify that after a long night of spiritual darkness, this angel came and announced the dawn of a new day, a new dispensation. Again is heard ". . . The voice of one
crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." (Matt. 3:3.)

The Apostle Paul, in his day, noted the beginning of the falling away from the gospel of the Master, and he said, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that
called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

"Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

"But though(c)
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brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

"For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." (Gal. 1:6-8; 11-12.)
called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

"Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. . . . But I certify you,
brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

"For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." (Gal. 1:6-8; 11-12.)

As we stand in these mighty cathedrals, listening to their great organs, inspired by their masterpieces of art, we are saddened by the knowledge that within their very
walls may be heard the roar of cannon and the drone of death-dealing bombers with which Christians destroy one another. We are made aware again that the gospel of
the Son of God was taken from the earth, and that the Prince of Peace is being crucified anew.

Oh, that our little magazine had the distribution of the great dailies, that we could carry to the millions of their readers the simple message of the restoration of the gospel
of peace, the gospel of love, the gospel of good-will. We feel to say with the apostle of old, ". . . Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" (1 Cor. 9:16.) In his
words we declare to all who may read this message that they should "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of
righteousness;

"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." (Eph. 6:14-15.)

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

"For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." (1 Cor. 1:18-19.) Surely the nations of the earth
today should heed his warning message, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end
come." (Matt. 24:14.)

For more than one hundred years this witness has gone forth to the nations. Let those whose hearts have been touched thereby seek to carry it to their neighbors that all
may be warned of his coming.

Let us pray and work for the day to come when the world shall become his great cathedral where all may worship and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ-the
King of Kings-the Prince of Peace.

Millennial Star

An Invitation to Belief

There are two activities of the Church which are not only of paramount importance to the members of the Church, but are also of great and increasing interest and
concern to all who hear of them. They have the same objective and the same purpose. They are a part of the everlasting and unchangeable plan of redemption. I speak
of the great missionary work of the Church-the preaching of the gospel-and of the building and operation of temples-to make available to both living and dead the
blessings that come through the performance of the ordinances of the gospel.

The gospel of Jesus Christ makes knowledge of and obedience to law prerequisite to the enjoyment of its blessings. The plan of redemption provides that all the sons of
God must hear the gospel and be given an opportunity to embrace it, directly or vicariously.

The injunction of the Savior, given in Jerusalem and repeated in this day, ". . . Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature," (Mark 16:15) is
imperative. That it must be done before his work can be consummated is evidenced by his further statement, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all
the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Matt. 24:14.)

This gospel of which we speak is a message of goodwill, of glad tidings. It is the way of salvation in this life, and a method of exaltation in the life to come. Furthermore,
it is a message of peace on earth, for which all the world is praying. The Apostle Paul defined it as ". . .the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. . .
." (Rom. 1:16.)

Now if this gospel, this power of God, is to be effective unto the salvation of men, they must believe it, but quoting Paul again, ". . .How shall they believe in him of
whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

"And how shall they preach except they be sent?. . ." (Rom. 10:14-15.)

That the preaching of the gospel is of transcendent importance is evidenced by the fact that it was enjoined in every dispensation from the beginning. Jehovah himself
taught it to Adam who received it and called upon his sons to repent. Enoch and his associates taught it and lived it so effectively that their city was translated, and
Enoch walked with God. "And thus the gospel began to be preached, from the beginning, being declared by holy angels sent forth from the presence of God, and by his
own voice, and by the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Moses 5:58.) For one hundred and twenty years Noah warned the unheeding people of judgments to come. The gospel
was known to Abraham, to Moses, and the prophets.

Jesus of Nazareth, in the Meridian of Time, went about the whole of Galilee teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. (Matt. 4:23.)
Peter taught it, and on the Day of Pentecost epitomized its saving principles in the memorable words, ". . .Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,

". . .For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." (Acts 2:38-39.) He predicted the latter-
day appearance of the Savior saying, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the
presence of the Lord;

"And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

"Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." (Acts
3:19-21.)

We have the same message, and it is taught by the same authority as that which led the apostles to dedicate their lives to it. To carry this message to Jew and Gentile
Paul went from
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knew prison awaited him and where some of his greatest epistles were written. It was in Rome that he gave his life for the cause which he advocated with such
consummate skill. He ended his life with a benediction, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:. . ." (2 Tim. 4:7.)
3:19-21.)

We have the same message, and it is taught by the same authority as that which led the apostles to dedicate their lives to it. To carry this message to Jew and Gentile
Paul went from Jerusalem to Antioch, thence west to Cyprus and Asia Minor, even into Europe, and finally took his long and adventurous journey to Rome where he
knew prison awaited him and where some of his greatest epistles were written. It was in Rome that he gave his life for the cause which he advocated with such
consummate skill. He ended his life with a benediction, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:. . ." (2 Tim. 4:7.)

The early missionaries of this Church, like their predecessors, endured persecution, made many sacrifices, and were willing to die if need be in proclaiming and
defending the gospel of Christ. The prophet founder of the Church, the organizer of the missionary system in this dispensation, was, like Paul of old, tried before many
magistrates and judges, appealed to the highest authority, was imprisoned many times and finally sealed his testimony with his blood.

Believing as we do that this is the same gospel which Jesus taught, that in fact, as Paul said, there is no other gospel and that it must be preached to all the world as a
witness, all Latter-day Saints are or should be missionaries, either at home or abroad. Let him that is warned warn his neighbor.

Since 1830 more than 71,000 men and women have served in foreign mission fields. They are literally carrying out the injunction, "Go ye into all the world." Missions
have been, established in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, North and South America, and in the islands of the sea. We are constantly pushing back the frontiers of the
mission field. Since the British Mission was established in 1837, modern apostles have dedicated many lands and countries for the preaching of the gospel. The last to
be so blessed were Korea, Okinawa, the Philippines and Guam. They were dedicated for this work by President Joseph Fielding Smith in August, 1955.

The weekly broadcasts of the Tabernacle Choir have carried the gospel of goodwill and harmony unto millions during the past twenty-five years. In their recent tour of
Europe, 370 members of the choir sang their way into the hearts of all who heard them. Many were led to say with Isaiah and with Paul, ". . .How beautiful are the feet
of them that preach the gospel of peace. . . ." (Rom. 10:15; cf. Isa. 52:7.)

Other millions of strangers within the gates of Temple Square have learned of the heretofore unpublished chapters of the life of Christ-chapters telling of his visit to his
other sheep on the American continent after his crucifixion in Jerusalem-also of his glorious opening of the last dispensation as he appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith
in 1820.

That the General Authorities of the Church are devoted to this work with self-sacrificing zeal is evidenced by the fact that they traveled in one year a total of more than
756,000 miles.

Let us refer to only a few of the brethren and only part of their travels. President Joseph Fielding Smith traveled over 30,000 miles in his recent tour of the South Pacific
Mission. Elder Lee made a similar journey last year. Elder Kimball has just returned from Europe where he visited fourteen countries and traveled more than 50,000
miles. Elder Mark E. Petersen in his tour of South American missions covered 20,000 miles, and Elder Romney traveled 33,000 miles in visiting Australia, New
Zealand, and other South Pacific countries.

All members of the Council of the Twelve spent their whole time visiting stakes and missions. The members of the First Presidency have been even more active. We all
wonder at and pray for a continuation of their vitality, endurance, and inspiration.

From January 1954 to October 1955 President David O. McKay, in his eighty-third year, visited twenty-five countries on six continents on land, sea, and air journeys
of approximately 100,000 miles.

Our Heavenly Father, in order, as he said, to cut his work short in righteousness, has made available to us such improved facilities of travel and communication as
would have been nothing short of miraculous in the days of Peter and Paul or even to our pioneer fathers. Steamships and airplanes enable us to go further in hours than
they could have gone in months. Radio and television have amplified the voice and made it possible to take the gospel into the homes of the people of almost all nations.

The day may not be far distant when there will be a world-wide re-enacting of the Day of Pentecost on such a colossal scale that people in every land may hear the
message of the gospel, each in his own tongue and at his own fireside. Surely out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He has said, ".
. .he shall utter his voice out of Zion, and he shall speak from Jerusalem, and his voice shall be heard among all people;

"And the Lord, even the Savior, shall stand in the midst of his people, and shall reign over all flesh." (D&C 133:21, 25.)

But is salvation to come only to those now living who accept the gospel or to the few-always a minority-who listened to the prophets in other dispensations? No, the
thought is repugnant to reason, inconsistent with the character and attributes of God. That the preaching of the gospel is not to be limited to mortal beings is attested by
the scripture, "For Christ . . . went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

"Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the day of Noah, while the ark was a preparing,. . ." (1 Pet. 3:18-20.) And further,
"For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the
spirit." (1 Pet. 4:6.)

While the message of the gospel is being carried to them that are dead, the living have for the past 125 years been doing for them what they could not do for
themselves. Jesus said a man must be born of the water and of the spirit before he can see the kingdom of God. This is a universal law applying to all, both living and
dead. Water is a mundane element, and baptism is an earthly ordinance. How then shall the dead comply with the law respecting baptism?

The need and efficacy of the law of agency, of proxy, or vicarious service, was recognized before the world was created. The doctrine of the atonement could not have
become operative unless it were possible for one person to do for another that which the latter could not do for himself. It was under the law of vicarious service that
Christ redeemed us from the fall of Adam, ". . . As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Cor. 15:22.)

Since the Church was organized, more than 15,000,000 saving ordinances have been performed by the living for the dead. New temples are being built in many lands
to facilitate and consummate this stupendous work. The tremendous cost of preaching the gospel to both the living and the dead and making its blessings available is
met largely from the voluntary contributions of the people. The missionary and temple work of the Church is an unequaled mass demonstration of self-sacrificing
service.

Yes, the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to all those that believe. There is a power available to man which, when properly utilized, will result in his salvation.
This power is equal to the task because it is in fact the power of God as Paul declared it to be. Before men can use this power, they must hear, believe, and obey.
There will be no arbitrary use of this power, no force will ever be applied. The keys to its use are faith and intelligent co-operation. Our mission is to declare to the
world, first, that there is such a power; second, to explain the eternal and immutable laws which govern its use; third, to perform authoritatively the ordinances which by
divine decree have been made prerequisite to seeing or entering the kingdom of God; and, fourth, to warn the nations of the calamities which shall be visited upon the
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We preach the same gospel that was taught anciently. We teach it by the same authority. That gospel, and the authority to teach it and administer in its ordinances, was
This power is equal to the task because it is in fact the power of God as Paul declared it to be. Before men can use this power, they must hear, believe, and obey.
There will be no arbitrary use of this power, no force will ever be applied. The keys to its use are faith and intelligent co-operation. Our mission is to declare to the
world, first, that there is such a power; second, to explain the eternal and immutable laws which govern its use; third, to perform authoritatively the ordinances which by
divine decree have been made prerequisite to seeing or entering the kingdom of God; and, fourth, to warn the nations of the calamities which shall be visited upon the
ungodly before the second advent of the Savior.

We preach the same gospel that was taught anciently. We teach it by the same authority. That gospel, and the authority to teach it and administer in its ordinances, was
restored to this earth at the dawn of the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times.

Heavenly Father, wilt thou bless all of us that we too may fight a good fight, may finish the course, may keep the faith.

General Conference

If This be True

We have recently had a number of interviews with representatives of the press who have visited seeking information about the Church and its activities in this country.
We welcome these inquiries and appreciate the friendly and unprejudiced articles which have resulted.

Among the many questions asked there was one which was common to all; it was substantially as follows: "What is the distinguishing feature of your church; how does
it differ from others?"

It is impossible in a brief interview or a short article to outline the distinguishing features of the church. A careful study of "Mormonism" by anyone familiar with the
teachings of other churches will reveal few parallels. It stands in sharp contrast to all others in origin, organization, and doctrine, and is unique in its claims to divine
authority directly conferred by heavenly personages in modern times.

The astounding declaration of the Master, "They are all wrong," made the break both sharp and complete and did away with any possibility of building on either their
foundations or their ruins. The doctrine of the complete and universal apostasy from the church and finally of the church, as founded by the Master in the Meridian of
Time, is recorded in history and admitted by scholars. If the apostasy be not an accomplished fact, then the term "restoration of the gospel" is meaningless.

If this be in fact the Latter-day Church of Jesus Christ, then our study will establish a complete parallel with the former-day Church. New investigators are often
amazed when told that the Church as Christ established it has no successor in Christendom and that the churches are without authority. When we declare our belief in a
universal apostasy and a complete restoration, interest shifts from comparisons to contrasts, and sometimes the interrogator forsakes the attempt to classify the church
with any modern group and recognizes it as distinctive.

The priesthood of the Church is widely conferred upon its male members from the twelve-year-old boy to the patriarch, and thus authority is distributed and
responsibility for church government decentralized. This in turn encourages general participation and insures continuing interest. Also it bridges the gap between clergy
and laity by making them one. It emphasizes the dignity of the individual and the brotherhood of man. It strikes at class distinction and makes vestments, robes, and
pageantry unnecessary. It, in short, restores the simplicity for which the early church was noted, as was evidenced by the presiding fisherman, the preaching tax
collector, the evangelising lawyer, and the recording physician.

The unpaid ministry in the church attracts only those who love the work and are willing to "sell all and follow" (See Luke 18:22.) without hope of monetary reward. The
missionary system with its army of voluntary workers functions in harmony with the Master's injunction to go into all the world and preach the gospel. To see ten
thousand men from all walks of life assembled in a priesthood meeting and to know that hundreds of thousands are active in Church work is quite in contrast to the
female congregations of the modern churches.

The emphasis on the sanctity of the marriage covenant and the blessing of large families, the rejection of the doctrine of celibacy, and the advocacy of the doctrine of
eternal increase mark the Church as different. The building of temples and the teaching of vicarious work for the dead clearly associates the Latter-day and Former-day
Saints.

The church accepts the Bible and other books as scripture and claims divine guidance through continued revelation from God. It believes in miracles and in the efficacy
of prayer for the sick. It teaches the practical gospel of industry and thrift and believes work is a blessing and idleness a reproach.

Fundamental among the differences to be found in any comparison of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with other churches is the concept of Deity. The
idea of a Personal God in form like man is born in the mind of the untutored believer when he reads in Genesis. "So God created man in his own image. . . ." (Gen.
1:27.) This idea is confirmed by Jesus of Nazareth, a member of the Godhead, ministering among men on earth and ascending with his body to take his place on the
right hand of God the Father.

That Jesus Christ is the "Word" mentioned in John in his first chapter is generally accepted, especially by those who read the 14th verse and find, ". . . The World was
made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth." (See John 1:1-14.) Latter-day Saints
believe that the Word, Christ, was with God and was God. Christ has a body, therefore, God has a body, because Christ is God, one of the Godhead. Christians
generally profess belief in the second coming of the Messiah as promised by the "two men in white" who stood by the disciples when he was taken up into heaven. ". . .
This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11.) Latter-day Saints believe he
will come again with his resurrected, glorified body to reign personally upon the earth. Furthermore, they believe his word when he said, ". . . He that hath seen me hath
seen the Father. . ." (John 14:9.), which can have no other meaning than that they are alike.

We believe in the resurrection of the dead and that there are varying degrees of glory awaiting men in the kingdom of God, that all men will come forth from the grave
regardless of the kind of life they lead on earth, that some will come forth to glory and honor and immortality, and some to shame and misery. That "There is one glory
of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory.

"So also is the resurrection of the dead. . . ." (1 Cor. 15:41-42.)

Grace alone is not sufficient for those who would inherit the highest glory, it is for those only who show their faith by their works, who keep the commandments of God
and live righteous lives.

To our friends then we say; the Mormon church is a practical church, caring for the needs of its people here and now. It has the financial law which was practised by
the early church: the law of the tithe. One day each month its members fast and pay to the Church, for the benefit of the poor, the amount which two meals would have
cost. Its theology is based upon the teachings of the Master, who, after advising his followers to ". . .seek first the kingdom. . . ." (Matt. 6:33), reminded them that the
Father  knew(c)
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We welcome investigation; we court inquiry; we seek to be understood; we preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and try to live it. Humbly we bear witness to all men that
the gospel is on the earth with the power of the priesthood among men. We would that all men would come to a knowledge of the truth and receive of the fulness of the
To our friends then we say; the Mormon church is a practical church, caring for the needs of its people here and now. It has the financial law which was practised by
the early church: the law of the tithe. One day each month its members fast and pay to the Church, for the benefit of the poor, the amount which two meals would have
cost. Its theology is based upon the teachings of the Master, who, after advising his followers to ". . .seek first the kingdom. . . ." (Matt. 6:33), reminded them that the
Father knew they had need of "these things."

We welcome investigation; we court inquiry; we seek to be understood; we preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and try to live it. Humbly we bear witness to all men that
the gospel is on the earth with the power of the priesthood among men. We would that all men would come to a knowledge of the truth and receive of the fulness of the
gospel.

Millennial Star

An Analysis of the Church

As one born and reared in the Mormon Church, in fact, representing the fifth generation of membership in that Church, I am glad to outline briefly some of its beliefs
and practices. I shall refer to it as the Mormon Church, although that appellation is but a nickname. It is the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." The word
Mormon comes from the name of a book, in which members of the Church believe; namely, the Book of Mormon. This book, however, is not our Bible, as some have
thought. We accept and teach the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

This Church was organized on the 6th of April, 1830, at Fayette, Seneca County, New York, by six men who claimed to be directed by divine revelation. From this
humble origin, and in the face of the most severe opposition and persecution, it has grown and made its influence felt throughout the world.

After its organization in New York, the Church was established in Ohio in 1831, where the city of Kirtland was built. The members pursued their daily lives in pursuits
common to that frontier country in those early days. Here they built the first temple. Bitter opposition and persecution resulted in the Church moving its center to
Jackson County, Missouri, and from there to Nauvoo, Illinois, where they built a beautiful city in 1839, which in 1845 had become the largest city in the state of Illinois,
having a population of 20,000 souls. Here again they built a temple.

Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church and to its members a prophet of God, was the center of much persecution and mob violence, and finally was martyred in
Carthage jail on the 24th of June, 1844. He was succeeded as president of the Church by Brigham Young, under whose leadership the great migration to Utah was
made.

In spite of what men may think of his creed, informed people today recognize in Brigham Young a great organizer, a great leader, a great pioneer. He is esteemed by
his countrymen today as one of the leading figures in the settlement of the West.

The Saints were established in the midst of what was then a desert, inhabited by Indians and wild beasts. Salt Lake City and the state of Utah were built, and assistance
was given in the settlement of surrounding states. In the face of relentless opposition and hardship a great missionary system was carried on throughout the world,
schools, colleges, and universities were established, making provision for the care of its membership, looking to the economic welfare, and extending help to all needy
within its borders. The activities, the vitality, and the organization of the Church have challenged the admiration of students of modern history.

Herbert Hoover, while president of the United States, appointed a commission on social planning. After a painstaking study of various groups it reported that the
Mormon Church increased its membership by 290 per cent in 27 years, the greatest proportional growth of any church during that period. It is significant and worthy of
note and will doubtless be a surprise to some, that more than 50 per cent of the adult membership of the Church are men.

As might be expected the Church is most populous in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. Its largest membership is in Utah, Idaho, California, Nevada, and
Arizona, but it extends from Canada to Mexico across the western part of America, with large stakes and missions in all the states of the Union, and missions in most
civilized nations including the Pacific Islands.

Where its membership is compact enough to warrant, it is organized into stakes-a word taken from Old Testament history and representing geographical subdivisions
similar to a diocese. These stakes are subdivided into wards, or parishes, there being several, but seldom more than ten wards in a stake. Each ward is presided over
by a bishop who is a high priest in the Church, assisted by two other high priests, known as counselors. With a corps of adult male members, their duty it is to look
after the spiritual and economic welfare of the members residing within their ward. Groups of the male members known as ward teachers are assigned the duty of
visiting all members in the ward regularly, once each month. They carry the messages of the presiding officers of the Church, enquiring of their economic welfare,
encouraging them in the observance of the rules of the Church, teaching them the messages of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and taking from them a report to the bishop of
the ward with any requests they may have for assistance. In this way the ward bishopric is in touch with all ward members and often acts as contact between employers
and those seeking employment.

Each of the stakes above referred to is presided over by a president and two counselors, assisted by twelve high priests known as a high council. These fifteen men
direct the affairs of the Church within the stake. The president of the stake receives from the various bishops of the wards within the stake, monthly, quarterly, and
annual reports showing the spiritual and economic status of all members, as well as statistical reports of the various groups and their activity or participation in Church
work. The stake presidency and members of the high council visit the wards on the Sabbath day and during the week, confer with the authorities thereof, and, have
general jurisdiction of the affairs of the Church within their territory. There are 118 of these stakes in the Church, which, together with the missions, care for the entire
Church membership.

The Church is presided over by a president and two Counselors, assisted by the Council of the Twelve Apostles. With the Presiding Bishopric (three high priests
presiding directly over all the bishops in the Church), and the First Council of the Seventy (seven men who have charge of the seventies of the Church), and the
Presiding Patriarch, these twenty-six men are collectively known as the General Authorities of the Church. They have general jurisdiction over the Church throughout
the world.

Besides these constituted authorities and officers in the priesthood, there are secondary organizations established for moral, educational, and benevolent purposes.
These include the following:

The Primary Association provides for the moral instruction and training of young children.

The Mutual Improvement Association, comprising separate organizations for the sexes, is designed for the education and training of the youth in subjects of practical
interest. Instruction is provided in literature and history, dramatics and music, science and art, the laws of health, and numerous other branches of useful knowledge, and
facilities are provided for recreational activities of wide and varied range.

The Sunday(c)
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Sunday Schools, while primarily designed for the young, are open to all and include kindergarten and parents' classes with all intermediate gradations.

Church schools and seminaries provide for both secular and religious instruction, and range from the grade of the kindergarten to that of the university.
The Mutual Improvement Association, comprising separate organizations for the sexes, is designed for the education and training of the youth in subjects of practical
interest. Instruction is provided in literature and history, dramatics and music, science and art, the laws of health, and numerous other branches of useful knowledge, and
facilities are provided for recreational activities of wide and varied range.

The Sunday School includes graded classes for the study of the scriptures and for training in theology, in moral and religious duties, and in the discipline of the Church.
Sunday Schools, while primarily designed for the young, are open to all and include kindergarten and parents' classes with all intermediate gradations.

Church schools and seminaries provide for both secular and religious instruction, and range from the grade of the kindergarten to that of the university.

The Relief Society is composed of women whose duties relate to the care of the poor and the relief of suffering amongst the afflicted.

Most of these auxiliary organizations function in each ward of the Church, as also in the missions throughout the world. Officers are appointed to preside in the several
auxiliaries of the ward, and while they are under the general supervision of the ward bishopric they look to the stake and general boards of the respective organizations
for detailed instruction as to the plans and methods of their particular work. In line with the principle of common consent, which characterizes the Church administration
in general, officers of the auxiliary institutions, while nominated by or with the approval of the administrative officers of the Priesthood, are sustained in their places by
vote of the members in the local or general units within which they are appointed to serve.

Practically every male member of the Mormon Church belongs to one of two priesthood groups called respectively the Higher or Melchizedek and the Lesser or
Aaronic. In the Lesser, or young men's group, there are three divisions: priests, teachers, and deacons. In the Higher adults are ordained high priests, seventies, and
elders.

The young men of the Church are ordained deacons at the age of twelve if their conduct and mode of life and intelligence warrant their being recommended to the
people of the ward by the bishop. These young deacons are organized into quorums and are presided over by the boys themselves under the direction of the bishopric.
When sixteen years of age, they are ordained teachers, where they have their own quorum and officers. At about nineteen, they pass into the priests' quorum, which is
directly under the supervision of the bishop, but also has its own appointed officers.

Later they become elders-a division of the Melchizedek Priesthood. There are twelve deacons in a quorum, twenty-four teachers, forty-eight priests, and ninety-six
elders. The next higher quorum is the seventies, with a membership of seventy, and presided over by seven of their own group, which in turn is presided over by the
First Council of the Seventy-seven men who are members of the General Authorities. After the seventies comes the High Priests' quorum, which is not limited as to
numbers, but there is only one high priests' quorum to each stake. This quorum is made up chiefly of the older men of the Church and has in its membership all of the
General Authorities as well as stake and ward officers. The high priest is the highest or presiding officer in any of these groups.

Thus it will be seen that the Church organization makes provision for all of its members to belong to and become active members of some group within the Church from
the babe in the Primary and Sunday School, to the older men and women in the Higher Priesthood and the Relief Society. Some of the older men are ordained
patriarchs or evangelists, whose duty it is to go among the people and give them blessings and comfort.

One distinguishing feature of the Church is the fact that there is no paid ministry. Each member serves without pay, except in the cases where men give their entire time
to the work, and then their actual expenses are paid by the Church. Stake presidencies, bishoprics, and all members of the priesthood quorums and the auxiliary
officers work without remuneration. Each member is expected to take active part in the administration of Church affairs. All are bound together by a common purpose
and each is charged with the responsibility of assisting his neighbor and spreading the gospel.

Outside of the organized stakes of the Church, its membership is organized into missions. In the mission the membership is divided into districts and branches. Presiding
over all is the president of the mission who is usually an experienced Church officer. A president is chosen from the membership of each district and branch who acts
with two counsellors and the assistance of officers in the Priesthood and auxiliary groups within the branch and district.

The British Mission includes all of the British Isles. It is divided into fourteen districts, named by their geographical location as follows: Scottish, Irish, Liverpool,
Newcastle, Leeds, Shefield, Hull, Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester, Welsh, Norwich, Bristol and London.

In addition to caring for the needs of the members of the Church in these various missions, a regular system of missionary activity is supervised by the mission president.
From various parts of the Church, young men and women are called by the president of the Church to fill missions in different parts of the world. These young people
go at their own expense and spend two years or more of their time in the mission field without any remuneration whatever. They are supported by their own funds or by
their parents while in the mission field. In addition to teaching the tenures of their faith, they are carrying a message of peace and goodwill, teaching the gospel of the
Lord Jesus Christ, advocating the necessity of an organization through which religion may be brought into the lives of the people to become a factor for their economic
well being. All are encouraged to take part in the Affairs of the Church and of the state. All are taught to obey, honor, and sustain the law.

The Church teaches the doctrine of the immortality of the soul; that men will live after death as individuals and will go upward and onward in eternal progression. Death
does not end conscious existence, nor do our spirits become a part of some undefinable, incomprehensible whole. The Church describes dignity and worth to the
human personality. Believing that God is our Father and that we are his children, we dare to assert that we may become like him. The Church therefore tries to provide
for the welfare of its membership here and now.

The Church does not teach that salvation is reserved for members alone, but rather that our Heavenly Father has made provision for degrees of salvation so that all
people will through the atonement of Christ be saved. But obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel is a prerequisite.

The Church stands for morality of the highest order. Recognizing no double standard, it requires the strict observance of the mortal law by its men as well as its women.
Deviation from its high standards results in excommunication from the Church. It has a law of health. The use of liquor and tobacco among its members is forbidden. It
advises against the use of any kind of stimulants, advocates moderate habits, clean sport, physical and intellectual activity, participation in church and civic affairs, and
individual and community development. It strives for that more abundant life promised by Jesus of Nazareth.

It holds that there is no other name given under heaven whereby man can be saved except the name of Jesus Christ. It accepts the Bible as the word of God and
encourages its membership to become acquainted with it and live by its precepts. It believes, too, in continued revelation; is a progressive and up-to-date Church. It is
flexible enough to meet the needs of a changing world, but stable enough to hold us to eternal verities. It recognizes the indisputable findings of science, the
dependability of nature, the surroundings of philosophy, but appreciates the limitations of each. It tries to revaluate the value of life and bring men back to the simple
teachings of Jesus the Christ. It believes that life is a growing process and salvation is eternally becoming. Knowledge brings confidence. Religion is the most complete
interpretation of reality. Training in honest, clear, and reverent thinking as well as toward the expression of beautiful and worthy emotions is essential as a part of
character education.

With the slogan, "The glory of God is intelligence. . . ." (D&C 93:36), the Church encourages its members to study science and philosophy, but be not over-emotional
and punctilious.
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most complete understanding of reality and is the only means of salvation.

Millennial Star
character education.

With the slogan, "The glory of God is intelligence. . . ." (D&C 93:36), the Church encourages its members to study science and philosophy, but be not over-emotional
and punctilious. It encourages men to have contact with practical affairs that they may not become mystic. The Church teaches that the religion of Jesus Christ gives the
most complete understanding of reality and is the only means of salvation.

Millennial Star

The Relief Society

"This is my commandment, That ye love one another,. . ." (John 15:12.)

The best story of "Religion in Action" is the story of the Good Samaritan: He did no preaching; he gathered no statistics, did not ask if the unfortunate's sad plight was
the result of his own folly; he saw a man who needed help, and he took time to serve his neighbor, a stranger. He who needed help was not embarrassed by publicity.
The Good Samaritan did not advertise himself.

While other organizations foster activities, teach theology, and train the youth of the Church, the sisters of the Relief Society-modern Good Samaritans-interpret religion
in terms of service.

Some estimates of the value of the service rendered by this organization may be made by a study of its activities in any of the stakes or wards of the Church; this service
is the very essence of Mormonism, combining as it does the qualities of love, loyalty, devotion, faith, hope, justice, mercy, and truth. No one can measure the results or
extent of these daily acts of helpfulness.

Without publicity and without causing embarrassment, this army of mothers goes out into No Man's Land and feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, buries the dead, and
mends the broken hearts of thousands of casualties on life's battlefield.

But more helpful even than the providing of material comforts is the atmosphere in which these sisters work where the souls of the needy are fed and mended. One who
returns after the funeral service of a loved one and finds them in his home, cooking, mending, cleaning, bringing sunshine and hope, will appreciate what is meant by the
"Relief Society atmosphere." They give of themselves and not only of their goods. They carry blessings of which they themselves are unaware, as Henry Ward Beecher
said:

"Gifts from the hand are silver and gold, but the heart gives that which neither silver nor gold can buy. To be full of goodness, full of cheerfulness, of helpfulness, hope
and understanding, causes one to carry blessings of which one is as unconscious as a lamp is of its own shining. Such a one moves on human life as stars move on dark
seas to bewildered mariners."

Surely there is no more central interest in the Church than the winning of human life to the principle of live and brotherhood-reminding men that God is not dead, but
living. Seeking ever for more efficient methods; keeping pace with the times and changing conditions, our sisters shed the radiance of that eternal spirit of love, most
ancient yet ever new, which shone in the Master's ministry. They never substitute well-wishing for well-doing; but with aprons on and sleeves rolled up, they meet the
need of the occasion. Here religion is a living, compelling fact and not a mere theory.

With a membership made up of the mothers of the Church no organization could be better fitted for its mission, i.e., to respond to the heart hunger of the shutins and the
bereaved, to minister to the sick and the broken-hearted, to provide for their needs, and to train new members in the divine art of self-sacrificing service.

Here is opportunity for each member to serve in the capacity for which she is best fitted. Here are departments for the sunshine workers, welfare, literature, art,
household duties, theology. Here it is learned that none is so weak as not to bear the relationship of strength to someone weaker still, and that none is so strong as not
to bear the relationship of weakness to someone stronger yet.

Much honor is shown to the priesthood of the Church, and properly so; men hold responsible positions and are praised for their service, but when it comes to
efficiency, devotion to a cause, selfless service, true religion, hats off to the ladies, God bless them.

"Women have a smile for every joy, a tear for every sorrow,

A consolation for every gift, an excuse for every fault,

A prayer for every misfortune, an encouragement for every hope." Saint-Foix

The Relief Society Magazine

Woman Exalted

By Zina Y. C. Brown

Ye chosen ones to bear the Gods of heaven and earth,
List to his word:-
"Man is not without the woman in the Lord,"
Think ye then that Gods are half-Gods, not whole,
And reign, and make these orbs of light, and live incomplete, alone,
And in celestial might make harmony with harps half-strung?
The answer's thine already. Thou hast it in thy heart.

"Twas Mary knew from angel bright that she was
Chosen to clothe the Spirit of our Lord. Her heart
Sang its exquisite joy! Told she this to the other
Honored of the Lord. And found believing response from this
Her woman kin.

Followers of our Savior and his church were women not a few.
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E'en when the cross the Son and Master bore, and lifted, tortured,
Broke the chains that bound the mortal man and had bade him sleep forever.
Her woman kin.

Followers of our Savior and his church were women not a few.
How great their love, how complete their trust in him!
E'en when the cross the Son and Master bore, and lifted, tortured,
Broke the chains that bound the mortal man and had bade him sleep forever.
How great I say, in that trusting humility like unto a child's, how supreme!

Last at the cross were they-first at the tomb-heralds of the Risen Lord.
"Not honored," say you, and "below your brother man?"
Open thine eyes and see what place is given thee, O woman fair!
Hold high thy head to wear its crown. Kneel thou, too, in
Reverence to thy Lord. For thank offering remember thou his word-
"O be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord."
Prepare thy souls to bear the souls of men.
When the spirits of the dark shall stalk the earth to stay his second coming's time,
Fear not to array thyself in armor white, as symbol of thy state
And rise in power and womanhood. At the portal of thy home
Guard that which is dearer than life itself. By thy companion's side
Uphold him in his priesthood and godly power.
Remember thou art high priestess of the home-the home,
The heart of all the world, and the altar at his throne,
The heart whose throbbing life holds in its power, the molding of good or ill.
And sends forth the sinner or the saint, or weak ones `tween the two.
Sends the mortal-clad spirit, born of woman, to sow discord, hate, and greed.
Or be messengers of light, who seek to guide their fellows
Back to Him where only harmonies abide.
O be ye strong, and let not the weak ones grope and find him not.
Be thou a woman whole and pure, with that militant love
That fights for her own, and God's.
Take then thy seat in nations great and small.
Still not thy voice when its clarion call should speak for him
To thy sisterhood the world around,
Thou champions of righteousness, thou mothers of his little ones,
Thou believers of his Word. Lend to his priesthood
Thy powers of purity and love that falter not.
And that faith that makes their faith more strong.
Daughters of Zion, ye mothers of men, hold fast these gifts of thy calling great,
Lest they be lost-these priceless pearls of purity and purpose holy.
Know ye not that thy place is at the side, and not below,
This companion to whom thou art given of the Lord?
Thou woman exalted, thou first to forgive and last to forsake,
Thou priestess, queen,
Thank thy God who made thee thus, that thou wast born
A Woman.

Millennial Star

Returned Servicemen and the Sunday School

We were in a large air base in England. A group of L.D.S. servicemen were seated around the big stove in the mess hall. A soupy fog had settled over the countryside
already wet with early spring rains. Some of the men had recently returned from missions across the channel; others were to leave on similar missions before dawn. All
were thoughtful and reminiscent.

A civilian visitor, after hearing the testimonies of the servicemen, suggested that each try to trace his faith back to its beginning. He said, "Just when did you start to
believe and from what source has your faith been fed? When you return home, where will you go for a renewal of that faith which has been so severely tested during
these war years? Do you believe the source is still available and that its waters are as healing as memory indicates they were before you went away?"

Some of the men relied on memory, and others looked within themselves as they tried to appraise the value of early experiences and forecast the effects of a renewal of
those associations of youth.

A sergeant opened the discussion. "When we find it necessary to marshal all our strength in times of crisis, we marvel at the sustaining power of our reserves, and we
speculate as to their source. Crises have revealed reserves of physical energy of which we were unaware. Under stress we have been capable of feats of strength and
agility which were so amazing as to seem unbelievable after the crisis has passed."

"Yes," said a lieutenant, "many of us have had that experience, but I have relied more on so called intangible, or what I prefer to call spiritual, reserves. When all other
sources of strength have been exhausted, we fall back upon these and are saved. In the midst of exploding shells, of dangerous flak, when one engine is gone and
another is sputtering, when comrades are wounded or dead and the landing field is many miles across the channel, many of us have discovered and drawn upon vast
pools of spiritual energy to meet a desperate need."

A private first class, addressing the civilian visitor, said, "You ask us to trace our faith back to its source. It seems to me that these spiritual powers, these intangible
reserves to which the lieutenant has referred, had their source and were fed, not by some well-defined stream which can be tapped at will, but by numerous eddying
rills from somewhere back in the hills of childhood. A little trickle of belief here, an anecdote or faith-promoting story there, a childhood prayer answered, a mother's
intuition confirmed and a tragedy averted, a Bible story in a Sunday School class, a testimony in a fast meeting, these and many other experiences have, it seems to me,
formed a stream or pool of faith from which we draw. For its never-failing supply we reverently thank God, for without these very real `intangible' reserves, we should
have been lost."
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"How we long to return to the hills where this inspiration had its source," said the corporal, "to explore and develop these little streams with the hope of increasing the
flow and perhaps discovering the eternal spring from which they all are fed."
rills from somewhere back in the hills of childhood. A little trickle of belief here, an anecdote or faith-promoting story there, a childhood prayer answered, a mother's
intuition confirmed and a tragedy averted, a Bible story in a Sunday School class, a testimony in a fast meeting, these and many other experiences have, it seems to me,
formed a stream or pool of faith from which we draw. For its never-failing supply we reverently thank God, for without these very real `intangible' reserves, we should
have been lost."

"How we long to return to the hills where this inspiration had its source," said the corporal, "to explore and develop these little streams with the hope of increasing the
flow and perhaps discovering the eternal spring from which they all are fed."

And then a veteran pilot, the captain, spoke, "One source of such inspiration and power, one fountain with connections somewhere back in the eternal, is the Sunday
School, that great character-building organization to which we all owe so much. Into the lives of the very young its healing water seeps as through the pores. Its ever-
flowing stream gives power to the battery-charging machinery which is noiselessly at work storing energy for later use."

"Yes," said a member of the ground crew, "this is one ration, the `SS ration' which is to be found in the kit of every serviceman who was fortunate enough to attend this
great preliminary training school. Every serviceman looks forward to the time when he can take a refresher course in this inspirational institution which is staffed and
equipped for all ages and grades."

These men who talked of home, of Church and of Sunday School are coming back with batteries badly in need of recharging. Spiritually they will be hungry men asking
for bread. They will be thirsty men wanting a refreshing drink; wounded men yearning for the cooling waters of understanding, confidence, and faith to lave their tired
souls. When they come back to us, they must find dynamos at work supplying light after an awful night of darkness.

Sunday School officers and teachers have never before had such a challenge. There will be a demand for time-tested truths and for teachers whose lives have been
molded by those truths; teachers with a technique suited to an age of precision and speed, an inquiring age, a disillusioned and sometimes doubting age, but a soul-
hungry age.

These servicemen will follow memory back to the Sunday School from which they feel much of their strength has come. Their hopes and expectations will be high, and
they must not be disappointed. But they will also come prepared to make some contributions; they will bear testimony of faith-promoting experiences and will tell us
how the gospel has stood up under the awful test of war. Their coming will be a blessing to us if we too are teachable and open-minded.

The colossal task of postwar rehabilitation will not be well done unless the Sunday Schools measure up to their assigned task of spiritual regeneration of old and young
alike. Old truths must be recoined and stamped each new year without marring the hallmark of quality and truth.

We must be prepared to answer their questions when we can, but-and this is more important-we must help them to believe there is an answer though we may not be
able to tell them precisely what the answer is. They and we will need the penetrating vision of faith if we are to give sight to the blinded and hope to those whose future
seems so insecure. We must prove to them that the springs of faith have not run dry while they were away.

Tens of thousands of servicemen will crowd into our Sunday Schools this year and next, bringing with them many questions and some answers, some doubts and much
reassurance. We and they must utilize the inexhaustible power of the gospel as we approach this task, must harness it to their fine skills and expert training, and then we
shall face the future unafraid. The Master said, "And for their sakes I sanctify myself. . . ." (John 17:19.) No Sunday School officer or teacher can do less and expect to
do his full part in this challenging undertaking.

The Instructor

"Teach Ye Diligently"

Moses heard the voice of God from the burning bush saying, ". . . Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." (Ex. 3:5.)
Tonight we behold an illuminated theme, which is the word of God, and we stand on ground made holy by the feet of successive prophets through the century. Humbly
and reverently we feel we should remove our shoes and say with Moses, ". . . If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence." (Ex. 33:15.) Whether it be before
such an audience or in a small Sunday School class, one who teaches the gospel is on holy ground.

For a definition of teaching we turn to one of the really great teachers among us. Dr. Milton Bennion, our beloved superintendent, recently said: "All teaching is or ought
to be a fine art based upon adequate scientific foundations. The teaching of religion in the broadest meaning of that term is the finest of the fine arts. . . . Teaching by
example both in conduct and in attitude, is always more important than is teaching by precept alone."

Another great contemporary teacher, the dean of the Deseret Sunday School general board, Dr. Howard R. Driggs, in his book, The Master's Art, makes this
challenging statement, "No more precious privilege can come to anyone than this of radiating gospel light, of illumining gospel truth, of leading souls into God's sunshine."

The Apostle Paul ranked teachers next to the apostles and prophets when he said, "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly
teachers. . . ." (1 Cor. 12:28.) A ruler of the Jews, wishing to pay the highest possible compliment to Jesus of Nazareth, said, ". . .We know thou art a teacher come
from God. . . ." (John 3:2.) The Master, when he was about to leave his followers promised them another teacher: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom
the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things. . . ." (John 14:26.) The Savior's injunction to his apostles was to go and teach all nations.

In considering our theme let us think together on possible answers to three questions which it suggests. First, whom shall we teach? Second, what shall we teach? And
third, how shall we teach? When Sunday School teachers are asked whom they will teach, they doubtless think first of little children, for we have approximately
100,000 of them. How do you feel when you are asked to teach these who were likened unto those who are in the kingdom of heaven? The Master when praying for
those whom he had taught said, "And for their sakes I sanctify myself. . . ." (John 17:19.) If sanctification was a necessary preparation for him, then what of us who are
to teach? These little ones, by their innocence, call upon us to sanctify ourselves. His yearning call comes down through the centuries, ". . .Feed my lambs." (John
21:15.)

Then we have another group almost 100,000 strong. These are just a little older but tender still and teachable. They are in the schools and colleges of the land five days
each week, and they come to us on the Sabbath. As they are taught to think, their thinking sometimes becomes critical of what they have been taught at home or in
Sunday School. In their study of zoology, sociology, philosophy, and kindred subjects which bear some relation to religion, they think they see inconsistencies or
contradictions, and they come back to the Sunday School teacher for help and guidance. But they may go elsewhere for their answers if we are not prepared to help
them. This group is a challenge to the best teachers in the Church, and it is just here that we have many Sunday School casualties, many which wisdom and foresight
and preparation might avoid.

Another 100,000 are coming now into various classes of our schools, and we gratefully welcome them. They were with us when they were younger, but were taken
from us to defend our country and our principles. They have returned, many of them, and they will come to Sunday School. Some will have mental and spiritual wounds
which  need (c)
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be able to restore the tender leaves of faith which the blast of war has withered. There may even be some for whom we shall need to leave the ninety and nine. Here is
where the teacher becomes the good shepherd must and risk his life to carry out the Master's injunction, ". . .Feed my sheep." (John 21:16.)
and preparation might avoid.

Another 100,000 are coming now into various classes of our schools, and we gratefully welcome them. They were with us when they were younger, but were taken
from us to defend our country and our principles. They have returned, many of them, and they will come to Sunday School. Some will have mental and spiritual wounds
which need healing. Some will have scars which bear evidence of valor, and some may have stains which only love can remove. We shall need divine favor if we shall
be able to restore the tender leaves of faith which the blast of war has withered. There may even be some for whom we shall need to leave the ninety and nine. Here is
where the teacher becomes the good shepherd must and risk his life to carry out the Master's injunction, ". . .Feed my sheep." (John 21:16.)

And some of you will teach the more mature, they who have learned much by experience but still have need of help. They have made growth in spite of, or perhaps
because of, the storms of life. They are grateful for the painful pruning which the Master knew was for their good; without it they would have gone too much to wood
and would have borne little fruit. From the depth of their experiences they will call to you, and you must have depth from which to answer. Whom then do we teach?
We teach His children young and old. The promise of his grace in this great undertaking is predicated upon our diligence which in large measure means preparation of
head and heart and spirit.

Imagine the care with which a sculptor would act if his modeling clay were suddenly turned into gold which hardened at each touch, making each imprint permanent,
each mistake irreparable. Imagine the humility of the diamond cutter into whose hands is placed the world's most precious gem to work upon. The owner of the gem
would seek the best-trained craftsman in the world for such a job and would disregard the cost. But you teachers do not deal with gold or diamonds. They are
inanimate, and their loss at worst is temporary. You are entrusted with the impressionable, immortal souls of our Father's children, young and old. The imprint of your
touch will follow some of them throughout eternity. A Sunday School teacher who was a veteran of World War I impressed upon the members of his class by vivid
anecdote the value of faith and prayer. Ten years later a member of that class was pilot on a bomber returning to England from the continent. One engine was gone and
his radio equipment destroyed. He was about to order his crew to bail out over the channel where there was little hope for rescue.The memory of that Sunday School
class flashed upon his mind and with renewed courage he carried on, reached England, and landed in a heavy fog. He was later heard to say, "Faith is a good engine
and prayer the best of radios." That diligent teacher realized the promise, ". . .My grace shall attend you. . . ." (D&C 88:78.)

What shall we teach? In the section of the Doctrine and Covenants from which we take our text the Lord said: "And I give unto you a commandment that ye shall teach
one another the doctrine of the kingdom." (D&C 88:77.) We must teach them constantly the central truth of the gospel-that God lives-that Jesus is the Christ, the only
Begotten of the Father. We must teach them that they are the children of God, created in his likeness, and endowed with Godlike attributes capable of eternal
unfoldment. He cannot effectively teach these things who does not profoundly believe them.

We must fearlessly and unequivocally teach them the story of the restoration without apologies and without attempts at scientific explanation. That account as told by
the prophet needs no amplification, for next to the story of the birth, life, and resurrection of the Christ it is the greatest story in print.

We must beware of the present-day tendency to tolerate and condone untruth and to moderate the rugged truths of the gospel to suit sophisticated appetites. We will
not adapt the gospel message to popular demands or water it down to current ethical systems. Our teachings will not be confined to biographical or traditional recitals
but will be related to and integrated with the world in which we live. We shall portray to them the matchless background of the gospel story but will also call attention to
its glorious vista. We shall teach them to believe all that God has revealed and to prepare themselves to accept all that he may yet reveal. We shall teach them the
source through which new revelation will come to the Church and warn them against impostors, false teachers, and all usurpers of authority. We shall teach them the
truths of the Old Testament while we point out the need and timeliness of the New Testament message. We shall teach them to prize the truths contained in the Book of
Mormon and to read all ancient scriptures by the light of modern revelation, to recognize and make use of the fact that we have prophets, seers, and revelators today
who guide the Church and that we are thus able to shine today's light on today's problems.

They must come to know that as "The glory of God is intelligence . . ." (D&C 93:36), so their glory will be dependent upon their intelligence, for they cannot be saved
in ignorance. We shall teach them to be honest, true, chaste, benevolent, to honor themselves, their fellow men, and their Maker, and to serve him with full purpose of
heart. We shall heed his commandment that we teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom and shall memorize and carry as a mental banner into all our Sunday
School work this theme: "Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of
the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;

"Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at
home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of
kingdoms-

"That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned
you." (D&C 88:78-80.)

To teach these things we shall constantly prepare ourselves by prayer and by righteous living.

And finally how shall we teach? He gave the answer when he said simply, "Follow me." He was the Master Teacher because he was what he taught. Would the
Sermon on the Mount move you as it does without the life of Christ behind it? He preceded his three years of active teaching by thirty years of preparation. We must
continue to prepare while we live, and that preparation must involve incorporating into our lives the truths we teach. Our lives and our teachings must not be at variance.
His parables were not woven from fancy. They were word pictures of what he had observed as he lived among the people. He had seen the sower at work in the field,
the shepherd with his sheep, the repentant son returning to his father, the barren fig tree; he knew the publican and the Pharisee and had attended wedding feasts where
foolish virgins had no oil in their lamps. He taught from the richness of his own life, and he taught because he loved the people.

If then we are to follow him, we too must be what we teach. Our teachings and our lives must not be at variance or in any way contradictory. This will necessitate a
lifetime of preparation. With this challenge before us surely no superintendent will send his teachers into their classes without calling them together for prayer. Surely no
teacher will go into a class without asking that the Holy Spirit accompany him. In our text he promises his grace shall attend us if we are diligent. Moses as he talked
with God asked, "For wherein shall it be known here that I and my people have found grace in thy sight?" And then he answers, "Is it not that thou goest with us?. .
." (Ex. 33:16.)

Let us make all preparation possible, organize and attend teacher training classes, adopt the best-known pedagogical methods, use all the fine tools which modern
science has supplied, but never try to teach with these alone. Never try to teach without the spirit of the Master Teacher. In fact he has said in this day, ". . .if ye receive
not the Spirit ye shall not teach." (D&C 42:41.)

Let us then go out eight thousand strong and carry the message to all our stakes and wards and missions that this centennial year is to be a year of better teaching in the
Church that a waiting world may not be disappointed when it belatedly calls for the message of the gospel as its last hope of survival. May the pioneers of 1847 look
down and see an army of Sunday School workers four hundred thousand strong in 1947, who are humbly but effectively teaching one another, and may they see that
through diligence we have found grace in his sight and that he is with us, even Jesus Christ our Lord.
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The Instructor

"All Thy Children Shall be Taught of the Lord. . . ."
Let us then go out eight thousand strong and carry the message to all our stakes and wards and missions that this centennial year is to be a year of better teaching in the
Church that a waiting world may not be disappointed when it belatedly calls for the message of the gospel as its last hope of survival. May the pioneers of 1847 look
down and see an army of Sunday School workers four hundred thousand strong in 1947, who are humbly but effectively teaching one another, and may they see that
through diligence we have found grace in his sight and that he is with us, even Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Instructor

"All Thy Children Shall be Taught of the Lord. . . ."

"All thy children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy children." (Isa. 54:13.)

To teach and be taught of the Lord is the prime purpose and main function of the Sunday School. The first essential in preparation for this service is that the teacher
shall sanctify himself. A college or university education could be dispensed with but not sanctification.

When the first laborers in the last dispensation were called, the Lord said to them by way of commandment, ". . .prepare yourselves, and sanctify yourselves; yea,
purify your hearts. . . ."

A Sunday School teacher must have conviction as well as facts. He must be one who feels as well as knows, who teaches from within as Jesus always did. It is not
enough that the Sunday School teacher be a spectator or one who is acquainted with the facts on the evidence of third persons only. Great Christian virtues-faith, hope,
and love-do not come from the outside. They cannot be generated by statistical surveys, by memorizing dates and names and places. They are within us awaiting
discovery and development through childlike humility and trust. Aside from the operations of the Holy Spirit, religion is communicable only by example. The students
will be impressed by the sincerity and earnestness of the teacher and by his dignity and simplicity.

". . .ye will teach them [your children] to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another." (Mosiah 4:15.)

To teach of God one must not only possess the idea of God, but he must also be possessed by it. He must teach it in such a way as to grip the heart like the touch of
the hand. Here is a call to dedication, to commitment, and to the enthusiasm that comes from sincere conviction.

But let us beware lest our conviction that we have the truth appease our appetites and we no longer hunger and thirst for it and for the righteousness and freedom to
which it leads. Let us quench their thirst from a running stream which is being constantly renewed and purified by study and by prayer.

Both teachers and students must realize the need for goals and ideals to unify their energies, integrate their personalities, and draw forth the potentially best in them
which otherwise would lie dormant. They must have a love for and a desire to emulate the great ideal which is Jesus Christ. He prefers active emulation to passive
adoration.

When one glorifies such a vision in his mind, enthrones such an ideal in his heart, it will become the blueprint by which he builds his life. Let us hold up before ourselves
and our students the ideal of a perfect person in the being of our Savior, perfect in all the ways in which we ourselves seek completeness.

If we are going to say with Jesus, "Be ye perfect," the degree to which students catch the vision of perfection will bear definite relationship to the example they see
before them in the class. The teacher and the truth taught must be of the same pattern. The teachings of Jesus have lived through the ages because he was what he
taught.

"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you. . . ." (John 6:27.)

He who has Christ as his ideal is conscious of an inexhaustible source of help and inspiration. He knows his ideal is reaching down to help him. Let the teacher behold
and call attention to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, and then, beholding his own insignificance by comparison, undertake to imitate that which he
visualizes as himself carried to its highest terms. As Milton said, "The end of all learning is to know God and out of that knowledge to love and imitate him."

When the Savior said, "This is life eternal that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent," (D&C 132:24), he gave the key to our
present theme. If then it is life eternal to know God and if, as Isaiah says, the result of knowing him is to have peace, then let us "Seek peace and pursue it" through
seeking and knowing him. Peace is the blessing most universally sought in the world today, and here is Isaiah's formula-"Teach them of the Lord."

The number one task of the teacher in Sunday School is the enrichment of the inner life of the individual. While we cannot measure or transmit the degree or detail of
one another's belief, we can help to create an atmosphere in which vital and dynamic faith may develop and operate.

God releases their energy; we must help them to control and direct it. The scientist trembles as he releases the power of the atom. He wonders to what ends it will be
used. But we here are dealing with greater power than atomic energy. We deal with the power of the human soul, a part of and related to the power of God. It is
potentially more powerful than the atom and potentially more dangerous.

Let us ever keep in mind, as Jesus always did, that, " The worth of souls is great in the sight of the Lord." His interest in the remaking and enrichment of the inner lives
of people is in every line of his teachings.

There are so many destructive forces in the world today, so many powers, and agencies which are divisive in their nature, tearing the world apart and leaving individuals
and groups stunned, frightened, and bewildered, with threadbare garments of mind and spirit, that our personalities need some integrating force if we are to have a
sense of inner well being. All that the Master said had its roots in the fact that God really cares about each individual. If we can be assured of this eternal truth, there is
nothing to be afraid of-absolutely nothing. This is the cure for worry, fear, and anxiety.

The Sunday School teacher must not be tempted to take the easier way in his preparation for the classroom. He must not accept lightly, unthinkingly all that is said or
written. He must be a student; he must love the Lord with all his mind as well as his heart and soul; and if he loves him with his mind he must submit every subject to
inquiry, investigation, reason, and thought. But while doing this let him not be unaware of the place of the heart in the educational process. Let him not be afraid of
emotion or to be moved by what he feels.

Surely no other group of teachers has such an inspiring assignment. To teach of God and of the latter-day appearance of Jesus Christ-what an opportunity, what a
responsibility! No system of mere ethics can in any way approach the vitality and the impact of this message. Teach them of the Lord, and great shall be their peace!

President David O. McKay said: "Ideals that relate to God and to little children are indispensable elements to happiness and eternal life. An institution therefore that
makes heven its aim and childhood its obligation is one with which every loyal heart should desire to be associated." (Gospel Ideals, page 220.)
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The Instructor

The Primary
responsibility! No system of mere ethics can in any way approach the vitality and the impact of this message. Teach them of the Lord, and great shall be their peace!

President David O. McKay said: "Ideals that relate to God and to little children are indispensable elements to happiness and eternal life. An institution therefore that
makes heven its aim and childhood its obligation is one with which every loyal heart should desire to be associated." (Gospel Ideals, page 220.)

The Instructor

The Primary

I can think of no more appropriate theme for the Primary than "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart." (Ex. 2:3.) May I refer to the beloved disciple, John,
who said, "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: Continue ye in my love.

"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." (John 15:9-11.)

I think the first declaration that God should come first in our lives was made by Jehovah himself through Moses, when he said, "Thou shalt have no other Gods before
me."

Jesus, in speaking of this and in answer to a question, said the first and great commandment is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy mind." (Matt. 22:37.) Thus did he emphasize and amplify what he had said anciently to Moses.

Cynics have said that God is not only a jealous God, but that he must also be very selfish in that he asks us to give him our whole affection. But of whom was he
thinking when he asked for this adoration of himself, or of his children? Could our love for him increase his joy or happiness except as it increases ours?

Poor indeed is the man who has never loved. Void and barren is the life into which no love has come. I am sure as we sit here this morning and think of him and of his
work and sacrifice for us our hearts go out in grateful praise and gratitude for his blessings.

In appraising the enduring power of the love of God, the Apostle Paul declared, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 8:38-39.)

Of course we may by our actions alienate ourselves and deprive ourselves of his blessings, but his love "endureth forever." David had this in mind, no doubt, when he
said: "If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there.

"If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

"Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." (Ps. 139:8-10.)

I have wondered sometimes why the Lord would follow us, by his Spirit, wherever we are. I think it is because of his constant solicitude for our salvation and even as a
good shephered follows the sheep wherever they may stray and brings them back to the fold, so our Father through The Good Shepherd follows us with his love, and
when we heed his call, we find peace and tranquility.

I am quite sure that the first step in his avowed purpose to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of men, was to plant love in the hearts of his children, for love is
the beginning as well as the fulfilling of the law. When he planted that love in men's hearts, he literally sowed the seeds of Godhood. We tend to become like that which
we adore, and therefore he who truly loves God becomes more Godlike. "The vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you enthrone in your heart, that you will
build your life by-that you will become."

It is especially appropriate that Primary officers and teachers should adopt this as their theme, appropriate because they are the ones, above all others, who are favored
with the glorious task of laboring among those of whom he said: ". . .Of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 19:14.) I do not doubt that occasionally some Primary
teacher has wondered whether that was always true, when some redheaded, freckle-faced little bundle of dust and electricity disrupts a class. And yet I am not sure
that Paul was not thinking of just such a situation when he said: "Love endureth all things, beareth all things." (1 Cor. 13:7.) And surely no one is entitled to go into a
class unless in her heart there is that love which can overlook some of the things we are called upon to overlook in our little ones.

There was a time in the early history of the people of this continent when they had peace and happiness beyond anything that any people have known before or since.
According to the record, that remarkable epoch resulted from the fact that the people had the love of God in their hearts. May I refer to the Fourth book of Nephi:
"And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people." (4 Ne. 1:15.) It made contention
impossible. "And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults. . .nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier
people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God." (4 Ne. 1:16.)

Thus we see that if we live the theme which we now repeat we may find true and lasting happiness because the love of God dominates our lives.

Dr. James E. Talmage said on one occasion: "Any man may enter the highest degree of the celestial kingdom when his actions have been such that he can feel at home
there."

I think the first requisite for feeling at home in his presence is to have the love of God in our hearts, surely without that we could not feel at home in his presence.

You general and stake boards are charged with the responsibility of teaching and directing those who teach little children. You are, in a sense, the older sheep-if I may
dare to suggest that women do sometimes grow a little older-you are the older sheep who have learned to follow the Good Shephered, and he has entrusted you with
the sacred duty of leading his lambs into the fold. With that duty, necessarily, there comes a tremendous responsibility, for if we are to lead them we must bemeticulous
in our own conduct, must be circumspect in every thought and action, because, sisters, they will follow you, whether you lead them in the right or the wrong direction.
They will follow where you lead.

I think a writer recently has put it well when he said:

"'Twas a sheep not a lamb, that strayed away
In the parable
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A grown-up sheep that strayed away
From the ninety and nine in the fold.
I think a writer recently has put it well when he said:

"'Twas a sheep not a lamb, that strayed away
In the parable Jesus told,
A grown-up sheep that strayed away
From the ninety and nine in the fold.

"And why for the sheep should we seek
And earnestly hope and pray?
Because there is danger when sheep go wrong;
They lead the lambs astray.

"Lambs will follow the sheep, you know,
Wherever the sheep may stray.
When sheep go wrong, it won't take long
Till the lambs are as wrong as they.

"And so with the sheep we earnestly plead
For the sake of the lambs today,
For when sheep are lost, what a terrible cost
The lambs will have to pay."

The Echo, C. C. Miller

If there are any differences in degree, or quality, or amount of God's love, I am sure the choicest will be reserved for you who spend your time with those whom he
loved so dearly.

I think the Father knew what he was about when he chose the women of the Church to lead this great Primary organization, for it required the mother love, the
tenderness, the solicitude, the willingness to sacrifice and to serve. ". . . Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these . . .," he said, "ye have done it unto
me." (Matt. 25:40.)

Do you remember when Abou Ben Adhem, speaking to the angel, said:

"`Write me as one who loves his fellow men.'
The angel wrote and vanished. The next night
He came again, with a great awakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blest,
And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest."

-Leigh Hunt

But is it possible that you sisters wonder why, in your service and your love of these little ones, you sometimes meet discouragement and difficulty and heartbreak? Are
we going to escape from some of the most priceless blessings of life simply by serving, or must we too expect that we will be tried and tested and purified by fire?

As you give of yourself and of your talents, even as a flower breathes its fragrance into space, so shall God speak through you and through your eyes smile upon these
little ones. If we are to love him with all our mind, we must know him for ". . . This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom
thou hast sent." (John 17:3.)

One of the most beautiful and moving of all stories in literature is recorded in Third Nephi. We are familiar with the seventh chapter, but I can think of no place where it
could be read with a greater sympathetic understanding than in a conference of Primary workers. Let us read a few paragraphs:

"And it came to pass that he commanded that their little children should be brought.

"So they brought their little children and set them down upon the ground round about him, and Jesus stood in the midst; and the multitude gave way till they had all been
brought unto him.

"And it came to pass that when they had all been brought, and Jesus stood in the midst, he commanded the multitude that they should kneel down upon the ground.

". . .And . . .he prayed to the Father. . . .

"And after this manner do they bear record: The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus
speak unto the Father;

"And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard
Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.

"And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying unto the Father, he arose; but so great was the joy of the multitude that they were overcome.

"And it came to pass that Jesus spake unto them, and bade them arise.

"And they arose from the earth, and he said unto them: Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full.

"And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the
Father for them.

"And when he had done this he wept again;
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"And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the
Father for them.

"And when he had done this he wept again;

"And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.

"And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the
midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them." (3 Ne. 17:11-
24.)

May we say to the Primary officers here, and through you to Primary workers throughout the Church: "Behold your little ones." What a priceless privilege, what a
glorious opportunity, but what an overwhelming responsibility, to be met only through humility, diligence, faith, and divine guidance.

I should like to close with the prayer that Paul offered in Ephesus: "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

"Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

"That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and ground in love,

"May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

"And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Eph. 3:14-19.)

Yes, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart." Do you remember Peter's answer when Jesus said: "Lovest thou me?" He said: "Yea, Lord, thou knowest
that I love thee." (John 21:15.)

I wonder sisters, if you would like individually, to answer Jesus' question? Will you reply each for herself, "Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee."

And he said, and is saying to you now: "Lovest thou me?" Will you repeat, "Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee."

May the peace which passeth understanding be with you, and may you take into your departmental work the spirit of your beautiful theme, that the love of God may
ever be in your hearts.

Primary Conference

The Mia

The Church, and those representing the Church in the MIA, recognize in every individual a child of God. The God-image quality in man's nature is the root to his
dignity. You have been proceeding on the basis that each of these young persons is physical, mental, moral, esthetic, and spiritual. You have provided training in these
fields, and the results of what you have been doing and are now doing are felt in the far corners of the earth. I say you have been reminding these young people of their
Godlike status.

You have been glorifying in the minds of these young people in your wards and stakes, and throughout the Church, the idea of knowledge, of wisdom, of intelligence.
You have been telling them, we are sure, that wisdom is not mere accumulation of fact, however encyclopedic or exact. Wisdom is not mere knowledge. It is its
distillation. And as one said, "Wisdom is like honey. It results from many trips to many flowers; and like honey, it finds its function in furnishing sustenance to life."

May we say to you, and through you general, stake, ward, mission, and branch officers of the MIA, may we say to all the young people of the Church, if you would be
among the noble, you must be noble. If you would be among the wise, you must be wise. If you would be among the pure in heart, you must have unsullied hearts. And
if you would dwell in the kingdom of God, your actions must be such as will make it possible for you to feel at home when you get there.

Someone has wisely observed, in fact, it is an ancient proverb from Tibet, "He who knows and fails to practise the precepts, is like a man who lights a lamp in the
darkness and then closes his eyes."

Yes, we plead through you, with all the young people of the Church that you will gather wisdom as you go forward and realize that with it must go virtue. If you do not
or cannot have an inner peace, all your pleasures will go sour. As Hippolytus said, "Some have sinned with safety but none with peace of mind."

Now, may I inform you officers and teachers of the MIA, and the other auxiliary organizations of the Church-priesthood quorums and others-that your work flowers
and bears fruit at times and in places which you little suspect-often in far places, far removed from the homes of these youths whom you teach. To illustrate that, may I
cite an incident, one which I have referred to in some of the stake conferences?

I cite this incident to indicate that the young people of the Church, as represented by the boys in the service, have carried on magnificently. This incident occurred in
England in 1944. I had gone to England at the request of the First Presidency as co-ordinator for the L.D.S. servicemen. One Saturday afternoon I sent a telegram
from London to the base chaplain of a certain area near Liverpool, saying, "I shall be in your camp tomorrow morning and shall appreciate your advising the Mormon
boys who are there that we will have a service at ten o'clock."

When I arrived in that camp, there were seventy-five Mormon boys, all in uniform, and quite a number in battle dress. The chaplain to whom I had sent the wire proved
to be a Baptist minister from the Southern States. He was waiting, too, for my arrival, and as these young men ran out to greet me, not because it was I, but because of
what I represented, and as they literally threw their arms around me, knowing that I was representing their parents as well as the Church, this minister said to me:
"Please tell me how you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Why," he said, "I did not get your wire until late this morning. I made a hurried search. I found there were 76 Mormon boys in this camp. I got word to them. Seventy-
five of them are here. One is in the hospital. I have over 600 men of my church in this camp, and if I gave them six months' notice I could not get a response like that,"
and then he repeated, "Tell me how you do it."
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I said, "Sir, if you will come inside, perhaps you will see." We went into the little chapel. The boys sat down. I asked "How many here have been on missions?"

I think fully fifty percent raised their hands. I said, "Will you and you and you," and I pointed to six of them, "come and administer the Sacrament? And will you and you
"Why," he said, "I did not get your wire until late this morning. I made a hurried search. I found there were 76 Mormon boys in this camp. I got word to them. Seventy-
five of them are here. One is in the hospital. I have over 600 men of my church in this camp, and if I gave them six months' notice I could not get a response like that,"
and then he repeated, "Tell me how you do it."

I said, "Sir, if you will come inside, perhaps you will see." We went into the little chapel. The boys sat down. I asked "How many here have been on missions?"

I think fully fifty percent raised their hands. I said, "Will you and you and you," and I pointed to six of them, "come and administer the Sacrament? And will you and you
and you," and I pointed to six others, "please come and sit here and be prepared to speak?"

Then I said, "Who can lead music?" A number of hands were raised. "Will you come and lead the music? And who can play this portable organ?" There were several
hands, and one was selected. Then I said, "What would you like to sing, fellows?" And with one voice they replied, "Come, Come, Ye Saints."

We had no hymnbooks. The boy sounded the chord. They all arose. I have heard "Come, Come, Ye Saints" in many lands and by many choirs and congregations, and
without in any way reflecting adversely on what we usually do and hear, I think I have only heard "Come, Come, Ye Saints" sung once when every heart seemed
bursting, as they sang every verse without books. When they came to the last verse, they didn't mute it, they didn't sing it like a dirge, but throwing back their shoulders,
they sang out until I was fearful that the walls would burst. "And should we die before our journey's through, happy day, all is well," and I looked at my minister friend
and found him weeping.

Then one of the boys who had been asked to administer the Sacrament knelt at the table, bowed his head and said, "Oh, God, the Eternal Father"; he paused for what
seemed to be a full minute, and then he proceeded with the rest of the blessing on the bread. At the close of that meeting I sought that boy out. I put my arm around his
shoulders, and said, "Son, what's the matter? Why was it so difficult for you to ask the blessing on the bread?" He paused for a moment and said, rather apologetically,
"Well, Brother Brown, it isn't two hours since I was over the continent on a bombing mission. As we started to return, I discovered that my tail assembly was partly
shot away; that one of my engines was out; that three of my crew were wounded, and it looked like it was absolutely impossible to reach the shores of England.
Brother Brown, up there I remembered Primary and Sunday School, and MIA, and home and church, and up there, when it seemed that all hope was lost, I said, `O
God, the Eternal Father, please support this plane until we reach a landing field.' He did just that, and when we landed, I learned of this meeting, and I had to run all the
way to get here. I didn't have time to change my battle dress, and then when I knelt there and again addressed the Lord, I was reminded that I hadn't stopped to say
thanks. Brother Brown, I had to pause a little while to tell God how grateful I was."

Well, we went on with our meeting. We sang. Prayers were offered, and these young men, with only a moment's notice, each stood and spoke, preached the gospel of
Jesus Christ to their comrades, and bore their testimonies, and again I say with due respect to the various ones with whom I have associated and labored, they were
among the finest sermons I ever heard. Then the time was up, and I said, "Fellows, it's time for chow. We must dismiss now or you will miss your dinner." And, again
almost with one voice, they said, "We can eat army grub any time. Let's have a testimony meeting." So we stayed another hour and a half while every man arose and
bore witness to the truth of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and each one in turn, in his own way, said, "I know that God lives; I know that the gospel is restored; I
know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God." Again I looked at my friend, and he was weeping unashamedly.

At the close of that meeting this minister said to me, "I have been a minister for over twenty-one years, but this has been the greatest spiritual experience of my life."
And again he said, "How do you do it?"

Then it was my pleasure to tell him about the Primary and the Sunday School and the MIA, with the various activities of the priesthood quorums, the seminaries, the
Church schools, and the great educational system directed by the Church board of education through the faculty of Brigham Young University. I told him of our
missionary system, of the training it provides, and the testimonies resulting from such gratuitous service.

This minister said to me, "If we could accomplish something like that among the young people of our Christian churches, there would be no more war. Why, I would
not dare to call on members of my congregation to speak without a moment's notice. They who do come to church know that I am going to speak and that they have
no responsibility. But here it seems every man is a minister, and every one has been trained to participate."

I explained to him that those men had been taking part since they were little tots, and I told him further, and I say to you, that that experience could have been, and was
in many instances, repeated in various camps in the United States and Canada, and Europe. Wherever enough LDS boys were gathered together we could repeat that
experience.

MIA officers, teachers, and members, I saw the fruits of MIA in faraway places, and under difficult circumstances. I plead with you to "Carry On." I plead with you to
remember that the young people of this time especially must have some knowledge of the interrelatedness and interdependence of the individual and society, of man and
nature, of the world and God, knowledge of the centrality and the necessity of religion, and the reality of the living God and man's relationship to him. We must teach
them that religion is no longer peripheral or incidental, but that it is the very queen of the sciences, and this is not because the Church has said so or because tradition or
superstition have imposed it upon human credulity, this is true because of the nature of reality. As one has recently said, "If there be a God at all, he must be the ultimate
and controlling reality, and the truth concerning him, as best men can apprehend it, must be the keystone of the ever incomplete arch of human knowledge."

Yes, I say to you and to all of us, we have a challenge, and the challenge is to recognize the potential Godlike status of these young people, and recognizing that,
become more poignantly aware of our responsibility as their parents and teachers.

Referring for just a moment to Father's Day, may I remind you teachers and officers that you are, as they say in law "in loco parentis." You do, in some cases, share
much of the responsibility with parents, and let this line apply to you as it would apply to any father:

"A father and a little son
Crossed a rough street one stormy day.
`See, Father,' said the little one,
`I stepped in your steps all the way.'

O random, childish thoughts that deal
Quick thrusts no cost of mail can stay
It touched him as a touch of steel,
`I stepped in your steps all the way.'"

That will be true of you, teachers, officers, members, all who undertake to teach the truth in the Church and kingdom of God to its young membership. They may forget
what you say, but they'll step in your steps all the way. This is an awe-inspiring responsibility.

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That will be true of you, teachers, officers, members, all who undertake to teach the truth in the Church and kingdom of God to its young membership. They may forget
what you say, but they'll step in your steps all the way. This is an awe-inspiring responsibility.

Let us teach them that morality depends upon one's capacity to be aware of and to identify oneself in a wholesome way with others; that morality is an eternal quest for
compassion in a world often dominated by callousness; that every human contact, whether physical, mental, or spiritual must be clean and wholesome if the memory of
them is to be enjoyed. As James Barrie said, "God gave us memory that we might have roses in December." Let us teach them that the heart has a certainty which the
mind cannot fully comprehend and to listen to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit. Teach them that more important than our theories is the way we act; more significant
than analysis, is our capacity for faith; more valuable than our intellect is our sense of morality.

Young men and young women of the Church, we, your seniors, some of us having spent almost a lifetime among you-and we thank God for that glorious privilege-
would ask for no higher appointment than to work and be associated with you. We plead with you to keep your eye on your goal which is Godhood.

Be aware of your limitless possibilities because of your Godlike status. Live worthily. Keep clean. You will need firmer and purer character, higher integrity, larger
spiritual vision, unimpeachable and unshakable fidelity, and a righteous and dynamic faith as you resist the down-drag of this atomic age.

Go forward and win, and I promise you you can, but it will not be an easy fight. Be unashamed of the truth. Keep close to God. I pray that you may have the ambition
to be the kind of young men and young women of whom the great leaders of the Church can justly be proud, and can hold you up to all the world and say, "This is
Mormonism."

I say the way will not be easy. Eliza R. Snow put it well when she said in one of our hymns:

"Be fixed in your purpose, for Satan will try you.
The weight of your calling he perfectly knows,
Your path may be thorny, but Jesus is nigh you;
His arm is sufficient, though demons oppose."

I could not do better, I am sure, than to bring to you officers, teachers, and members of the MIA the words of the Lord-his yearning, pleading words, coupled with a
promise:

". . .let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; 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 dominion shall be an everlasting dominion,
and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever." (D&C 121:45-46.)

Brethren and sisters, I humbly bear testimony that God has been so good to me personally as to cause me to know from the center of my heart to the ends of my
fingers and toes that this is the gospel of Jesus Christ, that the Church is led by prophets of God, that Jesus himself is coming again to live and to rule among men. I
commend you for the fine work you are doing, and assure you of the love and confidence of the Brethren with whom I have the privilege to associate. We believe in
you, and in your future.

MIA Conference

Section III Faith and Our Lives

The mind and spirit are equipped with radar. Messages come back in response to impulses sent. Happiness will bounce back from any contact if the impulse is strong
enough.

The Ledgers of the Lord

One of the best criteria by which to judge the faith and faithfulness of members of the Church is their tithing record. They who faithfully observe this law are generally
found to be the most active, the most faithful, the most uncomplaining, the most willing workers of the Church.

Tithing is a law of God to man, with promises of rewards. To ancient Israel he said, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine
house," (Mal. 3:10; 3 Ne. 24:10.) which admonition he repeated to the Saints on the Western Hemisphere, as recorded in the Book of Mormon. Paul, the apostle,
wrote to the Hebrew Saints, ". . . They that are the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take the tithes of the people
according to the law. . . ." (Heb. 7:15.) In this dispensation the Lord said through the Prophet Joseph Smith, after requiring the surplus property of the saints, "And this
shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people.

". . . Those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually, and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith
the Lord." (D&C 119:3, 4.)

Few, if any, consistent, honest titheprayers have apostatized from the Church. No man can retain his standing in the Church to the end if he fails to observe this law. No
one who has an income is exempt. The poor widow and the millionaire get equal credit if each pays a tithe of what he has.

The Lord's ledger will show whether a member is entitled to dividends or whether he is listed as dishonest. Is a non-tithepayer then dishonest? The Father said to
Malachi: "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings." (Mal. 3:8.) Men should be sure that all
their business dealings are on such a plane that that they cannot be accused of having robbed anyone, least of all the Lord.

In Britain he who has earned ten shillings and feels he cannot return one of them to the One who gave him all, seemingly does not appreciate the fact, so often proved,
that nine shillings with the blessing of the Lord are more valuable than ten without.

We call attention of the Saints to the fact that each time they take the sacrament they renew their covenant with God to "keep his commandments which he has given
them," and they ask "that they may always have his spirit to be with them." How many have stopped to realize that the non-tithepayer is failing to keep the
commandments? The one officiating at the sacrament table witnesses for each member present that he is willing to remember the Lord and keep his commandments.

It has been said that tithing is an income tax, divinely assessed and paid as a free-will offering. It is free from all coercion, but there are definite penalties for its non-
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should share the responsibility of the expenses of the Church; none should share in the blessings of the Church without making his own fair contribution. It is a debt of
honor, a law of financial liberty.
commandments? The one officiating at the sacrament table witnesses for each member present that he is willing to remember the Lord and keep his commandments.

It has been said that tithing is an income tax, divinely assessed and paid as a free-will offering. It is free from all coercion, but there are definite penalties for its non-
observance, material, social, psychological, and spiritual. The Lord said the idler shall not eat the bread of the worker. The law of tithing amplifies this thought. All
should share the responsibility of the expenses of the Church; none should share in the blessings of the Church without making his own fair contribution. It is a debt of
honor, a law of financial liberty.

The habit of paying tithing is a wholesome influence in the family unit. Where parents deal honestly with the Lord, their children will be inclined toward honesty. It is a
guarantee against the soul-destroying vice of greed. He who pays his tithing will have a living, increasing faith. He draws nearer to the Lord, with whom he feels a sort
of partnership.

By reference to the records of the Church, the ledgers of the Lord, its membership can be classified. Some will be on the right hand, and some on the left, some faithful,
and some unfaithful. It is not enough that one shall have faith in God, repent of sin, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, for the Lord has said that if we
offend in one point, we are transgressors of the law, and shall not be entitled to the fulness of its blessings.

If all the wage-earners of the Church in Britain would pay an honest tithing, it would be possible to build a chapel for every branch within a few years, besides paying
the running expenses of the mission, much of which at present comes from the tithes in other lands. "Show me thy faith by thy works." (See James 2:18.)

A record of these works is preserved in the mission office and at Church headquarters. Each member has one page or more in these ledgers. "And I saw the dead,
small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened. . . .

"And they were judged every man according to their works." (Rev. 20:12, 13.)

Millennial Star

Test of Gratitude

Harvest days are thoughtful days. The autumn is a time of reckoning and of judgment. We garner the crops and prepare for the winter. We see the fruits of our labors
and realize the blessing of forethought, the reward of industry. Sometimes we think of what might have been, and we make resolutions. We look forward to the spring
beyond the winter and resolve to profit by the experiences of the year which is passing.

To most of us, autumn is a time of thanksgiving, when we acknowledge the Source of our blessings, and we kneel before him and give thanks. Our sincerity may not be
gauged wholly by the words we use, the tone of our voice or the regularity of our kneeling.

If someone does us a great favor, one which we cannot fully repay, we sometimes express the wish that some day we may have an opportunity to show our gratitude in
some tangible way. What would our benefactor think of us-what should we think of ourselves-if such an opportunity should appear and we neglected or refused to
embrace it? Suppose he should ask us to do some little favor for him, something, say one-tenth as valuable as his service to us, would we refuse the favor or complain
that it was too much or too difficult? If we did, we should expect all who knew the facts to list us among the ingrates, and in case of future need, embarrassment and
shame would make a new appeal to the benefactor, if not impossible, at least humiliating and probably fruitless.

But the gratitude which is worthy of us will not be prompted by "a lively sense of favors to come"-it should be akin to the charity of which the apostle wrote which
"seeketh not itself." Real gratitude is compounded of many virtues and is productive of others. It is to be found among those who were named by the Master as
"blessed," the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, the oppressed. Blessed is he who has a thankful heart and a contrite spirit. To him the windows of
heaven are opened until he is unable to contain his blessings. But it will take more than words to open those windows.

In spite of our losses, our trials, our hardships, our bereavements, each one of us has reason to be thankful for the blessings of hte past year. With victory assurred, with
the spectre of enslavement and the terror of bondage disappearing, with the promise of a new and better world, we come to the autumn of 1944 deeply grateful for our
deliverance.

Many have been blessed with material things above the average of the years. Jobs have been available; crops have been good; better pay has been received; for these
and many other blessings we say, "Thank you." But our Great Benefactor has intimated that we may show our appreciation to him by returning, through the Church,
one-tenth of that which he has given us.

While future need should not be the moving cause of our thanksgiving and while we should be grateful to a benefactor even if we knew he could never again help us,
still God himself has indicated that to obtain a blessing we must, not merely should, obey the law upon which it is predicated. The good husbandman knows he cannot
reap if he does not sow. He saves seed for next year's crop. Only the foolish fail to provide for the future. Read again the parable in Luke and examine yourself before
its mirror.

"And he spake a parable unto them saying: The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

"And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

"And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there I will bestow all my fruits and my goods.

"And I will say to my soul. Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

"But God said to him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

"So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:16-21.)

In the midst of our rejoicing over the prospects of victory and peace let us be reminded that just as sure as day follows night so also night follows day. There are times
ahead which will require all our faith and fortitude, times which in some ways are even more sinister than what we have known. This is no time to "pull down our barns,"
but rather a time when in deep humility we should express our appreciation and pray for strength to meet the trials of the future. This is no time to eat, drink, and be
merry in the spirit of the man in the parable.

There is a warning as well as a promise in his challenge, "Try me and see," and we should remember that as we try ourselves and fix our status. Tithing is not only a
means of saying, "Thank you," it is an acknowledgment of our dependence and a humble plea for continued blessing. It is in a sense the seed for next year's crop. It
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helps to determine the size and quality of the crop for which we hope and pray, a crop of blessings for which we hope to prove worthy.

But this seed of tithing is somewhat magical in that it not only produces far in excess of the average crop, but also from it we get an endless variety of blessings. The
merry in the spirit of the man in the parable.

There is a warning as well as a promise in his challenge, "Try me and see," and we should remember that as we try ourselves and fix our status. Tithing is not only a
means of saying, "Thank you," it is an acknowledgment of our dependence and a humble plea for continued blessing. It is in a sense the seed for next year's crop. It
helps to determine the size and quality of the crop for which we hope and pray, a crop of blessings for which we hope to prove worthy.

But this seed of tithing is somewhat magical in that it not only produces far in excess of the average crop, but also from it we get an endless variety of blessings. The
tithepayer has more faith in time of sickness, more cour- age in time of danger, more strength when tempted, better judgment for decisions, more love of God and
fellow men. It therefore leads one to the keeping of the greatest commandments and the blessings which come from obedience thereto.

Let us show that our gratitude is more than just "thank you" for past blessings. Let it be an acceptance of the challenge "try me and see," and let us claim the blessings
which we shall so sorely need in the months and years ahead. One's worthiness to receive such blessings is not determined wholly by one's record in the matter of
tithes, but it is the history and experience of the Church during the past one hundred years that the honest tithepayer is also the faithful priesthood member, auxiliary
worker, the loyal supporter of the Authorities. He is as a rule a praying man, and one whose heart is not set upon the things of this world. In short, the record in the
books will indicate the faith and faithfulness of the individual.

Millennial Star

Morality Its Own Reward

Much is being written and spoken these days concerning our post-war world and the basis of peace treaties which must be negotiated and enforced after the fighting is
over.

The churches have realized their lack of leadership in their own field of moral law and, since the war began, have been trying to make their voices heard in the din of
political discord. They are trying to call men back from following after false gods and to affirm a faith which they admit has been waning in all Christian countries.

At a conference of Angelicans held at Malvern College in 1941, presided over by Dr. William Temple, then Archbishop of York and now Archbishop of Canterbury, it
was declared that the iniquities of society result from "loss of conviction concerning the reality and character of God and the true nature and destiny of man."

The Delaware Conference of American Churchmen adopted two basic declarations as follows: (1) "We believe that moral law, no less than physical law, undergirds
our world. There is a moral order which is fundamental and eternal, and which is relevant to the corporate life of men and the ordering of human society. If mankind is
to escape chaos and recurrent war, social and political institutions must be brought into conformity with this moral order. (2) "We believe that the sickness and suffering
which afflict our present society are proof of indifference to, as well as direct violation of, the moral law. All share responsibility for the present evils. There is none who
does not need forgiveness. A mood of genuine penitence is therefore demanded of us-individuals and nations alike."

The Millennial Star is within its province as organ of the British Mission of the Church, which has members in most of the warring nations, in joining with other church
publications in calling for a return to basic principles in individual and national life, to proclaim again the supremacy of the moral law and to call for an enlightened
concept of the reality and character of God and the true nature and destiny of man.

The Savior tells us that it "is life eternal to know God" (see D&C 132:24), and makes entrance into the kingdom of heaven dependent upon how we treat our fellow
men. For centuries, the churches which are now calling for a conviction concerning the character of God have preached and published the hopeless doctrine that God is
incomprehensible. If life eternal depends upon our knowing him and if he is incomprehensible, then there can be no life eternal for man; his quest is hopeless from the
beginning!

Furthermore, if deathbed repentance, so long proclaimed as a passport into heaven, be in truth a part of God's plan, what need is there for observance of the basic
moral law? If man may do as he chooses with impunity so long as he finally gives intellectual assent to God's love and mercy, then the law of the harvest is annulled, and
"as ye sow so shall ye reap" becomes a fallacy!

We problem as eternal truth the Bible doctrine that God is, in a very real sense, the Father of the spirits of men, that men are brothers and, therefore, answerable to
their common parent for their treatment of one another and this without regard to the fact that some of their brothers live in other parts of God's world. They are still
neighbors though they speak a different language or differ in physical features, size or color. We declare, too, our belief that there is a quality of "oughtness" in individual
and national life which is beyond the reach of choice, which is, in fact, a moral imperative; that knowing what we ought to do and failing to do it is the cause of most of
our miseries.

Many politico-philosophical writers today are challenging the churches to produce some leadership such as was had in the days of old, when kings and rulers called
upon the prophets for guidance and asked to know the will of God in their national crisis. As one of these writers puts it: "We need more of the thunder from Sinai."

But the churches are united in their denial of the likelihood, if not of the possibility, of divine communication such as was had in olden times. The age of revelation, they
say, is past, and while they call for some conviction concerning the reality and character of God, they, by implication at least, deny his power to intervene. They call for
leadership, but would denounce as an impostor any who might claim to be a prophet sent from God to teach the nations.

An Omnipotent God, knowing the end from the beginning, made provision for the same prophetic service as was known in olden times. At the beginning of the
nineteenth century, he revealed himself anew, gave instructions for the organization of his Church, directed heavenly beings to ordain men to the Holy Priesthood, and
warned the nations through his prophets that dire calamities would follow their continued denial of him. He rebuked those unauthorized professors of religion who
preach for hire and divine for money and, as in time of yore, he wept over their hardness of heart, their hypocrisy in seeming to worship him with their lips while their
hearts were far from him.

Conversion to the simple gospel of Jesus Christ, conversion of both clergy and laity to the doctrine of the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man with a
relationship between them; conversion to the original old-time "pure" religion and a church with apostles and prophets-this is what is needed if the church is to exert any
influence at the peace table and afterward.

Faith is needed, the kind of faith which couples vision with valor, the kind by which the apostle tells us the worlds were framed by the word of God; by which Enoch
was translated that he should not taste death; by which Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear and prepared an ark to the saving of his
house. The kind of faith by which Abraham obeyed and went out not knowing whither he went, and by which Moses led the children of Israel through the Red Sea; the
faith of Samson, of David, of Samuel, and of the prophets who, through faith, subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of
lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the
aliens." (See Heb. 11.)
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Unless and until the leaders of the churches will themselves believe in the God of the Bible, a God of power, able to perform miracles, to hear and answer prayer, to
reveal his purposes to men and sustain them in their hours of trial, until such a condition is achieved they will not inspire faith in others, but when clergy and laity come to
a unity of the faith then, and then only, will vision and reality combine and proclaim a lasting peace. Only then will men unite in a higher loyalty that will transcend mere
house. The kind of faith by which Abraham obeyed and went out not knowing whither he went, and by which Moses led the children of Israel through the Red Sea; the
faith of Samson, of David, of Samuel, and of the prophets who, through faith, subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of
lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the
aliens." (See Heb. 11.)

Unless and until the leaders of the churches will themselves believe in the God of the Bible, a God of power, able to perform miracles, to hear and answer prayer, to
reveal his purposes to men and sustain them in their hours of trial, until such a condition is achieved they will not inspire faith in others, but when clergy and laity come to
a unity of the faith then, and then only, will vision and reality combine and proclaim a lasting peace. Only then will men unite in a higher loyalty that will transcend mere
national loyalties, and there will be a true community of nations under the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace. Only then will love rule the world and all men be brothers.

Millennial Star

Ideals of Morality

Dr. Alexis Carrell makes the statement, "Moral sense is more important than intelligence." Dr. Hudson reminds us, "Jesus is not primarily a theological dogma but a
moral ideal; his kingdom is not so much a theory to be believed as a goal to be sought." And Emerson declared, "The moral law lies at the center of nature and radiates
to its circumference; the sentiment of virtue is the essence of all religion." And from an-other: "Not only do the beliefs of a religion mold the morals of its period, but the
moral ideals of the time remold its religion."

In this age of moral conflict and growing moral skepticism it is well to place emphasis again on certain moral standards which have withstood the erosion of time and the
competition of man-made ideologies. Some maintain that right and wrong are merely matters of convention; that what is good or bad in one age may be the opposite in
another; or that morality varies with race and country.

He who attempts to fix hard and fast distinctions between right and wrong or to point to absolute moral standards is liable to be accused of being old-fashioned,
unliberated, unenlightened, etc., by those who profess special "open-mindedness."

The following questions are asked and analyzed by a recent author: "If there is any absolute moral standard, what is it? Custom? But there are all sorts of conflicting
customs. Which of them is right? Laws of Nature? But even laws of nature change with man's knowledge; and besides, one cannot violate a law of nature even if he
would. And where one can do no wrong no morals are at stake. Laws of Men? But legislators are fallible, they differ and men have never held much moral awe for
them. Laws of God? But there are many supposed revelations of God's will, and each has its multitudinous interpretations. Conscience? But peoples' consciences differ
surprisingly, and even the conscience of the same person is bafflingly uncertain and often inconsistent, at different times."

The hazardous results of moral skepticism may be found in the region of personal righteousness. We must have a tremendous regeneration of moral ideals if we are to
have political or social regeneration. Moral skepticism must be replaced by moral faith. Our thinking must enable us to affirm great things; it is not enough to deny them.

Out of this uncertainty, this denial, this groping, there is beginning to emerge a desire for spiritual insight, spiritual regeneration, and reconstruction. But we must have a
definite moral order; there must be faith in certain eternal verities. We must have faith in God, in man's freedom of choice, in immortality.

They who believe in God as the Father of the race, the Creator of all that is; and especially we who believe in the modern scripture which declares it to be God's work
and his glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of men-these will accept his word as final in any discussion of what is right or wrong. For the task of
bringing immortality and eternal life to men will require teaching men to choose the right and avoid the wrong. Wise choice involves understanding. Surely, the Creator
knows what is good or bad for that which he has created. Also his appraisal will take into consideration the total life of the created one and not only a segment of it. He
will view it in the light of eternity. Our problem then is to find his word on this subject of morality and ideals. Let us go to the original of his word and not depend on
man's interpretation thereof, for on this most important subject we do not want a diluted or modified version of what he has said to guide his children.

Let us refer to an ancient document, written by the very finger of God on imperishable tablets, and see if what he there said is applicable to our time.

If they who would make the state supreme and submerge and depreciate the individual, if they who suppress the churches and banish God would but hear, with
understanding hearts, his mandatory injunction "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Ex. 20:3), they would free the countless millions who now are forced to
place the god of the state above the God of heaven. If individuals who worship the god of pleasure and are willing to make any sacrifice to get money with which to
allure this god, could be brought to change their allegiances and worship him, they would find not mere pleasure, but lasting joy.

What richness would be added to the lives of men if they would spend one day in seven in prayer and praise and meditation; if they would hear and obey his command
"Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy." (Ex. 20:8.)

In an age where the discipline of the home is being undermined by modern philosophies, where the authority of the parent is being replaced by the state, and where
children are taught to disregard the teachings of parents, and in some instances not only to be disloyal to them but even to betray them, in such an age it would be well if
someone could sound again with authority that commandment which carries a promise of long life, "Honour thy father and thy mother. . . ." (Ex. 20:12.) Disloyalty here
will sap the roots of social life and political well-being, for this is the initial contact of the individual with authority. Let those who strike at this root be warned that they
will witness the downfall of the tree of political authority.

Did ever the world so need to pause and hear again the voice of God declaring, "Thou shalt not kill"? (Ex. 20:13.) They who are responsible for the present strife, who
think greed justifies aggression, must someday know there is a penalty attached to this law.

When one of the dominant evils of the age is undermining our civilization with preventable diseases and our social structure is shot through with shame, we call upon
men and women to hearken to his unequivocal command, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." (Ex. 20:14.)

Let those leaders of nations who disregard all property and national rights, who in plundering weaker nations imagine a necessity and make it a law; to whom might
alone determines right; who covet, misrepresent, and steal; who not only trample upon the rights of men but also seek to justify themselves by asserting that he who is
"no respector of persons" has stamped them with a special favor; let them know that they are not exempt from the penalties of breaking the last three commandments,
"Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness. . . (propaganda in this age), and Thou shalt not covet that which is thy neighbour's. . . ." (Ex. 20:15-17.)

These great standards apply not alone to individuals but to groups of individuals called nations as well. Let all the world realize that national dishonesty, national
selfishness, national sin are as reprehensible as individual sins of the same order.

These then are some of the standards by which men and nations may gauge their actions. When free agency was made a part of the great plan for man's redemption,
there was emblazoned across the heavens the great imperative "Choose," and under it the warning, "You must take the consequences of such choice." Standards, yes!
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Christ and carried them over into the realm of thinking.

They who now advocate the doctrine of force should be reminded that God himself rejected such philosophy when it was presented to him by the original would-be
selfishness, national sin are as reprehensible as individual sins of the same order.

These then are some of the standards by which men and nations may gauge their actions. When free agency was made a part of the great plan for man's redemption,
there was emblazoned across the heavens the great imperative "Choose," and under it the warning, "You must take the consequences of such choice." Standards, yes!
They are as imperative today as when they were first given. In fact, they were reissued and given new meaning when Jesus of Nazareth breathed into them the Spirit of
Christ and carried them over into the realm of thinking.

They who now advocate the doctrine of force should be reminded that God himself rejected such philosophy when it was presented to him by the original would-be
dictator. If men are forced to observe the law, they would not be entitled to praise or blame. This freedom of choice is a right for which men have ever fought and it is
to preserve it and other freedoms which are being menaced, that the democracies are now embattled as were the hosts of heaven when there was war there.

In the darkness of present times let us not lose sight of our standards but hold them high with confidence that we have divine approval.

Millennial Star

Higher Authority

I was on leave in 1916, staying at the Regent Palace hotel in London, just off Piccadilly. A messenger came who said, "You are wanted at a certain hospital." I had
become accustomed to being called upon for favors from the men, because of the office I held; and as I received this message I thought "Some boy who is ill wants a
leave, wants to return home to recuperate. He is sending for me with a request that I exercise my authority in his behalf." And rather proudly I took my cap and my
crop, called a taxi, and went to the hospital; and as I went I thought, "It is a great thing to be an officer in the King's army; it is a great thing to be able to do something
for someone else, because of the mark on the shoulder or the cuff of the uniform." I went rather proudly in the thought that I might be able to do something for someone
because I was an officer of the King. I went into the hospital and was ushered into a little room; and there I saw a former Sunday School student of mine, one whom I
had taught in the intermediate departments of the Sunday School in Canada years before. This boy was very sick. He reached out a trembling hand. He did not address
me by my military title, but said, in a weakened voice, "Brother Brown, I sent for you because the doctor says I must die. You know I have a widowed mother out in
Canada; you know she needs me. I sent to ask if you will exercise your authority in my behalf, administer to me, ask God to save my life."

When he asked me to exercise my authority, there suddenly dawned upon me, for I had temporarily seemingly forgotton, that I held an authority that was not to be
known by the uniform I wore, that I held an authority that would enable me, if properly exercised, to ask favors, not of the King of England, not of the general in
command of the army, for under these circumstances they were helpless, but an authority which enabled me to ask of God a favor for this boy; and in humility I knelt by
the side of that boy's cot and exercised the authority of the Holy Priesthood. I humbly prayed God to spare his life for his widowed mother. God was good enough to
hear my prayer, and he answered it.

I went into that hospital a proud British officer; I came out a humble Mormon elder.

I thank God for the testimony of the truth, for the priesthood that is ours. I thank him that he hears and answers prayers. I thank him for what my mother taught me
when I was but a boy. Thank God for my parents! I thank God for the privilege of having labored under President Heber J. Grant, and thus having caught the
inspiration of his words and example. I thank the Lord for the privilege of returning now to Great Britain. I love the Scottish and the English and the Irish and the Welsh,
and I would like to say to you, my brethren and sisters, speaking as a farmer who comes from the plains of western Canada-I would like to say to you that after the
harvest there is a gleaning time, yes, but after the gleaning, if seeds are sown, there comes another harvest. I believe we are about to reap another harvest in Great
Britain. God grant that you and I may be found ready to thrust in our sickles and bring many to a knowledge of the truth, that we may exercise in humility this authority
by which we have the right to speak in the name of the Lord. We testify, as did they who came here one hundred years ago, that the heavens have been opened, the
truth is restored, the gospel of Jesus Christ is in the earth, and it alone will bring peace to the earth.

Millennial Star

Knowing and Loving God

". . .Thou shalt love the Lord thy God. . .with all thy mind. . . ." (Luke 10:27.) The above is but part of Christ's injunction, but seemingly a part not often stressed in print
or pulpit. We hear often of the necessity of loving God with all our hearts and with all our souls, but there was a purpose in his including "mind" in his instruction.

Can one love with the mind or is its function limited to the cold processes of unemotional fact-finding? Is the extent of our love of God to be gauged wholly by
sentimental reaction, lip service, physical demonstrations, forms, and ceremonies?

Jesus said, if we would have eternal life we must know God. Can one love that which he does not know? By what process do we come to know? Is love affected by
knowledge? "We are saved no faster than we gain knowledge." Of what? Of God. As we gain knowledge of him we become like him and with this growth our
capacity for love increases. As we become like him, we achieve salvation, which is, in the very nature of things, a continuing process.

Any person's conception of Deity must come within his mental horizon, which is determined by the degree of his intelligence. Man, by his reasoning, naturally endows
God with his own noblest and highest ideals, which if he be studious and devout, are ever growing. Intellectual activity then produces an ever-changing, because ever-
growing, concept of God. Once the mind has grasped the idea of God it will burn and glow, seek to assimilate and radiate, adore and emulate. This love of God by the
mind of man when accompanied by the love of heart and soul will light the pathway of salvation, the gates to which may be unlocked by the key of knowledge.

To know God, and thereby gain eternal life, one must come to have adequate concepts of his personality in its various aspects-physical, intellectual, social, moral, and
spiritual. Accurate concepts will come only as God reveals them. But here as elsewhere he rewards industry and application. In this field, too, the promise ". . .seek,
and ye shall find;. . ." (Matt. 7:7), will find fulfilment. In such seeking, the heart and soul require the co-operation and guidance of the mind. Men must think about God
if they would worship intelligently. But we must ever beware of the rank growth of mistaken speculation. We must ever seek this most precious knowledge by the light
of revelation.

A man may approach an understanding of God physically by acquiring knowledge of physiology and hygiene, by conforming to the laws of health and observing others
who so conform. He may get some hint of the physical perfection of his Creator by nothing the results of man's intelligent efforts to achieve physical fitness. Such a
glimpse will not come to the ascetic who despises the human body and who feels that any idea of a God with a body is debasing. We know God as we become like
him and to know him is to love him.

If one would attempt to estimate the intellectual powers of God, let him study the elements of the intellect in man. Increasing knowledge here will lead him to wonder at
the power of intellect by which the solar system was created and is controlled and the earth inhabited by its myriad forms of life. Scientific instruments enable us to
explore vast fields here, and our wonder increases with our knowledge as we reiterate the exclamation of the shepherd king of old.
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To the scientist, whose senses are aided so magnificently by the microscope, the telescope, the spectroscope, and other instruments, more than to the ancient, who saw
but little in comparison, should the heavens declare the glory of God, if only he have faith to light his learning. Tennyson had real insight when he wrote the line about the
flower in the crannied wall, "If I knew you root and all and all in all, I should know what God and man is." The sociologist, if his heart be right, may see in the perfection
If one would attempt to estimate the intellectual powers of God, let him study the elements of the intellect in man. Increasing knowledge here will lead him to wonder at
the power of intellect by which the solar system was created and is controlled and the earth inhabited by its myriad forms of life. Scientific instruments enable us to
explore vast fields here, and our wonder increases with our knowledge as we reiterate the exclamation of the shepherd king of old.

To the scientist, whose senses are aided so magnificently by the microscope, the telescope, the spectroscope, and other instruments, more than to the ancient, who saw
but little in comparison, should the heavens declare the glory of God, if only he have faith to light his learning. Tennyson had real insight when he wrote the line about the
flower in the crannied wall, "If I knew you root and all and all in all, I should know what God and man is." The sociologist, if his heart be right, may see in the perfection
of his science, an ideal social harmony called heaven. He may come to know God socially and add mental worship to heartfelt adoration.

If a man would know God morally and spiritually, he must discover and live moral and spiritual laws by which he may come to know a Being far greater than the one
visualized by those self-persecuting beings who think their duty to him and themselves is fulfilled by mere adoration and self-debasement. To become like him, man must
progressively understand him, which involves an ever-widening mental horizon bounded by experience. It is apparent that the mind may not only love, but, by the
process of its acquiring knowledge of God in these various aspects, augment and glorify the love of heart and soul.

This is not to say that only the profound student may worship God. On the contrary, the poor fisherman or the peasant may know and love him more than the learned.
But the injunction "Thou shalt love with all thy mind" (see Luke 10:22) applies to both. If both be devout, they will "see in part and understand in part" (see 1 Cor. 13:9)
according to their capacity, and there is no limit to the possible growth of either of them. Both will be saved as they gain knowledge. However, a little knowledge
intelligently used by a reverent soul will have more saving power than many cold facts unlighted by the torch of faith. It is a combination of the two for which we plead.
Surely a man of high intelligence, familiar with the arts and sciences of his time, a cultured man who has profited by the lessons of history, is more like God than a
primitive savage. His love of God will be on quite a different plain from that of his less enlightened brother.

We may illustrate our theme by referring to man's love of nature and note how the quality and depth of that love is gauged by his understanding. How the heart leaps
with joy in contemplation of a beautiful spring scene! What feelings are aroused by the senses, the seeing eye, the hearing ear, the senses of feeling and smell! If, by
study and application, he can discover in that scene myriads of hidden sounds, colors, scents, and harmonies, will he love it more or less? Will not his study of the
landscape and of the family of nature housed therein result in responses from theretofore unclaimed parts of him? Will he not see new relationships between things and
new meanings with unguessed qualities calling for ever greater adoration? Surely here the mind loves and is warmed by the scene, and the heart leaps in joyous
response. The outthrust of his mind will beckon him on, and he will continue his quest for understanding that his love may be more perfect and his joy more full. In this
realm, too, he will find that he is saved (from ignorance) as he gains knowledge.

But the full quotation counsels us to love, not in separate parts, but as a unit, the whole man. Too often we disregard the emphasis which He gives by his analysis ". .
.with all thy heart,. . .all thy soul,. . .all thy mind. . . ." (Luke 10:27.) In the many mansions prepared for those who love him, allocations will be made on the basis of
depth and height and breadth and quality of love, heartfelt, soul-full, mind-illumined love.

Millennial Star

With the Lord's Help

Fifty years ago there was in many countries relentless and bitter opposition to the Church; the missionaries were frequently mobbed, whipped, driven out of cities, and
sometimes martyred.

Then, as now, the missionaries learned to trust in and rely on the Lord for inspiration, protection, and guidance. The following missionary experience is related to
illustrate how the Lord will come to the assistance of his servants if they do the best they can and have faith in him.

A young man, twenty-one years of age, arrived in England and was assigned by President Heber J. Grant to labor in the Norwich conference. His first assignment was
to the city of Cambridge.

The last missionaries to labor in Cambridge before this young man arrived had been driven out of the city by an angry mob and were warned that if any Mormon elders
came there again, they would do so at their peril.

This young man and his senior companion arrived in Cambridge on a certain Thursday afternoon in November 1904. They were immediately successful in obtaining a
lodging place but were made uneasy and apprehensive as they saw across the road from their lodging large posters on the billboards, where they read among other
things, "Beware of the vile deceivers; the Mormons are returning. Drive them out."

Friday morning the senior companion left for France as he was about ready to return home and had permission to take a trip on the continent. The young elder,
therefore, was left alone. He had been instructed by his senior companion to go tracting that day, was told which streets to tract, and advised to tract at least five days a
week.

He spent the rest of Friday morning and Friday afternoon tracting a certain street and on Saturday visited the university and other points of interest to get acquainted
with the city.

Saturday evening as he sat in his lodging, a knock came at the door and he heard a man's voice inquire, "does an Elder -- live here?" The young missionary, of course,
thought the enemy had arrived, and he felt very lonely and somewhat afraid.

The landlady brought the man into the missionary's room, and he, producing a tract, asked, "Did you leave this at my door?"

The young man knew that his own name and address had been placed on the bottom of the tract by a rubber stamp and, though his fear almost prompted him to deny
having delivered the tract, he knew that would be useless. He therefore said, "Yes, sir, I think I did leave that at your door if you live on -- street."

The man then said to the young missionary, "Last Sunday a group of us left our church. We had a misunderstanding with the minister. We are not going back. We
agreed among us that we would pray throughout the week that God would send us a new pastor. When I found this tract under my door as I came home this
afternoon, I felt sure the Lord had answered our prayers. I communicated with my friends, and they agreed that I should come and see you. We wish you would come
and be our pastor tomorrow night. I have a large home and a room big enough to accommodate my friends. There are seventeen of us in all, and we believe the Lord
has sent you to us."

The young missionary was relieved to find the man was not an enemy, but in a sense he was more frightened at the prospects which lay ahead than he might have been
if they had come to warn him to leave the city. He had not been in the mission field a week, had never attended a meeting in the mission field, had never presided in a
meeting  before
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help him, without a companion, without preparation, took all the courage he could muster to say to the man, "Yes, sir, I will be pleased to come and be your minister
tomorrow night." The man thanked him and left.
has sent you to us."

The young missionary was relieved to find the man was not an enemy, but in a sense he was more frightened at the prospects which lay ahead than he might have been
if they had come to warn him to leave the city. He had not been in the mission field a week, had never attended a meeting in the mission field, had never presided in a
meeting before going into the mission field, had never preached a sermon. To be now suddenly confronted with the prospect of holding a meeting without anyone to
help him, without a companion, without preparation, took all the courage he could muster to say to the man, "Yes, sir, I will be pleased to come and be your minister
tomorrow night." The man thanked him and left.

As the young man sat alone in his room after his visitor had gone, he was both excited and depressed. He knew that he had come three thousand miles for the express
purpose of preaching the gospel and now an exceptional opportunity had presented itself, but he felt wholly inadequate, wholly unprepared, so completely dependent
that he almost wished he had not promised to undertake the task.

When the landlady came in to prepare his evening meal, he told her he thought he would not eat that night. He went to his bedroom early. He knelt by his bed and
talked with God. He did not say, "Now I lay me down to sleep." He told the Lord what his problem was and how he was there alone with no other Latter-day Saint
within a hundred miles to his knowledge, that here were people seeking for the truth, and he pleaded with the Lord to come to his assistance.

Several times during the night he got out of bed and knelt again in prayer. He could not sleep as he tried to visualize himself standing before a strange group who looked
to him as a trained minister and expected more of him than he could possibly deliver.

After spending the long night alternately tossing on his bed and kneeling in humble prayer, daylight came, and he notified the landlady that he would not have breakfast.
He walked out through the park, by the university, past King's College. Christ's Church. He saw many happy people, young and old, seeming to be without worries or
responsibilities. He felt that the weight of the world was upon his shoulders.

Upon returning to his room at noon he again gave instructions he would not eat. He took another long walk in the afternoon and as he walked, continued to pray. So
sure was he that he could not meet this situation that he actually prayed that God would send such a rainstorm that no one would come to the meeting. But that prayer
was not answered.

Time came for the evening meal, but he was not hungry. The time set for the meeting was 7:00 o'clock, and the clock ticked on. Finally he put on his long Prince Albert
coat, his high silk hat, took his Bible and his walking cane, and started for the address which the man had given him.

The young man had been a cowboy before his mission. He felt very awkward in the missionary clothes and if, "Home on the Range," had been written at that time he
likely would have been humming it as he longed for the freedom of the western prairies.

Upon arrival at the address he knocked on the door rather timidly. Apparently the man had been watching for him out of the window because almost before he
knocked, the door was opened. The man bowed courteously and said, "Come in, Parson," and ushered him into a large room where seventeen of the man's friends
were sitting. They all arose in honor of their new minister. He was shown to a little table and chair, and the people all sat expectantly.

In all his worrying he had not really thought just what he would have to do. It had not occurred to him that no one there would know a Mormon hymn, that he could not
call on any of them to offer the opening or the closing prayer. He had not realized how completely that meeting was to be up to him. In desperation he announced the
first hymn as, "Oh, My Father" and was stricken with a sense of loneliness as he suddenly realized he would have to sing the song alone. This he tried to do, and the
result was awful.

After singing two verses of the hymn he thought it was time to pray and was really afraid to stand before that congregation and offer prayer. He therefore suggested that
they all turn around and kneel at their chairs while he knelt and prayed. This they did.

The opening words of that prayer were, "Our Father who art in heaven. These people who are kneeling here before thee have come to hear thy word. I came from
Canada to England for the purpose of teaching thy word. Without thy help, oh, God, they will be disappointed, and I will be disgraced. Please, God, speak to them
through me."

As the boy thus prayed, all fear left him. There came over him a sense of peace and a feeling that all would be well. They arose from their knees, and he thought it best
to dispense with the second hymn and began to speak. Through the inspiration of the Lord he spoke forty-five minutes to that group, and many times they shed tears as
he bore his testimony. At the close of the meeting they came, all of them, and each in turn said much the same thing, "Why have we not heard these things before? This
is what we have been praying for. This, we know now, is the gospel. Thank God for sending you to us." His tears mingled freely with theirs as together they worshiped
God and thanked him for his blessings.

Before many months every man, woman, and child who attended that meeting joined the Church. Many of them are living in America now, and hundreds of others have
heard and embraced the gospel through them.

The young man who had come to that meeting with dragging feet and heavy returned to his lodging seemingly walking in the air and with a heart bursting with praises to
God for His goodness. He knew that he had only been the instrument which God had used that night to sow seeds of the gospel. Surely God does hear the prayers of
His servants.

Millennial Star

Life's Purpose

"He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much. Who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children. Who has filled
his niche and accomplished his task, who has left the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul. Who has never
lacked appreciation of earth's beauties, nor failed to express it. Who has always looked for the best in others and given the best he had. Whose life is an inspiration,
whose memory a benediction."

-Robert Louis Stevenson

"Life has meaning; and to find its meaning is my meat and drink," said Browning. Doubtless to every mature person has come the question-why am I? what is the object
of my being? Sages and philosophers have attempted to answer, but they give us a stone when we ask for bread. One says life is endless pain leading only to a painful
end; says another, it is an adventure leading only to resignation and despair. Some see in life a great adventure in which good fortune and ill follow each other with
bewildering variety; some say it is a game of chance without a chance of winning, that the fall of Adam resulted in man's earth-life being altered to his detriment if indeed
itCopyright
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One gets a pessimistic outlook on life if he relies alone on the writings of philosophers. We need that vision and inspiration which came to and through ". . . holy men of
God [who] spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Pet. 1:21) if we are to escape the mental down-drag of these unhappy days.
"Life has meaning; and to find its meaning is my meat and drink," said Browning. Doubtless to every mature person has come the question-why am I? what is the object
of my being? Sages and philosophers have attempted to answer, but they give us a stone when we ask for bread. One says life is endless pain leading only to a painful
end; says another, it is an adventure leading only to resignation and despair. Some see in life a great adventure in which good fortune and ill follow each other with
bewildering variety; some say it is a game of chance without a chance of winning, that the fall of Adam resulted in man's earth-life being altered to his detriment if indeed
it did not thwart the plan of the Creator.

One gets a pessimistic outlook on life if he relies alone on the writings of philosophers. We need that vision and inspiration which came to and through ". . . holy men of
God [who] spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Pet. 1:21) if we are to escape the mental down-drag of these unhappy days.

Contrasted with the juiceless and dusty straw which some philosophers would feed to the people, is the life-giving grain discovered and declared to the world by an
ancient optimist and prophet, ". . .men are, that they might have joy." (2 Ne. 2:25.)

What is your outlook on life today? Have you courage to face the future? Are you hopeful, contented, helpful, and optimistic? To whom do you look for your
inspiration? Have you reserves of valor behind the front lines of your vision? Does your faith make you unafraid of that "No Man's Land" across which the general plan
of campaign requires you to go?

A new Day of Pentecost awaits the world and will renew its mighty powers among us and overcome the drought that the paganism of war seems wont to spread on
Christendom. But such a Pentecost can come only when men again become converted to the truth as Christ taught it, and seek that upper room and be all ". . .with one
accord. . . ." (Acts 1:14.)

The gospel of Jesus Christ restored in our age beckons today as anciently, and promises joy to all who will yield obedience to its teachings. Obedience-that word from
which the timid flee and to which the valiant look for their deliverance! "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Heb. 5:8-9.) Obedience is an integral part of the gospel plan. Though
we have a perfect plan, divinely inspired, if it is not accepted and obeyed, it will never be effective. It is not self-operating but requires intelligent application. The best-
constructed automobile is of little value unless the mechanical laws governing its various parts are understood and observed, and it is put to work.

If we accept the gospel, we must comply with its ordinances, must perform the symbols which stand for its realities, must observe its laws and obligations. Thus this
word obedience, which to some seems to whisper slavery, is seen to be the emblem of true liberty. It is an ingredient of the joy we seek.

Obedience, however, involves restraint and self-control. One may find temporary pleasure in the gratification of an appetite, in the indulgence of desire, but lasting joy
comes only to the man who is willing to pay the price of self-denial to achieve self-realization. "Everything worth while in life must be bought and paid for by giving up
some habits and indulgences which are irreconcilable to its possession."

The man who rightly answers the question, "Why am I?" will strive to increase his power of appreciation. Too many go through life with eyes closed, with ears stopped,
with sense of feeling deadened or never awakened, and with the shutters closed to the windows of the soul; so absorbed in material things that they miss the beauty and
the richness which lies about them. God's glory is intelligence, and we must climb the ladder of knowledge if we are ever to share that glory.

"Fools believe," says the philosopher, "that if they can only achieve wealth their wants will be completely gratified. A man of means is supposed to be a man with means
for the fulfilment of every desire. A life devoted to the acquisition of wealth is useless unless one knows how to turn it into joy and that is an art which requires culture
and wisdom. A succession of sensual pursuits never satisfies for long. One must understand the ends of life as well as the art of acquiring means. Men are a thousand
times more intent upon becoming rich than on acquiring culture, though it is quite certain that what a man is contributes more to his happiness than what he has; not
wealth but wisdom is the way."

He who finds joy in life does not speak of its relationships as duties, obligations, and responsibilities. To him life is a privilege and an opportunity to serve. Service leads
to love, and love, the fulfilment of the great commandment, leads to immortality and eternal progress. Here alone may joy be found.

The road to this desirable goal may lead through valleys of sorrow and pain and disappointment but the prize is worth the price. Great souls in all ages have been willing
to accept poverty, obscurity, and persecution rather than forsake the quest. They knew the joy of self-sacrificing service.

Yes, man is that he might have joy-the joy of conquest over self, the joy of achievement, the joy of having fought the good fight, of having kept the faith, the joy of a
peace that is earned, the joy of increase, the joy of living that more abundant life exemplified by the Master, the joy that comes from patient continuance in well-doing,
the joy of comradesh, the joy of awareness and appreciation.

That joy which is the purpose of our being could not have been achieved without the refining fires of life's experience. If man had remained in that untried, innocent state
of pre-existent infancy, he would have done no good, for he knew no evil, would have had no joy, for he knew no sorrow.

Man is, then, that he might have the joy which comes through understanding and obeying those eternal laws upon which all blessings are predicated.

"They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name,
and this according to the commandment which he has given-

"That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is
ordained and sealed unto this power:

"And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true." (D.& C. 76:51-53.)

Millennial Star

Reverence

"The soul of the Christian religion is reverence."-Goethe.

In our consideration of this subject we might with profit paraphrase the words of Shakespeare's Cassius and say, "The fault, dear teachers, is not in our students but in
ourselves that our schools lack reverence."

If the officers and teachers of any Sunday School wish to encourage the spirit of reverence, they themselves must have that spirit. It is atmospherically diffused and is
radiant  and (c)
 Copyright   contagious. A reverent
                 2005-2009,          teacher
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inspire orderly and unified response.

If all the officers and teachers of the Sunday School came to their several duties with programs, lessons, and details so well-prepared that whispered consultations in
ourselves that our schools lack reverence."

If the officers and teachers of any Sunday School wish to encourage the spirit of reverence, they themselves must have that spirit. It is atmospherically diffused and is
radiant and contagious. A reverent teacher seldom needs to speak of reverence, as his attitude and conduct will, like a banner to marching men, attract attention and
inspire orderly and unified response.

If all the officers and teachers of the Sunday School came to their several duties with programs, lessons, and details so well-prepared that whispered consultations in
the chapel would be unnecessary, then the members of the Sunday School would observe and copy this example of dignified orderliness, quiet calm, and unhurried
efficiency. We may show or teach reverence even by our posture-the way we walk and sit-or by our general appearance, careful grooming, and modulated speech.
The mind and spirit of the individual are reflected in physical attitudes and habits, and in Sunday School these should always indicate high regard for sacred places and
religious assemblies. The spirit of reverence should radiate from the center of the heart and give flavor and color to every activity.

When the superintendent and his counselors walk quietly to their places on the stand after having completed the program for the preliminary service, including music,
prayers, short talks, Sacrament gem, and the administering of the Sacrament, when an air of reverence pervades the rostrum, it attracts and holds the attention of the
members of the Sunday School and will carry over into the classes.

Where the teacher is in his place before the organ prelude begins; where the teachers and senior classes refrain from noisy greetings and quietly take their seats; where
no one speaks above a whisper and only whisper when necessary; where such subjects as politics, business, sports, and social events are never discussed in the
chapel; where the officiating lesser priesthood are scrupulously neat and clean, appropriately dressed-not necessarily in uniform-where they sit at or facing the
Sacrament table with decorum; where all present, with closed eyes and bowed heads, thoughtfully follow the blessings on the emblems and then partake in respectful,
grateful remembrance of his sacrifice and renew their covenants; where each one acts as though he were really in God's house, there the spirit of the Lord will be felt
and reverence will prevail.

When we repeat the Lord's prayer we say, ". . . Hallowed be thy name. . . ." (Matt. 6:9.) We should help to make his house also a hallowed or holy place as we
worship in his name. That his spirit is grieved by lack of reverence is shown by the fact that Christ displayed righteous indignation when he found irreverent men
desecrating his Father's house. To desecrate is to divert from a sacred purpose, to violate the sanctity of or to profane or put to an unworthy use that which is sacred.
Consecrate is the opposite of desecrate, and our houses of worship are dedicated and consecrated.

Houses dedicated for religious purposes are sacred places to which we have frequent access. If we are guilty of thoughtless, rude, or irreverent conduct in our chapels,
charity may prevent our being expelled or excluded, but we may find that his spirit has withdrawn either from us or, if such conduct is general, from the chapel. The
Holy Spirit is very sensitive and may be "tuned out" by inconsiderate or irreverent conduct or by thoughts, attitudes, or expressions which are inconsistent with the
delicate beauty of spiritual communion.

We are permitted to visit the temples of the Lord only when we can present a recommend signed by the bishop and stake president certifying our membership and
fitness. No laughter, loud talking, or improper conduct in the temple is tolerated. One feels that he has come in from the boistrous world to a blessed haven of spiritual
association.

While temples are dedicated for sacred purposes and are not used for such public worship as is conducted in our wards and stakes, still we should remember that our
chapels are also houses of the Lord. It is here we sing sacred hymns, offer prayers of supplication and gratitude, partake of the Sacrament, teach and are taught the
word of God, bear testimonies to one another and to Him. Our attitude and deportment should at all times indicate sincerity, humility, and reverence, and respectful
silence and meditation will color and flavor these qualities.

In our opening prayers in Sunday School and other meetings we invoke the spirit of the Lord to be with us. In other words we invite him to meet with us in his house,
but really we are there at his invitation as he said to all of us, "that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer
and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day." (D&C 59:9.)

He said to his disciples in Jerusalem that "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. 18:20.) He renewed that
promise in this dispensation as recorded in the D&C 6:32. If we have the proper attitude he has promised to be with us. If, however, we are guilty of irreverent or
boisterous conduct, we may grieve his spirit and cause it to withdraw, and when it is withdrawn, the purpose of the session will be defeated.

Reverence for a place of worship indicates that we recognize it as the house of God. This inspires awe and counsels silence and meditation. Reverence not only shows
profound respect for him but also respect for the rights of others and for accepted rules of conduct. Furthermore, it indicates quite and sincere self-respect which is the
cement of character. A reverent person is a humble person, and humility is never noisy or rude. One's attitude toward sacred things and places reveals the depth and
quality of the inner self while flippant irreverence denotes a shallow soul.

Visitors may properly question our sincerity if we go through the forms of worship without the spirit thereof, and the chapel may cease to be his house if our conduct
offends and expels his spirit. When this happens, our attempts to worship are frustrated; we become aware of a lack of warmth; we lose spiritual contact and can
neither effectively teach nor be taught. Each individual present either contributes to or detracts from the atmosphere or spirit of the place and the occasion, even as the
contribution of each member of a symphony helps to create harmony or may be responsible for dissonance.

At this time when so many new chapels are being dedicated in the wards and stakes of the Church, there should be a concerted effort on the part of the various
quorums and auxiliary organizations to create and maintain a spirit of reverence at the time of the dedication and thenceforth in every meeting held therein. There should
be a uniform resolution observed in every ward and stake that all visiting, hand shaking and conversation shall take place in the recreation hall or foyer and never
carried on in the chapel.

Reverence is an attitude of heart and mind expressed in conduct. It indicates or results from feelings of respect, awe, or love and is a vital ingredient of true worship.
The irreverent person reveals a lack of culture and refinement. He will not be long tolerated by the group if his attitude and actions detract from the spirit of true
worship. No one has a right to mar the beauty and harmony of a group engaged in worship, in prayer, in praise, or in administering sacred emblems. The respectful and
reverent attitude of those present gives meaning, significance, and inspiration to the spoken word. During every religious service there should be the kind of humility
which brings the soul to its knees. Let each individual and each family group on Sunday morning, having been sanctified at the family alter before the members left for
Church, bring to the chapel the true spirit of worship having in mind the sacramental refrain:

"Reverently and meekly now
Let thy head most humbly bow;
Think of me, thou ransomed one;
Think what I for thee have done."
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    Instructor                                                                                                                                          Page 56 / 104

The Gardener and the Current Bush
Let thy head most humbly bow;
Think of me, thou ransomed one;
Think what I for thee have done."

The Instructor

The Gardener and the Current Bush

In the early dawn, a young gardener was pruning his trees and shrubs. He had one choice currant bush which had gone too much to wood. He feared therefore that it
would produce little, if any, fruit.

Accordingly, he trimmed and pruned the bush and cut it back. In fact, when he had finished, there was little left but stumps and roots.

Tenderly he considered what was left. It looked so sad and deeply hurt. On every stump there seemed to be a tear where the pruning knife had cut away the growth of
early spring. The poor bush seemed to speak to him, and he thought he heard it say:

"Oh, how could you be so cruel to me; you who claim to be my friend, who planted me and cared for me when I was young, and nurtured and encouraged me to
grow? Could you not see that I was rapidly responding to your care? I was nearly half as large as the trees across the fence, and might soon have become like one of
them. But now you've cut my branches back; the green, attractive leaves are gone, and I am in disgrace among my fellows."

The young gardener looked at the weeping bush and heard its plea with sympathetic understanding. His voice was full of kindness as he said, "Do not cry; what I have
done to you was necessary that you might be a prize currant bush in my garden. You were not intended to give shade or shelter by your branches. My purpose when I
planted you was that you should bear fruit. When I want currants, a tree, regardless of its size, cannot supply the need.

"No, my little currant bush, if I had allowed you to continue to grow as you had started, all your strength would have gone to wood; your roots would not have gained a
firm hold, and the purpose for which I brought you into my garden would have been defeated. Your place would have been taken by another, for you would have been
barren. You must not weep; all this will be for your good; and some day, when you see more clearly, when you are richly laden with luscious fruit, you will thank me
and say, `Surely, he was a wise and loving gardener. He knew the purpose of my being, and I thank him now for what I then thought was cruelty.'"

Some years later, this young gardener was in a foreign land, and he himself was growing. He was proud of his position and ambitious for the future.

One day an unexpected vacancy entitled him to promotion. The goal to which he had aspired was now almost within his grasp, and he was proud of the rapid growth
which he was making.

But for some reason unknown to him, another was appointed in his stead, and he was asked to take another post relatively unimportant and which, under the
circumstances, caused his friends to feel that he had failed.

The young man staggered to his tent and knelt beside his cot and wept. He knew now that he could never hope to have what he had thought so desirable. He cried to
God and said, "Oh, how could you be so cruel to me? You who claim to be my friend-you who brought me here and nurtured and encouraged me to grow. Could you
not see that I was almost equal to the other men whom I have so long admired? But now I have been cut down. I am in disgrace among my fellows. Oh, how could you
do this to me?"

He was humiliated and chagrined and a drop of bitterness was in his heart, when he seemed to hear an echo from the past. Where had he heard those words before?
They seemed familiar. Memory whispered:

"I'm the gardener here."

He caught his breath. Ah, that was it-the currant bush! But why should that long-forgotten incident come to him in the midst of his hour of tragedy? And memory
answered with words which he himself had spoken:

"Do not cry. . .what I have done to you was necessary. . .you were not intended for what you sought to be,. . .if I had allowed you to continue. . .you would have failed
in the purpose for which I planted you and my plans for you would have been defeated. You must not weep; some day when you are richly laden with experience you
will say, `He was a wise gardener. He knew the purpose of my earth life. . . . I thank him now for what I thought was cruel.'"

His own words were the medium by which his prayer was answered. There was no bitterness in his heart as he humbly spoke again to God and said, "I know you now.
You are the gardener, and I the currant bush. Help me, dear God, to endure the pruning, and to grow as you would have me grow; to take my allotted place in life and
ever more to say, `Thy will not mine be done.'"

Another lapse of time in our story. Forty years have passed. The former gardener and officer sits by his fireside with wife and children and grandchildren. He tells them
the story of the currant bush-his own story; and as he kneels in prayer with them, he reverently says to God, "Help us all to understand the purpose of our being, and be
ever willing to submit to thy will and not insist upon our own. We remember that in another garden called Gethsemane the choicest of all thy sons was glorified by
submission unto thy will."

As they arose from prayer, this family group, they joined in singing a familiar hymn which now had for them new meaning.

"It may not be on the mountain height,
Or over the stormy sea,
It may not be at the battle's front,
My Lord will have need of me. . . .

So trusting my all to thy tender care,
And knowing thou lovest me,
I'll do thy will with a heart sincere,
I'll be what you want me to be."

The father closed "Home Evening" with the lines:

"My will not(c)thine
 Copyright           be done,"Infobase
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                                        Media into a desert.
                                               Corp.                                                                                                  Page 57 / 104
"Thy will not mine," turned the desert into a paradise, and made Gethsemane the gate of heaven.
I'll be what you want me to be."

The father closed "Home Evening" with the lines:

"My will not thine be done," turned paradise into a desert.

"Thy will not mine," turned the desert into a paradise, and made Gethsemane the gate of heaven.

Millennial Star

Adversity Too Has Its Proper Place

I believe, my brethren and sisters, that adversity is a very important part of the lives of most men. Surely it has formed the background of the lives of some of the
greatest men of the earth, men who have written their names indelibly upon the pages of history, who have carved themselves into the consciousness of the race, and
have done so in spite of, or perhaps we should say because of, their acquaintance with adversity, with sorrow, with difficulty and disappointment.

I believe we often overlook the fact which was pointed out by the Savior of the world. When he was instructing his followers, he said there was a certain foolish man
who built his house upon the sand, and the floods came, and the rains descended, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell. And there was another man
who built his house upon a rock, and he was called a wise man. But we overlook the fact that on this other house as well as upon the first the rains descended, the
floods came, the winds blew and beat upon that house but it fell not.

Men sometimes labor under the false impression that reverses, disappointments, tragedies come only as the result of sin and disobedience. This is not true. Sometimes
they may come as a result of that undoubtedly. But it is not right to say that because a person suffers loss of one kind or another, it is necessarily a result of
disobedience. The trail perhaps may come to him to teach some of the great lessons of life. And so we must remember that the winds blow and the rains beat upon the
house that is built upon the rock. The promise is not exemption from the storm but that they who so build shall have strength to withstand it.

So I believe, as we look back over history, as we contemplate the past and think of what has happened in the lives of great men, we find comfort in the fact that they
too have endured disappointment. I doubt if there is one under the sound of my voice who has not suffered disappointment and adversity. Each man seems to have a
date with adversity which he must keep. As we look back we think of blind poets in their cells writing sublime epics; we think of philosophers with crippled bodies,
sitting perhaps in dungeons giving to the world sublime thoughts. We think of great historians who because of physical handicaps must put a hundred times more effort
into their work than the normal man. We think of prophets in exile preaching the word of God. We think of emancipators and liberators doing the world's work largely
because of the training they had in adversity.

It is with nations as with men. We read the history of Israel, and we find that the most radiant, courageous, and enduring faith among the children of Israel came in the
days of their adversity rather than in the prosperous days when King Solomon was on the throne.

We read too in the Book of Mormon, a wonderful history of a wonderful people where again and again is depicted the demoralizing effect of prosperity and the soul-
cleansing life-building power of adversity.

So all through history we find that God has cleansed people through adversity. We cannot think of the history of the past and bring to our minds examples of adversity
without thinking of the one who stands as the central figure of all time, the Master, the one who was prophetically referred to before he was born as "man of
sorrow," (Isa. 53:3), who was acquainted with grief, the one to whom Paul referred as he who learned obedience by the things he suffered. (See Heb. 5:8.) And as we
think of what he did and his accomplishments in the earth, we are led in all of our difficulties to feel that God knows best.

I am reminded now of what someone has written concerning the Master and what he did in spite of the difficulties that surrounded his life:

"Here is a man who was born in an obscure village. He worked in a carpenter's shop until he was thirty, and then for three years he was an itinerant preacher. He never
wrote a book. He never held an office. He never put his foot inside a big city. He never went two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He never did one
of the things that usually accompanies greatness. He had no credentials but himself. He had nothing to do with in this world except the naked power of his divine
manhood. While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him; another betrayed him. He was turned
over to his enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed on the cross between two thieves. His executioners gambled for the only piece of property
he had on earth while he was dying, and that was his coat. When he was dead, he was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

"Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone, and today he is the center of the human race, and the leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I
say that all the armies of the world that ever marched and all the navies that were ever built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned put
together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as has that one solitary man, Jesus of Nazareth." (J. A. Francis.)

Can you picture his life without this background of adversity.

We do not need to go back so far in our search for examples of what adversity has done for men. There are men among us who have come up through the school of
adversity. As we think of our leaders, men whose hands we clasp, men into whose faces we look today, they are what they are because of the schooling they have had
in adversity. Men who have had the courage to go out and face life, men who have had the faith in God that sustained them in the hour of trial, men who have refused to
give up and have continued on faithfully performing the duties assigned to them. Courage and fidelity being the outstanding characteristics of these men, they have risen
to prominence and are admired by all who know them. I believe that these men if they were asked today, "What has made you what you are?" would say, "I am what I
am because of the storms and the winds and the rains of life that have beaten about me, that have driven my roots into the ground of faith."

So I believe, my brethren and sisters, that we who have come here today to worship God, looking back over what we call an unprosperous year, coming out of a
depression in financial matters, should take comfort in the fact that adversity builds character. Of course all of us are trying to make a success in life as men count
success generally. We are not unmindful of the fact that men desire to have material wealth, but if we are wise I believe that as we accumulate this world's goods, we
will thank the Giver of those goods and not forget the hand that is responsible for the gifts.

I believe that faith in God the Eternal Father is the important thing in life. What have the men today, who placed all their affections upon material things? "Where a man's
treasure is there will his heart be also," said the Master. These men whose treasure consisted wholly of material things, what have they now when the material things
have been swept away? We thank God for faith in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ on which we can fall back in the time of our troubles-faith that God our Father
hears us when we cry-faith enough to enable us to sing: "How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord," enabling us to sing some other verses of that same hymn which it
seems to me give comfort in times like these.

"When   through
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The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o'erflow:
For I shall be with thee thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
have been swept away? We thank God for faith in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ on which we can fall back in the time of our troubles-faith that God our Father
hears us when we cry-faith enough to enable us to sing: "How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord," enabling us to sing some other verses of that same hymn which it
seems to me give comfort in times like these.

"When through the deep waters I call thee to go
The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o'erflow:
For I shall be with thee thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flames shall not hurt thee, I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine."

I hope that we will come to appreciate the fact that while the fire continues to burn there must be some dross to be consumed; that the gold of our characters will be
refined by the heat of the fire itself. I trust that none of us will come out of these experiences filled with rebellion, despair, and bitterness; but rather with a triumphant
faith in God our Father.

I draw your attention for a moment to an example of a man whose father prepared the way before him. One, Philip of Macedonia, had a son. Philip was ambitious, he
was successful as men count success, but he laid out a great plan for his future. His plan was so big and extensive he realized it could not be compassed in the life of
one man. So he said, "My son shall begin where I leave off and complete my work."

And so he proceeded to give to his son everything that money could provide. He placed him under Aristotle, a pupil of Plato. He gave him training to qualify him for life
as he thought life should be lived. He gave him gold and silver, servants and attendants. He gave him everything that we seem to be striving for today. Philip thought that
his son because of these things would be made happy. Alexander, the son, was restless when he was qualified and prepared, as he thought. Impatient even for the
death of his own father, that he might assume his place. When he came into power, he went forth to conquer, ruthless, cruel and heartless. He pressed on in his
conquest of nations until he subdued them all and had conquered the world. And then, before he was thirty years of age, he gave himself over to drink and gluttony and
to other excesses, seeking contentment where contentment has never yet been found, and he wept that there were no more worlds to conquer. In a drunken brawl he
died, in sadness and in misery, and poverty of soul.

May I point out that there is a difference between sorrow and misery. Sorrow is a hallowed thing. The loss of loved ones brings sorrow to the heart, but it is purifying in
its effect. "Misery," someone has said, "is nature's protest against degeneration."

I think now of another man, a man who lived many years ago, one, too, whose path had been prepared by mortal men, a man upon whom we look today as being one
of the great men of the age. And he was. But this man seemed to have placed much of his thought upon the accumulation of material things. This man who lived before
Jesus said:

"A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." (Luke 12:15.)

One man, the preacher, the son of David, King of Jerusalem, said of himself:

"I said in my heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure; and behold, this also is vanity.

"I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

"I sought in my heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting my heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men,
which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life." (Ec. 2:1-3.)

He found no satisfaction there. Then he decided that he would build great buildings, that he would seek satisfaction in the accumulation of great wealth, and he said:

"I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;

"I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:

"I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:

"I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:

"I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of
men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

"So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

"And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labours: and this was my portion of all
my labour.

"Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there
was no profit under the sun." (Ec. 2:4-11.)

Those lines seemed to me rather a sad commentary of one who had had in his possession most of the things that many of us are trying to acquire. Is it not true that
many of us are giving our time trying to accumulate wealth thinking foolishly, in spite of the history of the past, that the accumulation of material things alone can bring
joy and satisfaction to men?

I think just now of another verse that this same man wrote in the fifth chapter of Ecclesiastes. He says:

"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver. . ." (Ec. 5:10.)

ICopyright
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"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
I think just now of another verse that this same man wrote in the fifth chapter of Ecclesiastes. He says:

"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver. . ." (Ec. 5:10.)

I suppose there never was a time when that was truer than it is today.

"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

"When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

"The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep." (Ec. 5:10-12.)

This comes from a man who speaks out of the book of his experience.

My brethren and sisters, it seems to me that the great need of the world of men today is a rehabilitation of religious faith. It seems to me that men need to go back to
fundamentals. It seems to me that we Latter-day Saints in many instances need to go back to the faith of our fathers. We need the faith that brought them across the
plains, the faith that enabled them in this desert wilderness as it was then, to establish an intermountain empire.

I thank God that the faith of my fathers enabled them to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. I thank the Lord for the faith that has come to me as a heritage from them,
that there is an overruling Providence who is interested in the affairs of men. I thank the Lord for the faith that enabled these gray-haired people that I see before me
here to go to the house of God and there find comfort and solace in their sorrows. I thank the Lord for the faith of some of our early men and women who today are
aged and infirm, who, it seems, are ready and anxiously waiting for the time to come when they may pass on to their reward, and yet they linger. As I talk to them and
look into their faces (and to some of them I am talking now as they lie on their beds listening over the radio) to them may I extend this thought of greeting, that God is
their friend, and though they suffer and though they cannot understand, they with all of us thank the Lord for the faith that prompts us to say: "There is an explanation,
though we know not what it is."

I like the words of Robert Louis Stevenson. This man, too, was acquainted with sorrow: this man had days when he wondered, and this is what he said:

"If I from my spy-hole look with purblind eyes upon at least a part of a fraction of the universe, yet perceive in my own destiny some broken evidences of a plan and
some signals of an overruling goodness, shall I then be so mad as to complain that all cannot be deciphered; shall I not rather wonder with infinite and grateful surprise
that in so vast a scheme, I seem to have been able to read, however little and that little was encouraging to faith."

Samuel Johnson has said:

"It is by affliction chiefly that the heart of man is purified and that the thoughts are fixed on a better state. Prosperity unalloyed and imperfect as it is has power to
intoxicate the imagination; to fix the mind upon the present scene; to produce confidence and elation and to make him who enjoys affluence and honors forget the hand
by which they were bestowed. It is seldom that we are otherwise than by affliction awakened to a sense of our imbecility or taught to know how little our acquisitions
can conduce to safety and quiet and how justly we may inscribe to the superintendence of a higher power those blessings which in the wantonness of success, we
considered as the attainments of our policy and courage."

More than anything else, it seems to me, as we face this new season, as we look forward to the coming of another year, we must revise our estimate of values, we must
come to appreciate what the Savior meant when he said: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth." We must come to appreciate values as he saw them, he who
had nowhere to lay his head.

It seems to me, my brethren and sisters, that of all places the church is the place where men gather courage to face life. There are men who start out boldly, rather
promisingly, to meet life, but unless they have the faith in God on which they can rely in the hour of trial, when life overtakes them, when the great impact of trouble
comes, these men crumble under the adversities of life. God grant that we may in our lives appreciate what the gospel means to us, that we may not seek the evil way,
that we may be willing to turn our backs upon influence, affluence, power and prosperity, if by following them we must leave the path of truth and faith in God. I trust
that we may come to realize the benefits that come through meeting life courageously. I have here the writings of a man who speaks of what happens to men when they
lose their faith. One paragraph from his writings impressed me as I read it:

"One who has walked with families through long illnesses where desperate prayers rise like a fountain day and night, who has seen strong men break down in health or
lose the fortune of a lifetime, who has stood at children's graves and heard mothers cry, 'How empty are my arms!' does not need long explication of life's tragic
suffering. The staggering blows shatter the hopes of good and bad alike. Whether one's house be built on rock or sand, on both as Jesus said, the rains descend, and
the floods come and the winds blow. In this experience of crushing trouble nothing but religious faith has been able to save men from despair or from stoical endurance
of their fate. To face the loom of life and hopefully to lay oneself upon it, as though the dark threads were as necessary in the pattern as the light ones are, we must
believe that there is a purpose running through the stern, forbidding process. What men have needed most of all in suffering, is not to know the explanation, but to know
that there is an explanation. And religious faith alone gives confidence that human tragedy is not the meaningless sport of physical forces, making our life what Voltaire
called it, 'a bad joke,' but is rather a school of discipline, the explanation of whose mysteries is in the heart of God. No one who has lived deeply can ever call such faith
a 'matter of words and names.' To multitudes it is a matter of life and death."

I bear testimony to you, my brethren and sisters, that this is the gospel of Jesus Christ. I bear testimony that there is comfort in the Sermon on the Mount; that there is
comfort in studying the life of the Master. I bear testimony that in the hour of trial, in the hour of test, in the hour of disappointment and disillusionment, one can turn
always with hope and confidence to the Father of the race, to our Father who is our Friend. I trust that we may go forward today with renewed courage to face life,
believing that after life is over all that has come to us in a disciplinary way has been for our good, believing in the words of the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith,
recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants, wherein the Prophet, while in Liberty jail, raised his voice to God and said: "How long must these things be?" The Lord said:
"My son, peace be to thy soul. . ."

"All these things shall be . . . for thy good.

"The Son of Man has descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?" (D&C 121:7, 122:7, 8.)

Let us then take courage from the thought that the disappointments of life that may come to us may be for our good, if we will accept them in the proper spirit, if we will
go through them with firm faith in God. Let us teach our boys and girls that they must have a store of resignation and of faith. Let the younger people of the Church be
prepared for the tests that shall come to them. Sometimes we think the history of the Church is pretty well written so far as hardships are concerned, but the testing
time, the time that tests men's souls, has only begun. These boys and girls of ours must meet hardships and testings. We must teach them to prepare for trouble; teach
them to have faith in God and not alone in material things; teach them also to have faith in themselves.
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God grant that we may have a better outlook upon life, that we may continue to worship him, that we may have faith in the ultimate triumph of right, and that in that faith
we may conquer, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
go through them with firm faith in God. Let us teach our boys and girls that they must have a store of resignation and of faith. Let the younger people of the Church be
prepared for the tests that shall come to them. Sometimes we think the history of the Church is pretty well written so far as hardships are concerned, but the testing
time, the time that tests men's souls, has only begun. These boys and girls of ours must meet hardships and testings. We must teach them to prepare for trouble; teach
them to have faith in God and not alone in material things; teach them also to have faith in themselves.

God grant that we may have a better outlook upon life, that we may continue to worship him, that we may have faith in the ultimate triumph of right, and that in that faith
we may conquer, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Deseret News

In God's Image

On this first Sabbath of June we salute the students of America who have recently received diplomas from high schools or degrees from institutions of higher learning.
We, with you, are grateful for the opportunity provided in America for elementary and higher education.

You have been learning facts, perfecting skills and techniques, preparing for active citizenship. Your value to the nation and to the world will depend upon the
interpretation you place upon the meaning and purpose of what you have learned.

There may be more peril than profit to a nation if its students and future leaders obtain only a purely scientific education. The late Dr. William Temple, Archbishop of
Canterbury, warned us that a:

". . . purely scientific education must produce a generation adept in dealing with things, indifferently qualified to deal with people, and incapable of dealing with ideas.
We hope your knowledge-which is of the head-will be motivated by wisdom-which is of the heart-; the one is determined by what you know, the other by what you do
with what you know. Surely, 'Out of the heart cometh the issues of life.'"

Our annual and increasing school budget indicates the extent of our interest in education. We are determined that our young people-all of them-shall be given a
favorable opportunity to learn, to become educated, but we are even more concerned about their beliefs and convictions. There is an increasing tendency in the
business and political world to ask applicants for jobs, or for citizenship, not only, "What do you know?" but-and with searching emphasis-"What do you believe?"

Our fighting men in the South Pacific saw what beliefs can do to men. They met an enemy who fought from treetops, crevices, and foxholes with a fury and a fanaticism
seldom encountered on the field of battle. Many of them preferred suicide to surrender. Others voluntarily manned their strange little planes, which were really guided
torpedoes, and flew them into our ships, knowing they must die with the explosion.

These men were driven to an almost superhuman effort by their belief that their emperor was "the son of Heaven" and that to give their lives for him was to achieve the
highest glory.

On the opposite side of the globe, others of our veterans met armies of young men who, forsaking the faith of their fathers, had with awful oaths sworn allegiance to an
alleged "superior race." Many of them had been transformed into such subhuman beings as could witness and assist in the atrocities of concentration camps,
transformed by the evil virus which had been injected into their young minds.

Do not forget that many of these young people were college graduates, scientists, technicians. But because of their perverted beliefs, their education tended only to
increase the scope of their malignity.

If such amazing results as were witnessed in the recent war could be obtained by indoctrinating the minds of youth with evil, if such enthusiasm and loyalty could be
aroused to support utterly false concepts, if a kingdom of evil almost strong enough to rule the world could be established by systematic indoctrination of the youth,
what might be done if, with equal thoroughness and zeal, we teach that God, our Father, is at the center of a moral order in the world; that he is the Father of all men,
and therefore all men are brothers?

In this land dedicated to true liberty, we have wisely provided for complete separation of church and state. Tax-supported schools, colleges, and universities are
forbidden to teach religion. We must therefore provide means for organized, efficient religious instruction if we are to meet the desperate need of the world for spiritual
and moral anchors.

Many of you graduates of '48 will be the parents of the graduates of '68. Unless you and we find a way to keep the religious education abreast of their secular training,
we shall have a generation of spiritual illiterates, a generation which will have lost a whole dimension of life-the spiritual dimension.

I am privileged to represent a church today whose theology embraces education, which teaches that man cannot be saved in ignorance, that salvation depends upon the
intelligent use of knowledge, inspired by faith in God; and that "the glory of God is intelligence."

Too many of the young people of America have been left to discover for themselves those moral and spiritual truths whose value has been proved over and over again
by the experience of past generations. The traditions and habits of conduct inherited from our forebears cannot long survive the beliefs from which they grew. A new
emphasis on old values is imperative as we enter the atomic age. Power without adequate controls may be disastrous.

It is important that you continue to believe that there is a basic and eternal difference between right and wrong, that sin is hideous and destructive, even though it may
become popular; important that you think in terms of purity of life, of the value of virtue and honor, that you practice self-control and respect the rights of others. There
are some things which do not become oldfashioned or obsolete. Habitually to disregard the mandates of the moral law is to surrender to a slavery as complete and as
abject as any which can be physically imposed. Goodness is primarily intelligent behavior. "Wickedness never was happiness," said an ancient prophet.

Let us renew our emphasis on the value, the dignity, and the sanctity of the individual human soul. This concept is stated in Genesis, "So God created man in his own
image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Gen. 1:27.) It is this religious concept which forms the basis of our freedom; it is the
bedrock of our democratic way of life.

Our founding fathers were men who were familiar with the Holy Bible, and they took from its pages the eternal truths upon which our Constitution was founded. It was
their faith in God and in man's relationship to him which caused them to write into the Declaration of Independence as a self-evident truth that "all men are created
equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.

If your generation fails to live and to teach the Christian way of life, you may expect your children to forsake the American way of life. If the children of Christian
parents come to maturity without Christian beliefs and convictions, there will be a resultant agnostic vacuum into which false and foreign ideologies will rush with
devastating consequences-consequences
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Washington warned us long ago to "indulge with caution the idea that morality can long survive without religion." All who are interested in the morals of future
generations should ponder this inspired wisdom from the father of our country. If morality cannot survive without religion, we must be on guard against the passive as
equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.

If your generation fails to live and to teach the Christian way of life, you may expect your children to forsake the American way of life. If the children of Christian
parents come to maturity without Christian beliefs and convictions, there will be a resultant agnostic vacuum into which false and foreign ideologies will rush with
devastating consequences-consequences having to do with personal, group, and national morality.

Washington warned us long ago to "indulge with caution the idea that morality can long survive without religion." All who are interested in the morals of future
generations should ponder this inspired wisdom from the father of our country. If morality cannot survive without religion, we must be on guard against the passive as
well as the active enemies of religion. It is one of the first casualties in totalitarian states, but let us also be warned that it will die if it is not nurtured at home.

We must not assist the enemy by neglecting our front-line defenses-moral and religious defenses. An irreligious nation is an easy prey for godless propagandists of
foreign ideologies. Their doctrines, which are recognized as sinister and ominous by men of faith in God, may seem to be entirely innocuous to those who do not have
that faith and cannot, therefore, note the contrast.

Future generations of Americans can only preserve their freedom and continue with our democratic institutions, if they retain their faith in God and in those inalienable
rights with which they were endowed by him. They must, by conscientious study and prayerful meditation, bring their religious knowledge up to, at least, the level of
their learning in other fields. That knowledge, if reverently pursued, will inspire faith in God, and in the ultimate triumph of righteousness.

In the war of ideas now being waged, we face foes who are painstaking and thorough in indoctrination, expert in propaganda, cunning in dissimulation, ruthless in
discipline, and avaricious for power. This war of ideas took on new impetus when the shooting war was over, and it has ominous possibilities.

We ourselves must sincerely believe-we should know-that Christ, the Savior, is a living reality and not an ancient myth, that his life and mission on earth, his death and
resurrection were part of an eternal plan inaugurated by the God of heaven for the good and benefit of men; that both the Father and the Son are still interested in the
success of that plan. It is their work and their glory "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39.)

We should study and believe in the predictions of the prophets, many of which refer to the times in which we live. We should study and heed the signs of the times and
the admonitions of the Master. The war and famine, the pestilence and tribulation which now afflict the world were predicted by the Savior as preliminary to his second
coming.

He promised that after these troublous times. . . the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to
his works." (Matt. 16:27.)

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then shall the end come. . .

"And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of
heaven with power and great glory." (Matt. 24:14, 30.)

If we as Christians really believe these predictions, are really looking forward to the coming of the Messiah, then indeed will the power of our beliefs more than match
the man-made ideologies of the world. If we live and preach "The gospel of the kingdom" with the conviction and enthusiasm of a Peter, John, or Paul and if we catch
the fire of their zeal, there will be no need to fear the advocates of atheistic "isms."

Humbly and sincerely we bear witness that the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is on the earth today, with its power and authority, and that it is as potent as it ever was.
May his holy spirit preserve and guide the youth of America to their glorious destiny.

"Church of the Air" Address

The More Abundant Life

The inspiring theme of the mission conference, "We Seek the More Abundant Life," was treated from various angles by able advocates in different fields of activity. We
were inspired with a desire to achieve that life. We were shown various ways by which to approach it, such as through physical fitness, mental preparedness, and
spiritual harmony.

And now what is the abundant life, and why should we seek it? Is it a state of being which may be achieved at any given time? Can it be bought and paid for at one
time and price? Is it reserved for the few, or is it available to all who qualify to enjoy it?

The abundant life is eternally becoming. It is not fixed and static, but of necessity is ever changing. What might be abundant life to the child would, if unchanged,
become progressively less abundant as he matures. It is a state of being, where constant adjustments are necessary; where one is ever preparing for the changing
conditions of tomorrow.

The abundant life is the joyous life. One must be healthy to be happy. The Lord's law of health promises physical fitness and radiant life. It is the teachable life, the life of
awareness and of appreciation; therefore, education helps to determine its quality. One prepares for more abundant living by gaining knowledge, and intelligence will be
his glory.

A candidate for this life must be spiritually responsive and in tune. he requires diligence, faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, Godliness, brotherly kindness,
charity-if his life is to be abundant rather than barren.

It is a discerning life where price is not confused with value; where tomorrow's happiness will not be marred by today's folly; where one does not mortgage the future in
an attempt to enjoy immediate unearned pleasures. One may find it necessary to resist some desires today in order that tomorrow's joy might be full. Living the
abundant life today involves preparation for its enjoyment tomorrow.

The past as well as the future determines the measure and the quality of life today, and each holds something to make it more abundant. No measure of time may be
isolated with the view to treating it as independent of what was and is, and is to be, for the abundant life is eternal life, and eternity is now.

The life we seek is lived in harmony with law and is in tune with God. It is ever active, but not impatient. Because of its eternal nature it is lived and measured by eternal
standards.

In order fully to live one must believe in the gospel of Christ as a plan formulated for his good and operative both before and after his earth life. It is a plan which
requires
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that eternal plan in which each day is conditioned by the preceding one, and in turn conditions that which is to follow.

The candidate must believe in the gospel of free agency and accountability. He must recognize the inexorable law of the harvest and those other irrevocable laws upon
standards.

In order fully to live one must believe in the gospel of Christ as a plan formulated for his good and operative both before and after his earth life. It is a plan which
requires his participation and determines his dividends by the nature of his daily investments. Life is not a matter of a day, a year, a period, or a lifetime, but is a part of
that eternal plan in which each day is conditioned by the preceding one, and in turn conditions that which is to follow.

The candidate must believe in the gospel of free agency and accountability. He must recognize the inexorable law of the harvest and those other irrevocable laws upon
which all blessings are predicated, and let obedience be his watchword. He must seek to know something of what lies beyond the hills on both sides of the valley of life.
He will seek inspiration and be guided by revelation.

With this conception of the abundant life, one comes to see the possibility of enjoying it here and now. Though he may not have all the things he desires, and though
some of his best-laid plans may not succeed, his life may be rich and radiant if he will get the broader view afforded by higher ground. His life is abundant if he is
making the best use of the experience of the past and proper provision for the future. The abundant life is a growing life-virile, positive, hopeful, healthful, achieving-
where each today is better than yesterday; where there is no stagnation or decay; where the better self controls desire; where "there is a sound mind in a sound body,
controlled by a God-filled soul."

This life is available to all, for ". . . men are, that they might have joy," (2 Ne. 2:25), and there is complete respect of all persons with God.

The gospel of Jesus Christ marks the way to this life which all men desire. The Savior came that we might have it. He gave us the faultless formula. He demonstrated by
his own life that it may be achieved under conditions which men would term adverse. He lived the abundant life. His hunger was to give, and not to get. He did not seek
material things but reminded us that ". . . a man's life consisteth not of the abundance of things which he possesseth." (Luke 12:15.) Abundance of things is not essential
to abundant living.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides ways and means for all its members to live the more abundant life. It fosters education. It encourages
participation. It is guided by revelation and holds high the ideal of perfection. Daring to declare "As God is, man may become" and being willing to pay the price, we
seek the more abundant life.

Millennial Star

Discover and Actualize Your Potential Self

President McKay, members of the Board of Trustees, President Wilkinson, faculty members, honored guests, student body and graduating class, and your friends and
relatives, or to use a comprehensive salutation and one I like better, my brothers and sisters.

This is at once an inspiring, terrifying, and humbling experience. Inspiring because I am standing before a large group of dynamic young people who are looking forward
to the future with "hope and expectation and desire and something evermore about to be" terrifying and humbling because I am expected to direct your thinking for a
few moments! But I am comforted by the thought that I have your sympathy. I am encouraged by the faith that divine assistance is available. For that I humbly pray.

And now may I say you look a bit grim. Wouldn't you like to loosen up just a bit? I know you have had many "vexations of the soul" through the last few weeks, tests
and examinations; love affairs and-professors, if I may refer to the two extremes of emotional reaction. You have come now to another test, not a test of knowledge, or
of skills, not a test of agility or of strength, not a test for which you have had to prepare-and I suspect when this is over you may conclude that no one has prepared-but
this is to be a test of patience, where you are required to have respect for an ancient custom and for a slightly less ancient speaker.

I think, perhaps, I should at this point announce my subject. A subject that is dear to the heart of every young woman present, i.e. MAN. I suspect you young women
think you know quite a lot about that subject, but may I dare to suggest that you have something yet to learn and that you will learn and be wiser. I remember hearing of
one young lady who on her wedding day gave the bridegroom a book. It was entitled The Marks of a Perfect Gentleman, and one year later she gave him another
book entitled Wild Animals I Have Known.

But, seriously, I should like to talk with you tonight for just a few moments about the soul of man which includes spirit and body. The Psalmist said.

"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

"For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

"Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:" (Ps. 8:3-6.)

Now you students have been studying theology and religion, among other things. You have been taught that you were intelligences originally, that intelligence is not nor
can it be created, that man is spirit, that the elements are eternal and that spirit and element inseparably connected receive a fulness of joy. You have also been taught
that creation is an on-going process, and that man has the high privilege of co-operating with God, in the great drama of creation. You have noted already in your other
studies that the world is not yet fully created or finished, that the Creator left it largely as raw material to set us thinking, experimenting, risking, and adventuring.

As Dr. Stockdale said: "God left oil in the Trenton rock. He left the electricity in the clouds. He left the rivers unbridged and the mountains un-trailed. He left the forests
un-felled and the cities un-built. He left the laboratories un-opened and the diamonds uncut. He gave us the challenge of raw materials, not the satisfaction of perfect,
finished things. He left the music unsung, and the dramas un-played. He left the poetry undreamed in order that men and women might not become bored, but engage in
stimulating, exciting, and creative activities that keep them thinking, working, experimenting, and experiencing all the joys and durable satisfactions of achievement.
Progress comes not by some magic word and not by government edict, but from the thoughts, the toil, the tears, the triumphs of individuals who accept the challenge of
raw materials-and by the grace of God-given talents produce results which satisfy the needs of men."

We say that the world is left, in a sense, unfinished. Changes have come through the ages. You have learned something of the various ages down through the industrial
age. Each age has dawned more or less gradually. Some preparation has been made for its coming. But this age into which you have come-and I am not sure you didn't
bring it with you-known as the atomic age, this age, true to the nature of the atom when it is disturbed, burst upon the world with a suddenness and a fury that
threatened to destroy it and all the people in it. I need not remind you of what was in the headlines recently, but I would like to read what was said by one who
witnessed it. A writer for the New York Times reported as follows:

"From a hydrogen fusion device there occurred the most stupendous explosion ever released on earth. Dropped by a B-52 bomber from 50,000 feet altitude and
 Copyrightat(c)
exploding        2005-2009,
              15,000  feet, theInfobase    Media Corp.
                                fire ball reached the diameter of more than four miles and from forty miles away the luminosity exceeded 500 suns. ThePage   63 / 104to
                                                                                                                                                       cloud continued
rise to a height of 25 miles and spread over a distance of more than a hundred miles, and the explosive yield of this hydrogen fusion bomb was from ten to fifteen
megatons, meaning ten to fifteen million tons of TNT."
witnessed it. A writer for the New York Times reported as follows:

"From a hydrogen fusion device there occurred the most stupendous explosion ever released on earth. Dropped by a B-52 bomber from 50,000 feet altitude and
exploding at 15,000 feet, the fire ball reached the diameter of more than four miles and from forty miles away the luminosity exceeded 500 suns. The cloud continued to
rise to a height of 25 miles and spread over a distance of more than a hundred miles, and the explosive yield of this hydrogen fusion bomb was from ten to fifteen
megatons, meaning ten to fifteen million tons of TNT."

When we in World War I spoke of TNT, we spoke of it in terms of pounds and later in terms of hundred weight. And in World War II we learned more about the
power of TNT. Those of us who were in London during the bombings were aware and amazed that some of those war heads carried as much as several tons of TNT,
but now we are speaking of ten million tons.

I speak of this great force, this power that has been hidden through the ages because I should like to ask and say with David, in the midst of all this, "What is man?" Is it
not possible that there is hidden in man's soul a power which if it could be released would be greater than all the energy of all the atoms in the universe?

Is it not likely that man, the discoverer, and to a degree the controller of these mighty forces, is himself possessed of power and resources as yet undiscovered or only
partly developed? Is the atom with its hidden power more intriguing or miraculous than the intelligence which discovers and utilizes, directs and controls this power?
The thoughtful study of man and his Godlike status inspires awe, reverence, and humility.

I should like to bring to you again what many of you heard sometime ago from President J. Reuben Clark, Jr. It is in a little pamphlet now entitled "Man, God's Greatest
Miracle." I read just one paragraph, but it is pertinent to what I would like to say. President Clark said,

"It is not possible for me even to suggest the infinity of physical detail known only through the microscope that makes up the universe of physical man. They form worlds
of marvels upon marvels of greatest beauty and artistry, and the mind stands aghast at the microscopic immensity of their creation. The wonders of our majestic,
material universe, stretching out through space across billions of light years, with its billions of galaxies seem to my own mind, with its great limitations, no more
wonderful, and as thus far discovered and known, not so complex or so intimately related as the cellular (all but infinitely small) universe that build this body of ours-
each organ and gland and circulatory system, and bone and muscle and sinew and tendon, a galaxy all bound together in a most intimate relation that baffles the human
mind to comprehend."

And then I should like to read to you a paragraph from the past President of the New York Academy of Science, A. Cressy Morrison. He said,

"No atom or molecule ever had a thought. No combination of elements ever gave birth to an idea. No natural law ever built a cathedral, but, obedient to certain
impulses of life, certain living structures had been made which contained something to which the particles of matter are in turn obedient, and we see as a result all the
wonders of civilization."

What is this living structure? Atoms and molecules. Yes, and what else? An intangible something that is so superior to matter that it dominates all things and so different
from the material of which the world is made that it cannot be seen, weighed or measured. The soul of man is master of its destiny, but it is conscious of its relation to a
supreme source of its existence.

After the explosion over Hiroshima, one writer, Herman Hagedorn, observed that that explosion rocked not only Hiroshima, it rocked America, too. It terrified not only
the Japanese, but it terrified one hundred and thirty-five million Americans; Americans, who like blind men were groping into the atomic age, bewildered and boastful,
cowardly and courageous, grasping and generous. These Americans, he said, must grow up overnight if mankind is to be saved from destruction. I have permission to
quote from his dramatic poem "The Bomb That Fell on America," but rather than quote I shall paraphrase a bit. He said,

"I called on the Lord when my head was full of one hundred and thirty-five million Americans having to grow up overnight, and I said, `Lord, if ever a people needed a
miracle-' the Lord looked at me as a mountain might look at a molecule. He said, `You want me to come down to perform a miracle, you want me to turn a hundred
and thirty-five million self-willed egoists overnight into one hundred and thirty-five million co-operative angels? `Brother,' said the Lord, in a voice that shook the
windows, `that isn't the sort of universe you are living in, and that is not the sort of God I am.

"`There is only one miracle,' said the Lord, `all else is cause and effect. All else is law. There is only one miracle and it is already accomplished. That miracle is the
human soul.'"

The soul is much like the atom, the atom so minute no lens you can make can enlarge it to a point where the eye can see it, and yet there is a whole solar system inside
it whirling around a nucleus, like the planets round the sun. So feeble in its unreleased state yet actually the greatest force save one in creation! The writer points out
there must be faith in God. He points out that Jesus of Nazareth is the source of power and that if the power of the soul is to be released, man must overcome his pride
and arrogance.

"`I have given you a soul,' cried the Lord, 'And you ask me to come down and do a magician's trick. The people who smashed the atom didn't beg me to come down
with a thunderbolt and split the nucleus for them. They knew there was power in the atom and they set to work to release it. They succeeded and shook not only New
Mexico, they shook the world!'

"`There is power in the human soul,' said the Lord, 'when you break through and set it free, like the power of the atom, more powerful than the atom. It can control the
atom, the only thing in the world that can. But,' said the Lord, 'the power must be released as the atom breakers released the power of the atom.'

"The Lord He looked at me and His eyes pierced like hot wires. Silence rose out of the ground straight, thick and hard as a wall. The wall was so cold it sweated and I
began to sweat too. I felt a hand on my collar, a hand that made me remember the wood shed and the shingle and the glint in the father's eye (you graduates will not
know anything of the wood shed and the shingle, but with the older ones on this stand I assure you the shingle was a stern reality).

"The Lord He lifted me up and set me down. In a desert He set me down, wilder and darker than anything in New Mexico. And there was a cross in the desert and a
man on the cross and I was alone in the world, alone with the man on the cross, alone except for the Lord and the Lord a voice in my heart, a voice and no more.

"`Look at the man,' it said, 'and look at yourself, sons of the same father but who would dream it? The firefly and the sun are no more unlike than you two. The firefly
can't do anything about it. You can. That is part of the miracle of the soul I was telling you about, that the human creature can change, become different, grow out of the
nature of the firefly, grow into the quality of the sun. The worm and the moth, the cocoon and the butterfly-you and what God wants you to be.'

"I stood in a desert and there was a cross in the desert and a man on the cross. 'Look at Him,' said the voice, 'And look at yourself. Look at Him and be still. Look at
yourself and be honest. How do you appear to yourself beside Him?'
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"I looked and it seemed as though the earth dropped from under my feet and I was hanging in space between currents that pressed me down and currents that pushed
me up.
nature of the firefly, grow into the quality of the sun. The worm and the moth, the cocoon and the butterfly-you and what God wants you to be.'

"I stood in a desert and there was a cross in the desert and a man on the cross. 'Look at Him,' said the voice, 'And look at yourself. Look at Him and be still. Look at
yourself and be honest. How do you appear to yourself beside Him?'

"I looked and it seemed as though the earth dropped from under my feet and I was hanging in space between currents that pressed me down and currents that pushed
me up.

"I felt a chasm open and stood on the edge and shrank back. 'Lord, let me go,' I cried, 'Let me go back to my world.' 'Not yet, look again, look deep and say what
you see.' I talked about love but I myself never loved. I talked about Christ, but I worshipped only myself. I talked about truth but I never dared look her in the face.
'Oh, why, man, why,' cried the Lord, 'why did you not dare?' Truth I knew was a fire, truth I knew was a whip, truth burned and truth drove, truth demanded thought,
and I was timid. 'The man on the cross' said the voice, 'was not timid.' I sank at the foot of the cross, 'Truth is not in me, I have fed on lies.'

"I leapt up like a rabbit before the hounds. Ten thousand miles I ran through the desert wastes. Ten thousand miles I heard the voice in my ear. Ten thousand miles and
knew that flight was vain. (This reminds us again of the psalmist who said, "Whither shall I flee from his presence. If I ascend into heaven thou art there, if I make my
bed in hell, behold thou art there, and if I take the winds of the morning and fly to the uttermost parts of the sea there shall thy hand guide me'). And I fell and heard the
voice tender as bird song at daybreak in the boughs of millennial sequoias asking 'What else do you see?' I sank amid thorns, broken and torn and choked. 'I am
unclean.'

"Across the worlds I heard the voice of the Lord, and I leapt up once more and ran and fell, and always where I fell there was the cross, and there was the voice
asking 'What else, what else,' until at last stripped, naked, and afire with all the self-will broken, shaking, sobbing I lay alone in space, alone save for the cross.

"I said, 'This is the end. I am dust and the wind will scatter me. This is the end. Who shall look truth in the face and live?'

"But the voice said, 'This is the beginning. This is daybreak. Give me your life and day shall be like a new world. The unclean shall be clean; the cowardice courage, the
weakness power. Give me your life and I will make it a spade to dig the foundations of a new world, a crowbar to pry loose the rocks, a hoe to mix sand and cement,
a trowel to bind stone on stone and make them a wall. Man without God is a bubble in the sea, a single grain of sand on an infinite beach. God and man together, we
are such power as not all the atoms in all creation can match.'

"I laid my hand there in the hand of God, and the desert floor was singing, the rays of the Lord shot past the electrons, the rays of the Lord split the nucleus. The rays of
the Lord released the power of the soul."

My young brethren and sisters, we congratulate you tonight on the high privilege that is yours of living in the atomic age, but I should now like to congratulate you on a
higher privilege that is also yours. You have come to this earth-and I dare to suggest that your spirits were held in reserve for this time-you have come to this earth at
the time of the restoration of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And what is that gospel? Some might be surprised if I refer to it as power greater than that which we
have been talking about. The Apostle Paul defined the gospel as the Power of God, and he said the purpose of that power is your salvation. It has been said in our own
day that it is the work and the glory of God to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of men.

Now the scientists as they began their work on the atom had faith that there was power there. They added works to their faith. They proceeded, made mistakes,
corrected them, and carried on.

The apostles, the prophets, the Savior have advised us that we too must have faith and works. We are told that repentance is a gift of God and is an eternal principle,
that as they made mistakes and corrected them, so we, if we make mistakes, can look to him for correction and forgiveness. But be not deceived; God will not be
mocked. We may not sin today and repent tomorrow and sin the next day. Our repentance must be sincere. It must be wholehearted. It cannot be, for instance, like the
repentance of a certain man who made a false income tax return. He got to worrying about it and couldn't sleep; so he sat down and wrote a letter to the collector of
Internal Revenue, and said, "As I made a false return and can't sleep, I am enclosing herewith a check for $100.00." And then he added a P. S. and said, "If I still can't
sleep, I will send you the balance."

Now that kind of repentance won't do us any good. There are certain fundamental, simple rules and laws that govern in the realm of science, and however far you may
go in that field you still will have to abide by the rule of two times two. And in this other realm, if you are going to utilize this power, you must abide by certain
fundamental rules and laws, for it is an irrevocable decree of God our Father that every blessing is predicated upon obedience to law. And if you will obey the law, the
blessing will come through the release of the power that is in the human soul.

Speaking of fusion, I think the Apostle Paul knew nothing about atoms or hydrogen fusion. I think the Prophet Joseph Smith knew little about those things as they are
known professionally today. And yet, these men not only taught of, but themselves achieved a fusion which made them supermen, prophets. It will change and
revolutionize the world and save the souls of men. That fusion is the fusion of the spirit of man with the spirit of God that is made possible through faith, repentance,
baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

We salute you students. We almost envy you. We think of the future, and it is yours. We believe in you. We think you are going to be equal to your task and to your
time. We congratulate you in living in these great times. We congratulate you that God thought enough of you to hold you in reserve and permit you to come when the
gospel of his Son was upon the earth, when you could help to revolutionize and save the world.

If you will learn and observe the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ, practising honor, honesty, virtue, integrity, love of God and fellow men, you will have a lifetime
of useful service here and eternal life and eternal increase hereafter.

The Lord said, ". . .let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; 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 dominion shall be an everlasting dominion,
and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever." (D&C 121:45-46.)

We who are growing older are praying that the time may come, and we believe it will, when it will be said of you, the Class of '56, and classes that are to follow from
Brigham Young University, in the words of the Master, "These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of
all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical." (D&C 76:70.)

Young men and women, you may be what you will to be, the decision is yours.

ICopyright
  pray that you
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daughters of our Heavenly Father; I pray that you may go forward, onward, and upward to salvation in the celestial kingdom, and I promise you that you may achieve it
if your actions have been such that you can feel at home there. God bless you all I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical." (D&C 76:70.)

Young men and women, you may be what you will to be, the decision is yours.

I pray that you may have faith in God, faith in yourselves, and the courage and wisdom to keep the law, to discover and actualize your potential selves as the sons and
daughters of our Heavenly Father; I pray that you may go forward, onward, and upward to salvation in the celestial kingdom, and I promise you that you may achieve it
if your actions have been such that you can feel at home there. God bless you all I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Baccalaureate address, Brigham Young University

Freedom and Personal Restraint

Upon being discharged from the army a young man was heard to say: "Now I shall have liberty. Give me freedom from duty as well as freedom from fear, want, etc.
Let me think and act as I choose, go and come as I will. Now that I am rid of the sergeant I shall be free."

All of us have at times resented ethical conventionalities, moral restraints, codes, rules of conduct, parental supervision. "Why," we have asked, "should prohibitions and
inhibitions, stand like robot policemen at the corner to tell me when to stop and go, when to turn right or left? Why may I not express myself in action without someone
shouting 'Don't?'"

The desire to be free, to express oneself, to be unrestrained, is innate and normal and, within certain limits, necessary to growth. When men lose this desire or ambition
or lose the hope that it may be realized, they become negative and ineffective. This tendency to express oneself by independent action is noticeable in the very young
and, unless crushed by oppression, persists throughout life. As children begin to notice, they begin to explore their little world. As they discover their hands, they try to
use them; as they become acquainted with their nursery, they desire to open doors into other rooms. So we go through life pushing back our horizons. We resent
barriers and bunkers and stop signs. We sing, "Don't Fence Me In," we cry with the patriot, "Give me liberty or give me death!"

Many of the mistakes of the past have had to do with our failure to realize that freedom, however complete, liberty, however untrammelled, can never release us from
the obligations imposed by the nature which made us brothers. True liberty is made complete by loyalty. Loyalty involves restraint and control in the interest of the
object of that loyalty. He is really a free man who finds and dedicates himself to a cause which he believes is bigger than himself. He does not resent the limitations
which his love for that cause imposes. The mother glories in the limitations of motherhood, in the freedom to serve, in the liberty of self-denial.

The young man while he was a soldier thought some of the restraints and army regulations were necessary because he felt he was related to other servicemen and, at
times, responsible for their safety. When on sentry duty, he was told that the success of a battle or even of a campaign might turn on his devotion to duty. He did not
resent, he was proud of, the responsibility thus imposed and would have died rather than leave his post to seek or assert his freedom.

Returning to civilian life may release us from some of the immediate controls of military discipline, but being a civilian does not release us from our relationship to
society. It may soft pedal the "must" but it emphasizes the "ought." His reaction to his restored free agency will determine his qualification for transfer to a higher plane.
As he contemplates some deed which convention has proscribed, he will consider its effect upon those to whom-for whom-he is or may be responsible. He will
anticipate the memory which must inexorably follow the act and will avoid the slavery which haunting memory may entail.

Not alone by its effect upon others may the rightness of an act be determined. The act itself, if repeated, may bind a man to a habit as the galley slaves were bound to
their oars. Men have lost the ability to act as they wish because they have lost the power to stand by a choice when made. They are forced shamefully to bite the dust
before the enemy, when but for their mistaken idea of liberty, they would have won the battle.

Many men have passed the stage where they could stop if they would and, too late, would give their lives to stop if they could. They lost their priceless liberty as the
dog lost the bone when he jumped at the shadow. One may say he is free to extend his hands to the manacles, but we ask, "Is he wise?" May we not determine his
fitness for liberty by nothing how he uses it?

No, it is not the code which binds us. It is our relationship to others and to Him who said, "Take my yoke upon you," and, "The truth shall make you free." His yoke is
not a burden, but the means by which the burden, which is as universal as life-which is life-is made easier and lighter.

The robot policeman at the corner with its red and green lights and its warning whistle or bell does not abridge your freedom. It guarantees it against the thoughtless or
wilful intrusion of others. No, young man, you have not been released from duty nor will you be while life lasts. When you draw your ration of rights, you must take with
it an equal ration of duties.

To say "I want freedom from duty" is to ask for rights without obligations, freedom to act without responsibility for action, to be allowed to get without giving, to buy
without paying, to insist on having what I am unwilling for others to have. Let us define our terms and discriminate between liberty and license. Let us listen for the voice
of the "sergeant" of conscience and voluntarily keep in step while the drumbeat of our hearts sets the pace.

Millennial Star

Thoughts on Faith

Men and women in training for service with the armed forces have had their attention focused upon material processes, techniques, and physical efficiency. This
emphasis should not exclude consideration of spiritual values. The impact and dislocation of war must not be allowed to dampen our interest in those spiritual values
which were esteemed in pre-war experiences or cause us to lose our sense of direction or make life's meaning vague. All servicemen should re-examine their concepts
concerning the worth-while things of life, and place proper emphasis upon social and personal idealism, and upon the moral and spiritual ends of living.

The conflict in which we are now engaged has made us all conscious of modern methods, eager for new truth, anxious to employ it properly. Men everywhere are in
search of better techniques and a more efficient way of doing things. Contemplation of personal efficiency and usefulness coupled, as inevitably it must be, with the
consciousness that death may end it all at any moment, leads man to examine his thoughts regarding his beliefs, his philosophy, his religion, to think of the meaning of life
and try to understand its purpose, to consider seriously the subject of immortality and eternal life, to know something of God. The scriptures tell us, "This is life eternal,
that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3.)

An officer in command of a landing party in Italy said to his men as they were about to storm a beachhead, "This is an experience which will separate the men from the
boys." The intensive and vigorous training which is necessary to prepare a man for combat duty weeds out the unfit, physically, but it is also a test of the man, a test of
character and stamina. It makes for mental as well as physical maturity. This maturity should result in sober thinking, in an analysis of one's life, one's thoughts, one's
ambitions and desires, in an effort to know oneself.
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The studious man, when he thinks clearly, knows that the spiritual is not only as real as the material, but also is more enduring and vital. His serious thinking reveals the
fact that instinctively he is religious, and he comes to feel that religion is very important and is of deep concern to all intelligent people. Whoever says he is not religious
is probably a stranger to himself. He may discover his real self when suddenly confronted with a situation where all seems lost, where hope flickers, where intangible
An officer in command of a landing party in Italy said to his men as they were about to storm a beachhead, "This is an experience which will separate the men from the
boys." The intensive and vigorous training which is necessary to prepare a man for combat duty weeds out the unfit, physically, but it is also a test of the man, a test of
character and stamina. It makes for mental as well as physical maturity. This maturity should result in sober thinking, in an analysis of one's life, one's thoughts, one's
ambitions and desires, in an effort to know oneself.

The studious man, when he thinks clearly, knows that the spiritual is not only as real as the material, but also is more enduring and vital. His serious thinking reveals the
fact that instinctively he is religious, and he comes to feel that religion is very important and is of deep concern to all intelligent people. Whoever says he is not religious
is probably a stranger to himself. He may discover his real self when suddenly confronted with a situation where all seems lost, where hope flickers, where intangible
reserves are relied upon, and faith is born.

Every human being is guided in his actions by a set of beliefs. He may not be able to express them in words; but, if he will honestly search his consciousness, he will find
they do exist. They motivate his actions, color his life, and determine his quality. Goethe tells us, "The struggle between belief and unbelief is the only thing in the
memoirs of humanity worth considering." As he seeks for truth and attempts to put it into action, man responds to an inner urge and seeks to be his better self. He
realizes that he must be true to himself if he would be true to any cause he represents.

Man's religion should be such as to satisfy his needs, to sustain him in a crisis. It should color his intellectual, mental, and spiritual life. It should be a supporting power,
giving meaning and direction to his ambitions and desires. His beliefs, his philosophy, his religion should be a compass or chart for life's voyage. How fortunate is the
young man who is possessed of such a compass to give him an assuring sense of direction, to keep him on his course, to lead him to a safe and happy landing.

Religion confirms his innate conviction that although he is temporarily tabernacled in a mortal body he is an immortal spirit destined to live eternally. This longer view will
make him anxious to live efficiently, to have a sound body, enjoy physical health, maintain a stimulating mental outlook, and be spiritually responsive and alert. He will
come to know that health and growth are results of proper living, effects of causes compatible with immortality, and that lax morals result in disease and degradation
and are a bar to happiness. Religion teaches him that there is no double standard of morality, that he must be as clean as he expects his sister, sweetheart, wife to be.
The truly religious man holds a high opinion of himself as a child of God and seeks to be worthy of his heritage.

The thoughtful young man, in the quiet of his own tent, on the hillside, in the trench, in the airplane, on the battleship, will recognize a directing Power behind the law and
order which are everywhere apparent despite the din and clangor of man-made war. From the very depths of his consciousness he will wish to be in harmony with that
power. This inborn certainty that there is an overruling Power is common to all humanity, is rooted in the truth, and has persisted through the ages. As he notes the
operation of the law of cause and effect, as he finds there is no effect without a cause, and that every cause is the effect of another cause, his reason supports his native
faith, and he sees that behind all causes there is God, the Creator of all that is.

Throughout the ages God has spoken to man. The prophets have so testified. Their vision and prophetic power is evidence of such divine direction. But he who
searches his own spiritual outreachings finds a more personal evidence of God's existence. Through earnest prayer he will find comfort, courage, and assurance.
Millions of intelligent, honest men have had faith and have been guided by the Holy Spirit in answer to prayer, while "The fool hath said in his heart, 'There is no
God.'" (Ps. 14:1, 53:1.)

Jesus the Christ who was born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary is the central figure of Christianity. His mission was divine. His influence is world-wide. His simple, clear
doctrine transcends all the blessings of men. The enduring greatness of his teachings and the invincible power of his life are admitted by friend and foe alike. He lived
before the earth was, in the spirit world with his Father. He, having passed through mortality, knows its problems and can understand and help each man with his.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God the Father. He is a member of the Godhead and was present at the creation of the world. In the first chapter of the Gospel of John we
are told that he was in the beginning with God and that he was God, that all things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made. "In him
was life; and the life was the light of men . . .

"(He) was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:4, 14.)

This truth concerning the spirit existence of Jesus of Nazareth before his body was born in the stable in Bethlehem poses the challenging question to every thinking man,
"If Christ lived before birth, what of me? Was birth my beginning?" And this leads to the question, "Why was I born? What is the purpose of my life? If death is not to
be my end, then where do I go from here?"

God our Father devised an eternal plan for the salvation of his children. It involved the coming to earth of deathless spirits, to be clothed in bodies which are subject to
death. Forgetful for the time of their previous existence, they are charged with the responsibilities which life entails, to resist evil, to earn worth-while things by sacrifice
and effort, to choose wisely, to develop power, to learn to do things the right way, or in other words, to become obedient to the laws of God and gain greater fitness
for future eternal progress. Life then, is to test the temper of this eternal spirit. It is a schoolroom, a period of learning. It is a training camp where men are prepared for
service over there. But the training is not the end; it is a means to an end, a part of the larger plan. It conditions the trainee for future activity.

Man is deathless. Birth is not his beginning, and death is not his end. He passes from earth-life to a world of spirit which is matter more refined. He recovers his body,
purified and immortal, through the resurrection made possible by Jesus Christ who is the key figure of the whole plan of salvation. Man retains his power of thought,
learning, action, faith, and obedience. He retains his free agency and is ever responsible for the consequences of his choice. He will persist throughout eternity as a
separate identity, a person, a child of God.

By example Jesus taught us how to live. He desires that all men shall have joy and teaches that eternal joy depends upon definite conditions, upon controlling desire,
and resisting the temptation to act in opposition to eternal truth. He teaches us that joy is an effect of causes over which we can exercise conscious control. He suffered
the hardships of life, rejected the gifts of earth, and made the supreme sacrifice that all may be put in the way of eternal happiness. He suffered and died for men
because he thought they were worth dying for, and in this lesson on sacrifice he has shown us the power and glory of self-mastery. If we are to follow him, we must be
willing to sacrifice temporary pleasures for enduring joy.

The plain tendency of religion today is toward an emphasis upon the dignity and worth of the individual human soul, whose value is regarded as such that it would not
profit a man to exchange it for the whole world. Sometimes men serving in the army come to feel that they individually, are of little importance, that the part they play is
so minor that they are of little consequence. But if each one does his part well, he fits in with the larger scheme. It is the aggregate of individual effort, properly directed,
that makes an effective army.

So in life, the individual pattern is of great importance because, if properly fashioned, it fits in with the divine plan. Though your role may seem to you infinitesimal,
remember that the great plan of the Master would be marred without it. You, having left home in response to your country's call, have moved out into the frontier
regions of responsible choice. This is a tremendous responsibility, for the consequences of deliberate choosing carry over into eternity.

As you think of these things on the battlefield, in the air, or on the ocean, trying to orient yourself, searching your soul with these questions of life and its meaning and
purpose,
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are just a dot on that map, but being a child of God, you must remember that there is a divine purpose in life, and that your Heavenly Father is mindful of you. Yours is
the priceless privilege to contact God through prayer. You are his son. He is your Father. He invites you to talk daily with him. He is all-wise, all-powerful, everywhere
present by his Holy Spirit. He will hear you when you call, will guide you as you strive to serve him, and will be your companion wherever you may go. Cling to these
regions of responsible choice. This is a tremendous responsibility, for the consequences of deliberate choosing carry over into eternity.

As you think of these things on the battlefield, in the air, or on the ocean, trying to orient yourself, searching your soul with these questions of life and its meaning and
purpose, you may feel like a pilot over a strange country, searching the map and the landscape for evidences of location and direction. Sometimes you may feel that you
are just a dot on that map, but being a child of God, you must remember that there is a divine purpose in life, and that your Heavenly Father is mindful of you. Yours is
the priceless privilege to contact God through prayer. You are his son. He is your Father. He invites you to talk daily with him. He is all-wise, all-powerful, everywhere
present by his Holy Spirit. He will hear you when you call, will guide you as you strive to serve him, and will be your companion wherever you may go. Cling to these
eternal truths, and there will come into your being a quiet courage which is born of faith, which will transcend all the confusion, doubt, and danger that may assail you,
and make of you the kind of man you want to be, an unconquerable free agent, an immortal soul. May He bless you in your prayerful meditation and enable you to
translate your convictions into action, and to know if you live worthily, you, with his help, can meet unflinchingly and triumphantly any situation that may arise.

Millennial Star

Thoughts on Repentance

When in prayerful meditation a man confirms his faith in God and sees that his world is essentially spiritual, although superfically it seems to be wholly material. He sees
evidence everywhere of plan and purpose and design; he tries instinctively to relate himself to that plan, to find his place in the scheme of things. He becomes anxious to
bring his life into harmony with God's will. This necessitates some changes in his habits. He wishes to forsake the wrong way-evil, the cause of misery-and seek the right
way-good, which leads to happiness, to rich and radiant living. This changing of one's course, forsaking bad habits, and adopting new and better ways of living, is in
gospel language called repentance.

Repentance follows faith as effects follow causes. If repentance is genuine, it will lead to positive action. Admitting an obligation does not pay the debt. The debtor,
wishing to clear the record, asks, "What shall I do?"

Saul of Tarsus, who later became the Apostle Paul, came suddenly to the point where he saw the error of his ways. He did not simply say, "Yes, Lord, I admit my
error." He knew his conversion carried a definite obligation. He inquired of his heavenly visitor, ". . .What wilt thou have me to do?. . ." (Acts 9:6.) The Master, who
had appeared to him on the way to Damascus, instructed him as to his future course. His faith was followed by true repentance, which necessitated an about-face, and
called for the courage which is needed by all who espouse a new cause and forsake old habits and companions.

The method outlined in the first principles of the gospel is similar to the method employed in other problem solving: There is first a sense of need because one does not
have all the facts; then as he discovers these facts, he finds them incompatible with some of his illusions or with some things he esteemed as good. He must cast away
his illusions, though he may have prized them as precious and must accept what he had mistakenly esteemed as hateful. Such was Paul's experience, and such is the
experience of all sincere searchers after truth whether in scientific or religious fields.

Problem solving in the field of religion, however, differs from that in other fields because it has to do with the ultimate character of events rather than with superficial
facts. It affects the whole personality for time and for eternity. It transformed Saul, the persecutor, into Paul, the apostle. After being instructed and seeing the light, Paul
realized that his persecution of the Master was more harmful to himself than to anyone else. Jesus pointed out his folly and said, ". . . It is hard for thee to kick against
the pricks." (Acts 9:5.) From that day until the present, men have been learning that wrongdoing is really kicking against the pricks or injuring oneself. It is the folly
which leads to sorrow, and if persisted in, to degradation.

Men sometimes give up in despair when they find they have yielded to wrongdoing. Sometimes they say to themselves, "What is the use of trying? I might as well go on
in this course now that I have been overcome and have yielded to impulse and desire." This wily attempt by the adversary to drug his victims into complete surrender is
as old as the story of Adam, and as false as its author.

All servicemen know that many battles may be lost before a war is won. How reprehensible would be the soldier who would give up at the first unsuccessful encounter
with the enemy. The courageous man, the hero, fights on in the face of odds, changes his tactics, improves his skill, musters his courage, and attacks the enemy even
though his sword be broken, but he never loses faith in final victory. He knows the quitter has no friends in either camp.

He who does wrong knowingly, intentionally, is a traitor to himself and to the cause he represents. It is unthinkable that any serviceman would deliberately give the
advantage to the enemy by surrendering his arms or carelessly walking into a "booby trap." Unnecessarily exposing oneself to danger or being the victim of self-inflicted
wounds is considered cowardly and is a punishable offense in all military organizations. Proper regard for one's own safety so that he may continue to be a valuable
fighting unit is enjoined on all servicemen. The enemy would gloat if he could deceive our men into an ambush by false promises of security. The wise soldier never
forgets that the enemy seeks only to destroy him.

So in life there is a cunning, wily enemy whose whole business is to prepare "booby traps" and lure men into them. He not only teaches the fool to say in his heart,
"There is no God," but he also beguiles him into thinking that evil is desirable and inevitable. Sin is the devil's "booby trap," and no amount of bravado will change the
sinner's status. He who deliberately walks into a "booby trap" is a "booby."

Do not allow either desire for the bait nor curiosity to know the mechanism lure you into any of his deadly traps, which often are cunningly camouflaged to deceive the
unwary. And do not be deceived, if what you have been taught to recognize as such a trap does not seem to spring at the first contact. Many of them are time bombs,
but there are no duds in the armory of sin.

Some men are led to think that because the punishment is not immediate, the danger of sin has been exaggerated or avoided. We may be sure that all the devil's "booby
traps" will explode eventually with deadly and undiscriminating effect.

Men sometimes feel that they can yield to what they are pleased to term some minor sins without danger of eventually being overtaken by others, unmindful of the
seductive power of the author of sin. Others seem to think they have found the safe way to avoid the consequences of their acts, and they advocate the false doctrine
that effects do not follow causes. They should hearken to the voice of the Master, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap." (See Gal. 6:7.) This law of the harvest is inexorable,
eternal, and applies to all.

Be not deceived by the Satanic sophistry that all desires and appetites must be gratified. Remember that vice and vigor have nothing in common, that nothing is
necessary that is wrong. Being true to one's self is evidence of character and requires courage and stamina, fortitude and faith.

There is a tendency among servicemen, as well as among civilians, to adopt the false notions of fatalism, to feel that it doesn't matter much what men may do, that when
their time comes, they will be taken, and that death ends all anyway. Such people are deliberately limiting themselves to a narrowed outlook and a shorter view.

Life is eternal, and the law of cause and effect is operative beyond the grave, causes here becoming effects there. Let us remember that all we think and say and do
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                                                what we are to be, that we are masters of our fate, and that we will be held accountable for our actions.

Each man should consider his heritage, and have sufficient pride to attempt to be worthy of it.
their time comes, they will be taken, and that death ends all anyway. Such people are deliberately limiting themselves to a narrowed outlook and a shorter view.

Life is eternal, and the law of cause and effect is operative beyond the grave, causes here becoming effects there. Let us remember that all we think and say and do
goes on forever, that what we are determines what we are to be, that we are masters of our fate, and that we will be held accountable for our actions.

Each man should consider his heritage, and have sufficient pride to attempt to be worthy of it.

Experience teaches that no life can be strong or effective unless the voice of conscience is clearer than the voice of desire in that inner region where motives are formed.
But conscience, if it is to be a safe guide, must be kept in tune with truth. For this purpose prayer - a two-way radio-is available to all.

Prayer is a source of power through which we may enlist the aid of the Almighty in attempting to solve our problems. He who prays daily has an unseen but all-
powerful friend and companion who will comfort and encourage him, protect and guide him. He finds a source of unfailing strength which gives mastery for the present
and assurance for the future. Young men should neither be afraid nor ashamed to pray wherever they may be. While they will not flaunt their religious convictions or
practices for purposes of notoriety, certainly they will not be ashamed to admit their faith in God. There is no better preparation for the day's battle with the enemy,
seen or unseen, than to begin it with a prayer. To have spoken to God at the beginning of the day and to be mindful throughout the day that you are to talk with him
again at its close is to enjoy a companionship which not only gives strength and courage for the conflict but also helps to reveal the enemy for what he is and to unmask
his agents and reveal his plots.

We have a fine example of this abiding faith in the life of Abraham Lincoln, who, upon undertaking his tremendous task, prayed that the same divine Power which had
guided Washington would be with him, and said, "With that aid I cannot fail; without it, I cannot succeed."

We, who face such staggering problems today, cannot hope to succeed unless we, too, seek guidance of the same Power on which he constantly relied. The fathers of
our country achieved unity under the slogan "In God We Trust," and laid the foundations for a new world.

May your thoughts and actions be such as to enable you to enjoy in full measure the glorious homecoming which awaits you. Your loved ones at home believe in you.
Believe, therefore, in yourself.

Millennial Star

Thoughts on Obedience

To a group of pilots and cadets in an army chapel, the speaker read the scripture, ". . . God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him. . .
." (Gen. 1:27.) "God gave man certain instructions called commandments," said the speaker, "and told him that all blessing are predicated upon obedience to law." He
spoke of the immutable, inexorable law of the harvest, "As ye sow, so shall ye also reap." (See Gal. 7:6.)

"God is the Master Builder, the Great Scientist, the Loving Father, all-powerful, all-wise; but he, too, observes law. He has said it is his work and his glory to bring to
pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Just as the glory of God is intelligence, so man's glory will be measured by his intelligence, and this in turn will be shown by
his knowledge of and obedience to law."

At the close of the meeting, some of the men asked the speaker some questions regarding laws and rules and regulations, and obedience, not only in military service,
but also in life.

One of the group, requesting permission to be entirely frank, said in effect, "We think there are too many rules and regulations anyway. Too much time must be spent in
finding out just what one is supposed to do or refrain from doing. If there were fewer rules in the army there would not be so many men in guardhouses, less K.P. duty
as punishment, and there would be much better feeling between the men and their N.C.O.'s and officers, whose duty it is to see that discipline is maintained."
Continuing, he said, "I am not so much concerned about the matter as it effects us while we are in the service, but the same line of reasoning bothers us when we think
of the laws of life, when we hear the gospel preached and reference made to sin and its consequences. On every hand and each hour of his life man is confronted with
some law or regulation, some edict or commandment, each with its own punishment, each threatening dire consequences with seeming disregard for the sinner's
knowledge of the law."

Another of the group took up the argument and said it seemed to him that the Creator had arbitrarily written down a lot of "thou shalt nots" and then spent his time
throughout eternity spying on violators and bringing them to judgment, all for his own glory. "What we want is freedom to do as we please, so long as we respect the
rights of others. We object to prohibition, restriction, regulation, restraint; just let us be, to live our lives as we choose, and we'll risk the consequences."

Then the speaker undertook to teach by parable.

A great airplane builder, after years of study and experiment, perfected a plane. He invented and fitted together all the operating parts into a mechanical symphony. He
had put much time and thought and love into its creation, and when it was completed he looked upon his work and called it good.

The builder called his son to him, showed him what he had made, explained to him the purpose of its creation, the importance and function of each working part, and
their inter-relatedness and interdependence; told him that during the creation of this marvelous machine out of existing materials he had observed certain laws. He told
of the fine adjustments necessary, and the need of exact tolerances. He explained that the success or failure of this airplane would depend upon how strictly the pilot
observed the laws upon which its flight depended.

The builder told his son that he was entrusting the plane to his care. He should become its pilot, and that therefore he should learn how to fly, and operate the plane in
all kinds of weather.

If the builder had used Bible language, he might have said, "Thou shalt," or "thou shalt not." He would have given him at least ten commandments, probably each with its
reward or penalty. And, among other things, he doubtless would have said, "Thou shalt not take the plane into the air without first checking the oil and gas, nor permit
them to be diluted or contaminated.

"Thou shalt not attempt to leave the ground without first obtaining a certain speed or to land at a greater or less speed than that which experience has shown to be safe.

"Thou shalt always take oxygen and a mask when intending to fly above a certain altitude, and in that higher altitude never fly for prolonged periods without using the
oxygen.

"Thou  shalt(c)
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flow of power from that source.

"Thou shalt be constantly vigilant about altitude and speed, studying your maps and compass every hour. Seek frequent reports from headquarters on the weather, and
"Thou shalt always take oxygen and a mask when intending to fly above a certain altitude, and in that higher altitude never fly for prolonged periods without using the
oxygen.

"Thou shalt make sure that the pipes between the gas tank and the engine are free from dirt, are not clogged or broken, for your life will depend upon an uninterrupted
flow of power from that source.

"Thou shalt be constantly vigilant about altitude and speed, studying your maps and compass every hour. Seek frequent reports from headquarters on the weather, and
always heed the warnings given.

"You will frequently have access to radio beams by which you may check your location and direction. Observe the warning signals that you may not veer too far to the
right or left or lose contact with your base. Remember the personnel at the home base are your friends. They have access to information not available to you. Do not
question the wisdom of their decisions."

Many other instructions and commandments were given to the pilot before he took off, and the father bade him Godspeed and happy landing, with one last caution,
"Thou shalt not strike a match near the gas tank. You have your free agency to do as you choose, but remember if you disobey these rules, you and others will suffer or
die."

The pilot noted all that his father had said but thought him a bit old-fashioned and whimsical. He had his own ideas regarding the many instructions he had received and
the need for their observance. He took great care at first, as he knew his father was watching him, but soon he felt the thrill of release from restraint, and of the exercise
of power, the pride of independent decision and achievement, and he began to wonder why his father had spent so much time on foolish rules and regulations. "Now
that I am on my own," he said, "I shall fly the plane in my own way. The kind and quality of oil and gas I shall use is my own affair. I'll pay little heed to altitude or
speed, nor will I be bound by foolish rules regarding the physical care of the engine, or its relationship to the source of power." So he flew into the higher altitudes, and
momentarily enjoyed the intoxication of a rarified atmosphere. He discarded his oxygen mask, and in his delirium went into a dive and drunkenly enjoyed the
exhilaration of the speed. Recklessly, he said to himself, "I am the favorite son of my father; nothing can happen to me, he is so powerful that he can rescue me even
from my own folly. These rules and regulations may be all right for the common run of pilots, but see who I am."

What would you men think of a pilot who acted in such a manner? How would you like to be one of his crew? Would you sympathize with his arguments if, after a
crash, he should contend that the rules were useless anyway and that the effect of disobedience was disproportionate to the cause? Would you agree that a tiny spark
should not cause a great explosion when it reached the gas fumes?

Righteousness, which is obedience to law, exalts an individual as well as a nation; while sin, which is the folly of disobedience, the deliberate taking of the wrong road, is
a reproach to any man.

Each man is the pilot of his own life, charged with the responsibility of the flight across the valley of life and over the hills of eternity. Keep this in mind as you ponder the
thought that the Creator is your Father-heed his warnings, for his purpose is to help you make a happy landing. For this purpose he has made known the laws of life.
He is the Master Builder who made man in his own image.

Millennial Star

Personal Liberty Vs. Social Control

The problem of human relations is always with us. Learning to get along with people involves discipline from infancy to old age. At first, of course, the discipline is more
or less rigid because we at an early age are not able to judge or act for ourselves. We are soon permitted, however, because of the law of free agency, to choose
between various courses of action. We learn that each choice is accompanied by obligations and followed by consequences.

It is not necessary for me to tell anyone who has been in the military service what discipline means or what follows violation of rules and regulations. He at least knows
the definition of "guard house" and "brig."

It is essential early in life to have goals, ideals toward which to work-ideals that unify our energies, integrate our personalities, and bring out the potentially best in us.
Each individual early in life should have an ideal to guide him as he approaches maturity. Each individual must take control of his own life. When he was a child, it was
necessary for an anxious mother to snatch him back from crossing the busy street. Later he is free to decide whether and when to cross the street, and his decision will
determine whether he is to be among the quick or the dead.

As we attain that position in life where we are permitted to choose, to decide for ourselves, it is essential that we understand the difference between right and wrong,
good and evil. We come to know that we are children of God, that he knows us-knows why we are here, and expects something of us. We find that he too has
established laws, rules, regulations governing life, and these we try to observe because we love and honor him and have confidence that his laws were instituted for our
good and happiness.

Sometimes young people get the idea, and it is erroneous, that they are just a little different from the other fellow, that the rules that apply to the masses do not apply to
them. Be assured that the author of this universe, the God of this world, our Father, is not capricious, he has no favorites-his laws are universal, eternal, inexorable, and
anyone who violates the law must pay the penalty. I prefer the positive approach, however. All who obey the law will get the blessing. He has said, "There is a law
irrevocably decreed in heaven, before the foundations of this world upon which all blessings are predicated; and when we obtain any blessing from God it is by
obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." (D&C 130:20-21.)

Having been a lawyer, I will tell you there are laws, regulations, ordinances established in our land which grow out of the experience of the race and which are
established for the benefit of the people. They who will not obey the law must pay the penalty. They who observe the law will find freedom within the law, for
obedience to law is liberty. I think there is no question but what, as we go forward through the various steps in life, we come more and more to realize the wisdom of
conforming to the law, not in any slavish way, not because we are afraid to disobey but because we recognize the importance and necessity of law in civilized life.

In our student life, as we come up through the grade and high schools, our deportment is regulated, quite rigidly at first, but progressively becoming more optional. We
gradually learn to use our agency with intelligence and judgment.

Each school also has regulations and rules, laws if you will. Certain standards have been established to which all are invited to subscribe. When one comes to the
university and signs his name as student, he tacitly, if not expressly, agrees to conform and to uphold the standards of the university. This he does because this is the
university of his choice, and he likes the things for which the university stands. Otherwise he would have gone elsewhere.

As  I came in(c)from
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thought, "What would the student body do if some gangster or prankster undertook to tear it down or to paint it yellow or red. The student body to a man would go
out and fight for the 'Y' and for that for which it stands." And for what does it stand? I think there is an invisible inscription on the hillside surrounding that "Y"-invisible in
a sense but really emblazoned for all who have eyes to see. This inscription spells out some traits of character for which the letters BYU stand-honesty, integrity,
Each school also has regulations and rules, laws if you will. Certain standards have been established to which all are invited to subscribe. When one comes to the
university and signs his name as student, he tacitly, if not expressly, agrees to conform and to uphold the standards of the university. This he does because this is the
university of his choice, and he likes the things for which the university stands. Otherwise he would have gone elsewhere.

As I came in from a stake conference appointment this week-end I observed the big "Y" on the mountainside above the campus, and as I looked at that big letter I
thought, "What would the student body do if some gangster or prankster undertook to tear it down or to paint it yellow or red. The student body to a man would go
out and fight for the 'Y' and for that for which it stands." And for what does it stand? I think there is an invisible inscription on the hillside surrounding that "Y"-invisible in
a sense but really emblazoned for all who have eyes to see. This inscription spells out some traits of character for which the letters BYU stand-honesty, integrity,
loyalty, industry, courage, spirituality.

What would individual students or the student body as a whole do if someone undertook to sully, besmirch, or tarnish that inscription? Would you not fight with even
greater zeal in defense of these standards than to protect the physical "Y" on the hillside? Each one of you has it in his power to burnish or tarnish the spirit of the "Y."

First as to honesty. Washington said, "I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider to be the most enviable of all titles, 'The
character of an honest man.'"

Honesty, it seems to me, is fundamental. Lying is an accomplice of every other form of vice, or as someone has said, "Sin has many tools, but a lie is a handle that will
fit them all." Deceit, insincerity, cheating are forms of lying, and cheating doesn't refer only to examination time. A man who, having signed his name as a student of a
university which has certain ideals and standards, who professedly approves and accepts them and then is clandestinely untrue to them, is not only a cheat but a
coward. Is that too harsh?

A man said, "He who says he is positive is a fool." Another asked, "Are you sure about that?" and he replied, "I am positive." Now there are some things of which I am
positive. I am sure that Dr. Karl G. Maeser, a great educator, was right when he said, "The man who cheats another is a knave, but he who cheats himself is a fool."
Anyone who lowers his standards cheats himself. Let us inscribe the hallmark of integrity upon our souls and let us pledge allegiance to that hallmark every day.

Within the framework of this corporation, this legal entity, there is another organization set up and administered by the student body. One purpose of this organization is
to help students do the things they know they ought to do, to assure them that their own sense of right and wrong is supported and sustained by the sanction of the
group. Many of the great universities today have student councils, student body organizations, which pledge themselves to the honor system, and ask all members of the
student body voluntarily to bring their lives into harmony with the rules of the institution. These organizations have directive rather than punitive powers.

Just as in grade schools there were retarded students who needed special help, as in the high schools there were those who were not mature enough to stand alone, so
in the universities there are those who need help, students who are retarded in moral development, who lack the stamina it takes to do the things they know they ought
to do. It is for their benefit and for the honor of the institution that the student body organization is set up and the student council appointed.

Now sometimes very good students, loyal, honorable, virtuous students, get the mistaken idea that of all the sins of the world, tattling is the worst. This fallacious
attitude is developed, no doubt, from picture shows, radio, and TV programs, where the gangster shoots the stool-pigeon.

In other words, there seems to have grown up among us a feeling that it is our duty to keep our mouths shut about what the other fellow does. Now to an extent that
may be right. I am quite sure that I must be more concerned with my own life than with that of my brother. I am quite sure that I will never be called upon to confess his
sins, but I am also sure that if there comes a time when there is a conflict between my loyalties, my loyalty to the institution, to civilization, to our society, if there is a
conflict between these and my loyalty to a chum who doesn't have the stamina or good sense to observe the law, I am going to stand by the institutions.

Some students have said to me, "Do you think I ought to report so and so for doing this or that?" Let me be a lawyer for a moment and answer that question by asking
another, "What would you do if one of the students should deliberately undertake to destroy a beautiful work of art, a sculpture or a painting? What would you do if
you found someone clandestinely starting a fire in the library? Would you defend him or would you report him? I think I know your answer. You would report a man
who would deface a building, who would report a man who would deface a building, who would befoul the campus or destroy the equipment in the science building.
You would report him because you wish to protect that which belongs to all of you, the university. Now I ask you, "Is the body more important than the soul? Are the
physical assets of this institution more important than its spiritual standards?" Ask any member of the basketball team what he would do if one of his teammates refused
to observe the rules of the game. Of course we all know if he persisted in defiance of the rules he would be dropped from the team. In life, as in basketball, if we break
the rules of the game, we lose.

I think the Savior answered our question as to what we ought to do in these circumstances. He said, "If thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it
is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that the whole body should be cast into hell." (Matt. 5:30.) Think that over when you find someone
endangering the moral health of the group. Your duty may not be to report him immediately. You should befriend him, labor with him, teach him, reclaim him. If that is
impossible, if your work with him proves to be ineffective, then you must report him just as you would report a subversive if you are a good American citizen.

In our democratic government, allowing subversives to live among us, knowing them to be subversives, and, to an extent, becoming fellow travelers with them is very
close to treason and that is the highest crime, while loyalty is one of the greatest of virtues. He who has not the courage to help weed out subversives is not a good
citizen.

Treason is treachery, perfidy, betrayal, breech of faith, or betraying the state or institution to which one owes allegiance. God help us that we may never be guilty of
treason, that we may never betray a trust.

We all feel the thing we ought to be, beating beneath the thing we are. Each of us wants to do better and be better and to help others along the way. The idea of being
my brother's keeper must function. I am not a good member of the student body if I withdraw into myself and just live my own life and do not try to help those about
me. I need their help and support, and they need mine. We have a united job, a job that only united action can accomplish.

So I bring to you the thought, young men and women, that in this institution you have responsibilities and obligations to yourselves to your friends, to the institution and
to God and only he who is qualified to take command of himself, who refuses to come down, to sell out, to be unclean, common or cheap, only such are really loyal.
Others, in my opinion, if they cannot be reformed, should be weeded out. Now I trust there are none such here. This is a time when purity of thought, honesty of
purpose, integrity and courage are demanded if we are going to survive in this world where the opposites of all these things are seeking supremacy.

I plead with you young people, keep not only your actions clean, upright, and aboveboard, but also live so that there may never come a time when you are afraid to
have the light turned on, afraid of being found out. Remember the eternal law of God is the law of the harvest-"As ye sow so shall ye reap."

And in attempting to keep your minds and actions clean and sweet I pray you, watch your language. Do not contaminate the air as some men do with profanity. He
who uses profanity gives evidence of poverty of intellect and vocabulary. I hope the young men and women of this institution will never permit themselves to be so
disrespectful
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                  to pray to God  in the morning
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filthy habit of telling unclean stories. I think mental halitosis is far more disgusting than BO or bad breath.

I leave you now with the beatitude, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." May he help us to be so blessed I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
have the light turned on, afraid of being found out. Remember the eternal law of God is the law of the harvest-"As ye sow so shall ye reap."

And in attempting to keep your minds and actions clean and sweet I pray you, watch your language. Do not contaminate the air as some men do with profanity. He
who uses profanity gives evidence of poverty of intellect and vocabulary. I hope the young men and women of this institution will never permit themselves to be so
disrespectful as to pray to God in the morning and evening and use his name in a curse during the day. Also I hope no student on this campus will ever indulge in the
filthy habit of telling unclean stories. I think mental halitosis is far more disgusting than BO or bad breath.

I leave you now with the beatitude, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." May he help us to be so blessed I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

B.Y.U. Assembly

Marriage Loyalty

We have all been inspired this morning by the stirring appeal of our President and by the reports we have heard. We have all been encouraged in our work. I hope
what I shall say will not seem to be a discord. President McKay closed with the words, "Let loyalty to the marriage covenant pervade the home." We who are favored
with the privilege and charged with the responsibility of speaking at the general conferences of the Church wonder through the months what phase of the gospel, what
subject we should discuss. Because of some work I have been asked to do, there is only one subject I can think of to talk about, and on that I am very poorly
qualified.

In introduction, may I read some scripture which I think is pertinent:

"And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

"And God blessed them, and God said unto them. Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." (Gen. 2:18; 1:27)

And in another scripture:

"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

"And they twain shall be one flesh.

"What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." (Mark 10:7-9.)

And again:

"Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord." (1 Cor. 11:11.)

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence and likewise also the wife unto the husband. Paul speaking:

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

"Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the Church." (Eph. 5:22, 25.)

Inasmuch as many of this congregation are holders of the priesthood, I remind all of us that we submit ourselves unto the Lord in righteousness and because of
righteousness. This requirement of the wives to submit to their husbands presupposes righteousness on the part of the husbands.

"In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;

"And in order to obtain the highest a man must enter into this order of the priesthood (meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage);

"And if he does not, he cannot obtain it." (D&C 131:1-3.)

In the Old Testament scripture, the prophet said on one occasion: ". . . to your tents, O Israel," (1 Kgs. 12:16) and again, "Lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy
stakes," referring to their tents or homes and their need of support.

Throughout the world today there are confusion, apprehension, danger. In our own land we are spending billions to fortify and defend our country and protect our
homes. Not only are we stock-piling armaments and atom bombs and other instruments of war, but we are also building a radar system, sky high and continent wide,
extending across Canada and up into the Arctic Circle, all with the idea, basically, of defending our homes.

Sometimes we, as individuals, feel weak and helpless in the face of all this and wonder what we might do to help. May I call your attention to the fact that right in the
inner citadel of our defensive system, the home, which is the very bulwark of our strength and solidarity, right there the enemy is making inroads which truly are
frightening. In what I have to say on this subject, I hope no one will feel that I am chastising or blaming or condemning. I think I realize, because of recent experiences,
that there are many innocent victims of desertion and betrayal. My heart goes out to many lovely women who are left to rear their children alone, and certainly to them
we say a word of encouragement, and we pray God's blessings upon them that they may be given strength to carry this added burden. And yet we must say some
things about this evil-its source and possible conquest.

In the last issue (October 1954) of the Reader's Digest, this startling statement is made, "One thousand times every day in the United States a judge's gavel falls and
with two words, 'divorce granted,' somebody's love story comes to an end." And may I add. some home becomes a casualty. One thousand of them a day in the
United States, 365,000 in a year! May I say, regretfully, that the Intermountain States in this list are above the average in the number of divorces granted. May I also
say that even among those who are married in the temple, the serpent, who first made his appearance in the Garden of Eden, creeps in and continues his attempt to
separate man and woman against the decree of God that they should be one flesh.

According to statistics there is one divorce for every three marriages in the United States. What would we think if 33 1/3 percent of all the ships that set sail on the
ocean were doomed to shipwreck and to failure? And what would the board of directors of the company do if the cause of that failure could be traced to the captain
and the mate, who could not agree and work together?
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Many divorces start before marriage. We who wrestle with this problem have traced some of the causes, and in many cases they lead back into the childhood homes of
the young couples, who are now divorcees. We believe, brethren and sisters, that proper parental example and training in the home would help stem this tide of
divorce. Parents should teach their children, by example and by precept, the sacredness of the marriage covenant, should teach them that there is no joy in all the world
According to statistics there is one divorce for every three marriages in the United States. What would we think if 33 1/3 percent of all the ships that set sail on the
ocean were doomed to shipwreck and to failure? And what would the board of directors of the company do if the cause of that failure could be traced to the captain
and the mate, who could not agree and work together?

Many divorces start before marriage. We who wrestle with this problem have traced some of the causes, and in many cases they lead back into the childhood homes of
the young couples, who are now divorcees. We believe, brethren and sisters, that proper parental example and training in the home would help stem this tide of
divorce. Parents should teach their children, by example and by precept, the sacredness of the marriage covenant, should teach them that there is no joy in all the world
comparable to the joy that comes through happy wedlock. But like all blessings, this joy is predicated upon obedience to law.

Parents who fail to teach their children and to demonstrate to them what happy wedlock can mean and does mean are sowing where their children must reap. If they
fail here, the ancient edict will operate: the sins of the parents shall be visited upon the children.

Fathers should teach their boys that there is no freedom except through obedience to law. Children should be reared in disciplined homes where rules are obeyed and
the rights of others are respected. Parents should "reprove betimes with sharpness" and then show an increase of love. The child that is pampered in the home will
expect to be pampered after marriage. Among the seeds of divorce one of the most prolific is overindulgence. It produces extreme selfishness.

There are certain weaknesses in all of us which we say are inherent. I shall not attempt to list them but refer to one or two that men and women should recognize in
themselves and overcome before their spouse discovers and magnifies them.

I think now of self-control. Many of the cases which I review started with uncontrolled appetites and tempers, leading often to cruelty, mental and physical. When in a
temper, the tongue may be venomous. The Apostle James said, ". . . it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." (James 3:8.) That is only potential, but it is often true. The
tongue, with which we say our prayers and pledge our troth, is sometimes used to wound those we love best.

"Boys flying kites haul in their white winged birds:

We can't do that when we're flying words."

A middle-aged couple on the farm had a violent quarrel at breakfast time. Later in the day they started for town in the buggy with a fine team of horses to sell their
vegetables and eggs. As the horses trotted along, Mary said, "John, why can't we travel together like these horses do? They don't quarrel and fight." John said, "Mary,
we could if there was only one tongue between us."

Oh, the unkind things we say to those we love.

"We have kind words for the stranger
And smiles for the sometime guest,
While oft to our own
The bitter tone,
Though we love our own the best!"

Of course, and this is the saddest part of what I have to say, there are evil intruders, more deadly sins, which strike at the very foundation of our homes. Infidelity,
love's counterfeit, is the most disintegrating influence that can enter a man's life. It is to the home what treason is to the nation. Lust is fatal to love. It sometimes causes
men in military service to destroy the very home which they would die to defend on the battlefield.

In a recent U. S. News and World Report, there is an article on "Why Teen-agers Go Wrong." Divorce is high on that list, and it is reported that one-half of all the
adult criminals begin as juvenile delinquents, and most juvenile delinquents come from broken homes. Let people who are considering divorce pause and consider
possible consequences.

But let us think of some positive aspects of this subject. I should like for the next minute to talk to the young people who may be listening in; to tell them that though the
enemy is extant, and though they must meet situations where they must face and overcome difficulties, they can train and prepare themselves for this glorious experience
with the same promise of success as awaits the well-trained and disciplined person in any field of activity. Marriage is life at work.

I speak, first, of love. I am not thinking of that flutter of the heart or the droop of the eyelash which you young folk may identify as such, that may well be the beginning
of love, but I am thinking of the love that "suffereth long and is kind, that envieth not, vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil; the love that beareth all things, endureth all things, the love that never faileth." (See 1 Cor. 13.) And I remind you that the Master who loved most of all,
endured the most and proved his love by his endurance. Yes, "there is beauty all around, when there's love at home."

I speak next of prayer. The husband, who will kneel every day in the home and thank God for his wife and list her virtues in his supplication to be entered on the credit
side of the family ledger, will overlook or be unmindful of her little weaknesses and will never seek the divorce courts. The woman who kneels with her children in the
home and humbly thanks God for a kind, loving, and wonderful father and husband, even though at times that prayer may be only a wish, will still impress upon the
souls of the children an image and hold before them an ideal which they will try to realize in themselves. Sister Benson on a recent TV program said, "The family that
prays together stays together."

Young people of the Church, read the seventy-sixth section of the Doctrine and Covenants. Here is the prize which you may earn and enjoy, with God's help. You who
have been baptized and receive the Holy Spirit, you who have testimonies of Jesus, who keep the commandments and overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy
Spirit of promise, shall become priests and kings of the Most High and dwell in the presence of God and Jesus Christ forever and ever.

Your bodies shall become celestial whose glory is that of the sun. You shall have joy in your posterity here, eternal family union and association hereafter, immortality,
eternal life, and eternal increase.

God help us that we may put on the whole armor of God, having our loins girt about with truth, and having the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the sword
of the spirit, and go forward in the fear of God and protect our homes. Yes, to your tents, or homes, O Israel, lengthen the silken cords of love, and strengthen the
stakes of faith and righteousness to the glory of God and our own salvation in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

General Conference

Freedom to Choose
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During a half century of active service in the Church, I have never felt so wholly inadequate, so totally dependent on divine guidance as I feel right now. For that
guidance I humbly pray.
General Conference

Freedom to Choose

During a half century of active service in the Church, I have never felt so wholly inadequate, so totally dependent on divine guidance as I feel right now. For that
guidance I humbly pray.

We sang yesterday, "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet." This hymn referred originally to the Prophet Joseph Smith. In a meeting not long ago when President
McKay announced that the congregation would sing, "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet," he said, characteristically, "I wish you would have in mind the Prophet
Joseph Smith when you sing today."

I should like to offer a prayer that has been in my heart for years, a prayer which I believe is in the heart of every Latter-day Saint throughout the world. "We thank
thee, O God, for the Prophet, David O. McKay, to guide us in these latter days. We thank thee that through thy blessings he has had the vitality, the vigor and the
health to carry the message of the gospel to the four corners of the earth. We thank thee that his influence and his presence have revitalized the Saints whereever he has
gone and have given them courage and hope. We thank thee that he more than any man among us, more than any of his predecessors, has carried the inspiration and
the message of the gospel to the greatest and to an ever-increasing international audience. We pray that thou wilt bless him continually and spare him to us, that we may
enjoy his great leadership for many years to come."

From the bottom of my heart I sustain and support these men, the President of the Church and his Counselors, the President of the Council of the Twelve and each
individual member of that Council, and the Patriarch as prophets, seers, and revelators to the Church. I am grateful for the privilege of meeting with them occasionally.

Some of our friends have said we are inclined to worship the General Authorities. We love them; we listen to their counsel; we thank God for them; but they would not
permit us to worship them. If we should be so inclined, they would be the first to rebuke us. They would doubtless say to us what the angel said to John on the Isle of
Patmos, when he was about to kneel before him, "See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant. . . . Worship God. . . ." (Rev. 19:10.)

But it is our privilege to be guided by their inspired counsel. I pray that God will help us never to lose sight of and ever be grateful for the outstanding leadership in the
Church today.

Eastertide is the season of the year when we know spring is coming; it is the season of the year when things are revitalized and renewed, and it is the time of year when
Christians everywhere celebrate in commemoration of the resurrection of the Lord.

As I speak of these men and of their leadership, I am reminded of some additional reasons why we should be grateful for the Easter season. Through the restoration of
the gospel we have knowledge and assurance regarding the actual resurrection of the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only was he resurrected from the dead but he
also ascended into heaven with his glorified body, and he will come again in material form and substance. We are grateful for the comfort and the hope which come
with this assurance.

The revelations concerning the nature and attributes of our Heavenly Father and of his Son, Jesus Christ, are of transcendent importance to all men everywhere.
Modern confirmation and elucidation of biblical evidence on this all-important subject began with the first vision in the Sacred Grove in 1820, and it was renewed and
continued in that glorious vision in 1832 in the Kirtland Temple when the Lord declared, "Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, and rejoice ye inhabitants thereof,
for the Lord is God, and beside him there is no Savior.

"Great is his wisdom, marvelous are his ways, and the extent of his doings none can find out.

"His purposes fail not, neither are there any who can stay his hand.

"From eternity to eternity he is the same, and his years never fail." (D&C 76:1-4.)

The restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ came pursuant to prophetic promise, and was a necessary sequel to the great apostasy. It was during the apostasy that an
attempt was made to harmonize pagan philosophy with Christian truth. This task was undertaken at the behest of non-Christian emperors and resulted in un-inspired
declarations in which God was defined-or rather denied-by declaring him to be immaterial, incomprehensible, and without body or parts, occupying no part of finite or
infinite space, in other words, nonexistent.

We thank God for the restoration of the gospel which refutes such doctrine. In their attempt to incorporate Jesus the Christ into their pagan concept of the Godhead the
Roman emperors, through their appointed delegates to various councils, undertook to have him divest himself of his body, that body which came from the tomb when
the angel rolled the stone away, that glorified body with which he ascended into heaven before the wondering gaze of his disciples. Obviously this resurrected body,
being material, could not become a part of their immaterial God which had no parts. They would have him shed that body and thereby deny everything that Easter
stands for. For if he is incomprehensible and immaterial then he is not a resurrected being, and if he is not a resurrected being, Easter is meaningless.

Again I say let us thank God for the clarification that has come through modern revelation concerning the personal attributes of the three members of the Godhead.

Jesus Christ revealed the Father to us and said, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." (John 14:9.) The Son was in his express image. He revealed a
compassionate Father, a divine Parent, one in whom were incorporated the attributes of justice, judgment, mercy and truth. He revealed a God of love, of forgiveness,
and understanding. The restored gospel supplants the motives of fear and awe with faith and trust. The beloved disciple tells us, "Perfect love casteth out fear." (1 Jn.
4:18.) Love as a dominant attribute of God and a saving quality in man is reasserted and emphasized.

The new commandment which Jesus gave was "That ye love one another even as I have loved you." His love for us is eternal. Nothing can separate us from it. Sin may
separate us from him but his love endures forever. Listen to Paul's testimony: "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come.

"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 8:38-39.)

I should like to speak to these young people who have been singing for us, and to other young people of the Church, for like others who have spoken, my heart is with
the youth of Zion. I should like to say to these young people that God is their Father, that the Savior is pleading for and with them to keep clean, clean in their thinking,
in their speaking, in their conduct, that he expects them to be worthy of him and of the sacrifice he made for them and for all of us. He is the Good Shepherd who gave
his life for the sheep. He evinced the solicitude of the Good Shepherd in his last injunction to Peter, "Feed my sheep."

I should like to add another word to the young people. One of the most lethal weapons which the Adversary has devised to destroy the young people of the Church
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becomes guilty of some misdemeanor, he might as well go on to juvenile delinquency and crime and felony because he is lost anyway. So the devil would have them
believe and thus lead them down to hell.
his life for the sheep. He evinced the solicitude of the Good Shepherd in his last injunction to Peter, "Feed my sheep."

I should like to add another word to the young people. One of the most lethal weapons which the Adversary has devised to destroy the young people of the Church
and of the world is to persuade them that if they have made a mistake they are lost, there is no hope. According to that doctrine, if a young person, in a weak moment,
becomes guilty of some misdemeanor, he might as well go on to juvenile delinquency and crime and felony because he is lost anyway. So the devil would have them
believe and thus lead them down to hell.

Young people, your Father in heaven loves you; he loves you with a love beyond what your earthly parents can know. If you make mistakes-and you will and all of us
have-our Heavenly Father stands ready to forgive and to welcome you when you come to yourselves and turn your backs on the husks and your faces toward home.
He will embrace you and say, "For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found." (Luke 15:24.) But let no one think he will not have to pay for his
folly. The Father could not in justice say to the prodigal what he said to his older son, "All that I have is thine." (Ibid. 31.)

Our Father is kind and loving and forgiving, but there is an inexorable law which has not been repealed. It is the law of the harvest. As ye sow, so shall ye reap. We
cannot sow thistles and reap figs, nor plant thorns and harvest grapes. But when we have had enough of thistles and thorns, we may have the grapes and the figs if we
are willing to pay the price-and they costless. While ours is a world governed by rigid and unwavering law, man has free agency; he may choose to obey or disobey the
law, but he must of course abide the consequences of his choice.

One other thing to the young folks-sometimes you come to us with problems when you are perplexed and confused and feel that you are inhibited, not free to think or
express opinions. When we talk to you of free agency and explain that it refers not only to actions but also to thoughts and opinions, you wonder if that is always the
case. Some of you have said to us, "But our right to express our own opinions is trammelled or abridged by the authoritative statements of parents, teachers, and
others."

Young people, we will protect your freedom to think, to express your thoughts, and to search for truth. We want you to continue that search fearlessly. We promise
you will be uninhibited in that search. You should remember, however, that God has given us sources through which we may have some authoritative answers. Not all
the answers, no. If we had all the answers, there would be an end to the search. We must not expect to have all the answers immediately for God himself, in his
wisdom, has withheld some of them. We believe in continued and continuing revelation, and that means that we believe there are things to be made known which we do
not know. We believe it is a good thing to reserve judgment on problems that are difficult of solution until more light comes. This principle of withholding judgment and
waiting for new revelation should apply in all fields of learning. Scientists make rather definite statements at times, but some of us have lived to see them either amend or
abandon their findings in the light of newly discovered truth. As long as scientists are still searching and discovering, and as long as new revelation is promised, why
insist upon answers now? It is my conviction that new revelation will come when we have learned to live according to the truth we now have. Wisdom counsels
patience.

And so, with respect to some things that now seem difficult to understand, we can well afford to wait until we have all the facts, until all the evidence is in. Now do not
misunderstand me. There will never come a time when any revelation of truth from God will be in conflict with any other truth revealed from him, whether it comes as
direct revelation or as reward for diligent search. If there seems to be conflict, it is because men, fallible men, are unable properly to interpret God's revelations or man's
discoveries.

May he help us that we may go forward fearlessly but reverently in our search for truth and have due respect not only for our parents and our teachers, but also for
those through whom God has promised his revelations.

By the same token, we should not undertake to state the time nor the order in which the gospel shall be given to any of the races or nations of the earth. We should not
attempt to regulate God's program by our little wristwatches, nor insist that he be governed by our schedule of events. He has promised the gospel to every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people, and he and only he knows when they are ready for its message and its blessings. When that time comes, I bear you my witness, prophetic
witness if you will, that he will reveal his will to the leaders of the Church concerning all of his people. He has said, "Remember the worth of souls, (all souls) is great in
the sight of God; For, behold the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto
him. And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance. And how great is his joy in the soul that
repenteth!" (D&C 18:10-13.)

Brothers and sisters, I humbly bear my testimony to you that I do know that God is my Father, that Jesus of Nazareth is my Redeemer and my Friend. I thank him for
the blessed privilege of engaging in the ministry, and I praise his Holy Name that through his servants he has shown his willingness to use the weakest of us to do some
little good in that ministry.

God bless us to recognize him as the Good Shepherd and to go forward with faith, unafraid of the future, and with complete confidence to say with the Psalmist:

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

"He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

(Psalm 23.)

We pray this may be true for all of us in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

General Conference

Walking By Faith

Moses heard the voice of God from the burning bush and removed his shoes in reverence. His limitations, his weaknesses, his past misdeeds seemed revealed and
magnified as, in the presence of God's majesty, he listened to the call to service.
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At this most beautiful and inspiring season of the year the thoughtful traveler in the countryside is constrained to remove his shoes-and his hat-as he sees the resplendent
evidences of God's handiwork and from a thousand burning bushes he hears a call to co-operate with him in freeing his people from bondage.
Walking By Faith

Moses heard the voice of God from the burning bush and removed his shoes in reverence. His limitations, his weaknesses, his past misdeeds seemed revealed and
magnified as, in the presence of God's majesty, he listened to the call to service.

At this most beautiful and inspiring season of the year the thoughtful traveler in the countryside is constrained to remove his shoes-and his hat-as he sees the resplendent
evidences of God's handiwork and from a thousand burning bushes he hears a call to co-operate with him in freeing his people from bondage.

But, even as in Egypt, it seems necessary to display his power and his displeasure to those responsible for our slavery. How many plagues must come upon the world
before his chosen people can be released from their task masters and seek the promised land? And to what extent do we contribute to our enslavement by adopting as
our own the alien ways of the "Egypt" in which, for a time, we are compelled to live?

Have we developed such an appetite for the "fleshpots" that we somehow prefer them to the freedom which is promised to all who are willing to follow divinely
appointed leaders through the wilderness? Or do we resist instructions and guidance if our established ways of doing things are disturbed? Have we the faith and
courage to go down to the shores of the great sea knowing that he will command, and it will obey or do we prefer the cramping security of slavery to the freedom
which may be had for the price of sacrifice and effort?

Human nature has not changed much since the days of ancient Israel. Moses was taken from them for a brief season, and the Israelites made and worshiped a golden
image. At the first turn in the road they insisted on looking backward. They could no longer see the familiar evidences of worldly power on which they had relied, and
so they complained that Moses had betrayed them. They lacked the vision and the valor which all adventurous living demands and had to be sustained along the way by
miracles, by food from heaven and water from the rock.

After years of devastating plagues on a scale which ancient Egypt never knew, the world seems little nearer to a day of deliverance. We have harvest festivals and
observe thanksgiving days; our leaders set aside days of prayer and among the victor nations we sing praises and give lip service to our great Deliverer. But is there less
of hatred in the world? Do greed and selfishness still dominate our motives? Are we amenable to counsel when to follow it seems to be against our immediate personal
interest? Are we willing to follow inspired leadership even when it leads through the valleys which inevitably lie between the mountain peaks which mark the course to
the promised land?

At a time when social, political, and economic systems are being challenged, when new and alien ideologies are being advocated, when tried and established methods
are being forsaken, and when people in large numbers follow after strange gods, it is well that the Latter-day Saints be reminded that, for them, there is but one voice of
authority, that to them there is always open a safe passage through the sea if they will but harken to The One who said, ". . . They shall be my people, and I will be their
God." (Ezek. 11:20.)

Students of church history, ancient and modern, and they who have had the responsibility of leadership have called attention to the contrast between the ways of God
and the methods of Satan and have urged all to cultivate the spirit of discernment, of humility, of obedience. All history demonstrates how fatal it is to the individual or
the nation to follow leaders who are either uninspired or are inspired only by selfish ambition, lust for power, desire to dominate.

Gradually such usurpers of authority in some countries have gained control of the machinery of government and have not only enslaved the people but have led them
down to destruction. The Apostle Paul warned the people of his day of the danger of yielding to the dictates of usurpers. "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield
yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Rom. 6:16.)

Brigham Young, the inspired leader of the modern exodus, courageously warned his people of the reality of the forces of evil; he said, "The devil's forces are
particularly marshalled against us. The adversary presents his principles and arguments in the most approved style, and in the most winning tone, attended with the most
graceful attitudes; and he is very careful to ingratiate himself into the favor of the powerful and influential of mankind, uniting himself with popular parties, floating into
offices of trust and emolument by pandering to popular feeling, though it should seriously wrong and oppress the innocent."

Members of the Church have never been asked to follow blindly and without question. The great principle of free agency has been emphasized since before the fall of
Lucifer who was determined to employ compulsion and deny the right of choice. And yet there are times when we must walk by faith and not by sight alone; when we
must believe without seeing. They who thus believe were classed as "more blessed" when the Savior submitted to the unbelieving examination of the doubting Thomas.
There are times when it is not given to us to view the whole plan, to know all of the details of a proposed campaign, to be consulted on general policy, and it is then that
we should show our faith in inspired leadership by subjecting our opinions and our will to those who, because of their wider contacts, more complete information, and
elevated viewpoint, can see the whole field of action while our own vision is limited to the little sector to which we have been assigned.

The few men in a pillbox at the crossroads may come to look upon their little concrete house as the nerve center of the battleline. If the commanding officer should send
down word to withdraw and take another position with details as to time and place, the wise N.C.O. will without question obey orders. He is aware that disobedience
here might result in his being cut off with his men or perhaps his position will be shelled or bombed by his own artillery or planes.

And so in church leadership. There are times when from our limited horizon we cannot see the wisdom of some move or policy. If we persist in holding to our own
views and refuse to join in the general scheme, we are liable to find ourselves isolated behind the lines and included in the casualties. Quoting a prophet of modern
times; "Every son and daughter of God is expected to obey with a willing heart every word which the Lord has spoken, and which he will in the future speak to us. It is
expected that we hearken to the revelations of his will, and adhere to them, cleave to them with all our might; for this is salvation, and anything short of this clips the
salvation and the glory of the saints."

And so, as the glory of this autumn time is translated into a prophecy of the spring which is to follow, let us listen to the voice from the burning bush and reverently
remove the shoes of our unbelief and stand on holy ground. ". . .Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord." (Isa. 52:11.)

Millennial Star

Religion in Action

Some of our friends and others who have made only a cursory examination of the theology and religion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon
Church) have criticized it as being radically unsacramental and pre-eminently practical. They have felt that we put undue emphasis on the here and now, the practical
and the material, as distinguished from the spiritual or sacramental.

While the members of the Church are taught to observe certain sacraments as part of their religion, we do not believe that such observance alone, in this or any other
church, will insure salvation. We believe rather that the next life will begin where this life ends and that what a man is in his heart is more important than his perfunctory
attendance at religious service or his meticulous observance of the various rites and ceremonies or so-called sacraments of the Church.
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Experience has shown that a scoundrel, a fraud, or a sinner, in order to gain preferment, recognition, or profit, or for other ulterior motives, may attend church regularly,
perform or have performed for him all the rites and ordinances prescribed for the observance of the truly converted, but we know, of course, that without Godly
repentance he will fall far short of the Savior's approbation.
While the members of the Church are taught to observe certain sacraments as part of their religion, we do not believe that such observance alone, in this or any other
church, will insure salvation. We believe rather that the next life will begin where this life ends and that what a man is in his heart is more important than his perfunctory
attendance at religious service or his meticulous observance of the various rites and ceremonies or so-called sacraments of the Church.

Experience has shown that a scoundrel, a fraud, or a sinner, in order to gain preferment, recognition, or profit, or for other ulterior motives, may attend church regularly,
perform or have performed for him all the rites and ordinances prescribed for the observance of the truly converted, but we know, of course, that without Godly
repentance he will fall far short of the Savior's approbation.

What a man thinketh in his heart-and this is best evidenced by what is translated into action-is more important than what may be on the glib lips of the dissimulator, the
insincere obeisance of the knave or the boastful observance of the letter of the law. The parable of the Pharisee and the publican is a case in point. (See Luke 18:10-
14.)

We know that we are saved by the grace of Christ, that faith in him is prerequisite. His teachings and practices convince us that some of the sacraments or ordinances
of the Church are essential to acceptance into the fold of Christ. "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (John 3:5.)
Church attendance and partaking of the Sacrament are vital to man's spiritual health and vigor. What goes on in the Church or chapel is important, but what goes on
outside the Church may be more effective in shaping and conditioning the life of the individual. If we observe a man's conduct when he is away from the Church, we
may evaluate the quality and sincerity of his formal worship. ". . .shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." (James 2:18.)

And to those who think we are grossly materialistic and inordinately practical, may we point out that when the Word, or Christ, was made flesh and dwelt among us as
we read in John's Gospel, he sanctified the material, glorified the human body, and demonstrated the essential connection between spirit and element, both of which are
eternal. A fulness of joy may be received only when spirit and element are inseparably connected. One function of spirit is to control and glorify matter, and the function
of matter is to serve spirit.

Not only did the Master glorify the human body and sanctify marriage when he condescended to tabernacle in the flesh, but he intertwined the spiritual and the material
as he went about blessing the poor, healing the sick, and showing people how to carry a cross and be lifted up and glorified by it.

That he considered the common things of life sacred is shown by the fact that he used bread made from wheat and wine from the grape of the vine as fit emblems for
the renewing of covenants and insuring the constant companionship of his Holy Spirit. He taught and practised baptism in water, a mundane element, and declared that
entrance into the kingdom was conditioned upon its authoritative administration. Though the parables he taught the greatest truths about the human spirit by calling
attention to such things as the sowing of seeds, the beauty of the lilies, the birds, the soil, the sheep, and the lambs. He was acquainted with the use of the carpenter's
bench, and his pulpit was the hillside and the seashore. While he taught his disciples to be fishers of men, he also showed them the best place to catch fish to eat; and he
ate with them even after his resurrection.

We believe that man's whole life should be a sacrament, that he should pray as he works and work as he prays. In this sense our religion is intensely practical. There
must be a revival of the sacramental nature of work if our industrial and economic problems are to be solved.

We believe that marriage is sacred, eternal, and God-ordained and therefore is more blessed than barren and unnatural celibacy; that our children are born innocent
and should be taught to worship God in the home, at school, at work and play, amidst all of life's insistent demands, not only in the chapel or the cloister.

Religion should not be departmentalized or be practised only on one given day, but by its very nature it should be a practical and everyday affair. We remember with
pride and gratitude the practices of our ancestors in the early days of the Church. They worked early and late on their farms, and then they took their whole family into
the field at seedtime and again at harvest where together they kneeled down on the good earth and thanked God for his mercies, prayed for his continued blessings and
dedicated their land and crops and themselves to him. This is often done in Mormon families today.

Men can best show their love for their fellow men by helping them to live more abundantly, by co-operating with them in a practical way, and by making available to
them the knowledge and experience of the larger group, and, when needed, divide among them the fruits of the toil of others. When men ask for bread, a stone will not
suffice nor will mere words satisfy hunger.

The practical aspects of the Mormon concepts may be better understood by our friends if they become acquainted with the Church welfare plan and know of its
benefits and blessings in many lands. Some of the readers of the Star will remember the great service the Church, through its welfare program, rendered to the Saints in
Europe following World War II. The store-houses of the Church, being well stocked, were immediately open to the cry of the poor, and the Saints in Zion gave a
wonderful demonstration of what it means to ". . .love thy neighbour as thyself." (Matt. 22:39.)

Remembering the prophecies concerning the calamities that are to come, the great welfare program should be promoted and developed in the mission fields where it
can be made to operate successfully and assure to the Saints in the troublous times ahead some measure of security.

We call attention also to the Church's vast colonization program from its inception; its leadership in irrigation, in establishing sugar factories and industries to provide
work-all in the hope of bringing the affairs of ordinary life into the divine frame of the Church and religious worship. We try to meet the people where their interests lie
and not merely lament and wring our hands because some of them do not go to church. Many members of the Church who class themselves as "not very religious"
respond gladly to an invitation to go on a work mission to New Zealand or Australia, Switzerland, England, or elsewhere and spend several years without pay to help
to build a college with its gymnasium, a chapel with its recreation hall, or a temple built with the spirit of ". . .Holiness to the Lord." (Ex. 28:36.)

We believe that all members, either in the stakes or missions of the Church, should respond to the call to assist in the great welfare program in whatever way their
training, talents, skills, or labor may be used.

We believe in the gospel of work, of free enterprise, of love for fellow men. We believe with one of the prophets of old that when a man is engaged in the service of his
fellow men he is only engaged in the service of God. (See Mosiah 2:17.) And furthermore, one of the final tests for admission into "the kingdom" will be our answer to
the question asked by the Savior: "Did you feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned?" And then he will say, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least
of these my brethren ye did it unto me." (See Matt. 25:34-40.)

Millennial Star

The Way of Life

I wonder if sometimes our people think when they hear a speaker ask for divine guidance that it has come to be just a habit. If you were asked to occupy this position,
you would know that that is not the case. For that guidance I humbly pray.
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I should like to follow the example of being brief which was set yesterday by President Joseph Fielding Smith. I think he demonstrated the truth of the statement that for
a speech to be immortal it does not need to be everlasting.
The Way of Life

I wonder if sometimes our people think when they hear a speaker ask for divine guidance that it has come to be just a habit. If you were asked to occupy this position,
you would know that that is not the case. For that guidance I humbly pray.

I should like to follow the example of being brief which was set yesterday by President Joseph Fielding Smith. I think he demonstrated the truth of the statement that for
a speech to be immortal it does not need to be everlasting.

Since our last April conference, reporters, editors, commentators, and others at home and abroad have given considerable time and space to the Church and its
activities. As has been intimated, this results partly at least from the tour of the choir, the dedication of the Swiss and Los Angeles temples, and the announcement of
other temples to be built. We appreciate the uniform friendliness and general accuracy of these reports and comments. They have ranged from learned discussions of
various phases of the gospel to such brief and inaccurate generalizations as that, "To be a Mormon simply means that one does not drink tea or coffee or use tobacco
or liquor."

Now, we do accept and try to live the Word of Wisdom, a law of health, first because the Lord thought enough of it to give a revelation on it and also because for a
hundred years we have proved its worth. But there are other things we would like our friends to know about the Church, and so for a few moments I would like to
discuss some phases of Mormonism which are not so generally known.

Because of limitation of time and of the speaker, any attempted exposition will be inadequate and incomplete. I should like first, however, to say to you that the conduct
of a typical member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Mormon, is influenced not so much by prohibitions, inhibitions, or Church discipline as by his
own inner convictions regarding the essential dignity and possible glory of the individual, the meaning of life, man's origin, purpose, and possible destiny.

Mormonism is not just a code of ethics; it is not merely a set of inhibitive injunctions; it is not just a theoretical system of doctrine and philosophy. It is rather a way of
life, based upon a concept of God as our Eternal Father, and of man, created in the bodily image of God-a son of God, who has all of the obligations, opportunities,
and potentials of heirship. The Mormon concept of Deity with its accompanying concept of man's potential Godlike status, should cause believers to resist the down-
drag of habits and indulgences which are inimical to or would impede or delay man's progress towards his goal.

Perhaps you would like to take a quick look at Mormonism through the eyes of a non-member of the Church who has taken time to study it. I have the author's
permission to read some paragraphs from a pamphlet recently published by the department of humanities of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under the
general caption The Sociology of Mormonism. These studies were made and written by Dr. Thomas F. O'Dea, who has a distinguished academic career at Harvard, at
Stanford, and at M.I.T. These writings show careful study, keen analysis, and an enviable facility of expression. I shall read some excerpts:

"Of the many churches founded in the regions south of the Great Lakes in the first half of nineteenth century, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints or the
Mormon Church alone avoided the stagnant back-waters of sectarianism. The need to start over again four times in sixteen years contributed to the flexibility and
avoided sectarian atmosphere and culture."

And again he says,

"In 1847 the Mormons, harassed and persecuted, dispossessed of all but faith, leadership and a superb organization, crossed the plains and settled in the Utah desert. .
. . The Mormon leadership deliberately chose an unattractive region to gain the necessary respite that isolation would give, and resisted the seductions of more pleasant
prospects."

And then speaking of our Americanism, he said:

"Their American patriotism is an Article of Faith with them. . . . The development of a nationhood was inhibited by American patriotic convictions on the part of the
Latter-day Saints themselves. Mormonism sees America as a chosen land and holds that the second coming of Christ will be to this continent. America is a divinely-
preferred country and the previous periods of history were preparatory for the Mormon restoration. Thus the Mormons, while exalting America and exulting in it, could
at the same time feel called out of Babylon to build the city of God. . . . The Mormons are preeminently practical and are the typical American religious movement. As
such Mormonism presents a heightening, a more explicit formulation and summation of the American experience of time and of America's timeliness.

"The Mormon Church defines itself as a restoration in the latter days of the original gospel of Jesus Christ, which had been corrupted and lost in part for the past fifteen
centuries. Its restoration is conceived in terms of Christian history, . . .It is a new interpretation of Christianity itself. A unique prophet and a unique and timely moment
as well as a uniquely appropriate place are part of this conception. Mormonism holds itself to have been revealed in the fulness of time-a fulness of time which involves
the destiny of the Western Hemispere and the American nation. The discovery of America and the development of the political institutions of the United States are seen
as prepared by divine guidance for the restoration which was to be made through the agency of the orignial prophet, Joseph Smith.

"Within this larger framework the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has its own history, a record of wandering and persecution, of construction and conquest
over hostile elements coming to fruition in the building of Zion in the mountain tops. . . . Mormonism lived its Exodus and Chronicles not once but many times. It had its
Moses and its Joshua. Circumstances had given it a stage upon which its reenactment of Biblical history was neither farce nor symbolic pageant."

Yes, our history has been in part a reenactment of biblical history, but what is more important, our doctrine is a reaffirmation of biblical truth. We believe in the God of
the Old Testament-Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We believe that that Divine Personage became Jesus the Christ of the New Testament, the Son of
God, the Redeemer of the world. "We believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel."
We emphasize "all mankind" and "obedience" because the gospel and its saving ordinances are to be made available to the living on this earth, and to the living
elsewhere, with obedience as prerequisite to blessings.

"For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the
spirit." (1 Pet. 4:6.)

Believing as we do in the great vicarious service of the Master which is the very foundation of Christianity, we undertake to do for our dead, what they cannot do for
themselves, and therefore we build these temples which you, our friends, have seen and of which you have heard.

We believe in a pre-existent state where we exercised free agency, where there were individual differences, where life was purposeful and progressive, and where man
in his original state existed as intelligence.

After referring to "the inestimable contributions to the settlement of the West and the planting there of a viable and vital American civilization," Dr. O'Dea says: "How
remarkably familiar are the basic elements of the Mormon gospel, how remarkably like the general apprehension of America by other Americans when it sheds its
theological
 Copyright poignancy."    He refers
             (c) 2005-2009,         to Mormon
                              Infobase          theology as
                                        Media Corp.                                                                                                       Page 78 / 104
"A distillation of what is peculiarly American in America and that by incorporating the goals of the present world into a vision of eternal progression the Church
succeeded in annihilating for its followers the line of demarcation between time and eternity in quite a new way.
in his original state existed as intelligence.

After referring to "the inestimable contributions to the settlement of the West and the planting there of a viable and vital American civilization," Dr. O'Dea says: "How
remarkably familiar are the basic elements of the Mormon gospel, how remarkably like the general apprehension of America by other Americans when it sheds its
theological poignancy." He refers to Mormon theology as

"A distillation of what is peculiarly American in America and that by incorporating the goals of the present world into a vision of eternal progression the Church
succeeded in annihilating for its followers the line of demarcation between time and eternity in quite a new way.

"For Mormonism the world is uncreated and God and men are winning mastery over other uncreated elements. God has become a demiurage once again. . .which
means one who works on existing material, a craftsman."

All that is, in process, that is marked by two main characteristics: It is becoming increasingly more complex; and intelligent beings, God and men, are collaboratively
gaining increasing mastery over it. Man's life on earth is seen as one of an infinity of episodes characterized by increasing development and mastery of the other
elements of nature. This concept of God's purpose and method respecting man's existence was clearly stated by the late Dr. John A. Widtsoe, himself a great scholar
and a profound student of the gospel,

"The law of progression is then a law of endless development of all the powers of man in the midst of a universe, becoming increasingly more complex. No more
hopeful principle can be incorporated into a philosophy of life." (A Rational Theology.)

The Lord revealed in the Doctrine and Covenants,

"Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. . . .

"For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy;. . ." (D&C 93:29, 33.)

On this point Dr. Widtsoe wrote as follows:

"In the beginning, which transcends our understanding, God undoubtedly exercised his will vigorously and thus gained great experience of the forces lying about him. As
knowledge grew into greater knowledge by the persistent efforts of the will, his recognition of universal laws became greater until he obtained at last a conquest over
the universe which to our finite understanding seems absolutely complete."

We proclaim the scriptural and inspring doctrine that man should look up and not down for his source, for he is of divine lineage; that man is innocent at birth, which is
the antithesis of the ball and chain doctrine of original sin and innate wickedness.

"Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning; and God having redeemed man from the fall, men became again, in their infant state, innocent before God." (D&C
93:38.)

Man faces a vista of limitless development, eternal progression, if he will co-operate in winning mastery over himself and the universe. We believe that man's earth life
was made possible by Adam's role in a fore-ordained plan which included the provision for man to come face to face with both good and evil, and, under the eternal
law of free agency, elect good or evil without compulsion, knowling however that under the immutable law of the harvest he must abide the consequences of his choice,
must reap as he sows. Free agency is prerequisite to any character-building plan, and while with free agency any plan is inevitably crammed with risk, we, with all the
sons of God, accepted that risk and shouted for joy at the prospect of earth life. The Lord said to Job,

"Where was thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?. . .

"When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38:4, 7,

If God is in fact our Father, then we, Father and children, belong to the same society of eternal intelligences. Among them he is supreme, he is the most advanced, most
powerful, and most intelligent.

"Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great
ones."

". . .I am the Lord thy God, I am more intelligent than they all." (Abr. 3:22, 19.)

When we say man may become like our Father, we do not mean to humanize God, but rather to deify man-not as he now is but as he may become. The difference
between us is indescribably great, but it is one of degree rather than of kind.

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,. . ." (John 1:12.)

To the Latter-day Saints salvation or being saved does not imply a sudden transformation or metamorphosis into something entirely unlike one's nature nor can it be
achieved by mere mental assent or sudden conversion. It is rather a continuing process of becoming or unfolding pursuant to law and divine plan, of bringing one's life
into harmony with eternal and inexorable law.

We believe that in his infinite and eternal development toward a Godlike status, man moves toward and through a turnstile called death; that there is no interruption of
life at this portal, for eternity is indefinitely prolonged time. We believe that man, after passing through this turnstile, will continue his enternal journey from the point
where his actions in this life have brought him. "Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection." (D&C 130:18.) To
deny the possibility of eternal progression is to accept the awful alternative of eventual stagnation which would be damnation.

We believe that being saved involves education, that man cannot be saved in ignorance any more than he can be saved in ignorance any more than he can be saved in
sin, for as ". . .the glory of God is intelligence, or light and truth," so the degree of our intelligence will be the measure of our glory. Neither the ignorant nor the sinner
would be comfortable or at home in heaven. This concept glorifies intelligence as well as righteousness. But let us not confuse mere knowledge with intelligence. The
knowledge of which we speak must seek enlightenment and be applied with wisdom. The knowledge that will save us is not mere know-how, certainly not cunning or
mental agility or sagacity; it is not just erudition. The wise man may not be learned, and the learned are not always wise. The intelligence which is the glory of God is all
knowledge (and knowledge is power) applied with supreme wisdom and total righteousness.

Time  will not
 Copyright  (c)permit  a further
                 2005-2009,      discussion
                              Infobase      of our
                                         Media     teachings with respect to some of the things that Dr. O'Dea has mentioned. Suffice it to say, that Mormonism,
                                                Corp.                                                                                                    Page 79  among
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other things, is an eternal quest for knowledge which is power, for truth which is joyous because it makes us free, for intelligence, which is the glory of God, and for the
righteousness which will enable us to feel at home in his holy presence.
knowledge of which we speak must seek enlightenment and be applied with wisdom. The knowledge that will save us is not mere know-how, certainly not cunning or
mental agility or sagacity; it is not just erudition. The wise man may not be learned, and the learned are not always wise. The intelligence which is the glory of God is all
knowledge (and knowledge is power) applied with supreme wisdom and total righteousness.

Time will not permit a further discussion of our teachings with respect to some of the things that Dr. O'Dea has mentioned. Suffice it to say, that Mormonism, among
other things, is an eternal quest for knowledge which is power, for truth which is joyous because it makes us free, for intelligence, which is the glory of God, and for the
righteousness which will enable us to feel at home in his holy presence.

God help us to live worthily and to go forward fearlessly in our search for truth, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

General Conference

  1 See Teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 217.

Section IV Faith in Our Country

If you claim the rights of freedom, you must undertake to assume its duties and responsibilities. Freedom is a test of will, trial of moral strength.

To the Girls Behind the Men Behind the Guns

"All day long the sheep and swine graze in the same pasture, drink from the same stream. At eventide the sheep go to the fold, the swine to the sty."

In times of war, life's smelting process is accelerated by the concentrated heat to which all are subjected in varying degrees of intensity. In this fire much dross is
consumed, but there are refined such precious metals as courage, constancy, fidelity, loyalty, valor, and heroism. We appreciate these virtues when they appear on the
battlefield, where the individual is supported by the group, "with soldiers to shout and praise," but when they emerge under less conspicuous circumstances without the
heat of battle or the bellows of music or cheers or clangor of war, then they are nuggets indeed.

Some young women feel that their part in the program is so insignificant as to leave little opportunity to develop these qualities which we applaud in our fighting men.
They, too, wish to serve, to help, to do more than merely cheer on the sidelines. They do not agree that "men must fight and women must weep."

In this world conflict the front lines are often "behind the lines." Civilians are playing a larger part than in any war in history. It is a war against the individual, where truth
and error are locked in conflict, right opposed to wrong, good opposed to evil, Christ opposed to anti-Christ. The first and most important duty of every soldier is to
"choose whom he will serve." You, young women, also, must decide which side you are on and then you will have ample opportunity to prove your quality.

In spite of, or because of, our highly mechanized methods of warfare, manpower is the chief factor in determining the strength of an army. The total manpower of an
army is the sum of the strength of the individuals. The fighting strength of a soldier is not a matter of physical fitness alone. Now, as never before, do stamina, morale,
and character count in the struggle. Despite all our scientific progress and our modern methods, there is more opportunity for individual initiative and skill than ever
before. With the coming of tanks and airplanes we turn again to the kind of fighting where man meets man in terms of quick decisions, co-ordination, and split-second
timing.

Anything, then, which will sustain and strengthen the individual serviceman will aid the cause of the United Nations. Any act or influence which lowers his morale or
impairs his physical fitness is an act of sabotage. You can make your greatest contribution by making sure that every serviceman you contact is strengthened by your
influence, made better by your presence; that when he leaves you, he will respect you and retain his own self-respect, which is indispensable to high morale.

These Latter-day Saint men with whom you associate have high ideals, great hopes and ambitions, limitless possibilities, all predicated upon the observance of certain
rules of conduct. Anyone who encourages one of them to forsake his ideals and yield to temptations so prevalent in all armies, thereby weakens his armor, makes him
vulnerable to the enemy, contributes to the downfall of one of our fighting men.

Remember, the days of chivalry are not over. Men still go into the joust with their "ladies' colors fastened to their lances," and they do their best to live up to what those
ladies expect of them. These men want to feel as they go out to fight that there is something in the world that has not gone to pieces. Their thought of home, family, and
the verities of life include you, the girl friend, the fiancee. They want to believe that there is still something sweet and clean and pure in the world. To them you symbolize
an ideal.

Imagine, then, the awful letdown if you have become a victim of the fiendish folly that passions and appetites must be ministered to and that you are guilty of
whimpering, "We can't say `no' to a soldier." He may put you to the test, but all the time he prays you will prove true. If he is weak, he will thank God that you are
strong.

These men, finding themselves in a new and strange environment, surrounded by influences which challenge their concepts of right and wrong, may sometimes waver in
their determination to come out clean. Some of their companions make light of what they have always held sacred. In cities, towns, and villages, alcoholic beverages are
available to them and certain of your sex who dishonor the name of woman prey on their loneliness. These and many other temptations they must meet and conquer,
but imagine how their world will fall apart if, when on leave, they find that you too are yielding to the downdrag of these devil-dominated days.

You also, perhaps with less vehemence, are engaged in the conflict, battling against the animal appetites that "claw at the soul." You too must struggle against the
temptation of crudity and mediocrity. You must not be cheap or crude-you must struggle against the suction of war's whirlpool and not strike your colors and surrender
to the enemy, for to surrender is to "rob existence of its value and personality of its sanctity." You must win this battle with yourself if you would be ready for the great
opportunity to strike a blow at the enemy when you are with a man in uniform. You can restore his faith in himself and in his ideals and send him back a better soldier,
or you can take away the last remaining prop which sustains his character and send him back the most pitiful of casualties, one wounded by his friends, betrayed by
those he loves.

When they visit you while on leave, you must be strong and give them of your strength. Renew their faith in the right by your own unwavering loyalty. Raise high the
standards which perhaps they have allowed to droop. Send them back recharged with faith and hope and courage and self-esteem, knowing there is something fine to
fight for, to live for, to come home to. Send them back stronger men for their contact with you. Every man you touch must be better for that touch, or you should be in
quarantine as an enemy of the state.

Someone spoke an eternal truth when he said, "Honest love is the most powerful influence for good that can enter into a man's life; so love's counterfeit is the most
disintegrating."

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of reality. Uniforms with their fading glamor will go into the discard, the boys will be civilians again. You and they must take up the business of living in a world which
will seem to be out of focus. Your world and theirs will endure the ordeal if you and they refuse to surrender to mediocrity. Bombed cities may be rebuilt, devastated
Someone spoke an eternal truth when he said, "Honest love is the most powerful influence for good that can enter into a man's life; so love's counterfeit is the most
disintegrating."

We must remember that this war, too, will pass, will end, and there will be a return to such normalcy as is possible. Then life must be lived and must endure the acid test
of reality. Uniforms with their fading glamor will go into the discard, the boys will be civilians again. You and they must take up the business of living in a world which
will seem to be out of focus. Your world and theirs will endure the ordeal if you and they refuse to surrender to mediocrity. Bombed cities may be rebuilt, devastated
areas may be reclaimed, bodily scars of honorable battle may be healed, but the stains of ruined character are the most lasting of the terrors of war.

We who remember the aftermath of the last war have not forgotten the wreckage and devastation every-where to be seen-colossal waste on every hand-and yet in the
intervening years we were able to repair, rebuild, and reclaim much of that loss. But time has not effaced the havoc of wrecked homes and disillusioned lives where
Satan had convinced some that love could spring from the ashes of lust. Here the armistice did not stop the process of disintegration.

You must say "No" to a soldier if he proposes anything which will help the enemy. You would say "No" and stop him with your life if he should propose an act of
treason, and treason is giving help and comfort to the enemy. What, then, if he proposes that you join him in an act which un-mans him? If you yield, have you not been
untrue to your Americanism, to your womanhood, and to him? Have you not thereby helped the enemy? If in his delirium he calls for that which is harmful, you must
have the courage and the good sense to deny him, even as a nurse would refuse a harmful drug to her patient in the hospital. What would you think of a nurse who
instead of courageously doing her duty, and saving her weakened patient from his folly, should add contagion to his wounds and then whimper, "I thought he wanted me
to, and I tried to make him happy." Do you know what the soldiers call those foolish girls who give themselves to them under the false banner of patriotism? They are
known as "patriotic prostitutes."

We want our men to come out of this war with faith in God and in themselves, faith in the American way of life and a determination to preserve and improve it, faith in
the future and courage to face it. Yours is the opportunity to hold up to them the hope and assurance that when this is over there will still be much to live for, provided
they themselves are true to their ideals.

Will you young women help to stem this avalanche which threatens to engulf the future homes of our country and wreck and destroy the pillars of our society? The old
cry of Cain, the murderer, "I am not my brother's keeper," cannot apply to you who are the keeper of some other girl's brother. That other girl may be with your
brother now. What would you have her do for him? Then apply the golden rule.

You girls behind the men behind the guns form a line of defense which must not weaken. While that line holds, the front lines will remain impregnable. There must be no
compromise, no going over to the enemy, no lowering of standards-no traitors in this line.

This is not a line to be defended with ships and tanks and guns and airplanes; it will not be assaulted by troops with fixed bayonets. But it is a line constantly under fire,
being attacked from all directions, a line where it is sometimes difficult to tell friend from foe. From these lines there must come reserves for the front-not armed recruits,
but the very essence of the fighting man's strength, namely, courage and faith and that "tenfold strength" of the pure in heart.

There must come up from these lines an atmosphere of home, of love, of fidelity and purity, an atmosphere free from contamination, free from nicotine and alcohol and
lust.

From this line there will come an unseen companion to march at his side, ride with him in his tank or plane, be with him on his battleship. The memory of that last sweet
time together will give him strength and fortitude and renew his faith in God.

Yes, girls, you are called to serve, and when the war is over the heroines will be as numerous and entitled to as great credit as the heroes of the war. Your medal of
honor may not be pinned on a uniform, but it will be the highest honor won on life's battlefield-a clean, courageous heart. God himself will reward your valor.

The Improvement Era

To the Parents of Servicemen

In 1918 the Giant Mars was wounded, and some thought permanently disabled, but by 1939 he had regained his strength, and in blind fury is now straining at the pillars
of civilization.

Never before have so many been called to resist him. Never before have so many parents, wives, brothers, sisters, and friends had a personal interest in great and
unpredictable events. Modern efficiency places the most intelligent, the physically soundest, the fittest of our youth, in the greatest danger. In 1918, there were fewer
than 20,000 Latter-day Saint men in the service. In 1943, we have more than double that number.

You who have prayed with and for these men and have taught them how to pray, to read the scriptures, and to believe in God, know that they had high ideals and lofty
ambition when this call came. They and you had planned their lives in peaceful pursuit of worthy achievement, and to this end you had supervised their training.

This sudden changing of their course and way of life; this separation from those they love, with its accompanying loss of inspiration and the supports and safeguards of
home environment; this sudden impact with a world at war, with its challenge to all they had believed and known, is subjecting that training to a test more grueling than
anything you or they anticipated.

We who have observed them in this test, being transformed from boys to men, carrying tremendous responsibility and harnessed to a course of training which only the
strong can endure, fearlessly preparing to meet the enemy and to look into the face of death-we know something of the struggle which each man has in that smaller, but
no less dangerous sector of the conflict where the enemy would destroy him from within. We who have seen their reaction to the down-drag of temptation, as well as to
the uplift of high resolve-we know that you parents have reason to be proud. They were taught at your hearthstone, inspired by your example, and with pride and honor
they carry the banners and standards of home and Church to all parts of the world in numbers tenfold greater than our normal missionary corps.

Though their duty calls them far from home, and though their present discipline and training is in other hands, though they have reached maturity in a day and are strong
and self-reliant and unafraid, still they want to feel that you are near them. They look to you for encouragement and faith. Being reminded that someone believes in
them, is praying for them, is a real safeguard in the hour of temptation, an effective spur to high morale.

They must know-and you must tell them-that they are trusted, that you have no doubt of the quality of their manhood and the integrity of their character. They will
respond to the trust you place in them, will strive to be worthy of your confidence. They will spread their wings to the lifting power of your faith in them.

They hunger and thirst for word from home and anxiously watch for the arrival of the mail. If you could be present at a mail delivery in a desert camp and see their
eager and expectant
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has come and see them crawl into their pup tents, homesick to the marrow of their bones; if you could know, as Satan knows, that at such moments their resistance is
at low ebb, and that it is then he can get in some of his most effective work, you would make sure that every week would see at least one letter on its way to them.
respond to the trust you place in them, will strive to be worthy of your confidence. They will spread their wings to the lifting power of your faith in them.

They hunger and thirst for word from home and anxiously watch for the arrival of the mail. If you could be present at a mail delivery in a desert camp and see their
eager and expectant faces as they wait for their names to be called; if you could note, as we have done, the dejection and utter loneliness of the few to whom no mail
has come and see them crawl into their pup tents, homesick to the marrow of their bones; if you could know, as Satan knows, that at such moments their resistance is
at low ebb, and that it is then he can get in some of his most effective work, you would make sure that every week would see at least one letter on its way to them.

We need not urge the mothers to write to their sons, as they are usually prompt and constant, but too often we hear young men say, "Gee, I wish Dad would write."
Fathers, they need the strength which your words will bring to them. Your letter may arrive at a moment when it will save your boy from ruin.

As we waited at midnight for a train in a small town near a camp, we saw a lad sitting on the station platform. We asked him why he was alone, and where his buddies
were. "They have gone for a night of revelry," he said, "and I am waiting to ride back to camp with them." When asked why he had not gone with them, he took a letter
from his pocket and said, "It's from my dad." He read one paragraph to us, which in substance was as follows: "I'm proud to have a son who can be trusted, who will
meet every temptation manfully. Your mother and I believe in you."

"I'd be a traitor," said the lad, "if with this letter in my pocket, I'd disgrace those who trust me like that. I'd rather die than let them down."

What would have happened if that father had not written? Who would have shared the blame, if the boy had gone astray? Here, as elsewhere, there are casualties
because of too little and too late. It is a soul-searching experience to have your letters returned with a notation that your son has gone where letters cannot reach him.

A good mother, in a small town, before she bade her only son good-bye, embroidered her initials on the inside of his inner coat pocket. She did not say anything about
it. When the boy got to camp, he saw the letters and recognized them as his mother's initials. That evening he wrote this sentence: "Dear Mom: I want to thank you for
putting those letters inside my coat pocket. I'll try to see to it that the coat does not go any place where your name could not go." That boy is safe in the army.

The Church is doing much to keep contact with these men. They have received tickets of identification and servicemen's Church directories. We are now distributing
the special pocket-size edition of The Book of Mormon and Principles of the Gospel. These are sent free to all men in the service, and New Testaments are furnished
by other groups. Wherever it is possible, these men are being visited by members of the priesthood, who organize them into groups that meetings may be held wherever
they may go. We get word that Church services are being held by them on various battlefronts, in Australia, Alaska, Africa, Asia, Europe, and America; but nothing
which the Church may do can take the place of letters of love and encouragement from home.

But we must not write letters which have a depressing effect upon our sons. We should not emphasize the worries and despondencies which may annoy us at the time
of writing. Nor should we criticize the conduct of the war or our leadership in our letters, as confidence and loyalty are basic to effective military service. Our letters
should be buoyant, cheerful, full of hope. They should carry the contagion of a triumphant spirit.

For their sakes, we must guard our inherited forms of freedom and preserve the kind of society for which they are fighting. We must resist with all our power every
attempt to introduce "alienisms" into our american system. It is neither necessary nor wise to harrow up their feelings with political irritations, nor plant seeds of doubt
where courage waits on faith.

Keeping contact with them during their service with the armed forces, understanding something of their problems, retaining their confidence by keeping them assured of
our love, will insure their co-operation in the stupendous and delicate task which will confront all parents when the boys come home.

These 30,000 to 40,000 Latter-day Saint men will not return the same boys who went away. Some will have done a lot of sober thinking, will have discovered that in
material and scientific fields old methods and the thinking which went with them do not suffice to meet the new demands. Their strong young minds will demand not only
answers but also reasons for those answers. They will feel the need of an assuring hand. We must be prepared to guide when the way seems dark, when heavy strain
has impaired their vision; to help solve their problems, economic, educational, and spiritual; to convince them that truth is ageless and unchanging, and that there are
some eternal, intangible verities. Others will have become accustomed to acting on emotional impulses, will almost have forgotten how to think.

They may not be willing to accept as true all that has authoritative sanction. An up-to-date knowledge of our changing world, an appreciation of their viewpoint will be
needed, if these bewildered and soul-hungry young men returning from the battlefield are to be given bread and not a stone. Some of them will have yielded to
temptation and will need help to regain self-confidence and the courage to try again. As they come back to the reserve lines which are held by us, they must find
understanding, confidence, courage, intelligence, and faith. We must keep the spiritual home fires burning by which to warm them back to vigor when they come in from
this awful storm. Now is the time to begin to prepare for their coming, to take thought of the future-clear, rational, prayerful thought-before it is too late.

Those of them who return with physical wounds will be scientifically treated in the best institutions in the world with specialists in attendance. Everything possible will be
done to restore their health, to heal their wounds, to compensate for lost abilities by establishing them in some suitable activity.

But upon the parents and the Church will rest the responsibility, not only of supplementing what the government may do, but also of re-establishing their faith in life and
in themselves. Spiritual hospitalization also calls for specialists who are dedicated to their tasks. Your tasks may be difficult and your problems baffling, but when we
consider the Master's promise to those who "do it unto the least of these," we may know our first duty is to guard and guide our own, if we are to hear his approving,
"Well done."

Our greeting, then, includes a plea to keep in touch with our servicemen, to write only such letters as will buoy them up and give them hope and confidence and
courage, to start today to make provision for their homecoming, and to pray for guidance as we undertake the task of postwar rehabilitation. While they are in foreign
lands, fighting to defend democracy, we will hold her banners so high at home that when they come marching-sailing-flying back to a chastened but triumphant America,
in gratitude to God they'll say, "Surely this was worth fighting for," and they whose sons will not come back will humbly say, "Amen."

The Relief Society Magazine

The Constitution of the United States - "A Heavenly Banner"

"Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.

"And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the
shedding of blood." (D&C 107:79-80.)

No item of inspiration is held more sacred by the Latter-day Saints than the Constitution of the United States. Our statement that the Lord inspired the authors of the
Constitution does not mean to imply that this document came as a direct revelation from God. It is an inspired charter of liberty, written after a long series of events and
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We believe the Lord overruled events in the affairs of nations down through the ages, that he inspired the hardy men who, in 1215, forced King John to give them the
shedding of blood." (D&C 107:79-80.)

No item of inspiration is held more sacred by the Latter-day Saints than the Constitution of the United States. Our statement that the Lord inspired the authors of the
Constitution does not mean to imply that this document came as a direct revelation from God. It is an inspired charter of liberty, written after a long series of events and
centuries of struggle by freedom-loving men.

We believe the Lord overruled events in the affairs of nations down through the ages, that he inspired the hardy men who, in 1215, forced King John to give them the
Magna Charta, the "great charter" of personal liberty. And, again, in 1628 when members of the British Parliament forced Charles I to sign the Petition of Right which
was approved, in 1628, by William and Mary.

We believe that he was at the controls when, in 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention sensed the importance of their task and determined the form of
government under which they and their posterity should live; ". . .a standard," as Washington said, "to which the wise and the honest can repair"; that Gouverneur
Morris was inspired when he said, "The whole human race will be affected by the proceedings of this Convention."

When ascribing, then, to our Heavenly Father the inspiration which led the Founding Fathers to formulate and adopt the Constitution, we mean to include the solid
foundation upon which this Constitution was built. This foundation was laid by courageous men, block by block through the centuries, as they fought and died for
liberty.

Inasmuch as The Relief Society Magazine is published for the benefit of members of the Church in all countries, it should be pointed out that the Constitution of the
United States advocates nothing which would preclude a Latter-day Saint living outside the United States from being loyal to the laws and standards of his own land,
nor does our belief that the Constitution was inspired of God imply that other freedom-loving people have not had his help in securing in their own countries such
liberties as they enjoy.

Church members who live in other free countries join us in thanking him for freedom: in England, although they have no written constitution, there is great respect for
law and dogged insistence on liberty; in Canada, the people are grateful to God for their freedom and confederation under the British North-American Act of 1867.

We are grateful, then, not only for the Constitution of the United States as it is, but also for the series of blessings from our Heavenly Father which led up to it, for the
countless sacrifices which were made in preparation for it.

We venerate the memories of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the authors of the Constitution. We think of them as great patriots and inspired
statesmen, but let us not forget the price they were prepared to pay for the action they were taking. This took courage of the highest order. They were revolutionaries.
What they did was treason, and they knew the penalty. Franklin was not jesting when he said, "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."

Benjamin Franklin drew the attention of the members of the Constitutional Convention, who seemingly could not agree, to the need for divine guidance. He said on the
floor of the convention, June 28, 1787, among other things:

"I have lived, Sir, for a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth that God governs the affairs of man, and if a sparrow cannot fall to
the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in sacred writings, that except the Lord build the house
they labor in vain that build it." (Cited in Benjamin Franklin, Carl Van Doren, p. 747.)

Let us be reminded that all blessings which come from God carry with them responsibilities and obligations. If we are to enjoy the blessings vouchsafed by the
Constitution, we must preserve it. It has been, and it will continue to be attacked by foes, both foreign and domestic. Freedom is not a thing that can be won and
secured at a given time and be thereby guaranteed to all future generations. We have a responsibility to protect and safeguard the Constitution, a responsibility not only
to one another and to our posterity, but also to God.

The Constitution may be weakened and eventually destroyed by:

(1) Approving laws which place in the hands of elected or appointed officials the powers which, under the Constitution, belong to the people.

(2) Such entangling alliances with other nations as will limit or curtail our own power of self-government. If by treaty or covenant or by the adoption of national policies
we place in the hands of foreign countries the power to impose upon us unwise commitments or heavy obligations or to plunge us into war; if by entangling alliances,
against which Washington warned so eloquently, we lose the right and the ability to make our own decisions, to formulate our own policies, and map our own national
course, we thereby and to that extent vitiate the Constitution. One sentence from Washington's farewell address indicates how clearly he saw this danger:

"Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history
and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government."

(3) The founding fathers wisely established three divisions of government and set bounds to the authority of each. If we permit any of these divisions to infringe upon or
usurp the powers properly belonging to another, or if the officers responsible for the exercise of the rights of these divisions of government should abdicate or surrender
their powers to others, then indeed will the Constitution be in danger.

President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., in a radio address over KSL, September 17, 1946, outlined the two basic judicial systems in the so-called civilized world today, the
common law system and the Roman or civil law system, and in that address he warned us in the following words:

"Now, in the last years, we in America have gone a long distance towards the adoption of the Roman concepts, and the abuses against property rights and human
freedom and liberties which are possible under that system. And let me say here and now, that in the whole history of the human race, from Adam until now, tyranny
has never come to live with any people with a placard on his breast bearing his name. He always comes in deep disguise, sometimes proclaiming an endowment of
freedom, sometimes promising help to the unfortunate and downtrodden, not by creating something for those who do not have, but by robbing those who have. But
tyranny is always a wolf in sheep's clothing, and he always ends by devouring the whole flock, saving none." (Church News, September 21, 1946, p. 2.)

Not only were the founding fathers wise in the various provisions they made for a federal system of government, but they seemed to have a vision of the nation's future
greatness, the vastness of its area, and the complex problems which would arise between the states and the federal government, as well as among the states themselves.
To forestall the awful consequences of competition, antagonism, and rival loyalties among citizens of various states, the founding fathers established distinct divisions of
powers between the state and federal governments. In this complex structure it was necessary that bounds be set to authority and that the written Constitution, perfectly
definite as it is, be preserved by "formidable difficulties of amendment against inconsiderate change." It became the written fundamental law of the land.

Every American owes allegiance to both the state and the national government, pays taxes to both, is granted certain rights and privileges under each, is subject to two
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The preamble to the Constitution says it was ordained and established by the people of the United States
definite as it is, be preserved by "formidable difficulties of amendment against inconsiderate change." It became the written fundamental law of the land.

Every American owes allegiance to both the state and the national government, pays taxes to both, is granted certain rights and privileges under each, is subject to two
sets of laws, under dual legislative, executive, and judicial departments, state and federal.

The preamble to the Constitution says it was ordained and established by the people of the United States

". . .in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. . . ."

It is obvious, therefore, that anything which tends to destroy this perfect union, or to rob the people of their "domestic tranquility," or to interfere with "the general
welfare," anything, in other words, which tends to weaken or to tear down or to vitiate this greatest of all charters of liberty, should be guarded against, and be
vigorously opposed by all who love and value liberty.

The attitude of the Church with respect to the Constitution has been set forth by each of the Presidents of the Church in turn. Some quotations will indicate the
unwavering tenor of our faith in and our unflagging determination to support what Gladstone called, "The most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the
brain and purpose of man." It is, in fact, the greatest charter of religious liberty ever written, but it must be supported by freedom-loving people who, by their actions,
prove their worthiness to live under this "heavenly banner."

In the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple, March 27, 1836, the Prophet said:

". . .may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely, the Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever." (D&C 109:54.)

And again in a letter written in Liberty Jail, he said:

"The Constitution of the United States is a glorious standard; it is founded in the wisdom of God. It is a heavenly banner." (D.H.C. 3:304.).

Each President of the Church has likewise stressed the greatness of the Constitution.

Quoting Joseph Smith, President Young said:

"The time will come when the destiny of the nation will hang upon a single thread; and in that critical juncture, this people will step forth and save it from the threatened
destruction. It will be so." (Journal History, July 4, 1854, p. 7.)

He further said:

"To accuse us of being unfriendly to the government is to accuse us of hostility to our religion, for no item of inspiration is held more sacred with us than the Constitution
under which she acts ." (Cited in Liahona 12:644.)

President John Taylor stated:

"It was through and by the power of God that the fathers of this country framed the Declaration of Independence, and also that great palladium of human rights, the
Constitution of the United States." (Cited in ibid.)

President Wilford Woodruff said:

"The Lord inspired the men who framed the Constitution of our country, and have guarded the nation from its foundation." (Cited in ibid.)

President Lorenzo Snow stated:

"We trace the hand of the Almighty in framing the Constitution of our land and believe that the Lord raised up men purposely for the accomplishment of this object-
raised them up and inspired them to frame the Constitution of the United States."

President Joseph F. Smith said:

"I hope with all my soul that the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be loyal in their very hearts and souls to the principles of the
constitution of our country. From them we have derived the liberty that we enjoy. . . . I believe that the Constitution of the United States was and still is an inspired
instrument. The Lord God Almighty inspired the minds that framed it, and I believe it ought to be most sacredly preserved. . . ." (Gospel Doctrine , p. 408.)

President Heber J. Grant stated:

"From my childhood days I have understood that we believe absolutely that the Constitution of our country is an inspired instrument, and that God directed those who
created it and those who defended the independence of this nation. . . . Allow me to announce further that we are patriotic Americans to the core, and that we have
learned it, many of us, at our mother's knees, where we said our prayers. We believe absolutely in the inspiration of God to the men who framed our
constitution." (Gospel Standards, p. 128.)

President George Albert Smith said:

"When our Father in heaven inspired men to write the Constitution and give unto us the great charter that vouchsafed to us the liberty we enjoy, he did it in order that
men might develop and be free, as the gospel of Jesus Christ intends that all men shall be."

President David O. McKay stated:

"Without freedom of thought, freedom of choice, freedom of action, within lawful bounds, man cannot progress. The Lord recognized this and also the fact that it would
take man thousands of years to make the earth habitable for self-governing individuals. Throughout the ages advanced souls have yearned for a society in which liberty
and justice prevail. Men have sought for it, fought for it, and died for it. Ancient freemen prized it, slaves longed for it, the Magna Charta demanded it, the Constitution
of the United States declared it." (Gospel Ideals, p. 288.)
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In April conference, 1950, President David O. McKay also said:
"Without freedom of thought, freedom of choice, freedom of action, within lawful bounds, man cannot progress. The Lord recognized this and also the fact that it would
take man thousands of years to make the earth habitable for self-governing individuals. Throughout the ages advanced souls have yearned for a society in which liberty
and justice prevail. Men have sought for it, fought for it, and died for it. Ancient freemen prized it, slaves longed for it, the Magna Charta demanded it, the Constitution
of the United States declared it." (Gospel Ideals, p. 288.)

In April conference, 1950, President David O. McKay also said:

"I repeat that no greater immediate responsibility rests upon members of the Church, upon all citizens of this Republic and of neighboring Republics, than to protect the
freedom vouchsafed by the Constitution of the United States. . . .

"To sum up this whole question: In these days of uncertainty and unrest, liberty-loving people's greatest responsibility and paramount duty is to preserve and proclaim
the freedom of the individual, his relationship to Deity, and. . .the necessity of obedience to the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ-only thus will mankind find peace
and happiness." (Conference Report, April 1950, p. 37.)

The Constitution, then, is:

(a) The world's greatest Charter of Liberty.

(b) It is our basic law.

(c) Its framers were inspired of God.

(d) The principles set out in the Constitution form a part of the over-all gospel plan for the freedom and salvation of men.

(e) It must be defended, protected, and preserved for future generations.

(f) It imposes obligations and responsibilities.

Let us humbly thank the Lord for our country, for her laws and institutions. Let us pray for the men who have been chosen to guide her destiny in these crucial times.
Let us strive to be worthy of our glorious heritage-to live under the banner of the Constitution of the United States of America.

The Relief Society Magazine.

The Citadel Within

A Word to Soldiers about Their Own Private Battle

They who served in the last war, though now unable to participate in combat units, are among the most interested of the spectators who watch from the sidelines. They
note the new and improved mechanized equipment as well as the revolutionary strategy and tactics employed. They would not attempt to give military advice, knowing
that the folly of applying the rules of 1917 to the operations of 1942 would cost thousands of lives and result in humiliating reverses.

However, there are some constants in life which remain fixed whether one is in military or civilian activity and regardless of one's age. Of these we should like to speak.

Rather than address the youth of 1942, let the man of today talk to himself as one of the soldiers of 1917. Let him attempt, through his own eyes twenty-five years
later, to see the road ahead of that young soldier. He might say something like this:

You, young man, have answered the call of your country. You offer to her your time, your talents, your strength-your life. How well-equipped are you as you present
yourself for this service? What do you bring to the task and what do you propose to take out of it? You have passed your physical tests, but what of your intangible
internal fitness?

First, there must be undeviating loyalty. Your country is at war. She has called for your help. She is faced by cruel and cunning foes who seek her destruction. You will
not give less than wholehearted, enthusiastic support to the national effort. While your right to free speech is one of the things for which you fight, your intelligence will
regulate the exercise of that right. You'll listen more and talk less.

You will obey orders, submit to discipline, become a part of a great military organization-how important a part is largely up to you!

Into this new experience you bring yourself-your physical, mental, moral, and spiritual self. You bring also your ideals, principles, aspirations, hopes. You bring all these
into a new and strange environment where there will be terrific impacts. To some the environment will be used as an excuse for weakness, for abandoning their course
of life and yielding to the down-drag of a murky current. Others will see in it a challenge to their strength and will face that challenge as manfully as they will face the foe
on the battlefield, realizing that to yield here is as cowardly and infamous as to be untrue or traitorous when entrusted with a military assignment.

If you would give your best to your country, you must maintain your highest standards and ideals. You will bring out of the struggle a stronger man or a weaker one
according to the fidelity with which you guard the citadel of your inner self.

You find yourself in uniform, one of millions, and may feel that your identity has been lost, that you are just a number, or perhaps a cipher. You will be tempted to
become a fatalist and adopt a "don't care for consequences" attitude. Every day's work will be outlined, every effort regimented. You will listen to shouted commands
and curt orders and will find your freedom restricted as never before. You will be inclined to feel that you are no longer the master of your fate and will wonder if you
are wholly subject to the whims and caprice of chance.

You must resist this inclination to lower your guard. In spite of the complete regimentation of your life and the interruption of your plans by this sudden reversal of
things, you must hold on to the truth that you are still, in large measure, the master of your fate. Keep faith in yourself,in your destiny; keep your hand upon the controls
of your life. You are still in command of your own spirit.

Do not believe that some bomb or shell has your number on it and that it will get you regardless of what you do or refrain from doing, for with this thought too often
goes the query, "What difference does it make what I think or say or do? Why not `eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die'?" You shall not die tomorrow! You
shall live. Most of the men who go to war live to return home. No shell has your number on it. No bullet is marked for you. Most of them are marked: "To whom it may
concern," and most of them are wasted. Live, then, each day as if you were confident of returning to your home and loved ones and let that thought light your pathway
and control (c)
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Having decided to keep control of the course of your life you must make decisions daily. You must choose, elect, decide. Each decision implies a knowledge of values.
Your good sense would not allow you to pay ten thousand dollars for a Model "T" Ford. Your pride will not permit you to be cheated. Before you close any deal, you
Do not believe that some bomb or shell has your number on it and that it will get you regardless of what you do or refrain from doing, for with this thought too often
goes the query, "What difference does it make what I think or say or do? Why not `eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die'?" You shall not die tomorrow! You
shall live. Most of the men who go to war live to return home. No shell has your number on it. No bullet is marked for you. Most of them are marked: "To whom it may
concern," and most of them are wasted. Live, then, each day as if you were confident of returning to your home and loved ones and let that thought light your pathway
and control your conduct.

Having decided to keep control of the course of your life you must make decisions daily. You must choose, elect, decide. Each decision implies a knowledge of values.
Your good sense would not allow you to pay ten thousand dollars for a Model "T" Ford. Your pride will not permit you to be cheated. Before you close any deal, you
will count the cost. If you are sure the thing offered is worth the price, if you are sure you will be satisfied with your bargain next month, next year and always, then take
the offer. But be very sure you are not being deceived by the vendor. The first payment may bear little relation to the final cost. Often men go on paying long after the
item is worn out and useless or has become hateful and abhorrent.

I need not remind you that you must pay for what you get, that you must reap what you sow, that the law of the harvest is inexorable, that the temporary gratification of
an appetite, though it may give momentary satisfaction must not be the criterion of value.

In business we sometimes write off bad deals and forget them, but many of life's bargains are for time and eternity. Many of them must be paid for on the instalment
plan, and as you go on paying through the years you will experience pride and gratitude or sorrow and shame, depending upon the wisdom of your choice.

You will be tempted to regard as old-fashioned and out of focus with modern times some of the rules and regulations of your childhood. You will be told that to
continue to observe the standards of conduct which have guided your life thus far is to admit a lack of maturity, is evidence of childishness. A slight deviation from the
line of conduct which you have believed to be right may be called trivial and of little consequence. Looking back from 1942, we can see that the point of departure
from the highway of conduct marked the beginning of a detour for some which took them far from the goal for which they so courageously set out.

When an air pilot is taught to fly on a beam, he will not be tempted to go it blind by some promise of thrills or new adventure. He knows that there is only one course to
follow if he would be safe. He is an enemy who would seek to divert his course and lure him away from the beam which is his safety. Fly the beam, pilot, for the
headquarters from which it comes will guide you safely to a happy landing.

In this new adventure you will need courage, not only courage to meet the enemy who is visible but also courage to meet and vanquish enemies more subtle and more
persistent, more insidious and more deadly, and of these we warn you. Have courage, then, to make your choice, and then pray for stamina to stand by that choice. He
who loses courage will not long defend the other virtues.

You who started your life structure on the foundation of the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes, may be somewhat bewildered when in this awful business of war
you are taught how to kill. The very cornerstone of your moral structure has been respect for the lives and rights of others, and when you see the word "not" stricken
from the injunction "Thou shall not kill," you may find difficulty in attempting to uphold any of the other moral standards. Remember this: the arch-enemy of life has set
out to destroy the human family, has enlisted human agents to assist in his purpose. That purpose must be resisted. Force must be employed to conquer force. But
through it all you must not forget your obligation to your fellow men, your relationship to them. They are all sons of God. Hate must not get into your heart. You must
not be degraded by the business at hand. You must remember that you are going to return home, become a part of civilized society, build a home, and rear a family.
You must remember that twenty-five years hence you may have sons. Above all else you will, at that time, be grateful to God if they can safely follow in your footsteps.

Yes, young man, you are going off to war, and it is up to you whether you win or lose. Regardless of the outcome between the nations, you yourself have a battle to
fight, and all who know and love you believe you're going to win it. They know you will not let them down. They who connect your name with the name of God each
day have confidence in your quality, in your integrity, in your fidelity, your purity of thought and purpose, your loyalty to your country. They knew you will be true to
yourself and to them with God's help.

Then they will see "by the dawn's early light" that the banners for which they fought are still flying and are worth all it cost to defend them. Together we pray that they
may live to have sons who may be spared the perils of another war.

Millennial Star

Upon Returning to England - 1944

Greetings to the Saints and servicemen in Great Britain. The opportunity and responsibility accompanying this appointment are accepted in humility and gratitude. The
conditions existing and the size of the task is sobering. The unusual field for service makes one anxious to thrust in his sickle however narrow may be his swath. The
parable of the talents is most encouraging, as blessings are measured by the increase upon what was given rather than upon grand totals.

The evidences of faith and fidelity, everywhere apparent, among local members and visiting servicemen, make us proud to submit the Church to the test of "By their
fruits." (Matt. 7:16.) Your hardihood and stamina and undiscouraged pluck spring from a native faith in divine guidance. The illumination of continued revelation has
been as a torch which you have carried with you to light your pathway step by step. How grateful we are that we need not rely only upon God's words to other
generations. They who must so limit their light are often in darkness as is the traveler who comes to the end of the street lamps and must march on beyond the limits of
their glow.

But to carry the torch involves grave responsibility. If the torch bearer falters or fails, others may charge their consequent misfortune to him. By the aid of such light we
should face the future unafraid, though there may be sharp curves, steep hills, and concealed traps. He who is so equipped does not face the alternative of stopping in
the light or going on in darkness. He carries his light with him and therefore can whip the blackout and defeat the enemy who loves and lives in darkness.

As pilgrims and soldiers we must learn the lessons of the march, of the bivouac, of the patrol and of the battlefield, and be on guard against the wiles of the enemy at all
times and in all places. The hardening process of these experiences, where muscles are toughened, minds adjusted to hard facts, and souls strengthened to meet sudden
impacts, can be character building. But if in the process the inner man also becomes hardened, the mind cynical, and the soul flinty, then indeed has the enemy won a
victory, and the victim, so far as he personally is concerned, has lost the war regardless of the outcome of the struggle between the nations.

Ancient and modern revelation combine with recent history to warn us against the sabotage of unseen enemies, against the inevitable disintegration which follows in the
wake of false philosophies and alien ideologies. During and immediately after the war, the enemy of men's souls sows and plants seeds (the Bible tells us he prefers the
night for his dastardly work of planting weeds and tares) which grow and ripen and bear fruit in after years.

General Giraud, in reciting the causes of the downfall of France, told his countrymen that they were reaping the harvest from the planting done when victory was in sight
and during the soft years which followed. He lists egoism, personal interest, hatred, atheism, disobedience, laziness, envy, unchastity, and godlessness as some of the
thistles and tares which choked out the grain, ruined the harvest, and brought spiritual famine to that fair land.
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It is now, while the struggle is still on, that each individual should examine those inner regions of his being where motives are formed, and honestly appraise himself, see
how far he has gone since the war began, from the position he took on vital questions of conduct. When his character, his spirit, his soul are beset on all sides by
disintegrating forces, when there are so many agencies tearing life apart, it is well that each individual do what the ship's captain does during and after a storm at sea,
General Giraud, in reciting the causes of the downfall of France, told his countrymen that they were reaping the harvest from the planting done when victory was in sight
and during the soft years which followed. He lists egoism, personal interest, hatred, atheism, disobedience, laziness, envy, unchastity, and godlessness as some of the
thistles and tares which choked out the grain, ruined the harvest, and brought spiritual famine to that fair land.

It is now, while the struggle is still on, that each individual should examine those inner regions of his being where motives are formed, and honestly appraise himself, see
how far he has gone since the war began, from the position he took on vital questions of conduct. When his character, his spirit, his soul are beset on all sides by
disintegrating forces, when there are so many agencies tearing life apart, it is well that each individual do what the ship's captain does during and after a storm at sea,
examine the points of greatest stress, the weak places, the parts which have been subjected to direct onslaught. He repairs and strengthens and rebuilds and tries to put
his ship in as good condition as when she left the dock. He knows that a slight springing of a joint now may mean the loss of the ship when the next test comes.

We need now, more than at any other time, to enlist those integrating and cohesive forces which hold life together and give it meaning and purpose, power and mastery;
those doctrines and influences which lead to the salvation of the soul. You in the forces have moved out into realms of responsible choice where in a very real sense you
make the blueprints of your future character. Excuses that the strain was unusual, the conditions abnormal, the downdrag terrific will not change the result, except as
mercy may temper justice; but mercy cannot change facts. The law of the harvest is inexorable. "As ye sow so shall ye reap." (See Gal. 6:7.) All blessings are
predicated upon obedience to law, and God is no respecter of persons.

We come into a war zone with direct commission to bear the torch of the gospel of Christ, to bring light into the darkness, and to remind men that God is still on the
side of right and justice. Our predecessors of former years, speaking with the voice of prophecy, warned the nations of the very events which we behold. The
prophecies of those days are the biographies of today. All nations are again warned that sin is a reproach, and only righteousness exalteth a nation. Only individual and
national repentance will save the people and the world. Victory at arms without soul regeneration will but ensure another crop of misery.

All Latter-day Saints should be leaders in international understanding and goodwill because the gospel of Christ knows no national or racial boundaries, and further that
in every nation he that feareth Him is accepted of him. There can be no place in the heart of a Latter-day Saint for a feeling of "holier' than thou," nor can he replace the
doctrine of love which Christ gave with that of hate which is of the devil.

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid" (See Matt. 5:14) said the master to his followers. His words are as applicable today as when
they were spoken and should be heeded by all who would be his followers. The inspiration of your light, the influence of your example, the responsibility which
accompanies your testimony, these are daily challenges which must not be disregarded. Your light should keep you ever on the highroad and be a beacon to all who
come within its glow. No greater opportunity was ever presented to men-tens of thousands of them in the forces-to "let your light shine among men," (See Matt. 5:16)
no greater challenge to Saints in the mission field to "love your neighbour" than is given by the present world upheaval.

Each one where he is may be a force for good, a bit of leaven, a teacher, an inspirer of men, and a dauntless enemy of all unrighteousness. The demands of the times
have sifted us among the nations. History will record the answer to the question, "Was the leaven strong enough to affect the lump?" (See Matt. 13:33.) With the help of
the Lord let us go forward, in humility, but with enthusiasm, and show by our attitude and actions that we believe in Him whom we serve, and that regardless of the
strength of the enemy there is no question in our minds of ultimate victory, because Christ is our Captain, and the legions of heaven are ever on the side of right.

Let us be steadfast in defence and confident in attack. As Latter-day Saints we have the sure and certain knowledge that the power of the Lord Jesus Christ is with us
and for us and that no power in earth can ultimately withstand him. Our duty is plain and clear. If we obey and live the laws and commandments of the Lord our God,
his will be the victory, and his enemies will be routed and destroyed, thus preparing the way for his coming and the establishment of the kingdom of heaven upon the
earth.

This is the cause for which we fight, whether serving in the forces, as missionaries, or whatever our duties as members of the Church.

May we all be entitled to be present when He names his valiant ones, and be numbered among those who "fought a good fight, who kept the faith, and finished the
course." (See 2 Tim. 4:7.)

Millennial Star

* The above by Ian Maclaren is quoted in a little book entitled The Evening Altar by Carl Wallace Petty and published by Cooksbury Press, Nashville.

Section V Days to Remember

The elixir of life is expectancy.

A New Year's Greeting

Another annual eventide, and we sit in retrospect. We remember many things for which we are thankful. We have all had blessings, some of them in spite of, rather than
because of, our actions. We remember, too, some mistakes which we made, remember them only as a warning for the future.

But let us turn our faces toward the dawn of a new year. What may it hold for us? Let us turn from reminiscence unto prophecy; the kind that depends on us to make it
come true. May the year be sweetened by-

Gratitude-Let us be thankful for all blessings which come to us, and show our gratitude by living worthily. Let us be grateful for health, for friends who understand us,
and for the common comforts of life; for our heritage and the great work done by those who went before us. Let us conserve the best they left to us and build on that
best. May our appraisal of their work and sacrifice result in-

Humility-Remembering the lessons which life has taught, let us be ever mindful of our limitations, making sure that our feet are on the ground, though our eyes may be
fixed on the stars; willing to give credit to the Master for any success which may come to us and not esteem ourselves above our brother. With the spirit of "Thy Will"
guiding us, we'll go forward with-

Optimism-We shall be concerned only that our actions warrant His friendship. We'll not mortgage the future and pay interest on troubles which may never come. We'll
pray for keener vision to pierce the clouds and see the sunshine. May we realize that too much sunshine made the desert and not ask for fair weather all the time. This
optimism will give us-

Courage-Remembering how He gave us strength equal to the burdens of the past, we shall not fear the future. We shall continue to believe that back of the design there
is a designer, back of the created, a Creator. We'll trust that Creator, confident that his plan will succeed; we'll be unafraid to travel. Though our torch may "light our
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Sense of Humor-Knowing from experience that human contacts create friction, we'll carry the oil of humor and not allow old friendships to wear out for lack of
optimism will give us-

Courage-Remembering how He gave us strength equal to the burdens of the past, we shall not fear the future. We shall continue to believe that back of the design there
is a designer, back of the created, a Creator. We'll trust that Creator, confident that his plan will succeed; we'll be unafraid to travel. Though our torch may "light our
pathway but one step ahead," we'll take that step and fear not. We'll keep a-

Sense of Humor-Knowing from experience that human contacts create friction, we'll carry the oil of humor and not allow old friendships to wear out for lack of
lubrication. We'll go forward with a smile, believing in a happy and triumphant future. We'll enrich our lives with-

Temperance-Be moderate in all things and refrain from that which is forbidden. Seeking the power to say "Get thee behind me, Satan" (Luke 4:8) we'll gain health,
happiness, and liberty through self-mastery and obedience to the law; never condemning others for their weaknesses while we ourselves are imperfect, nor casting a
stone until we can qualify under His divine rule "he that is without sin." (John 8:7.) So let our temperance be combined with charity for those whose habits have
weakened their will. May our observance of the law never be colored by the dye of "holier than thou." Then our temperance will lead to-

Patience-Remembering that God does not measure time by man's calendar, that he is not in a hurry, we'll abide his time with assurance that eventually right will prevail.
We'll plant acorns of love and watch the slow-growing oaks until time shall prove again that the law of the harvest is inexorable. And to this patient faith we'll add-

Diligence-Faith without work is barren. The only thing He ever cursed was the barren fig tree. This is a challenge to us to be fruitful. No passive virtue ours, but charged
with virility, valor added to our vision! We'll ask for blessings, but will first obey the laws upon which they are predicated. May we know the joy of work, have work to
do and a will to do it. Observing the new commandment we must-

Love-We'll show our love of God by the way we treat our fellow men, not only loving those who return our love, but enlarging the circle to include our enemies.

This new year will find us grateful, humble, hopeful, fearless, happy, temperate, patient, diligent, charitable, and with the love of God and our fellow men we'll have a
more abundant life throughout the year.

To you, our fellow workers, we send greetings, love, and blessings. May you all have health and the kind of prosperity which is real. May He who is responsible for
our being, guide all of us, until one year from now we shall sit again in retrospect, in prospect, in reminiscence, and in prophecy.

Millennial Star

Looking Forward

It is exhilarating and challenging to stand upon an intermediate hilltop as one is climbing toward great peaks beyond. He can look back into the valley from which he
came and forward across canyons through which he must pass to reach his goal. He has learned something from the gains and losses made and suffered. Pleasant
memories recall the beauty spots he passed along the way, and, if he tarries too long, nostalgia tempts him to return to them. The rule of his Alpine Club, however, is,
"Onward and upward until you reach the peak." He reviews with alternate satisfaction and regret the difficult and dangerous cliffs he has scaled and the lost time and
energy involved in getting back on to the trail after making a wrong decision or risking an unnecessary and costly hazard.

Each evening is, in a sense, a pausing place where we can "mark the distance run," and with each dawn comes the challenge of the climb. But more especially at the
dawn of the New Year we find ourselves upon a hilltop where we pause to have a look, to tighten belts and make adjustments and plan the course ahead. What do we
see in retrospect and prospect as we stand at the dawn of a new year? Not one, but years of war lie behind; war with its colossal toll of death, its world-embracing
sorrow, and its irreparable waste. It seems difficult to look ahead when one stands in such a shadow, and yet even these times have their lessons, and it is to some of
these that we would direct attention at the beginning of the year.

First, in reminiscence as well as in prophecy, we find our horizons have been pushed back; we see farther in both directions, and our thinking is on a grander scale. We
have become accustomed to include as part of "me and mine" the millions of our fellow men who now are close companions in this climb toward the mountain peaks of
freedom.

We look back upon an era in which millions of the youth of this generation have been standing at the gates of death. Before they attained their majority, they offered,
and many of them gave, their lives for a cause. Other millions are and will be cut off from many of life's joys through the loss of sight or hearing, of limbs or even sanity.
All this and more has been burned into our consciousness until, unless we stop to search among the ruins for some remaining values, we'd count the journey as a
colossal loss with nothing on the credit side.

But there are values to be found as we uncover seeming paradoxes in our search. We note, for instance, that amidst the whirlpools and the down-drag of the epoch,
many have risen to the sublimity of vicarious sacrifice and in this mass undertaking have demonstrated the truth of the Master's statement that we really find life only
when we are willing to lose it. Many who left humdrum occupations with their ego at freezing point, have been transformed by the fire of zeal, urge of loyalty, and the lift
of vision, into beings of such heroic stature that they and all who know them stand amazed. They have found latent in themselves a joy in service more satisfying than
any self-seeking undertaking in their pre-war lives. A great resilience is evoked by the very dangers which they face. And these are not isolated cases, but in varying
degree may be counted by the hundred thousands. Men and women, both on the battle-field and in the factories, on the sea and in the air, have been heroic far beyond
anything imagined. That exhilaration and hope replace fear and frustration when one is motivated by love for others, is a fact which many have discovered for the first
time even though the precept has been mouthed for two thousand years.

Figuratively, we seem to have drilled into a vast pool of heroism and have been amazed to strike so rich a flow among the common men and women. The important
thing is the discovery that these qualities of greatness were there among the ordinary folk with whom we lived and worked in office, farm, and factory. That it needed
only to be realized seems evident to us now, but the terrific cost of that release is a reflection upon sanity, especially when it is remembered that One who knew from
personal experience had told us not only of the presence of the riches but also how they could be obtained.

Having seen what human beings are capable of under stress, when life is compressed into a fraction of its normal space, when young men live a decade in an hour,
having witnessed the release of much of the finest as well as some of the worst in human nature, let us undertake in the years ahead to find less drastic and more natural
ways of developing these resources and of controlling those other forces which break forth periodically into volcanic eruptions.

These vast undeveloped resources of human greatness are available to us in times of peace. The war had no more to do with their creation than the winepress has in
making grapes. War is the antithesis of the Creator's plan for discovering and utilizing human personality. These tragic experiences should teach us what the prophets
long have known: that in religion we find the greatest intrinsic force for the motivation of human conduct.

One important objective, then, as we face the morrow of the New Year is the recovery of a faith on which we can rely as we undertake the climb ahead. Faith in
ourselves
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which we and our allies strive to serve. But we must have such faith in ourselves and in our destiny that we shall become conscious of an obligation which goes deeper
than the obligation we owe to collective relations in which modern community life involves us. It is an obligation to that inner self in each of us which we must never yield
to anyone's keeping if we would be true to the individual human dignity which we have come to recognize as the most valued treasure in our keeping. To rejoice in
long have known: that in religion we find the greatest intrinsic force for the motivation of human conduct.

One important objective, then, as we face the morrow of the New Year is the recovery of a faith on which we can rely as we undertake the climb ahead. Faith in
ourselves and in our fellow men as being, in very deed, the off spring of Deity. Let us try to maintain and improve the quality of our loyalty to our country and the causes
which we and our allies strive to serve. But we must have such faith in ourselves and in our destiny that we shall become conscious of an obligation which goes deeper
than the obligation we owe to collective relations in which modern community life involves us. It is an obligation to that inner self in each of us which we must never yield
to anyone's keeping if we would be true to the individual human dignity which we have come to recognize as the most valued treasure in our keeping. To rejoice in
victory will not be enough unless in our inner selves we feel that the victory is for a cause which we can approve and to which we can dedicate our lives. The moral
responsibility of personal decision is ours alone.

We who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ are favored in having an inspired leadership. The Church is not confined to nationalisms or political opinions, but,
because of its prophetic power transcends them as it points the way ahead, provides the kind of leadership which down through the ages has saved the people when
they were willing to listen and to follow. With courage unabated and with renewed faith in God we face the future. The past has revealed unbeatable qualities in the
human spirit and has, we hope, renewed our faith in Him who is still overruling in the affairs of men and nations.

Millennial Star

A Day of Inventory

On this New Year's day, let us, each for himself, take inventory, add up the debit and credit columns of our lives, and carry the balance forward with resolution. Let us
be grateful for the lessons of the past but spend no time in useless regret. Let neither memory of the past nor anticipation of the uncertain future deprive us of full
enjoyment of the present.

A valuable lesson may be learned as one sits before the fireplace. It is a lesson on the need and value of cooperative effort and mutual helpfulness. Each lump of coal,
aflame and aglow with warmth and light, adds its bit to the service of warming the household, while each in turn is warmed into action and kept burning by the
combined heat of all.

If one lump of burning coal, though it be the brightest, should be separated from the others and isolated on the hearth, it would immediately begin to cool and dim, to
smoke instead of flame, its light would give way to darkness. A single piece of coal, left to itself, could not long continue to radiate either heat or light or indeed retain
enough of either to realize its destiny. But if we can assist it back into the grate, encourage it to participate again in the common effort, it may soon regain its former
usefulness here.

So it is with members of the Church. If, for any reason, one withdraws from active participation, neglects to attend Sacrament, quorum, or auxiliary meetings, shuns the
group, and attempts to live by himself alone, he will soon become lukewarm and lose the faith. Jesus constantly emphasized the fact that his gospel is one of co-
operative action.

This meditation on the tragedy of lost opportunity reminds us of the Master's summary of his parable of the Sower. It is found in Matthew: "Hear ye therefore the
parable of the sower.

"When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.

"This is he which received seed by the way side.

"But he that receiveth the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

"Yet he hath not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

"He also that receiveth seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh
unfruitful.

"But he that receiveth seed into good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some
thirty." (Matt. 13:18-23.)

This reading takes our minds away from the fireside for the moment, and we find our lives being likened unto soil in which seeds are planted. He judged the quality of
the soil by the crops it produced. We may ask: "What will the harvest be at the end of a life of inactivity?" Each should ask himself: "What am I doing with the soil in
which the gospel seed has been planted?"

Just as the garden needs fertilizing, cultivating, weeding-constant care and eternal vigilance-so our lives, if they are to be productive of good, must be constantly
renewed by increasing knowledge, cultivated by activity, and weeded by repentance and good works. The rankest weeds in the garden may be found in the most fertile
soil unless desirable crops are planted, watered, nurtured until the harvest. The prairie farmers in Canada have learned that it is better to leave the native sod
unploughed unless one is willing to follow through with continued cultivation and constant war on weeds.

One of the errors of sectarianism, with which the restored gospel is in direct opposition, is the doctrine that a man may be saved by a single act or declaration of
allegiance. Sometimes even Latter-day Saints seem to think that, having been baptized and confirmed members of the Church, they are assured of salvation without
further effort.

We need to remind ourselves as we contemplate the future that salvation is an on-going process, not a goal; that eternal life as He taught it is qualitative-becoming more
Godlike-not merely continuing to exist; that faith and repentance are as necessary after baptism as before. "Be ye therefore perfect" (Matt. 5:48) was his challenge, and
he was neither asking the impossible nor taunting human nature. This was a call to continued activity. He who hopes for eternal progression must pay the price of eternal
effort. There is no such thing as "inactive faith" if it is not active it is mere belief; action distinguishes faith from belief, hence we must show our faith by our works.

Hear again the words of the Savior as recorded in John: "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it,
that it may bring forth more fruit.

"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself," (like our coal, fallen out of the fire) "except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in
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"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself," (like our coal, fallen out of the fire) "except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in
me:

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

"If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." (John 15:2-6.)

Returning then to our fireside and our meditation, let us examine the fruit of our church life in 1948 and begin now to prepare for the crop of 1949. Religion once a
week-one hour a week as some folk take it-will have a difficult time surviving six days of weed growth between the rows of Sundays. The Master requires "patient
continuance in well doing" of all who seek for glory and honor and immortality. Let us resolve to abide in him through 1949 and pray that he may abide in us that we be
not withered, separated, and cast into the fire.

Whether it be an appraisal of the past or a resolution for the future there is no better way to serve God than to serve our fellow men. In fact the Savior has specifically
made such service the criterion of worthiness to enter the kingdom. They who serve their fellow men are classified as the sheep on the right hand, while they who failed
to serve their fellow men-and thereby failed Him-are the goats on the left.

This message, recorded in Matthew chapter 25, should be encouraging to the missionaries in the field who are spending their time in serving their fellow men. But there
is opportunity for all to serve without special appointment or ordination. "Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God. . . .

"Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is
rich.

"If thou wilt do good, yea, and hold out faithful to the end, thou shalt be saved in the kingdom of God; for there is no greater gift than the gift of salvation." (D&C 6:4, 7,
13.)

There are many among us, wherever we may live, who are spiritually humble, thirsty, sick, and in prison. All who minister unto them are in the service of the Master and
will eventually hear him say: "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you. . . ." (Matt. 25:34.)

This call to service is to all who have a testimony of the truth: the returned missionaries, the Saints who have emigrated, the members who were born in the Church, and
the new converts, who still live among former friends and associates. The torch of truth is given, not only to light the pathway of the bearer, but also-and especially-to
light other torches and help dispel the darkness. Light, like love, is multiplied when divided.

The gospel promises no crown without a cross, no triumph without a battle. Its light will show us through, not around, our troubles. "The flame shall not hurt thee, I only
design, thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine." He taught one of his most magnificent lessons when he showed us how to carry a cross.

Let each of us then at this season of retrospection and resolution express in words and deeds the gratitude we feel for the priceless privilege of membership in his
Church. Let us bring our actions up to the level of our beliefs and preach the gospel by living it. Let us resolve that "virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly" that we may
be entitled to the promise He made: ". . .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 dominion shall be an everlasting dominion,
and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever." (D&C 121:45-46.)

The Greatest Victory

There is one day or more in almost every nation that is set apart for the observance of the anniversary of some great event-an occasion for national pride, a day of
remembrance, of thanksgiving, of celebration. It may be the birthday of a nation, or of a patriot, the anniversary of a great victory or triumph of a great cause. It is fitting
and proper that we should have such days, "lest we forget."

There are some days which have almost world-wide observance and are significant in every country. There are times of merrymaking, celebrated with parades, public
gatherings, games, and contests, oratory, feasts, and fireworks.

But at this season of the year, the whole Christian world unites in the quiet observance of the anniversary of the most significant, the most far-reaching, the most
important fact in history. Easter is the anniversary of the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them
that slept.

"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Cor. 15:20-22.)

The interest in this event is more universal than in any other: first, because it affects every soul, living and dead; and secondly, because it secures the priceless gift for
which men yearn instinctively-life everlasting. Each year multitudes come to appreciate anew its import. Each stands sorrowing by the bier of a dear one, hopeless
except for the glorious promise contained in the words spoken on Easter morn-"He is risen!"

The first Easter was the springtime of all history. It was a prophecy of new life, new hope, eternal growth, and immortality.

The world needs reminding of this great event. In the midst of error and superstition; with international hatred, fear, and misunderstanding in the land; with nations
arming themselves and preparing for war: with death and destruction lurking in the shadows; we need the hopeful message of Eastertime. We need to be reminded
again of his heartbroken appeal to the people of his day: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy children together,. . .and ye would not." (Matt.
23:37.) So today he calls to the world, beckoning to the heights where hate is dethroned, where life defeats death, and love rules supreme. His plan, his system, his
gospel, is the answer to the problem of how to save the world.

With Christians everywhere, we bow this day in humble gratitude for the priceless gift of God to men. The gift of eternal life is vouchsafed to us through his sacrifice and
guaranteed to all by the only One who could pay the price.
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Salvation is assured to all; the degree of salvation depends upon individual effort and conformity to law. "There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial; but the
glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one
star differeth from another glory of the moon, and another glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. . . ." (See D&C 76.)
gospel, is the answer to the problem of how to save the world.

With Christians everywhere, we bow this day in humble gratitude for the priceless gift of God to men. The gift of eternal life is vouchsafed to us through his sacrifice and
guaranteed to all by the only One who could pay the price.

Salvation is assured to all; the degree of salvation depends upon individual effort and conformity to law. "There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial; but the
glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one
star differeth from another glory of the moon, and another glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. . . ." (See D&C 76.)

He came forth from the tomb and broke the bands of death, so that all men might be resurrected and be "judged out of those things which were written in the books
according to their works. . . ." (D&C 128:7.) Easter will only be fully effective to the individual when he realizes that mere resurrection is not enough. In the eternities
that are to follow, his status will be determined by the course he pursues in earth life, where he has his agency to choose obedience unto righteousness or sin unto death.

Easter, then, is a promise and a challenge. "And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper
order, everything to its natural frame-mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption-raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one
on one hand, the other on the other." (Alma 41:4.)

In spite of the unpromising outlook of the world today, the efforts of the enemies of righteousness, and the machinations of wicked men and devils, Easter morn
proclaims its joyful promise to all who tabernacle in the flesh and gives assurance of the final triumph of right. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all
men most miserable." (1 Cor. 15:19.) Easter gives hope and assurance beyond this life. "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall
have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." (1 Cor. 15:54.)

And so, we celebrate victory. It is a permanent victory, the greatest victory of all time, the victory over death. For this occasion we have no bands or banners; no
banquets or displays. But rather in humility we are impelled to bend the knee and bow the head and in gratitude for the greatest gift of God to men, we join in singing,
"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Cor. 15:55.)

Millennial Star

History's Most Eventful Week

This is the beginning of the week before Easter, commonly known as Holy Week. The story of that eventful and final week of Christ's earth life occupies more than one
third of the entire gospel narrative. The Sunday before Easter is annually celebrated by many Christians as Palm Sunday in commemoration of our Lord's triumphal
entry into Jerusalem.

This memorable procession resembled in some respects the triumphal march of a monarch into a conquered city. The people, mostly Galileans, carpeted the way
before him with their cloaks and other raiment. They waved fronds from the palm trees which, among the Hebrews and the Greeks, were symbols of victory and
rejoicing. They covered the mountain road with palm and myrtle branches and clusters of olives as the King of Kings entered the holy city riding on a donkey.

After spending a night in the home of Simon, he instructed two of his disciples: "Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an
ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. . . .

"And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

"And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon." (Matt. 21:2,6-7 According to John the disciples did not realize at the time
that this incident was in fulfilment of prophecy. Zechariah had foreseen the day and with prophetic accuracy had written: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. . .thy
King cometh unto thee:. . .lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." (Zech. 9:9.)

While descending from the Mount of Olives Jesus had a magnificent view of the city. He was stirred, no doubt, by nostalgic boyhood memories of this city and of the
temple in which he as a youth had astonished the doctors with his understanding answers. But a vision of the future dispelled the vivid and joyous memory of the past,
for he beheld the dark and melancholy fate of his beloved Jerusalem and of his Father's house. "For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench
about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side.

"And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy
visitation." (Luke 19:43-44.) Forty years later the armies of Titus unwittingly made sure that every word of his prophecy was fulfilled as they, in search for treasure,
leveled the temple stone by stone.

As they descended toward the city, the crowd which accompanied him was swept by the rapture of what seemed to be his hour of triumph. Bursting with hope and
adoration they shouted hosannas to the Son of David. His disciples, who had been warned that this was to be the beginning of the end, were, for the moment, carried
by the tide of enthusiasm.

Jesus did not join in this jubilation, for he knew the week would end in the tragedy of crucifixion; but he kept these thoughts of death in his own heart.

Agents of the scribes and Pharisees who were lurking in the crowd were disturbed and scandalized as the jubilant multitude shouted in harmony: "Blessed be the King
that cometh in the name of the Lord,. . .glory in the highest." (Luke 19:38.) To their learned ears and suspicious hearts such words of adulation to an impostor were
bordering on blasphemy, and they admonished Jesus to rebuke his disciples, but instead he justified their enthusiasm by saying: "I tell you that, if these should hold their
peace, the stones would immediately cry out." (Luke 19:40.) This was an assertion of his right to be called the Christ. All who read the story must be moved by the
matchless, majestic courage of the man. He could have turned back to the home of Lazarus and Mary and Martha, his usual abiding place in Bethany. But he voluntarily
chose to do his Father's will to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

After his descent from the mountain road he scourged the money changers from the temple, for they had turned his Father's house into a den of thieves. Jesus knew that
this violent action would antagonize the powerful priests of Jerusalem and further alienate the large commercial middle class whose God was mammon; but he was not
deterred by fear of consequences.

And so began the most eventful week in history. Through the restoration of the gospel the significance of Holy Week, the cruel crucifixion, his glorious resurrection,
ascension, and promise of return are all attested by his own reaffirmation. He said to a multitude on the American continent: "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the
prophets testified shall come into the world.

"And  behold,
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me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning." (3 Ne. 11:10-11.) We humbly testify that he is the Christ,
the Son of the Living God; that he was in fact resurrected from the dead, ascended into heaven, and that he will return even as he promised. May we gratefully
remember the events of Holy Week and be ever grateful for his sacrifice in our behalf.
And so began the most eventful week in history. Through the restoration of the gospel the significance of Holy Week, the cruel crucifixion, his glorious resurrection,
ascension, and promise of return are all attested by his own reaffirmation. He said to a multitude on the American continent: "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the
prophets testified shall come into the world.

"And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon
me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning." (3 Ne. 11:10-11.) We humbly testify that he is the Christ,
the Son of the Living God; that he was in fact resurrected from the dead, ascended into heaven, and that he will return even as he promised. May we gratefully
remember the events of Holy Week and be ever grateful for his sacrifice in our behalf.

Radio Address

Motherhood

In this age of selfishness and greed, of birth control and barrenness, of easy divorce and broken homes and juvenile delinquency; in this age of cheap amusement,
idleness, and lack of discipline, it is well to search for basic values, to call attention to the fact that the home is the nation's most fundamental institution and that mothers
are the first professors in that character-building school.

Let us hold the ideals of motherhood before the young women of the land. Teach them that womanhood is glorified by motherhood and place new emphasis upon the
spiritual factors which make not so much for extension as for depth.

In a world where moral growth is lagging in the race with desire for gain in this vaunted scientific age, we still must have consecrated motherhood, spiritual quality,
idealism, religious faith, both cleansing and ennobling, else the culture of which we boast may prove to be our own undoing.

"We need the touch of the hand that rocks the cradle to steady and guide a rocking world."

We join today in paying tribute to mothers and motherhood. The season seems most appropriate - springtime-new birth-love and sunshine-Easter time when our hearts
are tender from reminders of the greatest love of all. On Mother's Day we think of the springtime of our lives when, following the winter of their travail, we budded into
being.

Wherever human beings live, whether in palace or in cottage, there is universal homage paid to mother. Around her and her memory there is woven the tenderest and
most beautiful, the sweetest and most wistful, the finest and most enduring fabric of human relationship.

On this day we say with flowers, with poetry, with oratory, and with song, that we will not forget their self-effacing love.

They whose mothers are still living should be reminded of their blessed privilege to let them know they are remembered, for mothers, too, must be told that they are
loved and not left always to assume it.

They who can no longer speak or write to mother, can best show the genuineness of their appreciation by living lives of nobility and of dignity, for, "They truly mourn
the dead who live as they desire."

From early childhood, when their tender touch dispelled the fear of darkness or healed a tiny wound, even unto maturity and old age, when their counsel seemed the
very fountain of wisdom, mothers have been the central figures in the home and hence the most potent factors in the nation's moral life.

Mothers alone have the art of making the truths they teach and the lives they live all one pattern. They live the sermons which we try to preach. They are just but always
merciful, their love is never feigned; they are purity personified and are never too busy to be kind. What a mighty force for good is the army of mothers in nations where
individual character is still the state's best guarantee.

When sorrow, disillusionment, defeat, beset our path, we go to them for comfort, faith, and courage. Even when we must pay the price of folly or of sin, they never lose
their confidence. Their trust inspires another effort; their faith in us makes our repentance real.

A mother's love may be observed from both sides of the valley of life. It was there before we breathed and will endure beyond the grave. Neither birth nor death can
break the cord which binds our lives to theirs. When they precede us through the veil their love becomes an advocate with God. Their memory whispers, "Follow me."
They go to prepare a place for us. May they labor not in vain. The best evidence of our love will be our fitness to abide with them.

Millennial Star

Mother - Guardian of the Citadel

Mother's Day: How appropriate it is that we should have at least one day in the year in which to pay special homage to our mothers. They do not need our encomiums
nor can our words add anything to their lustre. God himself has honored them by making them partners with him in his great work of bringing to pass the immortality
and eternal life of man. His plan for the salvation and exaltation of his children involved an earth life where, in mortal tabernacles, they could qualify for the endless
progress for which that plan provides. Mothers were indispensable to that plan, and here, as always, "Whom God calls he equips."

If we should attempt to list the virtues of a real mother, we could exhaust the vocabulary of any language and still not do her justice unless we use the word by which
the Apostle John defined God when he said, "God is love." In cottage or in palace, when women respond to its sacred call, Motherhood is synonymous with love. It
was with this supreme endowment that he equipped our mothers for their work.

The love which inspires and sustains our mothers was properly esteemed by the Apostle Paul as greater than faith and hope. The gift of tongues and prophecy, the
understanding of mysteries, the gaining of knowledge, and even the faith which can remove mountains are as nothing without this part of himself with which the God of
love has endowed our mothers.

Others may bestow their goods to feed the poor and even give their bodies to be burned and have little credit for their sacrifice. Men have been made rulers of nations
and of empires, have led armies into victorious battle, made laws, administered justice, written books, discovered the secrets of the universe hidden behind the distant
planets, and released the energy of the atom in their laboratories. But mothers exert an influence in the world which is felt wherever human life exists, and it will endure
throughout eternity. They are co-authors of the great men to whose memory we build monuments; but, vaunting not themselves and seeking not their own, they are
content to labor in the shadow, envying not, suffering long, rejoicing in the truth, and bearing all things, they achieve a radiant majesty which is peculiarly their own.

"Motherhood"
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he bowed through that gate and called a mortal woman, "Mother." And again when he beheld their handiwork in the forms of little children, he likened it to the kingdom
of heaven and thereby implied a partnership with God.
planets, and released the energy of the atom in their laboratories. But mothers exert an influence in the world which is felt wherever human life exists, and it will endure
throughout eternity. They are co-authors of the great men to whose memory we build monuments; but, vaunting not themselves and seeking not their own, they are
content to labor in the shadow, envying not, suffering long, rejoicing in the truth, and bearing all things, they achieve a radiant majesty which is peculiarly their own.

"Motherhood" is the inscription on the gate through which the spirits pass to enter the realm of mortal men. The Son of God hallowed and glorified that inscription when
he bowed through that gate and called a mortal woman, "Mother." And again when he beheld their handiwork in the forms of little children, he likened it to the kingdom
of heaven and thereby implied a partnership with God.

Some nations have recently made the experiment of taking children from the homes and assigning to the state the job which God assigned to mothers and leaving them
the mere mechanics of their birth. The awful consequence of this impious innovation may be seen in occupied countries. The whole world has had to pay for man's
assault upon the citadel of the home, while because of war millions of women must be deprived of the blessed privilege of motherhood and endure the stigma of
barrenness for which they are not to blame.

The declining birth rate in many of the nations of the world is a sad and ominous portent. In some cases the economic upheaval is blamed for this condition, but in many
cities it is evident that selfishness is depriving the world of thousands of children while many women sacrifice eternal joy on the altar of satisfaction and easy comforts.

The Church teaches that marriage was ordained of God and that children are "an heritage of the Lord." It teaches that the place of woman in the home is an honored
and a hallowed place and deplores the attitude of some men which indicates that women should be servants. Even men who hold the Holy Priesthood sometimes get a
wrong impression of the relationship of husband and wife, father and mother. No man can fully honor his priesthood if he does not honor his wife, for their union, if
properly solemnized, makes her a partaker of its blessings with him, and entitles her to stand by his side.

The highest blessings of the celestial kingdom are reserved for those who honor motherhood-parenthood-who are willing to pay the price in service and sacrifice. That
". . .man is not without the woman in the Lord" (1 Cor. 11:8) has long been a Christian doctrine, but its full import was not recognized until it was amplified by modern
revelation. The concept of celestial marriage, marriage for time and all eternity, exalts motherhood to an eternal throne and reveals how atrocious and degraded they
must be who violate its sanctity.

When in one of our hymns, we ask the question, "In the heavens are parents single?" we intimate a new concept of motherhood and a new relationship to God. We
were not "made by him" in the sense that the earth, the stars, etc., are the workmanship of his hands. He is our father and we were begotten by him. But Fatherhood
denotes motherhood, and when we get a glimpse of that relationship in the heavens, we can begin to understand what is meant by eternal increase. If God is eternal,
and God is love, then love is eternal. Next to the greatest love we know is mother love, and that, too, is eternal.

On this Mother's Day, let us remember them with a greater understanding of their role in life. Let us honor mothers by being the kind of sons and daughters that they
visualized when they held us in their arms. Let us show our gratitude by taking their work back to them "added upon," and let us add to their joy by being willing to pay
the price of honored parenthood ourselves.

Through the Prophet Joseph Smith the Lord revealed the true status of women in the world. He was among the first to advocate their franchise and the first to authorize
them to preside in meetings of their own. While the power of the priesthood is exercised by men, they may have its highest blessings only when their wives are at their
sides. There will be no celibacy in the highest kingdom of the Lord, and they who deliberately avoid the duties of parenthood may never know the joy of presiding over
kingdoms of their own.

May we enjoin all on Mother's Day to honor the mothers of the church, of the nation, and of the world. We salute them with the words the angel spoke to Mary, "Hail,
thou that are highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou. . . ." (Luke 1:28.)

Millennial Star

The Living Christ

"And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven . . . and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." (Matt.
24:30.)

Before another Sabbath, we shall have celebrated again the birth of the Messiah. As we worship together, let us contemplate a deeper significance of the life, the death,
the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

Christmas is not primarily the celebration of a past event. Its observance is, in a deeper sense, a continual heralding of the triumphal re-appearance of the Lord. We
celebrate not only the birth of the child, Jesus, but in anticipation, the coming of Christ, the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace, the Son of God.

The amazing vitality of the hope that a Messiah was to come is difficult to explain. It persisted through the Old Testament history where the people of Israel, in spite of
an overwhelming tide of calamities, maintained the confident assurance that a king and deliverer of the line of David would be sent of God.

The signs that should precede his coming were held up before the people like a banner to keep their hope alive. Let us refer to a few predictions.

Isaiah said Jesus should set up an ensign for the nations and assemble the outcasts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the
earth.

In Psalms we read that fire should devour before him, while Joel saw as signs of his coming that the moon should be darkened, that the stars withdraw their shining. To
Zechariah it was revealed that his feet should stand upon the Mount of Olives which should cleave in the midst thereof to the East and West, and Malachi predicted that
he would suddenly come to his temple and that he should be like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap. Job saw our day when he said, "I know that my redeemer liveth,
and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." (Job 19:25.)

As Christians we believe that all of these predictions, and others recorded in scripture, refer to Jesus of Nazareth, but his mission is not yet complete. He will come
again and fulfil the hope of all who believe in him. While these prophecies were made prior to his coming, certainly the events to which we have referred did not
precede his birth, nor were these predictions fulfilled during his lifetime.

When thinking Christians speak of him as the Messiah, the Redeemer, they use the past, the present, and the future tense. They believe he was and is and is to be the
Savior of the world.

Through the centuries since his birth, men have been trying to appraise him. Their estimates of him have ranged from blasphemous denunciation to self-sacrificing
worship. Some
 Copyright      say there never
            (c) 2005-2009,      was such
                            Infobase      a man,
                                        Media    that he was a myth. Others refer to him as an opportunist, sentimentalist, a social revolutionist. To others
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of genius, a wise man, a doer of wonderful works, a great teacher. And so men have tried to classify him among other men, but to those who were closest to him, the
men who followed him onto the Mount of Transfiguration, he was "the Christ, the Son of the Living God." (Matt. 16:16.) In the Gospel of John he is referred to as the
Word who was with God in the beginning, who was God, by whom all things were made, the life and light of man: who was made flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1-
Savior of the world.

Through the centuries since his birth, men have been trying to appraise him. Their estimates of him have ranged from blasphemous denunciation to self-sacrificing
worship. Some say there never was such a man, that he was a myth. Others refer to him as an opportunist, sentimentalist, a social revolutionist. To others he was a man
of genius, a wise man, a doer of wonderful works, a great teacher. And so men have tried to classify him among other men, but to those who were closest to him, the
men who followed him onto the Mount of Transfiguration, he was "the Christ, the Son of the Living God." (Matt. 16:16.) In the Gospel of John he is referred to as the
Word who was with God in the beginning, who was God, by whom all things were made, the life and light of man: who was made flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1-
3, 14.)

In referring to Jesus of Nazareth, the Apostle Paul wrote in the first chapter of his epistle to the Hebrews, "God. . .hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,
whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. . . ." (Heb. 1:1-2.)

". . .unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom." (Heb. 1:8.) His apostles recognized him
as the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world, and he had taught them to look forward to his second coming. In the 16th chapter of Matthew he said to them, "For the
Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." (Matt. 16:27.) And again in Matthew, we
read: "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

"And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

"And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left." (Matt. 25:31-33.)

In his talk to his disciples, as recorded in the 21st chapter of Luke, he seemed to describe the times in which we live: "Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

"And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. . . .

"And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. . . .

"And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." (Luke 21: 10-11, 16, 27.)

The apostles seemed to be looking for the literal coming of his kingdom on the earth while he was with them. They inquired of him regarding the restoration of his
kingdom and asked,

". . .Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

"And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. . . .

"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

"And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

"Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye
have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:6-7, 9-11.)

Christmas reminds the thoughtful Christian of the Babe of Bethlehem, of the Man of Galilee, of the Savior on the cross, but it should also renew in our minds and hearts
the assurance that he still lives. What a beneficent influence this one life has had upon the collective life of mankind. Because he lived and still lives there will always be
reverence for human personality. Knowing him makes for self-respect, for fearlessness, for education, for intellectual confidence and courage; men are concerned for
the poor and the sick and the unfortunate. Because he lives and still lives, men refuse to believe that the lights have gone out in the world of human happiness. Many of
us in 1939 felt that the lights were going out all over Europe, and some wondered if they would ever be rekindled. In the cities of Europe during the war the lights did
go out, the blackout seemed complete, but it was never wholly so, for behind the blinds the lamps still burned, kept aflame by the stubborn faith of those inside. Just so
today, while some would enslave the bodies and minds of men, and effect a blackout of truth, justice, and freedom, still the light of faith burns in the hearts of men who
look forward to the promised coming of the Prince of Peace.

Perhaps since the time when he was a Babe in Bethlehem, his power and leadership have never been challenged with such audacity and presumption as they are today.
And perhaps never in the history of the world have men felt the need of faith in his divine leadership as we feel it now. Our faith is supported and justified by the
prophetic words of John on the Isle of Patmos. Looking into the future, he saw the great events of the times in which we live, and describing one of them he said: "And
I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred and tongue,
and people." (Rev. 14:6.) Remember what the Savior said in answer to the question of his disciples about his second coming: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be
preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come." (Matt. 24:14.) The preaching of the gospel in all the world is one of the signs of his
coming, and it goes on with accelerating speed.

It was revealed to the Apostle Paul that before the second coming of Christ, a man of sin, the son of perdition should arise, one who "Opposeth and exalteth himself
above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thes. 2:3-4.) We make no
statement as to who this man of sin might be, but certainly there are men and nations who are attempting to displace God, to ban religion, and to set up a Godless state.
The present war of ideologies, which is a battle between Christ and anti-Christ, is a fulfilment of prophecy and a precursor of his coming.

But there are also signs of the times which should be noted in our own land and in other Christian nations. The Savior said, "As the days of Noe were, so shall the
coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. . .so shall also the coming of
the Son of man be." (Matt. 24:37-39.)

While we are grateful for our material prosperity, for the freedom we enjoy, and for the blessings of modern science, we are saddened by the daily reports of crime and
juvenile delinquency, by the increase of divorce with its sorrow and heartbreak. We and Christians everywhere should be reminded at this Christmas time that the
blessings of the millennium can come only when the conditions have been fulfilled. Our lives should support our testimony that we believe in him. The best way to show
that we recognize and value his leadership is to follow it. Surely the world is far from being redeemed. His work is not complete nor will it be until his gospel is written in
the lives and hearts of men. Christmas reaffirms the fact of his birth. His resurrection proves that he is immortal. Prophecy, including his own promise, assures us that he
will come again to rule and reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Reading the prophecies of scripture and nothing the signs of our own times, we are persuaded
that we are living in the last days, that the great events foretold by the prophets have been and are being enacted on the stage of contemporary history.
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The Church which I have the honor to represent today, gratefully, solemnly declares that the promised angel has flown in the midst of heaven, that while the man of sin,
that we recognize and value his leadership is to follow it. Surely the world is far from being redeemed. His work is not complete nor will it be until his gospel is written in
the lives and hearts of men. Christmas reaffirms the fact of his birth. His resurrection proves that he is immortal. Prophecy, including his own promise, assures us that he
will come again to rule and reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Reading the prophecies of scripture and nothing the signs of our own times, we are persuaded
that we are living in the last days, that the great events foretold by the prophets have been and are being enacted on the stage of contemporary history.

The Church which I have the honor to represent today, gratefully, solemnly declares that the promised angel has flown in the midst of heaven, that while the man of sin,
the son of perdition, is opposing all that is called God or that is worshiped, the Prince of Peace and other heavenly messengers have appeared on the earth preparatory
to his glorious second coming, and he is at work on his avowed purpose to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. We testify that in fulfilment of the
prophecy of Daniel, the God of heaven has set up his kingdom on the earth, and of that kingdom, Christ is king. This, if it be true, is the most joyous Christmas message
which can be broadcast to the world. That it is true we humbly bear testimony in his name.

"Church of the Air" Radio Address

The Star of Bethlehem

The Star of Bethlehem still shines upon the world. Its beacon light penetrates even the thick darkness of these awful years. He whose birth is heralded became the
Prince of Peace and is still the most potent factor in world affairs. His arch enemy had hoped to make the night of war so long and black that they who had believed in
the Master's promise of final victory would lose faith and perish before dawn.

There is new hope in the world each Christmastide, a buoyant and dynamic hope. The new pattern of world affairs which has emerged, has steeled the courage of
millions and caused prayers of gratitude to ascend from every tongue under heaven. There is increasing evidence of a Master design behind the puny plans of our great
men.

While the Prince of Darkness almost achieved his boasted victory, there were some brave souls who had not forgotten the majestic assurance of the Master as he was
about to leave his small but loyal band of followers. He said: ". . .All power is given unto me, both in heaven and in earth." (Matt. 28:18.) This declaration was made at
the beginning of the awful night of darkness which followed his departure, and was given to fortify the disciples' faith and steel their courage for the conflict.

The triumphant resurrection of the Lord was a beacon to which they could look, and by which they could chart their course through the storms and nights which were
to follow. He wished them to know that though at times the rough seas and thick fog might obscure that light, there would never be a time when it was not shining.
Amidst all the storms of centuries and the recurring sieges of satanic hordes, this light has remained secure on the immovable rock of eternal truth.

Through the centuries which followed his departure, the people of the world lost their way, not because that light had ceased to shine but because of sin and
transgression, and of false prophets and teachers who led them astray. There was indeed an apostasy from the truths Jesus taught. Apostasy from the Church was
followed by apostasy of the Church. Millions thought they were following him when, in fact, they were following only leaders who had usurped authority and presumed
to speak in his name. There was meticulous observance of forms and ceremonies which were never instituted or approved by Him. They had his name on their lips, but
their hearts were far from him. They wandered to and fro in the earth, seeking the truth but not finding it. They were lost in the night whose darkness covered the earth
as the waters cover the deep; they could not see the eternal beacon light because they had gone beyond the horizon where the prince of darkness reigned supreme.

In anticipation of the times through which we now are passing, the gospel was restored. Jesus came personally and afterwards sent heavenly messengers to announce
the dawn. He directed those who had the authority at the time. He left them to ordain men so that, in his final struggle with the adversary, there would be leaders
endowed with power from on high, by which they could match and overcome the agents of the adversary.

The prophecies, declarations, and announcements of the Prophet Joseph Smith as recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants are recognized in the light of history as
inspired. The Lord said through the Prophet on many occasions: "A great and marvelous work is about to come forth unto the children of men." (D&C 4:1; 6:1; 11:1;
12:1; 14:1.) Something of the grandeur of this work is glimpsed as one reviews the accomplishments of the century which followed this declaration. It was the most
wonderful century of which we have record: the most prolific in new discoveries, the most generous in revealing Nature's secrets and her wealth. It was the era in which
men learned to co-operate with nature and to utilize her power for their good and benefit.

But he also warned of dangers to come, of wars and contentions in which these inventions and discoveries would be used by Satan's agents to further his purposes and
to bring sorrow, destruction, and death to the world in unprecedented measure. But he gives the assurance that he will not forsake his people and that his purpose shall
not fail. Hear him as he reminds the Prophet that God is omnipotent. "The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come
to naught.

"For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to his left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore, his paths are
straight and his course is one eternal round.

"Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men;" (D&C 3:1-3.)

The prophets of former times never failed to warn the people of perils to come, but were just as definite in their assurance of final victory. Note the words of John while
on the Isle of Patmos as he alternately gives warning and encouragement in the unfolding of the Lord's glorious vision. It is "The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God
gave unto him. . .and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John. . .": (Rev. 1:1.) "And I saw when the lamb opened one of the seals. . .

"And I looked and beheld a pale horse; and his name that set on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of
the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth." (Rev. 6:1, 8.)

One could almost imagine John was witnessing an air-raid as he describes "locusts." "And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on
their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. . . .

"And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of many horses running to battle.

"And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. . . ." (Rev. 9:7, 9-10.)

After relating in some detail the great and terrible things which were to come to pass, the vision changes, and he tells us: "And after these things I heard a great voice of
much people in heaven, saying Alleluia: Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God. . . .

"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

"And he laid(c)hold
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                                        Media   Corp.which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.                                      Page 95 / 104
"And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him. . . .
much people in heaven, saying Alleluia: Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God. . . .

"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

"And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.

"And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him. . . .

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. . . .

"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself
will be with them, and be their God. . . .

"And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the lamb.

"In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the
leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. . . .

"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." (Rev. 19:1; 20:1; 21:1;
22:1, 14.)

Surely every nation today is in need of the promised healing, but here, as elsewhere, every blessing is predicated upon obedience to law. It is not enough merely to last
out the battle; all who would share the blessings must earn their reward.

And so at Christmas time we look forward hopefully to the promises which were made by the men of God who so unerringly foretold events which have come to pass.
Yes, the Star of Bethlehem still shines upon the world.

Millennial Star

The Gift Supreme

Yuletide is a season of gifts. We remember our friends and those whom we love, and we try to express the love in some measure by giving presents. In appraising the
value of any present we give or receive, we take into account the motive which prompts it, its value to the one who receives it, and the cost to the giver. Does love
inspire the giver, does he give of himself? What sacrifice does the giving entail? Also, its value may vary according to the situation or condition of the recipient.
Obviously if he is hungry or naked and we give him food or clothing or if he is in prison and we visit him and bring succor and release, the value of our gift to him cannot
be measured in terms of money. His need determines the value.

Imagine yourself under sentence of death with no right of appeal, no hope of a pardon, unable to do anything to save yourself; doomed in the darkness to await the
execution, desiring without hope. Imagine, too, that all whom you love are sentenced to a like fate and together you sit in dreadful longing, helpless, hopeless, and
forlorn. What would an opportunity to escape from such a fate mean to you?

Suppose the judge had an only son who was able and willing to purchase your freedom with his life. The judge, his father, can give or refuse this costly gift, the life of
his son. Would not such a gift make all things of a material value appear insignificant? Would not you and your descendants celebrate with proper observance such
relief and redemption?

Because of the transgression of Adam, all men are sentenced to a twofold death: death of the body, and spiritual death-separation from God through sin. Men were
doomed to await the night of death with no hope of a morning to follow that night. The tomb was a blind alley and death a dread monster. Death which separates man
from all he has learned to love-wealth, fond association, friendship! When it beckons, husband and wife must part; children and parents are separated. How universal
and how sad! It comes to childhood, to youth, and to old age; but whenever it comes, it is a terror to the human heart. There is the dread of the unknown, and yet into
it we all must go. Life is so short and so disappointing even to the most fruitful of lives, and until Christ came, life was hopeless, death permanent.

In addition to the sentence of mortality and physical death which resulted from the fall of Adam, sin and spiritual death came into the world. As physical death is a result
of the separation of the spirit from the body, so spiritual death results from the withdrawing of the spirit of God from man. "Wherefore, it came to pass that the devil
tempted Adam, and he partook of the forbidden fruit and transgressed the commandment, wherein he became subject to the will of the devil, because he yielded unto
temptation.

"Wherefore, I, the Lord God, caused that he should be cast out from the Garden of Eden, from my presence, because of his transgression, wherein he became
spiritually dead, which is the first death, even that same death which is the last death, which is spiritual, which shall be pronounced upon the wicked when I shall say:
Depart, ye cursed." (D&C 29:40-41.)

On the subject of spiritual life and spiritual death, Elder B. H. Roberts has written: "Spiritual life, being union with, relation to and participation in all the higher and better
things: the good, the true, the beautiful, the pure, the refined, the noble, the courageous, the unselfish, the merciful; united with perfect justice, knowledge, wisdom,
power, intelligence. To be identified with and to participate in these moral and spiritual qualities and the life of it, is and must be God, and to so deport oneself that he is
thrown out of harmony with all this, separated from it, means separation from him who is the life of all this volume of higher and better things, this body of soul qualities,
this ocean of righteousness-to be separated from it, I say, is death indeed! Yes, spiritual death; death as real as any physical death can be. For what would
consciousness amount to if it were only a consciousness of evil that had befallen it?"

In this situation then, man was helpless. There was no price that he could pay which would redeem him from the fall. The Judge, in this case, God, had a Son who could
satisfy the demands of justice, redeem men from the fall and open the gate to immortality. Our Father made this priceless gift; our Savior paid the debt. "Surely he hath
borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isa.
53:4-5.) ". . . The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 6:23.)

"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Cor. 15:21-22.)
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The full benefit of the atonement, however, comes to us only upon condition of our obedience to the gospel plan. We must accept this plan and comply with its
ordinances by "performing the symbols which stand for its reality." We must repent of sin, return from it, sin no more, and when we have fully repented and complied
with that other requirement of the gospel, namely, water baptism, immersion of the entire body, representing death, burial, and the resurrection, when we have done
"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Cor. 15:21-22.)

The full benefit of the atonement, however, comes to us only upon condition of our obedience to the gospel plan. We must accept this plan and comply with its
ordinances by "performing the symbols which stand for its reality." We must repent of sin, return from it, sin no more, and when we have fully repented and complied
with that other requirement of the gospel, namely, water baptism, immersion of the entire body, representing death, burial, and the resurrection, when we have done
these things and have been confirmed by those having authority and have received the gift of the Holy Ghost, we are in the way to become recipients of all the blessings
of the atonement of Jesus Christ and to have that continuous fellowship with him which shall be the reward of the faithful. Obedience is as necessary as the plan itself.
Obedience is evidence of acceptance, and no plan, however perfect, is fully effective unless accepted and worked. But while it is necessary that we accept and obey
the gospel, it is a free gift to all men, beneficial in part without regard to their own action, and in full by obedience to the laws upon which its blessings are predicated.

What then of the value or importance of this gift of God-the gospel plan, including the atonement of Christ? "What does it mean, this salvation? It means to be put in the
way of eternal progression; to be associated with the church of the Firstborn, both on earth and in heaven; to be associated with angels and archangels as companions
and guides; increasing in knowledge and wisdom with the passing years. Having triumphed over death, physical and spiritual, there is no more fear of death, or
estoppage in the path of progress. With good men for associates and God for leader and guide, men may go on and up the shining heights of God's great highway, until
they make themselves masters of the surrounding universe in the midst of which they live. Light and intelligence and love will be aglow in their hearts then. All the
beautiful relationships that were formed in earth-life will be re-established there; husband and wife, children and parents, kindred and friends, knitted together in kinship
and brotherhood; all this will abound; touching the life of that brotherhood which binds God's mortal and spiritual universe together through the union of all the great
Intelligences governing therein. Those who participate in this Gospel, in this salvation, will be members of such brotherhood, going on in spiritual, moral, and intellectual
progress without limitation!" (B. H. Roberts.)

Without the atonement of Christ, man would have remained in darkness, not only without a hope of resurrection from the dead but doomed to suffer that spiritual death
which comes through sin. His position, then, was desperate, was hopeless, and without a Redeemer he was lost. But the gospel plan, the gift supreme, inspired by the
love of God-involving a supreme sacrifice on the part of the giver brings life everlasting, eternal joy, and endless progress to all who accept its benefits.

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins." (1 Jn. 4:10.)

"Thanks be to God for his priceless gift." (2 Cor. 9:15.)

The Relief Society Magazine

Warrior Prince

A Christmas letter to Servicemen.

The Prince of Peace was also a Warrior Prince. He fought valiantly against sin in its varied from and prevailed against the prince of evil who thrice tried to disarm him
and thus gain supremacy. The Master was too wise to allow his adversary the advantage of catching him off guard. He knew better than to go on to enemy territory. He
knew the tempter's invitation to follow a certain course had some sinister motive and, therefore, refused to take the first step, though in itself it seemed harmless. That it
was proposed by the enemy was enough for him. Though hungry he would not eat bread on Satan's terms. Neither personal pride nor spectator's praise could tempt
him to exhibit his power where duty did not require its use. And again he knew a promised gain would be a total loss, though all earthly power could be his, upon stated
terms. In other words, he was a skillful strategist and more than a match for the chief of the hosts of Beelzebub.

Too many of us are inclined to say, "What harm is there in that." "I must be a good fellow." One should never try to be a "good fellow" with "bad fellows." The enemy
territory is always sown with mines and traps to destroy the unwary. Every step taken into enemy territory, which has not been swept and purified, is taken at the peril
of one's life. Hitler's best craftsmen in the art of camouflage are novices in comparison with the unseen agents of the arch deceiver. His invitations are so seemingly
inoccuous, so patently harmless, that sometimes they appear to be advantageous. This enemy has no power over us unless we deliberately go on to his ground.

Christmas, in addition to all of the thoughts of home and family which it will inspire, should remind us of the Great Leader whose birth it celebrates. And, while the New
Year presents a clean white page to write upon, we do not recommend making boastful resolutions or announcing decisions reached. Each man should thoughtfully
examine himself at this milepost in his army service and compare the man he was when he left home. This checking on one's position with relation to his starting place
will reveal his course. An extension of that line will indicate his goal.

If he is going in the wrong direction, now is the time to change his course. There is hope for a man as long as he has stamina enough to repent and fight on.

You came out of a home which was lit by faith, where there was a quiet courage even in the face of death. Perhaps it was just the sort of simple trust a child has when
he takes his father's hand and goes out into the darkness. Home is a shrine to which your thankful recollection turns at this season of the year. One must "look up" to
see that shrine. With lifted head and steady eyes he may see a beacon light which calls him to a new dedication, for behind that shrine is the shadow of the Warrior
Prince whose wounded hands reach out with the proffered help, such as can come only from One who has himself met and overcome the tempter. Now is the
opportune time quietly to resolve that this next year will be the best year yet lived, for then the lights will come on again, and the home port will appear. May we all get
on the beam and follow it to a happy landing.

Millennial Star

The Christ Child

It is with deep humility that I approach the Radio Pulpit tonight knowing, as I do, that great sermons have been preached today in Christian churches on "The Nativity
of Christ," and knowing also that at this Christmas season there is so much misery in the world; that millions are without life's necessities and that other millions live in
haunting fear because of "man's inhumanity to man."

While in our own land we have everything for which to be greatful, there are many places where the words, "Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men," sound like mockery.
In the light of present-day conditions can we still believe in Christ and in his message of faith, hope, and charity and the brotherhood of man? Can we accept as
prophecy the message which the angels sang when Christ was born and believe that his coming meant eventual peace on earth?

There are two reasons why I undertake to speak to-night on the meaning of the birth of Christ with an accent slightly different from the customary vein: first, because
the usual things have been better said than I can say them; secondly, because it seems to me that if we are to celebrate this season in the spirit of its origin, we must look
back and trace, though briefly, the long and valiant struggle of the Savior against the powers of darkness; a struggle which has continued since long before the birth in
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Why the sudden rage of Lucifer at the first herald of his coming? Why his call to arms of all the host of hell, "his hated habitation"? Why did the prince of darkness
There are two reasons why I undertake to speak to-night on the meaning of the birth of Christ with an accent slightly different from the customary vein: first, because
the usual things have been better said than I can say them; secondly, because it seems to me that if we are to celebrate this season in the spirit of its origin, we must look
back and trace, though briefly, the long and valiant struggle of the Savior against the powers of darkness; a struggle which has continued since long before the birth in
Bethlehem when he became the Christ Child.

Why the sudden rage of Lucifer at the first herald of his coming? Why his call to arms of all the host of hell, "his hated habitation"? Why did the prince of darkness
tremble when the Prince of Peace was born? These questions form the dark background against which to view this Yuletide.

For a partial answer to these questions let us search the sacred records and from them learn the deeper meaning of the day we celebrate.

In a realm far antedating man's earliest recollection, there was one who challenged God and coveted his glory. There was one who asked permission to force all men to
do his bidding. He was called, "The Son of Morning," and was high among the angels; he it was whose vain ambition visioned Godhood based on conquest; visioned
heaven ruled by tyrants with all spirit children bondmen. His proposal was submitted and our unborn spirits listened.

Chief among that vast assembly was the Spirit of the Christ Child, and he also saw and listened. He was the Firstborn among the spirits and by birthright was their
leader. Then, as always, he was loyal, and he opposed the plot to unseat God the Father and make eternal slaves of men.

Moved by his loyalty to Father and his love of fellow spirits, this most heroic of all the sons of God made a counter proposition. The unborn spirits waited anxiously for
the verdict which involved their destiny. All the spirits then in heaven cast their ballots on the issue, and Jehovah won the verdict by a vote of two to one.

All who favored the Messiah would be given mortal bodies with free agency to choose their course in life. Christ the Savior volunteered to do the thing which mortals
could not do and to make the great atonement through which men could be redeemed. He thus became the Author of the spirit of the Yuletide, and his proffered gift
fored gift foreshadowed Christmas and raised a standard for all men.

The proud, defiant Lucifer led a great rebellion, and one-third of all the spirits followed him into perdition. He who had been Son of the Morning joined issue with the
Firstborn Son of God, and there was fought a mighty battle of a war which still continues.

Christ was then Jehovah, and with Michael, under Elohim, prepared a world where men could prove themselves and establish their allegiance. Adam was friend and
colleague of Jehovah, but he had a special mission which involved his leaving Eden. The gateway from the garden was the door which led to earth life, and that door
was closed behind him and all who were to follow. It precludes the light of heaven so completely that even the memory of what has been becomes a feeble echo.

With mortality came death, and the tree of life was guarded by a flaming sword. The fate of all seemed hopeless when death and sin joined hands to shut them out
forever. Satan, long since expelled, leered in triumph at what seemed to be Christ's failure. Men had no power to conquer death and without divine assistance would be
slaves of ignorance and sin.

But men were not left in doubt as to the wisdom of their choice when by vote they chose Jehovah. The atonement was foreshadowed when Adam offered sacrifice,
and each prophet who succeeded him was told about Christ's mission. So the scene of battle shifted, and the war in heaven ended, but the war on earth continued
among the sons of men.

It raged for generations. and each side had its innings; sometimes "Truth was on the altar and wrong was on the throne." But men's hopes were kept triumphant, for
Jehovah moved among them, and his prophets all predicted a Redeemer was to come. Christ, who had power over life, was to come and conquer death by himself
becoming mortal and passing through the valley. He would reach across the valley and himself become the highway by which men could pass from death to life. He
would become a bridge, one end of which would be anchored in mortality and the other fixed in heaven.

And so Christ was born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mother Mary, and through that birth the Master entered the arena which Beelzebub had thought belonged to him
alone. The battle lines were drawn again with the Messiah and the loyal sons of God on the one side, and Lucifer and his cohorts on the other.

The adversary rallied his infernal crew at the moment of the birth of Christ and plotted his destruction. Maddened by hate, he tried by force to thwart the mission of the
Christ Child. But the rule of force, of which he was the champion, had been vetoed by the Father. Vetoed to protect him who now lay helpless in the arms of mortal
woman.

Satan had willing agents among the sons of men to carry out his orders. Herod's jealousy and vain ambition were goaded by the devil, and the sacrifice of infants made
even Satan blush. But he hoped to kill the Christ Child and prove God's plan abortive.

But this Babe of mortal mother and the Monarch of the heavens was not to be defeated at the beginning of his mission. Satan found the Child was guarded and
protected by his Father, and he cunningly decided to bide his time until the Child had grown to manhood, and then he hoped by artifice to succeed where force had
failed him.

But here again Satan blundered, for he thought Christ wholly mortal. He thought his own power at last would more than equal his opponent, and he hoped his wiles
would snare and bind Him and thus defeat his mission. But he overlooked the fact that though Christ's mother was a woman, the Father of his body was immortal and
divine.

When Christ had forty days of fasting, the wily one suggested that Jesus could satisfy his hunger by making bread of stones; and further, if he yielded, it would manifest
his power and thus feed pride and arrogance, two vices of his own. But Christ disclaimed dependence upon bread alone for sustenance and lived by every word
proceeding from the mouth of God.

Having failed to make an appetite for bread a strong temptation, Lucifer thought appetite for power would be appealing-love of power, the very rock on which he
himself had come to ruin. But Christ disdained this offer and refused to tempt His Father. The third and last attempt to lure him was to offer worldly wealth in exchange
for his allegiance. And Satan heard the final words: ". . . Get thee behind me, Satan. . . ." (Luke 4:8.)

But though he could not tempt the Lord, he still had hope of victory if he could induce the sons of men to follow him in vile deceit, in love of gain and hate of fellow
men, and thus betray the Master. His first recruit was from that little group who were closest to the Savior. This he thought a master stroke, as one traitor who is
thought a friend can do more harm than a hundred who are known as enemies.

Judas thought, like many since, that worldly wealth is gain, no matter how procured. He sold his Master for a price and transferred his allegiance for which he received
full pay in Satan's coin of misery and death. How strange that men throughout the centuries have failed to learn the lesson that fraud and treachery. perfidy and sin are
the merchandise
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The fight went on, and Christ was crucified, not because he was defeated, for he held power over death. He yielded of his own volition that, dying, he might conquer
death, and thereby open the door again which Adam had closed at Eden. Here again Christ was victorious, for the one purpose of his coming was to insure man's
thought a friend can do more harm than a hundred who are known as enemies.

Judas thought, like many since, that worldly wealth is gain, no matter how procured. He sold his Master for a price and transferred his allegiance for which he received
full pay in Satan's coin of misery and death. How strange that men throughout the centuries have failed to learn the lesson that fraud and treachery. perfidy and sin are
the merchandise of Satan!

The fight went on, and Christ was crucified, not because he was defeated, for he held power over death. He yielded of his own volition that, dying, he might conquer
death, and thereby open the door again which Adam had closed at Eden. Here again Christ was victorious, for the one purpose of his coming was to insure man's
resurrection.

His little band of followers were faithful unto death, and death it was for all of them including the apostles. Apostasy again was rampant, and Satan reveled in his
thoughts of victory, reveled throughout the Dark Ages when he thought his sovereignty established.

But special messengers were sent to earth to start a reformation and prepare the way for the final scene and the promised restoration. These messengers fought
valiantly, and many gave their lives in skirmishes before the final battles. They were opposed by all apostate groups who, fulfilling prophecy, had enlisted with the

". . . Son of perdition;

"Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is
God." (II Thess. 2:34.)

John, while on the Isle of Patmos, saw in vision things to come, saw an open door in heaven and was lifted near the throne. There he saw the throne's Incumbent with a
book of seven seals; heard ten thousand times ten thousand angels singing praises to the Son of God. And they joined with every creature in earth and heaven and in
the sea all with one accord were saying: ". . . Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne. . . ." (Rev. 5:13.)

And he saw another angel in the midst of heaven flying; saw him bring to earth the gospel for all nations, tongues, and men. He saw the lake without a bottom, and the
dragon bound with chains, saw one thousand years of concord, peace, and amity and rest. And he saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from the Lord God
out of heaven, with the earthly kingdom to be joined.

Then he saw the small and great ones stand before the throne of God to be judged out of the records each according to his work. Death and hell released their
captives, and the sea gave up its dead, while the angels sang hosannah to the Prince of Peace their Lord.

What then is our Christmas message? Dare we talk goodwill and peace, in a world where all seems chaos, where enslaved millions seek release? Was the angels'
anthem a vain promise when they hailed the Savior's birth? Or was their song inspired prediction of eventual peace on earth?

This is our Christmas message: "The Christ Child of Bethlehem is the Messiah, Christ the King." So let us on this eve of Christmas join the heavenly choirs and sing:
"Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good-will to men." (See Luke 2:14.)

And may God bless you every one at this Yuletide and forever.

Radio Address

Section VI Browsings and Musings

All beauty mirrors something of the one who beholds it.

Browsings and Musings

All the water in the world cannot sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship-

All the sorrow in the world cannot sink a person unless it gets inside the mind.

How foolish to invest today in what must cease to be tomorrow.

Faith equips the vision with both microscopic and telescopic power.

Repentance is a gift from God, but we should try to avoid the need for it.

Some of us do not need a bushel to hide our light; a thimble would suffice.

The arrows of truth are deflected by the armor of conceit.

When the light of truth shines on dull fact, it makes it luminous.

Trouble breeds amid the dead leaves of melancholy. The sunshine of a cheery soul will kill its germs.

We reach the far shore only that we may cross the intervening land and sail again with Autumn.

Air castles are valuable only if they inspire us to hard work on solid foundations to put under them.

Even when running with head down and muscles tense the football player keeps his mental eye upon the goal.

The rubble of regret can be turned into concrete blocks if mixed with the cement of high resolve.

Snap judgment, like a bear trap, may catch the one who baits it.

Only one who has been over the road may become a guide.
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He who made you expects his work to succeed and will answer a call for help.
Snap judgment, like a bear trap, may catch the one who baits it.

Only one who has been over the road may become a guide.

He who made you expects his work to succeed and will answer a call for help.

The Master learned obedience through suffering. Do you expect its blessings at a cheaper price?

Today is the link which joins the chain of our yesterdays to the chain of our tomorrows. No chain is stronger than its weakest link. Make this one strong.

When powered by Will, Mind masters Matter.

"Endure to the end" is life's constant and inexorable decree.

A torch was given to me that I might light the lamps of others as I seek to see the road ahead.

The harvest, and not the master, will accuse the slothful servant.

Life is a journey, not a camp.

Let neither the background of memory nor the foreground of anticipation dominate the picture of Today.

Self-appraisal is based on evidence not available to the onlooker.

Being conscious of my source, I cannot doubt my destiny.

My own fallibility is a constant reminder of my kinship to other men.

When we handicap a runner by giving others an advantage we acknowledge his superiority. Nature's handicaps are often compliments.

Opportunity is always within the reach of the arm of preparation.

Lack of faith in one's self is a criticism of one's Maker.

The unpruned tree bears little fruit.

The heart colors what the eye beholds.

Speak to God first thing each morning, then through the day remember that you are going to talk to him again at night.

Unless you are willing to give everything for the gospel you are not worthy of it.

His love makes us ashamed of what we are-but jubilant of what we can become.

Every day is the beginning of a new year.

The Lord always takes people as they are, then leads gradually to what he would have them be.

The stewardship of our families is the most important of all.

Try to bring your mind into harmony with the eternal law of things.

Carry always a mental picture of God. Bring it out and look at it when things seem dark.

Worry causes a dry rot of the soul.

It is no use trying to shine your lamp if you do not take time to fill it.

Take on mental nourishment every day.

Rake up the cluttered garden of your mind.

We need a filter on our listening processes.

It takes a lifetime to learn to think out.

Mascots cannot pull back a bad shot.

The most disheartening thing in all the world is to get to the point where you think God does not care.

God does not judge men until the end of the journey.

The base of the Church is broad enough to support any superstructure.

The quality of one's intelligence may be related to his sense of humor.

Use the past as a warning for the future.
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In all life, character will count more than ability.
The quality of one's intelligence may be related to his sense of humor.

Use the past as a warning for the future.

In all life, character will count more than ability.

The first job of any student is to realize that he does not know.

Is your mind like fresh cement? If it is you are able to determine what shall be impressed upon it.

God delights in diversity.

If you try to imitate another you are wasting your time-emulate certain good habits, but don't waste time copying-be yourself, your better self.

Keep green-green things grow.

The mind does not grow old while it is working.

Make a living-but in creating a living don't forget to create a life.

In a sieve only the fine things come through.

He who obeys with modesty may someday be worthy to command.

It takes God's weather to produce God's flowers.

Make truth yours-you will reveal it better to others.

Prayer is the attempt to move from darkness into light.

Rain, sun, light, soil . . . and a Gardener are needed to produce flowers or grain.

The gift, however great and wonderful it may be, will not be acceptable unless the giver is acceptable.

It takes a courageous man to go to his death. When a denial of truth would save him.

Once lost, salt cannot be made savory again.

Live so that your body and spirit are in harmony.

When you fast righteously you become sensitive to the Spirit.

"Can't do it," is a sort of mental intoxication.

Whom God calls he equips.

You will not be remembered by those whom you teach if you shun contact with their hopes and fears and questionings-if you avoid commitments and allegiances and
seek merely to be literary and academic.

The teacher must have background and a vista; he must have courage, and conviction as well as information. Your steady faith must hold them on their course when
cross currents and winds of doubt and cynicism assail them.

Does the light of your torch flicker at every breath of doubt or can you make it shine into and make radiant the darkened avenues of uninformed souls?

A study of botany may teach all that can be known about the tiny leaf on the mighty oak, but if it is to finish guiding you on the quest, it must lead you back to its stem
and along the twig to the branch, and back to the trunk and then you'll want to know something of how it is rooted to the earth and why; the source of its life, the
purpose of its being and how it is to be perpetuated.

We cannot afford to adapt our message to popular demands and water it down to some nebulous ethical system. We have a gospel adequate to human needs.

Thoughts, if you have the proper mixture, will congeal into an idea. Ideas revolutionize the world-Think.

Sometimes during solitude I hear truth spoken with clarity and freshness; uncolored and untranslated it speaks from within myself in a language original but inarticulate,
heard only with the soul, and I realize I brought it with me, was never taught it nor can I effectively teach it to another.

The man who wants his dreams to come true must wake up.

Remember that the hardening process of military training need not extend to your soul. Your muscles must be toughened; your mind must be adjusted to the hard facts
of modern warfare-and your soul must be strengthened too, but not made flinty.

There is no more stimulating thing in life than to know that someone trusts you.

Life is the childhood of our immortality.

What a man is wields a power of conversion that no force of argument can equal.

The best way
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The value of approval depends on who gives it. Sometimes I am not satisfied because of the people who approve.
Life is the childhood of our immortality.

What a man is wields a power of conversion that no force of argument can equal.

The best way to prepare a child for adult life is to help him to live his child life efficiently.

The value of approval depends on who gives it. Sometimes I am not satisfied because of the people who approve.

Foster sweet memories of childhood. No one can be happy who does not appreciate. The happiness of the world would be greatly increased if people would
appreciate.

The harness is a symbol of co-operative service.

All of us are expected to function successfully in some particular field-some in more than one but all in one.

We grow just as big as the things that concern us.

Everyone should strive each day to beat yesterday's record-not someone else's.

Freedom, like life, is a process, a growth where the new is perpetually crowding out the old. There is a constant wearing away and renewing. The beautiful blossom of
today is by tomorrow wilted and dry and must fall by the next tomorrow and be forgotten while the new bud comes and is heralded for its brief day. So the freedom of
today if not kept up to date by adjustments to suit new seasons and occasions will soon be dry and musty and may actually become serfdom. The rose which was so
fragrant becomes a stench if its petals are allowed to decay in the vase. New buds must be added if we wish to enjoy continuing beauty. So must we keep our freedom
up to date.

Freedom without discipline is the delusion of license, where law is not respected and where decorum is not known. When however, in the name of discipline, men are
robbed of their right to think or speak or act; when the will of the few is imposed upon the many; when the dignity of the individual is denied and responsibility to God
rejected; then Nazism and Fascism flourish and the people become slaves.

Any declaration of independence, whether individual or national, implies something of maturity, presumes the capacity to use that independence wisely.

If you claim the rights of freedom, you must undertake to assume its duties and responsibilities. Freedom is a test of intelligence, a trial of moral strength.

If you are to enjoy those inalienable rights with which you are endowed by the Creator, as referred to in the Declaration of Independence, you will not fawn before
flattery, nor cringe before denunciation; nor will you yield to your own lawless impulses.

Beware of those little pests called termites which weaken the superstructure and live on the product of their ruin.

The strongest possible incentive to high endeavor is a proper concept of our source, purpose, and destiny. It refutes the false philosophy of fatalism, that whimpering
doctrine of inertia and defeat which assigns control of our lives to blind, impersonal forces, robs man of his power and his dignity, and accomplishes his final
degradation by relieving him of responsibility for his acts.

The atheist would take from the man of faith that which has sustained him and give nothing in return. But the believer should re-examine the basis of his faith in the light
of new knowledge and bring it up to date. When faith ceases to grow it ceases to be faith for faith must be active and dynamic. We should add to our faith knowledge.

The thinker loses something when he loses his doubt of the truth of his conclusions. So of the moral man who loses his temptations. "It needs must be that there is
opposition in all things."

When I find myself tempted by desire or appetite to step down to a lower level I discover that there is something about me which disapproves and beckons toward a
nobler course. In thus discovering my dual nature I am encouraged by an instinctive feeling that, basically, I am spiritual and that some divinity within myself is seeking to
affirm its power over the earthy.

When inclined to boast about becoming broadminded, self-examination may reveal it is only your conscience stretching.

Every exit is also an entrance-including death.

Within the close-shut petals of her bud-like self was all the glory and the mystery of life concealed. He who would contaminate the sacred waters of the holy grotto
would be guilty of an infamy hatched beneath the floor of hell.

We usually hear enough truthful things said about us to overcome the flattering things said to us.

Learning leads to culture which is the cream of conduct.

Sometimes we are called upon to validate our faith in the crucible of suffering.

There is an inescapable intuition that within ourselves there is something that death has no dominion over.

Across the centuries no experience has been more universal than the sense of someone greater than ourselves dwelling with us.

Religion is communicable, aside from the sacred operations of the Holy Spirit, only by example.

If you wish them to be Latter-day Saints, you must take the trouble to be Latter-day Saints yourselves.

Religion gets into the blood atmospherically. They will be impressed by convictions and earnestness and the dignity and simplicity that go along with being earnest.

If your knees knock, kneel on them.

We  should attempt
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                                        the eyes of our ancestors. Let us dig deep into our own history and we will feel the eyes of Joseph and Hyrum,
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John, of Wilford and Lorenzo, of Joseph F. and Heber J., of George Albert, and then let us avail ourselves of the priceless privilege of grasping the hands and gazing
into the eyes of David O. McKay, the living prophet.
Religion gets into the blood atmospherically. They will be impressed by convictions and earnestness and the dignity and simplicity that go along with being earnest.

If your knees knock, kneel on them.

We should attempt to appear worthy in the eyes of our ancestors. Let us dig deep into our own history and we will feel the eyes of Joseph and Hyrum, of Brigham and
John, of Wilford and Lorenzo, of Joseph F. and Heber J., of George Albert, and then let us avail ourselves of the priceless privilege of grasping the hands and gazing
into the eyes of David O. McKay, the living prophet.

Ours is one of the smaller churches. We have become accustomed to being in the minority, but every majority in a free society was not long ago a minority. Every belief
worthy of an individual must be hammered out by that individual on the anvil of experience and cannot be packaged and delivered by radio or television.

You are one of those born with an inner urge to a life of quest be not afraid of venture.

We must have faith enough to regard our convictions as more important than our lives.

All of us need goals and ideals to unify our energies, integrate our personalities, and draw forth the potentially best in us that otherwise would lie all too dormant.

But God is more than an ideal; else he would be but a shadow. He is real and personal to be not only idealized but realized. We must not only possess this idea of God
but we must be possessed by it.

We do not evaluate human life by what it is during the final moment before death. We evaluate it in terms of the whole life as it was lived from first to last.

In terms of the immortal life there can be no last deed-no goal at which we "arrive" and arriving, abide. It is an infinite search leading ever onward.

The search for the ideal must not be selfish, it is necessarily social, we must include others and herein lies the opportunity of the MIA. Whatever perfection we seek
must include the perfection of our fellows. I may teach a class in science, in art, in any of the subjects offered in a college course and may teach them as one acquainted
with the facts on the evidence of third persons. I am in a sense a spectator. But if I am to truly and effectively teach religion I must teach from within, from experience,
teach as one who is a possessor of the fact and I must transmit not only through sight and sound but by feeling. Teach them to believe as well as know. We must not
make the mistake of the ancient Greeks who subordinated heart to mind, the spiritual to the intellectual.

There are times when insight is more to be trusted than logic.

Not only the bare bones of thought but the flesh of the meaning is essential.

We must seek for the meanings. Some men have said and written profound things which require much study if we would comprehend them. Then study what God has
said. Have we sought the real meaning behind the words? Yes, the gospel is simple, but is there anything as profound as the simple?

Each one of us is seeking to release the energy locked up within himself and to satisfy the unquenchable thirst for knowledge which is born in each breast.

It is a strange anomaly that we should spend so much of our academic years in careful studies of the lives, words, and works of the great ones in arts, sciences, letters,
etc., and neglect almost wholly a study of the life, mission, and character of Jesus of Nazareth. While we tell our children that he was the greatest by far of whom we
have any knowledge and believe our very salvation depends upon an understanding of his message as it applies to us, still there is in the average university hardly any
mention of this greatest of them all.

Righteousness is the cause of which peace is the effect. If it is peace we really want, we can get it only by setting the right causes into operation.

God wishes us to respond to opportunities, but we must not confuse privilege and merit.

Our only source of supply for material with which to make the men of tomorrow, is the boys of today.

What have I learned from my failures and mistakes that will be of service to me in the future? What have I done to entitle me to a higher position in life? What have I
done to make the world a better place? What is education and how can I educate myself? Does it profit me to strike back at those who have injured me? How can I
find happiness? How can I succeed? What is success? Lastly, what main achievement do I wish to attain before I finally lay down the tools with which I am tinkering
and pass over the great divide. What is my definite aim in life?

When crossing a stream on a log if you look down you will fall in. Keep your head up and your eye on the shore-so with purity and impurity, it is not necessary to look
down to see how awful impurity is to keep us from it-look up and keep away from sin.

We are, at the end of life's race, the product of our thoughts.

The earth is like a road, a poor place for sleeping in-a good thing to travel over.

One step up the mountain widens the horizons in all directions.

Do not regard as personal prerequisites the honors that belong only to the office.

The surly bird catches the germ.

A used mind is one item that has more value than new.

He is the wise man who for all his life can keep his mind and soul and body clean.

A man ought to be stronger than anything that can happen to him.

Sin, as a short-cut to happiness, promises pleasure without the effort of earning it; a promise never fulfilled.

By two things a man is lifted up from things earthly; by simplicity and purity.
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There is a thirst which nothing but religion satisfies.

It is best not to tell all you know, you may have to respond to an encore.
Sin, as a short-cut to happiness, promises pleasure without the effort of earning it; a promise never fulfilled.

By two things a man is lifted up from things earthly; by simplicity and purity.

There is a thirst which nothing but religion satisfies.

It is best not to tell all you know, you may have to respond to an encore.

When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.

One cannot think crooked and walk straight.

Better be bent with honest toil than be crooked trying to avoid it.

Too many have smothered all possibility of fine living under unnecessary anxiety over worldly goods.

A man's age can be measured by the degree of pain he feels by coming in contact with a new idea.

We need resistance to raise us as it raises the airplane or the bird.

If a time comes when you have to assert your right, the strongest ground upon which you can stand is the claim that you have done your duty.

You may have grievances, but never allow them to lower the standard of your work.

Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion has no hold on the mind.

Learning, undigested by thought, is labor lost. Thought, unassisted by learning, is perilous.

Worry is a complete circle of inefficient thought whirling about a pivot of fear.

Of all things you wear, your expression is the most important.

A most important truth about a man is that he has been entrusted with himself, capable of dismal failure or of high adventure.

Happiness does not consist in getting something; it consists in becoming something.

The greatest foe to truth is tenacity in clinging to unjustified beliefs.

The gospel sheds light on the whence, the why, and the whither of life-seek and ye shall find.

Men live best when they neither deny themselves the verdict of the head nor the intimations of the heart, but seek a working harmony of both.

Come to know religion in its depths and you come to realize how indispensable it is to rich and radiant living.

Autumn




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